JEHOVAH JIREH - GOD WILL PROVIDE
Abraham called the name of that place The-LORD-Will-Provide; as it is said to this day, "In the mount of the LORD" it will be provided."
Genesis 22:14
Genesis 22:14
We can see many examples of God's loving and protective character all throughout the Bible. There are so many verses of encouragement, that we could proclaim a different verse every day for a whole year without ever repeating one. Perhaps you've heard of popcorn Christianity: Where like "popcorn" we cry out to the Lord "get me out of this Lord" as soon as "the trials get hot. It is time to stop trying to escape what the Lord is using for His purposes and start believing that God is with us no matter how tough the situation is. Since the standard of living has increased so much for many, the way of thinking for many has changed also. There is a common and well established underlying attitude of: we deserve it all; we should be healthy, prosperous and have everything we want, the way we want it and when we want it. But what happens when we get sick, we lose our job or a loved one? Unfortunately, I've seen so many "fair weather Christians" that when the "storms of life" start to blow their way, they turn their backs on God. No one in this world is allowed "only sunny days." While all goes well, it's easy to say: "Praise God!" But do we really do the same when "storm" starts? We should!
Many years ago, I realized that best way to handle a hard situation or being mistreated, is by focusing on what Jesus went through. Even though He was sinless, He still suffered so much pain, injustice, mockery and a multitude of the hurts of life in this world. Nothing can top what Jesus went through to save us. He took upon Himself all the sins of mankind, without committing a single one. He literally physically died in our place, and was separated from Father God while all our sins were upon Him. I believe that was the hardest for Him to endure. He was never separated from the Father's presence except for that horrible period of time. He fulfilled His complete mission without sinning. If Jesus obeyed Father God until the end and endured tremendous suffering and pain, we can do it too, because Jesus dwells in and empowers us through the Holy Spirit. While Jesus was fulfilling His mission and laying down His life, He asked the Father to forgive the ones who killed Him, because they did not know what they were doing. Even in His hardest moments, Jesus showed intense loving compassion, mercy and forgiveness!
Let's try to analyze some of the encouraging verses, that proves that God is the source of all we need. He protects and blesses us; He takes care of us no matter what we face.
In these verses, God is called "Jehovah Jireh" for the first time. Abraham's faith was accounted as righteousness. When God asked him to bring his promised son, Isaac, as a burnt offering, on the Moriah Mountain, Abraham found the strength and courage to obey God. Why? Abraham already KNEW what a wonderful God he had and he believed that God would bring his son back to life if it came to it, because he knew that God would keep His promise through Isaac, his promised son, for future generations. (You can read more about Abraham's life and faith, at click here: "Faith Accounted As Righteousness")
God was with His people. In the book of Exodus, we read about the many miracles that God performed for the people of Israel, providing the food and water for them and their livestock, preserving their clothing and shoes, and fighting with their enemies, along their journey to the promised land. For 40 years, they had their needs met (Exodus 16:15-18; Exodus 17:3-6).
For God, nothing is too hard or impossible. Receiving His help is not conditioned by His ability to offer it, but by our love for him and right living. No one can change and sin less instantly. But after being born-again by the Holy Spirit, the more we love and get to know God and His Word, the less we sin. The more we surrender our mind, will and feelings to God, the more God's blessings come our way.
If we think that we can accomplish something going against God's will, we are wrong. The success of those who ignore God is temporary and short lived. In fact, the true success follows the obedience of the one who follows God's guidance. God searches our hearts and He knows us better then we know ourselves. He is omniscient and nothing is hidden from His eyes and knowledge. When God decides to raise some one up, it doesn't matter how low that person is, it matters only to have a sincere and fully surrendered heart, that is obedient to God's calling, step by step.
God's gifts are for the benefit of His children, not for their destruction and He knows when their faith is strong enough, to keep them humbled and righteous on His path.
This is the first multiplication of bread that we find in the Bible. God did it for Elisha and the sons of the prophets, during a time of drought and famine in the country. Elisha's servant knew that it was impossible to feed 100 people with the 20 loaves if bread he had, but he obeyed and acted accordingly to God's spoken word. Is not enough to hear from God, we also have to believe that what He said will happen and then act accordingly, to make it happen. So God multiplied the bread, as He said He would do and they even had left overs, to prove that they all ate enough, not just crumbs! God provides for His children, even if the economy is bad and the drought or calamities destroys the harvest.
God never changes, He is the same yesterday, today and forever, regardless our circumstances or the world around us!
What a tremendous blessing it is in knowing that as long as we live for God, He will command His angels to guard us all the time, He is with us in every hard situation to get us through it and He is ready to answer us when we call upon His Name. Why? God is telling us why: "“Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name."
By loving God we do ourselves the highest favor. Sincere love of God is followed by obedience, because we want to please the One we love. We know as humans we hurt when we hurt the ones we love. If we are like this with each other, why would we think that it is any different with God, who is Love Himself!
God's will for us is the best! For Him, it is more important to get us ready for Heaven, to be with Him for eternity, than to have successful lives from the human point of view. For our eternal benefit, our carnal nature, has to die and that can certainly be a painful process. Our Heavenly Father suffers with us, because He loves us and He never allows more pain then we can handle. Now, let's admit that we feel way better when we the carnal nature is in submission to the Lord and selfishness, meanness, revenge, criticism etc no longer has its way. But we can't be free from all the ugliness, without a sincere desire to change and without asking the help of the Holy Spirit and following His direction daily. Praise God, that all things are possible with Him!
Many consider themselves as invincible, as they trust their own power. But, without God's protection over the hand that holds the weapon, there is never certain victory. Goliath was sure that no onne could win against him. But David, who was only a young man at the time, with prayer and his slingshot as a weapon, defeated Goliath, because He fought in the Name of the Almighty God! (1 Samuel 17:42-50)
We can be helpless and needy at times, but that does not stop God from hearing our cry for help. He intervenes in our situations and gives us the breakthroughs we need. Every one of us have had times of hard trials, we have all faced critical times, when we could not see a way out, but God made the way and brought us through to the other side. As Jesus said: "...With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26b).
In the Lord's teaching, we find the best description of Lord God as our Provider. Jesus was baptized in water and with the Holy Spirit and then He fasted for 40 days and nights in the wilderness. After that he was tempted by Satan, and He overcame all temptations. In this teaching, the Lord describes the main concerns of a human life. But He shows us that we shows us that we need to realize our priorities. If we lose the right perspective and only focus on the daily trials and worries, then we miss out. It was the same in those days, too. Jesus shows us that Father God requires one thing from us, in order to pour His blessings in our lives: "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." When we seek His kingdom first, when we try our best to live right, without sin and when we sin, we sincerely repent and ask God to forgive us, then all we need will be taken care of. Seeking the Lord daily and keeping a clean heart results in having our needs met.
In Matthew 14:15-21 and then in Matthew 15:32-38 we find two instances of bread and fish multiplication that Jesus did to feed huge crowds. I heard testimonies from contemporary Christians about food multiplication and even my family and I have had such experiences. God multiplied the pork meat in our freezer that lasted for almost 4 years, the same amount that would last one year in the past and then a normal size chocolate birthday cake that for 2 days fed a large group of missionaries and family with generous pieces for each. It would have taken at least 3 cakes of that size to provide all those pieces!
The left over bread, was more then the loaves of bread in the first place! A hungry person would not leave any anything behind, so for sure they were filled. God does not give us crumbs, He gives us what is best and more than enough!
I know this is a very sensitive subject and that each person needs the conviction of the Holy Spirit to become a cheerful giver. But the truth is that tithes and offerings are open the gates of Heaven, as per the Lord. If we consider that we are too poor to give God 10% from our income, because the remaining amount won't be enough for us, we are simply deceived. The remaining 90%, is blessed and allows God to multiply it. But if we don't give God our tithe, we are under a curse, as we read in the above verses. I have been there and I learned the hard way. For the first few years in church, I never heard any messages or teachings about tithes and offerings, so I was not keeping an accurate count of the 10% from my income. After I asked the pastor, how should it be done, the Lord convicted me. Since I've learned that all I have belongs to the Lord anyway and I am just giving Him back one tenth from what is really His in the first place, my family and I have never been in lack again. By tithing rigorously (not just some amount I would think should be enough) as Holy Spirit was directing me (to the church, other ministries or people in need) we started to thrive and we saw God's hand at work in our behalf, far more than ever before.
God wants us to be good administrators of what He is giving us, not to be wasteful. but He is warning us that the one who saves too much, will become poor. Why? Because he won't obey the leading of the Holy Spirit to give. He is ready to tell us when, how much and to whom to give. Also, if we give way more, but with hidden motives, it may cost us too. By giving cheerfully, we "gather treasures in Heaven", where they won't loose in value, but will bring blessings over us, and we will not be needy, no matter what we face.
It is sad to say, but I have met people who use their giving, believing that they will "force" God to "pay them back" by answering as they wish to certain prayers they have.
No one can force God to do anything. Sincere giving, with a pure heart, freely is the real giving that gets rewarded. Any deed that comes from an insincere heart or with a bad attitude, does not fool the omniscient God. He blesses the pure-hearted with fulfillment of the Bible's promises. The good deeds that are rewarded in Heaven, are those done for God's glory.
A heart full of concerns and worries has no room for God's peace. If we understand how valuable His peace is, then we fight against worry and we live trusting and believing that God will hear our requests and will answer them accordingly. In Jesus we have all our needs met, because there is no higher power than His power. "He (Jesus) is the head over all ruler and authorities" as we read above. So, no demons, no humans can hurt us, if we remain under Jesus' protection and He dwells in us.
Jesus did all that had to be done, for us to be able to live right and have eternal life. The more we grow in Him and the more we separate from the "corruption that is in the world through lust," the more God's promises will be fulfilled in our lives and the protection offered by the Lord's power will keep us on the right path.
Anyone who thinks that God is not interested in the quality of what He is giving us, doesn't know Jehovah Jireh well enough. The desire of His heart is to see us happy, joyful and enjoying His goodness and His gifts. For one example, the delicious foods we enjoy are pleasing to God, as long as they don't take His place in our hearts. What a wonderful Lord God we have! At the Marriage Supper of the Lamb, with the Church as the Bride and Jesus as the Groom, after the Rapture of the Saints will take place, we will enjoy the most perfect, tasty, delicious foods possible. It will be a perfect event, with extreme joy, happiness and deep joy for all!
GOD'S PROVISION FOR THE AGED
Consider Moses and Joshua.
Both Moses and Joshua's lives prove how God can keep His children strong and in power, even in old age. If we allow the surrounding environment of life, convince us that growing older means weakness, illness, loss of senses and memory, etc., then that is exactly what we will get, like the majority around us. Let's remember that God gave us free will and He does not force us to receive His blessings. I know, from my own personal experience in hearing tons of “well, this is what happens when we get older” comments that I am supposed to accept it all with dignity... I started to have problems with bones, joints, eyesight and even tinnitus problems in my inner ears. BUT, glory to Almighty God, He opened my spiritual eyes to the truth of His Word and now I can say that after I had more than two years of walking and climbing the stairs in serious pain, for about one year I am free from pain and every time when the pain tries to come back, I hold my ground, in faith, and I win, because of Jesus! He already bore any sickness in His body on the cross and healed it! So the deeper I believe that God can keep me strong, healthy and with healthy ears and eyes, the more I have it. Now I can even run while going up the stairs and can do things I could not do for years. At 50 I feel stronger then at 45 and the key is a renewed mind with the truth of God's Word ( You can read more about it in the article "Renewing Of The Mind"). I hope this is encouraging you to do the same, no matter the age you are at. My mother, is stronger and more active at 72 then she was 2 decades ago by have a right attitude, trusting God's Word and even refusing what the devil and old age would like to see happen.
We are God's children and He does for us what He promised He would do, if we life for Him and we believe that He can; He is willing to do it!
God's promise all of us who "are planted in the house of the Lord" is the same as what He did for Moses and Joshua.
Let us enter in the possession of the Bible promises, seeking them, studying them and believing they are for us. By repetition we believe them more and we start to change our way of thinking on the matter so we won't allow the devil to keep on stealing what is ours, through Jesus Christ. It takes time to deprogram the worldly ways of thinking with biblical thinking, but it is not only doable and but it is absolutely necessary to be able to live a victorious and full life. The old mindset came by hearing and re-hearing same things over and over again; so we will change it to good by also doing the same, hearing and rehearing and utilizing the truth of the Bible!
Reverend Kenneth E. Hagin used to ask those who were asking him to agree with them on a certain prayer request, on which verses are they standing. Most of them would reply with: 'Oh, nothing in particular." And his reply was: "Well, that is what you will get then, nothing in particular."
When we have 2 or 3 verses that support our faith for what we are praying for, we will receive it, because when doubt or attack comes, we have God's Word to fight with so we can stand and keep on believing!
God is all we need to live victorious here on earth and to make it to Heaven when our time of departure comes. In Him we have all our needs met, all the protection we need and all power and strength to keep walking with Him. As long as we keep our eyes on Him, He is always faithful to lead us in the next step and will even hold our hand when times are tough. He puts His healing balm on our wounded hearts and heals our sicknesses when needed. He truly is our source in all areas and we can live abundant lives just as Jesus said: "I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly" (John 10:10b).
Many years ago, I realized that best way to handle a hard situation or being mistreated, is by focusing on what Jesus went through. Even though He was sinless, He still suffered so much pain, injustice, mockery and a multitude of the hurts of life in this world. Nothing can top what Jesus went through to save us. He took upon Himself all the sins of mankind, without committing a single one. He literally physically died in our place, and was separated from Father God while all our sins were upon Him. I believe that was the hardest for Him to endure. He was never separated from the Father's presence except for that horrible period of time. He fulfilled His complete mission without sinning. If Jesus obeyed Father God until the end and endured tremendous suffering and pain, we can do it too, because Jesus dwells in and empowers us through the Holy Spirit. While Jesus was fulfilling His mission and laying down His life, He asked the Father to forgive the ones who killed Him, because they did not know what they were doing. Even in His hardest moments, Jesus showed intense loving compassion, mercy and forgiveness!
Let's try to analyze some of the encouraging verses, that proves that God is the source of all we need. He protects and blesses us; He takes care of us no matter what we face.
- Genesis 22:8,13-14 Abraham said, "God will provide for Himself the lamb for the burnt offering, my son." So the two of them walked on together... Then Abraham raised his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him a ram caught in the thicket by his horns; and Abraham went and took the ram and offered him up for a burnt offering in the place of his son. Abraham called the name of that place The LORD Will Provide, as it is said to this day, "In the mount of the LORD it will be provided."
In these verses, God is called "Jehovah Jireh" for the first time. Abraham's faith was accounted as righteousness. When God asked him to bring his promised son, Isaac, as a burnt offering, on the Moriah Mountain, Abraham found the strength and courage to obey God. Why? Abraham already KNEW what a wonderful God he had and he believed that God would bring his son back to life if it came to it, because he knew that God would keep His promise through Isaac, his promised son, for future generations. (You can read more about Abraham's life and faith, at click here: "Faith Accounted As Righteousness")
- Deuteronomy 2:7 "For the LORD your God has blessed you in all that you have done; He has known your wanderings through this great wilderness these forty years the LORD your God has been with you; you have not lacked a thing."
God was with His people. In the book of Exodus, we read about the many miracles that God performed for the people of Israel, providing the food and water for them and their livestock, preserving their clothing and shoes, and fighting with their enemies, along their journey to the promised land. For 40 years, they had their needs met (Exodus 16:15-18; Exodus 17:3-6).
- Deuteronomy 11:12-15 "... a land for which the LORD your God cares; the eyes of the LORD your God are always on it, from the beginning even to the end of the year. And it shall be that if you earnestly obey My commandments which I command you today, to love the Lord your God and serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul, then I will give you the rain for your land in its season, the early rain and the latter rain, that you may gather in your grain, your new wine, and your oil. And I will send grass in your fields for your livestock, that you may eat and be filled."
For God, nothing is too hard or impossible. Receiving His help is not conditioned by His ability to offer it, but by our love for him and right living. No one can change and sin less instantly. But after being born-again by the Holy Spirit, the more we love and get to know God and His Word, the less we sin. The more we surrender our mind, will and feelings to God, the more God's blessings come our way.
- 1 Samuel 2:7-9 "The Lord makes poor and makes rich; He brings low and lifts up. He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the beggar from the ash heap, to set them among princes and make them inherit the throne of glory. For the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s, and He has set the world upon them. He will guard the feet of His saints, but the wicked shall be silent in darkness. For by strength no man shall prevail."
If we think that we can accomplish something going against God's will, we are wrong. The success of those who ignore God is temporary and short lived. In fact, the true success follows the obedience of the one who follows God's guidance. God searches our hearts and He knows us better then we know ourselves. He is omniscient and nothing is hidden from His eyes and knowledge. When God decides to raise some one up, it doesn't matter how low that person is, it matters only to have a sincere and fully surrendered heart, that is obedient to God's calling, step by step.
God's gifts are for the benefit of His children, not for their destruction and He knows when their faith is strong enough, to keep them humbled and righteous on His path.
- 2 Kings 4:42-44 Now a man came from Baal-shalishah, and brought the man of God bread of the first fruits, twenty loaves of barley and fresh ears of grain in his sack. And he said, "Give them to the people that they may eat." His attendant said, "What, will I set this before a hundred men?" But he said, "Give them to the people that they may eat, for thus says the LORD, 'They shall eat and have some left over.'" So he set it before them, and they ate and had some left over, according to the word of the LORD.
This is the first multiplication of bread that we find in the Bible. God did it for Elisha and the sons of the prophets, during a time of drought and famine in the country. Elisha's servant knew that it was impossible to feed 100 people with the 20 loaves if bread he had, but he obeyed and acted accordingly to God's spoken word. Is not enough to hear from God, we also have to believe that what He said will happen and then act accordingly, to make it happen. So God multiplied the bread, as He said He would do and they even had left overs, to prove that they all ate enough, not just crumbs! God provides for His children, even if the economy is bad and the drought or calamities destroys the harvest.
God never changes, He is the same yesterday, today and forever, regardless our circumstances or the world around us!
- Psalms 91:9-13 For you have made the LORD, my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place. No evil will befall you, nor will any plague come near your tent. For He will give His angels charge concerning you, to guard you in all your ways. In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone. You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra, the young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot. You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra, The young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot. “Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name. He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him, and show him My salvation."
What a tremendous blessing it is in knowing that as long as we live for God, He will command His angels to guard us all the time, He is with us in every hard situation to get us through it and He is ready to answer us when we call upon His Name. Why? God is telling us why: "“Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name."
By loving God we do ourselves the highest favor. Sincere love of God is followed by obedience, because we want to please the One we love. We know as humans we hurt when we hurt the ones we love. If we are like this with each other, why would we think that it is any different with God, who is Love Himself!
God's will for us is the best! For Him, it is more important to get us ready for Heaven, to be with Him for eternity, than to have successful lives from the human point of view. For our eternal benefit, our carnal nature, has to die and that can certainly be a painful process. Our Heavenly Father suffers with us, because He loves us and He never allows more pain then we can handle. Now, let's admit that we feel way better when we the carnal nature is in submission to the Lord and selfishness, meanness, revenge, criticism etc no longer has its way. But we can't be free from all the ugliness, without a sincere desire to change and without asking the help of the Holy Spirit and following His direction daily. Praise God, that all things are possible with Him!
- Psalms 121:3-8 He will not allow your foot to slip; He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD is your keeper; the LORD is your shade on your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul. The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in from this time forth, and even forevermore.
Many consider themselves as invincible, as they trust their own power. But, without God's protection over the hand that holds the weapon, there is never certain victory. Goliath was sure that no onne could win against him. But David, who was only a young man at the time, with prayer and his slingshot as a weapon, defeated Goliath, because He fought in the Name of the Almighty God! (1 Samuel 17:42-50)
- Isaiah 25:4 For You have been a defense for the helpless, a defense for the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shade from the heat; for the breath of the ruthless Is like a rain storm against a wall.
We can be helpless and needy at times, but that does not stop God from hearing our cry for help. He intervenes in our situations and gives us the breakthroughs we need. Every one of us have had times of hard trials, we have all faced critical times, when we could not see a way out, but God made the way and brought us through to the other side. As Jesus said: "...With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26b).
- Matthew 6:25-33 "For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? " Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you."
- Luke 12:24 "Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap; they have no storeroom nor barn, and yet God feeds them; how much more valuable you are than the birds!”
In the Lord's teaching, we find the best description of Lord God as our Provider. Jesus was baptized in water and with the Holy Spirit and then He fasted for 40 days and nights in the wilderness. After that he was tempted by Satan, and He overcame all temptations. In this teaching, the Lord describes the main concerns of a human life. But He shows us that we shows us that we need to realize our priorities. If we lose the right perspective and only focus on the daily trials and worries, then we miss out. It was the same in those days, too. Jesus shows us that Father God requires one thing from us, in order to pour His blessings in our lives: "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." When we seek His kingdom first, when we try our best to live right, without sin and when we sin, we sincerely repent and ask God to forgive us, then all we need will be taken care of. Seeking the Lord daily and keeping a clean heart results in having our needs met.
In Matthew 14:15-21 and then in Matthew 15:32-38 we find two instances of bread and fish multiplication that Jesus did to feed huge crowds. I heard testimonies from contemporary Christians about food multiplication and even my family and I have had such experiences. God multiplied the pork meat in our freezer that lasted for almost 4 years, the same amount that would last one year in the past and then a normal size chocolate birthday cake that for 2 days fed a large group of missionaries and family with generous pieces for each. It would have taken at least 3 cakes of that size to provide all those pieces!
- Matthew 15:36-38 And He took the seven loaves and the fish and gave thanks, broke them and gave them to His disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitude. So they all ate and were filled, and they took up seven large baskets full of the fragments that were left. Now those who ate were four thousand men, besides women and children.
The left over bread, was more then the loaves of bread in the first place! A hungry person would not leave any anything behind, so for sure they were filled. God does not give us crumbs, He gives us what is best and more than enough!
- Malachi 3:8-12 "Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, ‘In what way have we robbed You?’ "In tithes and offerings. You are cursed with a curse, for you have robbed Me, even this whole nation. Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and try Me now in this, says the Lord of hosts, If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, so that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field, says the Lord of hosts; and all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a delightful land, says the Lord of hosts."
- Luke 6:38 "Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure--pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return."
- 2 Corinthians 9:7 So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.
I know this is a very sensitive subject and that each person needs the conviction of the Holy Spirit to become a cheerful giver. But the truth is that tithes and offerings are open the gates of Heaven, as per the Lord. If we consider that we are too poor to give God 10% from our income, because the remaining amount won't be enough for us, we are simply deceived. The remaining 90%, is blessed and allows God to multiply it. But if we don't give God our tithe, we are under a curse, as we read in the above verses. I have been there and I learned the hard way. For the first few years in church, I never heard any messages or teachings about tithes and offerings, so I was not keeping an accurate count of the 10% from my income. After I asked the pastor, how should it be done, the Lord convicted me. Since I've learned that all I have belongs to the Lord anyway and I am just giving Him back one tenth from what is really His in the first place, my family and I have never been in lack again. By tithing rigorously (not just some amount I would think should be enough) as Holy Spirit was directing me (to the church, other ministries or people in need) we started to thrive and we saw God's hand at work in our behalf, far more than ever before.
- Proverbs 11:24 There is one who scatters, yet increases more; and there is one who withholds more than is right, but it leads to poverty.
God wants us to be good administrators of what He is giving us, not to be wasteful. but He is warning us that the one who saves too much, will become poor. Why? Because he won't obey the leading of the Holy Spirit to give. He is ready to tell us when, how much and to whom to give. Also, if we give way more, but with hidden motives, it may cost us too. By giving cheerfully, we "gather treasures in Heaven", where they won't loose in value, but will bring blessings over us, and we will not be needy, no matter what we face.
- 2 Corinthians 9:6-11 Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed; As it is written: “He has dispersed abroad, He has given to the poor; His righteousness endures forever. Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness, while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God.
It is sad to say, but I have met people who use their giving, believing that they will "force" God to "pay them back" by answering as they wish to certain prayers they have.
No one can force God to do anything. Sincere giving, with a pure heart, freely is the real giving that gets rewarded. Any deed that comes from an insincere heart or with a bad attitude, does not fool the omniscient God. He blesses the pure-hearted with fulfillment of the Bible's promises. The good deeds that are rewarded in Heaven, are those done for God's glory.
- Philippians 4:6-7 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
- Colossians 2:10 ... and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority...
- Hebrews 13:6 So we may boldly say: “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”
A heart full of concerns and worries has no room for God's peace. If we understand how valuable His peace is, then we fight against worry and we live trusting and believing that God will hear our requests and will answer them accordingly. In Jesus we have all our needs met, because there is no higher power than His power. "He (Jesus) is the head over all ruler and authorities" as we read above. So, no demons, no humans can hurt us, if we remain under Jesus' protection and He dwells in us.
- 1 Peter 1:5 ... who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
- 2 Peter 1:3-4 ... seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
- Revelation 3:10 "Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.”
Jesus did all that had to be done, for us to be able to live right and have eternal life. The more we grow in Him and the more we separate from the "corruption that is in the world through lust," the more God's promises will be fulfilled in our lives and the protection offered by the Lord's power will keep us on the right path.
- Job 36:16 "Indeed He would have brought you out of dire distress, into a broad place where there is no restraint; and what is set on your table would be full of richness."
- Isaiah 55:2b "Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and let your soul delight itself in abundance."
Anyone who thinks that God is not interested in the quality of what He is giving us, doesn't know Jehovah Jireh well enough. The desire of His heart is to see us happy, joyful and enjoying His goodness and His gifts. For one example, the delicious foods we enjoy are pleasing to God, as long as they don't take His place in our hearts. What a wonderful Lord God we have! At the Marriage Supper of the Lamb, with the Church as the Bride and Jesus as the Groom, after the Rapture of the Saints will take place, we will enjoy the most perfect, tasty, delicious foods possible. It will be a perfect event, with extreme joy, happiness and deep joy for all!
GOD'S PROVISION FOR THE AGED
Consider Moses and Joshua.
- Deuteronomy 34:7 Although Moses was one hundred and twenty years old when he died, his eye was not dim, nor his vigor abated.
- Joshua 14:10-11 "Now behold, the LORD has let me live, just as He spoke, these forty-five years, from the time that the LORD spoke this word to Moses, when Israel walked in the wilderness; and now behold, I am eighty-five years old today. I am still as strong today as I was in the day Moses sent me; as my strength was then, so my strength is now, for war and for going out and coming in.
Both Moses and Joshua's lives prove how God can keep His children strong and in power, even in old age. If we allow the surrounding environment of life, convince us that growing older means weakness, illness, loss of senses and memory, etc., then that is exactly what we will get, like the majority around us. Let's remember that God gave us free will and He does not force us to receive His blessings. I know, from my own personal experience in hearing tons of “well, this is what happens when we get older” comments that I am supposed to accept it all with dignity... I started to have problems with bones, joints, eyesight and even tinnitus problems in my inner ears. BUT, glory to Almighty God, He opened my spiritual eyes to the truth of His Word and now I can say that after I had more than two years of walking and climbing the stairs in serious pain, for about one year I am free from pain and every time when the pain tries to come back, I hold my ground, in faith, and I win, because of Jesus! He already bore any sickness in His body on the cross and healed it! So the deeper I believe that God can keep me strong, healthy and with healthy ears and eyes, the more I have it. Now I can even run while going up the stairs and can do things I could not do for years. At 50 I feel stronger then at 45 and the key is a renewed mind with the truth of God's Word ( You can read more about it in the article "Renewing Of The Mind"). I hope this is encouraging you to do the same, no matter the age you are at. My mother, is stronger and more active at 72 then she was 2 decades ago by have a right attitude, trusting God's Word and even refusing what the devil and old age would like to see happen.
We are God's children and He does for us what He promised He would do, if we life for Him and we believe that He can; He is willing to do it!
- Isaiah 40:29-31 He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, but those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.
- Isaiah 46:4 "Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will bear you! I have done it, and I will carry you; and I will bear you and I will deliver you.”
- Psalms 103:4-5 Who redeems your life from destruction, who crowns you with loving kindness and tender mercies, who satisfies your years with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.
- Psalms 92:13-14 Those who are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bear fruit in old age; they shall be fresh and flourishing...
God's promise all of us who "are planted in the house of the Lord" is the same as what He did for Moses and Joshua.
Let us enter in the possession of the Bible promises, seeking them, studying them and believing they are for us. By repetition we believe them more and we start to change our way of thinking on the matter so we won't allow the devil to keep on stealing what is ours, through Jesus Christ. It takes time to deprogram the worldly ways of thinking with biblical thinking, but it is not only doable and but it is absolutely necessary to be able to live a victorious and full life. The old mindset came by hearing and re-hearing same things over and over again; so we will change it to good by also doing the same, hearing and rehearing and utilizing the truth of the Bible!
Reverend Kenneth E. Hagin used to ask those who were asking him to agree with them on a certain prayer request, on which verses are they standing. Most of them would reply with: 'Oh, nothing in particular." And his reply was: "Well, that is what you will get then, nothing in particular."
When we have 2 or 3 verses that support our faith for what we are praying for, we will receive it, because when doubt or attack comes, we have God's Word to fight with so we can stand and keep on believing!
God is all we need to live victorious here on earth and to make it to Heaven when our time of departure comes. In Him we have all our needs met, all the protection we need and all power and strength to keep walking with Him. As long as we keep our eyes on Him, He is always faithful to lead us in the next step and will even hold our hand when times are tough. He puts His healing balm on our wounded hearts and heals our sicknesses when needed. He truly is our source in all areas and we can live abundant lives just as Jesus said: "I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly" (John 10:10b).