Happy Sunday!
I hope you had a great week, and an enjoyable weekend. This Lesson is from Brother Bob Yandian. It's entitled, "Prosperity in Everything You Do".
Prosperity in Everything You Do - Bro. Bob Yandian
Have you ever wondered why God made Heaven’s streets out of gold or built the foundations of the heavenly city out of diamonds, rubies and other precious gems? The answer is so obvious that it is easily missed – in Heaven there is no place to cash in the gold or gems or to spend money, so why not use them for building materials!
However, on earth we can spend gold and it is God’s will that we have it to spend. He wants us to be financially prosperous so that we can use our wealth to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ!
It is God’s ultimate will that our soul prospers and then, as God can trust us with His riches, our outward man will also prosper and walk in divine health (3 John 2).
God’s plan is not a get-rich-quick scheme, but that it is a growing process. In this process we move from the good to the acceptable, and finally, to the perfect will of God by the renewing of our minds. This growth is similar to the seeds which are sown into the ground and produce some thirty, some sixty, and some a hundred-fold return (see Romans 12:2).
In Psalm 1, David tells us that, if we take delight in the law of the Lord and meditate on it day and night, whatsoever we do shall prosper. Psalm 112:1, echoes this, “…blessed is the man that fears the Lord, that who delights greatly in his commandments.” In verses 2-10, we find a commentary on this which elaborates the blessings that will come to this man who renews his mind with the Word.
The Blessings
The first blessing is found in verse two, “His descendants shall be mighty upon the earth …” The point of this blessing is that financial prosperity is meaningless if your children are an ungodly generation who will squander your wealth. Satan preys upon young people so that godly parents will have no one godly to inherit their wealth and blessings. By patiently waiting to destroy the next generation, Satan can steal all that God has given us. This is why it is imperative that we instruct our children in the Word of God!
The second blessing is found in verse three, “wealth and riches shall be in his house; and his righteousness endures forever.” Notice that righteousness endures forever. It is passed from generation to generation so that those who have the riches will also have the strength and abilities necessary to handle and keep them.
Verse four tells us of another part of prosperity. “Unto the upright there arises light in the darkness; he is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous.” This “light in the darkness” is the guidance God gives us in Satan’s dark world. This includes, what to do with our families, what to do in the affairs of life, as well as what to do with our finances. The reason this man in verse four is prosperous is because he is a giver at heart. The ultimate goal of prosperity is not self-gain, but to be able to be a giver to those in need.
This idea is carried into verse five. “A good man deals graciously and lends, he will guide his affairs with discretion.” As God has graced you, you should grace others. As God’s nature, which is of love and mercy, comes inside you, it should become your nature to reach out as He does and bless others no matter what they look like, live like, or act like. You love them simply because it is your nature to love.
The word discretion means “judgment.” Good judgment is another facet of prosperity. This enables you to assess, evaluate, and judge the affairs of life so that you can maintain all the blessings God has given you.
Furthermore, when a believer remains in the Word and reaps God’s blessings, he becomes stable, and as verse six tells us, “Surely he will never be shaken…” In the time of testing he will not be moved away from God’s Word. Thus, he will be victorious.
This verse also says, “… the righteous will be in everlasting remembrance.” Prosperity encompasses the righteous man’s being remembered after he dies. Because of his righteousness people will desire to understand what he had in life. Because of this, he will leave an everlasting remembrance on this earth.
Whereas verse six was speaking of standing fast in times of testing, verse seven is telling of how to deal with evil tidings, “He will not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord.” When calamity strikes, outward prosperity is of little consequence and often is impotent. However, the key to overcoming calamity is to keep your heart fixed and steady on the Word of God.
Verse eight tells us about another benefit of prosperity – patience – when it says, “his heart is established, he will not be afraid, until he sees his desire upon his enemies.” When you see your enemies prospering even though they are evil, you don’t go running after their way because your heart is established and fixed. Then, when they fall, as they eventually will, you will still be moving on one step at a time because of the patience in your heart.
Verse nine reveals another secret of this man’s (and our) success, “He has dispersed abroad, he has given to the poor….” It’s told to us again; he is a giver! This reiteration is used to emphasize the fact that we prosper when we are givers.
This verse goes on to say, “… his righteousness endures forever; his horn shall be exalted with honor.” When a horn is exalted, it is turned so that it can catch the blessings that are poured from heaven.
The reaction of the unbeliever to this believer’s receiving all these blessings is graphically described in verse ten. “The wicked will see it, and be grieved; he will gnash his teeth, and melt away; the desire of the wicked shall perish.” It is God’s will that this prosperity grieve the wicked. The ultimate purpose of a believer’s prosperity is to provoke the sinner to jealousy so that when his man-made schemes have failed, he sees God’s prosperity and wants it enough to turn from his own ways to God’s way! - Bro. Bob Yandian
Love and prayers, Cynthia
(https://www.bobyandian.com/bible-topics/prosperity-in-everything-you-do-editing)
Sunday, October 27, 2019
Sunday, October 20, 2019
I Been Thinking...
Happy Sunday!
This is a Re-Post from October 20, 2013. Yes, I wrote this and shared it with you six years ago. A lot has changed, Bishop Alexis A. Thomas has gone on to heaven, and I now live in Chicago. BUT the Word never changes. There is always something rich we can get from the Word. Enjoy.
****
Blog Post entitled, "I Been Thinking", October 20, 2013
Bishop Alexis A. Thomas continued preaching from 1 Chronicles 4:9-10. He encouraged us again to "Break Out of the Box", but entitled this message, "I Been Thinking".
Brian Tracy said, "You cannot control what happens to you, but you can control your attitude toward what happens to you, and in that, you will be mastering change rather than allowing it to master you". That's exactly what Jabez did. He did not allow his negative experience to control his destiny. He determined in his heart and mind that things could and would be better. He realized that, "People cannot save themselves. But with God, all things are possible". (Matthew 19:26, Voice).
If we did a survey of everyone we know, we would find that we are all "Survivors". Each person has gone through their own type of hurt, disappointment, and loss. We are living our lives successfully in spite of the difficulties. We "put on a happy face" for those around us, especially in church. But we have to admit our lives changed as our minds changed. Proverbs 23:7 says, "For as he thinks in his heart, so is he". (Amplified Version).
Think about the man at the Pool of Bethesda. He'd been thinking incorrectly for 38 years. He had a "welfare" mentality. He thought he could never make it because the system, The Man, or a man was never there when he needed it. Jesus asked him "do you want to be well?" Remember, Jesus is God in the flesh. He never asks a question because He doesn't know the answer. He asked the question in order for the man to realize he wasn't thinking right. We do it too.(John 5:2-8).
What about the Prodigal Son? He thought he knew it all. He thought the inheritance would make him happy and bring fulfillment. Luke 15:12-16 says, “So the father divided the property between them. It wasn’t long before the younger son packed his bags and left for a distant country. There, undisciplined and dissipated, he wasted everything he had. After he had gone through all his money, there was a bad famine all through that country and he began to hurt. He signed on with a citizen there who assigned him to his fields to slop the pigs. He was so hungry he would have eaten the corncobs in the pig slop, but no one would give him any". (Message Translation).
Bishop said, "You don't have to be in prison to do time". The enemy wants to keep you trapped in the box. He wants you to believe his lies. He wants you to think this is how it has always been and will always be. But you can "THINK" your way out! Start thinking of all that God has done for you, start thanking Him for all He can do for you! Renew your mind with the WORD of God. Meditate on the Word and memorize it too. When the enemy starts trying to depress you, Speak the Word. Think on the Word. Isaiah 43:19 says, “Forget about what’s happened; don’t keep going over old history. Be alert, be present. I’m about to do something brand-new". (Message Translation).
Love and prayers, Cynthia
This is a Re-Post from October 20, 2013. Yes, I wrote this and shared it with you six years ago. A lot has changed, Bishop Alexis A. Thomas has gone on to heaven, and I now live in Chicago. BUT the Word never changes. There is always something rich we can get from the Word. Enjoy.
****
Blog Post entitled, "I Been Thinking", October 20, 2013
Bishop Alexis A. Thomas continued preaching from 1 Chronicles 4:9-10. He encouraged us again to "Break Out of the Box", but entitled this message, "I Been Thinking".
Brian Tracy said, "You cannot control what happens to you, but you can control your attitude toward what happens to you, and in that, you will be mastering change rather than allowing it to master you". That's exactly what Jabez did. He did not allow his negative experience to control his destiny. He determined in his heart and mind that things could and would be better. He realized that, "People cannot save themselves. But with God, all things are possible". (Matthew 19:26, Voice).
If we did a survey of everyone we know, we would find that we are all "Survivors". Each person has gone through their own type of hurt, disappointment, and loss. We are living our lives successfully in spite of the difficulties. We "put on a happy face" for those around us, especially in church. But we have to admit our lives changed as our minds changed. Proverbs 23:7 says, "For as he thinks in his heart, so is he". (Amplified Version).
Think about the man at the Pool of Bethesda. He'd been thinking incorrectly for 38 years. He had a "welfare" mentality. He thought he could never make it because the system, The Man, or a man was never there when he needed it. Jesus asked him "do you want to be well?" Remember, Jesus is God in the flesh. He never asks a question because He doesn't know the answer. He asked the question in order for the man to realize he wasn't thinking right. We do it too.(John 5:2-8).
What about the Prodigal Son? He thought he knew it all. He thought the inheritance would make him happy and bring fulfillment. Luke 15:12-16 says, “So the father divided the property between them. It wasn’t long before the younger son packed his bags and left for a distant country. There, undisciplined and dissipated, he wasted everything he had. After he had gone through all his money, there was a bad famine all through that country and he began to hurt. He signed on with a citizen there who assigned him to his fields to slop the pigs. He was so hungry he would have eaten the corncobs in the pig slop, but no one would give him any". (Message Translation).
Bishop said, "You don't have to be in prison to do time". The enemy wants to keep you trapped in the box. He wants you to believe his lies. He wants you to think this is how it has always been and will always be. But you can "THINK" your way out! Start thinking of all that God has done for you, start thanking Him for all He can do for you! Renew your mind with the WORD of God. Meditate on the Word and memorize it too. When the enemy starts trying to depress you, Speak the Word. Think on the Word. Isaiah 43:19 says, “Forget about what’s happened; don’t keep going over old history. Be alert, be present. I’m about to do something brand-new". (Message Translation).
Love and prayers, Cynthia
Sunday, October 13, 2019
It's not about them, it's about you!
Happy Sunday!
"We expect people to give us what they don't have." - Dr. Hart Ramsey
Ephesians 6:1-3 says, "Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise; That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth."(KJV).
Dr. Hart Ramsey brought a powerful message today at All Nations Worship Assembly in Chicago. He referenced a message he preached last Sunday on Honor, and the responses he received from that message. The responses came from listeners who did not know their fathers or had been wounded by the actions of their fathers or mothers. These individuals like many of us, struggled to honor a parent that was not present, or not willing or able to give us what we needed. Dr. Ramsey reminded us that these commandments do not include adjectives. The scripture does not say, "Honor your good father and your sweet mother" or "honor your supportive, loving father or encouraging mother". God just says honor them so that things will go well for you, and you will have a long life. Don't miss this! It's not really about them, it's about us and our children after us.
Do you realize that their are no perfect fathers in the Bible? Do you need time to think back to Sunday School lessons? Take as much time as you need. Jacob played favorites, and gave Joseph a coat of many colors.(Genesis 37:3). Lot was willing to give his virgin daughters to the people of Sodom and Gomorrah that wanted to rape the two visitors(angels) that came to rescue he and his family.(Genesis 19:8). Jephthah made a vow to the Lord, that the first person to meet him when he returned safely from battle would become a sacrifice. Sadly, his only daughter was the first one to come out of the house to meet him.(Judges 11:30-31). God is the only perfect father, and the perfect parent. He is the example that we all should follow.
It's important that we allow the Holy Spirit to help us process what we have experienced. God knows what we really need to be all that we can be. He can use everything that our parents were, are, and are not to benefit us in this life. When we honor our parents, we honor the choice that God made in order to get a special gift into the world...you are that gift.
Love and prayers, Cynthia
"We expect people to give us what they don't have." - Dr. Hart Ramsey
Ephesians 6:1-3 says, "Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise; That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth."(KJV).
Dr. Hart Ramsey brought a powerful message today at All Nations Worship Assembly in Chicago. He referenced a message he preached last Sunday on Honor, and the responses he received from that message. The responses came from listeners who did not know their fathers or had been wounded by the actions of their fathers or mothers. These individuals like many of us, struggled to honor a parent that was not present, or not willing or able to give us what we needed. Dr. Ramsey reminded us that these commandments do not include adjectives. The scripture does not say, "Honor your good father and your sweet mother" or "honor your supportive, loving father or encouraging mother". God just says honor them so that things will go well for you, and you will have a long life. Don't miss this! It's not really about them, it's about us and our children after us.
Do you realize that their are no perfect fathers in the Bible? Do you need time to think back to Sunday School lessons? Take as much time as you need. Jacob played favorites, and gave Joseph a coat of many colors.(Genesis 37:3). Lot was willing to give his virgin daughters to the people of Sodom and Gomorrah that wanted to rape the two visitors(angels) that came to rescue he and his family.(Genesis 19:8). Jephthah made a vow to the Lord, that the first person to meet him when he returned safely from battle would become a sacrifice. Sadly, his only daughter was the first one to come out of the house to meet him.(Judges 11:30-31). God is the only perfect father, and the perfect parent. He is the example that we all should follow.
It's important that we allow the Holy Spirit to help us process what we have experienced. God knows what we really need to be all that we can be. He can use everything that our parents were, are, and are not to benefit us in this life. When we honor our parents, we honor the choice that God made in order to get a special gift into the world...you are that gift.
Love and prayers, Cynthia
Sunday, October 6, 2019
I forgive...
Happy Sunday!
"For whatever God says to us is full of living power: it is sharper than the sharpest dagger, cutting swift and deep into our innermost thoughts and desires with all their parts, exposing us for what we really are."(Hebrews 4:12, Living Bible).
Today I could hear Smokey Robinson singing in my head, "I don't like you, but I love you"! I bet you are wondering why. I'll tell you! We are commanded to love one another. But sometimes people are hard to deal with, and it makes me think, "I may have to love you, but right now I really don't like you!" People can be rude, unfriendly, and cruel. There are times when I just want to quit. Quit helping, quit being understanding, and quit trying to see the good in others. BUT the Word of God always brings me back to the basics. Like the scripture above says, the Word has a way of exposing us for what we really are. Don't miss this. It's not only a tool to measure how bad others are, or how wrong their actions and words may have been to me, but it's a tool that allows me to see me.
James 1:21-25 says, "So get rid of all that is wrong in YOUR life, both inside and outside, and humbly be glad for the wonderful message we have received, for it is able to save our souls as it takes hold of our hearts. And remember, it is a message to obey, not just to listen to. So don’t fool yourselves. For if a person just listens and doesn’t obey, he is like a man looking at his face in a mirror; as soon as he walks away, he can’t see himself anymore or remember what he looks like. But if anyone keeps looking steadily into God’s law for free men, he will not only remember it but he will DO what it says, and God will greatly BLESS him in everything he does."(Living Bible).
Colossians 3:13 says it best, "Put up with each other, and forgive anyone who does you wrong, just as Christ has forgiven you."(CEV).
Love and prayers, Cynthia
"For whatever God says to us is full of living power: it is sharper than the sharpest dagger, cutting swift and deep into our innermost thoughts and desires with all their parts, exposing us for what we really are."(Hebrews 4:12, Living Bible).
Today I could hear Smokey Robinson singing in my head, "I don't like you, but I love you"! I bet you are wondering why. I'll tell you! We are commanded to love one another. But sometimes people are hard to deal with, and it makes me think, "I may have to love you, but right now I really don't like you!" People can be rude, unfriendly, and cruel. There are times when I just want to quit. Quit helping, quit being understanding, and quit trying to see the good in others. BUT the Word of God always brings me back to the basics. Like the scripture above says, the Word has a way of exposing us for what we really are. Don't miss this. It's not only a tool to measure how bad others are, or how wrong their actions and words may have been to me, but it's a tool that allows me to see me.
James 1:21-25 says, "So get rid of all that is wrong in YOUR life, both inside and outside, and humbly be glad for the wonderful message we have received, for it is able to save our souls as it takes hold of our hearts. And remember, it is a message to obey, not just to listen to. So don’t fool yourselves. For if a person just listens and doesn’t obey, he is like a man looking at his face in a mirror; as soon as he walks away, he can’t see himself anymore or remember what he looks like. But if anyone keeps looking steadily into God’s law for free men, he will not only remember it but he will DO what it says, and God will greatly BLESS him in everything he does."(Living Bible).
Colossians 3:13 says it best, "Put up with each other, and forgive anyone who does you wrong, just as Christ has forgiven you."(CEV).
Love and prayers, Cynthia
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