I think this is a very misunderstood verse by many. I read it more like:
'Since the LORD is my shepherd what else could I possibly want that compares with Him!"
I think this ties in nicely with Philippians 4:
"Rejoice in union with the Lord always! I will say it again: rejoice!"........I have learned to be content regardless of circumstances. I know what it is to be in want, and I know what it is to have more than enough - in everything and in every way I have learned the secret of being full and being hungry, of having abundance and being in need."
**IS THE PROSPERITY GOSPEL SATANIC? *ARE THERE MANY **ETERNAL HEAVENLY REWARDS** FOR FAITHFUL AND LOVING SERVICE!**?
Prosperity theology (sometimes referred to as the prosperity gospel, the health and wealth gospel, the gospel of success, or seed faith} is a religious belief among some, who hold that financial blessing and physical well-being are always the will of God for them, and that faith, positive speech, and donations to religious causes will increase one's material wealth. Prosperity theology views the Bible as a contract between God and humans: if humans have good faith in God, He will always deliver security and **PROSPERITY**.
**BUT WHAT DOES GOD'S WORD SAY**??
Acts 4:32: All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but **THEY SHARED **EVERYTHING** THEY HAD**!!
Acts 2:44,45: All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to everyone who had need!
Luke 18:20-25: Jesus said to the rich man, "You still lack one thing. Sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have **TREASURE IN HEAVEN**. Then come, **FOLLOW ME**. When he heard this he became very sad, because he was very wealthy. Jesus looked at him and said, "How hard it is for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God! Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle then for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God!"
NOTE: In addition to eternal life Jesus also promised the rich man **ETERNAL TREASURES IN HEAVEN**!!
**JESUS PROMISES **ETERNAL REWARDS** OR **TREASURES IN HEAVEN**, NOT EARTHLY REWARDS, FOR HELPING OR SHARING WITH THE POOR AND NEEDY** AND ALL OTHER GOOD DEEDS!!
Matthew 6:1-4; 19-21: Jesus says, "When you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and the streets, to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret will **REWARD** you!"... "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth where moth and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves **TREASURES IN HEAVEN**, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. For where your **TREASURE** is, there your **HEART** will be also!"
I Timothy 6:5-10 There are people of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to **FINANCIAL GAIN**. {Like the Prosperity Gospel of Joel Osteen and Joyce Meyer} But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing in the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, **WE WILL BE CONTENT WITH THAT**. Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the **LOVE OF MONEY** is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs!
I John 2:15-17: Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world. love for the Father **IS NOT IN THEM**. For everything in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever!
James 2:5-7: Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be **RICH IN FAITH** and to inherit the kingdom He promised to those who love Him? But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you! Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? Are the not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of Him to whom you belong?
James 5:1-5: Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming on you. Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the Last Days. Look!! The wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter. You have condemned and murdered the innocent one, who was not opposing you!
I Timothy 2:9,10: I also want women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, adorning themselves, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God!
Hebrews 13:5: Keep your lives free from the love of money and **BE CONTENT WITH WHAT YOU HAVE**, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you!"
Luke 16:13: Jesus says, "No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money!"
2 Corinthians 6:10: We are poor, yet making many rich; having nothing and yet **POSSESSING EVERYTHING**!
2 Timothy 3:1,2,5: But mark this. There will be terrible tines in the last days. People will lovers of themselves, **LOVERS OF MONEY**.... lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God--having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people!
I Timothy 6:17-19: Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be **GENEROUS AND WILLING TO SHARE**. In this way they will lay up **TREASURE** for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, do that they may take hold of life that is truly life!
Luke 14:33,34: Jesus says, "When you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be **BLESSED**! Although they cannot repay you, you will be **REPAID AT THE RESURRECTION** of the righteous!"
Romans 12:13: Share with the Lord's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
Ephesians 4:28: Work, doing something useful with your hands, so that you have **SOMETHING TO SHARE** with those in need! {**TO EARN ETERNAL HEAVENLY REWARDS AND NOT TO BECCOME PROSPEROUS**!!}
Acts 2:44,45: All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need!
Acts 4:32: All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but **THEY SHARED **EVERYTHING** THEY HAD**!!
Luke 3:11: Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same!
Luke 6:29,30,35,36: Jesus says, "If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. Give to anyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back... Love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting anything back. Then your **REWARD WILL BE GREAT**, and you will be children of the Most High, because He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful. just as your Father is merciful!"
Romans 12:20,21: If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink... Do not be overcome by evil, but **OVERCOME EVIL WITH GOOD**!
Revelation 22:12 Jesus says, “Behold I am coming soon! My **REWARD** is **WITH ME**, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done!”
Matthew 16:27: Jesus says, “The Son of Man is going to come in His Father's glory with His angels and **THEN** He will **REWARD** each person according to what he has done!”
Luke 11:33,34: Jesus says, "Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a **TREASURE** IN HEAVEN** {Not Treasures on Earth} that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your **TREASURE** is, there your **HEART** will be also!"
I Corinthians 9:24-27: Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes in to strict training. They do it to get a **CROWN** that will not last; but we do it to get a **CROWN THAT WILL LAST FOREVER**! Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize!
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Hebrews 11:1,6: Now faith is being sure of what we **HOPE FOR**, and certain of what we **DO NOT SEE**.... And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He **REWARDS** those who earnestly seek Him!
Daniel 12:2,3: Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise and impart wisdom will shine like the brightness of the heavens and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for **EVER AND EVER**!
Matthew 5:11,12: Jesus says, “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your **REWARD IN HEAVEN**!”{Mot Rewards on Earth!}
Luke 6:22,23: Jesus says, "Blessed are you when people hate you, when they reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man. Rejoice in that day and **JUMP FOR JOY**, because great is your **REWARD IN HEAVEN**!" {Not Rewards on Earth!}
Oh my, poor p7744 just couldn't resist the temptation. He was doing so good - then BAM! Maybe he's doing the Texas two step; two steps forward one step back?
Gracenotworks, obviously in the context of sheep needing food, shelter, water, safety, peace, a leader and rest. I think the answer is found in relationship with the shepherd who has all these things physically and spiritually and is willing to share.
Think about this...I have...people are wired to worship...if they don't know God , then they will worship at rock concerts, sports arenas, etc...some, whether saved or unsaved,will worship their spouse, kids, cars, shopping expeditions..its easy to fall into idolotry. Some worship money, prestige , power. Especially rich people don't need God because they gained the world but who gave it to them? God...do they acknowledge him ? Most likely no.. The sins of sodom was fullness of bread. They didn't need God...The sexual peversions stemmed from that...sin begets sin...Only God can fill that longing, that void inside each of us . Only he is that peace we seek in our lives. He wants a relationship with us and comes to dwell or tabernacle with us when we trust the gospel and believe on him. The gospel can be found in 1 Corinthians 15 1-4
1 Corinthians 15 King James Version (KJV)
15 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
I won't post the rest because of the length but that should help.
See John 3:1-15, paying particular attention to verse 12. There are regrettably some things that our human minds can't quite wrap themselves around. For example the concept of "forever". We can barely fathom the idea of living "forever" forward, let alone forever past and future, the eternality of the Holy Trinity. Or for that matter the dimensions of space being "infinite" in EVERY direction . . . God knows what we need, we only think we do.
For example, if I may, a long time ago, my late mother and her sister ran as fast as they could to catch an inter-city bus to get home for the holidays. They missed it and had to wait a couple of hours for their next one. Lo and behold, along the way, they came across "the one that got away" only to discover that it had swerved to avoid a car, and ended up plummeting into a river ... no survivors.
From time to time, God, for whatever reason, will show us that what we thought was a disaster, is actually His saving hand.
**SAD**lup believes that we are saved because of righteous things we have done and our repentance from sin and obeying OT laws???
**BUT WHAT DOES GOD'S WORD SAY**??
Titus 3:3,4: At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and **LOVE** of God our Savior appeared , **HE SAVED US**, **NOT BECAUSE OF RIGHTEOUS THINGS WE HAD DONE**, but because of **HIS MERCY**!!
**FAITH** IS 100% FREE GIFT OF GOD**!!
Ephesians 2:8,9: For it is by **GRACE** you have been saved, through ***FAITH***—and this **NOT FROM YOURSELVES**, it is the **GIFT OF GOD**—not by works. So that no one can boast. For we are **GOD'S WORKMANSHIP**, created in Christ Jesus to do **GOOD WORKS**, which God prepared in advance for us to do!
Romans 3:21-25: But now a righteousness from God, **APART FROM THE LAW**, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes **THROUGH FAITH** in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by **HIS GRACE** through the **REDEMPTION** that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Him as a **SACRIFICE OF ATONEMENT**, **THROUGH FAITH IN HIS BLOOD**!! ( And our **FAITH** is a **FREE GIFT FROM GOD**!!}
Romans 12:3: For by the **GRACE GIVEN ME** I say to every one of you. Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourselves with sober judgment, in accordance with the ***FAITH*** GOD HAS DISTRIBUTED TO EACH OF YOU**... We have different gifts, according to the **GRACE GIVEN TO EACH OF US**!!
John 6:37,39,44,65: Jesus says, "**ALL** that the Father gives Me **WILL** come to Me, and whoever comes to Me I will **NEVER** drive away... And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that I shall **LOSE NONE** of all that He has given Me, but raise them up at the Last Day.... No one can come to Me **UNLESS** the Father who sent Me **DRAWS HIM**, and I will raise him up at the Last Day!!... No one can come to Me **UNLESS** the Father has **ENABLED THEM**!!"
I Peter 2:9: But you are a **CHOSEN PEOPLE**, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you might declare the praise of Him who **CALLED YOU** out of darkness into His wonderful light!!
Revelation 17:14: They will make war against the **LAMB** but the **LAMB** will overcome them because He is **LORD** of lords and **KING** of kings and with Him will be His **CALLED** **CHOSEN** and **FAITHFUL** followers!! {Riding on white horses right after the Marriage Feast of the **LAMB** as per Revelation 19:7-20!}
All of God's **CALLED ** **CHOSEN** AND **FAITHFUL** saints are eager to do **GOOD WORKS** with the hope of countless **ETERNAL HEAVEBLY REWARDS** for faithful and loving service!!
Matthew 16:27: Jesus says, " For the Son of Man is going to come in His Father's glory with His angels, and **THEN** He will **REWARD** everyone **ACCORDING TO WHAT THEY HAVE DONE**!"
Revelation 22:12: Jesus says, "Behold. I am coming soon. My **REWARD** is **WITH ME**, and I will give to everyone **ACCORDING TO WHAT THEY HAVE DONE**!!"
*SAD*LUP CONTINUALLY QUOTES THE MIDDLE OF THE VERSES IN 2 PETER 3:14-16 BELOW **OUT OF CONTEXT**
2 Peter 3:14-16: Bear in mind that our Lord's patience means salvation., just as our **DEAR BROTHER PAUL** also wrote **WITH THE WISDOM GOD GAVE HIM**. He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which unsound and unstable people {Like *SAD*lup and Teddy hugger} distort, as they do other Scriptures, to their **OWN DESTRUCTION**!!
*SAD*lup only quotes "His letters that are hard to understand." in 2 Peter 3:14-16 above???
Below are some Paul's inspired words with the **WISDOM GOD GAVE HIM** that unsound and unstable people {Like *SAD*lup} **DISTORT** as they do other Scriptures to **THEIR OWN DESTRUCTION**!!
Galatians 3:23-25: "Before faith came, we were held prisoners by the {**OT**} law, locked up until faith should be revealed. So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith. Now that faith has come, *WE* ARE NO LONGER UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF THE {**OT**} LAW!!"
*WE* ARE NO LONGER UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF THE LAW!!
Galatians 4:9,10: How is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable principles? Do you want to be enslaved by them all over again? You are observing **SPECIAL DAYS** and months and seasons and years. I fear for you. that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you!!
Colossians 2:16,17: Do dot let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard a special festival, a New Moon celebration or a **SABBATH DAY**! These are a **SHADOW** of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found **IN CHRIST**!!
Galatians 2:14-16,20,21; 3:2,5,10-13;23-25: Paul said, When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter in front of them all, "You are a Jew, yet you live like a Gentile and not like a Jew. How is it, then that you force Gentiles to follow Jewish customs? We who are Jews by birth and not 'Gentile sinners' know that a man is NOT justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because **BY OBSERVING THE LAW NO ONE WILL BE JUSTIFIED**!!
Galatians 2:20,21: The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!"
Galatians 3:10-13: "All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written "Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law." Clearly **NO ONE IS JUSTIFIED BEFORE GOD BY THE LAW*, because, "The righteous will live by faith." The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, "The man who does these things will live by them." Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us!
Galatians 3:23-25: "Before faith came, we were held prisoners by the law, locked up until faith should be revealed. So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith. Now that faith has come, *WE* ARE NO LONGER UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF THE LAW!!"
Hebrews 7:18,19: The former regulation is SET ASIDE because it was weak and useless; for the law made nothing perfect, and a **BETTER HOPE** is introduced, by which we draw near to God.!
Hebrews 8:8,9,13: "The time is coming." says the Lord, "when I will make a New Covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah".... By calling this Covenant "NEW", He has made the first one **OBSOLETE**; and what is OBSOLETE and aging will soon disappear."
Hebrews 8:6: But the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant of which He is Mediator is **SUPERIOR TO THE OLD ONE**, and it is founded on better promises.
I Corinthians 9:21: I am under **CHRIST'S LAW**!! Galatians 6:2: Fulfill the **LAW OF CHRIST**!!
