Trusting God: Obedience and Provision in Our Lives

 

Summary

In today's message, we explored the profound truth that God is our ultimate source and provider. We delved into the story of Jesus and Peter in Matthew 17:24-27, where Jesus instructs Peter to catch a fish that would provide a coin for their temple tax. This narrative is not merely about a miraculous provision but a call to obedience and the understanding that God's provision often comes through our work and obedience.

We are reminded that worship is not confined to a Sunday service but is a lifestyle that encompasses all areas of our lives, including our work. When we view our daily tasks as acts of worship, we honor God with our efforts and set an example for others. Our work ethic should reflect our faith, and we should strive to be diligent, reliable, and exemplary in our professional lives.

The sermon also highlighted the importance of distinguishing between our needs and wants. We were encouraged to trust God with our finances, to give generously, and to understand that God's economy operates differently from the world's. By being faithful in our tithing and offerings, we open ourselves up to God's blessings and provision.

Furthermore, we were challenged to consider whether we are merely recipients of God's blessings or if we are also channels of blessing to others. The concept of "return to sender" was introduced, urging us to give back to God and others out of the abundance we have received.

Lastly, we were called to examine our motives when it comes to God's provision. Are we seeking God for what He can give us, or are we genuinely seeking to honor Him with our lives and resources? We were encouraged to align our hearts with God's will and to be obedient to His commands, trusting that He will provide for our needs and even beyond.

Key Takeaways:

1. Worship extends beyond the walls of the church and into every aspect of our lives, including our workplaces. When we dedicate our work to God as an act of worship, we transform our perspective and impact those around us with our commitment and integrity. This shift in mindset can lead to a more fulfilling and God-honoring life. [59:02]

2. God's provision often requires our active participation and obedience. Just as Peter was instructed to go fishing to find the provision for the temple tax, we too must be willing to engage in the work God has set before us. It is through our obedience and labor that God's miracles are often manifested. [49:47]

3. Our financial stewardship is a reflection of our trust in God as our provider. By faithfully tithing and offering, we acknowledge that everything we have comes from Him. This act of obedience can lead to financial breakthroughs and blessings that we could not achieve on our own. [01:03:28]

4. God's economy operates on principles that are counterintuitive to the world's. When we give generously, especially in times of scarcity, we demonstrate our trust in God's ability to provide. This often results in God multiplying our resources in unexpected ways. [01:13:37]

5. The true measure of our faith is not in the abundance of our possessions but in our willingness to trust God with our resources. When we hold onto what God has provided out of fear or selfishness, we hinder the flow of His blessings. Let us be open-handed, trusting that God will provide for our needs as we obey His commands. [01:11:06]

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
- Matthew 17:24-27

#### Observation Questions
1. What was the specific task Jesus gave Peter to find the coin for the temple tax? ([45:04])
2. How did Peter respond to the temple tax collectors when they asked if Jesus paid the tax? ([44:25])
3. What was the significance of the coin found in the fish's mouth? ([47:00])
4. How does the sermon describe the relationship between work and God's provision? ([48:01])

#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think Jesus chose Peter, a fisherman, to find the coin in the fish's mouth rather than asking someone else? ([47:00])
2. How does viewing work as an act of worship change our perspective on daily tasks? ([57:07])
3. What does the sermon suggest about the difference between needs and wants in the context of God's provision? ([01:04:00])
4. How does the concept of "return to sender" challenge our approach to generosity and stewardship? ([44:01])

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your current job or daily tasks. How can you start viewing them as acts of worship to God? What specific changes can you make to honor God through your work? ([57:07])
2. Think about a time when you felt God's provision in your life. How did your obedience play a role in that experience? How can you apply this lesson to a current situation where you need God's provision? ([48:01])
3. Evaluate your financial habits. Are there areas where you need to trust God more with your finances? What steps can you take to be more faithful in tithing and offerings? ([01:03:28])
4. Identify a recent blessing you received. How can you use this blessing to be a channel of God's provision to others? What specific actions can you take this week to "return to sender"? ([44:01])
5. Examine your motives for seeking God's provision. Are you more focused on what God can give you or on honoring Him with your life and resources? How can you align your heart more closely with God's will? ([01:12:01])
6. Consider the people around you at work or in your community. How can your work ethic and integrity serve as a witness to your faith? What practical steps can you take to set a positive example? ([59:00])
7. Reflect on a specific need in your life right now. How can you distinguish between this need and a want? How can you trust God to provide for this need while being open-handed with your resources? ([01:04:00])

Devotional

Day 1: Worship in Work Transforms Life
Work is not just a means to an end but an opportunity to worship God through our daily tasks. When we dedicate our work to God, we acknowledge that He is present in every aspect of our lives, not just within the walls of a church. This act of worship transforms our perspective, making our work an offering to God and a testimony to those around us. It challenges us to maintain integrity, commitment, and excellence in our professional lives, reflecting our faith in tangible ways. By doing so, we can lead a more fulfilling life that honors God and inspires others.

"Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ." (Colossians 3:23-24 ESV)

Reflection: How can you intentionally turn your daily work into an act of worship this week? [07:40]

Day 2: Obedience Unlocks Divine Provision
God's provision often requires our active participation and obedience. The story of Peter fishing for the temple tax coin is a powerful reminder that God's miraculous provision can be intertwined with our willingness to act upon His instructions. It is through our obedience and labor that we can witness the manifestation of God's promises in our lives. This principle encourages us to be proactive in our faith, trusting that God will meet our needs as we follow His guidance.

"And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith." (Matthew 21:22 ESV)

Reflection: What is one step of obedience God is asking you to take today, and how can you trust Him to provide through it? [49:47]

Day 3: Faithful Stewardship Reflects Trust
Our approach to finances and resources is a direct reflection of our trust in God as our ultimate provider. By faithfully tithing and offering, we demonstrate our belief that everything we have is a gift from Him. This act of obedience is not just a duty but a form of worship that acknowledges God's sovereignty over our lives. It can lead to financial breakthroughs and blessings, as we align our financial practices with God's principles.

"Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine." (Proverbs 3:9-10 ESV)

Reflection: How can you honor God with your finances this week, and what might that look like in practical terms? [01:03:28]

Day 4: Generosity in Scarcity Reflects Faith
In God's economy, the principles often run counter to the world's. When we give generously, especially in times of scarcity, we act out of faith rather than fear. This generosity is a testament to our trust in God's ability to provide and can lead to Him multiplying our resources in ways we could not have anticipated. It is a powerful witness to the world of God's provision and care for His children.

"Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully." (2 Corinthians 9:6 ESV)

Reflection: Can you identify an opportunity to give generously this week, even if it feels counterintuitive? [01:13:37]

Day 5: Open-Handed Living Invites Blessing
The true measure of our faith is not found in the abundance of our possessions but in our willingness to trust God with our resources. Holding onto what we have out of fear or selfishness can hinder the flow of God's blessings. By living with open hands, we show our readiness to receive and share God's gifts, trusting that He will provide for our needs as we live in obedience to His commands.

"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal." (Matthew 6:19-20 ESV)

Reflection: What is one thing you can do today to live more open-handedly, trusting God with your resources? [01:11:06]

Quotes

1) "Friends, can I tell you that sometimes we don't see the miracle happen in our life because we are not obedient to what God asks us to do." [51:31] (Download | )

2) "Friends, as men and women of the cross, we should be the hardest workers. We should be the first ones there and the last ones out. We should set an example." [59:46] (Download | )

3) "Friends, can I tell you that we serve a God who's more than enough? The problem is sometimes we get that, we do what we're told to do, right? We go and we fish, we reel that sucker in, we open it up, we go, dang, look at the size of this coin. I'd better keep it for a rainy day." [01:11:06] (Download | )

4) "Maybe the reason the fish has quit showing up for us is that Jesus realized that every time he tries to provide for us, we have other motives." [01:11:57] (Download | )

5) "But how many of you know God's economy and this natural economy just aren't the same, right? And so we have to understand that when we put our very best in God's hands, God can do something with it that we can never do with it." [01:13:37] (Download | )

6) "Friends, let me tell you, God does not need your money. Period. But he wants your heart. And for most of us, they're connected." [01:14:20] (Download | )

7) "We need to learn to trust God and say, God, everything I have is yours. You're my source, you're my provider, you're the one that makes all things happen to God. I trust." [01:15:02] (Download | )

8) "Provision often comes in the form of a project. And so you and I need to get out our rotten wheel and start to get busy." [53:03] (Download | )

9) "Because this account reveals to us the miracle provision is usually found in and through work. Everybody say the word work. You see, work isn't a cuss word." [48:15] (Download | )

10) "Jesus tells who to go fishing. He told Peter, right? He didn't tell Luke, who was a former physician. He didn't tell Matthew, who was a tax collector. He told Peter, he said, go back, dust off your rod, dust off your reel, get out your fishing line, and then go to the lake." [47:23] (Download | )

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Transcript
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