SEARCH 168 – GOD MEETS OUR NEEDS

Key Verse

Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
— Ephesians 5:20

Food and Water (Thanksgiving)

1 Kings 17:1-16; Matthew 14:15-21
  • Deuteronomy 8:3
  • Job 23:12;
  • Jeremiah 15:16

Thanksgiving Day is a day appointed for the giving of thanks to the One who gives “life, and breath, and all things” (Acts 17:25). Christians recognize that God is the provider of spiritual as well as physical nourishment. This realization results in every day being a day of thankfulness to God.

QUESTIONS

  1. During the first part of the famine, ravens brought Elijah food and he drank from the brook Cherith. What did he have to do before receiving this provision and what can we learn from his actions?
  2. When circumstances change in our Christian life, we should realize that God won’t lead us down a deadend street. Analyze and write what Elijah did after the brook dried up. Then write what could have happened had he not followed God’s leading.
  3. In considering the first two questions, we can conclude that it is vital to obey the directions of the Lord. In so doing, we can then have genuine praise and thanksgiving for what He has done and know that He will supply our need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19). A good illustration of needs being supplied is in the Matthew portion of our text. When Jesus saw that the multitude was hungry, He commanded His disciples, “Give ye them to eat.” But the disciples were in a dilemma. They did not have enough food to feed 5,000 men plus women and children. There was a lad who had five loaves and two fishes, and this was taken to the Lord. What did Jesus do before giving the food to the disciples to distribute among the people? What lesson can we derive from this?
  4. Referring to our physical needs, Jesus said, “Take therefore no thought for the morrow . . .” (Matthew 6:34). What can we do to keep from being overly concerned about our physical needs? Support your answer with Scripture.
  5. Man cannot survive long without eating, yet many are trying to live spiritually without a proper spiritual diet. List some items that you consider an important part of a healthy spiritual diet.
  6. Read 1 Timothy 4:4-5. Why is it important to pray over our food before eating?
  7. Referring to our key verse, and looking beyond the obvious blessings of food, clothing and shelter, what are some of the things that might be included in the “all things” for which we are to give thanks?
THEME THOUGHTS
With his very first breath, the newborn infant begins to grope through the maze of existence, seeking to satisfy his need for warmth and food. Every sense seems to be one of desire. But as he grows, the average person soon realizes his complex nature requires more than gratification of physical needs. He becomes aware of a need for love, for security, for acceptance, for inner peace—the principal ingredients that bring fulfillment and direction in life. The search for the satisfaction of all these needs becomes a predominant drive, a quest with only one true solution. That solution is found in God—the only One who can and will meet all of these needs. It is this thought which provides the theme for this quarter. Each lesson should be centered on the fact that God cares for us in every detail of our lives. He has promised to provide our physical needs, but even more importantly, He is concerned with our spiritual needs. With this thought in mind, we begin the series by focusing on the fact that God has provided mercy, thus opening the way for a personal relationship between God and man. Once that relationship has been established through the experience of salvation, the way is open for God to supply the other needs of those who trust in Him. As you study the succeeding lessons, use the Scripture, “All things work together for good to them that love God” Romans 8:28). We must realize that God, in His infinite wisdom, knows what is best for us. What we see as a need may, in God’s sight, be something which would not prove to be for our good. Accepting that verse as the basis for the quarter will help us see that true happiness is based on God’s control of the circumstances of our lives. We will recognize that as our trust is in Him, our needs truly will be supplied in the manner He knows is best.

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