As we come to the close of another year, it is always good to reflect and consider past failures and accomplishments. Millions will make resolutions concerning personal goals that they desire to achieve in the coming year. It is a time of planning as we look toward the future and consider what we need. Perhaps you feel that you need a new car, or a new place to live. Maybe your thoughts are about your job or your education. You may be thinking about getting married or starting your family in this New Year. I believe that it is healthy for us to reflect and to project. But the danger is in failing to realize that God's Word has given us instruction concerning what we really need!
The sixth chapter of Matthew reveals the Lord's teaching on the basic needs that we have as people. We need food, clothing, and shelter. Jesus teaches us what is important and where we should place our priorities. He has promised to provide our basic needs for us when we put God's kingdom and righteousness first.
Jesus has never lied to us and He cannot lie to us. He is able and capable of doing what He has promised us He will do. Let us look at five things we need in our lives.
I. We Need God.
A. God offers salvation.
1. God's Word teaches us that a fool says there is no God. Psalm 14:1
2. God has provided for your physical and material needs. He sustains us every day.
(Psa 3:5) "I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me."
3. God has made provision for our spiritual needs in Christ Jesus. John 10:10
(John 10:10) "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly."
4. Life is a spiritual experience or should be.
B. God offers service.
1. The Lord God not only offers us salvation, but He has saved us to serve Him.
2. The apostle Paul is a good example of this.
3. Paul was a bloodthirsty religious lost man and the Lord saved him and made a preacher out of him.
4. It is our reasonable service to live for the Lord. Cf Ro. 12:1-2
C. God offers strength.
1. Jesus taught His disciples that the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. Matthew 26:41
2. The psalmist David referred to the Lord as His strength.
(Psa 28:7) "The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him."
3. The Lord can make weak people strong.
4. Paul gives us the key to finding the strength of God.
(2 Cor 12:9) "And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me."
II. We Need Grace.
A. Grace to be saved.
1. We are saved by grace through faith according to Ephesians 2:8,9.
2. Paul tells us in Titus 2:11 that God's grace has appeared to all men.
3. God has offered to man what man doesn't deserve, His salvation.
4. We can't earn or merit it; it is the gift of God! Cf Ro. 6:23
B. Grace to serve.
1. We can only serve the Lord by the grace of God.
2. God's grace enables us in His service.
3. Paul normally started and ended the books in the New Testament that he wrote with the grace of God.
4. It is only by the grace of God that we serve Him as we do.
5. We could be a drunk, thief, or murderer if it were not for God's grace.
C. Grace to suffer.
1. God also gives us the grace to suffer things in this life. Life isn't a bed of roses.
2. We will suffer for the Lord according to
(1 Pet 2:21-22) "For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: {22} Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:"
3. We may suffer bad health, family problems, or financial problems, but His grace will be sufficient.
(2 Cor 12:9) "And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me."
III. We Need Guidance.
A. The teaching
1. God's Word is inspired and profitable according to II Timothy 3:16,17.
2. We are to desire the sincere milk of the Word that we may grow thereby.
(1 Pet 2:1-2) "Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, {2} As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:"
3. We can cleanse our way by taking heed to God's Word.
(Psa 119:9) "Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word."
B. The training
1. Training comes as we learn God's Word and apply it to our lives.
2. The trying of our faith works patience in the believer. Cf James 1:3
3. We are to teach the church to observe or practice the all commands of the Lord. Cf Matthew 28:20
C. The truth
1. You can know the truth and the truth makes you free. Cf John 8:32
2. The Lord sanctifies us through His Word, which is truth. cf John 17:17
3. Knowledge of the truth enables us to become teachers for the Lord. Cf Hebrews 5:12-14
IV. We Need Gratitude.
A. The perception
(Eph 5:19-20) "Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; {20} Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;"
1. Paul said that we were to speak to ourselves in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs.
2. We are to give thanks to God for all things in the name of Jesus.
3. We need a renewed attitude of gratitude.
4. The Lord showers His blessings on us everyday.
B. The practice
1. Make the time to thank the Lord for all the blessings He gives you. Note: We teach our children to do this…but often we fail to thank God for His blessings.
2. We shouldn't take anything for granted.
3. The Lord is the one that sustains us each day; what is wrong with thanking Him for it?
C. The provision
1. Paul teaches us that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.
2. And that God supplies all of our needs from His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
3. The Lord taught us to pray for the things we need. Cf Matthew 6:9-15
V. We Need Gladness.
A. The joy of salvation
1. David had lost the joy of God's salvation and asks the Lord to restore the joy. Cf Psalm 51:12
2. We have experienced the joy of the Lord when we were saved by His grace.
3. The jailor experienced the joy of salvation when Paul told him how to be saved. Acts 16:34
B. The joy of service.
1. There is spiritual joy in the services of the Lord.
2. When we see God save souls and forgive of sin, or restore a wayward one there is joy.
3. There is satisfaction and contentment in serving the Lord.
(Phil 4:11) "Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content."
C. The joy of the Savior.
1. We are to rejoice in the Lord always and again rejoice. Philippians 4:4
2. Paul wanted to know the Lord more intimately in Philippians 3:10. He wanted more than a surface relationship.
3. The disciples rejoiced that the spirits were subject to them. Jesus said not to rejoice in that but rejoice their names were written in heaven. Luke 10:20
Do you have what you need to have a great and wonderful New Year? Do you know God? Do you know His grace, do you follow His guidance? Do we display a life of gratitude and gladness? What about it this morning? Will you come and find in Him everything that you need?