July 30th, 2024
When God does something, He never does just enough. God is the best Father and He gives good gifts. Matthew 7:11 says,
“If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!’
If men, who are evil in comparison to the goodness of God, can give good gifts, how much more does the Father long to give us? However, we must be willing to ask. Matthew 7:7 says “ask, and you shall receive.” God has gifts waiting and some people are afraid to ask even for the things they need. God wants to provide for our needs and more. How many of you give your children things they need as a gift? Have any of you given your children a toothbrush or some water as a gift? Those things are part of the provision you already give your children. When you want to bless them, you give them a gift that fulfills a desire of their hearts, above and beyond provision. God is the same way! How much more will the Father give good gifts to those who ask Him!
God is both a provider and a giver and He has more than enough. We must allow the Word of God to shape our perspective of God so we will be able to receive the things He has for us by faith.
John 6:10-13 tells the story of Jesus multiplying food for over 5,000 men. Scholars believe it would likely have been significantly more people including women and children. It says,
‘Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, about five thousand in number. Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated. So also the fish, as much as they wanted. And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, “Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost.” So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves left by those who had eaten.’
Jesus fed them as much as they wanted and after everyone was full, there was still more. This miracle was an illustration of God’s heart and when the people began to chase after Jesus after He’d fed them, He said,
‘When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?” Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you (John 6:25-27).’
He then went on to declare He was the true bread. John 6:32-33 says,
“Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”
He compared Himself to the divine bread that came down from heaven for their ancestors in the wilderness. Manna fed the Israelites for 40 years and every day there was fresh bread. There is an interesting connection here to the multiplication of the loaves and fishes. Exodus 16:18 says,
“Each of them gathered as much as he could eat.”
As a reminder, John 6:11 says they had “as much as they wanted.”
With the manna and the multiplication of the loaves, they could have as much as they wanted.
The Word of God teaches us to ask, seek, and knock. God wants to give abundantly. The question is how much do you want?
John 3:34 says,
‘For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for He gives the Spirit without measure.’
God doesn’t portion out His Spirit based on our expectations or judgements. He sees the blood of Jesus operating in the life of a child of God and He willingly pours His Spirit, His own heart, without measure. Jesus came that we would have life abundantly. He didn’t come that we would live with any need at all, or even that we would live with enough. Abundance is more than you need. So, how much do you want? This week, I encourage you to seek the heart of God for the things He’s waiting to pour out. Healing, financial blessing, hope, love, peace, freedom, strength, and joy are all found in Him and He is more than enough!
As it says in Ephesians 3:20-21,
“Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”
“If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!’
If men, who are evil in comparison to the goodness of God, can give good gifts, how much more does the Father long to give us? However, we must be willing to ask. Matthew 7:7 says “ask, and you shall receive.” God has gifts waiting and some people are afraid to ask even for the things they need. God wants to provide for our needs and more. How many of you give your children things they need as a gift? Have any of you given your children a toothbrush or some water as a gift? Those things are part of the provision you already give your children. When you want to bless them, you give them a gift that fulfills a desire of their hearts, above and beyond provision. God is the same way! How much more will the Father give good gifts to those who ask Him!
God is both a provider and a giver and He has more than enough. We must allow the Word of God to shape our perspective of God so we will be able to receive the things He has for us by faith.
John 6:10-13 tells the story of Jesus multiplying food for over 5,000 men. Scholars believe it would likely have been significantly more people including women and children. It says,
‘Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, about five thousand in number. Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated. So also the fish, as much as they wanted. And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, “Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost.” So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves left by those who had eaten.’
Jesus fed them as much as they wanted and after everyone was full, there was still more. This miracle was an illustration of God’s heart and when the people began to chase after Jesus after He’d fed them, He said,
‘When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?” Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you (John 6:25-27).’
He then went on to declare He was the true bread. John 6:32-33 says,
“Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”
He compared Himself to the divine bread that came down from heaven for their ancestors in the wilderness. Manna fed the Israelites for 40 years and every day there was fresh bread. There is an interesting connection here to the multiplication of the loaves and fishes. Exodus 16:18 says,
“Each of them gathered as much as he could eat.”
As a reminder, John 6:11 says they had “as much as they wanted.”
With the manna and the multiplication of the loaves, they could have as much as they wanted.
The Word of God teaches us to ask, seek, and knock. God wants to give abundantly. The question is how much do you want?
John 3:34 says,
‘For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for He gives the Spirit without measure.’
God doesn’t portion out His Spirit based on our expectations or judgements. He sees the blood of Jesus operating in the life of a child of God and He willingly pours His Spirit, His own heart, without measure. Jesus came that we would have life abundantly. He didn’t come that we would live with any need at all, or even that we would live with enough. Abundance is more than you need. So, how much do you want? This week, I encourage you to seek the heart of God for the things He’s waiting to pour out. Healing, financial blessing, hope, love, peace, freedom, strength, and joy are all found in Him and He is more than enough!
As it says in Ephesians 3:20-21,
“Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”
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