Strengthened With All Power
In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [be empowered through your union with Him]; draw your strength from Him [that strength which His boundless might provides]. Ephesians 6:10
For this reason we also, from the day we heard of it, have not ceased to pray {and} make [special] request for you, [asking] that you may be filled with the full (deep and clear) knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom [in comprehensive insight into the ways and purposes of God] and in understanding {and} discernment of spiritual things-- That you may walk (live and conduct yourselves) in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him {and} desiring to please Him in all things, bearing fruit in every good work and steadily growing {and} increasing in {and} by the knowledge of God [with fuller, deeper, and clearer insight, acquaintance, and recognition]. [We pray] that you may be invigorated {and} strengthened with all power according to the might of His glory, [to exercise] every kind of endurance and patience (perseverance and forbearance) with joy, Giving thanks to the Father, Who has qualified {and} made us fit to share the portion which is the inheritance of the saints (God's holy people) in the Light. [The Father] has delivered {and} drawn us to Himself out of the control {and} the dominion of darkness and has transferred us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, In Whom we have our redemption {through His blood,} [which means] the forgiveness of our sins. Colossions 1:9-14 Amplified
Because God has transferred us out of the control and dominion of darkness into the kingdom of His dead Son of love, we can be be invigorated and strengthened with all power according to the might of His glory, to exercise every kind of endurance and patience with joy. Yes, in Christ dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and we can draw from that power that is in Him. We are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power. In Him the whole fullness of Deity (the Godhead) continues to dwell in bodily form [giving complete expression of the divine nature]. And we are in Him, made full and having come to fullness of life [in Christ we too are filled with the Godhead--Father, Son and Holy Spirit--and reach full spiritual stature (Colossians 2:9-10 Amplified).
Because of Jesus we have clothed ourselves with the new spiritual self, which is ever in the process of being renewed and remolded into fuller and more perfect knowledge upon knowledge after the image the likeness of Him Who created it (Colossians 3:10 Amplified). We are being changed daily from glory to glory. God’s word is unchanging:
Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty (emancipation from bondage, freedom). And all of us, as with unveiled face, [because we] continued to behold [in the Word of God] as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are constantly being transfigured into His {very own} image in ever increasing splendor {and} from one degree of glory to another; [for this comes] from the Lord [Who is] the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:17-18 Amplified
Therefore we do not become discouraged (utterly spiritless, exhausted, and wearied out through fear). Though our outer man is [progressively] decaying {and} wasting away, yet our inner self is being [progressively] renewed day after day. For our light, momentary affliction (this slight distress of the passing hour) is ever more and more abundantly preparing {and} producing {and} achieving for us an everlasting weight of glory [beyond all measure, excessively surpassing all comparisons and all calculations, a vast and transcendent glory and blessedness never to cease!], Since we consider {and} look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen; for the things that are visible are temporal (brief and fleeting), but the things that are invisible are deathless {and} everlasting. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 Amplified
The good news is that the Lord revives His work among the people in the midst of the years of adversity and trials. Our God is a God of Mercy and in His wrath He remembers to give mercy to His trusting one who flee to Him for refuge and rely only upon Him. Everything that we go through is seasonal and subject to change by God who still makes His trusting ones more than conquerors even when the vines and the fig trees are destroyed. When all is gone, God is not gone and His miracle working power never ceases. His word is unchanging:
Fear not, O land; Be glad and rejoice, For the LORD has done marvelous things! Do not be afraid, you beasts of the field; For the open pastures are springing up, And the tree bears its fruit; The fig tree and the vine yield their strength. Be glad then, you children of Zion, And rejoice in the LORD your God; For He has given you the former rain faithfully, And He will cause the rain to come down for you-The former rain, And the latter rain in the first month. The threshing floors shall be full of wheat, And the vats shall overflow with new wine and oil. Joel 2:21-24
Though the fig tree may not blossom, Nor fruit be on the vines; Though the labor of the olive may fail, And the fields yield no food; Though the flock may be cut off from the fold, And there be no herd in the stalls- Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation The LORD God is my strength; He will make my feet like deer's feet, And He will make me walk on my high hills. Habakkuk 3:17-19
Yes, we can be glad and rejoice in the Lord our God! The LORD God is our strength; He will make our feet like deer's feet, And He will make us walk on our high hills. It doesn't matter what we face, because our circumstances are subject to change by the power of God as we put our trust in God! God is not short of anything and neither should His children be. The Bible tells us, " Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation." (2 Corinthians 6:2). Today we can believe God to take us into the Promised Land of plenty and prosperity and to defeat all our foes including poverty, lack, sickness, disease and unbelief! We can refuse to be comfortable with defeat, penury, lack and demons! God’s word is unchanging:
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones. Honor the LORD with your possessions, And with the firstfruits of all your increase; So your barns will be filled with plenty, And your vats will overflow with new wine. Proverbs 3:5-10
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
Seed that we sow is not just money which represents our toil, labor and efforts but can be other things. There are many different kinds of seeds that we can sow for the poor including loving kindness, good deeds, prayers, giving of alms, understanding, compassionate and the gifts of the Spirit. We honor God will all that he has blessed us including money, time and talents and use it in the service of others to bless them as God has blessed us! We sanctify not only our finances but our lives and words as well.
Being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Hope of all that God will do for us, in us and through us no matter what great affliction, trial, distress or suffering we must go through! We rejoice in the fact that Jesus Christ Jesus has power to redeem and change our life today and everything is temporal and subject to change by God’s great and wonderful power. As we endure with patience standing on our faith we not be disappointed or put to shame for putting out trust in God. That is unless we have not made restitution? God’s word is unchanging:
What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, "Depart in peace, be warmed and filled," but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, "You have faith, and I have works." Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe-and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? James 2:14-20
And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him, and said to him, "Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house." So he made haste and came down, and received Him joyfully. But when they saw it, they all complained, saying, "He has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner." Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold." And Jesus said to him, Luke 19:5-10
Zacchaeus a chief tax collector, who became rich through robbing people demonstrated his faith by making four fold restitution to his victims and giving half of his goods to the poor. As a result Jesus said of him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham; "for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost." Many Christians believe there is such a thing as repentance without restitution. But that is a lie from the pits of hell because justice demands restitution and Jesus stated:
"Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. Matthew 5:17
"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone. Matthew 23:23
We are not to neglect the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. When Abimelech stole Sarah, he needed not only Abraham's prayers but also to make restoration. The bible records for our profit and instruction:
"Now therefore, restore the man's wife; for he is a prophet, and he will pray for you and you shall live. But if you do not restore her, know that you shall surely die, you and all who are yours." Genesis 20:7
Then Abimelech took sheep, oxen, and male and female servants, and gave them to Abraham; and he restored Sarah his wife to him. Genuine 20:14
"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
Repentance is only genuine when there is restoration because faith with out works is dead. And that is why many Christians are not blessed by God and don't know His salvation because they have done any restoration! Justice demands restoration! As a result God puts them into a prison of sickness, suffering, poverty or lack because they disobeyed the Word of God and didn’t make restitution. God’s word is unchanging:
"If a man steals an ox or a sheep, and slaughters it or sells it, he shall restore five oxen for an ox and four sheep for a sheep. Exodus 22:1
Offer to God thanksgiving, And pay your vows to the Most High. Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me." Psalm 50:14-15
EXTRACT FROM All Things Are Yours
http://walthope.tripod.com/allthings.htm
http://walthope.tripod.com/
http://walthope.wordpress.com
In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [be empowered through your union with Him]; draw your strength from Him [that strength which His boundless might provides]. Ephesians 6:10
For this reason we also, from the day we heard of it, have not ceased to pray {and} make [special] request for you, [asking] that you may be filled with the full (deep and clear) knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom [in comprehensive insight into the ways and purposes of God] and in understanding {and} discernment of spiritual things-- That you may walk (live and conduct yourselves) in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him {and} desiring to please Him in all things, bearing fruit in every good work and steadily growing {and} increasing in {and} by the knowledge of God [with fuller, deeper, and clearer insight, acquaintance, and recognition]. [We pray] that you may be invigorated {and} strengthened with all power according to the might of His glory, [to exercise] every kind of endurance and patience (perseverance and forbearance) with joy, Giving thanks to the Father, Who has qualified {and} made us fit to share the portion which is the inheritance of the saints (God's holy people) in the Light. [The Father] has delivered {and} drawn us to Himself out of the control {and} the dominion of darkness and has transferred us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, In Whom we have our redemption {through His blood,} [which means] the forgiveness of our sins. Colossions 1:9-14 Amplified
Because God has transferred us out of the control and dominion of darkness into the kingdom of His dead Son of love, we can be be invigorated and strengthened with all power according to the might of His glory, to exercise every kind of endurance and patience with joy. Yes, in Christ dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and we can draw from that power that is in Him. We are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power. In Him the whole fullness of Deity (the Godhead) continues to dwell in bodily form [giving complete expression of the divine nature]. And we are in Him, made full and having come to fullness of life [in Christ we too are filled with the Godhead--Father, Son and Holy Spirit--and reach full spiritual stature (Colossians 2:9-10 Amplified).
Because of Jesus we have clothed ourselves with the new spiritual self, which is ever in the process of being renewed and remolded into fuller and more perfect knowledge upon knowledge after the image the likeness of Him Who created it (Colossians 3:10 Amplified). We are being changed daily from glory to glory. God’s word is unchanging:
Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty (emancipation from bondage, freedom). And all of us, as with unveiled face, [because we] continued to behold [in the Word of God] as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are constantly being transfigured into His {very own} image in ever increasing splendor {and} from one degree of glory to another; [for this comes] from the Lord [Who is] the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:17-18 Amplified
Therefore we do not become discouraged (utterly spiritless, exhausted, and wearied out through fear). Though our outer man is [progressively] decaying {and} wasting away, yet our inner self is being [progressively] renewed day after day. For our light, momentary affliction (this slight distress of the passing hour) is ever more and more abundantly preparing {and} producing {and} achieving for us an everlasting weight of glory [beyond all measure, excessively surpassing all comparisons and all calculations, a vast and transcendent glory and blessedness never to cease!], Since we consider {and} look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen; for the things that are visible are temporal (brief and fleeting), but the things that are invisible are deathless {and} everlasting. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 Amplified
The good news is that the Lord revives His work among the people in the midst of the years of adversity and trials. Our God is a God of Mercy and in His wrath He remembers to give mercy to His trusting one who flee to Him for refuge and rely only upon Him. Everything that we go through is seasonal and subject to change by God who still makes His trusting ones more than conquerors even when the vines and the fig trees are destroyed. When all is gone, God is not gone and His miracle working power never ceases. His word is unchanging:
Fear not, O land; Be glad and rejoice, For the LORD has done marvelous things! Do not be afraid, you beasts of the field; For the open pastures are springing up, And the tree bears its fruit; The fig tree and the vine yield their strength. Be glad then, you children of Zion, And rejoice in the LORD your God; For He has given you the former rain faithfully, And He will cause the rain to come down for you-The former rain, And the latter rain in the first month. The threshing floors shall be full of wheat, And the vats shall overflow with new wine and oil. Joel 2:21-24
Though the fig tree may not blossom, Nor fruit be on the vines; Though the labor of the olive may fail, And the fields yield no food; Though the flock may be cut off from the fold, And there be no herd in the stalls- Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation The LORD God is my strength; He will make my feet like deer's feet, And He will make me walk on my high hills. Habakkuk 3:17-19
Yes, we can be glad and rejoice in the Lord our God! The LORD God is our strength; He will make our feet like deer's feet, And He will make us walk on our high hills. It doesn't matter what we face, because our circumstances are subject to change by the power of God as we put our trust in God! God is not short of anything and neither should His children be. The Bible tells us, " Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation." (2 Corinthians 6:2). Today we can believe God to take us into the Promised Land of plenty and prosperity and to defeat all our foes including poverty, lack, sickness, disease and unbelief! We can refuse to be comfortable with defeat, penury, lack and demons! God’s word is unchanging:
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones. Honor the LORD with your possessions, And with the firstfruits of all your increase; So your barns will be filled with plenty, And your vats will overflow with new wine. Proverbs 3:5-10
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
Seed that we sow is not just money which represents our toil, labor and efforts but can be other things. There are many different kinds of seeds that we can sow for the poor including loving kindness, good deeds, prayers, giving of alms, understanding, compassionate and the gifts of the Spirit. We honor God will all that he has blessed us including money, time and talents and use it in the service of others to bless them as God has blessed us! We sanctify not only our finances but our lives and words as well.
Being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Hope of all that God will do for us, in us and through us no matter what great affliction, trial, distress or suffering we must go through! We rejoice in the fact that Jesus Christ Jesus has power to redeem and change our life today and everything is temporal and subject to change by God’s great and wonderful power. As we endure with patience standing on our faith we not be disappointed or put to shame for putting out trust in God. That is unless we have not made restitution? God’s word is unchanging:
What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, "Depart in peace, be warmed and filled," but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, "You have faith, and I have works." Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe-and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? James 2:14-20
And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him, and said to him, "Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house." So he made haste and came down, and received Him joyfully. But when they saw it, they all complained, saying, "He has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner." Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold." And Jesus said to him, Luke 19:5-10
Zacchaeus a chief tax collector, who became rich through robbing people demonstrated his faith by making four fold restitution to his victims and giving half of his goods to the poor. As a result Jesus said of him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham; "for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost." Many Christians believe there is such a thing as repentance without restitution. But that is a lie from the pits of hell because justice demands restitution and Jesus stated:
"Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. Matthew 5:17
"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone. Matthew 23:23
We are not to neglect the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. When Abimelech stole Sarah, he needed not only Abraham's prayers but also to make restoration. The bible records for our profit and instruction:
"Now therefore, restore the man's wife; for he is a prophet, and he will pray for you and you shall live. But if you do not restore her, know that you shall surely die, you and all who are yours." Genesis 20:7
Then Abimelech took sheep, oxen, and male and female servants, and gave them to Abraham; and he restored Sarah his wife to him. Genuine 20:14
"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
Repentance is only genuine when there is restoration because faith with out works is dead. And that is why many Christians are not blessed by God and don't know His salvation because they have done any restoration! Justice demands restoration! As a result God puts them into a prison of sickness, suffering, poverty or lack because they disobeyed the Word of God and didn’t make restitution. God’s word is unchanging:
"If a man steals an ox or a sheep, and slaughters it or sells it, he shall restore five oxen for an ox and four sheep for a sheep. Exodus 22:1
Offer to God thanksgiving, And pay your vows to the Most High. Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me." Psalm 50:14-15
EXTRACT FROM All Things Are Yours
http://walthope.tripod.com/allthings.htm
http://walthope.tripod.com/
http://walthope.wordpress.com
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