Good morning and welcome in everybody. Today we are going to take a look at a passage of Scripture, but before we do that I wanted to tell you a little story.
One day, we decided to jump into our car and take a drive out into the woods. It’s pretty easy to find a quiet back road where we live, with plenty of scenery and wild animals to watch as they venture out onto the road. But after the day was far spent, we were starting to get pretty hungry, but for some reason, I didn’t bring any cash with me. I assured the family that God could provide us with something to eat. A short time later, we stopped at a wayside rest, and got out of our vehicle to stretch our legs. We took a short walk down a small trail, and lo and behold, we walked into a huge patch of ripe blackberries! I think this is my favorite type of wildberry, and these were large, sweet, and delicious. We sat on the ground and enjoyed our banquet, eating until we couldn’t eat anymore.
This reminds me of the Christian Life.
That day, we found food that had already been provided to us by God. He had planted and watered them beforehand, knowing that we would be hungry that afternoon. He knew that we would be strolling along that secluded trail, and He would feed us with His incredible bounty!
“Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?” Matthew 6:26
Think about all the wild animals who live each day completely on God’s provision. They don’t need cash, they don’t need a grocery store, yet God provides for their daily needs. Many times people can become so concerned about worldly things, that they push off a close relationship with God. They put Spiritual things on the back burner, and their minds become focused on attaining Earthly things instead. How can you truly love God, when your heart is placed on something else?
1 John 2 ¹⁵ Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. ¹⁶ 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. ¹⁷ And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
I’ve met so many people in my life who have told me how much they enjoy camping up here in the woods. They only bring up a few things that they can carry, and suddenly they have all kinds of time available that they didn’t have in the city!!! They don’t have to catch a train, bus or a taxi. They don’t have to focus their minds on their employees or completing their duties at a job somewhere. No cutting the lawn, no painting, no building a deck, just peace and quiet and plenty of time to seek after God. Some kids become dazed and confused, because they don’t know what to do with themselves. They are not sure how to react to the complete serenity that surrounds them. But, be assured, that is the perfect moment to find a nice private spot, pull out a pocket Bible, and seek the Lord with all of your heart.
Remember that Abraham, Moses, and the Israelites lived in tents everyday, but nowadays I think people might accuse them of child abuse, claiming that they were not providing for their families. The reason why many people might say these types of things is because they could never live like that themselves. It’s because the world has got too much of a grip on them, being covetous and greedy and incapable of becoming poor in order to become Spiritually rich. They claim that you need a $100,000 home, but Moses didn’t have one. They claim that you need a $20,000 fishing boat, but Moses didn’t have one. They claim that you need a steady job in order to build your 401k, but Moses didn’t have one.
The truth is that many people cannot say no to the things of the world, and be content with the simple things in this life. They have so many things on their plate, that they simply have no time available to seek after God. The world has sucked them in like quicksand, devouring their souls and their love for God. The greatest way that a man can provide for His family, is by educating them in the teachings of scripture. We must focus our energy on helping others to grow in their faith, so that someday we can have obedient fruit to present to our precious Lord Jesus.
“For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” Matthew 16:26
The laborers for Christ are few, simply because not many people make the time to do it. If they abide in that state, their lives will have been fruitless, ending with a huge bank account, but without any Spiritual fruit to present to God. What a completely wasted life, and a misuse of time. The animals in the wild are completely taken care of by God. I think it would be silly to think that they gather in their nests and are anxious and worried about what they are going to do for food that week. They don’t worry about it, and are completely unconcerned.
“Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.” Matthew 6:34
When I became a baptized believer, I turned away from many well-paying jobs, got rid of everything that we owned, and moved into a small cabin that I had built in the woods. I needed to find peace and quiet without any distractions from God. When we finally moved, I really didn’t know how we were going to get by, but I completely trusted in God’s provision, and He took care of the rest. Everything that I have ever needed, He has provided, and the hundredfold promise that He guarantees in the scriptures, He has fulfilled many times over. Trusting God in this manner is a very difficult thing for a lot of people to do, but it is simply because of their lack of faith. The carnal nature wants to trust itself rather than God, but through faith, God is capable of providing for all that we need.
“Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,” Ephesians 3:20
There are no limits to what God can bring to pass in our lives, as long as it falls within His will and purpose. He can take care of all of our needs, because with Him nothing is impossible.
“For with God nothing shall be impossible.”
— Luke 1:37 (KJV)
“Is any thing too hard for the LORD?….”
Many people want to try to obtain a better life, but I guarantee you that they won’t find it by seeking after the things of this world.
“….
a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.” Luke 12:15
When you think about it, what will it take for you to get through the day? Maybe a few meals, something to drink, and the clothes on your back. With this attitude you will have plenty of time during your day to spend with God, and to help others grow in their faith. He must be our treasure and great reward.
“For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Matthew 6:21
Matthew 6 ³¹ Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? ³² (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. ³³ But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
To find a closer relationship with God I recommend clearing away all of the worldly distractions out of your daily life, whether that means living in a small cabin, or even a tent. In order to draw closer to Him, we must rid ourselves of things that draw our attention away from Him. We must put away all the things that might generate worry or concern, and let God take care of everything else. When we submit to His will and walk with an obedient heart, His rewards are unending.
I have a lot of fond memories over the last 25 years, but I think the happiest that I have ever been in my life, is when I finally learned to trust in…..
……God’s Provision
Let’s think about these things for right now. We can be found on your web browser by searching, tlkjbc where you can find our diaries distributed through various platforms. We are not associated, nor affiliated with any other religious goups. You can get our entire podcast feeds directly, along with transcripts at tlkjbc.com or I suppose that you could find us somewhere up here, in the Great Northern Minnesota woods. Peace to you, and Lord willing, we will talk with you some more tomorrow. Till then, bye bye everybody. ❤️
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Teufer Lake King James Bible Church 