James & Tess Arendt
A. He has promised to supply our needs:
Phi.4:19 - God shall supply all your need according to His riches
Mat.6:33 - Seek ye first the Kingdom of God...& all these things shall be added unto you
Psa.23:1 - The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want (lack)
Psa.34:10 - They that seek Lord shall not (lack) any good thing
Psa.37:25 - I (have) not seen righteous forsaken...begging bread
Mat.7:7-11 - Every one that asketh receiveth...your Father (shall) give good things to them that ask Him
Rom.8:32 - He that spared not His Own Son...shall He not also freely give us all things?
(See also Deut.2:7; Psa.68:19; 81:10; Mal.3:10; Mat. 6:8,25-34.)
B. God is the source of all supply:
Psa.145:15,16 - Thou openest Thine hand, & satisfiest the desire of every living thing
1Chr.29:14 - All things come of Thee, & of Thine Own have we given Thee
Psa.104:13-15 - He causeth...herb (to grow) for man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth
Jam.1:17 - Every good gift...is from above, & cometh from (God)
(See also Psa.65:9-13; Gen.1:29; 9:3.)
C. He owns the entire world:
Exo.19:5 - All the earth is Mine
Psa.24:1 - The earth is the Lord's, & the fulness thereof
Psa.50:10,11 - Every beast is Mine...& the cattle upon a thousand hills
Psa.89:11 - The earth is Thine: the world & the fulness thereof
Num.11:21-23 - [God promised meat for a month, Moses doubted it, so] the Lord said, `Is the Lord's hand waxed short?'
2Ki.4:1-6 - [The prophet's widow borrowed vessels & they miraculously filled with enough oil to pay her debts]
A. Food:
Exo.16:12-15 - [God miraculously supplied quail & manna in desert]
Num.11:18-20 - [God sent a month's supply of quail] (See vs.31,32)
Psa.78:23-29 - He opened the doors of Heaven, & rained down manna...corn of Heaven...angel's food...meat to the full (See also Psa.105:40)
Psa.132:15 - I will abundantly bless her provision: I will satisfy her poor with bread
1Ki.17:4 - I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there
1Ki.17:16 - The barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail [during the 3-1/2 year famine]
1Ki.19:5-8 - An angel said unto (Elijah), "Arise & eat"...& behold, a cake baken on the coals, & a cruse of water
2Ki.4:42,43 - [Elisha fed 100, multiplying 20 loaves & some corn]
Mk.6:34-44 - [Jesus fed 5,000, multiplying 5 loaves & 2 fishes. 5,000 men, besides women & children Mat.14:21]
Mk.8:1-9 - [Jesus fed 4,000, multiplying 7 loaves]
Rev.12:6,14 - [Church "fed, nourished" 3-1/2 years in wilderness]
(See also Psa.23:5; Lk.5:4-7; Jn.21:5,6,11.)
B. Water:
Gen.21:14-19 - [Hagar dying of thirst, God showed her a well]
Exo.17:1-6 - [At Horeb, the Lord brought water out of a rock]
Num.20:2,7-11 - [At Meribah, God again brought water from a rock]
Judg.15:15-19 - [God supplied water from a jawbone for Samson]
2Ki.3:9,17,20 - [God miraculously supplied water for an army]
(See also Psa.78:15,16; 105:41; Isa.41:17,18.)
C. God can even purify impure food & water:
Exo.15:23-25 - [Bitter waters of Marah miraculously made sweet]
2Ki.2:19-22 - [Undrinkable waters of Jericho healed]
2Ki.4:38-41 - [Poisonous gourd in the pottage rendered harmless]
(See also Mk.16:18a)
D. Clothing & other necessities:
Deut.29:5 - I have led you 40 years...your clothes are not waxen old...thy shoe is not waxen old upon thy foot
Mat.6:25,26, 30 - If God clothe the grass...shall He not...clothe you?
(See also Gen.3:21)
A. Sore famines predicted in the last days:
Mat.24:3,7 - [In] the end of the world...there shall be famines...in diverse places
Mk.13:8b - There shall be famines & troubles
B. The Lord promises to feed us during famines:
Job 5:19,20 - In famine He (God) shall redeem thee from death
Psa.33:18,19 - The eye of the Lord is upon them that fear Him...to keep them alive in famine
Psa.37:18,19 - The Lord knoweth the days of the upright...in the days of famine they shall be satisfied
Pro.10:3 - The Lord will not suffer (allow)...the righteous to famish
Ezk.36:29b,30 - I will increase (the corn), & lay no famine upon you. I will multiply the fruit of the tree, &...of the field
C. He usually warns His people so they can make preparations:
Gen.41:25-36, 47-49 - [God showed Joseph & Pharaoh that a famine was coming & they prepared for it by storing away food
Acts 11:27-30 - [God warned that a dearth was coming, & believers sent relief money to their affected brethren]
(See also Amos 3:7)
A. We must please God & be obedient:
Mat.6:33 - Seek first...& all things shall be added unto you
2Chr.1:7-12 - [God gave King Solomon fabulous riches & wealth when he sought the good of the kingdom first]
Psa.34:9 - There is no want (lack) to them that fear Him
Psa.34:10 - They that seek Lord shall not (lack) any good thing
Psa.37:3 - Do good...& verily thou shalt be fed
Psa.37:18,19 - The Lord knoweth...the upright...in the days of famine they shall be satisfied
Psa.37:25 - I have been young, & now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken...begging bread
Psa.84:11 - No good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly
Pro.13:25 - Righteous eateth to satisfying... wicked shall (lack)
Isa.1:19 - If ye be willing & obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land
1Jn.3:22 - Whatsoever we ask, we receive...because we keep His commandments, & do...things...pleasing in His sight
(See also Deut.11:10-15; 29:9; Psa.111:5.)
B. Examples of obeying & doing our part first:
1Ki.17:2-5 - Get thee hence...& hide by the brook Cherith...ravens feed thee there. So he went
1Ki.17:9,10 - Arise, get thee to Zarephath. So he arose & went
2Ki.4:1-6 - Go borrow...of all thy neighbours empty vessels, borrow not a few. So she went & (did)
Mat.17:27 - Go cast an hook, & take up the fish...thou shalt find a piece of money (in his mouth)
Lk.5:4-6 - Launch out into the deep, & let down your nets
Jn.2:1-10 - Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them
Jn.11:39 - Take (roll) ye away the stone
Jn.21:5,6 - Cast the net on right side of the ship...They cast
C. Pray, believe God's Word & depend on Him to supply:
Mat.7:7 - Ask, & it shall be given; knock, & it shall be opened
Mat.21:22 - All things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive
Heb.11:6 - He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him
(See also 2Chr.26:5; Isa.45:11; Mat.9:29.)
D. Remember to thank Him for supplying:
Psa.68:19 - Blessed be the Lord, Who daily loadeth us with benefits
Psa.116:12-14,17,18 - What shall I render unto the Lord for all His benefits? I will offer to Thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving
A. Because of sin or disobedience:
Jer.5:25 - Your sins have withholden good things from you
(See also Psa.81:15,16; Jam.4:3.)
B. Lack of faith or failure to ask the Lord:
Jam.4:2 - Ye have not, because ye ask not
Jam.1:6,7 - [Wavering & not asking in faith]
C. Laziness:
2Thes.3:10 - If any would not work, neither should he eat
Pro.13:4 - The soul of the sluggard desireth, & hath nothing
Pro.20:4 - Sluggard will not plow...therefore shall have nothing
Pro.21:25 - The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour (See also Pro.23:21)
D. To keep us dependent upon God & His supply:
Deut.31:20 - When they...have eaten & filled themselves, & waxen fat; then will they turn to other gods
Pro.30:8,9 - Give me (not) riches...lest I be full & deny Thee
(See also 1Tim.6:10,17; Rev.3:17-19.)
E. To show us that it's time to move:
1Ki.17:7-9 - [When the brook dried, it was time for Elijah to move]
(See also Gen.26:1-3; 45:6-11; Ruth 1:1-6,16-18; 2Ki.8:1,2.)
A. He knows what you need & is looking after you:
Mat.6:8 - Your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask Him
Mat.6:25,31, 32 - Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or drink...(God) knoweth that ye need all these things
B. If God provides for the unbelieving World...
(See Mat.5:45; Acts 14:15b-17.)
C. If He even provides the needs of animals...
(See Gen.1:30; 6:14-22; Psa.104:21,26-28; 147:8,9.)
D....Won't He much more care for you?
(See Mat.6:26,30; Psa.34:10; 145:15,16; 2Cor.9:8.)
A. Our responsibility to provide:
1Tim.5:8 - If any provide not for...those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, & is worse than an infidel
B. Working for our needs:
Acts 20:35 - How that labouring ye ought to support the weak
Eph.4:28 - Let him labour, working w/ his hands thing which is good
1Thes.4:11,12 - Work with your own hands...that ye may lack nothing
2Thes.3:10-12 - Some work not at all...If any would not work, neither should he eat
Tit.3:14 - Let ours learn to maintain good works (profess honest trades) for necessary uses
(See also Gen.41:39-44; Dan.2:48,49; 6:1-3; 8:27.)
C. Missionaries occasionally take on secular jobs:
Acts 18:1-3 - [Paul temporarily made tents to support himself] (See also Acts 20:34; 1Cor.4:12.)
D. God blesses diligent, hard work:
Gen.31:38-40 - [Jacob's sample of diligent shepherding]
Gen.39:1-6 - [God blessed Joseph's hard work] (See also vs. 20-23)
Pro.10:4 - The hand of the diligent maketh rich (See also Pro.13:4; 22:29; 21:25; Eccl.5:18.)
Pro.28:19 - He that tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread, but he that followeth vain persons...poverty
Mat.25:14-30 - [The reward of the diligent servants who increased their talents]
A. Well-off supporters often helped God's messengers:
Gen.47:1-6 - [Pharaoh gave the best land in Egypt, Goshen, to Joseph's father & brothers]
1Ki.18:3,13 - [Governor Obadiah risked his life to save & feed 100 of the Lord's prophets]
2Ki.4:8-11 - [Rich woman of Shunem supplied food & lodging for Elisha & his servant]
Neh.2:7,8 - [King Artaxerxes gave Nehemiah permission to take as much timber as he needed from the king's forest]
Jer.37:15-21 - [King Zedekiah defied Jeremiah's enemies & commanded Jeremiah be given bread continually]
Dan.2:48,49 - [King Nebuchadnezzar gives Daniel power & "many great gifts", & gave his friends high positions]
Lk.8:1-3 - [Joanna & other wealthy women helped support Jesus]
(See also Rom.16:23; Phlm.1,2,7,22.)
B. Don't abuse others' generosity:
1Cor.7:31 - They that use this world, as not abusing it
C. God's workers to be supported by those to whom they minister:
Mat.10:9,10 - Provide neither gold, nor silver in your purses...for the workman is worthy of his meat
1Cor.9:7-14 - The Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel
2Ki.4:42 - A man...brought (Elisha) bread of the firstfruits, 20 loaves & corn [to feed his 100 disciples]
Lk.22:35 - When I sent you without purse...lacked ye any thing? And they said, "Nothing."
1Tim.5:18 - Shalt not muzzle ox that treadeth the corn. The labourer is worthy of his hire (See Deut.25:4; Lk.10:7.)
(See also Acts 28:7-10)
D. Staying as a guest at someone's house:
Mat.10:11 - In whatsoever city or town ye shall enter, enquire who is worthy; & there abide
Lk.10:7,8 - In the same house remain, eating (what) they give
(See also 1Ki.17:8-16,24; Acts 10:5,6; 16:14,15; 17:5,7; 18:2,3,7; Rom.16:23a; Phlm.22.)
E. But don't overstay your welcome:
Pro.25:17 - Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour's house; lest he be weary of thee; & so hate thee
F. Accepting invitations to a meal:
Mat.9:9,10 - [Jesus & disciples ate with Matthew] (See also Lk.5:29)
Lk.7:36 - One of the Pharisees desired that He would eat with him
Lk.19:1-6 - [Jesus invited Himself to eat at Zacchaeus' house]
1Cor.10:27 - If any (unbelievers) bid you to a feast, & ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat
G. Refusing invitations to a meal:
1Ki.13:7-9,15-17 - [Young prophet ordered by God to refuse invitations] (See also vs. 18-24)
Pro.15:17 - Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than (steak) & hatred therewith (See also Dan.1:5,8,12-16)
Pro.23:6-8 - Eat not the bread of him that hath an evil eye
H. Share amongst yourselves what God has already given you:
Acts 2:44,45 - (They) parted them to all men, as every man had need
Acts 4:32 - They had all things common
Acts 4:34,35 - Distribution was made unto every man...as he had need
Acts 11:29 - Every man according to his ability...(sent) relief
2Cor.8:12-14 - That...your abundance may be a supply for their want (lack)...that there may be equality
2Cor.8:15 - He that gathered much had nothing over; & he that gathered little had no lack (See Exo.16:18)
A. God can even use unbelievers to give to His people:
Job 27:16,17 - Though he heap up silver...innocent shall divide (it)...prepare raiment...but the just shall put it on
Psa.2:8 - Ask...I shall give the heathen for thine inheritance
Pro.21:1 - King's heart is in hand of the Lord...He turneth it
Psa.105:44 - (He) gave them lands of the heathen: & they inherited the labour of the people (heathen)
Pro.13:22 - The wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just
Eccl.2:26 - To the sinner He giveth travail, to gather & to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God
Isa.23:18 - Her merchandise shall be...for [servants of] the Lord, to eat sufficiently, & for durable clothing
B. Examples of the need to ask:
1Sam.25:2-8 - [David sent men to ask Nabal, a great & rich but wicked man, to donate food to him & his men]
1Sam.25:7,8 - [David explained the good work his men have done]
1Sam.27:5-7 - [David asked for place to stay for 16 months]
Mk.11:1-7 - [Jesus' disciples requested a donkey for Him to ride]
Mk.14:12-16 - [Jesus' disciples asked for the use of an upper room, already furnished & prepared]
Lk.5:1-3 - [Jesus asked for the use of a boat to preach from]
Jn.4:6,7 - [Jesus asked for a drink of water]
A. Financially:
Deut.28:1-13 - [Mighty promises of prosperity to the faithful]
Psa.112:1,3 - Blessed is the man...that delighteth greatly in His commandments...wealth shall be in his house
Pro.10:22 - Blessing of the Lord maketh rich, He addeth no sorrow
B. Other ways God prospers His people:
(See Gen.39:2; Lev.26:3-13; Deut.29:9; 30:9; 2Chr.26:5; Psa.107:35-38; 127:3-5; Isa.3:10; Ezk.34:26; Acts 14:17.)
A. Be content & do not desire more than you need:
Lk.12:15 - Beware of covetousness, for a man's life consisteth not in abundance of things which he possesseth
1Tim.6:6-8 - Godliness with contentment is great gain...having food & raiment let us be therewith content
Phi.4:11 - I have learned, in whatever state I am...to be content
Heb.13:5 - Let your (life) be without covetousness; & be content with such things as ye have
Psa.37:16 - A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked
Pro.15:16 - Better is little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure & trouble therewith
Pro.30:8 - Give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me
2Cor.6:10 - As poor...having nothing, & yet possessing all things
(See also Psa.62:10b; Psa.119:36; Pro.17:1; 23:5.)
B. Dangers of discontent & murmuring:
Exo.16:3 - [Longing for fleshpots of Egypt, & complaining that God will let them die of hunger]
Num.21:5,6 - [The people complained against & loathe the manna & were attacked by fiery serpents]
1Sam.15:3,9, 22,23 [Saul disobeyed God's orders to utterly destroy, saving the best of the goods. God rejected Saul as king]
Psa.73:3-20 - [Warning not to envy the prosperity of worldly wicked]
Psa.78:15-21 - [Israelites miraculously received water, then doubtingly murmured for meat. God angrily judged them]
My name is James Arendt. I was raised in the Hegewisch neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois, served in the USAF from 1970 to 1974, and became a full-time missionary for Christ living 40 years in Japan, 3.5 years in Russia, and a few months in other countries such as Finland, Poland, Estonia, Latvia, South Korea, Taiwan and mainland China where I also served the King of Kings, Jesus, as an Ambassador for His Kingdom. My full bio.
If you like this website, you can show your appreciation by sending me a gift toward my support. My wife Tess and I moved from the island of Guam USA in June 2023 to the city of Allen in the province of Northern Samar, one of the poorer provinces in the Philippines. My only work is maintaining my websites, Deep Truths, and James Japan which costs me $300 per year now. And Tess is ministering to the local people giving them regular Bible Studies in three groups, children, teenagers and adults.
You may like my James Japan site as well because it covers subjects that are not covered in Deep Truths such as things like the Climate Change Hoax and the COVID-19 death-jabs.
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