KJB Daily Devotion – Following Jesus
Through Every Chapter
Date:
Saturday,
April 16, 2016
Chapters:
2
Kings 3-5
Message:
2 Kings: Spiritual
Water
Hello My Friend,
Water, it is
everywhere, it cleans us, nourishes us, sustains us. Our bodies are
sixty percent water, we can survive days without food, but barely a
day without water. Not all water is good for us, some can be toxic,
in fact, people die every day from swimming in or drinking
contaminated water. Not all water is the wet stuff we drink and wash
with. We not only need water for our physical bodies, but our souls
as well, this type of water can be found nowhere except through Jesus
Christ. “Jesus answered and said unto her,
Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: But whosoever
drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but
the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water
springing up into everlasting life.” - John 4:13,14.
Did
you ever feel the affects of being dehydrated, headaches, dizziness,
muscle cramps, you literally feel dried out. The same rings true when
we get spiritually dehydrated, we lose focus, motivation, our brain
gets tired. Now, when God wants to fill us with spiritual water He
does it a little differently than us just reading His word and
praying, He proves us by testing us to see if we are listening to
Him. Now, when Elisha asked God for a double portion of blessings I
imagine he did not realize all the people he was going to deal with.
After king Ahaziah died, Jehoram, his brother reigned because Ahaziah
had no sons, Jehoram enlists help from Jehoshaphat and the king of
Edom to defeat Moab once and for all. Now, there they are, three
kings in the middle of nowhere, with no water, cornered by Moab. They
sought a man of God to get answers and went to Elisha, and I imagine
they dod not get the answer they expected.
“And
he said, Thus saith the LORD, Make this valley full of ditches. For
thus saith the LORD, Ye shall not see wind, neither shall ye see
rain; yet that valley shall be filled with water, that ye may drink,
both ye, and your cattle, and your beasts. And this is but a light
thing in the sight of the LORD: he will deliver the Moabites also
into your hand. And ye shall smite every fenced city, and every
choice city, and shall fell every good tree, and stop all wells of
water, and mar every good piece of land with stones. And it came to
pass in the morning, when the meat offering was offered, that,
behold, there came water by the way of Edom, and the country was
filled with water. And when all the Moabites heard that the kings
were come up to fight against them, they gathered all that were able
to put on armour, and upward, and stood in the border. And when they
came to the camp of Israel, the Israelites rose up and smote the
Moabites, so that they fled before them: but they went forward
smiting the Moabites, even in their country.” - 2 Kings
3:16-21,24.
“Make this valley full
of ditches.” Sometimes in order to be filled with spiritual
water we need to get prepare for it to pour in. I imagine the kings
kept wondering with each hole they dug why they were doing it,
nevertheless, they did, and the next morning they were filled with
water to sustain them and their cattle. Interestingly enough, when
Moab looked down into the valley that water looked like blood, they
thought that the kings fought and killed each other, and when they
went down to take the army, Israel defeated them. When you are
feeling all dried up inside, wondering what God is doing with your
life, start digging ditches, He will fill you up and show you what He
is doing. “Behold, I go forward, but he is
not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him: On the left hand,
where he doth work, but I cannot behold him: he hideth himself on the
right hand, that I cannot see him: But he knoweth the way that I
take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.” -
Job 23:8-10.
Another way that God uses to fill us with
spiritual water is to test our faith. It is one thing to praise Him
when He gives us something, but what happens if He takes it away.
Elisha traveled up and down the Northern Kingdom helping anyone that
passed him by, he met a woman, we do not know her name, but do know
that she was a godly woman who desperately wanted a son. Elisha told
her from God that she would have a son, and a year later she and her
husband were blessed. Then something tragic happened, the son
complaining of a headache died, the woman immediately went to Elisha
and shortly after he arrives at their house.
“And
when Elisha was come into the house, behold, the child was dead, and
laid upon his bed. He went in therefore, and shut the door upon them
twain, and prayed unto the LORD. And he went up, and lay upon the
child, and put his mouth upon his mouth, and his eyes upon his eyes,
and his hands upon his hands: and he stretched himself upon the
child; and the flesh of the child waxed warm. Then he returned, and
walked in the house to and fro; and went up, and stretched himself
upon him: and the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his
eyes. And he called Gehazi, and said, Call this Shunammite. So he
called her. And when she was come in unto him, he said, Take up thy
son.” - 2 Kings 4:32-36.
“and
put his mouth upon his mouth,” When something tragic happens
we do everything we can to fix it, this is when most people start
praying. My baby nephew loves kisses, he eagerly awaits kisses and
affection, if you take too long he brings his face up to your mouth
for you to kiss him. God eagerly awaits our affection too, He has the
power to do anything, He just wants our love, and part of that love
is having faith even when He takes away the people we love. I love
reading this story because it reminds me that true love comes from
all directions, and God is the source of that love. Elisha wanted
that boy to live as much as the mother did, and while not all people
are healed the same way, our faith is the key to all blessings. “Now
faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things
not seen. But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he
that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder
of them that diligently seek him.” - Hebrews 11:1,6.
There
is another thing that goes along with faith, works. Now, there is
only one thing that faith alone gives us and that is salvation
through Christ, everything else works must accompany faith. If we
want to see God fill us with spiritual water that brings greater
rewards we need to do some things. God does not just give His
spiritual water to a certain group of people, He welcomes all who
want it, and pours it our freely to those who come to Him. Now, we
learn of a man named Naaman, he was the Captain of the army in Syria,
he was leprous and sought out Elisha, thinking that he would just
touch him or something and he will be healed. He got a different
answer.
“And Elisha sent a
messenger unto him, saying, Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and
thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean. But
Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, Behold, I thought, He will
surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the LORD
his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper.
Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the
waters of Israel? may I not wash in them, and be clean? So he turned
and went away in a rage. And his servants came near, and spake unto
him, and said, My father, if the prophet had bid thee do some great
thing, wouldest thou not have done it? how much rather then, when he
saith to thee, Wash, and be clean? Then went he down, and dipped
himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of
God: and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child,
and he was clean. And he returned to the man of God, he and all his
company, and came, and stood before him: and he said, Behold, now I
know that there is no God in all the earth, but in Israel: now
therefore, I pray thee, take a blessing of thy servant.” - 2
Kings 5:10-15.
“Wash, and be
clean?” Was he serious, you want me to wash in that filthy
water?, thought the man. At first Naaman was reluctant to do what
Elisha had instructed him to do, but after some encouragement he
followed them and was miraculously healed. Quiet often we get dried
up spiritually is because we do not follow all of God’s
instructions completely, but once we do the blessing pour in. Again,
while our works have nothing to do with our salvation, they do bring
miracles after we are saved. “For as the body
without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.”
- James 2:26.
Jesus Christ
Revealed: Today Jesus is revealed through Elisha who gave
his all to serve God. Jesus, gave His when He become a servant. “And
being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became
obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” -
Philippians 2:8.
Today's Prayer:
God, I know that there is nothing that You would not do for us, as I
read about the woman selling oil to pay her debt it reminds me of
just how much You play a part of every area of my life, even my
finances. Lord, I want unwavering faith in You, no doubts, no
questions, just living by faith, trusting You even with Your
strangest requests. Give me Your power to walk by faith and not by
sight, mind, or what I hear from anyone else, help me to obey all
Your commands and seek counsel from You in everything I even think
about doing. In Jesus' name. Amen.
God Bless You, I am
praying for you,
Christina
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Saturday, April 16, 2016
Friday, April 15, 2016
1 Kings: Sheep Without A Shepherd
KJB Daily Devotion – Following Jesus
Through Every Chapter
Date: Friday, April 15, 2016
Chapters: 1 Kings 22/2 Kings 1-2
Message: 1 Kings: Sheep Without A Shepherd
Hello My Friend,
The Book of 2 Kings is the twelfth book of the Old Testament/Bible and contains twenty-five chapters. The author of the book is Jeremiah and it was written to Israel. The timeline for these events took place approximately between 896 BC to 588 BC. The purpose of the book was to record how God dealt with the Israelites before the coming of Christ. What we are to learn from the book is that God is sovereign ruler of all nations, blessing the obedient, punishing the disobedient, and merciful to those who love Him. “But the LORD, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt with great power and a stretched out arm, him shall ye fear, and him shall ye worship, and to him shall ye do sacrifice.” - 2 Kings 17:36.
As you read through the Bible, especially the Old Testament you can truly see that God is a just God and will have no gods before Him. You can also see something else, mercy and His love for His people. God might have selected Israel to be His chosen, but all people are His people, and He will do whatever He can to try and get them to turn from their false gods to Him. As wicked as king Ahab was, God never stopped trying to get him to repent until the day he died. God may have spared him from seeing his family judged for the things that he and his wife did to Israel, but he did not change His judgment upon them. Ahab rebelled by getting Jehoshaphat, the present king of Judah to help him get control of some land, but God used Micaiah to remind him of his fate.
“So he came to the king. And the king said unto him, Micaiah, shall we go against Ramothgilead to battle, or shall we forbear? And he answered him, Go, and prosper: for the LORD shall deliver it into the hand of the king. And the king said unto him, How many times shall I adjure thee that thou tell me nothing but that which is true in the name of the LORD? And he said, I saw all Israel scattered upon the hills, as sheep that have not a shepherd: and the LORD said, These have no master: let them return every man to his house in peace. And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, Did I not tell thee that he would prophesy no good concerning me, but evil? And he said, Hear thou therefore the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing by him on his right hand and on his left. And Micaiah said, If thou return at all in peace, the LORD hath not spoken by me. And he said, Hearken, O people, every one of you.” - 1 Kings 22:15-19,28.
“as sheep that have not a shepherd:” We are all sheep without a shepherd until we find Jesus Christ. With all the people in the world that believe and know God exists you would think that more would receive Him, but sadly very few do. You know, when we receive Christ as our Saviour He becomes our Shepherd, all He has to do is call us and we will hear His voice and come running to Him. “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” - John 10:27,28.
One thing I will never understand are rebels, now, we all have a little bit of rebel in us, but most of us will stop at one point, but I am talking about those who completely rebel against any kind of authority. I was not a child of the sixties, but learned enough about it to understand that the start of the US rebelling against God began then. All it took was a woman refusing to wear a bra or a man refusing to submit to being drafted into the army to turn a once godly nation into one that does not even know God. Now, after Ahab died in the battle his son Ahaziah began to reign, once Moab learned that Ahab died they attacked Israel. During the battle Ahaziah fell and God gave him a chance to repent, but instead he calls on Baalzebub for help (sometimes you just have to laugh at these people and their dumb decisions). God sends Elijah to tell him his fate, Ahaziah also tried to
“Now therefore thus saith the LORD, Thou shalt not come down from that bed on which thou art gone up, but shalt surely die. And Elijah departed. And he sent again a captain of the third fifty with his fifty. And the third captain of fifty went up, and came and fell on his knees before Elijah, and besought him, and said unto him, O man of God, I pray thee, let my life, and the life of these fifty thy servants, be precious in thy sight. Behold, there came fire down from heaven, and burnt up the two captains of the former fifties with their fifties: therefore let my life now be precious in thy sight. And the angel of the LORD said unto Elijah, Go down with him: be not afraid of him. And he arose, and went down with him unto the king. And he said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Forasmuch as thou hast sent messengers to enquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron, is it not because there is no God in Israel to enquire of his word? therefore thou shalt not come down off that bed on which thou art gone up, but shalt surely die. So he died according to the word of the LORD which Elijah had spoken. And Jehoram reigned in his stead in the second year of Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat king of Judah; because he had no son.” - 2 Kings 1:4,13-17.
“is it not because there is no God in Israel to enquire of his word?” God only goes where He is wanted, He may hover around and show Himself through many miracles, judgments, and disasters around the world, but unless we want Him in our lives He will not force Himself upon us. Now, that does not mean He approves of the choice or that they are exempt from judgment because they rebel against Him, but it does mean that everyone has a chance to escape death if they repent from their dead works and false gods and turn to Jesus. “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.” - Acts 3:19-21.
There is a question that almost every person will hear at one point in their lives in some form, “If you died today, are you 100% sure that you will be in heaven?” Not everyone knows the answer to that question. There is only one person on earth that knew exactly when his life on earth was coming to an end, and that was Elijah. Unlike most people who want to live their life doing God knows what when they find out information like that, Elijah went to different prophetic schools to give them his last blessing before that miraculous event. While passing through, a young prophet named Elisha follows him, seeking to know God as he did. Three times Elijah told Elisha to stay where he was as he walked to the place God would take him up, but he refused to stop following him.
“And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me. And he said, Thou hast asked a hard thing: nevertheless, if thou see me when I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee; but if not, it shall not be so. And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. And he saw him no more: and he took hold of his own clothes, and rent them in two pieces. He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of Jordan; And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said, Where is the LORD God of Elijah? and when he also had smitten the waters, they parted hither and thither: and Elisha went over.” - 2 Kings 2:9-14.
“Thou hast asked a hard thing:” Many people see the amazing things that happen in the lives of men and women God uses in His ministry and want what they have, but many fail to realize that it is a life of total dedication to God. No one is perfect, we all mess up from time to time, God is not looking for the perfect model Christian to use in His ministry, He is looking for willing, faithful, and dedicated saved souls. If we are dedicated to God we will seek His will for our lives, and while we may not get everything that someone else has, we will get the things that God wants us to have, most of all, a crown that will never be taken from us. “Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.” - 1 Peter 5:2-4.
Jesus Christ Revealed: Today Jesus is revealed through the Angel of the LORD and Micaiah, who would say only what God instructed him to say (22:9-27). Jesus faithfully told others only what God told Him to say, “Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.” - John 8:28.
Today's Prayer: God, Thank You for loving me so much that You were willing to come here Yourself in the flesh of man to become the sinless sacrifice I needed to be able to reach You and heaven. Not by our righteousness do we know You, but by our faith in what Your Son did am I saved. Lord, lead me and guide me, help me to be a witness and a testimony to those who do not know You, open my ears to hear when You tell me to speak to someone about Jesus, and give me Your power and the boldness to speak the truth and not be offended or intimated by those who refuse to listen. Let me live every day of my life seeking Your will so that I can be the salt that helps You heal the bitter waters of this earth. In Jesus' name. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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Date: Friday, April 15, 2016
Chapters: 1 Kings 22/2 Kings 1-2
Message: 1 Kings: Sheep Without A Shepherd
Hello My Friend,
The Book of 2 Kings is the twelfth book of the Old Testament/Bible and contains twenty-five chapters. The author of the book is Jeremiah and it was written to Israel. The timeline for these events took place approximately between 896 BC to 588 BC. The purpose of the book was to record how God dealt with the Israelites before the coming of Christ. What we are to learn from the book is that God is sovereign ruler of all nations, blessing the obedient, punishing the disobedient, and merciful to those who love Him. “But the LORD, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt with great power and a stretched out arm, him shall ye fear, and him shall ye worship, and to him shall ye do sacrifice.” - 2 Kings 17:36.
As you read through the Bible, especially the Old Testament you can truly see that God is a just God and will have no gods before Him. You can also see something else, mercy and His love for His people. God might have selected Israel to be His chosen, but all people are His people, and He will do whatever He can to try and get them to turn from their false gods to Him. As wicked as king Ahab was, God never stopped trying to get him to repent until the day he died. God may have spared him from seeing his family judged for the things that he and his wife did to Israel, but he did not change His judgment upon them. Ahab rebelled by getting Jehoshaphat, the present king of Judah to help him get control of some land, but God used Micaiah to remind him of his fate.
“So he came to the king. And the king said unto him, Micaiah, shall we go against Ramothgilead to battle, or shall we forbear? And he answered him, Go, and prosper: for the LORD shall deliver it into the hand of the king. And the king said unto him, How many times shall I adjure thee that thou tell me nothing but that which is true in the name of the LORD? And he said, I saw all Israel scattered upon the hills, as sheep that have not a shepherd: and the LORD said, These have no master: let them return every man to his house in peace. And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, Did I not tell thee that he would prophesy no good concerning me, but evil? And he said, Hear thou therefore the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing by him on his right hand and on his left. And Micaiah said, If thou return at all in peace, the LORD hath not spoken by me. And he said, Hearken, O people, every one of you.” - 1 Kings 22:15-19,28.
“as sheep that have not a shepherd:” We are all sheep without a shepherd until we find Jesus Christ. With all the people in the world that believe and know God exists you would think that more would receive Him, but sadly very few do. You know, when we receive Christ as our Saviour He becomes our Shepherd, all He has to do is call us and we will hear His voice and come running to Him. “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” - John 10:27,28.
One thing I will never understand are rebels, now, we all have a little bit of rebel in us, but most of us will stop at one point, but I am talking about those who completely rebel against any kind of authority. I was not a child of the sixties, but learned enough about it to understand that the start of the US rebelling against God began then. All it took was a woman refusing to wear a bra or a man refusing to submit to being drafted into the army to turn a once godly nation into one that does not even know God. Now, after Ahab died in the battle his son Ahaziah began to reign, once Moab learned that Ahab died they attacked Israel. During the battle Ahaziah fell and God gave him a chance to repent, but instead he calls on Baalzebub for help (sometimes you just have to laugh at these people and their dumb decisions). God sends Elijah to tell him his fate, Ahaziah also tried to
“Now therefore thus saith the LORD, Thou shalt not come down from that bed on which thou art gone up, but shalt surely die. And Elijah departed. And he sent again a captain of the third fifty with his fifty. And the third captain of fifty went up, and came and fell on his knees before Elijah, and besought him, and said unto him, O man of God, I pray thee, let my life, and the life of these fifty thy servants, be precious in thy sight. Behold, there came fire down from heaven, and burnt up the two captains of the former fifties with their fifties: therefore let my life now be precious in thy sight. And the angel of the LORD said unto Elijah, Go down with him: be not afraid of him. And he arose, and went down with him unto the king. And he said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Forasmuch as thou hast sent messengers to enquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron, is it not because there is no God in Israel to enquire of his word? therefore thou shalt not come down off that bed on which thou art gone up, but shalt surely die. So he died according to the word of the LORD which Elijah had spoken. And Jehoram reigned in his stead in the second year of Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat king of Judah; because he had no son.” - 2 Kings 1:4,13-17.
“is it not because there is no God in Israel to enquire of his word?” God only goes where He is wanted, He may hover around and show Himself through many miracles, judgments, and disasters around the world, but unless we want Him in our lives He will not force Himself upon us. Now, that does not mean He approves of the choice or that they are exempt from judgment because they rebel against Him, but it does mean that everyone has a chance to escape death if they repent from their dead works and false gods and turn to Jesus. “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.” - Acts 3:19-21.
There is a question that almost every person will hear at one point in their lives in some form, “If you died today, are you 100% sure that you will be in heaven?” Not everyone knows the answer to that question. There is only one person on earth that knew exactly when his life on earth was coming to an end, and that was Elijah. Unlike most people who want to live their life doing God knows what when they find out information like that, Elijah went to different prophetic schools to give them his last blessing before that miraculous event. While passing through, a young prophet named Elisha follows him, seeking to know God as he did. Three times Elijah told Elisha to stay where he was as he walked to the place God would take him up, but he refused to stop following him.
“And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me. And he said, Thou hast asked a hard thing: nevertheless, if thou see me when I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee; but if not, it shall not be so. And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. And he saw him no more: and he took hold of his own clothes, and rent them in two pieces. He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of Jordan; And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said, Where is the LORD God of Elijah? and when he also had smitten the waters, they parted hither and thither: and Elisha went over.” - 2 Kings 2:9-14.
“Thou hast asked a hard thing:” Many people see the amazing things that happen in the lives of men and women God uses in His ministry and want what they have, but many fail to realize that it is a life of total dedication to God. No one is perfect, we all mess up from time to time, God is not looking for the perfect model Christian to use in His ministry, He is looking for willing, faithful, and dedicated saved souls. If we are dedicated to God we will seek His will for our lives, and while we may not get everything that someone else has, we will get the things that God wants us to have, most of all, a crown that will never be taken from us. “Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.” - 1 Peter 5:2-4.
Jesus Christ Revealed: Today Jesus is revealed through the Angel of the LORD and Micaiah, who would say only what God instructed him to say (22:9-27). Jesus faithfully told others only what God told Him to say, “Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.” - John 8:28.
Today's Prayer: God, Thank You for loving me so much that You were willing to come here Yourself in the flesh of man to become the sinless sacrifice I needed to be able to reach You and heaven. Not by our righteousness do we know You, but by our faith in what Your Son did am I saved. Lord, lead me and guide me, help me to be a witness and a testimony to those who do not know You, open my ears to hear when You tell me to speak to someone about Jesus, and give me Your power and the boldness to speak the truth and not be offended or intimated by those who refuse to listen. Let me live every day of my life seeking Your will so that I can be the salt that helps You heal the bitter waters of this earth. In Jesus' name. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
Are You 100% Sure You Are Going To Heaven?: http://godsprice.com/
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Thursday, April 14, 2016
1 Kings: You Are Not Alone
KJB Daily Devotion – Following Jesus
Through Every Chapter
Date: Thursday, April 14, 2016
Chapters: 1 Kings 19-21
Message: 1 Kings: You Are Not Alone
Hello My Friend,
The closer we get to Jesus returning the harder it is getting to find other God fearing Christians among us. This ought to not be surprising to faithful Christians as we are told from the word of God that this is going to happen. In a world full of corruption and persecution of the church it is easy to hide in the shadows so we do not draw attention to ourselves, but we must realize that while God will allow us some time to hide, we have work to do. Remember, you are not alone, you have someone walking with you daily, and that is your Lord, Jesus Christ. “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.
One thing that every Christian who proclaims and teaches the truths of God’s word can never avoid is people trying to stop them. Elijah probably thought that once he showed the people that there was only one God and had the four hundred prophets of Baal killed that the people would be flocking to God. What he got was the opposite, after Ahab went and told Jezebel what happened she had a bounty out for his head. Now, here is Elijah hidden in a cave, hiding for his life. And who shows up to get him, God.
“And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah? And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away. And the LORD said unto him, Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when thou comest, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria: And Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel: and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abelmeholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room. And it shall come to pass, that him that escapeth the sword of Hazael shall Jehu slay: and him that escapeth from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha slay. Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.” - 1 Kings 19:13-18.
“Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel,” Let me tell you, this past month I have had so many issues with the IFJ website, from pages getting lost to the blog being erased, to running out of storage space, it has been a challenge. With all that is going on in my life right now on top of the website issues it would be easy to just hide and forget about it, no one care right? Wrong, I discovered that I had over two thousand registered users on my blog. We may feel like we are all alone, but we are not, God is always with us, and He actually places us where we are for one reason only, to keep telling the truth. Discouragement comes when we feel like we are all alone and our efforts are for nothing, but never forget that nothing we do for God is vain. “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” - 1 Corinthians 15:58.
God uses many means to get the world to see that He not only exists, but is always in control. While Elijah was dealing with his issues, God used the king of Syria to show Ahab and thirty-two other kings that He is not only God in parts of Israel, but everywhere.
“And, behold, there came a prophet unto Ahab king of Israel, saying, Thus saith the LORD, Hast thou seen all this great multitude? behold, I will deliver it into thine hand this day; and thou shalt know that I am the LORD. And Ahab said, By whom? And he said, Thus saith the LORD, Even by the young men of the princes of the provinces. Then he said, Who shall order the battle? And he answered, Thou. And they slew every one his man: and the Syrians fled; and Israel pursued them: and Benhadad the king of Syria escaped on an horse with the horsemen. And the king of Israel went out, and smote the horses and chariots, and slew the Syrians with a great slaughter. And the prophet came to the king of Israel, and said unto him, Go, strengthen thyself, and mark, and see what thou doest: for at the return of the year the king of Syria will come up against thee. And the servants of the king of Syria said unto him, Their gods are gods of the hills; therefore they were stronger than we; but let us fight against them in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they. And there came a man of God, and spake unto the king of Israel, and said, Thus saith the LORD, Because the Syrians have said, The LORD is God of the hills, but he is not God of the valleys, therefore will I deliver all this great multitude into thine hand, and ye shall know that I am the LORD.” - 1 Kings 20:13,14,20-23,28.
“Their gods are gods of the hills;” These foolish men thought that there were gods in a particular regions, and that they could defeat Israel in their own territory. They failed to realize that there is only One God, He is everywhere, and in control of all things. No one can escape judgment from God, they can pretend that He does not exist, ignore Him, but He is always in control, and every person will acknowledge Him one way or another. “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” - Philippians 2:9-11.
There are times when people lose their lives defending the word of God, it is sad to think of so many people who were killed already this year by the hands of terrorists out to destroy God’s faithful. It takes the strength of God to stand up and boldly proclaim Christ today, and while none of us want to die in the hands of our enemy, one thing is for sure, while we are safe in heaven, God will avenge us. There was a godly man named Nebat, he lived next door to Ahab, he was wrongly accused and sentenced to death by Jezebel because Ahab wanted his vineyard and Nebat would not sell it to him. Elijah meets with Ahab to tell him his and his families fate.
“And Ahab said to Elijah, Hast thou found me, O mine enemy? And he answered, I have found thee: because thou hast sold thyself to work evil in the sight of the LORD. Behold, I will bring evil upon thee, and will take away thy posterity, and will cut off from Ahab him that pisseth against the wall, and him that is shut up and left in Israel, And will make thine house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah, for the provocation wherewith thou hast provoked me to anger, and made Israel to sin. And of Jezebel also spake the LORD, saying, The dogs shall eat Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel. And it came to pass, when Ahab heard those words, that he rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his flesh, and fasted, and lay in sackcloth, and went softly. And the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, Seest thou how Ahab humbleth himself before me? because he humbleth himself before me, I will not bring the evil in his days: but in his son's days will I bring the evil upon his house.” - 1 Kings 21:20-29.
“Seest thou how Ahab humbleth himself before me?” Sooner or later, every person finds out that they need God, many unfortunately find out upon their death, which is too late. Every now and then, God reaches someone before they die, and that is always His intention, that none perish. Ever hear of last rights? Well, Ahab had his last rights given to him, he took it, and God spared him the grief of seeing his entire family destroyed. It's never too late to be saved until we die, none of us are exempt from judgment, but we can be saved from the eternal death judgment, and that is through our faith and belief in the Lord, Jesus Christ, God never gives up trying to get a soul to repent and receive His Son. “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.” - Romans 3:23-26.
Jesus Christ Revealed: Today, Jesus is revealed through the angel of the LORD (19:5-7) who is always with us, and the unnamed prophet who prophesied victory to King Ahab (20:22). God controls our victory, “The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” - 1 Corinthians 15:56,57.
Today's Prayer: God, You know my heart, You know my faith, and You know my desire to love You with all my heart, mind, and soul, but there is not a day that goes by where I am not being challenged to change what I believe. People mock me, tease me, and constantly try to test me to see if I will stand by You or fall. Lord, give me Your power and strength to get through this and every day standing tall. Even when I slip, I know You are there to pick me up and get me back on my feet again. Let me not lose sight of You in anything that I do. I ask this in Jesus; name. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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Date: Thursday, April 14, 2016
Chapters: 1 Kings 19-21
Message: 1 Kings: You Are Not Alone
Hello My Friend,
The closer we get to Jesus returning the harder it is getting to find other God fearing Christians among us. This ought to not be surprising to faithful Christians as we are told from the word of God that this is going to happen. In a world full of corruption and persecution of the church it is easy to hide in the shadows so we do not draw attention to ourselves, but we must realize that while God will allow us some time to hide, we have work to do. Remember, you are not alone, you have someone walking with you daily, and that is your Lord, Jesus Christ. “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.
One thing that every Christian who proclaims and teaches the truths of God’s word can never avoid is people trying to stop them. Elijah probably thought that once he showed the people that there was only one God and had the four hundred prophets of Baal killed that the people would be flocking to God. What he got was the opposite, after Ahab went and told Jezebel what happened she had a bounty out for his head. Now, here is Elijah hidden in a cave, hiding for his life. And who shows up to get him, God.
“And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah? And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away. And the LORD said unto him, Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when thou comest, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria: And Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel: and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abelmeholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room. And it shall come to pass, that him that escapeth the sword of Hazael shall Jehu slay: and him that escapeth from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha slay. Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.” - 1 Kings 19:13-18.
“Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel,” Let me tell you, this past month I have had so many issues with the IFJ website, from pages getting lost to the blog being erased, to running out of storage space, it has been a challenge. With all that is going on in my life right now on top of the website issues it would be easy to just hide and forget about it, no one care right? Wrong, I discovered that I had over two thousand registered users on my blog. We may feel like we are all alone, but we are not, God is always with us, and He actually places us where we are for one reason only, to keep telling the truth. Discouragement comes when we feel like we are all alone and our efforts are for nothing, but never forget that nothing we do for God is vain. “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” - 1 Corinthians 15:58.
God uses many means to get the world to see that He not only exists, but is always in control. While Elijah was dealing with his issues, God used the king of Syria to show Ahab and thirty-two other kings that He is not only God in parts of Israel, but everywhere.
“And, behold, there came a prophet unto Ahab king of Israel, saying, Thus saith the LORD, Hast thou seen all this great multitude? behold, I will deliver it into thine hand this day; and thou shalt know that I am the LORD. And Ahab said, By whom? And he said, Thus saith the LORD, Even by the young men of the princes of the provinces. Then he said, Who shall order the battle? And he answered, Thou. And they slew every one his man: and the Syrians fled; and Israel pursued them: and Benhadad the king of Syria escaped on an horse with the horsemen. And the king of Israel went out, and smote the horses and chariots, and slew the Syrians with a great slaughter. And the prophet came to the king of Israel, and said unto him, Go, strengthen thyself, and mark, and see what thou doest: for at the return of the year the king of Syria will come up against thee. And the servants of the king of Syria said unto him, Their gods are gods of the hills; therefore they were stronger than we; but let us fight against them in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they. And there came a man of God, and spake unto the king of Israel, and said, Thus saith the LORD, Because the Syrians have said, The LORD is God of the hills, but he is not God of the valleys, therefore will I deliver all this great multitude into thine hand, and ye shall know that I am the LORD.” - 1 Kings 20:13,14,20-23,28.
“Their gods are gods of the hills;” These foolish men thought that there were gods in a particular regions, and that they could defeat Israel in their own territory. They failed to realize that there is only One God, He is everywhere, and in control of all things. No one can escape judgment from God, they can pretend that He does not exist, ignore Him, but He is always in control, and every person will acknowledge Him one way or another. “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” - Philippians 2:9-11.
There are times when people lose their lives defending the word of God, it is sad to think of so many people who were killed already this year by the hands of terrorists out to destroy God’s faithful. It takes the strength of God to stand up and boldly proclaim Christ today, and while none of us want to die in the hands of our enemy, one thing is for sure, while we are safe in heaven, God will avenge us. There was a godly man named Nebat, he lived next door to Ahab, he was wrongly accused and sentenced to death by Jezebel because Ahab wanted his vineyard and Nebat would not sell it to him. Elijah meets with Ahab to tell him his and his families fate.
“And Ahab said to Elijah, Hast thou found me, O mine enemy? And he answered, I have found thee: because thou hast sold thyself to work evil in the sight of the LORD. Behold, I will bring evil upon thee, and will take away thy posterity, and will cut off from Ahab him that pisseth against the wall, and him that is shut up and left in Israel, And will make thine house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah, for the provocation wherewith thou hast provoked me to anger, and made Israel to sin. And of Jezebel also spake the LORD, saying, The dogs shall eat Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel. And it came to pass, when Ahab heard those words, that he rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his flesh, and fasted, and lay in sackcloth, and went softly. And the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, Seest thou how Ahab humbleth himself before me? because he humbleth himself before me, I will not bring the evil in his days: but in his son's days will I bring the evil upon his house.” - 1 Kings 21:20-29.
“Seest thou how Ahab humbleth himself before me?” Sooner or later, every person finds out that they need God, many unfortunately find out upon their death, which is too late. Every now and then, God reaches someone before they die, and that is always His intention, that none perish. Ever hear of last rights? Well, Ahab had his last rights given to him, he took it, and God spared him the grief of seeing his entire family destroyed. It's never too late to be saved until we die, none of us are exempt from judgment, but we can be saved from the eternal death judgment, and that is through our faith and belief in the Lord, Jesus Christ, God never gives up trying to get a soul to repent and receive His Son. “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.” - Romans 3:23-26.
Jesus Christ Revealed: Today, Jesus is revealed through the angel of the LORD (19:5-7) who is always with us, and the unnamed prophet who prophesied victory to King Ahab (20:22). God controls our victory, “The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” - 1 Corinthians 15:56,57.
Today's Prayer: God, You know my heart, You know my faith, and You know my desire to love You with all my heart, mind, and soul, but there is not a day that goes by where I am not being challenged to change what I believe. People mock me, tease me, and constantly try to test me to see if I will stand by You or fall. Lord, give me Your power and strength to get through this and every day standing tall. Even when I slip, I know You are there to pick me up and get me back on my feet again. Let me not lose sight of You in anything that I do. I ask this in Jesus; name. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
Are You 100% Sure You Are Going To Heaven?: http://godsprice.com/
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Wednesday, April 13, 2016
1 Kings: God Will Provide
KJB Daily Devotion – Following Jesus
Through Every Chapter
Date: Wednesday, April 13, 2016
Chapters: 1 Kings 16-18
Message: 1 Kings: God Will Provide
Hello My Friend,
The media has a great way of hiding the truth about things, for instance, they taunt on how great the economy is, yet more people are on government assistance and or sharing households than there ever was. If there is one thing I have learned over the years as a Christian it is that God loves His people, He always provides for them, even in a famine if we keep our eyes on Him, He will always provide. “And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind. For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.” - Luke 12:29-31.
Prosperity and provisions in our nations begins with God, if we honor and make Him King over our nation we will prosper, but remove Him, and judgment will come. As much as the government likes to make us think that they are trying to take care of and sustain us, the truth is, they are only taking care of themselves. Corrupt politicians have crept into our governments and instead of helping us they are controlling us, telling us what to eat, what to think, who gets to live, and even who to worship. This is not something new, the Northern Kingdom of Israel went through king after king, each one more corrupt than the last. This time, we learn of Ahab, the most corrupt king of the north, and his biggest influence was his wife, Jezebel, who made all of the Northern Kingdom serve Baal.
“And in the thirty and eighth year of Asa king of Judah began Ahab the son of Omri to reign over Israel: and Ahab the son of Omri reigned over Israel in Samaria twenty and two years. And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD above all that were before him. And it came to pass, as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took to wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Zidonians, and went and served Baal, and worshipped him. And he reared up an altar for Baal in the house of Baal, which he had built in Samaria. And Ahab made a grove; and Ahab did more to provoke the LORD God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel that were before him. In his days did Hiel the Bethelite build Jericho: he laid the foundation thereof in Abiram his firstborn, and set up the gates thereof in his youngest son Segub, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by Joshua the son of Nun.” - 1 Kings 16:29-34.
“as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam” As much as we think that things cannot get any worse, think again. You know, so many people fail to realize that the United States was founded because people got tired of the government controlling their religion, they wanted to worship God their way, according to His word. So many people lost their lives trying to make this a free, God fearing country, yet we are losing our freedom everyday because we are allowing corrupt politicians dictate our lives. And in case you had not noticed, the fasted growing religion in our country today is Islam, and not only in the US, but all over the world. The prophesies are coming to pass, judgment is coming to every nation, and it is only the beginning. “And when ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars, be ye not troubled: for such things must needs be; but the end shall not be yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows.” - Mark 13:7,8.
The more the government keeps messing with God’s people and getting them to commit sin the more we will suffer as a nation. However, God will provide for His faithful people, even among the unfaithful. Elijah was a prophet sent by God to tell Ahab of a great famine that was about to happen for not only bringing Baal worship into the kingdom, but enforcing it on the people. When Elijah confronted Ahab he was not too happy, he blamed Elijah for the drought, and anyone caught speaking of would be executed. God sent Elijah to a place where he could be safe, God provided him with the provisions he needed, but He did not stop with Elijah, he cared for all who were faithful to Him, including a widow that He sent Elijah to for provisions himself.
“Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan. And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there. So he went and did according unto the word of the LORD: for he went and dwelt by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan. And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook. And it came to pass after a while, that the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land. And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongeth to Zidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee.” - 1 Kings 17:3-9.
“So he went and did according unto the word of the LORD:” We do not need a Bible for God to tell us what we need to do, we have the living Bible inside of us. The Holy Spirit is our guide, and while some of the things He leads us to (nothing that goes against Scripture) may seem strange and a waste of time, there is a purpose for them. God was not only going to show Elijah, but this woman and her son that He will always provide, no matter what the circumstance. If you stop to think about it, and if you observed those who are faithful to God you will see that we all have seasons of famine and of plenty. I imagine if it was plenteous all the time we would not rely on God so much, which is why He brings famines. No matter how long the famine lasts, it is important to be faithful to God as He has much more to give us here and in our new life to come when Jesus comes to get us. “Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.” - John 6:27.
I am not against the government, when it works according to our constitutional rights than it is great, and we all prosper. However, our nations are declining rapidly, and they will continue to do so until we get some godly people in our government. God was going to keep pressing Israel until they saw that their worship of Baal was wrong. Now, with the famine hitting hard, Ahab went searching for food, he sends his governor Obadiah to search the other side and runs into Elijah. Obadiah feared for his life, he knew that if he went to Ahab and told him that Elijah was in town that he would face execution for even talking to him. However, he faced his fears and Elijah promised him that everything would be fine. The reason why Elijah wanted to meet with Ahab was to challenge him.
“And as Obadiah was in the way, behold, Elijah met him: and he knew him, and fell on his face, and said, Art thou that my lord Elijah? And he answered him, I am: go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here. And he said, What have I sinned, that thou wouldest deliver thy servant into the hand of Ahab, to slay me? As the LORD thy God liveth, there is no nation or kingdom, whither my lord hath not sent to seek thee: and when they said, He is not there; he took an oath of the kingdom and nation, that they found thee not. And now thou sayest, Go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here. And it shall come to pass, as soon as I am gone from thee, that the Spirit of the LORD shall carry thee whither I know not; and so when I come and tell Ahab, and he cannot find thee, he shall slay me: but I thy servant fear the LORD from my youth. Was it not told my lord what I did when Jezebel slew the prophets of the LORD, how I hid an hundred men of the LORD'S prophets by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water?” - 1 Kings 18:7-13.
“but I thy servant fear the LORD from my youth.” I caught myself this morning reminding God of all the things I do to serve Him and asking Him to give me more work so I can take care of my mom. You know, at one time I use to think it was wrong to remind God of my faithfulness to Him, but as I begin to study His word I realized every one of His faithful do the same thing. God does not need us to remind Him of anything because He knows what we do, but He likes us to mention them as it is a reminder to us. Much of the suffering we go through as a nation has nothing to do with what we have done, we can thank our government for most of them, but they are reminders that while we are sinners saved by grace, we really can be faithful to God through the worse famines.
“But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.” - 1 Peter 3:14-17.
Jesus Christ Revealed: Today Jesus is revealed through Elijah, whom God used to provide flour and oil for the needy widow at Zarephath (17:13-16). Christ our sustainer of life, provides not only the things we need to sustain our physical body, but our soul as well. “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” - Philippians 4:19.
Today's Prayer: God, You promise to provide us with all Your riches according to our needs, you may provide us with our wants from time to time, but You always provide us with the things we need. This world is so corrupt that it loves to convince us that if we turn to them they will provide us with our needs and wants, but what they want is to turn us away from You. Lord, give us Your power, protection, and peace as we endure the famines that come with Your judgments. Keep us safe, hide us in Your bosom, and put Your hedge of protection around us. Let us never forget that You will always supply us with what we need, and that things will be plentiful one day. I ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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Date: Wednesday, April 13, 2016
Chapters: 1 Kings 16-18
Message: 1 Kings: God Will Provide
Hello My Friend,
The media has a great way of hiding the truth about things, for instance, they taunt on how great the economy is, yet more people are on government assistance and or sharing households than there ever was. If there is one thing I have learned over the years as a Christian it is that God loves His people, He always provides for them, even in a famine if we keep our eyes on Him, He will always provide. “And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind. For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.” - Luke 12:29-31.
Prosperity and provisions in our nations begins with God, if we honor and make Him King over our nation we will prosper, but remove Him, and judgment will come. As much as the government likes to make us think that they are trying to take care of and sustain us, the truth is, they are only taking care of themselves. Corrupt politicians have crept into our governments and instead of helping us they are controlling us, telling us what to eat, what to think, who gets to live, and even who to worship. This is not something new, the Northern Kingdom of Israel went through king after king, each one more corrupt than the last. This time, we learn of Ahab, the most corrupt king of the north, and his biggest influence was his wife, Jezebel, who made all of the Northern Kingdom serve Baal.
“And in the thirty and eighth year of Asa king of Judah began Ahab the son of Omri to reign over Israel: and Ahab the son of Omri reigned over Israel in Samaria twenty and two years. And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD above all that were before him. And it came to pass, as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took to wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Zidonians, and went and served Baal, and worshipped him. And he reared up an altar for Baal in the house of Baal, which he had built in Samaria. And Ahab made a grove; and Ahab did more to provoke the LORD God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel that were before him. In his days did Hiel the Bethelite build Jericho: he laid the foundation thereof in Abiram his firstborn, and set up the gates thereof in his youngest son Segub, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by Joshua the son of Nun.” - 1 Kings 16:29-34.
“as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam” As much as we think that things cannot get any worse, think again. You know, so many people fail to realize that the United States was founded because people got tired of the government controlling their religion, they wanted to worship God their way, according to His word. So many people lost their lives trying to make this a free, God fearing country, yet we are losing our freedom everyday because we are allowing corrupt politicians dictate our lives. And in case you had not noticed, the fasted growing religion in our country today is Islam, and not only in the US, but all over the world. The prophesies are coming to pass, judgment is coming to every nation, and it is only the beginning. “And when ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars, be ye not troubled: for such things must needs be; but the end shall not be yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows.” - Mark 13:7,8.
The more the government keeps messing with God’s people and getting them to commit sin the more we will suffer as a nation. However, God will provide for His faithful people, even among the unfaithful. Elijah was a prophet sent by God to tell Ahab of a great famine that was about to happen for not only bringing Baal worship into the kingdom, but enforcing it on the people. When Elijah confronted Ahab he was not too happy, he blamed Elijah for the drought, and anyone caught speaking of would be executed. God sent Elijah to a place where he could be safe, God provided him with the provisions he needed, but He did not stop with Elijah, he cared for all who were faithful to Him, including a widow that He sent Elijah to for provisions himself.
“Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan. And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there. So he went and did according unto the word of the LORD: for he went and dwelt by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan. And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook. And it came to pass after a while, that the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land. And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongeth to Zidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee.” - 1 Kings 17:3-9.
“So he went and did according unto the word of the LORD:” We do not need a Bible for God to tell us what we need to do, we have the living Bible inside of us. The Holy Spirit is our guide, and while some of the things He leads us to (nothing that goes against Scripture) may seem strange and a waste of time, there is a purpose for them. God was not only going to show Elijah, but this woman and her son that He will always provide, no matter what the circumstance. If you stop to think about it, and if you observed those who are faithful to God you will see that we all have seasons of famine and of plenty. I imagine if it was plenteous all the time we would not rely on God so much, which is why He brings famines. No matter how long the famine lasts, it is important to be faithful to God as He has much more to give us here and in our new life to come when Jesus comes to get us. “Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.” - John 6:27.
I am not against the government, when it works according to our constitutional rights than it is great, and we all prosper. However, our nations are declining rapidly, and they will continue to do so until we get some godly people in our government. God was going to keep pressing Israel until they saw that their worship of Baal was wrong. Now, with the famine hitting hard, Ahab went searching for food, he sends his governor Obadiah to search the other side and runs into Elijah. Obadiah feared for his life, he knew that if he went to Ahab and told him that Elijah was in town that he would face execution for even talking to him. However, he faced his fears and Elijah promised him that everything would be fine. The reason why Elijah wanted to meet with Ahab was to challenge him.
“And as Obadiah was in the way, behold, Elijah met him: and he knew him, and fell on his face, and said, Art thou that my lord Elijah? And he answered him, I am: go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here. And he said, What have I sinned, that thou wouldest deliver thy servant into the hand of Ahab, to slay me? As the LORD thy God liveth, there is no nation or kingdom, whither my lord hath not sent to seek thee: and when they said, He is not there; he took an oath of the kingdom and nation, that they found thee not. And now thou sayest, Go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here. And it shall come to pass, as soon as I am gone from thee, that the Spirit of the LORD shall carry thee whither I know not; and so when I come and tell Ahab, and he cannot find thee, he shall slay me: but I thy servant fear the LORD from my youth. Was it not told my lord what I did when Jezebel slew the prophets of the LORD, how I hid an hundred men of the LORD'S prophets by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water?” - 1 Kings 18:7-13.
“but I thy servant fear the LORD from my youth.” I caught myself this morning reminding God of all the things I do to serve Him and asking Him to give me more work so I can take care of my mom. You know, at one time I use to think it was wrong to remind God of my faithfulness to Him, but as I begin to study His word I realized every one of His faithful do the same thing. God does not need us to remind Him of anything because He knows what we do, but He likes us to mention them as it is a reminder to us. Much of the suffering we go through as a nation has nothing to do with what we have done, we can thank our government for most of them, but they are reminders that while we are sinners saved by grace, we really can be faithful to God through the worse famines.
“But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.” - 1 Peter 3:14-17.
Jesus Christ Revealed: Today Jesus is revealed through Elijah, whom God used to provide flour and oil for the needy widow at Zarephath (17:13-16). Christ our sustainer of life, provides not only the things we need to sustain our physical body, but our soul as well. “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” - Philippians 4:19.
Today's Prayer: God, You promise to provide us with all Your riches according to our needs, you may provide us with our wants from time to time, but You always provide us with the things we need. This world is so corrupt that it loves to convince us that if we turn to them they will provide us with our needs and wants, but what they want is to turn us away from You. Lord, give us Your power, protection, and peace as we endure the famines that come with Your judgments. Keep us safe, hide us in Your bosom, and put Your hedge of protection around us. Let us never forget that You will always supply us with what we need, and that things will be plentiful one day. I ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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Tuesday, April 12, 2016
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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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
Are You 100% Sure You Are Going To Heaven?: http://godsprice.com/
Receive The KJB Daily Devotions In Your Email: http://eepurl.com/2WMzT
Missed A Message: 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.
Monday, April 11, 2016
1 Kings: The Deception Of False Religion
KJB Daily Devotion – Following Jesus
Through Every Chapter
Date: Monday, April 11, 2016
Chapters: 1 Kings 10-12
Message: 1 Kings: The Deception Of False Religion
Hello My Friend,
There is a similar pattern among false religion that mimics Christianity, they all worship a supreme being, they all require a sacrifice, and they all have a law book they follow. Do you know the best way to deceive people into believing they are worshiping God? Mirror Him. There is only one way to know that the religion you follow is true, salvation comes only by believing that Christ became the sacrifice to redeem your soul, and He alone is the only way to God. “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” - Ephesians 2:4-9.
False religion focuses on working your way to heaven or a heavenly place, and if you were to do research on all religions you would find that most mimic the Jewish religion in some way. That is because they want to get you to believe that they are worshiping the same God. The truth is this, the world knows there is only one God, and they will spot Him right away. King Solomon was the most powerful and prosperous kings of all time, he not only possessed great wisdom and wealth, he was looked highly upon by the rest of the world as the king who was led by the only living God. Solomon had kings and queens from all over the world coming to see if the God they only heard about was true. We learn this through the queen of Sheba, upon observing and asking Solomon many questions, she discovered the stories did not compare to what she saw.
“And when the queen of Sheba had seen all Solomon's wisdom, and the house that he had built, And the meat of his table, and the sitting of his servants, and the attendance of his ministers, and their apparel, and his cupbearers, and his ascent by which he went up unto the house of the LORD; there was no more spirit in her. And she said to the king, It was a true report that I heard in mine own land of thy acts and of thy wisdom. Howbeit I believed not the words, until I came, and mine eyes had seen it: and, behold, the half was not told me: thy wisdom and prosperity exceedeth the fame which I heard. Happy are thy men, happy are these thy servants, which stand continually before thee, and that hear thy wisdom. Blessed be the LORD thy God, which delighted in thee, to set thee on the throne of Israel: because the LORD loved Israel for ever, therefore made he thee king, to do judgment and justice.” - 1 Kings 10:4-9.
“and mine eyes had seen it:” Sheba knew that there was only one LORD, and she saw Him in the actions of Solomon. The world should be able to see Christ in the believer. While it is true that our works have nothing to do with our salvation, they do have to do with being blessed by God. We ought to be a reflection of Christ, and if we are not than we ought to rethink our actions. “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.” - Ephesians 2:10-13.
No matter how strong our faith in the LORD, we cannot take our eyes off Him for one second because that is all it takes for us to go from loving and worshiping only God to turning to false gods. Solomon, was strong in his faith, but things began to change when he started marrying strange women, women of different faiths. The result, he started worshiping their gods to please his wives. Needless to say, God was not happy with Solomon.
“And the LORD was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the LORD God of Israel, which had appeared unto him twice, And had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods: but he kept not that which the LORD commanded. Wherefore the LORD said unto Solomon, Forasmuch as this is done of thee, and thou hast not kept my covenant and my statutes, which I have commanded thee, I will surely rend the kingdom from thee, and will give it to thy servant. Notwithstanding in thy days I will not do it for David thy father's sake: but I will rend it out of the hand of thy son. Howbeit I will not rend away all the kingdom; but will give one tribe to thy son for David my servant's sake, and for Jerusalem's sake which I have chosen. And unto his son will I give one tribe, that David my servant may have a light alway before me in Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen me to put my name there. And Solomon slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David his father: and Rehoboam his son reigned in his stead.” - 1 Kings 11:9-13,36,43.
“but he kept not that which the LORD commanded.” Forget the fact that he had a thousand wives, which makes one question his morals and wisdom. However, getting around the wrong people can cloud our judgment, which is why Solomon fell. Solomon’s experience led him to write several proverbs in regards to a woman’s influence on a man. Growing up I remember being taught that when you marry you were to marry someone within your race. The truth is, we ought to marry within our faith, which is why God tells us not no be yoked or joined with people of different religions. You need to be with someone who believes the same as you do.
“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, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” - 2 Corinthians 6:14-18.
Every day you hear about a great man of faith denouncing his faith in God and turning to false religion, or even worse, becoming an atheist. Walking away from God does not happen overnight, it becomes gradual as the need for God becomes less and less. After Solomon died, God followed through with His judgment, He split the kingdom leaving only Solomon’s seed to reign under one tribe, Judah. After the nation split, Jeroboam, a rebellious servant of Solomon, became king in moved to the north and Rehoboam, Solomon’s son, remained in the south, out of fear that the people would return to Rehoboam going there to worship God, Jeroboam made his own gods, he had two golden calves built, one on each edge of town.
“Whereupon the king took counsel, and made two calves of gold, and said unto them, It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem: behold thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. And he set the one in Bethel, and the other put he in Dan. And this thing became a sin: for the people went to worship before the one, even unto Dan. And he made an house of high places, and made priests of the lowest of the people, which were not of the sons of Levi. And Jeroboam ordained a feast in the eighth month, on the fifteenth day of the month, like unto the feast that is in Judah, and he offered upon the altar. So did he in Bethel, sacrificing unto the calves that he had made: and he placed in Bethel the priests of the high places which he had made. So he offered upon the altar which he had made in Bethel the fifteenth day of the eighth month, even in the month which he had devised of his own heart; and ordained a feast unto the children of Israel: and he offered upon the altar, and burnt incense.” - 1 Kings 12:28-33.
“And this thing became a sin:” Many people truly want God to be part of their lives, they pray and worship Him, but the truth is, it is not God they are talking to, it is a false god. God is not someone that can be made up and worshiped on our terms, there is only one way to worship Him and that is through the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus is the only way to God, and unless we know Him, we do not worship the LORD God Almighty. “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.” - John 14:6,13,14.
Jesus Christ Revealed: Today Jesus is revealed through David who had a heart for God and lived to please the Him. Jesus praying to the Father said, “O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.” - Matthew 26:39.
Today's Prayer: God, You want to be a part of our lives, and we truly want that too, but we often let our desires determine how we serve You. I know I can get so caught up in the things I do that I forget to even acknowledge that You are the reason for everything I have and even am. Lord, I do not want my heart to turn away from you because of some person or thing. Give me Your power to keep looking to You, let me not turn to the right or the left, give me Your strength to remain in obedience to Your commands, even when my flesh desires something else, and give me a heart that only seeks to follow You in all that I do. In Jesus' name. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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Date: Monday, April 11, 2016
Chapters: 1 Kings 10-12
Message: 1 Kings: The Deception Of False Religion
Hello My Friend,
There is a similar pattern among false religion that mimics Christianity, they all worship a supreme being, they all require a sacrifice, and they all have a law book they follow. Do you know the best way to deceive people into believing they are worshiping God? Mirror Him. There is only one way to know that the religion you follow is true, salvation comes only by believing that Christ became the sacrifice to redeem your soul, and He alone is the only way to God. “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” - Ephesians 2:4-9.
False religion focuses on working your way to heaven or a heavenly place, and if you were to do research on all religions you would find that most mimic the Jewish religion in some way. That is because they want to get you to believe that they are worshiping the same God. The truth is this, the world knows there is only one God, and they will spot Him right away. King Solomon was the most powerful and prosperous kings of all time, he not only possessed great wisdom and wealth, he was looked highly upon by the rest of the world as the king who was led by the only living God. Solomon had kings and queens from all over the world coming to see if the God they only heard about was true. We learn this through the queen of Sheba, upon observing and asking Solomon many questions, she discovered the stories did not compare to what she saw.
“And when the queen of Sheba had seen all Solomon's wisdom, and the house that he had built, And the meat of his table, and the sitting of his servants, and the attendance of his ministers, and their apparel, and his cupbearers, and his ascent by which he went up unto the house of the LORD; there was no more spirit in her. And she said to the king, It was a true report that I heard in mine own land of thy acts and of thy wisdom. Howbeit I believed not the words, until I came, and mine eyes had seen it: and, behold, the half was not told me: thy wisdom and prosperity exceedeth the fame which I heard. Happy are thy men, happy are these thy servants, which stand continually before thee, and that hear thy wisdom. Blessed be the LORD thy God, which delighted in thee, to set thee on the throne of Israel: because the LORD loved Israel for ever, therefore made he thee king, to do judgment and justice.” - 1 Kings 10:4-9.
“and mine eyes had seen it:” Sheba knew that there was only one LORD, and she saw Him in the actions of Solomon. The world should be able to see Christ in the believer. While it is true that our works have nothing to do with our salvation, they do have to do with being blessed by God. We ought to be a reflection of Christ, and if we are not than we ought to rethink our actions. “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.” - Ephesians 2:10-13.
No matter how strong our faith in the LORD, we cannot take our eyes off Him for one second because that is all it takes for us to go from loving and worshiping only God to turning to false gods. Solomon, was strong in his faith, but things began to change when he started marrying strange women, women of different faiths. The result, he started worshiping their gods to please his wives. Needless to say, God was not happy with Solomon.
“And the LORD was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the LORD God of Israel, which had appeared unto him twice, And had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods: but he kept not that which the LORD commanded. Wherefore the LORD said unto Solomon, Forasmuch as this is done of thee, and thou hast not kept my covenant and my statutes, which I have commanded thee, I will surely rend the kingdom from thee, and will give it to thy servant. Notwithstanding in thy days I will not do it for David thy father's sake: but I will rend it out of the hand of thy son. Howbeit I will not rend away all the kingdom; but will give one tribe to thy son for David my servant's sake, and for Jerusalem's sake which I have chosen. And unto his son will I give one tribe, that David my servant may have a light alway before me in Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen me to put my name there. And Solomon slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David his father: and Rehoboam his son reigned in his stead.” - 1 Kings 11:9-13,36,43.
“but he kept not that which the LORD commanded.” Forget the fact that he had a thousand wives, which makes one question his morals and wisdom. However, getting around the wrong people can cloud our judgment, which is why Solomon fell. Solomon’s experience led him to write several proverbs in regards to a woman’s influence on a man. Growing up I remember being taught that when you marry you were to marry someone within your race. The truth is, we ought to marry within our faith, which is why God tells us not no be yoked or joined with people of different religions. You need to be with someone who believes the same as you do.
“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, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” - 2 Corinthians 6:14-18.
Every day you hear about a great man of faith denouncing his faith in God and turning to false religion, or even worse, becoming an atheist. Walking away from God does not happen overnight, it becomes gradual as the need for God becomes less and less. After Solomon died, God followed through with His judgment, He split the kingdom leaving only Solomon’s seed to reign under one tribe, Judah. After the nation split, Jeroboam, a rebellious servant of Solomon, became king in moved to the north and Rehoboam, Solomon’s son, remained in the south, out of fear that the people would return to Rehoboam going there to worship God, Jeroboam made his own gods, he had two golden calves built, one on each edge of town.
“Whereupon the king took counsel, and made two calves of gold, and said unto them, It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem: behold thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. And he set the one in Bethel, and the other put he in Dan. And this thing became a sin: for the people went to worship before the one, even unto Dan. And he made an house of high places, and made priests of the lowest of the people, which were not of the sons of Levi. And Jeroboam ordained a feast in the eighth month, on the fifteenth day of the month, like unto the feast that is in Judah, and he offered upon the altar. So did he in Bethel, sacrificing unto the calves that he had made: and he placed in Bethel the priests of the high places which he had made. So he offered upon the altar which he had made in Bethel the fifteenth day of the eighth month, even in the month which he had devised of his own heart; and ordained a feast unto the children of Israel: and he offered upon the altar, and burnt incense.” - 1 Kings 12:28-33.
“And this thing became a sin:” Many people truly want God to be part of their lives, they pray and worship Him, but the truth is, it is not God they are talking to, it is a false god. God is not someone that can be made up and worshiped on our terms, there is only one way to worship Him and that is through the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus is the only way to God, and unless we know Him, we do not worship the LORD God Almighty. “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.” - John 14:6,13,14.
Jesus Christ Revealed: Today Jesus is revealed through David who had a heart for God and lived to please the Him. Jesus praying to the Father said, “O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.” - Matthew 26:39.
Today's Prayer: God, You want to be a part of our lives, and we truly want that too, but we often let our desires determine how we serve You. I know I can get so caught up in the things I do that I forget to even acknowledge that You are the reason for everything I have and even am. Lord, I do not want my heart to turn away from you because of some person or thing. Give me Your power to keep looking to You, let me not turn to the right or the left, give me Your strength to remain in obedience to Your commands, even when my flesh desires something else, and give me a heart that only seeks to follow You in all that I do. In Jesus' name. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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Sunday, April 10, 2016
1 Kings: In The Presence Of God
KJB Daily Devotion – Following Jesus
Through Every Chapter
Date: Sunday, April 10, 2016
Chapters: 1 Kings 7-9
Message: 1 Kings: In The Presence Of God
Hello My Friend,
As born again Christians we have the privilege of having the presence of God with us at all times. One of the promises that Jesus made before He left the earth was that He would send us a Comforter, someone to be with us always until He comes to get us. That Comforter is none other than the Holy Spirit, He dwells in us, He is alive in us, and that means God dwells in us. “If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;” - John 14:15,16.
Before God allowed the Holy Spirit to dwell in all believers permanently He filled men and women as He needed them. It was not uncommon for people all over the world to travel to places they knew had a strong presence of God. We first learned of the structure that Solomon had made for the temple that would house the presence of God, it was designed just as David instructed. Now, we get details of what was built to go inside, everything was built with the same quality materials as the building itself. Solomon used a man name Hiram to be his contractor.
“And king Solomon sent and fetched Hiram out of Tyre. He was a widow's son of the tribe of Naphtali, and his father was a man of Tyre, a worker in brass: and he was filled with wisdom, and understanding, and cunning to work all works in brass. And he came to king Solomon, and wrought all his work. And Hiram made the lavers, and the shovels, and the basons. So Hiram made an end of doing all the work that he made king Solomon for the house of the LORD: And Solomon made all the vessels that pertained unto the house of the LORD: the altar of gold, and the table of gold, whereupon the shewbread was, And the candlesticks of pure gold, five on the right side, and five on the left, before the oracle, with the flowers, and the lamps, and the tongs of gold, And the bowls, and the snuffers, and the basons, and the spoons, and the censers of pure gold; and the hinges of gold, both for the doors of the inner house, the most holy place, and for the doors of the house, to wit, of the temple. So was ended all the work that king Solomon made for the house of the LORD. And Solomon brought in the things which David his father had dedicated; even the silver, and the gold, and the vessels, did he put among the treasures of the house of the LORD.” - 1 Kings 7:13,14,40,48-51.
“which David his father had dedicated;” Dedicate, To set apart and consecrate to God. When a person first receives Christ as their Saviour it is as if the weight of every sin committed has been lifted off and removed, they are empty and clean. Since God dwells in us, He wants us to dedicate our mind, body, and spirit to Him, the only way we can do that is by feeding ourselves with things that are pleasing to Him. I recently began a gluten free, low carb diet and for the first time in years I felt light and energetic, but yesterday I ate some pizza and now I feel weighed down and miserable. Building our house for God means eliminating things from our mental, physical, and spiritual diets that weigh us down and make us miserable. We are never going to be perfect, but we can learn from our mistakes and make less if we dedicate everything we put in our bodies to God. “But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the LORD will hear when I call unto him. Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.” - Psalms 4:3,4.
To the world and those who follow false religion the presence of God is dependent upon a building, billions of dollars are spent on worship centers geared to bring people to Him. Sadly, they are either too blind or deceiving the lost into believing that God is in that building. I will never forget my ex-boyfriend, who was supposed to be a Christian, telling me not to fill his family with my religion when I mentioned to them that God is not in a building. The world likes the appearance of a godlike being to go to, but they do not want Him dwelling in their lives. Now, the temple was built and everything was ready for God to make His presence. Solomon gathered all the people together to join in on the celebration, he knelt down, lifted his hands up in the air and began to pray.
“And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house of the LORD, So that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of the LORD. Then spake Solomon, The LORD said that he would dwell in the thick darkness. I have surely built thee an house to dwell in, a settled place for thee to abide in for ever. What prayer and supplication soever be made by any man, or by all thy people Israel, which shall know every man the plague of his own heart, and spread forth his hands toward this house: Then hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place, and forgive, and do, and give to every man according to his ways, whose heart thou knowest; (for thou, even thou only, knowest the hearts of all the children of men;) That they may fear thee all the days that they live in the land which thou gavest unto our fathers. And let these my words, wherewith I have made supplication before the LORD, be nigh unto the LORD our God day and night, that he maintain the cause of his servant, and the cause of his people Israel at all times, as the matter shall require:” - 1 Kings 8:10-13,38-40,59.
“The LORD said that he would dwell in the thick darkness.” One amazing thing about God is that even in the darkness He is with us? My phone has a power saver on it that dims the light during the night, if I get up in the middle of the night I can see the display perfectly, but if I turn the lights on I can barely see it. While God’s presence is always with us, day or night, it is often in our darkest hour that we see Him. Why? It is much easier to see God we are suffering because we are spending more time with Him. Think about it, how often, apart from praying for meals, upon waking up, or before bed, do we communicate with God as though He is right there with us? If we stop to think about it, we can go days without talking to Him. Dark days are given to us so that we are reminded that He is always with us. “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 5:10.
Knowing you are in the presence of God comes easier when we are obedient to Him. We can say a thousand word prayer, but unless we truly mean what we say, all we are doing is talking to the air. Solomon spoke the largest prayer recorded in history, and God heard Him, He came to him in another dream, this time assuring him that He heard his prayer, but He also had a warning. “And the LORD said unto him, I have heard thy prayer and thy supplication, that thou hast made before me: I have hallowed this house, which thou hast built, to put my name there for ever; and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually. And if thou wilt walk before me, as David thy father walked, in integrity of heart, and in uprightness, to do according to all that I have commanded thee, and wilt keep my statutes and my judgments: Then I will establish the throne of thy kingdom upon Israel for ever, as I promised to David thy father, saying, There shall not fail thee a man upon the throne of Israel. But if ye shall at all turn from following me, ye or your children, and will not keep my commandments and my statutes which I have set before you, but go and serve other gods, and worship them: Then will I cut off Israel out of the land which I have given them; and this house, which I have hallowed for my name, will I cast out of my sight; and Israel shall be a proverb and a byword among all people:” - 1 Kings 9:3-7.
“and this house, which I have hallowed for my name,” Hallowed, To make holy; to consecrate; to set apart for holy or religious use. There is that phrase again, to set apart, every house that God dwells in is hallowed, that means that every soul He dwells in is set apart for God’s use. What about the rest of the body? That is determined on how well we take care of His house if we are saved. God will not hesitate to remove a soul from a body that abhors or mocks Him, if they choose to live a life that even the world detests He will cast them out of His sight, and sadly they will die in their sin. “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. 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 6:9-11,19,20.
Jesus Christ Revealed: Today Jesus is revealed through the temple. Jesus is the temple, who dwells in all believers through the Holy Spirit. “Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? But he spake of the temple of his body.” - John 2:19-21.
Today's Prayer: God, There is no better feeling than having Your presence known to me, it is as if I can feel You right there with me. I admit that when I get discouraged or busy with life it causes me to talk to You less and lose the sense of Your presence. I find myself burning the candle at both ends and getting no where, and that is when I need to remind myself that I am not alone, You are with me, and You will help me. Lord, walk with me, lead me and guide me, clean my head, body, and spirit from all the bad things that are weighing me down, and replenish them with Your wisdom, guidance, understanding, mercy, and grace. I want to be a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to You, and to take care of the temple that You dwell in. I ask these things in Jesus’ name. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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Date: Sunday, April 10, 2016
Chapters: 1 Kings 7-9
Message: 1 Kings: In The Presence Of God
Hello My Friend,
As born again Christians we have the privilege of having the presence of God with us at all times. One of the promises that Jesus made before He left the earth was that He would send us a Comforter, someone to be with us always until He comes to get us. That Comforter is none other than the Holy Spirit, He dwells in us, He is alive in us, and that means God dwells in us. “If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;” - John 14:15,16.
Before God allowed the Holy Spirit to dwell in all believers permanently He filled men and women as He needed them. It was not uncommon for people all over the world to travel to places they knew had a strong presence of God. We first learned of the structure that Solomon had made for the temple that would house the presence of God, it was designed just as David instructed. Now, we get details of what was built to go inside, everything was built with the same quality materials as the building itself. Solomon used a man name Hiram to be his contractor.
“And king Solomon sent and fetched Hiram out of Tyre. He was a widow's son of the tribe of Naphtali, and his father was a man of Tyre, a worker in brass: and he was filled with wisdom, and understanding, and cunning to work all works in brass. And he came to king Solomon, and wrought all his work. And Hiram made the lavers, and the shovels, and the basons. So Hiram made an end of doing all the work that he made king Solomon for the house of the LORD: And Solomon made all the vessels that pertained unto the house of the LORD: the altar of gold, and the table of gold, whereupon the shewbread was, And the candlesticks of pure gold, five on the right side, and five on the left, before the oracle, with the flowers, and the lamps, and the tongs of gold, And the bowls, and the snuffers, and the basons, and the spoons, and the censers of pure gold; and the hinges of gold, both for the doors of the inner house, the most holy place, and for the doors of the house, to wit, of the temple. So was ended all the work that king Solomon made for the house of the LORD. And Solomon brought in the things which David his father had dedicated; even the silver, and the gold, and the vessels, did he put among the treasures of the house of the LORD.” - 1 Kings 7:13,14,40,48-51.
“which David his father had dedicated;” Dedicate, To set apart and consecrate to God. When a person first receives Christ as their Saviour it is as if the weight of every sin committed has been lifted off and removed, they are empty and clean. Since God dwells in us, He wants us to dedicate our mind, body, and spirit to Him, the only way we can do that is by feeding ourselves with things that are pleasing to Him. I recently began a gluten free, low carb diet and for the first time in years I felt light and energetic, but yesterday I ate some pizza and now I feel weighed down and miserable. Building our house for God means eliminating things from our mental, physical, and spiritual diets that weigh us down and make us miserable. We are never going to be perfect, but we can learn from our mistakes and make less if we dedicate everything we put in our bodies to God. “But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the LORD will hear when I call unto him. Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.” - Psalms 4:3,4.
To the world and those who follow false religion the presence of God is dependent upon a building, billions of dollars are spent on worship centers geared to bring people to Him. Sadly, they are either too blind or deceiving the lost into believing that God is in that building. I will never forget my ex-boyfriend, who was supposed to be a Christian, telling me not to fill his family with my religion when I mentioned to them that God is not in a building. The world likes the appearance of a godlike being to go to, but they do not want Him dwelling in their lives. Now, the temple was built and everything was ready for God to make His presence. Solomon gathered all the people together to join in on the celebration, he knelt down, lifted his hands up in the air and began to pray.
“And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house of the LORD, So that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of the LORD. Then spake Solomon, The LORD said that he would dwell in the thick darkness. I have surely built thee an house to dwell in, a settled place for thee to abide in for ever. What prayer and supplication soever be made by any man, or by all thy people Israel, which shall know every man the plague of his own heart, and spread forth his hands toward this house: Then hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place, and forgive, and do, and give to every man according to his ways, whose heart thou knowest; (for thou, even thou only, knowest the hearts of all the children of men;) That they may fear thee all the days that they live in the land which thou gavest unto our fathers. And let these my words, wherewith I have made supplication before the LORD, be nigh unto the LORD our God day and night, that he maintain the cause of his servant, and the cause of his people Israel at all times, as the matter shall require:” - 1 Kings 8:10-13,38-40,59.
“The LORD said that he would dwell in the thick darkness.” One amazing thing about God is that even in the darkness He is with us? My phone has a power saver on it that dims the light during the night, if I get up in the middle of the night I can see the display perfectly, but if I turn the lights on I can barely see it. While God’s presence is always with us, day or night, it is often in our darkest hour that we see Him. Why? It is much easier to see God we are suffering because we are spending more time with Him. Think about it, how often, apart from praying for meals, upon waking up, or before bed, do we communicate with God as though He is right there with us? If we stop to think about it, we can go days without talking to Him. Dark days are given to us so that we are reminded that He is always with us. “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 5:10.
Knowing you are in the presence of God comes easier when we are obedient to Him. We can say a thousand word prayer, but unless we truly mean what we say, all we are doing is talking to the air. Solomon spoke the largest prayer recorded in history, and God heard Him, He came to him in another dream, this time assuring him that He heard his prayer, but He also had a warning. “And the LORD said unto him, I have heard thy prayer and thy supplication, that thou hast made before me: I have hallowed this house, which thou hast built, to put my name there for ever; and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually. And if thou wilt walk before me, as David thy father walked, in integrity of heart, and in uprightness, to do according to all that I have commanded thee, and wilt keep my statutes and my judgments: Then I will establish the throne of thy kingdom upon Israel for ever, as I promised to David thy father, saying, There shall not fail thee a man upon the throne of Israel. But if ye shall at all turn from following me, ye or your children, and will not keep my commandments and my statutes which I have set before you, but go and serve other gods, and worship them: Then will I cut off Israel out of the land which I have given them; and this house, which I have hallowed for my name, will I cast out of my sight; and Israel shall be a proverb and a byword among all people:” - 1 Kings 9:3-7.
“and this house, which I have hallowed for my name,” Hallowed, To make holy; to consecrate; to set apart for holy or religious use. There is that phrase again, to set apart, every house that God dwells in is hallowed, that means that every soul He dwells in is set apart for God’s use. What about the rest of the body? That is determined on how well we take care of His house if we are saved. God will not hesitate to remove a soul from a body that abhors or mocks Him, if they choose to live a life that even the world detests He will cast them out of His sight, and sadly they will die in their sin. “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. 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 6:9-11,19,20.
Jesus Christ Revealed: Today Jesus is revealed through the temple. Jesus is the temple, who dwells in all believers through the Holy Spirit. “Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? But he spake of the temple of his body.” - John 2:19-21.
Today's Prayer: God, There is no better feeling than having Your presence known to me, it is as if I can feel You right there with me. I admit that when I get discouraged or busy with life it causes me to talk to You less and lose the sense of Your presence. I find myself burning the candle at both ends and getting no where, and that is when I need to remind myself that I am not alone, You are with me, and You will help me. Lord, walk with me, lead me and guide me, clean my head, body, and spirit from all the bad things that are weighing me down, and replenish them with Your wisdom, guidance, understanding, mercy, and grace. I want to be a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to You, and to take care of the temple that You dwell in. I ask these things in Jesus’ name. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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