RUN LIKE A CHAMPION

The Resources of the Evangelist: Material Resources
I want to welcome you to week 2 and day 4 of our study on revival and evangelism. I hope that God’s doing a work in your life – stirring your heart to pray for people – to be an authentic Christian – to reach out to the world. When you start doing that, you’ll discover that there will be needs that you will have.
In fact, I find it very interesting that when Jesus taught His disciples to pray, the first focus was on God: “Our Father, which are in heaven, hallowed be thy name.” Then the second focus was praying for others and we’ve been talking a lot about that. But then the third focus was bringing our needs to God. “Give us this day – our daily bread.”
What I’ve discovered is that as you begin to reach out to other people, you will discover that you don’t have all of the resources that you need to reach others. They may be material resources .. they may be community resources .. whatever they are – I don’t know but you won’t have all of those because you’ll get into an area of living and an area of Christian life that is beyond your capabilities.
So you may need mental strength, you may need educational things, you may need something even financially. You don’t know but God will meet every need that you have so that you can reach people for Christ. And so, there are resources that God has for you.
Now, we talked last week about those resources being human resources being the greatest resources. Let me share with you about physical resources. God will meet your need .. If you will trust Him – you will look to Him.
You know, early in my ministry, my wife and I started off in evangelism and we were young – didn’t know anything. We moved into the streets of Chicago and started reaching people and we got married and we just had a heart to reach people for Jesus. And we wanted to do that – but we didn’t have a lot of resources. We were poor – in fact, we would be called people under the poverty line and living in poverty – but we were rich spiritually and had a heart to reach others for Christ.
And my wife – and I when I talked to her father about getting married – I asked him for her hand and he said, well the first question he asked me was – “Well, how are you going to provide for my daughter?”
And I said I don’t know but God’s called me to preach and to reach people for Christ. And he said, “Well do you have a church to preach in?” And I said, “Well no, sir – but I know He will provide.” And he was reluctant but he was very gracious and he gave me permission and his blessing to marry his daughter and we got married and we started this journey of walking and trusting God.
And one day, we would go to God in prayer and God would meet our needs – He provided our rent – He enabled us to have food and everything .. He was meeting our needs. But one day we woke up and there was no food in the refrigerator, our rent was due and we didn’t have enough money to put gas in the car .. and we were in a really bad situation.
And I told my wife, let’s pray. And we got on our knees and we prayed. And after we prayed I went to the post office and there was a letter from a little missionary lady who said, “Sammy – I was having my time alone with God and God spoke to my heart and told me to send you some money.” It was just – enough – money to pay our rent, to get groceries and to put gas in our car. And God continued to bless.
Well, this went on for a few months and after a few months we were back in that same position. As we were out and trying to minister and reach people for Christ, we found ourselves empty again. And so my wife and I knelt and prayed again. And after we prayed, I told my wife .. Honey, I’ll be back – I’m headed to the post office.
And I went down to the post office and I went through the mail – and there was nothing there. And oh, I was so disappointed .. I said, “Lord what happened? You promised that you’d meet our every need.” And as I was walking back , the Lord just spoke to my heart and He said, “Son, you weren’t trusting in me – you were trusting in the post office.”
And I realized a great truth – often we trust in the method of God rather than the God of the method. And God changed my heart that day – and that was not to trust in His method of provision but to trust in Him – as my provision.
I don’t know what needs you will have – there may be some social needs in your community – that you can meet and through that you will have an opportunity to reach people for Christ. And you may not have the ability to meet those social needs but I tell you what, if you will pray – God will meet those needs.
Now, I don’t know how He will do it .. I don’t know what method He will choose. It may be finances – it may be people will provide those things that are needed. It may be that the community will provide them for you .. I don’t know how it will happen but I know this .. if you will pray, God will meet every need you have because people are on His heart and He longs to meet their needs. So as you reach out to them, there will come extraordinary needs but you can rest in this assurance .. God will meet every need for the scripture says “My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory through Christ Jesus.”
So look to Him – not the method of God .. but to the God of the method.