Does God Need Us?

“For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counseller? Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.” -Romans 11:34-36.

Does God really need us? The simple answer is NO. For God to have a real need of anything would imply that His own creation limits His ability, which can never be. God chooses the way in which He works, and can bend the rules as He sees fit. Reality is what God makes it to be!

Yes, God has made a way in which things typically function, such as the tides, the seasons, rotation of the earth, etc. These standards attest to God's power, and also declare His glory when He overrides the “natural” order of things; like when a donkey speaks (Numbers 22:28), the Red Sea parts (Exodus 14:22), or the sun moves backwards (2 Kings 20:11). We should be encouraged by such things to believe God for miracles as our needs may require.

But even though God doesn't have a real need for anything, He loves mankind whom He has made in His image. Jesus, God's Son, died on the cross for our sins, that we might be reconciled to God as a new creation, in fellowship with Him.

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” -2 Corinthians 5:17-21.

Yet after our reconciliation to God, it is only natural to want to live pleasing lives for Him, and hopefully share with others what He has done for us (and that He wants to do for them!). We start out well in the grace of God, but there are many who then begin throwing themselves into good works; they mean well, but essentially are keeping busy for God without really being directed by Him. This can be noticed at times when a project being worked on becomes something we can't let go of, no matter how much we need rest, or other things need attention, The work has become an IDOL, and it is dependent upon our service. Brethren, when we see any service God has called us to as depending upon ourselves, then the service has ceased to belong to the Lord. Please consider the testimony of scripture;

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” -James 1:17.

“For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.” -Romans 9:15,16.

“There is no king saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength. An horse is a vain thing for safety: neither shall he deliver any by his great strength. Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy; To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine. Our soul waiteth for the LORD: he is our help and our shield.” -Psalm 33:16-20.

And even though we have been given the Great Commission to evangelize the world, salvation is still a work of God, and not men (Mark 10:26,27; John 3:8).

In the book, Like a Mighty Wind, Mel Tari writes about an experience he had during the Indonesian revival in the late 1960s; he said at one point they went to evangelize in a very remote village, and found something incredible-God had already visited the witch doctor, revealed Himself, and brought redemption to the village!!! We may be called to be Christ's witnesses, but God is doing the real work, and this is an incredible example of His unlimited ability.

“Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.” -I Corinthians 3:5-7.

The point I am making is a simple one; don't hold on too tightly! Be willing to lay all down for the Lord, knowing that the real work is His. This can be a great test for us, to see if we are actually trusting in the Lord, or only ourselves. Obedience to God will take us in some strange directions, for we ARE strangers and pilgrims on the earth (Hebrews 11:13-16).

Such principles also apply in our deaths, which are times appointed by God, and this may challenge our affections. God will take care of our loved ones; we must TRUST Him in faith, and surrender to His will. Remember that there is a time for everything under the sun, and that includes moving on. God doesn't really need us, but loved us enough to send His Son Jesus to die for our sins. Accept His will for your life, and rest from your own labors. The work is God's, resting in His wisdom.

“And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not? So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief. Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.” -Hebrews 3:18-4:1.

Looking Closer at God's Healing

 “Who his own self bare our sins in his (Jesus) own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.” -I Peter 2:24. Name added.

We can see from the above scripture that healing from God is a finished work, accomplished through the sufferings of Jesus. Yet today believers often struggle with the idea of supernatural healing, and some have even said that God won't heal in this way any more. This rationale doesn't come from the Word of God, which makes it clear that Jesus is still the same (Hebrews 13:8).

Yes, divine healing still takes place today, but the faith to actually believe God for this is seriously vanishing. I would like Christian believers to know that God still does this, and they should not give in to discouragement from infirmities.

What we want today are instant healings, without waiting, and without the need for our obedient participation. GOD IS NOT A GENIE! He will answer our prayers in His time and way.

Look within the gospels at the healings/deliverances that Jesus worked while He was here in the flesh, and you will see that they were not all instantaneous.

Mark 10:46-52. Blind Bartimaeus first fought the discouragement of nay sayers, and had to persist in crying out before Jesus could actually hear & answer his request.

Luke 17:11-14. Jesus sent the ten lepers to show themselves to the priests, and they were healed as they went. These were steps of faith, for they had to believe they were cleansed in order to get that confirmed by priests.

Matthew 15:21-28. The woman of Canaan made three petitions before her daughter was healed. Jesus ignored her first request, denied her second request in a rude way, and then finally answered after the third. Here you can see the need for importunity (Luke 11:5-8), with persistent faith.

Mark 8:22-26. To heal the blind man of Bethsaida, Jesus first led him out of the town; then He had to touch his eyes TWICE, before the full healing came. After this Jesus told him not to go back into the town, nor tell it to any in the town. If you see Matthew 11:20, you'll know that Bethsaida had been rebuked because they did not repent, so you can see there was a negative spiritual influence that had to be overcome. I have also had healings where the infirmity returned, and I had to pray again & again before it was final, and I don't know why.

Please don't think that there are never any instant healings, for there certainly are. But God's ways are infinitely higher than our own (Isaiah 55:9), and as His children He will grow and mature us in His own way (Psalm 25:12). I have said that God is no genie; but this applies to our prayers, as well as the answers. We mutter a quick 10 second prayer, and expect a quick answer. God wants a relationship with us! We need to develop a deeper dependence on God through prayer, and when we are sick it is a natural time to increase our prayers. It is well to start our prayers with GRATITUDE toward God for all the goodness and health He has shown us already.

Of course we do not only pray for ourselves, but for others, also. I have done this and seen prayers answered, and seen them unanswered. Why? This is likely a matter of faith from the recipient of the prayers (Acts 14:9). If they ask you to pray, there is likely faith enough there. But if you ask to pray for them, they may well accept out of politeness, without really believing. So be slow to offer prayer for others, but if you do, challenge them by asking if they really believe God will answer.

There are a few other points I see that may have caused divine healings to dwindle. The first one is money, for the age we live in. If we look at the church of the Laodiceans, a church age I believe we are in, you'll see they were lukewarm; and due to be vomited from Jesus' mouth. Why does Jesus call them lukewarm? Because they say they are, "...rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing..." -Revelation 3:16,17. We see medicine, and technology, and can find cures for almost anything-which is why we are slow to pursue the ways of faith, when our "cures" are easy to see right in front of us.

Another possible reason I see can be found in the Galatians 3:10,11;

"For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith." Bold type has been added to emphasize.

The book of Galatians was written to a group of Christians that were falling back into a works-based salvation, a condition I see being widespread today. Therefore if we are trusting in our own goodness, and good works, we are no longer saved by the grace of God through faith; which would undermine the whole concept of divine healing, and would be under a curse.

Chastening is another reason why healing may at least be slow in coming. This may not strictly be punishment, but God refining us, or trying to show us something specific. The Lord has done this numerous times in my life, and His healing often confirms that I have finally understood.

"And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby." -Hebrews 12:5-11.

But this article wouldn't be complete without addressing the need for, or use of doctors. I believe there is a sure need for doctors, but it is the LORD we must trust in above all else. The Bible acknowledges the place of physicians, but it does downplay their importance. Physicians are mentioned 12X in scripture, and only 4X with regard to active treatment, 2 of those being the same account (Mark 5:26 & Luke 8:43 are same person, then 2 Chronicles 16:12 & Job 13:4). Twice in Genesis 50:2 the physicians are embalming Israel's dead body.

In all of the "treatment" references the use of physicians has a negative result! Luke, through whom came the gospel of Luke and Acts, is known as the beloved physician in Colossians 4:14. Luke travelled with Paul's group, but there is no Biblical record of Luke ever treating anyone! So we can gather through the Bible's accounts that while doctors are acknowledged, they aren't touted. Yet a doctor's examination may glorify God, because they can diagnose the real illness; and when it is healed divinely, it may glorify God all the more!

Brethren in Christ, please don't lose faith in God to heal. Have patience, have persistence, dig deep in prayer. God gave His own Son for our salvation while we were yet sinners-so what will He not do for us now? (Romans 8:32)

"Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise." -Hebrews 10:35,36.

Here is a link to the YouTube video I did on this subject https://youtu.be/gEmVdrTpfEQ

Discerning Sheep from Goats

 “And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:” -Matthew 25:32.

Jesus told us that the way of salvation is narrow, and FEW will find it; it has always been narrow (Matthew 7:13,14), but how much more so at this end time in history? Why is it so often said that all who attend church are saved? How is it that all who die are now in Heaven? If the Bible is true, and Jesus' words are true, when did the narrow way to salvation become so broad?

The discomfort at the thought of Hell, in part, has led to these errors in judgment. But I've little doubt that the greater influence here is that people are trying to be inoffensive with one another, loving the praise of men more than God, and so they have changed key parts of the truth into lies.

Haven't we been warned about false prophets & teachers (Matthew 24:24, 2 Peter 2)? Wolves in sheep's clothing (Matthew 7:15)? Tares among the wheat (Matthew 13:24-30,37-40)? Seeds from the sower (Luke 8:11-14)? A form of godliness that denies Him (2 Timothy 3:5)? Satan as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:13-15)? This is another area of study that churches avoid, but one that we need now more than ever. We have to get past our universal acceptance of everyone, and measure them by the standard of God's Word.

Not everyone who claims to be a Christian actually is one, and we need to be discerning. It will protect us spiritually, and show us how to minister in the situation. Perhaps it can also help the deceived false brother or sister, should they not realize the error they've fallen into. But we can also help others to avoid bad company. This is all a part of the watching in the last days that Jesus told us to do (Mark 13:33-37). The following are some of the “clues” I look for to discern whether or not a professing Christian is actually born-again (John 3:3); handling the Word of God. Believers love the Word, and seek to learn & follow the Word. In short, they revere it, for it is their life (Luke 4:4). False believers will be offended when you bring the Bible into your reasoning, and will have plenty of self-justification for their actions. False pastors may directly contradict the written Word. Following men's teachings. When stating their position on things, many false believers will refer to what certain teachers have to say, rather than quoting directly from the Bible themselves, or saying what the Holy Spirit has shown them. Thus they are following men, not the Lord. Placing tradition above obedience. See Mark 7:9. When a person is in Christ, they become a new creature, and old things pass away (2 Corinthians 5:17); these, however, are holding onto the old lifestyle. They haven't fled sin, they justify it. There is much talk of “accepting” Jesus. All of the world will accept Jesus, but who obeys Him?

“That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” -Philippians 2:10,11. There is little talk, if any, of a reformed life.

REPENTANCE for SIN. In my opinion, the false convert never had a good first repentance toward God. Christians need repentance at points throughout life, because no one is perfect, even after salvation; but many false converts have never addressed sin in any meaningful way.

If repentance is mentioned at all for the new convert, it is typically in the lightest way, and little if any conscience is aroused toward previous wicked works. They do not understand that they are separated from God by their sin, and there is NO good in them. The pastor will assure them of God's love, tell them God has a plan for them, etc. The “convert” will still think he is a good person (Mark 10:18), that “we all make mistakes,” and there are plenty of people worse than him. If you want to find out the validity of their repentance, ask what specific sins they have repented of. This will tell you if what they did was an obligatory gesture of a general nature (such as, “God, please forgive all my sins”), or if they may really have understood that they have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).

Love of the world. When you meet a professed Christian with a great love for the world and the things in it, you'd be right to question their real love for God; yet I know of those who are just like that! Jesus told us not to love our lives here (John 12:25), but to forsake all we have (Luke 14:33). Many profess Christ, but they seem to think He died to make us prosper in this world-not to save them from Hell! These have also likely not had a good first repentance, for they never saw the true nature of their need for the cross. They also have no grasp on the evil nature of this sin-fallen world.

“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. 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.” -I John 2:15,16.

Brethren, we must do our best to believe and practice the entire Word of God. In these last hours, false teachers are painting a false picture of a rosy, but worldly Christian life. We cannot serve God and mammon! These have been lured into a false faith that will leave them eternally damned. It is up to us to watch, recognize the deceit, and help them to find the truth. If we don't do this, who will?

“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” -2 Timothy 4:3,4.

Here is a link to my YouTube video on this subject https://youtu.be/QPjmI6x3QL0