King James Daily Bible Study Devotional
Message Title: What Are You Trusting in?
Date: Tuesday April 17, 2012Today's Chapters: 2 Kings 1-3
Hello My Friend,
What is is that you are trusting in to know God and see Him in heaven one day? Is it your race, your religion, your kindness, obedience, or good? Is it your faithfulness to church, tithing, volunteering, supporting a cause? Is it your constant confession of sin, getting baptized, fasting, and prayer? If you are depending on any of these things to get you to God and heaven it is time for a reality check. There is only one way to the only living God and heaven and that through Jesus Christ.
“For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh: Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen. Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:..That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed. Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?..And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people; there shall they be called the children of the living God.” - Romans 9:3-6,8,24,26.
The Book of II Kings is the twelfth book of the Old Testament/Bible and contains twenty-five chapters. The author of the book is Jeremiah and it was written to the Israel. The timeline for these events took place approximately from 896 BC to 588 BC. The purpose of the book was to record how God dealt with the Israelites before the coming of Christ. What we are to learn from the book is that the kingdoms of this world are only temporal, they will rise and fall, but are all under God's control. “But the LORD your God ye shall fear; and he shall deliver you out of the hand of all your enemies.” - 2 Kings 17:39.
After the death of Ahab his son Ahaziah became king, Ahaziah fell and was seriously ill, frantically searching for answers Ahaziah looked to the false god he only knew for answers. God sent Elijah to answer questions that only a living God can answer. “And the angel of the LORD said unto Elijah, Go down with him: be not afraid of him. And he arose, and went down with him unto the king. And he said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Forasmuch as thou hast sent messengers to enquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron, is it not because there is no God in Israel to enquire of his word? therefore thou shalt not come down off that bed on which thou art gone up, but shalt surely die.” - 2 Kings 1:15,16.
By the time Ahaziah realized that God was the only living God who could save him it was too late, he died that day. Many people are going to be in for a real shock when they have to stand before Jesus upon their physical death to be cast down to hell because they never sought the living God. “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” - Matthew 7:21-23.
There is a question that every person will hear at one point in their lives, “If you died today are you 100% sure that you will be in heaven?” Not everyone knows that answer to that question. While we cannot know the hour in which God decides to separate a soul from it's flesh we can know that our soul will be in heaven. Amazingly, we do learn of one instance, other than Jesus ascending up to heaven in the flesh, where Elijah knew when God was taking him up to heaven. Upon learning this he went to the different schools of the prophets to give them his last exhortations and blessing before that miraculous event. While passing through, Elisha follows him seeking to know God as he did.
“And it came to pass, when the LORD would take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal...And Elijah said unto him, Tarry, I pray thee, here; for the LORD hath sent me to Jordan. And he said, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. And they two went on...And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me. And he said, Thou hast asked a hard thing: nevertheless, if thou see me when I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee; but if not, it shall not be so.” - 2 Kings 2:1,6,9,10.
Three times Elijah told Elisha to stay where he was, but Elisha refused, saying “As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee.” Elisha saw the amazing blessings that God brought upon Elijah as he served Him, he not only wanted what Elijah had, he wanted a double portion of it. Jesus tells all who believe in Him that they will not only do the work He did, but even more and they will be blessed for it. “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.” - John 14:12-14.
Elisha did receive a double portion of the spirit that Elijah had, but just as fast as he received it God put him to the test. God wants to make sure we follow through with our commitment to serve Him, so, He will put us through several tests to remind us of that commitment. Elisha was put to the test when three kings approached him. “And Jehoshaphat said, The word of the LORD is with him. So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom went down to him. And Elisha said unto the king of Israel, What have I to do with thee? get thee to the prophets of thy father, and to the prophets of thy mother. And the king of Israel said unto him, Nay: for the LORD hath called these three kings together, to deliver them into the hand of Moab. And Elisha said, As the LORD of hosts liveth, before whom I stand, surely, were it not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, I would not look toward thee, nor see thee.” - 2 Kings 3:12-14.
Elisha was not very comfortable about these three kings coming to him, the only reason he even listened to them was because of Jehoshaphat, who sought counsel from a man of God. It is good being with those who have God's favor, and the love of His people. Wicked men often seem to have the better things in life, God allows them property for a time in an attempt to give them a chance to repent. “Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.” - James 5:19,20.
There is only one living God, who is in the form of three persons, God, the Father, Jesus, the Son (also known as the Word in the flesh), and God, the Holy Spirit. “For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.” - 1 John 5:7. These three in one make One Almighty God, who will save all who come to Him through the Son. Trusting in any other way will not get you to God or heaven. “He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.” - 1 John 5:12,13.
Today's Psalm: 55:16 - “As for me, I will call upon God; and the LORD shall save me.”
Message Title: What Are You Trusting in?
Date: Tuesday April 17, 2012Today's Chapters: 2 Kings 1-3
Hello My Friend,
What is is that you are trusting in to know God and see Him in heaven one day? Is it your race, your religion, your kindness, obedience, or good? Is it your faithfulness to church, tithing, volunteering, supporting a cause? Is it your constant confession of sin, getting baptized, fasting, and prayer? If you are depending on any of these things to get you to God and heaven it is time for a reality check. There is only one way to the only living God and heaven and that through Jesus Christ.
“For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh: Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen. Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:..That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed. Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?..And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people; there shall they be called the children of the living God.” - Romans 9:3-6,8,24,26.
The Book of II Kings is the twelfth book of the Old Testament/Bible and contains twenty-five chapters. The author of the book is Jeremiah and it was written to the Israel. The timeline for these events took place approximately from 896 BC to 588 BC. The purpose of the book was to record how God dealt with the Israelites before the coming of Christ. What we are to learn from the book is that the kingdoms of this world are only temporal, they will rise and fall, but are all under God's control. “But the LORD your God ye shall fear; and he shall deliver you out of the hand of all your enemies.” - 2 Kings 17:39.
After the death of Ahab his son Ahaziah became king, Ahaziah fell and was seriously ill, frantically searching for answers Ahaziah looked to the false god he only knew for answers. God sent Elijah to answer questions that only a living God can answer. “And the angel of the LORD said unto Elijah, Go down with him: be not afraid of him. And he arose, and went down with him unto the king. And he said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Forasmuch as thou hast sent messengers to enquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron, is it not because there is no God in Israel to enquire of his word? therefore thou shalt not come down off that bed on which thou art gone up, but shalt surely die.” - 2 Kings 1:15,16.
By the time Ahaziah realized that God was the only living God who could save him it was too late, he died that day. Many people are going to be in for a real shock when they have to stand before Jesus upon their physical death to be cast down to hell because they never sought the living God. “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” - Matthew 7:21-23.
There is a question that every person will hear at one point in their lives, “If you died today are you 100% sure that you will be in heaven?” Not everyone knows that answer to that question. While we cannot know the hour in which God decides to separate a soul from it's flesh we can know that our soul will be in heaven. Amazingly, we do learn of one instance, other than Jesus ascending up to heaven in the flesh, where Elijah knew when God was taking him up to heaven. Upon learning this he went to the different schools of the prophets to give them his last exhortations and blessing before that miraculous event. While passing through, Elisha follows him seeking to know God as he did.
“And it came to pass, when the LORD would take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal...And Elijah said unto him, Tarry, I pray thee, here; for the LORD hath sent me to Jordan. And he said, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. And they two went on...And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me. And he said, Thou hast asked a hard thing: nevertheless, if thou see me when I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee; but if not, it shall not be so.” - 2 Kings 2:1,6,9,10.
Three times Elijah told Elisha to stay where he was, but Elisha refused, saying “As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee.” Elisha saw the amazing blessings that God brought upon Elijah as he served Him, he not only wanted what Elijah had, he wanted a double portion of it. Jesus tells all who believe in Him that they will not only do the work He did, but even more and they will be blessed for it. “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.” - John 14:12-14.
Elisha did receive a double portion of the spirit that Elijah had, but just as fast as he received it God put him to the test. God wants to make sure we follow through with our commitment to serve Him, so, He will put us through several tests to remind us of that commitment. Elisha was put to the test when three kings approached him. “And Jehoshaphat said, The word of the LORD is with him. So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom went down to him. And Elisha said unto the king of Israel, What have I to do with thee? get thee to the prophets of thy father, and to the prophets of thy mother. And the king of Israel said unto him, Nay: for the LORD hath called these three kings together, to deliver them into the hand of Moab. And Elisha said, As the LORD of hosts liveth, before whom I stand, surely, were it not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, I would not look toward thee, nor see thee.” - 2 Kings 3:12-14.
Elisha was not very comfortable about these three kings coming to him, the only reason he even listened to them was because of Jehoshaphat, who sought counsel from a man of God. It is good being with those who have God's favor, and the love of His people. Wicked men often seem to have the better things in life, God allows them property for a time in an attempt to give them a chance to repent. “Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.” - James 5:19,20.
There is only one living God, who is in the form of three persons, God, the Father, Jesus, the Son (also known as the Word in the flesh), and God, the Holy Spirit. “For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.” - 1 John 5:7. These three in one make One Almighty God, who will save all who come to Him through the Son. Trusting in any other way will not get you to God or heaven. “He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.” - 1 John 5:12,13.
Today's Psalm: 55:16 - “As for me, I will call upon God; and the LORD shall save me.”
Today's Proverb: 11:30 - “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.”
Today's Prayer: God, Thank You for loving us so much that You were willing to come here Yourself in the flesh of man to become a sinless sacrifice in order us to be able to reach You and heaven. Not by our righteousness do we know You, but by our faith in what You did in the form of the Son, Jesus Christ do I receive Your favor as one of Your people. Lead me and guide me, help me to be a witness and a testimony to those who do not know You, open my ears to hear when You tell me to speak to someone about Jesus, and give me Your power and the boldness to speak the truth and not be offended or intimated by those who refuse to listen. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Enjoy the rest of your day/night. God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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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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