Nearly-too-good-to-be-true News

Happy Sunday!

To the natural mind the Gospel is not reasonable!  I'm sure you have heard the word gospel defined as "the good news".  The actual Greek word for gospel means nearly-too-good-to-be-true news.  The word gospel referred to news that was so awesome, nothing really justified using it.   Jesus had an opportunity to minister in the synagogue in his home town, Nazareth.  They gave him the book and he selected a passage, and read, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord."(Luke 4:18-19, KJV).   Jesus closed the  book and said, "This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears."(Luke 4:21, KJV).  

Now, let's think logically...can we do that?  What is good news to a poor person?  What is the good news that would change the life of a poor person?  Yes, that's right!  The best news you could give to a poor person would be to declare to them, "You don't have to be poor anymore!"  Jesus came to get our stuff back!  It's just that simple!  He paid the price to redeem us!  Have you ever taken a prized possession to the pawn shop?  When you return with the money and the receipt, you are redeeming your property.  If in the sad event you never return, your belongings can be sold to another person.  They will have the right to enjoy what used to be yours.  God created this entire world for man!  He intends for man to have dominion.  Not just any man, but a God-man, a man or woman that is born again and surrendered to the Holy Spirit.

Dr. Bill Winston continued the series, "Receiving Your Inheritance" with the subtitle, "Rising to the Top",   God wants to take you to the top of your industry, profession, and specialty.  That's good news!  Just like the Blessing was good news to Abraham!  Abraham left his familiar surroundings after God preached this Gospel or good news to him.  Galatians 3:6-9 says, "Understand that in the same way that Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness,  those who believe are the children of Abraham.  But when it saw ahead of time that God would make the Gentiles righteous on the basis of faith, scripture preached the GOSPEL in advance to Abraham: All the Gentiles will be blessed in you.  Therefore, those who believe are blessed together with Abraham who believed."(Common English Bible).  

When the Blessing is allowed to work, it brings us into God's lifestyle.  Do you remember the television show, "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous"?  Or for my younger readers, do you remember the television show, "Cribs"?  Both shows took you inside to see how rich people supposedly lived.  These shows pale in comparison to the lifestyle God as prepared for you!  Did you get that?  God did not intend for his children and followers to be broke, busted, and disgusted!  He gets no pleasure out of you being on the bottom.  Psalm 35:27 says, "Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the Lord be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant."(KJV).  Did you see that? God gets pleasure out of the prosperity of his servant!  He is not sad or angry about you being blessed!  He wants you to be Blessed, so that you can be a blessing to others.  How Blessed does he want you to be?  Great question!  I'm so glad you asked!  Ephesians 3:20 says, "Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us."(KJV).    He wants to exceed anything you can ask or think!  My Best Friend, Gina and I love this scripture!  I always laugh and tell her,  "I can think up some stuff!"  God can exceed all of that!

Before I go, just a little word about fear.  The enemy and his system thrive on fear.  The Word tells us that God did not give us a spirit of fear!  So whatever you are afraid of is not from God!  The best way to get rid of fear is to increase your Faith.  How can you increase your Faith?  Romans 10:17 says, "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."(KJV).  Faith comes by hearing, and so does fear.  Stop listening to all the negative, fear-based news and reports until you have had a chance to build yourself up in your most Holy Faith. (Jude 1:20).  Once you have built up your faith, you will be ready and equipped to watch and pray, and stand and fight the Good Fight of Faith!

Love and prayers, Cynthia