Want or Need?

For they that are after the flesh mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. Rom 8:5 

For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 1 John 2:16 

       I was dwelling on scriptures about the flesh one day and began considering how often we ‘feed’ our flesh as opposed to ‘feeding’ our spirit.  That led me to wonder, “Of all the times I fulfill my ‘needs’ how many are actual needs as opposed to wants?”  Logic says that which you feed will grow stronger, larger.  If I want to increase my spirit man, then I must feed him more often.  Still, I was curious how often I feed my flesh.

       So, I gave myself a test day.  Everything I was about to do/watch/eat/drink/dwell on/go/buy/etc, I asked myself first, “Is this truly a need or is it a want.”  For example, I was a little hungry.  I went to get a cookie.  Hmm… want or need?  First- I didn’t have to eat because it wouldn’t be long until my next meal.  Second- why a cookie full of sugar and chocolate?  Surprisingly I found out that my wants far surpass my actual needs.  It’s an interesting test.  Try it and see what results you get.

       PS- This doesn’t mean I’m against satisfying wants; it’s just a an experience to learn more about ourselves.

But God…

       Many of the Psalms are attributed to David who was a shepherd turned king of the nation Israel.  He is very open about discouragement, oppression, despair, injustice, suffering, sin, trials and basically all the struggles of life.  Despite this, it always seems that he has a ‘but’ at the end of his ramblings, and those ‘but’s proclaim the greatness of God.  So, I decided to look up the ‘but God’s of the Bible.  Read them and think about what they say about our God.

But God came to Abimelech… Gen. 20:3

…but God suffered him not to hurt me. Gen 31:7 ASV

…but God shall be with you, and bring you again unto the land of your fathers. Gen. 48:21

…ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good,… Gen. 50:20

But God led the people about,… Ex. 13:18

…but God deliver him into his hand;… Ex. 21:13

But God clave an hollow place that was in the jaw, and there came water thereout;… Jud. 15:9

…but God delivered him not into his hand. 1 Sam. 23:14

But God said unto me,… 1 Chr. 28:3

…for the battle is not yours, but God's. 2 Chr. 20:15

But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave:… Ps. 49:15

But God will shoot at them;… Ps. 64:7 ASV

But God shall wound the head of his enemies,… Ps. 68:21

…but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever. Ps. 73:26

But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another. Ps. 75:7

…but God overthroweth the wicked for their wickedness. Pr. 21:12

…but God shall rebuke them,… Is. 17:13

But God prepared a worm when the morning rose the next day,… Jon. 4:7

…who can forgive sins but God only? Mark 2:7, Luke 5:21

…but God knoweth your hearts:… Luke 16:15

…but God was with him, Acts 7:9

…but God hath shewed me… Acts 10:28

But God raised him from the dead: Acts 13:30

But God commendeth his love toward us,… Rom. 5:8

But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise;… 1 Cor. 1:27

But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit:… 1 Cor 2:10

…but God gave the increase. 1Cor 3:6,7

…but God shall destroy both it and them… 1 Cor. 6:13

…but God hath called us to peace. 1 Cor. 7:15

…but God is faithful,… 1 Cor. 10:13

…But God has put the body together… 1 Cor. 12:24 ISV

But God gives the plant the form he wants it to have,…1 Cor. 15:38 ISV

…but God gave it to Abraham by promise. Gal. 3:18

…but God is one. Gal. 3:20

But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross… Gal. 6:14

But God, who is rich in mercy,… Eph. 2:4

…but God had mercy on him;… Php. 2:27

…but God, which trieth our hearts. 1 Thes. 2:4

…but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit. 1 Thes. 4:8

Sermonizing

       I enjoy a good sermon, but to me a good sermon is one that the Spirit of God wants spoken.  Years ago when I was in Bible College, my homiletics teacher made a wise statement that I’ve never forgotten.  Give the right message to the right people at the right time.  This is near impossible for man as we cannot know what an entire congregation needs to hear at any particular time, but not so with God.  God knows what each person in a congregation needs to hear at any time.  Paul wrote:

Dear brothers, even when I first came to you I didn’t use lofty words and brilliant ideas to tell you God’s message.  …  And my preaching was very plain, not with a lot of oratory and human wisdom, but the Holy Spirit’s power was in my words, proving to those who heard them that the message was from God.  I did this because I wanted your faith to stand firmly upon God, not on man’s great ideas. 1 Cor. 1-5 TLB

       There are a lot of ‘great’ speakers out there who try to make us feel good about life, ourselves, and they motivate us to… something.  They use lofty words and brilliant ideas to stir us up.  They ensure their words are written for the best possible response, so that people enjoy them and want to hear more- and buy their books to read!  This is the world’s wisdom.  In contrast, Paul spoke in the power of the Holy Spirit, He who knows all, to encourage men not to rely on themselves or on another man, but to rely solely on God.

We speak wisdom, however, among them that are fullgrown: yet a wisdom not of this world, nor of the rulers of this world, who are coming to nought: …But unto us God revealed them through the Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For who among men knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of the man, which is in him? even so the things of God none knoweth, save the Spirit of God. But we received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is from God; that we might know the things that were freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Spirit teacheth; combining spiritual things with spiritual words. Now the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him; and he cannot know them, because they are spiritually judged. 1 Cor. 2:6-14  ASV

       The first believers spoke not in the wisdom of the world nor as the leaders of their time (all of which would perish) but through the Spirit of God who knows the things of God.  This Spirit is the very same one we received after Jesus sent Him to us. (John 16:7)  This doesn’t mean we shut off our brains and don’t use them in matters concerning God.  He gave us our intelligence and intends for us to use it.  What it does mean is He wants us to allow the Spirit of God to teach us, lead us in the way we should go (Ps. 25:4,5), and in what we should say at any particular time.  His wisdom is beyond our comprehension anyway.

       It doesn’t impress me when speakers use intelligent words or have written a quality sermon.  What impresses me is when they know God well enough to allow the Spirit of God to speak through them.  It not only touches my heart, but instigates changes in my life.  The result is that I see a great God (instead of a great speaker) and I lean more on the Author and Finisher of my faith.  For a truly great sermon, preach the right message to the right people at the right time.  Let the Holy Spirit lead the way, for He is more than willing to help.