KJB Daily
Devotion – Following Jesus Through Every Chapter
Date: Monday, March 07, 2016
Chapters: Joshua 9-11
Message: Joshua: Seeking Counsel From God
Hello My Friend,
We must admit it, even as Christians, we have made some decisions that we wish we could take back because the repercussions of doing so caused more harm for us than good. Nevertheless, God can always turn every bad decision we make into something good if we turn to God and ask Him how to handle it. “For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord. Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.” - 1 Corinthians 4:4,5.
We must realize something as Christians, when God's people are around that means God is around, the world might tell you they do not want anything to do with God, but they know that God is powerful and if they mess with you, they mess with God. With that said, you can expect a lot of sweet talkers trying and make an alliance with you. Now, after the Israelites powerful defeat over Jericho and Ai you can imagine that the the surrounding cities were fearing for their lives. They were so scared that five kings, normally enemies, aligned themselves to to see what they could do to defeat Israel. They came up with a deceitful plan to make and alliance with them instead. The mistake here was that Joshua believed they were from another land and made an alliance with them before consulting with God about it, these were Canaanites, people that God commanded to be destroyed.
“And the men took of their victuals, and asked not counsel at the mouth of the LORD. And Joshua made peace with them, and made a league with them, to let them live: and the princes of the congregation sware unto them. And it came to pass at the end of three days after they had made a league with them, that they heard that they were their neighbours, and that they dwelt among them. And the children of Israel journeyed, and came unto their cities on the third day. Now their cities were Gibeon, and Chephirah, and Beeroth, and Kirjathjearim. And the children of Israel smote them not, because the princes of the congregation had sworn unto them by the LORD God of Israel. And all the congregation murmured against the princes. But all the princes said unto all the congregation, We have sworn unto them by the LORD God of Israel: now therefore we may not touch them. And Joshua made them that day hewers of wood and drawers of water for the congregation, and for the altar of the LORD, even unto this day, in the place which he should choose.” - Joshua 9:14-19,27.
“and asked not counsel at the mouth of the LORD.” How many things are we having to deal with because we did not ask God if we should do them first? Marriages and contracts, these are things that we must be careful who we align ourselves with, while nothing can separate us from God, it can prove harmful later on, especially if the people we are dealing with are not saved. “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,” - 2 Corinthians 6:14-17.
We get into this habit of thinking that every time we mess up or make a wrong decision that God is going to punish us, this is putting us back under the law of works and not grace. While sin that is not confessed brings chastening, we must remind ourselves that we are not under the law. With that said, bad decisions while not necessarily sin, can cause a disruption in our lives, but God can turn any bad decision into something good. Now, when the news that the Israelites aligned themselves with Gibeon got out more kings joined together to try to defeat them because Gibeon had a strong army. With God's help they defeated all of them.
“Now it came to pass, when Adonizedek king of Jerusalem had heard how Joshua had taken Ai, and had utterly destroyed it; as he had done to Jericho and her king, so he had done to Ai and her king; and how the inhabitants of Gibeon had made peace with Israel, and were among them; That they feared greatly, because Gibeon was a great city, as one of the royal cities, and because it was greater than Ai, and all the men thereof were mighty. And the LORD said unto Joshua, Fear them not: for I have delivered them into thine hand; there shall not a man of them stand before thee. Then spake Joshua to the LORD in the day when the LORD delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon. And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies. Is not this written in the book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day. And there was no day like that before it or after it, that the LORD hearkened unto the voice of a man: for the LORD fought for Israel.” - Joshua 10:1,2,8,12-14.
“for the LORD fought for Israel.” God fights for His people. It is amazing how God will take a complete blunder and turn it into a victory. Only by turning to God can we have victory through every battle we face. It is seldom that our every step is taken in faith and dependent upon God, we are going to make decisions without consulting Him, even major decisions, and once we make them there is no turning back. However, God can turn any mess into a power message when we turn to Him. “For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God. For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;” - 2 Corinthians 4:15-17.
You know, God giving us victories over bad decisions are cause to make sure we seek His counsel in all the decisions we make. As long as we ask God we have nothing to fear, and we save ourselves some suffering. Now, as you can imagine with the Israelites overtaking Canaan the surviving were going to do anything they could to try to stop them. However, Joshua had God, and they were unstoppable as long as they sought Him.
“And when all these kings were met together, they came and pitched together at the waters of Merom, to fight against Israel. And the LORD said unto Joshua, Be not afraid because of them: for to morrow about this time will I deliver them up all slain before Israel: thou shalt hough their horses, and burn their chariots with fire. So Joshua came, and all the people of war with him, against them by the waters of Merom suddenly; and they fell upon them. And the LORD delivered them into the hand of Israel, who smote them, and chased them unto great Zidon, and unto Misrephothmaim, and unto the valley of Mizpeh eastward; and they smote them, until they left them none remaining. As the LORD commanded Moses his servant, so did Moses command Joshua, and so did Joshua; he left nothing undone of all that the LORD commanded Moses. So Joshua took all that land, the hills, and all the south country, and all the land of Goshen, and the valley, and the plain, and the mountain of Israel, and the valley of the same;” - Joshua 11:5-8,15,16.
“he left nothing undone of all that the LORD commanded Moses.” Bad decisions can cause us to get out of the will of God, but they can also get us right with God as He rekindles our faith and trust in Him. You know, we really need to ask God counsel on everything we do, the clothes we buy, the food we eat, the people we fellowship with, they are all something we need to ask God whether or not we ought to be doing. “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.” - Psalms 1:1,2.
Jesus Christ Revealed: Today Jesus is revealed as the One who fought for Israel and the One who delivered the enemy into their hands. Jesus fought for us when He went to the cross for us, now, everyone who believes in and receives Him has victory over death and hell, and we have power to defeat the enemy, Satan, who will one day be delivered and destroyed himself.
Today's Prayer: God, Thank You for all the things You do and allow in my life, even when I do not always ask You what to do. While I do not always make the right decisions, I know that You are always with me and as long as I stick close to You it will all work out in the end. Lord, give me Your power to endure all my challenges and see victory, like You have done before. I know as long as I turn to You that nothing impossible with You. In You name, Jesus. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
Are You 100% Sure You Are Going To Heaven?: http://godsprice.com/
Receive The KJB Daily Devotions In Your Email: http://eepurl.com/2WMzT
Read Previous Devotions: http://imfollowingjesus.com/Biblestudy/
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Copyright © 2016 I'm Following Jesus, All rights reserved.
Date: Monday, March 07, 2016
Chapters: Joshua 9-11
Message: Joshua: Seeking Counsel From God
Hello My Friend,
We must admit it, even as Christians, we have made some decisions that we wish we could take back because the repercussions of doing so caused more harm for us than good. Nevertheless, God can always turn every bad decision we make into something good if we turn to God and ask Him how to handle it. “For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord. Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.” - 1 Corinthians 4:4,5.
We must realize something as Christians, when God's people are around that means God is around, the world might tell you they do not want anything to do with God, but they know that God is powerful and if they mess with you, they mess with God. With that said, you can expect a lot of sweet talkers trying and make an alliance with you. Now, after the Israelites powerful defeat over Jericho and Ai you can imagine that the the surrounding cities were fearing for their lives. They were so scared that five kings, normally enemies, aligned themselves to to see what they could do to defeat Israel. They came up with a deceitful plan to make and alliance with them instead. The mistake here was that Joshua believed they were from another land and made an alliance with them before consulting with God about it, these were Canaanites, people that God commanded to be destroyed.
“And the men took of their victuals, and asked not counsel at the mouth of the LORD. And Joshua made peace with them, and made a league with them, to let them live: and the princes of the congregation sware unto them. And it came to pass at the end of three days after they had made a league with them, that they heard that they were their neighbours, and that they dwelt among them. And the children of Israel journeyed, and came unto their cities on the third day. Now their cities were Gibeon, and Chephirah, and Beeroth, and Kirjathjearim. And the children of Israel smote them not, because the princes of the congregation had sworn unto them by the LORD God of Israel. And all the congregation murmured against the princes. But all the princes said unto all the congregation, We have sworn unto them by the LORD God of Israel: now therefore we may not touch them. And Joshua made them that day hewers of wood and drawers of water for the congregation, and for the altar of the LORD, even unto this day, in the place which he should choose.” - Joshua 9:14-19,27.
“and asked not counsel at the mouth of the LORD.” How many things are we having to deal with because we did not ask God if we should do them first? Marriages and contracts, these are things that we must be careful who we align ourselves with, while nothing can separate us from God, it can prove harmful later on, especially if the people we are dealing with are not saved. “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,” - 2 Corinthians 6:14-17.
We get into this habit of thinking that every time we mess up or make a wrong decision that God is going to punish us, this is putting us back under the law of works and not grace. While sin that is not confessed brings chastening, we must remind ourselves that we are not under the law. With that said, bad decisions while not necessarily sin, can cause a disruption in our lives, but God can turn any bad decision into something good. Now, when the news that the Israelites aligned themselves with Gibeon got out more kings joined together to try to defeat them because Gibeon had a strong army. With God's help they defeated all of them.
“Now it came to pass, when Adonizedek king of Jerusalem had heard how Joshua had taken Ai, and had utterly destroyed it; as he had done to Jericho and her king, so he had done to Ai and her king; and how the inhabitants of Gibeon had made peace with Israel, and were among them; That they feared greatly, because Gibeon was a great city, as one of the royal cities, and because it was greater than Ai, and all the men thereof were mighty. And the LORD said unto Joshua, Fear them not: for I have delivered them into thine hand; there shall not a man of them stand before thee. Then spake Joshua to the LORD in the day when the LORD delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon. And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies. Is not this written in the book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day. And there was no day like that before it or after it, that the LORD hearkened unto the voice of a man: for the LORD fought for Israel.” - Joshua 10:1,2,8,12-14.
“for the LORD fought for Israel.” God fights for His people. It is amazing how God will take a complete blunder and turn it into a victory. Only by turning to God can we have victory through every battle we face. It is seldom that our every step is taken in faith and dependent upon God, we are going to make decisions without consulting Him, even major decisions, and once we make them there is no turning back. However, God can turn any mess into a power message when we turn to Him. “For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God. For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;” - 2 Corinthians 4:15-17.
You know, God giving us victories over bad decisions are cause to make sure we seek His counsel in all the decisions we make. As long as we ask God we have nothing to fear, and we save ourselves some suffering. Now, as you can imagine with the Israelites overtaking Canaan the surviving were going to do anything they could to try to stop them. However, Joshua had God, and they were unstoppable as long as they sought Him.
“And when all these kings were met together, they came and pitched together at the waters of Merom, to fight against Israel. And the LORD said unto Joshua, Be not afraid because of them: for to morrow about this time will I deliver them up all slain before Israel: thou shalt hough their horses, and burn their chariots with fire. So Joshua came, and all the people of war with him, against them by the waters of Merom suddenly; and they fell upon them. And the LORD delivered them into the hand of Israel, who smote them, and chased them unto great Zidon, and unto Misrephothmaim, and unto the valley of Mizpeh eastward; and they smote them, until they left them none remaining. As the LORD commanded Moses his servant, so did Moses command Joshua, and so did Joshua; he left nothing undone of all that the LORD commanded Moses. So Joshua took all that land, the hills, and all the south country, and all the land of Goshen, and the valley, and the plain, and the mountain of Israel, and the valley of the same;” - Joshua 11:5-8,15,16.
“he left nothing undone of all that the LORD commanded Moses.” Bad decisions can cause us to get out of the will of God, but they can also get us right with God as He rekindles our faith and trust in Him. You know, we really need to ask God counsel on everything we do, the clothes we buy, the food we eat, the people we fellowship with, they are all something we need to ask God whether or not we ought to be doing. “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.” - Psalms 1:1,2.
Jesus Christ Revealed: Today Jesus is revealed as the One who fought for Israel and the One who delivered the enemy into their hands. Jesus fought for us when He went to the cross for us, now, everyone who believes in and receives Him has victory over death and hell, and we have power to defeat the enemy, Satan, who will one day be delivered and destroyed himself.
Today's Prayer: God, Thank You for all the things You do and allow in my life, even when I do not always ask You what to do. While I do not always make the right decisions, I know that You are always with me and as long as I stick close to You it will all work out in the end. Lord, give me Your power to endure all my challenges and see victory, like You have done before. I know as long as I turn to You that nothing impossible with You. In You name, Jesus. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
Are You 100% Sure You Are Going To Heaven?: http://godsprice.com/
Receive The KJB Daily Devotions In Your Email: http://eepurl.com/2WMzT
Read Previous Devotions: http://imfollowingjesus.com/Biblestudy/
Visit I'm Following Jesus: http://imfollowingjesus.com/index.html
Like I'm Following Jesus On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/byhisstrength
Copyright © 2016 I'm Following Jesus, All rights reserved.
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