Welcome, friends, to another
broadcast of Morsels for Zion's Poor. The radio and TV airwaves
are bursting at the seams with those who insist that a man can
cause the blessings of God to fall upon his head by various
acts of devotion and faith. Most especially as such is tied
to financial gain, as one sows seed faith and enriches the coffers
of the con men and witch doctors who perpetuate this notion, accompanied
by theatrics and miracles of one sort or another, designed
to ensnare the gullible. While there are cartoonish examples
of this which are in abundance, the same principle is at work
in more sedate settings where various duties are enjoined upon
the erstwhile followers of Christ, such as bringing all the tithes
into the storehouse and keeping various times, seasons, and days.
The underlying principle is that if these things are faithfully
performed, then blessings are sure to follow. God's blessings
cannot be bought, coerced, earned, or deserved. When a man has done
everything which the Lord has commanded him to do, he is yet
an unprofitable servant, and cannot go beyond that which is
required of him. So likewise ye, when ye shall
have done all these things which are commanded you, say, We are
unprofitable servants, we have done that which was our duty
to do. All of the blessings of God are a product of his mercy
and grace, which emanates from his purpose. Obedience and faith
are the result of his blessing rather than its cause. David
understood this as he prayed, both riches and honor come of
thee, and thou reignest over all, and in thine hand is power
and might, and in thine hand it is to make great and to give
strength unto all. Now therefore, our God, we thank
thee and praise thy glorious name. But who am I, and what
is my people that we should be able to offer so willingly after
this sort? For all things come of thee,
and of thine own have we given thee. For we are strangers before
thee, and sojourners, as were all our fathers. Our days on
the earth are as a shadow, and there is none abiding. O Lord
our God, all this store that we have prepared to build thee
in house, for thine holy name cometh of thine hand, and is
all thine own. Can a man be profitable unto
God, as he that is wise may be profitable unto himself? Is it
any pleasure to the Almighty that thou art righteous? Or is
it gain to him that thou makest thy ways perfect? For who maketh
thee to differ from another? And what hast thou that thou
didst not receive? Now if thou didst receive it,
why dost thou glory as if thou hadst not received it? The Lord
shocked Nicodemus when he told him that except a man be born
again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus, being a Jew,
expected that the Lord would give him some sort of advice
or instruction in religious duty. Yet the Lord laid the axe to
the root of his tree of learning and duty and let him know that
the kingdom of God is not gained through human endeavor of any
sort. His kingdom is not one of flesh and blood, but one of
light and life, which can only be gained by the operation of
His grace. The wind bloweth where it listeth,
and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it
cometh, and whither it goeth. So is every one that is born
of the Spirit. The joy and blessing which the
Lord is pleased to bring upon His people is that which He has
purposed to give them. And we know that all things work
together for good to them who love God, to them who are the
called according to His purpose. For it is God which worketh in
you both the will and to do of His good pleasure. David said,
My times are in thy hand. Jeremiah said the same. O Lord,
I know that the way of man is not in himself. It is not in
man that walketh to direct his steps. We spend our years as
a tale that is told. Christ alone is the teller of
this tale. Thus great blessings are assured
to those upon whom the Lord is pleased to visit His love and
affection. This is demonstrated for all
the world to see, as He has sent forth His only begotten Son,
born of a woman and made in the likeness of sinful flesh, to
cancel their sin-debt and pour out His blessings upon them as
His children. The world cannot grasp either
the scope or the nature of this blessing, while the awakened
sons of God desire no other. In the days of famine they shall
be satisfied. Job understood this very concept
as he stated, Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him.
Peter declared the same when the Lord asked him if he would
depart, as others had. Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou
hast the words of eternal life. That which the world counts as
famine, the sons of God take their greatest delight in. For
the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness.
But unto us which are saved, it is the power of God. Do you
rejoice in the finished work of Christ for his elect? Or do
you expect to be saved by your own activity? For a free CD containing
15 of these radio broadcasts, send an email to forthepoor at
windstream.net.