The Supernatural Returns of Giving to the Poor Biblically

God's Financial System Operates by Biblical Principles

One of the greatest discoveries I have ever made was that the Bible is not merely a book of inspirational
stories—it is God's Rule Book. Throughout Scripture, God established spiritual laws and principles that govern every area of life, including finances. Just as the law of sowing and reaping governs agriculture, God's financial principles govern increase, provision, preservation, and abundance.

For years, I misunderstood these principles. Like many sincere believers, I participated in the traditional religious practice of sowing "financial seeds," believing that if I gave enough money into religious settings, I would eventually receive an extraordinary financial breakthrough to eliminate my debts. Yet despite my sincerity, the results I hoped for never materialized.

Everything changed when I stopped viewing the Bible merely as a devotional book and began reading it as God's Rule Book. Then I discovered a principle repeated throughout Scripture that I had largely overlooked: God's extraordinary promises of financial provision are consistently connected to how we treat the poor.

As Proverbs 11:9b declares:

"Through knowledge shall the just be delivered."

Knowledge of God's principles changed my life.

 

Blessed Is the One Who Considers the Poor

Perhaps no passage summarizes God's heart toward the poor more beautifully than Psalm 41.

"Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble. The LORD will preserve him, and keep him alive; and he shall be blessed upon the earth... The LORD will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing..." (Psalm 41:1–3)

Notice the promises attached to one biblical principle:

• Deliverance in trouble.

• Divine preservation.

• Long life.

• Blessing upon the earth.

• Strength in times of weakness.

These are supernatural returns that God Himself promises to those who thoughtfully care for those in need.

 

Proverbs Repeatedly Connects Giving to Prosperity

The book of Proverbs reinforces this principle over and over again.

"He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again." (Proverbs 19:17)

Imagine that. Scripture says giving to the poor is literally making a loan to God—and God promises to repay it.

The Bible also says:

"There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth... The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself." (Proverbs 11:24–25)

Generosity, according to God's economy, does not diminish wealth—it becomes a pathway for increase.

Again, Proverbs declares:

"He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack..." (Proverbs 28:27)

Notice the clarity of this promise. Scripture does not say he might not lack. It simply states:

"He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack."

Likewise,

"He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor." (Proverbs 14:31)

And,

"Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard." (Proverbs 21:13)

These verses reveal that our treatment of the poor directly affects our relationship with God.

 

When You Give to the Poor, You Give to Christ

Jesus removed every doubt concerning how He views acts of compassion.

In Matthew 25:31–40, Jesus describes the final judgment and repeatedly says:

"I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink... I was a stranger, and ye took me in."

The righteous ask:

"Lord, when saw we thee...?"

Jesus answers:

"Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." (Matthew 25:40)

This is one of the most remarkable teachings in Scripture.

Jesus identifies Himself with those in need. Every act of kindness toward the hungry, the poor, the sick, or the forgotten is viewed by Christ as an act done personally to Him.

Giving to the poor is therefore not merely charity—it is an expression of love and obedience toward Christ Himself.

 

My Personal Testimony

When I finally understood these biblical principles, my entire approach to finances changed.

I stopped chasing financial miracles through traditions that I believed would produce wealth simply because I had given what was called a "financial seed." Instead, I began asking a different question:

"What are God's financial rules?"

As I consistently applied those rules—especially the repeated biblical instruction to care for the poor—I watched God transform my financial life.

Today, I am completely debt-free.

The life that I once prayed for gradually became my reality, not because I discovered a secret formula, but because I learned to live according to God's written principles.

Now my greatest desire is not merely to accumulate resources but to multiply them so they can be invested into the lives of people who can do absolutely nothing for me in return.

That is the kind of giving Scripture repeatedly honors.

 

The Protocol That Governs Biblical Giving

The Apostle Paul summarizes God's principles of giving in 2 Corinthians 9:6–10.

First, he establishes the law of sowing and reaping:

"He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully." (2 Corinthians 9:6)

Next, he explains the attitude that must accompany giving:

"Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver." (2 Corinthians 9:7)

Giving should never be manipulated, forced, or driven by guilt. It should flow willingly from a heart that trusts God.

Paul then reveals God's promise:

"God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye... may abound to every good work." (2 Corinthians 9:8)

Finally, Paul connects God's blessing directly with generosity toward the poor by quoting Psalm 112:

"He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor; his righteousness remaineth for ever." (2 Corinthians 9:9)

He concludes:

"Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness." (2 Corinthians 9:10)

Notice God's order.

He provides seed.

The believer sows according to His principles.

God then multiplies what has been sown.

The increase is not merely for personal consumption but to continue producing righteousness through generosity.

 

Conclusion

Scripture consistently teaches that God's financial system is governed by principles rather than wishful thinking.

From Psalm 41 to Proverbs, from the teachings of Jesus to the writings of Paul, one truth is repeated again and again: God has a special concern for the poor, and He attaches extraordinary promises to those who compassionately care for them.

This does not mean every gift made in every context is without value, nor does it eliminate other biblical expressions of generosity. Rather, it highlights a principle that Scripture repeatedly emphasizes: caring for those in genuine need occupies a unique place in God's heart and carries promises that are stated plainly in His Word.

If we desire God's blessing, provision, and increase, we must build our lives upon the biblical rules He has already revealed. When we align ourselves with His principles, we position ourselves to experience His faithfulness—not because we have manipulated God, but because we have chosen to walk in obedience to His Word.

The Bible is not merely a book to be admired.

It is God's Rule Book.

And when His rules are practiced, His promises are experienced.

Pastor Kevin L. A. Ewing 

www.kevinlaewing.com 

www.kevinlaewing.blogspot.com 

ewinglakevin@icloud.com

Gifts and Callings Are Not Equivalent To a Relationship With Jesus Christ

 

Matthew 7:22–23 is one of the most sobering passages in Scripture because it reveals that religious activity, spiritual gifts, and even miraculous works are not the same as knowing Jesus Christ. Jesus is warning that there will be people who outwardly appear to be successful ministers or believers, yet have never entered into a genuine saving relationship with Him.

Matthew 7:22–23 (ESV)

"On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?'

"And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.'"

The Context of Matthew 7

Jesus concludes the Sermon on the Mount by contrasting:

* Two gates (Matthew 7:13–14)

* Two trees (Matthew 7:15–20)

* Two builders (Matthew 7:24–27)

The central question is not merely whether someone is religious, but **whether they truly belong to Christ.

Just before verses 22–23, Jesus says:

"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father..." (Matthew 7:21)

These individuals even call Him "Lord," acknowledging His authority, yet their profession is not matched by a genuine relationship or obedient faith.

Verse 22: Impressive Spiritual Accomplishments

Notice what these people claim:

"We prophesied in Your name."

"We cast out demons in Your name."

"We did many mighty works in Your name."

These are extraordinary ministries.

Jesus does not immediately deny that these things happened. Instead, He addresses something far deeper: the absence of a relationship with Him.

This teaches an important biblical truth:

God may use a person as an instrument without that person belonging to Him.

Examples include:

* Balaam (Numbers 22–24), who spoke true prophecy yet loved unrighteous gain.

* Judas Iscariot, who was sent out with the other disciples and participated in ministry (Matthew 10:1–8), yet ultimately betrayed Christ.

* King Saul, upon whom the Spirit came for a time (1 Samuel 10:10), but whose heart became hardened.

The Greek of Matthew 7:23

Let's examine the key expressions.

"Οὐδέποτε" (*Oudepote*)

This means:

* never

* at no time

* absolutely never

Jesus is not saying:

"I knew you once."

Nor is He saying:

"I used to have a relationship with you."

He says:

"At no point did I know you."

This is one of the strongest negations in Greek.

"ἔγνων" (*egnōn*)

This is the aorist form of **γινώσκω (ginōskō)**.

While *ginōskō* can simply mean "to know," throughout Scripture it often refers to personal, intimate, covenant relationship, not merely intellectual awareness.

Examples include:

* "Adam knew (*ginōskō*) Eve his wife..." (Genesis 4:1 in the Septuagint)

* "I am the good shepherd; I know (*ginōskō*) my sheep..." (John 10:14)

Jesus obviously knows every human being in the sense of omniscience.

Therefore, when He says:

"I never knew you,"

He cannot mean:

"I never knew you existed."

Rather, He means:

"You never belonged to Me. We never shared a covenant relationship. You were never one of My sheep."

"ἀποχωρεῖτε ἀπ’ ἐμοῦ."

This means:

"Depart from Me."

The verb *apochōreō* carries the sense of:

* go away

* withdraw

* leave My presence

This is the language of final judgment.

"οἱ ἐργαζόμενοι τὴν ἀνομίαν"

Literally:

"those working lawlessness."

The present participle describes an ongoing pattern of life.

Their lives were characterized by lawlessness, despite their religious accomplishments.

"I Never Knew You" Versus "I Once Knew You"

This phrase is important because it differs from saying:

"I knew you once, but not anymore."

Jesus deliberately says:

"I never knew you."

This indicates that these individuals were never in a saving relationship with Christ, despite their outward ministry.

Now, here is where it all comes together. The apostle Paul wrote in Romans 11:29

"Gifts and calling of God are without repentance. In other words, they are irrevocable and do not require one to accept the free gift of salvation to be active in their gifts and callings.

In its immediate context, Paul is speaking about God's covenant purposes for Israel. God does not revoke His promises to His covenant people.

However, the principle also helps explain an important truth: receiving gifts or a calling from God is not identical to living in fellowship with Christ.

Throughout Scripture, people may receive divine enablement or be entrusted with roles, yet fail to remain faithful, and here are a few examples of that:

* Saul was anointed king but later rebelled.

* Balaam prophesied accurately but opposed God's ways.

* Judas ministered alongside the apostles but did not truly belong to Christ.

Therefore, spiritual gifts are not the evidence of salvation.

The New Testament consistently teaches that the evidence of genuine faith includes:

* Love for Christ (John 14:15)

* Obedience to His commands (1 John 2:3–6)

* The fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22–23)

* Perseverance in faith (Colossians 1:21–23)

A person may possess remarkable abilities, preach powerfully, or even be used by God in ministry, yet those things alone do not prove a saving relationship with Christ.

The Difference Between Gifts and Relationship

Matthew 7 highlights a crucial distinction.

Spiritual gifts refer to the abilities that God bestows upon a person.

Conversely, a relationship with Christ revolves around how that person is connected to Him.

One can possess gifts without spiritual maturity. The church at Corinth illustrates this well; they were richly gifted (1 Corinthians 1:7) yet struggled with division, immorality, and pride.

Again, Jesus never says, "I never saw your miracles." Instead, He said, "I never knew you." The issue is not ministry success but covenant relationship.

So here is the true test: the Bible points to several marks of genuine discipleship:

* Jesus' sheep hear His voice and follow Him (John 10:27–28).

* Those who abide in Christ bear lasting fruit (John 15:4–8).

* Those who love Him keep His commandments (John 14:21).

* Faith works through love (Galatians 5:6).

Miracles may attract attention, but they are not the foundation of assurance. The foundation is being united to Christ by faith, transformed by the Holy Spirit, and walking in obedience to Him.

Matthew 7:22–23 is therefore not a warning against spiritual gifts themselves. Rather, it is a warning against substituting ministry for intimacy, gifts for godliness, or outward works for a genuine relationship with Jesus Christ. As Jesus makes clear, on the day of judgment the decisive question will not be merely what we did in His name, but whether we truly belonged to Him and lived as those who knew Him and were known by Him.

Pastor Kevin L. A. Ewing

www.kevinlaewing.com

www.kevinlaewing.blogspot.com

ewinglakevin@icloud.com

Is It Man or God That Gives the Interpretation of Dreams?

Dreams have always played a significant role throughout the Bible. God has used dreams at various times to warn, instruct, reveal future events, and communicate His purposes to His servants. However, not every dream originates from God. Some dreams arise from the natural mind, while others may have deceptive spiritual influences behind them. Therefore, the greatest challenge for every believer is not merely having dreams, but correctly discerning their source and receiving the proper interpretation.

One of the most important questions a Christian should ask is: Who gives the interpretation of dreams, man or God?

The Bible gives a clear answer.

God Alone Gives the Interpretation of Dreams

Throughout Scripture, faithful servants of God consistently acknowledged that the interpretation of dreams belongs to God and not to human wisdom.

When Pharaoh's chief cupbearer and chief baker were troubled by their dreams, Joseph said:

Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell them to me, I pray you."

Genesis 40:8

Years later, when Pharaoh dreamed troubling dreams concerning the future of Egypt, Joseph again refused to take personal credit. Instead, he humbled himself before God by saying:

"It is not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace."

Genesis 41:16

Likewise, when King Nebuchadnezzar demanded both his dream and its interpretation, Daniel acknowledged that no human being possessed such wisdom.

But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days."

Daniel 2:28

Daniel made it clear that the revelation was not because he was wiser than other men.

"But as for me, this secret is not revealed to me for any wisdom that I have more than any living."

Daniel 2:30

These passages establish an important biblical principle:

Man may explain what God reveals, but God alone gives the true interpretation.

Without God's revelation, dream interpretation becomes human opinion rather than divine truth.

The Importance of Testing the Spirit Behind Every Dream

Not every dream carries a message from God.

The Apostle John commands believers:

"Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world."

1 John 4:1

Although John is primarily addressing spiritual teaching and prophetic influence, the principle applies whenever someone believes they have received a spiritual communication. Every spiritual experience, including dreams that seem spiritually significant, must be tested rather than accepted automatically.

Dreams can produce fear, excitement, confusion, or false hope. Therefore, Christians must seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit before concluding that a dream is from God.

Knowing the Spirit of Truth and the Spirit of Error

John continues by explaining how believers distinguish truth from deception.

We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error."

1 John 4:6

Every genuine revelation from God will agree with God's Word and with the testimony of Christ.

The Spirit of Truth always glorifies Jesus Christ, produces righteousness, and leads believers toward obedience.

The spirit of error produces confusion, deception, fear, contradiction, false doctrine, and rebellion against God's revealed truth.

Therefore, dream interpretation must never contradict Scripture.

If an interpretation violates God's written Word, it did not originate from the Holy Spirit.

Satan Can Produce Deceptive Dreams

The Bible warns believers that Satan often disguises himself to deceive.

Paul writes:

And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

"Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness."

2 Corinthians 11:14–15

This principle teaches that appearances alone cannot be trusted.

Just as Satan may disguise himself as an angel of light, he and his agents may seek to deceive by appearing as familiar or trusted figures. For this reason, believers should not assume that every comforting or emotionally powerful dream comes from God simply because it features someone recognizable or appears peaceful.

This is why discernment is essential.

My Personal Testimony

Over the years, I have experienced numerous dreams involving deceased relatives and friends.

Initially, such dreams could easily be misunderstood as genuine visits or messages from those who had passed away. However, as I grew in my understanding of Scripture, I came to recognize that these dreams were deceptive and relatively easy to interpret because they violated clear biblical principles concerning the dead.

God expressly forbids attempting to communicate with the dead.

"or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer."

Deuteronomy 18:11. A necromancer is a practitioner of black magic who claims to communicate with the spirits of the dead to divine the future or uses supernatural forces to reanimate corpses. Derived from the Greek nekros (dead) and manteia (divination).

Scripture also teaches that the dead no longer participate in the affairs of the living.

"For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing... also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished."

Ecclesiastes 9:5–6

Furthermore, Jesus' account of the rich man and Lazarus demonstrates that there is a great gulf fixed between the living and the dead, preventing them from returning to communicate with those on earth.

Luke 16:19–31

Because these passages establish spiritual laws regarding the condition of the dead, I concluded that such dreams could not have been genuine communications from deceased loved ones. Instead, they represented deception that had to be rejected rather than embraced.

This experience reinforced an important biblical truth:

Every dream must be interpreted in the light of Scripture rather than emotion or personal desire.

The Holy Spirit Leads Believers Into All Truth

Ultimately, dream interpretation should never depend upon human wisdom alone.

Jesus promised that believers would receive the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth."

John 16:13

Jesus also declared:

Even the Spirit of truth... he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you."

John 14:17

The Holy Spirit never contradicts the written Word of God because He is the One who inspired it (2 Peter 1:20–21). His ministry is to glorify Christ, reveal truth, and protect believers from deception.

When we surrender ourselves to His leadership, He grants discernment, wisdom, and understanding concerning spiritual matters, including dreams.

Conclusion

The Bible leaves no doubt that **the interpretation of dreams belongs to God. Joseph confessed it, Daniel confirmed it, and the Scriptures consistently affirm that divine revelation comes from God rather than human intellect.

At the same time, believers are commanded to test the spirits (1 John 4:1), distinguish the Spirit of Truth from the spirit of error (1 John 4:6), and recognize that Satan disguises himself as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14–15). Consequently, every dream must be evaluated against the authority of God's Word.

My own experiences with dreams involving deceased relatives and friends strengthened this conviction. Rather than accepting those dreams at face value, Scripture provided the standard by which they could be tested. God's Word made it clear that communication with the dead is forbidden and inconsistent with His revealed truth. This illustrates the importance of allowing the Bible, not feelings, appearances, or human speculation, to govern the interpretation of spiritual experiences.

Therefore, Christians should neither fear dreams nor attempt to interpret them with their limited understanding of the principles concerning dreams. Instead, they should seek the Lord in prayer, rely upon the Scriptures, and trust the Holy Spirit—the Spirit of Truth to lead them into all truth.

Pastor Kevin L. A. Ewing 

www.kevinlaewing.com 

www.kevinlaewing.blogspot.com 

ewinglakevin@icloud.com

 

 

God Prepares His Servants Before Promoting Them.

"What the enemy intends for destruction, God can transform into preparation." There are seasons in life when it seems as though God has forgotten His children. Doors close without explanation. Relationships are broken. Injustice appears to prevail, and years pass without understanding why God would allow such painful experiences. Yet throughout Scripture, God reveals a profound truth: **He often prepares His servants in hidden places before He promotes them to public places.** No biblical example illustrates this truth more clearly than the life of Joseph. Joseph was the beloved son of Jacob, and from an early age, God revealed through dreams that he would one day be elevated above his brothers (Genesis 37:5–11). Instead of rejoicing, his brothers became consumed with jealousy. They stripped him of his special coat, threw him into a pit, and sold him as a slave to traders traveling to Egypt (Genesis 37:23–28). To their father, they made it appear that Joseph had been killed by a wild animal (Genesis 37:31–35). From a human perspective, Joseph's dreams seemed destroyed. In Egypt, Joseph was purchased by Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh. Although he had every reason to become bitter, Joseph remained faithful to God. The Lord blessed the work of his hands, and he eventually became overseer of Potiphar's household (Genesis 39:1–6). Then another injustice occurred. Potiphar's wife repeatedly tried to seduce Joseph, but he refused, saying: "How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?" (Genesis 39:9) When Joseph fled from temptation, she falsely accused him of assault. Without a fair hearing, Joseph was thrown into prison (Genesis 39:7–20). Again, his circumstances seemed to move farther away from God's promises. Yet even in prison, **"the LORD was with Joseph"** (Genesis 39:21). God gave him favor with the prison keeper, and Joseph was entrusted with responsibility over the other prisoners (Genesis 39:22–23). Instead of wasting his suffering, Joseph continued serving faithfully. While imprisoned, Joseph interpreted the dreams of Pharaoh's chief cupbearer and chief baker, giving glory to God by declaring: "Do not interpretations belong to God?" (Genesis 40:8) Exactly as Joseph said, the cupbearer was restored, and the baker was executed (Genesis 40:20–22). Yet the restored cupbearer forgot Joseph, leaving him in prison for two more years (Genesis 40:23; 41:1). Even then, God had not forgotten him. When Pharaoh dreamed troubling dreams that none of Egypt's wise men could interpret, the cupbearer finally remembered Joseph (Genesis 41:9–13). Joseph was brought before Pharaoh, and once again he pointed away from himself: "It is not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace." (Genesis 41:16) Joseph interpreted Pharaoh's dreams as seven years of abundance followed by seven years of famine (Genesis 41:25–32). He also proposed a wise plan to preserve food during the years of plenty. Recognizing that God's wisdom was upon Joseph, Pharaoh elevated him from prisoner to governor over all Egypt in a single day: "See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt." (Genesis 41:41) Joseph's promotion was not accidental. The pit taught him humility. Slavery taught him service. Potiphar's house taught him leadership. Temptation taught him integrity. Prison taught him patience. The dreams taught him to depend on God. Every painful season became preparation for the position God had already planned. Years later, Joseph's brothers came to Egypt seeking food during the famine. They stood before the brother they had betrayed, not recognizing him (Genesis 42). Joseph had the authority to punish them, imprison them, or even seek revenge. Instead, after revealing his identity, he spoke words that continue to comfort believers today: "But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save many people." (Genesis 50:20) Joseph saw beyond the betrayal. He understood that although his brothers were responsible for their actions, God had been working sovereignly through every trial to position him so he could preserve many lives—including the very family that had wronged him. Joseph chose forgiveness because he saw God's hand behind the pain. His story reminds us that our greatest disappointments may become God's greatest appointments. As I reflect upon my own life, I see a similar lesson. Earlier in my life, I became involved with two ladies at separate periods in my life who, unbeknownst to me, practiced witchcraft and placed love spells upon me with the intention of ultimately destroying my life. At the time, I did not understand what was happening. I only knew that I was living through confusion, spiritual oppression, deep depression, emotional pain, unexplained fear, and circumstances that I could not explain. Looking back, I now see those years differently. While I do not believe God was the author of evil, I believe He remained sovereign throughout the entire ordeal. Just as He never abandoned Joseph in the pit, the prison, or the palace, I know for certain He never abandoned me. Rather than allowing bitterness to take root, I have chosen not to hate those ladies. Instead, I see that even those painful experiences have become part of my preparation. They awakened me to spiritual realities. They drove me deeper into the Scriptures. They increased my dependence upon God. They gave me compassion for people who feel trapped, confused, or spiritually oppressed, like I once was. Most importantly, they prepared me for a ministry of helping others find freedom through the truth of God's Word and embracing the reality of the spiritual realm. Jesus said: "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." (John 8:32) Today, my desire is not to magnify darkness but to magnify the power of God to deliver, heal, restore, and redeem. Just as Joseph used his God-given wisdom to preserve lives during a famine, I pray that God will use my experiences to point others toward the freedom, hope, and victory found in Jesus Christ. Joseph's life teaches us that promotion is not merely receiving a higher position; it is becoming the kind of person who can faithfully carry greater responsibility. Before God entrusts His servants with influence, He often develops their character through hardship. The pit was not Joseph's destination. The prison was not Joseph's destiny. Both were classrooms where God prepared him for the palace. May we remember that when we cannot understand our circumstances, we can still trust the One who is writing our story. If we remain faithful, God can use even the darkest chapters of our lives to accomplish His purposes and bring blessing to others. For the God who prepared Joseph is the same God who continues to prepare His servants today. Pastor Kevin L. A. Ewing www.kevinlaewing.com www.kevinlaewing.blogspot.com ewinglakevin@icloud.com

Stop Fueling What's Fighting You

The best way to end anything is to starve its source of existence. To the average person, this may sound
strange or ineffective. However, if one views this strategy holistically from an everyday life perspective, it will all make sense. If a fish is removed from water, it dies. If we remove oxygen from a fire, it dies. If we remove fuel from an engine, it dies. And if we deprive a person of food, they will eventually die. In reality, whenever we cease to fuel the existence of anything, the basic and natural laws dictate that it must die.

The Bible, which most of you may know I refer to as the rule book, is littered with principles that will bring certain situations to an end or, at a minimum, frustrate their efforts. While these principles may initially seem to place the practitioner at a disadvantage, they establish a path to victory and a more peaceful life.

To better illustrate my point, I’d like to invite everyone to focus on Matthew 5:44, which says the following: "But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you." Again, on the surface, it would appear that this biblical principle for handling our enemies essentially asks us to be a doormat for them and offer no resistance or pushback to their attacks. This is usually the view when emotions and hurt are incorporated into the situation.

However, if we view the scripture mentioned above with wisdom and set our emotions aside, it will begin to make sense to us, leading us to approach situations with a long-term goal rather than a temporary fix that will eventually cause the issue to resurface. So, going back to my initial point, I said, "The best way to end anything is to starve its source of existence." In Matthew 5:44, Jesus is advising us not to retaliate when challenged by our enemies. In fact, He's commanding us to do the opposite of what our enemies are doing to us. While this may appear to be a weak move on the surface, taking the opposite position or refusing to retaliate is a subtle and effective way of disabling your enemy.

You might wonder how this method actually works. It's important to realize that your enemy often hopes you'll respond, because every retaliatory reply they get from you gives them more ammunition. They expect you to react so they can keep testing you. In truth, your responses show them that their actions are getting to you. Basically, by replying, you're giving them the satisfaction they're looking for, which only encourages their foolishness. Here is a more visual look at it. Let's say your enemy is fire, and you are water. Well, when your enemy curses you (fire), the way you extinguish their fire is by blessing them (water). If they are mean to you, you show them kindness, etc. Even if it doesn't seem to be working, continue doing the opposite or not responding at all; eventually, they will become frustrated and back off.

Let us look at some supporting scriptures to further prove my point:

Romans 12:14,19: "Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not." "Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord."

Luke 6:27-28: “But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.

1 Peter 3:9: Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.

Romans 12:20-21: To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Proverbs 25:21-22: If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink, for you will heap burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you.

1 Peter 2:23: When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.

Luke 6:34-35: And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.

1 Corinthians 4:12-13: and we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; when slandered, we entreat. We have become, and are still, like the scum of the world, the refuse of all things.

Exodus 23:4-5: “If you meet your enemy's ox or his donkey going astray, you shall bring it back to him. If you see the donkey of one who hates you lying down under its burden, you shall refrain from leaving him with it; you shall rescue it with him.

Proverbs 24:29: Do not say, “I will do to him as he has done to me; I will pay the man back for what he has done.”

Proverbs 20:22: Do not say, “I will repay evil”; wait for the Lord, and he will deliver you.

Romans 12:17: Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all.

Proverbs 24:17-19: Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles, lest the Lord see it and be displeased, and turn away his anger from him. Fret not yourself because of evildoers, and be not envious of the wicked,

1 Thessalonians 5:15: See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone.

As you have read, the Bible is filled with principles and rules to extinguish the flames of our enemies. The common denominator for those who adhere to scripture is that we do not fuel the fires of our enemies. We must not do so, nor allow anyone to encourage us to do so, because we will be in direct violation of the scriptures.

Again, as I would have said before, the best way to end anything is to starve its source. Stop feeding your enemy's attacks. If you want your enemies to stop, then either stop responding to them or respond according to the word of God. As Believers in Jesus Christ, we are to uphold the rules of scripture rather than our emotions.

Kevin L. A Ewing
ewinglakevin@icloud.com
kevinlaewing.blogspot.com
www.kevinlaewing.com