Mystery of Provision

“And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.

And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me. And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son. And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah-jireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the Lord it shall be seen.”

Genesis 22:8,12-14

Abraham experienced God as Jehovah Jireh (The Lord My Provider) when he obeyed God's instruction to him to sacrifice his old-age son, Isaac, on one of the Mountains in the land of Moriah. Just imagine! He waited for the child of promise for decades. He was a hundred years old before receiving this promise. He has joyfully nurtured his son for years when God demanded Isaac as a sacrifice to Him. Sometimes, we may have to make sacrifices that seem hard to make, for us to experience God's unprecedented provisions.

“And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, unto whom the word of the Lord came, saying, Israel shall be thy name: And with the stones he built an altar in the name of the Lord: and he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two measures of seed. And he put the wood in order, and cut the bullock in pieces, and laid him on the wood, and said, Fill four barrels with water, and pour it on the burnt sacrifice, and on the wood. And he said, Do it the second time. And they did it the second time. And he said, Do it the third time. And they did it the third time. And the water ran round about the altar; and he filled the trench also with water.”

1 Kings 18:31-35

“And it came to pass in the mean while, that the heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode, and went to Jezreel.”

1 Kings 18:45

Israel was experiencing a great famine because there was no rain for about three and a half years. Water was scarce, and food was unavailable because of the drought in the land. You will notice in the above scriptures that Prophet Elijah had to sacrifice the scarce commodity by instructing the Israelites to pour water on the altar. It was after then that the rain was released over Israel.

In other words, whenever you need anything, the secret of provision is sowing.

Whenever you need:

friendship, be friendly

mangoes, sow mango seeds

apples, sow apple seeds

money, sow money

clothes, sow the one you have

anything, sow anything you have!

SIMPLY PUT, THE SECRET OF PROVISION IS IN SOWING.

In Year 2014, I had an appointment of prayers with one of the generals in the body of Christ. I was inspired to take along with me a seed, knowing that it was a privilege to have such an appointment. It was an opportunity to be blessed. I dropped the seed, a brand new suit for him in his personal secretary's office while he went for a meeting after the prayers. A couple of hours later, I was given an unexpected brand new suit along with a cash gift by someone else.

Paul was speaking to the saints in Philippi.

“Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.”

Philippians 4:17

The Philippian Church was generous. The members kept sending provisions for Paul's need

“But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity. Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction. Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only. But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God. But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 4:10,14-15,18-19

This was what brought about the prayer of provision that is often claimed by many Christians today.

One of the quotes of Pastor Tony Olukoyede during the '4 Streams of Income Seminars' is, "Money is not real! It is just a shadow!! Create value, and money will follow." That is, you need to constantly create value for constant cash flow.