Love Wins!
I think it’s so wonderful to be able to meet different people groups and nationalities! I have been so blessed to have travelled all over the world for 40 years, and everywhere I have gone, Christians of different races and countries have welcomed me as if I was part of their own family. I know this thrills the heart of our Heavenly Father!
Demonic Division
Now, we are being assaulted by a worldwide attempt to divide us on the issue of race. In our public school system, military, government agencies, and even in some businesses and corporations, we are being taught a form of racial division called, “Critical Race Theory.” If it hasn’t come to your country yet, get ready for it! It teaches that every area in society is controlled by racism and that a race-based power struggle must take place to overturn the system. It continually tries to turn racial groups against each other.
As early as 1928, Communists said that the racial differences in America were the weakest and most vulnerable point in our social fabric. So, their goal is to stir up continual hatred, violence, and bloodshed, between the races. This is the exact opposite of the goal of one of the most famous civil rights leaders in the USA–Martin Luther King, Jr.–who promoted that people not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.
God’s Goal and Vision
We know that God created a diversity of races and people groups–that we all came from the same source. “And HE has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth…” Acts 17:26.
We also know that Jesus came, died, and shed His blood, for every nation and race in the world. God loves and values every human equally! “And after this I looked and a vast host appeared which no one could count, gathered out of every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages. These stood before the Throne and before the LAMB…” Revelation 7:9.
To see Father’s vision fulfilled, it is our glorious duty to help carry out Matthew 24:14, “And this Gospel of the Kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and THEN the end will come.” God will have ONE Holy, Heavenly Nation that will include representatives from every people group who have ever lived on the earth! Glory to GOD!
So, don’t EVER accept the devil’s attempt to divide and separate us over the color of our skin; love and embrace everyone equally! Let’s show the world the only way that works–the Gospel way! The Kingdom way! The most Excellent way! The Way of GOD’s Love!
Always put God FIRST–Always Have a Steady Supply
In Kings 17 we have many tremendous life lessons for people who are in the Kingdom of God. The Bible says much about God providing for all of our needs, and it instructs us on what we’re to do in order for God’s supply to continue to flow to us no matter what circumstances we find ourselves in. If you’re in a situation of famine, plague, storm or war, you can still expect and enjoy a steady provision from the Lord your Provider.
In this particular testimony, a great famine is upon the land. God tells Elijah to go to a certain town where he (the prophet), a widow and her son will be provided for. When the man of God arrives in the town, he finds the widow who is at the end of her provision. She has no support, no job, and no foreseeable provision; she’s about to prepare her last meal for herself and her son, and then starve to death.
“But Elijah said to her, Don’t be afraid! Go ahead and cook that, “last meal,” but bake me a little loaf of bread FIRST. Afterward there will still be food for you and your son. For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel says: There will always be plenty of flour and oil left in your containers until the time when the Lord sends rain and the crops grow again!” 1 Kings 17:13-14.
Now, this woman had the Word of the Lord/the Promise of God. She just had to ACT upon it. We all have many Words/Promises from the Lord too! Are we acting upon them?
“Honor the Lord by giving Him your money and the FIRST part of all your crops. Then you will have more grain and grapes than you will ever need.” Proverbs 3:9-10 CEV
“But more than anything else, put God’s work FIRST and DO what He wants. Then the other things will be yours as well.” Matthew 6:33 CEV
The widow didn’t put herself first. She put the Kingdom work FIRST by giving FIRST to the minister of God. I have heard for many years, people in many nations say, “But, we’re too poor to give.” And that’s exactly why they never have enough and never will have enough until they start to ACT and put God FIRST with the little they have—just like this widow.
“So she did as Elijah said, and she and Elijah and her son continued to eat from her supply of flour and oil for many days. For no matter how much they used, there was always enough left in the containers, JUST AS THE LORD HAD PROMISED through Elijah.” Kings 17:15-16 NLT
Notice These Things
1. Elijah the widow, and her son were all provided for BECAUSE they ACTED upon the word of the Lord.
2. Go does much with little when we are faithful to put Him FIRST with our little. You are never, EVER, too poor to give.
3. Notice carefully–each day, in order for all the supply to continue, she must give to God FIRST. Each day she was faithful to the Kingdom FIRST; and Kingdom giving became her lifestyle!
4. “The three of them ate for many days.” 1 Kings 17:15Bible scholars believe it was from one to three years or 365 to as many as 1,095 days.
So understand and be convinced that when you give to God FIRST you are never losing it or throwing it away! It will be multiplied back to you and you will receive an eternal reward as well. Matthew 6:20.
SO, FEAR NOT and put God FIRST. You will prove that there will ALWAYS be enough for you and yours!
–Pastor Steve Shank
