Do I Need This?

Do I Need This?

Scripture: Psalm 73:25 – 26 “Whom have I in heaven but thee? And there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. My flesh and my heart faileth: But God is the strength of my heart, and my portion forever.” KJV

Truth:  We know that God owns everything.  The things we have in our possession belong to God.   God knows our wants, needs and desires.  So, why worry or sweat over obtaining material things when we are going to throw it away.  

Americans throw away nearly 1 million pounds of materials per person every year.   We produce over 250 trillion pounds of wastewater.  If the entire world live like we do, we would need three earths to live on. 

Americans throw away enough garbage everyday to fill 63,000 garbage trucks.   The wisest man simple put it this way “Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless! Why, because there’s a new Kingdom is coming.  A new heaven and earth is coming.  

So, I ask the question again, why sweat over the material stuff.  We have to ask ourselves when anxiety sets when you desire something more on this earth than heaven, “Do I need this?”   Will this glorify God?   Examining what we acquire in our life or purchase is not being cheap. This is worship at it’s best!  This is a lifestyle pleasing to the Lord.

The psalmist Asaph almost slipped by looking at world and considered them more blessed than he was.  He almost lost his Kingdom vision and resulted in measuring himself based on the world standards.  Today, we look at someone and called them blessed because they drive a nice car or the live in a nice house or perhaps they wear nice cloths.  These are all external things in which will be all thrown away.  But as Believers of Jesus Christ, we have to focus and maintain the Kingdom mindset that there’s more to than this life and material possessions.   I must stress that point that the Kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Roman 14:17.

I have discovered that we based our needs on what others have acquired for themselves.  Our youth are drawn to the life style of the rich and famous based on what they see on the music videos, YouTube and on the streets.  

The new fashion statement is based on what a famous person is wearing.    Asaph found himself in the same trap; looking at what world offered instead of what God is offering.  God offer salvation, serenity and sanctification to the saints.

Do you really want God and what God is offering?  Unfortunately, based on the actions of the world, the answer is no.  The world is going to be indicted for the actions of the wicked when Jesus comes back.   Are you going to say, Lord, I just had to have that ____________ you fill in the blanks.

What are you basing your needs on? Is it what you see? Perhaps what others have around you?  Could it be what you hear or what others are telling you?  Asaph was enticed by what he saw and heard from those who seemed to be doing better in life than he was doing.  He was judging and comparing his life experience according to others who wasn’t on the same path he was on.

Enticed by the Attraction of an Allusion of Prosperity

Asaph couldn’t resist the allure of the life style of the wicked.  He was enticed by an allusion of their prosperity. 

He listed the attractions of the allusion that made him almost slip:

·      V4. They have no struggles – this is very attractive.

·      V4. Their bodies are healthy and strong – They looked like the Rock in his new movie (Pain and Gain). – Ladies may say this is very attractive.

·      V5. They are free from the burden common to man; - They had to be rick and in power.

·      V5. They are not plagued by human ills. – No high blood pressure, no diabetes, no heart disease, no cancer.  This is very attractive.

·      V12 Always carefree, they increase in wealth – Very attractive.

Even though how attractive these may be to us and we say I need this lifestyle; but it’s all an allusion.  What seems to be the good life will soon be completely swept away (verse 19).

Apasph reminds us in verse 20, it’s a dream and we can treat them as fantasies.  Don’t be enticed by the attractions of allusions this world offers.  Don’t be fooled by the devil.  He tried it with Jesus in the wilderness but Jesus did not fall for his tricks.

Lured by the Lord to Safety and Salvation in the Sanctuary of God

Until we realized all we need is the Lord and His presence in our life, we will always be trying to fulfill the appetite of the flesh. When Asaph entered into the sanctuary of God; he realized the beauty of the Lord.  He realized he had everything he needed in the Lord.  He did not need money. He did not need wealth and prosperity.  All he needed was to be in the Sanctuary of God.    

God’s presence and holiness should lure us to his sanctuary.  Today, people run away from the church instead of seeking after God presence in the Sanctuary.   Vickie Winans wrote a song, “As long as I got King Jesus, I don’t need nobody else”!

The God in us should be so attractive that we draw others to the Lord. Our lifestyle should attract nonbelievers to come to church. They should be able say, is that him who used to do that and look at him now. 

In verse 22, Asaph testifies how used to be senseless and ignorant.  He was a brute beast before God.   But it’s something about being in the presence of God how He transforms a beast to a better man.  He transforms a street woman to sanctified, Holy Ghost fill sister.

In his presence, there’s safety.  (Psalm 91:1) he that dwelleth in the secret place of the most high shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

Asaph was enticed by the world but the Lord lured him into the Sanctuary where he found satisfaction in the Sovereign Lord.

 

Satisfaction in the Sovereign Lord

It’s my prayer that we become to the point as Christians that we get to the maturity level where we can say “there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.”  Do I need this; what the world is offering?  If I can be satisfied in the Sovereign Lord, he will take care my every need.  Asaph learned to be satisfied in the Lord and disregard what the world was offering.   If we can get to the point where we don’t desire riches but the Redeemer, when we don’t desire fame but the Father of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, when we don’t desire money but the Maker of Heaven and earth, we will be able to enter in the Lord’s Rest.    

 

Satisfaction In the Sovereign Lord says, “my flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.   

Whom have I in heaven but you? I desire nothing but you. My heart and flesh may fail but you are the strength of my heart. You are my portion forever.   

“Whatever things were gain, I have counted loss for the sake of my Reward more than that I’m counting everything a loss compared to this to knowing Christ my Lord!”  Shane & Shane My portion.

Application:  Seek the Face before you seek his hand and don’t be distracted by what the world offer but the Kingdom of God is providing now and forever. .   

I don’t need…  

I need nothing but you!

It’s All-Good!

It’s All-Good!

Scriptures: And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose (Keep on reading to verse 39).  Romans 8:28 - 39

Truth:    We are going to experience all types of hardships but good is going to use every experience of our life for His Glory.

In the recent news, we have seen mass killings, unjust killings, children being killed on the streets of Chicago, Government Shutdown, Financial structure crumble, Stock Market taking a dive, war and rumors of wars, massive job lay offs and so on.  

Jesus said in Matthew 24:6-14

You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come.

⁷ Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places.

⁸ All these are the beginning of birth pains.

⁹ “Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me.

¹⁰ At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other,

¹¹ and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people.

¹² Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold,

¹³ but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.

¹⁴ And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

All these things were foretold in the Scriptures.    In the past, I preached a series called “Be on Guard”.   There were four sermons in this series:

1. Be Careful!  - 

2. Watch the Signs 

3. Be on Alert 

4. Stand Guard! – 1 Corinthians 16:13  – Jesus is a night watchman over our souls.  When you are on Guard, you "detect, deter, observe and report".   Often time you have to patrol your area to determine if there any threats in your life.  

As Believers, we will encounter trials and tribulations in life. Yeshua, Jesus declared that we will encounter pain for His name sake.

We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God (Acts 14:22). 

I posted on Face Book what I heard from the spirit of the Lord:

"It's a time for change".

When everything change in your life, it's time for you to change.

If your health change, change your activities.

If your finance change, change your lifestyle.

If people change in your life, change your relationships.

If your environment change, change your location.

Change is coming! Some good and some bad. But it will be a change worth while to mature the saints in the body of Christ.

It's All Good!

Often times we us Romans 8:28 out of context; everything is working for my good. That’s not what the Scripture say.   All (Colossians 1:15) things are working out for the furtherance and completion of God’s design and our destiny.

Have you ever been through hard times? While you were going through the storm, it did not seem that your predicament / situation was going to get better.

That was only half of the story. 

 But after the storm is over and when you make it through, you look back and give God the praise because he worked it out for your good.  After the storm, you are able to discern the complete picture and God's revelation in your life.

If it had not been for that situation, I would of wreck myself.

If it had not been for that hurt ache, I wouldn’t know how to deal with this current pain.

If it wasn’t for that break up, I would of married the wrong person.

If it weren’t for my Xs, I would know how to treat my current blessing.

It’s all-good.  

The Apostle Paul said, “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God" (Romans 8:18- 21).

Don’t minimize your sufferings because your future reward will outweigh all present sufferings.    It’s all-good.

The Apostle Paul life included beatings, imprisonment, shipwrecks, assassination attempts and chronic illness.  But he counted all joy for the sake of the Kingdom. 

An Olympic athlete will endure years of eight-hour practice sessions and much discipline and pain for the goal of winning a gold medal.  Our life  here on earth may consist of many difficulties and challenges but the end result will make them seem worthwhile.   

That’s why I can say, It’s all-good. 

There’s painful progress in Jesus

·      James 1:2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds. Have you been through all types of trials?

·      Matthew 24:9  - You will be hated and persecuted for Jesus

·      Matthew 10:22 – All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.

·      2 Timothy 3:12  - In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted

·      Matthew 5:11 - 12– Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the sane way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

God Owns Everything!

Day 1

God Owns Everything!

Scripture: Psalm 24:1 “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.” 

Truth: As much as we may think that we own the things in our possession.  If you believe this is so, this first day is the day we will get it straight.   God owns everything! We might be the deed or titleholder for something we purchase and paid off does not mean we are the sole owner.   Everything belongs to God!  If you are able to get this truth correct, you are well on your way living well on earth.  

Understanding that God owns everything is a having a Kingdom Mindset and living in Kingdom Principles. 

(“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is hear”) this is what Jesus preached. Matthew 4:17