Phil 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
Need is a funny word. When I was lost I needed everything. It was a common word in my vocabulary. I would replace the word want with need.
As I grow in Christ I want and need even less. I am content with less and less as I get to know Christ. He indeed supplies all our needs. And our wants we recognize as merely wants. That’s a benefit of age, discipline and discretion.
One little preschool boy said ‘Pastor Dean I need to talk to you’. When I asked him what he needed. He was at a loss for words. Then he blurted out ‘what did you buy me for Christmas?’ haha.
Sometimes our needs are just wants.
Wants are non essential;
-I want to win the lottery (probably to my destruction)
-I want to eat when I am hungry (never need to eat)
-I want to see my own kids (not fatal if I don’t)
-I want more sleep (don’t need more sleep)
-I want the religious persecution to be over and everything to be back to normal (but this brings me closer to Christ and His suffering)
-I want a bigger ministry (it’s God’s, it’s just fine as is)
-I want more finances (we have what we need)
-I want winnie to be healed completely (her infirmity keeps me in control. Teaches me how to be a better Christian)
-I want human company (my age, language and beliefs but that would hamper my ministry)
-I want worldly peace, but Jesus doesn’t give that but a sword.
-I want to work out more, be prettier
Needs however are essential;
-We need food, water and shelter. The basics. (Anything beyond that is wants.)
-I need more of God, to know Him
-I need to pray more
-I need to know God’s Word more
-I need a closer walk with Him
-I need fellowship with other believers (down here I have to grow my own)
-I need a relationship with Him
-I need to have faith
Here are Biblical needs as well.
-Matt 28:18-20- need evangelism discipleship
– John 13:34,35- need to love one another
-Romans 12:1,2- need to be in a sacrificial lifestyle
-2 Timothy 2:15- need to study the Bible more
We need things that only God can give. We can only need them and are able to fulfill them because God helps us. We need God!!!
Love this song
I need Thee, O I need Thee;
Every hour I need Thee;
O bless me now, my Savior,
I come to Thee.
I need Thee every hour, stay Thou nearby;
Temptations lose their power when Thou art nigh.
Refrain
I need Thee every hour, in joy or pain;
Come quickly and abide, or life is in vain.
Refrain
I need Thee every hour; teach me Thy will;
And Thy rich promises in me fulfill.
UPDATE!!! Report on how we are after losing our personaria juridica in August;
1. We have Great NEW team Winnie, Marlon, Lawyer/CPA/bookkeeper resetting everything
2. The school and ministry are operating normally. We had to cut out extra stuff but the basics are still happening.
3. We should have everything back to normal in a few months, Lord Willing!
4. My ankle surgery has been postponed til Feb 7, a new ankle will help me a lot-
Thanks for your prayers
Dean and Winnie
Isaiah 43:19
See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness
and streams in the wasteland