- For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:21)
Common thinking : your money follow your heart, you will give for people you like.
Bible way : your heart follow your money
- I will give her her vineyards from there, and the Valley of Achor as a door of hope (Hosea 2:15)
Achor = trouble , in the valley of trouble, God will provide you a door of hope. The key to open the door is Jesus.
This interpretation is consistent with 1 Cor 10:13 “with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.” God always gives the wayout for every trial.
- John 1:12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the [a]right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: Those who recieve Him, He gives power to be sons of God. Receive Him first and then He will give right to become children of God. Come first just the way you are.
- Thorn in the flesh does not mean illnes but personality, people that cause problems, pain in neck
But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you, then it shall be that those whom you let remain shall be irritants in your eyes and thorns in your sides, and they shall harass you in the land where you dwell. (Number 33:55). And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to [a]buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. (2 Cor 12:7)
- 1 Cor 1:27-31 “But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence. But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption— that, as it is written, “He who glories, let him glory in the Lord.”
- God use things that are nothing to nullify things that are might. God uses nothing to put nothing to the things that are something so no flesh should glory in His presence. Know how God works and once you know, you can flow with Him.
- Example : Nazareth is considered small town but Jesus brought fragrance, perfume, glory, honor to the name of Nazareth. Gideon was from the weakest clan in Israel yet God used him to bring deliverance. God sees Gideon different that people see him. God used a boy, a sling and a stone to tear down Goliath through David. There is nothing in the 5 loaves and 2 fishes to feed 5000. Everything is in the Lord, nothing to do with baskets or disciples. The elements of communion, bread and wine looks so simple but there is tremendous power behind it.
- God’s way is found in Romans 4:17 “God calls those things which are not as though they were.”
- If you are sick, Jesus is our redemption from the curse of death, sickness, lack. The more you glory in your strength, the more you see weaknesses. Challenges may be your handicap.
- God sees potential and opportunity that His beauty flow through your weakness.
- 2 Kings 5: 12 “Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? ” Abana : stony. A picture of depending on the laws , your obedience for healing. Amana : financial support. Maybe you trust financial support. Pharpar = swift result, quick fruitfulness. God wants to give you genuine fruitfulness
