Power of the self

Philippians 4:12-13

I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.

 I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.

So many make the mistake by thinking that the power to change their lives is within themselves. So many turn to the power of the mind thinking that the answer is within them. We bow down and worship the powers of the universe and what it holds for us. Is the bread greater than the baker? There are only two powers in this world and in the universe. One who seeks to set you free from the alluring shackles of this world and bring you home with Him. The other who promises wealth and prosperity but omits to mention that it is only for a short while. His deception has made man to believe that within himself is a god who can do all through his own self believe, discipline and endeavours. He made gods between us whom we worship and stay up late hours just to obtain a little more wisdom from them. Is the bread greater than the baker? Can the bread rise up and create more bread? No. It will rot even before it is able to move an inch. Just as the gods among us will fade away by either self destruction or death. But the Baker lives on and creates new bread. Manor from heaven. From His own Body. And will place it in the Most Holy Place.

Dont be deceived by the promises of wealth and prosperity seen so much on these pages. These things are temporary. Like the blink of an eye. We sacrifice eternity for a few moments of pleasure. We turn away from that which is real, pure and everlasting. The deceiver whispers in our ears that which caused us to fall in the first place...that which had brought only pain, suffering and death to our world and sadly we still fall for the same lie...He lied to Eve making her believe that she can be a god. He deceives us with the same lie and the same fruit and yet we are to blind to see and our hearts are to hard to understand.

God asks that we should not conform to the things of this world because we are not from this place. Satan promises us wealth and prosperity to trap us in this world. God asks us to allow the Holy Spirit to transform our minds but Satan says the power to change the way we think lies within ourselves making us gods. Its ok to be wealthy and prosper but its not ok if wealth and prosperity takes us away from God. Christ said that it is easier for a camel to pass through the hole of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. But He never said its impossible. People like Job, Ester, Abraham and others come to mind which shows its not impossible. All can be wealthy, But not all of us are strong enough to be wealthy and serve God righteously.

God cursed the land so that it may be difficult for us to bring fruit for our own good and not for His pleasure. Because He knew that prosperity will cause us to serve our wealth more than what we would serve Him. Look around you. Look into history. Wealth has brought only destruction. Are you able to praise God when you loose everything? Most likely no. We are more likely to curse Him.

Wealth attracts evil in all forms. There are more divorce cases amongst the wealthy than amongst the poor. And the poor are murdering each other because of men seeking wealth through the selling of alcohol and drugs to the poor. It is sad. And we turn around and curse God. We blame Him for everything bad which happens in our lives forgetting that we made our own decisions and the bad things that are happening are as a result of the decisions we made. Adam made the same mistake and they bore the consequences of their fatal decisions. Unfortunately we are caught in the crossfire. But the ransom has been paid in full. It is up to you to accept it or not. Amen.