For the Sake Of
Have you ever been in a situation where someone had a need and you did not have enough money to help that person? I have. Or have you heard about a ministry that didn't have enough to feed people, buy clothing or shoes for others in need, and not have anything extra to give to it yourself? I have.
To want to give and not be able to is an awful feeling, isn't it? Yet, is it right for us as God's people to ask and seek to be prosperous? Yes, it is! And what is to be our motive to being prosperous? It is for the sake of the House of the Lord our God!
See, if we have only enough for ourselves, we do not have anything left to give. We have to be blessed to be a blessing! If we are ONLY asking God to meet our needs and not asking and seeking Him for prosperity, then we are only thinking and asking for ourselves. And if we are the only ones on our minds, we are being selfish.
You may be thinking, "Pastor, I thought money was the root of all evil!" No, the Word says that the LOVE of money is the problem (1Timothy 6:10). It is when MONEY HAS YOU, instead of YOU HAVING MONEY! When the church is not prosperous, she cannot feed the hungry, clothe the naked and go and tell the world about Jesus! (Matthew 25:36,37, Mark 16:15)
The Gospel — the Good News of Jesus — is free, but the avenues to get it to the people are expensive! To take a plane or truck full of food, water, clothing and medical needs to places costs money. When the church is prosperous, she can fulfill the needs of people. When the church is in lack, she can only do for herself.
So, why do we need to ask God and seek Him to be prosperous? Because others are needing to eat food and drink clean water. Others are waiting for help to come. Others are praying for someone to come and lend a hand to them as they are struggling. A man or woman will be better able to hear the Good News of Jesus if they have been fed a meal when they are hungry. A Nation will want to hear what you have to say about Jesus Christ if they and their babies are not dying from polluted water. A village will be able to understand that God loves them if they see God's people come to them and give them warm blankets and shoes for their feet.
See church, seeking and asking God to prosper you is not all about you. God needs His Body — the church — to go and love people to God, Himself. And the only way is if we have the means to give and go and buy and send.
Prosperity is not only a blessing to us, it is life or death to others! Ask God to prosper you. Seek the Lord passionately about bringing prosperity into your life. For it is not just for our sake, it is truly for the sake of the House of the Lord our God!
Scripture Of The Day: "For the sake of the house of the Lord our God, I will seek your prosperity." - Psalm 122:9 (NIV)
Monday, September 12, 2011
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Friday, September 9, 2011
God’s Promotion
God’s Promotion
The way that God promotes someone is a lot different than the way we would. Our way to get promoted would be to work very hard, learn the way the system goes, and then use that same system to get further ahead. Our way may rely on contacts, favors and even “who you know.” Our way may be based on rubbing elbows with someone, or could even be credited to something called “luck.”
We would also promote someone else based on these same factors. Either way, we will work very hard for promotion, and after we get it or give it, we like to take the credit for all that has been done!
Let’s look at God’s way of promoting. He delights in exalting the humble person. “For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 14:11). Someone who is humble is not proud, and they don’t mind “going down to get up.” They know that someday, for reasons that are only known to God, they are going to be invited to move on up a little higher!
When it’s all said and done, with an act of our will, we need to step down from our own agendas for our lives. Then as we pray and spend more time with the Lord, we begin to pick up small everyday insights into God’s great big plans of success for our lives. As we continue to walk in obedience and faith, and stick to HIS agenda, our promotions to success that God has for us will happen!
PRAYER: Lord God, if you find any trace of pride or self-promotion in our hearts, we ask that you take it away, and then give us the attitude and heart of a humble servant. In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Scripture Of the Day: “For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” - Luke 14:11 (NKJV)
The way that God promotes someone is a lot different than the way we would. Our way to get promoted would be to work very hard, learn the way the system goes, and then use that same system to get further ahead. Our way may rely on contacts, favors and even “who you know.” Our way may be based on rubbing elbows with someone, or could even be credited to something called “luck.”
We would also promote someone else based on these same factors. Either way, we will work very hard for promotion, and after we get it or give it, we like to take the credit for all that has been done!
Let’s look at God’s way of promoting. He delights in exalting the humble person. “For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 14:11). Someone who is humble is not proud, and they don’t mind “going down to get up.” They know that someday, for reasons that are only known to God, they are going to be invited to move on up a little higher!
When it’s all said and done, with an act of our will, we need to step down from our own agendas for our lives. Then as we pray and spend more time with the Lord, we begin to pick up small everyday insights into God’s great big plans of success for our lives. As we continue to walk in obedience and faith, and stick to HIS agenda, our promotions to success that God has for us will happen!
PRAYER: Lord God, if you find any trace of pride or self-promotion in our hearts, we ask that you take it away, and then give us the attitude and heart of a humble servant. In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Scripture Of the Day: “For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” - Luke 14:11 (NKJV)
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