Thy mercy, my God, is the theme
of my song. 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 his acts of
devotion and faith, most especially as it is tied to financial gain,
as one sows seed faith and enriches the coffers of the conmen and
witch doctors who perpetuate this notion, accompanied by theatrics
and miracles of one sort or another, designed to ensnare the gullible.
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 have
done all those 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. Both riches and honor
come of Thee, and Thou reignest over all, and in Thy hand is
power and might, and in Thine hand 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 sword? For all things come of thee,
and of thine own have we given thee. For we are as 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, 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 cannot be seen apart from a supernatural work
by the Spirit of God to awaken him from the deadness of his
sin to eternal life in Christ. 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 joy and blessing which the
Lord is pleased to bring upon His people is that which He has
purposed to give them, as those who are hidden in Christ, who
is the joy of the whole earth. And we know that all things work
together for good to them that love God, to them who are the
called according to His purpose. Apart from being the call according
to his purpose, the first phrase has no basis. In like fashion,
the same is true when men examine Paul's exhortation and instruction
given to the Philippians. Wherefore, my beloved, as ye
have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much
more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear
and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to
will and to do of his good pleasure. The psalmist Asaph says, the
Lord knoweth the days of the upright. David understood this
as the reason for his deliverance. My times are in by hand. Deliver
me from the hand of mine enemies and from them that persecute
me. Jeremiah knew the same. Oh Lord, I know that the way
of man is not in himself. It is not in man that walketh
to direct his steps. The Lord knows the days of the
upright because he knoweth them that are his. We spend our years
as a tale that is told. He 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
see the kingdom of God? For a free CD containing 15 of
these radio broadcasts, send an email to forthepoor at windstream.net.