Sinkills: Whatever one's status, so long as he has repented from sin, believed on Christ as his personal Saviour and is living right up to the moment of death, he/she will make it to heaven. On the area of covenant, a covenant is an agreement between two or more parties in which each party has a part to play to make the covenant work. I personally have a covenant with God just like any other genuine believer (Genesis 9:12-17; Exodus 24:7; Deut. 8:9; Joshua 24:25; Jeremiah 31:31; Hebrews 8:8; Luke 1:72). That mine is not written down in the Bible does not invalidate the covenant God has with me. You don't expect everything God did with man to be recorded. Which book will contain everything?Abraham's own is written down because he was the Partriach, the person through who God started His relationship with His chosen people, Israel. So my friend, it is needful to work hard and believe God for material success. However, it is more needful to watch it so that one will not become like the fool in Luke 12:16-21. Thank you.
Even, the poor need be watchful, else they go astray. Balance both. Thank you.
yeah I am very quick to claim Abraham's riches, but the tithe is just 10% of his riches. God had a covenant with Abraham, not Lazarus. So I am operating on Abraham's blessing. I don't know why you people love using Lazarus as an example as if Abraham didn't make heaven with all his riches. Maybe when you want console a poor man, you use Lazarus. As for me, I have no dealings with Lazarus.
"Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 19:23).
Bible history reveals that in different generations, the truly wealthy individuals were the most righteous ones. For instance, Abraham was the richest in his days yet, he was called the friend of God. He was very rich in cattle, silver and gold. The same was recorded about Isaac, Israel, Joseph and others. They prospered anywhere they found themselves.
In our text, Jesus reveals the truth about the rich and the Kingdom, pointing out that it is hard for a rich man who sets his heart on his riches to get saved. In the preceding seven verses, a rich young man had been to Jesus, wanting to know what he must do to inherit eternal life, after faithfully keeping the Ten Commandments. To be perfect, Jesus asked him to sell all his worldly possessions and give to the poor to have treasures in heaven and thereafter follow Him. The Scriptures recorded that the young man went away sorrowful "for he had great possessions" (Matthew 19:16-22).
Christ is not against getting rich or rich people. He desires we prosper as our souls prosper. Money, with the comforts that it can bring, has a powerfully intoxicating effect in the hearts of men and women that it can become an idol. If we're not very careful, it can totally overwhelm and decrease the love of God in our lives. It is utterly impossible for a man that sets his heart upon his riches to get to heaven. The Lord promised that everyone who had forsaken possessions or comforts for His name's sake will receive a hundredfold (on earth) and inherit everlasting life (Matthew 19:29).
"And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you" (Luke 17:20,21).
Children of God begin to experience the kingdom of God within, when they surrender to Jesus. When we become genuinely born again, we start to enjoy untold spiritual blessings made available to us through the Spirit of God.
The Jews expected the kingdom of God to supersede the Roman kingdom of their own time. God's kingdom is universal and greater than the myopic concept of the Jews. Jesus was on a journey to Jerusalem passing through Samaria and Galilee and in one of their villages, there met Him ten Lepers whom He cured. Only one of them returned to show his gratitude. It was in this process that the Pharisees asked Him matters concerning the kingdom of God. This led our Lord to unfold the nature of the Kingdom's advent. His Kingdom is not of this world but in men's hearts. The Pharisees were looking forward to a time when Israel would get their own self-government. He answered them to the contrary, that the Kingdom would not come by observation. The working of God's plan is different from the egocentric view of men. We must first know the nature and components of God's kingdom before we begin to look forward to its coming. God must need wipe away all corruption and evils from both hearts of men and the world before His Kingdom will come.
Our Lord Jesus Christ is certainly coming back again to this earth to reign gloriously. His coming will be sudden and will take the world by surprise. The world will be moving on in its trade and worldly amusements when the Son of man will come. This was why He cautioned us to remember Lot's wife. We are not to look for blessings in things that are fading away but to the kingdom of God that brings peace and blessings and which abideth forever.
Bro. Ola..nice to see you guys holding it down over there, hope the church has been completed and is now in use, am happy deeper life is beginning to put up beffiting structures, God bless the church
The church has been a blessing to many and has been in use for the past 6 years if not more. Here is a short story about the building:
"And Joash did that which was right in the sight of the LORD all the days of Jehoiada the priest. And he gathered together the priests and the Levites, and said to them, Go out unto the cities of Judah, and gather of all Israel money to repair the house of your God from year to year, and see that ye hasten the matter. Howbeit the Levites hastened it not" (2 Chronicles 24:2,5).
Someone said: "Whenever you hear of a man doing a great thing, you may be sure that behind it somewhere is a great background. It may be a mother's training, a father's example, a teacher's influence, or an intense experience of his own. But it has to be there or else the great achievement does not come, no matter how favourable the opportunity." How true this is especially for spiritual leaders! They must influence worshippers and people who have had personal encounters with God.
Jehoiada, the priest, had great positive influence on the young king Joash, in doing that which was right in the sight of the Lord. The single-mindedness and dogged determination of king Joash in ensuring that the task of repairing the temple was accomplished, must be the outcome of the impact of Jehoiada on his life. He encouraged him in the act of teamwork.
The church today needs visionary and committed leaders like this priest who would painstakingly lead members to fulfill their necessary responsibilities. As good as delegation of duty is in secular and in spiritual administration, leaders must still remember not to abdicate their responsibilities, but to impact others by exemplary lifestyle.
The overwhelming response of all families in Judah is a proof that God's work will never lack God's resources. It is unscriptural to solicit financial assistance for the execution of God's project from the ungodly. If Christians will be faithful in paying their tithes, the church would be richer. Moreso, givers never lack. However, members in the local assemblies should be motivated to faithfully, cheerfully and bountifully give their offerings to raising befitting church buildings and other needful gospel-related physical projects. He who "soweth bountifully shall also reap bountifully."
