Shalom - I Have Every Reason To Be Grateful

SHALOM – WE HAVE EVERY REASON TO BE GRATEFUL

Numbers 31: 48 Then the officers who were over the units of the army - the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds - went to Moses 49 and said to him, “Your servants have counted the soldiers under our command, and not one of them is missing. 50 So we have brought as an offering to the Lord the gold articles each of us acquired - armlets, bracelets, signet rings, earrings and necklaces - to make atonement for ourselves before the Lord.”

INTRODUCTION: SHALOM - WE HAVE EVERY REASON TO BE GRATEFUL

Numbers 31:48-50 deals with the confiscated spoils from the war Israel fought with the Midianites which was intended to wipe them out. All captives and goods were to be divided according to a strict formula. Moses told the soldiers not to keep for themselves all the booty they had taken but to give a portion of it to God and another portion was to go to the people who had not gone to war (vv. 26-27). This included over eight hundred thousand animals and approximately 16,750 shekels (v. 52) in gold, worth several million dollars in the current United States economy. Some four centuries later David would establish this as a permanent rule of war (I Sam. 30:24-25).

From This Example we should be reminded that the money we earn is not ours alone. Everything we possess comes directly or indirectly from God and ultimately belongs to Him. We should return a portion to Him and a portion to those in need. When The Officers Counted their men after the battle, they discovered that not one soldier had been lost. Only the Lord could have done such a miracle. The commanders of the troops were so grateful for this miraculous deliverance that they brought a freewill offering of gold to God. They brought this special gift for the sanctuary of God out of the spoils they themselves had received. It is one thing to bring offerings to God because we have to or it is our duty, but quite another because we love Him and appreciate what He’s done for us.

9 COMMON CAUSES OF INGRATITUDE

Luke 17:11-18, Jesus asked: "Where are the nine?" He was sad & surprise. There are more than 9 sources of ingratitude, but there are nine ingrates, and each man may represent someone.

1. Mr. Callous. Stony person who didn’t feel his misery like the others so health meant nothing.

2. Mr. Thoughtless. He never reflects, never introspects, never recollects on God’s goodness.

3. Mr. Proud. Why be thankful for what his respectability, his station, his lineage deserves?

4. Mr. Envious. Though healed, he still does not have what others have.

5. Mr. Coward. Jesus is hated and expressing gratitude may bring some of such hatred on him.

6. Mr. Withhold: He did acknowledge the benefit received and the attending price to be paid.

7. Mr. Worldly. Maybe he has business in Jerusalem and that occupied him more.

8. Mr. Follower: He would have expressed gratitude if the other eight had.

9. Mr. Procrastinator. He can say thanks at another time. After all, Jesus was always there.

MEANING OF SHALOM IN THE BIBLE

Shalom means “nothing missing, nothing broken”. It is having God’s unshakeable promise that makes a man perfect, whole, complete and full. God wants us to have Shalom, that’s why He sent us a Helper - the Holy Spirit. “Shalom” not only means peace, but also complete, intact, and in good health. Jesus has lifted the curse of chaos, sickness, lack, insufficiency, and powerlessness. In Him, we have peace, healing, wholeness, and authority to restore order in our lives that He has.

MULTIPLE MEANINGS OF SHALOM

? Shalom: Typically is Used to Describe an Absence of Hostility or Strife. Peace is the Opposite of the Rivalry, Instability, and Division Brought by Envy and Ambition.

? Shalom: Indicates a Total Fulfillment that Comes When Individuals Experience God’s Presence.

? Shalom: The Final Sacrifice, (of Completion, Christ Has Become Our Peace - Ephesians 2:14).

? Shalom: Used as a Greeting and Also as a Way of Inquiring After Someone’s State of Being & to Want the Very Best For them in Life.

? Shalom: Entering into a State of Wholeness & Unity (Oneness) Signified by a Restored Relationship, Especially Wholeness of the Relationship Between a Person and God.

? Shalom: Signifies a Sense of Well-Being & Harmony Both Within and Without, Health, Happiness, Quietness of Soul, Preservation, Prosperity, Tranquility, Security, Safety and Includes ALL that Makes Life Worthwhile.

? Shalom: Conveys the Sense of Being at Peace with Yahweh and Involves More than Forgiveness of Sin, in that Fullness of Life, Prosperity, and Peace with Men is the Expected Result of Shalom.

There Anything Broken Or Missing in Your Life? Recognize Christ as Lord and you will be repaired and restored. May “The Breath of Yahweh” be upon your life and restore to you what is missing or broken.