Hi Folks!
The word rich at the end of this verse means "abundantly supplied".
God has promised you and I that He would take care of us in every area of
our life - abundantly! We are God's children in Christ Jesus, and being the
wonderful Father that God is, He has promised to meet our every need... according
to His riches in Glory by Christ Jesus (see Phil 4:19).
God our Father knows no lack, which is seen not only in His word, but also
in His vast creation and handiwork. He is the Almighty God of the universe
and He is the All Sufficient One. Abundance is part of the character of our
Father which can be seen along the pathways in which He walks...
...Your paths drip with abundance Psalm 65:11b
God only thinks abundance. He doesn't have lack on His mind at any time. He
created an Eden in which there was no shortage, sweat or toil... until man
came along and messed it all up! The earth in which we live was created by
the Lord with mankind in mind, to inhabit. God in His infinite wisdom and
foreknowledge knew how many people would fill the earth He made. Do you think
He would have known what He was doing when He planned you and I and the entire
human race? There is plenty down here to go around, but, through sin, disobedience
and wrong thinking, we see lack everywhere. This is not only a problem in
the poor areas of our world, but in the developed countries and even in the
Church itself.
Many situations, circumstances and even people we can blame for the lack we
see around us. Many folks even blame God for the shortage they see. But there
need be no shortage for the believer because God has made provision for us
through the covenant He made with His son Jesus - praise the Lord! There is
provision for you and I through His exceeding great and precious promises.
All you and I need to do is get our living sorted out and our thinking sorted
out. If we will live right and believe right, God is able to do His part and
take care of us as He wills. God is not only willing, but is well able to
take care of His own... check this out!
And God is able to make all grace (every favour and earthly blessing)
come to you in abundance, so that you may always and under all circumstances
and whatever the need be self-sufficient [possessing enough to require no
aid or support and furnished in abundance for every good work and charitable
donation]. 2Cor 9:8 (Amp)
God is able to abundantly meet our needs in life. This includes not only that
of us personally, but also that of our family and ministry. I have often asked
the question, "Why is there so much begging for money going on within
the Body of Christ?" One reason I believe is these folks haven't really
got the revelation yet that "God will meet my needs". I have heard
comments like, "I know God will meet my needs brother, but if you don't
give us some money now then we are going to go under". On hearing comments
like this one continually from some folks, it makes me wonder if they believe
that God even wants to get involved in their circumstances. You see,
God is not only able to get involved in our life, but He wants to.
God "wants" to bless His children even more than they want to receive
it. If you haven't read my last Ps Heart message along these lines, I suggest
it would be good that you do, or even read it again would help in better understanding
this... www.livingwordfellowship.com.au/PastorsHeart/collection/080119.html
It is not right to put pressure on people to meet your needs. There are all
kinds of manipulations and pressure put upon God's precious people through
"Christians" who look to man as their source of supply. Have a look
at what King David had to say about the faithfulness of our Lord, with regards
to providing for His people.
I have been young and now am old, yet have I not seen the [uncompromisingly]
righteous forsaken or their seed begging bread. Psalm 37:25 (Amp)
Do you see it? David said that he had never seen anyone forsaken or having
to beg for anything if they had lived right. If you and I would do things
God's way then He is faithful to always do His part of the covenant... meeting
our every need. One of my favourite verses is the middle verse of the entire
Bible...
It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man.
Psalm 118:8
Wow! What a verse to stick right in the middle. I think the Lord is trying
to make a statement for the thinking mind... that He is faithful and can be
trusted. We can trust the one that knows more about ourselves than we do.
He knows exactly what you will be doing 5 minutes after you finished reading
this article. He knows and understands all. He knows what we will need in
life and ministry. For us to fully put our trust in God then we need to believe
what He said. Things are written in the Bible that are eternally established
in heaven. That means they are not about to be changed, not now, or ever.
We might as well go ahead and find what He has already promised us and believe
it - by faith. Don't let reason, circumstances, logic or feelings change your
view of what is written.
If trusting the Lord has been a struggle for you, then maybe it would do you
good to meditate on the scriptures I have mentioned in this letter. Read them,
learn them and let each one become a part of your thinking. We can limit what
God is able to get to us because of wrong thinking.
Yes, again and again they tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel.
Psalm 78:41
The mind is a powerful part of our being that God has created. When we are
born from above our spirit is re-created into the image and likeness of God,
but our minds are not. They need to be renewed through a continual meditation
of what is true... the Word of God. We have all been set free through the
once and for all time sacrifice of Christ Jesus on the cross, but our minds
have yet to grasp it. The spirit of our mind needs renewing and the quicker
we can get it done, the more able is our Lord to bless us.
If you abide in My word [hold fast to My teachings and live in accordance
with them], you are truly My disciples. And you will know the Truth, and the
Truth will set you free. John 8:31b-32 (Amp)
Don’t copy the behaviour and customs of this world, but let God
transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will
learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
Rom 12:2 (NLT)
This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate
in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written
in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have
good success. Joshua 1:8
David
Dear people. We hope these Pastor's Heart messages have been a blessing to you. Please feel welcome to email us at any time with feedback. Any questions you might ask we will endeavour to answer if we can. david@livingwordfellowship.com.au
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And you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.
2 Corinthians 8:9