Published by admin on 15 Oct 2004 at 04:20 am
WORDS OF WISDOM
If people would stop looking at their lack, and start doing at what Jesus taught, they would come out of their lack. After all, God is not a man that He should lie. I know He taught Jenny and me to watch our words, in Mark 11:23-24, to be cheerful givers, and to love our neighbor as ourselves. And I know what He taught us works. If it will work for us, it will work for anyone who will use it. For example, we give, because we want to imitate our Father in heaven, and we are not “giving to get” as some teach. I believe teaching people “give to get” only speaks to their selfish nature. If we were guaranteed a 30, 60, 100 fold return on what money we give to the Kingdom of God, don’t you know every Wall Street investor would be waiting in line to buy “God” stock? Sure they would. True, the Bible says in Galatians 6:7, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” That means when we sow love, we reap love. When we sow mercy, we reap mercy. When we sow money, we reap money. If, and let me repeat, IF, we give with a right heart.. Instead of giving to get, we need to give just because He said it is the right thing to do. And He always sees that we are blessed far above what we gave.
I have heard it taught, “If what you have is not enough for your need, then it must be your seed.” That is good teaching, if it does not appeal to our carnality. Again, examine your reason for giving. If it’s to give to be a blessing, then you will be blessed for it. Remember, a seed produces after it’s own kind. And no farmer plants a seed to get the same amount back. He plants for increase! There’s nothing wrong with giving a seed against your need. That’s what a farmer does. But don’t omit the weightier matters, such as loving God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength, and your neighbor as yourself.
What about Mark 11:23-26? If Jesus said it, then that’s just what it meant. God doesn’t stutter, nor lie. The Holy Spirit is trying so hard to get the Body of Christ to clean up their words and their hearts! Let’s look at what it says. “For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore I say unto you, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them,, and ye shall have them. Aaaaaaaaand, when ye stand praying, FORGIVE, if ye have ought against any; that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.” There is a gold mine in those words, my friend. And they’re not MY words, but the very words of God. So you need to pay attention! If your life isn’t what you want it to be, check your mouth, and check your “forgiver”.
Something the Lord spoke to me today was Romans 15:1, “We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.” In other words, when you have ministered for quite some time to someone, and they just don’t seem to be “getting it”, don’t just walk away and give up on them. No, TEACH them and be patient with them. Bear long with them, even as Christ Jesus bears long with us and doesn’t throw us in the trash can. God knows the times I have failed, and still, He hasn’t thrown me aside. His patience toward me is a shining example of how I should be to others. His example of longsuffering is what keeps me praying for the same people over and over and over and over and over and over and over. It’s what keeps me encouraging the hurting and downcast even though I’ve done it a hundred times already, when it seems to be making no difference.
He is the reason I stay up late at night praying for people on the internet every day. Look at Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith, what He endured for you and me, and tell me you can’t hold on a little longer! I know by the Holy Spirit that I am speaking to some of you out there who feel like throwing in the towel and walking away from someone you have been trying to minister the word of God to. Now is not the time to get discouraged and give up. Our race is getting closer to the finish line each and every day! And we don’t want them to miss out on Jesus!
Galatians 5:9-10 says, “And let us not be weary in well doing; for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.” With that in mind, let us remember, not all are at the same level of faith, even though we have all been given the same measure of faith. When you are getting weary of telling someone something over and over, remember, you’re trying to get them to the level you are on. And you didn’t get where you are overnight, did you? Neither will they. Rome wasn’t built in a day, y’know. I heard it took all weekend!
Paul wrote in Acts 20:35, “I have showed you all thing, how that so laboring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how He said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.” So give that “slow one” your encouragement, and bring them along. Don’t discourage them or offend them. Your words of advise must be with love and compassion. Just being right is not always enough. Beware lest you run them off from the Lord and He hold you responsible! Jesus said in Matthew 18:6-7, “But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe unto the world because of offenses! for it must needs be that offenses come; but woe to that man by whom the offense cometh!” I did a tape on offense in Concordia, Kansas. If you have offense in your life, you need to get the tape. If you are offended that I would suggest you may have offense, then you definitely need to get the tape! It is so important not to offend people and run them off from God. Be a “gatherer” for Jesus, not a “scatterer”. By the way, do you want to know what God sees as wisdom? Look at Proverbs 11:30,
“The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and HE THAT WINNETH SOULS IS WISE.” If spending your life winning souls for Jesus is your idea of a good time, then God has a special place for you in His heart. And when you come before Him one day, He will say unto you, Well done, good and faithful servant!
Remember my proverb, “It is better to hear “Well done” than to “be” well done.” (as in the Lake of Fire)