All You Need is God

A Message by Scott Goddard

"All You need is God!"

"All You need is God!"

"All You need is God!"

If you would, personalize it. "All I need is God". Say it three times if you would.

The Beatles had a song called, "All you need is love." However, the Bible says in 1 John 4:8:

Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.

I'll start by saying this:

We suffer from every generation before us.

Every generation makes mistakes and we learn from those mistakes...

It seems like with the more recent generations, you hear a fair amount from the "I'm not loved" generation. Maybe that's true- maybe you didn't get enough love. Maybe you were beat up, abused, maybe hated.

On the other hand, maybe you were loved and now that's gone. Maybe they're not here anymore and it's left you wandering and straying, and questioning your path in life.

Some might say, "my dad didn't love me, my mom didn't love me." They're not here anymore- or maybe they were never there. Maybe you didn't know them at all.

...And my sentiments and my sympathies go out to you... but I want to speak to you.

Bear with me now...

I don't think that's the problem.

Our love does not truly and solely come from people. It comes from God.

The Bible says God is love. So, let me ask you... Why are you- why are we trying to take something from God and peg that to a bunch of fallible human beings.

Only God can truly fill that void of loneliness and restlessness, and cure the tendency to act out. That is, to act out of character.

What's getting at you?

What's this tendency to go digging up the past? Dwelling and replaying the past, when we have work to do. Oh yes, there is work to do.

You might say, Scott, I've put the past behind me. As gen Z would say, "Nah, I'm good bro... We're not talking about the past. We are in the here and now." "I'm living my best life"... Joel Osteen told me so...

That's cool, but let me tell you something...

There's something going on in the world. It use to be we could shut it out. But, it's banging on the door. It's rattling the windows. It's howling up against the side of the four walls... Of your life, of my life, of the children, of our elders, of our boomers, of our dogs and cats, and I think the rats outside even have anxiety. The raccoons have PTSD! I'm pretty sure!

The Pressure!

The Pressure.

The Pressure...

It's HERE! There's Sunday, but I'm telling you- come Monday, Tuesday, Saturday...

The Pressure is here.

"You Know Scott"...

I want to give up

I just don't see a way

The fight is bigger than ever

Maybe I will just recede into the crowd

Maybe I will hide... You Know, just lay low...

feel it out.

Maybe you ought to- maybe I ought to Maybe the threat is real. I mean, who knows? Only God really knows ultimately the outcome of everything. Only he knows the outcome of your life.

So, the pressure is here and I don't think it's going to stop. But, let's talk about what the Bible says...

Matthew 16:17-18

17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. 18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.

So, whatever is thrown at you, the gates of hell shall not prevail!

It doesn't matter what it looks like or whatever the gates of hell have concocted this time- Whatever has been schemed...The word from our Lord is that IT WILL NOT PREVAIL! Hallelujah! IT WILL NOT PREVAIL.

You don't have to yield to that voice of defeat. That voice of condemnation, that voice of judgement by the world... The gates of hell will not prevail!

Why are we doing this? Why do we do this? I don't want to become a zombie...

Why are you enduring all of this? I could just tap out and go be an architect or a doctor and focus on that. I can go insulate myself. I can focus on my education and just work on my health and wellness and make sure I have all the right furniture and I have my Amazon orders in queue... let's bypass these more primitive feelings and emotions and live a comfortably numb life, and become a technocratic sociopath.

...Let's get this thing streamlined. I am a business- "I am not a human anymore", I am an organic entity living in a virtual world that's a simulation, and I will just configure myself to be the most productive and profitable as perfectly possible with the most optimized statistical probability- not greater than 1 standard deviation. Forget fighting the pressure... No "I'll just go with the flow."

No! God has other plans for us, rather than the plans of the world.

God has a plan for your life. I'm sure you've heard that before. Maybe years ago you read the book, "A Purpose Driven Life". I know I did. But, I think that idea took root in the church, which, face value- I think a good thing. Yes, God has a purpose for you. You should have a purpose. However, let's remember that it's not just about us. It's definitely not all about us as individuals... no matter how great you are or skilled or how much you've attained.

Let's read Ephesians 4:11-13

11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers,12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

This is about works of service and about the unity of the faith as the church. There is a larger picture here.

I Believe

All you need is God.

I believe in God. I believe in you- yes you. I really do.

This is because I believe in the Word of God. I'm not talking about the Bible. Yes, of course we believe in that. But, what I'm talking about is the Word of God- something living- something alive. I speak the Word of God into your life. I speak to you that you are valuable to God- that you are able to hear the Word of God and respond. You can be stronger than whatever it is that you're facing. You are able to do whatever it is that God has you doing in your life, and all you need to do it just get with Him. All you need is God!

He's Alive!

No Matter what's going on, no matter what you feel, no matter what you've experienced.

It's my job today to let you know God is alive and well, and my job is for you to know that. All you need is Him- not something else.

Say it with me now...

"All you need is God."

Sometimes Though...

We think we need some other things...

We need that certain type of car so my neighbors will be impressed.

So my friends from a hundred years ago will know I made it.

So my family will really see how well I've done and not look down upon me.

So other Christians will know I'm a pretty happening person.

So that sinners will know that God is the way, the truth, and the life because I got a Range Rover... Eddie Bauer Edition with the satin-lined airbags and the Rack and Peanut Steering.

"I need a status symbol!"- "What's my status"?!?!

No Scott- I don't need all that- I just want God... but I do also need the right wife or the right husband.

God bless you- I hope you find all of that. Who wouldn't want that? But, let's try and put God first... and I'll tell you why:

In Luke 20:34, Christ says that the sons of this age marry and are given in marriage, when the Sadducees were hung up on the technicalities of Deuteronomy, which means the second law, and here they are encountering the "third law", so to speak. The law of the Messiah, which is the fulfillment of the law as He stated in Matthew 5:17. So, here in Luke, Christ is saying that all those things aren't going to matter in the world to come. Men and women will be like the angels who are not given into marriage, but will be like the sons and daughters of God.

Furthermore, you hear more of this type of thinking with Paul in 1 Corinthians 7:29-31.

But this I say, brethren, the time is shortened, that henceforth both those that have wives may be as though they had none; and those that weep, as though they wept not; and those that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and those that buy, as though they possessed not; and those that use the world as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away.

Now of course, I'm not knocking marriage. Marriage is good. If you find that person- stick with them. God will give you your mate, and let me be frank: Marriage is so you don't sin and are not consumed by lusts. Since the Garden of Eden, mankind has dealt with temptation and continues to do so, and marriage is so you don't fall into lusts and sexual immorality. Yet, Jesus tells us that's all going to change. God is going to do that to us. God is literally going to change us. I'm telling you, all you need is God, and He will do the rest!

"Here we go..." (I can hear everyone now...)

What's he going on about my marriage for? What's he getting on me for? I'm just trying to provide for my family? I'm just trying to secure myself in this generation. I'm just trying to educate myself. I'm just trying to better myself and empower myself.

Let's be clear... I'm not getting on anyone. If I were doing that, I'd be bringing down myself- but you have to understand- there are layers to this thing. There are uncertainties, there are complications, there are sophistications- a detailing weaving of tapestries and accounts. There are responsibilities, no doubt about it- there are truly serious matters here on earth. There are things happening with governments, our basic schooling, ideologies, media, communications...

...And that's what I'm saying! There's that pressure! That cute little stray dog you brought home might have turned on you as it were. I know I've found myself down in the dirt, more cynical than anyone saying, "no good deed goes unpunished." But, we can't get into that mindset, and we can avoid it if we come to the realization that "this is about me and God"

. This is about YOU and God! That love we are searching for- that comfort and peace- that rest- that's only going to come from God.

God looks upon you as a son, a daughter, one of His own. We want to live up to that honor.

1 Peter 1:8 says

Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

He keeps us coming back-

We know- we get a sense that this earthly existence is all futile. We are in a process of redemption. We don't want to make trouble before God. We don't want to have God upset with us. He is alive, let me remind you. He understands everything, but sometimes it gets so complicated and some of us are just total brainiacs who are going to figure it out. Sure you will learn some things along the way, but the biggest lesson is that we are just humans that were called to submit to God- Not to men as if they were God, or the world as if it were God (Sure- we can submit to things out of humility or because we give our respect and that's okay as long as it's not glaringly wrong). But, I'm saying, it's when we submit to God and connect with God, then anything is possible. He can fix things, He can make a way when there seems to be no way. He can heal us. He can change us. He can strengthen us. He can use us for His grand purpose.

As we come to a close...

King Solomon, the son of King David was the richest king of all time. He had more than anyone and tried everything there was to try. He had a thousand wives, he ate and drank all that he pleased. Everything around him was layered in 24 karat gold. It was said that he had all wisdom. Let's hear his final words from Ecclesiastes 12 from the King James Bible:

1 Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;

2 While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain:

3 In the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the windows be darkened,

4 And the doors shall be shut in the streets, when the sound of the grinding is low, and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of musick shall be brought low;

5 Also when they shall be afraid of that which is high, and fears shall be in the way, and the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail: because man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets:

6 Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern.

7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.

8 Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher; all is vanity.

9 And moreover, because the preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yea, he gave good heed, and sought out, and set in order many proverbs.

10 The preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and that which was written was upright, even words of truth.

11 The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd.

12 And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.

13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

Let's hear those words of Solomon today. Let's hear from someone who received everything from God and explored everything the world had to offer, and was well versed in how green the grass was on the other side. I would consider that God let all that happen so Solomon could be the one to tell you in the end...

God is all you need!

God is all you need!

God bless you.