WHAT WE REALLY NEED

2 Kings 7

 

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

The antagonist of our story is man who thinks very highly of his own opinion and very little of God’s man, God’s Word and God Himself. He learns too late the truths we will discuss this morning, if he had a chance to learn them at all before his unfortunate demise. He thought God could not meet their needs. He thought his needs were not what his needs actually were. He did not really need inexpensive food, he needed to listen to the words of the living God and heed them.

 

 God is a God that knows our needs- often when we do not know them ourselves. God is a God that meets needs, especially when we cannot meet them ourselves. God is a God that anticipates needs. Especially when we cannot anticipate those needs because we do not know what the future holds… but those who are saved, know Who holds the future.

 

I. THE NEED OF SALVATION

 

I went to America to convert the Indians, but, oh, who shall convert me? Who, what, is he that will deliver me from this evil heart of unbelief? - John Wesley

 

1. A Lost Person Needs Forgiveness [Col. 1:12-14]

Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

 

2. A Lost Person Needs Saving Grace [Eph. 2:8-9]

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

 

3. A Lost Person Needs The Saviour [1 John 4:14]

And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.

 

These needs never change until they are fulfilled in Christ!!!!

 

II. THE NEED OF SANCTIFICATION

 

1. A Saved Person Needs Daily Forgiveness [1 Jn. 1:7-10]

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another , and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

 

2. A Saved Person Needs Living Grace [Hebrews 4:16]

Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

 

3. A Saved Person Needs The Spirit of Christ [Gal. 5:16-18]

This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.

 

III. THE NEED OF THE FUTURE

 

1. A Saved Person Will Need to Be Living an Expectant Life [Matthew 24:44]

Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.

 

2. A Saved Person Will Possibly Need Dying Grace [1 Peter 5:10]

But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while , make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.

I find that many Christians are in trouble about the future; they think they will not have grace enough to die by. It is much more important that we should have grace enough to live by. It seems to me that death is of very little importance in the meantime. When the dying hour comes, there will be dying grace; but you do not require dying grace to live by. - Dwight L. Moody

 

3. A Saved Person Will Need to be Ready to Face the Saviour [1 Jn. 2:28-29, 3:2-3]

And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming. If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.

Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.