Not All God’s Treasures Are Spiritual
By
January 4, 2008"Thus says the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have held, to subdue nations before him; and I will loose the armor of kings, to open before him the two-leaved gates; and the gates shall not be shut; I will go before you, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of bronze, and cut asunder the bars of iron: And I will give you the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that you may know that I, the LORD, who call you by your name, am the God of Israel." (Isa 45:1-3) Did you know God has secrets? He does. In fact, "the secret of the Lord is with them that fear Him and He will show them His covenant." (Ps 25:14) He also has secret places which He invites us into. When you find Him in the secret place, you have also found the hidden riches He stores in secret places. The beauty of it is this... the secret place is not accessible to all. "Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that has clean hands, and a pure heart; who has not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation." The only people who find their way into the secret place with God and have access to the hidden riches, have purified their motives and been cleansed from all unrighteousness. The treasures of God including the tangible riches He owns without end, are guarded by virtue and purity and wisdom. When we approach the living God and become transformed by the renewing of our mind. When we have discovered the heart of God towards all of His creation, we are on the path to becoming excellent stewards of every resource He has. I believe God is interested in putting men and women who carry His heart for others in control of the hidden riches of secret places. These riches will lay dormant until we as His children have been trained by the things we suffer. Then we will not be enamored with riches nor deceived by them. They will be a tool for accomplishing a higher purpose. I am on that journey of pursuing Him, to have a heart that pulses with His love, to have a mind that thinks the thoughts of God, to have a soul through which courage courses every day. I want to apprehend the thing for which I have been apprehended and for me that lays in the marketplace. It is my honor to walk with you my dear brothers and sisters and to share with you such as I find that you too may enter into all that He has for you through the gate of '08 and beyond!
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\"These riches will lay dormant until we as His children have been trained by the things we suffer. Then we will not be enamored with riches nor deceived by them. They will be a tool for accomplishing a higher purpose.\"
Thank you for this nugget to think and pray on.
MARY ANN MAMMANA at 11:14am EST - January 4, 2008
I've never understood suffering. I've read the scriptures that say what suffering produces, and I've heard pastors preach on the subject. But this is the first time something clicked in my understanding.
When I read what you wrote, \"These riches will lay dormant until we as His children have been trained by the things we suffer. Then we will not be enamored with riches nor deceived by them. They will be a tool for accomplishing a higher purpose.\" it finally made sense.
Thank you for your messages. I look forward to reading each one that comes.
Teresa Wooley at 11:19am EST - January 4, 2008
\"GOD IS \"SPIRIT\" (EVERYTHING ABOUT GOD IS SPIRIT): AND THEY THAT WORSHIP HIM MUST WORSHIP HIM IN SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH.\" JOHN 4:24
Your teaching would have been solid without your un-spiritual title.
\"MY BRETHREN, BE NOT MANY MASTERS(TEACHERS OF GOD'S WORD), KNOWING THAT WE SHALL RECEIVE THE GREATER CONDEMNATION.\"... JAMES 3:1
PATRICIA HUNTER at 12:18pm EST - January 4, 2008
Teresa Wooley, I'm interested in how this made sense to you. What was your reasoning that led you to your post comments. I too, have struggled with the concepts others spoke of concerning suffering, etc. Please if you would elaborate...
Thank you Michael for this opportunity to understand better...if you have anything in response to my asking for more specifics around this, I would most certainly appreciate it also.
God bless,
-Jack-
Jack Sides at 12:27pm EST - January 4, 2008
Michael, good word for 2008. Once again a misunderstanding of your title got you in trouble, but I know your heart and the content of your message was right on. God's gifts include the spiritual and the material, after all He created both.
Isaiah 58 speaks much of what you are trying to convey here about God's heart. The cry of His heart is for the poor, but that doesn't mean we have to be one. Can we do more good walking amongst them as one of them, or alongside them helping to change their situation? Could God use the riches of the world through a willing servant to lift many out of poverty, or to ease their sufferings?
The real question is what is God calling us to, not does the world or others in the Church expect of us, or think God is calling us to.
Blessings in your journey.
Larry Morris at 12:35pm EST - January 4, 2008
I agree and I join you in that pursuit.
Bob Kurtz at 12:36pm EST - January 4, 2008
Thank you for that word of encouragement on January 4th.
Go bless you,
John lubberts.
John Lubberts at 12:43pm EST - January 4, 2008
Jack,
Sometimes our Father allows suffering and trials in our lives so that we learn to rely on Him to get us through. Each valley we walk through with HIS guidance transforms us a little more. There's something God wants you to learn from every trial you face - In my own life, I've found that the quicker I figure out what He's trying to teach me, the quicker I get to walk out of that valley. Hope that helps some....
Michael,
These last 2 posts have been awesome. Your teachings light alot of bulbs for me!
Lorisa at 12:57pm EST - January 4, 2008
I TOO BELIEVE YOU HAVE A HEART FOR GOD AND HIS PEOPLE; HOWEVER, THE SCRIPTURES YOU USED REFERRED TO TREASURES GIVEN BY GOD WHILE IN HIS PRESENCE. BEC WE'RE IN END TIMES,THERE IS NO RM OR TIME FOR MISUNDERSTANDINGS,TOO MANY ARE STUMBLING & SOME MAY NOT MAKE IT BACK TO THE DOOR-KNOB
AS FAR AS WHY WE HAVE TO SUFFER....GOD'S SACRIFICE, GIVING HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON......JESUS LEAVING HEAVEN COMING TO EARTH IN A FLESH SUIT AND ENDURING A BEATING AND CALVALRY
\"FOR EVEN HEREUNTO WERE YE CALLED: BECAUSE CHRIST ALSO SUFFERED FOR US, LEAVING US AN EXAMPLE, THAT YE SHOULD FOLLOW HIS STEPS\".......1 PETER 2:21
\"BUT THE GOD OF ALL GRACE, WHO HATH CALLED US UNTO HIS ETERNAL GLORY BY CHRIST JESUS, AFTER THAT YE HAVE SUFFERED A WHILE, MAKE YOU PERFECT, STABLSH, STRENGTHEN, SETTLE YOU.\".... 1 PETER 5:10
PATRICIA HUNTER at 1:05pm EST - January 4, 2008
Jack Sides,
I hope I can explain what happened when I read that. I think what Michael did was take a scriptural truth and give me an application for it that I could relate to.
Jesus learned obedience from what he suffered. Hebrews 5:8.
Suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. Romans 5:3-4.
I have a measure of understanding when I read those verses; but they are broad, and Michael's revelation on the subject was more specific. My spirit went, \"Ah ha.\"
In terms of earthly riches, think about how common it is for people who are born into great wealth and priviledge to become self centered and oblivious to the needs of people around them. In contrast, people who were born poor and struggling in life who then build wealth are often the most charitable. Without having gone the path of suffering, the temptation to squander what we have on ourselves is too great. But overcomers want to help others overcome also.
And that's just the material aspect. Suffering changes our perspective of life, gives us the opportunity to better appreciate the good things, gives us compassion for others, and most of all causes us to be dependent on God, as we should be, abiding in the Vine. The opposite of that is pride, which is the sin that caused Lucifer's downfall. I think it's one of the hardest things we battle.
I hope that was helpful.
Teresa Wooley at 1:15pm EST - January 4, 2008
SUFFERNG- THE BEARING OF PAIN; PAIN ENDURED
PAIN-A PENALITY; BODILY SUFFERING; DISTRESS; ANGUISH
PAINS OF ALL KINDS ( EMOTIONAL),(PHYISICAL), (RELATIONAL),(FINANCIAL), ( SPIRITUAL), (LONELINESS) (HEART ISSUES) AND SO ON.
WE ALL HAVE HAVE HAD OUR SHARE OF SUFFERING BUT WHAT COUNTS IS WHAT WAS PRODUCED IN THE SUFFERING. DIAMONDS ARE PRODUCED
IN A LOT OF HEAT AND PRESURE. WOOD AND STUBBLE ARE BURNED AND CONSUMED. TO RECIEVE THE BLESSINGS OF THE LORD ONE MUST BE PURIFIED IN THE FURNACE OF AFFLICTION. JAMES 1:3-4 KNOWING THAT THE TESTING OF YOUR FAITH PRODUCES PATIENCE. BUT LET PATIENCE HAVE IT'S PERFECT WORK, THAT YOU MAY BE PERFECT AND COMPLETE, LACKING NOTHING.
IT IS ALL HOW WE LOOK AT SUFFERING, A CHANCE TO BE GLOIFIED OR
A CHANCE TO JUSIFY OUR WRONG BEHAVIOR.
I HOPE THIS HELPS SOMEONE. LOVE YOU IN CHRIST!
MILDRED BERRY at 2:07pm EST - January 4, 2008
I am so moved by those words of truth, mixed with scriptures that needed to
be unpacked. I know you are on to something BIG, actually HUGE for the body of Christ . We so desperately need to walk in God's secrets. So how can we ?I agree that The Lord is looking for clean hearts,motives,and godly character . For myself I have weeped for the body and our lack of understanding treasures. Your writing is totally thought provoking. I will be taking it to the secret place for a fresh revelation from God.
Thankyou
May The Lord continue to Bless, all that you do for Him....
Out of a clean heart
l.maki at 2:47pm EST - January 4, 2008
A good word with which I heartily concur. I pray that we all receive the revelation of servant stewardship.
matthew deutsch at 4:04pm EST - January 4, 2008
Teresa,
Excellent insight into the Heart of God and man.
May HIS Purpose Reign in our hearts and minds.
Blessings,
Melody
Melody Lippart at 4:41pm EST - January 4, 2008
It gives me strength to know that God, my Father hold my life in His Hands.
The only thing I try to do is living on His Hand and be sure of His love.
Because there is nothing I can do that He love me more, and there is nothing I can do that I love me less.
My focus is on Jesus and the Cross where He suffer to give us back the way to the Father.
Joyce
The Netherlands
Joyce Seen at 2:57am EST - January 5, 2008
Thanks for your great insights into the secret place of His riches! You are so right about not everone can enter that secret place.. I asked the Lord why it was called the secret place? I believe I heard the Holy Spirit say, it was called that because when you search and find it, the Devil cannot find you. I for one would like to dwell there continually, and receive more revelation knowledge. God bless you in all you work!!
Serving Him
Chuck
Chuck King at 6:14pm EST - January 5, 2008
so thankful for you sharing this wisdom...
anna at 1:07am EDT - September 19, 2008
I have subscribed to your blog for quite a while and honestly never knowing why. I just used to read through them with no real interest- until now. My husband and I are building a business and at this time I find your Godly wisdom and insight crucial. May God continue to bless you as you bless us. Thank you
Abigail at 3:28am EST - November 25, 2008
I don't quite understand the first part of that passage. Where he talks about holding his right hand and subdue nations before him. That sounds like war.
Mobilespellbook at 10:32pm EST - February 21, 2009