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Wednesday, April
16, 2008
More than
Merchandise
Malachi 3:8-11 Will a man rob
God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In
tithes and offerings. (9) Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed
me, even this whole nation. (10) Bring ye all the tithes into the
storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now
herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of
heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to
receive it. (11) And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he
shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast
her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts. (KJV)
Here would be another way to
look at verse 10; cast all your cares and bring them to God’s storehouse
which is spiritual and leave them there, letting Him do the caring for you.
Being that our God already knows what you had need of before you asked,
which by the way that need first and foremost is spiritual, then who better
to cast it upon and leave it with than Him? Now that you have begun your
walk in the Spirit concentrate all your efforts and priorities toward the
heavenly realm. You know if someone in this world told or should I say
dared you to prove them, then it would be fitting to think that they were
confident and able to accomplish what they said. Are you willing to let
your heavenly Father prove Himself in your life or are you more confident
in your own abilities? In looking at verse 11 I think of the many ranchers
around Montana whose crops can start out so well but be wiped out with one
hail storm. For those in Christ and those that stay grounded and rooted in
His promises, God promises to protect our spiritual crop so that it won’t
be destroyed by the storms of this life. Remember people, you are a child
of God and not just some credit card number or someone that is merchandised
for someone else’s benefit, so allow the Lord to work in your life and
don’t settle for anything less.
Deuteronomy 24:7 If a man be
found stealing any of his brethren of the children of Israel, and maketh
merchandise of him, or selleth him; then that thief shall die; and thou
shalt put evil away from among you. (KJV)
You know if someone took one
of your children from you, then turned around and sold them to make profit
off them, there would be an amber alert to get them back and stop this
crime. How do you think our Father enjoys seeing His children going into
spiritual captivity because of those that claim to be one of His who are
robbing the people of truth and selling out to the way of the world and its
thinking? According to Deut 24:7 it is a death sentence, separation from
God, an evil that should be put away from God’s people and not supported by
them.
Hosea 4:6 My people are
destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I
will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast
forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children. (KJV)
When it would please our
Father to give them His kingdom, it grieves Him to see it rejected by His
own people, robbing Him the opportunity to work on their behalf and bless
them the way they were intended to be blessed. Because they forget the law
of God they too are forgotten of Him. When they should be bringing their
attention and efforts to His storehouse which is spiritual, they are more
wrapped up and concerned with the knowledge of this world and miss the
mark, exchanging the truth for a lie; those that should be blessed have
been cursed and rejected to what was rightfully theirs.
John 2:13-16 And the Jews'
passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem, (14) And found in the
temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money
sitting: (15) And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them
all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the
changers' money, and overthrew the tables; (16) And said unto them that
sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of
merchandise. (KJV)
You know if this is the
example our Lord set for us while He walked this earth then what makes
people think that just because He left it is ok to make His house, which by
the way we are, a house of merchandising? In fact when I look at the above
verses and see He made a scourge of small cords, He obviously was
delivering a pretty stern message to the people. Now if this kind of
mentality was not acceptable then, why would anyone think it is today? All
this effort we have put in the past concerning our physical upkeep and gain
should now be cast out and replaced with a new set of priorities which are
now aimed at the realm of the Spirit. Have you ever desired something in
this life and were bound and determined to get it no matter what, whether a
job, husband, wife, anything or anyone you thought was going to bring you
peace and fulfillment? Now imagine taking that same effort and mindset and
applying it to the spiritual realm, letting God open His windows and not just
pour out but receive all the spiritual blessings that are available in
Christ. You are more than just merchandise to God, as your own children are
to you, so don’t let anyone or any organization treat you like you are;
because be assured that those that practice this kind of deception will
also be met with a threefold cord when they try to gain access to their
eternal reward as well.
2 Peter 2:1-3 But there were
false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers
among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the
Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. (2) And
many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth
shall be evil spoken of. (3) And through covetousness shall they with
feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time
lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not. (KJV)
We see again how many rob
God, and are robbed of His spiritual blessings because they fall for man’s
cheap self serving damnable heresies which deny the truth our Lord
delivered through His word and keep the people in bondage. While it would
be our Father’s good pleasure to open the windows of heaven upon those that
are His, they keep the windows shut and damned up because of their false
teachings. While mankind thinks bigger is better, the more the merrier, God
is still looking for those few that are willing to walk that narrow path
that leads to life, an eternal life that is rightfully theirs and given to
them by the sacrifice of His only begotten Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
Proverbs 3:13-18 Happy is the
man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding. (14) For
the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the
gain thereof than fine gold. (15) She is more precious than rubies: and all
the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her. (16) Length
of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour. (17) Her
ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. (18) She is a
tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that
retaineth her. (KJV)
Where your treasure is today
is where you heart is and what will determine your outcome. Are you willing
to let go of the things of this life so that you can partake of the true
riches or are you robbing God the opportunity to bless you the way He
intended? You are more than just a number or a piece of merchandise in
God’s sight, and don’t be taken in by those that think and teach otherwise.
It is our Father’s good pleasure to give you His kingdom, which is above
and beyond anything you could have thought or imagined. So go partake of
what is rightfully yours and don’t settle for anything less.
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