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##### Advice: Bless God for Good Trading

{Since the Heavenly Trade Is the Best Trade…

Exhortation to Good Traders in Christianity

Advice: Bless God for Good Trading}

Is it well with your souls? Does the south wind blow on your garden, the spices flow out, and is your garden fruitful? “Awake, O north wind, And come, O south! Blow upon my garden, That its spices may flow out. Let my beloved come to his garden And eat its pleasant fruits” (Song of Solomon 4:16 NKJV). Does the fig tree yield its green figs and the vine, from its tender grapes give a good smell? “The fig tree puts forth her green figs, And the vines with the tender grapes Give a good smell. Rise up, my love, my fair one, And come away!” (Song of Solomon 2:13 NKJV). You have good reason then to be always giving thanks. Those of you whose trading turns to any spiritual advantage can say, “But it is good for me to draw near to God; I have put my trust in the Lord God, That I may declare all Your works” (Psalm 73:28 NKJV). “Moreover, by them Your servant is warned; In keeping them there is great reward” (Psalm 19:11 NASB). The Lord is not a barren wilderness to your soul, but there is “Peace be within your walls and security within your towers!” (Psalm 122:7 ESV). “My glory is fresh within me, And my bow is renewed in my hand” (Job 29:20 NKJV). “My root is spread out to the waters, And the dew lies all night on my branch” (Job 29:19 NKJV). “You have crowned the year with Your bounty, And Your paths drip with fatness” (Psalm 65:11 NASB). “It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion! For there the Lord has commanded the blessing, life forevermore” (Psalm 133:3 ESV). “We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other” (2 Thessalonians 1:3 NKJV). Is this true in any amount with you? If so, then bless the Lord with your soul. Let all that is inside of you bless His holy Name. Make the Lord your glory and triumphing praise. You have abundant reason to admire grace and exalt divine glory. Because:

Bless God for Good Trading because a Thriving Soul Is a Great Mercy at All Times

{Since the Heavenly Trade Is the Best Trade…

Exhortation to Good Traders in Christianity

Advice: Bless God for Good Trading

Because a Thriving Soul Is a Great Mercy at All Times}

A thriving soul is a great mercy at all times. A little spiritual good is beyond all the world’s treasure. One piece of Christ’s refined gold weighs down all the pearls and diamonds on earth. Grace cannot be compared with anything that can be found here on earth (Job 28:11–16).1348 Grace and the things of earth are so far apart in value, they cannot even be named on the same day, as it were. The light of God’s countenance, pardon of sin, the indwelling Holy Spirit, fulfillment of promises, fellowship with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and heart-yearnings after, love to, and delight in God are things of incalculable worth. This worth is obvious if you weigh them by themselves, compare them to other things, consider the grace from which they came, or the price that they cost God. Spiritual thriving is evidence of sincere love to God. “‘Thus let all Your enemies perish, O Lord; But let those who love Him be like the rising of the sun in its might.’ And the land was undisturbed for forty years” (Judges 5:31 NASB). Spiritual thriving is also evidence of special love from God to that soul (Titus 3:4–6; Ephesians 1:3–7).1349 God may make those He hates prosper in the world. Esau had his rich things here, but grace and peace are blessings of the new covenant that spring from the eternal love in the heart of God to that soul (Hebrews 8:10; Zechariah 8:11–12, 15).1350

Bless God for Good Trading Because a Thriving Soul Is a Singular Mercy in These Days

{Since the Heavenly Trade Is the Best Trade…

Exhortation to Good Traders in Christianity

Advice: Bless God for Good Trading

Because a Thriving Soul Is a Singular Mercy in These Days}

Good trading is a singular mercy at this time, a mercy that few enjoy in the present days in which we live.1351 What a rare thing it is in this long winter to see a green olive, tender grape or pomegranate bud, or one berry in the uppermost branch (Song of Solomon 7:6; Isaiah 24:13).1352 It was a particular glory put on the head of Thyatira that she was thriving when other churches were decaying. “I know your deeds, and your love and faith and service and perseverance, and that your deeds of late are greater than at first” (Revelation 2:19 NASB). Ephesus had lost her first love, Sardis had decayed, wasted her first strength, and was ready to die, Laodicea was lukewarm and ready to be vomited out by the Lord Jesus (Revelation 3:1, 8, 16).1353 Only Thyatira flourished exceedingly and grew in the winter, and this honor she had: to have it recorded by the Spirit for a monument in ages to come. It is not the lot of everyone to thrive in evil times. There were a few Thessalonians whose faith and love did grow (2 Thessalonians 1:3).1354 There was a single Timothy who had flourishing affections to the things of Christ. “For I have no one else of kindred spirit who will genuinely be concerned for your welfare” (Philippians 2:20 NASB). There was one Gaius, whose soul prospered more than his body (3 John 2).1355 These days, a flourishing Christian is like a flower in winter or an apple tree in the woods. Surely, if there is a soul who flourishes to any height of Christianity, lives in intimacy with God, fares deliciously in his soul, and feeds on marrow and hidden manna, that person is greatly loved by God. Your lot, oh soul, has fallen onto a special plot in mercy’s ground. Should not such a person admire the Lord Jesus since He has come to him or her in the fullness of the blessing of the Gospel? Oh, bless God for this unspeakable gift.

Bless God for Good Trading Because It Is a Pledge of Eternal Mercy

{Since the Heavenly Trade Is the Best Trade…

Exhortation to Good Traders in Christianity

Advice: Bless God for Good Trading

Because It Is a Pledge of Eternal Mercy}

Good heavenly trading is a down payment [pledge, earnest money] of eternal mercy. Those who sow to the Spirit will reap everlasting life (Galatians 6:8).1356 Those who abound in holiness will have an abundantly supplied entrance into the kingdom of our Lord and Savior (2 Peter 1:11).1357 God will never discard savory salt to the dunghill nor burn up fruitful branches. Trees full of sap are the Lord’s trees that He will transplant into His paradise above (Psalm 104:16).1358 The Lord’s ripe fruit will be gathered and safely housed in Heaven, not shaken onto the ground. Grace is seed that is too precious to be lost. “Those who sow in tears shall reap with joyful shouting” (Psalm 126:5 NASB). Poor troubled soul, God will not despise the day of your small things, much less your enlargements of soul after Him. He will be tender of your smallest blossoms and make them mature safely into fruit. Much more will your increases arrive to the fullness of the measure of the stature of Christ (Ephesians 4:15).1359 “For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do” (Hebrews 6:10 ESV). It may be that you have forgotten many a duty and hearty testimony of your love to Christ, His Name, people, and ways; you can see nothing in all you have done, but are ready to say at all events, “Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink? And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked,1360 and clothe You? When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’” (Matthew 25:37–39 NASB). But God cannot be so unrighteous as to forget it or let it pass unnoticed. Rather, He keeps a record of all your most menial duties and will make the most of them in the day of righteous judgment. “I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars” (Revelation 2:2 NKJV). “Nathanael said to him, ‘How do you know me?’ Jesus answered him, ‘Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you’” (John 1:48 ESV). He takes notice of a Daniel by the river Tigris (Daniel 10:4, 12:5),1361 of a Peter on the housetop (Acts 10:9–10),1362 and of an Elijah under the tree (1 Kings 19:4–5).1363 He even takes notice of what David in his heart merely intended to do and rewards it (1 Kings 8:18).1364 If an Ahasuerus will not let Mordecai go unrewarded for his good deeds (Esther 6:3),1365 surely the Judge of all the earth will do right and crown the works of His own hands. “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58 NASB). Oh, then be blessing God for the least good that He has worked in you and for you, and for any prosperity in your souls. There are no offerings that God accepts so well on His altar as offerings of thanksgiving (Psalm 69:30–31).1366 What a delightful remark did the Lord Jesus speak on the leper’s return to praise Him for cleansing (Luke 17:18).1367 The more spiritual one is, the more rejoicing (Isaiah 52:8).1368 There are no such thriving souls as God-praising souls. “They will come and shout for joy on the height of Zion, And they will be radiant over the bounty of the Lord—Over the grain and the new wine and the oil, And over the young of the flock and the herd; And their life will be like a watered garden, And they will never languish again” (Jeremiah 31:12 NASB).

1348“He dams up the streams from flowing, And what is hidden he brings out to the light. But where can wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding? Man does not know its value, Nor is it found in the land of the living. The deep says, ‘It is not in me’; And the sea says, ‘It is not with me.’ Pure gold cannot be given in exchange for it, Nor can silver be weighed as its price. It cannot be valued in the gold of Ophir, In precious onyx, or sapphire” (Job 28:11–16 NASB).

1349“But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior” (Titus 3:4–6 NASB). “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace” (Ephesians 1:3–7 ESV).

1350“For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel After those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws into their minds, And I will write them on their hearts. And I will be their God, And they shall be My people” (Hebrews 8:10 NASB). “But now I will not deal with the remnant of this people as in the former days, declares the Lord of hosts. For there shall be a sowing of peace. The vine shall give its fruit, and the ground shall give its produce, and the heavens shall give their dew. And I will cause the remnant of this people to possess all these things” (Zechariah 8:11–12 ESV). “So again have I purposed in these days to bring good to Jerusalem and to the house of Judah; fear not” (Zechariah 8:15 ESV).

1351Although this was written in the seventeenth century, it is very true, and increasingly so, in America today. Even many formerly Christian congregations and denominations have sold out to gross and revolting perversions that were unmentionable a short while ago.

1352“How beautiful and pleasant you are, O loved one, with all your delights!” (Song of Solomon 7:6 ESV). “For thus it will be in the midst of the earth among the peoples, As the shaking of an olive tree, As the gleanings when the grape harvest is over” (Isaiah 24:13 NASB).

1353“To the angel of the church in Sardis write: ‘He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars, says this: “I know your deeds, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead”’” (Revelation 3:1 NASB). “I know your deeds. Behold, I have put before you an open door which no one can shut, because you have a little power, and have kept My word, and have not denied My name” (Revelation 3:8 NASB). “So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth” (Revelation 3:16 NASB).

1354“We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other” (2 Thessalonians 1:3 NKJV).

1355“Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers” (3 John 2 NASB).

1356“For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life” (Galatians 6:8 NKJV).

1357“For so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:11 NKJV).

1358“The trees of the Lord are watered abundantly, the cedars of Lebanon that he planted” (Psalm 104:16 ESV).

1359“But speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ” (Ephesians 4:15 NASB).

1360 Naked in the context of biblical charity does not refer merely to absolute nakedness, but to one who has not sufficient clothing to keep warm. Today, used clothing is very cheap, but fuel for heating in northern climates is not.

1361“On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, while I was by the bank of the great river, that is, the Tigris” (Daniel 10:4 NASB). “Then I, Daniel, looked and behold, two others were standing, one on this bank of the river and the other on that bank of the river” (Daniel 12:5 NASB).

1362“The next day, as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour to pray. And he became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while they were preparing it, he fell into a trance” (Acts 10:9–10 ESV).

1363“But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he prayed that he might die, and said, ‘It is enough! Now, Lord, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers!’ Then as he lay and slept under a broom tree, suddenly an angel touched him, and said to him, ‘Arise and eat’” (1 Kings 19:4–5 NKJV).

1364“But the Lord said to my father David, ‘Because it was in your heart to build a house for My name, you did well that it was in your heart’” (1 Kings 8:18 NASB).

1365“And the king said, ‘What honor or distinction has been bestowed on Mordecai for this?’ The king’s young men who attended him said, ‘Nothing has been done for him’” (Esther 6:3 ESV).

1366“I will praise the name of God with song And magnify Him with thanksgiving. And it will please the Lord better than an ox Or a young bull with horns and hoofs” (Psalm 69:30–31 NASB).

1367“Was no one found who returned to give glory to God, except this foreigner?” (Luke 17:18 NASB).

1368“The voice of your watchmen—they lift up their voice; together they sing for joy; for eye to eye they see the return of the Lord to Zion” (Isaiah 52:8 ESV).

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