THe Sheep on a Thousand Hills

[RoseofSharon]

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7 Hear , O my people, and I will speak ; O Israel, and I will testify against thee: I am God, even thy God. 8 I will not reprove thee for thy sacrifices or thy burnt offerings, to have been continually before me. 9 I will take no bullock out of thy house, nor he goats out of thy folds. 10 For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills. 11 I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are mine. 12 If I were hungry , I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof. 13 Will I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink the blood of goats? 14 Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High: 15 And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.


England keeps a record of who is the Richest man or woman in England, and it might surprise you that it's not the Queen. Yet we are Sons and Daughters of GOd, who is far richer and than any human being can ever be, we are Sons and Daughters of the RIchest being in the universe, we have already read that the cattle on a THousand hills belongs to GOd. So we CAN be blessed beyond our wildest dreams. There is talk of restoration, and yet although God does want to restore we should look beyond just having things restored, we need to look for God's blessings.

So what are riches? RIches are Physical, Emotional, and Spiritual. Physical: Friends, Family, Financial, goods. EMotional: Love, Joy, Peace, all the fruit of the Spirit, Happiness, etc. Spiritual: Being Adopted as Sons and Daughters of the Most High God, Our Adopted Spiritual Family, The Word of God (THe Scriptures). Friends we need to stop thinking that Being Rich is only a financial thing, for if we think such we will always look at that nil bank balance and get depressed and feel like you are a failure, and yet God is not limited in how he delivers us from that nil balance. He might not send you a financial benefit, but might bless you with sending groceries to your door, or in some other way. The Centurians Faith of though canst but say the word and my servant will be whole applies in EVERY situation of our lives, GOd could but say the word and our bank balances will be higher, or our cupboards full of food. God can create out nothing, so we need to start believing that we do.

This morning I believe God woke up this morning when I certainly didn't want to be awake, but yet he gave me the following verses:

Beloved I pray that you may prosper in all things an be in health, just as your soul prospers 3rd John 2

I have ben young, and now I am old; Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, Nor his descendants begging bread. Psalm 37:25

THe young Lions lack and suffer hunger; But those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing.

The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want. Psalm 23:1

"And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the Lord your God: "Blessed shall be the fruit of your body, the produce of your ground and the increase of your herds, the increase of your cattle and the offspring of your flocks. Blessed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl. Blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when you go out. The Lord will cause your enemies who rise against to be defeated before your face; they shall come out against you one way and flee before you before you seven ways. The Lord will command the blessing on you in your storehouses and in all to which you set your hand, and he will bless you in the land which the Lord your God is giving you". Deuteronomy 28:2-8

And the Lord will grant you plenty of goods, in the fruit of your body, in the increase of your livestock, and in the produce of your ground, in the land of which the Lord swore to your Fathers to give you. The Lord will open to you His good treasure, the heaven, to give the rain to your land in it's season, and to bless all the work of your hand. You shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow.And the Lord will make you the head and not the tail; you shall be above only, and not be beneath, if you heed the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you today, and be careful to observe them. Deuteronomy 28:11-13

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

On the first day of the week let each one of you lay aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come. 1 Corinthians 16:2

Heal the Sick, cleanse the Lepers, raise the dead, cast out the demons. Freely you have received freely give. MAtthew 10:8

Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, THat there may be food in my house, and try me now in this says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and puour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it. I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, so that he will not destory the fruit of your ground, nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field says the Lord of HOsts; And all nations will call you blessed for you will be a deligtful land. Says the Lord of HOsts.

BUt this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for GOd loves a cheerful giver.ANd GOd ios able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. 2 Corinthians 9:6-8

And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive a hundred fold, and inherit eternal life. Matthew 19:29

This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Joshua 1:8

For God gives wisdom and knowledge and joy to a man who is good in his sight; but to the sinner He gives the work of gathering and collecting, that he may give to him who is goos before GOd. This also is vanity and grasping for the wind. Ecclesiastes 2:26

A good man leave an inheritance to his children's children, But the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous. Proverbs 13:22

For the Lord your GOd is bringing you into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and springs, that flow out of valleys and hills; a land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig tres and pomegranates, a land of olive oil and honey; a land in which you will eat bread without scarcity, in which you will lack nothing; a land whose stones are iron and out of whose hills you can dig copper. When you have eaten and are full, then you shall bless the Lord your GOd for the good land which He has given you. Beware that you do not forget the Lord your GOd by not keeping His commandments, His judgements, and His statutes which I command you today, lest - when you have eaten and are full, and have built beautiful houses and dwell in them; and when your herds and your flocks multiply, and your silver and your silver and your gold are multiplied, and all that you have is multiplied; when your heart is lifted, and you forget the Lord your GOd who brought you out of the land of bondage; and you shall remember the Lord your GOd, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day. Deuteronomy 8:7-14,18

Therefore do not worry, saying "What shall we eat?" or "What shall we drink?" or "What shall we wear?" For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you shall need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness , and all these things shall be added to you. MAtthew 6:31-33

And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in Glory by Christ Jesus. Phillipians 4:19

God has many bounties that he can open the windows of heaven and give us, but is it true of you or of me that he says to us "Oh ye of little faith?"

Expect great things, because that is what GOd has promised. Ask God to give you faith and to believe that those blessings are coming your way, because GOd is just waiting to bless each and everyone of us.

[RoseofSharon]

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1 Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. 2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: 3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; 4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; 5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.


There is a famous Hymn that says count your blessings count them one by one. We need to do more than just counting them, we are instructed to Bless the Lord and forget not all His benefits. What does this mean? It means that we remember where we have come from and are perpetually grateful for what God has done. However more than that it means that we fully rest in God's promises. There is a peace in resting in God's promises and knowing that whatever happens it is for our good, and either for our admonition or for building our faith. We will see good things happen to us in our lives and we will see lean years in our life.

Many people doubt in the lean years and ask where is God and why are they in this situation. However when we look at the book of Job we find that there are times when the Devil comes to steal kill and destroy, times when our faith is to be tested, through no fault of our own. There are times when we have opened the door to the devil to com in and those doors need to be closed. HOwever whatever he cause God has promised that He will restore the years that the devourer has destroyed.

God will restore or lives, and the years that we have lost. God gives us not just as much as we had before, but more - to a point that our cups run over and we do not know what to do with all the things that God has blessed us with. However in Matthew we find instruction what to do with the blessings that we don't know what to do with them, and that is to pay it forward- Freely ye have received freely give. God has given you lots for nothing, go and pay that forward and give others things for nothing. The part of your money that you put aside for helping the children of GOd, is as much not your own as the money that you put aside for God. Sometimes it is a sacrifice to pay our tithes (or whatever percentage it is that you pay to GOd), but it is an even greater sacrifice to pay the money which we are to [pay to those around us. yet are you willing to sacrifice that which you have no idea how it will be replaced that God is asking you to pay? Are you willing to be an example to others? Or do you only pay God and others when money is flowing and you have plenty? Where are you the greatest blessing? when you give out of a bounty that you have more than you need or when you give even when you don't really have?

When Jesus said render to caeser the things that are Caesars and unto God the things that are God's He was talking more than just tithe, He was talking about dealing righteously and helping the widows and the orphans, and those who had need of what little you have. Please do not misunderstand me I believe that paying one tithe is important, but just as important is what we do for those who are our brethren and sisters 

[RoseofSharon]

There is a book by Charles Dickens called Great Expectations, there is much to learn from this book, but I want to outline the plot for it has everything to do with what it is I want to share with you this morning.


The boy encounters a runaway criminal on the marshes and helps him with food

he enters appreticeship with his brotherinlaw

he meets miss havisham (a very rich old lady who suffered a bitter disappointment and became a recluse afterwards) for the first time.

A LAwyer arrives and tells him that he is a boy of great expectations and his indentiture is borken and he goes to be educated in London as a gentleman but benefactor is hidden

Grows up in london with occaisional visits home and to Miss Havisham

In Miss HAvishams home is a girl who the boy is in love with.

Years pass with speculations about who his benefactor is and false conclusions being reached.

Havisham Dies and the girl is her sole inheritor

minal reurns to London as a rich sheep farmer from Australia and reveals himself to be the benefactor

The girl at miss Havishams turns out to be the criminals daughter


Ok so why have I brought a fiction book plot into my post today? It is to say where do your expectations lie? Who have you helped today, this week, last week, last month? Are you expecting great things?

Are you claiming the promises and then not expecting things to change? Do you believe God can do ALL things, and then limit the way in which God can do things? This morning God brought this very clearly to me He was asking me to check something it was in my answer that God showed me where my problems lie -

God's question to me: "Have you checked __________ ?" my ANswer "No, I wasn't expecting ____________ to change" Is this a form unbelief? yes it is because what I was saying was Lord I want you to provide for me, but in my way in my time, rather than letting go and just doing that which GOd is going to do and let him provide that which I am asking for in His way.

Did ELijah expect things to change? Yes He did, it was in perfect confidence and that He said to Ahab There shall be neither dew nor rain these three years but according to MY word and again it was in total expectation and belief that Elijah said to his servant boy to go and look again, each time the boy came back and told him that there was NOTHING in the sky, and then when there was a cloud the size of a man fist, which in the scale of the heavens and storm clouds it was TOTAL expectation that Elijah had when he ran ahead of Ahabs chariot and told him to get home because the rains were coming.

Total expectation, that when God tells us to do something, or to see something or to go somewhere we can change things if we doubt or don't expect things to be as God has told us.

We as children of the King have Great expectations, greater than the richest man in the world and greater than the highest expectations of the wicked for we ARE adopted as Sons and Daughters of God, in Christ we ARE a new creation. The is in the world of New Age a theory that what we expect and what we believe we bring into our lives, this is not altogether unscriptural, which is why many of our young men and young women who have been disappointed in the church are turning to this ideology, for it has a veneer of being scriptural - however this ideology says that I can do it myself just by expectation - this is sooooo wrong brethren for God has promised that he WILL give us all the desires of our hearts, but there is something we must do first:


Claim the promises of God

Close off where the thief is getting in to steal and destroy and to kill

Sow a sacficial seed

EXPECT GREAT THINGS to come in ANY way which God gives us


Friend EXPECT great things for we serve an awesome God who has promised to do great things, Put him to the test today for he who has promised is faithful and just.

God is NOT a man that he should lie  We are told in the word that Thy Word is Truth!

Try Him today.......

[dgbygrace]

Expect great things.

How often do I muddle through thinking God must want me to learn by this struggle...when in actuality it is as you said...I doubt.

[me2lord]

I love the Lord's blessings upon the poor,  but the teachings of some preachers  have miss construed the words of God.

When we suffer trials, and are poor in spirit we are blessed.

Matt 6:25  therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear.  Is not LIFE (eternal life)  more important than food?  

Jesus says when we focus on being prosperous in this life concerned with what we need materially in how we dress and about the outward appearance in how we are perceived to the world  we have become engulfed in the world we live in.   We are focused on these material things and not on the things of God that bring life,  eternal life.

Matt 6:28  Why do you worry about clothes?  Seeking status with the standard in this world we are so busy working for success our focus becomes worldly more so than Spiritual.  What the Lord is saying is truth.

Matt 6:31-32  So do not worry saying, "what shall we eat?  or "What shall we wear?"   for the Pagans run after all these things and your Heavenly Father knows that you have need of them,  33.) But,  Seek You the Kingdom of God first, then all these things will be added to you as well.

Seek living daily to God in all you say and do and in His time he will open the flood gates of heaven as he knows you will handle it rightly before him.

By this  you will have proven this to the Lord if you can handle much moreby seeking him with all your heart and soul each day of your life  in honor to him.  For Christ observes everything we do in this life with his Knowledge that he has shared with us and how we act daily in honor to him or dishonor to him and by these things he knows if one can be given much.

I have personal knowledge of these words,  as the Lord has blessed me in such a Way that I don't want more, I only want to do right before him with that which he has given me.  To be able to  stand before Christ on judgment day and be told I have pleased him with what he has given to me.   

I have come to see there  are many traps in being wealthy and James speaks of them.

James 5:1  Listen you rich people, weep and wail, because of the misery that is coming upon you.
"the MOTHS HAVE EATEN YOUR CLOTHES,"  

How many often have I found myself with moths in my cloths in my closet?  Because the Lord said if you have two cloaks give one away?

James 5:3 Your gold and silver are corroded.  Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoard wealth  in the Last Days.  

We are in the Last Days, and giving to the needy has always been commanded by the Lord.  To give to the less fortunate, that they may share in the riches and blessings   given by the Lord to others.

When the rich give they often times  let it be known, and that is all the reward they will receive, the recognition by the world they have given charity.   And they should pray  their corrosion of silver and gold  does not testify against them  eat their flesh like fire in the Last Days. .  

There is a love for money  and a desire to be prosperous in this life time, it is ingrained in all minds as this is perceived as being blessed by the Lord.   It is often a trap, a snarl that will destroy the one who does not follow the Lord's commands with it.   When I experienced this first hand I thanked the Lord for opening my eyes to see it, that I had time to reassess my life.

Jesus goes on to say to the rich,  

James 5:4  Look!  the wages you failed to pay the   workmen who mowed your fields are crying out against you.

How many times I saw I had cheated a worker and through God's grace I have been able to go and correct the sin I was in. These words in James are life to the hearer of the Word.   I heard and I answered in correction and seeking in forgiveness.  I am still praying to be shown all my sinful acts that I may through God's grace be able to make good the wrongs I have done, that I may be counted worthy to stand before the Son of God and be told to go to the side of the Sheep on the right.

Be thankful for the little but be very prayerful with the abundance.  

In Christ's love
Vickie


 

[dgbygrace]

Oh what wisdom there Vickie!!

Be thankful for the little but be very prayerful with the abundance.

[RoseofSharon]

Thank you. However I brought this to the fore, because I have been on both sides of the fence. I have had more than enough and I have been poverty stricken to a point I don't know where my next meal is coming from.

Yes we need to be content with what we have and where we are, this is a lesson I've had to learn a very hard way, however The verse I gave here are all promises that God is giving to each and everyone of us, so we need to be open to whatever God desires to send to us. For when He blesses us it is being blessed so that we can be a blessing to others.

[me2lord]

Thank you. However I brought this to the fore, because I have been on both sides of the fence. I have had more than enough and I have been poverty stricken to a point I don't know where my next meal is coming from.

precious sister Rose,  I understand  what you have said in your topic, and the way you view these things and I have no complaint, I personally view money and God and life through different terms than some do, not making you wrong or me wrong.    I come from a different perspective through the words of God due to my personal life also lol ..that's the beauty of our lord, isn't it? 

Experience often  bring two views to one verse. lol  , two people will receive varying wisdom due to their experience they have concerning God's words, these are the differences you and I have in this...lol    I enjoy sharing what I have come away with in living Life for Jesus..amen! 

Yes we need to be content with what we have and where we are, this is a lesson I've had to learn a very hard way, however The verse I gave here are all promises that God is giving to each and everyone of us, so we need to be open to whatever God desires to send to us. For when He blesses us it is being blessed so that we can be a blessing to others.

 


You're right about being a blessing to others from the abundance the Lord gives us and that was my point, I personally found I didn't do as good as others might and the Lord was gracious to show me my sins from it. ..

It has just been hard for me personally to have so an abundance through my husband  that I failed in serving the Lord properly with it...that is my own personally battle, and this is why I have shared the above testimony. It has been a real eye opener for me in this battle.   lol   

When I have been given an abundance it concerns  me greatly,  because of the responsibility that is expected of me from Christ, for others there may be no concerns  with their flesh  like the pull I have with my flesh...  

You're topic was great as it reminded me of the trial I have had...

In Christ's love

[dgbygrace]

I know you aren't the only one who battles with that!  Look at the Israelites...the prosperity part is what brought them down like every time.

I truly think that both of what you ladies are saying is very important...like sin twins...

one is doubt - doubting God and His abundant goodness, and the other what, complacency and drifting away or taking for granted??

[me2lord]

 

I know you aren't the only one who battles with that!  Look at the Israelites...the prosperity part is what brought them down like every time.

I truly think that both of what you ladies are saying is very important...like sin twins...

one is doubt - doubting God and His abundant goodness, and the other what, complacency and drifting away or taking for granted??

Thanks for the compliment...

[dgbygrace]

 

Actually though I wasn't meaning it so much as a compliment.  Rather, I really believe is the enemy can't get us one direction he will shove us in the other.

For a compliment, I do admire your honesty.

So everyone, ideas on how we can grow in both of these areas so that we don't stumble?

[RoseofSharon]

Where the Lord has brought me to in my life is that I am content where I am, and I am learning that when I sort my money out each time I receive it there are three basic things that MUST be done. Pay God his money (I strongly believe in titheing) Pay a set amount in charity (not in charity shops) and a set amount in savings. Learn to live off the rest and do not under any circumstances borrow money.  That is the practical side.

The belief side is: be ready for God to bless you, claim his promises that He will bless you, and yet always submit to his will, for in allowing poverty to strike He will have a plan and will bring you through. 

Vickie I am sorry if I misunderstood what you were saying, I have in the past (and still do) seen people who pull out those quotes and emphasize being poor so much that it's like there's a virtue in poverty (almost making poverty ino being some saintly quality) but yet they dispise the rich merely because they are rich. It is this that I am trying to educate against because it denies God the opportunity to bless them as He desires. Agur who wrote proverbs 30 said give me neitheir poverty nor riches, lest I be full and deny my Lord or lest I steal and bring shame on the Lord my God (paraphrased) . Yes there is danger in both extremes, yet by God's grace we can handle any situation He gives us.

[dgbygrace]

That is wording it excellently!!   

[me2lord]

 

Vickie I am sorry if I misunderstood what you were saying, I have in the past (and still do) seen people who pull out those quotes and emphasize being poor so much that it's like there's a virtue in poverty (almost making poverty ino being some saintly quality) but yet they dispise the rich merely because they are rich. It is this that I am trying to educate against because it denies God the opportunity to bless them as He desires. Agur who wrote

proverbs 30 said give me neitheir poverty nor riches, lest I be full and deny my Lord or lest I steal and bring shame on the Lord my God (paraphrased) . Yes there is danger in both extremes, yet by God's grace we can handle any situation He gives us.

Sharon,  you made me laugh.. .sister....proverbs 30 is what I was expressing...lol  from my own personal life...neither wanting poverty or too much riches.....living wrongly in either one displeases God. lol