Spiritual Survival: Air, Water, Food, Shelter

I have taken the rule of three for survival, and applied it spiritually. You can survive for 3 minutes without air. You can survive for 3 hours without shelter in a harsh environment (extreme conditions). You can survive for 3 days without water. You can survive for 3 weeks without food – if you have appropriate water and shelter. Maybe in the spiritual aspect we should make note of the most important 3, The Father, The Son & The Holy Spirit. 

I was reflecting on the fact that God, in his divine perfection and purpose, makes reference to our spiritual survival using our physical needs as illustrations in the Word. I love how God’s Word always brings forth deeper truths than what meets the eye initially, and when we meditate on his Word, we are always rewarded with revelation.

Today’s revelation is that the rule of three can be superimposed onto our spiritual survival with very little imagination needed. God is the reason we are alive, he gave us the breath of life. He sustains our life, through every breath we take, his breath alone gives us life. He is the living water, that never runs dry, for us who drink of him the well continues to spring forth inside of us to eternal life. He is our daily bread, he gives us strength through the Word to function and grow. The Word is our supreme sustenance, our manna from heaven, that we should eat of daily. He alone shelters us, as God, Through his Son Jesus Christ, in his Word, through the indwelling of The Holy Spirit and via Corporate Worship in the Church. He shelters us completely protecting us on all levels from the world and the enemies plans to destroy us. 

God has provided for ALL of our needs not only on the physical level, but also on the spiritual level. There is much more to life than just our physical being, our spiritual health and vitality is as important in fact more so, as it has eternal ramifications. An abundant life of total wellness embraces ones spiritual needs as well, and God in his Divine provision allotted us everything we need, to not only survive, but thrive spiritually!!!

Air – The Word tells us without God there is no life. He even breathed the Word of God. Everything that God breathes is alive!

Acts 17:25 : nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things;

Job 33:4 : The Spirit of God has made me, And the breath of the Almighty gives me life.

Isaiah 42:5 : Thus says God the LORD, Who created the heavens and stretched them out, Who spread out the earth and its offspring, Who gives breath to the people on it And spirit to those who walk in it,

2 Timothy 3:16-17 – All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Water – The Word is ever refreshing, ever replenishing, never running dry, life sustaining goodness for our soul. 

John 4:14 : but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.”

John 7:38 : “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.'”

John 4:10 : Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.”

Jeremiah 17:13 : O LORD, the hope of Israel, All who forsake You will be put to shame Those who turn away on earth will be written down, Because they have forsaken the fountain of living water, even the LORD

Song of Songs 4:15 :“You are a garden spring, A well of fresh water, And streams flowing from Lebanon.”

Food – The Word is our daily manna sent from Heaven to nourish us and feed us spiritually. When we break bread for communion we do so in remembrance of the Lord’s sacrifice on the Cross – He IS the bread of life!

Matthew 4:4: But he answered and said, it is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. 

John 6:35: And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

Shelter – God is the strongest shelterto his children, he is an impenetrable fortress, nothing is stronger than God. In him you are safe, protected, and given peace. 

Psalm 27:5 For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent and set me high upon a rock.

Psalm 31:19-20 Oh, how abundant is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you and worked for those who take refuge in you, in the sight of the children of mankind! In the cover of your presence you hide them from the plots of men; you store them in your shelter from the strife of tongues.

Psalm 61:3-5 You have been my refuge, a tower of strength against the enemy. I would like to be a guest in your tent forever and to take refuge under the protection of your wings. Selah O God, you have heard my vows. You have given me the inheritance that belongs to those who fear your name.