Our All-Sufficient One
Romans 15:4;
For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
Paul writes to the church in Romans and says whatever was written is for our learning. This means there are things written in the scriptures for us to learn from. The believer must learn to know what the scriptures say were written for our learning, the information there must not be disregarded.
For instance, Paul, after establishing that God takes no delight in animal sacrifices, later uses the sacrificial system in the Old Testament to explain that the believer should present himself a living sacrifice. Thus, he uses that as a learning point for the believer.
This means we have a duty to learn from the things in the Old Testament, it was not only written to us but for us. Note, we are to learn from the Old Testament not live for the Old Testament. Learning is never a disadvantage.
The word ‘aforetime’ means something that is previously written, something that has been announced before. The word learning is from the Greek word DIADASKALIA which means teaching, it depicts a function of information. Things that were written aforetime were written for our learning. Let’s see some of these things.
Genesis 17:1;
1. And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the lord appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God walk before me, and be thou perfect.
Does this sound like God was trying to announce himself? Pretty much.
The word ‘Almighty’ is from the Hebrew word ‘ELSHADDAI’, it’s from two words: ‘EL’ which means God and ‘SHAD’ which is used for breast, AI which means my, used for the way a mother caters for a child. SHADDAI means the all sufficient.
One of the covenant names God used to reveal himself to the Israelites, El-Shaddai means the God who is all sufficient, more than enough. All through the Old Testament, God reveals himself as the all sufficient.
For every situation that looks hopeless, God is more than enough. At some point in scriptures, we see Joshua pray to God during a battle, and the sun stood still (Rom. 10:13). Daniel stopped the mouth of the loin. David never lost a battle, no situation looks hopeless for our God.
Some believers get fed up with overwhelming situations and begin to murmur, but that’s not Gods will for you. Complaining or ranting are not fruits of the Spirit. Don’t like one who is fatherless. You have the all-sufficient one as a father. He is more than enough.
God’s almightiness is in his goodness.
John 2:3-9
7. Jesus saith unto them, fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brain.
8. And he saith unto them, draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast and they bare it.
This is about the miracle at the wedding at Cana. There was no wine; suddenly, we see Jesus catching lack at a surprise. He asked them to fill the pot with water and serve it. We see him feed 5000 people. Don’t doubt the miraculous, you never know when you need one. He multiplied 5 loaves of bread with 2 fishes.
God takes lack at a surprise, he is more than enough, and you must not doubt his ability to meet your needs. He is more than enough. We have a father, he meets our needs. The believer must learn to leave complaining for the godless and learn to trust God’s ability to meet his needs.
Daily Bible Reading Plan:
Bible Reading – John 17-18
TEACHING OF THE DAY
Salvation Through Faith in Christ (Series 3A) (2)