Have you ever wondered why trash is to some people, but its treasure to others? Its value merely depends on the want and desire of the person right?
There once was a man who found out it was his time to go to Heaven. He asked the Lord if he could bring just one thin g. The Lord said, “No”. Finally after many requests the Lord said, “You can bring one thing.” Happily, the man packed his suitcase full of gold. When he arrived in Heaven the angels said, “Sorry you can’t bring that in here.” He said, “The Lord said I could.” “Okay,” they said. “By the way, what’s in there anyway?” The man opened the bag, and they looked in. Then an angel said, “Oh, you must be part of the construction crew to install new pavement.”
Streets of gold is precious in an earthly perspective, but to God, gold, just like many other things, has no value in comparison to what God holds as holy. What mankind values is not the same as what God values. And it is the values of Gods abundance we will look at this morning—how our spirit, our service and our salvation has no comparison to anything we would consider valuable in a world of sin.
In the book of Exodus, chapter 16, we are at a point where the Hebrew people have already experienced God is ways many others would never encounter. From them being delivered from the jaws of death of over 430 years in slavery to ultimately being delivered from the oppression, crossing the divided waters of the Red Sea into the promised land and experiencing firsthand Gods wrath in the form of plaques. So much of Gods has been revealed to the people, yet, as we will see, they still found room to complain.
They first complained they was thirsty and could not bear drinking bitter water, so God made the water sweet. Then, they complained they were hungry and the entire congregation came to Moses declaring…Listen to this…The sons of Israel said to them, “If only we had died by the Lord’s hand in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the pots of meat, when we ate bread until we were full; for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this entire assembly with hunger!”
Do you hear that? They are comparing their 430 years in slavery, having so many pots of food and bread, that they feel God has already abandoned them even after all the wonders and signs just in the most recent days! What are they thinking? If you remember, just before Jesus fed the 5000, the disciples themselves suggested the people leave as they did not have enough to feed them, yet God provided.
I am convinced, unbelief has a short-term memory, and discontent perverts our perspectives. When things don’t go our way, when things are beyond our knowledge of understanding, we tend to throw in the towel, raise doubt and simply forget to trust God who desires us to receive His full abundance of food, of life and of His spirit. Amen.
The God whom saved their very lives, delivered them from captivity, taken away the threats to their lives, are now faced with a hunger which they feel will destroy them. But what did God do?
Then the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a day’s portion every day, so that I may test them, whether or not they will walk in My instruction.” What a supreme act of Grace! God provided them with full abundance of life, water and food, the basics of everything, not to mention fulfilling His promise of being with them through it all. Remember, up to this point in scripture, this is a miracle never heard before, never witnessed. God provided a way!
In 1880, a Christian couple, George and Sarah Clarke, started the Pacific Garden Mission. The second oldest rescue mission in the US. As expenses grew and the ministry expanded, their funds ran low. Eventually the day came when they could not pay the rent. Attempts to secure the needed funds failed, and the Clarkes was told he had only 24 hours to make the payment. Otherwise, he would lose his lease.
Throughout the night, the Clarkes prayed, asking God to guide and to provide in his own way and time. They remained in prayer until the breaking of dawn. When they emerged from their home, they were astonished as they discovered their lawn was filled with mushrooms of the very best quality, which was quite mysterious because it wasn't the season for mushrooms. It came to them to gather the mushrooms and sell them to a local chef not far from their home. The receipts were enough to pay the rent, with enough left over to meet other ministry expenses for some time. So, the Pacific Garden Mission carried on, its work undeterred for decades.
Where is it written that Gods children is just to survive and not live? The God of abundance friends is the God who is zealous for the well-being of His people, provide everything in need. The problem we seem to have is having the faith and trust in His promises. “Standing on the promises of God.” Just as Paul’s letter to the Philippians tells us that when we live for God, it’s the most pristine thing to have done in this life. You see friends, Gods abundance comes to us freely, as we freely are to accept it. It comes at a price though. Even with all of what the world offers, “To live is Christ, to die is gain!” Why? This world is not our final destination. Don’t think for a minute that the apostles did not feel the pressures of the carnal body. Paul wanted to satisfy the flesh over the spirit, yet He knew the consequences, as should we. But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better; 24 yet to remain on in the flesh is more necessary for your sakes. 25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that your pride in Christ Jesus may be abundant because of me by my coming to you again.
Paul knew His work for Christ was quite possibly the one thing that kept the entire people out of full collapse—all because Paul seeked Gods full abundance of faith, of strength, of hope, of love, of direction and so much more to do His work, as we should today. However, to serve God comes at a price that some people are not willing to take. For to you it has been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer on His behalf, 30 experiencing the same conflict which you saw in me, and now hear to be in me. Gospel of Matthew “but if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name… Therefore, those also who suffer according to the will of God are to entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right.”
Every ounce of our being friends is to entrust the great I AM. Everything! No short cuts, but full assurance that Gods full abundance will be given to each of us, if we call upon His name. I’m not just talking about food.
Psalm, Give thanks to the Lord, call upon His name; Make His deeds known among the peoples. 2 Sing to Him, sing praises to Him; Tell of all His wonders. 3 Boast in His holy name; May the heart of those who seek the Lord be joyful. 4 Seek the Lord and His strength; Seek His face continually. 5 Remember His wonders which He has done, His marvels and the judgments spoken by His mouth, 6 You descendants of Abraham, His servant, You sons of Jacob, His chosen ones!
The God of abundance. That is the God whom we serve. As Pauls letter to the Ephesians tells us “Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us.” We have everything we need to live not survive. We serve a God of abundance. Of food, of faith, of strength, of love, of mercy, of grace, of patience, of sacrifice—the list goes on.
It is also not surprising to realize the parallel comparison the manna from heaven and the Last Supper have in common. In both, mankind are in need of God’s grace. In both the beneficiaries of Gods grace do not immediately see the full significance of the food that is before them. In both the food is present as a result of Gods intervention in our lives. In both the food is emblematic while it feeds an urgent hunger, it also fills the deeper need that cannot be filled any other way. We need a savior, we need a redeemer, we need the God of full abundance, that will always, always, always come through for us. Amen.
In the January 2013 issue of Christianity Today, a Muslim man describes his commitment to follow Isa al Masih, Jesus the Messiah. Surprisingly, a rather "ordinary" miracle caused this man to open his heart to Jesus. Here's how he described the miracle:
One night the only food my wife and I had was a small portion of macaroni. My wife prepared it very nicely. Then one of her friends knocked on the door. I told myself, the macaroni is not sufficient for even the two of us, so how will it be enough for three of us? But because we have no other custom, we opened the door, and she came in to eat with us.
While we were eating, the macaroni started to multiply; it became full in the bowl. I suspected that something was wrong with my eyes, so I started rubbing them. I thought maybe my wife hid some macaroni under the small table, so I checked, but there was nothing. My wife and I looked at each other, but because the guest was there, we said nothing.
Afterward I lay down on the bed, and as I slept, Isa came to me and asked me, "Do you know who multiplied the macaroni?" I said, "I don't know." He said, "I am Isa al Masih [Jesus, the Messiah]. If you follow me, not only the macaroni but your life will be multiplied." You will receive Gods abundance when we follow Jesus.
In closing friends, I would like for you to try and encounter for yourselves today, and experience the God of abundance by first simply realizing just how much in need we are of His presence in our lives. Without the God of Heaven, the great shepherd, savior and king, we would have nothing to hope for.
The Gospel of John tells us Jesus said “Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” Jesus also tells us, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came so that they would have life, and have it more abundantly.” NOT JUST SURVIVE.
Where in these words do we hear doubt, uncertainty, insecurity and even the absence of love? Let me leave you with three items that you can reflect on in your daily walk with Christ as we are feed manna from heaven from the God of abundance.
First, just like the manna, God’s loving patience and long-suffering grace is real. Even in the life of a supposed atheist, as in the life of a whimpering unbelievers whom God has chosen to be in covenant with Him, God works with loving patience and long-suffering grace to reveal Himself as the One who cares for each one of us, who is concerned about our coming out and our going in, who notes the fall of a sparrow. God is fully equipped and ready to come to our aid.
Second, there are some things in life we cannot store up for tomorrow. Yesterdays bread cannot be used as food today. Last months forgiveness, even yesterdays is inadequate for today. We can’t store up forgiveness. Everyday, the blanket of Gods forgiveness is fresh just as the manna from heaven was fresh every day, and it was only to be collected to what was needed and no more.
Third, God is a God of truth! When God delivers His manifestation to fulfill His purpose, He provides every single blessing He promised. When our dependence is upon Him alone, we learn quickly from our Lords prayer that we say every Sunday, “Give us this day our daily bread!” The God of truth earnestly and fully equips us with the blessings of the day He promised. Matthew 4:4 tells us when Jesus was tempted in the desert, He quoted Deut. 8:3 “Man shall NOT live by bread alone, but by every word of God.” God provides, delivers and fulfills. Amen. No truth is beyond God, just as there is no person on earth beyond Gods reach. Amen. Gods abundance friends comes to us in every area of our lives when we trust in the living Savior. You don’t have to understand it all. Scripture tells us to come to Him as a little child. Just have that small amount of faith to trust in Him, have faith in Him and allow Him to reign and rule as Lord and Savior in your everyday life.
Author Dr. Robert Raines received a very touching note from a inmate in a correctional facility. In it, shined the most beloved poetry about Gods sustenance.
My prison house is cold and gray, and made of rock and steel. Its filled with tears both night and day, there’s little love to feel. The sick and sad and broken men, who suffer here with me, Cannot recall the joys of when they last were happy and free. Yet I am happy and I’m free, though tombed within this Hell, for mighty acts of God I see through cold bars of my cell. For sparrows play outside my wall and flit from fence to tree, I know He grieves their every fall and He is here with me now.
If a prisioner can feel Gods providential care in a cold stone tomb, can we not also find and feel it right where we are?
Let us remember friends, we are loved, we are cherished and adored by the great I AM, Yahwey, the living God of abundance. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen