That rich young man had a need. You have a need. That man's only way to solve his need was carnal, flesh, his money, influence or position.  But Jesus seemed to say, "Nothing like that will work. Throw it away. Distribute! Come on, follow me."

I know you have a need in your life, you may need a spouse, are struggling with some children that somebody has abandoned you with or struggling with some health issues. You have a need!  You are probably being called a name you don't want to bear. You have a need! How do you go about solving your need? Is it carnally or do you want to follow Jesus so that all these needs can be met? "Oh Pastor be careful what you say, don't promise them what is not possible." My Bible tells me that if you seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, all these things shall be added unto you.  Today, I'm talking to a group of people, with common problems, common needs and common challenges. How do we go about meeting these needs? One example from the New Testament is as follows: Jesus said,  "A time will come when everybody will be scattered." Peter said, "Far be it. Even till death, I will go with you." Jesus replied saying, "Peter, before the cock crows the third time, you'll have denied me thrice."

This was Peter who was in Jesus' crew for three and a half years? The only problem was Peter wanted to fight a battle carnally and he tried when Jesus was betrayed in the garden. Peter pulled out his sword and went for the ear of one of them that came to arrest Him, then Jesus said "No! No! No! That's not the way. Anybody who lives by the sword will die by the sword. Put it back. Come on sheath your sword and put it back." And He took that ear from the ground, cleaned it off, and put it back.

"I can defend myself." And then this Jesus, Master, Saviour, Miracle worker, who raised the dead, made the cripples walk;  The same Jesus was now being pulled away by some...
But Peter had said "Even till death I will never deny you. I will die with you."

There are certain things that are physically impossible. When the cock crowed the third time, the Bible says Jesus looked back and made eye contact with Peter. Peter ran out of the compound and wept bitterly.  But Jesus went on to be tortured, nailed to the cross, died and was buried.  At this time Peter who was so fearful hid away from the Jews with the other disciples. One day, when some of the women went to the grave, they said, "Peter, some strange things are happening, it seems like He is arisen."  But He told them He would and when they came in contact with Jesus, He said, "You know what? Go tell my disciples that they should meet me... And Peter." Every time He would talk about His disciples, He would say, "And Peter." Why?

Peter was discouraged!  Peter thought it could never be done again! Peter thought, no hope! Peter thought, forget it! Then Peter got to a stage, he said,  "Guys, I'm going fishing. We've done this thing for almost 4 years, I'm going back to where I came from." The Bible says about five of them decided to go with him. That kind of Peter is dangerous. When they are discouraged, they discourage other people; when they are encouraged, they encourage other people. So be careful how you handle Peter in your group. Peter can be very dangerous. When he is rebellious, he brings rebellion to all. When he is loyal, he brings loyalty to the house.
Is there a Peter in the house? And Peter went back to fishing with some of the other disciples. They were there from night till morning and caught nothing. The flesh will look like you are winning but at the end it is emptiness. That is why the Bible tells us the weapons of our warfare are not carnal. They are mighty to the pulling down of strongholds.

So all night caught nothing! But at the point when they were now washing to go, frustrated .... a voice from the shore line shrouded in the dark horizon and the shrubs behind said, "Children, do you have any meat?"

 Jesus knew they caught nothing.  When you choose the way of the flesh, others may be getting away with it but they are never going to get it all together. Don't go the way they went. You are different.  "What do you have? You've got to it the way they do it. What do you have?" They couldn't present anything.

He said to them, "Will you cast your net on the right side?" Peter's Crew: "We are professionals. This is the way it is done naturally speaking. We have done everything we need to do in the flesh. I mean everything we need to skilfully."

"Go sell everything and distribute and come follow me. What you are looking for all your life, you will find much more. Just follow me." I don't know how your problem is defined, but God will answer you at the point of your need. By the next time we meet there will be a lot of testimonies in the name of Jesus.

 I will stop here for today; it’s been nice discussing with you and guess you also gained some things this time around. Till we see again next week, remember, you still have one more reason to go on…

to be continued next week...

Pastor Taiwo’s Full messages are also available on tapes and CDs at The Fountain of Life Church Bookshop.

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