Thursday, June 30, 2011

SEARCH FOR TREASURES HIDDEN IN WARFARE

"Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and prosecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad: for great is your reward in heaven." - Matt 5: 11-12.

Opposition is merely a signal that you are making progress. Herod sought to kill Jesus. Pharaoh sought to kill Moses. You will always experience warfare when you pursue your dreams and goals.
Warfare always surrounds the birth of a miracle.

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

UNCOMMON TREASURES REQUIRES YOUR WILLINGNESS TO PURSUE

"He that walketh with wise men shall be wise, but a companion of fools shall be destroyed." - Proverbs 13:20

You will never possess what you are unwilling to pursue. Joshua observed Moses, Ruth reached to Boaz, Elisha followed Elisha. Make a habit of pursuing greatness. Your respect for greatness is the first clue that you possess it your self.

Thursday, June 16, 2011

TITHE HABITUALLY

"Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God had prospered him, that there should not be any gathering when i return." - 1 Corinth 16:2

Obedience guarantee prosperity. Habitual sowing guarantee habitual reaping. Think like a sower. Your seed is any thing God gives back to you. The Tithe is proof of honour.

Friday, June 10, 2011

MOVING IN PRESUMPTION

"Nevertheless, in their presumption they went up toward the high hill country, though neither Moses nor the ark of the Lord's covenant moved from the camp." - Numbers 14:44

The people of Israel were brought out of Egypt to enter a new land-the Promised Land. This land was not handed over to them freely; it required the removing of God's enemies through battle. It required a partnership between God and the people. As long as the people remained true to God, they were victorious.
The people were camped at Kadesh Barnea, near the border entrance to the long-awaited Promised Land. All the hardships of their journey from Egypt were now culminating at this important crossing. However, Joshua and Caleb were the only scouts who proclaimed faith in God to take them into the land and conquer their enemies. The other spies saw all the dangers and refused to take the risk. The people of the camp shrank in fear because of their report. They decided not to enter in.
God was angered at the people for their lack of faith. Moses had to intercede on their behalf. Once they realized what they had done, it was too late. But they thought their repentance was enough to right their wrong. They presumed this was all that was necessary.
Moses informed them they were deceived in their presumption of God's favor. They went to battle against the Amalekites only to be soundly defeated. Those who returned did not understand why they lost the battle.
It is important for us to know whether we have God's hand upon our endeavors. Presumption leads to failure. God's favor leads to success. Ask God to confirm His hand on your endeavors.
..."If Your presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here" (Exodus 33:15).

Monday, June 6, 2011

DISSOLVING PARTNERSHIPS

"So Abram moved his tents and went to live near the great trees of Mamre
at Hebron, where he built an altar to the Lord." - Genesis 13:18

One day Abraham and his nephew Lot realized that the land they were
living on could no longer support both families and all their flocks. It
was decision time. They were going to have to split up. This meant
someone had to go a different direction. But who should get first choice
of the land? Obviously, Abraham was Lot's senior and by all rights
should have that choice. Abraham could have pulled rank on Lot since he
was the elder. This story is the model for splitting a business
partnership. However, few workplace believers are willing to follow
Abraham's example.
Abraham took a totally different approach to solving this problem. He
told Lot to choose which land he wanted. Imagine, Abraham could have
been dooming himself and his family if he was unable to find adequate
land and water for them. He gave up his rights in the matter, and Lot
took full advantage. "Lot looked up and saw that the whole plain of the
Jordan was well watered, like the garden of the Lord, like the land of
Egypt, toward Zoar" (Gen. 13:10). So Lot left and took up residence in
the valley later to be known as Sodom and Gomorrah. Sometimes what seems
good on the front end turns out to be disastrous later. Such would be
the case for Lot and his family.
As for Abraham, he made a choice. He decided to take life's high road-a
choice that didn't necessarily mean his life circumstances would benefit
him. He was willing to leave that outcome to God. He made the decision
based on an eternal measuring stick. Interestingly, the place where
Abraham moved was called Mamre. In Hebrew, the name Mamre means
"strength." How can choosing the weakest position become "strength"?
Jesus must have asked the same question of His Father when faced with
the proposition of going to the cross. How can the cross be a place of
strength? The devil thought he had won, but the cross is what freed the
captives for eternity. The Bible tells us that when we are weak, then we
are really strong. To willingly choose the way of the cross becomes our
strength.

Friday, June 3, 2011

SEEING WHAT OTHERS CANNOT SEE

"And Elisha prayed, "O Lord, open his eyes so he may see." Then the Lord opened the servant's eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. "-
2 Kings 6:17

Several years ago, a movie was made called Field of Dreams. The story is about a man who had a vision to build a baseball field in the middle of a cornfield on his rural farm. He did not know why; he just knew he was to do it. To the chagrin of his neighbors, he built the baseball diamond in the farm community. One night some players showed up. The man realized these were no ordinary players, but were actually the great players from the past. When the skeptical neighbors came to view this phenomenon, they were unable to see what the farm owner could see. This made it even worse for him. Now he was really a lunatic in their eyes.
This fictitious story has a spiritual application for us. First, if God tells us to "build a ball field," we should do it. It is not for us to determine the reason we are instructed to do it. Once we are obedient, God will allow us to see what others cannot see. It is the rite of passage for those who are willing to risk all for God's purposes. God increases the spiritual senses to levels we never knew before. Those around us will observe this.
Do you want to see what others cannot see? If so, it will require a level of obedience that will go beyond human reason. It may require risk and ridicule from others. But you will see what others cannot see.