"The Miracle of the Few"

Having Your Vision Adjusted

Many people cannot receive provision because of the vision they have.  In II Kings the fourth chapter, there was a woman who cried to the prophet Elisha and said, "the creditor has come to take unto him my two sons to be bondmen.”  People often focus on the problem, magnifying what they don't have, or what they only have.  I call this the  "Only Syndrome."

One of the first steps to receiving the provision you need is to check your vision.  Does it need adjusting?  Do you have the right vision?  Is your vision God inspired?

I have listened to many people explain their vision and talk about their plans.  As I’ve evaluated what they’ve said, the Holy Spirit helped me to see that people are not receiving a God inspired vision.  During the time of sharing, they focus a lot on what they don't have.  Many repeat constantly "I don't have anything, except…"  While they are explaining their plan or vision. The words only and except are strongly emphasized.  

Before one can properly receive what God has for them, one must have his vision adjusted to see correctly.  They must see the right vision.   In (v.2), Elisha responds by asking the woman "What hast thou in the House?"

One of the many blessings in having the prophetic ministry near is it's ability to help adjust your vision (what you see), and it’s ability to help you to receive a God inspired vision (what you see).

How to interpret what you see is so very important, as it is directly connected to what you will receive.  "Where there is no vision, the people will perish…" (Prov. 29:18) But where there is a Holy Spirit inspired vision there is provision.  Elisha was taking this woman through the first step of having her vision adjusted.

Where There is Vision There is Provision

How we interpret what we see is very important.  If we don't have the Word of God, and those that He has set in office to help us, we might find ourselves living beneath what God has provided for us.  We may find ourselves with an inability to appropriate God’s promises and what He has specifically promised to us.  In (v.2) of II Kings Chapter 4, the woman replied by saying, "…thine handmaid hath not any thing in the house, save a pot of oil."  Her words tell us how she interpreted what she saw (her vision).    She needed help with interpreting what she saw.  The pot of oil she saw was not interpreted as provision, by her.  The reason she could not see provision was because of her mind set.  The man of God had to help (adjust) her to see (vision).  A good farmer looks at seed and sees multiplication.   After planting the seeds he expects a harvest.  Remember, "where there is vision there is provision".

Borrow Not a Few

“I only have a few…”, “I don't have anything except…”  seems to be the cry of many believers across this nation.  God is waiting to take the “few” that we have and perform a miracle, but the first step is adjusting your vision.  Elisha then gave the directive, “Go…"(v.3), after her vision had been adjusted.  What we may have considered "only a few",  or "nothing at all",  will then be visualized as a way for God to miraculously provide.  We must learn to take what we have and give it to God.  

The next step is to act according to what the Word of God says. (This includes acting according to what those who can hear from God say).  Elisha instructed the woman not to act according the "Only Syndrome," or the "Nothing Except" mind set.  He said, "borrow not a few…" (v.3).  Act according to God's ability to provide.  God can take one, two, or a few and perform a miracle.  We must allow our vision to become adjusted, if necessary.   We must see things as God sees them.  "Where there is a vision there is provision."  What do you have in your house?  Go, and expect from "Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think…"(Eph. 3:20).

By Dr. James D. Treadwell, Jr.

"Trust"

There is more than just saying you are a believer or a Christian.  How about being a Christian who "trusts" the Lord.  God and His Word are certainly trustworthy.  Wouldn't you say so?

Let's look at the definition of trust in this context:

Trust - Firm belief in the reliability (in God) and (on God).  Firm believe in truth, firm belief in ability; God's capability, Firm belief in the reliability of strength (God's).

Did you know that God is stronger than anything that comes up against you?   If you haven't been trusting God, I'd like to encourage you to start.  God can be trusted.  His word has been tried.  There are no failures or flaws in Him and He loves you so very much.

God is perfect.  His ways are perfect.  You can trust Him.

Say:  I trust in the Lord!  

It is important to say it to yourself over and over.  Sing it aloud.  Confess it with your mouth.  Think about it.  Meditate on these words:  "I Trust God".

In order for your heart to believe it, your mind must be renewed.  It can be difficult to believe something when our head is getting in the way.  When we cooperate with the renewing of the mind process it gets the head out of the way.

I don't care where you are in the battle, the truth is that God is still stronger.  I don't care how many circumstances you are facing in the battle, the truth is, God is in the battle with you and He is stronger.  That is a firm belief!

We must move into a revelation and workable knowledge of "trust".

Proverbs 3:5 - Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

Psalms 56:3-4 - What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.   

Psalms 13:5 - But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation.

Psalms 40:4 - Blessed [is] that man that maketh the LORD his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.

Isaiah 26:3-4 - Thou wilt keep [him] in perfect peace, [whose] mind [is] stayed [on thee]: because he trusteth in thee.  

Psalms 31:14-15 - But I trusted in thee, O LORD: I said, Thou [art] my God.  

Psalms 37:5 - Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring [it] to pass.

"Can Destiny Be Lost?"

                                                                                                           

There have been debates regarding fate and Destiny, but fate is unbiblical.  

Destiny - a pre-determined course and a pre-determined course of events considered.

Every person that is born has a God given Destiny.  One does not make his own Destiny.  These pre-determined events have been taken under consideration by God.

There is a predetermined appointment and destination, that is from God, for each and every one of us, but He also gave us the power of choice.

What makes it difficult for one to simply follow the pre-determined course is when you don't know what to to with your own will.  One might ask, "If my Destiny has been pre-determined, then, how do I choose?

Well, God has given us a will so that we can choose what He has pre-determined (the events, the path, the course).  

One must put forth an effort to fulfill Destiny.  A choice is made to fulfill Destiny.  Destiny is not determined in the classroom.  

Isaiah 48:3 

[3] I foretold  the former things long ago and they went forth out of my mouth, and I showed them; then suddenly I acted. 

God is watching over every word that He has announced  to make you who you are suppose to be.  What God announces, He does.  The announcement may be made centuries ahead if time, like in the case of the announcement of the coming of the Messiah.

Watch for instability, (a double mind).  That type mindset hinders the fulfillment of Destiny.

There are things about you that God has planned long ago, before you were born.   Stand on the foundation of faith that God has a plan for you and He is big enough, smart enough, mighty enough and strong enough, to make his plan come to pass on your behalf.

God announced your destiny, long before you made a decision that enabled you to wind up bound or under attack by the enemy.  He made the announcement and it still stands today.  God knew the choices you'd make before he made his announcement about you and He hasn't changed his mind. 

When you feel unworthy and not up to par, remember, you have a Destiny from God.  An announcement has been made.  Arise and fulfill your Destiny.  Choose to fulfill your Destiny.  Choose to believe that you can have every single pre-determined event happen on time, just as it should.

Thank God, He is the one who brings our Destiny to pass.

Destinies are revealed.  Destinies  do not come from what we do, they come from who we "be".  Your Destiny is not revealed in the "do" it is revealed from who you "be", then out if who you "be" you set out to "do".  This is why we are encouraged to be who we are, in Christ.  You came in the world with the reason you are alive.  

Likewise, the graveyard is filled with many people who have missed their Destiny.  King Uzziah missed his Destiny.  As one of the most prosperous and greatest King, whom God was with made choices that caused him to miss his Destiny.  

2 Chronicles 26:16-21 AMP

[16] But when King Uzziah was strong, he became proud to his destruction; and he trespassed against the Lord his God, for he went into the temple of the Lord to burn incense on the altar of incense. [17] And Azariah the priest went in after him and with him eighty priests of the Lord, men of courage. [18] They opposed King Uzziah and said to him, It is not for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the Lord, but for the priests, the sons of Aaron, who are set apart to burn incense. Withdraw from the sanctuary; you have trespassed, and that will not be to your credit and honor before the Lord God. [19] Then Uzziah was enraged, and he had a censer in his hand to burn incense. And while he was enraged with the priests, leprosy broke out on his forehead before the priests in the house of the Lord, beside the incense altar. [20] And as Azariah the chief priest and all the priests looked upon him, behold, he was leprous on his forehead! So they forced him out of there; and he also made haste to get out, because the Lord had smitten him. [21] And King Uzziah was a leper to the day of his death, and, being a leper, he dwelt in a separate house, for he was excluded from the Lord's house. 

King Solomon also missed his God given Destiny.  The man who had been called to rid Israel if Idolatry had become an Idolater.  He made a choice to appease 900 wives.

Choices made cause people to miss Destiny.  Yes, Destiny can be lost or missed.  Therefore. we must make a choice to fulfill our Destiny.

When we receive Kingdom perspectives, it gives us the ability to resist worldly perspectives.  God's word outlines God's perspective which is, most times, different from a secular perspective.  We must let the bible govern our decision making.  The Christian's perspective should always come from God and his word, with no exceptions.