Silver & Gold Have I None
 

Just a thought that crossed my mind during the sermon yesterday morning.

As they approached the Gate called Beautiful there he was again. The same man that had been there for decades begging alms. When they neared where he sat this time they realized that they had nothing to give him. They checked each possible place where a spare coin might be and nothing.

So they uttered the words that translate to "Silver & Gold have I none... but such as I have give I thee".

I wonder if, on that day, they had some change in their pockets if the lame man would have remained lame but with a few more coins in his hand? Was it the realization that they had nothing to give what triggered the additional realization that they knew someone who did?

Sometimes it's when we're down to nothing left to give (not just financially but in many other possible ways as well) that we see most clearly that there is a bigger hand than ours.

Sometimes when we're at a loss as to what we could offer that we best realize that there is one that can help beyond all of our ability.

Sometimes I wonder if our plenty is complicit in our occasional failure to realize there is more that can be done than a bandage here or there. There is a healing that can be had rather than just another help to make it through another day.

Lord let these words speak to me as I strive to learn to offer people more than what I can do... but offer them what you can do as well. My helps are temporary and only give another moments hope. Your helps are permanent and life changing.

Help me remember that what I have isn't the total measure of what we can offer people. And help me realize it even in plenty and not have to wait until I have nothing left to give to have my eyes opened to what you can do in a persons life.

Re: Silver & Gold Have I None
 

Very good post. The other thing in this message is this. The apostles passed him by all their lives and saw him there. So did Jesus during his ministry because he too went through that gate many times.
It shows how God is always on time and in his time to do all things. We on the other hand need to wait after we have believed him through faith.

The second revelation here is this: You can tell these men are pentecostal preachers because they don't have any money. No!~ just joking:

Re: Silver & Gold Have I None
 

Austin, I found that to be funny. Your point was good, but I will be hung on the second one for days.

Re: Silver & Gold Have I None
 

Great thought...

And then a funny one. :)

Re: Silver & Gold Have I None
 

Thanks I didn't mean it to be mean and not making fun of pentecostal preachers for I have many that are my true friends. I just know how hard it is for them to get the sanctified saints who don't want to sin but be holy, to give of their finances.
A lot of my preacher friends never have money because they are always giving it to some else.
Anyway that was my point. I certainly believe when we give from our heart freely the Lord Jesus will give back multiplied that same seed sown. Praise His name!

Re: Silver & Gold Have I None
 

As a preacher's son, I know that is often the case for pastors of small churches. That is why I found it funny. No insult taken.

There is perhaps another thought to go with it. Is it possible that we put our trust in money more than in the power of God. It seems that we had more power in the Spirit before we had money.

Re: Silver & Gold Have I None
 

Good post digging4truth.

Your post just reminded me about this 88-year-old lady, who all she wants is a visit from someone. She is a shut-in at the nursing home. I need to go and visit her.

Re: Silver & Gold Have I None
 

Wow... that would be so fantastic to know that you went and gave her a visit. I pray that your visit is an immense blessing to both of you and that you find it something that you do on a regular basis.

Blessings to you my friend.

:thumbsup

Re: Silver & Gold Have I None
 

I think when we were poorer we were in a more humble state of mind in reflection to Jesus and the world around us, and our trust was more in him which brought us closer to him through prayer and fasting and meditation in his word.
However, we need to learn to be that way even if we were millionaires. Solomon and David, and Abraham, and Job, were all blessed of God in wealth. It was not the wealth that caused their problems it was their stability in fellowship with the Lord.
It is commanded in the bible to help the poor and needy, we can't do that if we don't have any means to do it with.
Many Christians take the finical blessing of the Lord the wrong way. Money was never meant to be hoared up. It was meant to flow through us to others, that is the way it works. Having all sufficiently in all things that we might bless others.
We need to learn how to let God bless us financially but also show us how not to love money but allow it to flow through us to help others. Then we will be like the ox that treads down the corn.

Re: Silver & Gold Have I None
 

When I first started out that's what I did. Saw a miracle of healing as a result. An elderly lady who had not walked for years. I prayed for her as I was instructed to do so by the Lord's direction. The next day she was out in the hallway walking. It scared the staff. When I heard i returned to the Nursing Home to visit her. The staff would not talk to me they just stared.\
Several weeks later this lady went home to be with the Lord.
There is a great reward in visiting the ones who have been left behind by their families or have no family at all.

Re: Silver & Gold Have I None
 

So true.

Re: Silver & Gold Have I None
 

It is hard to let money flow through us to others who need it when the men at the top demand that it all just flow into the building of buildings and their own bank accounts.

How many poor and needy could we really help if churches weren't buried up to the chin in mortgages and such?

Re: Silver & Gold Have I None
 

Good testimony Austin.

I was thinking as I read diggin4truth's post was that giving doesn't always mean financial giving. Money does not mean that much to an old lady who lives in a nursing home. And surely the legal tender we currently exchange with is not real money, but a fiat system that is not stable.

Heh. I would have loved to be a fly on the wall to hear what the nursing home staff was saying about the whole scenario. :heeheehee

Re: Silver & Gold Have I None
 

If they would build large buildings instead of beautiful building for the sake of human pride they would not be in debt and yes there would be money to help in a lot of areas, especially the mission fields where most of those poor saints are doing without in commitment to their faith.

Re: Silver & Gold Have I None
 

It's been many years ago but I still remember what they thought. One of the lady nurses was a member of the First Street Southern Baptist Church in Evansville Indiana. The church this catholic boy got saved in while under the preaching of a real man of God from Tennessee, Rev. Lloyd Bromwell. That by the way was in 1972, on a Monday night at 8:43 PM down at an altar that hadn't been used for years.
Later when I was filled with the Holy Ghost I left that church and only went back to visit because I really loved many of the believers there and I know for a certainty they loved Jesus as well.
Any how back to the what did they think. Well I was told later by some person who was around them a lot that they thought that I was demon possessed and all that was an act of the devil to deceive people. They believed this because they were taught that the Pentecostals were of the devil and maintained a demonic doctrine.
it was kind of like the same thing that happened to Jesus when he healed and the local church accused him of doing it through the prince of darkness.
Those were great days when it seemed everyone was so on fire for the Lord and believe God in everything they did. There was no limit to what faith could do.

Re: Silver & Gold Have I None
 

Do you still have Catholic family? What do they think about your infilling of the Holy Ghost?

One member of my family made fun of "speaking in tongues" to my face. She spouted a bunch of gibberish then told me to "interpret that"!

She is quite ignorant to say the least about the function of the Holy Ghost but then my Catholic upbringing never really taught me about the Holy Ghost. I never knew about the indwelling until I went to a Pentecostal Church.

Yes...the 70s and early 80s were the good days.

Re: Silver & Gold Have I None
 

Those were the good days, then.

This day and this time are greater yet.

I believe we are about to tap into the
supernatural realm of God in ways that
are going to blow our minds (and the
world's), with awe!

Can't you feel the stirring? :)

Re: Silver & Gold Have I None
 

As a boy I grew up without a father and not even knowing who my father was. My mother was a lady of the world and not religious in any sense.I was 15 when I ran away from home and left the Catholic church.
It wasn't until I was 23 years of age that I was saved and filled with the Holy Ghost.
Now later in years I had the chance to witness to some of my friends whom I grew up with. Also I got to witness to my school principle and his wife who were also catholic.
Another thing was I spoke to a lady that I knew as a child who had a Methodist youth group in the small coal mining community which I was raised in. I had went to that group many times as a child and also a few times attended the church, which was in those days a forbidden thing in the catholic church.[ I should say, The Roman Catholic Church ]
I think this is where I saw people going to an altar to be saved and that is why years later when I was in this baptist church I went down to their altar and knelt there when I received Christ as my savior.
It was and has been my experience with catholics that they are very confident in their belief. Most of it is indoctrination into the order of the church organization then it is in following the simple truths of the bible.
Most catholics believe what their church had taught and have not gone into the catholic encyclopedias on the doctrines and beliefs of the church. If they would read those things and compare them with the bible they might have an awakening.

Re: Silver & Gold Have I None
 

I m in agreement with your thoughts. Today is a greater day in the Lord. I believe by what I have witnessed that Jesus has given to the true believers a deeper understanding of his truth and his will in the earth.
I believe that he has done this and will continue because we have entered into a period in time that I believe is the latter end of the age for all of mankind.
I believe there will come a period in time on this earth that the body of Christ will have to operate in total faith and in the power of His might to survive the things which are coming. We must also put Great emphasises on the blood of Christ and our witness in Him and his abilities through us.
Yes! it is one of the greatest times ever.:icecream