Money and Happy?

Image by epSos.de via Flickr

Someone once coined the cliche’, “Money can’t buy happiness”. That sounds right, especially if you have grown up in a churched context. There is only one problem with that statement – it’s not true!  Money can buy happiness. Happiness is a temporary feeling based on what is currently happening. You are happy as long as things are happening the way you want them to happen.  Money can direct and determine what is happening at the moment.

Money can pay for you to spend a day at your favorite sports event or amusement park. Money can purchase tickets to your dream vacation spot. Money can help you help someone you want to help. Money can remodel your kitchen with a gas range, granite tops and marble floors. Money can put you on a private jet headed to see your favorite Broadway show. Money can put you in a five-star restaurant at the best table with a delightful meal and great company. Money can provide a plethora of opportunities that totally appeal to your sense of happiness and pleasure. Money can make you feel good for a moment and about a moment.

What money can’t buy is joy. Joy is a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). Joy is evidence of God’s kingdom at work within the believer (Romans 14:17). Joy is a spiritual commodity that cannot be purchased with the currency of money.  Joy is not temporary. Joy is not about the moment.  Joy is permanent. Joy is not because of what you bought or what you have. Joy is based on what you know.

Joy is not an emotion. Joy is a revelation. Joy is knowing God and His word. Joy is knowing the end from the beginning. Joy is overcoming in the midst of the problem because you already know how things are going to turn out.  But you say, “Man of God, how can I know how things are going to turn out.  How will I know?”  You know because no matter what happens in the life of a believer we know God’s purpose awaits us on the other side of whatever we are enduring. “All things work together for the good…” (Romans 8:28).

Someone once remarked to a mean and miserable millionaire, “You see, money won’t make you happy”. The mean and miserable millionaire replied, “But it will let you be miserable in a real nice neighborhood!”.

“The Father of All”

“One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all” (Ephesians 4:6).

There is a damnable doctrine that has leavened the bread served from too many modern pulpits. Most recently a defrocked, former Pentecostal preacher from Tulsa began a national campaign to spread this heresy as far and fast as he possibly can. It is a sad and tragic delusion that is wooing popular preachers in this generation at alarming numbers.

The “doctrine of inclusion” is a false teaching that has at its root a claim about God that is a heresy. The doctrine of inclusion claims that God is “the Father of all”. The doctrine of inclusion claims that God is in a redemptive relationship with every person. The doctrine of inclusion wants us to believe that  God has brought every one into His family.  This doctrine of devils leads to one spurious conclusion – There is no real salvation and God has no eternal standard for faith or eternal life. How could we ever accept such a thought?  This is not what Jesus and the apostles taught!

God is not the “Father of all” as it is taught and preached by inclusionists.  They use  Pauline terminology to make their point that God has included everyone into His heavenly family. This is not Paul’s point. Paul has constructed a context for this statement. Paul does not place such a wide expression of God in a wide text. He confines his comment in the context of the “called”.

In verse one (Ephesians 4) Paul is speaking specifically to the called. He repeats this “called” language in verse four. He is speaking to a body of people who are committed to one another by agape love, the unity of the Spirit, one Lord, one faith and one baptism. The “called” are the ones who have responded to God’s call of salvation through Jesus Christ.

The “all” of Paul is not universal or omni-inclusive. Paul’s “all” refers to all who have placed their faith in Christ as Lord and have been immersed into the Christ life. God is the Creator of all. He holds a paternity for all of eternity. God is the original Originator. In this sense He is the Great Progenitor of all. He is nonetheless, only in a Father-child relationship with those who receive Jesus as Lord and Savior.

Happy Father’s Day!

The 6:33 Fast

The Lord’s blessings and  my great appreciation upon you for standing with us today as we prepare to conclude the solemn assembly and special fast of today.  It has been an incredible day for me spiritually. I pray you can say the same.

Today we began to conduct another Bible study and worship service for the women inmates at Silverdale Correctional Facility in Hamilton County, Tennessee. We are now hosting a 9:00am – 10:30am and a 10:45am – 12pm (Noon) service. We are now able to reach and preach to as many women as wish to attend our services in the prison.  Today nine (9) women gave their lives to Jesus!  Glory to God!

I have been meditating in the Word (Isaiah 58 and 61). My  fasting target was to bring myself  to a place of repentance and contrition before God for all the things I have left undone  and uncovered. It was also to be refilled with the passion of His purpose and  be renewed to His call for servant leaders. There is nothing more important to me than to be the man God wants, where He wants, doing what He wants. I can negotiate everything in my life and family but the good, acceptable and perfect will of God.

We are preparing to launch The National Prayer Gathering!  This event is a kingdom assignment for all my prayer partners.  I want you to be with me for a few days of intense impartation and anointed atmosphere, October 20-23rd. Send me your prayer requests and praise reports at nationalprayercall@gmail.com.

Getting the Support You Need

We all need support. Support is God’s idea. When God made man He called for support, “Let us make man…” (Genesis 1:26). For Adam, God’s greatest gift was the support of a wife. The human life was structured for support. Superman has Lois Lane. Batman has Robin, Green Hornet has Kato, Lone Ranger has Tonto and  Yogi Bear has Boo- Boo. We all need some support.

Support can determine our expectations, possessions or limitations. What we dream, what we will have and what we can accomplish is often set by our support or lack of it. Support is what enables each of us to achieve more than our own efforts will allow or avail us.  Support comes to take us further. Support is essential to executing anything extraordinarily excellent.

How many of us, how many times, have felt as if we didn’t have what, or even worse, whom we needed to accomplish and achieve an ambition? What do you have to do to stay hopeful when you have no apparent support?  Where do you go to get the support you need to do what you are called to do?

Jesus says, “Ask and it shall be given you, seek and you shall find; knock and it shall be opened unto you” (Matthew 7:7). This is the secret to getting the support you need.  Prayer is the strategy for your support.  When we need resources and results we must engage prayer. Prayer supplies us with the support we need for what we must accomplish.

Three very practical things you can began employing today that will  get you the support you need.

1) Inquire – “Ask”. If you need help, and you do, – ask for it. Don’t let any thing get in the way of asking; not pride, not prejudice, not people, and not previous plans. Be open to discovering the wonderful people and things you will need to fulfill the design of the Father.

2) Desire – “Seek”. Most of us don’t want much or what we want is not so much. Your desires should be God-sized!  You can develop your desires with new mental pictures. Begin with reading the Word of God daily. You will start developing a picture of how God wants you to live. Y0u will then begin to have the desires of the Father. Now what you want is what God wants for you!

3) Acquire – “Knock”. Things must be opened to you before you can access them. Prayer empowers you to acquire what you inquire and desire. Prayer is not an empty exercise. Prayer is not just spiritual therapy. Prayer is getting the support you need to get things done.

Go back to asking God for who you need and what you need. Get back to wanting big things that only God can help you get done. Get back what you let get away by disappointments and distractions.