Bible Study: Choose Who You Will Serve 03.30.10

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Today is Tuesday March 30, 2010 and we are reading through the Bible in a year. Today's message comes from the reading of the Book of Judges, chapters 20-21. If you would like to read the chapters along with us here online you can Click Here to read them or copy & paste this URL onto your browser: http://www.readytofollow.com/bible-march-30

Title: Bible Study: Choose Who Will You Serve
Did you ever wonder why the entire world is in such chaos? We can blame it on God, or the country, or the economy, or the president (ruler), but the truth is this, every man did that which was right in his own eyes . We have all these people making the decision for us as to how we are to live our lives and every one of them wants to every man did that which was right in his own eyes, not taking one second to look at what it will do to the rest of the country. Who starts wars? We do, not God, we do.

All through out the Book of Judges we read the phrase, every man did that which was right in his own eyes, and the result, war against the tribes. The tribe of Benjamin refused to allow justice to be done to the homosexual mob that gang-raped a defenseless Israelite woman causing her death. Now, all the other tribes of Israel united to execute judgment against them, “Then all the children of Israel went out, and the congregation was gathered together as one man, from Dan even to Beersheba, with the land of Gilead, unto the LORD in Mizpeh. And the chief of all the people, even of all the tribes of Israel, presented themselves in the assembly of the people of God, four hundred thousand footmen that drew sword. (Now the children of Benjamin heard that the children of Israel were gone up to Mizpeh.) Then said the children of Israel, Tell us, how was this wickedness? And the Levite, the husband of the woman that was slain, answered and said, I came into Gibeah that belongeth to Benjamin, I and my concubine, to lodge. And the men of Gibeah rose against me, and beset the house round about upon me by night, and thought to have slain me: and my concubine have they forced, that she is dead.......And the tribes of Israel sent men through all the tribe of Benjamin, saying, What wickedness is this that is done among you? Now therefore deliver us the men, the children of Belial, which are in Gibeah, that we may put them to death, and put away evil from Israel. But the children of Benjamin would not hearken to the voice of their brethren the children of Israel. But the children of Benjamin gathered themselves together out of the cities unto Gibeah, to go out to battle against the children of Israel.” - Judges 20:1-5,12-14. Brothers, fighting against brothers, because each one thought they were right, but wickedness is never right and one way or another justice will be served.

Wickedness will always try to triumph over good and for a while it seems that it has, but through all the defeats God is teaching us something. We need Him! It was only after two disastrous defeats at the hands of the Benjamites that the children of Israel sought guidance from God. “Then all the children of Israel, and all the people, went up, and came unto the house of God, and wept, and sat there before the LORD, and fasted that day until even, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD......And the LORD smote Benjamin before Israel: and the children of Israel destroyed of the Benjamites that day twenty and five thousand and an hundred men: all these drew the sword.” - Judges 20:26,35. It was not until the people humbly went before God wholeheartedly that they were able to triumph over the wicked Benjamites. There is a growing indifference to immorality in our society that is similar to what existed in the tribe of Benjamin. Adultery is now called "having an affair." Homosexuality is replaced with "gay and lesbian" or "alternative lifestyles." Fornication is referred to as "live-in lovers." The purpose of this new vocabulary is to remove the sense of guilt for violating God's moral Law and to make the sinner feel more comfortable. We can not hide sin with words, God knows the heart and sooner or later all wickedness is defeated.

All sin is abominable to our holy God, “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.” - I Corinthians 6:9,10. However, all sin that is truly repented of and forsaken will be forgiven through the atoning blood of Jesus Christ. “And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.” - I Corinthians 6:11. Sin always becomes progressively worse, lust eventually becomes action and its wages lead to death. The only cure is repentance and forgiveness through Jesus Christ. He will cleanse us from all, even the wickedest sin. Praise God!

It is time to become as the children of Israel became, one united with Christ, I am not just talking about knowing the name Christ, I am talking about living for Christ. The One and only begotten Son of God who gave His life to save us all from death and hell. In the midst of all the chaos and unbelief, God always has a faithful remnant who will withstand the pressures and pleasures of sin and live to please Him. Everyone lives to please someone ourselves, other people, or the Lord. Who will you choose today? As Joshua said, “And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve;…... but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” - Joshua 24:15. We all have a choice, but as for me and my house we will serve the Lord. Praise God!

Enjoy the rest of your day/night and week
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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