MANKIND'S BASIC NEEDS AND

THEIR FUFILLMENT IN CHRIST

By Pastor Max Solbrekken, D.D.

     Mankind's five basic needs as defined by psychologists are: security, recognition, love, adventure, need to create. All these are met though the cross-work of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who laid down His life and rose from the dead, thereby purchasing Eternal Life for all who believe.

                                 1. SECURITY!

  The greatest security a mortal can have is to know that we are at peace with our Creator and God! Repeatedly, the prophets and the apostles speaking and writing under the unction and inspiration of the Living God, brought great words of comfort and security!

      In my message titled, 'The Christian's Slogan: I am Secure in Jesus', I share many Scriptures that boast the great security we enjoy through our Saviour Jesus Christ!

     Here are a few: "Fear thou not for I am with thee. Be not dismayed for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of My righteousness." (Is. 41: 10);

     "No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of Me, saith the Lord." (Is. 54:17)

    We are SECURE in Jesus! He said: “…And lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world (age).” (Matt, 28: 20); “… for He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, the Lord is my Helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.” (Heb.13: 5, 6)

   Always is a definition of time while alway is a definition of distance! He has promised to go all the way with us; to go the distance! He cares for and protects us.  Jesus used a double imperative. He actually said, “I will never, no never leave thee. I will never, no never forsake thee…” We have His Word on it.
    He said: “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand.” (John 10: 28). Not only did He promise to watch over us but He sent the HOLY SPIRIT to lead, direct, empower and comfort us. 

    He promised: “And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you forever. Even the Spirit of Truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him: but ye know Him, for He dwelleth with you and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.” (John 14: 16-18)

   The Bible says: "God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of love, and of power and of a sound mind." (2 Tim. 1: 7); Jesus Christ said: "All that the Father giveth Me shall come unto Me and him that cometh unto Me I will in no wise cast out." (John 6:  37)

    "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand." (John 10: 27, 28)

                           11.  RECOGNITION!
    We are all unique and in many ways different from one another. God made us that way. Even identical twins are different from each other in a number of ways. God is triune and so are we. Almighty God is Father, Son and Holy Spirit and we are  spirit, soul (intellect, will and emotions) and body. He made us just like Himself!
     The HOLY BIBLE states: "And God said, Let US  make man in OUR own image, after OUR likeness ...So God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them. And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul." (Gen. 1: 26, 27; 2:7)
   The word man in the hebrew is adam or adham which means 'the blood of God'. His own image is damoot which means 'an exact duplication in kind'. The word dust is afar which means minute particles. Science confirms that matter is made of minute particles. The word ground is adamah meaning the totality of all that God is. 
     The truth is that God made man from Himself. He took His own blood - which is a figure of speech for life - and made man an exact duplication of Himself. He made him from the ground which He had created  and blew His Spirit into Adam's nostrils and Adam became a living soul (Spirit).
     The BIBLE states: "And so it is written, the first man Adam (blood of God) was made a living soul; the last Adam (blood of God)  was made a quickening Spirit. Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. The first man (Adam) is of the earth, earthy: the second man (Jesus)  is the LORD from Heaven." (1 Cor. 15: 45-47)

     WHAT DOES ALL THIS MEAN?

   God made Adam (blood of God) from Himself. He breathed His Own life into him, making him a living soul (man's spirit is eternal). Adam Sinned! God sent His Own Son as the Second and Last Adam (blood of God)  Jesus Christ, to redeem the lost descendants of the first Adam by shedding His pure and perfect BLOOD as payment for the sins of the first Adam.

    That is why man is so special in the eyes of God. And that is why man is so exceptional. Man is a copy of God Himself and when sinful human beings receive Jesus Christ - Who is God's gift to us all - as Lord and Saviour great and wonderful things can happen. That is why the Christian world has become so great, because we put our trust in Jesus Christ the Redeemer of mankind!

      Everyone wants to be acknowledged and recognized by their fellowmen. May we all acknowledge Jesus Christ as Lord of lords and King of kings and then civility will rule and human beings will recognize one another as neighbours and friends! Then the killings, raping, kidnapping and beheading in the Muslim world would also stop! May genuine revival of Christ's Gospel also come to the world at large!

   Our Lord said: "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; As I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that you are My disciples, if ye have love one for another." (John 13: 34, 45)

     "That they all may be One, as Thou Father art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be one in US; that the world may believe that Thou hast sent Me." (John 17:21)

     "Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in Heaven."  (Matt. 5: 16); "For I rejoiced  greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth, that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth." (3 John 3)

   "Having your conversation (lifestyle) honest among the Gentiles; that whereas they speak against you as evil doers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation." (1 Peter 2: 12)

      JESUS said: “I am the Door, by Me if any man entereth in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out and find pasture. I am the Good Shepherd: the Good Shepherd giveth His life for the sheep.

      “I am the Good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of Mine. As the Father knoweth Me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.” (John 10: 9-15)

      “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew Him not.

      “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him like He is.” (1 John 3: 1, 2)

111. LOVE!

   Only those who have been touched by the love of God can show forth real agape (unconditional) love that makes a difference in a dark, sick and lost world of sinners!

   Our Lord stated: “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples, if ye have love one to another.” (John 13: 34, 35)

  The love of God is apodictic (gr. Apodeiktikos) meaning ‘evident beyond contradictions’, and magnanimous beyond understanding. It is  incomprehensible and inexhaustible. In short, it is inexplicable, and overwhelming. Our Heavenly Father’s love, mercy and grace is unconditional and available to all who willingly repent of their sins and in faith receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour!

     Our Lord’s parable about the PRODIGAL SON who returned in repentance and humility proves that: “And he arose and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.”(Luke 15: 17-24). This parable is a picture of God’s love for a sinful world that is estranged from Him!  

    It is also shown in His prayer from the cross: “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23: 34) Again, Jesus exhibited His great mercy to the repentant thief:

   “And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when Thou comest into Thy Kingdom. And Jesus said unto him; Verily, I say unto thee, today shalt thou be with Me in Paradise.” (Luke 23: 42, 43)

    Of course, the key that opens the door to God’s mercy is two-fold, REPENTANCE and FAITH! In the account of Christ’s prayer asking His Father to forgive those who put Him on the cross, we see precisely the agape love that made Him leave Heaven to save the world.

   “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” (John 3: 16, 17)

      No greater love could ever be manifested than the great transaction that was played out in real time on Mount Calvary where Jesus the Son took the hand of the Father in one hand and the hand of man in the other and brought God and man together through His atoning blood on the Cross. (Gal.3: 13)

1V. ADVENTURE!

      Some people like to explore new frontiers. Others like to dig, excavate or search for fossils. And still others enjoy making new friends, meeting celebrities or important people in various walks of life! 
    A great many people get their adventures by travelling the world, taking lengthy vacations or visiting famous gardens, art shows or museums. And huge numbers get their adventure by going to music festivals, hockey and football games, wrestling matches or other sporting events. And all of this in the name of adventure!

   Personally, my greatest adventures in life has been my family, beginning with my beautiful wife Donna and our six children, and now 57 years later having 17 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren. Watching them grow, mature, get married and have children has been a great blessing to me!

  None of this would have been possible, if God had not blessed us so abundantly. Giving our hearts and lives to Jesus Christ and being filled with the blessed Holy Spirit is the greatest experience on the face of the earth. To have a personal relationship with the King of kings and Lord of lords is immense. It is grand and it is huge!

    To have access to the very throne room of the Creator of the Universe and

Saviour of the world is such an honour and privilege and to be able to sense His holy presence is unreal!

     To know that He loves us and cares for our needs is so exciting, and to pray in Jesus’ holy and precious name and receive answers from Him gives us joy unspeakable and full of glory!

     We know the great value God has placed upon each of us,  in that He sent His only begotten Son to the Cross to pay the awful cost of our REDEMPTION, by meeting the demands of Divine Justice!

     I will never forget the day that I decided to give my heart and life to God and received the assurance of sins forgiven and the knowledge that I was a child of God. When I was graciously filled with the blessed Holy Spirit, the Holy Bible opened up to me like a flower to the sun and revelation knowledge flooded my soul.

    The peace, joy and holy excitement has never left me. After 57 years of serving the Lord, I receive greater joy than ever by spending quality time in His presence through Bible study, prayer and seeking God’s face! And though preaching and writing!

    After 50 years of Gospel Crusades across the globe and seeing multitudes come to Christ for salvation, healing and deliverance from the power of sin, fear, sickness, disease and demons has been more than adventurous!

V. NEED TO CREATE

     Many people are artistic, having received a gift from God. I think of Michelangelo and other great painters, as well sculptors and architects. The innovative minds of inventors, skilled workmen and labourers have built cities, great freeways, airports, airplanes, computers, telescopes and communication systems.

     There are a host of men and women in medicine, education, military, agriculture and science who have skillfully designed, patented and created many marvellous tools, vehicles and diagnostic equipment.

     My wife, Donna, is always knitting, crocheting, sewing, designing and creating things for our grandchildren and a lot of other people. My need to write Biblical articles, columns, books and videos never stops.

     She says: “Creative minds have advanced us to the place we are today. It is hard to imagine people who have no need or desire to do anything creative.”

     The flip side of that is that ungodly people use God - given talents to create evil, destructive and perverted things which bring great harm to themselves and others!

     Pastors, youth leaders, children’s workers, singers, musicians, choreographers and others involved in Church and the Gospel Ministry love to create those things that bless the Church and reach souls for Christ!

       St. Paul makes the Gospel of Christ come alive in his powerfully anointed and God-breathed epistles. Here is the Word of God to the Ephesian Church: “And you hath He quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins: Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

                   GOD IN HIS MERCY SAVED US!

      “Among whom also we all had our conversation (life style) in time past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. BUT God, Who is rich in mercy, for His great LOVE wherewith He loved us,

       “Even when we were dead in sins, has quickened (made us alive) us together with Christ; by grace ye are saved: And hath raised us up together, and made us (Jews and Gentiles) in Heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

     “For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves: it I the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” (Eph. 2: 1-10)

       Jesus Christ meets the needs of the human race in every area of human life and beyond, for both time and eternity! Amen.