Tax Money in a Fish's Mouth!
God is able to do the impossible and provide for us in supernatural ways, and we can trust in His power and ability to fix any problem.
David Wilkerson emphasizes that God can restore what seems lost or dead in our lives with just a single word, using the story of Peter finding a coin in a fish's mouth to illustrate God's miraculous provision. When faced with financial troubles, Jesus instructed Peter to fish, demonstrating that God can perform the impossible and provide for our needs in unexpected ways. This miracle serves as a reminder that God is capable of fixing any problem, just as He has done in the past with figures like Elijah and during the feeding of the 5,000. Wilkerson encourages believers to trust in God's ability to provide, affirming that nothing is impossible for Him. The sermon reassures us that in times of need, we can rely on God's miraculous power.
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God can restore whatever has seemed dead in our lives with just a single word. Are you having financial problems, unable to pay your bills? So it was with the Lord's disciples.
When tax time came around, Christ and his disciples had no money to pay the needed amount. So how did the Lord fix the situation? He sent Peter out to fish. "Go to the sea, cast in a hook, and take the fish that comes up first. And when you have opened its mouth, you will find a piece of money; take that and give to them for Me and you" (Matthew 17:27).
I can only imagine what Peter must have thought: "Tax money in a fish's mouth? This I've got to see. I've been a fisherman all my life and I've seen a lot of things inside fish -- worms, hooks, seaweed. But I've never seen a coin." Yet, when Peter reeled in the first flopping fish, he opened its mouth to find a gleaming coin -- enough to pay their taxes, just as Jesus had said.
Why did the Holy Spirit move upon the gospel writers to record this story? And why didn't Jesus just take up an offering, or send the disciples out to work for a day to bring in wages for the tax?
I believe Jesus moved supernaturally here because he wanted to prove to his children that he will do the impossible for us. He can fix any problem! He wanted us to know he is the same God who fed Elijah with bread and meat delivered by ravens (1 Kings 17:6); kept a widow's barrel of meal from dwindling during a drought (1 Kings 17:14-16); and fed a crowd of 5,000 with a few fishes and loaves of bread (Matthew 14:19-21).
God knows that at certain times in our lives only a miracle will do and he wants to assure us he can do the impossible for us, in any situation. Beloved, believe God to provide for you in every area of your life because nothing is impossible with him.
Sermon Outline
- I. God's Supernatural Provision
- A. Jesus' solution to the disciples' financial problem
- B. The miraculous fish with a coin in its mouth
- C. The Holy Spirit's purpose in recording this story
- II. God's Power to Fix Any Problem
- A. Jesus' ability to do the impossible
- B. Examples of God's supernatural provision in the Bible
- III. Our Faith in God's Provision
- A. Believing God to provide for us in every area of life
- B. The importance of trusting in God's power and ability
Key Quotes
“God can restore whatever has seemed dead in our lives with just a single word.” — David Wilkerson
“He can fix any problem! He wanted us to know he is the same God who fed Elijah with bread and meat delivered by ravens (1 Kings 17:6); kept a widow's barrel of meal from dwindling during a drought (1 Kings 17:14-16); and fed a crowd of 5,000 with a few fishes and loaves of bread (Matthew 14:19-21).” — David Wilkerson
“Beloved, believe God to provide for you in every area of your life because nothing is impossible with him.” — David Wilkerson
Application Points
- We can trust in God's power and ability to provide for us in every area of life.
- Faith is the key to experiencing God's supernatural provision and ability to fix any problem.
- We should not be limited by our circumstances, but instead, we should trust in God's ability to do the impossible.