1. BETTER THAN THE BIRDS Trusting God For Provision Winkie Pratney

2. And it shall be, that you shall drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there. And it shall be, that you shall drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there. (I Kings 17:4) (I Kings 17:4) Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them: How much more are you better than the birds? (Luke 12:24) Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them: How much more are you better than the birds? (Luke 12:24)

3. 1. Birds build no barns; Sparrows don ’ t sow and ravens don ’ t reap Sparrows don ’ t sow and ravens don ’ t reap But God takes care of both the ravens and the sparrows But God takes care of both the ravens and the sparrows Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them: how much more are you better than the fowls? Luke 12:24 Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them: how much more are you better than the fowls? Luke 12:24

4. 2. Birds always do what God built them to do. Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much better than they? (Matthew 6:26) Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much better than they? (Matthew 6:26) He gives to the beast his food, and to the young ravens which cry. (Psalms 147:9) He gives to the beast his food, and to the young ravens which cry. (Psalms 147:9) And he sent forth a raven, which went forth to and fro, until the waters were dried up from off the earth (Genesis 8:7) And he sent forth a raven, which went forth to and fro, until the waters were dried up from off the earth (Genesis 8:7)

5. People do what God never designed them to do. No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. you cannot serve God and mammon. Matthew 6:24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. you cannot serve God and mammon. Matthew 6:24 Therefore I say to you, Take no thought for your life, what you shall eat, or what you shall drink; nor yet for your body, what you shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Matthew 6:25 Therefore I say to you, Take no thought for your life, what you shall eat, or what you shall drink; nor yet for your body, what you shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Matthew 6:25

6. 3. Birds don ’ t barter or balk when God calls or commands Ravens go against their instincts when they do not eat what they normally eat Ravens go against their instincts when they do not eat what they normally eat Lion kills the young foolish prophet but sits by the body and doesn’t eat his donkey (I Kings 13:24) Lion kills the young foolish prophet but sits by the body and doesn’t eat his donkey (I Kings 13:24) The whale swallows Jonah and never tells God he “can’t stomach preachers” The whale swallows Jonah and never tells God he “can’t stomach preachers” Gods animate Kingdom has no problems doing what God commands them to do. Gods animate Kingdom has no problems doing what God commands them to do.

7. Even prophets may run away Even prophets may run away And he came to a cave and lodged there; and the word of the came to him saying “ What are you doing here Elijah? ” And he came to a cave and lodged there; and the word of the came to him saying “ What are you doing here Elijah? ” (I Kings 19: (I Kings 19: Or sometimes hide in ships headed in the exactly wrong direction (Jonah 1:3) Or sometimes hide in ships headed in the exactly wrong direction (Jonah 1:3)

8. 4. Birds have small brains but they can do what you can ’ t do. They can fly thousands of miles without a map and make it. They can fly thousands of miles without a map and make it. They carry enough fuel for the unseen journey without a calculator They carry enough fuel for the unseen journey without a calculator They can ’ t stop for bathroom breaks on over-ocean voyages or ask directions They can ’ t stop for bathroom breaks on over-ocean voyages or ask directions

9. ELIJAH was a man set apart He comes out of Gilead non-entity to shake and challenge a Kingdom He comes out of Gilead non-entity to shake and challenge a Kingdom At his word the weather changes on command and brings a nation to its knees At his word the weather changes on command and brings a nation to its knees Elijah set his heart on being someone special to God and so he was Elijah set his heart on being someone special to God and so he was I am no better than my fathers ” tells you something of his secret ambition I am no better than my fathers ” tells you something of his secret ambition

10. It is no secret that God ’ s call - makes a man or woman special makes a man or woman special but it is rarely known what sets apart such world-changers from the rest but it is rarely known what sets apart such world-changers from the rest “ In a great house are many vessels.. some to honor and some to dishonor … “ In a great house are many vessels.. some to honor and some to dishonor … If a man purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel of honor. ” (2 Tim 2:20) If a man purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel of honor. ” (2 Tim 2:20)

11. Three Kinds of Provision: The Ravens and the Brook - Supernatural (I Kings 17:1-6) God can provide in unexpected ways The Ravens and the Brook - Supernatural (I Kings 17:1-6) God can provide in unexpected ways The Widow and her Son – The Widow and her Son – Servants (I Kings 17:7-16) God may provide in embarrassing situations Servants (I Kings 17:7-16) God may provide in embarrassing situations The Sparrows and the Flowers – The Sparrows and the Flowers – Simplicity (Matthew 6:24-34 God pledges His provision if we have undivided hearts Simplicity (Matthew 6:24-34 God pledges His provision if we have undivided hearts

12. What can we learn of God ’ s patterns of provision from these stories?

13. 1. Prayer sometimes brings on the problem that requires the Divine provision.

14. Saints are not exempt from sharing in some of the suffering Saints are not exempt from sharing in some of the suffering “ God had one Son without sin, but never a son without affliction. Let us not ask to be the first” (Spurgeon) “ God had one Son without sin, but never a son without affliction. Let us not ask to be the first” (Spurgeon)

15. 2. God reserves the right to send you to unlikely places to provide for you

16. Why not Jordan the river? Why Cherith (drought) the brook?

17. 3. Provision is only promised if you go where God calls and do what God says

18. God never guarantees supply when you are not where He sent you. And the word of the LORD came to him, saying, You get out of here, and turn eastward, and hide yourself by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan. And the word of the LORD came to him, saying, You get out of here, and turn eastward, and hide yourself by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan. And it shall be, that you shall drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there. I Kings 17:2-4 And it shall be, that you shall drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there. I Kings 17:2-4

19. 4. Provision can come from unclean sources yet unchanged by Providence

20. A miracle constantly repeated A miracle constantly repeated ceases to be a miracle, and falls into ordinary law. ceases to be a miracle, and falls into ordinary law. “God challenges the modes in which he sends our supplies, so we may see more clearly His hand in them all” “God challenges the modes in which he sends our supplies, so we may see more clearly His hand in them all” (Spurgeon) (Spurgeon)

21. 5. Provision can even be from the poor worse off than yourself

22. Ravens were hungry too Birds ate what was left over from others Birds ate what was left over from others The widow and her son likewise starving: The widow and her son likewise starving: And she said, As the LORD thy God lives, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I [am] gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die. (I Kings 17:12) And she said, As the LORD thy God lives, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I [am] gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die. (I Kings 17:12)

23. 6. Provision is never promised “ weekly ” or “ monthly ” but only daily.

24. Give us this day our daily bread - means constant and continual trust means constant and continual trust But seek first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you. (Matthew 6:33) But seek first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you. (Matthew 6:33) It never gets any easier even if you get wiser and better. It never gets any easier even if you get wiser and better. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? (Matthew 6:30) Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? (Matthew 6:30)

25. 7. Provision is not promised for more than enough but always enough

26. We are not promised windfalls We are not promised windfalls nor reduced to hand-outs nor reduced to hand-outs but always faithful sufficiency but always faithful sufficiency As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things. As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things. II Corinthians 6:10 II Corinthians 6:10