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'It is extremely difficult for a believer to be led of the spirit when he is oppressed (subject to be controlled) by his needs'

	Biodun Coker Pastor, RCCG-CHRIST CHURCH Arlington, Texas Christlike Reflections
Pastor Biodun Coker	TYRANNY OF NEEDS
Needs are fundamental and essential for our living. A need is something desired or deemed necessary. It is a necessity arising from a circumstance or a situational demand for example: the need for air, food and clothing. While a healthy, living human body needs oxygen, water, nutrients that come in form of mineral resources; a cadaver or dead body has no need for them. It is however amazing to discover that our needs have been provided within our geographical space by the creator Himself. However, because human needs are enormous, we are sometimes beclouded by its enormity. Rather than look around to appreciate and celebrate what has been provided within our geographical space, we are mostly beclouded by the size of what is lacking. This is well illustrated by the story of the multitudes in the gospel of John Chapter 6. The multitudes were impressed by Jesus' miracles and decided to follow Him. The Lord observed the crowd approaching, from his vantage point on the mountain top and asked Philip “Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat?“ Considering the challenge of feeding the multitudes, one would have thought that the question should have been how or where could we get money to buy bread for these multitudes? His concern was not for money but bread the actual need of the multitudes. The critical question is: “What will be your reaction to this need?” It is our perspective or view of our needs that makes them appear larger than what they are. Judging from Philip's answer, the need became as big as Mount Gibraltar because the question of where was not addressed; he focused on how. Philip said, “Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little”. A pennyworth was equivalent to one day's wage. Philip's calculation was that two hundred days’ wages would not be enough to give everyone a bite. That is no doubt intimidating. This action shows not only our perception but also how we get controlled by our needs. This is how we get tyrannized by our needs and allow it to become a haunting shadow. It forces a preacher to lean towards preaching that which people want to hear. It makes a believer to play “bingo” with God. It inflames or elicits covetousness in spirit filled saints. It is extremely difficult for a believer to be led of the spirit when he is oppressed (subject to be controlled) by his needs. There would have been much comfort for Philip and also for us if we all know that for every discernible and apparent need, “…he himself knew what he was going to do” Another subtle controlling power of our need was also revealed by the insight that Andrew provided. Though Andrew also did not attempt to answer the question “Where do we get food to buy?” He was diligent to find someone with something. However, he underestimated the available resources five loaves and two fishes by saying “…but what are they among so many?” There are times when we are overwhelmed by our needs that we question the sufficiency of the seed that would produce the harvest. Every great harvest comes from a seed. Most times, the seeds look inconsequential to the forthcoming harvest and like Andrew we all asked “what are they among so many?” Many seeds of great harvest are usually discounted because they look ordinary, compared to the heavy burdens placed on us by our needs. The widow of Zarephath was in such desperate need that she believed that her provision was good enough for “the last supper”. She said “I don't have anything baked - only a handful of flour in the jar and a bit of oil in the jug. Just now, I am gathering a couple of sticks in order to go and prepare it for myself and my son so we can eat it and die”. What was available seems insufficient to meet her need. It was ordinary; not baked or garnished. It looked small that it actually qualifies for a pediatric dose, yet it is the holy seed that was needed for the unending harvest in her household. She was at a point in her conversation with Elijah where she was going to get delivered from the tyranny of her needs. The intervention of Elijah caused her need to lose control over her, and by so doing she obtained freedom to enter into her rest. In 2 Kings 4 is the story of a wife of one of the sons of the prophets. Not only was her house almost foreclosed and debt collectors calling her but her two children were to be auctioned as well. For her, it was a great financial need. Her need drove her to a point of seeking for help in the right place. The scripture says she cried out to Elisha who was seen as an access to God. (Jesus Christ has become that access as no one comes to the Father except through Him). When she was asked “What do you have in the house?” she looked at her need, compared it with the ordinary and scanty provision in her house and said “Your servant has nothing in the house except a jar of oil”. It was that exception that was needed for her harvest. The jar of oil became sufficient to pay off the debt and the sons that were about to be auctioned were instructed to live on the rest. For our needs not be a tyranny, we need to yield to the divine invitation “Come to me all (and)…rest”. Do you ever feel weary, oppressed and tyrannized by your needs? You need rest from the tyranny. There is a haven of rest; a sanctuary and place of refuge. The psalmist says “God is our refuge” Ps 62:8. There is no other place to find true peace, rest and deliverance from this tyranny than in the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 4:12; John 14:6). God’s invitation is inclusive “…all that labor and heavy laden” This includes everyone that is under the burden, oppressed and subjected to the control of their needs. The rest that Jesus speaks of is "quietness, calmness and refreshment." He promises to allow them to rest from their labors and oppression. What a blessing to know that God offers himself in exchange for our needs. When God comes and abide, His presence manifest in peace, calmness, and contentment. He asks that our needs be exchanged for his yoke which is light and easy. In other words, a man that refuses the offer to take the yoke of Christ is the one that will continually be tyrannized by his needs. Why do we need to surrender and yield to him? He is meek and lowly of heart. He cares for his own. The gospel of John 6:6 says “He himself knew what he would do”. With this on our mind, we can surrender to him knowing that He will place us in his consideration. Yoke is a wooden instrument that is placed around the neck of an ox and then attached to the plow to be moved. When a yoke is first placed on the shoulders of the ox, the ox rebels because it does not quite feel right, however when the ox surrenders to the yoke, the task of pulling the burden rather than the burden pulling it becomes easier. Jesus says His yoke is easy - a life lived under his will is a life not subject to the tyranny of needs, When you surrender to the Lord and to His will for your life, you can be confident that He will perfectly design a yoke that best fits you. That is why He can also say that “My burden is light!” When we are surrendered to the Lord's yoke as we pull the burden He has designed for us, there will be satisfaction, even in the midst of trials and afflictions. I rejoice in the fact that there is deliverance from the tyranny of needs - there is a haven of rest. Here is His invitation to us.. We must come to Him as our Rest, and repose ourselves in him. Every man will enter a place of rest when their needs lose their grips on them. Please join me as we say this prayer together, Dear Lord, deliver me from the tyranny of my needs. My needs appear larger than life because I do not usually realize that you know what you are going to do with them. Let me not underestimate what is available in my hand. Whatever I hand over to you is amplified, multiplied and magnified. Like Moses, my ordinary rod becomes a staff of authority if I hand it over to you. A little pack of few fishes and loaves get multiplied and feeds the multitude with several basketfuls left over when handed over to you. A little jar of oil handed over to you pays off financial debts of that widow with several barrels left for the next generation (her sons) to live on. Lord, deliver me from making my needs the object of my worship, the center of my daily devotion and the demagogue that I bow down to. Grant me the grace to hand over to you all resources in my hand that you may multiply them. Dear Lord, I come to you in response to your invitation to find rest from my wearied and tyrannized soul. I need thee every hour, minute and second. Life is nothing but vain when you are absent. Help me Lord to yield, submit and surrender to your yoke that is easy and light. Thank you for opening my eyes through your undiluted word, and losing the yoke of needs in my life, in Jesus name I pray. Amen.   Enter your search terms   Web www.nigeriannews.com Submit search form Watch the latest videos on YouTube.com