Peace of Mind, Needs

 Your needs will be met

I will be honest with you. I feel like we have already discussed this topic quite a bit in the past and was not really thinking about doing it again. However, I do not know why, because of the Pandemic, or if someone specific needs to hear it, we are going to revisit the topic again.

Ever receive a large financial gift? Perhaps tax time rebate? Something that you did not have nor counted on. Now, you look at your account, and instead of worrying about the next bill, you have peace of mind. Why? The account has more than enough to cover everything. The problem is, this is usually a temporary situation. God is not temporary.

Sometimes we forget who we are, and we fear. But God says, fear not, your needs will be met. As a child of God, adopted by the Spirit of God, an heir to all things that is, ever was, or will be. The God that created all, is now your daddy. Romans 8 declares:

"The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him." Romans 8:16-17

Just a little later we read this.

"He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died more than that, who was raised who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written,

“For your sake, we are being killed all day long;
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:32-39

We are now children of God. As a child of God, nothing can separate us from the love of our Father. NOTHING! However, we still live in the world. From time to time, we allow the things of the world to creep in. During this Pandemic, we have added stress and worry. Used to be we would start concentrating more on how we can get ahead, or make more money in our Jobs. Now we fear for our jobs. So many companies and businesses closing for good. We worry about paying the rent or mortgage. We worry about paying the electric bill. Can we afford that new car? ETC. Where is our next meal coming from? 

We get so caught up in the stuff of this world, that we forget our Father is GOD. When you forget that very important fact, you can allow the same fear that everyone in the world has. What is next? What will tomorrow bring? How will things work out? What must we do?

Jesus tells us how we should pray. He gives us what has become known as the "Our Father" Prayer. However, lets actually look at what Jesus said. First, he did not say, just recite this prayer multiple times during service and all will be fine. As a matter of fact, right before he gave it to us, he said this in Matthew 6:6-8

"But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him."

Then he said gave us the "Our Father" Prayer.

"Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil."

After this manner pray. "Our Father, which is in Heaven, hallowed be your name." You are to recognize God. Acknowledge HE is the God of gods, Lord of lords. Honor his Godliness. Do not just use him as a symbol or an icon of religion. Recognize that HE is GOD. That you are talking to him as you would your earthly father.

"Your kingdom come, your will be done in earth, as it is in heaven." In other words, recognize that it is God's will that is the most important. Not what you feel like. Or the way you think things should be, but God's will. All is His, both here and in Heaven. He has a plan and a purpose for you and for your life.

"Give us this day our daily bread." Meet our daily needs. Ask God, of whom Jesus just told us "your Father knoweth what things ye have need of before ye ask him." So just ask Him. He already has a plan. He really doesn't need your help.

"And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors." Ask for forgiveness of your daily sins. Yes, you still sin daily. Ask Him to forgive you. While you are asking Him to forgive you, forgive anyone in your life that may need forgiveness. If they ask for it or not. Remember what Jesus said while dying on the Cross? Luke 22:34

"Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do."

You have been adopted into the Family of God. You have received the same Spirit that was in Jesus, and are now equal to Jesus. You are a child of God. Whenever someone does something against you, they do not truly know what they are doing, or whom they are doing it to. So forgive them so that God can forgive you for your Sins. Just after the Prayer "outline." that Jesus gave us. He said this:

"For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."

How can we expect God to forgive us if we are holding on to anger or ill will towards someone for doing something stupid towards us? You are a child of God. Why are you worried about your neighbor saying something that is most likely not even true about you. Or why worry about your co-worker playing games trying to get ahead. You do not rely on mankind. You rely on God. Do you not think he is more than capable of getting you that promotion if it fits into His plans? Do you think He is not willing to show the truth? There is nothing that your neighbor, co-worker, and even boss, can do that will affect God's plans. You are part of those plans now. So why worry?

"And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil." Help us to recognize the snares of the Devil. Teach us the ways we should go. Be with us and keep us safe. Not only from the world, but in some cases, from ourselves as well.

Basically, Jesus tells us to pray to our Father. Realize and give Him credit for being older and wiser than us. Give ourselves over to Him. Ask daily for the forgiveness of our sins we commit, and forgive those that do stupid things toward us. Back to Matthew 6

"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Matthew 6:19-21

You could even say it this way?

"But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you."

God is not really all that worried about how much "stuff" you have. He is more concerned with you and your soul. He is more concerned with how you treat others. Are you sharing the Gospel? Are you sharing His word? Are you doing His work?

If we try to do it on our own, we may succeed in a worldly sense. We may become successful. We may get a lot of stuff. But remember what Jesus warned us of in Luke 12:15

"And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”

Jesus tells us that we should not worry about such things. Again, Your Father knows what you have need. He said this.

"And he said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest? Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you.

Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom."

The world doesn't like the fact we are God's children. They do not like the fact we do not have to worry. Jesus said a few times, that the world hated him, therefore, being a child of God, and doing our Father's will, will make the world hate us as well. But we must not take thought of what the world thinks. We are in the world not of it. We need to rely on God Himself. He will meet our needs. Mark 11:22-24

"And Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God. Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours."

Think about that. This is a promise, given to us by Jesus himself. And in Luke 11, Jesus says it this way.

"And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"

We have nothing to fear folks. Zero. As long as we are doing the right thing. Seeking first the Kingdom of God. Seeking God. Seeking Jesus. Doing His work. There is nothing that can separate us from the love of God. 

How do you seek first the Kingdom of God? How do you get to know who God really is, and how do you learn who Jesus really is? How do you grow in Faith? Simple. Read God's Word. Get a Bible if you do not have one. Read it. Ask God to show you what he wants you to see. Find a Church that is teaching the truth. Ask God to lead you to one. The one he wants you in.

Get knowledge. Feed your spirit. Grow in faith. Then ask God, what would you have me do? It may be helping out in a food pantry. It may be as simple as sharing the word. It may be that you should become a Pastor. Everyone has different strengths and weaknesses. Everyone is different. But God knows who you are. He knows what you are capable of. He already has a plan and a purpose for your life. Find out what it is.

As for all this other stuff? God knows what you have needed before you do. He knows before you ask. The same Spirit that raised Lazarus from the dead, is in you! Do you really think that the Spirit is unable to find a way to feed you? To make sure you have a roof over your head? Do you think, as Jesus said, we know how to give good things to our children, and we are evil, imagine how much more God, being Love itself, will give his children?

Fear not. Be of good cheer, God is your Daddy. Your needs will be met. Next time we will be discussing the fact that God still heals. Why worry about sickness and disease? A little comforting I think during a pandemic. Until next time, be blessed, be a blessing, and Jesus Is Lord!