Keeping God Above All gods

“Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.” - Psalm 119:18.

Date: Saturday, September 27, 2014
Today's Chapters: Zephaniah & Haggai 
Message Title: Keeping God Above All gods

Hello My Friend,

The Book of Zephaniah is the thirty-sixth book of the Old Testament/Bible and contains three chapters, the author of the book is Zephaniah and it was written to the people in Israel during the time that Josiah reigned in Judah, approximately between 639BC and 609BC. The purpose of the book was to warn Israel and all nations of the coming judgment of God. What we are to learn from the book is that God rather save then destroy, and is mighty to save all who come to Him. “The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.” - Zephaniah 3:17.

God's first command is, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” - Exodus 20:3.God's judgment does not just fall on Israel, but every nation. God is angry because His people are putting other gods before Him. Through Zephaniah, God warns Judah ofthe judgment against them for not only trusting false gods and religion, but add Him to the their religion as well. “I will also stretch out mine hand upon Judah, and upon all the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and I will cut off the remnant of Baal from this place, and the name of the Chemarims with the priests; And them that worship the host of heaven upon the housetops; and them that worship and that swear by the LORD, and that swear by Malcham; And them that are turned back from the LORD; and those that have not sought the LORD, nor enquired for him. Hold thy peace at the presence of the Lord GOD: for the day of the LORD is at hand: for the LORD hath prepared a sacrifice, he hath bid his guests.” - Zephaniah 1:4-7.

The day of the LORD, no one wants to admit it, but all fear the end of the world, but we do not have to fear because God did send a sacrifice, His Son, and it is only through His Son that we can escape the day of the LORD. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” - John 3:16-18.

You can pray a thousand times a day, worship every man made god known, but unless you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and are saved you are a part of the billions of people who will be consumed off the land upon His return. While God is willing to wait, He is not willing to share the spotlight with false gods or those who think themselves a god. Through Zephaniah, God gives a glimpse of hope to all who seek Christ. “Gather yourselves together, yea, gather together, O nation not desired; Before the decree bring forth, before the day pass as the chaff, before the fierce anger of the LORD come upon you, before the day of the LORD'S anger come upon you. Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD'S anger.” - Zephaniah 2:1-3.

Salvation does not lie on a particular group, sect, race, or religion, it lies on One Person, the LORD, Jesus Christ. God willingly saves and rejoices over anyone who comes to Him through His Son. He promises that while we may be afflicted from time to time, we will be saved from utter destruction. “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” - Romans 10:9,10.

The Book of Haggai is the thirty-seventh book of the Old Testament/Bible and contains two chapters, the author of the book is Haggai and it was written to the Jews who had returned to Jerusalem from Babylon after seventy years of captivity, approximately 520 BC. The purpose of the book was to inspire Israel to have a new zeal for God and make the leaders aware of their responsibility to rebuild the Temple of worship. What we are to learn from the book is that God demands first place in our lives. “The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the LORD of hosts. The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the LORD of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the LORD of hosts.” - Haggai 2:8,9.

Haggai was among the first of the exiles to return from Babylon under the leadership of Zerubbabel, the governor, and Joshua, the high priest. Their purpose was to rebuild the Temple that was destroyed seventy years ago, but due to circumstances they let it slip and began building their own homes.

“Now therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways. Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes. Go up to the mountain, and bring wood, and build the house; and I will take pleasure in it, and I will be glorified, saith the LORD. Ye looked for much, and, lo, it came to little; and when ye brought it home, I did blow upon it. Why? saith the LORD of hosts. Because of mine house that is waste, and ye run every man unto his own house. Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, with all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the LORD their God, and the words of Haggai the prophet, as the LORD their God had sent him, and the people did fear before the LORD.” - Haggai 1:5,6,8-12.

There is a good rule that I learned a long time ago, everything needs to be built upon the foundation of Christ. I am self employed, when business starts coming to a halt, Ibegin to wonder the cause, only to realize that I had not been putting God first, He does not want to be second, He wants to be first in our lives. When we put Him first, we prosper in all that we do. “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.” - Psalm 1:1-3.

Today's Prayer: God, Thank You for giving us hope and assurance of the glorious day in which all nations will come together as one, speak one language, and worship only You in the kingdom that You are preparing for Your people. You desire our fellowship, our devotion, and our trust for all our needs, as You delight in providing everything we have need of. Thank You for all that You do and allow in my life and in everything that You do. Lead me and guide me in Your will and ways, and help me to labor only for the things that give You glory, for I know that as long as I am in You will I will be taken care of and even receive much more than I imagine. I love You Lord, and pray in Jesus' name. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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The One And Only Avenger

“Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.” - Psalm 119:18.

Date: Friday, September 26, 2014
Today's Chapters: The Books of Nahum & Habakkuk 
Message Title: The One And Only Avenger 

Hello My Friend,

The Book of Nahum is the thirty-forth book of the Old Testament/Bible and contains three chapters. The author of the book is Nahum and it was written to the city of Nineveh. The timeline for these events took place about 660BC. The purpose of the book was to warn them of the coming judgment on Nineveh, after they fell away from God. What we are to learn from the book is that God hates and avenges all evil. “God is jealous, and the LORD revengeth; the LORD revengeth, and is furious; the LORD will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies.” - Nahum 1:2.

Nahum prophesied during the reign of Hezekiah, about 150 years after God used Jonah to warn them of of the judgment upon them, which was spared because they turned to Him. Now, the people had failed to keep God in their lives, and now they are facing judgment again. This time Nahum is speaking on his own and describes God's judgments, His power, he warns all that God is a jealous God. 

“God is jealous, and the LORD revengeth; the LORD revengeth, and is furious; the LORD will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies. The LORD is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked: the LORD hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet. He rebuketh the sea, and maketh it dry, and drieth up all the rivers: Bashan languisheth, and Carmel, and the flower of Lebanon languisheth. There is one come out of thee, that imagineth evil against the LORD, a wicked counsellor. Thus saith the LORD; Though they be quiet, and likewise many, yet thus shall they be cut down, when he shall pass through. Though I have afflicted thee, I will afflict thee no more. For now will I break his yoke from off thee, and will burst thy bonds in sunder.” - Nahum 1:2-4,11-13.

Why is God jealous? The word jealous from God's point of view means that He is intolerant of ones disloyalty or infidelity with Him. He is not warning those who have no idea who He is, they already have their own judgment to face, He is warning His people, the ones who know they are saved, yet continue to live in sin. “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.” - 1 Corinthians 6:19,20.

The Book of Habakkuk is the thirty-fifth book of the Old Testament/Bible and contains three chapters. The author of the book was Habakkuk and it was written to the people of Judah. The timeline for these events took place approximately between 608BC and 590BC. The purpose of the book was to awaken Judah to their spiritual needs and warn them of the impending judgment from God. What we are to learn from the book is that the just shall live by faith alone. “Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.” - Habakkuk 2:4.

Habakkuk prophesied in the latter years of Josiah, he expresses an attitude that manyChristians who follow the Word of God have, a disgust for his nation. There wasimmorality, idolatry, destruction and violence, everywhere, no justice in the courts, and the wicked outnumbered the righteous. Sound familiar? Habakkuk asked God how much longer we will have to suffer and keep praying for things to change when they keep getting worse. “O LORD, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! even cry out unto thee of violence, and thou wilt not save! Why dost thou shew me iniquity, and cause me to behold grievance? for spoiling and violence are before me: and there are that raise up strife and contention. Therefore the law is slacked, and judgment doth never go forth: for the wicked doth compass about the righteous; therefore wrong judgment proceedeth. Art thou not from everlasting, O LORD my God, mine Holy One? we shall not die. O LORD, thou hast ordained them for judgment; and, O mighty God, thou hast established them for correction.” - Habakkuk 1:2-4,12.

As much as we feel out numbered and as though the wicked always win, no wickedness will go unpunished. We may not see things happening, but God is watching and listening to everything that is going on, He assures us, that no matter what we are going through or how long takes for us to receive to see justice, it will happen. “For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry. Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith. Yea also, because he transgresseth by wine, he is a proud man, neither keepeth at home, who enlargeth his desire as hell, and is as death, and cannot be satisfied, but gathereth unto him all nations, and heapeth unto him all people: For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.” - Habakkuk 2:2-5,14.

It may not look like it, but God is going to do something marvelous that we as Christian's will find hard to understand and believe. Through the tribulations of this day and age we can rejoice knowing that those who fear God receive not only heavenly blessings, but earthly as well. “A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished. By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life.” - Proverbs 22:3,4. 

Today's Prayer: (from Psalm 86) God, All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship before thee, O Lord; and shall glorify thy name. For thou art great, and doest wondrous things: thou art God alone. Teach me thy way, O LORD; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name. I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore. In Jesus' name, Amen. 

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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Christ Will Pick You Up

“Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.” - Psalm 119:18.

Date: Thursday, September 25, 2014
Today's Chapters: Book of Micah 
Message Title: Christ Will Pick You Up

Hello My Friend,

The Book of Micah is the thirty-third book of the Old Testament/Bible and contains seven chapters. The author of the book is Micah and it was written to Israel and all nations. The timeline for these events took place approximately between 758BC and 710BC. The purpose of the book is a call all to repentance to avoid judgment. What we are to learn from the book is that God judges all, and pardons all who repent, and trust in Him for their salvation. “He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.” - Micah 7:19. 

Micah was around during the time that Isaiah prophesied, God sent him to warn the Gentiles of the destruction that was coming to Jerusalem, and Israel. There comes a time when a God nation that continuously rebels will be judged, but it all comes down to each individual, no matter what nation we live in. He cries out to Israel, asking them what He even did for them to turn on Him. “O my people, what have I done unto thee? and wherein have I wearied thee? testify against me. Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? The LORD'S voice crieth unto the city, and the man of wisdom shall see thy name: hear ye the rod, and who hath appointed it.” - Micah 6:3,7-9.

Anyone, can at any time, go to God and be freed from the bondage of sin, but Godknows their heart,. While He loves His people, and is always forgiving, He knows when they are sincere in repenting of their sins. God really can care less about the thousands of personal sacrifices people give in order to try and reconcile with Him, He wants faithfulness, not constant sacrifices that carry no merit, faithfulness is what reconciles us with God. “Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts. To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.” - Proverbs 21:2,3.

God warns of the judgment we face for our sins, if we do not repent, He will let us suffer in our sins, we can call on Him all we want, but He will be deaf to our pleas. Through Micah, He explains this further. “Then shall they cry unto the LORD, but he will not hear them: he will even hide his face from them at that time, as they have behaved themselves ill in their doings. Then shall the seers be ashamed, and the diviners confounded: yea, they shall all cover their lips; for there is no answer of God. But truly I am full of power by the spirit of the LORD, and of judgment, and of might, to declare unto Jacob his transgression, and to Israel his sin. Therefore shall Zion for your sake be plowed as a field, and Jerusalem shall become heaps, and the mountain of the house as the high places of the forest.” - Micah 3:4,7,8,12.

So many people have the misconception that God strikes a person down for living in sin, the truth is, God allows them to suffer in their own sin themselves. He does not have to do anything, the guilt, shame, and consequences they face all on their own is punishment enough. God is not being cruel or punishing anyone who chooses to live in sin, they do it to themselves, we reap what we sow. “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.” - Galatians 6:7,8.

I know, many people think they have been burned by God, but the truth is, they really put their trust in a person and when they got hurt they blamed God. God doesn't bring evil, we do, mainly because of our heart and what we desire that goes against God's Word. Through Micah, God addresses those who put their trust in a person rather than God Himself, while we can depend up people for help, the only person we can truly trust is God.

“Trust ye not in a friend, put ye not confidence in a guide: keep the doors of thy mouth from her that lieth in thy bosom. For the son dishonoureth the father, the daughter riseth up against her mother, the daughter in law against her mother in law; a man's enemies are the men of his own house. Therefore I will look unto the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me. Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the LORD shall be a light unto me. I will bear the indignation of the LORD, because I have sinned against him, until he plead my cause, and execute judgment for me: he will bring me forth to the light, and I shall behold his righteousness. Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy.” - Micah 7:5-9,18.

There is not one person on earth that we can put our complete and total trust in. Why? Because we carry this wretched flesh and under certain circumstances, especially if we do not have God close by, any of us can fall. More people get hurt by loved ones than anyone else, but there is someone above us that we can always depend on, Jesus Christ. Many people, including me, have found Christ at the end of their ropes, only after they tried every other means to find help. Christ is always there to pick us up and mend us, but unless we come to Him we will never be free. “Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever. If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” - John 8:34-36. 

Today's Prayer: God, I know I have been in my share of messes over the years, but there is not one that I did not create on my own. The amazing thing is that You were there for me when I called on You for help, I know I tried so many times to do things on my own, but time and time again You remind me of how weak I am. Thank You for the strength to come to You and even though I still sometimes, I know You are always there to help. Lord, lead me and guide me, help me to keep my eyes on You and not on my heart, trusting only You can to bring me to prosperity in all that I do. In Jesus' name. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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The Lord Is Not Slack

“Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.” - Psalm 119:18.

Date: Wednesday, September 24, 2014
Today's Chapters: The Book of Jonah 
Message Title: The Lord Is Not Slack

Hello My Friend,

The book of Jonah is the thirty-second book of the Old Testament/Bible and contains four chapters. The author of the book is Jonah and it was written to the nation of Nineveh. The timeline for these events took place approximately between 825C and 790BC. The purpose of the book was to get Nineveh to acknowledge God, repent, and turn to Him. It was also to document to the Jews that salvation was not for them only, but for all who repent and turn to Him. What we are to learn from the book is that salvation is not restricted by race, religion, culture, or any other barriers, it is for all who shall call upon the name of the Lord. “And should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more than sixscore thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand; and also much cattle?” - Jonah 4:11.

Jonah was a Jew, native of Galilee, God commanded him to go the Nineveh, a Gentile nation, to warn them of the destruction that would occur, just like He did with Israel, if they did not repent and turn to Him they would be destroyed. Jonah believed Ninevehdid not deserve to be warned of the judgment, so, he fled on a ship to try to escape the presence of God. “Now the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me. But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD. But the LORD sent out a great wind into the sea, and there was a mighty tempest in the sea, so that the ship was like to be broken.” - Jonah 1:1-4.

We always talk about how God's is always with us, and how He turns His back to us if we sin, but we rarely talk about God's presence when He calls us to do something. Let me tell you, when God calls us to do something He means business, and He will do whatever it takes, however long it takes, to get us do it. “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.” - Romans 8:28-30.

One thing about our trying to escape God, He sends us to a place where we will actually be useful. The men on that ship got saved also that night, before they threw him off the ship and he ended getting swallowed by a big fish. “Then Jonah prayed unto the LORD his God out of the fish's belly, And said, I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the LORD, and he heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice. For thou hadst cast me into the deep, in the midst of the seas; and the floods compassed me about: all thy billows and thy waves passed over me. Then I said, I am cast out of thy sight; yet I will look again toward thy holy temple. But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the LORD. And the LORD spake unto the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land.” - Jonah 2:1-4,9,10.

An amazing illustration is played out in Jonah being in the belly of a whale for three days and three nights, it portrays the image of Christ, in which He said Himself that Jonah was a sign of His death, burial, and resurrection. “An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.” - Matthew 12:39-41.

After three days and nights of soul searching, Jonah sought forgiveness from God and did what he was told to do. He became the greatest evangelist of his day, and saw the entire city of Nineveh get saved. “So Jonah arose, and went unto Nineveh, according to the word of the LORD. Now Nineveh was an exceeding great city of three days' journey. And Jonah began to enter into the city a day's journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown. So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them. For word came unto the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, and he laid his robe from him, and covered him with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not? And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.” - Jonah 3:3-6,9,10.

Since people are precious to God, He gives everyone the opportunity to come to be saved, God does not want to see any person die and end up in hell, that is why Jesus has not returned yet. We have no idea when He is coming, but He is coming, and we all need to do what He calls us to do and tell all we can about how they can be saved. “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.” - 2 Peter 3:9,10,17,18. 

Today's Prayer: God, You have blessed us with so much, You have given life to all who believe in and receive Your Son. We are saved only by trusting in His death, burial, and resurrection, and He alone not only saves us from hell, but brings us out of every mess that we have gotten ourselves into over the years without Him if we come to You. How merciful You are, how wonderful You are, to save a sinner like me. Thank You, Jesus, and thank You God for giving me the opportunity to repent and enjoy a new found, abundant, never boring, life with You in it. I love You Lord, and pray in Jesus' name. Amen. 

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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