Contentment, Easter

Contentment

Hebrews 13:5
“Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we may boldly say: “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”

True contentment and a lack of covetousness as mentioned in this verse comes from understanding the enormity of what we possess when we take God’s words seriously - “I will never leave you or forsake you.” What else do I need if I have the blessed assurance that Jesus is mine? His words allow me to say with confidence “The Lord is my help, I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?”

Easter

The Cross is a picture of God's love for us - a love so fervent that He sent His Son Jesus to give His life in our place, all so that we "should not perish but have everlasting life" (John 3:16). The Cross is proof that God cares deeply for us and was willing to go to a great length to restore man's relationship to Himself.

This is not just some historic tale - this is real, relevant and revolutionary still today. I, along with countless others, can attest to the life-changing power of God's love, embodied in the good-news message of the Cross which we celebrate during this time. May the reality of His love continue to be seen in our lives.

Rom 1:16, Gal 6:14

Faith

"When darkness seems to hide His face,
I rest on His unchanging grace."
- Edward Mote

There come times in our lives when it may be hard for us to hear, feel or see God. It is in these "dark" moments that we must place our faith firmly on His unchanging grace as revealed to us in His Word. It is not blind faith, escapism or feel-good fantasy - it is because God never fails.

1 Peter 1:13, Hab 3:17-18, Psalm 30:5

Trust

"'Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just to take Him at His Word."
- Louisa M. R. Stead

Simple and genuine trust in Jesus starts from the inside, then shows on the outside. If you find that you are restless and distressed, choose to throw yourself wholly upon His promises. You will come to a place of rest where your circumstances won't affect the confidence of knowing that God always comes through. He is faithful.

Prov 3:5, Isa 26:3, Heb 11:1

Grace

“‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved.”
- John Newton (Amazing Grace)

The closer we come to comprehending the immense gift of the grace of God, the less comfortable we will be to take advantage of it. But knowing that God’s grace means we don’t have to live under condemnation is an assurance that relieves fear.

Rom 2:4, Heb 10:26-29, Rom 8:1

Peace

"Whatever my lot, You have taught me to say,
It is well, it is well with my soul.”
- Horatio Spafford

Would it be lying to say “it is well” when our life circumstances suggest the exact opposite? It depends. There must be a certain disconnection in ourselves between our physical and spiritual lives. This is so that our spiritual wellbeing is not directly affected by our physical circumstances. When we reach such a place, then no matter what we come up against externally, we will always be able to say, “it is well with my soul.”

“We have an anchor that keeps the soul
Steadfast and sure while the billows roll.”
- Priscilla. J. Owens

Hab 3:17-18, 1 Thes 5:18, Psalm 34:1

Longevity

“Frail as summer’s flower we flourish,
Blows the wind and it is gone;
But while mortals rise and perish
Our God lives unchanging on”
- Henry. F. Lyte

Our time on Earth is minute when measured against eternity. But what an amazing thought to know our God will not only still be Sovereign long after we are gone, but His character will not change. So all that we have known our Lord to be during our lifetime - faithful, loving, gracious, merciful - He will be to our children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and so on; He will not change.

Heb 13:8, Psa 100:5, 1 Pet 1:24-25

Clothing

And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed. - Genesis 2:25  

Although Adam and Eve were physically naked, they were not ashamed as long as they were clothed with the glory of GOD, being in His Presence. As soon as sin came in, they felt shame and guilt because they had separated themselves from the Presence and glory of GOD.

Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings. - Genesis 3:7


The only way to overcome this situation is to have a grace covering which will enable mankind to once again enter into GOD'S Presence to receive His glory covering. The LORD JESUS was willing to be stripped of His glory and come down to this earth to provide us with His grace covering.

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. - Philippians 2:5-8 


JESUS despised the shame of nakedness for our sake. He was stripped of His glory and His clothing so that we could be clothed with grace and glory.

He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His mouth. - Isaiah 53:7  

Imagine that you are a sheep being sheared. You would feel that you are being stripped of all your clothing. That is exactly what the LORD JESUS went through during His trial and crucifixion. Even what the soldiers did to Him in arrogant mockery prophetically pointed to His position of power and glory as the King of kings and the LORD of lords!

Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole garrison around Him. And they stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him. When they had twisted a crown of thorns, they put it on His head, and a reed in His right hand. And they bowed the knee before Him and mocked Him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!" Then they spat on Him, and took the reed and struck Him on the head. And when they had mocked Him, they took the robe off Him, put His own clothes on Him, and led Him away to be crucified. - Matthew 27:27-31 

The clothes we put on, are next to our skin and are between us and our environment and others we meet, see us in our clothing. When we are IN our clothes, others don't see our nakedness and we are protected from our environment. So it is in the spiritual, when we put on the LORD JESUS.

But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts. - Romans 13:14  

Let the love of GOD revealed to us through the LORD JESUS, fill your heart and overflow to cover you with His grace. This is the love garment that others will see on you. It is the tangible love of GOD that others can touch.

 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. - Colossians 3:12-14 

If you are getting used to putting on this garment daily, your nakedness is covered. You are hidden IN CHRIST. You are preparing yourself to see the LORD in glory and to be clothed with His glory eternally!!

And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming. - 1 John 2:28

If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. - Colossians 3:1-4

"Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame." - Revelation 16:15  

ABIGAIL - A Beautiful Story!

Now there was a man in Maon whose business was in Carmel, and the man was very rich. He had three thousand sheep and a thousand goats. And he was shearing his sheep in Carmel. The name of the man was Nabal, and the name of his wife Abigail. And she was a woman of good understanding and beautiful appearance; but the man was harsh and evil in his doings. He was of the house of Caleb.

 When David heard in the wilderness that Nabal was shearing his sheep, David sent ten young men; and David said to the young men, "Go up to Carmel, go to Nabal, and greet him in my name. "And thus you shall say to him who lives in prosperity: 'Peace be to you, peace to your house, and peace to all that you have! 'Now I have heard that you have shearers. Your shepherds were with us, and we did not hurt them, nor was there anything missing from them all the while they were in Carmel. 'Ask your young men, and they will tell you. Therefore let my young men find favor in your eyes, for we come on a feast day. Please give whatever comes to your hand to your servants and to your son David.' "

 So when David's young men came, they spoke to Nabal according to all these words in the name of David, and waited. Then Nabal answered David's servants, and said, "Who is David, and who is the son of Jesse? There are many servants nowadays who break away each one from his master. "Shall I then take my bread and my water and my meat that I have killed for my shearers, and give it to men when I do not know where they are from?" 

So David's young men turned on their heels and went back; and they came and told him all these words. Then David said to his men, "Every man gird on his sword." So every man girded on his sword, and David also girded on his sword. And about four hundred men went with David, and two hundred stayed with the supplies. Now one of the young men told Abigail, Nabal's wife, saying, "Look, David sent messengers from the wilderness to greet our master; and he reviled them. "But the men were very good to us, and we were not hurt, nor did we miss anything as long as we accompanied them, when we were in the fields. "They were a wall to us both by night and day, all the time we were with them keeping the sheep. "Now therefore, know and consider what you will do, for harm is determined against our master and against all his household. For he is such a scoundrel that one cannot speak to him." Then Abigail made haste and took two hundred loaves of bread, two skins of wine, five sheep already dressed, five seahs of roasted grain, one hundred clusters of raisins, and two hundred cakes of figs, and loaded them on donkeys. And she said to her servants, "Go on before me; see, I am coming after you." But she did not tell her husband Nabal. So it was, as she rode on the donkey, that she went down under cover of the hill; and there were David and his men, coming down toward her, and she met them. Now David had said, "Surely in vain I have protected all that this fellow has in the wilderness, so that nothing was missed of all that belongs to him. And he has repaid me evil for good. "May God do so, and more also, to the enemies of David, if I leave one male of all who belong to him by morning light." Now when Abigail saw David, she dismounted quickly from the donkey, fell on her face before David, and bowed down to the ground. So she fell at his feet and said: "On me, my lord, on me let this iniquity be! And please let your maidservant speak in your ears, and hear the words of your maidservant. "Please, let not my lord regard this scoundrel Nabal. For as his name is, so is he: Nabal is his name, and folly is with him! But I, your maidservant, did not see the young men of my lord whom you sent. "Now therefore, my lord, as the LORD lives and as your soul lives, since the LORD has held you back from coming to bloodshed and from avenging yourself with your own hand, now then, let your enemies and those who seek harm for my lord be as Nabal. "And now this present which your maidservant has brought to my lord, let it be given to the young men who follow my lord. "Please forgive the trespass of your maidservant. For the LORD will certainly make for my lord an enduring house, because my lord fights the battles of the LORD, and evil is not found in you throughout your days. "Yet a man has risen to pursue you and seek your life, but the life of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of the living with the LORD your God; and the lives of your enemies He shall sling out, as from the pocket of a sling. "And it shall come to pass, when the LORD has done for my lord according to all the good that He has spoken concerning you, and has appointed you ruler over Israel, "that this will be no grief to you, nor offense of heart to my lord, either that you have shed blood without cause, or that my lord has avenged himself. But when the LORD has dealt well with my lord, then remember your maidservant." Then David said to Abigail: "Blessed is the LORD God of Israel, who sent you this day to meet me! "And blessed is your advice and blessed are you, because you have kept me this day from coming to bloodshed and from avenging myself with my own hand. "For indeed, as the LORD God of Israel lives, who has kept me back from hurting you, unless you had hurried and come to meet me, surely by morning light no males would have been left to Nabal!" So David received from her hand what she had brought him, and said to her, "Go up in peace to your house. See, I have heeded your voice and respected your person." Now Abigail went to Nabal, and there he was, holding a feast in his house, like the feast of a king. And Nabal's heart was merry within him, for he was very drunk; therefore she told him nothing, little or much, until morning light. So it was, in the morning, when the wine had gone from Nabal, and his wife had told him these things, that his heart died within him, and he became like a stone. Then it happened, after about ten days, that the LORD struck Nabal, and he died. So when David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, "Blessed be the LORD, who has pleaded the cause of my reproach from the hand of Nabal, and has kept His servant from evil! For the LORD has returned the wickedness of Nabal on his own head." And David sent and proposed to Abigail, to take her as his wife. When the servants of David had come to Abigail at Carmel, they spoke to her saying, "David sent us to you, to ask you to become his wife." Then she arose, bowed her face to the earth, and said, "Here is your maidservant, a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my lord." So Abigail rose in haste and rode on a donkey, attended by five of her maidens; and she followed the messengers of David, and became his wife. - 1 Samuel 25:2-42 

In this story, Nabal depicts Babylon which is symbolic of the systems of the world.

                     David depicts GOD - The LORD JESUS CHRIST.

                   Abigail depicts the people in the world - you and I.
                 
                The servants of David are the servants of GOD.

             The messengers of David  - The Holy Spirit.

The people of this world are under the control of the systems of this world. The worldly traditions and ways are self centred, selfish and carnal. GOD, Who loves the people of the world, sent His servants and His own Son to receive from the world what belongs to Him. He is interested in the hearts of people who are created in His own image. GOD'S way is humility and selflessness which is diametrically opposite to the way of the world. The whole world lies under the wrath of GOD because of its rebellion. GOD'S grace is revealed to us through His Son, JESUS. Those who accept JESUS come under His covering of grace and are able to extend that grace to others through intercession. As we humble ourselves and approach GOD in the name of JESUS, we see His glory. When we see Him, we are brought to our knees in worship. As we find favour in His eyes, we plead for His mercy and grace asking for forgiveness for ourselves and for the sins of those around us. When we turn away from the systems and ways of the world, the LORD woos us to Himself and proposes to us to become His wife. The bride of CHRIST offers herself to her LORD in humility to be an intercessor for the servants of GOD. She follows the guidance of the gentle Holy Spirit to become His bride.

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The LORD looks from heaven; He sees all the sons of men. From the place of His dwelling He looks On all the inhabitants of the earth; He fashions their hearts individually; He considers all their works. - Psalms 33:13-15 

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. - John 3:16 


"He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him." - John 3:36  

"but the Levites shall camp around the tabernacle of the Testimony, that there may be no wrath on the congregation of the children of Israel; and the Levites shall keep charge of the tabernacle of the Testimony." - Numbers 1:53  

"So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one. "Therefore I have poured out My indignation on them; I have consumed them with the fire of My wrath; and I have recompensed their deeds on their own heads," says the Lord GOD. - Ezekiel 22:30-31

"I and My Father are one." - John 10:30 

Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. - Matthew 16:24  

Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble." - 1 Peter 5:5 

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. - Philippians 2:5-11 

He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His mouth. - Isaiah 53:7 

but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, - 1 Corinthians 1:23 

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. - 1 John 2:15-17  

Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. - 1 Timothy 6:6-12  

Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. - James 4:4 

As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving. Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power. - Colossians 2:6-10 

After these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was illuminated with his glory. And he cried mightily with a loud voice, saying, "Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and has become a dwelling place of demons, a prison for every foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean and hated bird! "For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich through the abundance of her luxury." And I heard another voice from heaven saying, "Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues. "For her sins have reached to heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities. ... "The kings of the earth who committed fornication and lived luxuriously with her will weep and lament for her, when they see the smoke of her burning, "standing at a distance for fear of her torment, saying, 'Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! For in one hour your judgment has come.' "And the merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her, for no one buys their merchandise anymore: "merchandise of gold and silver, precious stones and pearls, fine linen and purple, silk and scarlet, every kind of citron wood, every kind of object of ivory, every kind of object of most precious wood, bronze, iron, and marble; "and cinnamon and incense, fragrant oil and frankincense, wine and oil, fine flour and wheat, cattle and sheep, horses and chariots, and bodies and souls of men. "The fruit that your soul longed for has gone from you, and all the things which are rich and splendid have gone from you, and you shall find them no more at all. "The merchants of these things, who became rich by her, will stand at a distance for fear of her torment, weeping and wailing, "and saying, 'Alas, alas, that great city that was clothed in fine linen, purple, and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls! 'For in one hour such great riches came to nothing.' Every shipmaster, all who travel by ship, sailors, and as many as trade on the sea, stood at a distance "and cried out when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, 'What is like this great city?' "They threw dust on their heads and cried out, weeping and wailing, and saying, 'Alas, alas, that great city, in which all who had ships on the sea became rich by her wealth! For in one hour she is made desolate.' "Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you holy apostles and prophets, for God has avenged you on her!" - Revelation 18:1-5, 9-20

Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. - Revelation 19:11-16 

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, - Ephesians 5:25-26 

Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came to me and talked with me, saying, "Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb's wife." - Revelation 21:9 

Gravity and Glory

Gravity pulls my body down while glory pulls my soul up!
Gravity is from the earth and its pull is downwards. Glory is from Heaven and its pull is upwards.

All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, But the LORD weighs the spirits. - Proverbs 16:2

While Gravity gives us physical weight Glory gives us spiritual weight.

If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. - Colossians 3:1-4  

Do not allow things of the earth that are affected by gravity cling to you, pulling your soul to depression.

As we start ageing and gravity seems to have more effect on our bodies, we should make sure that glory has  more effect on our souls.

Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. - 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Remember! Glory is more valuable, lasting and more important!!

When the upward pull prevails and the downward pull gives way, there is breakthrough in our spiritual life.

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. - Romans 8:1-2 

Let us be diligent to prepare ourselves for that day when gravity will no more have an effect not only over our souls but even our physical bodies, releasing us to ascend to glory!!

For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. - 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 

Who Is The Creator: GOD Is Light

In, Genesis which is the first book in the Bible, GOD reveals Himeslf as the Creator.

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. - Genesis 1:1  

The LORD JESUS is referred to as 'The Word.'

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. - John 1:1-3

Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth, Before the difficult days come, And the years draw near when you say, "I have no pleasure in them": - Ecclesiastes 12:1

Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the LORD, The Creator of the ends of the earth, Neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. - Isaiah 40:28

But now, thus says the LORD, who created you, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine. - Isaiah 43:1

I will say to the north, 'Give them up!' And to the south, 'Do not keep them back!' Bring My sons from afar, And My daughters from the ends of the earth-- Everyone who is called by My name, Whom I have created for My glory; I have formed him, yes, I have made him.", - Isaiah 43:6-7

...who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. - Romans 1:25

Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator. - 1 Peter 4:19

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. - Ephesians 2:10

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. - 2 Corinthians 5:17

• GOD created you as an object of His love. GOD created you for His glory. 
• You become a new creation when you are saved by the blood of JESUS and receive His Holy Spirit into your life.
• If you are doing Good Works that you were created for, in CHRIST JESUS, GOD is glorified in you.

GOD is Light

Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light. - Genesis 1:3  

This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. - 1 John 1:5  

The LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid? - Psalms 27:1

In Him(JESUS) was life, and the life was the light of men. - John 1:4 

Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life." - John 8:12  

"You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. "Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. - Matthew 5:14-16

• When you receive the LORD JESUS into your life the Light of GOD enters you.
• As you walk in obedience to the LORD JESUS you let His light shine through you.

Who Is GOD?

"You are My witnesses," says the LORD, "And My servant whom I have chosen, That you may know and believe Me, And understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed, Nor shall there be after Me. I, even I, am the LORD, And besides Me there is no savior. I have declared and saved, I have proclaimed, And there was no foreign god among you; Therefore you are My witnesses," Says the LORD, "that I am God. Indeed before the day was, I am He; And there is no one who can deliver out of My hand; I work, and who will reverse it?" Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, The Holy One of Israel: "For your sake I will send to Babylon, And bring them all down as fugitives--The Chaldeans, who rejoice in their ships. I am the LORD, your Holy One, The Creator of Israel, your King." - Isaiah 43:10-15

And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, "Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. - Revelation 1:17 

looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, - Titus 2:13

"The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree. "Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. - Acts 5:30-31

"But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." - Acts 1:8

Jesus said to her, "I who speak to you am He." - John 4:26

"Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins."- John 8:24

Then Jesus said to them, "When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things. - John 8:28

• I am what I Believe. If I am Believing in JESUS as my Savior I am saved.

Tithes, Offerings and Giving

"Will a man rob God? 

Yet you have robbed Me! 

But you say, 'In what way have we robbed You?'

In tithes and offerings. 

Malachi 3:8

GOD says that a tenth of our income belongs to Him.
 GOD does not need money.
 GOD'S Kingdom work on earth needs provision for His servants
 and for the the practical work of the proclamation of the Gospel.
 This includes the cost of printing Bibles and Christian literature, mail, transport and so on.
Not giving a tenth of our finances to the work of the Kingdom equals to robbing GOD.
If you are holding back what belongs to GOD, 
you will live in constant fear that GOD would catch you out.
 You would perceive GOD to be a policeman Who is after you and you would be afraid of Him. 
You cannot receive GOD'S blessings in such a situation.

                               ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

"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

You may be diligently paying your tithes, carefully accounting to cents and to a dollar. 
You may even be receiving back from the government some of what you give to the Church,
 making use of tax benefit laws!
 You are following GOD'S law and the law of your nation legally and feel good about it. 
What you do and give is not great in the eyes of GOD.
 GOD is more interested in the attitude of your heart. 
If this is your situation, your relationship with GOD is a legalistic one. 
GOD is a Judge to you and you are constantly trying to justify yourself by obeying the law.
 Your righteousness is dependant on your tithing. 
You must understand that no one can be justified by the works of the law.

"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

All the law is fulfilled in the LORD JESUS CHRIST.
We can be justified before GOD only through JESUS.

"For I say to you,

that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. 

 Matthew 5:20

Therefore if you think that you are in good standing with GOD by lawfully paying your tithes,
 this is bad news for you. 
The LORD JESUS says, "..You will by no means enter the Kingdom of heaven.!"
"What then does the LORD require of me ?" You may ask.

"Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar,

A gift is something you give to someone you love.
The act of giving is what GOD wants from you.
If you are in a love relationship with your GOD, you will bring your gift to Him to the altar.
 The first and greatest commandment, JESUS said,
 is to love the LORD your GOD with all your heart, soul, mind and strength.
If this is your way of giving to GOD, He is pleased with you,
 but He wants to take you one step further!

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. 

Matthew 5: 23-24

If you remember that another believer has a grudge against you, you need to first put that right.
You may say, "I don't have anything against him/her. I am not at fault.
 I don't even know what he/she has against me?"

JESUS said the second commandment is like the first, "You shall love your neighbour as yourself."
When we sinned against GOD and went astray, GOD took the initiative to reach out to us.
We love because He first loved us.
 JESUS said to His disciples that they should keep His commandments if they loved Him,
 and  His commandment is, "Love one another as I have loved you."

Why, what and how we give to GOD is an indication of our relationship to Him. 

In which category are you?  

A robber? 

                                                                    

 A tither-in-law?

                                                                                                  

A loving giver? 

Will you progress to be a lover of GOD
 so that you can bring your gift of love to Him with a pure heart? You will be blessed beyond your imagination
 and you will be GOD'S instrument of love in this world.

"Give, and it will be given to you: 

good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom.

 For with the same measure that you use, 

it will be measured back to you."  

Luke 6:38