Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: Blessed (10/11/12)
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TITLE: Sources Of Prosperity | Previous Challenge Entry
By Doug Laird
10/15/12 -
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Believers who choose to become disciples will learn the importance of prioritizing the pursuit of eternal riches and blessing over the temporal (Matthew 6: 19, 20/ Matthew 13:22/Rev. 3:17/).
There is nothing wrong (3John 1:2) with pursuing and enjoying legitimate blessings that life here in the devil’s world has to offer unless the desire, pursuit, and/or possession of such things is allowed to become an impediment to one’s walk with the Lord (Matthew 6:24).
In the Beatitudes (Matthew 5), God speaks of persons being “blessed” for virtuous conduct.
This, however, does not mean that the happiness and rewards are all going to be experienced while here in the devil’s world. Many of the blessings spoken of are for our eternal enjoyment for having honored the Lord while here on Earth.
According to human viewpoint, there is nothing to celebrate or to be gained by being poor, meek, gentle, hungry, thirsty, merciful, pure, or a peacemaker; let alone inviting persecution.
Here in the devil’s (Luke 4:6) world, one will not acquire as much or as quickly as will one’s who play the devil‘s game.
Regardless of one’s socio-economic status in life, there are intangible blessings of God available to every born again believer. The classic example of such blessings is to experience the peace that surpasses all human understanding (Phil. 4: 7) when in the midst of the worse forms of adversity that life here in the devil’s world has to offer.
Although such blessings are available to all believers, only the ones who choose to advance to a qualifying level of spiritually maturity will experience them.
The limitations or abundance of temporal blessings that any given advancing disciple will receive from God is going to greatly differ from one to another.
Why? God wants to place His Church Age ambassadors (2Cor.5: 20) in all walks of life.
Keep in mind that it was dissatisfaction with the position (Ezekiel 28:14) that God created Satan for, was what led to the prehistoric angelic revolt (Isaiah 14: 13).
We are free to go out and become our own source of temporal blessing. In doing so, we can secure many of the things that the world and its ways have to offer.
However, one would be wise to take a good look at the (Mark 8:36) price tag and warning labels affixed to such things!
God loves (John 3: 16) the individuals huddling together around a barrel fire on skid row just as much as He loves the worldly rich, powerful, and famous; and visa versa.
Establishing “common ground” (1Cor.9:22) is key part of evangelism and edification. Accordingly, Christ’s ambassadors will find themselves in every socio-economic station in life.
It is our part in the fulfillment of the Great Commission and not one’s personal comfort that is of primary concern to the advancing disciple (Phil. 4:11).
The (John 14: 13) access to the throne of grace is not for the purpose of making a divine “wish list” for personal gain or pleasure.
The “whatever” of John 14:13 pertains to anything that is necessary to fulfill any given believer’s individual role in the fulfillment of the Great Commission.
This is what is meant by asking and receiving the “anything” in the name (authority) of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Like the psalmist (Psalms 73), one may ask why it is so that evil persons and institutions are “blessed”, here in the devil’s world.
The answer to this question, in part, is found in the identification of the source of some of the temporal blessings.
In Luke 4: 5-7, Scripture records that the Lord Jesus Christ was offered the same “glory of the nations”, as called for in the plan of God (Rev. 21:24).
Hebrews 4: 15 teach that our Lord was tempted in every way that we are, but without sin. Imagine being offered such a thing. Humans sell out their souls every day for a whole lot less!
To “sweeten the deal”, the devil’s offer excluded the agony of the cross.
The devil’s offer, however, contained a condition that would have disqualified our Lord as the Lamb of God, defeating the purpose of His mission here on Earth.
The devil is willing to “bless” anyone willing to put the devil’s world ahead of God.
Our Lord rejected the devil’s offer in order to save us. Will we do the same to glorify Him?
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God Bless, Lynn
God Bless~