And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19 ESV

     When we read the account of the people of Israel in the book of numbers, we can see not much has changed as to the nature of people. They were going to a land promised to them by God; but in their travels to this land, the majority of the people constantly found reason to question and complain to God. They questioned and complained about the food, yet God supplied. They thought they were going to die of thirst, yet God supplied. They questioned their ability to conquer the inhabitants of the land promised to them, yet God gave them the land ….to the next generation of those who believed. God provided and did all that he said he would because God, our provider, is faithful to his word. God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it? Numbers 23:19 ESV When my children were young, I made the statement that one day we were going to go to a particular place for a vacation. My children would say, “Do you promise?” The reason they asked me to promise is that, as a dad, when I made a promise to my children I made sure I followed through with what I promised. They knew if I promised it, it would happen; but if I didn’t promise, it might just be something we talked about. I am just human and could fail, but God, in His promises, NEVER fails. Throughout Numbers, God always provided for his people, even when they did not deserve it. God continues to do that for us today as we travel to the promise land of heaven. So as we travel, let us never forget God’s provision……..
 
GOD WILL SUPPLY EVERY NEED. Be careful not to confuse “want” with “need”. While I do believe that many times God gives us even more than we need and blesses us beyond measure, we must be careful not to just consume, but also be outlets by which God meets the needs of others. But beyond the physical need, every person has a greater need, which is a spiritual need. The need of restoration and hope as we travel through life. The people in the book of Numbers needed to forget where they came from, and focus on where they were going. Many times they would refer to going back to Egypt, but the promised land would only be gained by moving forward, not going backward. They would want to go back when fear controlled their next step. Fear of hunger, thirst, or a problem bigger than which they could see a solution. By faith we must believe that God, in Christ Jesus, is our provider for every situation of life. We must focus on where we are going, and not from which we came. Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider the I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I PRESS ON toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3: 12-15 ESV
 
ACCORDING TO HIS RICHES. God, without exception, was faithful to provide every need for the people of Israel as they traveled in the wilderness. He will do the same for us today. Probably one of the most used passages of today is the 23rd Psalm….. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want……. Read the whole 23rd Psalm, which should form our attitude concerning living life everyday. God richly blesses us beyond measure everyday if we will but look to see him. He, who owns the cattle on a thousands hills, is leading us in every step we take, and providing all that we need.
 
IN CHRIST JESUS. As stated above, the greatest need we have is spiritual. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight. Ephesians 1: 7-8 ESV Going through life is not a journey unless you know Jesus as Savior and Lord in your life. A short trip- yes… a journey- no. A short trip because it ends in hell, which is no destination one would want to reach because they were unprepared to meet God. As entering the promise land was accomplished by those who believed, so it will be by those who enter heaven.
 
As God provided all the physical needs of the people going to the promise land, Jesus provides all the spiritual needs for us to enter heaven. Jesus said, “I am the WAY, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6 ESV There are not many ways to heaven but only one-JESUS. He is the road map by which we must travel if we ever plan to arrive in the promise land of heaven. Every other map will lead to road blocks or dead ends.
 
Let me close today by giving you the beginning point of following the map of Jesus. It is as simple as
 
A. ADMIT to God that you are a sinner. If we confess our sin, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleans us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9 ESV
 
B. BELIEVE Jesus Christ as God’s only Son. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. John 3: 16 ESV
 
C. CONFESS your faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9 ESV
 
May I invite you today to join the journey of faith to heaven in Jesus, our provider.
 
Because of His Grace ~ Pastor David