30th Mar 26 | 13:54
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Luke 24 50-53 THE BLESSING OF GOD 14 26May2022 Luke 24 50-51 A sound mind
📖 Luke 24:50-53
14 – 26May2022 – A sound mind - Luke 24:50-53 - THE BLESSING OF GOD - Bible reading: II Timothy 1:6-7_
“Thank You, Lord Jesus, that You are calling us to fill the earth and to subdue it. We are to be people of a sound mind and excellent in all that we do, for Your glory. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.”
Luke 24:50-51 And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them. (51) Now it came to pass, while He blessed them, that He was parted from them and carried up into heaven.
We continue to deliberate on the creation blessing.
Genesis 1:28 Then God blessed them, and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth."
The fourth item in the creation blessing is to subdue it.
The first two dimensions of the creation blessing, to be fruitful and multiply, go together. This is the first group. The second group consists of, filling the earth and subduing it. The third is a stand-alone dimension of the creation blessing, which is to have dominion over all of God’s creation.
We are now looking at the second group, which is to fill the earth and subdue it. We have already considered what it is to fill the earth, we will now think about the fourth dimension of the creation blessing, which is to subdue it.
Subdue it, is to harness or to conquer the places which we have occupied. We are to be people of excellence in the places, where God has placed us, for His glory.
Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.
We are to consider what is praiseworthy, in that occupation, for the glory of God.
I Corinthians 10:31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
The Lord gives us wisdom and excellence to harness or conquer our workplaces for His glory.
Isaiah 28:23-29 Give ear and hear my voice, Listen and hear my speech. (24) Does the plowman keep plowing all day to sow? Does he keep turning his soil and breaking the clods? (25) When he has leveled its surface, Does he not sow the black cummin And scatter the cummin, Plant the wheat in rows, The barley in the appointed place, And the spelt in its place? (26) For He instructs him in right judgment, His God teaches him.
In all areas of work, the Lord teaches us what we must do, in wisdom.
(27) For the black cummin is not threshed with a threshing sledge, Nor is a cartwheel rolled over the cummin; But the black cummin is beaten out with a stick, And the cummin with a rod. (28) Bread flour must be ground; Therefore he does not thresh it forever, Break it with his cartwheel, Or crush it with his horsemen. (29) This also comes from the LORD of hosts, Who is wonderful in counsel and excellent in guidance.
Why did King Solomon, ask the Lord for wisdom? King Solomon wanted to govern the people excellently, for that was the task that was entrusted to him.
I Kings 3:9-10 Therefore give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?" (10) The speech pleased the LORD, that Solomon had asked this thing.
We know how the Lord answered King Solomon’s prayer. The gift of wisdom and understanding is a gift of the Holy Spirit.
II Timothy 1:6-7 Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. (7) For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
God gives us the spiritual gift of a sound mind to harness our workplaces. We must therefore stir up our gift.
We see an example of practical wisdom that God gives His children.
Genesis 26:1-3 There was a famine in the land , besides the first famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went to Abimelech king of the Philistines, in Gerar. (2) Then the LORD appeared to him and said: "Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land of which I shall tell you. (3) Dwell in this land, and I will be with you and bless you; for to you and your descendants I give all these lands, and I will perform the oath which I swore to Abraham your father.
Isaac thought of going to Egypt because of the famine. We look for easy ways out, out of our tough predicaments. God told Isaac to stay in the land, where there was a famine, and the Lord promised Isaac that He would give him and his descendants all the land in which he should remain. The Lord taught and blessed Isaac as he cultivated the land, which was under famine.
Genesis 26:12 Then Isaac sowed in that land, and reaped in the same year a hundredfold; and the LORD blessed him.
We will see how subduing our workplaces, is connected to witnessing. God is giving us a sound mind to subdue our workplaces and bring glory to God.
Thought to ponder
Are you living out a mediocre existence or are you conquering, where you are working, for His glory?