Spiritual Nourishment: Strength in God's Purpose

Devotional

Day 1: Spiritual Sustenance Through Divine Purpose

When Jesus spoke of a kind of food unknown to us, He was referring to the spiritual nourishment that comes from doing the will of God. This sustenance is not about physical needs but about aligning ourselves with God's purpose. Jesus, even when weary, found strength in fulfilling His divine mission. This same spiritual food is available to us when we engage in God's work. It refreshes our spirit and provides a sense of renewal that transcends our physical limitations. As we align ourselves with God's purpose, we experience a profound sense of peace and fulfillment. [09:44]

John 6:27 (ESV): "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. For on him God the Father has set his seal."

Reflection: What specific task or mission do you feel God is calling you to focus on this week, and how can you prioritize it over your physical or worldly needs?

Day 2: Divine Strength in God's Work

Engaging in the work of the Lord ensures that we are sustained by His strength and nourishment. This divine provision is a promise that we will not be depleted, even when the journey is long and challenging. When we are committed to God's work, He provides the energy and resources we need to continue. This assurance allows us to persevere through trials, knowing that God is with us every step of the way. Our recent experiences in prayer and worship have shown us the invigorating power of the Holy Spirit, reminding us that God will sustain us in His work. [15:49]

Isaiah 40:31 (ESV): "But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint."

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you feel weary or depleted, and how can you invite God to renew your strength as you engage in His work?

Day 3: Fulfillment in Serving God

True fulfillment comes from serving God rather than people. Our focus should be on meeting God's expectations, which brings peace and joy. When we align ourselves with God's purpose, we are not swayed by the demands of others. This alignment allows us to serve with strength and joy, knowing that we are fulfilling our divine calling. By prioritizing God's will, we find a deeper sense of satisfaction and purpose in our lives. [28:00]

Galatians 1:10 (ESV): "For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ."

Reflection: Are there areas in your life where you are more focused on pleasing people than God? How can you shift your focus to align with God's expectations?

Day 4: God's Supernatural Provision

God's provision is always sufficient, just as He provided manna for the Israelites. This spiritual food sustains us through our journey, ensuring that we have what we need to complete the work He has set before us. God's provision is supernatural, transcending our understanding and expectations. It is a reminder that we can trust in His care and rely on His resources, even when we face challenges. By embracing this provision, we can move forward in faith, knowing that God will provide for our needs. [43:16]

2 Corinthians 9:8 (ESV): "And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to trust in God's provision, and how can you actively rely on His sufficiency today?

Day 5: Resting in God's Provision

In the midst of our enemies and challenges, God prepares a feast for us. By resting in His provision and trusting in His strength, we can find peace and victory in our spiritual journey. This rest is not passive but an active trust in God's ability to provide and protect. It allows us to face our challenges with confidence, knowing that God is with us. As we rest in His provision, we experience a deeper sense of peace and assurance in our journey. [46:53]

Psalm 23:5 (ESV): "You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows."

Reflection: How can you actively rest in God's provision today, especially in the face of challenges or opposition? What steps can you take to trust in His strength and care?

Sermon Summary

In this time of spiritual reflection and community, we have been experiencing a profound season of breakthrough and change. Through our recent prayer meetings and fasting, we have felt the presence of God moving powerfully among us, bringing a sense of renewal and spiritual nourishment. This week, I have been particularly inspired by John 4:31-34, where Jesus speaks of a kind of food that is unknown to us—a spiritual sustenance that comes from doing the will of God. This passage has resonated deeply with me, reminding us that God provides for us in ways that transcend our physical needs.

Jesus, weary from His journey, found strength and nourishment not from physical food but from fulfilling His divine mission. This spiritual food is available to us as well, especially when we align ourselves with God's purpose. It is a reminder that when we are engaged in the work of the Lord, He will sustain us, even when we feel physically depleted. Our recent gatherings have been a testament to this truth, as we have witnessed the Holy Spirit invigorating and refreshing us during our times of prayer and worship.

As we continue to serve and seek God's will, we must remember that our strength comes from Him. We are called to serve God, not people, and to focus on His expectations rather than the demands of others. This alignment with God's purpose brings peace and fulfillment, even amidst challenges. Our journey is not without its trials, but God promises to nourish and sustain us until the work is complete. Let us embrace this spiritual nourishment and trust in God's provision as we move forward in faith.

Key Takeaways

1. Spiritual nourishment comes from doing God's will. Jesus found strength in fulfilling His divine mission, and we too can experience this spiritual sustenance when we align ourselves with God's purpose. This nourishment transcends physical needs and refreshes our spirit. [09:44]
2. God will sustain us in His work. When we are engaged in the work of the Lord, He provides the strength and nourishment we need. This divine provision ensures that we are not depleted or worn out, even when the journey is long and challenging. [15:49]
3. Serving God, not people, brings true fulfillment. Our focus should be on meeting God's expectations rather than the demands of others. This alignment with God's purpose brings peace and fulfillment, allowing us to serve with joy and strength. [28:00]
4. God's provision is always sufficient. Just as God provided manna for the Israelites, He offers us spiritual food that sustains us through our journey. This provision is supernatural and ensures that we have what we need to complete the work He has set before us. [43:16]
5. Rest and trust in God's provision. In the midst of our enemies and challenges, God prepares a feast for us. By resting in His provision and trusting in His strength, we can find peace and victory in our spiritual journey. [46:53]
** [46:53]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[05:23] - Introduction and Prayer Meetings
[09:44] - Spiritual Nourishment from God
[12:43] - Jesus' Journey and Divine Appointment
[15:49] - The Difference Between God's Work and Our Work
[17:44] - The Power of Prayer Meetings
[20:38] - Experiencing God's Presence
[22:58] - Sustained by God's Provision
[25:14] - Overcoming Fear of Commitment
[28:00] - Serving God, Not People
[31:13] - Spiritual Warfare and God's Strength
[34:04] - God's Feast in the Presence of Enemies
[36:32] - Relationship and Spiritual Fulfillment
[40:47] - Elijah's Story and God's Provision
[43:16] - God's Supernatural Provision
[46:53] - Resting in God's Provision

Sermon Clips

"I just want to talk about God's provision for us. And this has just excited me this week. I've just been focusing on it. It's in John chapter 4, verse 31 to 34. It says, Meanwhile, the disciples were urging Jesus, Rabbi, eat something. Come on, Jesus, eat something. But Jesus replied, I have a kind of food you know nothing about, that you know nothing about. Did someone bring him food while we were gone, the disciples asked each other. Then Jesus explained, my nourishment or my food or my meat, depending on what translation you've got, comes from doing the will of God who sent me and from finishing his work." [00:08:01]

"Yet in his tiredness and in his weariness, he doesn't stop ministering to this woman, and then she just shoots back into town because the village, the well is just outside of the town. So she pops back into the town and brings all these people out. And he just keeps on ministering. But he's tired, and he's weary, and he's been on a long walk. But he's saying, I've got food to eat. I'm eating food you know nothing about. I'm eating food that you know nothing about. Food from heaven that our heavenly Father has for us that we know nothing about." [00:13:49]

"What I want us to see and understand is God will never deplete us or wear us out when we're doing the Lord's work. The Lord's work and not our work that we think is God's work. There's a difference between the Lord's work and doing what we think is the Lord's work. It is easy to busy yourselves, get tired, worn out, stressed, frustrated, blame church, blame God, blame somebody and say, I need a rest. I'm overcommitted. I'm overcommitted. There's too much going on. But we're eating from the wrong table." [00:15:37]

"God will always nourish our physical and spiritual body until we're able to finish the work. I love that. So he says, my nourishment or my food comes from doing the will of God who sent me and from finishing the work. It might be days, weeks, months, years if necessary, but God will nourish and sustain and give you what you need. I don't get disheartened when you go to plant a church. Planted a few churches now. And you just start, and then initially there's a bit of a roar and a ruckus, and we take it off, and it's all. But then you settle down into the weeks afterwards." [00:22:24]

"Too many people get scared of committing to responsibilities in the church or committed to serving God in church because we hear all the stories of people who get worn out and burnt out. I'll tell you, I've heard plenty of them. I meet plenty of these people. In fact, I just heard a minister say the other day, it's just like, you don't understand how depleted I am. I say to Nicky, that's not good. We have to ask ourselves, why am I depleted? Why am I depleted? We need to make sure we're serving the Lord and not people." [00:25:31]

"When we're working or serving from a place of true identity and harmony with the Holy Spirit, we are fed, nourished, strengthened as we serve. As I said before, I asked myself every now and then, it's like, what's going on, Wayne? Are you feeling this way? Talked about prayer meetings. My testimony is God is my strength and nourishment and there is peace and fulfillment in serving Him. And I know that there are hard times and I've gone through a lot of hard times. I've gone through some deep valleys. You've heard a number of my stories. Some very harsh trials and some very harsh testings. And that either drives you away or brings you to God. It brought me to God." [00:29:36]

"We need to be feeding at God's table and realizing the fight is not ours, it's God's. Psalms 23 .5, I love this. You prepare a feast. That's a table spread. You prepare a feast. A feast. Jesus is saying, I'm having a feast. I'm feasting while I'm ministering. I've prepared a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. He anoints our head with oil, and our cup overflows with blessings, and he's got this feed, feast for us in the presence of our enemies." [00:31:54]

"Our enemies can be shame, failure, fear, negative words, frustration, sickness, people doing wrong to us, financial pressures, spiritual attacks, even a few devils thrown in, and more. They're all your enemy. What are you fighting? What is it that's having a crack at you at the moment? What is your enemy at the moment? Because in the midst of your enemies, God is saying, I want to feed you. I want to anoint your head with oil. I want your cup to overflow. Your cup to overflow." [00:33:25]

"See, Jesus says, I'm going to come in. If you let me, I'll come in and I'll sup with you and you with me. That's a feed. See, there's relationship. When you understand the Jewish traditions here, food was all about relationship. It was all about communion and connection. It was more than just having a feed. And Jesus wants to minister in the food. In the food, there was ministry. In the food, there was relationship. In the food, there was connection." [00:36:04]

"Then he lay down and slept under the broom tree. But as he was sleeping, an angel touched him and told him, Get up and eat. I want you to understand the importance of spiritual food. I want you to understand the importance of eating. What God's eating, God's provision. He looked around and there beside his head was some bread baked on hot stones. It's too much for me. I can't get my words out. I'm drawling. And a jar of water. I can say that easy. And a jar of water. And a jar of water. That's not hard. I can't laugh." [00:37:18]

"Father, we just thank you, Lord, that your table, your provision is always more than enough. Father, I just want to speak to every fear and every concern, Father, that people might have, Lord, that if they commit to anything that you are doing or that you are asking, that you are asking of them, Lord, that it will wear them out, that it will stretch them too far, Lord, that they won't be able to cope. Lord, you're telling us and you're showing us and you're allowing us to see today, Lord, that your provision, your table will satisfy, will nourish, will minister, Lord, not just to our spirit, but also to our natural man." [00:45:02]

"Father, Lord, I just declare it, Father. Food. Lord, let the people taste and see that you are good. You're the sweet honey in the rock. You're our provider. You sustain us. You've got food, Lord, that we need to tap into and we don't understand it. We don't have to understand it. We just have to step into it and let you minister to us and you refresh our spirit. And we might go out feeling tired, but we return feeling charged up. We return." [00:46:19]

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