These may not be all the verses on prospering… but they are ones we need to meditate on, study in context and pray about implementing in our lives….

1. Genesis 26:12? Then Isaac sowed in that land, and reaped in the same year a hundredfold; and the Lord blessed him
2. Genesis 39:3? Now his master saw that the Lord was with him and how the Lord caused all that he did to prosper in his hand.
3. Deuteronomy 8:18?…Remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you the ability to produce wealth.
4. Deuteronomy 15:10 ?You shall generously give to him, and your heart shall not be grieved when you give to him, because for this thing the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in all your undertakings.
5. Deuteronomy 24:19 ?When you reap your harvest in your field and have forgotten a sheaf in the field, you shall not go back to get it; it shall be for the alien, for the orphan, and for the widow, in order that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.
6. Deuteronomy 30:8-10? And you shall again obey the Lord, and observe all His commandments which I command you today. “Then the Lord your God will prosper you abundantly in all the work of your hand, in the offspring of your body and in the offspring of your cattle and in the produce of your ground, for the Lord will again rejoice over you for good, just as He rejoiced over your fathers; if you obey the Lord your God to keep His commandments and His statutes which are written in this book of the law, if you turn to the Lord your God with all your heart and soul.
7. Joshua 1:8 ?This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success.
8. 1 Chronicles 22:12 ?Only may the Lord give you wisdom and understanding, and give you charge concerning Israel, that you may keep the law of the Lord your God. Then you will prosper, if you take care to fulfill the statutes and judgments with which the Lord charged Moses concerning Israel. Be strong and of good courage; do not fear nor be dismayed.
9. 2 Chronicles 31:20 ?This is what Hezekiah did throughout Judah, doing what was good and right and faithful before the Lord his God. In everything that he undertook in the service of God’s temple and in obedience to the law and the commands, he sought his God and worked wholeheartedly. And so he prospered.
10. Jeremiah 17:8 ?For he will be like a tree planted by the water, that extends its roots by a stream and will not fear when the heat comes; but its leaves will be green, and it will not be anxious in a year of drought nor cease to yield fruit.
11. Psalm 1: 1-3 ?Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.
12. Psalm 35:27 ?Let them shout for joy and rejoice, who favor my vindication; and let them say continually, “The Lord be magnified, who delights in the prosperity of His servant.”
13. 1 Cor 16:2? “On the first day of every week each one of you is to put aside and save, as he may prosper, so that no collections be made when I come.”
14. 3 John 1:2? Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.

Can you add any more? Do it in the comments. Thank you.

These may not be all the verses on giving… but they are ones we need to meditate on, study in context and pray about implementing in our lives…

1. Deuteronomy 15:10? Give generously to him and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to.
2. Deuteronomy 16:17? Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD your God which He has given you.
3. 1 Chronicles 29:9? Then the people rejoiced because they had offered so willingly, for they made their offering to the Lord with a whole heart, and King David also rejoiced greatly.
4. Proverbs 3:9-10 ?Honor the Lord from your wealth and from the first of all your produce; So your barns will be filled with plenty and your vats will overflow with new wine.??
5. Proverbs 3:27 ?Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it.
6. Proverbs 11:24-25? There is one who scatters, and yet increases all the more, and there is one who withholds what is justly due, and yet it results only in want. The generous man will be prosperous, and he who waters will himself be watered.
7. Proverbs 21:26?…the righteous gives and does not hold back.
8. Proverbs 22:9 ?He who is generous will be blessed, for he gives some of his food to the poor.??
9. Proverbs 28:27 ?He who gives to the poor will never want, but he who shuts his eyes will have many curses.
10. Matthew 6:3-4 ?But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving will be in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.
11. Mark 12:41-44? And He sat down opposite the treasury, and began observing how the people were putting money into the treasury; and many rich people were putting in large sums. A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which amount to a cent.Calling His disciples to Him, He said to them, “Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the contributors to the treasury; for they all put in out of their surplus, but she, out of her poverty, put in all she owned, all she had to live on.”
12. Luke 3:11 ?And he would answer and say to them, “The man who has two tunics is to share with him who has none; and he who has food is to do likewise.”
13. Luke 6:30 ?Give to everyone who asks of you, and whoever takes away what is yours, do not demand it back.
14. Luke 6:38? Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return.
15. Acts 20:35 ?In everything I showed you that by working hard in this manner you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.
16. Romans 12:8?…Or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
17. 2 Corinthians 9:6-8? Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed.
18. 2 Corinthians 9:10 ?Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness;
19. Galatians 6:7 ?Do not be deceived,God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.
20. Philippians 4:15-17 ?And you yourselves also know, Philippians, that at the first preaching of the gospel, after I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving but you alone; for even in Thessalonica you send a gift more than once for my needs. Not that I seek the gift itself, but I seek for the profit which increases to your account.
21. James 2:15-16 ?If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,” and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that?

Can you add any more? Do it in the comments. Thank you.

Blessing Boundaries can be for a season. It was that way for Paul.

One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent.  For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.” So Paul stayed in Corinth for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God. Acts 18:9-11

A blessing boundary season does not apply to a blessing boundary for a Biblical command.

Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
Matthew 24:35 (New International Version, ©2010)

Personally I’ve found God’s call on my life to be irrevocable. My first and main call is to be a pastor. For a season, that was the way I received my living. I tried not being a “pastor”, but I couldn’t stop thinking like one. It made me a lousy sales person because I could not allow people to foolishly spend their money on my services. So, I decided I would be a ‘pastor’ online. On twitter and through this blog I minster as a pastor. I have more people coming to my site every day than I regularly spoke to every week when I was paid to be a pastor.

How has knowing God’s blessings for obeying prophetic commands blessings can be for a season impacted your decisions about life?

Will it start to know? Let’s get a discussion going in the comments.

Posts in this series:

An Introduction to Blessing Boundaries
Blessing Boundaries Can Be for a Biblical Command
Blessing Boundaries Are On The Good God Has For Us
The Key For Getting the Good God Has For us
Blessing Boundaries Can Be for a Prophetic Command
Blessing Boundaries Can Be for a Geographical Location
Blessing Boundaries Can Be for a Vocation
Blessing Boundaries Can Be for a Season
Blessing Boundaries Cannot Be Imposed
Blessing Boundaries Can Increase

Has God called you to work you’re doing? It’s not just pastors who are ordained for a vocation.

1. Are you experiencing His blessing in your work? Don’t think I’m asking you “Is it easy?” Do you feel His pleasure on you as you do what you do as “unto the Lord?”
2. Are you passionate doing in your work?  There’s going to be seasons when it’s more difficult. But knowing God has called you to a job helps you stick through those hard times.
3. Are you allowing your security to be stored up in lies? We can make the mistake of thinking our security is in a paycheck or benefits or retirement fund. Your security needs to be in the One who gives you the ability to produce wealth.

David said:

“LORD, you have assigned me my portion and my cup; you have made my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance” (Ps 16:5-6)

When we are in the vocation God called us to doing the work He has gifted us for our boundary lines fall for us in pleasant places.

David wasn’t done fighting battles when he wrote that psalm. Please don’t think I’m saying, “all your troubles will be over”. What I’m trying to say is “get in the zone”.  When we’re “in the zone”:

• decisions are effortless.
• wisdom is available.
• blessing seem to overtake.

If you’ve never experienced that, are you receiving your living through the way God’s commanded?

I love how Paul phrased that and the translators translated it, “receive their living”.

Can we stop thinking we earn our living? It’s not Biblical. We receive our living through the way God’s commanded.

Do you have questions I can help you answer? Leave them in the comments.

Other posts in this series…

An Introduction to Blessing Boundaries
Blessing Boundaries Can Be for a Biblical Command
Blessing Boundaries Are On The Good God Has For Us
The Key For Getting the Good God Has For us
Blessing Boundaries Can Be for a Prophetic Command
Blessing Boundaries Can Be for a Geographical Location
Blessing Boundaries Can Be for a Vocation
Blessing Boundaries Can Be for a Season
Blessing Boundaries Cannot Be Imposed
Blessing Boundaries Can Increase

Here’s a question I got from someone on Twitter. I thought it needed more than a tweet to respond to. Here are some verses that keep me encouraged.

Question:

@revtrev I’m a student..do you know any bible verses to keep me encouraged through tough grades? Some of your tweets have kept me going
via @jesusislord9678

Answer:

Robby,

Thanks for letting me know some of my tweets have encouraged you. I’ve been thinking of changing what I tweet and your question has me thinking. Here’s a few of the verses that keep me encouraged.

I encourage you to read the Bible until you come to something that speaks to you and then camp out there for a while. When you need encouragement the Psalms are a great place to start. God’s given us every range of emotions in the psalms. I know God speaks through even single verses so here are some I can recommend.

31 verses that keep me encouraged.

1. Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;  in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
2. Proverbs 18:10 The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.
3. Isaiah 41:10 So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
4. John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
5. John 16:33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
6. Psalm 46:1-3 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.  Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,  though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. “Selah”
7. 2 Timothy 1:7 For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.
8. Psalm 16:8 I have set the LORD always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
9. Psalm 55:22 Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall.
10. 1 Peter 5:7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
11. Isaiah 26:3 You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.
12. Psalm 118:14-16 The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.  Shouts of joy and victory resound in the tents of the righteous: “The LORD’s right hand has done mighty things!  The LORD’s right hand is lifted high; the LORD’s right hand has done mighty things!”
13. Psalm 119:114-115 You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word.  Away from me, you evildoers, that I may keep the commands of my God!
14. Psalm 119:25 I am laid low in the dust; preserve my life according to your word.
15. Psalm 119:50 My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life.
16. Psalm 119:71 It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees.
17. Psalm 120:1 I call on the LORD in my distress, and he answers me.
18. Jeremiah 29:11 ?”For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”
19. Psalm 27:4? One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple.
20. Psalm 34:8 ?Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.
21. Proverbs 17:17 ?A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
22. Isaiah 40:31 ?But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
23. John 15:13 ?Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.
24. Romans 8:28 ?And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.
25. Romans 8:31 ?If God is for us, who can ever be against us?
26. Romans 8:38-39 ?And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
27. 1 Corinthians 13:12 ?Now we see things imperfectly as in a cloudy mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.
28. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 ?Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
29. Philippians 3:7-9? But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith …
30. Ephesians 3:17-19 ?Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.
31. Ephesians 3:20-21? Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.

What are some verses that encourage you? Leave them in the comments. Thank you. And why don’t you follow @jesusislord9678 and give him some encouragement.

These may not be all the verses on giving… but they are ones we need to meditate on, study in context and pray about implementing in our lives…

1. Deuteronomy 15:10? Give generously to him and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to.
2. Deuteronomy 16:17 ?Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD your God which He has given you.
3. 1 Chronicles 29:9? Then the people rejoiced because they had offered so willingly, for they made their offering to the Lord with a whole heart, and King David also rejoiced greatly.
4. Proverbs 3:9-10? Honor the Lord from your wealth and from the first of all your produce; So your barns will be filled with plenty and your vats will overflow with new wine.
5. ??Proverbs 3:27 ?Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it.
6. Proverbs 11:24-25? There is one who scatters, and yet increases all the more, and there is one who withholds what is justly due, and yet it results only in want. The generous man will be prosperous, and he who waters will himself be watered.
7. Proverbs 21:26?…the righteous gives and does not hold back.
8. Proverbs 22:9 ?He who is generous will be blessed, for he gives some of his food to the poor.
9. Proverbs 28:27 ?He who gives to the poor will never want, but he who shuts his eyes will have many curses.
10. Matthew 6:3-4 ?But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving will be in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.
11. Mark 12:41-44 ?And He sat down opposite the treasury, and began observing how the people were putting money into the treasury; and many rich people were putting in large sums. A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which amount to a cent.Calling His disciples to Him, He said to them, “Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the contributors to the treasury; for they all put in out of their surplus, but she, out of her poverty, put in all she owned, all she had to live on.”
12. Luke 3:11 ?And he would answer and say to them, “The man who has two tunics is to share with him who has none; and he who has food is to do likewise.”
13. Luke 6:30 ?Give to everyone who asks of you, and whoever takes away what is yours, do not demand it back.
14. Luke 6:38 ?Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return.
15. Acts 20:35 ?In everything I showed you that by working hard in this manner you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.
16. Romans 12:8?…Or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
17. 2 Corinthians 9:6-8 ?Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed.
18. 2 Corinthians 9:10 ?Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness;
19. Galatians 6:7 ?Do not be deceived,God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.
20. Philippians 4:15-17 ?And you yourselves also know, Philippians, that at the first preaching of the gospel, after I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving but you alone; for even in Thessalonica you send a gift more than once for my needs. Not that I seek the gift itself, but I seek for the profit which increases to your account.
21. James 2:15-16 ?If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,” and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that?

Can you add any more? Do it in the comments. Thank you.

When you look at Scripture and see the overlap of what Fearing the Lord is, what Seeking the Lord is and what doing what’s right is, you have a key for all three….Obedience.

When you seek God you obey God.
When you fear God you obey God.
When you do what’s right you obey God.

I’m boiling it down to its essentials here and it’s all saying the same thing.

God will not honor sin. Because temptation needs to look good we can look around and see people doing evil and living rather well. And we can say like the psalmist in Psalm 73:

Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart. But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; ?I had nearly lost my foothold. ?For I envied the arrogant ?when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. They have no struggles; ?their bodies are healthy and strong. They are free from common human burdens; ?they are not plagued by human ills. ?Therefore pride is their necklace; ?they clothe themselves with violence. ?From their callous hearts comes iniquity; ?their evil imaginations have no limits. ?They scoff, and speak with malice; ?with arrogance they threaten oppression. Their mouths lay claim to heaven, ?and their tongues take possession of the earth. ?Therefore their people turn to them ? and drink up waters in abundance.?They say, “How would God know? ?Does the Most High know anything?” This is what the wicked are like—  always free of care, they go on amassing wealth. Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure ?and have washed my hands in innocence. ?All day long I have been afflicted, ?and every morning brings new punishments. If I had spoken out like that, ?I would have betrayed your children. ?When I tried to understand all this, ?it troubled me deeply…

Ever had one of those conversations with God? Let’s see how it continues…(v.17)

…till I entered the sanctuary of God; ?   then I understood their final destiny. Surely you place them on slippery ground; ?   you cast them down to ruin. ?How suddenly are they destroyed, ?completely swept away by terrors! ?They are like a dream when one awakes; ?when you arise, Lord, ?you will despise them as fantasies.
When my heart was grieved ?and my spirit embittered, ?I was senseless and ignorant; ? I was a brute beast before you.  Yet I am always with you; ?you hold me by my right hand. ?You guide me with your counsel, ?and afterward you will take me into glory. Psalm 73:1-24 (New International Version, ©2010)

Psalm 49…

Do not be overawed when others grow rich, ? when the splendor of their houses increases; ?for they will take nothing with them when they die, ?   their splendor will not descend with them. ?Though while they live they count themselves blessed— ?and people praise you when you prosper— ?they will join those who have gone before them, ?who will never again see the light of life.  People who have wealth but lack understanding ? are like the beasts that perish. Psalm 49:16-20 (New International Version, ©2010)

Realize…

A good person leaves an inheritance for their children’s children,  but a sinner’s wealth is stored up for the righteous. Proverbs 13:22 (New International Version, ©2010)

Do what’s right because it’s right. Don’t do what’s right in order to be rewarded. You will be rewarded both in this life and the next. You’re focus can’t be on the person up the street or you’re co-worker who doesn’t seem to naturally do good. You’re focus needs to be on God and your relationship with Him. Jesus said…

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:33 (New International Version, ©2010)

Other posts in this series:

An Introduction to Blessing Boundaries
Blessing Boundaries Can Be for a Biblical Command
Blessing Boundaries Are On The Good God Has For Us
Blessing Boundaries Can Be for a Prophetic Command
Blessing Boundaries Can Be for a Geographical Location
Blessing Boundaries Can Be for a Vocation
Blessing Boundaries Can Be for a Season
Blessing Boundaries Cannot Be Imposed
Blessing Boundaries Can Increase

Let’s take a look at the promises we have for God to be good…

O fear the LORD, you His saints;
For to those who fear Him there is no want.
The young lions do lack and suffer hunger;
But they who seek the LORD shall not be in want of any good thing.
Psalm 34:9-10 (New American Standard Bible)

For the LORD God is a sun and shield;
The LORD gives grace and glory;
No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly.
Psalm 84:11 (New American Standard Bible)

Now from these verses we see that there are conditions for the good things of God.

I’m not telling you to be religious.
I’m not saying we need to follow rules.
I’m not agreeing with a mindset that says, “You’re not good enough to receive the good things of God.”

The conditions are for those who
Fear the Lord
Seek the Lord
Walk uprightly (do what’s right)

What do you think about having conditions on God’s promises for good? How do you balance that with not earning your salvation? Leave your comments below.

Others posts in this series:

An Introduction to Blessing Boundaries
Blessing Boundaries Can Be for a Biblical Command
The Key For Getting the Good God Has For Us
Blessing Boundaries Can Be for a Prophetic Command
Blessing Boundaries Can Be for a Geographical Location
Blessing Boundaries Can Be for a Vocation
Blessing Boundaries Can Be for a Season
Blessing Boundaries Cannot Be Imposed
Blessing Boundaries Can Increase

Here’s another question that came from me via email. Please add your suggests as well.

Question:

Hi and praise the Lord, do you offer spiritual guidance on marriage issues?

Answer:

I try to answer questions I can about marriage issues. If it’s in the Bible I can point it out. There are other great resources I can recommend to people.

I did one post here:
http://revtrev.com/questions-and-answers/is-there-hope-for-my-marriage/

It’s more of a “big picture” concept.

Ministries I can recommend are Mark Gungor’s “Laugh Your Way to a Better Marriage” http://www.laughyourway.com/

and  “Marriage on the Rock” with Jimmy and Karen Evans. http://www.marriagetoday.com/

Both are solid, honest and fun.

Hope that helps.

~Trevor

Why, O Jacob, do you say, and declare, O Israel, My way and my lot are hidden from the Lord, and my right is passed over without regard from my God?
Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, does not faint or grow weary; there is no searching of His understanding. He gives power to the faint and weary, and to him who has no might He increases strength [causing it to multiply and making it to abound]. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and [selected] young men shall feebly stumble and fall exhausted; But those who wait for the Lord [who expect, look for, and hope in Him] shall change and renew their strength and power; they shall lift their wings and mount up

as eagles [mount up to the sun]; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint or become tired. Isaiah 40:27-31 (Amplified Bible)

Waiting on God isn’t a matter of sitting still, doing nothing, or emptying your mind to a higher consciousness level. I love the Amplified Bible’s translation of Isaiah 40:31 it defines “wait for the Lord” with “expect, look for, and hope in Him.” Those aren’t passive actions.

We wait for the Lord because we expect Him to answer, we expect Him to be true to His nature, and we expect Him to show Himself true to His word.

• To wait on Him is to wait for Him to speak, knowing He will answer (Jeremiah 33:3).
• To wait on Him is to wait for His presence to be palpable, knowing His presence it what makes the difference between us and all the other people of the earth (Exodus 33:15-16).
• To wait on Him is to wait for His pleasure, knowing He rejoices over us with singing (Zephaniah 3:17).

Let me explain more about waiting as we move on with the David’s story to learn about Hope.

Remember to hope at the end of the rope you need to strengthen yourself in the Lord through praise and joy; the Word; fellowship with others that includes grace, speaking, music, teaching, supernatural gifts, prophecy, encouraging individuals, and love; waiting on the Lord and praying in the Spirit.

Find out more at HopeInTransition.com

But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. Jude 1:20 (New International Version)

A person who speaks in tongues is strengthened personally 1 Corinthians 14:4 (New Living Translation)

Did you ever notice Paul wished everyone would speak in tongues? Read 1 Corinthians 14:5 a little slower, and stop at the first comma. If you jump up to the verse 4 you’ll see why… because the ones who speaks in tongues is strengthened personally.

The context of 1 Corinthians 11 – 14 is that Paul is addressing problems that happen when the church is gathered. When you speak in tongues it’s for God and your self. It’s not for other people (14:2).

Paul taught the church in Rome:

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will.
Romans 8:26-27 (New International Version)

Allowing the Spirit to pray through us allows us to pray confidently knowing we intercede for others according to the will of God. It allows us to pray beyond words, because we don’t know what to pray, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us.

But is it for everyone?

In 1 Corinthians 12:31, 14:1, and 14:39 we are told to “eagerly desire greater” spiritual gifts. In the context of the passage, the greater gifts are the gifts that fit the moment.

For example, prophecy is more desirable for a group setting, so seek to prophesy when you’re together. Since speaking in tongues builds up the individual, we can assume when we’re alone the greater gift is the gift of tongues.

• Why would Paul want everyone to speak in tongues if it was not available to everyone?
• Why would he say to not forbid the speaking in tongues (1 Corinthians 14:39) if we all couldn’t do it?
• Why are we told to build ourselves up as we pray in the Holy Spirit (Jude 1:20) if it’s only available for some?

When you eagerly desire the gifts of the Spirit, it only takes a moment before you begin to operate in those gifts. The key is expectancy.

Luke 11:9-13 says:
So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

“Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (New International Version)

God is good and He gives Good gifts to His children. Eagerly desire the gifts of the Spirit and the Spirit will give them.

So to strengthen yourself in the Lord pray in the Spirit if you got the gift, eagerly desire the gift of tongues if you don’t yet have it.

Find out more at HopeInTransition.com

It’s great to have the new subscribers to RevTrev.com, LifeAbovetheNegativity.com and Expectancy Press. I appreciate getting to know you and want you to know I’m hear as much as I can be to help you.

This is a short week for me. My son and I are joining my brother-in-law and nephew to take a bunch of my nephew’s friends out camping and fishing this week. It’s going to be a lot of fun but I needed to get the newsletter done sooner and it’s missing a few of the more regular parts. So let’s consider this a “summer newsletter” (those of you that attend church know what I mean).

This is a leaner and meaner newsletter…well I don’t think it’s “meaner”, but…you know I guess I do speak in cliche more than I should. It’s sloppy thinking. Must mean I’m thinking about everything I need to get down before the camping trip. I’m preaching on Sunday on “How to Steward a Suddenly.” I’d better make this short…enough pontificating. I need to finish up the message for Sunday.

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	Honest Chasing by Trevor Lund Lord I feel like chasing Lord what do I do? I feel like I am chasing? everything but you.   Lord am I only wasting? all the time you give? Lord is this really anyway one should try to live?   Lord why do I run? when I should hide? Why do I cower when I should rise?   Lord, why is my mood so often my guide?? Why do my feelings so often lie?   Lord why don’t I listen? Why don’t I wait? ?Why do I carry all  of this weight?   Lord I feel like chasing ?Lord what do I do? I feel like I am chasing everything but you.    …forgive me.

One Last Thing…

I get prayer requests daily from people around the world desperate for answers from God. Would you like to join us as we pray for them? I’m thinking about starting a prayer team and will if there is even a couple of people who will pray with us and for us.

Email me and let me know (it might take a few days for me to respond – I’m out the door).
Have a great week!
~Trevor

You know I have a pastor’s heart, so you know I’m going to try to find a way to tell you “The coal goes out when it’s removed from the embers, but it burns bright when it’s close to them in the fire.”

And you’re right, as I studied the Word I found some verse that seemed to fit together to expand on meeting together for encouragement. Here is what Scripture says strengthens us:

1. Grace

Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings. It is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace, not by ceremonial foods, which are of no value to those who eat them. Hebrews 13:9 (New International Version)

2. Speaking

Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves to you? We have been speaking in the sight of God as those in Christ; and everything we do, dear friends, is for your strengthening. 2 Corinthians 12:19 (New International Version)

3. Music, Teaching, Revelation and Supernatural Gifts

What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. All of these must be done for the strengthening of the church. 1 Corinthians 14:26 (New International Version)

4. Prophecy

But everyone who prophesies speaks to men for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort. 1 Corinthians 14:3 (New International Version)

5. Individuals

…and we sent Timothy to visit you. He is our brother and God’s co-worker[a] in proclaiming the Good News of Christ. We sent him to strengthen you, to encourage you in your faith, and to keep you from being shaken by the troubles you were going through. But you know that we are destined for such troubles. 1 Thessalonians 3:2-3 (New Living Translation)

6. Love

May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones. 1 Thessalonians 3:12-13 (New International Version)

I know the church is often the last place to find grace. I’ve sat through sermons from Job’s friends. I’ve been there when performance outstrips presence. I’ve experienced love turned inward while I’ve been left on the outside. I’ve seen prophecy used to manipulate. I’ve seen the Word used to pummel… and still I’m insisting the gathered church is where you can be – no should be – strengthened.

Too often when we are at the end of the rope, we find enough excuses to withdraw from meeting together. Don’t.

Find out more at HopeInTransition.com

Let me understand the teaching of your precepts;
then I will meditate on your wonders.
My soul is weary with sorrow;
strengthen me according to your word. Psalm 119:27-28 (New International Version)

When you need hope, pray the Psalms. Start reading anywhere and read until you get to one that speaks to your situation, then camp out there for a while.

In the Psalms God has given us a language to pour our hearts out to Him. Take Psalm 13 as an example:

How long, O LORD ? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
How long must I wrestle with my thoughts
and every day have sorrow in my heart?
How long will my enemy triumph over me?
Look on me and answer, O LORD my God.
Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death;
my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,”
and my foes will rejoice when I fall.
But I trust in your unfailing love;
my heart rejoices in your salvation.
I will sing to the LORD,
for he has been good to me. (NIV)

Notice a couple of things. First, David doesn’t hold back his feelings. He lays it all out on the line. We don’t need to put on a mask before God. God isn’t interested in us being actors.

Notice something else in this Psalm. David doesn’t end it after the fourth verse. Two-thirds of the Psalms are psalms of lament and almost all of them don’t stop with the lament.

Reading the word of God turns our focus back to God. It doesn’t have to be the Psalms. His Word is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword (Hebrews 4:12). The Word is the tool that enables us to not:

…copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. Romans 12:2 (New Living Translation)

Strengthen yourself in the Lord by reading, praying, meditating and applying the Word of God.

Find out how at HopeInTransition.com

The Bible promises:

Make thankfulness your sacrifice to God,
and keep the vows you made to the Most High.
Then call on me when you are in trouble,
and I will rescue you,
and you will give me glory.” Psalm 50:14-15 (New Living Translation)

Praise defeats the enemy. It’s something anyone can do. Children are even powerful when they choose to praise:

From the lips of children and infants
you have ordained praise
because of your enemies,
to silence the foe and the avenger Psalm 8:2 (NIV)

We can praise God when we feel like it, but it is a key to victory to praise God when we don’t feel like it. Praise Him because He’s worthy. Praise Him for who He is. Praise Him because of the circumstances if the circumstances make it easy not to praise.

Joy and praise are part of the same coin. You can’t really praise God without joy, and when you have joy, it’s easy to praise. And Nehemiah pointed out:

Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.” Nehemiah 8:10 (New International Version)

I really wonder if David wrote Psalm 34 before or after this event at Ziklag. God had delivered him many times before this, and even more after it. But wouldn’t it be amazing to sing this song when your friends are ready to stone you?

I will bless the LORD at all times;
His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
My soul shall make its boast in the LORD;
The humble shall hear of it and be glad.
Oh, magnify the LORD with me,
And let us exalt His name together.
I sought the LORD, and He heard me,
And delivered me from all my fears. Psalm 34:1-4 (New King James Version)

“Magnify” means “to make bigger” – that’s not to say we make God bigger, how can we? It means in our estimation, God is bigger than our problem, the name of Jesus is superior to every other name.

Praise does this. And praising God means we must have joy and His joy is our strength.

Strengthen yourself in the Lord through joy with praise.

Find out more at HopeInTransition.com

David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him; each one was bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters. But David found strength in the LORD his God.
1 Samuel 30:6

In the middle of the tragedy, when his men were talking about stoning him. David strengthened himself in the Lord.

When you’re in the middle of tragedy – when the phone call comes that takes your breath away, when you cry out to God but your prayers aren’t yet answered, when you’ve taken that step of obedience and faith and your foot slipped and you fell from the heights – how can you strengthen yourself in the Lord? I’ve found and practiced these tools: praise and joy, the word, fellowship with others, and praying in the Spirit. Let’s take some time to explore them.

Find out more at HopeInTransition.com

We need to know how we can reap what we’ve sown.

Download audio file (understanding_reaping.mp3)

Download the Entire Message at Expectancy Press

Understanding the Principle of Reaping

Sowing is only one part of the equation. We need to know how we can reap what we’ve sown. Yes, it takes work. But it’s work that’s done as unto the Lord. Don’t miss this message if you’re experiencing lack.

This is from a message by Trevor Lund called “Keys of the Economy of Heaven”.
Earlier podcasts were “What Are Kingdom Principles“, “Understanding the Principle of Abundance“, “Understanding the Principle of Firstfruits“, “Understanding the Principle of the Storehouse” and “Understanding the Principle of Sowing”

Subscribe via iTunes

There are 6 things hope brings that I’ve found in Scripture and life. Here they are in no particular order.

1. Hope brings strength -

but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:31

2. Hope brings joy and peace -

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. ?Romans 15:13

3. Hope brings unfailing love -

May your unfailing love rest upon us, O LORD,
even as we put our hope in you. Psalm 33:22

4. Hope makes effective witnesses -

Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold. 2 Corinthians 3:12

5. Hope brings endurance -

We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. ?1 Thessalonians 1:3 (New International Version)

6. Hope brings rest -

Find rest, O my soul, in God alone;
my hope comes from him. Psalm 62:5

Aren’t you looking forward to having hope that won’t disappoint? Find out more at HopeInTransition.com

We’re looking at 5 Reasons Why We Don’t Experience a Light Burden. We’ve started by examining if we’re carrying a yoke that isn’t ours. We ended the last post with saying we need to cast our cares on the Lord.

How can you do this?

Here’s three steps to cast your cares upon the Lord.

1. Start with “He Cares for You”. Because He cares for you, you can trust Him. 1 Peter 5:7
2. Allow His perfect love to cast out all fear. 1 John 4:14-16
3. With Prayer, Petition, Thanksgiving present your burdens to God. Philippians 4:6-8

Casting your cares on the Lord involves a trading of your present anxious thoughts with thoughts of Him, of His love, His care, His character and His sure promises.

It’s not at a superficial level. You must replace the thoughts at the level of your heart.

That sometimes takes time. It’s a discipline. And one that’s worth the effort.

You don’t just struggle trying to cast your cares. Taking hold of Him and focusing your mind on Him will force the cares out.

Take time to soak.

You can get rid of cares at any time by taking the time, effort and concentration to enter His presence and letting your mind focus on Him rather than the problems.

Do it daily.

And you can totally change your life by coming to know and believe His love and mercy and willingness to hear you and help at every time of need.

Carry only what God tells you to.  That is all that is asked of you.

Next time we’ll move onto a second reason we may not be carrying a light load. If you check out 5 Reasons We Don’t Carry a Light Load you’ll know what it is.

How to Seek God
a message by Trevor Lund

Examining the life of King Asa of Ancient Judah we can see what it may mean to seek the Lord and how we can do to today. A message by Christian author and speaker Trevor Lund. Immediately download the MP3 to listen to on any device.

Download audio file (seekGodExcerpt.mp3)

Buy Now

Available only at Expectancy Press

About the Speaker:

Trevor Lund is a Christian Speaker, Author and Lead Dreamer for Expectancy Ministries. He lives with his beautiful wife and kids in Edmonton Canada and blogs at RevTrev.com