SETTLING FOR THE GLORY OF THIS WORLD (PART 2) Regardless of his earthly and material blessings however, Abraham did not settle for the kingdoms of this world and their glory. He never saw them as “the promises of God” as he looked for a heavenly country that has eternal “foundations, whose builder and maker is God” (Hebrew 11:10) with a better assurance of much more glorious inheritance than the silver, gold, riches, wealth and mansions of this world. These all (including Abraham) died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. (Genesis 11:13 italics mine). Abraham dominated his earthly territory but never for once did he cease to confess that he was a stranger and pilgrim on this earth. He had no continuing city here in this world but he sought one to come (Hebrew 13:14). This is the example that we have in Abraham, who is the father of faith according to the Holy Scriptures. Paul commends those who “walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham” (Romans 4:12). These are the same steps that we have been called unto which Christ Jesus left for us as an example to follow. (1 Peter 2:21) Satan offered to give Jesus the kingdoms of this world and their glory, not as an empty promise but one he could and would fulfill provided Jesus yielded himself in worship to him. The word worship in Greek is “proskuneo” which means to bow down in reverence. While it connotes a physical action of the body, worship in this context does not necessarily have to be through bowing down physically, it could also mean to revere something or somebody above God. Not only did Jesus refuse to bow down to Satan, he revered God and God alone in his heart. While many will claim they do not worship or bow down to Satan, the disposition of their heart to mammon confirms otherwise. If your primary motive for serving God is predicated on monetary considerations please make no mistake about it, you might be worshiping Satan ignorantly. While the message of prosperity is part of the message of salvation, whenever it is given greater emphasis above the message of righteousness and true holiness such that the hearers of such message seek God to be “blessed” with material riches and wealth instead of seeking God to be transformed into the image of the Son of God, it becomes a tool in the hands of Satan to get worship from men, even from believers in Christ! Please understand that while the sacrifice of Christ has given Him power over the title deed of the whole universe, he has not fully taken possession of the kingdoms of this world and their glory yet. "We see NOT AS YET ALL THINGS SUBJECT TO HIM (Hebrew 2:8) "And when ALL THINGS SHALL BE SUBDUED UNTO HIM, then the Son also Himself shall be subject unto Him that put all things under Him." (1 Cor. 15:28). So it is still possible for the enemy to usurp authority over the wealth and riches of this world. And I dare say that he can promise and give of the kingdoms of this world and their glory to a man or woman in exchange for his or her soul or in exchange for other people’s souls. Wealth and riches can be given in exchange for souls. Jesus Christ confirms this when He said “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? (Matthew 16:26). Many Preachers, and Christians alike, are settling for the glory of this world by trading their soul, preaching and pursuing vanity at the expense of eternity, preaching and following material blessings, breakthroughs, miraculous supply rather than teaching and learning to walk in righteousness, holiness, peace, contentment, love, faith and patience of God and His Christ are being preached. And because of the testimonies of false supernatural wealth and riches that such people tend to show as proofs or results that what they preach and teach is true, many follow their pernicious ways and would prefer to worship their "god". And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of (2 Peter 2:2) because they have turned the grace of the true God into lasciviousness, and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ through their covetousness. Be wise and follow the obedient ways of Abraham, the father of faith, who rather than settling for the glory of this world, lived in hope of eternal life, saw that the world wherein he lived will one day be over and was continually “looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the element shall melt with fervent heat” (2 Peter 3:12). Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing the day of the Lord, he saw it coming and was glad (John 8:56). Dominate the world in righteousness, occupy your territory with Kingdom authority but nevertheless always remember according to his promise, to keep looking for the new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwells righteousness. (2 Peter 3:13) This present world is not our home; please don’t settle for its Kingdoms and their glory. Get ready, Jesus is coming soon to take us home.
Posted on: Wed, 02 Oct 2013 13:10:20 +0000
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