Tuesday 30 September 2008

Economy of Residence...

Stepping aside and off the economy's merry-go-round, a few disturbing things comes to light. It is obvious that there is a ferocious battle in the spirit world. The enemy is increasing it's demonic activity and striving to take hold of the world's global economy. A lot of people don't recognise this and it is because, cleverly, the enemy has carried out a re-branding exercise; he is presenting same attacks in a different packages and delivered them through different means.

Firstly, the names came in the form of credit, free credit, all the credit you can get. And then it came in the nature of excess; excess in all things good and bad. Food, products and life style; everything in tremendous excess. And then came the false feeling and sense of security in the world's system, it's wisdom and riches. What the world failed to do was read the SMALL PRINT behind what the enemy was delivering. If we had done so, we would have seen the side effects written clearly. And now, today, these side effects are being manifested. We hear and see them so clearly. They come in form of credit crunch, recession, economic depression, foreclosures, repossessions - the list goes on and on.

The world's global economy is falling apart at the seams. It is grinding to a halt. People are loosing their jobs and families are being displaced. People are in despair, depression is setting in, some taking their lives. But guess what? In the midst of this darkness, for the children of the most high God, for those marked with His blood, there is ALWAYS hope. Hallelujah!

In the midst of famine God's children will not only prosper, but keep being prosperous. God's economy never experiences a downturn. Prosperity is the reality of God's economy.

In God's economy his desire is for his children to prosper, all the time, throughout all seasons. It does not matter what is happening in the world's global economy, God's desire for us to be prosperous ALL the time. It does not waiver, does not change. It is ever so constant, sometimes ever more so in the time of famine.

We see God's desire for us to live in continuous prosperity, in the bible. Lets go to the begining by taking a look at Genesis. Genesis 2:8-12, 15 reads "8 Then the Lord God planted a garden in Eden in the east, and there he placed the man he had made. 9 The Lord God made all sorts of trees grow up from the ground—trees that were beautiful and that produced delicious fruit. In the middle of the garden he placed the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
10 A river flowed from the land of Eden, watering the garden and then dividing into four branches. 11 The first branch, called the Pishon, flowed around the entire land of Havilah, where gold is found. 12 The gold of that land is exceptionally pure; aromatic resin and onyx stone are also found there. "


Verse 15 read"The Lord God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and watch over it. "
From the onset, God was committed to man being prosperous. He already created a place of prosperity for him. All man had to do according to verse 15, was to look after this environment. For each and every one of us, there is an Eden for us, a land and environment of prosperity. Are we living in it? If not, how do we make this our reality?

In these times, more so than ever before, it is very important to school ourselves to carefully listen to the voice of God, align our WILL to his. We must be willing to obey what he commands and in his goodness and mercy he will see that in the midst of the world's crises and storm, we will not just be fine, but we will flourish.

Looking through the bible, we can learn a lot from the lives of the great people of old. People who not only listened to God, but obeyed him and lived to see, experience and live in God's blessing of prosperity, even in the midst of famine. Their prosperity became a light to the world around them, drawing people to God's glory.

The life of Isaac is an example of such. Genesis 26: 1-3 reads "1and there was a famine in the land, other than the former famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went to Gerar, to Abimelech king of the Philistines. 2And the Lord appeared to him and said, Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land of which I will tell you. 3Dwell temporarily in this land, and I will be with you and will favor you with blessings; for to you and to your descendants I will give all these lands, and I will perform the oath which I swore to Abraham your father"

This passage explains to us that in that time, there was a recession in the land, just as there is now, and God was looking after his own children (just as he is looking after his own now) and one of them was Isaac. God spoke to Isaac, giving him specific instructions on what to do and where to go.

Genesis 26:6 reads So Isaac stayed in Gerar. Here we see Isaac's response to God's instructions. I saac obeyed God by raising up and going to Gerar and stayed there as God commanded.

Has God instructed you to do something? Are you moving or staying still?

Genesis12 - 14 12 reads, "When Isaac planted his crops that year, he harvested a hundred times more grain than he planted, for the Lord blessed him. 13 He became a very rich man, and his wealth continued to grow. 14 He acquired so many flocks of sheep and goats, herds of cattle, and servants that the Philistines became jealous of him"
Now, here we learn that Isaac was now in Gerar and whilst there, he was living according to God's instructions, and in so doing the lord blessed him to be a rich man, but not only that, he kept on becoming rich and it didn't stop there. He became extremely wealthy!!!

But guess what? ALL THIS HAPPENED TO ISSAC IN THE TIME OF FAMINE; IN THE TIME OF RECESSION.

Now, this tells me that, if I am in tune with God, reside in his economy, and I am willing and obedient, in today's recession climate (famine) God who is the never changing and ever faithful God, CAN AND WILL still make me rich and wealthy. Awesome!!!.

So, today, I encourage us all to get in tune with God and place ourselves and everything that concerns us, firmly into God's economy. An economy that is not affected by the world's flimsy conditions.

When in God's economy, it means we are covered and marked by the precious blood of Jesus Christ. And as God protected the children of Israel during the plagues of Egypt, when he sees the mark of the blood over us, he will shield us from the ferocious storms of the world's economy. Pleas read Exodus, chapters 8 - 12 for completion.

In God's economy, we should not fear for the days of his children are upright and in the days of famine, they shall be satisfied as we read in Psalm 37:18 -19 which reads "18 Day by day the Lord takes care of the innocent, and they will receive an inheritance that lasts forever. 19 They will not be disgraced in hard times; even in famine they will have more than enough"

Declare today that, "in these days of days of recession you shall be satisfied because your trust is in God and you will be satisfied from the fullness of his house."

Psalm 91:1 - 8 tells us that, as we dwell in the secret place of the most high, we should not be afraid for he will look after us, and the disasters of the world will not come near our dwelling. (please read passage for completion).

Also in Job 5: 20 - 22 explains how the good Lord will protect his children from famine. It reads "20 He will save you from death in time of famine, from the power of the sword in time of war. 21 You will be safe from slander and have no fear when destruction comes. 22 You will laugh at destruction and famine; wild animals will not terrify you.

So today I encourage us all to:

  • Get in tune with God; move into God's economy
  • Reside in God's economy
  • Align ourselves with God's will
  • Listen out carefully and clearly for God's voice
  • Listen to God's instructions
  • Be willing and obedient - do what he tells us to do, how and when he tells us to do it. Remember, delayed obedience, is disobedience.
  • Cover and mark ourselves and everything concerning us with the blood of Jesus Christ
  • Trust in God, for he is ALWAYS faithful
  • Keep sowing in God's economy, even in the time of famine.
  • Pay your tithes. Not honouring this means robbing God. Robbing from God means the heavens are closed over our lives.
  • Rejoice... before, during, in and after the manifestation of God's faithfulness.
  • Keep praying, seeking insight, knowledge and wisdom

Get busy doing all that and more of what God has instructed and is instructing you to do. When you are willing and obedient, you will live in prosperity and in abundance in the Eden God has already created for you.

In this current times of famine, of recession, let your light shine so the world can see the true nature and colours of God's love; making Him famous along the way.

Remi Banjo

***Pictures by Photobucket***

10 Comments:

olusimeon said...

you talk well,my sista..his children are truly really secure under His wings..we just need the grace to follow Him ..

Jennifer A. said...

It is true...the world failed to read the SMALL PRINT.

But in God's economy, the slogan is "prosperity." I believe that we need to keep watching and praying for the world as a whole...for the global economy.

John said...

well said, a word in season, like water to a thirsty traveller.

Rita said...

So true...staying in tune with God's economy will keep us fearless on what's happening around...

Well said...

aloted said...

totally feeling this word for the season...

God bless you my sister!!!!

Okey.Chukbyke C. said...

Yesooo i have read the 'Gods economy' thing as directed. it is so nicely searched.
It is amazing how you gals explain the bible in very light,actual and lively ways.Very knowledgable and inspiring.

The economy(Gods) was really agric based from the examples used in the teaching.
I think Nigeria did not even understand the bible literarily therefore abandoned agric and and farming....The begining of the distruction of Gods economy..invitation of hunger- fundamental problems of the living being.

SOLOMONSYDELLE said...

Amin oh! Just wanted you to know that I took your advise at the blog and opened my account.

=)

Excellent post. Thank you for sharing this.

Kafo said...

thank you ooooooooooooo
i'm thinking of that verse that He has cattles on a thousand hills
he doesn't count the cattle he counts the hills that they are on

thanks for this
esp. the pratical tips

Anonymous said...

this is another really cool post rems....it's interesting....his credit crunch is making people sit up and that is only a good thing.

I like how you describe the whole realm of "God's economy"....cos what's happening in today's economy certinly isnt of God.

As usual....lots of good practical advice given as well....keep it up!

Remi, United Kingdom said...

@simeone - yes under his grace we will be fine. Hope you're good.

@Jaycee so true.. Yes we need to keep praying for the global economy. I believe this is just the begining. God is bringing down judgement on greed and opression.

@John - I'm glad you were blessed

@rita - yes we have to keep focused henced fearless. Funny I just put up a follow up post on fear. How are u doing girl?

@aloted - Amen.. and u too love. How are you?

@chukbyke lol.. thanks for visiting. Ah it is not me, it is the holy that gives wisdom and insight to us if we are willing and open. So I am just sharing what I learn along the way, and hoping nations and generations are blessed by it. lol.. at Nigeria not understanding God's economy. Nigeria is not alone. Lots of nations don't understand, hence the mess we see right now.

@solomonsydelle - mighty glad you opened your account - now no need to fear.

@kafo - you are most welcome, I will look for the verse for you :-))

@Ayo - Thanks luv. Nope what's happening today is certainly not God's economy. There is no recession or oppression in God's economy.