Prosperity comes from Jehovah

TUESDAY JULY 16 - 22, 2013 “Prosperity comes from Jehovah” Psalms 127:1-2 This is a psalm written by David to his son Salomon in whom he was rejoiced. For David, in his old age, Salomon was his rest. David was no longer anxious because now he could rest in peace regarding his desire to raise a house for God. Now it was up to Salomon to build the temple for the Jewish nation. For David the new temple was the hope for the people to seek God more and fear Him. Now all who lived in Israel would come to love God even more. That was David’s illusion and even God Himself who wanted this nation to serve and love Him. With the new and beautiful House of God all could have peace, be a stable nation, the enemies would yield, there would be prosperity and abundance of God, they would have the rain from God, a fertile land, and they would certainly have for them the land that flows milk and honey. Now everything that God intended since the beginning for His beloved nation would be fulfilled. David knew God, well he lived close to Him in communion. David knew that there was much to gain with God in his favor. “Unless the Lord builds the house, its builder labors in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain.” The words “in vain” are the key here in this psalm and that is why it resounds three times. As a result of this phrase let us understand today that all those who intend to “build house”, that is: they want a ministry, to go to a mission, teach, serve as a deacon, be a musician, pastor, be an elderly, leader, have a family, children, etc., remember this well, if Jehovah is not with those who think and desire this, their plans will end in great failure. Although you make a great effort, a lot of work, your abilities and your strength to edify, in spite of all, it could be worthless if Jehovah is not with you. Then your plans will end in great failure. Therefore, let’s be vigilant and struggle to have a narrow communion with God so that God will be the one to edify our house and then we will not have to be watchful or work in vain. Do you remember the construction of the tower of Babel (Genesis 11:1-7) when those men wanted to build a city and a tower with the peak that would reach Heaven? God, who looks and walks the earth He created, always searches to acknowledge the intention of men. God saw a great deal of effort, but not for Him as the Creator, but rather for pride, satisfaction and vanity on their behalf. Nothing was for God; God was not considered there, so God saw all that effort as something vain. What does God do when he observes in men pure vanity? The Lord made those men swallow their words and said: “Let us descend and confuse their tongue!” They seemed to have “good intentions”, but there is always vanity behind “those good intentions”! The hammer and the saw are vain instruments unless the Lord is “the constructor.” Do you want to be a preacher? Do you want to teach and do other things in the Lord? If Jehovah is not present, your actions will be in vain, because it will be more for vanity than to do good for the Lord. We should see how it is we edify, let us be assured that our intentions will be pleasant for God and not only for us. If Jehovah does not edify, our work will be in vain. It is very true that unless God’s good hand is upon us we will not be able to build in a prosperous manner a house for His name. Because it is logical that what we seek to edify is to worship His name and for His glory, not for our glory. Unless we have His blessing, it will not be possible to erect a comfortable house in which God will also dwell. And if His blessing is not upon our children, in our homes in order for our families to be edified, well, instead of being God’s house it will be Satan’s synagogue. The marriages that are not under God’s blessing cannot be a blessing to others. It is more useful and effective when the Lord Himself is the builder and guardian. This does not mean that we must stop doing or working in what needs to be done; we all have to do, but, with the blessing, approval and care from God. The Holy Spirit is not a master to manage lazy and indolent men but rather He is a master who guides those who work counting on God’s providence and power. We have seen God’s powerful hand in our favor in the bad moments, as well as when we have felt terror, illness, problems, when someone is lying about us, when our enemies harass and want to harm us. Are we to forget now our powerful friend and assistant or do we want to think that we no longer need His help? I, the pastor of Mega Zoe, have lived 54 years, much, and the more I live the more I am convinced of this truth due to the many unquestionable trials in which I see that God governs in the affairs of men. If the sparrow does not fall on the ground without him noticing, neither will a nation be able to rise without his help. IF THE LORD DOES NOT BUILD THE HOUSE, ITS BUILDERS LABOR IN VAIN. This I firmly believe. If we do not believe that God’s hand has to mediate first in everything we do, then what happened with those of the tower of Babel will happen to us; our heart will be divided between God and our small interests and this way we will fail confusing the perspectives of our Christian life. If the Lord does not watch over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain. It is not that we cease to watch over the city. It is that we have to trust Jehovah and watch with our sword in hand. This way we will always have God in our favor, He will work in us, He will care for us and His will accomplished. This way and only this way we will conquer and will be blessed by the Almighty God who is always present for His people. Amen.