Identity, authority, resources (IV) Resources

In 2 Peter 1:3 we read that God has given us all things that pertain to life and godliness. Notice the tense here, all things are already given! We may need to ask for things (James 4:2), but from Heavens’ point of view all the things we need are already in place! In verse 4, Peter goes on to talk about the resource we have in the exceedingly great and precious promises, also already given. But if we are going to claim a promise, we do need to believe it belongs to us. Jesus told us that all things are possible to those who believe (Mark 9:23). And we won’t likely believe, if we don’t know who we are in Christ, if we don’t know that we have authority, and that as sons and daughters of the living God, He has already given the resources we need even before we ask!

Part of what it means to have already been given all things that pertain to life, life in the Spirit, is that God will never give us a command that, with the command, He will not also give us the necessary resources to carry through. So if He calls you to be a pastor, then He will give you both the financing, and the tenacity and intellectual ability to get through the courses that you would need in order to be qualified in this area. Likewise if He calls you to a ministry that requires finances, He will provide the necessary finances. But we will likely need to step out in faith, before He puts the said finances in place. This is how He seems to work! And again this will be difficult if we don’t know who we are in Him, if we don’t know the authority He has given us, and if we don’t know His faithfulness in resourcing us for His Kingdom work.

In the ministry that the Lord has given me, there are many who are trapped in addictions. In such cases what it means that He has already given us all things that pertain to godliness, is that the resources to be overcomers are already in place. In fact when we totally surrender to Him, He not only gives us the wherewithal to overcome, but He works in our desires to do that too (Philippians 2:12, 13). But all of these things are part of our journey, and as I have already said, it involves an ongoing battle to believe who we are in Him, to believe the authority that we have in Him, and to believe that the resources are already there waiting for us to claim!

Father, the battle to believe is indeed ongoing. I know from experience, that when I have gained victory in a particular area, then I am likely to be tested in another area. And the new battle to believe seem just as strong as the earlier one. When this comes Lord, please remind me, in the midst of it all, that You have already given all things that pertain to life and godliness, and that You always lead us in triumphant procession in Christ (2 Corinthians 2:14). I want to thank You this morning Lord, that it is You who keeps me in these things (2 Timothy 1:12), and that I am never alone in these battles. Keep me growing in faith and confidence in all these areas Lord, in Jesus Name Amen