HERE IS A SHORT MESSAGE FOR THOSE PRAYING FOR A MIRACLE.
I am speaking to those who are in such a trying situation that it will take a miracle to remedy it. Perhaps someone reading this is at the point of total despair.
Thank God for all who are enjoying a season of blue skies, good health, a good job, a good marriage - and all is well. Praise God! Give him much thanks.
But most believers I know are being tested. Some very godly people have endured so much pain and anxiety, they have uttered those desperate words of Isaiah 40:27, "My way is hid from the Lord, and the justice (help) due me escapes the notice of my God." Here is the Word you need: "They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint" (Isaiah 40:31).
How does one wait on God? I suggest three things:
1. Quit thinking about your situation and begin focusing your mind on the Lord. "As the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters, and as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress; so our eyes wait upon the Lord our God." The foundation of waiting on God is making him the object of our thoughts.
2. Be patient, waiting for God to answer prayer in his time and way. Patient waiting is to hope and trust in the face of all discouragement and disappointment. "You have need of patience." In your thinking, God may seem too slow, but he heard your very first cry - and every prayer since. Often,> the answer comes in a way you could not possibly perceive.
3. Pray often - daily - with expectation. Where there is no expectation of an answer, there cannot be waiting on God. That is the heart and soul of this waiting. Why would anybody pray without expecting an answer? "They that come to him must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." What is his reward? Renewal of your strength.
Love in Christ,DAVID WILKERSON Times Square Church Pulpit Series
Monday, September 24, 2007
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
THE BOY SCOUT STORY
THE BOY SCOUT STORY
Matthew 11:30 "For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
The Boy Scout Story - This is an absolutely true story.
It happened in Cades Cove. My wife, Bonnie, and I were walking the Abrams Falls trail in the "cove" in the Smoky Mountains National Park. It was several years ago. We had walked this trail before and knew that at the end of the 2-1/2 mile trail (as I remember it) is a beautiful waterfall. Not small. If you haven't seen it, you SHOULD go. Anyway... we overtook a troop of Boy Scouts and the first one we caught up to, the straggler, was one of the smallest Boy Scouts I've ever seen. He made the back-pack he was carrying look extra large. And it was full ! I let Bonnie go ahead of me as I slowed down to walk next to and talk with this little guy just a while. Kind of draw him out a bit.
Straight-way I mentioned that his pack seemed large. His eyes immediately widened as he exclaimed that it was very heavy, too. Unabashedly, he asked me if I would carry it for him. I had instant flash-backs to my Scouting days and how hard I had thought it was to keep up with the troop when I first joined and most of the other boys were seemingly so much older. I had compassion, so I said, "Yes." The little Scout stopped in the middle of the trail and un-shouldered the pack, dropping it, like lead weight, onto the dirt. I picked up the straps with one hand and lifted. It WAS heavy ! Immediately I let it go back down. "What have you got in this thing?", I demanded. With a gleam in his eye and eagerness in his movements he set about opening his pack, revealing - right on top - several large stones, each as large as two man's fists put together, maybe a little larger. He had 25 pounds of rock, alone, in his pack. No wonder he was at the tail-end of the troop ! He was on a short trail to an overnight campsite and had ALREADY accumulated a bag full of rocks ! Not quartz, not geodes, nothing to speak about, just plain everyday "rocks"!
Some source of wisdom guided me, and I said. " I'll carry your pack for you on one condition." He said, "What ?" I said, "I'll carry it, but you have to let me take these rocks out." He replied instantly... " I don't wan tto leave my rocks behind." He looked me right in the eyes. I could see how serious he was. I said,"You mean that don't you?" Still looking me in the eyes, he said, "Yes." I said, very soberly, "Then you will have to carry the pack yourself." I hesitated just long enough to let him reconsider and as he hoisted his pack back up to his own shoulder, I left him... in the middle of the trail. That's the last time I saw him.
As I was catching up to Bonnie I had some time to think about what had just happened.
It hit me hard that this same story was being played out in my own life. My Lord has told me to take His yoke upon myself, because His burden is light and easy to carry. But, part of the deal is that I cannot bring along "junk" weight... foul attitudes, grudges, un-Godly habits, pig-headedness - wanting to do what I want to do, when I want to do it. And all the rest of life's trash that He would have me shed away from my person, my thoughts and heart. When I persist in carrying this garbage of life, He lets me carry it alone. When I let Him get into my "pack" and toss out the STUFF He doesn't want me to carry...and won't carry Himself... it's then that my load is much lighter. And I can walk upfront...with the troop. I'm going to be conscious of allowing my Lord to get into my pack today, and toss out what He doesn't want in there. I hope you will also.
Matthew 11:30 "For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
The Boy Scout Story - This is an absolutely true story.
It happened in Cades Cove. My wife, Bonnie, and I were walking the Abrams Falls trail in the "cove" in the Smoky Mountains National Park. It was several years ago. We had walked this trail before and knew that at the end of the 2-1/2 mile trail (as I remember it) is a beautiful waterfall. Not small. If you haven't seen it, you SHOULD go. Anyway... we overtook a troop of Boy Scouts and the first one we caught up to, the straggler, was one of the smallest Boy Scouts I've ever seen. He made the back-pack he was carrying look extra large. And it was full ! I let Bonnie go ahead of me as I slowed down to walk next to and talk with this little guy just a while. Kind of draw him out a bit.
Straight-way I mentioned that his pack seemed large. His eyes immediately widened as he exclaimed that it was very heavy, too. Unabashedly, he asked me if I would carry it for him. I had instant flash-backs to my Scouting days and how hard I had thought it was to keep up with the troop when I first joined and most of the other boys were seemingly so much older. I had compassion, so I said, "Yes." The little Scout stopped in the middle of the trail and un-shouldered the pack, dropping it, like lead weight, onto the dirt. I picked up the straps with one hand and lifted. It WAS heavy ! Immediately I let it go back down. "What have you got in this thing?", I demanded. With a gleam in his eye and eagerness in his movements he set about opening his pack, revealing - right on top - several large stones, each as large as two man's fists put together, maybe a little larger. He had 25 pounds of rock, alone, in his pack. No wonder he was at the tail-end of the troop ! He was on a short trail to an overnight campsite and had ALREADY accumulated a bag full of rocks ! Not quartz, not geodes, nothing to speak about, just plain everyday "rocks"!
Some source of wisdom guided me, and I said. " I'll carry your pack for you on one condition." He said, "What ?" I said, "I'll carry it, but you have to let me take these rocks out." He replied instantly... " I don't wan tto leave my rocks behind." He looked me right in the eyes. I could see how serious he was. I said,"You mean that don't you?" Still looking me in the eyes, he said, "Yes." I said, very soberly, "Then you will have to carry the pack yourself." I hesitated just long enough to let him reconsider and as he hoisted his pack back up to his own shoulder, I left him... in the middle of the trail. That's the last time I saw him.
As I was catching up to Bonnie I had some time to think about what had just happened.
It hit me hard that this same story was being played out in my own life. My Lord has told me to take His yoke upon myself, because His burden is light and easy to carry. But, part of the deal is that I cannot bring along "junk" weight... foul attitudes, grudges, un-Godly habits, pig-headedness - wanting to do what I want to do, when I want to do it. And all the rest of life's trash that He would have me shed away from my person, my thoughts and heart. When I persist in carrying this garbage of life, He lets me carry it alone. When I let Him get into my "pack" and toss out the STUFF He doesn't want me to carry...and won't carry Himself... it's then that my load is much lighter. And I can walk upfront...with the troop. I'm going to be conscious of allowing my Lord to get into my pack today, and toss out what He doesn't want in there. I hope you will also.
ARE YOU TOO BUSY? CAUGHT IN BEING 24/7?
1 Samuel 15:22
"Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices asmuch as in obeying the voice of the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice."
============================================
BUSY
Satan called a worldwide convention. In his opening address to his evil demons, he said, "We can't keep the Christians from going to church. We can't keep them from reading their Bibles and knowing the truth. We can't even keep them from forming an intimate, abiding relationship experience in Christ. If they gain that connection with Jesus, our power over them is broken. So let them go to their churches; let them have their conservative lifestyles, but steal their time, so they can't gain that relationship with Jesus Christ. This is what I want you to do, demons. Distract them from gaining hold of their Savior and maintaining that vital connection throughout their day!"
"How shall we do this?" shouted his demons. "Keep them busy in the non essentials of life and invent innumerable schemes to occupy their minds," he answered.
"Tempt them to spend, spend, spend, and borrow, borrow, borrow. Persuade the wives to go to work for long hours and the husbands to work 6-7days each week, 10-12 hours a day, so they can afford their empty lifestyles. Keep them from spending time with their children. As their family fragments, soon, their home will offer no escape from the pressures of work!"
"Over stimulate their minds so that they cannot hear that still, small voice. Entice them to play the radio or cassette player whenever they drive. To keep the TV, VCR, CDs and their PCs going constantly in their home, and see to it that every store and restaurant in the world plays non-biblica lmusic constantly. This will jam their minds and break that union with Christ."
"Fill the coffee tables with magazines and newspapers. Pound their minds with the news 24 hours a day. Invade their driving moments with billboards. Flood their mailboxes with junk mail, mail order catalogs, sweepstakes, and every kind of newsletter and promotional offering freeproducts, services and false hopes."
"Keep skinny, beautiful models on the magazines so the husbands will believe that external beauty is what's important, and they'll become dissatisfied with their wives. Ha! That will fragment those families quickly!"
"Even intheir recreation, let them be excessive. Have them return from their recreation exhausted, disquieted and unprepared for the coming week. Don't let them go out in nature to reflect on God's wonders. Send them to amusement parks, sporting events, concerts and movies instead. Keep them busy, busy, busy!
And when they meet for spiritual fellowship, involve them in gossip and small talk so that they leave with troubled consciences and unsettled emotions. "Go ahead, let them be involved in soul winning; but crowd their lives with so many good causes they have no time to seek power from Jesus. Soon they will be working in their own strength, sacrificing their health and family for the good of the cause."
"It will work!" "It willwork!" It was quite a convention. The evil demons went eagerly to their assignments causing Christians everywhere to get more busy and more rushed, going here and there.
I guess the question is: Has the devil been successful at his scheme?
You be the judge! Does "busy" mean:
B-eing U-nder S-atan's Y-oke?
=============================================
-COMMENTS-
=============================================
This was sent to us in response to an e-mail we sent out last week about being busy. I've heard this before and have actually sent it out as a Bread many years ago. But for some reason, God is again stressing it upon my heart. most likely because it is something I, just like all of you, really need to hear again. It's one thing to jump over the hurdle of abstaining from the things this world has to offer that we know are sins, but it's so hard to make sure that the things that seem to be so good and to be serving Him really are doing just that. I know that I like to stay busy because it keeps me from thinking about my problems or things I find depressing. So in other words, it keeps me from dealing with the situation at hand. But in the same hand, I enjoy a lot of the things I do and feel like I really help some people out by doing them. We must make sure that in all we do, we allow God to guide us and that we continue to worship and to build that foundational relationship that Satan is so terrified of. Or are you too busy?
"Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices asmuch as in obeying the voice of the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice."
============================================
BUSY
Satan called a worldwide convention. In his opening address to his evil demons, he said, "We can't keep the Christians from going to church. We can't keep them from reading their Bibles and knowing the truth. We can't even keep them from forming an intimate, abiding relationship experience in Christ. If they gain that connection with Jesus, our power over them is broken. So let them go to their churches; let them have their conservative lifestyles, but steal their time, so they can't gain that relationship with Jesus Christ. This is what I want you to do, demons. Distract them from gaining hold of their Savior and maintaining that vital connection throughout their day!"
"How shall we do this?" shouted his demons. "Keep them busy in the non essentials of life and invent innumerable schemes to occupy their minds," he answered.
"Tempt them to spend, spend, spend, and borrow, borrow, borrow. Persuade the wives to go to work for long hours and the husbands to work 6-7days each week, 10-12 hours a day, so they can afford their empty lifestyles. Keep them from spending time with their children. As their family fragments, soon, their home will offer no escape from the pressures of work!"
"Over stimulate their minds so that they cannot hear that still, small voice. Entice them to play the radio or cassette player whenever they drive. To keep the TV, VCR, CDs and their PCs going constantly in their home, and see to it that every store and restaurant in the world plays non-biblica lmusic constantly. This will jam their minds and break that union with Christ."
"Fill the coffee tables with magazines and newspapers. Pound their minds with the news 24 hours a day. Invade their driving moments with billboards. Flood their mailboxes with junk mail, mail order catalogs, sweepstakes, and every kind of newsletter and promotional offering freeproducts, services and false hopes."
"Keep skinny, beautiful models on the magazines so the husbands will believe that external beauty is what's important, and they'll become dissatisfied with their wives. Ha! That will fragment those families quickly!"
"Even intheir recreation, let them be excessive. Have them return from their recreation exhausted, disquieted and unprepared for the coming week. Don't let them go out in nature to reflect on God's wonders. Send them to amusement parks, sporting events, concerts and movies instead. Keep them busy, busy, busy!
And when they meet for spiritual fellowship, involve them in gossip and small talk so that they leave with troubled consciences and unsettled emotions. "Go ahead, let them be involved in soul winning; but crowd their lives with so many good causes they have no time to seek power from Jesus. Soon they will be working in their own strength, sacrificing their health and family for the good of the cause."
"It will work!" "It willwork!" It was quite a convention. The evil demons went eagerly to their assignments causing Christians everywhere to get more busy and more rushed, going here and there.
I guess the question is: Has the devil been successful at his scheme?
You be the judge! Does "busy" mean:
B-eing U-nder S-atan's Y-oke?
=============================================
-COMMENTS-
=============================================
This was sent to us in response to an e-mail we sent out last week about being busy. I've heard this before and have actually sent it out as a Bread many years ago. But for some reason, God is again stressing it upon my heart. most likely because it is something I, just like all of you, really need to hear again. It's one thing to jump over the hurdle of abstaining from the things this world has to offer that we know are sins, but it's so hard to make sure that the things that seem to be so good and to be serving Him really are doing just that. I know that I like to stay busy because it keeps me from thinking about my problems or things I find depressing. So in other words, it keeps me from dealing with the situation at hand. But in the same hand, I enjoy a lot of the things I do and feel like I really help some people out by doing them. We must make sure that in all we do, we allow God to guide us and that we continue to worship and to build that foundational relationship that Satan is so terrified of. Or are you too busy?
THE DONKEY STORY
Job 4:8
As I have observed, those who plow evil and those who sow trouble reap it.
Shake It Off
One day a farmer's donkey fell down into a well. The animal tried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do. Finally he decided the animal was old and the well needed to be covered up anyway, it just wasn't worth it to retrieve the donkey. He invited all his neighbors to come over and help him. They all grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt into the well.
At first, the donkey realized what was happening and cried horribly. Then, to everyone's amazement, he quieted down. A few shovel loads later,the farmer finally looked down the well and was astonished at what he saw. With every shovel of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing something amazing. He would shake it off and take a step up. As the farmer's neighbors continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it off and take a step up. Pretty soon, everyone was amazed at the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well and trotted off!
Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt. The trick to getting out of the well is to shake it off and take a step up. Each of our troubles is a stepping stone.
This story teaches us to never quit when the chips are down spiritually. Always take what is thrown to you, shake it off, and use it to your advantage. Step up with it.
Remember these five rules for happiness:
Expectless,
Give more,
Free your heart from hatred,
Free your mind from worries,
and Live simply
Job 4:8
As I have observed, those who plow evil and those who sow trouble reap it.
Shake It Off
One day a farmer's donkey fell down into a well. The animal tried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do. Finally he decided the animal was old and the well needed to be covered up anyway, it just wasn't worth it to retrieve the donkey. He invited all his neighbors to come over and help him. They all grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt into the well.
At first, the donkey realized what was happening and cried horribly. Then, to everyone's amazement, he quieted down. A few shovel loads later,the farmer finally looked down the well and was astonished at what he saw. With every shovel of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing something amazing. He would shake it off and take a step up. As the farmer's neighbors continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it off and take a step up. Pretty soon, everyone was amazed at the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well and trotted off!
Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt. The trick to getting out of the well is to shake it off and take a step up. Each of our troubles is a stepping stone.
This story teaches us to never quit when the chips are down spiritually. Always take what is thrown to you, shake it off, and use it to your advantage. Step up with it.
Remember these five rules for happiness:
Expectless,
Give more,
Free your heart from hatred,
Free your mind from worries,
and Live simply
Thursday, September 06, 2007
SO, YOU WANT TO BE A MILLIONAIRE?
Came across this interesting article....Can one be seeking to be rich and yet be a faithful follower of Jesus?....In the US with the mega-church phenomenon can one really hope to strike it rich while being in a church environment...Typically a promoter of the so-called prosperity gospel seldom, perhaps never, quote a word from Jesus where He spoke about being His followers and discipleship; about taking up one's cross, denying oneself, losing one's life.
SO, YOU WANT TO BE A MILLIONAIRE?
By Paul Proctor
September 6, 2007
NewsWithViews.com
A WorldNetDaily.com reader named "Mike" recently wrote in to WND columnist and Christian financial expert, Dave Ramsey, asking the following question:
Dear Dave, I'm the pastor of a Midwest church. Do you think it's morally OK for someone in my position to want to become a millionaire as long as the desire isn't motivated by greed?
Mike Ramsey, author of the book, "Financial Peace" and host of a syndicated radio program called, "The Dave Ramsey Show," formerly known as "The Money Game," presents on the About Us page of his website, his company's mission statement, which reads as follows:
The Lampo Group, Inc. is providing Biblically based, common sense education and empowerment which gives HOPE to everyone from the financially secure to the financially distressed.
Now, I don't know if Mr. Ramsey misunderstood the pastor's question; but I was nevertheless troubled by his reply, especially in light of the enormous popularity of today's prosperity preachers like Joel Osteen. This is not to suggest that Dave endorses such errant clergymen or their teachings; but because of his scripturally inconsistent answer, and the fact that he is so widely read and respected within Christian circles, I considered it imperative that a more biblical perspective be offered in response.
Here's what Dave wrote and posted as part of his column dated September 4th, 2007:
Dear Mike,
Sure it's OK, but under one condition. A pastor, or any other Christian, should understand that they don't really own anything. When it comes right down to it, we're just asset managers for God. And if you understand this deep down in your soul, it will change how you view money and how you handle it.
If you look back in the Bible you'll see that many of the patriarchs, like Abraham, Solomon and David, were extremely wealthy - even by today's standards. Some people argue that Jesus didn't walk around with lots of possessions, but he was God in human form so he owned it all anyway!
People who say you can't be wealthy and be consistent with Christian beliefs just don't understand the Bible. If you can manage God's money with wisdom and grace rather than greed - whether it's $100 or $1,000,000 - I think you're OK.
Dave>
Is it really OK for a Christian and/or pastor to "want to become a millionaire?"
Certainly there were many wealthy men of faith throughout the scriptures; but, as I told Dave in an email, "wanting to become a millionaire denotes a materialistic discontentment with one's own provision from the Lord, and worse yet, a love of money, regardless of whom we might declare the money in question actually belongs to. The one coveting possession or even oversight of more than they have is, in reality, lusting after something they have not been given.
"Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom." - Proverbs 23:4
It's interesting that Dave names Solomon as an example in his reply to the pastor. In fact, scripture tells us that God asked Solomon early on what he wanted. Both Dave and the pastor would do well to review the following passages and consider Solomon's answer and what the Lord thought of it:
"In that night did God appear unto Solomon, and said unto him, Ask what I shall give thee. And Solomon said unto God, Thou hast shewed great mercy unto David my father, and hast made me to reign in his stead. Now, O LORD God, let thy promise unto David my father be established: for thou hast made me king over a people like the dust of the earth in multitude. Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people: for who can judge this thy people, that is so great? And God said to Solomon, Because this was in thine heart, and thou hast not asked riches, wealth, or honour, nor the life of thine enemies, neither yet hast asked long life; but hast asked wisdom and knowledge for thyself, that thou mayest judge my people, over whom I have made thee king: Wisdom and knowledge is granted unto thee; and I will give thee riches, and wealth, and honour, such as none of the kings have had that have been before thee, neither shall there any after thee have the like." - 2nd Chronicles 1:7-12
Yes, it is OK for a Christian to be wealthy if wealth is indeed what God has blessed them with. One's abundance does not automatically disqualify them from discipleship, though riches can often present an obvious challenge to those professing faith in Christ. But, one cannot "seek first His kingdom and His righteousness" while seeking riches. That is two entirely different agendas.
It is also important to note that one of Jesus' own disciples betrayed Him for 30 pieces of silver. I don 't believe it was a mere coincidence that Judas Iscariot was the bearer of "the purse" - money that he was clearly in possession of but did not own. (John 12:4-6)
"For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." - Matthew 6:21, Luke 12:34
The bottom line is this: You may call yourself a "Christian," but if your heart is set on becoming a millionaire, it is probably not on following Jesus Christ.
"But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows." - 1st Timothy 6:9-10
SO, YOU WANT TO BE A MILLIONAIRE?
By Paul Proctor
September 6, 2007
NewsWithViews.com
A WorldNetDaily.com reader named "Mike" recently wrote in to WND columnist and Christian financial expert, Dave Ramsey, asking the following question:
Dear Dave, I'm the pastor of a Midwest church. Do you think it's morally OK for someone in my position to want to become a millionaire as long as the desire isn't motivated by greed?
Mike Ramsey, author of the book, "Financial Peace" and host of a syndicated radio program called, "The Dave Ramsey Show," formerly known as "The Money Game," presents on the About Us page of his website, his company's mission statement, which reads as follows:
The Lampo Group, Inc. is providing Biblically based, common sense education and empowerment which gives HOPE to everyone from the financially secure to the financially distressed.
Now, I don't know if Mr. Ramsey misunderstood the pastor's question; but I was nevertheless troubled by his reply, especially in light of the enormous popularity of today's prosperity preachers like Joel Osteen. This is not to suggest that Dave endorses such errant clergymen or their teachings; but because of his scripturally inconsistent answer, and the fact that he is so widely read and respected within Christian circles, I considered it imperative that a more biblical perspective be offered in response.
Here's what Dave wrote and posted as part of his column dated September 4th, 2007:
Dear Mike,
Sure it's OK, but under one condition. A pastor, or any other Christian, should understand that they don't really own anything. When it comes right down to it, we're just asset managers for God. And if you understand this deep down in your soul, it will change how you view money and how you handle it.
If you look back in the Bible you'll see that many of the patriarchs, like Abraham, Solomon and David, were extremely wealthy - even by today's standards. Some people argue that Jesus didn't walk around with lots of possessions, but he was God in human form so he owned it all anyway!
People who say you can't be wealthy and be consistent with Christian beliefs just don't understand the Bible. If you can manage God's money with wisdom and grace rather than greed - whether it's $100 or $1,000,000 - I think you're OK.
Dave>
Is it really OK for a Christian and/or pastor to "want to become a millionaire?"
Certainly there were many wealthy men of faith throughout the scriptures; but, as I told Dave in an email, "wanting to become a millionaire denotes a materialistic discontentment with one's own provision from the Lord, and worse yet, a love of money, regardless of whom we might declare the money in question actually belongs to. The one coveting possession or even oversight of more than they have is, in reality, lusting after something they have not been given.
"Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom." - Proverbs 23:4
It's interesting that Dave names Solomon as an example in his reply to the pastor. In fact, scripture tells us that God asked Solomon early on what he wanted. Both Dave and the pastor would do well to review the following passages and consider Solomon's answer and what the Lord thought of it:
"In that night did God appear unto Solomon, and said unto him, Ask what I shall give thee. And Solomon said unto God, Thou hast shewed great mercy unto David my father, and hast made me to reign in his stead. Now, O LORD God, let thy promise unto David my father be established: for thou hast made me king over a people like the dust of the earth in multitude. Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people: for who can judge this thy people, that is so great? And God said to Solomon, Because this was in thine heart, and thou hast not asked riches, wealth, or honour, nor the life of thine enemies, neither yet hast asked long life; but hast asked wisdom and knowledge for thyself, that thou mayest judge my people, over whom I have made thee king: Wisdom and knowledge is granted unto thee; and I will give thee riches, and wealth, and honour, such as none of the kings have had that have been before thee, neither shall there any after thee have the like." - 2nd Chronicles 1:7-12
Yes, it is OK for a Christian to be wealthy if wealth is indeed what God has blessed them with. One's abundance does not automatically disqualify them from discipleship, though riches can often present an obvious challenge to those professing faith in Christ. But, one cannot "seek first His kingdom and His righteousness" while seeking riches. That is two entirely different agendas.
It is also important to note that one of Jesus' own disciples betrayed Him for 30 pieces of silver. I don 't believe it was a mere coincidence that Judas Iscariot was the bearer of "the purse" - money that he was clearly in possession of but did not own. (John 12:4-6)
"For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." - Matthew 6:21, Luke 12:34
The bottom line is this: You may call yourself a "Christian," but if your heart is set on becoming a millionaire, it is probably not on following Jesus Christ.
"But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows." - 1st Timothy 6:9-10
Wednesday, September 05, 2007
Time to Think: He Closes Doors For A Reason
Time to Think: He Closes Doors For A Reason
By Dr. D. Paul Reilly
Whilst watching Joel Osteen on television recently, he used the phrase which is in fact the title of this article ‘He closes doors for a reason’. There, He Joel was referring to was of course our Spiritual Father, God. Sometimes we can as human beings get discouraged when we get the proverbial door slammed in our face, so to speak, as we are desperately endeavoring to achieve a particular goal. We’re going along full steam ahead, believing all the time that we are in fact going to achieve our goal and become successful. Then, suddenly, out of the blue, so to speak, the door which we are about to go through that will assist us in accomplishing our goal, is literally slammed shut in our face.
Let’s face it, this happens to all of us from time to time, and can indeed have a devastating effect on us as we travel the road of life. In fact, when this happens to some people, they just quit in the pursuit of their goals and objectives; they give up and sadly settle for a life of mediocrity and failure. What a tragedy! What we all need to get deeply imbedded in our consciousness is The FACT, that when one door closes, believe you me, another will indeed open up momentarily, PROVIDED of course that we don’t quit and thus throw in the towel.
You see, sometimes in life people are traveling in the wrong direction, following a course of action which if continued, will result in great hardship and ultimate failure. Now sometimes some people appear to be blind to The TRUTH, and that’s exactly why they’re traveling in the wrong direction. However, as I have written about on many occasions in the past, everything is in fact in ‘Divine Order’.
Lest we ever forget, God, The Creator of The Universe and everyone and everything in it is still in charge. So, if we are stupidly traveling in the wrong direction, God, our Spiritual Father will simply have to close the door, so that we won’t travel any further in that obviously wrong direction.
Yes My Friend, God doesn’t just close doors in our face for no apparent reason, but as the title of this article so correctly states ‘He closes doors for a reason’. So My Friend, in conclusion, if per chance a door which you had high hopes of progressing through has just been slammed in your face, so to speak; well then, you must firstly realize and fully understand, that the action is indeed in ‘Divine order’, it was literally meant to happen in your best interests.
Then you need to quietly analyze the situation, thereby fully understanding both intellectually and emotionally that you were most likely traveling in the wrong direction toward a very destructive destination.
Finally, become totally positive as you continue in the silence with your Creator, and believe you me, He’ll open another door for you, which will lead you ultimately direct to Success City.
THINK ABOUT IT!
By Dr. D. Paul Reilly
Whilst watching Joel Osteen on television recently, he used the phrase which is in fact the title of this article ‘He closes doors for a reason’. There, He Joel was referring to was of course our Spiritual Father, God. Sometimes we can as human beings get discouraged when we get the proverbial door slammed in our face, so to speak, as we are desperately endeavoring to achieve a particular goal. We’re going along full steam ahead, believing all the time that we are in fact going to achieve our goal and become successful. Then, suddenly, out of the blue, so to speak, the door which we are about to go through that will assist us in accomplishing our goal, is literally slammed shut in our face.
Let’s face it, this happens to all of us from time to time, and can indeed have a devastating effect on us as we travel the road of life. In fact, when this happens to some people, they just quit in the pursuit of their goals and objectives; they give up and sadly settle for a life of mediocrity and failure. What a tragedy! What we all need to get deeply imbedded in our consciousness is The FACT, that when one door closes, believe you me, another will indeed open up momentarily, PROVIDED of course that we don’t quit and thus throw in the towel.
You see, sometimes in life people are traveling in the wrong direction, following a course of action which if continued, will result in great hardship and ultimate failure. Now sometimes some people appear to be blind to The TRUTH, and that’s exactly why they’re traveling in the wrong direction. However, as I have written about on many occasions in the past, everything is in fact in ‘Divine Order’.
Lest we ever forget, God, The Creator of The Universe and everyone and everything in it is still in charge. So, if we are stupidly traveling in the wrong direction, God, our Spiritual Father will simply have to close the door, so that we won’t travel any further in that obviously wrong direction.
Yes My Friend, God doesn’t just close doors in our face for no apparent reason, but as the title of this article so correctly states ‘He closes doors for a reason’. So My Friend, in conclusion, if per chance a door which you had high hopes of progressing through has just been slammed in your face, so to speak; well then, you must firstly realize and fully understand, that the action is indeed in ‘Divine order’, it was literally meant to happen in your best interests.
Then you need to quietly analyze the situation, thereby fully understanding both intellectually and emotionally that you were most likely traveling in the wrong direction toward a very destructive destination.
Finally, become totally positive as you continue in the silence with your Creator, and believe you me, He’ll open another door for you, which will lead you ultimately direct to Success City.
THINK ABOUT IT!
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