GOD, Faithful, Restorer of my Joy - March 10, 2014

Scripture: Deuteronomy 26-28
7 So we cried out to Adonai, the God of our ancestors. Adonai heard us and saw our misery, toil and oppression; 8 and Adonai brought us out of Egypt with a strong hand and a stretched-out arm, with great terror, and with signs and wonders.9 Now he has brought us to this place and given us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey.10 Therefore, as you see, I have now brought the firstfruits of the land which you, Adonai, have given me.’ You are then to put the basket down beforeAdonai your God, prostrate yourself before Adonaiyour God, 11 and take joy in all the good thatAdonai your God has given you, your household, the Levi and the foreigner living with you.
12 “After you have separated a tenth of the crops yielded in the third year, the year of separating a tenth, and have given it to the Levi, the foreigner, the orphan and the widow, so that they can have enough food to satisfy them while staying with you; 13 you are to say, in the presence of Adonai your God, ‘I have rid my house of the things set aside for God and given them to theLevi, the foreigner, the orphan and the widow, in keeping with every one of the mitzvot you gave me. I haven’t disobeyed any of your mitzvot or forgotten them. 

Message:

The Faithfulness of GOD

Observation/Promise:

GOD hears His people. GOD is such a merciful GOD, He heard the cries and anguish of His people when they were oppressed in Egypt and not only did He hear, He brought them out of Egypt to a land where abundant blessings flow. A land where they don't have to depend on others to provide them with food but a land where GOD richly provides them with everything they need and more. But with all the blessings that GOD gives to us, what does He require of us? More sacrifice? Something burdensome? No, instead He requires that we His people give to Him a firstfruit of our blessings by giving our tithe for GOD's house and be giving and kind to the poor and needy people and even the foreigners in the land that GOD gave to them. Is a 10th too much to give??? See how gracious and just, compassionate and faithful GOD is to His people. He only requires us to be faithful to Him and to His commands that are good and will benefit us as a people.

Command:

Separate a tenth for GOD in the firstfruits of your harvest from the blessings GOD has richly given you, this tenth will given to four people:
1) The Levi in GOD's house
2) Poor Foreigner
3) Poor Orphans
4) Needy Widows.
Offer and surrender whatever GOD wants to have in your life because it only means HE wants to give you more.

Application:
Initially, did not chose to give up my beloved dog Cherry but GOD took her away so suddenly, it was so painful how she died and I kept crying about it but later I surrendered her to the Lord trusting that HE only knows what's best for us. GOD took our Cherry on a Sunday but GOD gave us another Cobe on another faithful Sunday that HE chose to display His great faithfulness and loving kindness to us as a family. All I can say is glory be to GOD, HE is sooo good. HE truly turned my mourning into dancing! HE truly restored my joy.

Mind Your Work - Your Life

4 Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else. 5 For we are each responsible for our own conduct.
7 Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. 8 Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. 9
- Galatians 6


We all are working for something in our lives. We work to achieve our goals and make efforts to pursue our dreams. But what is our inner motive? Are we really doing it for ourselves? Are we doing it for the praise and honor of others? Are we doing it to get ahead of others out of a prideful heart? Whatever we do in life should be for GOD and for ourselves. When we understand what GOD wants us to do, then we pursue it, we don't have to keep looking backwards. We can't keep looking sideways, minding what others are doing because each of us have different assignments from GOD, all have a unique purpose ordained by GOD to each one. We can only look forward and eagerly wait to receive by faith the righteousness that GOD has promised us - Galatians 4:5 Which means to say, we cannot attain righteousness on our own only by faith. 

We only have to focus and pay attention to what GOD has called us to do. There's much to work on because it is very easy to go the wrong path and already be nurturing the wrong things if we do not watch out and guard the vineyard of our minds and hearts. Are sowing and nurturing on His word? Or are we harboring hatred towards our enemies? Are we truly walking in the spirit or walking in carnal ways? There's many out there thinking they are faithful and devoted to GOD but most of the time the things that occupy their minds are hatred, anger and seeking to please themselves. People may seem "godly" because they not only go to church but serve in church. But one day GOD will reveal His true children and they will harvest eternal life because they have been sowing in His Spirit. So pay close attention to mind your work that GOD has called you to do in your life.