Don’t Ask Twice

by Don Finto | Aug 7, 2019 | The Good Report

When you’ve heard from God, but it’s an answer that you really did not want to receive, don’t ask twice.

Read Number 22 about the prophet Balaam, and you’ll understand.
The king of Moab wanted to hire Balaam to curse his enemy Israel. Balaam may not at the time have known much about Israel, but he was a servant of the LORD, so he inquired. The LORD said, “Do not go with them. You must not put a curse on those people, because they are blessed.”

The Moab princes went home and told their king, but the king did not want to take “no” for an answer, so he sent more princes and offered greater rewards if Balaam would come to curse his enemy Israel.

Balaam’s response was outstanding, but his heart was not with his words. “If Balak were to give me his palace full of silver and gold, I would not go beyond what the Lord tells me.”

That should have been the end of the matter, but those rewards were so enticing that Balaam told the princes, “Wait here and let me ask God again.” The LORD had already told Balaam he was not to curse Israel, and Balaam had no need to ask again.

So what happened? The LORD told Balaam to go ahead, but “God was very angry” (22:22) with Balaam for even asking. You’ll have to open your own Bible if you want to know the rest of the story, but it wasn’t pretty, and Balaam ended up in dangerous territory in Moab before he’s learned his lesson.

The moral of the story? When you hear from God, and you’re sure you’ve heard, but you’d like to have a different answer, don’t ask twice.

Has God been talking to you with an answer you did not want? Don’t ask again. You may not like what happens.

Kingdom Expansion

by Don Finto | Jul 17, 2019 | The Good Report

“Your Kingdom, come!”

Matthew 6:10

Isaiah told of a Son that would be born who would be called “Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” – that the government would be upon His shoulders, a government, a kingdom, that would never end (Isaiah 9:7). Jesus is that Son.

Our intended destiny is to be a part of His advancing kingdom.

Daniel had a vision of the “time of the end” when the righteous would “shine like the brightness of the heavens” and would “lead many to righteousness (Daniel 12:4).

Our intended destiny is to be so full of the Spirit of Jesus that we radiate the glory of God – our very countenances proclaim His greatness.

Jesus spoke of a time when world righteousness would ripen (See Matthew 13:30).  Wickedness also ripens, but light always defeats darkness.

Our intended destiny is to become the most righteous generation in history.

May we embrace our destiny to the fullest – you and I. May we be so saturated with the Word of God and so full of His Spirit that we continually spread His joy.

May nothing distract us, nothing discourage us. Let us go forward in strength and with passion.

Lord Jesus, help us to share the good news and take millions with us into the eternal Kingdom.

Keeping the Kingdom View

by Don Finto | Jul 3, 2019 | The Good Report

Keeping the Kingdom view!

Paul says, “God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus.” (Ephesians 2:6)

Seated with Jesus in the heavenly realms! Take your seat and look down upon our world. You will see all sorts of God things going on, and you will love and appreciate them. You will give thanks for them. You will be encouraged.

Failing to keep that Kingdom vision can make us very self-focused, sometimes even discouraged. We judge what God is doing from our limited point of view. If “our” ministry is thriving, growing, and prosperous, then we could begin to lean toward pride.

Seeing the Kingdom from below tends to divide us. We become too absorbed in our own lives and ministries, and often care too little about what others are doing.

Seeing the Kingdom from above unites us. We see and appreciate others and how God is using them. We see that they are needed part of us.

Keeping the Kingdom vision from the heavenly realm humbles us. We appreciate the role to which others are called and are grateful for them. They augment us. We are on the same team. We want to know these other partners and encourage them.

Remember to stay seated in that heavenly realm so that you will appreciate others more, knowing that you are only one part of God’s Kingdom equation.

Keep the Kingdom view!

Doing the Works of Jesus

by Don Finto | Jun 26, 2019 | The Good Report

Pray the Promises

by Don Finto | Jan 23, 2019 | The Good Report

Pray the Promises. Believe in them!

What better way to pray than to pray the Word of God!

When God tells us that certain things are going to happen, let’s agree with Him. Scripture says that sometimes things don’t happen because “we ask not” (James 4:2). Let’s ask.

When we come across promises and predictions, let’s pray them! His promises will happen. This is His Word.

Here are some examples:

• One of my life psalms is Psalm 112 because I see promises that I stand on regardless of present circumstances. If I am a man/person who “fears the Lord and finds great delight in His commands,” there are all sorts of blessings that are coming my way. I’m still praying them. They will happen! God promises. Go find out what those promises are. Read and pray the Word!
• Years ago I read Romans 8:29 and was assured that those of us in whom God’s Spirit resides are destined to become more and more like Jesus. Because I believed it and began praying it, I have seen all kinds of heart changes inside me. I still am in the process of becoming, but I am encouraged. You can be, too. That’s your destiny. Read the Word, believe it and pray it!
• Lately, I have been repeatedly fascinated and encouraged by God’s Word to Hosea that though Israel would not have a king nor a sacrifice for many years, “in the last days” they will come “trembling to the Lord and to His blessings” (Hosea 3:4-5). This is the Word of God. Let’s pray it!
• When Jesus told His disciples that the gospel would be preached to every nation(ethnos/ethnic group) before the end comes, let’s pray and participate until it happens.

And then there are those direct commands, such as:

• “Ask the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into the harvest field” (Matthew 9:38). Are we doing that? It’s a command.
• “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem” (Psalm 122:6). Are we doing this? It’s a command.
• “Give yourselves no rest, give [the Lord] no rest, till He establishes Jerusalem, and makes her the praise of the whole earth” (Isaiah 62:7). Are you praying that?

The Book is filled with promises and predictions. Let’s be a part of God’s team that pray His Word into fulfillment!

Let’s look up into the heavens and pray, “Your kingdom come! Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven!”