Shalom,
We've been looking at God's economic system and His plan for financial prosperity. Remember that "prosperity" means: the condition of being successful or thriving. That's according to Merriam-Webster online dictionary. We like to say: being in control (as opposed to being under the control of someone else)! We see in this verse that God Himself wants us to prosper:
3 John 2 (KJV)
Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.
The Amplified Bible says this:
3 John 2 (AMP)
2 Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in every way and [that your body] may keep well, even as [I know] your soul keeps well and prospers.
It is God's perfect will that we be in control and doing well in every area of our lives. That doesn't mean "rolling in dough" and it doesn't rule it out, either! Don't let anyone keep you from finding out all that God has for you in His Word. And then, when you find it out, don't let anyone or anything keep you from having it and living in it! God is very pleased when His people, who are called by his Name, represent Him well in this lifetime!
We'll look at more of God's Word concerning our finances in the next post. In the meantime, meditate on this verse and allow the Holy Spirit to cause it to become very real to you! Then you'll be ready for the next step!
Shalom in Him!
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Shalom,
We're going to look at God's plan for financial prosperity in the next few posts. As believers, we should never be moved by what the economy of our nation looks like, or the economy of the world. God's economy operates on a much higher level! We'll start here:
Matt 6:25-30 (AMP)
25 Therefore I tell you, stop being perpetually uneasy (anxious and worried) about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink; or about your body, what you shall put on. Is not life greater [in quality] than food, and the body [far above and more excellent] than clothing?
26 Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father keeps feeding them. Are you not worth much more than they?
27 And who of you by worrying and being anxious can add one unit of measure (cubit) to his stature or to the span of his life? [Ps 39:5-7.]
28 And why should you be anxious about clothes? Consider the lilies of the field and learn thoroughly how they grow; they neither toil nor spin.
29 Yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his magnificence (excellence, dignity, and grace) was not arrayed like one of these. [1 Kings 10:4-7.]
30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and green and tomorrow is tossed into the furnace, will He not much more surely clothe you, O you of little faith?
31 Therefore do not worry and be anxious, saying, What are we going to have to eat? or, What are we going to have to drink? or, What are we going to have to wear?
32 For the Gentiles (heathen) wish for and crave and diligently seek all these things, and your heavenly Father knows well that you need them all.
33 But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things taken together will be given you besides.
Our Heavenly Father does NOT want us worrying like the rest of the world does about all of these things! He wants our faith, trust and confidence to be in HIM! When we do things His way, than we can have confidence that we will have His results! That's what I want! So what are some of His ways? Let's look at this:
Luke 6:38 (KJV)
38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.
Giving is God's nature. Remember that: "God so loved that he gave..."! When we give, we look like Him! Just as important as the giving, though, is the attitude we have when we give:
2 Cor 9:6-7 (AMP)
6 [Remember] this: he who sows sparingly and grudgingly will also reap sparingly and grudgingly, and he who sows generously [that blessings may come to someone] will also reap generously and with blessings.
7 Let each one [give] as he has made up his own mind and purposed in his heart, not reluctantly or sorrowfully or under compulsion, for God loves (He takes pleasure in, prizes above other things, and is unwilling to abandon or to do without) a cheerful (joyous, "prompt to do it") giver [whose heart is in his giving].
That's the attitude we need to have! We give because our Father LOVES giving! We give so that blessings will come to someone! Giving takes our minds off of our own situation and allows God to move!
We'll look more at this in the next post. In the meantime, develop a giving attitude. God will be pleased and you will realize what a blessing it is to meet someone's need! Glory to God!
Shalom in Him!
We're going to look at God's plan for financial prosperity in the next few posts. As believers, we should never be moved by what the economy of our nation looks like, or the economy of the world. God's economy operates on a much higher level! We'll start here:
Matt 6:25-30 (AMP)
25 Therefore I tell you, stop being perpetually uneasy (anxious and worried) about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink; or about your body, what you shall put on. Is not life greater [in quality] than food, and the body [far above and more excellent] than clothing?
26 Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father keeps feeding them. Are you not worth much more than they?
27 And who of you by worrying and being anxious can add one unit of measure (cubit) to his stature or to the span of his life? [Ps 39:5-7.]
28 And why should you be anxious about clothes? Consider the lilies of the field and learn thoroughly how they grow; they neither toil nor spin.
29 Yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his magnificence (excellence, dignity, and grace) was not arrayed like one of these. [1 Kings 10:4-7.]
30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and green and tomorrow is tossed into the furnace, will He not much more surely clothe you, O you of little faith?
31 Therefore do not worry and be anxious, saying, What are we going to have to eat? or, What are we going to have to drink? or, What are we going to have to wear?
32 For the Gentiles (heathen) wish for and crave and diligently seek all these things, and your heavenly Father knows well that you need them all.
33 But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things taken together will be given you besides.
Our Heavenly Father does NOT want us worrying like the rest of the world does about all of these things! He wants our faith, trust and confidence to be in HIM! When we do things His way, than we can have confidence that we will have His results! That's what I want! So what are some of His ways? Let's look at this:
Luke 6:38 (KJV)
38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.
Giving is God's nature. Remember that: "God so loved that he gave..."! When we give, we look like Him! Just as important as the giving, though, is the attitude we have when we give:
2 Cor 9:6-7 (AMP)
6 [Remember] this: he who sows sparingly and grudgingly will also reap sparingly and grudgingly, and he who sows generously [that blessings may come to someone] will also reap generously and with blessings.
7 Let each one [give] as he has made up his own mind and purposed in his heart, not reluctantly or sorrowfully or under compulsion, for God loves (He takes pleasure in, prizes above other things, and is unwilling to abandon or to do without) a cheerful (joyous, "prompt to do it") giver [whose heart is in his giving].
That's the attitude we need to have! We give because our Father LOVES giving! We give so that blessings will come to someone! Giving takes our minds off of our own situation and allows God to move!
We'll look more at this in the next post. In the meantime, develop a giving attitude. God will be pleased and you will realize what a blessing it is to meet someone's need! Glory to God!
Shalom in Him!
Monday, March 9, 2009
Shalom,
I want to encourage you as a believer in Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ, the Messiah, the Anointed One, not to be moved by the present state of the U.S. economy. God's economy is far different and is based on more real worth! After all, He OWNS it all! Just look here:
Ps 50:10 (KJV)
10 For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills.
Hag 2:8 (KJV)
8 The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the Lord of hosts.
He owns it all and he has hidden in His Word the way for us to have every need met and more than enough to help meet the needs of others! In the next few posts we will go over some of these things. In the meantime remember this:
Ps 37:25 (KJV)
25 I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.
The word "forsaken" used here is the Hebrew word, `azab, which means: to leave, to neglect or to leave destitute. What a wonderful promise! And the word, "righteous" is the Hebrew Word, tsaddiyq, which means: justified and vindicated by God! When you received Jesus as your Lord and personal Saviour, you were MADE righteous! You now have the right to these promises of God for YOUR life! So encourage yourself in the Lord and His Word! He has great plans for you!
Shalom in Him!
I want to encourage you as a believer in Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ, the Messiah, the Anointed One, not to be moved by the present state of the U.S. economy. God's economy is far different and is based on more real worth! After all, He OWNS it all! Just look here:
Ps 50:10 (KJV)
10 For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills.
Hag 2:8 (KJV)
8 The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the Lord of hosts.
He owns it all and he has hidden in His Word the way for us to have every need met and more than enough to help meet the needs of others! In the next few posts we will go over some of these things. In the meantime remember this:
Ps 37:25 (KJV)
25 I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.
The word "forsaken" used here is the Hebrew word, `azab, which means: to leave, to neglect or to leave destitute. What a wonderful promise! And the word, "righteous" is the Hebrew Word, tsaddiyq, which means: justified and vindicated by God! When you received Jesus as your Lord and personal Saviour, you were MADE righteous! You now have the right to these promises of God for YOUR life! So encourage yourself in the Lord and His Word! He has great plans for you!
Shalom in Him!
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