Break Open the Sky!

Tuesday, August 2nd, 2011

Today's Passage: Isaiah chapter 45
Memory Verse: Isaiah 45:8

Have you ever wondered how the apostles were able to spread the gospel? How was word able to spread so far about one Man Who was already dead? If you read the book of Acts, you'll see that in order for them to get to all the surrounding areas, they had to use the available transportation (of course, not counting that slick miracle played by the Holy Spirit when He whisked Phillip from one place to another in Acts chapter 8). Point is, they didn't spare any expense but made obeying the Great Commission their highest priority.

When it comes to today's ministries in the church of God, a huge emphasis seems to be put on not only asking believers to give more, but also to believe that God wants us all financially prosperous. Some think this emphasis is for selfish reasons: so that more people can give to the particular ministry that seems to have the greater impact at the moment. Others say God never intended for believers to be so focused on being wealthy, because the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil as the Word says.

Although there is truth in the fact that we must be careful not to put so much focus on getting rich (which we were taught just this week is a result of lust), the question that remains is this: how are we to get the gospel to the ends of the earth without it? Another even more important question is, what is God's heart on the matter? Part of the answer is found in today's passage. God describes the barriers that keep His people from accessing the financial resources that they need as first mountains, then bronze doors, and finally iron bars. In God's eyes, they're merely wisps of grass that He can simply blow away by His power. But He knows that they would be a problem for those of us in human skin.

The promise that we can walk away with for today is that God DESIRES to provide for His own. Whoever has His kingdom at heart will get whatever they need to accomplish it. The only problem we'll run into is if we ever try to misuse the kingdom's calling to meet our own goal, as Ananias and Sopphira discovered in the book of Acts.know that it's the Father's will to open every door we dream of walking through as long as our focus remains on spreading the gospel. Note what He says in verse 8. He calls for the heavens to pour down rain so that salvation and deliverance can be made available for all. Does that sound like a God Who will shut up those same heavens when we pray for provision to be made so we can let others know How wonderful He is? I think not. As long as we keep our hearts in the right place, no good thing will He withhold from us.

Prayer: Father, thank You for showing us Your heart concerning wealth. You don't mind us having it when we prefer to use it for Your kingdom. May our hearts grow even bigger with the desire to take Your love to the ends of the earth. May we never possess an ounce of greed for financial gain, but turn our hearts ever toward You. In Jesus ' Name, Amen.