The Danger of Needing Nothing

An intricate part of our walk with God is the necessity to exercise that which we believe. Faith, in its simplest definition, is that which you really believe. Faith without works is dead. We miss a valuable part of the equation when we do not allow our faith to work for us. You see, properly executed, we do not perform the works, but we allow our faith to work for and through us.

Faith is a necessary ingredient in every aspect of our daily Christian walk. Faith is necessary for salvation, growth, and receiving what we need and desire from God.

Hebrews 11:6 (NKJV)...
6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must
believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

What is the necessary stimulus to the exercising of our faith...? NEED. What happens when the necessary stimulus to our faith is removed from us...? Our faith decreases and we become self-sufficient and lose sight of the need of God.

We ask all the time...

• Why must I need...?
• How come I’ve got to need so much...?
• Should I always have to be seeking God for something...?
• When will I not need anymore...?

Need is necessary...! Without need we tend to become without faith...! When you don’t need, you don’t need a provider...! Who needs a doctor when they’re not sick...? The interesting thing about need is that need comes with a promise...

Philippians 4:19 (NKJV)...
19 And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

St. John the Revelator exiled on the Isle of Patmos for the preaching of the Word of God and testimony of Jesus Christ. Per the direction of Jesus, John writes letters to the Seven Churches of Asia Minor.

1. Ephesus – the backslidden church that lost their first love.
2. Smyrna – the poor but truly rich church.
3. Pergamos – the church of evil surroundings, steadfast, but infected with heresy.
4. Thyatira – the church of good works but harboring a false prophetess.
5. Sardis – the dying church.
6. Philadelphia – the weak, but faithful church.
7. Laodicea – the lukewarm church.

Revelation 3:13 - 22 (NKJV)...
13 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”’
14 “And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, ‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God:
15 “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot.
16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.
17 Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked—
18 I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness
may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.
19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.
20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.
21 To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.
22 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”’”

Laodicea – What gets the Laodicean church to its lukewarm state...? (See verse 17)

Once God blesses us to receive the manifestation of our miracle and we receive what we have been seeking God for, we must be careful of becoming self-sufficient. Once we get what we’ve been praying for there is the tendency to slack off in our praying, not worshipping the way we were when we were in need, it becomes hard to get us to the house of God. We get what we want and just go on.

There is a danger in needing nothing. We can’t handle the realm of nothing. We have no rights to the realm of nothing. God reserves sole rights to the realm of nothing unto Himself. That’s why we can’t fathom “nothing”.

Needing nothing is outside of the realm of possibility for the true believer.

(Verse 18): “...counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire...” The important thing about this equation is not so much the gold as it is the trying...! The trying is necessary...it keeps us in the place of need to keep our faith maintained.

(Verse 19): Rebuke and chastisement are intricate components to the love of God.

(Verses 20 – 21): The goal is NOT to “need nothing”, but to OVERCOME...! The real overcomer is the one that responds to the knock. We’re so involved in trying to get God to respond to us, but what He wants is for us to respond to Him...!

(Verses 13 & 22): There’s a necessity in having a spiritually open and hearing ear to keep our faith vibrant and not be found thinking we need nothing. Many are listening to the voice of the Spirit, but only a few are hearing the voice of the Spirit. Having hearing ears are key to recognizing and realizing WHAT we need.