King James Daily Bible Study: Put To The Test
Date: Saturday January 08, 2011
Chapters: Genesis 22-24
Click Here to Read Them or Go to: http://www.imfollowingjesus.com/bible-january-8
Details of Today's Reading: God tests Abraham faith with Isaac, God's covenant with Isaac, Sarah's death, Abraham sends for a wife for Isaac, and Isaac and Rebekah get married.
Hello My Friend/Guest,
The word tempt means to entice or allure someone to do something often regarded as unwise, wrong, or immoral, but there is also another meaning for the word and that is to put to the test. The Bible says, “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” - I Corinthians 10:13. The word temptation means the act of tempting, enticement or allurement. There are two people capable of tempting us, God, who can not tempt us with anything evil, tempts our faith by giving us tests. And Satan, who is the source of all evil, and also tempts our faith in God, but tries to get us to do evil. Temptation from Satan itself is not sin, it only becomes sin when we act upon the temptation.
Once in a while God will use strange ways to tempt our faith, but if we trust Him with all our heart we would not question Him, but know that something good will come out of it. After twenty-five years of waiting for God to bless them with a child Abraham and Sarah were blessed with Isaac. You can imagine the thoughts that were going through Abraham's head when God asked him the unthinkable. “And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am. And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.” - Genesis 22:1,2. Abraham could have questioned God, but he did not, he did exactly what God asked him to do. “And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him.” - Genesis 22:3.
God was not tempting Abraham like the devil would, He was testing his faith, but Abraham knew that Isaac must live since God had said he would establish His covenant with him, so he continued, by faith, to offer up Isaac. “And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood. And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son. And the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I. And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me.” - Genesis 22:9-12.
Abraham's offering of Isaac foreshadowed God the Father offering His Son, Jesus Christ, on the cross on that same mount about 2,000 years later. God did not want to harm the child, He wanted to see just how much Abraham trusted Him. When we call upon Jesus Christ as our Savior we are trusting in Him, who did offer Himself as a sacrifice, to save us from the fiery furnace of hell. “But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead: Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us;” - II Corinthians 1:9,10. Praise God!
Abraham, mourning over the death of Sarah thought it might be best that Isaac have a wife, he did not want him to take a wife from Canaan instead he sent his most trusted servant to find a godly wife back in his hometown. This servant embarked on a journey that only faith could send him on, not knowing who he was looking for he trusted in God to lead him on his mission. “And he said O LORD God of my master Abraham, I pray thee, send me good speed this day, and shew kindness unto my master Abraham. Behold, I stand here by the well of water; and the daughters of the men of the city come out to draw water: And let it come to pass, that the damsel to whom I shall say, Let down thy pitcher, I pray thee, that I may drink; and she shall say, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also: let the same be she that thou hast appointed for thy servant Isaac; and thereby shall I know that thou hast shewed kindness unto my master.” - Genesis 24:12-14.
Whether we are doing things for ourselves or others it is wise to seek God for guidance, in fact, it is the only way you can know that you are even doing the right thing. Especially when it comes to choosing the person you are going to marry. History proves that when we seek God for guidance we always see the best outcome. “Thus saith the LORD, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am the LORD thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go.” - Isaiah 48:17.
The servant found Rebekah just as he had prayed and she willingly came to meet her future husband. “And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the eventide: and he lifted up his eyes, and saw, and, behold, the camels were coming. And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she lighted off the camel. For she had said unto the servant, What man is this that walketh in the field to meet us? And the servant had said, It is my master: therefore she took a vail, and covered herself. And the servant told Isaac all things that he had done. And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he loved her: and Isaac was comforted after his mother's death.” - Genesis 3:63-67.
We all have been tempted, the more faith you have in God the more your faith will be tempted, even Jesus was tempted, but God promises, “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.” - James 1:12. God will never tempt you with something evil, He can not, He will allow Satan, but He always gives us a way to escape any temptation from him. There is a big difference between God testing our faith and Satan testing our faith. What is the difference? “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.” - James 1:13,14. God will never tempt us with anything that would make us commit sin.
The key to remaining faithful and enduring temptation is Jesus Christ, we are to daily present ourselves as a living sacrifice to God. Why? It will show our faithfulness, it will help us to discern whether or not we are being tempted by God or Satan, and above all it will get us to fear and trust God. “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” - Romans 12:1,2.
Jesus Christ Revealed: Jesus is revealed through Isaac's submission to his father when he placed him on the altar. Jesus willingly submitted to His father and offered His life as a sacrifice for our sins. “I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.” -John 5:30.
Thanks and God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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Saturday, January 8, 2011
Friday, January 7, 2011
King James Daily Bible Study: A Consuming Fire
King James Daily Bible Study: A Consuming Fire
Date Friday January 07, 2011
Chapters: Genesis 19-21
Click Here to Read Them or Go to: http://www.imfollowingjesus.com/bible-january-7
Details of Today's Reading: Angels visit Lot in Sodom, Sodom is destroyed, Lot and his two daughters, the birth of Isaac, Hagar and Ishmael are sent away, and an agreement between Abraham and Abimelech.
Hello My Friend/Guest,
When you think of the word fire you probably imagine something burning or maybe hell. The word fire also means intense passion and a liveliness. Fire gives us warmth, light, and heat. The Bible says, “Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: For our God is a consuming fire.” - Hebrews 12:28,29. To serve God means to be a help to Him, the word reverence means to have respect for God. To have godly fear means to acknowledge Him, and abide in His laws and wishes. As Christians we are set apart from everyone else, we are children of the living God. That is not something that everyone can claim, while God is the Creator of all things, He only claims special people to be His children. “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;” - I Peter 2:9. Praise God! Since we are God's chosen we are to set a godly example for those who live in the world. Just as God is a consuming fire our hearts need to be a consuming fire, for Him, we are to have an intense passion, a burning, and a liveliness for serving Him.
As Abraham was preparing to be a father, he remembered his nephew Lot when he pleaded with God not to destroy Sodom if there was any righteous in the land. Sodom was full of fornication, incest, and homosexuality and it was for that reason that God was about to destroy it. God harkened to his plea, He sent two of His angels to warn Lot and his family to get out of there if they wanted to be saved. “And Lot went out, and spake unto his sons in law, which married his daughters, and said, Up, get you out of this place; for the LORD will destroy this city. But he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons in law. And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city. And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the LORD being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city. And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed...But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.” - Genesis 19:14-17,26.
The son-in-laws laughed at Lot and did not listen to him, Lot stopped to look at all he was leaving, probably saddened that he was going to lose everything he had. In his haste the angels pulled him to safety along with his wife and daughters. The wife could not let go, she looked back at all she was losing and in an instant she died. This is a perfect illustration of salvation, if you are saved, even if you have gotten away from God, He will pull you into His arms and save you from hell when you die. If you look back and can not let go of your life and you die without Christ then you will not be saved. Jesus said, “Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed. In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back. Remember Lot's wife. Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.” - Luke 17:28-33.
Fearing for his life Lot took himself and his daughters to live in a cave, perhaps he thought that by living in a cave instead of the city of Zoar like God told him that his family would not be subject to any wickedness as in Sodom. Little did he realize that his own daughters would subject him to it. They got their father drunk and lay with him to preserve his lineage. “And Lot went up out of Zoar, and dwelt in the mountain, and his two daughters with him; for he feared to dwell in Zoar: and he dwelt in a cave, he and his two daughters...Thus were both the daughters of Lot with child by their father. And the first born bare a son, and called his name Moab: the same is the father of the Moabites unto this day. And the younger, she also bare a son, and called his name Benammi: the same is the father of the children of Ammon unto this day.” - Genesis 19:30,36-38. Moab and Ammon became descendants of the Moabites and Ammonites who were perpetual enemies of the Israelites years later.
God despises wickedness committed by the flesh more than any. Why? “Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body...For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.” - I Corinthians 6:18,20. However, God will give anyone a chance to repent and turn from such a wicked life. “Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;..This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.” - I Timothy 1:9,10,15,16.
Abraham and Sarah, had advanced to an age in life when there could be no human possibility of having a child. Abraham was 100 and Sarah 90 years old when God blessed them with a child. Then, Isaac, the miracle child of promise, entered the family life of Abraham, Sarah, Hagar, and Ishmael. "And the LORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did unto Sarah as he had spoken. For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him. And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac." - Genesis 21:1-3. The birth of Isaac was a loving and gracious expression of the sovereign power of God but, more important, it was the fulfillment of His Word and proof of the faithfulness of the Covenant-keeping God.
It is not enough to know who God is, we must be willing to accept Him into our lives, which can only be done by accepting Jesus Christ as your Savior. “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.” - Colossians 3:23,24. Praise God!
Jesus Christ Revealed: Jesus Christ is revealed through Isaac, the promised son of God's Covenant. “Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.” - Romans 9:7,8.
Thanks and God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
Learn How Jesus Can Set You Free: http://www.godsprice.com
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Date Friday January 07, 2011
Chapters: Genesis 19-21
Click Here to Read Them or Go to: http://www.imfollowingjesus.com/bible-january-7
Details of Today's Reading: Angels visit Lot in Sodom, Sodom is destroyed, Lot and his two daughters, the birth of Isaac, Hagar and Ishmael are sent away, and an agreement between Abraham and Abimelech.
Hello My Friend/Guest,
When you think of the word fire you probably imagine something burning or maybe hell. The word fire also means intense passion and a liveliness. Fire gives us warmth, light, and heat. The Bible says, “Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: For our God is a consuming fire.” - Hebrews 12:28,29. To serve God means to be a help to Him, the word reverence means to have respect for God. To have godly fear means to acknowledge Him, and abide in His laws and wishes. As Christians we are set apart from everyone else, we are children of the living God. That is not something that everyone can claim, while God is the Creator of all things, He only claims special people to be His children. “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;” - I Peter 2:9. Praise God! Since we are God's chosen we are to set a godly example for those who live in the world. Just as God is a consuming fire our hearts need to be a consuming fire, for Him, we are to have an intense passion, a burning, and a liveliness for serving Him.
As Abraham was preparing to be a father, he remembered his nephew Lot when he pleaded with God not to destroy Sodom if there was any righteous in the land. Sodom was full of fornication, incest, and homosexuality and it was for that reason that God was about to destroy it. God harkened to his plea, He sent two of His angels to warn Lot and his family to get out of there if they wanted to be saved. “And Lot went out, and spake unto his sons in law, which married his daughters, and said, Up, get you out of this place; for the LORD will destroy this city. But he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons in law. And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city. And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the LORD being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city. And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed...But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.” - Genesis 19:14-17,26.
The son-in-laws laughed at Lot and did not listen to him, Lot stopped to look at all he was leaving, probably saddened that he was going to lose everything he had. In his haste the angels pulled him to safety along with his wife and daughters. The wife could not let go, she looked back at all she was losing and in an instant she died. This is a perfect illustration of salvation, if you are saved, even if you have gotten away from God, He will pull you into His arms and save you from hell when you die. If you look back and can not let go of your life and you die without Christ then you will not be saved. Jesus said, “Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed. In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back. Remember Lot's wife. Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.” - Luke 17:28-33.
Fearing for his life Lot took himself and his daughters to live in a cave, perhaps he thought that by living in a cave instead of the city of Zoar like God told him that his family would not be subject to any wickedness as in Sodom. Little did he realize that his own daughters would subject him to it. They got their father drunk and lay with him to preserve his lineage. “And Lot went up out of Zoar, and dwelt in the mountain, and his two daughters with him; for he feared to dwell in Zoar: and he dwelt in a cave, he and his two daughters...Thus were both the daughters of Lot with child by their father. And the first born bare a son, and called his name Moab: the same is the father of the Moabites unto this day. And the younger, she also bare a son, and called his name Benammi: the same is the father of the children of Ammon unto this day.” - Genesis 19:30,36-38. Moab and Ammon became descendants of the Moabites and Ammonites who were perpetual enemies of the Israelites years later.
God despises wickedness committed by the flesh more than any. Why? “Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body...For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.” - I Corinthians 6:18,20. However, God will give anyone a chance to repent and turn from such a wicked life. “Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;..This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.” - I Timothy 1:9,10,15,16.
Abraham and Sarah, had advanced to an age in life when there could be no human possibility of having a child. Abraham was 100 and Sarah 90 years old when God blessed them with a child. Then, Isaac, the miracle child of promise, entered the family life of Abraham, Sarah, Hagar, and Ishmael. "And the LORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did unto Sarah as he had spoken. For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him. And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac." - Genesis 21:1-3. The birth of Isaac was a loving and gracious expression of the sovereign power of God but, more important, it was the fulfillment of His Word and proof of the faithfulness of the Covenant-keeping God.
It is not enough to know who God is, we must be willing to accept Him into our lives, which can only be done by accepting Jesus Christ as your Savior. “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.” - Colossians 3:23,24. Praise God!
Jesus Christ Revealed: Jesus Christ is revealed through Isaac, the promised son of God's Covenant. “Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.” - Romans 9:7,8.
Thanks and God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
Learn How Jesus Can Set You Free: http://www.godsprice.com
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Thursday, January 6, 2011
King James Daily Bible Study: Waiting Patiently For God
King James Daily Bible Study: Waiting Patiently For God
Date: Thursday January 06, 2010
Chapters: Genesis 16-18
Click Here to Read Them or Go to: http://www.imfollowingjesus.com/bible-january-6
Details of Today's Reading: Abram is encouraged by Sarai to have a child with Hagar, she bares a son, Ishmael, Abram's name is changed to Abraham, the covenant of circumcision, Sarai's name is changed to Sarah, God promises Abraham and Sarah a son, Isaac, and Abraham's plead for Sodom.
Hello My Friend/Guest,
The Bible says, “Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass...For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth; and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off. The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.” - Psalm 37:7,22-24. Let's face it, we all have done some things in life because we were tired of waiting and gotten into some messes, having regretted them afterward. You know, we should not count them as regret, but as lessons learned. So, we messed up, we suffered a bit, but we can not hold on to regret, we have to move forward, rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him. He knows our heart, He also knows our flesh, He hates our flesh, but He loves us, He knows we are going to mess up, but He is there to catch us when we fall, every time we fall.
At the age of seventy-five God promised to Abram that He would make him a father of so many that it would be like trying to count the stars in the sky. “And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast given no seed: and, lo, one born in my house is mine heir. And, behold, the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir. And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.”- Genesis 15:3-5.
Now, years had come to pass and Abram still had no son, Sarai was well above the age to have a child so, Sarai came up with a plan that would give Abram a son. “Now Sarai Abram's wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar. And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the LORD hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai. And Sarai Abram's wife took Hagar her maid the Egyptian, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife. And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived: and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes.” -Genesis 16:1-4.
Abram knew that God meant what He said, but instead of letting God make the decision as to who would bare his seed, he chose to listen to the influence of Sarai. You know, they say that a man is the head of the house, but even when the world began women have been influencing men to commit sin? Ladies, we have major power, but that does not mean that we are to use that power to influence men in compromising situations. It is very important that women realize that they are to be a help to their men. Now, do not get me wrong, a man can have just as much influence on a woman, I am proof of that, but it was no excuse for me to do what I knew deep down was the wrong thing to do. While we are all responsible for our own actions, God will hold those responsible for making others commit sin accountable for that as well. “Whoso causeth the righteous to go astray in an evil way, he shall fall himself into his own pit: but the upright shall have good things in possession.” - Proverbs 28:10.
Do you think God gave up on Abram because he went against His will? Of course not. When God has a purpose for us He will use us, even if we mess up sometimes. After they made a mess of things Abram went to God and asked for forgiveness. “And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying, As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations. Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee...And God said unto Abraham, As for Sarai thy wife, thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall her name be. And I will bless her, and give thee a son also of her: yea, I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of people shall be of her.” - Genesis 17:3-5,15,16.
Abraham means, “father of many”, Sarah means “little princess”. One of the great tests of our faith is waiting patiently for God. It may take two days, weeks, years, or as in Abraham's situation, 25 years for our prayers to be answered or for God to fulfill the promises He makes to us. Sometimes the reason God makes us wait so long for what He promises is that we get in the way of His plan. Every time we walk out of His will to help Him along with our own reasoning He takes a step back. Abraham was 99 years old and Sarah was 90. Why do you think God waits until it looks impossible? To show that with man some things are impossible, but with God all things are possible. When Abraham asked God how it was possible for Sarah to bare a child God said, “Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.”
When things look impossible to us they are possible to God. God really does not want to see us suffer, He will do anything for anyone as long as are willing to let Him guide us. He knows we are going to fall from time to time, but He is right there with His hand ready to pull us back up. I imagine sometimes we, even strong Christians, wonder if God hears us, but He always hears our praises, prayers, and even our pleas. When God was going to destroy Sodom, Abraham pleaded for God to spare the town if there was anyone there righteous. “And the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous; I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know...And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked?...And he said, Oh let not the LORD be angry, and I will speak yet but this once: Peradventure ten shall be found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for ten's sake.” - Genesis 18:20,21,23,32.
God will turn His back to those living in sin, who wants to watch a person committing sin, but He keeps an eye out from time to time to see if there is any righteousness in them. He does not give up on anyone and I will tell you what, He will try and try and try to find the righteousness in a person. When the disciples asked Jesus who could be saved Jesus answered, “With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.” - Matthew 19:26b. Noting is impossible with God! Praise God!
Jesus Christ Revealed: Jesus is revealed through the seed of Isaac, in which God would establish covenant. “By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.” - Hebrews 11:17-19.
Thanks, and God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
Learn How Jesus Can Set You Free: http://www.godsprice.com
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Date: Thursday January 06, 2010
Chapters: Genesis 16-18
Click Here to Read Them or Go to: http://www.imfollowingjesus.com/bible-january-6
Details of Today's Reading: Abram is encouraged by Sarai to have a child with Hagar, she bares a son, Ishmael, Abram's name is changed to Abraham, the covenant of circumcision, Sarai's name is changed to Sarah, God promises Abraham and Sarah a son, Isaac, and Abraham's plead for Sodom.
Hello My Friend/Guest,
The Bible says, “Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass...For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth; and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off. The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.” - Psalm 37:7,22-24. Let's face it, we all have done some things in life because we were tired of waiting and gotten into some messes, having regretted them afterward. You know, we should not count them as regret, but as lessons learned. So, we messed up, we suffered a bit, but we can not hold on to regret, we have to move forward, rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him. He knows our heart, He also knows our flesh, He hates our flesh, but He loves us, He knows we are going to mess up, but He is there to catch us when we fall, every time we fall.
At the age of seventy-five God promised to Abram that He would make him a father of so many that it would be like trying to count the stars in the sky. “And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast given no seed: and, lo, one born in my house is mine heir. And, behold, the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir. And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.”- Genesis 15:3-5.
Now, years had come to pass and Abram still had no son, Sarai was well above the age to have a child so, Sarai came up with a plan that would give Abram a son. “Now Sarai Abram's wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar. And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the LORD hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai. And Sarai Abram's wife took Hagar her maid the Egyptian, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife. And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived: and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes.” -Genesis 16:1-4.
Abram knew that God meant what He said, but instead of letting God make the decision as to who would bare his seed, he chose to listen to the influence of Sarai. You know, they say that a man is the head of the house, but even when the world began women have been influencing men to commit sin? Ladies, we have major power, but that does not mean that we are to use that power to influence men in compromising situations. It is very important that women realize that they are to be a help to their men. Now, do not get me wrong, a man can have just as much influence on a woman, I am proof of that, but it was no excuse for me to do what I knew deep down was the wrong thing to do. While we are all responsible for our own actions, God will hold those responsible for making others commit sin accountable for that as well. “Whoso causeth the righteous to go astray in an evil way, he shall fall himself into his own pit: but the upright shall have good things in possession.” - Proverbs 28:10.
Do you think God gave up on Abram because he went against His will? Of course not. When God has a purpose for us He will use us, even if we mess up sometimes. After they made a mess of things Abram went to God and asked for forgiveness. “And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying, As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations. Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee...And God said unto Abraham, As for Sarai thy wife, thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall her name be. And I will bless her, and give thee a son also of her: yea, I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of people shall be of her.” - Genesis 17:3-5,15,16.
Abraham means, “father of many”, Sarah means “little princess”. One of the great tests of our faith is waiting patiently for God. It may take two days, weeks, years, or as in Abraham's situation, 25 years for our prayers to be answered or for God to fulfill the promises He makes to us. Sometimes the reason God makes us wait so long for what He promises is that we get in the way of His plan. Every time we walk out of His will to help Him along with our own reasoning He takes a step back. Abraham was 99 years old and Sarah was 90. Why do you think God waits until it looks impossible? To show that with man some things are impossible, but with God all things are possible. When Abraham asked God how it was possible for Sarah to bare a child God said, “Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.”
When things look impossible to us they are possible to God. God really does not want to see us suffer, He will do anything for anyone as long as are willing to let Him guide us. He knows we are going to fall from time to time, but He is right there with His hand ready to pull us back up. I imagine sometimes we, even strong Christians, wonder if God hears us, but He always hears our praises, prayers, and even our pleas. When God was going to destroy Sodom, Abraham pleaded for God to spare the town if there was anyone there righteous. “And the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous; I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know...And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked?...And he said, Oh let not the LORD be angry, and I will speak yet but this once: Peradventure ten shall be found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for ten's sake.” - Genesis 18:20,21,23,32.
God will turn His back to those living in sin, who wants to watch a person committing sin, but He keeps an eye out from time to time to see if there is any righteousness in them. He does not give up on anyone and I will tell you what, He will try and try and try to find the righteousness in a person. When the disciples asked Jesus who could be saved Jesus answered, “With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.” - Matthew 19:26b. Noting is impossible with God! Praise God!
Jesus Christ Revealed: Jesus is revealed through the seed of Isaac, in which God would establish covenant. “By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.” - Hebrews 11:17-19.
Thanks, and God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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Wednesday, January 5, 2011
King James Daily Bible Study: Too Good To Be True
King James Daily Bible Study: Too Good To Be True
Date: Wednesday January 05, 2011
Chapters: Genesis 13-15
Click Here to Read Them or Go to: http://www.imfollowingjesus.com/bible-january-5
Details of Today's Reading: Strife between Abram's and Lot's herdsmen, Abram and Lot separate, God promises Abram and all his seed the land of Canaan, Abram dwells in Hebron, Lot dwells in Sodom, war in Sodom, Abram saves Lot, and God's covenant with Abram.
Hello My Friend/Guest,
Did you ever see something unbelievable happen and think, that is just too good to be true? Most of the time it is, in fact, too good to be true, but once in a while the unbelievable does truly happen and you can not help, but say, “Praise God!” because you know He is the only one who could have made that happen. There is also someone else capable of making some unbelievable things happen, but he does not do it to help you, he does it to deceive and hurt you. That someone is Satan and he is really good about making it look as though something unbelievable happened, and that is when it is too good to be true. How can we tell if it is God or Satan? The Bible says, “Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?” -James 2:18-20.
The truth is this, we need to work to see the unbelievable happen, while having faith is important we still need to do a little work on our part. Lot was Abram's nephew, both were prosperous and rich, there was so much substance between them that it caused some strife. Abram came up with a solution, “Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left. And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar. Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other. Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom.” - Genesis 13:9-12.
When Lot saw that beautiful land and that it was already taken care of he did not stop to think where he was headed, he became so blinded by what he saw that he never stopped to think if there would be dangers ahead. We too can become blinded by things that we see, that is why it is so important that we play close attention to things that look to good to be true because usually Satan is behind it. “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.” - I Peter 5:8,9.
Sometimes God will keep us from seeing the unbelievable happen because we have done something that hindered Him. When God told Abram to leave his country and everyone there He meant that he was to leave everyone there, but he brought Lot with him. That decision hindered God from giving him the blessings he had for him, it was not until Abram separated from Lot that God showed him the blessings. “And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever. And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered. Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee. Then Abram removed his tent, and came and dwelt in the plain of Mamre, which is in Hebron, and built there an altar unto the LORD.” - Genesis 13:14-18.
Lot probably thought that God blessed him with that beautiful land, he soon found out that that beautiful land was no blessing from God, it was of Satan, full of corruption and wickedness. He ended up being captured during a war. “And they took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their victuals, and went their way. And they took Lot, Abram's brother's son, who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and departed.” - Genesis 14:11,12.
The amazing thing about God is that He will give us so many chances to see the unbelievable happen in hopes that we will see that it truly is Him. Sadly, not many acknowledge Him, but those who do come to realize that everything is a blessing from God. When Abram heard that Lot was captured he did not dote about it, he went to help and freed Lot. Later on God spoke to Abram, “After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward...In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates:” - Genesis 15:1,18.
God has much to give us, but we first need to trust in His timing, have faith in Him, and get to work. The land that God gave Abram was kind of desolate and had heathens living on it, but Abram did not complain, the first thing he did was build an altar to God.
While God may give us some things that we do not have to work for most of the time He is going to give us something that needs some work. God can make the unbelievable happen, not to destroy us, but to help us grow and prosper, there is nothing that God will not do for those who put their faith and trust in Him and do a little work for Him. Why? So, that we depend on Him, acknowledge Him, and become a testimony. Everything we go through in life is for God's glory, not ours, we just reap the benefits from it. “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” - Romans 8:28. Praise God! What kind of work? Get in His Word, pray for others, tell people about Jesus, get involved in the ministry, give tithe, help others. There are so many things we can do to show God we love Him and He will show us His love by blessing us with something unbelievable. “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.” - John 14:12-14.
Jesus Christ Revealed: Jesus is revealed through the high priest, Melchizedek, who brought Abram bread and wine (14:18). Jesus is our high priest, “And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.” - Hebrews 5:9,10.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
Learn How Jesus Can Set You Free: http://www.godsprice.com
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Date: Wednesday January 05, 2011
Chapters: Genesis 13-15
Click Here to Read Them or Go to: http://www.imfollowingjesus.com/bible-january-5
Details of Today's Reading: Strife between Abram's and Lot's herdsmen, Abram and Lot separate, God promises Abram and all his seed the land of Canaan, Abram dwells in Hebron, Lot dwells in Sodom, war in Sodom, Abram saves Lot, and God's covenant with Abram.
Hello My Friend/Guest,
Did you ever see something unbelievable happen and think, that is just too good to be true? Most of the time it is, in fact, too good to be true, but once in a while the unbelievable does truly happen and you can not help, but say, “Praise God!” because you know He is the only one who could have made that happen. There is also someone else capable of making some unbelievable things happen, but he does not do it to help you, he does it to deceive and hurt you. That someone is Satan and he is really good about making it look as though something unbelievable happened, and that is when it is too good to be true. How can we tell if it is God or Satan? The Bible says, “Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?” -James 2:18-20.
The truth is this, we need to work to see the unbelievable happen, while having faith is important we still need to do a little work on our part. Lot was Abram's nephew, both were prosperous and rich, there was so much substance between them that it caused some strife. Abram came up with a solution, “Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left. And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar. Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other. Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom.” - Genesis 13:9-12.
When Lot saw that beautiful land and that it was already taken care of he did not stop to think where he was headed, he became so blinded by what he saw that he never stopped to think if there would be dangers ahead. We too can become blinded by things that we see, that is why it is so important that we play close attention to things that look to good to be true because usually Satan is behind it. “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.” - I Peter 5:8,9.
Sometimes God will keep us from seeing the unbelievable happen because we have done something that hindered Him. When God told Abram to leave his country and everyone there He meant that he was to leave everyone there, but he brought Lot with him. That decision hindered God from giving him the blessings he had for him, it was not until Abram separated from Lot that God showed him the blessings. “And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever. And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered. Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee. Then Abram removed his tent, and came and dwelt in the plain of Mamre, which is in Hebron, and built there an altar unto the LORD.” - Genesis 13:14-18.
Lot probably thought that God blessed him with that beautiful land, he soon found out that that beautiful land was no blessing from God, it was of Satan, full of corruption and wickedness. He ended up being captured during a war. “And they took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their victuals, and went their way. And they took Lot, Abram's brother's son, who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and departed.” - Genesis 14:11,12.
The amazing thing about God is that He will give us so many chances to see the unbelievable happen in hopes that we will see that it truly is Him. Sadly, not many acknowledge Him, but those who do come to realize that everything is a blessing from God. When Abram heard that Lot was captured he did not dote about it, he went to help and freed Lot. Later on God spoke to Abram, “After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward...In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates:” - Genesis 15:1,18.
God has much to give us, but we first need to trust in His timing, have faith in Him, and get to work. The land that God gave Abram was kind of desolate and had heathens living on it, but Abram did not complain, the first thing he did was build an altar to God.
While God may give us some things that we do not have to work for most of the time He is going to give us something that needs some work. God can make the unbelievable happen, not to destroy us, but to help us grow and prosper, there is nothing that God will not do for those who put their faith and trust in Him and do a little work for Him. Why? So, that we depend on Him, acknowledge Him, and become a testimony. Everything we go through in life is for God's glory, not ours, we just reap the benefits from it. “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” - Romans 8:28. Praise God! What kind of work? Get in His Word, pray for others, tell people about Jesus, get involved in the ministry, give tithe, help others. There are so many things we can do to show God we love Him and He will show us His love by blessing us with something unbelievable. “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.” - John 14:12-14.
Jesus Christ Revealed: Jesus is revealed through the high priest, Melchizedek, who brought Abram bread and wine (14:18). Jesus is our high priest, “And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.” - Hebrews 5:9,10.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
Learn How Jesus Can Set You Free: http://www.godsprice.com
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King James Daily Bible Study: Foolish Decisions
King James Daily Bible Study: Foolish Decisions
Date: Tuesday January 04, 2010
Chapters: Genesis 10-12
Click Here to Read Them or Go to: http://www.imfollowingjesus.com/bible-january-4
Details of Today's Reading: The genealogy of Shem, Ham, and Japheth, the tower of Babel, Abram, God blesses Abram and promises him the land of Canaan, Abram goes to Egypt and lies to the Pharaoh.
Hello My Friend/Guest,
We all want to succeed in life, there is nothing more satisfying than accomplishing something we worked so hard at achieving, but we have to be careful in what ways we set out to accomplish what we are trying to accomplish. We may not realize it, but the decisions we make in life not only affect us, they everyone else around us as well. Of course, we are going to make so foolish decisions once in a while, but there is a difference between being a fool and just making some foolish choices. The Bible says, “The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul: but it is abomination to fools to depart from evil. He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed. Evil pursueth sinners: but to the righteous good shall be repayed.” - Proverbs 13:19-21.
A fool is a person who lacks judgment or sense, tricks or deceives people, or tries to make others look foolish.
No matter who you are or what family you come from you are always going to have one black sheep in the family, a person who thinks they know everything, never wants to obey any kind of rule, and wants to deceive everyone to get ahead in life. When Ham dishonored his father he had no idea the affect it would have on future generations of his, that one foolish decision paved the way for generations of fools rebelling from the one true God and creating their own. “And the sons of Ham; Cush, and Mizraim, and Phut, and Canaan...And Cush begat Nimrod: he began to be a mighty one in the earth. He was a mighty hunter before the LORD: wherefore it is said, Even as Nimrod the mighty hunter before the LORD. And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, and Erech, and Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar.” - Genesis 10:6,8-10.
Nimrod was a great man in his day, he began to be mighty upon the earth, he was good with his hunting, not only the wild beasts, but the affections of his neighbors, and got to be their prince. He became a mighty hunter, a violent invader of his neighbor's rights and properties. Nimrod established the first world empire and ruled it, the city was known as the city of Babel (Babylon).He thought himself a mighty prince, but before God, he was but, a fool. With Nimrod as their leader he convinced them to build a city and tower that could reach up to heaven. “And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them thoroughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter. And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth. And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded. And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech.” - Genesis 11:3-7.
It is fitting that a man that had no interest in God would be trying to claim he was trying to reach Him. His ambition to build a tower had nothing to do with trying to reach the throne of the Almighty God, it meant that his desire was to make himself and his followers rulers of the world. God dealt with this rebellion by dividing the people into nations and giving them different languages. God does the same today by only letting the saved understand His Word. Jesus said, “And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables: That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.” - Mark 4:11,12.
Fools enjoy what they think are victories for a season, but in the end it is the wise, those who put their faith and trust in Jesus Christ that get the victory. Incidentally, you will often here God say, “Let us...” This does not mean that He is referring to other gods, God is referring Himself through the Godhead, God the Father, God the Son, who is the Word made flesh, and God the Holy Spirit. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God...And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” - John 1:1,14.
You know, before the Bible, these people did not have a book to guide them and teach them about God. Instead they had to rely totally on their faith, not knowing what the future might hold. Of course they made mistakes, but it was through those mistakes that they learned to trust only God. Shems descendents would be the lineage of the Jews, “These are the generations of Shem: Shem was an hundred years old, and begat Arphaxad two years after the flood:. And Terah lived seventy years, and begat Abram, Nahor, and Haran.” -Genesis 11:10,26. Abram, which means exalted father, was chosen by God to become the father His people. “Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.” - Genesis 12:1-3.
Abram responded to God's call and by faith gave up his country, home, and friends trusting in Him to guide the way. Of course, being blessed to be the father of a great nation did not mean that he was not going to make any foolish decisions once in a while. During a famine Abram and Sarai headed for a place where they could go for food. “And it came to pass, when he was come near to enter into Egypt, that he said unto Sarai his wife, Behold now, I know that thou art a fair woman to look upon: Therefore it shall come to pass, when the Egyptians shall see thee, that they shall say, This is his wife: and they will kill me, but they will save thee alive. Say, I pray thee, thou art my sister: that it may be well with me for thy sake; and my soul shall live because of thee.” - Genesis 12:10-13.
Abram not only committed sin when he hid the truth, he also exposed his wife and the Egyptians to sin. The grace Abram was most noted for, was faith, yet he fell through unbelief and distrust of the Divine, even after God had appeared to him twice. What will become of weak faith, when strong faith is shaken! If God did not deliver us so many times out of the messes we bring ourselves into, by our own sin and folly, we would be ruined. Praise God that even when we do make some foolish decisions and go to Him He is always faithful to those who just humble themselves and ask Him for forgiveness. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” - I John 1:9. When you mess up, don't be afraid, just admit it, the amazing thing about God is that He loves to fix our messes and He will as long as we ask Him for help. Praise God!
Jesus Christ Revealed: Jesus is revealed as the Promised Seed of Abram, “Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.” - Galatians 3:16.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
Learn How Jesus Can Set You Free: http://www.godsprice.com
Visit I'm Following Jesus: http://www.imfollowingjesus.com
Missed A Devotional: http://www.imfollowingjesus.com/daily-bible-study
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Date: Tuesday January 04, 2010
Chapters: Genesis 10-12
Click Here to Read Them or Go to: http://www.imfollowingjesus.com/bible-january-4
Details of Today's Reading: The genealogy of Shem, Ham, and Japheth, the tower of Babel, Abram, God blesses Abram and promises him the land of Canaan, Abram goes to Egypt and lies to the Pharaoh.
Hello My Friend/Guest,
We all want to succeed in life, there is nothing more satisfying than accomplishing something we worked so hard at achieving, but we have to be careful in what ways we set out to accomplish what we are trying to accomplish. We may not realize it, but the decisions we make in life not only affect us, they everyone else around us as well. Of course, we are going to make so foolish decisions once in a while, but there is a difference between being a fool and just making some foolish choices. The Bible says, “The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul: but it is abomination to fools to depart from evil. He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed. Evil pursueth sinners: but to the righteous good shall be repayed.” - Proverbs 13:19-21.
A fool is a person who lacks judgment or sense, tricks or deceives people, or tries to make others look foolish.
No matter who you are or what family you come from you are always going to have one black sheep in the family, a person who thinks they know everything, never wants to obey any kind of rule, and wants to deceive everyone to get ahead in life. When Ham dishonored his father he had no idea the affect it would have on future generations of his, that one foolish decision paved the way for generations of fools rebelling from the one true God and creating their own. “And the sons of Ham; Cush, and Mizraim, and Phut, and Canaan...And Cush begat Nimrod: he began to be a mighty one in the earth. He was a mighty hunter before the LORD: wherefore it is said, Even as Nimrod the mighty hunter before the LORD. And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, and Erech, and Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar.” - Genesis 10:6,8-10.
Nimrod was a great man in his day, he began to be mighty upon the earth, he was good with his hunting, not only the wild beasts, but the affections of his neighbors, and got to be their prince. He became a mighty hunter, a violent invader of his neighbor's rights and properties. Nimrod established the first world empire and ruled it, the city was known as the city of Babel (Babylon).He thought himself a mighty prince, but before God, he was but, a fool. With Nimrod as their leader he convinced them to build a city and tower that could reach up to heaven. “And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them thoroughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter. And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth. And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded. And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech.” - Genesis 11:3-7.
It is fitting that a man that had no interest in God would be trying to claim he was trying to reach Him. His ambition to build a tower had nothing to do with trying to reach the throne of the Almighty God, it meant that his desire was to make himself and his followers rulers of the world. God dealt with this rebellion by dividing the people into nations and giving them different languages. God does the same today by only letting the saved understand His Word. Jesus said, “And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables: That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.” - Mark 4:11,12.
Fools enjoy what they think are victories for a season, but in the end it is the wise, those who put their faith and trust in Jesus Christ that get the victory. Incidentally, you will often here God say, “Let us...” This does not mean that He is referring to other gods, God is referring Himself through the Godhead, God the Father, God the Son, who is the Word made flesh, and God the Holy Spirit. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God...And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” - John 1:1,14.
You know, before the Bible, these people did not have a book to guide them and teach them about God. Instead they had to rely totally on their faith, not knowing what the future might hold. Of course they made mistakes, but it was through those mistakes that they learned to trust only God. Shems descendents would be the lineage of the Jews, “These are the generations of Shem: Shem was an hundred years old, and begat Arphaxad two years after the flood:. And Terah lived seventy years, and begat Abram, Nahor, and Haran.” -Genesis 11:10,26. Abram, which means exalted father, was chosen by God to become the father His people. “Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.” - Genesis 12:1-3.
Abram responded to God's call and by faith gave up his country, home, and friends trusting in Him to guide the way. Of course, being blessed to be the father of a great nation did not mean that he was not going to make any foolish decisions once in a while. During a famine Abram and Sarai headed for a place where they could go for food. “And it came to pass, when he was come near to enter into Egypt, that he said unto Sarai his wife, Behold now, I know that thou art a fair woman to look upon: Therefore it shall come to pass, when the Egyptians shall see thee, that they shall say, This is his wife: and they will kill me, but they will save thee alive. Say, I pray thee, thou art my sister: that it may be well with me for thy sake; and my soul shall live because of thee.” - Genesis 12:10-13.
Abram not only committed sin when he hid the truth, he also exposed his wife and the Egyptians to sin. The grace Abram was most noted for, was faith, yet he fell through unbelief and distrust of the Divine, even after God had appeared to him twice. What will become of weak faith, when strong faith is shaken! If God did not deliver us so many times out of the messes we bring ourselves into, by our own sin and folly, we would be ruined. Praise God that even when we do make some foolish decisions and go to Him He is always faithful to those who just humble themselves and ask Him for forgiveness. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” - I John 1:9. When you mess up, don't be afraid, just admit it, the amazing thing about God is that He loves to fix our messes and He will as long as we ask Him for help. Praise God!
Jesus Christ Revealed: Jesus is revealed as the Promised Seed of Abram, “Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.” - Galatians 3:16.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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Monday, January 3, 2011
King James Daily Bible Study: Get On The Ark
King James Daily Bible Study: Get On The Ark
Date: Monday January 03, 2011
Chapters: Genesis 7-9
Click Here to Read Them or Go to: http://www.imfollowingjesus.com/bible-january-3
Details of Today's Reading: Noah, his family, and the animals aboard the ark, God sends rain on the earth for the first time, the whole earth is flooded and every living thing not on the ark is destroyed, God's rainbow promise, Noah gets drunk, awakes and curses Ham's son, Canaan.
Hello My Friend/Guest,
An ark is a place of protection and security, Noah was commanded to build an ark as a place of protection from the flood, God commanded the Israelites to build an ark that would protect the only two tablets of stone containing the ten commandments, the only words written by the finger of God. When the disciples were in the middle of a storm on a ship fearing for their lives Jesus was there, “And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.” - Mark 4:39. When Paul was on a ship to Rome during a storm he said, “Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved.” - Acts 27:31. We as Christians are protected by an ark, a ship bigger than anything hands from man can build, an ark that gives us peace, protection, and security. That ark is none other than our Lord Jesus Christ. Unless we abide in Him we can not be saved.
When God told Noah to build an ark he had no idea what He was talking about when He said He was going to make it rain, they never saw rain in their life. He did not question God and by faith did what He commanded. When all the work was complete and they boarded the ark they saw rain, “In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened. And the rain was upon the earth forty days and forty nights. In the selfsame day entered Noah, and Shem, and Ham, and Japheth, the sons of Noah, and Noah's wife, and the three wives of his sons with them, into the ark; They, and every beast after his kind, and all the cattle after their kind, and every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind, and every fowl after his kind, every bird of every sort.” - Genesis 7:11-14.
Noah may not have known it at the time, but the ark he built was a foreshadow of Christ, everyone who got on the ark was saved from death. By faith Noah did what God commanded and God did exactly what He promised He would do. He saved them. “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.” - Hebrews 11:6,7. Likewise everyone that goes to Christ by faith is saved from death. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:” - Ephesians 2:8
After the flood subsided and life was coming back to the earth, Noah and everything on the ark got off, the first thing Noah did was build an altar, the first altar recorded in the Bible. “And Noah builded an altar unto the LORD; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar. And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake; for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done. While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.” - Genesis 8:20-22.
An altar is a place to worship, thank God for what He has given us, and to get right with Him. When everything seems to be falling apart and you can not even find the strength to pray that is when you need to come to the altar and give yourself completely to God. “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.” - Romans 12:1-3.
We are to present ourselves as a living sacrifice, that means we are to stop thinking about ourselves and start thinking about what God wants from us. To do that it is important that we remain sober, being sober means we have self control, self control means we have an easier time presenting ourselves as a living sacrifice. Drunkenness, can bring down the most faithful servant, it brought down Noah. “And he drank of the wine, and was drunken; and he was uncovered within his tent. And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brethren without. And Shem and Japheth took a garment, and laid it upon both their shoulders, and went backward, and covered the nakedness of their father; and their faces were backward, and they saw not their father's nakedness.” - Genesis 9:21-23.
The drunkenness of Noah is recorded in the Bible, with that fairness which is found only in the Scripture, to show that the best of men cannot stand upright, unless they depend upon Divine grace. Observe the great evil of the sin of drunkenness, it discovers men, what infirmities they have, they betray when they are drunk, secrets are exposed. It disgraces men and shames them. Ham was quick to expose his father weakness, perhaps to even his grandson as well, but Shem and Japheth, respecting their father, covered him up, careful not even look at him in his weakness. Because of Ham's disrespect his famoly will be forever cursed. “And Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his younger son had done unto him. And he said, Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren. And he said, Blessed be the LORD God of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant. God shall enlarge Japheth, and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant.” -Genesis 9:24-27.
Noah declares a curse on Canaan, the son of Ham, a servant of servants shall he be, even to his brethren. Blessed be the Lord God of Shem, of him came the Jews, who were, for a great while, the only professing people God had in the world. Noah also blesses Japheth, and, in him, the isles of the Gentiles that were peopled by his seed. Noah lived to see two worlds, but being an heir of the righteousness which is by faith, he now rests in hope, waiting to see am even better world along with all whom have gotten on the Ark and are protected and preserved in Jesus Christ. Praise God! “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;” - I Peter 1:13.
The blessings of God is the cause of our following His commands, some people have such a hard time following commands of any kind, they have this mentality that they are above the law, whichever it may be, and can do what ever they want and get away with it. It is no wonder why God gets so angry at us? God preserved mankind simply by one man following one command. Today, through one man God preserves mankind through His Son, Jesus Christ, He truly is our life preserver. Once you get on the Ark your life is preserved, never to be destroyed. “He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.” - I John 5:12.
Jesus Christ Revealed: Jesus is revealed through the ark, “And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” - II Timothy 4:18
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
Learn How Jesus Can Set You Free: http://www.godsprice.com
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Date: Monday January 03, 2011
Chapters: Genesis 7-9
Click Here to Read Them or Go to: http://www.imfollowingjesus.com/bible-january-3
Details of Today's Reading: Noah, his family, and the animals aboard the ark, God sends rain on the earth for the first time, the whole earth is flooded and every living thing not on the ark is destroyed, God's rainbow promise, Noah gets drunk, awakes and curses Ham's son, Canaan.
Hello My Friend/Guest,
An ark is a place of protection and security, Noah was commanded to build an ark as a place of protection from the flood, God commanded the Israelites to build an ark that would protect the only two tablets of stone containing the ten commandments, the only words written by the finger of God. When the disciples were in the middle of a storm on a ship fearing for their lives Jesus was there, “And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.” - Mark 4:39. When Paul was on a ship to Rome during a storm he said, “Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved.” - Acts 27:31. We as Christians are protected by an ark, a ship bigger than anything hands from man can build, an ark that gives us peace, protection, and security. That ark is none other than our Lord Jesus Christ. Unless we abide in Him we can not be saved.
When God told Noah to build an ark he had no idea what He was talking about when He said He was going to make it rain, they never saw rain in their life. He did not question God and by faith did what He commanded. When all the work was complete and they boarded the ark they saw rain, “In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened. And the rain was upon the earth forty days and forty nights. In the selfsame day entered Noah, and Shem, and Ham, and Japheth, the sons of Noah, and Noah's wife, and the three wives of his sons with them, into the ark; They, and every beast after his kind, and all the cattle after their kind, and every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind, and every fowl after his kind, every bird of every sort.” - Genesis 7:11-14.
Noah may not have known it at the time, but the ark he built was a foreshadow of Christ, everyone who got on the ark was saved from death. By faith Noah did what God commanded and God did exactly what He promised He would do. He saved them. “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.” - Hebrews 11:6,7. Likewise everyone that goes to Christ by faith is saved from death. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:” - Ephesians 2:8
After the flood subsided and life was coming back to the earth, Noah and everything on the ark got off, the first thing Noah did was build an altar, the first altar recorded in the Bible. “And Noah builded an altar unto the LORD; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar. And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake; for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done. While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.” - Genesis 8:20-22.
An altar is a place to worship, thank God for what He has given us, and to get right with Him. When everything seems to be falling apart and you can not even find the strength to pray that is when you need to come to the altar and give yourself completely to God. “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.” - Romans 12:1-3.
We are to present ourselves as a living sacrifice, that means we are to stop thinking about ourselves and start thinking about what God wants from us. To do that it is important that we remain sober, being sober means we have self control, self control means we have an easier time presenting ourselves as a living sacrifice. Drunkenness, can bring down the most faithful servant, it brought down Noah. “And he drank of the wine, and was drunken; and he was uncovered within his tent. And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brethren without. And Shem and Japheth took a garment, and laid it upon both their shoulders, and went backward, and covered the nakedness of their father; and their faces were backward, and they saw not their father's nakedness.” - Genesis 9:21-23.
The drunkenness of Noah is recorded in the Bible, with that fairness which is found only in the Scripture, to show that the best of men cannot stand upright, unless they depend upon Divine grace. Observe the great evil of the sin of drunkenness, it discovers men, what infirmities they have, they betray when they are drunk, secrets are exposed. It disgraces men and shames them. Ham was quick to expose his father weakness, perhaps to even his grandson as well, but Shem and Japheth, respecting their father, covered him up, careful not even look at him in his weakness. Because of Ham's disrespect his famoly will be forever cursed. “And Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his younger son had done unto him. And he said, Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren. And he said, Blessed be the LORD God of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant. God shall enlarge Japheth, and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant.” -Genesis 9:24-27.
Noah declares a curse on Canaan, the son of Ham, a servant of servants shall he be, even to his brethren. Blessed be the Lord God of Shem, of him came the Jews, who were, for a great while, the only professing people God had in the world. Noah also blesses Japheth, and, in him, the isles of the Gentiles that were peopled by his seed. Noah lived to see two worlds, but being an heir of the righteousness which is by faith, he now rests in hope, waiting to see am even better world along with all whom have gotten on the Ark and are protected and preserved in Jesus Christ. Praise God! “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;” - I Peter 1:13.
The blessings of God is the cause of our following His commands, some people have such a hard time following commands of any kind, they have this mentality that they are above the law, whichever it may be, and can do what ever they want and get away with it. It is no wonder why God gets so angry at us? God preserved mankind simply by one man following one command. Today, through one man God preserves mankind through His Son, Jesus Christ, He truly is our life preserver. Once you get on the Ark your life is preserved, never to be destroyed. “He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.” - I John 5:12.
Jesus Christ Revealed: Jesus is revealed through the ark, “And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” - II Timothy 4:18
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
Learn How Jesus Can Set You Free: http://www.godsprice.com
Visit I'm Following Jesus: http://www.imfollowingjesus.com
Missed A Devotional: http://www.imfollowingjesus.com/daily-bible-study
Subscribe To This Devotional: devotions@imfollowingjesus.com
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