We are concerned about being able to walk with immunity, so that nothing that comes against us will be able to touch us. Every ministry should recognize the need for this immunity. How can a true shepherd be concerned about laying up something for his own future, without thinking also about the needs of the flock? None of us can think only of protecting ourselves without wanting to see all of the brothers and sisters protected too. It would be impossible to save enough food for times of famine. The Lord must become our source of supply.
In Psalm 3, a morning prayer written by David, he wrote, But Thou, O Lord, art a shield about me. Verse 3a. God will be an invisible shield round about us, giving us immunity during the days of lack, thus warding off everything that would come to assault us.
We are entering a time in which all kinds of things may happen. It is alarming to read about the rapid increase of rats and the outbreak of bubonic plague—the black death of the Middle Ages—occurring right here in the United States; yet no one seems to be concerned about it. Do you realize how difficult it would be to immunize the entire population against such a disease? Something is happening in the culture of disease which we do not understand. Weird viruses develop and infect many people, yet they are not even reported.
We are on the verge of plagues and famine. Already thousands are dying of starvation. There is not enough food to feed the earth’s population for even a single day. The four horsemen of the book of Revelation could sweep over the world so quickly. Yet this is the time when our government is selling (at a loss) millions of bushels of wheat and rice to other nations. No one seems to understand the situation. In spite of yourself, you are going to become a victim—both as an individual and as a church—unless you trust God to deliver you; trust Him with all of your heart.
Faith is a necessity. We will face inflation, recession, and many other problems. There is no way for us to go except to trust in God. Already this is working. Unemployment among God’s people is far below the national average. God is blessing us financially so that we can carry out the projects He sets before us—projects which often seem ridiculous, by man’s reasoning. As we pray and believe, God gives immunity from bad weather so that a building project can be completed. We believe the Lord to bless the crops and to provide grain and food for His people. We may not live in luxury, possessing things that we do not need, but we will be secure and comfortable, knowing that God is meeting our needs as we walk with Him.
In Psalm 4, an evening prayer, David wrote, But know that the Lord has set apart the godly man for Himself. Verse 3a. God has set us apart for Himself. A good salesman does not try to sell what the customer does not want. Instead, he always tries to discern what the customer wants and needs and then proceeds to get it and sell it to him. Very reverently we can apply that same principle to the Heavenly Father. Find out what He wants, and then give it to Him. Find out what God is interested in and make a step toward it. Be the man God wants. Become the people He wants us to become. Become His treasure in the earth. There you will find the greatest security that can be found anywhere, for then He will take care of you! The Father said, concerning Jesus, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.” Matthew 3:17b. When the Father sees that you are spending your days worshiping Jesus Christ, He will say, “He is doing the right thing. What I value, he values. I will bless him.” Learn to think as God thinks. Learn to desire what God desires.
Whenever you read the Bible, develop an awareness that you are not reading the thoughts of man; instead, you are reading a revelation of the Lord and a revelation from the Lord. Read the Bible to see what God is thinking, and then determine that you will think that way too. Jesus said, “I do always those things which I see the Father do” (John 14:31). He pleased God because He knew what the Father wanted, and that was what He wanted. He said, “I have come to do Thy will, O God” (Hebrews 10:7). The Father’s will was always uppermost in His mind
This will be your preservation in the days ahead too. Say, “Lord, reveal to me what You are thinking; let me see what You want and what You are doing in the earth, and I will jump to do it. I see that You are sending the gospel of the Kingdom to the ends of the world. Fine! If I run and do that too, then I will be right in the center of the blessing. Lord, You anoint me and I will be Your courier. I will send the Word that You want sent.” Find out what God is speaking and doing right now, and then run and do it.
There are thousands of eloquent preachers in the world—men who are well trained and well educated in every way; but there is no one in the world whose sermons God is blessing any more than those of the man who hears what God is speaking and then speaks that same Word.
Translating the Koine Greek, the language of New Testament times, was very difficult, and it did not always come forth with excellent grammar. In the King James Version of Ephesians, there are some long sentences that go on and on and on with phrases and clauses all hooked together. But when you finally get through it, you shake your head and say, “My, that was wonderful! How marvelous!” You are thrilled with it. It is not the intelligence or the wisdom of a man that determines the effectiveness of what he speaks. A man can lisp, or speak in broken English what God is saying, and God will bless him; and that Word will go to the ends of the earth.
God sets apart for Himself the man who loves Him and fears Him and will do His will. God will bless you in the same way. You do not have to be anyone special by the world’s standards. Simply tune in to what God wants and do it with all of your heart. Do not argue about it; do not be difficult to persuade. Be eager to do what pleases the Lord. With all faith, obey God in what He tells you to do, and He will bless you in it. He is very pleased when you concentrate on what He wants, and then He takes care of every other phase of your life.