BBD 08.15.07 When God Speaks - Part III
Posted by: wrather <wrather@...>
Join the Burning Bush Prayer Group! Send and receive prayer requests and be
a part of a great ministry. More than 300 wonderful people make up this
group. To join send an email to: BBPG-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Be a part of the Burning Bush Community! Share prayer requests,
inspirational material, find help for addictions, and help others. Find out
more at the Burning Bush Community webpage:
http://www.theburningbush.net/pages.asp?pageid=37647
Several devotional booklets are available for free download in PDF format at
the new site. Just click on the "Free Book Downloads" link.
The Burning Bush Devotional
Welcome to the 1146 new subscribers since January 1, 2007!!
08.15.07
When God Speaks - Part III
He Provides the Way (the Resources)
For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish which
they had taken; and so also were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who
were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid. From
now on you will catch men." So when they had brought their boats to land,
they forsook all and followed Him. - Luke 5:9-11.
It is known that Simon was married and now that he would no longer be a
fisherman how would he provide for his family? The most immediate needs were
probably provided for by the huge catch of fish. It may have been the
equivalent to what they would normally catch in an entire month. After the
month was over though what would they live on then? My wife suggested that
Simon's wife took over the role as fisherman and provider. Which is a
possibility. It could also be that other relatives may have taken over the
fishing business for a time. We do know one thing and that is that God
provided for Simon's family somehow.
The question of surviving financially while engaging in ministry has been a
bothersome question for most of the people that God has called. For me it
was one reason that I was reluctant at first to answer God's call. I had a
good job but without any savings with a young family - how would I be able
to afford to go to seminary? With 20/20 hindsight, I know that within a year's
time we would have had the resources for me to go to seminary and to support
my family. A year later, it was too late to take that course of action.
Eleven years after first clearly hearing God's call at the age of 40 it was
still a difficult question. How would we survive financially with our oldest
son ready to go to college?
God gave us direction for the financial decisions that we needed to make
once we were committed to obeying His will for our lives. We sold our house
and downsized. At one point, our income was not enough to pay all of our
bills each month. However, God was faithful to provide from one source or
another the funds necessary to pay what was due. We went to many a garage
sale. Once when I needed a new suit God provided a Christian Dior suit in my
size for five dollars. We are told in Philippians 4:19, "And my God shall
supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus." God
will not call you to do what He will not provide the resources, the way to
do it. If God calls you, He will be faithful to provide in one way or
another for what is needed to sustain you along the way.
Of course, you have to do your part. The apostle Paul was a tentmaker during
his entire ministry except while he was in chains. I was a substitute
schoolteacher for a while and my wife has worked during most of the time
that we have been in the ministry. We did not have those bargains handed to
us at garage sales we had to get out there early and try to find them. I
think that Matthew 7:7-8 is applicable, "Ask, and it will be given to you;
seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone
who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be
opened." God will provide but you need to do your part. You are a co-laborer
with Him.
When God speaks calling you to be His servant in ministry, He will provide
what you need to do it. You can count on it.
Copyright © 2007. Ed Wrather. Permission is given for use of the devotionals
on a non-profit basis with source credited. The Burning Bush website has
been online since January 31, 1998. On June 8, 1998 the email version of the
Burning Bush Devotional was first sent.
Prayer Requests: Please pray for Malachi a young boy with cancer undergoing
chemo - his white count is very low. Many prayer needs are posted at the
Burning Bush website on the Prayer Request page. You can also post your
prayer requests there and they will be forwarded to the Burning Bush Prayer
Group (Of course, I am always in need of prayer - please pray for me.).
If you enjoy the devotional please recommend it to your friends. They may
subscribe by sending a blank email to
Streaming Videos of some of my sermons are posted at:
http://www.theburningbush.org/fbcswvideo.html
There is a complete devotional archive at the old Burning Bush website. Here
is the URL: http://www.theburningbush.org/33.html.
You can unsubscribe to the pure text version of the devotional by sending a
blank email to burningbushdevo-unsubscribe@welovegod.org and then respond to
the confirmation email.
You may subscribe to the html text group by sending a blank email to
burningbushhtml-subscribe@welovegod.org and you may unsubscribe by sending a
blank email to burningbushhtml-unsubscribe@welovegod.org and then respond to
the confirmation email.
-- To unsubscribe, send ANY message to: burningbushdevo-unsubscribe@welovegod.org