Worst Crisis Since '30s,
With No End Yet in Sight!
This is an internet headline of news for Sept 18,
2008. There are few people who are living in a conscious state that have not
heard this news. Early this past year the cry was the “subprime loan crisis”.
Before this, was the Black Monday of 1987 when the stock markets crashed all around
the world. But first of all, was Black Thursday, October 24, 1929 which is said
to have started the famous Stock Market crash of 1929 and led into the The Great Depression.
Many are perplexed and are asking, what shall we do
and where shall we go. This reminded me of Jesus’ sermon of The Bread of Life
in John 6. A great number of those following Jesus got offended and discouraged
and quit following Him. Jesus turned to His disciples and asked them if they
were going to turn away also. Peter gave his reply recorded in John 6:66-69.
John 6:66
From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. 67
Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? 68 Then Simon Peter
answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. 69
And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living
God. KJV
God’s Economy vs. the World Economy
Hag 2:7 And
I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will
fill this house with glory, saith the LORD of hosts. 8 The silver is mine, and
the gold is mine, saith the LORD of hosts. KJV Psalms 50:10 For every beast of
the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills. KJV Ezek 18:4 For
every living soul belongs to me, the father as well as the son-both alike
belong to me. The soul who sins is the one who will die. NIV
All the
resources, gold, silver and even the souls of mankind belong to God. Satan is a
thief and a robber who has come to steal, kill and destroy. (John 10:10) There
is much to do about who holds the wealth of the world. It may seem that just a
few rich are running governments, companies and world markets. God still is in
control! He has an economy which is higher than that of this world. He has His
own government. Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given:
and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called
Wonderful, Counseller, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of
Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end,
upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish
it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of
the LORD of hosts will perform this. KJV
Invest in God’s Kingdom (market)
Col 3:1 Since you became alive again,
so to speak, when Christ arose from the dead, now set your sights on the rich
treasures and joys of heaven where he sits beside God in the place of honor and
power. 2 Let heaven fill your thoughts; don't spend your time worrying about
things down here. 3 You should have as little desire for this world as a dead
person does. Your real life is in heaven with Christ and God. 4 And when Christ
who is our real life comes back again, you will shine with him and share in all
his glories. TLB
Matt 6:19
"Don't store up treasures here on earth where they can erode away or may
be stolen. 20 Store them in heaven where they will never lose their value and
are safe from thieves. 21 If your profits are in heaven, your heart will be
there too. TLB
Matt 19:21
Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and
give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow
me." 22 When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had
great wealth. NIV
Ps 20:7
Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD
our God. 8 They are brought to their knees and fall, but we rise up and stand
firm. NIV
Begin to invest the following goods,
services, commodities or resources into God’s Kingdom and Harvest Field:
1. Prayer
2. Service (ministry)
3. Finances
Returns are guaranteed by the Word
of God.
Luke 6:38
For if you give, you will get! Your gift will return to you in full and
overflowing measure, pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, and
running over. Whatever measure you use to give-large or small-will be used to
measure what is given back to you." TLB
2 Cor 9:6
But remember this-if you give little, you will get little. A farmer who plants
just a few seeds will get only a small crop, but if he plants much, he will
reap much. 7 Everyone must make up his own mind as to how much he should give.
Don't force anyone to give more than he really wants to, for cheerful givers
are the ones God prizes. 8 God is able to make it up to you by giving you
everything you need and more so that there will not only be enough for your own
needs but plenty left over to give joyfully to others. 9 It is as the
Scriptures say: "The godly man gives generously to the poor. His good
deeds will be an honor to him forever." 10 For God, who gives seed to the
farmer to plant, and later on good crops to harvest and eat, will give you more
and more seed to plant and will make it grow so that you can give away more and
more fruit from your harvest. 11 Yes, God will give you much so that you can
give away much, and when we take your gifts to those who need them they will
break out into thanksgiving and praise to God for your help. 12 So two good
things happen as a result of your gifts-those in need are helped, and they
overflow with thanks to God. 13 Those you help will be glad not only because of
your generous gifts to themselves and to others, but they will praise God for
this proof that your deeds are as good as your doctrine. 14 And they will pray
for you with deep fervor and feeling because of the wonderful grace of God
shown through you. TLB
Gal 6:7 Be
not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he
also reap. 8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap
corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life
everlasting. 9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we
shall reap, if we faint not. KJV
The
scriptures given above are only a few of numerous passages that detail what God
has promised to give to His Children who believe on His Word and trust Him for
their salvation. The Bible goes on to list the promised returns for their
worship, ministry, and obedience.
How is our Portfolio?
That is an
excellent question. When experts give advice on the stock market and recommend
investment in certain companies the potential investor should check the
qualifications of that “expert”. We have nearly 40 years of
experience in ministry. Over 30 years were spent working in a religious
institutional or denominational environment. The man made regulations and rules
were at times, stiflingly oppressive. It is particularly discouraging to see religious institutions which trace their roots to the Bible, not actually follow
or operate according to the principles of the Bible.
In recent
years there has a dramatic shift toward an emphasis on numbers
and finances. This has led to the promoting of church membership numbers over conversions and
the cutbacks of ministries due the lack of finances. The cardinal Biblical principle of sowing and
reaping is said to no longer be compatible with the church's “core values”.
Paradigm Shift
In the last
two years we have been moving from the institutional backing to a more direct ministry
involvement (employment) with the Lord of the Harvest. Matt 9:37 "The
harvest is so great, and the workers are so few," he told his disciples.
38 "So pray to the one in charge of the harvesting, and ask him to recruit
more workers for his harvest fields." TLB
We have
decided to throw ourselves on the Mercies of the Heavenly Court. The Maker of Heaven and
earth will decide how we will live and function in the remaining time left on
the earth. There is a strong call within the spirit that the Lord of the
Harvest will soon return to His Harvest Field and instruct His Holy Angels to
begin the final “harvest” of the wheat and tares. (Matt 13:30) Until then we
will try our best to truly and in reality “walk by faith and not by sight”. We
will rejoice in His Promises, Gen 8:22 that seedtime and harvest will continue
as long as the earth endures. We will claim the promise of Psalms 126:5-6 that
we will reap if we go forth weeping and bearing the precious seed of God’s
Word.
It is Your Choice Now!
I don’t
know how well I have made my case. I highly recommend investing in God’s
Harvest Field! As a child of God, you have the choice of how much, where, when
and how you make that investment. I suggest that you approach this more
carefully than if you had 1 million dollars to place in the stock market.
Consider which field you will invest into carefully. Prayerfully check and see
just how much God-given faith you have access to. Then step out in faith, not
in self or man! Not with selfish motives! Just step out because you know God
loves you and gave the best of Heaven (Jesus Christ) to pay for yours and my
sins. God invested the best He had into this fallen world so we could be saved.
How can we hold back on the blessings and resources that He has placed in our
hands? Go ahead open up your hands and heart and give God what already belongs
to Him.
Oh! By the way, get ready! Mal 3:10 Bring all the tithes into the
storehouse so that there will be food enough in my Temple; if you do, I will
open up the windows of heaven for you and pour out a blessing so great you
won't have room enough to take it in! "Try it! Let me prove it to you! 11
Your crops will be large, for I will guard them from insects and plagues. Your
grapes won't shrivel away before they ripen," says the Lord Almighty. 12
"And all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a land sparkling
with happiness. These are the promises of the Lord Almighty. TLB
God bless
you as you pray and invest!
Daniel
Corbett
”Reaching One Among Millions”
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