DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT – THURSDAY: Ministering To The Needy.

“Our sufficiency is of God. Difficulties melt in His presence. In Him are those mighty, overcoming energies, which accomplish the possible and the impossible with equal readiness…The real resources are with Him for the evangelizing and the redeeming of the world. But He has not been able to do ‘many mighty works’ in the non-Christian lands, because of our unbelief as a Church. We have not possessed our possessions. God has been waiting to be honored by the faith of a generation that would call upon Him for really large outpourings of His power.” -- J. Lovell Murray.
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And his disciples answered him, "How can one feed these people with bread here in this desolate place?" And he asked them, "How many loaves do you have?" They said, "Seven." And he directed the crowd to sit down on the ground. And he took the seven loaves, and having given thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples to set before the people; and they set them before the crowd. And they had a few small fish. And having blessed them, he said that these also should be set before them. And they ate and were satisfied. And they took up the broken pieces left over, seven baskets full. And there were about four thousand people. And he sent them away. -- Mark 8:4-9. (ESV)

As we conclude our series on “Ministering To The Needy,” understanding that there is a world that needs Christ and our responsibilities as Christians is to meet that need. We observed how we could be involved in reaching our world for Him, and that our world consists of where our ministry will take us; our family, our employment, our community, our City and it may even be in our Church.

Also one of the sure ways of getting involved was to ask the Lord to grant us daily opportunities to minister to the needs of others. We realised that to minister to the needs of others we needed compassion, knowing that our responsibility is to feed them, and now the final principle involved is to comprehend that...

OUR RESOURCES – ARE FROM GOD

When Jesus set out to minister to the needs of the crowd, He asked for human provision and the disciples answered that they had seven loaves and a few fishes. Not much, we would say to feed a crowd of over four thousand, but to God sometimes that is all He needs to show us how He can give us miraculous supply...

The LORD said to him, "What is that in your hand?" He said, "A staff."-- Exod 4:2. This episode in the life of Moses, starts of a whole series of miracles!

Whenever we begin to ask of God to help us in the way of provision, He has already seen our need, and prepares for it in advance of our requirement!

As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. -- 1Tim 6:17.

All the comforts of life come from God, as well as the provisions. He not only meets our basic needs, but he gives us an abundant life to enjoy…

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. -- John 10:10.

A poor old widow, living in the Scottish Highlands, was called upon one day by a gentleman who had heard that she was in need. The old lady complained of her condition, and remarked that her son was in Australia and doing well. "But does he do nothing to help you?" inquired the visitor. "No, nothing," was the reply. "He writes me regularly once a month, but only sends me a little picture with his letter." The gentleman asked to see one of the pictures that she had received, and found each one of them to be a draft for ten pounds.

This is the condition of many of God's children. He has given us many "exceeding great and precious promises," which we either are ignorant of or fail to appropriate. Many of them seem to be pretty pictures of an ideal peace and rest, but are not appropriated as practical helps in daily life. And not one of these promises is more neglected that the assurance of salvation. An open Bible places them within reach of all, and we may appropriate the blessing which such a knowledge brings. -- Moody's Anecdotes.

Jesus has given us many resources in order to reach the world…

• The Holy Spirit - Acts 1:8.
• Prayer - Matthew 7:7-11.
• Faith - Hebrews 11:6.
• Spiritual Gifts - Romans 12:3-8.
• Word of God - Isaiah 55:7-11.
• Good Deeds - Matthew 5:14-16.
• Finance - 2 Corinthians 9:6-12.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. -- Prov 3:5.

When we are involved in “Ministering To The Needy,” our resources are not human, but they are from God. Just as the disciples brought their resources to Jesus and trusted Him to use them, we must do the same. We must bring ourselves to Jesus and trust Him to reach the multitudes through us.

Loving Father, I want to be involved in the ministry of needs to my unsaved family, to my unsaved colleagues at work, to my unsaved community and to my unsaved City. Help me by the Holy Spirit’s power to meet these needs, as the opportunities that you daily give me occur, for your glory! Help me Lord to speak out for you to tell of your wonderful good news to those that are perishing! I thank you Lord, that you provide for me in every way! In Jesus mighty name I pray! Amen!