Joseph Prince - God's Supply For All Your Needs
This story has a profound answer in the narration of it, in the teaching of it, for all the needs in your life. It teaches you how God supplies. I don’t care whether it’s financial need, whether it is a marital need, whether it’s a emotional need, whether it’s a parenting need, whether it is a physical condition you have. God is gonna show you how he supplies. He’s gonna teach you by showing you, first of all, the ways of the world and then his way of doing it. Are you ready for that? All right, it has a now word for you. You know why I say that so strongly about this miracle? Because this is the only miracle that is repeated four times, in all the four Gospels. All four Gospels, not all the miracles are repeated, okay? Some share a miracle that’s not shared by others, amen, but this is one miracle that’s shared by all the synoptic Gospels and the Gospel of John. All four share the same story.
Now, if God mentions something once, it is significant. If God mentions something twice, it demands twice our attention. If God says something three times, the Bible says a threefold cord is not quickly broken, but if God says it four times, it warrants our fullest attention. We should study it, every nuance, every little word, everything should be studied, amen. Because God is emphasizing it really strong to us, okay? Are you ready? I’m gonna read the whole thing first. It doesn’t take long because it’s just a few verses here. All right, I’m gonna read from verse 4: «Now the Passover, a feast of the Jews, was near. Then Jesus lifted up His eyes, and seeing a great multitude coming toward Him, He said to Philip, 'Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat? '»
Do you think Jesus think the answer is in buying? No, because the next line says: «This He said to test Philip, for,» I love this. «For He Himself knew what He would do». Sometimes, the Lord comes to you and asks you a question. Just know this. He himself knew what he would do. It’s just a test. Why test Philip? Of all the 12 disciples, why did he test Philip? Because this happened near, there was a city belonging to Bethsaida. Nothing is hidden. And Philip is from Bethsaida. So, the test will always happen at home. Home ground first. Your test will happen at home first. So, Philip is a home boy. He’s from Bethsaida. So he asked Philip, «Since you know this place very well, from where shall we buy bread that all these may eat»?
Another thing you need to know about Gospel of John that doesn’t happen in the other writers is this: When they shared this account, only John mentioned names: «Philip, Andrew». And only John mentioned the lad. Do you know, the other accounts of this miracle did not mention the boy who brought five loaves and two fish? They just say, «We have five loaves and two fish,» all of them, as if they got it themself. «We have five loaves and two fish». But John is a personal Gospel. John mentions Nicodemus that the other Gospels don’t mention. It’s very personal. Nicodemus came to Jesus by night, amen.
And then, the next chapter, Jesus met with a woman at the well. It’s a very personal Gospel and here, you have Andrew, you have Philip. So he spoke to Philip first, testing Philip, «For He Himself knew what He would do». Remember this: Whenever the Lord asks you a question, by the way, just to let you know, this is the first place, the very first place, and the only place in the Bible the Lord asks anyone for advice. But yet, he himself knew what he would do, okay? Drop down. «Philip answered Him, 'Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may have a little.'»
Now, 200 denarii. One denar is one day’s wage. So, 200 denarii is about 2/3 annual wage of an average man, laboring man. It’s more than 50%. Two hundred days of work. So, Philip answered in the natural: «Two hundred denarii,» a lot of money, more than half a year’s wage. «Is not sufficient to buy bread for them, that every one of them may have a little». A little. How can we speak these words, «a little,» in the presence of the Great I Am? We say «a little» based on what we see, not based on who we are talking to. So, Philip’s problem is the vastness of the need. They are, you know, he look at it and say, «It’s not sufficient for them, that every one may take a little».
How can you say «a little» in the presence of the one who flung the stars in place. Amen. The one who spoke into nothing and something came into being. How can we say in the presence of the Christ of God, «I only take a little». He said this to test Philip. So, many of us, we have this vastness of need we are conscious of. We look at the vastness of the need and we, internally, we give up. We are looking at the vastness of the need. Are you looking at the vastness of the need of your body for healing? «Well, I know this case, this person had the same condition. That guy, you know, I don’t wanna say what happened to him and I’m very worried because…» You’re looking at the vastness of the need, the bigness of the problem. You’re not looking at Jesus, okay?
That’s Philip’s problem. We are saying the God that we serve, the God that loves us, doesn’t care about how big the problem is. He wanted Philip to see, «Philip, where should we buy bread»? It was a test question. Philip responded, right? «Each one can only take a little». Saying «a little» in the presence of Jesus. With God, a little becomes much. Just like the widow. When Elisha came to her house, she was actually being pursued by the creditors at that point in time because her husband died, left behind a debt, and she has two young boys, and the creditor is coming to collect. And she cannot pay. The creditor is coming to take her boys as slaves. So she cried out to Elisha the prophet and says, «Please help,» and Elisha says, «What do you have in your house? What do you have»?
Many of us, we look at, «You know, I don’t think God wants this, it’s so little, and I don’t think God wants this». We look at the boy with the five loaves and two fish. What is this? Look at the vastness of the need. We despise what little we have. We don’t think God can do much with us. If you have, you know, a talent, a gift, in something, give it to the Lord, amen? So, «One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to Him,» said to Jesus, «'There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two small fish, '» two small fish. Don’t forget, they are two small fish. In this one verse, there are two diminutive terms. One is the lad, the other one is small. Small boy, small fish, five loaves, okay?
«There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two small fish,» but this is a problem with… by the way, before I talk about the problem with Andrew, «What are they among so many»? he asked, let’s talk about the good thing about Andrew. Andrew is a leader. Andrew can spot people, you know that? Are you like that? You see potential in people. Even as a young boy, you see potential. Or do you see problems, do you see mistakes, do you see people coming short, you know? People looking at them in a negative way, but if you look at them, you see potential, potential, potential, you’re a leader. Andrew is like that. He loves to find potential in people. So, what is his problem? «A boy here with five loaves and two small fish, but what are they among so many»?
Now, what are they among so many? So, Philip’s problem is the vastness of the need. Andrew’s problem is the littleness of the supply. He look at the supply, he says, «What are they»? It’s just five bread, pita bread, five loaves, and two small fish. He look at it and he says, «What are they among so many»? So, Philip look at the people, right? Andrew look at what they had, but then he says, «What are they among so many»? So, Philip’s problem is the vastness of the need, Andrew’s problem is the littleness of the supply. Neither of them is looking at Jesus. «You know, our company nowadays, I don’t know what is happening but we are going down a little bit so we’ve got to make sure that this coming year, and all that», hey, bring Jesus into the situation.
«Pastor, you don’t understand the debt I’m in. I’m in debt». That woman I told you just now, Elisha, the creditor was coming because her husband owed them debts. Read that story in 2 Kings. The debtor was coming, oh, by the way, this is what he said: «What do you have»? «Just a pot of oil». And then he says, «Go. Go to all your neighbors and borrow vessels, empty vessels». He actually said, «Borrow not a few». The prophet said, «Borrow not a few». So, the kids, the two kids and her, they brought all the vessels they could have from their neighbors and then she said, «Start pouring. Close the door, start pouring». They started pouring from the little pot of oil and I look up the word «pot» there.
The little jar of oil is the same kind of thing that you have, a bottle, you have in the supermarket, an olive oil bottle. That’s what they had left. So they poured, and the more they poured, they more they poured, the more they poured, the more they poured, it fill up, it fill up, it fill up, it fill up, it fill up. And then finally, the mother asked, «Give me another vessel,» from one of her boys. The boy says, «There’s no more vessel». Listen, the supply is always greater than the need. He didn’t say, «There are five more bottles but I think God stop here, so I think it’s enough already». That never happens. So we talk like Philip, we talk like Andrew. Either we look at the vastness of the need or we look at the littleness of the supply that we have. What we have is little.
«What do you have in your house»? Just a small bottle of oil. «Go, that will do; borrow». And this is what he said, in 2 Kings: «The oil ceased. Then she came and told the man of God. And the man of God says, 'Go, sell the oil and pay your debt.'» Do you think God stops there? Just pay your debt. Many a times we preach this as if it’s just to pay the debt. But look at the rest, «And you and your sons live on the rest». When God gives, God gives more than enough. Not only the debt… the problem was the debt, but not only the debt was paid, there was plenty left over for the rest of their lives to enjoy. They can take a special vacation, hallelujah. This is our God.
Talk about your supply being little, talk about the greatness of the need in your company or the doctor’s report, the vastness of that report, the seriousness of the report, never reckoning on Christ. That’s our problem. Anyway, back to John 6, verse 10: «Then Jesus said, 'Make the people sit down.'» Before a miracle can happen, sit down, rest. Rest. God says, «Sit down». The Lord says, first of all, «Sit down. Make them sit down». People were walking all over the place and all that. You see, we think if there’s order, God’s Spirit cannot flow. No, God’s Spirit still can flow when there’s order, all right?
So the men sat down. «Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number, about five thousand. And Jesus took the loaves, and», in Mark’s account, this is how he said they sat down: «They sat down in ranks». And the word «ranks,» if you go to Mark’s account, yeah, «They sat down in ranks, in hundreds and in fifties». God is saying, «Sit down, rest. And you can rest because of grace. The Passover is near and it’s a feast I want you to enjoy. Sit down and enjoy,» who? The lamb, amen? There’s a basis why Jesus and his disciples were seated down. In fact, Jesus and… leadership, listen. You’ve all got to sit down first before people can sit down.
If you are nervous and you’re stressed out, people cannot learn from you. Go to the beginning of John 6, the beginning. I don’t know if you saw this or not just now. John 6, the very beginning, last one, verse 3: «Jesus went up on the mountain, and there He sat with His disciples». So he sat down first, and his disciples sat down. And the need was great, and they all sat down. I’ve told you before, this is a proper posture for a preacher. It feels so good. It’s not because, you know, you’re getting old. It’s not that. It’s spiritual, and it’s grace, and you feel good, you know?
Okay, back here again, and where you’re all seated. So a position of grace. Before the miracle can happen. That’s why I tell people all the time, «Before you pray for healing or not, let go your stress, let go your worry, let go your anxiety. Have a time you tell God, „God, this is my worry, my care,“ and give it to him,» okay? Are you with me so far? All right, now, go back to the verse. Drop down. «'Make the people sit down.' The men sat down, in number about five thousand. Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks… when He had given thanks…»
Can you imagine the great Creator giving thanks for so little? Giving thanks for what? So little. We complain about a pain we have in another part of our body and we don’t even thank God for the 98% of our body that is well. We say, «Why, God? Why, God?» when God has given us more health. There are people from top to bottom, they are flat. There are people who are in hospitals and you are not, but you have pain. Hey, I know God wants that pain out of your body as well, but start thanking God. Don’t wait until everything is perfectly hunky dory, everything is smooth, and then you start thanking God. You’ll never thank God. Jesus thanked God when… he didn’t look at the vastness of the need, he didn’t look at the littleness of the supply. He looked to God and thanked God for the little. And little became much.
C’mon, the Holy Spirit reminded us again in a future account when Jesus traversed the Sea of Galilee on the other side it says here in verse 23: «However, other boats came from Tiberias, near the place where they ate bread after the Lord had given thanks». Obviously, the Father is so glad about this, that the Father made the Holy Spirit write this down. The miracle happened after the Lord had given thanks. What will happen when you give thanks? Hey, we give thanks to the Lord but why did the Lord give thanks? He is the Lord himself. He’s showing us how we need to receive a miracle, whether it’s a miracle of provision, a miracle of healing, a miracle of parenting for your child, a miracle in your marriage where he turned the water into wine, amen.
«Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks He distributed them to the disciples, and…» So he broke it. Took the loaves, he broke it, and he gave it to the disciples. Now, I like Mark’s account, Mark 6:41. In Mark’s account, it says: «When He had taken the five loaves and the two fish, He looked up to heaven, blessed,» or gave thanks, «and broke the loaves, gave them to His disciples to set before them; and the two fish He divided among them all». This word «gave them to His disciples». «Gave them to His disciples».
In John’s account, it does not portray that way. But in Mark’s account, it is actually in the indefinite tense, all right? Which means what? He kept on giving, he kept on giving. It multiplied in Jesus’s hands because he kept on giving. Only five loaves. How can you keep on giving, right? He kept on giving, he kept on giving. So the disciples would take the basket. By the way, the basket here is the word, there are two Greek words for baskets, two types of basket. One is a hamper basket, one is a picnic, like a picnic basket, a wicker basket, know what’s that? Like you put bananas and fruits and all that. Now, the miracle of the five loaves and two fish here, is the wicker basket, all right, the small basket, the picnic basket. Are you with me so far?
So the disciples come to Jesus and they brought this small basket and Jesus put bread. They go down the row, distribute, and they are to come back to him again. We always come back to him. You can’t say, «Well, I did, though, Pastor Prince. Last week, I went to pray and what…» You always come back to him for fresh supply. And they never come back empty. His hands are always full. I said his hands are always full. He gives lavishly, abundantly. Look at that. Now, he kept on giving. Go back to John 6. It says: «And likewise of the fish, as much as they wanted». «As much as they wanted». Not as God wills.
Now, because it says «as much as they wanted,» we know God’s will is as much as they want. They took as much as they want. The disciples went back when their wicker basket was empty, they went back. By the way, there’s another multiplication of loaves and fishes, seven loaves this time. And in another place, across the Sea of Galilee, the Gentile area, where the demoniac, you know, that area, there was another miracle there. This time, 4,000 men, and Jesus used 7 loaves. So the economy of God is like this. By the way, those baskets there are huge hamper baskets, all right? How much was collected later, from the fragments? Seven baskets full. Seven is a number for the seven Gentile nations.
So that miracle is targeted for the Gentiles. This one, leftover is 12 baskets full, 12 the number of the 12 tribes of Israel. They all apply to us, all the blessings are for us. We are grafted into the olive tree of Israel, you understand, amen? Jesus used five loaves for 5,000 men, all right? For 4,000 people, lesser, he used 7 loaves. Now, God’s economy is like this, all right? The bigger the problem, the easier for God. It takes less to do it bigger. In God’s economy, the bigger the problem, if someone comes to you and say, «You know, that person has cancer or whatever,» you say, «Oh, let’s pray,» and now you pray really hard. Another person, «What’s your problem? Headache? Let’s pray».
So, you’re looking to yourself, not to the Lord. «This one gotta pray hard». What is «pray hard»? Is there a «pray soft»? It’s not hard or soft. It is him. Your prayer has got to, I mean, just a simple word, «Receive it now in Jesus’s name. Touch, Lord, amen,» 'cause you’re looking to him. That’s prayer. Don’t turn prayer into a work, amen? So in God’s economy 4,000 men, lesser men, 7 loaves; 5,000 more, less… more loaves, sorry. For 4,000, 7 loaves, takes more. For 5,000 men, takes less. What God is saying is this: «I don’t function by the economy of the world».
By the way, he took the bread, he broke it before he multiplied. He gave thanks, then he broke it. Then he distributed it to the disciples, right? And then in his hands, he just multiplied. Now, watch this. God’s mathematics now, okay? The loaves when they were divided, they were increased in his hands, right? They were multiplied when it was subtracted from his hand, okay? Increase in division is not the economy of the world. Multiplication by subtraction. So every time you come to serve God on Sunday and you say, «Oh, Sunday is so precious,» and all that, know this. You think it’s subtraction. God is thinking multiplication for you. God is thinking addition for you.
«Pastor Prince, I’m so tired, you know, but I will still serve the Lord». You tell the Lord that, he’s gonna renew your strength, renew your youth like the eagle’s. Don’t be found sitting down there one day and saying, «God told me years ago to do this,» and someone else is doing that in front there, and you’re longing for, «Oh man, look at what God has done for that person. God has increased that person». It was meant to be you but then God chose another person because the person’s willing to say Yes. Whenever you serve the Lord, whether it’s strength, giving money, whatever it is, God will always return back. Even the fishermen’s boat, the whole night, the same lake, the same place, found nothing, caught nothing. They were washing their net to pass the time, to maximize the time, whatever. Jesus stepped into the boat, they allowed Jesus to have the boat and after that, Jesus gave them a net-breaking, boat-sinking load of fish in the same lake.
When you give to Jesus things become different. And whatever he asks of you to do, even money to sow, to give, your tithes, your offerings, it’s never subtraction. It’s multiplication by subtraction. It is increase by division. Can I have a good «Amen,» church, hallelujah? Oh man, I’ve preached myself happy, hallelujah. In God’s economy, when you give, it comes back to you much more, amen? Are you blessed? You learn some things here? Are you looking at the vastness of the need, whether it’s your body, your family, your marital situation. Whether it is even your emotional state, are you addicted to some prescription drugs. No one knows about this but you know you are addicted and one way out, whether it’s alcohol, whatever it is, is to acknowledge the need is beyond you.
When you look at the vastness of the need, it can overwhelm you. As leaders and pastors, we are so easily overwhelmed by the vastness of the need but, hey, stop looking at the vastness of the need, stop looking at the littleness of what we have, and start looking to him, our inexhaustible supply, amen. The King of kings, the Lord of lords, our Lord Jesus. And don’t forget, the reason all these things can flow, John tells us, is because the Passover is near. The righteous outlet for a holy God, a thrice holy God, to bless us with more than enough, is because his Son will pay for all our sins.
So, today, if anyone tells you your sin is holding the blessing back, all right, you know it’s a doctrine that’s not from God. We feast on the roasted lamb. Roasted means he was under the fires of God’s judgment and we feast on him. That’s food for us. I said that’s food for us. And not only food for us, it’s also supply. The supply is based on the Passover was near. It’s like the Holy Spirit remind them that God will supply all their needs.