Tested for Abundance by Os Hillman
http://www.identitynetwork.net/Articles-?blogid=2093&view=post&articleid=61314&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0
By Os Hillman
Tested for Abundance
by Os Hillman
"We went through fire and water, but you brought us to a place of abundance."
Psalm 66:12b
The Gospel of Material Abundance
It is nice to hear that God desires to bring us into abundance. In
fact, many a preacher has promoted the goodness of the Lord and His
ability to prosper His children. Alas, my experience is that this
gospel of material abundance has little to do with the gospel of the
Kingdom as our Lord works in the realm of the sanctified soul. The
passage above tells us that God does in fact bring us into places of
abundance. However, upon further study of the entire passage, we learn
the route to this abundance.
God's Economy
For you, O God, tested us; You refined us like silver. You
brought us into prison and laid burdens on our backs. You let men ride
over our heads; we went through fire and water, but You brought us to a
place of abundance (Psalm 66:10-12).
God's economy of abundance often has little to do with material
blessing. In God's economy, abundance is often measured in wisdom and
knowledge of Himself. It is then that we are truly blessed. Wisdom
cannot be gained through intellectual pursuits. Wisdom comes only
through experience. Real wisdom comes from the kinds of experiences
that come only through the deepest tests. Lessons of refinement,
including prison accompanied by burdens, lead us through the fire and
water. This is the territory that must be traveled to reach that place
of abundance. It would seem strange that a loving God would use such
means with His children. What we often fail to realize is that God's
measuring stick is the character and likeness of Jesus Christ Himself
in each of us. This cannot be gained through a life of ease and
pleasure. Ease and pleasure fail to refine.
The True Place of Abundance
Is God using your workplace to refine you today? Has He placed
you in a prison or laid burdens on your back? Take heart if this is the
place you find yourself, and realize that if you are faithful through
the tests, you will enter a place of abundance that few will ever
attain. The darkest hour is just before daybreak.
by Os Hillman
http://www.identitynetwork.net/Articles-?blogid=2093&url=10&view=post&articleid=207579&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0
"And the Lord said to Joshua, 'This day I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with you.'"(Josh 3:7-8). Joshua had been a faithful number two man under Moses for 40 years. Can you imagine serving one man for 40 years? Now that is faithfulness! Even so, when the time came to pass the mantel to Joshua, God knew he needed to be elevated in the eyes of the people in order for Joshua to accomplish his purpose. That is the purpose for elevation - so that you and I can fulfill our purpose and our mission.
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"Then Elimelech, Naomi's husband, died; and she was left, and her two sons. Now they took wives of the women of Moab: the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth. And they dwelt there about ten years. Then both Mahlon and Chilion also died; so the woman survived her two sons and her husband." Ruth 1:3-5 Naomi's life was going well. A great husband. Two fine sons who had two wonderful wives. Then the unthinkable happened. Her husband died. A little time later both her sons die. Her and her daughter-in-laws find themselves in the midst of shattered dreams. This isn't how life was supposed to be.
http://www.identitynetwork.net/Articles-?blogid=2093&url=10&view=post&articleid=202592&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0
"While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, 'Simon, three men are looking for you. So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them.'" Acts 10:19-20 Peter had never preached to the Gentiles. In fact, he believed it was against Jewish law to associate with the Gentiles. God needed to change Peter's attitude about this, so God gave Peter a vision that showed him it was permissible to preach to the Gentiles. The Spirit came to Peter and informed him that some men were about to come visit him, and he was to go with them. He went with them, and the Lord did great miracles in the lives of Gentiles through Peter.