Judgment Of The Church

King James Bible Daily Devotion – Learning Scripture One Day At A Time
Date: Saturday, August 29, 2015
Chapters: Ezekiel 5-9 http://imfollowingjesus.com/Bible-Reading-241.html
Message Title: Judgment Of The Church

Hello My Friend,

Abomination, extreme hatred, an abomination is sin that is extremely detestable to God, while all sin separates us from Him, some just bring out His anger like no other. The world loves to try to shut the mouths of those who are called to teach the world that the things they are doing are an abomination. Sadly, out of fear or even living in sin themselves, many men and women of God are giving in and allowing these things to take place in the church. We will all stand before Christ, and will be accountable for allowing these things to take place in His Church. If you are saved, you are His Church, no matter where you go, you are His Church, and if you are among those doing and allowing abominable things to take place you will be held accountable. “A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.” - Matthew 12:35,36.

Jew or Gentile, rich or poor, saved or unsaved, we will all be judged. Those saved will be judged for the things they did for God after they were saved, those who are not for not knowing Christ. No one is exempt from His judgments, while the world denies God and will face judgment for that, His eyes are first on those who know who He is, these are the churches representing Him yet are doing and allowing abominable things to take place. God sends Ezekiel to tell the Jews in Babylon of the further judgments coming to Jerusalem. “Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because ye multiplied more than the nations that are round about you, and have not walked in my statutes, neither have kept my judgments, neither have done according to the judgments of the nations that are round about you; Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I, even I, am against thee, and will execute judgments in the midst of thee in the sight of the nations. And I will do in thee that which I have not done, and whereunto I will not do any more the like, because of all thine abominations.” - Ezekiel 5:7-9.

Jerusalem, the city of God, and yet it was more corrupt than the world. The same is true today, it's scary to see the way churches are allowing the world to come in those walls, and judgment is coming to all of them. God tells of what is to come of all of Israel, first He speaks of the mountains of Israel. “And the slain shall fall in the midst of you, and ye shall know that I am the LORD. Yet will I leave a remnant, that ye may have some that shall escape the sword among the nations, when ye shall be scattered through the countries. And they that escape of you shall remember me among the nations whither they shall be carried captives, because I am broken with their whorish heart, which hath departed from me, and with their eyes, which go a whoring after their idols: and they shall lothe themselves for the evils which they have committed in all their abominations. And they shall know that I am the LORD, and that I have not said in vain that I would do this evil unto them.” - Ezekiel 6:7-10.

God's first commandment is, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” - Exodus 3:20, “You will have no other gods before Me!”. There is only One God, “Almighty”, “Jehovah”, “I Am”, “LORD of lords”, whichever name you prefer, there is only, one God, one living God, He is alive, always has been, always will be. Anytime a person chooses another form of god (Buddha, Allah, Pope) over Jehovah is putting another god before Him. Anytime a person chooses a religion, a career, a hobby, or a lifestyle over God they are putting another god before Him. God is angry, not at the people that have no idea who He is, but at the very people who know of Him. God continues to tell of the judgment of Israel.

“Now will I shortly pour out my fury upon thee, and accomplish mine anger upon thee: and I will judge thee according to thy ways, and will recompense thee for all thine abominations. And mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity: I will recompense thee according to thy ways and thine abominations that are in the midst of thee; and ye shall know that I am the LORD that smiteth. Behold the day, behold, it is come: the morning is gone forth; the rod hath blossomed, pride hath budded. Violence is risen up into a rod of wickedness: none of them shall remain, nor of their multitude, nor of any of theirs: neither shall there be wailing for them. The king shall mourn, and the prince shall be clothed with desolation, and the hands of the people of the land shall be troubled: I will do unto them after their way, and according to their deserts will I judge them; and they shall know that I am the LORD.” - Ezekiel 7:8-11,27.

You know, as merciful and forgiving as God is He is just as disgusted over the unsaved putting Him in the middle of their false religions. They make up religions to justify their lifestyles, change His Word to accommodate their sin, and somehow convince the unknown to follow them, and yet claim to be Christians. And they wonder why God is so angry? God takes Ezekiel on a vision tour through Jerusalem to see exactly how wicked it was. “And he brought me into the inner court of the LORD'S house, and, behold, at the door of the temple of the LORD, between the porch and the altar, were about five and twenty men, with their backs toward the temple of the LORD, and their faces toward the east; and they worshipped the sun toward the east. Then he said unto me, Hast thou seen this, O son of man? Is it a light thing to the house of Judah that they commit the abominations which they commit here? for they have filled the land with violence, and have returned to provoke me to anger: and, lo, they put the branch to their nose. Therefore will I also deal in fury: mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity: and though they cry in mine ears with a loud voice, yet will I not hear them.” - Ezekiel 8:16-18.

There is only One Church, the church of Christ, not the fake one people claim to call the church of Christ, or the one claiming to be a witness of Jehovah, but the true church, the one that gives all authority to Jesus Christ, who is God and the Word of God in the flesh. Those who turn their nose to the BRANCH, who is Jesus Christ, even though they claim to worship God will not be spared from the judgment. This is God's judgment, eternal death, Jesus will come and spare only those who know Him personally as their Saviour. God commands Him to do so, and Ezekiel is a witness to this. “And the glory of the God of Israel was gone up from the cherub, whereupon he was, to the threshold of the house. And he called to the man clothed with linen, which had the writer's inkhorn by his side; And the LORD said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof. And to the others he said in mine hearing, Go ye after him through the city, and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity:” - Ezekiel 9:3-5.

The mark, the blood upon the foreheads of those who choose Christ, the second we admit we are a sinner, believe in His sinless death, burial, and resurrection as the payment for sin, and confess that we need Him to save us, we have the mark of Christ blood upon us. That means That is unless we confess and repent of our sins. “And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.” - Matthew 25:32-34,41,46.

Today's Prayer: God, In a world that is falling quickly through sin we who are saved and living in obedience to Your commands need Your protection more than ever. Lord, put Your hedge around us, keep us safe from all the destruction that is taking place, give us Your courage to be a witness to Your saving grace, and give us the strength to stand up to Your truths and not be afraid to speak them. We are Your Church, we are Your voice, let us be the example we need to be to bring others into it before Your Son returns. In Jesus' name, amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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Conforming To Christ

King James Bible Daily Devotion – Learning Scripture One Day At A Time
Date: Friday, August 28, 2015
Chapters: Ezekiel 1-4
Message Title: Conforming To Christ

Hello My Friend,

The Book of Ezekiel is the twenty-sixth book of the Old Testament/Bible and contains forty-eight chapters. The author of the book is Ezekiel and it was written to the people of Judah. The timeline for these events took place approximately between 590BC to 570BC. The purpose of the book was to inform the Jews of the events that would take place during and after their captivity. The Book of Ezekiel is a complete covering of what will happen to the children of God, saved Jews and Gentiles, scattered around the world today. What we are to learn from the book is that God orders historical events so that all nations will know He is God. “Thus will I magnify myself, and sanctify myself; and I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I am the LORD.” - Ezekiel 38:23.

Ezekiel was one of the Jews held in captivity to Babylon, he was a godly priest, and those were very rare to find in those days. God came to Ezekiel with a very peculiar vision, in this vision he sees a mythical looking creature with four different heads, a face, lion, ox, and eagle, it had wings, hands, and even wheels in the center. Ezekiel comes to only one conclusion as to what it is.

“Also out of the midst thereof came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance; they had the likeness of a man. And there was a voice from the firmament that was over their heads, when they stood, and had let down their wings. And above the firmament that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone: and upon the likeness of the throne was the likeness as the appearance of a man above upon it. And I saw as the colour of amber, as the appearance of fire round about within it, from the appearance of his loins even upward, and from the appearance of his loins even downward, I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and it had brightness round about. As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw it, I fell upon my face, and I heard a voice of one that spake.” - Ezekiel 1:5,25-28.

The likeness of the glory of the LORD, this is none other than Jesus Christ Himself. The creature represents His likeness in which we are to conform to. The man's face represents man as we are created in the image of God, which means we have the ability to speak His language, to know right from wrong, and to make choices (free will). The lion, being the strongest and king of the beasts represents the strength of Christ, our King. The ox, the biggest and strongest of all cattle, yet very gentle, represents the meekness of Christ. And the eagle, who gets it's strength from it's eyes, can see sharply and clearly, able to look straight into the sun, represents the eyes of Christ that are on His people. Once we receive Christ, we are to conform to Him and not the world. “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” - Romans 12:1,2.

We may not have all the answers or understand many of the things that are going on in the world today, but as Christian's we need not fear what is to come because God is in control. God loves His people and yes, with God's love comes trials, tribulations, and even famine. No matter what we are going through, no matter what we have done, no matter what we will do in the future, nothing will separate the believer of Christ from their God. As we conform to Christ there are some things that God will call us to do, but there is one thing that He will call all of us to do. “And he said unto me, Son of man, stand upon thy feet, and I will speak unto thee. And the spirit entered into me when he spake unto me, and set me upon my feet, that I heard him that spake unto me. And he said unto me, Son of man, I send thee to the children of Israel, to a rebellious nation that hath rebelled against me: they and their fathers have transgressed against me, even unto this very day. And thou shalt speak my words unto them, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear: for they are most rebellious. But thou, son of man, hear what I say unto thee; Be not thou rebellious like that rebellious house: open thy mouth, and eat that I give thee.” - Ezekiel 2:1-3,7,8.

Son of man, is none other than Jesus Christ Himself, God sent Jesus to preach the Gospel to Israel first, He knew some would listen, but the majority would not, but He was still called to warn them of the judgment they faced for their sin. Think about this, Ezekiel was among thousands of Jews living pretty comfortable in Babylon, the destruction was coming after their seventy years of captivity would be lifted. God was warning them to get out of there before the destruction would take place. Today, Babylon is a picture of the world, it will be destroyed when Jesus returns, if we do not know Him personally as our Saviour than we will be destroyed along with it. God calls all who are saved to preach the Gospel to the world, yes, most are rebellious, but we are still called to warn them of what is to come. We can do this because God fills every saved soul with His Spirit, He touches us and teaches us how to speak His words, just like Jesus. “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” - Matthew 28:19,20.

God is always with us, and believe it or not, He will direct His people to the lost, and it is our duty to tell them of Jesus. God instructs Ezekiel on how to speak to Israel, still speaking to Jesus also, He reveals to him that he will be the watchman who will send the judgment warning message to all mankind.

“And go, get thee to them of the captivity, unto the children of thy people, and speak unto them, and tell them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear. When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul. Again, When a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumblingblock before him, he shall die: because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand. Nevertheless if thou warn the righteous man, that the righteous sin not, and he doth not sin, he shall surely live, because he is warned; also thou hast delivered thy soul.” - Ezekiel 3:11,18-21.

It's not our works of righteousness that saves our soul from eternal death, it's believing in the sinless death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ that saves us. Even back then, they had to believe that Jesus was coming to save them, they knew Him as the Messiah. We who are saved have the responsibility to tell those God lays upon our hearts about Jesus, and let me tell you, if we do not, their death will haunt us until the day we die. We are not responsible to make all we talk to believe, even God cannot make someone believe in His Son, but we are responsible to tell the lost about Him. “He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.” - 1 John 5:10-12,16.

Today's Prayer: God, All the signs in the world today indicate that Jesus can come at any moment, and You have given us the knowledge to know the Gospel and be saved from judgment. Thank You for sending Jesus to save us. Lord, give us Your power, make us more like Christ, help us to be bold, yet gentle in reaching the lost, give us a passion to preach the Gospel to every person You lay on our heart, keep us safe and protected as we follow Your command to tell all the Good News. In Jesus' name. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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The Need For Patience

King James Bible Daily Devotion – Learning Scripture One Day At A Time
Date: Thursday, August 27, 2015
Chapters: Lamentations 3-5
Message Title: The Need For Patience

Hello My Friend,

Patience, waiting without complaining. Our human nature has about a five second span when it comes to waiting for things, yet every where we go we seem to be waiting for something, and complaining quite a bit I might add. I truly believe that much of the suffering we go through is the result of our being impatient. Think about it, how many times do we make rash decisions because we are tired of waiting for something or someone? I know I have done that many times. Let me tell you, God knows what His children need, and His timing is always perfect, we may not think so at the time, but when God's hands are in the waiting the results are amazing. “The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.” - Lamentations 3:25,26.

As Christians, we are prone to learning to wait for God, but when we are faced with affliction, especially when all we were doing is serving God and trying to do the right things, our hope can be diminished when all we seem to be doing is waiting. Jeremiah recalls the horrible time in which he was in the dungeon, and while he could not see or hear God, he never gave up hope in Him. “He hath hedged me about, that I cannot get out: he hath made my chain heavy. Also when I cry and shout, he shutteth out my prayer. He hath inclosed my ways with hewn stone, he hath made my paths crooked. This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. But though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies.” - Lamentations 3:7-9,21-24,32.

His mercies never end no matter how impatient we get, His mercies are new every morning, it is only by His mercies that we are not destroyed, and it is only by His mercies that He never stops loving us. God is faithful to His children, He never leaves nor forsakes us. He will make us wait, especially if we are trying to help Him along or rush Him, but as bad as things are, it is only by the mercies of God that they are not worse. It is our duty, and will be our comfort and satisfaction, to hope and quietly to wait for the salvation of the Lord. “Wherefore doth a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins? Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the LORD. Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens. We have transgressed and have rebelled: thou hast not pardoned. I called upon thy name, O LORD, out of the low dungeon. Thou hast heard my voice: hide not thine ear at my breathing, at my cry. Thou drewest near in the day that I called upon thee: thou saidst, Fear not.” - Lamentations 3:39-42,55-57.

As long as we have life in us we have hope, and instead of complaining when we are waiting for what we think we need, we should encourage ourselves with the hope of better things. We should complain to God, but not of Him. We are apt, in times of waiting to reflect on other people's ways, and blame them for our problems, but our while waiting it is wise to search and try our own ways, that we may turn from any sin to God. “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” - Psalms 139:23,24.

Complaining while waiting on God can cause us to make some rash and unwise decisions, which is why the majority of the time we go through the afflictions we go through. Think about it, we are representatives of God, what type of life are we living that reflects that? If what we are doing is worse than the world, you can be sure that judgment will come. Jeremiah reminds the Jews that they are where they are because their sins were worse than those living in the world. “How is the gold become dim! how is the most fine gold changed! the stones of the sanctuary are poured out in the top of every street. For the punishment of the iniquity of the daughter of my people is greater than the punishment of the sin of Sodom, that was overthrown as in a moment, and no hands stayed on her. Her Nazarites were purer than snow, they were whiter than milk, they were more ruddy in body than rubies, their polishing was of sapphire: Their visage is blacker than a coal; they are not known in the streets: their skin cleaveth to their bones; it is withered, it is become like a stick. As for us, our eyes as yet failed for our vain help: in our watching we have watched for a nation that could not save us.” - Lamentations 4:1,6-8,17.

God's people are like gold to Him, they are valuable and precious, yes, they get tarnished, and they get tried in the fire, but they will shine once they overcome their sin. Those who truly want to change the situations in their lives will not only seek God and His mercies, but also take the steps needed to change them by walking with Christ and conforming to Him. I was in a big mess, even going to church, I cried for God to get me out of the situation, but was still conforming myself to me and not Christ. It wasn't until I truly wanted to get out of the situation that God had compassion on me and helped me out of it. “For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it. For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.” - 1 Peter 3:10-12.

It is not always easy conforming to image of Christ, especially while waiting on Him. Those who faithfully serve Him are committed to Him, yet the more Christlike they become the more they seem to wait. As Jeremiah is pondering the destruction of Jerusalem, he laments over the state of Judah in captivity, but pleas with God for the return of His mercy. “The joy of our heart is ceased; our dance is turned into mourning. The crown is fallen from our head: woe unto us, that we have sinned! For this our heart is faint; for these things our eyes are dim. Wherefore dost thou forget us for ever, and forsake us so long time? Turn thou us unto thee, O LORD, and we shall be turned; renew our days as of old. But thou hast utterly rejected us; thou art very wroth against us.” - Lamentations 5:15-22.

Think about all the suffering that an unsaved person or even one that has backslidden faces and how hopeless they feel, they cannot see God nor trust Him to help them out of their situation. Waiting is not easy, especially when being afflicted, but if we keep looking to Jesus as we walk toward the prize together, it will be worth the wait. “Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.” - 1 Peter 5:9,10.

Today's Prayer: God, As we live by faith and not sight, we are called to serve You faithfully as we wait for You to give us the things we need and desire. You know exactly what we need, and if it is in Your will You will give them to us on Your timetable, not ours. Lord, lead us and guide us, give us Your power, strengthen us, and help us to look to You for hope and do what is necessary on our part to not only conform to the likeness of Your Son, as we await Your answers. In Jesus' name. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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An Expected End To The Suffering

King James Bible Daily Devotion – Learning Scripture One Day At A Time
Date: Wednesday, August 26, 2015
Chapters: Lamentations 1-2
Message Title: An Expected End To The Suffering

Hello My Friend,

The Book of Lamentations is the twenty-fifth book of the Old Testament/Bible and contains five chapters. The timeline for these events took place approximately 588 BC. It was written by Jeremiah to the Jews who were captive in Babylon, the purpose of the book was to get the Jews to repent and restore their relationship with God. What we are to learn from the book is that God is faithful in both judgment and mercy. “It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.” - Lamentations 3:22,23.

Lament, to feel deep sorrow and grief, so much that nothing is of comfort, all you feel is pain in your heart, soul, and spirit. This is the way Jeremiah felt when things began to settle after the fall of Jerusalem, he gets kind of angry that no one feels the same as he does. “How doth the city sit solitary, that was full of people! how is she become as a widow! she that was great among the nations, and princess among the provinces, how is she become tributary! She weepeth sore in the night, and her tears are on her cheeks: among all her lovers she hath none to comfort her: all her friends have dealt treacherously with her, they are become her enemies. Judah is gone into captivity because of affliction, and because of great servitude: she dwelleth among the heathen, she findeth no rest: all her persecutors overtook her between the straits. Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by? behold, and see if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow, which is done unto me, wherewith the LORD hath afflicted me in the day of his fierce anger.” - Lamentations 1:1-3,12.

Jeremiah truly understands that all the destruction and affliction God's people were facing was due to the sin that was in the nation. True Christians see all the destruction of their once godly nations and it angers and grieves them because no matter how much they try it gets worse. We all become afflicted by others sins, the only thing we can do to find comfort is keep looking to Jesus, reminding ourselves that the affliction is only temporary. “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.” - Jeremiah 29:11-13.

No matter how strong our faith in God there does come times where we start to wonder if He will ever change the situation. Jeremiah understands all the destruction that took place was in God's hands, he pleads with them to return to God, and then turns his grief into a question for God. “Arise, cry out in the night: in the beginning of the watches pour out thine heart like water before the face of the Lord: lift up thy hands toward him for the life of thy young children, that faint for hunger in the top of every street. Behold, O LORD, and consider to whom thou hast done this. Shall the women eat their fruit, and children of a span long? shall the priest and the prophet be slain in the sanctuary of the Lord? The young and the old lie on the ground in the streets: my virgins and my young men are fallen by the sword; thou hast slain them in the day of thine anger; thou hast killed, and not pitied. Thou hast called as in a solemn day my terrors round about, so that in the day of the LORD'S anger none escaped nor remained: those that I have swaddled and brought up hath mine enemy consumed.” - Lamentations 2:19-22.

When we are feeling deep sorrow, it can anger us when no one seems to care about the things that are going on, even as though God is against us too. If we are not careful, things like depression, bitterness, and hatred creep in. If you ever wonder why the suicide rate is so high, it's because hurting people cry out every day, but feel as though no one hears them. In reality, God is speaking to us, but we cannot hear Him because we only hear the sorrows in our head telling us there is no hope. We must remember that God is always with us, He is not against us, and He loves us. “My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them. How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.” - Psalms 139:15-18.

When faced with circumstances beyond our control, especially when there seems to be no end to them, they tend to cloud our faith in God. Quite often, God may step back a bit to allow us to think on these things, but He is always with us, He's just waiting for our faith to show up. And it's perfectly fine to ask God questions, many times the only way we can draw closer to Him is by grief and sorrow, and while He doesn't want to see any of us suffer, He knows we are unlikely to seek His presence without it. When we seek answers from God, we may or may not find the answers to our questions, but we can find peace, hope, and joy, while awaiting the expected end. “For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.” - 2 Corinthians 7:11.

Today's Prayer: God, I don't know anyone who loves to feel pain and sorrow, and it simply does nothing for our morale either, but whatever You allow us to go through You have a reason for it. The only way we can truly be at peace and find comfort and even an end to the suffering is through You. Lord, we need You, so many people are full of sorrow and do not know where to go, break through the door, open their hearts to see that You are their help. Great things always come to those who endure their affliction with You as they draw closer to You and trust You. Give us your power, wisdom, and strength to increase our faith, and let us see You do great things in our lives. In Jesus' name. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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Where Is God Through His Judgments

King James Bible Daily Devotion – Learning Scripture One Day At A Time
Date: Tuesday, August 25, 2015
Chapters: Jeremiah 50-52
Message Title: Where Is God Through His Judgments

Hello My Friend,

If there is one thing about God that we Christians should know it is that He will use any situation for His glory, but rarely do we realize that He will use them for His vengeance. We may see all the wicked things going on and wonder where God is, and to be honest, He has turned His back to all the evil. Why? He will not sit back and watch His people living in sin, He will allow them to face the consequences of their actions. I am talking about not one person, but churches filled with people living in sin. Of course, God is always there for His people, he will protect them, and keep them safe, but He will let them dangle off the edge until they either repent or He takes them home. And for those who led them to go astray, He has something for them as well, His wrath. “For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.” - Ephesians 5:5,6.

By now Nebuchadrezzar and the people of Babylon were thinking quite highly of themselves, in fact, they boasted of the fact that it was God that placed judgment upon Judah. You know, there was one reason and one reason only that God put such harsh judgments upon all of these nations, it was to bring them to Him. Jew or Gentile, the same God is their Creator, He would have welcomed any nation. Instead of turning to God they turned to their false gods, their idols, and their treasures, and because of that every nation was being judged, including Babylon. Through Jeremiah, God foretells the day that He gets vengeance upon Babylon, He used Him for His purpose, and now it's their turn.

“Because ye were glad, because ye rejoiced, O ye destroyers of mine heritage, because ye are grown fat as the heifer at grass, and bellow as bulls; Israel is a scattered sheep; the lions have driven him away: first the king of Assyria hath devoured him; and last this Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon hath broken his bones. Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will punish the king of Babylon and his land, as I have punished the king of Assyria. And I will bring Israel again to his habitation, and he shall feed on Carmel and Bashan, and his soul shall be satisfied upon mount Ephraim and Gilead. In those days, and in that time, saith the LORD, the iniquity of Israel shall be sought for, and there shall be none; and the sins of Judah, and they shall not be found: for I will pardon them whom I reserve.” - Jeremiah 50:11,17-20.

“I will pardon whom I reserve.” God reserves the lost sheep who find the Shepherd, when they get into the arms of their Saviour no sin can be found. “Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, 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. For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.” - 1 Peter 2:1-3,25.

As God continues to warn Babylon of the judgment placed upon them, He reminds all of us that a Redeemer will stand before God and plead for the lost sheep, who also happens to be the Shepherd. “Thus saith the LORD of hosts; The children of Israel and the children of Judah were oppressed together: and all that took them captives held them fast; they refused to let them go. Their Redeemer is strong; the LORD of hosts is his name: he shall throughly plead their cause, that he may give rest to the land, and disquiet the inhabitants of Babylon. A sword is upon the Chaldeans, saith the LORD, and upon the inhabitants of Babylon, and upon her princes, and upon her wise men. Behold, he shall come up like a lion from the swelling of Jordan unto the habitation of the strong: but I will make them suddenly run away from her: and who is a chosen man, that I may appoint over her? for who is like me? and who will appoint me the time? and who is that shepherd that will stand before me?” - Jeremiah 50:33-35,44.

There is only one Redeemer, one person who can save us from judgment, that person is Jesus Christ. By His death, burial, and resurrection He put an end to the war between God and man. Those who let go of their pride and humble themselves by receiving Him will find rest and peace from everything they are in bondage to. Only when we let go of who we are can we let Christ work in us and we truly understand what He gives us rest from. “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” - Matthew 11:29,30.

While I am sure God really does not want us to have to come to Him under such dire circumstances, the truth is, most of us do not seek God and live the way He wants us to live until we have been faced with near death situations. Which is why He had given the people of Babylon and every nation a chance to come Him before ant judgment even comes.

“Flee out of the midst of Babylon, and deliver every man his soul: be not cut off in her iniquity; for this is the time of the LORD'S vengeance; he will render unto her a recompence. Babylon hath been a golden cup in the LORD'S hand, that made all the earth drunken: the nations have drunken of her wine; therefore the nations are mad. Babylon is suddenly fallen and destroyed: howl for her; take balm for her pain, if so be she may be healed. We would have healed Babylon, but she is not healed: forsake her, and let us go every one into his own country: for her judgment reacheth unto heaven, and is lifted up even to the skies. The LORD hath brought forth our righteousness: come, and let us declare in Zion the work of the LORD our God. Make bright the arrows; gather the shields: the LORD hath raised up the spirit of the kings of the Medes: for his device is against Babylon, to destroy it; because it is the vengeance of the LORD, the vengeance of his temple.” - Jeremiah 51:6-11.

The word recompense means to reward, God was rewarding them for their wickedness, their reward was His judgment. He used them to judge Judah, and they were fully aware of the consequences of rejecting Him, even more they mocked them for being judged, and that is the biggest reason for His vengeance. We cannot expect things to change if we do not make an effort to change things ourselves, Jesus can mend and heal the deepest scars, but unless we are willing to take that step to change within the only reward we get is more suffering. “For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.” - Hebrews 10:30,31,36.

Today's Prayer: God, There is no amount of words that can describe just how merciful and forgiving You are no matter what we have done. To think of the things we have allowed in our lives or been caught up in due to others is astounding, but You are always there to catch us, to pick us up, to mend the wounds, and heal everything from a broken heart to a broken ego. Lord, give us your power and strength to set free anything that we have brought into our lives, whether we are imprisoned by it or held captive to it. Lead us and guide us, give us Your mercy and grace, and keep us looking to You through all of our trials, and suffering as we await the joyful day that Your Son comes to get us. In Jesus' name. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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Erred From Faith

King James Bible Daily Devotion – Learning Scripture One Day At A Time
Date: Monday, August 24, 2015
Chapters: Jeremiah 47-49
Message Title: Erred From Faith

Hello My Friend,

As Christians, we all want stuff and God wants to give us stuff, but how we obtain it is a different story. Now, He can certainly send us some money to get what we need, but He would do it in a way that's totally unexpected, and often when we are struggling. Why? To prove that He is God and able to do above and beyond what we can do on our own. We are too dependent upon what we see in front of us rather than what God can do ahead of us, and that sadly, is the downfall of many Christians. The want for things will send many Christians into sin, which is why our nations are in the mess they are in now. “For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” - 1 Timothy 6:10.

God's judgment upon Israel was coming to pass, Judah and Jerusalem was invaded just as Jeremiah warned the people. Most of them had been carried off to Babylon to await a 70 year captivity, which actually kept them safe, the rest were scattered all over surrounding nations in an attempt to escape the judgment, but that did not stop God. God sent Jeremiah to warn the other nations of the judgment placed upon them now. God didn't have much to say to the Philistines except that it would be spoiled. “Because of the day that cometh to spoil all the Philistines, and to cut off from Tyrus and Zidon every helper that remaineth: for the LORD will spoil the Philistines, the remnant of the country of Caphtor. Baldness is come upon Gaza; Ashkelon is cut off with the remnant of their valley: how long wilt thou cut thyself? O thou sword of the LORD, how long will it be ere thou be quiet? put up thyself into thy scabbard, rest, and be still. How can it be quiet, seeing the LORD hath given it a charge against Ashkelon, and against the sea shore? there hath he appointed it.” - Jeremiah 47:4-7.

Spoil, to seize by violence or to take by force. When God allows the wicked to be destroyed there is no escape, and He will cut off every helper that tries to aid them in their escape as well. When Jesus returns all the world will be spoiled, along with every person who does not know Him as their Saviour. His sword, He will not fight with swords, guns, or knives, He will fight with His voice, He will speak His Word. “And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.” - Revelation 19:13-16.

Some nations were too wicked to even have one person saved and they would be destroyed completely, others were warned to get to higher ground before the judgment came. Through Jeremiah, God now foretells the fate of Moab, descendants of Abraham's nephew, Lot. “Flee, save your lives, and be like the heath in the wilderness. For because thou hast trusted in thy works and in thy treasures, thou shalt also be taken: and Chemosh shall go forth into captivity with his priests and his princes together. And the spoiler shall come upon every city, and no city shall escape: the valley also shall perish, and the plain shall be destroyed, as the LORD hath spoken. Give wings unto Moab, that it may flee and get away: for the cities thereof shall be desolate, without any to dwell therein. Cursed be he that doeth the work of the LORD deceitfully, and cursed be he that keepeth back his sword from blood.” - Jeremiah 48:6-10.

Remission, released or pardoned from the punishment due for a crime. The crime is sin, the punishment is hell and the lake of fire. The remission is Jesus Christ, who died a sinless death, who shed His blood so we can be pardoned of the punishment due for our sins, who resurrected three days later to prove that even death cannot separate all who believe in Him from God. Many churches today are preaching feel good Christianity, oh, they speak of Jesus and that He died for us, but they do not preach the required remission of sin from blood needed. In fact, modern day versions of the so called Bible have removed the need for a blood sacrifice completely. They are doing the work of the LORD deceitfully, they are keeping His sword from speaking of the blood, and they will suffer greatly for sending millions of people to hell because they trusted the man and not the Word of God.

“Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.” - Hebrews 9:12-14,22.

Believe it or not, much of the destruction taking place today in the world is a blessing from God. If you are saved, you have nothing to worry about because your home will be in heaven. It is unfortunate that God has to use such drastic measures as cults, war, famine, and raging storms to get people's attention, but that is the case and always has been. God sends Jeremiah to give a message Ammon, also descendants of Lot and also to Edom, descendants of Esau, Jacob's brother.

“Wherefore gloriest thou in the valleys, thy flowing valley, O backsliding daughter? that trusted in her treasures, saying, Who shall come unto me? Behold, I will bring a fear upon thee, saith the Lord GOD of hosts, from all those that be about thee; and ye shall be driven out every man right forth; and none shall gather up him that wandereth. And afterward I will bring again the captivity of the children of Ammon, saith the LORD. But I have made Esau bare, I have uncovered his secret places, and he shall not be able to hide himself: his seed is spoiled, and his brethren, and his neighbours, and he is not. Leave thy fatherless children, I will preserve them alive; and let thy widows trust in me. For thus saith the LORD; Behold, they whose judgment was not to drink of the cup have assuredly drunken; and art thou he that shall altogether go unpunished? thou shalt not go unpunished, but thou shalt surely drink of it. Also Edom shall be a desolation: every one that goeth by it shall be astonished, and shall hiss at all the plagues thereof.” - Jeremiah 49:4-6,10-12,17.

These were not nations that had no recollection of God, they knew He existed because they witnessed God work in the lives of their cousins, Israel. These nations trusted in their treasures and not God, if we truly want God to bless us with things we need and desire we need to believe that He alone is the one who can give them to us. It's all about faith and having complete trust in God, not in our own abilities, if we are trusting in what we can do for ourselves, we will lose everything, but trusting in God's abilities, we will gain much. “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” - Matthew 6:19-21,33.

Today's Prayer: God, It is truly amazing the blessings You give us just by faith and obedience to You. Much more that having faith is trusting that You can provide us with everything we need and even our desires. Help us to look beyond what we see in front of us and trust that you are our sole provider. Never let us forget that we are Yours and You only want the best for us. Lord, thank You for all that You do and allow in our lives, for all that You have in store for us as we trust You completely, and live in obedience to Your Word. In Jesus' name. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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Pure Religion

King James Bible Daily Devotion – Learning Scripture One Day At A Time
Date: Sunday, August 23, 2015
Chapters: Jeremiah 43-46
Message Title: Pure Religion

Hello My Friend,

Religion, a group of people following a system of faith and worship. There are many religions that reference God, and even some that represent Jesus, rarely does their system include following the Bible, and if it does, it's bits and pieces of it. Christianity in itself is getting a bad rap, and it's not because of the hypocrisy that many claim it to be, it's religion, rather their lack of a system of faith and worship of God's Holy Word. When the world sees people who call themselves Christians living as they are, sometimes worse, it's no wonder Christianity itself is being criticized. “If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain. Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.” - James 1:26,27.

To keep himself unspotted from the world, a Christian should be separated from the world, we are in the world, not of the world, that means we should not be living the ways of the world, but of Christ. Many religions impose strict rules that have nothing to do with God's Word, in fact, they go against it, introducing things like idolatry, human sacrifice, and immorality. This is the exact reason why God had placed such harsh judgment upon Judah and Jerusalem, which was the city of God. Now, the remaining Jews in Judah are trying to escape to Egypt from the judgment, they forget that no one can escape God's judgments. Into Egypt they went, and took Jeremiah with them, in which God sent them another message, foretelling the king of Babylon's pursuit of them in Egypt.

“And say unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will send and take Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and will set his throne upon these stones that I have hid; and he shall spread his royal pavilion over them. And when he cometh, he shall smite the land of Egypt, and deliver such as are for death to death; and such as are for captivity to captivity; and such as are for the sword to the sword. And I will kindle a fire in the houses of the gods of Egypt; and he shall burn them, and carry them away captives: and he shall array himself with the land of Egypt, as a shepherd putteth on his garment; and he shall go forth from thence in peace. He shall break also the images of Bethshemesh, that is in the land of Egypt; and the houses of the gods of the Egyptians shall he burn with fire.” - Jeremiah 43:10-13.

It's one thing to forsake God all together and deny Him, which comes with it's own consequences, it's another to mix Him with other religions, aka other gods. Any religion that creates God to be who they want Him to be and disregards the Bible creates another god, a false god, and God will not compete with any other god. God will punish those who deceive His professing people, or tempt them to rebellion. “For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers with them.” - Ephesians 5:5-7.

Rebellion, open resistance to lawful authority. When religion ignores or changes God's Word to comply to their system of faith and worship they are resisting the lawful authority of God. This has many more consequences than just ignoring God. When Jeremiah told the people that God was coming after them for their idolatry and worshiping the queen of heaven, they completely rebelled and turned to the false gods. Jeremiah confronts them with a stern rebuke.

“Then Jeremiah said unto all the people, to the men, and to the women, and to all the people which had given him that answer, saying, The incense that ye burned in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem, ye, and your fathers, your kings, and your princes, and the people of the land, did not the LORD remember them, and came it not into his mind? So that the LORD could no longer bear, because of the evil of your doings, and because of the abominations which ye have committed; therefore is your land a desolation, and an astonishment, and a curse, without an inhabitant, as at this day. Because ye have burned incense, and because ye have sinned against the LORD, and have not obeyed the voice of the LORD, nor walked in his law, nor in his statutes, nor in his testimonies; therefore this evil is happened unto you, as at this day.” - Jeremiah 44:20-23.

God does not and will not condone His people worshiping false gods, even if we are saved you can be sure that God will come after us if we turn from Him to them, aka false religion. Jesus Himself said that many false prophets will come deceiving even the elect, which are the saved. God may not send His people into eternal damnation, but they will suffer the consequences of following a false religion. And yes, there sin that can be the death of us. “For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.” - Matthew 24:24,42-44.

Judgment began at the house of God, but it will not end there, through Jeremiah, God foretells of the judgment of the neighboring nations, beginning with Egypt. Most of them taken under the king of Babylon just like Judah, until Babylon itself will be judged also. A word of comfort is given to the Israel in the midst of the judgments. “The LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, saith; Behold, I will punish the multitude of No, and Pharaoh, and Egypt, with their gods, and their kings; even Pharaoh, and all them that trust in him: And I will deliver them into the hand of those that seek their lives, and into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, and into the hand of his servants: and afterward it shall be inhabited, as in the days of old, saith the LORD. But fear not thou, O my servant Jacob, and be not dismayed, O Israel: for, behold, I will save thee from afar off, and thy seed from the land of their captivity; and Jacob shall return, and be in rest and at ease, and none shall make him afraid. Fear thou not, O Jacob my servant, saith the LORD: for I am with thee; for I will make a full end of all the nations whither I have driven thee: but I will not make a full end of thee, but correct thee in measure; yet will I not leave thee wholly unpunished.” - Jeremiah 46:25-28.

Judgment always begins with God's people, we are His children therefore we are going to get the whipping we deserve for allowing all these things to happen in the first place. God's wrath will not be forever with His own, He will be with them, He will correct them, but He will not punish them with everlasting damnation. True religion does not come from a set of strict rules made up by man, it is of God, and more importantly our obedience to God's Word. “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” - James 1:19-22.

Today's Prayer: God, There are so many religions out there that it's hard to tell true from false, what it all comes down to is this, that we follow Your Word. Lord, let us not get caught up in false religion or false preacher or teachers who only deceive Your people, but let us get caught up in Your Word so that we know the truth. Give us Your power to be hearers and doers of Your Word, and let us be the example You need us to be to show the true Christ to a lost and dying world. In Jesus' name, amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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