| | | Steve Shultz: Founder of The Elijah List | As Joint Heirs with Christ, God Provides for YOU the SAME! * * * * * * * * * * * * * * | We all LOVE the story and the re-enactments of the Wisemen bringing Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh to Jesus at His birth in Bethlehem. There are some things hidden in the story and in the historic accounts that tell you a great deal about how God provided not only for Jesus but how God CONTINUES TO PROVIDE THE SAME – FOR YOU! | Yes, YOU! | Let me explain further. We are joint heirs with Christ, remember? So as Believers, how Father God provided for His only Son is EXACTLY HOW HE PROVIDES FOR THE JOINT HEIRS WITH CHRIST- in other words, YOU! Romans 8:17 (Amplified Bible) And if [we are His] children, [then we are His] heirs also: heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ... | So again, whatever God did for Jesus, He is doing for you, even now –as we speak. What did He do then for His Son? | The TWO-YEAR Journey of the Wisemen Bearing Gifts | | MATTHEW 2:10-11 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And after entering the house, they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell down and worshiped Him. Then, after opening their treasure chests, they presented to Him gifts [fit for a King, gifts] of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Think of it. Wisemen traveled from literally half a world away, traveling for up to two years. They gave TREASURE to Jesus (and his family of course), Gold, Frankincense, and myrrh. Believe it or not, this was the normal type of gift to give to important kings and dignitaries back in the day. Regardless of what the meaning of each gift was–- it was VALUABLE. | What I mean is, the gold, frankincense and myrrh was valuable in that it could be sold to provide financial support for YEARS for Jesus and His family! | | But what happened that very night of the gifts? The very next verse tells us... | | Matthew 2:12-15 And having been warned [by God] in a dream not to go back to Herod, the magi left for their own country by another way... Now when they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Get up! Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod intends to search for the Child in order to destroy Him." So Joseph got up and took the Child and His mother while it was still night, and left for Egypt. He remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet [Hosea]: "Out of Egypt I called My Son." | Until the very night they FLED to Egypt, for all we know, Mary and Joseph were nearly penniless. Suddenly, on the VERY NIGHT that angel was to warn them to flee for their lives, God saw to it – indeed God TIMED IT, so that they would flee as wealthy people, with the amount of Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh that was FIT FOR A KING! This was no paltry gift. This was to finance perhaps YEARS of the life of Christ, in hiddenness. | GOD PROVIDES FOR YOU THIS SAME WAY | At this second, think about it. God may very well have put things in motion for you, YEARS AGO such that when you need it, the finances and other kinds of help will be there for you... at the VERY MOMENT YOU NEED IT–because they were sent on the way to you even years ago! We need to celebrate this Season about the FAITHFULNESS OF PROVISION OF GOD TO HIS SON– and the same faithfulness TO US, His other sons and daughters with the same inheritance as Jesus!! Wow! Try to wrap your brain around that. | Jesus Kept being Provided For by His Father And the same favor is for you! | Remember how it was Judas who was "trusted" with the money bag. What this shows us is that Jesus had a person in charge to take the donations of money that people gave to the ministry of Jesus! John 12:6 As keeper of the money bag, he [Judas] used to take from what was put into it... | Even though Jesus could have worked a new money miracle every single day of His ministry, God allowed Him, indeed, God set it up for people to give into His ministry. Someone had to hold the money bag. IN THE SAME WAY, GOD TAKES CARE OF YOU, often inspiring others to offer you a sudden gift just when you've needed it. Think of your life. Recall the many, MANY times money showed up for you just when you needed it. That is always GOD'S DOING when that happens. ALWAYS! Why Does God Always Use PEOPLE to Help You? | Our Papa God is a real Dad to you and to me. He knows what we need and when we need it. And because He's a DAD to every single Believer in Him (and often to those who do NOT believe in Him), He uses some of His kids to help you or to help me. Then the very son or daughter who helps the Father minister to others, receive a great blessing in return. Check out how God used women who had relationship with Jesus, to support His ministry financially. The SAME is true, you are in ministry yourself...your LIFE is a ministry. This is why God has people come to your help, financially and other ways... at hundreds of times throughout your life... Luke 8:1-3 Soon afterward, Jesus began going around from one city and village to another, preaching and proclaiming the Good News of the Kingdom of God. The twelve [disciples] were with Him, and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and diseases: Mary, called Magdalene [from the city of Magdala in Galilee], from whom seven demons had come out, and Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod's household steward, and Susanna, and many others who were contributing to their support out of their private means [as was the custom for a rabbi's disciples]. | | At These Last Few days of 2018, Can You Help Us Meet our Year-End Budget? | Click here to donate by credit card or eCheck. | | Derene and I continue to pray for spiritual and financial blessings for our readers and partners every day. We are so grateful for you. On these last few days of the year, can you help us out? We are really at a place of earnest need to make our year-end giving goals for Elijah List Ministries/Elijah Streams TV. Most of how we finance the next calendar year, depends fully on what comes in on the last few days of the year. We want to thank you in advance for your generosity. AND PLEASE REMEMBER THAT GOD BLESSES EVERY GIFT YOU GIVE AND MULTIPLIES IT BACK TO YOU! | Merry Christmas!! Steve and Derene Shultz ELIJAH LIST MINISTRIES/ ELIJAH STREAMS TV | | P.S. Matthew 10:41 He who receives and welcomes a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet's reward; and he who receives a righteous (honorable) man because he is a righteous man will receive a righteous man's reward. | | | | | December 23, 2018 | | | | | |