Kingdom of God – Joy's Words of Encouragement

Matthew 8:28-34 tells a story of two demon possessed men and of their freedom from that possession and the towns reaction. This version of the story comes from The Voice Bible which is written in such a way as to tell it as a story.

28Eventually Jesus came to the other side of sea, to the region of the Gadarenes. There, two men who lived near the tombs and were possessed by demons came out to the seaside and met Jesus. They were flailing about, so violent that they obstructed the path of anyone who came their way.

Demons (screaming at Jesus): 29Why are You here? Have you come to torture us even before the judgment day, O Son of God?

30A ways off, though still visible, was a large herd of pigs.

Demons: 31If You cast us out of the bodies of these two men, do send us into that heard of pigs!

Jesus: 32Very well then, go!

And the demons flew out of the bodies of the two flailing men, they set upon the pigs, and every last pig rushed over a steep bank into the sea and drowned. 33The pig herders (totally undone, as you can imagine) took off; they headed straight for town, where they told everyone what they’d just seen – even about the demon-possessed men. 34And so the whole town came out to see Jesus for themselves. And when they saw Him, they begged Him to leave their area.

When confronted with Christ and the miracle He had done for the demon-possessed men, they didn’t welcome Him they did the exact opposite.

The herd of pigs signified wealth. Often we are asked by God what are we going to do with our finances. For some this can be a difficult thing. Possibly you have come about difficult times financially, still setting some aside for the work of God is Biblical. How much is between your heart and God, the Holy Spirit. Maybe God has blessed you despite these difficult times and you find it easy to give, praise the Lord.

Perhaps you have great wealth and have been sensing that it was time to share that wealth with others but it has been difficult for you to let go of it. May I encourage you that there are greater treasures in heaven than you could ever amount for yourself here on earth. Please listen to that voice prodding you to be generous with what you have.

God has blessed you with the amount of income that He has chosen. Yes you may be an entrepreneur but it is God who has blessed your business as He has seen fit. And it is God who will either continue to bless that income or take it away. His ways are not our ways nor His thoughts our thoughts. So whether rich or poor be grateful for what you have because God promises to supply all your needs if you seek Him.

Unfortunately this town never got to learn that blessed promise and wonderful joy. Because when they were faced with the face of the Savior they chose wealth over salvation. How sad that a whole town could be more concerned with their wealth and all that encompasses than learning about the man that can free men from demon-possession. One would hope such a miracle would have people asking for more miracles of healing in their lives rather than looking at their pocketbooks and being fearful of what more money this Man might take from them.

This town is the perfect example of how it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God.

This town is also a reminder to us who follow Christ to keep our priorities in order. It is just as easy for us to allow wealth to cause an area of a hardened heart and that gives the enemy a foothold in our life that we don’t want to happen. We must listen to the Holy Spirit and obey it’s voice when It calls us to action in our giving.

We must only have one Master at all times. So check yourself and ask God if you are in line with His will in this area.

Joy – A Fellow Sojourner & A Woman After God’s Own Heart!

I can’t say it any better than Jesus puts it so I’ll just leave Matthew 6:25-34 to Him.

Here is the bottom line: do not worry about your life. Don’t worry about your life. Don’t worry about what you will eat or what yo will drink. Don’t worry about how you clothe your body. Living is about more than merely eating, and the body is about more than dressing up. Look at the birds in the sky.

They do not store food for winter. They don’t plant gardens. They do not sow or reap – and yet, they are always fed because your heavenly Father feeds them. And you are even more precious to Him than a beautiful bird.

If He looks after the them, of course He will look after you. Worrying does not do any good; who here can claim to add even an hour to his life by worrying?

Nor should you worry about your clothes. Consider the lilies of the field and how they grow.

They do not work or weave or sew, and yet their garments are stunning.

Even King Solomon, dressed in his most regal garb, was not as lovely as these lilies. And think about the grassy fields – the grasses are here now, but they will be dead by winter.

An yet God adorns them so radiantly. How much more will He clothe you, you of little faith, you who have no trust?

So do not consume yourselves with questions: What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear? Outsiders make themselves frantic over such questions; they don’t realize that your heavenly Father knows exactly what you need. Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and then all these things will be given to you too. So don’t worry about tomorrow. Let tomorrow worry about itself. Living faithfully is a large enough task for today.