I SHALL NOT WANT

Pastor Bankie When the Lord desires a thing on the earth, He puts it into it as a seed. The seed then begins to grow and eventually produces the fruit, which was the goal. Now, the seed is the word of God.

In your life as His child, God has plans that He wants manifested on this earth and He has placed those things in you as a seed. It is expected by the Lord that you will allow that seed germinate, grow and produce fruit on this earth to the glory of God. Now, the events of your life are being engineered in God’s sovereignty to bring those things to pass and they will come to pass if you will allow them. Note that these things are great and wonderful things that you most probably have never imagined.

When the Lord Jesus was explaining about this seed principle, He pointed out three reasons why one may not see fruit produced (please refer to Matt. 13 for the whole gist). The third reason is the one that is strongest and, as we’ll see, the most subtle. It catches many who have overcome the first two.

“And the one on whom seed was sown among the thorns, this is the man who hears the word, and the worry of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.”

This is one weapon of the enemy that is so subtle you do not even know it is a weapon against you. Let me explain.

The deceitfulness of riches is illustrated by the fact that you think your discontentment, your anxiety can be explained by what you don’t have. You think that the man who has more than you is happier, more contented than you are and that your life will markedly improve when you acquire some material things. That is deceitful because it is not true.

Hear the truth from the mouth of the Truth Himself: “ A man’s life does not consist in the abundance of things He possesses’

That is the truth. Believe it, what will make your life improve is not a fat account, money to throw around, a big car, or a big mansion. No! Those things are not bad but they are not worth chasing after. It is the vanity that the devil has sold to people’s minds that make them think they are necessary goals in life. Let nobody deceive you; Jesus has said the truth: “A man’s life does not consist of those things”.

On the other hand, the worry (or cares) of this world is best described as “what shall we eat, what shall we drink and wherewithal shall we be clothed?”

These are very reasonable things. This is why this weapon is the strongest and the most subtle.

It is this fear that prevents people from allowing the fruit of the word to be manifested.

My message to you today is that you do not have to be a victim of this choking influence. I am preaching to you that there is One who will take care of that and this One does not and cannot fail.

Men are afraid of hunger; they should be. Jesus said “these things the gentiles seek after. But ye...”

Did you notice these words “But ye”? That is to show you that your own life is different.

What shall we eat?

Jesus said your life is more precious than that of the sparrow which God feeds and that He will much more take care of you.

He has said “I will never leave you nor forsake you”

When Israel said, “the Lord has forsaken me”. God answered, “ can a mother forget her sucking child? Even though they forget, yet I will NEVER forget you”

He said the very hair of your head are numbered. That is how closely He watches over you.

“The Lord is your keeper”
“The Lord will protect you from all evil”
“He will keep your soul”
“The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in”

Are you believing these?

The issue is not that basic needs are not important or that starvation and thirst do not kill. No. I am saying that come what may we have an ever-present help in the time of trouble.

You see, the Lord likes using strong words. Check these out:

“...We will not fear, though the earth be removed and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea.” Why?

Because God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in time of trouble.

Again see:

“The young lions may lack and suffer hunger, but they who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing.”

No wonder the psalmist said:

“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want”
“Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death. I shall fear no evil.
“For the Lord is with me…”

The Lord is with you. You will not lack. He will furnish your food, your drink, your clothes, your house, everything. Worrying about these things is a sign that you doubt God’s love, that you don’t believe He cares. But child of God, He does!

Just do your duty and leave the rest to God.

What is your duty?

“Seek peace, and pursue it. Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness.”

What is your duty?

“Fear the Lord, obey His commandments”
“But ye, seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all other things shall be added unto you”

Let your focus be on doing the right thing, focus on doing well what God has placed in your hands.

Let nobody deceive you that you have the situation of the nation as an excuse for wrongdoing.

He has promised this:

“Who among us can live with continual burning?
“ He who walks righteously, and speaks with sincerity.
“He who rejects unjust gain, and shakes his hands so that they hold no bribe….
“He will dwell on the heights.
“His refuge will be the impregnable rock.
“ His bread will be given him.
“His water will be sure.”

This, beloved, is God’s standard.

The money that does not rightly belong to you, don’t take, it will only procure for you judgement and enduring poverty. God has promised that your own supply will be assuredly given you.

Do you want everlasting prosperity?

Then wait for the one that comes from God.

Dare to be different.

Dare to be a child of the Almighty in truth.

I know that your mates who are in one form of government position or another today are ‘making it’. Take your eyes off that because one day, the falacy and corruption that made them will break them.

Keep your eyes on God, on truth.

“Be not envies towards wrongdoer
“For they wither quickly like the grass
“Trust in the Lord and do good
“Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness
“Delight yourself in the Lord
“And He will give you the desires of your heart.”

Do you desire abiding prosperity? Then receive the one that God will bring, not the one you will orchestrate by ungodly means. If you do otherwise, you will lie down in sorrow! If it is the blessing of God, it will make you rich without adding sorrow.

If you are truly a child of God, He wants to make your life an example of the profit of righteousness. He wants to show to the world that it pays to fear God. Bear in mind that He will also use some people to show what it pays to practice unrighteousness. What kind of example do you want to be?

In closing, remember these:

God loves you and He wants the best for you. He desires for you to trust Him knowing that He can never fail you. In due season, He will bless you in such a manner that your environment will notice. That is what is meant by God bringing out your righteousness as the noonday.

Do not let the fear of hunger or tomorrow push your hand into iniquity. It will get you burnt.

Remember that it is in these difficult times that God determines those whose hearts are really for Him. And for those people, the Bible tells us, His eyes run to and fro the whole earth that He might show Himself strong on their behalf.

If you are a child of God but you have been living life directed by the worry of this world and the deceitfulness of riches, then it is time to repent and allow God start His work in you.

If you do not have a personal relationship with God through the Lord Jesus, then it is time to let Him take over your life, for Him to be a father to you. Do not be deceived that we are all His children. The Bible says the Lord knows those who are His. This means some are not His. To become one of God’s own children you need to believe Jesus and to accept Him as Lord. This means to turn from your previous way of life and to start following Him.

Know, dear one, that of a truth He died for your sins and was raised up to life again and in currently alive and waiting to love you.

You need therefore to give your life to Jesus.

You may wish to say this prayer:

“Dear Father God, I come to you today in the name of Jesus. I ask for forgiveness for my sins.
“Give me a new life in Jesus, I believe that Jesus died and was raised.
“I commit my life to Him and accept Him as my Lord.
“Him, I will follow henceforth.
"Thank you for accepting me. Amen”