Hello My Friend/Guest,
Today is Saturday June 05, 2010 and we are reading through the Bible in a year. Today's message comes from the reading of the Book of Ezra, chapter 10. 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-june-5
Bible Study: Truly Committed
When one thinks of the word adultery the first thing that comes to mind to most of us is an extramarital affair. The word adultery goes beyond a physical affair, it is being disloyal and betraying, it is breaking a commitment given to another. When we make a commitment whether, it be a marriage vow, a contract, or living our life for Christ we are accountable for following through with that commitment. If we are disloyal in any way, whether it be in body, mind, or spirit, we are committing adultery.
Ezra, after making the long four month journey to Jerusalem, was expecting to find a joyful place, instead he found one in ruins. Israelites, including Levites were married to Canaanite women, some of them having children with them. He was so distraught over their sins that it drove him to intense prayer. “Now when Ezra had prayed, and when he had confessed, weeping and casting himself down before the house of God, there assembled unto him out of Israel a very great congregation of men and women and children: for the people wept very sore. And Shechaniah the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam, answered and said unto Ezra, We have trespassed against our God, and have taken strange wives of the people of the land: yet now there is hope in Israel concerning this thing. Now therefore let us make a covenant with our God to put away all the wives, and such as are born of them, according to the counsel of my lord, and of those that tremble at the commandment of our God; and let it be done according to the law. Arise; for this matter belongeth unto thee: we also will be with thee: be of good courage, and do it. Then arose Ezra, and made the chief priests, the Levites, and all Israel, to swear that they should do according to this word. And they sware. ” - Ezra 10:1-5. Ezra's deep grief and the willing submission of the majority of the nation's leaders and people were exceedingly important from a national point of view. As the Israelites listened to Ezra proclaim the Word of God, they were convicted of their sins. Sometimes when others are living in sin the best thing we can do for them is pray for them. It brings about conviction and the majority of the time when people are feeling convicted that is when they repent.
One by one, each man who had married a Canaanite woman had to present himself with his wife and children before the court to determine whether or not they were involved in idol worship or were worshipers of the true God of Israel. “And Ezra the priest stood up, and said unto them, Ye have transgressed, and have taken strange wives, to increase the trespass of Israel. Now therefore make confession unto the LORD God of your fathers, and do his pleasure: and separate yourselves from the people of the land, and from the strange wives. Then all the congregation answered and said with a loud voice, As thou hast said, so must we do. But the people are many, and it is a time of much rain, and we are not able to stand without, neither is this a work of one day or two: for we are many that have transgressed in this thing. Let now our rulers of all the congregation stand, and let all them which have taken strange wives in our cities come at appointed times, and with them the elders of every city, and the judges thereof, until the fierce wrath of our God for this matter be turned from us.” - Ezra 10:10-14. Any man found in idol worshiping was forced to divorce his wife, even if they had children together. If the wife was found to have been converted and worshiping only God then they were allowed to remain married and became an Israelite. Now, God does not condone divorce, but if a woman causes a godly man to live a heathen life He will make a way to end the relationship. Jesus Said, “But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.” - Matthew 5:32. This is why it is important that we be separated from non-believers. They will almost always get us away from God and into their wicked living. Although I never got married, praise God, I was involved with a man who was morally corrupt and took me right down there with him until I realized I did not know who I was anymore. God does not make up these rules to keep us from living a good life, He makes them to keep us from going through unnecessary suffering.
Every time we put people, things, hobbies, or careers before God, every time we miss a church service to go to a game, or every time we break one of His commands we are committing spiritual adultery with God. Now, God knows what we are going through, He knows there are times when we may have to work because of a conflicting schedule, get sick, get caught up in obligations, or are just having a rough day and He is okay with that. “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.” - Proverbs 28:13. What He is not okay with is deliberately going against our commitment to live our lives for Him. “I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.” - Revelation 3:15,16. God knows our hearts and He will not pardon anyone who has not truly, wholeheartedly accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior. Of course we are going to sin, of course we are going to have days when God is not in the picture, but God will never leave nor forsake those who truly are committed to Him.
Enjoy the rest of your day/night week.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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Saturday, June 5, 2010
Friday, June 4, 2010
Daily Bible Study: The Power of God 06.04.10
Hello My Friend/Guest,
Today is Friday June 04, 2010 and we are reading through the Bible in a year. Today's message comes from the reading of the Book of Ezra, chapters 8-9. 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-june-4
Bible Study: The Power of God
At times it can be a little discouraging to be a Christian, even though you are faithful to God and live your life for Him, some people, including our very own family members, want nothing to do with God and even try to discourage you from doing what He calls you to do. This is when the power of God is needed to keep us encouraged and motivated as well as be that spiritual guidance and example the unfaithful need to see how a life can be beneficial and changed through our faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Ezra was a prophet born in Babylon, since he knew the Scriptures he decided to be responsible for leading about five thousand men, women, and children on the journey from Babylon to Jerusalem. “And I gathered them together to the river that runneth to Ahava; and there abode we in tents three days: and I viewed the people, and the priests, and found there none of the sons of Levi. Then sent I for Eliezer, for Ariel, for Shemaiah, and for Elnathan, and for Jarib, and for Elnathan, and for Nathan, and for Zechariah, and for Meshullam, chief men; also for Joiarib, and for Elnathan, men of understanding. And I sent them with commandment unto Iddo the chief at the place Casiphia, and I told them what they should say unto Iddo, and to his brethren the Nethinims, at the place Casiphia, that they should bring unto us ministers for the house of our God....And I said unto them, Ye are holy unto the LORD; the vessels are holy also; and the silver and the gold are a freewill offering unto the LORD God of your fathers. Watch ye, and keep them, until ye weigh them before the chief of the priests and the Levites, and chief of the fathers of Israel, at Jerusalem, in the chambers of the house of the LORD. So took the priests and the Levites the weight of the silver, and the gold, and the vessels, to bring them to Jerusalem unto the house of our God. Then we departed from the river of Ahava on the twelfth day of the first month, to go unto Jerusalem: and the hand of our God was upon us, and he delivered us from the hand of the enemy, and of such as lay in wait by the way.” - Ezra 8:15-18,28-31. Shortly into their journey Ezra realized that out of all the people traveling with him none were priests of the Levites, which were needed to minister and accept the offerings offered to the Lord. So, he called for them and gave them the task of delivering the priceless Temple treasures to the House of God. During this journey they would face many dangers and difficulties, including possible attacks by nomadic robbers. Furthermore, Ezra said to those who were with him that God could protect and provide for His people and He did, they arrived safely into Jerusalem four months later. God is always with us and will protect us, whether we are doing His work at home or two thousand miles away, through all the dangers and difficulties along the way. It may feel as though He is not with us at times, but those are the times when He is with us more than ever.
When Ezra and the people arrived in Jerusalem they expected the people to be worshiping, praising God, and giving them some hope of a God filled life. However, it was just the opposite, the moral and spiritual condition in Jerusalem was terrible and it grieved Ezra to the point that he fell on his knees, pread out his hands to the Lord, begging for forgiveness of the people. “Now when these things were done, the princes came to me, saying, The people of Israel, and the priests, and the Levites, have not separated themselves from the people of the lands, doing according to their abominations, even of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites. For they have taken of their daughters for themselves, and for their sons: so that the holy seed have mingled themselves with the people of those lands: yea, the hand of the princes and rulers hath been chief in this trespass. And when I heard this thing, I rent my garment and my mantle, and plucked off the hair of my head and of my beard, and sat down astonied. Then were assembled unto me every one that trembled at the words of the God of Israel, because of the transgression of those that had been carried away; and I sat astonied until the evening sacrifice. And at the evening sacrifice I arose up from my heaviness; and having rent my garment and my mantle, I fell upon my knees, and spread out my hands unto the LORD my God, And said, O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to thee, my God: for our iniquities are increased over our head, and our trespass is grown up unto the heavens.” - Ezra 9:1-6. Ezra. Ezra saw godly men living in sin and he was ashamed to of them, godly people are to set examples of a moral and uncorrupted life, but when they live as the world all they are doing is telling them it's God, big deal, nothing changes if we know God. When we see people living in sin we are ashamed and God forbid we let other Christians know we are with them. However, God is a forgiving God and we must pray for them and forgive them.
When Jesus was on the cross and the people were crucifying Him He said, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” - Luke 23:34. Those who live in sin, are lost or have been away from God so long that they have forgotten that they too can be forgiven. They truly have no idea what they are doing and need our prayers and forgiveness just as much as everyone else. After all, if we do not forgive them God will not forgive us for our sins. Jesus Said, “For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” - Matthew 6:14,15. I know that some people are more wicked than others, but we are all sinners and sin is sin in God's eyes, He is not a respecter of persons, He just wants everyone to seek Him and accept Him. We need to beware though, that we can not take advantage of God's good graces, He will not be mocked and if He finds anyone abusing His love He will put a stop to it.
We are all under the loving care of the hand of our heavenly Father and nothing can touch us except with His permission. Since this is true, outbursts of fright, unforgiving, complaint, or anger over our circumstances are evidences of our failure to recognize the presence and power of God. “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.” - Romans 13:1.
Enjoy the rest of your day/night and have a good and awesome weekend.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
Visit: I'm Following Jesus!
http://www.readytofollow.com
Are You 100% Sure That You Are Going to Heaven?
You Can Be: I'm Ready to Get Saved
http://www.readytofollow.com/salvation
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Today is Friday June 04, 2010 and we are reading through the Bible in a year. Today's message comes from the reading of the Book of Ezra, chapters 8-9. 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-june-4
Bible Study: The Power of God
At times it can be a little discouraging to be a Christian, even though you are faithful to God and live your life for Him, some people, including our very own family members, want nothing to do with God and even try to discourage you from doing what He calls you to do. This is when the power of God is needed to keep us encouraged and motivated as well as be that spiritual guidance and example the unfaithful need to see how a life can be beneficial and changed through our faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Ezra was a prophet born in Babylon, since he knew the Scriptures he decided to be responsible for leading about five thousand men, women, and children on the journey from Babylon to Jerusalem. “And I gathered them together to the river that runneth to Ahava; and there abode we in tents three days: and I viewed the people, and the priests, and found there none of the sons of Levi. Then sent I for Eliezer, for Ariel, for Shemaiah, and for Elnathan, and for Jarib, and for Elnathan, and for Nathan, and for Zechariah, and for Meshullam, chief men; also for Joiarib, and for Elnathan, men of understanding. And I sent them with commandment unto Iddo the chief at the place Casiphia, and I told them what they should say unto Iddo, and to his brethren the Nethinims, at the place Casiphia, that they should bring unto us ministers for the house of our God....And I said unto them, Ye are holy unto the LORD; the vessels are holy also; and the silver and the gold are a freewill offering unto the LORD God of your fathers. Watch ye, and keep them, until ye weigh them before the chief of the priests and the Levites, and chief of the fathers of Israel, at Jerusalem, in the chambers of the house of the LORD. So took the priests and the Levites the weight of the silver, and the gold, and the vessels, to bring them to Jerusalem unto the house of our God. Then we departed from the river of Ahava on the twelfth day of the first month, to go unto Jerusalem: and the hand of our God was upon us, and he delivered us from the hand of the enemy, and of such as lay in wait by the way.” - Ezra 8:15-18,28-31. Shortly into their journey Ezra realized that out of all the people traveling with him none were priests of the Levites, which were needed to minister and accept the offerings offered to the Lord. So, he called for them and gave them the task of delivering the priceless Temple treasures to the House of God. During this journey they would face many dangers and difficulties, including possible attacks by nomadic robbers. Furthermore, Ezra said to those who were with him that God could protect and provide for His people and He did, they arrived safely into Jerusalem four months later. God is always with us and will protect us, whether we are doing His work at home or two thousand miles away, through all the dangers and difficulties along the way. It may feel as though He is not with us at times, but those are the times when He is with us more than ever.
When Ezra and the people arrived in Jerusalem they expected the people to be worshiping, praising God, and giving them some hope of a God filled life. However, it was just the opposite, the moral and spiritual condition in Jerusalem was terrible and it grieved Ezra to the point that he fell on his knees, pread out his hands to the Lord, begging for forgiveness of the people. “Now when these things were done, the princes came to me, saying, The people of Israel, and the priests, and the Levites, have not separated themselves from the people of the lands, doing according to their abominations, even of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites. For they have taken of their daughters for themselves, and for their sons: so that the holy seed have mingled themselves with the people of those lands: yea, the hand of the princes and rulers hath been chief in this trespass. And when I heard this thing, I rent my garment and my mantle, and plucked off the hair of my head and of my beard, and sat down astonied. Then were assembled unto me every one that trembled at the words of the God of Israel, because of the transgression of those that had been carried away; and I sat astonied until the evening sacrifice. And at the evening sacrifice I arose up from my heaviness; and having rent my garment and my mantle, I fell upon my knees, and spread out my hands unto the LORD my God, And said, O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to thee, my God: for our iniquities are increased over our head, and our trespass is grown up unto the heavens.” - Ezra 9:1-6. Ezra. Ezra saw godly men living in sin and he was ashamed to of them, godly people are to set examples of a moral and uncorrupted life, but when they live as the world all they are doing is telling them it's God, big deal, nothing changes if we know God. When we see people living in sin we are ashamed and God forbid we let other Christians know we are with them. However, God is a forgiving God and we must pray for them and forgive them.
When Jesus was on the cross and the people were crucifying Him He said, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” - Luke 23:34. Those who live in sin, are lost or have been away from God so long that they have forgotten that they too can be forgiven. They truly have no idea what they are doing and need our prayers and forgiveness just as much as everyone else. After all, if we do not forgive them God will not forgive us for our sins. Jesus Said, “For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” - Matthew 6:14,15. I know that some people are more wicked than others, but we are all sinners and sin is sin in God's eyes, He is not a respecter of persons, He just wants everyone to seek Him and accept Him. We need to beware though, that we can not take advantage of God's good graces, He will not be mocked and if He finds anyone abusing His love He will put a stop to it.
We are all under the loving care of the hand of our heavenly Father and nothing can touch us except with His permission. Since this is true, outbursts of fright, unforgiving, complaint, or anger over our circumstances are evidences of our failure to recognize the presence and power of God. “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.” - Romans 13:1.
Enjoy the rest of your day/night and have a good and awesome weekend.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
Visit: I'm Following Jesus!
http://www.readytofollow.com
Are You 100% Sure That You Are Going to Heaven?
You Can Be: I'm Ready to Get Saved
http://www.readytofollow.com/salvation
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Thursday, June 3, 2010
Daily Bible Study: Don't Try, Do 06.03.10
Hello My Friend/Guest,
Today is Thursday June 3, 2010 and we are reading through the Bible in a year. Today's message comes from the reading of the Book of Ezra, chapters 6-7. 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-june-3
Title: Bible Study: Don't Try, Do
As Christians we have made a covenant with God, an agreement, we agreed to live our lives for Christ, to love the Lord with all our heart, our soul, and our mind. In return. He agreed to never leave us nor forsake us and even though we will still face trials, He will be with us giving us the strength to move forward and get through them. I was listening to this young man talk with our Preacher about an upcoming youth conference, he told the Preacher I will try to do what you ask. The Preacher said don't try, do, if you say you will try you will not do. God has the same response to us when we say we will try to obey Him and live our lives for Him. If we say we will try then we really are not going to make much of an effort to do what we say, but if we say we will obey Him and live our lives for Him then we are going to make an effort to do what we say. Now, God knows that we can not change over night and He does not expect us to, but as long as we are willing to follow through and do what we say then He has no problem with that and will always be with us to give us the strength, will, and encouragement to follow through with our agreement.
Fourteen years had passed after the Jews laid the foundation of the Temple, but once God's Word and authority were recognized, it was time to get it done. “And the elders of the Jews builded, and they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. And they builded, and finished it, according to the commandment of the God of Israel, and according to the commandment of Cyrus, and Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia. And this house was finished on the third day of the month Adar, which was in the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king. And the children of Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the rest of the children of the captivity, kept the dedication of this house of God with joy. And offered at the dedication of this house of God an hundred bullocks, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs; and for a sin offering for all Israel, twelve he goats, according to the number of the tribes of Israel. And they set the priests in their divisions, and the Levites in their courses, for the service of God, which is at Jerusalem; as it is written in the book of Moses. ” - Ezra 6:14-18. The prophets Haggai and Zechariah reminded the Jews that they had a job to do. They just needed a revival, a little encouragement to remind them that God was still with them. What caused this revival? Their circumstances had not changed, they has the same intense opposition and determination by the enemy to cause the work to cease, but this time, they were strengthened by the power of God and His Word. There is nothing more comforting, eye opening, and encouraging than the Bible. Through it we learn of God's grace, commitment, and convictions with His people. He reveals a little bit at a time to us so we can not only live a prosperous life, but one with a great relationship with God.
God's work can only be sustained and strengthened through obedience to His Word, which is the foundation of our Christian lives, one power that Satan cannot overcome. God's Word is the source of strength by which His children cannot be defeated. Ezra was born during the Babylonian captivity. He was a descendant of Aaron, Israel's first high priest. He was sent to Jerusalem to bring spiritual leadership to the people. “This Ezra went up from Babylon; and he was a ready scribe in the law of Moses, which the LORD God of Israel had given: and the king granted him all his request, according to the hand of the LORD his God upon him...For upon the first day of the first month began he to go up from Babylon, and on the first day of the fifth month came he to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God upon him. For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments. Now this is the copy of the letter that the king Artaxerxes gave unto Ezra the priest, the scribe, even a scribe of the words of the commandments of the LORD, and of his statutes to Israel....And thou, Ezra, after the wisdom of thy God, that is in thine hand, set magistrates and judges, which may judge all the people that are beyond the river, all such as know the laws of thy God; and teach ye them that know them not. And whosoever will not do the law of thy God, and the law of the king, let judgment be executed speedily upon him, whether it be unto death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment. Blessed be the LORD God of our fathers, which hath put such a thing as this in the king's heart, to beautify the house of the LORD which is in Jerusalem:” - Ezra 7:6,9-11,25-27. The key to Ezra's great effectiveness in accomplishing the will of God is that he prepared His heart to seek the law of the Lord, in other words, he studied God's Word and did it. Ezra was committed to seeking, doing, and teaching God's Word. This should be a reminder that, if we want God to bless our lives, we too must prepare our hearts to seek the truth in God's Word and do what He commands.
Everyone reading this is at different levels of their Christianity, some may not know Christ yet, but are as we speak, some are newly converted, some have been for years, but have gotten away from God, some have not been taught the Word of God at all, and some are mature Christians, but we are all special, chosen by God Himself and accepted through our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. All who have accepted Christ are now the Temple of God in which He dwells in. Every Christian represents Christ and those who truly seek Him with all their heart will not try to, but do make an effort to fulfill their agreement to commit to Christ. Jesus has the power and does change the life of anyone willing to fulfill their commitment to love the Lord, with all their heart, soul, and mind. Unless we read God's Word and study it for ourselves we will never know what God asks from us nor will we do it. “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ....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 2:2-5,9. Every chapter, every verse, and every word in the Bible is there to help us learn, to grow, and to know His commands. If we truly want Jesus to be Lord of our lives and want to see the blessings flow through the trials we face, we must not try to, but do make an effort to fulfill our agreement with God. Jesus is the light through the darkest path, He is God's Word and all who seek Him will be blessed. Praise God!
Enjoy the rest of your day/night week.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
Visit: I'm Following Jesus!
http://www.readytofollow.com
Are You 100% Sure That You Are Going to Heaven?
You Can Be: I'm Ready to Get Saved
http://www.readytofollow.com/salvation
Want To Receive These Devotions in Your Email?
Send me a blank email with the word Subscribe in the Title to:
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Today is Thursday June 3, 2010 and we are reading through the Bible in a year. Today's message comes from the reading of the Book of Ezra, chapters 6-7. 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-june-3
Title: Bible Study: Don't Try, Do
As Christians we have made a covenant with God, an agreement, we agreed to live our lives for Christ, to love the Lord with all our heart, our soul, and our mind. In return. He agreed to never leave us nor forsake us and even though we will still face trials, He will be with us giving us the strength to move forward and get through them. I was listening to this young man talk with our Preacher about an upcoming youth conference, he told the Preacher I will try to do what you ask. The Preacher said don't try, do, if you say you will try you will not do. God has the same response to us when we say we will try to obey Him and live our lives for Him. If we say we will try then we really are not going to make much of an effort to do what we say, but if we say we will obey Him and live our lives for Him then we are going to make an effort to do what we say. Now, God knows that we can not change over night and He does not expect us to, but as long as we are willing to follow through and do what we say then He has no problem with that and will always be with us to give us the strength, will, and encouragement to follow through with our agreement.
Fourteen years had passed after the Jews laid the foundation of the Temple, but once God's Word and authority were recognized, it was time to get it done. “And the elders of the Jews builded, and they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. And they builded, and finished it, according to the commandment of the God of Israel, and according to the commandment of Cyrus, and Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia. And this house was finished on the third day of the month Adar, which was in the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king. And the children of Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the rest of the children of the captivity, kept the dedication of this house of God with joy. And offered at the dedication of this house of God an hundred bullocks, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs; and for a sin offering for all Israel, twelve he goats, according to the number of the tribes of Israel. And they set the priests in their divisions, and the Levites in their courses, for the service of God, which is at Jerusalem; as it is written in the book of Moses. ” - Ezra 6:14-18. The prophets Haggai and Zechariah reminded the Jews that they had a job to do. They just needed a revival, a little encouragement to remind them that God was still with them. What caused this revival? Their circumstances had not changed, they has the same intense opposition and determination by the enemy to cause the work to cease, but this time, they were strengthened by the power of God and His Word. There is nothing more comforting, eye opening, and encouraging than the Bible. Through it we learn of God's grace, commitment, and convictions with His people. He reveals a little bit at a time to us so we can not only live a prosperous life, but one with a great relationship with God.
God's work can only be sustained and strengthened through obedience to His Word, which is the foundation of our Christian lives, one power that Satan cannot overcome. God's Word is the source of strength by which His children cannot be defeated. Ezra was born during the Babylonian captivity. He was a descendant of Aaron, Israel's first high priest. He was sent to Jerusalem to bring spiritual leadership to the people. “This Ezra went up from Babylon; and he was a ready scribe in the law of Moses, which the LORD God of Israel had given: and the king granted him all his request, according to the hand of the LORD his God upon him...For upon the first day of the first month began he to go up from Babylon, and on the first day of the fifth month came he to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God upon him. For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments. Now this is the copy of the letter that the king Artaxerxes gave unto Ezra the priest, the scribe, even a scribe of the words of the commandments of the LORD, and of his statutes to Israel....And thou, Ezra, after the wisdom of thy God, that is in thine hand, set magistrates and judges, which may judge all the people that are beyond the river, all such as know the laws of thy God; and teach ye them that know them not. And whosoever will not do the law of thy God, and the law of the king, let judgment be executed speedily upon him, whether it be unto death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment. Blessed be the LORD God of our fathers, which hath put such a thing as this in the king's heart, to beautify the house of the LORD which is in Jerusalem:” - Ezra 7:6,9-11,25-27. The key to Ezra's great effectiveness in accomplishing the will of God is that he prepared His heart to seek the law of the Lord, in other words, he studied God's Word and did it. Ezra was committed to seeking, doing, and teaching God's Word. This should be a reminder that, if we want God to bless our lives, we too must prepare our hearts to seek the truth in God's Word and do what He commands.
Everyone reading this is at different levels of their Christianity, some may not know Christ yet, but are as we speak, some are newly converted, some have been for years, but have gotten away from God, some have not been taught the Word of God at all, and some are mature Christians, but we are all special, chosen by God Himself and accepted through our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. All who have accepted Christ are now the Temple of God in which He dwells in. Every Christian represents Christ and those who truly seek Him with all their heart will not try to, but do make an effort to fulfill their agreement to commit to Christ. Jesus has the power and does change the life of anyone willing to fulfill their commitment to love the Lord, with all their heart, soul, and mind. Unless we read God's Word and study it for ourselves we will never know what God asks from us nor will we do it. “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ....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 2:2-5,9. Every chapter, every verse, and every word in the Bible is there to help us learn, to grow, and to know His commands. If we truly want Jesus to be Lord of our lives and want to see the blessings flow through the trials we face, we must not try to, but do make an effort to fulfill our agreement with God. Jesus is the light through the darkest path, He is God's Word and all who seek Him will be blessed. Praise God!
Enjoy the rest of your day/night week.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Daily Bible Study: In God's Hands 06.02.10
Hello My Friend/Guest,
Today is Wednesday June 2, 2010 and we are reading through the Bible in a year. Today's message comes from the reading of the Book of Ezra, chapters 3-5. 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-june-2
Title: Bible Study: In God's Hands
You can be sure that once you start serving God obstacles will come your way to try and get you to stop. The amazing thing is that everything is in God's hands and once He sets you on that journey to do His work He will stop at nothing to get you to do it. He knows we will face obstacles, He allows them to strengthen our relationship with Him as well as determine whether or not we are truthfully with all our heart following Him. We are going to have ups and downs, I heard an evangelist once speak on how God gets you to the top of the mountain, but you better be prepared because you are going to fall real quick. As soon as we see God do the impossible we are on the top of that mountain, praising Him and rejoicing, but it seems as soon as we reach it Satan is right there to knock us down and he is, but praise God. The more Satan is on us the more we know we are right with God. The ideal is to keep praising Him even when we are falling off that mountain. Of course, we are going to get discouraged from time to time and wonder why all this is happening, but it's all in God's hands, He will take care of it as long as we remain faithful to Him and even if we are not, He will get us back on track.
Israel was in ruins, most of the Jews from the Northern Kingdom were scattered all over the world, while the Southern Kingdom was held captive in Babylon, for seventy years not a thing was done to restore the land once promised to God's people. Now that king Cyrus set the Jews free they were able to return to Jerusalem and begin rebuilding. After four months of traveling they finally arrived to a desolate, abandoned land, full of wickedness. “And when the seventh month was come, and the children of Israel were in the cities, the people gathered themselves together as one man to Jerusalem. Then stood up Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and his brethren the priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and his brethren, and builded the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings thereon, as it is written in the law of Moses the man of God. And they set the altar upon his bases; for fear was upon them because of the people of those countries: and they offered burnt offerings thereon unto the LORD, even burnt offerings morning and evening.” - Ezra 3:1-3. Every Jew came together as one and the first thing they did was set up an altar to God as it was written in God's Word. This would be the first time that many of the Jews even knew of the feast of the Lord, but they followed every command written in the law of Moses. They were scared, but they knew God was with them and knew they needed to get right with Him and put Him first so they could be prepared for the huge obstacles they were about to face. We are going to face some big obstacles, but as long as we put God first He will keep us safe and prepare us for them. Our fears should drive us to our knees seeking God's repentance and help in every obstacle we face.
Every attempt to revive true religion will stir up the opposition of Satan, and of those in whom he works. As soon as the Jews laid the foundation, they faced opposition. “Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity builded the temple unto the LORD God of Israel; Then they came to Zerubbabel, and to the chief of the fathers, and said unto them, Let us build with you: for we seek your God, as ye do; and we do sacrifice unto him since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assur, which brought us up hither. But Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the rest of the chief of the fathers of Israel, said unto them, Ye have nothing to do with us to build an house unto our God; but we ourselves together will build unto the LORD God of Israel, as king Cyrus the king of Persia hath commanded us. Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah, and troubled them in building, And hired counsellors against them, to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia. Then ceased the work of the house of God which is at Jerusalem. So it ceased unto the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.” - Ezra 4:1-5,24. As the Jews began rebuilding the Temple the people of the land were set out to get them to stop one way or another and they did. First, they tried to confuse them by offering to join them and when that did not work they hired wicked counselors to frustrate them and they stopped completely. Their lack of faith caused them to lose sight of God in the midst of their obstacles instead of seeking Him for help. The amazing thing is that they were doing God's work and yet they still lost their faith. Sadly, we too can lose our faith in God when we are serving Him and doing His work. Thousands of men and women of God have left the church and God all together because they lost their faith in God while doing His work. We must hold on to our faith, the second we feel the urge to walk away that is when we need to get in our prayer closet because Satan is right there pulling and tugging at us to leave the comforts of God so he can take control of our lives.
For fourteen years the Temple remained unfinished while the Jews attended to rebuilding the city. It took the prophets Haggai and Zechariah to remind them that they had not finished the Temple and it was time to get it done. “Then the prophets, Haggai the prophet, and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied unto the Jews that were in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, even unto them. Then rose up Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and began to build the house of God which is at Jerusalem: and with them were the prophets of God helping them. At the same time came to them Tatnai, governor on this side the river, and Shetharboznai and their companions, and said thus unto them, Who hath commanded you to build this house, and to make up this wall? Then said we unto them after this manner, What are the names of the men that make this building? But the eye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews, that they could not cause them to cease, till the matter came to Darius: and then they returned answer by letter concerning this matter.” - Ezra 5:1-5. This time God was with them and nothing would stop them. While many say that the people were selfish for putting their needs first and not finishing the Temple, I think that God intended for them to rebuild the city first. Strangely enough we must get to the point that we are completely away from God before we realize we need Him. It is the only way God can get us to return to Him and serve Him faithfully. Moses, after killing a man, ran from God and for forty years he thought he was completely away from Him, all the while God was preparing him for the biggest challenge and job of his life. Life is not easy, it takes the strong power of God to get us through the obstacles without going crazy. Most of us have gotten away from God at one point in our lives, but we are still in God's hands and He will get us to see that we need Him one way or another and it is usually when we hit rock bottom that we realize that. I too had gotten away from God and it took about ten years for me to find my way back to Him, it took me losing everything I owned before I found Him again.
God's hands are in every part of our lives, from the good to the bad, He allows everything in order to grow us, prepare us, strengthen us, and bring us to the point that we realize we are nothing without Him. It's great to praise Him when things are going well, but it's time to praise Him when things are not going as well. The more we praise Him through the obstacles the quicker we reach the mountain top and are prepared for the fall once again. “Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” - Philippians 4:4-7. Praise God!
Enjoy the rest of your day/night and God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
Visit: I'm Following Jesus!
http://www.readytofollow.com
Are You 100% Sure That You Are Going to Heaven?
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Today is Wednesday June 2, 2010 and we are reading through the Bible in a year. Today's message comes from the reading of the Book of Ezra, chapters 3-5. 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-june-2
Title: Bible Study: In God's Hands
You can be sure that once you start serving God obstacles will come your way to try and get you to stop. The amazing thing is that everything is in God's hands and once He sets you on that journey to do His work He will stop at nothing to get you to do it. He knows we will face obstacles, He allows them to strengthen our relationship with Him as well as determine whether or not we are truthfully with all our heart following Him. We are going to have ups and downs, I heard an evangelist once speak on how God gets you to the top of the mountain, but you better be prepared because you are going to fall real quick. As soon as we see God do the impossible we are on the top of that mountain, praising Him and rejoicing, but it seems as soon as we reach it Satan is right there to knock us down and he is, but praise God. The more Satan is on us the more we know we are right with God. The ideal is to keep praising Him even when we are falling off that mountain. Of course, we are going to get discouraged from time to time and wonder why all this is happening, but it's all in God's hands, He will take care of it as long as we remain faithful to Him and even if we are not, He will get us back on track.
Israel was in ruins, most of the Jews from the Northern Kingdom were scattered all over the world, while the Southern Kingdom was held captive in Babylon, for seventy years not a thing was done to restore the land once promised to God's people. Now that king Cyrus set the Jews free they were able to return to Jerusalem and begin rebuilding. After four months of traveling they finally arrived to a desolate, abandoned land, full of wickedness. “And when the seventh month was come, and the children of Israel were in the cities, the people gathered themselves together as one man to Jerusalem. Then stood up Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and his brethren the priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and his brethren, and builded the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings thereon, as it is written in the law of Moses the man of God. And they set the altar upon his bases; for fear was upon them because of the people of those countries: and they offered burnt offerings thereon unto the LORD, even burnt offerings morning and evening.” - Ezra 3:1-3. Every Jew came together as one and the first thing they did was set up an altar to God as it was written in God's Word. This would be the first time that many of the Jews even knew of the feast of the Lord, but they followed every command written in the law of Moses. They were scared, but they knew God was with them and knew they needed to get right with Him and put Him first so they could be prepared for the huge obstacles they were about to face. We are going to face some big obstacles, but as long as we put God first He will keep us safe and prepare us for them. Our fears should drive us to our knees seeking God's repentance and help in every obstacle we face.
Every attempt to revive true religion will stir up the opposition of Satan, and of those in whom he works. As soon as the Jews laid the foundation, they faced opposition. “Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity builded the temple unto the LORD God of Israel; Then they came to Zerubbabel, and to the chief of the fathers, and said unto them, Let us build with you: for we seek your God, as ye do; and we do sacrifice unto him since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assur, which brought us up hither. But Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the rest of the chief of the fathers of Israel, said unto them, Ye have nothing to do with us to build an house unto our God; but we ourselves together will build unto the LORD God of Israel, as king Cyrus the king of Persia hath commanded us. Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah, and troubled them in building, And hired counsellors against them, to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia. Then ceased the work of the house of God which is at Jerusalem. So it ceased unto the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.” - Ezra 4:1-5,24. As the Jews began rebuilding the Temple the people of the land were set out to get them to stop one way or another and they did. First, they tried to confuse them by offering to join them and when that did not work they hired wicked counselors to frustrate them and they stopped completely. Their lack of faith caused them to lose sight of God in the midst of their obstacles instead of seeking Him for help. The amazing thing is that they were doing God's work and yet they still lost their faith. Sadly, we too can lose our faith in God when we are serving Him and doing His work. Thousands of men and women of God have left the church and God all together because they lost their faith in God while doing His work. We must hold on to our faith, the second we feel the urge to walk away that is when we need to get in our prayer closet because Satan is right there pulling and tugging at us to leave the comforts of God so he can take control of our lives.
For fourteen years the Temple remained unfinished while the Jews attended to rebuilding the city. It took the prophets Haggai and Zechariah to remind them that they had not finished the Temple and it was time to get it done. “Then the prophets, Haggai the prophet, and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied unto the Jews that were in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, even unto them. Then rose up Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and began to build the house of God which is at Jerusalem: and with them were the prophets of God helping them. At the same time came to them Tatnai, governor on this side the river, and Shetharboznai and their companions, and said thus unto them, Who hath commanded you to build this house, and to make up this wall? Then said we unto them after this manner, What are the names of the men that make this building? But the eye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews, that they could not cause them to cease, till the matter came to Darius: and then they returned answer by letter concerning this matter.” - Ezra 5:1-5. This time God was with them and nothing would stop them. While many say that the people were selfish for putting their needs first and not finishing the Temple, I think that God intended for them to rebuild the city first. Strangely enough we must get to the point that we are completely away from God before we realize we need Him. It is the only way God can get us to return to Him and serve Him faithfully. Moses, after killing a man, ran from God and for forty years he thought he was completely away from Him, all the while God was preparing him for the biggest challenge and job of his life. Life is not easy, it takes the strong power of God to get us through the obstacles without going crazy. Most of us have gotten away from God at one point in our lives, but we are still in God's hands and He will get us to see that we need Him one way or another and it is usually when we hit rock bottom that we realize that. I too had gotten away from God and it took about ten years for me to find my way back to Him, it took me losing everything I owned before I found Him again.
God's hands are in every part of our lives, from the good to the bad, He allows everything in order to grow us, prepare us, strengthen us, and bring us to the point that we realize we are nothing without Him. It's great to praise Him when things are going well, but it's time to praise Him when things are not going as well. The more we praise Him through the obstacles the quicker we reach the mountain top and are prepared for the fall once again. “Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” - Philippians 4:4-7. Praise God!
Enjoy the rest of your day/night and God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
Visit: I'm Following Jesus!
http://www.readytofollow.com
Are You 100% Sure That You Are Going to Heaven?
You Can Be: I'm Ready to Get Saved
http://www.readytofollow.com/salvation
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Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Daily Bible Study: A Heart For God 06.01.10
Hello My Friend/Guest,
Today is Tuesday June 1, 2010 and we are reading through the Bible in a year. Today's message comes from the reading of the Book of Ezra, chapters 1-2. 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-june-1
Title: Bible Study: A Heart For God
It is amazing to realize that out of the billions of people in the world today, all created by God, only a small remnant of them actually have a heart for God. Many may believe in God, but very few want to leave the comforts and prosperity of life to serve Him faithfully. We all want to prosper and God wants us to as well, but there comes a time when we need to realize it's not about what we have or what part of town we live in, it's about having a heart for God. The sad part is, it is usually only when we start losing everything that we realize this. All throughout the Bible we learn this fact, but one amazing thing that we can never understand is God's patience and willingness to wait on us to come to our senses, no matter how long it takes.
The book of Ezra is the fifteenth book of the Old Testament/Bible and contains ten chapters. The author of the book is Ezra the prophet and it was originally written to the Israelites. The purpose of the book was to record the Israelites return from exile seventy years later, after Jerusalem had been destroyed, to rebuild Jerusalem and the Temple. What we are to learn from the book is the basic principles of repentance, returning to God and restoring our relationship with Him. Ezra, the first of the post-captivity books records the return to Palestine under Zerubbabel, by decree of Cyrus, of a Jewish remnant who laid the temple foundations. The post-captivity books deal with that feeble remnant which alone had a heart for God.
After seventy years in Babylon, God is ready for His people to come forward and rebuild Jerusalem and the Temple. During the 70-year captivity, despite appearances to the contrary, the prophets encouraged the exiles concerning their restoration and foretold that they would rebuild Jerusalem. When Cyrus began conquering the world, he did not know that the One True God was giving him the victories, but it was God who inspired Jeremiah to predict the exact year Cyrus would conquer Babylon and release the Jews. “Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying, Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, The LORD God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he hath charged me to build him an house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Who is there among you of all his people? his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the LORD God of Israel, (he is the God,) which is in Jerusalem. And whosoever remaineth in any place where he sojourneth, let the men of his place help him with silver, and with gold, and with goods, and with beasts, beside the freewill offering for the house of God that is in Jerusalem.” - Ezra 1:1-4. As prophesied by Jeremiah, Cyrus proclaimed to set the Jews free and send them to rebuild Jerusalem and the Temple, along with all the vessels that were taken out of the Temple. History has proven time and time again that every prediction from one of God's prophets, some to the very name and time, come to pass. God knows the who, what, when, where, and why of every person and every event that has, is, or about to take place.
The same God that raised up the spirit of Cyrus to proclaim liberty to the Jews, raised up their spirits to take accept the challenge to rebuild Jerusalem. An account was kept of the families that came up out of captivity
“Now these are the children of the province that went up out of the captivity, of those which had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away unto Babylon, and came again unto Jerusalem and Judah, every one unto his city;...The whole congregation together was forty and two thousand three hundred and threescore, Beside their servants and their maids, of whom there were seven thousand three hundred thirty and seven: and there were among them two hundred singing men and singing women.” - Ezra 2:1,64,65. Our spirits naturally bow down to this earth and the things of it, if they move upward in any good affections or good actions, it is God who raises them. The calls and offers of the gospel are like the proclamation of Cyrus. Those bound under the power of sin, may be made free by Jesus Christ. Whosoever will, by repentance and faith, return to God, Jesus Christ has opened the way for him, and raises him out of the slavery of sin into the glorious liberty of the children of God. Many that hear this joyful sound, choose to sit still and remain in Babylon, they are in love with their sins, and will not venture upon a holy life, but some break through all discouragements, whatever it cost them and seek with all their heart the Lord.
When we choose Jesus, we choose God and when we choose God above all the temptations and glorious sights of the world we have nothing to worry about. God will provide for His people, oh, we may suffer a bit more from time to time because of our beliefs, but when keep our heart and eyes on God we will be blessed for our faithfulness. God said, “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.” - Jeremiah 33:3. Most of the new generation of Judah had never been in Jerusalem and had no reason to leave Babylon except to rebuild the Temple in the old, ruined city of Jerusalem about 900 miles away. Only a few were willing to hazard the long and difficult four-month journey on foot, sacrifice all the social and material pleasures available under the new Persian Empire, and return with Zerubbabel to the place where they could restore true worship of God, and amazingly not one complaint recorded. God will take care of and bless all who call Him and seek Him. For three years may family and I were living in a house that was in need of much repair, the mortgage and utilities on it was so high that there was no money left over to fix it. Things got so bad that the house was under foreclosure and we had not where to go. Last October by the goodness of God we were led tot he house we are in now. It is a bigger house, one that I had only dreamed of having, cheaper payments and utilities. Although we suffered for a time, our faithfulness in serving God and not giving up on Him blessed us with something greater than we ever imagined. God is faithful and will not forsake anyone who seeks Him with all their heart.
Enjoy the rest of your day/night week.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
Visit: I'm Following Jesus!
http://www.readytofollow.com
Are You 100% Sure That You Are Going to Heaven?
You Can Be: I'm Ready to Get Saved
http://www.readytofollow.com/salvation
Want To Receive These Devotions in Your Email?
Send me a blank email with the word Subscribe in the Title to:
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Today is Tuesday June 1, 2010 and we are reading through the Bible in a year. Today's message comes from the reading of the Book of Ezra, chapters 1-2. 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-june-1
Title: Bible Study: A Heart For God
It is amazing to realize that out of the billions of people in the world today, all created by God, only a small remnant of them actually have a heart for God. Many may believe in God, but very few want to leave the comforts and prosperity of life to serve Him faithfully. We all want to prosper and God wants us to as well, but there comes a time when we need to realize it's not about what we have or what part of town we live in, it's about having a heart for God. The sad part is, it is usually only when we start losing everything that we realize this. All throughout the Bible we learn this fact, but one amazing thing that we can never understand is God's patience and willingness to wait on us to come to our senses, no matter how long it takes.
The book of Ezra is the fifteenth book of the Old Testament/Bible and contains ten chapters. The author of the book is Ezra the prophet and it was originally written to the Israelites. The purpose of the book was to record the Israelites return from exile seventy years later, after Jerusalem had been destroyed, to rebuild Jerusalem and the Temple. What we are to learn from the book is the basic principles of repentance, returning to God and restoring our relationship with Him. Ezra, the first of the post-captivity books records the return to Palestine under Zerubbabel, by decree of Cyrus, of a Jewish remnant who laid the temple foundations. The post-captivity books deal with that feeble remnant which alone had a heart for God.
After seventy years in Babylon, God is ready for His people to come forward and rebuild Jerusalem and the Temple. During the 70-year captivity, despite appearances to the contrary, the prophets encouraged the exiles concerning their restoration and foretold that they would rebuild Jerusalem. When Cyrus began conquering the world, he did not know that the One True God was giving him the victories, but it was God who inspired Jeremiah to predict the exact year Cyrus would conquer Babylon and release the Jews. “Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying, Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, The LORD God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he hath charged me to build him an house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Who is there among you of all his people? his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the LORD God of Israel, (he is the God,) which is in Jerusalem. And whosoever remaineth in any place where he sojourneth, let the men of his place help him with silver, and with gold, and with goods, and with beasts, beside the freewill offering for the house of God that is in Jerusalem.” - Ezra 1:1-4. As prophesied by Jeremiah, Cyrus proclaimed to set the Jews free and send them to rebuild Jerusalem and the Temple, along with all the vessels that were taken out of the Temple. History has proven time and time again that every prediction from one of God's prophets, some to the very name and time, come to pass. God knows the who, what, when, where, and why of every person and every event that has, is, or about to take place.
The same God that raised up the spirit of Cyrus to proclaim liberty to the Jews, raised up their spirits to take accept the challenge to rebuild Jerusalem. An account was kept of the families that came up out of captivity
“Now these are the children of the province that went up out of the captivity, of those which had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away unto Babylon, and came again unto Jerusalem and Judah, every one unto his city;...The whole congregation together was forty and two thousand three hundred and threescore, Beside their servants and their maids, of whom there were seven thousand three hundred thirty and seven: and there were among them two hundred singing men and singing women.” - Ezra 2:1,64,65. Our spirits naturally bow down to this earth and the things of it, if they move upward in any good affections or good actions, it is God who raises them. The calls and offers of the gospel are like the proclamation of Cyrus. Those bound under the power of sin, may be made free by Jesus Christ. Whosoever will, by repentance and faith, return to God, Jesus Christ has opened the way for him, and raises him out of the slavery of sin into the glorious liberty of the children of God. Many that hear this joyful sound, choose to sit still and remain in Babylon, they are in love with their sins, and will not venture upon a holy life, but some break through all discouragements, whatever it cost them and seek with all their heart the Lord.
When we choose Jesus, we choose God and when we choose God above all the temptations and glorious sights of the world we have nothing to worry about. God will provide for His people, oh, we may suffer a bit more from time to time because of our beliefs, but when keep our heart and eyes on God we will be blessed for our faithfulness. God said, “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.” - Jeremiah 33:3. Most of the new generation of Judah had never been in Jerusalem and had no reason to leave Babylon except to rebuild the Temple in the old, ruined city of Jerusalem about 900 miles away. Only a few were willing to hazard the long and difficult four-month journey on foot, sacrifice all the social and material pleasures available under the new Persian Empire, and return with Zerubbabel to the place where they could restore true worship of God, and amazingly not one complaint recorded. God will take care of and bless all who call Him and seek Him. For three years may family and I were living in a house that was in need of much repair, the mortgage and utilities on it was so high that there was no money left over to fix it. Things got so bad that the house was under foreclosure and we had not where to go. Last October by the goodness of God we were led tot he house we are in now. It is a bigger house, one that I had only dreamed of having, cheaper payments and utilities. Although we suffered for a time, our faithfulness in serving God and not giving up on Him blessed us with something greater than we ever imagined. God is faithful and will not forsake anyone who seeks Him with all their heart.
Enjoy the rest of your day/night week.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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Monday, May 31, 2010
Daily Bible Study: Facing Challenges 05.31.10
Hello My Friend/Guest,
Today is Monday May 31, 2010 and we are reading through the Bible in a year. Today's message comes from the reading of the Book of II Chronicles, chapters 34-36. 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:
Title: Bible Study: Facing Challenges
As Christians we are going to face challenges testing our faith constantly, whether we face a trial or two from God, Satan, or from the world, how we handle these challenges determines our character and ability to win these challenges. As long as we have God on our side we can win any challenge, leave it up to our own thinking and reasoning and we are headed for defeat.
The nation of Israel was in utter chaos, most of the Jews were forced out of the country or under control of Assyria. Only Jerusalem and a few others were still free, but that was about to change, God was fed up with all the idol worshiping and wickedness that was going on right under Him, He was done with seeing His nation destroyed, but He knew that there were a few, a remnant of people standing by Him. After the mess that his father, Manasseh made, Josiah began to reign at the age of eight, and he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord as David did. “Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem one and thirty years. And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the ways of David his father, and declined neither to the right hand, nor to the left. For in the eighth year of his reign, while he was yet young, he began to seek after the God of David his father: and in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem from the high places, and the groves, and the carved images, and the molten images. And they brake down the altars of Baalim in his presence; and the images, that were on high above them, he cut down; and the groves, and the carved images, and the molten images, he brake in pieces, and made dust of them, and strowed it upon the graves of them that had sacrificed unto them. And he burnt the bones of the priests upon their altars, and cleansed Judah and Jerusalem. And so did he in the cities of Manasseh, and Ephraim, and Simeon, even unto Naphtali, with their mattocks round about.” - II Chronicles 34:1-6. At the age of sixteen this young man decided that he did not want to follow in the footsteps of his father and began seeking God, destroying all of the idols and groves throughout Judah that caused Israel to sin. Josiah's religious leadership ranked him with David, Jehoshaphat, and Hezekiah as an outstanding godly ruler, for he took a firm stand against idol worship and other evils that had saturated his kingdom. As Christians we must not let all the evils and corruptions of the world keep us from living a godly life. We can have a wonderful, prosperous life in the midst of all the chaos without compromising our beliefs or following along with them because we do not want to feel like an outcast. It is good to be an outcast.
Josiah was the last king to restore Temple worship to the One True God before the destruction of the southern kingdom and Jerusalem. Josiah's leadership abruptly ended when he attempted to stop Pharaoh Necho's plans to attack the Assyrians. “In the eighteenth year of the reign of Josiah was this passover kept. After all this, when Josiah had prepared the temple, Necho king of Egypt came up to fight against Charchemish by Euphrates: and Josiah went out against him. But he sent ambassadors to him, saying, What have I to do with thee, thou king of Judah? I come not against thee this day, but against the house wherewith I have war: for God commanded me to make haste: forbear thee from meddling with God, who is with me, that he destroy thee not. Nevertheless Josiah would not turn his face from him, but disguised himself, that he might fight with him, and hearkened not unto the words of Necho from the mouth of God, and came to fight in the valley of Megiddo. And the archers shot at king Josiah; and the king said to his servants, Have me away; for I am sore wounded. His servants therefore took him out of that chariot, and put him in the second chariot that he had; and they brought him to Jerusalem, and he died, and was buried in one of the sepulchres of his fathers. And all Judah and Jerusalem mourned for Josiah.” - II Chronicles 35:19-24. Josiah was fatally wounded at Megiddo, but he fulfilled the will of God who spared him from the tragedies that were to soon come upon Jerusalem and the Temple. The last four kings of Judah, Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin, and Zedekiah, were all evil, and led the nation in a descending course to its disastrous end morally, politically, and spiritually. This is a foreshadowing of Christ's return. When He returns all the world will face destruction, but those who have accepted Jesus will be carried away and spared from the tragedy.
Nebuchadnezzar's soldiers eventually broke through the north wall and mercilessly butchered both young and old. This time there was no room for repentance, the Lord left the Israelites to their ruin, some escaped, but most were carried off as slaves to become exiles in a foreign land. “Therefore he brought upon them the king of the Chaldees, who slew their young men with the sword in the house of their sanctuary, and had no compassion upon young man or maiden, old man, or him that stooped for age: he gave them all into his hand. And all the vessels of the house of God, great and small, and the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king, and of his princes; all these he brought to Babylon. And they burnt the house of God, and brake down the wall of Jerusalem, and burnt all the palaces thereof with fire, and destroyed all the goodly vessels thereof. And them that had escaped from the sword carried he away to Babylon; where they were servants to him and his sons until the reign of the kingdom of Persia: To fulfil the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed her sabbaths: for as long as she lay desolate she kept sabbath, to fulfil threescore and ten years.” - II Chronicles 36:17-21. The Jews who were taken captive were once again in bondage to another country, for seventy years they were under control of the Babylonians. The Israelites may not have realized it at the time, but they were spared as well from seeing the tragic destruction of the place where God would call home. I am sure it grieved God to see His people suffering, but just like everything has a season, this too would come to pass and eventually the remnant would find peace and comfort.
As we face the many challenges of our lives, we can be sure of one thing, God will not allow Satan or the world to challenge us beyond what we can not handle or get out of. The Word of God provides guidance and encouragement so that we might find a way to beat all of the challenges in our lives. Of course we are going to lose some, but as long as we remain faithful to God we will come out even more stronger and able to win the biggest challenge yet to come. God is always with His people and always eager to hear them say, I tried to do it on my own and failed because of it, I am depending on You to help me win this challenge.
Enjoy the rest of your day/night and God bless the fallen soldiers who gave their lives for their country.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
Visit: I'm Following Jesus!
http://www.readytofollow.com
Are You 100% Sure That You Are Going to Heaven?
You Can Be: I'm Ready to Get Saved
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Today is Monday May 31, 2010 and we are reading through the Bible in a year. Today's message comes from the reading of the Book of II Chronicles, chapters 34-36. 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:
Title: Bible Study: Facing Challenges
As Christians we are going to face challenges testing our faith constantly, whether we face a trial or two from God, Satan, or from the world, how we handle these challenges determines our character and ability to win these challenges. As long as we have God on our side we can win any challenge, leave it up to our own thinking and reasoning and we are headed for defeat.
The nation of Israel was in utter chaos, most of the Jews were forced out of the country or under control of Assyria. Only Jerusalem and a few others were still free, but that was about to change, God was fed up with all the idol worshiping and wickedness that was going on right under Him, He was done with seeing His nation destroyed, but He knew that there were a few, a remnant of people standing by Him. After the mess that his father, Manasseh made, Josiah began to reign at the age of eight, and he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord as David did. “Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem one and thirty years. And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the ways of David his father, and declined neither to the right hand, nor to the left. For in the eighth year of his reign, while he was yet young, he began to seek after the God of David his father: and in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem from the high places, and the groves, and the carved images, and the molten images. And they brake down the altars of Baalim in his presence; and the images, that were on high above them, he cut down; and the groves, and the carved images, and the molten images, he brake in pieces, and made dust of them, and strowed it upon the graves of them that had sacrificed unto them. And he burnt the bones of the priests upon their altars, and cleansed Judah and Jerusalem. And so did he in the cities of Manasseh, and Ephraim, and Simeon, even unto Naphtali, with their mattocks round about.” - II Chronicles 34:1-6. At the age of sixteen this young man decided that he did not want to follow in the footsteps of his father and began seeking God, destroying all of the idols and groves throughout Judah that caused Israel to sin. Josiah's religious leadership ranked him with David, Jehoshaphat, and Hezekiah as an outstanding godly ruler, for he took a firm stand against idol worship and other evils that had saturated his kingdom. As Christians we must not let all the evils and corruptions of the world keep us from living a godly life. We can have a wonderful, prosperous life in the midst of all the chaos without compromising our beliefs or following along with them because we do not want to feel like an outcast. It is good to be an outcast.
Josiah was the last king to restore Temple worship to the One True God before the destruction of the southern kingdom and Jerusalem. Josiah's leadership abruptly ended when he attempted to stop Pharaoh Necho's plans to attack the Assyrians. “In the eighteenth year of the reign of Josiah was this passover kept. After all this, when Josiah had prepared the temple, Necho king of Egypt came up to fight against Charchemish by Euphrates: and Josiah went out against him. But he sent ambassadors to him, saying, What have I to do with thee, thou king of Judah? I come not against thee this day, but against the house wherewith I have war: for God commanded me to make haste: forbear thee from meddling with God, who is with me, that he destroy thee not. Nevertheless Josiah would not turn his face from him, but disguised himself, that he might fight with him, and hearkened not unto the words of Necho from the mouth of God, and came to fight in the valley of Megiddo. And the archers shot at king Josiah; and the king said to his servants, Have me away; for I am sore wounded. His servants therefore took him out of that chariot, and put him in the second chariot that he had; and they brought him to Jerusalem, and he died, and was buried in one of the sepulchres of his fathers. And all Judah and Jerusalem mourned for Josiah.” - II Chronicles 35:19-24. Josiah was fatally wounded at Megiddo, but he fulfilled the will of God who spared him from the tragedies that were to soon come upon Jerusalem and the Temple. The last four kings of Judah, Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin, and Zedekiah, were all evil, and led the nation in a descending course to its disastrous end morally, politically, and spiritually. This is a foreshadowing of Christ's return. When He returns all the world will face destruction, but those who have accepted Jesus will be carried away and spared from the tragedy.
Nebuchadnezzar's soldiers eventually broke through the north wall and mercilessly butchered both young and old. This time there was no room for repentance, the Lord left the Israelites to their ruin, some escaped, but most were carried off as slaves to become exiles in a foreign land. “Therefore he brought upon them the king of the Chaldees, who slew their young men with the sword in the house of their sanctuary, and had no compassion upon young man or maiden, old man, or him that stooped for age: he gave them all into his hand. And all the vessels of the house of God, great and small, and the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king, and of his princes; all these he brought to Babylon. And they burnt the house of God, and brake down the wall of Jerusalem, and burnt all the palaces thereof with fire, and destroyed all the goodly vessels thereof. And them that had escaped from the sword carried he away to Babylon; where they were servants to him and his sons until the reign of the kingdom of Persia: To fulfil the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed her sabbaths: for as long as she lay desolate she kept sabbath, to fulfil threescore and ten years.” - II Chronicles 36:17-21. The Jews who were taken captive were once again in bondage to another country, for seventy years they were under control of the Babylonians. The Israelites may not have realized it at the time, but they were spared as well from seeing the tragic destruction of the place where God would call home. I am sure it grieved God to see His people suffering, but just like everything has a season, this too would come to pass and eventually the remnant would find peace and comfort.
As we face the many challenges of our lives, we can be sure of one thing, God will not allow Satan or the world to challenge us beyond what we can not handle or get out of. The Word of God provides guidance and encouragement so that we might find a way to beat all of the challenges in our lives. Of course we are going to lose some, but as long as we remain faithful to God we will come out even more stronger and able to win the biggest challenge yet to come. God is always with His people and always eager to hear them say, I tried to do it on my own and failed because of it, I am depending on You to help me win this challenge.
Enjoy the rest of your day/night and God bless the fallen soldiers who gave their lives for their country.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
Visit: I'm Following Jesus!
http://www.readytofollow.com
Are You 100% Sure That You Are Going to Heaven?
You Can Be: I'm Ready to Get Saved
http://www.readytofollow.com/salvation
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Sunday, May 30, 2010
Daily Bible Study: God's Word Stands Firm 05.30.10
Hello My Friend/Guest,
Today is Sunday May 30, 2010 and we are reading through the Bible in a year. Today's message comes from the reading of the Book of II Chronicles, chapters 31-33. 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-30
Title: Bible Study: God's Word Stands Firm
As Christian's perhaps one of the most common comments received by non-believers is, the Bible is not God's Word, men wrote it. While men might have put pen to paper, every word in the Bible was given to them by God Himself. Just as a transcriber transcribes word for word what is being spoken for proof and documentation, Holy Spirit inspired men transcribed the Bible, word for word what God had spoken to them. Why do some believe and some do not? In order to believe what you are reading you need the Holy Spirit. He is the only one who was there to help the forty inspired men to write the Bible and He is the only one who can help us understand and know that it is God's Word that we are reading. Now, there are many versions that claim to be the Bible that are written by man, but there is only One Bible, One God, and One Word. Since God created people in the earth they have been trying to test God and His Word, even Satan, but God's Word stands firm and can not be changed. They can try to ignore it, claim that it is not true, or even put words in His mouth, but no one can change God.
When Hezekiah became king and assumed leadership, idol worship was both popular and accepted in the nation. Furthermore, his father had placed the kingdom of Judah in subjection to Assyria, which was fast becoming the world's most powerful kingdom. In addition, Sennacherib, king of Assyria, had jurisdiction over 46 walled cities inside the kingdom of Judah. Hezekiah could have mourned over the mess he inherited, either hating his father or blaming God for the wretched moral and economic conditions that prevailed throughout the nation. Instead he chose to put his faith and trust in God and destroyed everything that was wicked and restored true worship of God. “Now when all this was finished, all Israel that were present went out to the cities of Judah, and brake the images in pieces, and cut down the groves, and threw down the high places and the altars out of all Judah and Benjamin, in Ephraim also and Manasseh, until they had utterly destroyed them all. Then all the children of Israel returned, every man to his possession, into their own cities. And Hezekiah appointed the courses of the priests and the Levites after their courses, every man according to his service, the priests and Levites for burnt offerings and for peace offerings, to minister, and to give thanks, and to praise in the gates of the tents of the LORD. He appointed also the king's portion of his substance for the burnt offerings, to wit, for the morning and evening burnt offerings, and the burnt offerings for the sabbaths, and for the new moons, and for the set feasts, as it is written in the law of the LORD. Moreover he commanded the people that dwelt in Jerusalem to give the portion of the priests and the Levites, that they might be encouraged in the law of the LORD. And as soon as the commandment came abroad, the children of Israel brought in abundance the firstfruits of corn, wine, and oil, and honey, and of all the increase of the field; and the tithe of all things brought they in abundantly. ” - II Chronicles 31:1-5. Hezekiah encouraged all the people to follow the Law of God, which was God's Word. When Jerusalem was cleansed of idolatry, the tithes poured in from all parts of the nation. The king was amazed at the overabundance when the people were in a right relationship with God.
You can be sure that you are going to face opposition from those who do not know God's Word, even those trying to get you to question it yourself. Rest assure they too will find out that God and His Word are true and it is usually not something subtle that proves it. The king of Assyria tried to get the people of Jerusalem to believe that Hezekiah was deceiving them. “Thus saith Sennacherib king of Assyria, Whereon do ye trust, that ye abide in the siege in Jerusalem? Doth not Hezekiah persuade you to give over yourselves to die by famine and by thirst, saying, The LORD our God shall deliver us out of the hand of the king of Assyria?...Who was there among all the gods of those nations that my fathers utterly destroyed, that could deliver his people out of mine hand, that your God should be able to deliver you out of mine hand? Now therefore let not Hezekiah deceive you, nor persuade you on this manner, neither yet believe him: for no god of any nation or kingdom was able to deliver his people out of mine hand, and out of the hand of my fathers: how much less shall your God deliver you out of mine hand?...And they spake against the God of Jerusalem, as against the gods of the people of the earth, which were the work of the hands of man....And the LORD sent an angel, which cut off all the mighty men of valour, and the leaders and captains in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he returned with shame of face to his own land. And when he was come into the house of his god, they that came forth of his own bowels slew him there with the sword. ” - II Chronicles 32:10,11,14,15,19,21. After all that taunting and boasting and trying to get the people to discredit God and Hezekiah the only thing it got the king was shame and to be killed by his own people. They can taunt us and give us a hard time, but they can not change the fact that God does exist, His Word is true and He never goes back on His Word.
There is only One God and One Word of God and when we learn God's Word we learn what is good and bad for us and are able to know what to remove to be cleansed and have a right relationship with God. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” - II Timothy 3:16,17.
Enjoy the rest of your day/night and the rest of your weekend.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
Visit: I'm Following Jesus!
http://www.readytofollow.com
Are You 100% Sure That You Are Going to Heaven?
You Can Be: I'm Ready to Get Saved
http://www.readytofollow.com/salvation
Want To Receive These Devotions in Your Email?
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Today is Sunday May 30, 2010 and we are reading through the Bible in a year. Today's message comes from the reading of the Book of II Chronicles, chapters 31-33. 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-30
Title: Bible Study: God's Word Stands Firm
As Christian's perhaps one of the most common comments received by non-believers is, the Bible is not God's Word, men wrote it. While men might have put pen to paper, every word in the Bible was given to them by God Himself. Just as a transcriber transcribes word for word what is being spoken for proof and documentation, Holy Spirit inspired men transcribed the Bible, word for word what God had spoken to them. Why do some believe and some do not? In order to believe what you are reading you need the Holy Spirit. He is the only one who was there to help the forty inspired men to write the Bible and He is the only one who can help us understand and know that it is God's Word that we are reading. Now, there are many versions that claim to be the Bible that are written by man, but there is only One Bible, One God, and One Word. Since God created people in the earth they have been trying to test God and His Word, even Satan, but God's Word stands firm and can not be changed. They can try to ignore it, claim that it is not true, or even put words in His mouth, but no one can change God.
When Hezekiah became king and assumed leadership, idol worship was both popular and accepted in the nation. Furthermore, his father had placed the kingdom of Judah in subjection to Assyria, which was fast becoming the world's most powerful kingdom. In addition, Sennacherib, king of Assyria, had jurisdiction over 46 walled cities inside the kingdom of Judah. Hezekiah could have mourned over the mess he inherited, either hating his father or blaming God for the wretched moral and economic conditions that prevailed throughout the nation. Instead he chose to put his faith and trust in God and destroyed everything that was wicked and restored true worship of God. “Now when all this was finished, all Israel that were present went out to the cities of Judah, and brake the images in pieces, and cut down the groves, and threw down the high places and the altars out of all Judah and Benjamin, in Ephraim also and Manasseh, until they had utterly destroyed them all. Then all the children of Israel returned, every man to his possession, into their own cities. And Hezekiah appointed the courses of the priests and the Levites after their courses, every man according to his service, the priests and Levites for burnt offerings and for peace offerings, to minister, and to give thanks, and to praise in the gates of the tents of the LORD. He appointed also the king's portion of his substance for the burnt offerings, to wit, for the morning and evening burnt offerings, and the burnt offerings for the sabbaths, and for the new moons, and for the set feasts, as it is written in the law of the LORD. Moreover he commanded the people that dwelt in Jerusalem to give the portion of the priests and the Levites, that they might be encouraged in the law of the LORD. And as soon as the commandment came abroad, the children of Israel brought in abundance the firstfruits of corn, wine, and oil, and honey, and of all the increase of the field; and the tithe of all things brought they in abundantly. ” - II Chronicles 31:1-5. Hezekiah encouraged all the people to follow the Law of God, which was God's Word. When Jerusalem was cleansed of idolatry, the tithes poured in from all parts of the nation. The king was amazed at the overabundance when the people were in a right relationship with God.
You can be sure that you are going to face opposition from those who do not know God's Word, even those trying to get you to question it yourself. Rest assure they too will find out that God and His Word are true and it is usually not something subtle that proves it. The king of Assyria tried to get the people of Jerusalem to believe that Hezekiah was deceiving them. “Thus saith Sennacherib king of Assyria, Whereon do ye trust, that ye abide in the siege in Jerusalem? Doth not Hezekiah persuade you to give over yourselves to die by famine and by thirst, saying, The LORD our God shall deliver us out of the hand of the king of Assyria?...Who was there among all the gods of those nations that my fathers utterly destroyed, that could deliver his people out of mine hand, that your God should be able to deliver you out of mine hand? Now therefore let not Hezekiah deceive you, nor persuade you on this manner, neither yet believe him: for no god of any nation or kingdom was able to deliver his people out of mine hand, and out of the hand of my fathers: how much less shall your God deliver you out of mine hand?...And they spake against the God of Jerusalem, as against the gods of the people of the earth, which were the work of the hands of man....And the LORD sent an angel, which cut off all the mighty men of valour, and the leaders and captains in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he returned with shame of face to his own land. And when he was come into the house of his god, they that came forth of his own bowels slew him there with the sword. ” - II Chronicles 32:10,11,14,15,19,21. After all that taunting and boasting and trying to get the people to discredit God and Hezekiah the only thing it got the king was shame and to be killed by his own people. They can taunt us and give us a hard time, but they can not change the fact that God does exist, His Word is true and He never goes back on His Word.
There is only One God and One Word of God and when we learn God's Word we learn what is good and bad for us and are able to know what to remove to be cleansed and have a right relationship with God. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” - II Timothy 3:16,17.
Enjoy the rest of your day/night and the rest of your weekend.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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