Did Jesus Need Support?

Klint Ostermann • May 5, 2014

As I was preparing a sermon that I delivered to Faith Baptist Church in Wichita Falls ( you can hear it here ), I looked up Bible verses to back up the case for raising support for missionaries. I read these verses in Luke 8:1-3

Soon afterward he went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with him, and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, and Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s household manager, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their means . (emphasis mine)

These verses caused me to question why Jesus, who fed over 5,000 one time and over 7,000 another with just a few loaves and fishes, would need anyone to provide for Him. The Lord Jesus had proven His power and sufficiency in the lives of each who followed Him. And yet He did not miraculously provide for the need of the group for their daily bread. Why didn’t Jesus miraculously provide food for His party?

I believe that the primary reason why Jesus did not miraculously provide for His followers, thus making the group dependent on the generosity of these faithful women followers is that it gave others the opportunity and privilege of having a part in His ministry.

Vicki and I are going to be the ones physically in Uganda doing the work, but everyone that supports us either prayerfully or financially are a very active and real part of the work we will do in Uganda. We simply could not do the work there without people supporting us back home.

As silly as it is to have to say, ministry costs money. Some choose to overlook this fact or ignore it, but even our Lord’s mission on earth cost money. Paul makes it clear that people that are out sharing the gospel should be supported in 1 Corinthians 9. Jesus and His followers had physical needs which people were privileged to participate in meeting.

The very Jesus which missionaries exist to proclaim lived off the benevolence of others. Shouldn’t the followers of Jesus also be able to follow their master in this? Would you pray about supporting Vicki and I on our mission through Heart for Uganda? If you would like to, you can go to www.heartforuganda.com/donate.

Philippians 4:17 “N ot that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit.”

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Last week, during our West Africa In-Field Mentoring in Senegal, we witnessed God’s transformative power in remarkable ways. I’m excited to share this story with you. In-Field Mentoring involves coaching mentees as they deliver sessions for community training. As mentors, we guide them beforehand, evaluate their presentations, determine if they earn credit for the session, and provide constructive feedback for improvement. Occasionally, a mentee struggles, requiring us to step in to ensure the audience receives accurate information. This happened on the second day during a session titled “Consider Your Ways, for You Are the Temple of God.” This powerful session often leads to repentance and salvation, but the mentee struggled to convey its message. I stepped in to lead the session, and as I spoke, I felt the Holy Spirit moving in the room. In Senegal, where 97% of the population is Muslim, sharing the Gospel openly can be met with resistance, and attendees have left trainings after such presentations. Yet, I felt led to share the Gospel boldly. Praise God, six men raised their hands to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior! We guided them through a prayer of repentance and connected them with a local pastor for discipleship. During the break, a Muslim woman from a closed Northwest African country approached me. She had traveled to Senegal specifically for this training and shared that the Gospel message I presented needed to reach her homeland, where such teachings are unheard. She revealed that for years, she had suffered from a debilitating nerve condition in her leg, impairing her ability to walk. She had been praying for healing for years, yet she found no relief—until the first day of our training, when God miraculously healed her! Overwhelmed, she felt something stir in her heart during the Gospel presentation but didn’t fully understand what was happening in her. She even said she wanted to become a Farming God’s Way trainer. Her country is deeply hostile to Christianity. Apostasy can carry a death sentence, though no known cases of this has occurred in recent years. Converts face severe risks, including family rejection, loss of livelihood, or exile. Extremist groups further endanger those who leave Islam. We provided her with a Bible and connected her with missionaries working in her country. Through Farming God’s Way, someone from a closed nation, who might never have heard the Gospel, encountered God’s love. Additionally, two Peace Corps workers from Hawaii and California attended the training. Afterward, they approached our team with questions about Jesus. Missionaries shared the Gospel with them and gave them Bibles. God is moving mightily through Farming God’s Way, drawing people to Him in unexpected and beautiful ways. Thank you for supporting this work that is transforming lives!