Isaiah 1:19 If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:
Willing means to desire to consent to, to yield to what God wants for your life, to be willing to have His will done in your life. Obedience means you have to obey God, but not with the attitude, "Ok Dad, I'll do it but I don't want to, cos I would rather be going my own way, and doing my own thing. I'm not really willing to do this." We have to have a willing attitude, and be obedient to God's will to eat the good of the land. In strongs concordance, land is often in contrast to Canaan which is the promise land.
The promise land was one of milk, honey, and large fruit. It meant abundance, not lack. God wants us to have the promise land. If we are to have the promise land in our lives, we must be willing to change how we think, and our attitudes need to be willing to be obedient to our Father God, our Daddy God. We must desire to please Him, to obey Him. Our hearts must be in it if we want Father's attention. Begging won't get us anything. Our Parent has already provided everything we need. All we have to do to access what He has already provided to become His willing and obedient children.
Let's bring this to the natural realm to compare it to the spiritual realm. You have your child in the store with you, and you have already told him or her that they can have a certain item, be it clothes, toys, car, whatever you the parent had already told your child they could have. You take them to the store to purchase the thing they want. You already have the money to buy it. You have already said they could have it. You always keep your word to your child. Your child should know this by the time they are seven or older. Right?
Now watch:
Steven looks at Mom and says, "Can I have this Mom? Can I, can I pleaaaaaaasee???"
Mom looks at her son. "I already said you could have it. What is wrong with you?"
Steven: "Mom pleaseeeeeeee, just let me have it! I promise I'll do anything; I'll clean out the garage; just please let me have it!!"
Mom looks at her son like he has lost his mind. "I said you can have it; why are you acting this way? Don't you trust me, Steven??" Mom is hurt that her son doesn't trust her to do what she already said she would do. She has never lied to him; she has always done everything for him she said she would do. He is calling her a liar when he doesn't believe her, and keeps on whining for her to do this, when she already said she would.
Do you see how we have treated our Daddy God? How we have hurt Him? Do you see? Now, let's look at the proper response of the child who trusts his parent, and believes what he is told.
Steven: "Mom, thank you for letting me have this! Thank you so much! I have been wanting this for some time. You are the greatest, mom!" Steven hugs his mom, and thanks her BEFORE he ever sees her pay for it and give it to him, before he has even taken it off the shelf. He trusts his parent to give to him what she ALREADY said she would give him.
Mom smiles and is so pleased with her son. It pleases her to see her child happy, and seeing and sensing his attitude, it causes her to want to do more for him.
See the difference in the attitudes? Which attitude do you think God wants from you? Try it, and see which attitude will get you the attention and the ear of your Daddy God. I challenge you to change your attitude to one of trust, and willingness, and obedience, and watch and see the Glory of God, your Father God be manifested in your life.
Makes you wonder why people don't take God at His Word.
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Really? I thought God wanted to break my leg to teach me something
I suppose it depends what you need to learn.
Some people haven't proven themselves trustworthy enough to be given material wealth. No matter how much they get, they lose it all pretty rapidly. Would you keep pouring wine into a container that leaked? Why would you expect God to be so foolish?
Some people haven't proven themselves trustworthy enough to be given material wealth. No matter how much they get, they lose it all pretty rapidly. Would you keep pouring wine into a container that leaked? Why would you expect God to be so foolish?
That's an interesting thought, Mark. The Bible has much to say on this topic of money.
Like this scripture, one of many in Proverbs.
Proverbs 28:22 > He who has an evil and covetous eye hastens to be rich and knows not that want will come upon him.
Without much study, one could think this means to want to be rich is bad. But that is not at all what it says. Its warning is to those who are covetous. Jesus said this.
Matthew 6:19 > Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon the earth, where moth and rust spoils, and where thieves dig through and steal;
20 > but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust spoils, and where thieves do not dig through nor steal;
21 > for where thy treasure is, there will be also thy heart.
22 > The lamp of the body is the eye; if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body will be light:
23 > but if thine eye be wicked, thy whole body will be dark. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great the darkness!
24 > No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and will love the other, or he will hold to the one and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
33 > But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.
Either one is going after money, or going after God. The Lord is concerned with the state of your heart. What is it you love? Him, or money?
God has no problem with wealth or He wouldn't say all these things will be added to you. Nor would He have done this.
Psalm 66:12 > ....but thou broughtest us out into a wealthy place. KJV
You brought us out into a place of abundance. NASB
you brought us to a place of abundance. NIV
thou hast brought us out into abundance. Darby
Imo, it has much to do with the attitude toward money and what you intend to do with it. I think the op was focusing more on learning to receive from our heavenly Father. As our Father, He cares for us. We don't have to beg and plead for Him to meet our needs. In fact, I'm persuaded begging and pleading are futile and even harmful. We need to simply believe and obey. If ye are willing and obedient.....
__________________ When one asked a leader of a Hindu nation what would cause them to move towards Christianity he responded with great clarity and directness, “First, I would suggest all you Christians, missionaries and all, must begin to live more like Jesus Christ. Second, practice your religion without adulterating it or toning it down. Third, emphasize love and make it your working force, for love is central in Christianity. Fourth, study the non-Christian religions more sympathetically to find the good that is within them in order to have a more sympathetic approach to the people.”
I don't question at all that God delights in our prosperity. But He is a good father, He's not going to give us something that will destroy us. "For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them. Proverbs 1:32 We have to learn how to handle money first.
I guess the problem that I have with the teaching of prosperity is that usually the only thing you hear being taught is money. I asked God once what "prosperity" meant to Him and He told me that it meant being victorious over all the works of the enemy. I went home and looked it up in my Strong's and, sure enough, that's what it means. It doesn't just mean money.
I don't believe that if we send X number of $ to a certain ministry that we're automatically going to receive a 100 fold return. First we must learn to be good stewards with our money. I don't believe it's God's will to bless us with huge amounts of money to live in 8 million dollar homes and to drive around in a Rolls Royce (as some WoF teachers do). The money is to help other Christians and to spread the gospel. There are brothers and sisters in China hungry for the Word and we have been blessed. Shouldn't we help our brothers? For only $5 we can provide a bible to someone longing for the Word in Iran. Look at James 2:15-16. We aren't to only pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ, we are to help them.
Does anyone else have this heavy burden in their spirit to help our brothers and sisters? Lately it's just burning within me that people are dying every day without hearing the gospel because we would rather make sure we drive the right kind of car and live in the right zip code rather than keep these people out of hell.
Yeah well the other side of that coin...excuse the pun...is that God is more interested in the eternal than the temporal needs. Sometimes people do without because of the palces they are called to walk or maybe becase of disobedience. The most important things are not temporal. God has said that if ye be faithful over the few things I will make you rulers over much...I've found in my own life that means if I pay my tithes and am obedient in the small things HE gives me to do...I flow more in the gifts of the spirit which is the true riches. SOme folks get so focused on money they forget that in heaven we don't need money we need to be mature in the things of the spirit. Yes God can and will supply ALL of our needs according to HIS riches in glory by Christ Jesus. The problem comes when the things have you and you don't exercise dominion over those things. Sorry to say most Chrisitains aren't mature enough to handle it because money would destroy them. There are ways to get by in this world even without money. IF God's kingdom comes in our indidvidual lives He can pay off debts, give you lands and vineyards you didn't plant and houses you didnt build and that without money...I've seen it happen too many times. Most people covet money more than God. Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.
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Yeah well the other side of that coin...excuse the pun...is that God is more interested in the eternal than the temporal needs. Sometimes people do without because of the palces they are called to walk or maybe becase of disobedience. The most important things are not temporal. God has said that if ye be faithful over the few things I will make you rulers over much...I've found in my own life that means if I pay my tithes and am obedient in the small things HE gives me to do...I flow more in the gifts of the spirit which is the true riches. SOme folks get so focused on money they forget that in heaven we don't need money we need to be mature in the things of the spirit. Yes God can and will supply ALL of our needs according to HIS riches in glory by Christ Jesus. The problem comes when the things have you and you don't exercise dominion over those things. Sorry to say most Chrisitains aren't mature enough to handle it because money would destroy them. There are ways to get by in this world even without money. IF God's kingdom comes in our indidvidual lives He can pay off debts, give you lands and vineyards you didn't plant and houses you didnt build and that without money...I've seen it happen too many times. Most people covet money more than God. Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.
Amen, dear woman.
__________________ When one asked a leader of a Hindu nation what would cause them to move towards Christianity he responded with great clarity and directness, “First, I would suggest all you Christians, missionaries and all, must begin to live more like Jesus Christ. Second, practice your religion without adulterating it or toning it down. Third, emphasize love and make it your working force, for love is central in Christianity. Fourth, study the non-Christian religions more sympathetically to find the good that is within them in order to have a more sympathetic approach to the people.”
quote=smilzngrinz
I guess the problem that I have with the teaching of prosperity is that usually the only thing you hear being taught is money.
That's simply not true. I listen avidly to whom others have labeled as "prosperity teachers" and hear them say money is only a part of true prosperity. And they teach much along the lines of what you said here.
Does anyone else have this heavy burden in their spirit to help our brothers and sisters? Lately it's just burning within me that people are dying every day without hearing the gospel.
Yes, I have this burden. Very much so. I pray and intercede, for this is what the Lord has commissioned me to do at this time. I also give into ministries that are taking the gospel to the very people who are literally dying without it. I would to God to have a whole lot more $$$$ to give. It takes a lot to travel to places with the good news. It takes a lot for television bills that go into all the world.
As for Christians driving Rolls Royces and living in fine houses, I would rather see a brother live like this who has his priorities in life in order, than to see a p*rn producer, embezzler, liar, or thief, live this way, and they do.
The main thing is to love the Lord with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself. I wish to see all my brothers and sisters in the Lord live for Him, and live well. Hmmm. "Live for Him, live well". And this means way beyond the things of this life, although He gives us all things freely to enjoy. The key is - love God above all else.
__________________ When one asked a leader of a Hindu nation what would cause them to move towards Christianity he responded with great clarity and directness, “First, I would suggest all you Christians, missionaries and all, must begin to live more like Jesus Christ. Second, practice your religion without adulterating it or toning it down. Third, emphasize love and make it your working force, for love is central in Christianity. Fourth, study the non-Christian religions more sympathetically to find the good that is within them in order to have a more sympathetic approach to the people.”
I do not question the idea that God wants to bless us financially. What I do question is the idea of using materialism as a barometer of one's spirituality. As in, Joe is richer than Tom, therefore Joe must be more godly because he is being blessed more. If you take that to its extreme, what do you get? Many of the wealthiest people have no desire for God at all. yet some of the poorest people seek God with all of their heart. It's just not an accurate measuring stick, IMHO.
In regard to what Cindy said above, I have found it rare that someone can be wealthy without being obsessed about it. Perhaps that is why Jesus stated it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.
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