KJB Daily Devotion –
Following Jesus Through Every
Chapter
Date:
Saturday, July 30, 2016
Chapters:
Isaiah 36-38
Message:
A Story To Tell
Hello
My Friend,
There are often two sides to every story, but
then there is what really happened. You will often see stories in the
Bible that are repetitious, I say stories because each person tells
their side of the story for the events that took place during a
particular time. There are four people who tell the story of Jesus,
and while they differ a little bit by adding another part they
remember from their time with Jesus they still line up as being the
same. The reason God had so many tell their side of the same story is
to prove that these events were real and all line up as one, people
like to tell their own story of God, but then there is the truth and
it is in His Word. While God no longer writes every story down of
every person He uses to tell His truths for all the world to know, He
still uses witnesses to tell their story about how Jesus changed
their lives. “But rise, and stand upon
thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make
thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast
seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee;”
- Acts 26:16.
“for
I have appeared unto thee for this purpose,”
There is something special about the day we saw Jesus and made the
decision to live our lives with Him in it, no one in the world can
understand that. After God spoke of the judgments coming to all
nations, and what was about to happen to Jerusalem, Isiah tells his
side of the story of the events that took place when Hezekiah was
king in the Southern Kingdom and the Northern Kingdom had just been
overtaken by Assyria. Now Sennacherib is coming after Judah and is
trying every tactic he can to get the people to go against Hezekiah,
he sends his servant Rabshakeh, who happened to speak in Hebrew.
“Then Rabshakeh stood, and
cried with a loud voice in the Jews' language, and said, Hear ye the
words of the great king, the king of Assyria. Thus saith the king,
Let not Hezekiah deceive you: for he shall not be able to deliver
you. Neither let Hezekiah make you trust in the LORD, saying, The
LORD will surely deliver us: this city shall not be delivered into
the hand of the king of Assyria. Hearken not to Hezekiah: for thus
saith the king of Assyria, Make an agreement with me by a present,
and come out to me: and eat ye every one of his vine, and every one
of his fig tree, and drink ye every one the waters of his own
cistern; Until I come and take you away to a land like your own land,
a land of corn and wine, a land of bread and vineyards. Beware lest
Hezekiah persuade you, saying, The LORD will deliver us. Hath any of
the gods of the nations delivered his land out of the hand of the
king of Assyria?” - Isaiah 36:13-18.
“Beware
lest Hezekiah persuade you,” Rabshakeh used the same tactics
all the wicked make when trying to get us to turn away from God, he
made a major mistake, he compared the living God to all the false man
made gods. Those in the world will be the first to tell you that you
are foolish for trusting in God, what they fail to understand is that
we have the all powerful God on our side, and He alone will deliver
us out of the hands of the biggest coward of all, the devil, who
cannot do his dirty work himself, but pulls people in who cannot bare
their circumstances in the first place. There is only one way to
defeat evil and that is putting on the whole armor of God. “Put
on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the
wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but
against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the
darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”
- Ephesians 6:11,12.
Hezekiah did the only thing he could
do to defeat Sennacherib, he went into the temple and prayed to God.
A little later Isaiah came to him with an answer from God. “Therefore
thus saith the LORD concerning the king of Assyria, He shall not come
into this city, nor shoot an arrow there, nor come before it with
shields, nor cast a bank against it. By the way that he came, by the
same shall he return, and shall not come into this city, saith the
LORD. For I will defend this city to save it for mine own sake, and
for my servant David's sake. Then the angel of the LORD went forth,
and smote in the camp of the Assyrians a hundred and fourscore and
five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they
were all dead corpses. So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed, and
went and returned, and dwelt at Nineveh. And it came to pass, as he
was worshipping in the house of Nisroch his god, that Adrammelech and
Sharezer his sons smote him with the sword; and they escaped into the
land of Armenia: and Esarhaddon his son reigned in his stead.”
- Isaiah 37:33-38.
“For I will
defend this city to save it for mine own sake,” Do you see
that, God defends His people for His own sake? When we put our faith
and trust in Christ, He delivers us from our enemy. Praise God! He
does not really do it because we have been perfect and upright in
everything we do, He does it because of the promise He made, we are
witnesses that He is the living God who lives in us and is full of
mercy and grace toward all who are faithful to Him. “And
let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are
called in one body; and be ye thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell
in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in
psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your
hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in
the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by
him.” - Colossians 3:15-17.
We can never
underestimate the power of the living God, He and He alone has the
power to give life, death, and everything in between. Whether we see
a person recover from a deathly disease via earth or heaven it all
comes from the hand of the Almighty God and no one can alter His
decision. After God promised to deliver Judah out of the hands of the
Assyrians Hezekiah became deathly ill, once again he prays to God and
was miraculously cured, here we learn of the praise Hezekiah gave God
after his recovery.
“What
shall I say? he hath both spoken unto me, and himself hath done it: I
shall go softly all my years in the bitterness of my soul. O Lord, by
these things men live, and in all these things is the life of my
spirit: so wilt thou recover me, and make me to live. Behold, for
peace I had great bitterness: but thou hast in love to my soul
delivered it from the pit of corruption: for thou hast cast all my
sins behind thy back. For the grave cannot praise thee, death can not
celebrate thee: they that go down into the pit cannot hope for thy
truth. The living, the living, he shall praise thee, as I do this
day: the father to the children shall make known thy truth. The LORD
was ready to save me: therefore we will sing my songs to the stringed
instruments all the days of our life in the house of the LORD.”
- Isaiah 38:15-20.
“but thou hast
in love to my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption:”
God loves us way to much to see us end up in hell, which is why He
sent Jesus all to have the opportunity to be saved. You want to know
why some of the most ungodliest nations have not been destroyed yet?
It is because there are thousands of people still getting the Gospel
out. It is the faithful few, who will not bow to the devil, who, in
spite of their circumstances, get up and fight, fight, fight, to keep
the truth told. We may not always be the strongest in our faith, but
a little bit of faith is what keeps us holding on to our integrity,
gives us hope in the darkest of circumstances, and gives us a story
to tell. “Humble yourselves therefore
under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. 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.” - 1 Peter 5:6-9.
Jesus Christ Magnified:
“The LORD was ready to save me: therefore
we will sing my songs to the stringed instruments all the days of our
life in the house of the LORD.” - Isaiah 38:20.
Today's
Prayer: God, I know that you are the only living God and
that because I put my faith and trust in Your Son, I know You are my
God. I admit that my faith goes up and down like a roller coaster,
but all I need is the faith the size of a mustard seed for you to do
amazing things in my life. You already produced one miralce by giving
me eternal life, now, I am trusting in You to do more as you help me
endure the circumstances in my life. Lead me and guide in me in Your
will and Your way, Lord, and let me be a witness and a story for all
to tell of my love for You. I love you and ask this in Jesus' name.
Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
Are You 100% Sure
You Are Going To Heaven?:
http://imfollowingjesus.com/follow-Jesus.html
Receive
The KJB Daily Devotions In Your Email:
http://eepurl.com/2WMzT
Missed
A Message: http://imfollowingjesus.com/Biblestudy/
Visit
I'm Following Jesus:
http://imfollowingjesus.com/index.html
Like
I'm Following Jesus On Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/byhisstrength
Copyright
© 2016 I'm Following Jesus, All rights reserved.
Saturday, July 30, 2016
Wednesday, July 27, 2016
Find Your Strength Through God
KJB Daily Devotion –
Following Jesus Through Every
Chapter
Date: Wednesday, July 27, 2016
Chapters: Isaiah 25-28
Message: Find Your Strength Through God
Hello My Friend,
The past couple of weeks in Sunday school we have been discussing the dispensations, which means to administer, as laws to particular cases. It is the sin nature of man that brings us in a direction that has nothing to do with God, and while today we are no longer under the law of works for our salvation, God still deals with sin the same way, and it separates us from Him. God may have had different ways in which He dealt with man over the centuries in regards to reconciliation, but one thing He never changes is His desire for all of His creation to acknowledge and love Him, which is why He sent Jesus. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” - John 3:16,17.
While the people during Old Testament times had no idea the impact the Messiah they heard about would have on the entire world, or even that signs were given to them from the time He created the earth, there is no doubt that God had a plan to reconcile man with Him from the start. Under the law of Moses when a person wanted to be reconciled with God they needed to go to the priest first, even the priest had to be reconciled and consecrated to speak to God. When the tabernacle and temple was built there was a place just for God to dwell, a veil separated God from the priests because they could not look directly at God. Through Isaiah, God reveals the day in which the veil will be taken away, and all will be able to stand before Him.
“O LORD, thou art my God; I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name; for thou hast done wonderful things; thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth. For thou hast made of a city an heap; of a defenced city a ruin: a palace of strangers to be no city; it shall never be built. Therefore shall the strong people glorify thee, the city of the terrible nations shall fear thee. For thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall. Thou shalt bring down the noise of strangers, as the heat in a dry place; even the heat with the shadow of a cloud: the branch of the terrible ones shall be brought low. And in this mountain shall the LORD of hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined. And he will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over all people, and the vail that is spread over all nations.” - Isaiah 25:1-7.
“and the vail that is spread over all nations.” While sin always separates us from God, Jesus became the permanent redemption needed for not only the Jews, but all to reconcile with God and be able to stand before Him forever. Jesus gave His life so that all who believe in and receive Him as their Saviour can, not only be reconciled with God, but have permanent redemption. You know, in our own strength we can do pretty good, but we weary and tire out, which is why so many of us fall into sin, the flesh is just too weak to handle things all on its own. But when we find Christ, He becomes our strength to handle the things we cannot. God does not want us to be a bump on a log, He wants us to live, to make an effort to do things, to be strong and have courage to live this life He gave us, but He also wants us to come to Him, to be our strength when we have done all we can do.
“Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech: And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished: But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ. But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart. Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away. Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” - II Corinthians 3:12-17.
Israel and their surrounding nations was about to face judgment from God, while we hear of the grim outcome of Israel and even the world we are given a bit of hope as God reveals that He will be with every one of His people. Isaiah encourages all to keep trusting God, who is our strength. “In that day shall this song be sung in the land of Judah; We have a strong city; salvation will God appoint for walls and bulwarks. Open ye the gates, that the righteous nation which keepeth the truth may enter in. Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength: For he bringeth down them that dwell on high; the lofty city, he layeth it low; he layeth it low, even to the ground; he bringeth it even to the dust.” - Isaiah 26:1-5.
“whose mind is stayed on thee:” When we focus on God, He gives us the strength to endure all things, even the judgments that are coming. Please understand, we who are saved, born again, children of God, that keep their eyes in God and make Christ Lord of their lives are not the ones being judged, it is everyone else because they allow sin to not only take over the world, but the church as well. A bulwark is a shelter, it gives protection and safety from danger. While we cannot stop the judgments that take place in our nations we can be protected by getting under the shelter of Christ. Through Isaiah, God comes out and says that does not want to place judgment upon people, but they are the ones who bring it because they refuse to turn away from sin.
“I the LORD do keep it; I will water it every moment: lest any hurt it, I will keep it night and day. Fury is not in me: who would set the briers and thorns against me in battle? I would go through them, I would burn them together. Or let him take hold of my strength, that he may make peace with me; and he shall make peace with me. When the boughs thereof are withered, they shall be broken off: the women come, and set them on fire: for it is a people of no understanding: therefore he that made them will not have mercy on them, and he that formed them will shew them no favour. And it shall come to pass in that day, that the LORD shall beat off from the channel of the river unto the stream of Egypt, and ye shall be gathered one by one, O ye children of Israel. And it shall come to pass in that day, that the great trumpet shall be blown, and they shall come which were ready to perish in the land of Assyria, and the outcasts in the land of Egypt, and shall worship the LORD in the holy mount at Jerusalem.” - Isaiah 27:3-5,11-13.
“therefore he that made them will not have mercy on them,” If you think God’s mercy is endless, think again, there does come a time when it runs out. To be reconciled means to call back into a union and friendship with God, Jesus is the bridge that brings a person back to Him. God will have no mercy on those who reject Him, but it is endless for those who accept Him. Through Isaiah, God reveals His precious corner stone.
“To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear. But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken. Wherefore hear the word of the LORD, ye scornful men, that rule this people which is in Jerusalem. Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves: Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste. Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place. And your covenant with death shall be disannulled, and your agreement with hell shall not stand; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then ye shall be trodden down by it.” - Isaiah 28:12-18.
“and your agreement with hell shall not stand;” Praise God! The second we receive Christ as our Saviour our ticket to hell is tore up and we are diverted to not only heaven, but an eternity with Christ. The punishment for sin has always been death, but through Christ’s sinless death on the cross we can have the victory over death. “The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” - I Corinthians 15:25,57.
Jesus Christ Magnified: “He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken it.” - Isaiah 25:8.
Today's Prayer: God, While we may not always understand Your ways, we can understand that You will be there for all who put their faith and trust in Your Son. Lord, You are my shelter, my protection, and my understanding. If I die today at least I know I get to be with You in heaven, but many cannot say that. I pray that You tender the hearts of those who are too proud to come to Your Son. I also pray for Your power and protection upon me and my family while I am here and help me to be a witness to all who need You. In Jesus' name. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
Are You 100% Sure You Are Going To Heaven?: http://imfollowingjesus.com/follow-Jesus.html
Receive The KJB Daily Devotions In Your Email: http://eepurl.com/2WMzT
Missed A Message: http://imfollowingjesus.com/Biblestudy/
Visit I'm Following Jesus: http://imfollowingjesus.com/index.html
Like I'm Following Jesus On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/byhisstrength
Copyright © 2016 I'm Following Jesus, All rights reserved.
Date: Wednesday, July 27, 2016
Chapters: Isaiah 25-28
Message: Find Your Strength Through God
Hello My Friend,
The past couple of weeks in Sunday school we have been discussing the dispensations, which means to administer, as laws to particular cases. It is the sin nature of man that brings us in a direction that has nothing to do with God, and while today we are no longer under the law of works for our salvation, God still deals with sin the same way, and it separates us from Him. God may have had different ways in which He dealt with man over the centuries in regards to reconciliation, but one thing He never changes is His desire for all of His creation to acknowledge and love Him, which is why He sent Jesus. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” - John 3:16,17.
While the people during Old Testament times had no idea the impact the Messiah they heard about would have on the entire world, or even that signs were given to them from the time He created the earth, there is no doubt that God had a plan to reconcile man with Him from the start. Under the law of Moses when a person wanted to be reconciled with God they needed to go to the priest first, even the priest had to be reconciled and consecrated to speak to God. When the tabernacle and temple was built there was a place just for God to dwell, a veil separated God from the priests because they could not look directly at God. Through Isaiah, God reveals the day in which the veil will be taken away, and all will be able to stand before Him.
“O LORD, thou art my God; I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name; for thou hast done wonderful things; thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth. For thou hast made of a city an heap; of a defenced city a ruin: a palace of strangers to be no city; it shall never be built. Therefore shall the strong people glorify thee, the city of the terrible nations shall fear thee. For thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall. Thou shalt bring down the noise of strangers, as the heat in a dry place; even the heat with the shadow of a cloud: the branch of the terrible ones shall be brought low. And in this mountain shall the LORD of hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined. And he will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over all people, and the vail that is spread over all nations.” - Isaiah 25:1-7.
“and the vail that is spread over all nations.” While sin always separates us from God, Jesus became the permanent redemption needed for not only the Jews, but all to reconcile with God and be able to stand before Him forever. Jesus gave His life so that all who believe in and receive Him as their Saviour can, not only be reconciled with God, but have permanent redemption. You know, in our own strength we can do pretty good, but we weary and tire out, which is why so many of us fall into sin, the flesh is just too weak to handle things all on its own. But when we find Christ, He becomes our strength to handle the things we cannot. God does not want us to be a bump on a log, He wants us to live, to make an effort to do things, to be strong and have courage to live this life He gave us, but He also wants us to come to Him, to be our strength when we have done all we can do.
“Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech: And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished: But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ. But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart. Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away. Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” - II Corinthians 3:12-17.
Israel and their surrounding nations was about to face judgment from God, while we hear of the grim outcome of Israel and even the world we are given a bit of hope as God reveals that He will be with every one of His people. Isaiah encourages all to keep trusting God, who is our strength. “In that day shall this song be sung in the land of Judah; We have a strong city; salvation will God appoint for walls and bulwarks. Open ye the gates, that the righteous nation which keepeth the truth may enter in. Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength: For he bringeth down them that dwell on high; the lofty city, he layeth it low; he layeth it low, even to the ground; he bringeth it even to the dust.” - Isaiah 26:1-5.
“whose mind is stayed on thee:” When we focus on God, He gives us the strength to endure all things, even the judgments that are coming. Please understand, we who are saved, born again, children of God, that keep their eyes in God and make Christ Lord of their lives are not the ones being judged, it is everyone else because they allow sin to not only take over the world, but the church as well. A bulwark is a shelter, it gives protection and safety from danger. While we cannot stop the judgments that take place in our nations we can be protected by getting under the shelter of Christ. Through Isaiah, God comes out and says that does not want to place judgment upon people, but they are the ones who bring it because they refuse to turn away from sin.
“I the LORD do keep it; I will water it every moment: lest any hurt it, I will keep it night and day. Fury is not in me: who would set the briers and thorns against me in battle? I would go through them, I would burn them together. Or let him take hold of my strength, that he may make peace with me; and he shall make peace with me. When the boughs thereof are withered, they shall be broken off: the women come, and set them on fire: for it is a people of no understanding: therefore he that made them will not have mercy on them, and he that formed them will shew them no favour. And it shall come to pass in that day, that the LORD shall beat off from the channel of the river unto the stream of Egypt, and ye shall be gathered one by one, O ye children of Israel. And it shall come to pass in that day, that the great trumpet shall be blown, and they shall come which were ready to perish in the land of Assyria, and the outcasts in the land of Egypt, and shall worship the LORD in the holy mount at Jerusalem.” - Isaiah 27:3-5,11-13.
“therefore he that made them will not have mercy on them,” If you think God’s mercy is endless, think again, there does come a time when it runs out. To be reconciled means to call back into a union and friendship with God, Jesus is the bridge that brings a person back to Him. God will have no mercy on those who reject Him, but it is endless for those who accept Him. Through Isaiah, God reveals His precious corner stone.
“To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear. But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken. Wherefore hear the word of the LORD, ye scornful men, that rule this people which is in Jerusalem. Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves: Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste. Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place. And your covenant with death shall be disannulled, and your agreement with hell shall not stand; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then ye shall be trodden down by it.” - Isaiah 28:12-18.
“and your agreement with hell shall not stand;” Praise God! The second we receive Christ as our Saviour our ticket to hell is tore up and we are diverted to not only heaven, but an eternity with Christ. The punishment for sin has always been death, but through Christ’s sinless death on the cross we can have the victory over death. “The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” - I Corinthians 15:25,57.
Jesus Christ Magnified: “He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken it.” - Isaiah 25:8.
Today's Prayer: God, While we may not always understand Your ways, we can understand that You will be there for all who put their faith and trust in Your Son. Lord, You are my shelter, my protection, and my understanding. If I die today at least I know I get to be with You in heaven, but many cannot say that. I pray that You tender the hearts of those who are too proud to come to Your Son. I also pray for Your power and protection upon me and my family while I am here and help me to be a witness to all who need You. In Jesus' name. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
Are You 100% Sure You Are Going To Heaven?: http://imfollowingjesus.com/follow-Jesus.html
Receive The KJB Daily Devotions In Your Email: http://eepurl.com/2WMzT
Missed A Message: http://imfollowingjesus.com/Biblestudy/
Visit I'm Following Jesus: http://imfollowingjesus.com/index.html
Like I'm Following Jesus On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/byhisstrength
Copyright © 2016 I'm Following Jesus, All rights reserved.
Monday, July 25, 2016
One Body, One Nation
KJB Daily Devotion –
Following Jesus Through Every
Chapter
Date: Monday, July 25, 2016
Chapters: Isaiah 16-19
Message: One Body, One Nation
Hello My Friend,
Right now the people of God are scattered all over the world. Who are we? The saved, born again souls who have accepted the Lord, Jesus Christ as their Saviour. We are not Jews, Greeks, Italians, or Americans, we are one body and one nation, united unto Christ through His blood, and one day, we will all meet together to live with Him in His Kingdom. “But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.” - I Corinthians 12:11-13.
Sin is what separated God from man, and if you think that His judgment is limited to Israel, whom He has His own dealing with, think again, God judges all nations. Through Isaiah, God continues to foretell the judgment upon the surrounding nations, now we see the judgment of Moab, this was a warning given to get them to see God is in control. Descendants of Lot, the children of Israel had their last encampment there before they entered the land of Canaan, and Moses was buried there. They have always been known for their false gods and idolatry, and it was time they knew the God of the Hebrews is the God of all creation.
“Take counsel, execute judgment; make thy shadow as the night in the midst of the noonday; hide the outcasts; bewray not him that wandereth. Let mine outcasts dwell with thee, Moab; be thou a covert to them from the face of the spoiler: for the extortioner is at an end, the spoiler ceaseth, the oppressors are consumed out of the land. And in mercy shall the throne be established: and he shall sit upon it in truth in the tabernacle of David, judging, and seeking judgment, and hasting righteousness. We have heard of the pride of Moab; he is very proud: even of his haughtiness, and his pride, and his wrath: but his lies shall not be so. And it shall come to pass, when it is seen that Moab is weary on the high place, that he shall come to his sanctuary to pray; but he shall not prevail. This is the word that the LORD hath spoken concerning Moab since that time. But now the LORD hath spoken, saying, Within three years, as the years of an hireling, and the glory of Moab shall be contemned, with all that great multitude; and the remnant shall be very small and feeble.” - Isaiah 16:3-6,12-14.
“but he shall not prevail.” You know, God does not want to bring judgment upon anyone, in fact, He does not, we do it all on our own because we refuse to acknowledge Him. God did this for two reasons, 1. To show them that, while judgment begins at the house of God, it shall not end there. 2. The God of Israel is the God of all nations. It is always typical for people to start praying when their lives are being threatened, we can pray all we want, but unless we are saved, God will not hear us. People all over the world are in churches representing God and praying, yet none of their prayers are heard because they do not know Jesus as their Saviour. We cannot get to God unless we know His Son. “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” - John 14:6.
Now comes the judgment of Damascus, the capital of Syria, and the ten tribes of Israel who turned their backs on Him, but in the midst of judgment, a gracious promise that a remnant would be preserved.
“The burden of Damascus. Behold, Damascus is taken away from being a city, and it shall be a ruinous heap. And in that day it shall come to pass, that the glory of Jacob shall be made thin, and the fatness of his flesh shall wax lean. Yet gleaning grapes shall be left in it, as the shaking of an olive tree, two or three berries in the top of the uppermost bough, four or five in the outmost fruitful branches thereof, saith the LORD God of Israel. At that day shall a man look to his Maker, and his eyes shall have respect to the Holy One of Israel. And he shall not look to the altars, the work of his hands, neither shall respect that which his fingers have made, either the groves, or the images. In that day shall his strong cities be as a forsaken bough, and an uppermost branch, which they left because of the children of Israel: and there shall be desolation. Because thou hast forgotten the God of thy salvation, and hast not been mindful of the rock of thy strength, therefore shalt thou plant pleasant plants, and shalt set it with strange slips:” - Isaiah 17:1,6-10.
“Yet gleaning grapes shall be left in it,” Just as the gathering of grapes or olives will leave a few that are inaccessible at the very top of the branches, only a few of the billions of people on the earth will look to their Maker and be saved. Mercy is only reserved in the midst of His judgment, for His remnant, who are the ones who put their faith and trust in His Son. This remnant shall be made holy, acknowledging God's hand in all things, giving Him the respect and glory due to His name. One day, even Israel will acknowledge Christ and a remnant of them will be saved.
The Jews, at present are cast off because of unbelief, but will in due time as a people be taken into God’s favor again, when the fullness of the Gentiles comes in and when Christ returns. Every nation will fall, therefore, every nation is called to observe the judgment that is about to be inflicted upon them. Through Isaiah God tells of the desolation coming of a land or country not known, but also assures His people that He will protect them and give them rest and a dwelling place away from the desolation.
“For so the LORD said unto me, I will take my rest, and I will consider in my dwelling place like a clear heat upon herbs, and like a cloud of dew in the heat of harvest. For afore the harvest, when the bud is perfect, and the sour grape is ripening in the flower, he shall both cut off the sprigs with pruning hooks, and take away and cut down the branches. They shall be left together unto the fowls of the mountains, and to the beasts of the earth: and the fowls shall summer upon them, and all the beasts of the earth shall winter upon them. In that time shall the present be brought unto the LORD of hosts of a people scattered and peeled, and from a people terrible from their beginning hitherto; a nation meted out and trodden under foot, whose land the rivers have spoiled, to the place of the name of the LORD of hosts, the mount Zion.” - Isaiah 18:4-7.
“a nation meted out and trodden under foot,” Though God’s covenant people are trampled on as a nation, scattered and abused, no nation, however formidable, will be able to swallow them up. Though they are cast down, they are not utterly forgotten of God. This is not just Israel God is talking about, this is all nations, through Isaiah God even foretells the coming destruction of Egypt, but He also gives them some hope as well.
“The burden of Egypt. Behold, the LORD rideth upon a swift cloud, and shall come into Egypt: and the idols of Egypt shall be moved at his presence, and the heart of Egypt shall melt in the midst of it. And the LORD shall smite Egypt: he shall smite and heal it: and they shall return even to the LORD, and he shall be intreated of them, and shall heal them. In that day shall there be a highway out of Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrian shall come into Egypt, and the Egyptian into Assyria, and the Egyptians shall serve with the Assyrians. In that day shall Israel be the third with Egypt and with Assyria, even a blessing in the midst of the land: Whom the LORD of hosts shall bless, saying, Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel mine inheritance.” - Isaiah 19:1,22-25.
“Israel be the third with Egypt and with Assyria,” Jews and Gentiles alike shall not only unite with each other in the Gospel under Christ, they shall all be united as one nation. They shall all share in one and the same blessings, come to the same throne of grace, and serve with each other, ending all disputes and uniting the hearts of believers. “And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins. As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes. For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance. For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief: Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy. For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.” - Romans 11:26-32.
Jesus Christ Magnified: “Because thou hast forgotten the God of thy salvation, and hast not been mindful of the rock of thy strength, therefore shalt thou plant pleasant plants, and shalt set it with strange slips:” - Isaiah 17:10. Jesus is the Rock of our strength.
Today's Prayer: Jesus, You have never limited Your gift of eternal life to just a certain nation of people, You encourage and invite all who believe in You to receive it. Thank You for making a way for us to not only be saved from hell and destruction, but so that we can communicate with our Father as well. As we are scattered right now, be our voice to find others who want to join us, and be our strength and protection as judgment comes upon all nations. In Your name, Jesus, Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
Are You 100% Sure You Are Going To Heaven?: http://imfollowingjesus.com/follow-Jesus.html
Receive The KJB Daily Devotions In Your Email: http://eepurl.com/2WMzT
Missed A Message: http://imfollowingjesus.com/Biblestudy/
Visit I'm Following Jesus: http://imfollowingjesus.com/index.html
Like I'm Following Jesus On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/byhisstrength
Copyright © 2016 I'm Following Jesus, All rights reserved.
Date: Monday, July 25, 2016
Chapters: Isaiah 16-19
Message: One Body, One Nation
Hello My Friend,
Right now the people of God are scattered all over the world. Who are we? The saved, born again souls who have accepted the Lord, Jesus Christ as their Saviour. We are not Jews, Greeks, Italians, or Americans, we are one body and one nation, united unto Christ through His blood, and one day, we will all meet together to live with Him in His Kingdom. “But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.” - I Corinthians 12:11-13.
Sin is what separated God from man, and if you think that His judgment is limited to Israel, whom He has His own dealing with, think again, God judges all nations. Through Isaiah, God continues to foretell the judgment upon the surrounding nations, now we see the judgment of Moab, this was a warning given to get them to see God is in control. Descendants of Lot, the children of Israel had their last encampment there before they entered the land of Canaan, and Moses was buried there. They have always been known for their false gods and idolatry, and it was time they knew the God of the Hebrews is the God of all creation.
“Take counsel, execute judgment; make thy shadow as the night in the midst of the noonday; hide the outcasts; bewray not him that wandereth. Let mine outcasts dwell with thee, Moab; be thou a covert to them from the face of the spoiler: for the extortioner is at an end, the spoiler ceaseth, the oppressors are consumed out of the land. And in mercy shall the throne be established: and he shall sit upon it in truth in the tabernacle of David, judging, and seeking judgment, and hasting righteousness. We have heard of the pride of Moab; he is very proud: even of his haughtiness, and his pride, and his wrath: but his lies shall not be so. And it shall come to pass, when it is seen that Moab is weary on the high place, that he shall come to his sanctuary to pray; but he shall not prevail. This is the word that the LORD hath spoken concerning Moab since that time. But now the LORD hath spoken, saying, Within three years, as the years of an hireling, and the glory of Moab shall be contemned, with all that great multitude; and the remnant shall be very small and feeble.” - Isaiah 16:3-6,12-14.
“but he shall not prevail.” You know, God does not want to bring judgment upon anyone, in fact, He does not, we do it all on our own because we refuse to acknowledge Him. God did this for two reasons, 1. To show them that, while judgment begins at the house of God, it shall not end there. 2. The God of Israel is the God of all nations. It is always typical for people to start praying when their lives are being threatened, we can pray all we want, but unless we are saved, God will not hear us. People all over the world are in churches representing God and praying, yet none of their prayers are heard because they do not know Jesus as their Saviour. We cannot get to God unless we know His Son. “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” - John 14:6.
Now comes the judgment of Damascus, the capital of Syria, and the ten tribes of Israel who turned their backs on Him, but in the midst of judgment, a gracious promise that a remnant would be preserved.
“The burden of Damascus. Behold, Damascus is taken away from being a city, and it shall be a ruinous heap. And in that day it shall come to pass, that the glory of Jacob shall be made thin, and the fatness of his flesh shall wax lean. Yet gleaning grapes shall be left in it, as the shaking of an olive tree, two or three berries in the top of the uppermost bough, four or five in the outmost fruitful branches thereof, saith the LORD God of Israel. At that day shall a man look to his Maker, and his eyes shall have respect to the Holy One of Israel. And he shall not look to the altars, the work of his hands, neither shall respect that which his fingers have made, either the groves, or the images. In that day shall his strong cities be as a forsaken bough, and an uppermost branch, which they left because of the children of Israel: and there shall be desolation. Because thou hast forgotten the God of thy salvation, and hast not been mindful of the rock of thy strength, therefore shalt thou plant pleasant plants, and shalt set it with strange slips:” - Isaiah 17:1,6-10.
“Yet gleaning grapes shall be left in it,” Just as the gathering of grapes or olives will leave a few that are inaccessible at the very top of the branches, only a few of the billions of people on the earth will look to their Maker and be saved. Mercy is only reserved in the midst of His judgment, for His remnant, who are the ones who put their faith and trust in His Son. This remnant shall be made holy, acknowledging God's hand in all things, giving Him the respect and glory due to His name. One day, even Israel will acknowledge Christ and a remnant of them will be saved.
The Jews, at present are cast off because of unbelief, but will in due time as a people be taken into God’s favor again, when the fullness of the Gentiles comes in and when Christ returns. Every nation will fall, therefore, every nation is called to observe the judgment that is about to be inflicted upon them. Through Isaiah God tells of the desolation coming of a land or country not known, but also assures His people that He will protect them and give them rest and a dwelling place away from the desolation.
“For so the LORD said unto me, I will take my rest, and I will consider in my dwelling place like a clear heat upon herbs, and like a cloud of dew in the heat of harvest. For afore the harvest, when the bud is perfect, and the sour grape is ripening in the flower, he shall both cut off the sprigs with pruning hooks, and take away and cut down the branches. They shall be left together unto the fowls of the mountains, and to the beasts of the earth: and the fowls shall summer upon them, and all the beasts of the earth shall winter upon them. In that time shall the present be brought unto the LORD of hosts of a people scattered and peeled, and from a people terrible from their beginning hitherto; a nation meted out and trodden under foot, whose land the rivers have spoiled, to the place of the name of the LORD of hosts, the mount Zion.” - Isaiah 18:4-7.
“a nation meted out and trodden under foot,” Though God’s covenant people are trampled on as a nation, scattered and abused, no nation, however formidable, will be able to swallow them up. Though they are cast down, they are not utterly forgotten of God. This is not just Israel God is talking about, this is all nations, through Isaiah God even foretells the coming destruction of Egypt, but He also gives them some hope as well.
“The burden of Egypt. Behold, the LORD rideth upon a swift cloud, and shall come into Egypt: and the idols of Egypt shall be moved at his presence, and the heart of Egypt shall melt in the midst of it. And the LORD shall smite Egypt: he shall smite and heal it: and they shall return even to the LORD, and he shall be intreated of them, and shall heal them. In that day shall there be a highway out of Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrian shall come into Egypt, and the Egyptian into Assyria, and the Egyptians shall serve with the Assyrians. In that day shall Israel be the third with Egypt and with Assyria, even a blessing in the midst of the land: Whom the LORD of hosts shall bless, saying, Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel mine inheritance.” - Isaiah 19:1,22-25.
“Israel be the third with Egypt and with Assyria,” Jews and Gentiles alike shall not only unite with each other in the Gospel under Christ, they shall all be united as one nation. They shall all share in one and the same blessings, come to the same throne of grace, and serve with each other, ending all disputes and uniting the hearts of believers. “And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins. As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes. For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance. For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief: Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy. For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.” - Romans 11:26-32.
Jesus Christ Magnified: “Because thou hast forgotten the God of thy salvation, and hast not been mindful of the rock of thy strength, therefore shalt thou plant pleasant plants, and shalt set it with strange slips:” - Isaiah 17:10. Jesus is the Rock of our strength.
Today's Prayer: Jesus, You have never limited Your gift of eternal life to just a certain nation of people, You encourage and invite all who believe in You to receive it. Thank You for making a way for us to not only be saved from hell and destruction, but so that we can communicate with our Father as well. As we are scattered right now, be our voice to find others who want to join us, and be our strength and protection as judgment comes upon all nations. In Your name, Jesus, Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
Are You 100% Sure You Are Going To Heaven?: http://imfollowingjesus.com/follow-Jesus.html
Receive The KJB Daily Devotions In Your Email: http://eepurl.com/2WMzT
Missed A Message: http://imfollowingjesus.com/Biblestudy/
Visit I'm Following Jesus: http://imfollowingjesus.com/index.html
Like I'm Following Jesus On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/byhisstrength
Copyright © 2016 I'm Following Jesus, All rights reserved.
Sunday, July 24, 2016
The Devil’s Final Destination
KJB Daily Devotion –
Following Jesus Through Every
Chapter
Date: Sunday, July 24, 2016
Chapters: Isaiah 12-14
Message: The Devil’s Final Destination
Hello My Friend,
I remember watching cartoons and even movies, they would always refer to good being an angel and bad being the devil, if you are good you get to go to heaven with the angels when you die and if you are bad you go to hell with the devil, who is just waiting there to torture you. There is an old, old movie of the Christmas Carol in which Scrooge gets a glimpse of what could happen if he did not change his ways, he is walking through these fiery hallways only to be taken to a room icy cold to be tormented there forever. I bring these up because as much as we would like to believe that God works this way, He does not, and the devil in not in hell, he is walking around the earth, he does not have horns and a tail, and he will be here until first, God casts him into prison for a thousand years, then in the lake of fire, where he will be tormented forever, and all those who are not saved will be also.
“And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” - Revelation 20:10,13-15.
While salvation has been acquired through the different dispensations of time, they were often told to turn to good works if they want to keep their salvation, but that is not the case today. Salvation is only gotten by the grace of God through our faith and belief in Jesus Christ who’s work on the cross made that possible. As we read through Isaiah we get a glimpse of not only the first coming of Christ, but also of His return, reign as King, of the judgment that will take place during His reign on earth, and ultimately the destruction of the world. Chapter 12 has only six verses, but it is has nothing to do about judgment, only praise for the God, our Saviour.
“And in that day thou shalt say, O LORD, I will praise thee: though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away, and thou comfortedst me. Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation. Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation. And in that day shall ye say, Praise the LORD, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted.” - Isaiah 12:1-4.
“make mention that his name is exalted.” Proclaim Jesus, shout His name, He is our Strength and Song, our Comforter, our Salvation. When once God was angry with us because we were covered in sin, it is now turned away and all our sins forgotten. We, who are saved, born again Christian's do not need to be afraid because we have Jesus, even if He returns right now, we will be safely carried away while all this mess happens. Right now Christian's are being targeted like never before, but we can overcome, and we will overcome because Jesus is with us. “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.” - Romans 8:34-37.
Now, after some prophecies concerning the Messiah, His kingdom, and judgment, here come the prophecies concerning those nations who turned on Israel, and of their destruction. You see, while God may judge His people first, He saved the most wicked for last. God begins with Babylon, whose hands the people of Judah would be delivered to for a while.
“Lift ye up a banner upon the high mountain, exalt the voice unto them, shake the hand, that they may go into the gates of the nobles. I have commanded my sanctified ones, I have also called my mighty ones for mine anger, even them that rejoice in my highness. The noise of a multitude in the mountains, like as of a great people; a tumultuous noise of the kingdoms of nations gathered together: the LORD of hosts mustereth the host of the battle. They come from a far country, from the end of heaven, even the LORD, and the weapons of his indignation, to destroy the whole land. Howl ye; for the day of the LORD is at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty. Therefore shall all hands be faint, and every man's heart shall melt: And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible. And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldees' excellency, shall be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah.” - Isaiah 13:2-7,11,19.
“for the day of the LORD is at hand;” This goes beyond the destruction of the nation of Babylon, which already happened, this refers to Judgment Day, in which God will destroy the entire earth, Babylon being Rome, which is further talked about in the Book of Revelation. “And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:” - Revelation 14:8-10.
Someone pointed out to me that Jesus does not know when He is returning, only God does and He will send Him at the appointed time. While in a sense this is true because Jesus did say He judges no one in the flesh and that His Father sent Him (John 8:14-32)), but in the same conversation He also said He and His Father are one. We will never understand how God can be both because our human reasoning to comprehend, this is something that we must believe by faith, He has always been and will always be at the right hand of God, even though He is God, and we will all stand before Him in judgment. We get an interesting insight and revelation about the one who caused the fall of man in the first place, and what He will be accountable for. Old Lucifer himself, once one of God's archangels, arrogant and proud, tried to take the throne from God, got cast out of heaven, and is bound for hell.
“How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit. They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms; That made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; that opened not the house of his prisoners? The LORD of hosts hath sworn, saying, Surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, so shall it stand:” - Isaiah 14:12-17,24.
“Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell,” Perhaps one of the questions everyone who reads and studies the Bible has is why God puts the devil in prison for a thousand years while Jesus reigns at His return then lets him out to create havoc before the final judgment takes place. We can speculate as to why, but for some reason I believe that God will use that time to judge the last few, they will be no evil to corrupt them, no Holy Spirit to guide them, just Jesus to see if they will believe in Him when the devil is not there to influence them. Nevertheless, those who are saved will be safe. “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” - I Thessalonians 4:16,17.
Jesus Christ Magnified: “Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion: for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee.” - Isaiah 12:6.
Today's Prayer: Jesus, thank You for choosing to become the payment to redeem me of my sins. I should be in hell for the things I have done, but You took my stripes, bore my pain, so that I do not have to. I now I can never lose my salvation, but never want to be in the mess I was in before I let You be Lord of my life, I know I could fall if I let my flesh do the walking. Lord, lead me and guide me, give me Your power to resist the devil, help me stay in Your Word, and to live it so that I can be armed and prepared for Your return. In Your name Jesus, Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
Are You 100% Sure You Are Going To Heaven?: http://imfollowingjesus.com/follow-Jesus.html
Receive The KJB Daily Devotions In Your Email: http://eepurl.com/2WMzT
Missed A Message: http://imfollowingjesus.com/Biblestudy/
Visit I'm Following Jesus: http://imfollowingjesus.com/index.html
Like I'm Following Jesus On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/byhisstrength
Copyright © 2016 I'm Following Jesus, All rights reserved.
Date: Sunday, July 24, 2016
Chapters: Isaiah 12-14
Message: The Devil’s Final Destination
Hello My Friend,
I remember watching cartoons and even movies, they would always refer to good being an angel and bad being the devil, if you are good you get to go to heaven with the angels when you die and if you are bad you go to hell with the devil, who is just waiting there to torture you. There is an old, old movie of the Christmas Carol in which Scrooge gets a glimpse of what could happen if he did not change his ways, he is walking through these fiery hallways only to be taken to a room icy cold to be tormented there forever. I bring these up because as much as we would like to believe that God works this way, He does not, and the devil in not in hell, he is walking around the earth, he does not have horns and a tail, and he will be here until first, God casts him into prison for a thousand years, then in the lake of fire, where he will be tormented forever, and all those who are not saved will be also.
“And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” - Revelation 20:10,13-15.
While salvation has been acquired through the different dispensations of time, they were often told to turn to good works if they want to keep their salvation, but that is not the case today. Salvation is only gotten by the grace of God through our faith and belief in Jesus Christ who’s work on the cross made that possible. As we read through Isaiah we get a glimpse of not only the first coming of Christ, but also of His return, reign as King, of the judgment that will take place during His reign on earth, and ultimately the destruction of the world. Chapter 12 has only six verses, but it is has nothing to do about judgment, only praise for the God, our Saviour.
“And in that day thou shalt say, O LORD, I will praise thee: though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away, and thou comfortedst me. Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation. Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation. And in that day shall ye say, Praise the LORD, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted.” - Isaiah 12:1-4.
“make mention that his name is exalted.” Proclaim Jesus, shout His name, He is our Strength and Song, our Comforter, our Salvation. When once God was angry with us because we were covered in sin, it is now turned away and all our sins forgotten. We, who are saved, born again Christian's do not need to be afraid because we have Jesus, even if He returns right now, we will be safely carried away while all this mess happens. Right now Christian's are being targeted like never before, but we can overcome, and we will overcome because Jesus is with us. “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.” - Romans 8:34-37.
Now, after some prophecies concerning the Messiah, His kingdom, and judgment, here come the prophecies concerning those nations who turned on Israel, and of their destruction. You see, while God may judge His people first, He saved the most wicked for last. God begins with Babylon, whose hands the people of Judah would be delivered to for a while.
“Lift ye up a banner upon the high mountain, exalt the voice unto them, shake the hand, that they may go into the gates of the nobles. I have commanded my sanctified ones, I have also called my mighty ones for mine anger, even them that rejoice in my highness. The noise of a multitude in the mountains, like as of a great people; a tumultuous noise of the kingdoms of nations gathered together: the LORD of hosts mustereth the host of the battle. They come from a far country, from the end of heaven, even the LORD, and the weapons of his indignation, to destroy the whole land. Howl ye; for the day of the LORD is at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty. Therefore shall all hands be faint, and every man's heart shall melt: And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible. And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldees' excellency, shall be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah.” - Isaiah 13:2-7,11,19.
“for the day of the LORD is at hand;” This goes beyond the destruction of the nation of Babylon, which already happened, this refers to Judgment Day, in which God will destroy the entire earth, Babylon being Rome, which is further talked about in the Book of Revelation. “And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:” - Revelation 14:8-10.
Someone pointed out to me that Jesus does not know when He is returning, only God does and He will send Him at the appointed time. While in a sense this is true because Jesus did say He judges no one in the flesh and that His Father sent Him (John 8:14-32)), but in the same conversation He also said He and His Father are one. We will never understand how God can be both because our human reasoning to comprehend, this is something that we must believe by faith, He has always been and will always be at the right hand of God, even though He is God, and we will all stand before Him in judgment. We get an interesting insight and revelation about the one who caused the fall of man in the first place, and what He will be accountable for. Old Lucifer himself, once one of God's archangels, arrogant and proud, tried to take the throne from God, got cast out of heaven, and is bound for hell.
“How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit. They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms; That made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; that opened not the house of his prisoners? The LORD of hosts hath sworn, saying, Surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, so shall it stand:” - Isaiah 14:12-17,24.
“Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell,” Perhaps one of the questions everyone who reads and studies the Bible has is why God puts the devil in prison for a thousand years while Jesus reigns at His return then lets him out to create havoc before the final judgment takes place. We can speculate as to why, but for some reason I believe that God will use that time to judge the last few, they will be no evil to corrupt them, no Holy Spirit to guide them, just Jesus to see if they will believe in Him when the devil is not there to influence them. Nevertheless, those who are saved will be safe. “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” - I Thessalonians 4:16,17.
Jesus Christ Magnified: “Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion: for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee.” - Isaiah 12:6.
Today's Prayer: Jesus, thank You for choosing to become the payment to redeem me of my sins. I should be in hell for the things I have done, but You took my stripes, bore my pain, so that I do not have to. I now I can never lose my salvation, but never want to be in the mess I was in before I let You be Lord of my life, I know I could fall if I let my flesh do the walking. Lord, lead me and guide me, give me Your power to resist the devil, help me stay in Your Word, and to live it so that I can be armed and prepared for Your return. In Your name Jesus, Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
Are You 100% Sure You Are Going To Heaven?: http://imfollowingjesus.com/follow-Jesus.html
Receive The KJB Daily Devotions In Your Email: http://eepurl.com/2WMzT
Missed A Message: http://imfollowingjesus.com/Biblestudy/
Visit I'm Following Jesus: http://imfollowingjesus.com/index.html
Like I'm Following Jesus On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/byhisstrength
Copyright © 2016 I'm Following Jesus, All rights reserved.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)