Stewardship and Habit Force
Cosmic Habit Force: what to weave.
“ 3. Take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. Practice "threshold thinking": first-moment thinking. The exact moment you think something, try the spirits.
1 John 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. KJV
[*1 John 4.1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit but you must continually try the spirits to see if they are from God, because many false prophets have come out into the world.]
You're not supposed to try them by your friends or even by the pastor. You're supposed to try your thoughts by the word of God, and not even accept lying, tempting thoughts. Choose the truth until it becomes a way of life.
There's a difference between reading about something and doing it. Take riding a bicycle; you can read all about it, but it won't help until you actually get on a bicycle to ride it.
- Turn to God when you are having anxious thoughts.
Philippians 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
[*Philippians 4.6 And you must at no point be anxious about anything , but your requests must be quickly be made known to God in every prayer and entreaty, with thanksgiving.]
By doing so, you're acknowledging God and exposing the truth. Your doublemindedness can be resolved, but only if you look to God.
Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
[* 4.7 And the peace of God which surpasses all understanding will keep your hearts and your thoughts and purposes on Messiah Jesus.]
Pastor Thomas. Steps To Spiritual Freedom, Part 4: Winning The Battle For Your Mind. Sunday Morning Service, 10/25/09. www.pillars.net the *[ ] are not from the sermon directly they are a translation into from Greek to Hebrew to English. the source is noted at the bottom.
“Matthew 25:14-23 For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money. After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
If that is challenging to you, let me paraphrase it: It's all God's. ... Matthew 25:28-30
Mt 25:24 Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:
Mt 25:25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.
Mt 25:26 His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:
Mt 25:27 Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.
Mt 25:28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.
Mt 25:29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.
Mt 25:30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
What's Jesus referring to in verse 30? Hell. And what did he say to the other servants? Well done.
Saints, this is a kingdom principle. This matters so much; it's important that we get it right. If you struggle with giving; relax. I promise that I'm not going to pry anything out of your hand, your wallet, your checkbook. I have, on occasion in my years of ministry, refused a gift because I didn't believe that it was given in the right spirit. I don't want to have any part in that kind of giving.
We are stewards over what God owns; we don't own anything ourselves.”
Pastor Paine. Sunday Morning Service, 1/24/10. Message: Stewardship http://www.pillars.net/newsletter/service-notes/2010-01-24/stewardship
So far we have examined the topic of “every.” The word “Every” says a lot. “Every” little detail regarding stewardship of our lives was under the microscope for an instant. Now lets look at the even bigger picture:
On the subject of Jesus:
Da 2:35 Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.
The Stone mentioned in Daniel 2:35 IS Jesus. It is also noticable about Jesus:
Isa 9:7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.
That precept creates a concept The Founding Fathers, their Predicessors and their Children trust in this concept regarding Judges of the Law:
“The most natural moment for declaring the changes he proposed to effect occurred therefore at his entrance on the praetorship, and hence, when commencing his duties, he did openly and avowedly that which in the end his English representative does insensibly and sometimes unconsciously. The checks on this apparent liberty are precisely those imposed on an English judge. Theoretically there seems to be hardly any limit to the powers of either of them, but practically the Roman Praetor, no less than the English Chancellor, was kept within the narrowest bounds by the prepossessions imbibed from early training and by the strong restraints of professional opinion, restraints of which the stringency can only be appreciated by those who have personally experienced them. It may be added that the lines within which movement is permitted, and beyond which there is to be no travelling, were chalked with as much distinctness in the one case as in the other. In England the judge follows the analogies of reported decisions on insulated groups of facts. At Rome, as the intervention of the Praetor was at first dictated by simple concern for the safety of the state, it is likely that in the earliest times it was proportioned to the difficulty which it attempted to get rid of. Afterwards, when the taste for principle had been diffused by the Responses, he no doubt used the Edict as the means of giving a wider application to those fundamental principles, which he and the other practising jurisconsults, his contemporaries, believed themselves to have detected underlying the law. Latterly he acted wholly under the influence of Greek philosophical theories, which at once tempted him to advance and confined him to a particular course of progress.” Henry Maine. Ancient Law : Chapter 3. Law of Nature and Equity. http://avalon.law.yale.edu/19th_century/mainea03.asp
If taken in Context:
'We've got to set the standard. We've got to be the dedicated sons and daughters of God that he's called us to be. And God hasn't called us to do the impossible. If God told the woman "Go and sin no more," then it's possible. What makes it possible? A decision to keep our mind and soul in the truth, looking at God's word and studying it, doing those things that God wants us to do. If we're doing those things, then it's not possible for Satan to come in. But when we get away from those things, the longer we stay away, the easier it gets to stay away.
After Katrina and 9/11, people were crying out, "God, how could you let this happen?" But we told God to stay out of our schools, our government, our houses, and then when he does, we ask "God, why did you do it?"' Pastor Thomas. Is that for sale?. Message. 2009 11/15/09. www.mychristianfellowship.org
When the founding Fathers realized too much burden was on too few men (in most cases the King of England alone) and not enough burden was being Given to God in Jesus name they diffused the bombshell threatening to create Anarchy in the North American Continent. They whent to the source of all power and asked for direction. Not Once. Not twice. But for their entire lives. And the entire Revolutionary War was a begging procedure for them.
In the Federal Convention Mr. Sherman is recorded as saying:
“In this situation of this Assembly, groping as it were in the dark to find political truth, and scarce able to distinguish it when presented to us, how has it happened, Sir, that we have not hitherto once thought of humbly applying to the Father of lights to illuminate our understandings? In the beginning of the Contest with G. Britain, when we were sensible of danger we had daily prayer in this room for the divine protection.- Our prayers, Sir, were heard, & they were graciously answered. All of us who were engaged in the struggle must have observed frequent instances of a superintending providence in our favor. To that kind providence we owe this happy opportunity of consulting in peace on the means of establishing our future national felicity. And have we now forgotten that powerful friend? or do we imagine that we no longer need his assistance? I have lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth- that God Governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid? We have been assured, Sir, in the sacred writings, that "except the Lord build the House they labour in vain that build it." I firmly believe this; and I also believe that without his concurring aid we shall succeed in this political building no better, than the Builders of Babel: We shall be divided by our little partial local interests; our projects will be confounded, and we ourselves shall become a reproach and bye word down to future ages. And what is worse, mankind may hereafter from this unfortunate instance, despair of establishing Governments by Human wisdom and leave it to chance, war and conquest. I therefore beg leave to move-that henceforth prayers imploring the assistance of Heaven, and its blessings on our deliberations, be held in this Assembly every morning before we proceed to business, and that one or more of the Clergy of this City be requested to officiate in that Service-” Mr. Sherman. Madison debates. http://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/debates_628.asp
The Rest of the men in the room including Madison concurred. As do the Christians of today. It is Man somewhat understanding Christs will that give the USA an appearance of Peacful Anarchy at this time. Never Limit yourself or another person:
“THE ONE WHO TRIES TO GET SOMETHING FOR NOTHING GENERALLY WINDS UP GETTING NOTHING FOR SOMETHING.
Those who think they can get by in life without providing the same amount of value for value received will eventually find themselves working harder than ever to deceive others and receiving very little in return. Life has a funny way of evening the score. In the long run, you will get in the same measure you give. Spend your time on productive, positive efforts; give generously of your time and talents, and you will stand out from the great multitudes whose primary goal in life seems to be to get something for nothing.
MOST FAILURES COULD HAVE BEEN CONVERTED INTO SUCCESSES IF SOMEONE HAD HELD ON ANOTHER MINUTE OR MADE MORE EFFORT.
When you have the potential for success within you, adversity and temporary defeat only help you prepare to reach great heights of success. Without adversity, you would never develop the qualities of reliability, loyalty, humility, and perseverance that are so essential to enduring success. Many people have escaped the jaws of defeat and achieved great victories because they would not allow themselves to fail. When your escape routes are all closed, you will be surprised how quickly you will find the path to success.” Napoleon Hill Foundation. Jan 27, Jan 25: 2010. www.naphill.org
Christians in America musn't give up on people. Napoleon Hill described the concept of Cosmic Habit Force. We will get into that concept now. Just make it a Habit to not give up. Jesus will do the rest.
Having said all the above and regarding the Cosmic Habit Force we must keep in mind: " 'Habit is a cable; we weave a thread of it every day, and at last we cannot break it.' Horace Mann. So we come now to the analysis of the greatest of all natures laws the law of Cosmic Habit Force!
Briefly described , the law of Cosmic Habit Force is natures method of giving fixation to all habits so that they may carry on automatically once they have been set into motion--The habits of men the same as the habits of the universe...The Five known realities of the universe are: (1) Time, (2) Space, (3) Energy, (4) Matter, and (5) Intelligence, Which shapes the other known realities in orderliness and systems based upon Fixed Habits.
These are Natures building-blocks with which she creates a grain of sand or the largest stars that float through space, and every other thing kown to man, or that the mind of man can conceive."
"Cosmic Habitforce is the principle by which all habits are fixed and made permanent in varying degrees."
There is a lot to this Chapter on Cosmic Habit Force by Napoleon Hill. Lets look at his Summary regarding Cosmic Habit Force so we can see How to be stewards of it properly:
"The 'success' side of the River --the positive--fixes all constructive habits, such as the habit of Definteness of Purpose, The habit of applying the Golden Rule in human relationships, and all the other habits which one must apply in order to get the benefits of the sixteen principles of this philosophy."
Napoleon Hill. the Master Key to Riches. ISBN 0-449-21350-1. Ballantine Books. New York. Copyright 1965. Published by Random house Publishing Group. pp 141, 152, 153.
"Just Make Sure of this Saints: That your treasure in heaven is bigger than your treasure on Earth. Amen?" Jan 24, 2010 Pastor Peter F. Paine. www.mychristianfellowship.org > Services > STEWARDSHIP PT 1: MAKING A DIFFERENCE. (verbal recording) Just after Time: 50:36.
2Corintians 9:6 ¶ But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. 2Corintians 9:7 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 Corintians 9.6 And this, the one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly and the one who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully 7. Each just as he chose in his heart, not reluctantly or from compulsion: for God loves a cheerful giver,
“HUMAN FAULTS ARE LIKE GARDEN WEEDS. THEY GROW WITHOUT CULTIVATION AND SOON TAKE OVER THE PLACE IF THEY ARENT THINNED OUT. Habits are formed so slowly that most of us dont realize what is happening until the habits are too strongly entrenched to be broken. Seldom can one pattern of behavior be eliminated without replacing it with another. It has been said that nature abhors a vacuum and will always find something to fill a void. The best way to thin out the "weeds," or faults in your character, is to identify those traits with which you are dissatisfied and replace them with their positive counterparts. If you have a tendency to lose your temper, for example, find a replacement for your anger. Neutralize it with a positive expression or affirmation such as, No one can make me angry unless I let them. I will not let anyone else control my emotions.” Napoleon Hill Foundation. Thought for the Day. February 3, 2010
As a Final note to this particular Chapter: It should be noted God will create strength in the Habits we create. He strengthens them and allows us to Strengthen them. As a team with God as the Pilot we must strengthen them in such a way that talents we are careful to increase fit his criteria. This will give us treasure in Heaven and make us proper Stewards.
The * are from William J. Morford.The Power New Testament. Third edition. Copyright 2003 Reverend William J. Morford. Phn 803-731-7776. www.thepowernewtestament.com
