Sunday, January 06, 2008
The Lord Hears Our Voice
I desired to talk to Neil on the phone today. So I asked the Lord to make him ring me. A couple of hours later my phone rang. It was Neil calling international from San Francisco, for the first time in many months. The Lord hears our voice!
The Lord Hears Our Voice
I desired to talk to Neil on the phone today. So I asked the Lord to make him ring me. A couple of hours later my phone rang. It was Neil calling international from San Francisco, for the first time in many months. The Lord hears our voice!
The Ethic of Contentment
Whatever happened to contentment? There is nothing wrong with the good old-fashioned work ethic. But what about the contentment ethic?
There is a tendency today to think that gain is godliness - that material gain is a sign of a person's or a ministry's success. But Paul said, "Godliness with contentment is great gain". Notice godliness with contentment isn't just gain - it is GREAT gain:
"But godliness actually is a means of GREAT GAIN when accompanied by contentment" (NASB);
"A godly life brings HUGE PROFITS to people who are content with what they have" (GWT).
Remember when Elisha chided his servant Gehazi for accepting an offering in return for prophetic/healing services rendered? "Is it a time to receive money, and to receive garments, and oliveyards, and vineyards, and sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and maidservants?" he said. "The leprosy therefore of Naaman shall cleave unto thee, and unto thy seed for ever."
So despite today's emphasis on 'prosperity', it's okay for a minister not to receive every offering. It can be a hindrance for a person who is called and separated unto the Gospel to seek to capitalize on every investment opportunity, every political opportunity, or every personal opportunity that may come his way.
The fashion of this world is passing away, and only the unseen things are eternal. There are new heavens and a new earth which God shall create, and only the meek shall inherit it and reign in it.
Therefore the best 'investment' anyone can make is to ascertain what pleases God and what best promotes His Kingdom - and then to spend his or her life-time seeking it, fulfilling God's will for his or her life.
That will not mean the same vocation for all of us, or the same response to financial or political opportunities from all of us. Every man has his proper gift and calling of God.
When the title deeds to land are allotted in the new earth, and when appointments are made to governmental offices in the new earth - the criteria won't necessarily be how materially wealthy you or your family nor your ministry was in this present world.
"For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out."
"Having food and raiment let us be therewith content."
"But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called...keep this commandment without spot, unrebukable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ...laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life."
There is a tendency today to think that gain is godliness - that material gain is a sign of a person's or a ministry's success. But Paul said, "Godliness with contentment is great gain". Notice godliness with contentment isn't just gain - it is GREAT gain:
"But godliness actually is a means of GREAT GAIN when accompanied by contentment" (NASB);
"A godly life brings HUGE PROFITS to people who are content with what they have" (GWT).
Remember when Elisha chided his servant Gehazi for accepting an offering in return for prophetic/healing services rendered? "Is it a time to receive money, and to receive garments, and oliveyards, and vineyards, and sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and maidservants?" he said. "The leprosy therefore of Naaman shall cleave unto thee, and unto thy seed for ever."
So despite today's emphasis on 'prosperity', it's okay for a minister not to receive every offering. It can be a hindrance for a person who is called and separated unto the Gospel to seek to capitalize on every investment opportunity, every political opportunity, or every personal opportunity that may come his way.
The fashion of this world is passing away, and only the unseen things are eternal. There are new heavens and a new earth which God shall create, and only the meek shall inherit it and reign in it.
Therefore the best 'investment' anyone can make is to ascertain what pleases God and what best promotes His Kingdom - and then to spend his or her life-time seeking it, fulfilling God's will for his or her life.
That will not mean the same vocation for all of us, or the same response to financial or political opportunities from all of us. Every man has his proper gift and calling of God.
When the title deeds to land are allotted in the new earth, and when appointments are made to governmental offices in the new earth - the criteria won't necessarily be how materially wealthy you or your family nor your ministry was in this present world.
"For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out."
"Having food and raiment let us be therewith content."
"But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called...keep this commandment without spot, unrebukable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ...laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life."
The Ethic of Contentment
Whatever happened to contentment? There is nothing wrong with the good old-fashioned work ethic. But what about the contentment ethic?
There is a tendency today to think that gain is godliness - that material gain is a sign of a person's or a ministry's success. But Paul said, "Godliness with contentment is great gain". Notice godliness with contentment isn't just gain - it is GREAT gain:
"But godliness actually is a means of GREAT GAIN when accompanied by contentment" (NASB);
"A godly life brings HUGE PROFITS to people who are content with what they have" (GWT).
Remember when Elisha chided his servant Gehazi for accepting an offering in return for prophetic/healing services rendered? "Is it a time to receive money, and to receive garments, and oliveyards, and vineyards, and sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and maidservants?" he said. "The leprosy therefore of Naaman shall cleave unto thee, and unto thy seed for ever."
So despite today's emphasis on 'prosperity', it's okay for a minister not to receive every offering. It can be a hindrance for a person who is called and separated unto the Gospel to seek to capitalize on every investment opportunity, every political opportunity, or every personal opportunity that may come his way.
The fashion of this world is passing away, and only the unseen things are eternal. There are new heavens and a new earth which God shall create, and only the meek shall inherit it and reign in it.
Therefore the best 'investment' anyone can make is to ascertain what pleases God and what best promotes His Kingdom - and then to spend his or her life-time seeking it, fulfilling God's will for his or her life.
That will not mean the same vocation for all of us, or the same response to financial or political opportunities from all of us. Every man has his proper gift and calling of God.
When the title deeds to land are allotted in the new earth, and when appointments are made to governmental offices in the new earth - the criteria won't necessarily be how materially wealthy you or your family nor your ministry was in this present world.
"For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out."
"Having food and raiment let us be therewith content."
"But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called...keep this commandment without spot, unrebukable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ...laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life."
There is a tendency today to think that gain is godliness - that material gain is a sign of a person's or a ministry's success. But Paul said, "Godliness with contentment is great gain". Notice godliness with contentment isn't just gain - it is GREAT gain:
"But godliness actually is a means of GREAT GAIN when accompanied by contentment" (NASB);
"A godly life brings HUGE PROFITS to people who are content with what they have" (GWT).
Remember when Elisha chided his servant Gehazi for accepting an offering in return for prophetic/healing services rendered? "Is it a time to receive money, and to receive garments, and oliveyards, and vineyards, and sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and maidservants?" he said. "The leprosy therefore of Naaman shall cleave unto thee, and unto thy seed for ever."
So despite today's emphasis on 'prosperity', it's okay for a minister not to receive every offering. It can be a hindrance for a person who is called and separated unto the Gospel to seek to capitalize on every investment opportunity, every political opportunity, or every personal opportunity that may come his way.
The fashion of this world is passing away, and only the unseen things are eternal. There are new heavens and a new earth which God shall create, and only the meek shall inherit it and reign in it.
Therefore the best 'investment' anyone can make is to ascertain what pleases God and what best promotes His Kingdom - and then to spend his or her life-time seeking it, fulfilling God's will for his or her life.
That will not mean the same vocation for all of us, or the same response to financial or political opportunities from all of us. Every man has his proper gift and calling of God.
When the title deeds to land are allotted in the new earth, and when appointments are made to governmental offices in the new earth - the criteria won't necessarily be how materially wealthy you or your family nor your ministry was in this present world.
"For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out."
"Having food and raiment let us be therewith content."
"But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called...keep this commandment without spot, unrebukable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ...laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life."
Wednesday, January 02, 2008
$5 Christmas Testimony
The day before Christmas I still had three people left that I wanted to buy Christmas gifts for. So my sister invited me to go Christmas-shopping with her at Robina Town Centre.
But I didn't feel a 'release' in my spirit to go. Instead, I had an inner 'impression' that I would be going to the Salvos Store. Besides, I only had $5. So my sister and her children went to Robina without me.
While I was at home lying on my bed I started thinking about what I would like to give as Christmas gifts if only I had more money: the books Following God's Plan for your Life, How you Can Be Led by the Spirit of God, and Understanding the Anointing by Kenneth E. Hagin, came to mind.
In the afternoon I assayed to leave the house to drive to the Salvos Store to spend my $5 - but something inside of me said, "Not yet."
A while later I assayed to go again, but again I got, "Not yet."
Soon afterwards I was sitting at my desk reading my Bible when I 'heard', "You can go now."
So I drove to the Salvos Store, and as I walked in the door I was wondering whether I'd find anything worthwhile to buy as Christmas gifts for a mere $5. Immediately, I received an 'impression' that there would be something for me high up on a shelf at the right hand side of the back wall of the store.
So I walked to that section of the store, and standing there was a staff member with a pile of new stock ready to be shelved. When he saw me begin to browse through the pile of stock, he said, "Good - buy it - that stuff just came in - so I don't have to try to find a place to put it!"
It was a pile of secondhand books, which some member of the public had just donated. To my delight and surprise I came across the titles, Understanding the Anointing, Following God's Plan for Your Life, and How You can be Led by the Spirit of God, by Kenneth Hagin - the very three titles I'd longed for.
According to the staff member, the books had only just arrived in-store.
Had I gone to the Store any earlier in the day like I originally assayed to, the titles might not yet have been ready to be placed on display.
And each book cost only $1.
Truly we never need to deviate from the pathway of obedience in order to receive God's provision of our heart's desires.
But I didn't feel a 'release' in my spirit to go. Instead, I had an inner 'impression' that I would be going to the Salvos Store. Besides, I only had $5. So my sister and her children went to Robina without me.
While I was at home lying on my bed I started thinking about what I would like to give as Christmas gifts if only I had more money: the books Following God's Plan for your Life, How you Can Be Led by the Spirit of God, and Understanding the Anointing by Kenneth E. Hagin, came to mind.
In the afternoon I assayed to leave the house to drive to the Salvos Store to spend my $5 - but something inside of me said, "Not yet."
A while later I assayed to go again, but again I got, "Not yet."
Soon afterwards I was sitting at my desk reading my Bible when I 'heard', "You can go now."
So I drove to the Salvos Store, and as I walked in the door I was wondering whether I'd find anything worthwhile to buy as Christmas gifts for a mere $5. Immediately, I received an 'impression' that there would be something for me high up on a shelf at the right hand side of the back wall of the store.
So I walked to that section of the store, and standing there was a staff member with a pile of new stock ready to be shelved. When he saw me begin to browse through the pile of stock, he said, "Good - buy it - that stuff just came in - so I don't have to try to find a place to put it!"
It was a pile of secondhand books, which some member of the public had just donated. To my delight and surprise I came across the titles, Understanding the Anointing, Following God's Plan for Your Life, and How You can be Led by the Spirit of God, by Kenneth Hagin - the very three titles I'd longed for.
According to the staff member, the books had only just arrived in-store.
Had I gone to the Store any earlier in the day like I originally assayed to, the titles might not yet have been ready to be placed on display.
And each book cost only $1.
Truly we never need to deviate from the pathway of obedience in order to receive God's provision of our heart's desires.
"Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."
"Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass."
In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."
"Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass."
$5 Christmas Testimony
The day before Christmas I still had three people left that I wanted to buy Christmas gifts for. So my sister invited me to go Christmas-shopping with her at Robina Town Centre.
But I didn't feel a 'release' in my spirit to go. Instead, I had an inner 'impression' that I would be going to the Salvos Store. Besides, I only had $5. So my sister and her children went to Robina without me.
While I was at home lying on my bed I started thinking about what I would like to give as Christmas gifts if only I had more money: the books Following God's Plan for your Life, How you Can Be Led by the Spirit of God, and Understanding the Anointing by Kenneth E. Hagin, came to mind.
In the afternoon I assayed to leave the house to drive to the Salvos Store to spend my $5 - but something inside of me said, "Not yet."
A while later I assayed to go again, but again I got, "Not yet."
Soon afterwards I was sitting at my desk reading my Bible when I 'heard', "You can go now."
So I drove to the Salvos Store, and as I walked in the door I was wondering whether I'd find anything worthwhile to buy as Christmas gifts for a mere $5. Immediately, I received an 'impression' that there would be something for me high up on a shelf at the right hand side of the back wall of the store.
So I walked to that section of the store, and standing there was a staff member with a pile of new stock ready to be shelved. When he saw me begin to browse through the pile of stock, he said, "Good - buy it - that stuff just came in - so I don't have to try to find a place to put it!"
It was a pile of secondhand books, which some member of the public had just donated. To my delight and surprise I came across the titles, Understanding the Anointing, Following God's Plan for Your Life, and How You can be Led by the Spirit of God, by Kenneth Hagin - the very three titles I'd longed for.
According to the staff member, the books had only just arrived in-store.
Had I gone to the Store any earlier in the day like I originally assayed to, the titles might not yet have been ready to be placed on display.
And each book cost only $1.
Truly we never need to deviate from the pathway of obedience in order to receive God's provision of our heart's desires.
But I didn't feel a 'release' in my spirit to go. Instead, I had an inner 'impression' that I would be going to the Salvos Store. Besides, I only had $5. So my sister and her children went to Robina without me.
While I was at home lying on my bed I started thinking about what I would like to give as Christmas gifts if only I had more money: the books Following God's Plan for your Life, How you Can Be Led by the Spirit of God, and Understanding the Anointing by Kenneth E. Hagin, came to mind.
In the afternoon I assayed to leave the house to drive to the Salvos Store to spend my $5 - but something inside of me said, "Not yet."
A while later I assayed to go again, but again I got, "Not yet."
Soon afterwards I was sitting at my desk reading my Bible when I 'heard', "You can go now."
So I drove to the Salvos Store, and as I walked in the door I was wondering whether I'd find anything worthwhile to buy as Christmas gifts for a mere $5. Immediately, I received an 'impression' that there would be something for me high up on a shelf at the right hand side of the back wall of the store.
So I walked to that section of the store, and standing there was a staff member with a pile of new stock ready to be shelved. When he saw me begin to browse through the pile of stock, he said, "Good - buy it - that stuff just came in - so I don't have to try to find a place to put it!"
It was a pile of secondhand books, which some member of the public had just donated. To my delight and surprise I came across the titles, Understanding the Anointing, Following God's Plan for Your Life, and How You can be Led by the Spirit of God, by Kenneth Hagin - the very three titles I'd longed for.
According to the staff member, the books had only just arrived in-store.
Had I gone to the Store any earlier in the day like I originally assayed to, the titles might not yet have been ready to be placed on display.
And each book cost only $1.
Truly we never need to deviate from the pathway of obedience in order to receive God's provision of our heart's desires.
"Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."
"Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass."
In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."
"Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass."
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Tool for Dominion
The Bible says we reign in life. Jesus Christ has made us kings and priests unto our God and we shall reign upon the earth.
It doesn't mean some will rule over others. It means we mutually reign in life!
Your goal as a Christian should not be to rule over others. Our goal is that we all get to reign together, in life.
Mutual reigning comes about through mutual serving.
As an illustration, imagine a large multi-national corporation that is considering entering a foreign market in a developing country, or considering opening an operation in that country. The company has a reasonable expectation - to make a profit. And since the company's activities meets a perceived need, or provides a desired service or product - its presence in the developing country is more than tolerated - it is sought. So both are happy. Both feel they are profiting. Both have served the other. That's the principle of business. It is consistent with Gospel values.
In this way the living standard of a developing country can be elevated and doors of opportunity can open to share the Gospel because everyone perceives a profit all around.
This is reigning, not one over the other, but mutually, in life.
This is not colonization for monopolization alone - it is co-operation for mutualization of benefits - and God gets the glory through Jesus Christ.
"The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it".
We are to seek the well-being of each other, not of ourselves.
Everything we take to the nations is to be offered with love and in a spirit of serving - no matter whether it's the Gospel we are taking, or whether it's a service, or a product or an ideology.
Some of us are called to be separated unto the Gospel. Others are called to remain in business. Each of us has a different calling. But our heart must be to serve. And notice this remarkable promise Jesus made:
"And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's,But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life."
Notice that all who live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. Therefore despite any gains or persecutions we may realize in this world, our steadfast hope remains in the coming of Christ, and the prize we seek is eternal life in the world to come.
It doesn't mean some will rule over others. It means we mutually reign in life!
Your goal as a Christian should not be to rule over others. Our goal is that we all get to reign together, in life.
Mutual reigning comes about through mutual serving.
As an illustration, imagine a large multi-national corporation that is considering entering a foreign market in a developing country, or considering opening an operation in that country. The company has a reasonable expectation - to make a profit. And since the company's activities meets a perceived need, or provides a desired service or product - its presence in the developing country is more than tolerated - it is sought. So both are happy. Both feel they are profiting. Both have served the other. That's the principle of business. It is consistent with Gospel values.
In this way the living standard of a developing country can be elevated and doors of opportunity can open to share the Gospel because everyone perceives a profit all around.
This is reigning, not one over the other, but mutually, in life.
This is not colonization for monopolization alone - it is co-operation for mutualization of benefits - and God gets the glory through Jesus Christ.
"The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it".
We are to seek the well-being of each other, not of ourselves.
Everything we take to the nations is to be offered with love and in a spirit of serving - no matter whether it's the Gospel we are taking, or whether it's a service, or a product or an ideology.
Some of us are called to be separated unto the Gospel. Others are called to remain in business. Each of us has a different calling. But our heart must be to serve. And notice this remarkable promise Jesus made:
"And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's,But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life."
Notice that all who live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. Therefore despite any gains or persecutions we may realize in this world, our steadfast hope remains in the coming of Christ, and the prize we seek is eternal life in the world to come.
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