Psalm 1:1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
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We
cannot expect to be blessed by God if we choose to seek the counsel of
the ungodly, nor go in the paths of sinners, nor sit listening to the
scornful who exalt themselves while putting other people down.
* the ungodly: who go in the ways of this world to get what they want
* sinners: who think nothing of God and do not even consider what God might think
* scornful: those who consider themselves to be wise above all others and delight in their own thinking.
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We set ourselves to go in godly ways:
- Treating other people as we would want them to treat us.
- Dealing without guile, without hypocrisy, without taking advantage of another for our gain.
I Thessalonians 4:1-8 Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more.
For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus.
For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God:
That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified.
For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.
He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit.
If man defrauds us, we know God will repay him who defrauded us and God will repay us also.
We do not avenge ourselves. We choose to allow God to avenge us and to repay us in HIS own way.
We come out ahead even as we are defrauded because we have set ourselves to focus on God and to trust God.
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We refuse to allow money to rule over us as this world does for we know the following.
I Timothy 6:6-12 godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
Fight
the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art
also called, and hast professed a good profession before many
witnesses.
And we know the truth spoken by the apostle Paul:
Philippians 4:19 Paul says: But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
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Jesus said: My kingdom is not of this world. John 18:36
We
set ourselves to live honest lives while we live on this earth, knowing
we have another life which endures forever after we leave this earth.
Hebrews 11:27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing Him who is invisible.
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The king of Sodom, offered riches to Abraham, but Abraham said the following to the king of Sodom.
Genesis 14:22-23 I
have lift up mine hand unto the Lord, the most high God, the possessor
of heaven and earth, That I will not take from a thread even to a
shoelatchet, and that I will not take any thing that is thine, lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich:
Abraham
vowed the riches he had would not come from man but from God. And
Abraham set this as his direction as he lived on this earth.
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The devil offered Jesus fame and wealth.
Matthew 4:8-10 the devil taketh Him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth Him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; And saith unto Him, All these things will I give thee, if Thou wilt fall down and worship me.
Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve.
Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve.
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We set ourselves in the paths set by Jesus and Abraham, wanting our blessings to be from God rather than from man and man's ways of achieving "wealth".
We root ourselves in the ways of God and follow God's ways.
Jesus says "few" will do that.
Matthew 7:13-14 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
The way of man seems to be the way to prosperity on this earth so few will go in the way of God.
But
the way of God is the way to truly prosper and have good success and
God's way will carry over for us unto the next life and HIS way endures
forever.
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And each of us who belong to God must learn to do the following:
I Peter 5:7 Casting all your care upon Him; for HE careth for you.
So
many church people cast their cares on another human rather than
turning to God in prayer and pouring out all concerns before God,
putting their trust in God.
Philippians 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
Tell
God what you want HIM to do for you. Have faith then in God. Refrain
from telling other people your cares for this burdens others and shows
also that you do not trust God.
But God shows us if we pray according to HIS will, HE hears us and if HE hears us then we have that which we ask of Him. I John 5
Matthew 6:25-34 Jesus says: Take no thought for your life, what
ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye
shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?
(Can you grow an inch taller by thinking about it?)
And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall HE not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?
(Can you grow an inch taller by thinking about it?)
And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall HE not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
Learn to pray to God over all your concerns when you realize you are concerned. Pray about "tomorrow".
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By doing these scriptures, we lay a good foundation, without which our house will fall that we build for ourselves on this earth.
Matthew 7:24-27 Jesus says: Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of Mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
And every one that heareth these sayings of Mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
And every one that heareth these sayings of Mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
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The only thing that matters in any thing of this life is: What does God want me to do?
We seek the wisdom from God in all issues and desire to do the will of God in all things.
By the scriptures presented in this chapter, we see many of the foundations whereby we obtain righteousness, prosperity, and good success as we live on this present earth.
We must live by these scriptures to lay a good foundation.
We live by these scripture as we meditate upon them day and night and do them until they become a way of life for us on this earth.
We must live by these scriptures to lay a good foundation.
We live by these scripture as we meditate upon them day and night and do them until they become a way of life for us on this earth.
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