Needing, wanting, believing, thanking, worshiping

What do we NEED?

Basic needs for every day include food, drink, and something to wear.

Jesus said, "Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'

For the Gentiles [nations or non-believers] strive after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.

But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." Matthew 6:31-33

What about our need for LOVE?

Jesus replied, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word.

My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him." John 14:23

Jesus said, "In that day you will ask in My name. I am not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf.

For the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me and have believed that I came from God." John 16:26-27

Jesus prayed, John 17:1 "And I have made Your name known to them and will continue to make it known, so that the love You have for Me may be in them, and I in them." John 17:26

John wrote,

Behold what manner of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God.

And that is what we are!

The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him. 1 John 3:1

What do we WANT?

The people, places, or things we want, do they show our character?

If we get what we desire, then what?

Usually, most can't keep from boasting about it. 2 Timothy 2:3

Does this also reveal how spiritual we are, which would be at an immature level? Revelation 3:17

Jesus said, "Therefore I say to you, what things you desire, when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them." Mark 11:24

And when we receive, let's NOT act like we haven't received. 1 Corinthians 4:7

Instead, why not give the glory to the Lord, where it should go? 1 Corinthians 1:27-31

Do we BELIEVE?

If we believe in something or someone, should it be present tense, a NOW experience?

Jesus said,

"You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.

Remain in Me, and I will remain in you.

Just as no branch can bear fruit by itself unless it remains in the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me." John 15:3-4

Paul wrote,

For you are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3:26

Do we GIVE THANKS?

It could be in our lifestyle.

Give thanks FOR certain things.

Always giving thanks to God the Father for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:20

Those things that come from Him that are in the name, His authority, character, and power, are blessings from the Father and deserve our thanks.

As Paul wrote,

He [the Father] Who did not spare His own Son [Jesus] but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also, along with Him, freely give us all things? Romans 8:32

Giving thanks to the Father, Who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints [God's people] in the light. Colossians 1:12

As He [Jesus] entered one of the villages, He was met by ten lepers [those with skin diseases].

They stood at a distance and raised their voices, shouting,

"Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!"

When Jesus saw them, He said, "Go, show yourselves to the priests."

And as they were on their way, they were cleansed.

When one of them saw that he was healed, he came back, praising God in a loud voice.

He fell facedown at Jesus' feet in thanksgiving to Him—and he was a Samaritan. Luke 17:12-16

If you and I are saved by our faith in the blood shed by the Lamb of God, the Lord Jesus Christ Luke 22:20; John 1:29; Romans 3:25; 5:9 and new birth through Him, John 1:10-13; 3:3-7; 2 Corinthians 5:17; 1 Peter 1:23; 1 John 5:1 haven't we received something better than cleansing from leprosy?

But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. 1 John 1:7

Sin is worse than disease, isn't it? Matthew 18:8-9

Therefore, shouldn't we also GIVE THANKS as the Samaritan did at the feet of Jesus? Luke 17:15-16

We don't want Jesus to turn to the Father Psalm 110:1; Acts 7:55-56; 1 Peter 3:22 and say,

"Weren't all of these cleansed? But where are they? Why aren't they also giving thanks?" Luke 17:17

Give thanks IN all situations.

Give thanks in every circumstance, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:18

No matter what, He has promised to be with us. Matthew 28:20

And He promised to never leave us nor forsake us. Hebrews 13:5

So we say with confidence:

"The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.

What can man do to me?" Hebrews 13:6

Everywhere and at all times, because of His love, we're more than conquerors. Romans 8:35-37

Because everyone born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world: our faith.

Who then overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. 1 John 5:4-5

Give thanks for ALL PEOPLE.

First of all, then, I [Paul] urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions [prayers for others], and thanksgiving be offered for everyone—

for kings and all those in authority—so that we may lead tranquil and quiet lives in all godliness and dignity.

This is good and pleasing in the sight of God our Savior,

Who wants everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 1 Timothy 2:1-3

Some of us do the first three:

Petitions [requests with urgency],

Prayers [other kinds such as a commitment or surrender to His plan or purpose],

Intercessions [on behalf of others Ephesians 6:18-20; Colossians 4:12 and when we wrestle with the power of darkness Mark 16:17; Luke 22:53; Ephesians 6:10-12; James 4:7; 1 Peter 5:8-9].

But when we think of some of the people in authority or others with whom we interact, we may forget to give thanks for them.

That's the fourth element in Paul's list. 1 Timothy 2:1

To THANK the Father for them instead of to complain about them is good and acceptable in His sight. 1 Timothy 2:3

Do we WORSHIP?

Or do we love pleasure more than the Lord? 2 Timothy 3:4

Or do we love our possessions more than the Lord? Mark 10:17-22

Or is our god our stomach? Philippians 3:18-19

Or are our affections down here and not above where the Lord Jesus Christ sits? Colossians 3:1-2

Or have we set up idols in our hearts Ezekiel 14:1-3 that we need to escape from? 1 Corinthians 10:14; 1 John 5:21

Paul wrote that to desire something or someone that isn't ours to have is idolatry. Ephesians 5:5; Colossians 3:5

Instead of these negative traits, let's MAGNIFY and EXALT the Lord together. Psalm 34:3

Jesus said,

"But a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth, for the Father is seeking such as these to worship Him." John 4:23

Paul wrote,

For it is we [God's people in Christ Jesus] who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh. Philippians 3:3

Some have worshiped and still worship what they do NOT know.

They don't yet have a personal relationship with the Person they want to worship. (But they CAN!)

Jesus said,

"We worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews." John 4:22

So, to truly worship, we need the Lord's salvation.

For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son [Jesus], that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.

For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. John 3:16-17

Then, WORSHIP can burst forth at any time and at any place.

And as He [Jesus] approached the descent from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of disciples began to praise God joyfully in a loud voice for all the miracles they had seen:

"Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!"

"Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!"

But some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Him, "Teacher, rebuke Your disciples!"

"I tell you," He answered, "if they remain silent, the very stones will cry out." Luke 19:37-40

And I [John] saw and heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the living creatures and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; saying with a loud voice,

"Worthy is the Lamb [Jesus] Who was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing."

And every creature that is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard them say,

"Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be to Him [the Father] Who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb for ever and ever." Revelation 5:11-13

Your thoughts?

R. Jason