Sunday 24/07/2016

OVERCOMING THE FEAR OF LACK

( Sermon Preached by Nwaiwu Fortune Chinemerem, M.O.G.)

Fear the LORD you his godly people, for those who fear him will have all they need
Psalm 34:9

Really, fear of lack has jeopardized the faith of many believers right from the exodus
of the Israelites (when they complained about food and water, Exodus 16:3 and
remembered the fish they used to eat for free in Egypt, Numbers 11:5) till the
present day of gospel dispensation because they have not yet discovered the
principles through which their needs would be provided.

When an ordinary man has nothing either to eat for survival or to maintain his life,
there is always be a great tension of what to do. By this,fear creeps into him trying
to dominate his inner being. If he ventures to overcome his lack, he ends up
perhaps in stealing and gloating on people's belongings in order to survive. The
ordinary man is prone to many temptations. He sees God as a God that can not act
at that moment of his need to rescue him. So if he could wait for God to provide for
him, he would die in his lack. Worries about the need of life, what to eat, drink and
live in a big mansion and drive the best car on earth begin to dominate the mind of
the ordinary man. Christ calls him unbeliever because he does not rely on the
providence of God, (see Luke 12:29).

The moral man who is spiritually minded is always trusting in the word of God. He
knows that God will never abandon him at the moment of his lack. When lacks strike
the moral man sticks to his faith. He acknowledges God as his great shepherd and
then trusts in his providence.

We can overcome the fear of lack by observing the following principles:

1. By Fearing God: "Fear the LORD, you his godly people, for those who fear him
will have all they need" Psalm 34:9 NLT.

2. By Trusting God: "Even strong lions sometimes go hungry, but those who trust
in the LORD will lack no good thing" Psalm 34:10 NLT.
3. By Paying Our Tithes to God: "Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that
there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of
hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing,
that there shall not be room enough to receive it", Malachi 3:10 KJV.

Prayer: Lord God, we have heard your word and believe that none of your children
will lack good things. May you provide for those who are in need this very moment.
There are people who are in need of money to rent a house and clear their debts as
well as paying of their school fees. And there are people who are looking for a way
to eat and survive. Whatever may be their need, I pray that may your grace and
favour see them through this week in Jesus name, amen.