Sunday, November 17, 2013

You Shall Remember

"Beware that you do not forget the LORD your God by not keeping His commandments, His judgments, and His statutes which I command you today, "lest-when you have eaten and are full, and have built beautiful houses and dwell in them;  "and when your herds and your flocks multiply, and your silver and your gold are multiplied, and all that you have is multiplied;  "when your heart is lifted up, and you forget the LORD your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage;  "who led you through that great and terrible wilderness, in which were fiery serpents and scorpions and thirsty land where there was no water; who brought water for you out of the flinty rock; "who fed you in the wilderness with manna, which your fathers did not know, that He might humble you and that He might test you, to do you good in the end-  "then you say in your heart, 'My power and the might of my hand have gained me this wealth.'  "And you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day. Deuteronomy 8:11-18

     Arrogance and pride destroys many of God’s people and causes them to be defeated in the storms and battles of life because they boast and rely on their strength rather than on God’s. They walk in their own spirit and wisdom rather than God’s. They forget that man is not to live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God and made real by Him. They forget that it’s the Lord who gives them power to get wealth that He might establish His covenant with them. God’s word is unchanging:

For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister.  And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end,  that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.   For when God made a promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself,  saying, "Surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you."  And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise. Hebrews 6:10-15

But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.  So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.  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. As it is written:  "He has dispersed abroad,  He has given to the poor;  His righteousness endures forever."  Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness,  while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God.  2 Corinthians 9:6-11

Yes, God loves a cheerful giver. Yes, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.  Yes, God is able to make all grace abound toward that His trusting ones always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. As it is written:  "He has dispersed abroad, He has given to the poor;  His righteousness endures forever. Yes, it important to consider the cause of the poor and to give to the poor because our prosperity is directly related to it. God’s word is unchanging:

He who oppresses the poor reproaches his Maker, But he who honors Him has mercy on the needy. Proverbs 14:31

He who has pity on the poor lends to the LORD, And He will pay back what he has given. Proverbs 19:17

He who has a generous eye will be blessed, For he gives of his bread to the poor. Proverbs 22:9

He who oppresses the poor to increase his riches, And he who gives to the rich, will surely come to poverty. Proverbs 22:16

One who increases his possessions by usury and extortion Gathers it for him who will pity the poor. Proverbs 28:8

He who gives to the poor will not lack, But he who hides his eyes will have many curses. Proverbs 28:27

The righteous considers the cause of the poor, But the wicked does not understand such knowledge. Proverbs 29:7

He who has a generous eye will be blessed, For he gives of his bread to the poor. Proverbs 22:9

Yes, he who oppresses the poor to increase his riches, and he who gives to the rich, will surely come to poverty. Yes, he who gives to the poor will not lack, but he who hides his eyes will have many curses. Yes, he who has a generous eye will be blessed, for he gives of his bread to the poor. Yes, many of God’s people are poor because they have ignored or oppressed the poor. While others have despised the chastening of the LORD, and have become discouraged when they were rebuked by Him. They ignored what the word of God stated about whom the LORD loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives:

Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.  Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed. Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled; lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright. For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears. Hebrews 12:11-17

Yes, without holiness no one will see the Lord no matter who they are or who they think they are. Fornicators and profane persons like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright, will be rejected by God.  And those who allow any root of bitterness to spring up causing trouble will find themselves in serious trouble for Jesus doesn’t lie though others do:

"You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.' "But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, 'Raca!' shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, 'You fool!' shall be in danger of hell fire.

"Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, "leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. "Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. "Assuredly, I say to you, you will by no means get out of there till you have paid the last penny. Matthew 5:21-26

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