Bible Study: Do The Labor 05.3.10

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Today is Monday May 03, 2010 and we are reading through the Bible in a year. Today's message comes from the reading of the Book of II Kings, chapters 6-8. If you would like to read the chapters along with us here online you can Click Here to read them or copy & paste this link onto your browser: http://www.readytofollow.com/bible-may-3

Title: Bible Study: Do The Labor
God blesses us all with skills and talents that allow us to not only serve Him, but do what is necessary to receive the provisions we need. Now, God can give us anything we ask for, but we must be willing to do the work needed to receive them, like being obedient, praying, reading the Bible, helping others, these are all things that we must do to receive blessings from God. We can receive partial blessings in order for God to show that He is watching and knows everything, but the true blessings come from the labor and our willingness to do the work. Now, one thing I would like to stress is that no one labors for their Salvation, no one can work for their Salvation. Salvation is a gift from God that is received by putting your faith and trust in Jesus Christ, no amount of labor can get you saved, in fact, that is the only thing you do not have to work for. However, if you want God's true blessings and provisions in your life, you must be willing to do the labor necessary to receive them.

Although the sons of the prophets (students) devoted themselves to religious exercises, as they were training to be men of God, they sometimes had to do manual labor. They dwelled in house with Elisha and it was just too small to hold them all so they asked Elisha if they could build a house near Jordan.“And the sons of the prophets said unto Elisha, Behold now, the place where we dwell with thee is too strait for us. Let us go, we pray thee, unto Jordan, and take thence every man a beam, and let us make us a place there, where we may dwell. And he answered, Go ye. And one said, Be content, I pray thee, and go with thy servants. And he answered, I will go. So he went with them. And when they came to Jordan, they cut down wood. But as one was felling a beam, the axe head fell into the water: and he cried, and said, Alas, master! for it was borrowed. And the man of God said, Where fell it? And he shewed him the place. And he cut down a stick, and cast it in thither; and the iron did swim. Therefore said he, Take it up to thee. And he put out his hand, and took it.” - II Kings 6:1-7. One of the students urged Elisha to come with them and he accepted, which actually gave him a chance for them to see a miracle take place. The miracle, an iron ax head floating in the water. One might think what kind of miracle is that? Every little miracle is proof that God does exist, and is in control, and provides for His people in anyway He can. I have a Bible that I got when I was eleven years old, the first King James Bible I ever got. That Bible has traveled to eight houses and across five states, every time I thought I lost that Bible it showed up again. I never knew how important that Bible was until I realized that it was God's Word and that He was always with me no matter how far I traveled or how many times I tried to ignore Him. Yes, I lived in the world and praise God He got me out of it. God shows us miracles every day, we just need to pay attention to Him and He will show them to us.

Benhadad was the king of Syria, who was an idol worshiper, after he had learned that the sons of the prophets built a home near Jordan he was out to capture Elisha. “And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do? And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them. And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha. And when they came down to him, Elisha prayed unto the LORD, and said, Smite this people, I pray thee, with blindness. And he smote them with blindness according to the word of Elisha.” - II Kings 6:16-18. Elisha said to his servant, fear not, for they that are with us are more than those with them, meaning God and His army are with us, to protect us and are more than they that are against us, to destroy us. Elisha prayed that God would allow his servant to see the danger with his eyes, but also see God's protection through his eyes of faith. With eyes of faith we can get a clearer sight of the sovereignty and power of God, and the protection He places on all His obedient servants.

There is that pleasantness in the converse of servants of God, which can get those who listen to them forget the pain and the weariness of labor. Let no man think of a honest employment as a burden or a disgrace, and by the way, labor of the mind, is just as hard, and often even harder, than labor with the hands. While God allows us to do the labor necessary to receive provisions, we must be careful what work we allow ourselves to do. Temptations are all around us to accept jobs or do work that goes against our morals and God's will. How we handle these temptations determines our faithfulness and trust in God to point us in the right direction. “But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.” - II Thessalonians 3:3. Praise God! “But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” - I Corinthians 15:57,58.

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

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