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GOD IS OUR SOURCE
By
Todd Bailey
 This past year, I
received a revelation that changed my life: God is my source.
I have heard numerous
messages and read the scriptures enough to know that God is my provider, my
healer, my deliverer, my savior and much more. For some reason, I knew these
attributes of God, but I didn't know it. I had “head”
knowledge (information) but not “heart” knowledge (revelation) about God
being my source.
This past year the "eyes
of my heart were enlightened" while was I was watching an older couple on
television. This couple had been in full time ministry for over 60 years. I
remember watching them talk about how they started in the ministry and the
adjustments they made throughout the years as they followed God's leading to
fulfill His will. Within a few minutes, I was completely captivated by what
they were saying. It was impressive how they conducted themselves in front of
this large crowd while sitting in two large chairs on the platform.
As I listened to them
speak, I noticed how one would say something about a particular situation in
their lives and how God helped them. Then the other would talk about someone
that God used to help them in their ministry. At times they would both go
back and forth telling the crowd about the same thing and it was like
watching a tennis match with words. They were in such harmony and a
compliment to one another.
After the couple had
been talking for some time, one of them began to elaborate on how God had
been their source over the years. Each of them explained the importance of
keeping our eyes upon God as our source and not looking to people as our
source. Placing our dependence on people as our source opens the door for
anger and disappointment. As they continued to talk about God being our
source and not people, the more revelation I received as to what they were
saying.
After an hour they went
off the television, and I began to ponder what they had said. I thought about
the times that I would say that God was my provider, but in all reality I was
looking for a person to meet the need I was actually praying for God to meet.
I knew that God was my source, but somehow I was expecting a person to come
to my aid. What I was doing wasn't actually wrong; however, it was my
expectation that needed adjustment.
God is our Source - we
know that to be true. But God often uses people as a resource
to help answer our prayers to Him in whatever area it may be. God works
through people every day, and everyone is important to God. He loved us so
much that He (the Source) sent us His only begotten Son as a Redeemer to save
mankind. We have also heard that we are "the hands and feet" of God in the
earth. We can see how important everyone is in Ephesians 4:16 (NASB): "From
whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by that which every joint
supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the
growth of the body for the building up of itself in love."
We need to keep our
expectation upon God to avoid unnecessary frustration, disappointment and
anger with people. God is our supplier, resource and helper in every
situation. King David himself said it quite well in Psalms 62:5-8:
"My soul, wait only upon God and silently submit to Him; for my hope and
expectation are from Him. He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my
defense and my fortress; I shall not be moved. With God rests my salvation
and my glory; my rock of unyielding strength and impenetrable hardness, and
my refuge is in God! Trust, lean on, rely on and have confidence in Him at
all times, you people; pour out your heart before Him. God is a refuge for
us---a fortress and a high tower. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!
I would like to share
with you a story that happened when I went on a mission trip to Brazil four
years ago. The Lord used this story to help me understand how He is my source
and people are resources.
In 2001, I went to
minister at a bible school outside of Rio de Janeiro. During my visit I was
asked by the director if I would like to take a two or three hour drive with
him through the mountains to install a recent bible school graduate as the
pastor of a church. I agreed to go and we set off to a mountain town had
houses along the mountainside surrounding a lake at the bottom of a
valley....it was beautiful!
The day of the service
we had some free time on our hands, so one of the ministers asked if I would
like to take a walk into town and see some of the sights. As our small group
was walking we came upon a building with two entrances on each end of the
building. A minister couple began to explain to me that this was where some
of the local people got their water. It was a nice building and as we
approached it, I noticed it had steps leading down to the floor area about 25
feet below the entrance. To my amazement, there were about eight water
fountains coming out of a tiled wall that circled the room in which we were
now standing.
Each of these fountains
had a number placed next to it. I asked someone in our group why the numbers
were there and they explained to me that it identified each fountain because
each one had a different taste. If I wanted to come back on another visit to
get some water, I could just remember what number I enjoyed the most and come
back to that particular fountain.
I was given a cup and I
went around the room and put my cup under each fountain. Sure enough, each
fountain had its own unique taste. All of them tasted like sparkling mineral
water, but with different flavors. Although each fountain had it own
uniqueness they all came from the same water source!
While I was enjoying my
"taste testing" one of the minister told me that a well known international
bottled water company was now in Brazil finding sources to supply their
customers. I started to think that if I wanted this particular water back in
the United States , I would have to find a supermarket that carried the
product and then ask the clerk what aisle it was in, find it on the shelf and
pay for it before I could taste and enjoy it. How much easier it was to just
get a cup and go to the very place it was coming out of the ground, chose
which flavor I wanted and drink to my heart's content.
This is basically how it
works with God and His children. All believers come from the same Source and
when we give to the world and to each other what we have from God, it will
have it own uniqueness and flavor. People have different resources: gifts,
talents, skills, and abilities. Yet we are derived from one Source. I realize
that there are two groups of people on earth - believers and unbelievers. We
are created in God's image and likeness, but people can choose to leave their
original Source and concede to the devil as their source. But for those who
chose to abide in the Vine and keep God as their source can come to the river
of life and drink until their cup runs over!
Friends, we need to help
each other and bear one another's burdens and learn to love our neighbors as
we love ourselves, but we can only be a resource of the one Source - GOD.
God is our Source Scriptures
Heb 12:2
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that
was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at
the right hand of the throne of God.
Heb 1:3
Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person,
and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself
purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
Psalms 27:1
The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the
strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
Psalms 46:1
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Phil 4:13
I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
John 15:5
I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the
same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
Psalms 91:2
I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will
I trust.
Zech 4:6
Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto
Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the
LORD of hosts.
Todd and Wendy Bailey
have ministered throughout the United States, Europe, South America and Asia
in both denominational and non-denominational churches, nursing homes, bible
schools, church retreats and youth groups. Todd is a graduate of Norvel
Hayes' New Life Bible School "Special School of Ministry" in Cleveland,
Tennessee, and RHEMA Bible Training Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Todd is the
author of the book, The Power of Choice.
Todd has the ability to obtain truths from the Word
of God, presenting them with a delightful humor in a simple, yet powerful
manner by the anointing of the Holy Spirit. Wendy is also an anointed
minister of song and the Word. Together, they make a powerful team reaching
both the World and the Body of Christ with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
For more information ...
For more information
regarding media, books or meetings, contact:
Todd Bailey Ministries
PO Box 272136
Fort Collins, CO 80527
(888) 600-7855
info@toddbailey.org
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