I was pondering what an amazing thing was God’s Favor, when my son asked me what the difference was between Mercy and Favor.
I started with the Dictionary Definition:
FAVOR- Overgenerous preferential treatment - a sign of liking - an act of kindness beyond what is due or usual
MERCY- Compassion or forgiveness shown towards someone whom it is within one’s power to punish or harm
I thought that the dictionary said it pretty well. Favor is unmerited preferential treatment and Mercy is compassion or forgiveness toward someone who has committed an act against you.
What awesome set of power twins. They work hand-in-hand but they aren’t the same. From the beginning we see God acting in Mercy and Favor when He sent His Son to redeem us. But it doesn’t end there. The Word says that if He would not spare His Son how much more will He give us All Things?
When we speak of God’s Will, His Mercy and His Favor in the same context of “asking, receiving” and the verse I just quoted which includes the words “all things” (Rom 8:32) people withdrawal and act “shy”. People say things like “That’s not what it really means.” or “’All things’ mean spiritual things.” or something similar.
But I encourage you not to hold yourself back by explaining away God’s favor, grace, mercy wrapped up in His blessings. Receive them and run with them.
Favor
2 Corinthians 6:2
Mercy
Mercy Heb 4:16
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Monday, December 21, 2009
Principle of the Giver
Principle of the giver
This principle is crucial in achieving a truly successful life, full of accomplishment and meaning. A person may be able to achieve monetary success without it, but long-lasting happiness and fulfillment will never be achieved without accepting this principle and putting it to work.
As with all good principles, this one is simple, practical and easy to put into practice. It should, although, be reviewed every day and the practitioner should compare his or her actions against it's directive.
Too often the average person falls in the common misconseption that to advance in life one has to "take" what they can.this happens with everything they come in contact with. Their vocabulary is full of "I need, I want, I must have" punctuated with "I deserve", and "you owe me". This mentality keeps the person fighting for pocket change while true riches will always alude them.
The principle of the giver runs contrary to the "Taker" and more along the line of the farmer. The farmer looks at a handful of seeds and a parcel of land and sees what it will become. The farmer sows the seed and waters it with the faith that one day it will be harvested. So the giver does what he does with the faith that the actions they are sowing today will return in an abundant harvest.
Provide more return than what is expected.
-- Posted while on the move
This principle is crucial in achieving a truly successful life, full of accomplishment and meaning. A person may be able to achieve monetary success without it, but long-lasting happiness and fulfillment will never be achieved without accepting this principle and putting it to work.
As with all good principles, this one is simple, practical and easy to put into practice. It should, although, be reviewed every day and the practitioner should compare his or her actions against it's directive.
Too often the average person falls in the common misconseption that to advance in life one has to "take" what they can.this happens with everything they come in contact with. Their vocabulary is full of "I need, I want, I must have" punctuated with "I deserve", and "you owe me". This mentality keeps the person fighting for pocket change while true riches will always alude them.
The principle of the giver runs contrary to the "Taker" and more along the line of the farmer. The farmer looks at a handful of seeds and a parcel of land and sees what it will become. The farmer sows the seed and waters it with the faith that one day it will be harvested. So the giver does what he does with the faith that the actions they are sowing today will return in an abundant harvest.
Provide more return than what is expected.
-- Posted while on the move
Location:Av El Boulevard de Surco,,Peru
Sunday, December 13, 2009
'The son! The son! Who'll take the son?'
--- A story from my inbox. Please re-post at will.---
A wealthy man and his son loved to collect rare works of art. They had everything in their collection, from Picasso to Raphael. They would often sit together and admire the great works of art..
When the Vietnam conflict broke out, the son went to war. He was very courageous and died in battle while rescuing another soldier. The father was notified and grieved deeply for his only son.
About a month later, just before Christmas,
There was a knock at the door. A young man stood at the door with a large package in his hands...
He said, 'Sir, you don't know me, but I am the soldier for whom your son gave his life. He saved many lives that day, and he was carrying me to safety when a bullet struck him in the heart and he died instantly... He often talked about you, and your love for art.' The young man held out this package. 'I know this isn't much. I'm not really a great artist, but I think your son would have wanted you to have this..'
The father
Opened the package. It was a portrait of his son, painted by the young man. He stared in awe at the way the soldier had captured the personality of his son in the painting. The father was so drawn to the eyes that his own eyes welled up with tears. He thanked the young man and offered to pay him for the picture.. 'Oh, no sir, I could never repay what your son did for me. It's a gift.'
The father hung the portrait over his mantle. Every time visitors came to his home he took them to see the portrait of his son before he showed them any of the other great works he had collected.
The man died a few months later. There was to be a great auction of his paintings. Many influential people gathered, excited over seeing the great paintings and having an opportunity to purchase one for their collection.
On the platform sat the painting of the son. The auctioneer pounded his gavel. 'We will start the bidding with this picture of the son. Who will bid for this picture?'
There was silence....
Then a voice in the back of the room shouted, 'We want to see the famous paintings. Skip this one.'
But the auctioneer persisted. 'Will somebody bid for this painting? Who will start the bidding? $100, $200?'
Another voice angrily. 'We didn't come to see this painting. We came to see the Van Gogh's, the Rembrandts. Get on with the Real bids!'
But still the auctioneer continued. 'The son! The son! Who'll take the son?'
Finally, a voice came from the very back of the room. It was the longtime gardener of the man and his son. 'I'll give $10 for the painting...' Being a poor man, it was all he could afford.
'We have $10, who will bid $20?'
'Give it to him for $10. Let's see the masters.'
The crowd was becoming angry. They didn't want the picture of the son.
They wanted the more worthy investments for their collections.
The auctioneer pounded the gavel.. 'Going once, twice, SOLD for $10!'
A man sitting on the second row shouted, 'Now let's get on with the collection!'
The auctioneer laid down his gavel. 'I'm sorry, the auction is over.'
'What about the paintings?'
'I am sorry. When I was called to conduct this auction, I was told of a secret stipulation in the will... I was not allowed to reveal that stipulation until this time. Only the painting of the son would be auctioned. Whoever bought that painting would inherit the entire estate, including the paintings.
The man who took the son gets everything!'
God gave His son 2,000 years ago to die on the cross. Much like the auctioneer, His message today is: 'The son, the son, who'll take the son?'
Because, you see, whoever takes the Son gets everything.
FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, WHO SO EVER BELIEVETH, SHALL HAVE ETERNAL LIFE...THAT'S LOVE
A wealthy man and his son loved to collect rare works of art. They had everything in their collection, from Picasso to Raphael. They would often sit together and admire the great works of art..
When the Vietnam conflict broke out, the son went to war. He was very courageous and died in battle while rescuing another soldier. The father was notified and grieved deeply for his only son.
About a month later, just before Christmas,
There was a knock at the door. A young man stood at the door with a large package in his hands...
He said, 'Sir, you don't know me, but I am the soldier for whom your son gave his life. He saved many lives that day, and he was carrying me to safety when a bullet struck him in the heart and he died instantly... He often talked about you, and your love for art.' The young man held out this package. 'I know this isn't much. I'm not really a great artist, but I think your son would have wanted you to have this..'
The father
Opened the package. It was a portrait of his son, painted by the young man. He stared in awe at the way the soldier had captured the personality of his son in the painting. The father was so drawn to the eyes that his own eyes welled up with tears. He thanked the young man and offered to pay him for the picture.. 'Oh, no sir, I could never repay what your son did for me. It's a gift.'
The father hung the portrait over his mantle. Every time visitors came to his home he took them to see the portrait of his son before he showed them any of the other great works he had collected.
The man died a few months later. There was to be a great auction of his paintings. Many influential people gathered, excited over seeing the great paintings and having an opportunity to purchase one for their collection.
On the platform sat the painting of the son. The auctioneer pounded his gavel. 'We will start the bidding with this picture of the son. Who will bid for this picture?'
There was silence....
Then a voice in the back of the room shouted, 'We want to see the famous paintings. Skip this one.'
But the auctioneer persisted. 'Will somebody bid for this painting? Who will start the bidding? $100, $200?'
Another voice angrily. 'We didn't come to see this painting. We came to see the Van Gogh's, the Rembrandts. Get on with the Real bids!'
But still the auctioneer continued. 'The son! The son! Who'll take the son?'
Finally, a voice came from the very back of the room. It was the longtime gardener of the man and his son. 'I'll give $10 for the painting...' Being a poor man, it was all he could afford.
'We have $10, who will bid $20?'
'Give it to him for $10. Let's see the masters.'
The crowd was becoming angry. They didn't want the picture of the son.
They wanted the more worthy investments for their collections.
The auctioneer pounded the gavel.. 'Going once, twice, SOLD for $10!'
A man sitting on the second row shouted, 'Now let's get on with the collection!'
The auctioneer laid down his gavel. 'I'm sorry, the auction is over.'
'What about the paintings?'
'I am sorry. When I was called to conduct this auction, I was told of a secret stipulation in the will... I was not allowed to reveal that stipulation until this time. Only the painting of the son would be auctioned. Whoever bought that painting would inherit the entire estate, including the paintings.
The man who took the son gets everything!'
God gave His son 2,000 years ago to die on the cross. Much like the auctioneer, His message today is: 'The son, the son, who'll take the son?'
Because, you see, whoever takes the Son gets everything.
FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, WHO SO EVER BELIEVETH, SHALL HAVE ETERNAL LIFE...THAT'S LOVE
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Stress
(This was sent to me by a friend and I found it worth posting...with some modifications)
A lecturer when explaining stress management to an audience, raised a glass of water and asked 'How heavy is this glass of water?'
Answers called out ranged from 20g to 500g.
The lecturer replied,
'The absolute weight doesn't matter. It depends on how long you try to hold it.
If I hold it for a minute, that's not a problem.
If I hold it for an hour, I'll have an ache in my right arm.
If I hold it for a day, you'll have to call an ambulance.
In each case, it's the same weight, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes.'
He continued,
'And that's the way it is with stress management. If we carry our burdens all the time, sooner or later, as the burden becomes increasingly heavy, we won't be able to carry on. '
'As with the glass of water, Life can hand us difficult situations and our jobs can be stressful but if we don't learn how to let them go, or place them down we won't be able to go on.'
'So, before you return home tonight, empty as much of your glass as you can.
Put the rest of your work down.
Don't carry it home.
Realize the following simple truths...
Some days you're the pigeon,
And some days you're the statue.
Keep your words soft and sweet,
You may have to eat them.
Do things that are pleasing and kind
Be, who you would want your child to be
Read that which will build you up and make you better
It's what's in our hearts that determine our words and our destiny
Drive carefully.
On the street you're surrounded by Moms, Dads, and people's Children
If you can't be kind,
Keep your mouth closed
If you lend someone $20 and never see that person again,
It was probably worth it.
Your sole purpose in life is to love others.
If put both feet in your mouth at the same time,
You won't have a leg to stand on.
It's the early worm that gets eaten by the bird, so get a good night's rest.
Be wise and remember that it's the second mouse who gets the cheese.
Birthdays are good for you. (Don't fight them)
The more you have, the longer you live.
You may like you're only one person in the world,
But you may also be the world to one person.
Some mistakes are too much fun to only make once.
Learn from crayons...
Some are sharp,
some are pretty
some are dull
Some have weird names,
But not one color is the same, yet they all have to live in the same box.
Be happy and enjoy the scenery on life's detours....
Thursday, September 24, 2009
What do I do now?
This simple question runs through the mind of university grads, those laid off from their jobs, and even retiries. And the answer is so simple that it is often over looked and discarded.
"Do what you enjoy."
When you keep in mind the principle of "the giver", the answer to the question is to develop one's self in what they enjoy. In this way, as one enjoys themselves they are supporting the community and those around them.
This environment will produce success and fulfillment for the giver and the receiver, a like.
Whenever we live our life in a way to benefit others we will live satisfied, accomplished and blessed.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Vacation Oriented
I've lived in many countries and in the majority of them I have seen a disturbing work ethic. It is distructive, unhealthy and leads people in a sence of unsatisfaction all the while masked as a normal and acceptable practice. It is the vacation-oriented work ethic.
You can see it in a simple form as weekend-oriented work. You can hear it in the movies or on TV when the actor says somehing like "I can't wait for Saturday" or "It's Wednesday, it's 'hump' day." refering to the middle of the week.
The essence of this narsasistic "ethic" is to reduce work into the necessary stepping stones to a achieve a personal gratification in form of a vacation, in other words an escape from the work.
What this does is make work a chore or a series chores that need to be done for the promised pleasure at the end. The problem is two-fold. The pleasure is never as good as how we imagined it, causing us to feel unsatisfied and leading us to question if we are working in the right field or doing the right thing in order to get our prize. Secondly, since we are focused on the weekend or vacation, our work suffers, weakening our possibility for future success and not satisfying the needs of those who depend on us..
Our focus should be service oriented. This positive, outward force benefits all those around it. Our satisfaction in serving can never be destroyed, and those we serve will find satisfaction in working with us. This focus puts a principle taught by our teacher, Jesus, into practice. ~Give and it shall be given to you~
Check yourself. Are you vacation or service oriented?
-- Posted while on the move
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Forgiveness is not an Option
Our future is tied to what you have done and are currently doing. Walk circumspectly (using a word my Dad uses all the time) so as not to fall into an emotional trap that may seem right at the time but will cause damaging repercussions.
It is unfortunate that, in our walk through life, we will have to face people that will want to do us harm. I’m not referring to those who accidentally hurt us. Although those events will no doubt bother us, they will not birth the same desire for revenge as those initiated out of the conscious effort to harm us.
You might be thinking that you don’t harbor a desire for revenge but simply believe that they (those who have harmed you) don’t deserve and will not get your forgiveness. This attitude will inflict self injury and future discomfort.
When we fail to forgive we set several things into motion. First of all we set the law of sowing and reaping into action, meaning that we will reap unforgiveness. And second, unforgiveness will bind that event to your future. You will not reach the success you desire. Unforgiveness acts as a weight and acts as a tether to your dreams.
Forgive, and cut yourself loose.
It is unfortunate that, in our walk through life, we will have to face people that will want to do us harm. I’m not referring to those who accidentally hurt us. Although those events will no doubt bother us, they will not birth the same desire for revenge as those initiated out of the conscious effort to harm us.
You might be thinking that you don’t harbor a desire for revenge but simply believe that they (those who have harmed you) don’t deserve and will not get your forgiveness. This attitude will inflict self injury and future discomfort.
When we fail to forgive we set several things into motion. First of all we set the law of sowing and reaping into action, meaning that we will reap unforgiveness. And second, unforgiveness will bind that event to your future. You will not reach the success you desire. Unforgiveness acts as a weight and acts as a tether to your dreams.
Forgive, and cut yourself loose.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Meetings, a Necessary Evil (i.e. pain in the booty)
In working with or in any organization (i.e. a group of 2 or more) you will have to participate in or have to organize meetings. These can be very beneficial (which will strengthen the idea or proposal) or a great waste of time which will weaken the underlining purpose of the meeting.
For a positive result it's important to identify what outcome is desired. Do you want to plant an idea, present a plan, person, or object, or to agree on a common course of action or?
The number of people invited should be in direct relation to what your desired outcome is. Large crowds are great for dispersing an idea, product, plan, etc. Smaller groups are better for making a decision and taking action.
When you desire to get the voice out. Big is always better. So there is nothing difficult about that part. Try to pack as many as possible into where ever you are. Now, there are some tricks to this. Not only are you trying to get a large crowd, you also want to get the crowd to feel like it is larger than it really is. This will put into practice the principle of the Magnetic Crowd. That is why the physical size of the event is important. You need to fill it or pack it. If there are empty seats you will not take advantage of the principle.
The difficult meeting organize or plan is the meeting designed for action-taking. As the organizer you need to invite the people who have the authority to make a decision, but these people normally
have a support staff that advises the decision-maker on the pros and cons of any action taken. This posses a problem. If the staff is strong and opinionated the decision-maker will want to take some time before a decision is made, that is why these meetings should be planned in a series of gradually smaller meetings.
Take your time and plan for all contingencies knowing that correct and efficient action takes deliberate thought.
Monday, September 14, 2009
The Gift
Few people appreciate the power of the gift. And yet it has been helping people gain access to, otherwise, restricted areas for ages. In the book of proverbs the author writes that a gift given in secret opens doors, and if this principle is used properly it can make your life easier.
There are a few rules that must be followed first.
- -the gift must have meaning
- -the gift must meet a need (the need may or may not be initially apparant to the receiver)
- -the need must be apparant when receiving the gift
- -the gift must not be given as a second thought
- -the gift must be heartfelt
- -the gift mustn't be given with a condition
- -the gift mustn't be given with any strings attached
- -the gift must not be done in public or to the knowledge of anyone else except the giver and the receiver
Give
And give
Often
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Giving and Deposits
As I was mulling over a passage in the Bible where Jesus talks about the rich fool, (Luke 12:16-21) I made a connection that I am very excited about. These are verses I have heard since I was a child, but only until now did the light turn on and I could see a deeper meaning.
(Maybe to the average “Joe”, what I just said not only sounds like gibberish but gibberish with a side order of “crazy” mixed in!)
The parable of the rich fool says that a certain rich man received a plentiful yield on his field. (Please note that what made the man a fool wasn’t his wealth, but what he planned and why he planned it.) The point of the parable isn’t the rich man or his barns, or his wealth, it is that he was thinking about himself and how he was setting up his future. His plan was to build bigger barns to hold all his grain in order to retire. I don’t think that God is opposed to retirement, but I am sure He is opposed to thinking that we should supply our own needs and retire.
The passage “God will liberally supply-- fill to the full-- your every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:19) is not a hope declaration, it’s a faith declaration. Not only that, it’s a declaration of God’s will. God wants to supply our needs. He doesn’t want to share the stage with anyone, not even you. Even though the Word says that God is a jealous God, this way or method of supplying our needs is more in line with helping us live without fear. When we live thinking about building up our bank account, our 401K or something similar, we are talking about doing something with our own strength. And whatever we do on our own is bound to earthly terms and therefore corrupt and doomed to eventually decay and crumble.
This isn’t God’s will for us. He has nothing against money, things or property, but He has a big problem with covetousness and fear. The rich man wanted to place his faith in his goods and not in God. What was in the rich man’s heart was a desire to gather his goods and grain in one place for himself and his own happiness. In other words, he was setting himself up to be the sole supplier of his future and happiness. He was going to put himself in the “god” position of his life. He wouldn’t have to depend on anyone or anything. (i.e. “So is he who lays up treasure for himself.” Luke 12:21)This was his error and this was what made him the fool. Now, to what I learned.
In Luke 18:22, Jesus (in response to a question on how to obtain eternal life) tells a rich young ruler to sell all that he has, give it to the poor and follow Him. Jesus didn’t want this man to be poor or to suffer without, but He was telling this man a way to protect his investment that sounds foreign and strange to us. Jesus even said “so you will have treasure in Heaven.” The way to wealth, for this young man, was to invest, watch his money grow, reap a harvest or a return and repeat. In response to his question, “What shall I do to inherit eternal life”, Jesus was offering the man a business opportunity. By giving to the poor, the rich man would have put his money in the best bank in all of creation.
Matthew 6:19-20 tells us of the type of bank: Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal.”(KJV) Jesus is talking about “laying up” in other words “storing up”, like the rich fool who wanted to tear down his barns and build bigger barns to store up/lay up his goods for the future. Jesus is saying that we should put our money & goods in a heavenly bank account.
I’m not proposing that we not use banks. Jesus talked about using banks in his parables and even the rich fool (before he started talking foolishly) had barns. I’m talking about the storehouses where we keep our treasure.
Think about this. We all have checking accounts, but our treasure isn’t really in the checking account, right? We may have a 401K, but it isn’t our treasure. Our treasure may be a special account, land holdings, or precious metals, or jewels, etc. that we hold on to because it represents our greatest holdings and the core of our monetary wealth. The Word is telling us that this method of thinking is a natural way and not a supernatural one. By selling it and giving it away, the person is depositing money in a heavenly bank account that no one can touch.
The natural man thinks that this method is ludicrous and means that the person who takes the supernatural path has no more wealth. But the supernatural man realizes that Proverbs 19:17 says, “…He who gives to the poor, lends to the Lord. And He will pay back what he has given.” He also knows that “God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that and that only is what he will reap.” (Galatians 6:7)
The supernatural way gives the user a five-way return:
1. The money cannot be stolen or destroyed.
2.There is a 100-fold increase (Matthew 19:29, Mark 10:28, Luke 18:30)
3.The wealth is available no matter where you are (it’s not bound by international law or boundaries)
4.Where your treasure is where your heart is also
5.Eternal Life (See Note)
When I saw this I realized that every believer (emphasis on “believer”) is being offered the awesome opportunity of depositing their goods in a heavenly account with outstanding returns. Have you ever thought of giving as opportunities and not a thing you have to do? When the offering plate comes by, it is an opportunity. When a person with little or no means of support asks you for money, it is an opportunity. When there is a project in your church, it is an opportunity. When God asks you to bless someone, it is an opportunity to deposit in that account.
That is how giving with a cheerful heart is possible. The giver is giving out of, not only obedience, but of love and the knowledge that they are laying up treasure in their heavenly bank account. We shouldn’t shy away from the thought of laying up treasure, since these are the same terms that Jesus used and offered as He spoke.
Now, there are some that refuse to believe that this is for them or that it means a spiritual value and not a physical one. I have three things that I would point out:
1.Heaven doesn’t need money; this is an offering (in the banking sense) to the believer.
2.The Bible says whatsoever you sow you will reap. We believe that if we sow evil we will receive evil, if we sow death we will receive death, if we sow thievery we will receive thievery. Why do we believe this for the evil side but when it comes to the good things, we refuse to believe that it means what it says? We may feel more comfortable saying that it means a spiritual value, but that doesn’t take away from what the Word really says: WHATSOEVER you SOW you will REAP.
3.As with all things in the Word, this is for the believer. If you don’t believe, then this isn’t for you.
Happy deposits!
Eternal Life Note:
Jesus makes an interesting point in Matthew 19:29, Mark 10:28, and Luke 18:29-30. Jesus says that the person who does these things/ walks this way will receive Eternal Life. I believe this stems from the faith placed in God and not our physical strength or ability. The comparison of faith in God and our own strength is an essay for another day, but a great point to highlight.
(Maybe to the average “Joe”, what I just said not only sounds like gibberish but gibberish with a side order of “crazy” mixed in!)
The parable of the rich fool says that a certain rich man received a plentiful yield on his field. (Please note that what made the man a fool wasn’t his wealth, but what he planned and why he planned it.) The point of the parable isn’t the rich man or his barns, or his wealth, it is that he was thinking about himself and how he was setting up his future. His plan was to build bigger barns to hold all his grain in order to retire. I don’t think that God is opposed to retirement, but I am sure He is opposed to thinking that we should supply our own needs and retire.
The passage “God will liberally supply-- fill to the full-- your every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:19) is not a hope declaration, it’s a faith declaration. Not only that, it’s a declaration of God’s will. God wants to supply our needs. He doesn’t want to share the stage with anyone, not even you. Even though the Word says that God is a jealous God, this way or method of supplying our needs is more in line with helping us live without fear. When we live thinking about building up our bank account, our 401K or something similar, we are talking about doing something with our own strength. And whatever we do on our own is bound to earthly terms and therefore corrupt and doomed to eventually decay and crumble.
This isn’t God’s will for us. He has nothing against money, things or property, but He has a big problem with covetousness and fear. The rich man wanted to place his faith in his goods and not in God. What was in the rich man’s heart was a desire to gather his goods and grain in one place for himself and his own happiness. In other words, he was setting himself up to be the sole supplier of his future and happiness. He was going to put himself in the “god” position of his life. He wouldn’t have to depend on anyone or anything. (i.e. “So is he who lays up treasure for himself.” Luke 12:21)
In Luke 18:22, Jesus (in response to a question on how to obtain eternal life) tells a rich young ruler to sell all that he has, give it to the poor and follow Him. Jesus didn’t want this man to be poor or to suffer without, but He was telling this man a way to protect his investment that sounds foreign and strange to us. Jesus even said “so you will have treasure in Heaven.” The way to wealth, for this young man, was to invest, watch his money grow, reap a harvest or a return and repeat. In response to his question, “What shall I do to inherit eternal life”, Jesus was offering the man a business opportunity. By giving to the poor, the rich man would have put his money in the best bank in all of creation.
Matthew 6:19-20 tells us of the type of bank: Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal.”(KJV) Jesus is talking about “laying up” in other words “storing up”, like the rich fool who wanted to tear down his barns and build bigger barns to store up/lay up his goods for the future. Jesus is saying that we should put our money & goods in a heavenly bank account.
I’m not proposing that we not use banks. Jesus talked about using banks in his parables and even the rich fool (before he started talking foolishly) had barns. I’m talking about the storehouses where we keep our treasure.
Think about this. We all have checking accounts, but our treasure isn’t really in the checking account, right? We may have a 401K, but it isn’t our treasure. Our treasure may be a special account, land holdings, or precious metals, or jewels, etc. that we hold on to because it represents our greatest holdings and the core of our monetary wealth. The Word is telling us that this method of thinking is a natural way and not a supernatural one. By selling it and giving it away, the person is depositing money in a heavenly bank account that no one can touch.
The natural man thinks that this method is ludicrous and means that the person who takes the supernatural path has no more wealth. But the supernatural man realizes that Proverbs 19:17 says, “…He who gives to the poor, lends to the Lord. And He will pay back what he has given.” He also knows that “God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that and that only is what he will reap.” (Galatians 6:7)
The supernatural way gives the user a five-way return:
1. The money cannot be stolen or destroyed.
2.There is a 100-fold increase (Matthew 19:29, Mark 10:28, Luke 18:30)
3.The wealth is available no matter where you are (it’s not bound by international law or boundaries)
4.Where your treasure is where your heart is also
5.Eternal Life (See Note)
When I saw this I realized that every believer (emphasis on “believer”) is being offered the awesome opportunity of depositing their goods in a heavenly account with outstanding returns. Have you ever thought of giving as opportunities and not a thing you have to do? When the offering plate comes by, it is an opportunity. When a person with little or no means of support asks you for money, it is an opportunity. When there is a project in your church, it is an opportunity. When God asks you to bless someone, it is an opportunity to deposit in that account.
That is how giving with a cheerful heart is possible. The giver is giving out of, not only obedience, but of love and the knowledge that they are laying up treasure in their heavenly bank account. We shouldn’t shy away from the thought of laying up treasure, since these are the same terms that Jesus used and offered as He spoke.
Now, there are some that refuse to believe that this is for them or that it means a spiritual value and not a physical one. I have three things that I would point out:
1.Heaven doesn’t need money; this is an offering (in the banking sense) to the believer.
2.The Bible says whatsoever you sow you will reap. We believe that if we sow evil we will receive evil, if we sow death we will receive death, if we sow thievery we will receive thievery. Why do we believe this for the evil side but when it comes to the good things, we refuse to believe that it means what it says? We may feel more comfortable saying that it means a spiritual value, but that doesn’t take away from what the Word really says: WHATSOEVER you SOW you will REAP.
3.As with all things in the Word, this is for the believer. If you don’t believe, then this isn’t for you.
Happy deposits!
Eternal Life Note:
Jesus makes an interesting point in Matthew 19:29, Mark 10:28, and Luke 18:29-30. Jesus says that the person who does these things/ walks this way will receive Eternal Life. I believe this stems from the faith placed in God and not our physical strength or ability. The comparison of faith in God and our own strength is an essay for another day, but a great point to highlight.
Monday, September 7, 2009
The Law of Going the Extra Mile
An action that I had previously dismissed as a simple rule of thumb taught by my parents is a law of enormous importance. I had performed it without consciously doing it for many years but lately I had started to slack off ‘cause I thought I didn’t have the time and I should focus more on the things that directly supported me and my goals.
This is the Law of Going the Extra Mile.
The Boy Scouts say that they should always leave a place better than they found it. Jesus said that if we are asked to carry something one mile to take in another one without being asked. We tell each other that we should “do unto others what we would like others to do to us.” Wouldn’t you like that other person to do more than just make your fries, flip your burger, or sell you a roll of stamps? Wouldn’t you like that extra smile, that good attitude, that suggestion that another choice would be better for you and cost less at the same time?
This is the law of Going the Extra Mile.
This mind set will boost your potential and make you a valuable asset no matter where you are or what you do. It will promote you to the top of what ever group you are in and place you in places above where your formal education promised you would go. It will make you a desired individual, and make you stand out among the rest of your co-workers, family, students, friends.
This is the law of Going the Extra Mile
It requires you to go beyond what you have been asked to do and what you have been paid to do. It requires excellence or quality in your actions and a positive/happy mental attitude. I
encourage you to practice this law on-purpose for the next 7-days on a constant basis, without telling any one of what you are doing. After this “test period” you will experience how powerful this law is and will not want to stop.
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Your Eyes and Ears
Have you ever thought about your eyes and ears? I have thought about them when I see or hear of someone who doesn't have a working pair. But other than that, they don't even cross my mind.
I was going to a meeting the other day when I was thinking about the way I experience the world around me. And how that information might change the way I experience the rest of the day or the rest of my life. As long as I am awake I have my eyes open and am listening to the sounds around me. They don't have a filter but act as a funnel device. As long as the image is in front of me, it is recorded and as long as the sound is relatively close it is recorded as well. I can "pay attention" to a certain part of the image or sound to make a decision to continue, buy, reject, walk, duck, smile, turn away, run, get excited, be depressed, be full of hope, expect the divine, accept defeat, etc.
But the interesting thing is that when I come across an image or sound that I have seen or heard before I automatically remember how I reacted the first time I came across that situation. This makes my reaction time faster. But what I realized was that sometimes my initial reaction wasn't the correct one. This makes it difficult to "reprogram" my reactions.
This makes it very important to "pay attention" or realize what we are looking at and listening too. Since there is no built in filter on either of the input devices it is up to the user to "filter" by choosing wisely.
I remember a song my mother would sing to me that went "Cuidado los ojitos al mirar..." Translated (be careful what your eyes look at). It is important that we take care of what we put in our heart, mind, soul.
Whatever we look at stays with us for a loooooooong time. If I were to ask you, "What have you seen that you shouldn't have?" you will automatically remember the image. Impressive, right? It would be great if it worked that way for the Biology, Chemistry, Algebra and geometry formulae, but I haven't got it to work that way. In any case we should take to experiment to heart and realize how important we should apply our personal "filter" and guide our eyes and ears to see and listen to that which is uplifting kind, patient, loving, nobel, and uplifting.
Monday, August 31, 2009
The Value
I didn't realize how little the value of business was valued until just recently when I was overcharged by several dollars.
I was using the taxi service offered by my office and after a two hour shuttle I was returned to my house. The driver mumbled the fare over his shoulder and held out his hand for the money. But the amount he was charging me was a few dollars over the negotiated rate my office had agreed upon with the taxi company.
Thinking that I must have misunderstood the driver I asked that he repeat his fare. He repeated his inflated fare even after I asked him to double check. It was late, there was no supervisor in their main dispatch office and I didn't want to argue so I paid him what he asked for.
I, later, got in touch with the corporate sales manager and got the situation cleared up and a reimbursement of my money. But what struck me was the short-sightedness of the taxi driver. He put his livelihood, his reputation and that of the taxi company future earnings and business on the line in order to make a few extra dollars.
It pointed out a flaw in his reasoning and a principle should follow. Always round off the deal in the client's favor.
We will always be confronted with situations in which, while no one is watching, we could take advantage of the client. That may mean making more money on that deal but it will, without a doubt, mean a loss of a business relationship. And after it is all said and done its the personal relationships we make along the way that validate our words and produce dividends beyond what we can see, taste or feel.
G
-- Post From My iPhone
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Canceling out God's Word
I always believed that there was nothing that could stand up against God's Word. He Is God, so it would stand to reason that there shouldn't be anything that could stand against His Word, right? He created the heavens and the earth. He placed the stars in the sky with the words of His mouth. He measures the oceans in the palm of His hand. So, it's logical to believe that His words will carry with them the power to fullfill them and nothing can stop it.
Well, to my surprise, that has an exception clause.
Yes. God's words have the power to fulfill their purpose but God's plans can be thwarted.
Think about this... Isn't it God's will that all men might be saved? So, are they all saved? Is it God's fault? Wouldn't you agre that this is an interesting situation in which God's will is not fulfilled because of man.
In a like manner God's words are held back or are of no effect (ie can not take effect or cause an effect) because of man's traditions.
I won't write about man's traditions this time but we should all take a moment and check ourselves, asking "are my ideas, experiences, or philosophies nullifying God's word?" have we ever said "I know that is what the Bible says BUT...." if so we might be nullifying God's word in our life.
-- Post From My iPhone
Well, to my surprise, that has an exception clause.
Yes. God's words have the power to fulfill their purpose but God's plans can be thwarted.
Think about this... Isn't it God's will that all men might be saved? So, are they all saved? Is it God's fault? Wouldn't you agre that this is an interesting situation in which God's will is not fulfilled because of man.
In a like manner God's words are held back or are of no effect (ie can not take effect or cause an effect) because of man's traditions.
I won't write about man's traditions this time but we should all take a moment and check ourselves, asking "are my ideas, experiences, or philosophies nullifying God's word?" have we ever said "I know that is what the Bible says BUT...." if so we might be nullifying God's word in our life.
-- Post From My iPhone
Monday, August 24, 2009
As for me and my family
When I read what Joshua said I didn't have a family of my own. I was encouraged by his conviction and leadership. I imagined Mel Gibson in Braveheart as he ran before his men on his steed encouraging his men before the battle.
I whole heartedly agreed, and vowed to do the same when my time came to be a head-of-household. Then I got married and I realized that William Wallace wasn't married when he so valiently stood before his men and made his pledge.
Joshua's pledge took on a different meaning. It wasn't just a stand but a commitment to God and to his family. It was a declaration of how he would live his life in such a way that every action and word would serve as a guide to his children and children's children on serving God.
It may sound simple but that statement means a denial of self interests and becoming sold out to a higher cause. In fact it means that those who make that statement must live the life they want their family to live.
I, for one, believe that it's worth it. And so I repeat those words I shouted out in Vision Juvenil 86 and Joshua declared before the people of Israel "...as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."
-- Post From My iPhone
I whole heartedly agreed, and vowed to do the same when my time came to be a head-of-household. Then I got married and I realized that William Wallace wasn't married when he so valiently stood before his men and made his pledge.
Joshua's pledge took on a different meaning. It wasn't just a stand but a commitment to God and to his family. It was a declaration of how he would live his life in such a way that every action and word would serve as a guide to his children and children's children on serving God.
It may sound simple but that statement means a denial of self interests and becoming sold out to a higher cause. In fact it means that those who make that statement must live the life they want their family to live.
I, for one, believe that it's worth it. And so I repeat those words I shouted out in Vision Juvenil 86 and Joshua declared before the people of Israel "...as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."
-- Post From My iPhone
Thursday, August 20, 2009
What are you doing!?
Our every action is important. Our every word propels us toward a certain future. And if we take our 24 hours lightly we will find ourselves in a difficult and inhospitable place.
Look at the ships on the sea. If they don't have a ploted course they will eventually land on the rocks.
How is your day plotted? Are you taking advantage of your down time? Are you investing in yourself and on your future?
I challenge you to take an inventory of your day and record the time you spend. I submit that, if you are spending more than 120 minutes a day in non-productive activities, your floating dangerously near the rocks.
Take advantage of every moment of every day. Don't let your life slip by.
Gabriel G
-- Post From My iPhone
Look at the ships on the sea. If they don't have a ploted course they will eventually land on the rocks.
How is your day plotted? Are you taking advantage of your down time? Are you investing in yourself and on your future?
I challenge you to take an inventory of your day and record the time you spend. I submit that, if you are spending more than 120 minutes a day in non-productive activities, your floating dangerously near the rocks.
Take advantage of every moment of every day. Don't let your life slip by.
Gabriel G
-- Post From My iPhone
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Ride to school
The taxi jerked to the left in order to avoid a horse-drawn cart making it's way down the Javier Prado (a semi-highway in Lima) and I looked down at my 4-year old laughing and singing beside me.
She knows no other life except the one overseas. To her it's normal to see horses on the highway, and over stuffed buses. To her it's a wonderful experience to eat an empanada on the street corner and haggle with the street vendor for a better price on her M&M's.
She's growing up and experiencing the world at lighting speed. I feel many times like the crowd in the stands watching the runner rush by on her way towards the finish line.
She used to fit in one arm. Now she looks up at me from her side of the taxi pointing at the fire eater asking for money at the light-stop.
We're going to her school and some would think it to be a waste of time, others would fill the 10-15 minutes with a phone call or an email to their boss. To me it's 15 minutes that I will cherish for a lifetime.
My beautiful baby girl
-- Post From My iPhone
She knows no other life except the one overseas. To her it's normal to see horses on the highway, and over stuffed buses. To her it's a wonderful experience to eat an empanada on the street corner and haggle with the street vendor for a better price on her M&M's.
She's growing up and experiencing the world at lighting speed. I feel many times like the crowd in the stands watching the runner rush by on her way towards the finish line.
She used to fit in one arm. Now she looks up at me from her side of the taxi pointing at the fire eater asking for money at the light-stop.
We're going to her school and some would think it to be a waste of time, others would fill the 10-15 minutes with a phone call or an email to their boss. To me it's 15 minutes that I will cherish for a lifetime.
My beautiful baby girl
-- Post From My iPhone
Monday, August 17, 2009
Why the iPhone
I asked the same question while I was still debating whether to buy one. In fact, I am constantly asking myself that question.
The most obvious always tops the list. "'cause it's cool and it's all the rave" but I find that the iPhone is much more that just a shinny bauble. It has grown from a simple phone into a portable office and communication center.
I can make a multiple user phone conference, text and receive SMS responses in ordered fashion by contact or contact group, present keynote and/or PowerPoint presentations by wifi, record audio memos or conversations and email them to myself or some other interested party.
Besides the business related things mentioned above, I can also listen to a day's worth of mp3's and several movies, while playing a game and doing what I'm doing now.... Writing this blog while being bounced around in a Peruvian taxi cab.
An iPhone puts me far ahead of my competition and in a favorable place to serve those who rely on me.
-- Post From My iPhone
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Two Children
I wish the blessing of children on all. They don't come with a hand book, which would greatly help, nor do they come with fear. This combination can keep any adult on their toes. But what makes childhood so wonderful is their trust and unwavering faith in their parents.
I constantly learn from my 2 about how my relationship with my heavenly father should be like. The issues of trust, patience, promises, my word all come to bear.
What saddens me most is when one or the other doesn't believe me. I ask them why or who told them that I wouldn't do this or that.
That's when I see myself receiving the same chidding from my heavenly Father when I doubt Him.
I should never forget that my Father can not lie and can not change Him mind. His promises are YES and AMEN.
I constantly learn from my 2 about how my relationship with my heavenly father should be like. The issues of trust, patience, promises, my word all come to bear.
What saddens me most is when one or the other doesn't believe me. I ask them why or who told them that I wouldn't do this or that.
That's when I see myself receiving the same chidding from my heavenly Father when I doubt Him.
I should never forget that my Father can not lie and can not change Him mind. His promises are YES and AMEN.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Last Words
As we sit here after watching three celebs pass away it should make us think about what it is that we are doing and how will we leave this world. Our lives will not be forever and with every breath we are approaching that final day. Will we look back and say, "I wish I hadn't watched so much TV." "I wish I had been diligent in my work." "I wish I had loved my family more." "I wish I would have left a legacy." What will people be saying about you as they say "good bye"?
"He was generous, kind, loving, always had a kind word, and giving. He built, He created, He mended fences, and built bridges. He was so to anger and quick to forgive."
Don't wait another day to start building the legacy you want to leave behind.
Gabriel G
Saturday, April 11, 2009
You are the Redeemed
In 30 some odd minutes it will be resurrection Sunday where I am sitting at this computer hammering at it’s keys with excitement. After that day 2,000 years ago every day is an exciting day but of the 365 of them, we have chosen this day as the memorial day when Jesus was resurrected from the dead.
We celebrate his victory over death, hell, and the grave. And with out a doubt we celebrate our redemption which He bought for with His blood.
So what is redemption exactly? It sounds like a religious word but we still use it today in our everyday English. Have you ever pawned something? If you ever do, the clerk gives you a slip of paper that you can use to redeem the item you just pawned. It means to pay an amount to get something of value back. Jesus redeemed us from the curse of the law. (Galatians 3:13)
He saw value in us and paid the price so that you and I could be brought back to right-standing with God. (Colossians 1:20) With what Jesus did those 2,000 years ago you and I have been given the right to stand boldly in the throne room of God (Hebrews 4:16) We have been given the right to ask of Him ANYTHING (John 14:13 and 14 and John 15:7) We have been set free from the works of the enemy (1 John 3:8)
Jesus summed it in two places. The first was when He declared that He was to preach the Acceptable Year of the Lord. That year is call the year of Jubilee. I'ld rather not get into all the specifics but in that year all debts were canceled and slaves were set free. Everything returned to it’s original state. (For us, it means the original state when God made Man.)
The second was when He prayed, what we now call, the “Our Father”. The second verse of the prayer is “Thy Will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.” That has to be the most powerful prayer ever. Tell me. What is God’s will in heaven? Is it death, sickness, disease, lack or death? No! On the contrary His will is Life, Abundance, and Health. In fact it may even be opulence. He does have streets made of gold. Can you imagine if God’s will were done here on earth as it is in Heaven?
We have been redeemed so that we can enjoy the life He has always wanted to give us. It is the enemy that pulls up the past and reminds us of what we did or haven’t done. But when he does just remind him of...
Colossians 2:13-14 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;What all that means is that Jesus not only paid for your sins and errors and screw ups, and rebellion and all the other stuff, but He has “blotted out” the handwriting of those acts. In other words you can’t find anywhere any document of your mistakes, sins etc. No one can find them.
So turn to that liar, the devil, and point out the fact that you don’t have anything to be ashamed of. You are a redeemed child of God, enjoying full birthright privileges, and there is nothing he can do or dig up that can change that.
Praise the Lord we are Redeemed!
Praise the Lord we are Redeemed!
The Redemption Plan
It all started many years before the cross. It was before the wise men and the shepards on the hill. It was before Babel and several centuries before the flood. To really know when it all started you have to go to beginning. . . Genesis
God is Love
In His love He created all but in particular He created Man. It was no ordinary creation but the greatest creation, since He create it in His image. He created Man a speaking Spirit. That doesn’t refer to Man’s ability to make noise or communicate with each other or with Him since all creatures communicate in one way or another. Man was created unique in that God created Him to be able to speak as God speaks. God created a creature that could create with it’s words.
He had created an entire universe for Man but especially the planet that He placed Man on was given over to Man to have dominion and prosper. God had given Man authority over the animals in the sea, those who flew and those who walked the earth. God held His first lesson in teaching Man how to use His words by telling him to name the animals. Man didn’t name the creatures with Cow, Horse, Elephant, Robin, Trout. His names gave the animal purpose and a reason for being just like God had done when He created Man. Under God’s supervision Man was the overlord of earth. That was the Beginning.
God called the beginning “Good”, which means complete, whole , not missing or lacking anything. And it was.
After the beginning an undesirable creature made its’ presence known and challenged God’s Word. The creature injected doubt that the Word of God wasn’t ultimate and final, and that there was something more. It asked Man to chose its’ word over God’s.
Man chose to take the word of the creature over that of God’s, and by doing so Man unwittingly gave his authority of the planet, the creatures, even his own life over to the creature. A new overlord of Earth was promoted and the Fall of Man happened in that instant.
There was no turning back. man was cursed by his own action. The payment for the curse is Death. But since there was no other man to pay for the curse and the curse lies in the blood then the rest of mankind was cursed forever.
The Plan
God’s mercy endures forever. His love knows no failure. So a plan was born to redeem mankind, a plan that would not fail. The plan was simple enough, as the best plans are. But God needed man for the plan to work.
In the beginning God had given all authority to man, who had in turn passed authority to the creature by putting faith in what it had said over God. God actions were bound to the authority He had given man. God needed man.
Throughout history God asked man to have faith in Him. For those who listened and believed He was able to work in their lives. And in their lives He was able to show man the blueprint of His plan. A perfect, Good Man had to die to pay for the curse. God spoke of the plan through prophets, kings, and even celebrations. God couldn't ask a man born of man to make this sacrifice, because every man was born already cursed and therefore not perfect. It had to be a Man created as He had created the first one...with His Word.
The creature had been warned by God that the plan would work and that man would be redeemed. And from that moment the creature sought to kill or undermine all those who showed promise of being the perfect Man, born of God.
Many years of oppression past and man was no better off. Sickness, disease, poverty, slavery and death reined on the world God had once called “Good”.
But the day arrived when a woman was asked to participate in the plan. God spoke His Word, and when she accepted His Word took form. The child was born of faith and the Word of God. (John 1:14).
From a very young age, the Word made Man, spoke of what He was ushering in. A redemption, and the kingdom of God. It wasn’t to frighten man but to prepare man to accept their redeemed birthright.
The creature took notice of the Man and did all in his power to destroy Him, but the creature was thwarted at every turn.
When the time was right the Word made Man allowed himself to be taken. The creature thought he had outwitted God and quickly took the Man to die on a cross. But when he did he unwittingly exposed himself and had to relinquish the authority he had coned Man out of in the Beginning.
You see, since all those born were born in the curse they all deserved to die, but the Man born of God’s Word was not born in the curse. He was perfect and the creature had no death-right over Him.
When the Man gave His spirit up, the price for for mankind’s redemption was paid.
The creature had to relinquish the authority back to the Man who had paid the price. And on the third day the Man was reborn with all the authority.
God’s plan succeeded and Man had the authority they once had in the beginning. The relationship between God and Man was restored. Death, sickness, poverty, and slavery were no longer linked to man, as long as they accepted the gift of redemption they were free of those tools of the enemy.
God is Love
In His love He created all but in particular He created Man. It was no ordinary creation but the greatest creation, since He create it in His image. He created Man a speaking Spirit. That doesn’t refer to Man’s ability to make noise or communicate with each other or with Him since all creatures communicate in one way or another. Man was created unique in that God created Him to be able to speak as God speaks. God created a creature that could create with it’s words.
He had created an entire universe for Man but especially the planet that He placed Man on was given over to Man to have dominion and prosper. God had given Man authority over the animals in the sea, those who flew and those who walked the earth. God held His first lesson in teaching Man how to use His words by telling him to name the animals. Man didn’t name the creatures with Cow, Horse, Elephant, Robin, Trout. His names gave the animal purpose and a reason for being just like God had done when He created Man. Under God’s supervision Man was the overlord of earth. That was the Beginning.
God called the beginning “Good”, which means complete, whole , not missing or lacking anything. And it was.
After the beginning an undesirable creature made its’ presence known and challenged God’s Word. The creature injected doubt that the Word of God wasn’t ultimate and final, and that there was something more. It asked Man to chose its’ word over God’s.
Man chose to take the word of the creature over that of God’s, and by doing so Man unwittingly gave his authority of the planet, the creatures, even his own life over to the creature. A new overlord of Earth was promoted and the Fall of Man happened in that instant.
There was no turning back. man was cursed by his own action. The payment for the curse is Death. But since there was no other man to pay for the curse and the curse lies in the blood then the rest of mankind was cursed forever.
The Plan
God’s mercy endures forever. His love knows no failure. So a plan was born to redeem mankind, a plan that would not fail. The plan was simple enough, as the best plans are. But God needed man for the plan to work.
In the beginning God had given all authority to man, who had in turn passed authority to the creature by putting faith in what it had said over God. God actions were bound to the authority He had given man. God needed man.
Throughout history God asked man to have faith in Him. For those who listened and believed He was able to work in their lives. And in their lives He was able to show man the blueprint of His plan. A perfect, Good Man had to die to pay for the curse. God spoke of the plan through prophets, kings, and even celebrations. God couldn't ask a man born of man to make this sacrifice, because every man was born already cursed and therefore not perfect. It had to be a Man created as He had created the first one...with His Word.
The creature had been warned by God that the plan would work and that man would be redeemed. And from that moment the creature sought to kill or undermine all those who showed promise of being the perfect Man, born of God.
Many years of oppression past and man was no better off. Sickness, disease, poverty, slavery and death reined on the world God had once called “Good”.
But the day arrived when a woman was asked to participate in the plan. God spoke His Word, and when she accepted His Word took form. The child was born of faith and the Word of God. (John 1:14).
From a very young age, the Word made Man, spoke of what He was ushering in. A redemption, and the kingdom of God. It wasn’t to frighten man but to prepare man to accept their redeemed birthright.
The creature took notice of the Man and did all in his power to destroy Him, but the creature was thwarted at every turn.
When the time was right the Word made Man allowed himself to be taken. The creature thought he had outwitted God and quickly took the Man to die on a cross. But when he did he unwittingly exposed himself and had to relinquish the authority he had coned Man out of in the Beginning.
You see, since all those born were born in the curse they all deserved to die, but the Man born of God’s Word was not born in the curse. He was perfect and the creature had no death-right over Him.
When the Man gave His spirit up, the price for for mankind’s redemption was paid.
The creature had to relinquish the authority back to the Man who had paid the price. And on the third day the Man was reborn with all the authority.
God’s plan succeeded and Man had the authority they once had in the beginning. The relationship between God and Man was restored. Death, sickness, poverty, and slavery were no longer linked to man, as long as they accepted the gift of redemption they were free of those tools of the enemy.
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