Supply and Demand
If I was teaching / preaching a message on the following I would call it supply and demand, not sure what exact scripture I would use, but I know that it would work.
Moving on, several years ago now I went to a large local church to hear Johnny Hunt, who pastors a large church in Georgia, teach and preach. Pastor Hunt mentioned how when he took his first church he had three messages and one suit, or something like that. He then went on to say that he had learned that when he had a demand, or need for a lesson, that God supplied it. Dr. Hunt went on to say that he just preaches the Bible, the salvation of Christ, the message of the Good News, nothing else and that is/was the key to all that God has done for and with him. I disagree with none of the above, and I have no doubt that what Dr. Hunt said is/was true in his life. Since that evening, I have really been think and pondering about one specific part of the above idea though - the concept of provision when in need. Today I would like to share with you more about just how much God has really blessed me in this area over the years.
If we put ourselves in a place where we need a word from God, a message, a piece of wisdom, etc, God will supply it. I know that is simple, but I really have been asking, and challenging myself, about how I have been in the past about that fact. For almost fifteen years now, I taught/lead/typed at least one class or lesson a week, with the exception of an occasional Sunday when I was away and two times when I was going from one church to another and establishing new roots (one time it was about a month and the second time was two months I think). Anyway, this is not about how much I have taught, and this is not about any glory for me (i.e. he has worked so hard, etc….ban that thought, I have been blessed and I should want to share that), this is about me thanking God for blessing me each time with a new lesson or a new topic.
Honestly, most of the time I did not and do not do that. I just seem to expect that it would / will happen. To make it worse, in that entire time I do not think I followed a prepared, or pre done lesson plan, for more then a few weeks. That means that most weeks I did not / do even started with much more then a rough outline. That means that we are not talking about a few times, but easily several hundred times over the last fifteen years. Again this is not about how great I am, this is about how much God has blessed me, and how little I have thanked Him for blessings in this area.
More to the point, each week I would pray to God with something like “Lord, we (the class) are working through X or Y, and I need your guidance on what to teach and say” or the more typical - “Lord, I need a topic now because I have to teach in two days!!” The point here is that each time God gave me what I needed. He supplied what I needed, and He supplied it in the amount I needed.
My blogging and writing online have been the same way. I am now over six years, almost seven, into the web site and over 3 years into blogging regularly. When I first started both I was concerned that God would not give me something to say regularly. The opposite has been true. He gives me more to say then I can type.
Over the last seven years, He has given me a long list of things to write about. Most weeks I need more then one topic a week (the minimum web site requirement), God always provides more. Again, I am not saying oh see how great I am, or see how much God likes me, or see how spiritual I am, none of previous is the point, the goal, or even true (other then God liking me, He not only just likes me He LOVES me, but that is another topic for another day…but I do rejoice in the fact that I am loved by the perfect creator and director of the universe, how special is that….WOW!!)
My point in sharing this message is two fold. One I wanted you to know that I take this site and blog seriously. God is and has really blessed me through it. Whether some of that is being transferred to you through these posts, messages and notes I do not know, but it is my prayer that some of my blessings ares shared. Secondly, and more importantly I think in this case, this is revealing to me that many times our ministries are not lacking due to skill, ability, tools, or knowledge, they are lacking because we do not ask God for more. It is that prayer of Jabez thing (I know it is no longer in vogue, but honestly truth is truth, and wisdom is wisdom, be it in or out of season), if we pray for God to expand our lands we had better be ready for it, because He will. However, when He expands our lands, He also expands our blessings, and our support.
When I first started this website and blog I was worried that after about 10 or so days I would be out of stuff to say, but the reverse has happened. God is giving me more and more to pass along. He has given me more and more insights on Him, His wills, and His ways. Unfortunately for you, most of these come via odd parables and analogies in my world, but you have to dance with the one that brung you I guess.
Again I want to repeat, this is not about, how great I am, how wise I am, how blessed I am (though I am), or about how spiritual I am. I am just a fool in the world trying to learn how to let the savior of the world get me out of here while impacting those that I meet along the way. Today, I guess I just want to challenge you to ask for more then you have in the past, because if there is a real need God will give it too you. Also I am challenging you to be thankful for the lessons and wisdom that He does give you, so many times I have not been thankful enough for that in the past. If you demand/need more wisdom He will send it. If you need/demand more lessons/sermons He will send them. If you demand/need more quiet times He will provide them.
The long and short is this is not name it and claim it message, it is need it and receive it one. If we place ourselves in places where we NEED more of God, He will provide. That is such a great lesson, and one that I have not been thankful for in the past. I have been very guilty of just taking God’s blessings in the areas of lessons and topics for granted as a benefit of His grace, instead of a understanding them to be a greater extension of His love and devotion for me.
Need more from God, just ask, He is willing and able to provide all you need.
