Pastor George from our church, although not on staff, spoke yesterday. He said he turned 79 the other day - and when people started to clap, he said to stop - the only thing you get when you turn 79 is a colonoscopy. Only he said it in a way that it was funny. We all laughed. But the message he gave was very good. In fact, I'm going to go right into it cause I want to share while it is still sorta fresh on my mind.
Joshua 17:14-18 (NKJV): The the children of Joseph spoke to Joshua, saying, "Why have you given us only one lot and one share to inherit, since we are a great people, inasmuch as the Lord as blessed us until now?" So Joshua answered them, "If you are a great people, then go up to the forest country and clear a place for yourself there in the land of the Perizzites and the giants, since the mountains of Ephraim are too confined for you." But the children of Joseph said, "The mountain country is not enough for us; and all the Canaanites who dwell int he land of the valley have chariots of iron, both those who are of Beth Shean and its towns and those who are of the Valley of Jezreel." And Joshua spoke to the house of Joseph - to Ephraim and Manasseh - saying, "You are a great people and have great power; you shall not have only one lot, but the mountain country shall be yours. Although it is wooded, you shall cut it down, and its farthest extent shall be yours; for you shall drive out the Canaanites, though they have iron chariots and are strong."
Points that Pastor George made in this message: 1) Ephraim and Manasseh experienced the pressure of the blessing. What did he mean by that?
They forgot from where they came. Think about it. God had brought the tribes out of Egypt, out of slavery. He lead them 40 years through the wilderness (until that generation died cause they grumbled all the time and didn't obey God to go into the Promised Land!) Ephraim and Manasseh were blessed and their families grew (as did the other tribes) and now they were complaining that they had grown so big they needed more room. But were they willing to go out and fight? So what if the Canaanites had iron chariots - wah! - what did God do to the chariots that followed them out of Egypt and tried to capture them? They FORGOT what God had already done.
They FORGOT from where they had come. They were living on land they did not till. They were living in houses they did not build. They were living off food that had grown they had not planted - and they were complaining because they wanted more. Just because God has blessed us, doesn't mean we have all we want. We all want MORE.
The pressure of the blessing causes self-pity, and we become self-centered, and want more. And more. And more. Even too much is not enough when we have the pressure of the blessing. God gives us everything we need, but when we focus on what we need and not on God, we become self-entitled and self-centered.
There is a difference between Inheritance Mentality and Entitlement Mentality.
Inheritance Mentality - all we get we give back to God. He supplies, we surrender what we have to Him.
Entitlement Mentality - what we get is never enough. We always feel we are entitled to have more.
Other thoughts - People say they want to hear from God, but they won't read their Bible, nor do they sit quietly and give Him time to speak.
Psalm 46:10 - Be still and know that I am God.
We come from a God who parts water; from a God who conquers the enemy.
We are strong with God.... whatever comes against us.... go back from where you came. (i.e., when you had nothing, and God supplied) Trust God to meet all your needs; don't become self-entitled. It all belongs to God anyway.
Good stuff, don't you think? I'm glad I am sharing it; hopefully I will keep it in my mind and 'remember from where I came'.
Got a text from my son that reminded me I hadn't finished this for today. Work always seems to get in the way. And training. LOL I have 11a today. Upper body. HIIT tomorrow at 10a. Trust me, I can look back when I could barely lift a few pounds - and now I can flip 178 pound tires! God is good.
Hubby had said we were going to 'talk about my retirement and the bills' this weekend - I didn't say anything; and he must have forgotten. Just when I resign myself to working until I die. LOL At least I am doing something, right? I can't do anything now if I wasn't working.... only difference is I wouldn't be sitting in front of a computer all day and doing 'stuff'.
Am I feeling entitled? LOL God has always provided for us over the years. Some day I will have to sit down and share some of His marvelous works for us... if I can remember them all!
In the meantime - I need to answer my boss and get to work. Hope you have an amazing day and 'remember from where you were, to where you are now'. How has God blessed you?
Blessings!
