1. Belief in the System
The System as we know it is not the Truth
How many people in the history of man actually ever enjoyed working 30-35 years, retiring to a healthy pension with savings, stocks and mutual funds, a house and 2 cars to live out their retirement years in?
Yet, we see this as the norm, as something that we aspire to and will one day enjoy, almost like a right. If this is our hope, if we place our trust in this and are working towards it, we may find ourselves very disappointed.
The chance of something that would severely jar our lives between now and “then” is extremely high – consider the spectre of:
- Economic collapse
- War
- Social collapse
- Natural disasters
- Sickness and disease
- Accidents
- Death
Other catastrophes
We have to come to the point where He is all we need, where the promises in His Word are enough for us.
Romans 3:1 What advantage then has the Jew, or what is the profit of circumcision? 2 Much in every way! Chiefly because to them were committed the oracles of God. 3 For what if some did not believe? Will their unbelief make the faithfulness of God without effect? 4 Certainly not! Indeed, let God be true but every man a liar. As it is written: “That You may be justified in Your words, And may overcome when You are judged.” (NKJV)
We must never bring the Word down to our level of experience. If it didn't work for someone you know, you don’t know what the person really believed in. Even if it didn't work for us, there might be something more we need to learn. We must always hold the Word in first place, above our experiences.
All His promises are Yes and Amen.
2 Corinthians 1:19 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us—by me, Silvanus, and Timothy—was not Yes and No, but in Him was Yes. 20 For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us. 21 Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, 22 who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee. (NKJV)
Our experience does not dictate the truth of God’s Word. God’s Word is the plumb line.
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. 12 Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 13 And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. (NKJV)
Truth and understanding of the goodness of God comes to those who seek Him.
Psalm 23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. (NKJV)
We often don’t walk in God’s will. Yet He is merciful. But we must ASPIRE to walk in His will (Rom 12:2).
Who walked through the shadow of the valley of death? I walked! God didn't lead me there!
Matthew 10:29 Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. 30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows. (KJV)
God cares for me in great detail. The knowledge of our value is the most important. We ARE worthy of His Son’s blood, not by anything we did, but simply because He deems it so. Once we let the devil convince us that we have little or no value, we are in dangerous territory.
1 Peter 5:6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, 7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. (NKJV)
Here is the key – to trust in Him, not yourself. To say that HE is the one who takes my cares, not me. (Gal 2:20)
Psalm 55:22 Cast your burden on the Lord, And He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved. (NKJV)
We are the righteousness of God in Christ – if we don't accept this, then we won’t accept this promise for ourselves, thinking that there must be something that we must do to achieve this.
A lot of worries and cares are in the realm of money.
Money has a very different perspective in the Kingdom!
Philippians 4:19 And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. (NKJV)
Luke 11:13 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” (NKJV)
Matthew 7:11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! (NKJV)
Once you have the Holy Spirit in you (on receiving Jesus) you have everything! Know that we have the greatest in us.
Luke 12:32 “Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell what you have and give alms; provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (NKJV)
God takes great joy in giving us the Kingdom. We need to be Kingdom-minded!
Matthew 6:31 “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. (NKJV)
Seek to know His purposes, what He is doing on earth, what matters to His heart.
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. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. (NKJV)
Give out of a cheerful heart, knowing that He loves us. Know that we will never lack for the good work we are doing (Kingdom-mindedness)
Luke 16:10 He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much. 11 Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? (NKJV)
Money is NOT the true riches. It is least. If we want to be trusted with TRUE RICHES we must be faithful with money!
James 1: 2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. (NKJV)
Ask for wisdom – be prepared to humble yourself. Sometimes you don’t get the answer because He knows where your heart is. Not that He is angry, but when your heart is in the wrong place, the blessing will destroy you.
What doesn't break us will make us stronger. He’s bringing us to the next level.
Revelation 12:11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. (NKJV)
John 12:25 He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. (NKJV)
God loves you, but having known God’s love, it’s really all about you relating to God (love God) and you relating to everyone in the church (love your brethren), and those outside (love your neighbour). Yes, God loves you, but as you realize more and more of this, it should increasingly be less about about you.
I am thankful that He loves me and cares for me, but as I grow in the Lord, more and more I want to die to myself, that more and more I might be a reflection of His love, first to the church, then to those outside.
- This is the Kingdom of Heaven.
- In this world, we WILL have tribulation
- Jesus has promised that He has overcome them
- Our part is to seek the Kingdom of Heaven
- He will readily supply all that we need. We.
- When it appears not to be so, God’s Word is true. Seek Him.
- It’s all about you to God, but seek for it to be about His Kingdom to you!
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