Heavenly Economics

One person gives freely, yet gains even more, another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. (Proverbs 11:24)

In this world economics Is often about quickly making the greatest profit and they expense of others. It’s based mainly on greed and And a new first attitude. No it is sometimes called the pursuit of happiness, it will never satisfy our deepest needs or longings.

There is also what we might call “heavenly economics.” It gives free reign to generosity, love, and goodwill. It turns the selfish vicious cycle of greed on its head and flashes of heavenly sunshine beam through.

We can hear echoes of this in our problems today. Do you know if people forgive the debt, as they have been forgiven, and ripples of love spread outward. That’s an example of amazing grace in the midst of worldly economics, building up pressure and heaven.

Maybe you have seen the old movie it’s a Wonderful Life. It’s a story it a story about George Bailey, Whose savings and loan business loans out money at low interest showing that low income people and buy a home. But then something goes wrong: One day George uncle loses track of a bundle of money on the way to the bank, and that puts you’re in danger of going bankrupt. In the end though, you were just rescued by the towns people, Who give him all the cash he needs because he’s always treated them with goodwill.

Let’s fall God lending and lives your generously and In goodwill. Greed and selfishness only lead to ruin.

Prayer

Lord, “ your will be done on earth as it is in heaven… for yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.” Amen.

What was freely given to me, I freely give.

What would a better world it would be if we all believed this Motto.

God Tests The Righteous

Have you ever felt like God has left you high and dry? That He doesn’t care about you?

The Christian life is filled with trials and tests, When we undergo these trials, only we know the real pain. Indeed, others may not feel what were going through

But these trials in our Christian journey should not make us frail. Scripture says “The Lord tests the righteous “ The reason our God tests us, is for a glorious purpose. That purpose is to refine us and make us eligible to be with Him forever.

We should never get tired of facing trials. Instead, we should ask the Lord what He wants us to learn going through the trial. With the help of God, we can overcome everything test that we go through. That is how faithful one in the Bible overcame their sufferings. So, let us remember that God loved us and that is the reason He tests us. But, He hates the wicked and their destruction will come. If we overcome all our trials we will receive our glorious reward, in due time.

Psalm 11

Types Of Angels In The Bible

There are 5 types of Angels in the Bible. Today I want to share with you a little about angels.

Angels are one of those fun topics to learn about. So let’s Learn about God’s messengers and how they function in the spirit realm.

Believing and understanding how angels operate is important for Christians. Too many times we think angels are just going around about the earth watching people and protecting them. And in some cases yes they protecting, but that’s only a small part of what they do.

We need to realize that angels are so much more than our personal bodyguards. They act as God’s agents on earth:

  • They Guide us – Exodus 23:20
  • They do the will of God and help us to accomplish God’s will – Psalm 103: 19-22
  • They encourage and minister to us – Hebrews 1:14, Judges:6
  • They send messages from God to us – Luke 1:13

And so much more.

In Scripture the visitation of an angel is always alarming; they have to begin by saying “Fear not.” The Victorian angel looks as if it were going to say, “There, there.”

C.S. Lewis

No matter how much we chuckle at this, there is truth to that quote. For us to really understand angels we can not look at man’s ideas or thoughts on it. But we have to look to God and His Word.

When God created the Heavens and the Scripture we can see five types of angels. These Types of Angels are:

  • Archangels
  • Cherubim
  • Seraphim
  • The Living Creatures
  • Common Angels

Archangels

Archangel are probably the most well known type of angel. But from the name it might be more of rank the a rank then an actual type. The word arch means, “Chief.”

This gives us the idea that there is a ranking or class of angels in heaven. (Colossians 1:16-17, Ephesians 3:9-10) The word Archangel is only seen twice in Scripture and both times are in the New Testament.

The only named archangel is Michael, but many classify Gabriel as a. Archangel since he referred throughout Scripture. (Old Testament and New) It also states in Luke 1:19 that he stands in the presence of God.

But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not dare to condemn him for slander but said. “The Lord rebuke you!” (Jude 1:9)

For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them to meet then in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. (Thessalonians 4:16)

From these two scriptures we can come to the conclusion that these types of angels carry some level of authority.

Cherubim

Most of the time we think cherubs are these cute little- naked babies flying around with wings. Those are actually called putti angels. At least that’s what Renaissance and Victorian artists depicted. But that’s not what in found in scripture.

The Prophet Ezekiel describes these amazing spiritual beings as:

And this was their appearance: they had a human likeness, but each had four faces, and each of them had four wings. Their legs were straight, and doors of their feel were like the sole of a calf’s foot. And they sparkled like burnished bronze. Under their wings on their four sides they had human hands. And the four faces and their wings touched one another,

Each on of them went straight forward, without turning as they went As for the likeness of their faces, each had a human face. The four face the face of a lion on the right side, the four had the face of an ox on the left side, and the four had had the face of an eagle.

Such were their faces. And their wings were spread out above. Each creature had two wings, each of which touched the wing of another, while two covered their bodies. And each went straight forward. Wherever tthd the spirit would go, they went, without turning as they went. (Ezekiel 1:5-11)

As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, like the appearance of torches moving to and fro among the living creatures. And the fire was bright, and out of the fit went forth lightning. And the living creatures darted to and fro, like a flash of lightning. (Ezekiel 1;

Cherubs are seen throughout Scripture as angels who guard (as in the garden of Eden) and surround the ark of the covenant, tabernacle, and temple. Lucifer is also considered an anointed cherub.

Seraphim

These angels are all about the presence of God. They fly around the throne room declining the holiness of God. According to the strong’s Concordance Saraph is described as – “Burning.” These angels are on fire, worshiping the God the all-consuming Fire!

These are majestic beings with six wings, that cry out to each other about the holiness of God. We only see these angels ment in the book of Isaiah.

In the year that King Uzziah died, Isaiah saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on the throne; and the train of His robe filled the temple. Above Him we’re seraphim, each with six wings; With two wings they covered their faces, with two that covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another:

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of His glory.”

At the sound of their voices, the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke.

“Woe to me! Isaiah cried. “I am ruined For I am a man of unclean lips; and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.”

Then one of the seraphim flew to him with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the alter. With it he touched Isaiah’s mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.” (Isaiah 6:1-8)

The Living Creatures

These angels are known as “living beasts” or “the four beasts.” They minister by worshiping and glorifying God. Some believe that these angels saw that Isaiah in a vision which he calls seraphim.

It’s hard to know since both descriptions in Isaiah are similar to those in Revelation yet not clear enough to know for sure.

In the center, around the throne were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and back. The first living creature was like a lion, the second like a ox, the third had a face on a man, and the forth was like a flying eagle. Each of the four living creatures with eyes all around, even under it’s wings. Day and night they never stopped saying:

“Holy holy holy is the Lord God Almighty ‘ who was, and is, and is to come.”

Whenever the living creatures give glory, homor and thanks to Him who sets on the throne and who live for ever and ever, (Revelation 4:6-9)

Common Angels

This may seem like a broad way to categorize angels, but these angels don’t seem to fall into an angelic type or rank in the Bible. This doesn’t mean they are not powerful beings. They still work for God and do His work.

Don’t forget to hospitality to strangers, for by doing so some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. (Hebrews 13:2)

I love this verse because they are working among us. We can also see this in the account of Peter and His angel. (Acts 12:15)

Perhaps one day when we are in Heaven we will understand these angels more.

Is Giving Really Giving

Any believe the idea that “charity begins at home,” and strive to live by this principle. However, the word “charity” can have negative connotation as well, with some believing charity can lead to dependence and entitlement. That negativity often comes from getting a hand out versus a hand up.

What’s the difference? There are many third-world countries where a trip to the dentist is not only cost-prohibitive, it’s logically very difficult the full day trip to get to the dentist means an adult doesn’t get to work that day and possibly forfeits the ability to feed himself and his family.

And not only is there a loss of time, but there’s also the actual cost of care being provided. Sacrifice dental health in favor of dinners is probably an easy choicece.

A Dentist by the name of Roy Hammond from Utah decided to take it experience somewhere that adults and children had no place to get proper dental care. Which led to an organization called “Smiles for Hope” this organization has gone to 100 humanitarian missions to places like Guatemala, the Dominican Republic and Nepal treating more than 120 people a day in remote areas that requires hours of riding a bus. But there’s a unique twist in how Smiles for Hope helps these people.

Skin In The Game

This dental care isn’t provided as just charity. People receiving care are required to pay from $1 to $3 per treatment which is a large amount of money where the average per-day earning is $1. The money is to make sure they “have skin in the game” making them even more invested in their own dental health.

The difference is the attitudes of the children attending the dental clinic are striking. In the Dominican Republic, children waited calmly and respectfully for their turn to see the dentist or the hygienist, while the children in places where dental care was pure charity sometimes they were less than polite or grateful. The Dominican Republic children were clearly impacted by the skin in the game attitude of their parents, which served as an excellent example as these children grew up to have their own children.

Paying It Back

What’s even more interesting is how these people – mostly mothers – have been able to earn the funds to care for their families, and become self-reliant. Many are getting micro-loans from Esperanza International an organization founded in 1995 by a former major league baseball player to provide these loans to impoverished families and businesses to improve economic development, and pull communities out of poverty.

In the Dominican Republic, the average micro-loan is about $200 and is provto those who come up with viable entrepreneurial business ideas. The interest rate on these loans is 21 percent, This may seem high but that interest rate allows Esperanza to send instructors to these communities to teach budding entrepreneurs about running a business, paying taxes, and growing their businesses which gets them more than just monetary value from the micro loan.

One great example is a mother who narrowed her first $200 purchased a standing shade tarp and opened for business as a hairdresser. Another woman had narrowed and repaid more than 15 microloans which ultimately put her in a position to develop several buildings, including a church, a strip makk, and a clinic for dental students. All for betterment of her community. Esperanza International has a 98.5 percent loan payoff rate.

Teaching To Fish

The well-worn out saying “ Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime” couldn’t be more applicable here.

This then is the difference between giving a hand up instead of a hand out.

Outside The Synagogue

The gospel of Luke tells of The Messiah being kicked out of His own Synagogue. He went outside; He left. They went on with their services, rituals, and their social lives, but everything was dead, empty and lost. God’s presence moved on, outside the synagogue, rituals and routines. The healing and the good news went on outside.

The release of the captives went on, freedom to the prisoners, sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf, all the miracles that His own synagogue couldn’t contain. His own religion could not contain Him, and Neither can ours.

You want miracles, blessings, the presence of God? Then you have to step outside of your routine, you rut, even the rituals in your life. You have to break out beyond the walls that contain your faith.

The walls of Messiah’s religion couldn’t contain Him. He has to go outside for the miracles to keep going. We too need to step out our narrow walls and walk with the King in the excitement of the newness and adventure of Him.

The blessings He has for you are so big, they cannot be contained indoors.

Luke 4:18

The Importance Of What We Do In Secret

According to Jesus, it is what we do in secret that matters most. Jesus is not suggesting that the outward is unimportant – far from it. ‘What good is it, my children, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him.” (James 2:14)

The answer is empathetically no. Still, it is also possible to have outward works but no inner reality. In this instance, religion is a presence. Six times in the Sermon on the Mount alluding to these distinct exercises, Jesus employs the term secret::

Matthew 6

  • Give “in secret… and your Father who sees in secret will reward you” (Matthew 6:4)
  • Pray “in secret.. and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”
  • Fast in secret … and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

The Sermon on the Mount is addressing the issue of authenticity. Just how genuine is our relationship with the Lord Jesus? It is altogether possible to practice an outward display of deity to piety – to “talk the talk” – without demonstrating any inner reality of godliness. This is true In every professing Christian, and it is especially true of those engaged in Christian ministry. Authentic Christianity requires an outward and discernible “work of faith.” (1 Thessalonians 1:3, 2 Thessalonians 1:11) But it also requires genuine godly affections and net discipline of the heart,

There is a manner of ministry that is more about self-sacrifice, self-indulgence than self-discipline, and self-promotion than self- denial. There is also giving that is designed for recognition – plaques on walks intend to be read by generations to come, or press releases informing the world of “generous donations” prayer in pristine Cranmnerlike language of the sixteenth center suggesting depths of personal piety; fasting that is shown vie open-nect T-shirts revealing a ribbed torso.

But all these outward demonstrations of piety met be no more than mere hypocrisy. The Greek word translated “hypocrites, refers to the masks worn by ancient actors as symbols of pretense and show. This, give with fanfare; pray with pride; fast with notice. This ministry is inauthentic. It is a sham.

The inauthentic ministry was a charge leveled against Paul. The Corinthians said there was a discrepancy between the way he wrote his letters and the way he was in person: “His letters are weighty and strong, but his presence is weak, and his speech of no account. (2 Corinthians 10:10) It is a serious charge, and in his second letter to the church at Corinthians, Pauk spends almost the entire time defending himself. The critique came from jealousy and therefore bore no legitimacy. But the fact is, the charge can be true – not of Pauk, but of us. Leadership calls for genuineness, authenticity and transparency.

True, there’s something of a cliche about the word authentic when applied to Christian ministry ( Add contemporary, intentional, relevant, and community to that list) If we really need to add the description, authentic, we are probably trying to hard and therefore not being authentic at all. Nevertheless, hypocrisy lurks everywhere, not least in Christian ministry, and we ignore it at our peril.

Godliness must be found in the heart if it is to be genuine. The one who prays more in public then in private or only gives at special events when likely to be thanked for it, or practices spiritual disciplines and let’s everyone know just how difficult a spiritual routine he keeps, his more concerned about the outward appearance than a heart- relationship with Jesus.