The Providence of God ...PartII
Some Christians think that it's the will of God for man to be poverty stricken, helpless, defeated, crushed, and sorrowful; to suffer pain, sickness, and disease; and to live from hand to mouth in order to keep himself humble and godly is disproved by many Scriptures as we have mentioned in part one.
God has given us many Great and Wonderful promises, let us seek, ask, believe and recieve what He has graciously offered us to have...here, today, right NOW!
Prosperity
"Be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law...turn not from the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest PROSPER whithersoever thou goest...thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way PROSPEROUS, and then thou shalt have GOOD SUCCESS" (Joshua 1:5-9); "The Lord maketh poor, and maketh RICH: He bringeth low, and lifteth up. He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them amoung princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory" (1 Samuel 2:7-8); "And keep the charge of the Lord thy God, to walk in His ways...that thou mayest PROSPER in ALL that thou doest, and whithersoever thou turnest thyself" (1 Kings 2:3-4); Both RICHES and HONOR come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is POWER and MIGHT and in thy hand it is to MAKE GREAT, and to give strength to ALL." (I Chronicles 29:12); The hand of our God is upon all them FOR GOOD that SEEK Him: but His power and His wrath IS AGAINST THEM that FORSAKE Him" (Ezra 8:22); "If they obey and serve Him, they shall spend their days IN PROSPERITY, and their years IN PLEASURES" (Job 36:11); "Blessed is the man that walketh NOT in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in His law doeth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and WHATSOEVER HE DOETH SHALL PROSPER" (Psalm 1:1-3).
Other Scriptures are: "He that soweth sparingly shall reap sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully...God is able to make ALL grace abound toward you; that ye (YOU) always having ALL sufficiency in ALL THINGS, may abound to every good work" (2 Corinthians 9:6-8); But my God SHALL supply ALL thy (YOUR) NEED according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:19); "If ye (YOU) abide in Me, and My WORDS abide in you, ye (YOU) shall ASK WHAT YE (YOU) WILL, AND IT SHALL BE DONE UNTO YOU" (John 15:7,16); Beloveth, I wish above all things that thou mayesth PROSPER and be in HEALTH, even as thy SOUL PROSPERETH" (3 John 2).
The question for us is: Why do we limit God? Why do we put God in a shoe box? Is not our God the Almighty??? and doesn't He own it all? The benifits for ALL God's children are just that ...for ALL! God is NO respecter of persons. And as the Scriptures teach us, Jesus Christ, the SAME, YESTERDAY, TODAY AND FOREVER!!!
Healing & Health
Here we come to yet another difficult area for some Christians to fully understand, the subject of Healing and Health. Some teach that it's NOT God's will to heal every Born-again, Blood-bought, child of God who falls prey to sickness or disease, for WHATEVER reason.
Some preachers blast those, who they call "Name & Claim" Christians, solely based one the Scripture from (Mark 11:22-24)..."What things soever ye "You" desire, when ye "You" pray believe that ye "You" recieve them, and ye "You" shall have them. The first step or question ANY Christian must answer in asking anything from God; is what your asking for His will for your life? For the answer we go to the Scriptures and see what His word has to say about it. The so-called Name & Claim it folks have gotten a bad wrap, or at least those who comdemn them have confussed a lot of Christians, both "Babes" and even some older "Elders" in the church, that in my opinion have robed them from recieving Healings or Delievance, and in turn have robed God of recieving MUCH glory, telling their brothers and sister in Christ, that it might not be God's will for them to get healed....God have mercy on us! If healing and health are promised in the word of God, and IS the will of God, then who are we as the servants and children of the most High to teach otherwise ...God help us!
If we are going to teach truth, then let us teach the whole truth based on NOT one Scripture but on God's whole counsel...the BIBLE! Trying to sell the body of Christ on the notion that God gets glory out of putting sickness and diseases on His children as to prove some form of point that His children can humbly stand suffering and pain for His glory, makes our heavenly Father out to be as cruel and heartless as the devil.
Let us state for the record before we move on that God does allow and permit Satan & demons to attack us! However, It's NOT for His glory, but that it would teach His children to use the "Sword of the Spirit" (the word of God) against the enemies of our souls: "Satan & demons", and fight the good fight of Faith. Satan IS a defeated foe! ...although he still fights and aflicks people as though he's still in control. God has given EVERY child of His the resources, weapons and armor to stand against him, resisting sickness, disease, proverty, defeat, etc, etc.
Sin, sickness, disease, proverty all came into our world, as a result of Sin, which is Rebellion against God. Satan longs to keep God's children in the dark from recieving all that Christ Jesus bought and paid for us when He went to the old rugged cross and shed His blood for us. Hear the direct word of Jesus from John 10:10..."The thief (Satan) cometh not, but to STEAL and to KILL, and to DESTROY!....but I have come that you might have LIFE, and that they might have it more abundantly." Ask yourself, which is the will of God, Life, health, healing, abunance? ...or defeat, sickness, disease, poverty, death? You choose!!!
Now lets look at ALL the Scriptures and see what IS taught and what IS the will of God concerning Healing & Health....
"He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty...Surely He shall deliver thee from the noisome pestilence...Thou shalt not be afraid of the pestilence that walkethin darkness ...A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee...There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling...With long life will I satisfy him, ans shew him My salvation" (Psalm 91); "Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who HEALETH ALL thy (YOUR) DISEASES" (Psalm 103:3-5); "He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed" (Isaiah 53:4-5); "Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine HEALTH shall spring forth speedily" (Isaiah 58:8).
Prosperity & Money
The Bible is full of record of God's blessing men with prosperity. (Genesis 13:3-9; 26:12,16; 33:11; 39:2-23; 41:40-44; 1 Kings 10:7; 2 Chronicles1:12; 9:22; 17:5; 32:27; Job 1:3). Their are many scriptures, both in the old testament and new testament that are recorded where God blessed man with prosperity and riches to those who served ans obeyed Him. Here's a few Scriptures...(Leviticus 26; Deuteronomy 28; Joshua 1:7-9; 1 Kings 2:3-4; 1 Chronicles 20:20; 24:20; 26:5; Psalm 1:3; Proverbs 10:22; 1 Corinthians 16:1-2; 2 Corinthians 8:9; 9:6-11; 1 Timothy 6:17; 3 John 2).
God Himself is the richest person in the universe; so if it were a sin to have riches, then God would be the biggest sinner of them all. The very streets of Heaven are paved with pure-gold, and the foundations are garnished with Jewels of all kinds. Every gate is made of solid pearls and every house is a mansion. So WHOEVER started preaching and teaching that God's children should be poor to remain humble should stop teaching our brothers and sisters that it's okay to save lots of money for retirement, with stocks, bonds, CD's etc.etc. Because many are sending a MIXED message to the "Body-of-Christ" or their at least NOT teaching enough for them to know the WHOLE true concerning Prosperity & Money. YES, let us keep focused on those REAL treasures that we are laying up in Heaven, Eternal Treasures; and not so much on Earthly Treasures that will eventually pass away, but at the same time, God DOES will for His children to be Prosperous in all areas of life, in Good Health, and have his or her NEEDS met, including DESIRES, if they are GODLY desires! ..for this is the key.
Wants & Needs
All wants and needs are provided by God in the promises of the gospel THROUGH Christ. The common theory is that just the bare needs will be met by God and that these necessities are hard to get, but the Bible teaches that ALL man's wants are abundantly provided for andthat such supplies are easy to get by FAITH. "All things are possible to him that believe" (Mark 9:23; "Have faith in God, for verily (Truely) I say unto you, that WHOSOEVER shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and SHALL NOT DOUBT IN HIS HEART, but SHALL BELIEVE that those things which he saith SHALL come to pass; HE SHALL HAVE WHATSOEVER HE SAITH. Therefore I say unto you, WHAT THINGS SOEVER YOU DESIRE, when you pray, BELIEVE THAT YOU RECIEVE THEM, and YOU SHALL HAVE THEM" (Mark 11:22-24).
All these Scriptures are PLAIN and SIMPLE. They need NO interpretation! All that is needed is some faith and pratice. If we truely believe the Bible, then it is settled that we believe that we can get whatever we ask in Jesus name. If we DO NOT believe it, there is NO need to try to get anything that we ask. God's plan for the needs of man becomes very clear when we accept at full face valve the many simple promises of Scriptures. "Delight thyself in the Lord; and He shall give thee the DESIRES OF THINE HEART" (Psalm 34:9-10; 37: 3-6). Again, we are told, "NO GOOD THING will be WITHELD from him that walketh uprightly" (Psalm 84:11).
More Benefits
1)...Salvation from sin and sins (Matthew 1:21; Ephesians 1:7; 2:8-9; 1 John 1:7-9)
2)...The baptism in the Holy Spirit (Matthew 3:11; John 1:33; Acts 1:4-5; 2:38-39)
3)...The Kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 5:3; 13:43; 25:34)
4)...Comfort (Matthew 5:4; John 14:16, 26)
5)...The Earth as an inheritance (Matthew 5:5; Psalm 37:9 29)
6)...Filling of righteousness (Matthew 5:6; 1 John 2:29; 3:7-10; 5:1-4, 18)
7)...Mercy from God (Matthew 5:7; Romans 12:1; Ephesians 2:4; 1 Peter 1:3)
8)...Heart purity (Matthew 5:8; John 15:3; 1 Peter 1:22-23)
9)...Sonship (Matthew 5:9; John 1:12; Romans 8:14-16; Galatians 3:26-28)
10)..Great reward in Heaven (Matthew 5:11-12; Romans 8:17-18; 1 Peter 1:3-4)
11)..Answers to all prayers (Matthew 6:4-6; 18; 7:7-11; 18:18-20; Mark 11:22-24; John 14:12-15; 15:7, 16; 16:23-26; 1 John 3:21-22; 5:14-15)
12)..Abundant provision for life here and now (Matthew 6:25-33; Mark 11:22-24 John 14:12-15; 15:7, 16; 16:23-26; 2 Corinthians 9:8-11; Philippians 4:19; 3 John 2)
13)..Infinite Fatherhood of God (Matthew 6:33, 7:7-11; 10:29-32; Romans 8;32)
14)..Eternal life (John 3:16, 36; 5:24; 17:3; Galatians 6:7-8)
15)..Reward for the smallest work done for others (Matthew 10:39-42; 16:27)
16)..Rest for the soul (Matthew 11:28-30; Romans 5:1-11; 8:1-13)
17)..Power to do all things (Matthew 17:19-21;21:-22; Mark 9:23; 11:22-24; Luke 24:49; Acts 1:8)
18)..The presence of God (Matthew 18:18-20; 28:19-20)
19)..Miraculous signs and wonders (Matthew 16:15-20; John 14:12-15; Acts 1:8)
20)..Power over all the power of the devil (Luke 10:19; 24:49; Mark 16:15-20; John 14:12-15, 15:7, 16; 16:23-26; Acts 1:8; 2 Corinthians 10:4-5; Ephesians 6:10-18)
21)..Wisdom above all adversaries (Luke 21:15; James 1:5-8)
22)..Complete spiritual satisfation (Matthew 5:6; John 4:13-14; 6;35-63)
23)..Resurrection of the body to immortality and eternal life (John 5:28-29; 6:39-54; 1 Corinthians 15:51-58; Philippians 3:20-21; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17)
And the list goes on!
If early believers actually experienced and enjoyed these blessings, why can't modern believers? Does God not still love us? Has He lost His power today? Do we not need these benefits? Are all the promises stil the same? Has God changed His word? Is God a respecter of persons? So the question is then; WHERE does it say that God has changed His mind and done away with His provision for all men who will DARE BELIEVE!!
Modern theories continue to teach and manufacture doctrines of unbelief to excuse their own weakness and lack of power than to face the plain facts and put forth some effort to meet the conditions that will enable them to attain to these benefits.