Prosperity

Prosperity and Wealth

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And Joseph’s master took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the king’s prisoners were bound: and he was there in the prison.  But the LORD was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison.  And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph’s hand all the prisoners that were in the prison; and whatsoever they did there, he was the doer of it.  The keeper of the prison looked not to any thing that was under his hand; because the LORD was with him, and that which he did, the LORD made it to prosper.
Genesis 39:20-23

My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise Thee with joyful lips: when I remember Thee upon my bed, and meditate on Thee in the night watches.
Psalm 63:5-6

Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase.
Proverbs 13:11

Loving Jerusalem

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“I was glad when they said unto me, ‘Let us go into the house of the LORD.’
Our feet shall stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem. Jerusalem is builded as a city that is compact together: whither the tribes go up, the tribes of the LORD, unto the testimony of Israel, to give thanks unto the name of the LORD. For there are set thrones of judgment, the thrones of the house of David.
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.
Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces. For my brethren and companions’ sakes, I will now say, ‘Peace be within thee.’ Because of the house of the LORD our God I will seek thy good.”  Psalm 122:1-9  (KJB)

Watched for My Halting

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“For I heard the defaming of many, fear on every side. ‘Report, and we will report it.’ All my familiars watched for my halting, saying, ‘Peradventure he will be enticed, and we shall prevail against him, and we shall take our revenge on him.’ But the LORD is with me as a mighty terrible one: therefore my persecutors shall stumble, and they shall not prevail: they shall be greatly ashamed; for they shall not prosper: their everlasting confusion shall never be forgotten.

But, O LORD of Hosts, that triest the righteous, and seest the reins and the heart, let me see Thy vengeance on them: for unto Thee have I opened my cause.

Sing unto the LORD, praise ye the LORD: for He hath delivered the soul of the poor from the hand of evildoers.” Jeremiah 20:10-13 (KJB)

Jeremiah is one of my favorite prophets.  These prophecies have long been a source of encouragement, and strengthening of my faith in the awesomeness of God, and His mercy and grace.

He was born into a family of the priesthood, was probably expected to be a priest of the temple by his father.  God had another plan and purpose for Jeremiah. He had a heart for God. He saw the evil of His day, how the people of God had turned their back on the LORD of Hosts, worshiping Him in hypocrisy, while worshiping Baal of the heathen neighbors; offering child sacrifices to the fires of their altars.

Many of Jeremiah’s friends (familiars) and those who feigned being with him was watching him, waiting for him to fail, even to fall from what God called him to do.  His calling was to call the people of Judah to repentance and faith in God alone. They were to put away their idols; the physical ones and the ones of their own hearts.

Reading Jeremiah, as a matter of fact, as I read the whole of Scripture I have come to the conclusion that the people of the Bible are really no different from the people of 2019 in the United States of America.

We have Christians feigning worship to God while at the same time harboring idols of heart, mind, and of the physical kind (materialism).  God is today calling His people, calling the true Christian of 2019 to repentance.  Turn back to God.  Believe His word.  His word is the truth.  It is the absolute truth. Anything that is contrary to the Bible is a lie.

Let us put away our idols. Whether we like, or want to admit it or not, there is Baal worship in our land.  Children are being offered on fiery altars, slain, and slaughtered in death clinics, supposedly for women’s health. More for personal convenience, and supposed “women’s rights”.

O Christian, Hear the word of the Lord. He loves you with an everlasting love; but He loves you too much to leave you in your sin.  If you are His He will do whatever it takes to make you holy.

If you are without God, you do not know Him. He has made the way for you to come to Him. That Way, the only Way is through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ His only begotten, and Holy Son.  Call on His name to day.

I for one will not halt from preaching, and teaching the Bible as the inspired, inerrant, and infallible word of God; and that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, God the Son who died that Adam’s race might be saved.

Between the Rooftop and the Desert…

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“It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman in a wide house.”  Proverbs 21:9
“It is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and an angry woman.” Proverbs 21:19  (KJB)

Between the Rooftop and the Desert – Proverbs 21:9-19

Verses 9, 19 –  In the days of ancient Israel rooftops were flat, and used quite often for relaxing in the evening, or early morning.  The husband or wife could go to the rooftop, without leaving home, to get away from the other.
The desert or “wilderness” was not home.  This is leaving the house entirely.

Verse 10 –  Between home and the wilderness are many temptations.  The wicked desire evil, and one of those evils is no love for their neighbor.

Verse 11 –  There is also much learning.  The “simple” (Naive, foolish, open minded) learn by seeing the “scorner” (One who mocks God and religion) punished for their evil mouth and behavior.  The wise seek every opportunity to learn of God, holiness, righteousness, salvation- through the writings of others and reading them and applying them to their own lives.

Verse 12 –  “The righteous maketh the house of the wicked to prosper.”  Gersom from John Gill Commentary  e-Sword.  A good example is the house of Potipher with Joseph (Genesis 39:1-7).  God has blessed the United States of America because of the Righteous.  In the end the wicked will be overthrown.  Not by the United States, but by the breath of the Lord Jesus Christ when He comes again.

Taking out the italicized words consider this for verse 12…

“The righteous wisely considers the house of the wicked, overthrowing the wicked for wickedness.” v.12

Verse 13 –  A stern warning about turning away from the cries of the poor.  To willfully neglect to hear and help the poor when it is in the power of our hand to do it could bring the same judgment on ourselves.  Luke 16:10-31

Verse 14 –  See Proverbs 17:8; 18:16.  “The Bible often reports facts without approving them. Thus it observes that an angry man will quiet down if the offender slips him a gift, and a man who is in a rage is appeased by a bribe tucked in his pocket.”  From Believer’s Bible Commentary

Verse 15 –  People who are just rejoice when Judgment or justice is done.  There is ruin or destruction to those who work iniquity.  It is proper to rejoice in righteous judgment.  It is iniquity to rejoice when evil is done.

Verse 16 – 18 –  The wandering individual, the one who goes astray from the paths of God and understanding find themselves with the dead.  When pleasure is all that one seeks they will not be rich.
For verse 18 consider Haman’s taking the place of Mordecai (Esther 7).

Verse 19 –  Between the Rooftop and the Desert there are many things to understand and learn.  There are sometimes troubles at home, and there are in the desert as well; with or without a spouse.  The thing is for the people of God to be faithful and true to Him who is with us always.

Consider the Work of God

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Days of prosperity often cause us to be joyful.  Prosperity is not always dealing with gold, silver, precious jewels, fine homes and fine cars.  Prosperity can just as well mean, a place to live, protected from the elements; food on the table, clothes on your back, and a wonderful family who loves you; and realizing every day that God in heaven loves, and keeps you.  That is the best of prosperity.

Adversity – troubles, sorrows, pains, family troubles, health troubles, financial hardships, all of these come to us all at some point in life.  I want us to see what the wisest of men; and one the most prosperous (in material wealth) had to say about both prosperity and adversity…

“Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which He hath made crooked? In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider: God also hath set the one over against the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him.” Ecclesiastes 7:13-14 (KJV)

We out always see, to look at; to inspect the work of God.  In order to do so one must see the work of God.  Do you see the work of God?  First consider yourself as a work of God.  Look in the mirror.  That image you see is in the image of God.  Your body is made up of a very intricate system that works keeping these tents, moving, seeing, working, breathing, heart beating, legs moving, arms and  hands busy.  Consider.  No one can make straight what God has made crooked.  We must consider that what has been made crooked can be straightened by God Himself.

In these verses we can see that both prosperity and adversity have a place in God’s plan for humanity.  Both are a work of God.  They are opposite of one another, and so that we might not be able to know what lies ahead in our lives.  We plan, we can save money, but no one knows what is coming tomorrow.  Not even the wealthiest of us.  The wealthiest man or woman in the world could pass into eternity before the sun sets this evening.  Their wealth cannot prevent it.  The same is true with the poorest of men and women.

“Consider the work of God….”

Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on Him whom He hath sent. John 6:29

The One whom God sent is Jesus Christ His Son, God the Son, and He died on the cross, was buried, and rose again for you and me that we might have fellowship with God, the Creator of all things.

Day Three hundred Forty Six

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What do I want for Christmas?

I want family, friends, and neighbors to prosper and be in good health; even as they prosper in their spiritual lives.

“Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.” 2 John 1:2 (NKJV)

What Do I Want For Christmas? Day 356

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What do I want for Christmas?

At Christmas time; from about mid November through December 25th each year we suddenly begin to be generous in our heart toward others.  Christian, that is the way we ought to be 365 days of every year, except when it is leap year; such as 2016; then it is 366 days of the year.

What do I want for Christmas?  I want there to be peace in Jerusalem; and when there is peace, genuine peace in Jerusalem, there will be peace in the Middle East, and the rest of the world.

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.” Psalm 122:6 (KJV)

“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ…” Romans 5:1

Being Happy

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“Happy is that people, that is in such a case: yea, happy is that people, whose God is the LORD.” Psalm 144:15 (KJV)

Just recently I seen a news item, I believe, was on NBC news doing a study on Happiness, and where to find it. I never watched the series, or the study, but what I heard showed me that there was one item missing. That item was the Person who gives us happiness.

That person is not a wife, or a husband. It is not having the favorite job. It is not a new car, or a new house. It is not even volunteerism where you spend some or much of your time volunteering for a charitable cause. Are you one who is still searching for Happiness?

Your search can end when you have the LORD as your God. He offers you peace through His Son Jesus Christ; and being at peace with God is tremendous happiness just by itself (Romans 5:1-2). When the LORD is your God you have no more condemnation from Him, His Word; and the condemnation of others just will not matter any more (Romans 8:1).

The verses previous to verse 15 tell us of family; sons and daughters who live for and glorify the LORD; that when you are happy in and through the LORD your cattle (livestock) prosper; you prosper. John the apostle wrote, “I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospereth” (3 John 2).

Just a word of caution. You can have happiness now, and that happiness is your prosperity. A note from the Believer’s Bible Commentary says,

“Actually these conditions will not be fully realized until the Lord returns, crushes all rebellion, and establishes His Millennial Reign.” Believer’s Bible Commentary

Until then, trust in the LORD, believe Him. Live for Him trusting His work in you, and He will bring it to pass. Be happy in the LORD.

Being Drawn Out

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Being Drawn Out

 

Exodus 2:1-25

The name “Moses” means “Drawn out”.

1. Drawn Out From a Place of Hiding; at Home (vv. 1-4).

2. Drawn Out From The Bulrushes to a New Home and Culture (vv. 5-10).

3. Drawn Out From the Culture to Fulfill Old Promises (vv. 11-14).

4. Drawn Out From a Life of Power, Prosperity and Ease; to a Life of Preparation (vv. 15-25).

Words for Christian Living – Know When to Go

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“Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said, ‘How long wilt thou speak these things, and the words of thy mouth be like a strong wind? Doth God pervert judgment? Or doth the Almighty pervert justice? If thy children have sinned against Him, and He have cast them away for their transgression; if thou wouldest seek unto God betimes, and make thy supplication to the Almighty; if thou wert pure and upright; surely now He would awake for thee, and make the habitation of thy righteousness prosperous. Though thy beginning was small, yet thy latter end should greatly increase.”  Job 8:1-7 (KJV)

Job had three friends.  Friends are an important part of living and life.  Job had, and was suffering from loss of children to death, destruction, and loss of all his possessions.  Even his wife had failed to stand with him in faith.  His friends, Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar came thinking they would encourage their friend.  They sat with him for seven days (2:13) without saying a word.  That was good for Job.  Their presence meant more than any words they could speak.

Job spoke, and was just speaking from his pain and grief; and words of faith.  Even though there is a questioning of God’s motives for this from Job’s lips you can still see his faith, believing God.  Why is it that well intentioned people do not know when to be silent.

Bildad, above is basically calling Job a “Windbag”.  “How long wilt thou speak these things, and the words of thy mouth be like a strong wind?”  All I mean to say here is listen when someone is suffering.  Know when to go.  After seven days of silence.  That was enough.  This was so for all three of them.

Know when to go.

Tim A. Blankenship

Day 44 – Thoughts from Psalms; Jerusalem

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The city of Jerusalem on the East shore of the Mediterranean Sea is a city which is the source of much conflict; yet its name means, “city of peace” or “teaching peace”.  Yet Jerusalem has no peace.  It is a source of much conflict because there are three religions which want to claim it as their own city.  Of course, the Jewish people claim it, they have since David claimed the city, after he conquered the Jebusites, and it was called then, “the city of David”.

Jerusalem was called Jebus when David conquered it.

“And David and all Israel went to Jerusalem, which is Jebus; where the Jebusites were, the inhabitants of the land.  And the inhabitants of Jebus said to David, ‘Thou shalt not come hither.’  Nevertheless David took the castle of Zion, which is the city of David.” 1 Chronicles 11:4-5 (KJV)

And David changed the name to Jerusalem.

My reading for today was Psalm 122 through Psalm 135.  The city of Jerusalem is named six times in these 14 Psalms.  It is named three times in Psalm 122; verses 2, 3, and 6.

What is it that makes one historic city, in a historic country, and of very little real estate such a “hotspot”?  One thing is that it is the place one of the most well known men of history was born near the city, died there, was buried there, and He arose bodily from the grave in which He was buried.  Another thing in its history is that the temple of Solomon was at Jerusalem.  Solomon’s time as king of Israel was known as a time of peace, prosperity, and glory for the Jewish  people; as well as the glory of Solomon’s temple.  There has never been another like it.  There is another religion which holds Jerusalem to be a sacred place and that is the Muslim religion.

Jerusalem was held for years by Islamic people; and the Christian religion of Catholicism thought it good to start a war over the city, to conquer it and return it to “Christian” ownership.

Enough of my “history” lesson.

The psalmist prays for the peace of Jerusalem,

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.  Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces.  For my brethren and companions’ sakes, I will now say, ‘Peace be within thee.’  Because of the house of the LORD our God I will seek thy good.”  Psalm 122:6-9 (KJV)

I believe we could put this to practice in our day.  Christian; we need to pray for the peace of Jerusalem, because when Jerusalem is at peace our Lord, Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God,  will be on the throne ruling in this world.  The world leaders of today are trying to bring peace to Jerusalem, and the world by doing everything, except what God in His word says we are to do.

Can we apply this verse to the church today?  Only in praying for our churches.  David was not asking for prayer for the church, but for Jerusalem, the city,

Notice what he says of those who will pray for the peace of Jerusalem, the city of peace. First, “They shall prosper that love thee”  When we pray for the peace of Jerusalem I believe we are praying for the coming of the Lord Jesus.  He is the Prince of peace.  There will be no peace on earth until the Prince of peace comes in all His glory.

Before He comes, however, you need to know the “peace of God” that only Jesus can give.  When He comes it will be too late.  To know about Him, His life, death, burial and bodily resurrection today; and to reject Him opens your mind to all forms of deception for the days ahead.

Secondly, when we pray for the peace of Jerusalem, we are praying for peace in individual lives to prosper.

Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and experience peace, today.  (See Romans 5:1; Philippians 4:7)

-Tim A. Blankenship

Day 40 – Thoughts from Psalms; Riches

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Riches are often what many of us think about at times, especially when we are having financially difficult times.  What would we do if we had wealth and riches?  Most of the people I know would end up not having any of it left after they received a big lump sum of money or things; myself included.  I started to write here that I no longer have a desire to be wealthy; however, that would have been a flat out lie.

Millionaire is the word that used to be the catch phrase for being wealthy.  Now it is Billionaire.  There are several Billionaires in the United States of America, and around the world.  Two of the most prominent ones in the U. S. of A. are Bill Gates who has prospered from the founding of the Microsoft corporation; and the other is Warren Buffet,  and I guess Donald Trump is now in the Billionaire category as well.

There are times that those who have not are envious and angry with those who have.  The Psalm I am going to look at today shows that in the heart of a man named Asaph, the writer of this Psalm and the ones that follow through to Psalm 83.  My reading today was Psalms 66 – 79.  Psalm 73 will be our focus for this morning.

“Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart.  But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.  For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.”  Psalm 73:1-3 (KJV)

Asaph realizes that his envy has been to his own detriment.  Envy profits us nothing.  There are many of the wealthy who have worked hard to gain what they have, and of course, have prospered because of good timing, and good planning.  I still believe that is possible for anyone in the U. S. of A.  I do not believe that a person who has their heart set on wealth is going to get wealthy.  Hard work, and willingness to help others have a share go a long ways in this world.

Sadly there is much evil within the gaining of riches.  When one becomes wealthy they can become weaker in faith toward God, if they had it to begin with.  I think it was Jerry Clower who once said, “There is no temptation like wealth to turn your heart away from God”  or something similar to.

Asaph does realize that he is falling, losing his footing because of his envy.  His envy, and any envy you and I may have is an enemy of our heart, soul and life.

A few years ago, a couple I think, Bill Gates challenged all the Billionaires to give away one half of their wealth.  Bill Gates at the time was; on paper; worth over 50 billion dollars, and Warren Buffet about the same.  Giving away half of their wealth would really be a sacrifice to them, would it not? 🙂  The reason I am a bit sarcastic about their giving effort is because the media played it up like they were really making a huge sacrifice.  I saw no sacrifice.  Real sacrifice is when your giving hurts; it cost you something.  I applaud their giving, if they did; but their wealth has not suffered by their generosity.

I applaud even more the husband and wife, or individual who have given faithfully to the LORD, through their local church; and steadily, faithfully given at least ten percent of their wealth.  They are the real bulwarks of our society.  Some have given even more from annual incomes of 10,000 dollars; 20,000 dollars, 30,000 dollars, and they are blessed by their generosity.  Not only that many of these people also give when the community suffers loss due to storms; or give to a friend or neighbor who has lost their jobs, or their homes to a fire.  Those are the real people of wealth and generosity.

Asaph realizes his need is the LORD, and realizes the plight of the ungodly wealthy,

“Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins.  So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before Thee.   Nevertheless I am continually with Thee: Thou hast holden me by my right hand.  Thou shalt guide me with Thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.”  vv.21-24

He realizes he is a recipient of the greatest wealth and richer that can be had by mankind.  That wealth is having the peace of God that passes understanding, and all the wealth of Heaven at our beckoned call; and to know that when we speak with God He hears us.

Asaph ends the Psalm with,

“For, lo, they that are far from Thee shall perish: Thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from Thee.  But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all Thy works.”  vv. 27-28

It is good for all men, even Bill Gates and Warren Buffet to draw near to God.  The only way made available to us by God, to Him, is through the death, burial and resurrection of His only begotten Son Jesus Christ.  All the giving in the world will not buy Heaven.  It has already been purchased for us by the shed blood of Jesus Christ on that cruel, killing cross of calvary. (See 1 Corinthians 6:20; 7:23).

-Tim A. Blankenship

Just A Thought 03/23/09

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In these times of economic hard times, or in any period of despair, it does us good to consider this…

“In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider: God also hath set the one over against the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him.” Ecclesiastes 7:14 (KJV)

And, we do not know what tomorrow may bring, but “We do know Who holds tomorrow”.

-Tim A. Blankenship

Eyes On The Truth

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In a time of seeming prosperity they are attacked by a vicious force. A force that is meant to bring them down to their knees. They have spent many years without an attack. They have been at peace. Prosperity seems incapable of ceasing. They have clouded their thinking with the thoughts of bigger and better buildings; bigger and better government; bigger and better banks, churches, and organizations.

They have forgotten from where the blessings have come; even from Whom they have come; and when they begin losing that prosperity the question is, what went wrong, and then the blame game begins. Whose fault is it that there lingers outside our walls a threatening enemy? Whose fault is it that the gates must be kept shut longer, and opened for shorter periods of time?

One thing that we must remember as Christians in this last  month of 2008 is that God is still on His throne. He is still sovereign, and reigns in the affairs of men.

What does this have to do with Jeremiah the prophet? It fits with his time just as well as our own.

I will include the first two verses of chapter five which I have already written commentary on:

“Run ye to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, and see now, and know, and seek in the broad places thereof, if ye can find a man, if there be any that executeth judgment, that seeketh the truth; and I will pardon it. And though they say, The LORD liveth; surely they swear falsely. O LORD, are not thine eyes upon the truth? thou hast stricken them, but they have not grieved; thou hast consumed them, but they have refused to receive correction: they have made their faces harder than a rock; they have refused to return.” Jeremiah 5:1-3 (KJV)

There were some in Jerusalem who sought the truth, but they were evidently few and far between, and who were not real concerned with the current spiritual climate. As verse two proclaims there were people who were saying, “The LORD lives”, but they were speaking falsely because of ulterior motives. Perhaps worship on the Sabbath, and worship of pagan gods such as Baal, Ashtoreth, Molech were some possibilties. To put them in the modern scene would be the ideal of pluralistic worship, immoral living while being “spiritual”, and the great “conveniences” of life.

Verse three begins with “O LORD, are not thine eyes upon the truth?” I believe Jeremiah knew the answer to that question. The LORD has asked for someone to “Run… through the streets of Jerusalem…”, and He has called and chosen Jeremiah, but is there no one else?

A hard stiffnecked people who have grown comfortable, conformed, contented, and confused without the knowledge of their sinfulness will not see the correcting hand of God. They will just flat out reject any correction from those who will try and correct them, then when the LORD strikes them they will not grieve; when He consumes them they will not receive correction; they become hard headed, more stiff necked, and refuse to return to God.

O, that the Christian of today would learn from Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem.

-Tim A. Blankenship

 

Look God’s Direction

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Looking God’s Direction

“And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever. And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered. Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee. Then Abram removed his tent, and came and dwelt in the plain of Mamre, which is in Hebron, and built there an altar unto the LORD. Genesis 13:14-18 (KJV).

There is an obvious difference noted between Abram and Lot. While Lot was told by Abram to choose the land he “lifted up his eyes” toward what appeared to be the most prosperous, fertile, and probably beautiful land in Canaan and chose it without God.

Abram, however, was submissive to the Lord’s direction. Guided by God’s Spirit he sees through the eyes of God. God says, “Lift up now thine eyes”. Abram’s heart was set on the things of God. “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” (Luke 12:34).

God’s promises incorporate all the land that Abram sees. It will be his and his children’s “Forever”. Now, who are the children, or seed of Abraham? “Children of the promise are counted for the seed” (Romans 9:8). Those who have a faith like Abraham. It is physical and spiritual, because God has given the land to a people who are going to have faith in Christ Jesus, the Messiah of Israel. It is the Church which is made up of Jew and Gentile – spiritual including all races.

A promise of posterity numbering like the “Dust of the earth”.

God commands Abram to “Arise, walk through the land.” This, an act of faith also was a point of ownership, given by God.

Abram moved once again. This time remaining in Canaan claiming more land under God’s authority for the nation God would prosper and save the world. Again, he builds an altar. We need our altars to the Lord. It is an act of faith, submission, and worship to God. The altar is the place of our submitted, obedient, worshipping heart and life.