Recognizing Our Need for God
Recognizing our need for God actually shows that we are humble. The proud thinks
that they don’t need anybody, but the humble cries out for God to guide them. Jesus
said in Matthew 5:5 “blessed are the meek; for they shall inherit the earth”. Psalms
25:4-5,9 says “show me Your ways, O Lord Yahweh, teach me Your paths. Lead me
in Your truth, and teach me for You are the God of my salvation; on You do I wait all
the day. The meek will He guide in judgment and the meek will He teach His way”.
This is a promise we can rely on.
Moses relied on God as he led the Israelites through the wilderness; and he was
known as a friend of God. Moses was also called a meek man. Moses built a
relationship with God.
David declared his reliance upon God on many occasions and the Bible declares him
as a man after God’s own heart. In Psalms 23:1-3 David writes “the Lord Yahweh is
my Shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads
me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of
righteousness for His name’s sake”. Also in Psalms 31:3-5 he writes “for You are my
rock and my fortress; therefore for Your name’s sake lead me, and guide me. Pull
me out of the net that they have laid privily for me; for You are my strength. Into
Your hand I commit my spirit; You have redeemed me, O Lord Yahweh God of truth”.
We need God for more than forgiveness of sins and saving us from hell fire; we need
God to live our life on this earth. This world system is impossible for us to live in on
our own, in our flesh, we need His guidance.
Jesus said that He only did what He saw His Father do; and we are told to let the
mind of Christ be in us (Philippians 2:1-8) “if there be therefore any consolation in
Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and
mercies. Fulfill you my joy, that you be like minded, having the same love, being of
one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory, but in
lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man
on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in
you, which was also in Christ Jesus. Who, being in the form of God thought it not
robbery to be equal with God. But made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him
the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men. And being found in the
fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient to death, even the
death of the cross”. Jesus submitted Himself to the will of God, He relied on God’s
plan of redemption and was able to say “not My will, but let Your will be done”.
Jesus reveals why we need to recognize our need for Him (John 15:1-10) “I AM the
true vine, and My Father is the husbandman. Every branch in Me that bears not
fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He purges it, that it may bring
forth more fruit. Now you are clean through the words which I have spoken to you.
Abide in Me, and I in you, as the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in
the vine; no more can you except you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the
branches; he that abides in Me, and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit; for
without Me you can do nothing. If a man abide not in Me, he is cast forth as a
branch, and is withered, and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they
are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you shall ask what you
will, and it shall be done to you. Herein is My Father glorified, that you bear much
fruit; so shall you be My disciples. As the Father has loved Me, so have I loved you;
continue you in My love. If you keep My commandments; you shall abide in My love;
even as I have kept My Father’s commandments, and abide in His love”.
Notice in John 15: 5 Jesus said that without Him you can do nothing. While in
Philippians 4:13 the Bible says “I can do all things through Christ which strengthens
me”.
Jesus told us that it was better that He go away, and promised not to leave us alone,
but that the Holy Spirit was sent to be our helper (John 16:12-13) “I have yet many
things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. However, when He, the Spirit of
truth is come, He will guide you into all truth; for He shall not speak of Himself, but
whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak; and He will show you things to come”.
The Bible does tell us that the Spirit of God will say to you “this is the way, walk in it”.
Paul tells on Mars’ Hill, that they were superstitious; then reveals to them that “God
who made the world and everything in it, gives to all life, and breath, and all things.
And had made of one blood all nations of men; for to dwell on all the face of the
earth, and has determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their
habitation. That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after Him, and
find Him, though He be not far from every one of us. For in Him, we live, and move,
and have our being; as certain of your own poets have said, for we are also His
offspring”. Read Psalms 82 which tells us that we are all children of the Most High,
but we will die like mere men.
II Corinthians 5:15 says “and that He died for all, that they which love should not
hereafter live to themselves, but to Him which died for them, and rose again”.
The same Paul shows his need for God by saying “I am crucified with Christ,
nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me and the life which I now live in the
flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me”
(Galatians 2:20). And he goes on in Galatians 5:16-18 to say “this I say then, walk in
the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the
Spirit and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary the one to the other; so
that you cannot do the things that you would. But if you be led of the Spirit, you are
not under the law”.
The Apostle John says in I John 4:9 “in this was manifested the love of God toward
us, because that God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live
through Him”.
Good news is that God never leaves us or forsakes us, and we can receive from Him
because of the finished work of Jesus (Ephesians 2:8-13) which says “for by grace
are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God. Not of
works, less any man should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ
Jesus to good works, which God has before ordained that we should walk in them.
Wherefore remember, that you being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are
called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by
hands. That at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the
commonwealth of Israel, and strangers, from the covenants of promise, having no
hope, and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who sometimes
were far off are made near by the blood of Christ”. So let us recognize this and
accept this gift.
After all “for you are complete in Him, which is the head of all principality and power”
(Colossians 2:10). We have to remember that II Corinthians 5:17 says “if any man
be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away; behold, all things are
become new”. Jesus is the author and the finisher of our faith.
Jesus tells us “come to Me, all you that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you
rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart; and
you shall find rest to your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light”
(Matthew 11:28-30).
We are told to cast your cares on Him for He cares for you (Philippians 4:6-7) “be
careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let
your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which passes all
understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus”.
James says “but He gives more grace, wherefore He says, God resists the proud, but
gives grace to the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil,
and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse
your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double minded. Humble
yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He shall lift you up” (James 4:6-8,10).
Peter tells us “for God resists the proud, and gives grace to the humble. Humble
yourself therefore under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time.
Casting all your care upon Him; for He cares for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because
your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may
devour” (I Peter 5:5b-8).
As we recognize our need for God, we will surrender ourselves to Him. Stop trying to
live your life by yourself, the Bible says “its not by might nor by power, but by My
Spirit says the Lord Yahweh”. God wants us to prosper and be in health, even as
our soul prospers and this is done as we renew our minds to the word of God.
Remember we are predestined to conform to the image of His dear Son.
Sermon by: Harriet Bond
Date: May 21, 2010
Recognizing our need for God actually shows that we are humble. The proud thinks
that they don’t need anybody, but the humble cries out for God to guide them. Jesus
said in Matthew 5:5 “blessed are the meek; for they shall inherit the earth”. Psalms
25:4-5,9 says “show me Your ways, O Lord Yahweh, teach me Your paths. Lead me
in Your truth, and teach me for You are the God of my salvation; on You do I wait all
the day. The meek will He guide in judgment and the meek will He teach His way”.
This is a promise we can rely on.
Moses relied on God as he led the Israelites through the wilderness; and he was
known as a friend of God. Moses was also called a meek man. Moses built a
relationship with God.
David declared his reliance upon God on many occasions and the Bible declares him
as a man after God’s own heart. In Psalms 23:1-3 David writes “the Lord Yahweh is
my Shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads
me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of
righteousness for His name’s sake”. Also in Psalms 31:3-5 he writes “for You are my
rock and my fortress; therefore for Your name’s sake lead me, and guide me. Pull
me out of the net that they have laid privily for me; for You are my strength. Into
Your hand I commit my spirit; You have redeemed me, O Lord Yahweh God of truth”.
We need God for more than forgiveness of sins and saving us from hell fire; we need
God to live our life on this earth. This world system is impossible for us to live in on
our own, in our flesh, we need His guidance.
Jesus said that He only did what He saw His Father do; and we are told to let the
mind of Christ be in us (Philippians 2:1-8) “if there be therefore any consolation in
Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and
mercies. Fulfill you my joy, that you be like minded, having the same love, being of
one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory, but in
lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man
on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in
you, which was also in Christ Jesus. Who, being in the form of God thought it not
robbery to be equal with God. But made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him
the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men. And being found in the
fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient to death, even the
death of the cross”. Jesus submitted Himself to the will of God, He relied on God’s
plan of redemption and was able to say “not My will, but let Your will be done”.
Jesus reveals why we need to recognize our need for Him (John 15:1-10) “I AM the
true vine, and My Father is the husbandman. Every branch in Me that bears not
fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He purges it, that it may bring
forth more fruit. Now you are clean through the words which I have spoken to you.
Abide in Me, and I in you, as the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in
the vine; no more can you except you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the
branches; he that abides in Me, and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit; for
without Me you can do nothing. If a man abide not in Me, he is cast forth as a
branch, and is withered, and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they
are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you shall ask what you
will, and it shall be done to you. Herein is My Father glorified, that you bear much
fruit; so shall you be My disciples. As the Father has loved Me, so have I loved you;
continue you in My love. If you keep My commandments; you shall abide in My love;
even as I have kept My Father’s commandments, and abide in His love”.
Notice in John 15: 5 Jesus said that without Him you can do nothing. While in
Philippians 4:13 the Bible says “I can do all things through Christ which strengthens
me”.
Jesus told us that it was better that He go away, and promised not to leave us alone,
but that the Holy Spirit was sent to be our helper (John 16:12-13) “I have yet many
things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. However, when He, the Spirit of
truth is come, He will guide you into all truth; for He shall not speak of Himself, but
whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak; and He will show you things to come”.
The Bible does tell us that the Spirit of God will say to you “this is the way, walk in it”.
Paul tells on Mars’ Hill, that they were superstitious; then reveals to them that “God
who made the world and everything in it, gives to all life, and breath, and all things.
And had made of one blood all nations of men; for to dwell on all the face of the
earth, and has determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their
habitation. That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after Him, and
find Him, though He be not far from every one of us. For in Him, we live, and move,
and have our being; as certain of your own poets have said, for we are also His
offspring”. Read Psalms 82 which tells us that we are all children of the Most High,
but we will die like mere men.
II Corinthians 5:15 says “and that He died for all, that they which love should not
hereafter live to themselves, but to Him which died for them, and rose again”.
The same Paul shows his need for God by saying “I am crucified with Christ,
nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me and the life which I now live in the
flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me”
(Galatians 2:20). And he goes on in Galatians 5:16-18 to say “this I say then, walk in
the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the
Spirit and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary the one to the other; so
that you cannot do the things that you would. But if you be led of the Spirit, you are
not under the law”.
The Apostle John says in I John 4:9 “in this was manifested the love of God toward
us, because that God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live
through Him”.
Good news is that God never leaves us or forsakes us, and we can receive from Him
because of the finished work of Jesus (Ephesians 2:8-13) which says “for by grace
are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God. Not of
works, less any man should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ
Jesus to good works, which God has before ordained that we should walk in them.
Wherefore remember, that you being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are
called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by
hands. That at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the
commonwealth of Israel, and strangers, from the covenants of promise, having no
hope, and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who sometimes
were far off are made near by the blood of Christ”. So let us recognize this and
accept this gift.
After all “for you are complete in Him, which is the head of all principality and power”
(Colossians 2:10). We have to remember that II Corinthians 5:17 says “if any man
be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away; behold, all things are
become new”. Jesus is the author and the finisher of our faith.
Jesus tells us “come to Me, all you that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you
rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart; and
you shall find rest to your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light”
(Matthew 11:28-30).
We are told to cast your cares on Him for He cares for you (Philippians 4:6-7) “be
careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let
your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which passes all
understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus”.
James says “but He gives more grace, wherefore He says, God resists the proud, but
gives grace to the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil,
and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse
your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double minded. Humble
yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He shall lift you up” (James 4:6-8,10).
Peter tells us “for God resists the proud, and gives grace to the humble. Humble
yourself therefore under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time.
Casting all your care upon Him; for He cares for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because
your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may
devour” (I Peter 5:5b-8).
As we recognize our need for God, we will surrender ourselves to Him. Stop trying to
live your life by yourself, the Bible says “its not by might nor by power, but by My
Spirit says the Lord Yahweh”. God wants us to prosper and be in health, even as
our soul prospers and this is done as we renew our minds to the word of God.
Remember we are predestined to conform to the image of His dear Son.
Sermon by: Harriet Bond
Date: May 21, 2010
