1 Kings: The True Church

KJB Daily Devotion – Following Jesus Through Every Chapter
Date: Tuesday, April 12, 2016
Chapters: 1 Kings 13-15
Message: 1 Kings: The True Church

Hello My Friend,

One thing that has been irritating me lately is how God is portrayed in society, they view any act of worship to God as being Christian, and if you follow Jesus that is a whole different religion. Sadly, there is not one church that has not been corrupted to fit in with society today. I am an independent fundamental King James only Bible believing Baptist. Yes, I know that is a mouthful, but the IFB church is not a denomination, it is a church that was built solely upon the authority of the King James Bible. The IFB was founded because there was so much corruption in the Baptist church that it wanted to be independent from them. Sadly, it and many other churches have fallen into corruption, they are changing or completely removing the word of God to compromise with a corrupted world. Christ is supposed to conform us into Him, not we conform to the world. “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.” - 1 John 4:4-6.

Church, A house consecrated to the worship of God, among Christians; the LORD’S house. You do not have to walk into a building labeled as a church for it to be a place of worship for God. In fact, people have held church services in homes and other buildings for centuries, and many still do today. It was Solomon who had the first temple built for God, anyone who wanted to worship God went to the temple, people would travel for miles just to be able to get near the house of God. When Jeroboam became king of Israel he did not want the people to go to the temple out of fear that they would forsake him and return to the rightful king. So, to have a place of worship for himself and his people he created two golden calves. Now, God sends a prophet to meet with Jeroboam and warn him of the judgment that was coming to him and his family because he caused Israel to sin.

“And, behold, there came a man of God out of Judah by the word of the LORD unto Bethel: and Jeroboam stood by the altar to burn incense. And he cried against the altar in the word of the LORD, and said, O altar, altar, thus saith the LORD; Behold, a child shall be born unto the house of David, Josiah by name; and upon thee shall he offer the priests of the high places that burn incense upon thee, and men's bones shall be burnt upon thee. After this thing Jeroboam returned not from his evil way, but made again of the lowest of the people priests of the high places: whosoever would, he consecrated him, and he became one of the priests of the high places. And this thing became sin unto the house of Jeroboam, even to cut it off, and to destroy it from off the face of the earth.” - 1 Kings 13:1,2,33,34.

“O altar, altar,” Because Jeroboam burned sacrifices and burn incense upon that altar his entire family would die in the hands of Judah. Jeroboam continued to worship his man made gods, influencing the people to do so also, committing this sin. Today, the most influential person representing God is the pope, sadly, this man and his corrupt teaching are going to be the death of millions of people. Do not mistake compromise with world as a way of getting people into the true church. Belonging to a church does not save us, and neither does believing a church leader, even if we are ignorant to it. I wish it were not so, I have aunts and uncles that died and are in hell because they were ignorant to this truth, which I was also ignorant to at one time. I believe that everyone is given the opportunity to know Christ at one point in their lives, those who die unsaved either have hardened their heart to receive the truth or never believed in God. “Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:” - Romans 16:25,26.

Do not mistake a rebellious leader as someone who does not know the one true God. They will worship their god their way until something happens, and only if they humble themselves to Him will He hear them. Jeroboam was content to worship his false god, until his son got very sick. Jeroboam knew only God could heal him, but he was too proud to go to Him himself, instead he sent his wife into Judah disguised as someone else to get help. It was then that the prophet told his wife that not only was her son going to die, but all of the house of Jeroboam.

“Go, tell Jeroboam, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Forasmuch as I exalted thee from among the people, and made thee prince over my people Israel, And rent the kingdom away from the house of David, and gave it thee: and yet thou hast not been as my servant David, who kept my commandments, and who followed me with all his heart, to do that only which was right in mine eyes; But hast done evil above all that were before thee: for thou hast gone and made thee other gods, and molten images, to provoke me to anger, and hast cast me behind thy back: Therefore, behold, I will bring evil upon the house of Jeroboam, and will cut off from Jeroboam him that pisseth against the wall, and him that is shut up and left in Israel, and will take away the remnant of the house of Jeroboam, as a man taketh away dung, till it be all gone. Him that dieth of Jeroboam in the city shall the dogs eat; and him that dieth in the field shall the fowls of the air eat: for the LORD hath spoken it. Arise thou therefore, get thee to thine own house: and when thy feet enter into the city, the child shall die. And all Israel shall mourn for him, and bury him: for he only of Jeroboam shall come to the grave, because in him there is found some good thing toward the LORD God of Israel in the house of Jeroboam.” - 1 Kings 14:7-13.

“because in him there is found some good thing toward the LORD” Do you see what was going on here? God was sparing Jeroboam’s sons life, He brought him to paradise so that he would not have to see the judgment of his father and family. God does not base our salvation on our families or what god they worship, it is based solely upon each individual. The true church is not built upon a man or a man made church, it is built solely upon His church. Our belief and acceptance of Jesus Christ is our only way to God and salvation, and is the only way to become a member of His church. “And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;” - Colossians 1:18,19.

Now, Judah had their own problems to deal with, Rehoboam corrupted Judah by not only building idols and grove to worship, but allowing abominable things to take place. Needless to say, Rehoboam and his son who reigned after him were judged as well. However, God willing to not go back on the promise He made with David, brought up a new king, Asa, who not only got rid of the abominable things that brought corruption to Judah, he even dethroned his mother who was worshiping idols.

“Now in the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam the son of Nebat reigned Abijam over Judah. Three years reigned he in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Maachah, the daughter of Abishalom. And he walked in all the sins of his father, which he had done before him: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as the heart of David his father. Nevertheless for David's sake did the LORD his God give him a lamp in Jerusalem, to set up his son after him, and to establish Jerusalem: Because David did that which was right in the eyes of the LORD, and turned not aside from any thing that he commanded him all the days of his life, save only in the matter of Uriah the Hittite. And Abijam slept with his fathers; and they buried him in the city of David: and Asa his son reigned in his stead. And Asa did that which was right in the eyes of the LORD, as did David his father. And he took away the sodomites out of the land, and removed all the idols that his fathers had made. And also Maachah his mother, even her he removed from being queen, because she had made an idol in a grove; and Asa destroyed her idol, and burnt it by the brook Kidron.” - 1 Kings 15:1-5,8,11-13.

“give him a lamp in Jerusalem,” We can take a look at the current situations of our nations, corrupt and scared politicians are allowing so many abominable things to take place in order to remain in office. Let me tell you, it is an eat dog eat world out there, and if a person is corrupt enough they will stop at nothing to get themselves in office. Do you know how many kings lost their lives because their own sons or brothers wanted to be king? We can trust no one, but the true and only King, Jesus Christ. He will help and protect all His faithful from whoever God allows to reign over our nations. “Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.” - Revelation 2:10.

Jesus Christ Revealed: Today Jesus is revealed through Asa's ridding the land of idols and sodomites. Jesus cleansed the temple when He saw all the wicked things going on. “And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables;” - John 2:15.

Today's Prayer: God, Thank You for Your mercy and grace to accept me and make me a part of Your church when I put my faith and trust in Your Son for my salvation. In this corrupt world that is only getting worse by the minute it is comforting to know that You are watching over me and protecting me no matter what earthly king is in charge. Lord, keep my eyes and faith on You, let me not get corrupted by the false teachers of the world, let me boldly proclaim Your truths, and not be afraid to speak them, and let me not compromise with those who are trying to silence You. In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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