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GOSHEN SHALOM INTERNATIONAL MINISTRIES

INVESTMENTS THAT STAND THE TEST OF TIME PITFALLS WE SHOULD AVOID AND THE ATTRIBUTES WE NEED TO HAVE

Pastor Dullu Amos 2012

INVESTMENTS THAT STAND THE TEST OF TIME

MATTHEW 7:21-27………Not every one that saith unto me, Lord,

Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the

will of my Father which is in heaven.

22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not

prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in

thy name done many wonderful works?

23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart

from me, ye that work iniquity.

24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth

them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a

rock:

25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds

blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded

upon a rock.

26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth

them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house

upon the sand:

27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds

blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

LUKE 6: 46-49………And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not

the things which I say?

47 Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth

them, I will shew you to whom he is like:

48 He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid

the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat

vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was

founded upon a rock.

49 But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a

foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream

did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that

house was great.

EXPOSITION OF LUKE CHAPTER 6 VERSES 37-49:

All these sayings of Christ we had before in Matthew; some of them in Luke 7, others in

other places. They were sayings that Christ often used; they needed only to be mentioned, it

was easy to apply them. Grotius thinks that we need not be critical here in seeking for the

coherence: they are golden sentences, like Solomon's proverbs or parables. Let us observe

here,

I. We ought to be very candid in our censures of others, because we need grains of

allowance ourselves:

"Therefore judge not others, because then you yourselves shall not be judged; therefore

condemn not others, because then you yourselves shall not be condemned, Lu 6:37. Exercise

towards others that charity which thinks no evil, which bears all things, believes and hopes all

things; and then others will exercise that charity towards you. God will not judge and condemn

you, men will not." They that are merciful to other people's names shall find others merciful to

theirs.

II. If we are of a giving and a forgiving spirit, we shall ourselves reap the benefit of it:

Forgive and you shall be forgiven. If we forgive the injuries done to us by others, others will

forgive our inadvertencies. If we forgive others' trespasses against us, God will forgive our

trespasses against him. And he will be no less mindful of the liberal that devise liberal things

(Lu 6:38): Give, and it shall be given to you. God, in his providence, will recompense it to you;

it is lent to him, and he is not unrighteous to forget it (Heb 6:10), but he will pay it again. Men

shall return it into your bosom; for God often makes use of men as instruments, not only of

his avenging, but of his rewarding justice. If we in a right manner give to others when they

need, God will incline the hearts of others to give to us when we need, and to give liberally,

good measure pressed down and shaken together. They that sow plentifully shall reap

plentifully. Whom God recompenses he recompenses abundantly

III. We must expect to be dealt with ourselves as we deal with others: With the same

measure that ye mete it shall be measured to you again. Those that deal hardly with others

must acknowledge, as Adoni-bezek did (Jg 1:7), that God is righteous, if others deal hardly

with them, and they may expect to be paid in their own coin; but they that deal kindly with

others have reason to hope that, when they have occasion, God will raise them up friends who

will deal kindly with them. Though Providence does not always go by this rule, because the full

and exact retributions are reserved for another world, yet, ordinarily, it observes a proportion

sufficient to deter us from all acts of rigour and to encourage us in all acts of beneficence.

IV. Those who put themselves under the guidance of the ignorant and erroneous are

likely to perish with them (Lu 6:39): Can the blind lead the blind? Can the Pharisees, who are

blinded with pride, prejudice, and bigotry, lead the blind people into the right way? Shall not

both fall together into the ditch? How can they expect any other? Those that are led by the

common opinion, course, and custom, of this world, are themselves blind, and are led by the

blind, and will perish with the world that sits in darkness. Those that ignorantly, and at a

venture, follow the multitude to do evil, follow the blind in the broad way that leads the many

to destruction.

V. Christ's followers cannot expect better treatment in the world than their Master had, Lu

6:40. Let them not promise themselves more honour or pleasure in the world than Christ had,

nor aim at the worldly pomp and grandeur which he was never ambitious of, but always

declined, nor affect that power in secular things which he would not assume; but every one

that would show himself perfect, an established disciple, let him be as his Master--dead to the

world, and everything in it, as his Master is; let him live a life of labour and self-denial as his

Master doth, and make himself a servant of all; let him stoop, and let him toil, and do all the

good he can, and then he will be a complete disciple.

VI. Those who take upon them to rebuke and reform others are concerned to look to it

that they be themselves blameless, and harmless, and without rebuke, Lu 6:41,42.

1. Those with a very ill grace censure the faults of others who are not aware of their own

faults. It is very absurd for any to pretend to be so quick-sighted as to spy small faults in

others, like a mote in the eye, when they are themselves so perfectly past feeling as not to

perceive a beam in their own eye.

2. Those are altogether unfit to help to reform others whose reforming charity does not

begin at home. How canst thou offer thy service to thy brother, to pull out the mote from his

eye, which requires a good eye as well as a good hand, when thou thyself hast a beam in

thine own eye, and makest no complaint of it?

3. Those therefore who would be serviceable to the souls of others must first make it

appear that they are solicitous about their own souls. To help to pull the mote out of our

brother's eye is a good work, but then we must qualify ourselves for it by beginning with

ourselves; and our reforming our own lives may, by the influence of example, contribute to

others reforming theirs.

VII. We may expect that men's words and actions will be according as they are, according

as their hearts are, and according as their principles are.

1. The heart is the tree, and the words and actions are fruit according to the nature of the

tree, Lu 6:43,44. If a man be really a good man, if he have a principle of grace in his heart,

and the prevailing bent and bias of the soul be towards God and heaven, though perhaps he

may not abound in fruit, though some of his fruits be blasted, and though he may be

sometimes like a tree in winter, yet he does not bring forth corrupt fruit; though he may not

do you all the good he should, yet he will not in any material instance do you hurt. If he

cannot reform ill manners, he will not corrupt good manners. If the fruit that a man brings

forth be corrupt, if a man's devotion tend to debauch the mind and conversation, if a man's

conversation be vicious, if he be a drunkard or fornicator, if he be a swearer or liar, if he be in

any instance unjust or unnatural, his fruit is corrupt, and you may be sure that he is not a

good tree. On the other hand, a corrupt tree doth not bring forth good fruit, though it may

bring forth green leaves; for of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble do they gather

grapes. You may, if you please, stick figs upon thorns, and hang a bunch of grapes upon a

bramble, but they neither are, nor can be, the natural product of the trees; so neither can you

expect any good conduct from those who have justly a bad character. If the fruit be good, you

may conclude that the tree is so; if the conversation be holy, heavenly, and regular, though

you cannot infallibly know the heart, yet you may charitably hope that it is upright with God;

for every tree is known by its fruit. But the vile person will speak villany (Isa 32:6), and the

experience of the moderns herein agrees with the proverb of the ancients, that wickedness

proceedeth from the wicked, 1Sa 24:13.

2. The heart is the treasure, and the words and actions are the expenses or produce from

that treasure, Lu 6:45. This we had, Mt 12:34,35. The reigning love of God and Christ in the

heart denominates a man a good man; and it is a good treasure in the heart: it enriches a

man, it furnishes him with a good stock upon, for the benefit of others. Out of such a good

treasure a man may bring forth that which is good. But where the love of the world and the

flesh reign there is an evil treasure in the heart, out of which an evil man is continually

bringing forth that which is evil; and by what is brought forth you may know what is in the

heart, as you may know what is in the vessel, water or wine, by what is drawn out from it, Joh

2:8. Of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks; what the mouth ordinarily speaks,

speaks with relish and delight, generally agrees with what is innermost and uppermost in the

heart: He that speaks of the earth is earthly, Joh 3:31. Not but that a good man may possibly

drop a bad word, and a wicked man make use of a good word to serve a bad turn; but, for the

most part, the heart is as the words are, vain or serious; it therefore concerns us to get our

hearts filled, not only with good, but with abundance of it.

VIII. It is not enough to hear the sayings of Christ, but we must do them; not enough to

profess relation to him, as his servants, but we must make conscience of obeying him.

1. It is putting an affront upon him to call him Lord, Lord, as if we were wholly at his

command, and had devoted ourselves to his service, if we do not make conscience of

conforming to his will and serving the interests of his kingdom. We do but mock Christ, as they

that in scorn said, Hail, King of the Jews, if we call him ever so often Lord, Lord, and yet walk

in the way of our own hearts and in the sight of our own eyes. Why do we call him Lord, Lord,

in prayer (compare Mt 7:21,22), if we do not obey his commands? He that turns away his ear

from hearing the law, his prayer shall be an abomination.

2. It is putting a cheat upon ourselves if we think that a bare profession of religion will

save us, that hearing the sayings of Christ will bring us to heaven, without doing them. This he

illustrates by a similitude (Lu 6:47-49), which shows,

(1.) That those only make sure work for their souls and eternity, and take the course that

will stand them in stead in a trying time, who do not only come to Christ as his scholars, and

hear his sayings but do them, who think, and speak, and act, in everything according to the

established rules of his holy religion. They are like a house built on a rock. These are they that

take pains in religion, as they do that build on a rock,--that begin low, as they do,--that dig

deep, that found their hope upon Christ, who is the Rock of ages (and other foundation can no

man lay); these are they who provide for hereafter, who get ready for the worst, who lay up in

store a good foundation for the time to come, for the eternity to come, 1Ti 6:19. They who do

thus do well for themselves; for,

[i.] They shall keep their integrity, in times of temptation and persecution; when others fall

from their own stedfastness, as the seed on the stony ground, they shall stand fast in the Lord.

[ii.] They shall keep their comfort, and peace, and hope, and joy, in the midst of the

greatest distresses. The storms and streams of affliction shall not shock them, for their feet

are set upon a rock, a rock higher than they.

[iii.] Their everlasting welfare is secured. In death and judgment they are safe. Obedient

believers are kept by the power of Christ, through faith, unto salvation, and shall never perish.

(2.) That those who rest in a bare hearing of the sayings of Christ, and do not live up to

them, are but preparing for a fatal disappointment: He that heareth and doeth not (that knows

his duty, but lives in the neglect of it), he is like a man that built a house without a foundation.

He pleases himself with hopes that he has no ground for, and his hopes will fail him when he

most needs the comfort of them, and when he expects the crowning of them; when the

stream beats vehemently upon his house, it is gone, the sand it is built upon is washed away,

and immediately it falls, Such is the hope of the hypocrite, though he has gained, when God

takes away his soul; it is as the spider's web, and the giving up of the ghost.

THINGS WE SHOULD AVOID INORDER TO MAKE

INVESTMENTS THAT WILL STAND THE TEST OF TIME:

• Shallowness

JOHN 6:66……From that time many of his disciples went back,

and walked no more with him.

• False Trusts

PSALM 20:7…..Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but

we will remember the name of the LORD our God.

• False Profession

TITUS 1:6…….They profess that they know God; but in works

they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto

every good work reprobate.

• Disobedience

1 SAMUEL 12:15……But if ye will not obey the voice of the

LORD, but rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then

shall the hand of the LORD be against you, as it was against

your fathers.

EPHESIANS 5:6……Let no man deceive you with vain words:

for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the

children of disobedience.

• Inconsistency

JOHN 7:23……If a man on the sabbath day receive

circumcision, that the law of Moses should not be broken; are

ye angry at me, because I have made a man every whit whole

on the sabbath day?

• Delusions

ACTS 17:29…..Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God,

we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or

silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device.

• Spiritual Loss

LUKE 15:13…..And not many days after the younger son

gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country,

and there wasted his substance with riotous living.

• Prolonged Trial

PSALM 35:17…..Lord, how long wilt thou look on? rescue my

soul from their destructions, my darling from the lions.

ATTRIBUTES THAT WE OUGHT TO HAVE INORDER TO

MAKE INVESTMENTS THAT WILL STAND THE TEST OF TIME:

1. Develop Spiritual Hearing Capacities

REVELATION 2:11…..He that hath an ear, let him hear what

the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall

not be hurt of the second death.

ECCLESIASTES 9:17….. The words of wise men are heard in

quiet more than the cry of him that ruleth among fools.

LUKE 8:15…..But that on the good ground are they, which in

an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and

bring forth fruit with patience.

2. Practicing What We Have Heard

JOHN 13:17……If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do

them.

3. Obedience To The Word of God

JOHN 2:7…… Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with

water. And they filled them up to the brim.

4. Develop A Deeper Life

LUKE 10:39…..And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat

at Jesus' feet, and heard his word.

HOW TO DEVELOP A DEEPER LIFE:

a) Lying Down For Spiritual Rest

PSALM 23:2….He maketh me to lie down in green

pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. {Green...:

Hebrew meaning. pastures of tender grass} {Still...:

Hebrew meaning. waters of quietness}

b) Sitting Down For Receiving Of Instructions

LUKE 10:39…..And she had a sister called Mary, which

also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word.

c) Standing Up For Welfare

EPHESIANS 6:14…..Stand therefore, having your loins girt

about with truth, and having on the breastplate of

righteousness;

d) Walking For Fellowship

1JOHN 1:7….But if we walk in the light, as he is in the

light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood

of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

e) Running For Progress

HEBREWS 12:1….Wherefore seeing we also are

compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let

us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so

easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that

is set before us,

f) Leaping For Ecstasy/Unexpected Miracle

ACTS 3:8-9…..And he leaping up stood, and walked, and

entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping,

and praising God.

9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God:

g) Mounting Up For Exaltation

ISAIAH 40:31…..But they that wait upon the LORD shall

renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as

eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall

walk, and not faint.

5. Have a Tested Life

1 CORINTHIANS 3:13…..Every man's work shall be made

manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be

revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of

what sort it is.

THE FRONTS OF TESTING IN OUR LIVES:

I. The Rains From Above

II. The Floods From Raised Places

III. Strong Prevailing Winds From Water Bodies

6. Being Immovable/ Steadfastness/ Secure

PSALM 144:14…That our oxen may be strong to labour; that

there be no breaking in, nor going out; that there be no

complaining in our streets. {Strong...: Heb. able to bear

burdens, or, loaden with flesh}

ISAIAH 43:2…..For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of

Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and

Seba for thee.

1 PETER 3:13….Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be

sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought

unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

PSALM 15:5….He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor

taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things

shall never be moved.

7. Developing A Strong Spiritual Foundation

ISAIAH 28:16….Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I

lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious

corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not

make haste.

1 CORINTHIANS 3:11….Every man's work shall be made

manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be

revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of

what sort it is.

EPHESIANS 2:20…..And are built upon the foundation of the

apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief

corner stone;

1 TIMOTHY 6:19…..Laying up in store for themselves a good

foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on

eternal life.

2 TIMOTHY 2:19….Nevertheless the foundation of God

standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that

are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ

depart from iniquity. {Sure: or, Steady}

1 PETER 2:6…..Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture,

Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and

he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.

8. Making God The Solid Rock For Our Base

DEUTERENOMY 32:4, 31….They have corrupted themselves,

their spot is not the spot of his children: they are a perverse

and crooked generation. {They have...: Heb. He hath

corrupted to himself} {their...: or, that they are not his children,

that is their blot}

For their rock is not as our Rock, even our enemies themselves

being judges.

1 SAMUEL 2:2….There is none holy as the LORD: for there is

none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God.

2 SAMUEL 22:47….The LORD liveth; and blessed be my rock;

and exalted be the God of the rock of my salvation.

PSALM 18:31….For who is God save the LORD? or who is a

rock save our God?

ISAIAH 32:2….And a man shall be as an hiding place from the

wind, and a covert from the tempest; as rivers of water in a

dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land.

`END’