"But as many as received him, to them he gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in his name, who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." John 1:12-13 I did not have a good relationship with my father, and that created all sorts of conflict in my life. One day the man and woman who brought me to the Lord were praying for me concerning this issue, asking for healing of my damaged soul. There was a prophecy, and this is what was said: "You are not on this earth by the will of your earthly father. You are here by MY will." That prophecy became a foundational word in my life, one which has carried me all these years since. That prophecy was the healing touch I so desperately needed. Through that prophecy I learned that I was loved, and that that love came from the most high God, the Creator of the universe. How impacting that love is, for it is a true and faithful love not dependent on our behavior or attitudes, or self-worth, it is a pure, unconditional love, a love that heals. But in order to know that love one must be "born again," because when we come into the world, as descendants of Adam we are born into a fallen human nature and until we accept Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord we are under the rulership of Satan, Satan who usurped Adam's place of authority over the earth when he successfully tempted Adam to sin against God. 2nd Corinthians 4:4 says that Satan is the "god of this world." That's why the Lord stresses that we MUST be born again, born not of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You MUST be born again.’" John 3:6-7 If you have not been born again, if you have not known this love, pray with me: Father God, this concept is hard for me to grasp, but I hear the words of Jesus who proclaimed that one MUST be born again. I'm not sure what that means, but I trust the words of Christ and so I ask to have this experience. I look at my life and I'm not happy with the fruit of my own lordship. All I've known in my life so far has been the results I've had as I have conducted my life according to my own will and - I've made a mess of things. I am willing to turn everything over to you. I ask you to receive me, I ask you to become my Savior and my Lord. I turn it all over to you Lord, and will follow you all the days of my life. I thank you for loving me and for receiving me as I humbly ask you to bring me into the new life you have promised. I'm yours Lord, do with me as you desire; from this day forward you are the Lord of my life. "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new."
2nd Corinthians 5:17
MORE:
What Does 'Born Again' Mean?
"The generous soul will be made rich,
and he who waters will also be watered himself."
Proverbs 11:25
It is said, "You cannot out-give God." Anyone who has been generous will see his own needs met and then some. The principles of the Kingdom of God are the very opposite of the principles of the world. The world may fail you, but God never will.
vs 28:
"He who trusts in his riches will fall,
but the righteous will flourish like foliage."
Some might say, "Look at so-and-so, he's made himself rich all by himself." Yes, but it's fleeting. And it doesn’t satisfy. Such a man constantly wants more and his focus in life is on getting more and then more. With anxiety he sets up his means to protect his riches, but he can never be sure his funds will be secure. It robs the soul of peace, and he will never be content. In every circumstance in life, he will be thinking of how it will affect his purse. Great is the poverty of the rich man.
On the other hand, the person who is generous of heart will never have to worry about his purse. His focus isn't on his purse, his focus is on his Lord. His assets may go up or down, and it just doesn't concern him, because he knows he is SAFE under the sovereignty of his God. He knows God is faithful, and should he go through a period of testing, he passes it well because he is constantly aware that the Word of God says he will be taken care of. With that kind of certainty comes peace. He is free to focus on other things and he does, he is always seeking the will of the Lord for his life, and he thoroughly enjoys all the Lord gives him to do.
"He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly,
and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.
So let each one give as he purposes in his heart,
not grudgingly or of necessity, for God loves a cheerful giver."
2nd Corinthians 9:6-7
There is joy in generosity, the kind of joy that only a son or daughter of God can understand because it is not springing from the fallen human nature, it is a spiritual thing. A powerful spiritual thing. When the Lord directs the believer to satisfy someone's need, there is an indescribable joy that springs up inside. A rich man cannot be "a cheerful giver," because every cent that leaves his hand causes him anxiety. He obsesses about his wealth, he is never at peace. Oh the poverty of the rich man!
Learn the ways of God. The ways of God are pleasant and satisfying. To walk in the ways of God is to completely change one's mindset, because we have all grown up in a world whose mindset is actually "foolishness," says the Lord (1st Corinthians 3:19), and one's whole worldview and understanding must be changed. It's painful at first, because it necessitates turning from the ways one has grown up with in the world, and stepping out in faith when one discovers the Word of God. But it is one of those secrets that is truly a treasure buried in a field more valuable than anything else in life.
"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field,
which a man found and hid; and for joy over it
he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field."
Matthew 13:44
Begin your walk of faith now and discover the riches found in the Word of God. You'll come to realize that truly, truly, it is a treasure you'd be willing to give anything for, so valuable and so precious is it, it's not like anything the world can give.
Oh the joy of he who walks by faith! And ...it carries eternal reward.
Pray with me:
Father, it's so true – we've grown up in the world and the priorities of the world are all we've known. The world praises the self-made man, the rich and successful person who has it all. But your Kingdom values the very opposite. Your Word tells us to seek FIRST the Kingdom of God and all that pertains to him, and then our needs are guaranteed to be provided for. Help me, Father, because it really IS hard to walk by faith and give up everything in order to walk with you. It's hard, but I am willing. I'm only in the world a short time and I want my life to count. Take Lordship over my life, be my Lord, and I'll walk with you and find my joy in you, knowing you will provide for all my needs.
"But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness,
and all these things shall be added to you."
Matthew 6:33
“Take heed to yourself, lest you make a covenant
with the inhabitants of the land where you are going,
lest it be a snare in your midst.
But you shall destroy their altars, break their sacred pillars,
and cut down their wooden images
for you shall worship no other god,
for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God..."
Exodus 34:12-14
In both the Old Testament and the New Testament, God solemnly warns his people to be separate from the world. He tells them that mingling with "the inhabitants of the land" would be a trap for them that Satan would be only too happy to use to ensnare them. He tells them to cut down their altars and destroy all the ungodly images that they used in worshiping their false gods.
What are the idols of the world today?
The world worships the world and all that is in it.
There's the entertainment industry. The entertainment world is saturated with occult practices, drug use, and all manner of immorality. Yet the "stars" of that realm are adored by the people of the world. Why? Why don't the people see that the entirety of the entertainment world is corrupt? And THAT is what they fill their minds and hearts with? Do they really think it won't harm them? You become what you immerse yourself in. You become what you deposit into your soul.
"The lamp of the body is the eye.
If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light.
But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness.
If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!"
Matthew 6:22-23
The entertainment industry is darkness. And how great is that darkness!
What else? Well, there's mammon. Riches. What is more on the mind of the people of the world than how they can get more money? What percent of your attention is fixed on money, on riches? What takes up most of your thinking? Is it how to get more?
To follow Christ, one must rid his heart of the influence of the world.
vs 24:
"No one can serve two masters,
for either he will hate the one and love the other,
or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other.
You cannot serve God and mammon."
Does that mean we have to never have finances in mind? No. It means that you have to decide what your focus is on. A man needs to take care of his family. A woman needs to see to the needs of her children. We do what we need to do. Like brushing your teeth in the morning. But riches becomes an idol when it's what a person's focus is on. If you find that is what consumes most of your thoughts, you'll need to reevaluate things before the Lord and allow him to show you what truly IS important in your life. Don't neglect this. Riches and entertainment can become the focus of our lives very easily, because that's what the world is all about. The follower of Jesus Christ cannot be so. His FOCUS must be on the Lord, and on what the Lord's purpose is for his life.
God has promised in his Word that if one's focus is on the things of the Kingdom of God, all of his needs will be taken care of. THIS is the way to provision, THIS is the way to satisfaction:
vs 33:
"But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness,
AND ALL THESE THINGS SHALL BE ADDED TO YOU."
Examine your focus. And do business before the Lord. Surrender your life to him. Come out of the world. Change your focus.
"Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord.
Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you.
I will be a Father to you, and you shall be my sons and daughters,
says the Lord Almighty.”
2nd Corinthians 6:17-18