Daily Bible Study Devotional
Message Title: Acknowledging God
Date: Wednesday January 18, 2012Today's Chapters: Exodus 8-10Preview of Today's Message: From creation, God has made Himself known to man, but pride, corruption, and wicked imaginations are what changes a persons belief or acceptance of God into something questionable. All Scripture quoted from the King James Version.
Hello My Friend,
I remember growing up knowing that God existed and Jesus too, but I also grew up with mother nature, and with the belief that whatever religion you came from that lead to God. After getting saved and listening to only One Book, I realized that all the corruptible and false things I learned about God were due to two reasons. One, it's what I was taught and two, I came up with my own conclusions when what I was taught did not make sense. I am not alone, a lot of people are brought up the same way, and suffer through a lot of heartache and disillusions as a result of it. I am just glad that God showed up in my life before I really did something stupid. The truth is, we are all born with the knowledge of God in us, it is the life we choose that acknowledges Him as our God.
“For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.” - Romans 1:20-25.
No matter how much God shows Himself to be the one and only God, who is in control of all things, there are some people bent on proving that He does not exist, or that they are a god. Pharaoh knew quite well that there was only one God, but refused to acknowledge that He was more powerful than his magicians. Through a series of plagues, he was quick to offer a bargain with God in order to remove a curse, but he failed to realize that no one bargains with God, even his magicians realized that they were powerless against God.
“Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron, and said, Intreat the LORD, that he may take away the frogs from me, and from my people; and I will let the people go, that they may do sacrifice unto the LORD. And Moses said unto Pharaoh, Glory over me: when shall I intreat for thee, and for thy servants, and for thy people, to destroy the frogs from thee and thy houses, that they may remain in the river only? And he said, To morrow. And he said, Be it according to thy word: that thou mayest know that there is none like unto the LORD our God...And the LORD did according to the word of Moses; and the frogs died out of the houses, out of the villages, and out of the fields. And they gathered them together upon heaps: and the land stank...Then the magicians said unto Pharaoh, This is the finger of God: and Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said.” -Exodus 8:8-10,13,14,19.
God's curse upon a man will pursue him wherever he goes, and lie heavy upon him in whatever he does until they truly repent. Only until the heart is renewed by the grace of God, can one admit that they have sinned and find favor with God. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” -1 John 1:9.
Now, after some time, Pharaoh, for the first time he admits that he sinned against the Lord. “So there was hail, and fire mingled with the hail, very grievous, such as there was none like it in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation...And Pharaoh sent, and called for Moses and Aaron, and said unto them, I have sinned this time: the LORD is righteous, and I and my people are wicked. Intreat the LORD (for it is enough) that there be no more mighty thunderings and hail; and I will let you go, and ye shall stay no longer. And Moses said unto him, As soon as I am gone out of the city, I will spread abroad my hands unto the LORD; and the thunder shall cease, neither shall there be any more hail; that thou mayest know how that the earth is the LORD'S. But as for thee and thy servants, I know that ye will not yet fear the LORD God...And when Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the thunders were ceased, he sinned yet more, and hardened his heart, he and his servants. And the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, neither would he let the children of Israel go; as the LORD had spoken by Moses.” -Exodus 9:24,27-30,34,35.
Pharaoh humbled himself, he could not have spoken better, he admits he sinned and acknowledges that the
Message Title: Acknowledging God
Date: Wednesday January 18, 2012Today's Chapters: Exodus 8-10Preview of Today's Message: From creation, God has made Himself known to man, but pride, corruption, and wicked imaginations are what changes a persons belief or acceptance of God into something questionable. All Scripture quoted from the King James Version.
Hello My Friend,
I remember growing up knowing that God existed and Jesus too, but I also grew up with mother nature, and with the belief that whatever religion you came from that lead to God. After getting saved and listening to only One Book, I realized that all the corruptible and false things I learned about God were due to two reasons. One, it's what I was taught and two, I came up with my own conclusions when what I was taught did not make sense. I am not alone, a lot of people are brought up the same way, and suffer through a lot of heartache and disillusions as a result of it. I am just glad that God showed up in my life before I really did something stupid. The truth is, we are all born with the knowledge of God in us, it is the life we choose that acknowledges Him as our God.
“For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.” - Romans 1:20-25.
No matter how much God shows Himself to be the one and only God, who is in control of all things, there are some people bent on proving that He does not exist, or that they are a god. Pharaoh knew quite well that there was only one God, but refused to acknowledge that He was more powerful than his magicians. Through a series of plagues, he was quick to offer a bargain with God in order to remove a curse, but he failed to realize that no one bargains with God, even his magicians realized that they were powerless against God.
“Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron, and said, Intreat the LORD, that he may take away the frogs from me, and from my people; and I will let the people go, that they may do sacrifice unto the LORD. And Moses said unto Pharaoh, Glory over me: when shall I intreat for thee, and for thy servants, and for thy people, to destroy the frogs from thee and thy houses, that they may remain in the river only? And he said, To morrow. And he said, Be it according to thy word: that thou mayest know that there is none like unto the LORD our God...And the LORD did according to the word of Moses; and the frogs died out of the houses, out of the villages, and out of the fields. And they gathered them together upon heaps: and the land stank...Then the magicians said unto Pharaoh, This is the finger of God: and Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said.” -Exodus 8:8-10,13,14,19.
God's curse upon a man will pursue him wherever he goes, and lie heavy upon him in whatever he does until they truly repent. Only until the heart is renewed by the grace of God, can one admit that they have sinned and find favor with God. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” -1 John 1:9.
Now, after some time, Pharaoh, for the first time he admits that he sinned against the Lord. “So there was hail, and fire mingled with the hail, very grievous, such as there was none like it in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation...And Pharaoh sent, and called for Moses and Aaron, and said unto them, I have sinned this time: the LORD is righteous, and I and my people are wicked. Intreat the LORD (for it is enough) that there be no more mighty thunderings and hail; and I will let you go, and ye shall stay no longer. And Moses said unto him, As soon as I am gone out of the city, I will spread abroad my hands unto the LORD; and the thunder shall cease, neither shall there be any more hail; that thou mayest know how that the earth is the LORD'S. But as for thee and thy servants, I know that ye will not yet fear the LORD God...And when Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the thunders were ceased, he sinned yet more, and hardened his heart, he and his servants. And the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, neither would he let the children of Israel go; as the LORD had spoken by Moses.” -Exodus 9:24,27-30,34,35.
Pharaoh humbled himself, he could not have spoken better, he admits he sinned and acknowledges that the
God is righteous. Yet his heart was hardened all this while. Pharaoh was frightened by the tremendous judgment of God, but when that was over, his fair promises were forgotten. Those that are not bettered by judgments and mercies, commonly become worse. “Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.” - Ephesians 4:18,19.
Why did God afflict them with so much? Here is His answer, “And the LORD said unto Moses, Go in unto Pharaoh: for I have hardened his heart, and the heart of his servants, that I might shew these my signs before him: And that thou mayest tell in the ears of thy son, and of thy son's son, what things I have wrought in Egypt, and my signs which I have done among them; that ye may know how that I am the LORD.” - Exodus 10:1,2.
The plagues of Egypt show the disease of sin, they warn the children of men not to strive with their Creator. Pharaoh had pretended to humble himself, but no account was made of it, for he was not sincere. We cannot hide from God, we cannot ignore Him or pretend that he does not exist, and we cannot create a god in our own image in order to live a wicked, immoral life, it will catch up to everyone. “And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.” -2 Timothy 2:24-26.
The Hebrews were to be a testimony of the power of God that would be taught from generation to generation, but little by little they became a testimony that would show the wrath of God by their corruption and wicked imaginations. The truth is, until a hardened heart truly comes to the acknowledgment of God they will endure more and more affliction. We must hit rock bottom before we realize who God truly is who He says He is. It happened to me, it took me fifteen years of affliction to acknowledge God after I had been saved, it happens to everyone at some point. I know people who grew up in the church that have said they questioned what they were taught until something happened that truly made them acknowledge that God is who He says He is. “I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face: in their affliction they will seek me early.” -Hosea 5:15.
Today's Psalm: “ I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.” -Psalm 32:5.Today's Proverb: “In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” -Proverbs 3:6. Today's Prayer: God, it is only when I trust in You with all my heart that I can acknowledge that everything comes from You. When You are first in my thoughts my attitudes and actions will prove that You are my God. Instead of plotting I will pray, instead of being afraid I will be courageous, instead of being weak I will be strong in You. I will not resort to my own understanding for it is faulty, frail, and full of vain imaginations. More of You, less of me is my prayer that I might trust You with all of my heart and acknowledge You in all things. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Enjoy the rest of your day/night. God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
Are You 100% Sure That You Are Going To Heaven? You Can Be. Visit: God's Price
Missed A Devotional? Visit: The King James Bible Study Blog
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Why did God afflict them with so much? Here is His answer, “And the LORD said unto Moses, Go in unto Pharaoh: for I have hardened his heart, and the heart of his servants, that I might shew these my signs before him: And that thou mayest tell in the ears of thy son, and of thy son's son, what things I have wrought in Egypt, and my signs which I have done among them; that ye may know how that I am the LORD.” - Exodus 10:1,2.
The plagues of Egypt show the disease of sin, they warn the children of men not to strive with their Creator. Pharaoh had pretended to humble himself, but no account was made of it, for he was not sincere. We cannot hide from God, we cannot ignore Him or pretend that he does not exist, and we cannot create a god in our own image in order to live a wicked, immoral life, it will catch up to everyone. “And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.” -2 Timothy 2:24-26.
The Hebrews were to be a testimony of the power of God that would be taught from generation to generation, but little by little they became a testimony that would show the wrath of God by their corruption and wicked imaginations. The truth is, until a hardened heart truly comes to the acknowledgment of God they will endure more and more affliction. We must hit rock bottom before we realize who God truly is who He says He is. It happened to me, it took me fifteen years of affliction to acknowledge God after I had been saved, it happens to everyone at some point. I know people who grew up in the church that have said they questioned what they were taught until something happened that truly made them acknowledge that God is who He says He is. “I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face: in their affliction they will seek me early.” -Hosea 5:15.
Today's Psalm: “ I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.” -Psalm 32:5.Today's Proverb: “In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” -Proverbs 3:6. Today's Prayer: God, it is only when I trust in You with all my heart that I can acknowledge that everything comes from You. When You are first in my thoughts my attitudes and actions will prove that You are my God. Instead of plotting I will pray, instead of being afraid I will be courageous, instead of being weak I will be strong in You. I will not resort to my own understanding for it is faulty, frail, and full of vain imaginations. More of You, less of me is my prayer that I might trust You with all of my heart and acknowledge You in all things. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Enjoy the rest of your day/night. God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
Are You 100% Sure That You Are Going To Heaven? You Can Be. Visit: God's Price
Missed A Devotional? Visit: The King James Bible Study Blog
Subscribe To This Devotional Through Google Groups: King James Bible StudyVisit The Official Site Of: I'm Following Jesus
Like Us On Facebook: I'm Following Jesus
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