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It’s amazing the powerful effect of God’s Word and how it can change people’s lives! Yesterday, in chapter 22, we read how Hilkiah (the high priest) found the “Book of the Law” (The first 5 books of the Old Testament). When he brought the scroll to King Josiah, and after he read it, his life and the lives of thousands of other people was never the same! While reading the Book of the Law, King Josiah was so emotionally moved by how far they had strayed from the Lord that he repented and called for a national change of events!
Here’s what happened when King Josiah read the Word of God…
1) He was convicted by the sin all around him! In 22:11 it says, “When the king heard what was written in the Book of the Law, he tore his clothes in despair. Then he gave these orders to Hilkiah the priest…we have not been doing everything it says we must do.”
2) He was humbled by what he read! King Josiah tore his clothes in despair realizing that God’s anger must have been burning against Israel for some time due to all the pagan worshipping that was going on.
3) He instituted National Reform! Josiah read The Book of the Law to the people and promised to “obey the Lord by keeping all his commands, law, and decrees with all his heart and soul.” He also got the people to agree to this covenant!
a. He organized the reinstitution of the Passover Celebration!
4) He cleansed the land of spiritual stumblingblocks!
a. He did away with the idolatrous priests! (23:5)
b. He burned the Asherah pole that was in the Lord’s Temple! (23:6)
c. He destroyed the apartments of the shrine prostitutes!
d. He defiled ALL the pagan shrines!
e. He destroyed EVERY shrine made to other gods!
f. He destroyed the altars to other gods so that human sacrificing would be stopped!
g. He executed the priests of pagan shrines!
h. He rid the land of psychics and mediums!
As we finish the book of 2 Kings, we see how God is NO RESPECTER of persons or is in need of anything. God realizes His people don’t want Him, so He banishes them into exile into the regions of Babylon (Iraq).
Tomorrow, we’ll enter into 1 Chronicles. Since the first 9 chapters are the genealogical records of the tribes of Israel, you may want to casually stroll through those 9 chapters and see if you find anything interesting. We’ll take a composite look at those 9 chapters tomorrow and make a brief summary and show you what it means for you today! Your casual stroll through 9 chapters shouldn’t take too long and it will keep you from getting bogged down in the details of Israel’s genealogical flowchart.
Have a great day in the Lord!
2 KINGS 20 - 22
Wow! What drama we read today! We see a father who is a tremendously Godly man who has a son that becomes one of the most wicked kings of Judah! We also see God do a miracle unlike anything else recorded in Scripture! Let's take a closer look at what we can learn from today's reading...
What do you do when you’re faced with a desperate situation that can easily turn into a life crisis? Every day people have to deal with unexpected financial challenges that they cannot handle due to job terminations, failing health issues, divorce, and mounting consumer debt. Hezekiah, king of Judah, had to deal with three situations that put him in a desperate position: terminal illness, foreign invasion, and no heir to succeed his throne in his pending death.
The good news in the midst of your desperate situations is that "God can turn your desperate situations around for your good." Therefore, the question remains “What do you do when you find yourself in a desperate situation?”
Today, I want to make three observations from our selected passage of study (Isaiah 38:1-8) concerning this issue.
1) The first observation is that Believers will sometimes face desperate situations in life!
Prayer is a powerful tool in the hands of the saints. One of the most powerful prayers ever prayed by a saint is recorded in Scripture, “Lord, save me” (Matthew 14:30) uttered by Peter. Three simple words spoken (prayed) in earnest in a desperate situation saved Peter’s life. What’s the point? Pray, Saints, pray! Pray until God moves on your behalf. Jesus told the story of a very harsh judge who would not address a widow’s complaint for justice. However, she kept worrying him. The judge decided to respond to her need because of her persistence (Luke 18:1-8). The moral of the parable is that Christ encourages us to stay before the Lord in prayer. Don’t abandon your petitioning of God. He’ll answer. Therefore, cultivate a lifestyle of consistent prayer.
Now, let’s take a look at our final observation.
What do you do when you’re faced with a desperate situation that can easily turn into a life crisis? Every day people have to deal with unexpected financial challenges that they cannot handle due to job terminations, failing health issues, divorce, and mounting consumer debt. Hezekiah, king of Judah, had to deal with three situations that put him in a desperate position: terminal illness, foreign invasion, and no heir to succeed his throne in his pending death.
The good news in the midst of your desperate situations is that "God can turn your desperate situations around for your good." Therefore, the question remains “What do you do when you find yourself in a desperate situation?”
Today, I want to make three observations from our selected passage of study (Isaiah 38:1-8) concerning this issue.
1) The first observation is that Believers will sometimes face desperate situations in life!
In some Christian circles, there is the misplaced belief that nothing terrible should befall a believer. Nothing can be as far from the truth than this faulty notion. Christians are not exempt from the perils of life. The apostle Paul had to deal with many trials and challenges (2 Corinthians 12:22-28). Additionally, when our country faced one of the most tragic events in our history on September 11, 2001, and over three thousand Americans died as a result of terrorist attacks from hijacked airliners, many who died on that tragic day were Christians.
Hezekiah was told by God through the prophet Isaiah to get his family affairs in order, for his sickness was terminal. To make matters even worse, Hezekiah did not have an heir who would ascend to the throne at his untimely death. Further, Hezekiah is being threatened by Sennacherib, king of Assyria, with invasion. Hezekiah was faced with a desperate situation: he was terminally ill, without an heir to his throne, and on the brink of invasion by Assyria. The question that is now on the floor is how does Hezekiah handle his personal crisis (desperate situation)?
Our second observation gives us the answer.
2) Believers must face desperate situations with earnest PRAYER!
Hezekiah dealt with his desperate situation through earnest prayer! James informs us through his book that “the effectual fervent prayers of the righteous man availeth much” (James 5:16d KJV). Our forefathers coined the expression “Prayer changes things.” What do we know about Hezekiah’s prayer? Isaiah cites several features to Hezekiah’s prayer that is most interesting. First, Hezekiah reminded God of his obedience to the truth of His Word; second, Hezekiah possessed a whole-hearted devotion to the things of God; and finally, Hezekiah was a faithful servant.
God spoke to Isaiah before he could leave the court of the king and gave him a word for Hezekiah. Isaiah told Hezekiah that the Lord had heard his prayer and had seen his tears God extended his life by 15 years. If we find ourselves in a desperate situation, what will we say to God in prayer? Can we call Him into remembrance of our service and heart’s spiritual disposition before Him? We can’t demand God to move on behalf of our service, but we sure can remind Him of it.
Prayer is a powerful tool in the hands of the saints. One of the most powerful prayers ever prayed by a saint is recorded in Scripture, “Lord, save me” (Matthew 14:30) uttered by Peter. Three simple words spoken (prayed) in earnest in a desperate situation saved Peter’s life. What’s the point? Pray, Saints, pray! Pray until God moves on your behalf. Jesus told the story of a very harsh judge who would not address a widow’s complaint for justice. However, she kept worrying him. The judge decided to respond to her need because of her persistence (Luke 18:1-8). The moral of the parable is that Christ encourages us to stay before the Lord in prayer. Don’t abandon your petitioning of God. He’ll answer. Therefore, cultivate a lifestyle of consistent prayer.
Now, let’s take a look at our final observation.
3) Believers must never lose HOPE in desperate situations while they trust in God for deliverance!
Our God is a miracle worker! After Isaiah gave Hezekiah a word from the Lord concerning his pending healing from his terminal illness, he informed him of the sign that God would perform to validate his promise of deliverance for him and the nation. Isaiah told him that the shadow on Ahaz’s sundial would reverse itself, moving backwards ten steps. This prophetic word to Hezekiah is astonishing. For a shadow to move backwards ten steps possibly implies that the Earth’s rotation was reversed or that God caused some type of refraction of the rays from the sun. According to scoffers, the former would be catastrophic for the earth to reverse its rotation; however, that’s why it’s a miracle and God is not limited to the natural laws of the universe that He created and controls. He can suspend those laws because He is omnipotent.
That’s the whole point of the miracle that God is in control and that there is nothing that He can do that contradicts His Divine nature. Therefore, if God can do this, He can certainly turn your situation around. What is it that needs turning around in your life? A terminal illness, a wayward child, a marriage that is on the rocks, a financial collapse you name it and He can turn it around! God specializes in performing miracles on behalf of His people. Can I get a witness? In the Old Testaments we see Daniel in the lion’s den; the deliverance of the three Hebrew children, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; Jonah in the belly of a great fish and more. Therefore, stand firm in your faith in God’s ability to deliver you, and you don’t need a sign. As New Testament believers, we have been called to walk in faith, which means we trust in God’s power and ability to bring His promises to pass, quiet assurance!
God bless!
God bless!
2 Kings 16-19
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We'll do four chapters so that we can see the conclusion of one of the stories we'll read today. As you can see, Israel has fallen into the hands of the Assyrian army and have been led into exile! Only the tribe of Judah in Jerusalem and a few surrounding cities are left. Fortunately, they have a new king by the name of Hezekiah who loves the Lord and, as a result of this Godly leader, God blesses the tribe of Judah and protects the city of Jerusalem in the midst of all this international uprising and chaos that's going on around them.
Here's what we can learn from today's bible reading...
1) God will definitely discipline His own children! We see God "spanking" Israel and exiling the people of Israel to Assyria in 17:6. While God does this, He also offers a specific reason for His action towards His people... 17:7 - "This disaster came upon the people of Israel because they worshiped other gods. They sinned against the Lord their God..."
Here's what they did:
1) vs.7 - They worshiped other gods! For us today, anything that you find more interesting than the Lord, becomes your god!
2) vs. 8 - They followed the practices of the pagan nations! They didn't live like God's people are supposed to live! They lived their lives like people who didn't know the Lord!
3) vs.9 - They secretly did things that didn't please the Lord! On the outside they seemed godly, but secretly they were doing things they knew were wrong!
4) vs.14 - They wouldn't listen to the prophets' warnings! God sent them prophets to warn them of their wicked ways...but they wouldn't listen! Today, we have so many people who go to church but really don't listen and obey the commands of the Lord!
5) vs.17 - They sacrificed their children to other gods! Some religions around the world offer this same practice today! Not too long ago, every major news outlet televised many couples in Asia throwing their children off a high bridge and into the river as a form of sacrificing their children to the gods they worship! How horrible and futile!
6) vs.17 - They consulted fortune tellers and resorted to witchcraft and the worship of Satan! There are many tribes and nations doing the same thing today! We even have Satan worshipers here in America. San Bernadino, California boasts one of the largest churches for Satanic worship in the country.
It was because of ALL these practices that was already going on in the land BEFORE Israel occupied it, that God had the Israelites destroy the people who wouldn't leave and gave it to His own people who would clean it with righteous living and holy worship!
Perhaps the saddest commentary is in verse 18: "Because the Lord was angry with Israel, he swept them away from his presence. Only the tribe of Judah remained in the land."
2) God gives SUCCESS to His faithful ones! Out of chaos comes a bright spot - King Hezekiah of Judah! Finally, Judah gets a king that lives the holy life God was anticipating! As a result, 18:7 says, "So the Lord was with him, and Hezekiah was successful in everything he did." Here's what the Lord loved about Hezekiah:
a) He lived a life that was pleasing to God - 18:3
b) He cleansed the land of spiritual stumblingblocks! - 18:4
c) He completely trusted God like no one before him or after him! - 18:5
d) He remained consistently faithful to God in EVERYTHING he did by obeying every command of God! - 18:6
e) He took action for the glory of God! - 18:7-8
f) He was a man of prayer! 19:15-19
3) God uses the wicked too! Chapter 19 is an astonishing chapter! Over the past several verses we read how Sennacherib had totally conquered and destroyed any and ALL nations that rose up against him. But, he made one major tactical mistake! He received the glory for it! And, God didn't like it!
Notice how God reminds Sennacherib about who's in charge! He responds to Sennacherib by saying, "Who have you been defying and ridiculing? ... But have you not heard? I decided this long ago. Long ago I planned it, and now I am making it happen. I planned for you to crush fortified cities into heaps of rubble. That is why their people have so little power and are so frightened and confused."
God, in His foreknowledge, saw these events! He raised up wicked Sennacherib to punish Israel, just as He raised up Pharoah to enslave Israel and defy God during the days of Moses. Oh yes, God even uses wicked people for His purposes!
Well, that's all for now. Have a wonderful day in the Lord!
We'll do four chapters so that we can see the conclusion of one of the stories we'll read today. As you can see, Israel has fallen into the hands of the Assyrian army and have been led into exile! Only the tribe of Judah in Jerusalem and a few surrounding cities are left. Fortunately, they have a new king by the name of Hezekiah who loves the Lord and, as a result of this Godly leader, God blesses the tribe of Judah and protects the city of Jerusalem in the midst of all this international uprising and chaos that's going on around them.
Here's what we can learn from today's bible reading...
1) God will definitely discipline His own children! We see God "spanking" Israel and exiling the people of Israel to Assyria in 17:6. While God does this, He also offers a specific reason for His action towards His people... 17:7 - "This disaster came upon the people of Israel because they worshiped other gods. They sinned against the Lord their God..."
Here's what they did:
1) vs.7 - They worshiped other gods! For us today, anything that you find more interesting than the Lord, becomes your god!
2) vs. 8 - They followed the practices of the pagan nations! They didn't live like God's people are supposed to live! They lived their lives like people who didn't know the Lord!
3) vs.9 - They secretly did things that didn't please the Lord! On the outside they seemed godly, but secretly they were doing things they knew were wrong!
4) vs.14 - They wouldn't listen to the prophets' warnings! God sent them prophets to warn them of their wicked ways...but they wouldn't listen! Today, we have so many people who go to church but really don't listen and obey the commands of the Lord!
5) vs.17 - They sacrificed their children to other gods! Some religions around the world offer this same practice today! Not too long ago, every major news outlet televised many couples in Asia throwing their children off a high bridge and into the river as a form of sacrificing their children to the gods they worship! How horrible and futile!
6) vs.17 - They consulted fortune tellers and resorted to witchcraft and the worship of Satan! There are many tribes and nations doing the same thing today! We even have Satan worshipers here in America. San Bernadino, California boasts one of the largest churches for Satanic worship in the country.
It was because of ALL these practices that was already going on in the land BEFORE Israel occupied it, that God had the Israelites destroy the people who wouldn't leave and gave it to His own people who would clean it with righteous living and holy worship!
Perhaps the saddest commentary is in verse 18: "Because the Lord was angry with Israel, he swept them away from his presence. Only the tribe of Judah remained in the land."
2) God gives SUCCESS to His faithful ones! Out of chaos comes a bright spot - King Hezekiah of Judah! Finally, Judah gets a king that lives the holy life God was anticipating! As a result, 18:7 says, "So the Lord was with him, and Hezekiah was successful in everything he did." Here's what the Lord loved about Hezekiah:
a) He lived a life that was pleasing to God - 18:3
b) He cleansed the land of spiritual stumblingblocks! - 18:4
c) He completely trusted God like no one before him or after him! - 18:5
d) He remained consistently faithful to God in EVERYTHING he did by obeying every command of God! - 18:6
e) He took action for the glory of God! - 18:7-8
f) He was a man of prayer! 19:15-19
3) God uses the wicked too! Chapter 19 is an astonishing chapter! Over the past several verses we read how Sennacherib had totally conquered and destroyed any and ALL nations that rose up against him. But, he made one major tactical mistake! He received the glory for it! And, God didn't like it!
Notice how God reminds Sennacherib about who's in charge! He responds to Sennacherib by saying, "Who have you been defying and ridiculing? ... But have you not heard? I decided this long ago. Long ago I planned it, and now I am making it happen. I planned for you to crush fortified cities into heaps of rubble. That is why their people have so little power and are so frightened and confused."
God, in His foreknowledge, saw these events! He raised up wicked Sennacherib to punish Israel, just as He raised up Pharoah to enslave Israel and defy God during the days of Moses. Oh yes, God even uses wicked people for His purposes!
Well, that's all for now. Have a wonderful day in the Lord!
2 KINGS 13-15
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Things are starting to wind down for the nations of Israel and Judah. While Israel's kings continue to "do evil in the sight of the Lord", Judah has at least 3 successive kings that do "what's pleasing in the Lord's sight." Once we get a little further into the book of 2 Kings and into 1 and 2 Chronicles, you'll see how quickly the nation of Israel whittles down to nothing until it becomes enslaves by Persia and eventually Babylon. Judah, however, receives a little less stress due to the fact that their kings are following the Lord's advice and will. However, it time they too will become enslaved.
Here are a few things to learn out of today's bible reading...
1) God blesses us in spite of ourselves! Although Israel had pretty much abandoned God, God still was willing to raise up a man by the name of Jeroboam II to save Israel from the continuous attacks of the Aramean army. The reason "why" God did this merciful act is what's important here! In 14:26-27, the bible says, "For the Lord saw the bitter suffering of everyone in Israel, and that there was no one in Israel, slave or free, to help them. And because the Lord had not said he would blot out he name of Israel completely, he used Jeroboam II...to save them." Even though this man "did evil in the sight of the Lord," God felt compassion on His people and moved in a gracious act of mercy to save them...even though there wasn't one righteously capable man or woman (whether bond or free) for Him to use. Out of compassion for His own people, God uses a wicked man to help them! What a compassionate God we have!
2) What important words could be said about your life? As we move through the chapters today, we see one king after another being mentioned, but there isn't any great accomplishment worth mentioning...other than the fact that they were evil in God's sight. Even of the three righteous kings of Judah, there's not much that God wants to discuss here!
If you were mentioned in the Bible, what would He say He has accomplished through you? Don't let life pass you by without understanding your purpose for His creating you! And don't let life pass you by without attempting to allow God to use you in ways beyond your comfort zone! When He moves us beyond our comfort zone, we have to rely completely on Him...and He loves that!
Have a wonderful day in the Lord!
Things are starting to wind down for the nations of Israel and Judah. While Israel's kings continue to "do evil in the sight of the Lord", Judah has at least 3 successive kings that do "what's pleasing in the Lord's sight." Once we get a little further into the book of 2 Kings and into 1 and 2 Chronicles, you'll see how quickly the nation of Israel whittles down to nothing until it becomes enslaves by Persia and eventually Babylon. Judah, however, receives a little less stress due to the fact that their kings are following the Lord's advice and will. However, it time they too will become enslaved.
Here are a few things to learn out of today's bible reading...
1) God blesses us in spite of ourselves! Although Israel had pretty much abandoned God, God still was willing to raise up a man by the name of Jeroboam II to save Israel from the continuous attacks of the Aramean army. The reason "why" God did this merciful act is what's important here! In 14:26-27, the bible says, "For the Lord saw the bitter suffering of everyone in Israel, and that there was no one in Israel, slave or free, to help them. And because the Lord had not said he would blot out he name of Israel completely, he used Jeroboam II...to save them." Even though this man "did evil in the sight of the Lord," God felt compassion on His people and moved in a gracious act of mercy to save them...even though there wasn't one righteously capable man or woman (whether bond or free) for Him to use. Out of compassion for His own people, God uses a wicked man to help them! What a compassionate God we have!
2) What important words could be said about your life? As we move through the chapters today, we see one king after another being mentioned, but there isn't any great accomplishment worth mentioning...other than the fact that they were evil in God's sight. Even of the three righteous kings of Judah, there's not much that God wants to discuss here!
If you were mentioned in the Bible, what would He say He has accomplished through you? Don't let life pass you by without understanding your purpose for His creating you! And don't let life pass you by without attempting to allow God to use you in ways beyond your comfort zone! When He moves us beyond our comfort zone, we have to rely completely on Him...and He loves that!
Have a wonderful day in the Lord!
2 KINGS 10 - 12
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God does some clean up work in Israel, and He does it through the hand of a few ordinary people! Here are some thoughts from today's bible stories...
1) God uses Jehu to rid the land of the worship of Baal! A few years before and prior to his death, King Ahab wickedly promoted the worship of Baal throughout the land of Israel. God had Ahab and his evil wife, Jezebel, killed for their blatant defiance of God and their active promotion of the worship of Baal. Through an ordinary citizen by the name of Jehu, God uses him to destroy any and all remnants of Ahab's family, friends, servants, and acquaintances. Jehu travel incessantly throughout the land of Israel doing God's work by ridding the land of the influence of wicked Ahab. Unfortunately, Jehu was do busy in the work of the Lord that he forgot the Lord of the work! He never truly developed an intimate relationship with God and was thus insensitive to the ongoing false worship that was still taking place with the golden calves.
There are many Christians like this today! They are busy in the work of the Lord - so much so, that they forget to develop and have no time for an intimate relationship with the Lord! As a result, they are insensitive to God's will and what is on His heart. They also become insensitive to sin and tend to overlook the habitual sin in their own lives.
What about you? Are your spending time with the Lord that is specifically orchestrated to develop intimacy between Him and you? Do you have a love for the Lord but overlook the habitual sins of your life and find excuses for them?
2) A child leads Judah back to God! Fortunately, the queen's own step-daughter did the right thing - she saved one of the children of King Jehoram who had covenant rights to the throne! His name was Joash. As a child, he grew up hidden from Queen Athaliah with only a few Godly priests and leaders knowing about the child and his whereabouts. As a child, they schooled him up in the law of the Lord and once he turned the age of 7 or 8 they pronounced him the new King! As a result of his Godly upbringing, he did great things to purge Israel and Judah from their sinful ways!
How we bring children up makes a HUGE impact on future generations! If Joash would have continued living under the auspices of his family, he would have surely become another sad statistic in the lineage of wicked kings. Instead, God spared him from a wicked family and brought him up in the Temple under the leadership and training of Godly priests and leaders.
The influence of Godly parenting is enormous! It not only impacts the child but future generations as well.
That's all for now...Have a great day in Lord!
God does some clean up work in Israel, and He does it through the hand of a few ordinary people! Here are some thoughts from today's bible stories...
1) God uses Jehu to rid the land of the worship of Baal! A few years before and prior to his death, King Ahab wickedly promoted the worship of Baal throughout the land of Israel. God had Ahab and his evil wife, Jezebel, killed for their blatant defiance of God and their active promotion of the worship of Baal. Through an ordinary citizen by the name of Jehu, God uses him to destroy any and all remnants of Ahab's family, friends, servants, and acquaintances. Jehu travel incessantly throughout the land of Israel doing God's work by ridding the land of the influence of wicked Ahab. Unfortunately, Jehu was do busy in the work of the Lord that he forgot the Lord of the work! He never truly developed an intimate relationship with God and was thus insensitive to the ongoing false worship that was still taking place with the golden calves.
There are many Christians like this today! They are busy in the work of the Lord - so much so, that they forget to develop and have no time for an intimate relationship with the Lord! As a result, they are insensitive to God's will and what is on His heart. They also become insensitive to sin and tend to overlook the habitual sin in their own lives.
What about you? Are your spending time with the Lord that is specifically orchestrated to develop intimacy between Him and you? Do you have a love for the Lord but overlook the habitual sins of your life and find excuses for them?
2) A child leads Judah back to God! Fortunately, the queen's own step-daughter did the right thing - she saved one of the children of King Jehoram who had covenant rights to the throne! His name was Joash. As a child, he grew up hidden from Queen Athaliah with only a few Godly priests and leaders knowing about the child and his whereabouts. As a child, they schooled him up in the law of the Lord and once he turned the age of 7 or 8 they pronounced him the new King! As a result of his Godly upbringing, he did great things to purge Israel and Judah from their sinful ways!
How we bring children up makes a HUGE impact on future generations! If Joash would have continued living under the auspices of his family, he would have surely become another sad statistic in the lineage of wicked kings. Instead, God spared him from a wicked family and brought him up in the Temple under the leadership and training of Godly priests and leaders.
The influence of Godly parenting is enormous! It not only impacts the child but future generations as well.
That's all for now...Have a great day in Lord!
2 Kings 7 - 9
Click on the Scripture to read the text!
Morality has fallen to its lowest levels and famine has struck the land of Israel! Everyone is anticipating death. In fact, in yesterday's reading we read the horrible story of how two women agreed to boil and eat their own babies in order to stay alive! To put it bluntly...things were worse than bad!
But, there are some lessons we can learn from all of this...
1) God can change FAMINE into ABUNDANCE in a matter of hours! God came to Israel's rescue through a very unusual set of circumstances. God caused the entire Aramean army to suddenly hear the sound of chariots and hoofbeats. Thinking they were being attacked, they fled for their lives leaving an abundance of clothing, food, livestock, and furniture behind. Some lepers happened to stumble onto the scene and discover the enormous amounts of gold, silver, clothing, etc. After hiding enough of the valuables for themselves, they sent word to the King of Israel (who initially didn't believe the report) and he sent scouts out to validate the leper's discovery. A mad rush through the city gate killed one of the King's officials who didn't believe Elisha's prophecy, and the famine was turned into abundance in a matter of hours!
Hey...You may be in a desperate situation with no hope on the horizon. Know this, with God's help, you may only be hours away from safety, security, and hope! Trust in Him!!! He can take the very worst of circumstances and turn them around to its opposite position!
2) A man's sin can cause so much damage! The rest of the chapters we read today are the fulfillment of God's curse upon the family of Ahab and Jezebel. Due to their violent and wicked ways, not only were many innocent people killed, but God made sure their family members would eventually die off. It's amazing what one man's sinful ways can do to destroy people's lives!
You may not be living the way God wants you to live, and you might be thinking, "Hey, that's my choice! It only hurts me." But, that's not true! Your life effects others whether you know it or not. You are either hurting the feelings of others because of your sinful ways or leading others down the same path. Either way, your life is influencing others. Don't be a destructive force in this short life of yours. Be someone who helps others and encourages others to be the best they can be. It's your choice, and I hope you'll choose to do the right thing!
Let me know what you think. God bless!
Morality has fallen to its lowest levels and famine has struck the land of Israel! Everyone is anticipating death. In fact, in yesterday's reading we read the horrible story of how two women agreed to boil and eat their own babies in order to stay alive! To put it bluntly...things were worse than bad!
But, there are some lessons we can learn from all of this...
1) God can change FAMINE into ABUNDANCE in a matter of hours! God came to Israel's rescue through a very unusual set of circumstances. God caused the entire Aramean army to suddenly hear the sound of chariots and hoofbeats. Thinking they were being attacked, they fled for their lives leaving an abundance of clothing, food, livestock, and furniture behind. Some lepers happened to stumble onto the scene and discover the enormous amounts of gold, silver, clothing, etc. After hiding enough of the valuables for themselves, they sent word to the King of Israel (who initially didn't believe the report) and he sent scouts out to validate the leper's discovery. A mad rush through the city gate killed one of the King's officials who didn't believe Elisha's prophecy, and the famine was turned into abundance in a matter of hours!
Hey...You may be in a desperate situation with no hope on the horizon. Know this, with God's help, you may only be hours away from safety, security, and hope! Trust in Him!!! He can take the very worst of circumstances and turn them around to its opposite position!
2) A man's sin can cause so much damage! The rest of the chapters we read today are the fulfillment of God's curse upon the family of Ahab and Jezebel. Due to their violent and wicked ways, not only were many innocent people killed, but God made sure their family members would eventually die off. It's amazing what one man's sinful ways can do to destroy people's lives!
You may not be living the way God wants you to live, and you might be thinking, "Hey, that's my choice! It only hurts me." But, that's not true! Your life effects others whether you know it or not. You are either hurting the feelings of others because of your sinful ways or leading others down the same path. Either way, your life is influencing others. Don't be a destructive force in this short life of yours. Be someone who helps others and encourages others to be the best they can be. It's your choice, and I hope you'll choose to do the right thing!
Let me know what you think. God bless!
2 KINGS 4 - 6
Click on the above Scripture to read today's Bible text!
In these 3 chapters, we read of 8 ASTOUNDING MIRACLES that God accomplishes through the prophet Elisha! These humanly impossible acts remind us of God's infinite power! And, they also remind us of His willingness to work in and through us IF we'll be committed to following Him with our whole heart as did Elisha.
f you're going through a tough time, take a look at these powerful acts of God and be encouraged by what God wants to do in your life...
1) God cancels financial debt and provides an income for life! In chapter 4, we read how God miraculously works in ONE DAY the means to cancel her family's financial obligations and to provide an income for life!
In today's turbulent times, it's important to keep this story in the forefront of our minds! God has the power to meet ANY and ALL needs in our life! What are you asking Him for?
2) God raises the dead! God uses Elisha to raise up a young boy who has obviously died of some head trauma or aneurism. The boy had been dead for many hours. However, Elisha trusts God to bring the boy back to life - and He does! We also have to be reminded that the mother of the dead child believed in God's power to raise her son as well, otherwise she would have never made the trip to Mount Carmel to find Elisha. Through faith in God's ability to raise the dead, the young boy was healed and brought back to life!
3) God heals poisonous stew! Unfortunately, a pot of stew what made with some ingredients from a few local plants that were not known by the makers of the stew to be poisonous. Once the prophets realized it they ran to Elisha about what to do. God has Elijah put some flour into the pot. Although the flour in and of itself was not what changed the poisonous disposition of the stew, it was simply an act of God. God had Elijah use the flour as a tool. Jesus often did this too! Remember the blind man who came to Jesus? Rather than speak healing to his eyes, Jesus made clay and spread it over his eyes. God knows how we often need something physical to help us with our faith!
4) God heals a leper! The Lord uses Elijah to heal one of Israel's enemy soldiers - in fact, Naaman is the commander of the Aramaen army! However, the benefit of this was that Naaman was absolutely convinced that the God of Israel was the only TRUE GOD. Naaman's life was changed and he worshipped the Lord God of Israel from that day forward!
Healing is often granted for the purposes of evangelism! Jesus often healed to prove to the world that He was and is the Son of God.
5) God reveals the secrets of Gehazi! Gehazi lied about what he did and Elijah reminded him that he saw Gehazi's act of greed saying, "Don't you realize that was there in spirit when Naaman stepped down from his chariot to meet you?" God can reveal the secrets of men!
6) God defies the law of gravity! Everyone knows an axe head doesn't float in water...it sinks...fast! But, once again, God's power defies the laws of gravity. Remember this...the laws that govern our universe are bound by the spoken word of Jesus Christ! Jesus spoke them into existence. His power governs them! If He wants to defy His laws, He can and will!
7) God reveals the secrets of the enemy! As the Aramaens plan their attack on Israel, God reveals the secrets of their strategies to Elisha who, in turn, tells them to the King of Israel! Once the word is out that there's nothing that can be said in private that God will not reveal to Elisha, the King of Aram is mad and sends troops out to kill Elisha!
8) God blinds an entire army! This is one of the most fascinating passages of Scripture! It reveals that behind the physical realm is a very active spiritual realm! As the Aramean army approached Elisha, God opens the eyes of Elisha's servant whereas he is given the rare opportunity to see into the spiritual realm and notice thousands upon thousands of angels within God's army ready to destroy the Aramaen army! God also strikes the army with blindness and Elisha leads the entire army into Israel as prisoners f war! Isn't that incredible?
I hope this ministers to you today! God bless!
In these 3 chapters, we read of 8 ASTOUNDING MIRACLES that God accomplishes through the prophet Elisha! These humanly impossible acts remind us of God's infinite power! And, they also remind us of His willingness to work in and through us IF we'll be committed to following Him with our whole heart as did Elisha.
f you're going through a tough time, take a look at these powerful acts of God and be encouraged by what God wants to do in your life...
1) God cancels financial debt and provides an income for life! In chapter 4, we read how God miraculously works in ONE DAY the means to cancel her family's financial obligations and to provide an income for life!
In today's turbulent times, it's important to keep this story in the forefront of our minds! God has the power to meet ANY and ALL needs in our life! What are you asking Him for?
2) God raises the dead! God uses Elisha to raise up a young boy who has obviously died of some head trauma or aneurism. The boy had been dead for many hours. However, Elisha trusts God to bring the boy back to life - and He does! We also have to be reminded that the mother of the dead child believed in God's power to raise her son as well, otherwise she would have never made the trip to Mount Carmel to find Elisha. Through faith in God's ability to raise the dead, the young boy was healed and brought back to life!
3) God heals poisonous stew! Unfortunately, a pot of stew what made with some ingredients from a few local plants that were not known by the makers of the stew to be poisonous. Once the prophets realized it they ran to Elisha about what to do. God has Elijah put some flour into the pot. Although the flour in and of itself was not what changed the poisonous disposition of the stew, it was simply an act of God. God had Elijah use the flour as a tool. Jesus often did this too! Remember the blind man who came to Jesus? Rather than speak healing to his eyes, Jesus made clay and spread it over his eyes. God knows how we often need something physical to help us with our faith!
4) God heals a leper! The Lord uses Elijah to heal one of Israel's enemy soldiers - in fact, Naaman is the commander of the Aramaen army! However, the benefit of this was that Naaman was absolutely convinced that the God of Israel was the only TRUE GOD. Naaman's life was changed and he worshipped the Lord God of Israel from that day forward!
Healing is often granted for the purposes of evangelism! Jesus often healed to prove to the world that He was and is the Son of God.
5) God reveals the secrets of Gehazi! Gehazi lied about what he did and Elijah reminded him that he saw Gehazi's act of greed saying, "Don't you realize that was there in spirit when Naaman stepped down from his chariot to meet you?" God can reveal the secrets of men!
6) God defies the law of gravity! Everyone knows an axe head doesn't float in water...it sinks...fast! But, once again, God's power defies the laws of gravity. Remember this...the laws that govern our universe are bound by the spoken word of Jesus Christ! Jesus spoke them into existence. His power governs them! If He wants to defy His laws, He can and will!
7) God reveals the secrets of the enemy! As the Aramaens plan their attack on Israel, God reveals the secrets of their strategies to Elisha who, in turn, tells them to the King of Israel! Once the word is out that there's nothing that can be said in private that God will not reveal to Elisha, the King of Aram is mad and sends troops out to kill Elisha!
8) God blinds an entire army! This is one of the most fascinating passages of Scripture! It reveals that behind the physical realm is a very active spiritual realm! As the Aramean army approached Elisha, God opens the eyes of Elisha's servant whereas he is given the rare opportunity to see into the spiritual realm and notice thousands upon thousands of angels within God's army ready to destroy the Aramaen army! God also strikes the army with blindness and Elisha leads the entire army into Israel as prisoners f war! Isn't that incredible?
I hope this ministers to you today! God bless!
Journey Thru The Bible! (2 Kings 1-3)
Click on the above Scripture to read today's Bible text!
The book of 2 Kings begins with the transition of power and influence from one dynamic prophet (Elijah) to another (Elisha). Both of these men are great examples of just ordinary guys who are very unordinary in their relationship with God. They are men who have such an intimate relationship with God that they not only hear Him often speaking to them about people and events, but God is often accomplishing mighty feats and miracles through their lives.
Here are a few lessons we can learn from today's text...
1) God protects His own! Elijah offended the King of Israel when he condemned him for seeking a prophetic word from the prophets of Baal about his life-threatening injury. Elijah reminded the King that God is still over the nation of Israel. Being offended by that, King Ahaziah sent two groups of soldiers (50 each) to arrest Elijah and bring him back to the palace. When the first group's captain shouted to Elijah, "Man of God, the King has commanded you to come down with us", Elijah simply replied, "If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and destroy you and your fifty men." And, it happened - the fire fell and consumed them immediately! This same event happened to the second group of fifty soldiers.
However, the captain of the third group had a different attitude! He realized God's protection concerning Elijah and begged for protection. Within the hour, God told Elijah to go with the soldiers and was able to personally confront the king about seeking the advice of false prophets and the help of a false god.
Although Elijah showed a great deal of courage and confidence in God's protection, you have to keep in mind that this event was AFTER he ran to Mount Sinai for fear of his life when Queen Jezebel pronounced a death sentence upon him. Elijah lost sense of God's protection for a moment. The desert experience reminded him of God's power and protection.
What about you? Are you afraid of something? If so, go to God in prayer about it and ask Him to give you the confidence you need to place your trust in His protective Hand!
2) Elijah is taken by a IFO! I'm sure you're taking a double take on this statement! I had watched the History channel the other day on the subject of UFO's. They erroneously reported some of the events - such as Elijah's rapture into Heaven - as being the event of a UFO encounter. I had to laugh! In reality, it was an IFO - an "Identified Flying Object." There was an eye witness - Elisha! Besides the fact that two prophet groups had already received a message from the Lord that "the Lord is going to take your master away from you today," Elisha saw cleary what the object was! In 2:11-12, he calls out and sees "a chariot of fire...drawn by horses of fire." He also saw charioteers (men driving the chariots).
If it were anything else, Elisha would have described it differently! He knows what a horse looks like! He also knows what a chariot and a charioteer looks like! He doesn't call it a flying round thing or an object with lights. He describes horses, chariots, and charioteers who are aflamed with fire. All of these things are clearly seen and described by him, and they follow suit with descriptions in other passages as well.
Why was Elijah taken before his death? Probably for the same reason as Enoch - he walked with God! The relationship between God and Elijah was so sweet that God simply took him.
I know a man who I believe God did the same thing with some 20 years ago! He was a man who walked with God and bathed himself in prayer every day. He was only about 35 years of age when God took him. But, everyone who knew him (thousands of people) believed that God was so endeared to this man that he simply took him home!
3) No one can do any miracle without God doing it Himself! When Elijah left, God allowed a double portion of the Spirit to rest upon Elisha. Immediately, those who watched Elisha's ministry confirmed that fact. Elisha performed one mighty miracle and supernatural feat after another! But, in spite of that, we all need to realize that there was nothing Elisha did to deserve the ministry he was given. God simply chose to give it to him. God orchestrates everything in Heaven and chooses to give ALL OF US a task different from each other. While we may possess the same gifts as someone who is used mightily, it doesn NOT mean that God loves us less or values us less. He simply has a different path for us to follow and a different task for us to undertake. The key is to be faithful in what He has CALLED YOU TO DO!
Have a wonderful day in the Lord!
The book of 2 Kings begins with the transition of power and influence from one dynamic prophet (Elijah) to another (Elisha). Both of these men are great examples of just ordinary guys who are very unordinary in their relationship with God. They are men who have such an intimate relationship with God that they not only hear Him often speaking to them about people and events, but God is often accomplishing mighty feats and miracles through their lives.
Here are a few lessons we can learn from today's text...
1) God protects His own! Elijah offended the King of Israel when he condemned him for seeking a prophetic word from the prophets of Baal about his life-threatening injury. Elijah reminded the King that God is still over the nation of Israel. Being offended by that, King Ahaziah sent two groups of soldiers (50 each) to arrest Elijah and bring him back to the palace. When the first group's captain shouted to Elijah, "Man of God, the King has commanded you to come down with us", Elijah simply replied, "If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and destroy you and your fifty men." And, it happened - the fire fell and consumed them immediately! This same event happened to the second group of fifty soldiers.
However, the captain of the third group had a different attitude! He realized God's protection concerning Elijah and begged for protection. Within the hour, God told Elijah to go with the soldiers and was able to personally confront the king about seeking the advice of false prophets and the help of a false god.
Although Elijah showed a great deal of courage and confidence in God's protection, you have to keep in mind that this event was AFTER he ran to Mount Sinai for fear of his life when Queen Jezebel pronounced a death sentence upon him. Elijah lost sense of God's protection for a moment. The desert experience reminded him of God's power and protection.
What about you? Are you afraid of something? If so, go to God in prayer about it and ask Him to give you the confidence you need to place your trust in His protective Hand!
2) Elijah is taken by a IFO! I'm sure you're taking a double take on this statement! I had watched the History channel the other day on the subject of UFO's. They erroneously reported some of the events - such as Elijah's rapture into Heaven - as being the event of a UFO encounter. I had to laugh! In reality, it was an IFO - an "Identified Flying Object." There was an eye witness - Elisha! Besides the fact that two prophet groups had already received a message from the Lord that "the Lord is going to take your master away from you today," Elisha saw cleary what the object was! In 2:11-12, he calls out and sees "a chariot of fire...drawn by horses of fire." He also saw charioteers (men driving the chariots).
If it were anything else, Elisha would have described it differently! He knows what a horse looks like! He also knows what a chariot and a charioteer looks like! He doesn't call it a flying round thing or an object with lights. He describes horses, chariots, and charioteers who are aflamed with fire. All of these things are clearly seen and described by him, and they follow suit with descriptions in other passages as well.
Why was Elijah taken before his death? Probably for the same reason as Enoch - he walked with God! The relationship between God and Elijah was so sweet that God simply took him.
I know a man who I believe God did the same thing with some 20 years ago! He was a man who walked with God and bathed himself in prayer every day. He was only about 35 years of age when God took him. But, everyone who knew him (thousands of people) believed that God was so endeared to this man that he simply took him home!
3) No one can do any miracle without God doing it Himself! When Elijah left, God allowed a double portion of the Spirit to rest upon Elisha. Immediately, those who watched Elisha's ministry confirmed that fact. Elisha performed one mighty miracle and supernatural feat after another! But, in spite of that, we all need to realize that there was nothing Elisha did to deserve the ministry he was given. God simply chose to give it to him. God orchestrates everything in Heaven and chooses to give ALL OF US a task different from each other. While we may possess the same gifts as someone who is used mightily, it doesn NOT mean that God loves us less or values us less. He simply has a different path for us to follow and a different task for us to undertake. The key is to be faithful in what He has CALLED YOU TO DO!
Have a wonderful day in the Lord!
Journey Thru The Bible! (1 Kings 19 - 22)
Click on the Scripture above to read today's Bible text!
As Arnold Schwarzeneggar so famously articulated it in the movie Terminator - "I'm back!"
If you've wondered where I've been...I've been inundated with completing tax returns for nearly 100 clients before the April 15th deadline, which obviously has precluded me from staying faithful with my blog. But, with only a few extensions left to file I think I can get back to sharing my thoughts with you as we journey through the Bible three chapters at a time.
However, today we'll do four chapters and finish the book of 1 Kings.
Here are a few things worth blogging about...
1) Fear can grip the heart of any Christian! No matter how Godly a person might seem to be, we are all vulnerable to the attack of Satan who loves to instill fear in our hearts. On the heels of chapter 18 which tells about the incredible fearlessness of Elijah as he confronts King Ahab and the 800 Baal prophets in a monumental challenge on the top of Mount Carmel, chapter 19 shows just how human he really is! Once he realizes the Queen wants him killed, the Bible says, "Elijah was afraid and fled for his life." How can this happen?
Simple! There are moments when we feel bold, and then there are moments when we feel helpless and frail. And, in spite of the miracles God does along the way as he flees to the deserts of Mount Sinai, Elijah feels fearful. Once he gets to Mount Sinai, he comes to his senses and feels absolutely shameful about his kneejerk reaction to run. He asks God to kill him and reasons with God as to why he ran. God causes a mighty wind to rend the rocks, then causes an earthquake and blazes of fire to take place in front of Elijah, then out of no where allows His still small voice to speak to him. It's almost as though God is saying "Elijah, I'm right here with you! I haven't left you and there's nothing to fear!"
God understands our fear. But, He also wants us to get rid of it. He wants to prove to us just how powerful He really is. He may not cause a rushing mighty wind or an earthquake or a blaze of fire or even speak to you audibly, but He's there with you. The stories we read in the Old Testament are there to remind us that God IS WITH US, and that He fully understands our situation. They are they to remind us that nothing is too difficult with God and that there's nothing to fear but fear itself!
2) Little in God's Hand is more than enough! Throughout the Old Testament we've seen how little things in God's Hand can accomplish impossible tasks! In chapter 20, God uses 232 commanders in Israel's army to defeat an entire Aramaen army. Remember Gideon's 300 men who defeated an entire army of more than 400,000 trained soldiers? In 2 Kings, you'll read about how 1 man led an entire army into captivity!
You may feel you have little to offer God for His service, but know this that God loves that! That way, He gets all the glory! God loves to take the little or nothing that we have and use it to accomplish great things. There is nothing impossible with God! Give what little you have and let Him use it to add His supernatural and infinite power to it! Attempt great things for God and expect great things from God!
3) Evil is characterized by covetousness, pride, arrogance, selfishness, and a hatred for the things of God! Sadly, in chapter 21-22, we read just how "evil" King Ahab and his wicked wife, Jezebel, have become. They characterize all of the above traits! Ahab covets Naboth's vineyard to the point that it effects his attitude! Jezebel's pride and arrogance causes Naboth to be murdered! Ahab's selfishness causes him to enjoy the taking of Naboth's vineyard regardless of the fact that he was murdered for it. And, Ahab's hatred for God's prophets are indicative of the evilness of his own heart. He hated to hear these prophets pronouncing God's words to him because they were never encouraging words...duh!
If there is any covetousness, pride, arrogance, selfishness, and/or bitterness in your heart towards God or His word, it is a by-product of the evil that has taken over your heart! Ask God today to take it away from you before it destroys you just like it destroyed Ahab and his wife, Jezebel!
Well, these are my thoughts...what are yours! Have a God-blessed day!
As Arnold Schwarzeneggar so famously articulated it in the movie Terminator - "I'm back!"
If you've wondered where I've been...I've been inundated with completing tax returns for nearly 100 clients before the April 15th deadline, which obviously has precluded me from staying faithful with my blog. But, with only a few extensions left to file I think I can get back to sharing my thoughts with you as we journey through the Bible three chapters at a time.
However, today we'll do four chapters and finish the book of 1 Kings.
Here are a few things worth blogging about...
1) Fear can grip the heart of any Christian! No matter how Godly a person might seem to be, we are all vulnerable to the attack of Satan who loves to instill fear in our hearts. On the heels of chapter 18 which tells about the incredible fearlessness of Elijah as he confronts King Ahab and the 800 Baal prophets in a monumental challenge on the top of Mount Carmel, chapter 19 shows just how human he really is! Once he realizes the Queen wants him killed, the Bible says, "Elijah was afraid and fled for his life." How can this happen?
Simple! There are moments when we feel bold, and then there are moments when we feel helpless and frail. And, in spite of the miracles God does along the way as he flees to the deserts of Mount Sinai, Elijah feels fearful. Once he gets to Mount Sinai, he comes to his senses and feels absolutely shameful about his kneejerk reaction to run. He asks God to kill him and reasons with God as to why he ran. God causes a mighty wind to rend the rocks, then causes an earthquake and blazes of fire to take place in front of Elijah, then out of no where allows His still small voice to speak to him. It's almost as though God is saying "Elijah, I'm right here with you! I haven't left you and there's nothing to fear!"
God understands our fear. But, He also wants us to get rid of it. He wants to prove to us just how powerful He really is. He may not cause a rushing mighty wind or an earthquake or a blaze of fire or even speak to you audibly, but He's there with you. The stories we read in the Old Testament are there to remind us that God IS WITH US, and that He fully understands our situation. They are they to remind us that nothing is too difficult with God and that there's nothing to fear but fear itself!
2) Little in God's Hand is more than enough! Throughout the Old Testament we've seen how little things in God's Hand can accomplish impossible tasks! In chapter 20, God uses 232 commanders in Israel's army to defeat an entire Aramaen army. Remember Gideon's 300 men who defeated an entire army of more than 400,000 trained soldiers? In 2 Kings, you'll read about how 1 man led an entire army into captivity!
You may feel you have little to offer God for His service, but know this that God loves that! That way, He gets all the glory! God loves to take the little or nothing that we have and use it to accomplish great things. There is nothing impossible with God! Give what little you have and let Him use it to add His supernatural and infinite power to it! Attempt great things for God and expect great things from God!
3) Evil is characterized by covetousness, pride, arrogance, selfishness, and a hatred for the things of God! Sadly, in chapter 21-22, we read just how "evil" King Ahab and his wicked wife, Jezebel, have become. They characterize all of the above traits! Ahab covets Naboth's vineyard to the point that it effects his attitude! Jezebel's pride and arrogance causes Naboth to be murdered! Ahab's selfishness causes him to enjoy the taking of Naboth's vineyard regardless of the fact that he was murdered for it. And, Ahab's hatred for God's prophets are indicative of the evilness of his own heart. He hated to hear these prophets pronouncing God's words to him because they were never encouraging words...duh!
If there is any covetousness, pride, arrogance, selfishness, and/or bitterness in your heart towards God or His word, it is a by-product of the evil that has taken over your heart! Ask God today to take it away from you before it destroys you just like it destroyed Ahab and his wife, Jezebel!
Well, these are my thoughts...what are yours! Have a God-blessed day!
Journey Thru The Bible! (1 Kings 16 - 18)
Click on the Scripture above to read today's Bible text!
I know I'm behind in my blog! With 3 grandchildren here at the house, Easter this weekend, and the tax season wrapping up, I've been overloaded with responsibility and have had to put this blog on hold until today. I might take me a couple of days to get back on track. Thank you for your understanding!
First of all, I'd like to say "Hi!" to Patrick Brennan for following faithfully! And, thanks to all of you who do!!! Pat just called me the other day and told me that he follows it every day....wow...thanks bro! So...I'd like to just say "thank you to him and to all of you who follow this blog!"
Here are a few thoughts from today's text...
1) Israel splits into two parts! If you remember, Israel split from the tribe of Judah a few chapters ago. Now, in chapter 16, Israel splits even farther (16:21). Israel is no longer interested in God. They are ruled by wicked kings and are seeking to be like other nations!
The sad part is that Israel's leadership has been influenced by the pagan nations around them. Instead of influencing other nations and promoting God and righteous living, the godless people around them have promoted their god, and Israel has bought it hook, line, and sinker!
This is also what happens to so many Christians today! Instead of influencing the world, they are influenced by the world. Instead of promoting God, they succumb to the teachings and philosophies of the devil! Instead of fighting against pornography, homosexuality, abortion, and the moral decline we continually see in our country, they simply sit around and do nothing about it! May the Lord stir our hearts to get involved in some way!
2) Israel's most wicked king comes to the scene! Ahab is defined in Scripture as Israel's most wicked king. He did more to fight against God and promote wickedness and spiritual rebellion that any other king before or after him (16:30, 33)! In spite of his wickedness, you will read in the next few chapters how God continued to show him mercy and make an attempt to reveal Himself to Ahab....but Ahab was too spiritually insensitive to accept Him!
We often see God doing the same thing today! God loves everyone and has a desire that everyone come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. However, God knows how wicked man's heart is, and He understands and realizes that not everyone will respond to His tender loving call. In fact, when we read the book of Revelation and see how God causes great calamity in the end times, we also see just how rebellious man is! In spite of the fact that the entire world recognizes that God is casting His judgment on the earth and on man, man will still shake his fist in defiance to God!
3) Elijah trusts God in spite of the impossibilities! The first amazing act of Elijah's faith in God is when God commands him to go and live near the Kerith brook and be fed by ravens. Imagine this! During one of the most horrible droughts of Israel's history, God drives Elijah to a brook that is quickly drying up. Plus, it's in a part of the country that's desert, therefore God must feed him by ravens bringing him food everyday!
Secondly, God sends Elijah to a widow who is to support and feed him, however she's financially busted and is fixing her last meal so her and her baby could die! God is continuously sending Elijah towards tasks of impossibility! He must TRUST in God. And, he does!
Thirdly, God causes the widow's child to die, wherewith the woman blames Elijah! But, Elijah, confused by the turn of events, prays over the child and he revives!
Fourthly, God sends Elijah to King Ahab who desires nothing less than to kill him! But, God spares Elijah's life, even as he challenges Ahab and 850 false prophets to a "duo of the Gods" on the top of Mount Carmel.
Are you trusting God like Elijah?
4) The greatest revival in the world happens on the top of a mountain! Chapter 18 is an amazing story! It tells of the "duo of the Gods." Elijah proves that the God of Israel is the only true god...period. History tells us that more than 1 million people watched this incredible encounter. And, in unison, they fell on their faces and cried out, "The Lord is God!"
Have a great Easter weekend celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ!
I know I'm behind in my blog! With 3 grandchildren here at the house, Easter this weekend, and the tax season wrapping up, I've been overloaded with responsibility and have had to put this blog on hold until today. I might take me a couple of days to get back on track. Thank you for your understanding!
First of all, I'd like to say "Hi!" to Patrick Brennan for following faithfully! And, thanks to all of you who do!!! Pat just called me the other day and told me that he follows it every day....wow...thanks bro! So...I'd like to just say "thank you to him and to all of you who follow this blog!"
Here are a few thoughts from today's text...
1) Israel splits into two parts! If you remember, Israel split from the tribe of Judah a few chapters ago. Now, in chapter 16, Israel splits even farther (16:21). Israel is no longer interested in God. They are ruled by wicked kings and are seeking to be like other nations!
The sad part is that Israel's leadership has been influenced by the pagan nations around them. Instead of influencing other nations and promoting God and righteous living, the godless people around them have promoted their god, and Israel has bought it hook, line, and sinker!
This is also what happens to so many Christians today! Instead of influencing the world, they are influenced by the world. Instead of promoting God, they succumb to the teachings and philosophies of the devil! Instead of fighting against pornography, homosexuality, abortion, and the moral decline we continually see in our country, they simply sit around and do nothing about it! May the Lord stir our hearts to get involved in some way!
2) Israel's most wicked king comes to the scene! Ahab is defined in Scripture as Israel's most wicked king. He did more to fight against God and promote wickedness and spiritual rebellion that any other king before or after him (16:30, 33)! In spite of his wickedness, you will read in the next few chapters how God continued to show him mercy and make an attempt to reveal Himself to Ahab....but Ahab was too spiritually insensitive to accept Him!
We often see God doing the same thing today! God loves everyone and has a desire that everyone come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. However, God knows how wicked man's heart is, and He understands and realizes that not everyone will respond to His tender loving call. In fact, when we read the book of Revelation and see how God causes great calamity in the end times, we also see just how rebellious man is! In spite of the fact that the entire world recognizes that God is casting His judgment on the earth and on man, man will still shake his fist in defiance to God!
3) Elijah trusts God in spite of the impossibilities! The first amazing act of Elijah's faith in God is when God commands him to go and live near the Kerith brook and be fed by ravens. Imagine this! During one of the most horrible droughts of Israel's history, God drives Elijah to a brook that is quickly drying up. Plus, it's in a part of the country that's desert, therefore God must feed him by ravens bringing him food everyday!
Secondly, God sends Elijah to a widow who is to support and feed him, however she's financially busted and is fixing her last meal so her and her baby could die! God is continuously sending Elijah towards tasks of impossibility! He must TRUST in God. And, he does!
Thirdly, God causes the widow's child to die, wherewith the woman blames Elijah! But, Elijah, confused by the turn of events, prays over the child and he revives!
Fourthly, God sends Elijah to King Ahab who desires nothing less than to kill him! But, God spares Elijah's life, even as he challenges Ahab and 850 false prophets to a "duo of the Gods" on the top of Mount Carmel.
Are you trusting God like Elijah?
4) The greatest revival in the world happens on the top of a mountain! Chapter 18 is an amazing story! It tells of the "duo of the Gods." Elijah proves that the God of Israel is the only true god...period. History tells us that more than 1 million people watched this incredible encounter. And, in unison, they fell on their faces and cried out, "The Lord is God!"
Have a great Easter weekend celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ!
Journey Thru The Bible! (1 Kings 13 - 15)
Click on the above Scripture to read today's Bible text!
As we read today's chronology of kings that appear on the throne after King David and King Solomon, we begin to see a series of events known as "The Chaotic Kingdom Stage." And, the reason it's called this is obvious - there is a TON OF CHAOS that goes on between both Judah & Israel. Everything has become corrupt. Israel goes through a total, spiritual meltdown. Their walk with God has become virtually non-existent. And, as you'll read in the following chapters, Israel never gets any better! They literally blow-up spiritually. Israel's king are continually evil before the Lord. Judah, however, has a few bright spots that pop up here and there, yet it, like Israel, suffers from a long line of wicked kings as well. Therefore, God's judgment is cast on both Judah and Israel!
Here are a few thoughts...
1) Ever wondered why so many nations HATE Israel? Isn't it amazing that many people all over the world hate the tiny nation of Israel? The Muslim countries absolutely despise them! Germany's Adolf Hitler wanted them exterminated off the face of the planet. Russia will one day send its army against Israel. Why is it that Israel is the center of so much attention and so much hatred?
Well...all of the hatred you see is the fulfillment of what God said would happen to Israel if they ever fell away from Him in Deuteronomy 28:25, "The LORD will cause you to be defeated before your enemies. You will come at them from one direction but flee from them in seven, and you will become a thing of horror to all the kingdoms on earth." In fact, as you come to the rebuilding of the city of Jerusalem after its destruction and exile into Babylonian captivity in 2 Chronicles 29:8, Hezekiah offers an explanation to the Jews as to why they're hated so much all over the world - "That is why the Lord's anger has fallen upon Judah and Jerusalem. He has made them an object of dread, horror, and ridicule, as you can see with your own eyes."
2) Chapter 13 tells the bazaar story of a man of God who failed to comply fully with God's command. Here's a story that seems very strange in nature. It tells of a man who is obviously close to God and one of God's prophets, and how another prophet of God tricks him into disobeying the Lord's command and is killed for it. Weird! However, it does provide us some insight for today!
This story depicts a lot of Christians who serve the Lord, but fail to comply fully with God's commands. As to why the other prophet lied, who knows. The bottom line is this...if God tells you to do something - do it, and don't change anything until He tells you to change it! Don't let other people tell you God's will for your life - that's between you and God!
3) How will your life influence others? Only time will tell...but what will time tell us? When it comes to the life of Jeroboam, his life will be forever known as the instigator of Israel's downfall. As you continued to read the pages of God's Word, you see Jeroboam's name continueing to pop up as the person to blame for Israel's downfall and spiritual pervertedness.
4) People usually never rise above the integrity of their leaders! As we follow the list of the succession of Judah's and Israel's kings, we see that the king becomes the focal point of spiritual quality in the life of each nation. Their leaders subliminally and publically set the standard. In business, it's the same way! Look around you. It's a common fact that each manager, supervisor, or leader sets the standard for the team. As leadership expert John Maxwell put it in his book "Developing The Leaders Around You," "People never rise above the level of leadership within their leader."
Well, that's all for now. Have a wonderful day in the Lord!
As we read today's chronology of kings that appear on the throne after King David and King Solomon, we begin to see a series of events known as "The Chaotic Kingdom Stage." And, the reason it's called this is obvious - there is a TON OF CHAOS that goes on between both Judah & Israel. Everything has become corrupt. Israel goes through a total, spiritual meltdown. Their walk with God has become virtually non-existent. And, as you'll read in the following chapters, Israel never gets any better! They literally blow-up spiritually. Israel's king are continually evil before the Lord. Judah, however, has a few bright spots that pop up here and there, yet it, like Israel, suffers from a long line of wicked kings as well. Therefore, God's judgment is cast on both Judah and Israel!
Here are a few thoughts...
1) Ever wondered why so many nations HATE Israel? Isn't it amazing that many people all over the world hate the tiny nation of Israel? The Muslim countries absolutely despise them! Germany's Adolf Hitler wanted them exterminated off the face of the planet. Russia will one day send its army against Israel. Why is it that Israel is the center of so much attention and so much hatred?
Well...all of the hatred you see is the fulfillment of what God said would happen to Israel if they ever fell away from Him in Deuteronomy 28:25, "The LORD will cause you to be defeated before your enemies. You will come at them from one direction but flee from them in seven, and you will become a thing of horror to all the kingdoms on earth." In fact, as you come to the rebuilding of the city of Jerusalem after its destruction and exile into Babylonian captivity in 2 Chronicles 29:8, Hezekiah offers an explanation to the Jews as to why they're hated so much all over the world - "That is why the Lord's anger has fallen upon Judah and Jerusalem. He has made them an object of dread, horror, and ridicule, as you can see with your own eyes."
2) Chapter 13 tells the bazaar story of a man of God who failed to comply fully with God's command. Here's a story that seems very strange in nature. It tells of a man who is obviously close to God and one of God's prophets, and how another prophet of God tricks him into disobeying the Lord's command and is killed for it. Weird! However, it does provide us some insight for today!
This story depicts a lot of Christians who serve the Lord, but fail to comply fully with God's commands. As to why the other prophet lied, who knows. The bottom line is this...if God tells you to do something - do it, and don't change anything until He tells you to change it! Don't let other people tell you God's will for your life - that's between you and God!
3) How will your life influence others? Only time will tell...but what will time tell us? When it comes to the life of Jeroboam, his life will be forever known as the instigator of Israel's downfall. As you continued to read the pages of God's Word, you see Jeroboam's name continueing to pop up as the person to blame for Israel's downfall and spiritual pervertedness.
4) People usually never rise above the integrity of their leaders! As we follow the list of the succession of Judah's and Israel's kings, we see that the king becomes the focal point of spiritual quality in the life of each nation. Their leaders subliminally and publically set the standard. In business, it's the same way! Look around you. It's a common fact that each manager, supervisor, or leader sets the standard for the team. As leadership expert John Maxwell put it in his book "Developing The Leaders Around You," "People never rise above the level of leadership within their leader."
Well, that's all for now. Have a wonderful day in the Lord!
Journey Thru The Bible! (1 Kings 10 - 13)
Click on the above Scripture to read today's Bible text!
Here are a few lessons we can learn from today's Bible teaching...
1) God invests gifts and talents within us to bring honor to His name! As the queen of Sheba observed the great wisdom God gave to Solomon, as well as the fabulous results it produced throughout the Kingdom, she gave glory to God (10:9)! In fact, the Bible says in 10:1 that Solomon's fame (which was brought on by his wisdom) "brought honor to the name of the Lord." That's why God allowed Solomon to enjoy such a wonderful gift from Him. He knew it would bring honor to Himself throughout the entire world.
Although God gave Solomon an overabundance of wisdom, He has also gifted you as well. His purpose in doing so is to work in you and through you and to display His glory to others through the gifts and talents He has so generously bestowed upon you. You might not think you're very gifted at anything, but He has gifted you!
Have you discovered what it is yet? As a matter of being a good manager of what God has given you, it would be a good idea to discover the gift or gifts that you have, and then use them for His glory!
2) According to Ethiopian tradition and teaching, there are many who think that Solomon may have had a sexual encounter with the Queen of Sheba who eventually gave birth to a son named Menelik 1. However, in the biblical passages there is no hint of love or sexual attraction between Solomon and the Queen of Sheba. The two are depicted merely as fellow monarchs engaged in the affairs of state.
There are many different ideas as to who the Queen of Sheba may have been, however most of them tend to believe she was from Ethiopia. Jesus referred to her in Matthew 12 as the "Queen of the South." In Ethiopia, she was known to the Ethiopian people as Makeda (mākidā), and she has been called a variety of names by different peoples in different times. To King Solomon of Israel she was the Queen of Sheba. In Islamic tradition she was Balqis. The Roman historian Josephus calls her Nicaule.
3) Don't be married to an unbeliever! It's sad to see how in chapter 11 and 12 Solomon's heart is turned away from being completely faithful to the Lord due to the intermarrying of wives of different faiths! The Bible says that "the Lord clearly instructed the people of Israel, 'You must not marry them, because they will turn your hearts to their gods.'" God knows the power of a woman's sway! Unfortunately, Solomon wasn't listening! It goes on to say, "yet Solomon insisted on loving them anyway...and in fact, they did turn his heart away from the Lord."
This ought to be a good lesson for every young person to learn from! Marrying an unbeliever can have a tragic effect on someone's life...and their marriage! That's why the apostle Paul urged the Christians in his day "do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers."
Well, that's all I have time for now. May the Lord's blessings be upon you today!
Here are a few lessons we can learn from today's Bible teaching...
1) God invests gifts and talents within us to bring honor to His name! As the queen of Sheba observed the great wisdom God gave to Solomon, as well as the fabulous results it produced throughout the Kingdom, she gave glory to God (10:9)! In fact, the Bible says in 10:1 that Solomon's fame (which was brought on by his wisdom) "brought honor to the name of the Lord." That's why God allowed Solomon to enjoy such a wonderful gift from Him. He knew it would bring honor to Himself throughout the entire world.
Although God gave Solomon an overabundance of wisdom, He has also gifted you as well. His purpose in doing so is to work in you and through you and to display His glory to others through the gifts and talents He has so generously bestowed upon you. You might not think you're very gifted at anything, but He has gifted you!
Have you discovered what it is yet? As a matter of being a good manager of what God has given you, it would be a good idea to discover the gift or gifts that you have, and then use them for His glory!
2) According to Ethiopian tradition and teaching, there are many who think that Solomon may have had a sexual encounter with the Queen of Sheba who eventually gave birth to a son named Menelik 1. However, in the biblical passages there is no hint of love or sexual attraction between Solomon and the Queen of Sheba. The two are depicted merely as fellow monarchs engaged in the affairs of state.
There are many different ideas as to who the Queen of Sheba may have been, however most of them tend to believe she was from Ethiopia. Jesus referred to her in Matthew 12 as the "Queen of the South." In Ethiopia, she was known to the Ethiopian people as Makeda (mākidā), and she has been called a variety of names by different peoples in different times. To King Solomon of Israel she was the Queen of Sheba. In Islamic tradition she was Balqis. The Roman historian Josephus calls her Nicaule.
3) Don't be married to an unbeliever! It's sad to see how in chapter 11 and 12 Solomon's heart is turned away from being completely faithful to the Lord due to the intermarrying of wives of different faiths! The Bible says that "the Lord clearly instructed the people of Israel, 'You must not marry them, because they will turn your hearts to their gods.'" God knows the power of a woman's sway! Unfortunately, Solomon wasn't listening! It goes on to say, "yet Solomon insisted on loving them anyway...and in fact, they did turn his heart away from the Lord."
This ought to be a good lesson for every young person to learn from! Marrying an unbeliever can have a tragic effect on someone's life...and their marriage! That's why the apostle Paul urged the Christians in his day "do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers."
Well, that's all I have time for now. May the Lord's blessings be upon you today!
Journey Thru The Bible! (1 Kings 7 - 9)
Solomon's Temple! It took only 7 years to build the magnificent Temple of the Lord in Jerusalem and 13 years to build Solomon's palace. Even to this day, they are considered some of the most amazing structures to have ever been built. While both of them were destroyed by the Persians and Babylonians and stripped of their gold many years later, by its description within the biblical text and from the testimony we have of other kings and the Queen of Sheba, it surpassed the beauty of most structures in Solomon's day. Here you have the most intelligent man in the world building a Temple to the honor and glory of the God of Israel. He spared no expense! It definitely had a "Wow!" factor!
Another "Wow" factor was at the dedication ceremony of the Temple! It says in 2 Chronicles 7:1-6, "When Solomon had ended his prayer, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the LORD filled the temple. And the priests could not enter the house of the LORD, because the glory of the LORD filled the LORD's house. When all the children of Israel saw the fire come down and the glory of the LORD upon the temple, they bowed down with their faces to the earth on the pavement, and worshiped and gave thanks to the LORD, saying, "For he is good, for his steadfast love endures for ever." Then the king and all the people offered sacrifice before the LORD. King Solomon offered as a sacrifice twenty-two thousand oxen and a hundred and twenty thousand sheep. So the king and all the people dedicated the house of God. The priests stood at their posts, the Levites also, with the instruments for music to the LORD which King David had made for giving thanks to the LORDfor his steadfast love endures for everwhenever David offered praises by their ministry, opposite them the priests sounded trumpets; and all Israel stood."
One of the major features that set apart the Solomonic Temple from other Temples in the ancient world is that there was no idol in it. It contained only the Mercy Seat over the Ark and the Cherubim overshadowing the Mercy Seat. This declared to the world that idols are unnecessary for God to be present. The God of Israel was not localized in any sense. Neither was He bound to any other form such as the Ark. The Temple therefore was not necessary because of God's nature. He did not need it. One thousand years later, the first Christian martyr, Stephen, said to an unruly crowd:
...Solomon built God a house. However the Most High does not dwell in temples made with hands, as the prophet says: "Heaven is My throne, and the earth is my footstool. What house will you build for Me? says the Lord or what is the place of My rest? Has not My hand made all these things?" (Acts 7:47-50, quoting Isaiah 66:1-2).
The Temple was built to meet the limitations and needs of God's people. It emphasized the way of salvation to the those who asked His forgiveness and represented the believers assurance of the grace of God for their joy and blessing. (1 Kings 8:27-30).
"But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain thee; how much less this house which I have built!" (V. 27)
The Temple also symbolized the hearing ear of God:
Yet regard the prayer of Your servant and his supplication, O Lord my God, and listen to the cry and the prayer which Your servant is praying before You today: that Your eyes may be open toward this temple night and day toward the place of which You said, "My name shall be there," and that You may hear the prayer which Your servant makes toward this place. (1 Kings 8:28-29).
It was also a place of refuge for the stranger:
Moreover concerning a foreigner, who is not of Your people Israel, but has come from a far country for Your name's sake. (for they will hear of Your great name and Your strong hand and Your outstretched arm), when he comes and prays toward this temple, hear in heaven Your dwelling place, and do according to all for which the foreigner calls to You, that all peoples of the earth may know Your name and fear You, as do Your people Israel, and that they may know that this temple which I have built is called by your name (1 Kings 8: 4143).
The Temple is the house of prayer for all people where all nations of the earth should fear God:
Even them I will bring to My holy mountain, and make them joyful in My House of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on My altar; for My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations (Isaiah 56:7).
Solomon's great wisdom and the unrivaled splendor of the First Temple brought pilgrims from near and far. The account of the visit of the Queen of Sheba (2 Chron. 9, 1 Kings 10) tells us something about this great king and the magnificent and holy light from God that blessed him and all the people.
Yet Solomon failed to heed the counsel of God and of his father David. He soon had accumulated horses and chariots (disregarding the admonition of Samuel and the Law of Moses), and in the course of time he excelled his father's love of women by accumulating "700 wives and 300 concubines." One of the great understatements of the Bible attributes Solomon's downfall to the influence of his foreign wives (which we'll read about tomorrow!):
For many years Solomon evidently wandered away from fellowship with His God, returning only much later, near the end of the life, to record for us in his book, Ecclesiastes, what he had learned about the emptiness of all of life apart from God.Now King Solomon loved many foreign women: the daughter of Pharaoh, and Moabite, Ammonite, Edomite, Sidonian, and Hittite women, from the nations concerning which the LORD had said to the people of Israel, "You shall not enter into marriage with them, neither shall they with you, for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods; Solomon clung to these in love. He had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines; and his wives turned away his heart. For when Solomon was old his wives turned away his heart after other gods- and his heart was not wholly true to the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father. For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites.
So Solomon did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, and did not wholly follow the LORD, as David his father had done. Then Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the abomination of Moab, and for Molech the abomination of the Ammonites, on the mountain east of Jerusalem. And so he did for all his foreign wives, who burned incense and sacrificed to their gods.
And the LORD was angry with Solomon, because his heart had turned away from the LORD, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice, and had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods; but he did not keep what the LORD commanded. Therefore the LORD said to Solomon, "Since this has been your mind and you have not kept my covenant and my statutes which I have commanded you, I will surely tear the kingdom from you and will give it to your servant Yet for the sake of David your father I will not do it in your days, but I will tear it out of the hand of your son. However I will not tear away all the kingdom; but I will give one tribe to your son, for the sake of David my servant and for the sake of Jerusalem which I have chosen." (1 Kings 11:1-13)
When Solomon died his son Rehoboam became king of Israel. The nation, however, was on a spiritual decline. Rehoboam's policies caused the kingdom to be divided into north (Israel) and south (Judah) separate regimes.
I hope this has been helpful! God bless!
Journey Thru The Bible! (1 Kings 4 - 6)
Click on the above Scripture to read today's Bible text!
All of the angels in heaven must have stood in silence when God spoke to Solomon and said, "What do you want? Ask, and I will give it to you" (3:5). How would he answer? It's as though he was given the equivalent of a divine blank check! What amount would he ask for? What would he ask God to do for him?
As Solomon considered the question, he looked deep inside and felt an overwhelming sense of ineptness. "How could I rule such a vast number of God's people?" he thought. With that in mind, he asked for wisdom - and received it! And, boy did he receive it! In fact, in our reading today, we read that "God gave Solomon great wisdom" and "knowledge too vast to be measured." His wisdom was so stunning, that it gave him the ability to speak with great authority on all kinds of plants, animals, birds, reptiles, and fish. He was even capable of composing more than 3000 proverbs and 1000 songs! The Bible says that "kings from every nation sent their ambassadors to listen to the wisdom of Solomon."
You may not realize it, but God gave YOU a divine blank check too! In Matthew 7:7-8, Jesus threw out a powerful statement and said, "Keep on asking, and you will be given what you ask for...For everyone who asks, receives..." Just like Solomon, God is offering you the same question - "What do you want? Ask, I will give it to you." If you ask for wisdom, He may not give you the same amount of wisdom that He gave to Solomon because of how the circumstances between you and Solomon are vastly different. Nevertheless, He will give you wisdom! God wants to give you things, because He enjoys giving you things! Just as parents enjoy giving their children things at Christmas time, God enjoys the giving of gifts to us as well.
What are you asking God for right now? In the book of James 1:5, James says "If you need wisdom - if you want to know what God wants you to do - ask Him, and He will gladly tell you." He goes on to say in 4:2 - "...Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it."
God, like Solomon, has given you a divine blank check. What will you ask Him for?
The grand Temple is built! Some 480 years after Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt, King Solomon begins construction on one of the greatest and most magnificent structures to have ever been built - Solomon's Temple. Really, it was God's Temple, but it is referred to today as Solomon's Temple due to the fact that he oversaw the construction of it and was Israel's king at the time! Here is a picture that might help explain chapter 6 and the beauty of the Temple:
Journey Thru The Bible! (1 Kings 1 - 3)
Click on the above Scripture to read today's Bible text!
Here are a couple of lessons we can learn from today's Bible study...
1) Though God forgives us of sin, sometimes our sin can come back to haunt us! There are many people who sin in private (or in public) and think they've gotten away with it without some judgment being cast upon them. Others, tend to minimize its affect on a person's future. But, from today's Bible story (chapter 2), we see how Joab, Abiathar (Eli's descendant), and Shimei end up paying the price for their sin several years later. Joab was eventually sentenced to death by King Solomon for the senseless murders (done many years before) of two of David's captains - Abner and Amasa. Abiathar was exiled as priest for his involvement in a conspiracy to make Adonijah the new king of Israel, and fulfill the curse God cast on Eli for the horrible corruption he allowed to take place within the Tabernacle many years before. And, Shimei was eventually put to death for his cursing of King David many years earlier (as well as the breaking of the promise he made to King Solomon).
Throughout the Bible, we see the eventual effect of sin in the later lives of many Bible characters. It's important to realize that we should NEVER minimize the impact that sin has in our lives! Yes...God forgives us, but sometimes the effects of sin come back to haunt us!
One good example is the lingering effect of STD (sexually transmitted diseases). Many young people have the delusion that premarital sexual encounters are fun and have no lasting effect. They only think of how much fun they can have now without realizing the consequences they'll have to bear later in life! However, later on in their years of marriage, the lingering problems and pain associated with STD are reminders of the past. This is just one example - there are many others! Think about it!
2) Real Wisdom...is from the Lord! What if God came to you and made you the same offer He made to Solomon? What if you could have anything you wanted, what would you ask for?
Solomon asked for wisdom to govern the people effectively!
God loved his answer, and here's why! Solomon didn't seek something for himself that would promote himself and promote wealth, he sought something from God that would help others! He was thinking, not of himself, but of others! It truly was a humble, and selfless act. That's why God gave it to him, and that's why God gave him the other things he didn't ask for - fame, wealth, and the death of his enemies.
If your seeking great things for yourself, seek them not! If you want God to answer your prayers and work through your life, it must be for the benefit of others and for the glory of God! That's the key!
I hope this ministers to you today. Have a wonderful day in the Lord!
Here are a couple of lessons we can learn from today's Bible study...
1) Though God forgives us of sin, sometimes our sin can come back to haunt us! There are many people who sin in private (or in public) and think they've gotten away with it without some judgment being cast upon them. Others, tend to minimize its affect on a person's future. But, from today's Bible story (chapter 2), we see how Joab, Abiathar (Eli's descendant), and Shimei end up paying the price for their sin several years later. Joab was eventually sentenced to death by King Solomon for the senseless murders (done many years before) of two of David's captains - Abner and Amasa. Abiathar was exiled as priest for his involvement in a conspiracy to make Adonijah the new king of Israel, and fulfill the curse God cast on Eli for the horrible corruption he allowed to take place within the Tabernacle many years before. And, Shimei was eventually put to death for his cursing of King David many years earlier (as well as the breaking of the promise he made to King Solomon).
Throughout the Bible, we see the eventual effect of sin in the later lives of many Bible characters. It's important to realize that we should NEVER minimize the impact that sin has in our lives! Yes...God forgives us, but sometimes the effects of sin come back to haunt us!
One good example is the lingering effect of STD (sexually transmitted diseases). Many young people have the delusion that premarital sexual encounters are fun and have no lasting effect. They only think of how much fun they can have now without realizing the consequences they'll have to bear later in life! However, later on in their years of marriage, the lingering problems and pain associated with STD are reminders of the past. This is just one example - there are many others! Think about it!
2) Real Wisdom...is from the Lord! What if God came to you and made you the same offer He made to Solomon? What if you could have anything you wanted, what would you ask for?
Solomon asked for wisdom to govern the people effectively!
God loved his answer, and here's why! Solomon didn't seek something for himself that would promote himself and promote wealth, he sought something from God that would help others! He was thinking, not of himself, but of others! It truly was a humble, and selfless act. That's why God gave it to him, and that's why God gave him the other things he didn't ask for - fame, wealth, and the death of his enemies.
If your seeking great things for yourself, seek them not! If you want God to answer your prayers and work through your life, it must be for the benefit of others and for the glory of God! That's the key!
I hope this ministers to you today. Have a wonderful day in the Lord!
Journey Thru The Bible! (2 Samuel 22 - 24)
Click on the above Scripture to read today's Bible text!
Here are few things you can learn from today's text...
1) God responds to us in the way we respond to Him and to others! Listen to what David learned about the Lord as he writes it in his song in chapter 22:26-28, "To the faithful you show yourself faithful, to those with integrity you show integrity. To the pure you show yourself pure, but to the wicked you show yourself hostile. You rescue the humble, but your eyes watch the proud and humiliate them." If you want God to be faithful to you, be faithful to Him and to others! If you want God reveal more of Himself to you, live a pure life before Him and others! It's as simple as that!
2) God blesses us in spite of ourselves! In chapter 22:22-25, David says something that seems awfully strange! He seems to bragging on his absolute holy life. However, that's NOT what David is doing. He is fully aware of his flaws! He is simply speaking in generalities. He says in 22:21-25 - "I have kept the ways of the Lord; I have not turned from my God to follow evil. I have followed all his regulations; I haver never abandoned his decrees. I am blameless before God; I have kept myself from sin. The Lord rewarded me for doing right. He has seen my innocence." This is simply a "general" statement about his life. He is not denying his sin with Bathsheba or his murder of Uriah. In fact, in chapter 23, he confesses his sin in taking the census. But, what he is saying is "For most of my life, I've tried to live for God and I've not abandoned Him like so many people I know!" That's why he says, "I have never abandoned his decrees." Yes, he has sinned, but he has NEVER abandoned God or the tenets of the Mosaic law! And, it's true!
3) God can use a nation's leader to bring judgment against a nation! Chapter 24 begins with a stunning statement, "Once again the anger of the Lord burned against Israel, and caused David to harm them by taking a census." Some people wonder "What's wrong with taking a census? Don't we do that in America to find out exactly how many people we've got?" Yes, but God gave Moses a strict command that only He was to command a census, and if a census was taken, a sacrifice was to be made! In reality, it was NOT God who actually caused David to sin, it was God who allowed Satan to stir David's heart and make him sin - I Chronicles 21:1 says - "Satan rose up against Israel and incited David to take a census of Israel." We see God doing the same thing in the case of Job in Job 1:6-12 where He allowed Satan to tempt and test Job.
God allows David to be tempted by Satan to issue a census, but His purpose is to punish Israel for their disobedience to Him!
Make sure you attend a good, Bible-teaching church tomorrow! God bless!
Here are few things you can learn from today's text...
1) God responds to us in the way we respond to Him and to others! Listen to what David learned about the Lord as he writes it in his song in chapter 22:26-28, "To the faithful you show yourself faithful, to those with integrity you show integrity. To the pure you show yourself pure, but to the wicked you show yourself hostile. You rescue the humble, but your eyes watch the proud and humiliate them." If you want God to be faithful to you, be faithful to Him and to others! If you want God reveal more of Himself to you, live a pure life before Him and others! It's as simple as that!
2) God blesses us in spite of ourselves! In chapter 22:22-25, David says something that seems awfully strange! He seems to bragging on his absolute holy life. However, that's NOT what David is doing. He is fully aware of his flaws! He is simply speaking in generalities. He says in 22:21-25 - "I have kept the ways of the Lord; I have not turned from my God to follow evil. I have followed all his regulations; I haver never abandoned his decrees. I am blameless before God; I have kept myself from sin. The Lord rewarded me for doing right. He has seen my innocence." This is simply a "general" statement about his life. He is not denying his sin with Bathsheba or his murder of Uriah. In fact, in chapter 23, he confesses his sin in taking the census. But, what he is saying is "For most of my life, I've tried to live for God and I've not abandoned Him like so many people I know!" That's why he says, "I have never abandoned his decrees." Yes, he has sinned, but he has NEVER abandoned God or the tenets of the Mosaic law! And, it's true!
3) God can use a nation's leader to bring judgment against a nation! Chapter 24 begins with a stunning statement, "Once again the anger of the Lord burned against Israel, and caused David to harm them by taking a census." Some people wonder "What's wrong with taking a census? Don't we do that in America to find out exactly how many people we've got?" Yes, but God gave Moses a strict command that only He was to command a census, and if a census was taken, a sacrifice was to be made! In reality, it was NOT God who actually caused David to sin, it was God who allowed Satan to stir David's heart and make him sin - I Chronicles 21:1 says - "Satan rose up against Israel and incited David to take a census of Israel." We see God doing the same thing in the case of Job in Job 1:6-12 where He allowed Satan to tempt and test Job.
God allows David to be tempted by Satan to issue a census, but His purpose is to punish Israel for their disobedience to Him!
Make sure you attend a good, Bible-teaching church tomorrow! God bless!
Journey Thru The Bible! (2 Samuel 19 -21)
Click on the above Scripture to read today's Bible text!
Here are a few lessons we can learn from today's Bible reading...
1) MERCY should rule our lives! Micah 6:8 says, "He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." Did you see that? We are to "love mercy!" Mercy should rule in our lives! In chapter 19, we see two great examples of David's extending his mercy to two scoundrels - Shimei and Mephibosheth. Both of these men turned against David when David was fleeing from Absalom. They only worshipped David with lip service when David was at the height of his strength and power. Then, when David was in his most vulnerable moment, they mocked him! Shimei cursed him and threw stones at him and his men as they crossed the desert. Mephibosheth, who ate at King David's table and was financially supported by David, tried to take control of the throne after David had left! One of David's commander, Abishai, wanted to kill both of these guys and probably deserved it, but David extended his mercy towards them!
Even we, as Christians, can so often show a lack of mercy when it comes to people who've offended us. Some even seethe in thought about how to get back at those people who've hurt us. But, God - who is mercy - wants us to shower mercy upon those who've caused us such pain. Jesus taught us in Matthew 5:43-45, "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.
2) The best protection against harm is good communications! I remember when my brother and his friend was challenged to a fight one night while they were in high school. Apparently, they offended a HUGE, drunken biker dude at a local Burger King. While the guy was waiting for them outside, I happened to walk in right after the challenge was made. When they shared how they were going to get into a fight in a few moments, I turned on my heels and walked outside and right up to the guy with a big, friendly smile and began talking with him. Within a couple of minutes, his anger subsided, his friend asked me for forgiveness and took his drunken friend across the parking lot to cool things down. I can't tell you how many fights I've avoided with good communications skills.
In chapter 20, you see a wise woman doing the same thing! In fact, she spared the lives of hundreds of people with her good communication skills. As Joab and his mighty army surrounded the city to destroy everyone in town, a smart and wise woman began negotiations with Joab and found that all he wanted was a traitor and instigator by the name of Bicri. She agreed to have him killed and throw his head over the wall. This one act of effective negotiations spared the entire population!
3) Famine, earthquakes, wars, etc...can be the result of God's judgment on a nation! Throughout the Bible we see God causing famine, earthquakes, and a variety of other national problems as a result of sin in the land. In chapter 21, David goes to the Lord about why there's such a horrible a famine going on in the land. God replies and says in 21:1, "The famine has come because Saul and his family are guilty of murdering the Gibeonites." If you remember in the books of Deuteronomy and Joshua, God warned the leaders of Israel against descrating the land with acts of murder. In this event, Saul's murder of the Gibeonites (whom Israel promised protection of), angered the Lord because Israel did not keep their promise to this group of people. Therefore, as punishment, God sent a famine throughout the land.
What do you think God feels about our nation? We've allowed the innocent murder of millions of unborn (and born!) babies! Murder fills the air waves on our nightly news cast! How long can we get away with this before God strikes against us as a nation? Perhaps He already has! We are falling headlong into a national financial crisis and a loss of position in the world's view of importance and power! The Bible tells us in Proverbs 14:34, "Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people."
Well, that's all for now! May His wonderful countenance shine upon you today!
Here are a few lessons we can learn from today's Bible reading...
1) MERCY should rule our lives! Micah 6:8 says, "He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." Did you see that? We are to "love mercy!" Mercy should rule in our lives! In chapter 19, we see two great examples of David's extending his mercy to two scoundrels - Shimei and Mephibosheth. Both of these men turned against David when David was fleeing from Absalom. They only worshipped David with lip service when David was at the height of his strength and power. Then, when David was in his most vulnerable moment, they mocked him! Shimei cursed him and threw stones at him and his men as they crossed the desert. Mephibosheth, who ate at King David's table and was financially supported by David, tried to take control of the throne after David had left! One of David's commander, Abishai, wanted to kill both of these guys and probably deserved it, but David extended his mercy towards them!
Even we, as Christians, can so often show a lack of mercy when it comes to people who've offended us. Some even seethe in thought about how to get back at those people who've hurt us. But, God - who is mercy - wants us to shower mercy upon those who've caused us such pain. Jesus taught us in Matthew 5:43-45, "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.
2) The best protection against harm is good communications! I remember when my brother and his friend was challenged to a fight one night while they were in high school. Apparently, they offended a HUGE, drunken biker dude at a local Burger King. While the guy was waiting for them outside, I happened to walk in right after the challenge was made. When they shared how they were going to get into a fight in a few moments, I turned on my heels and walked outside and right up to the guy with a big, friendly smile and began talking with him. Within a couple of minutes, his anger subsided, his friend asked me for forgiveness and took his drunken friend across the parking lot to cool things down. I can't tell you how many fights I've avoided with good communications skills.
In chapter 20, you see a wise woman doing the same thing! In fact, she spared the lives of hundreds of people with her good communication skills. As Joab and his mighty army surrounded the city to destroy everyone in town, a smart and wise woman began negotiations with Joab and found that all he wanted was a traitor and instigator by the name of Bicri. She agreed to have him killed and throw his head over the wall. This one act of effective negotiations spared the entire population!
3) Famine, earthquakes, wars, etc...can be the result of God's judgment on a nation! Throughout the Bible we see God causing famine, earthquakes, and a variety of other national problems as a result of sin in the land. In chapter 21, David goes to the Lord about why there's such a horrible a famine going on in the land. God replies and says in 21:1, "The famine has come because Saul and his family are guilty of murdering the Gibeonites." If you remember in the books of Deuteronomy and Joshua, God warned the leaders of Israel against descrating the land with acts of murder. In this event, Saul's murder of the Gibeonites (whom Israel promised protection of), angered the Lord because Israel did not keep their promise to this group of people. Therefore, as punishment, God sent a famine throughout the land.
What do you think God feels about our nation? We've allowed the innocent murder of millions of unborn (and born!) babies! Murder fills the air waves on our nightly news cast! How long can we get away with this before God strikes against us as a nation? Perhaps He already has! We are falling headlong into a national financial crisis and a loss of position in the world's view of importance and power! The Bible tells us in Proverbs 14:34, "Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people."
Well, that's all for now! May His wonderful countenance shine upon you today!
Journey Thru The Bible! (2 Samuel 16 - 18)
Click on the above Scripture to read today's Bible text!
Today, there are 4 characters the Bible talks about that I find especially interesting. Two of them are good, and two of them are bad. The two good ones show great spiritual discernment, the other two base their lives on injustice and lies. Let's take a closer look at these 4 guys...
1) Ziba - the smart and faithful servant! Ziba is a good guy! He possesses the heart of a faithful servant. He He faithfully served King Saul until his death (9:2), and now desires to be a faithful servant to King David. In chapter 9, Ziba has abandoned his position as Saul's servant since Saul had died in battle. When David called him into the palace to ask him whether or not there were any remaining survivors of Saul's family "to show God's kindness to", Ziba was willing to offer any information to help the king out. When David asked him and his family to serve as Mephibosheth's servants, he was more than willing.
The next time we see Ziba, he abandons the city (and Mephibosheth) and runs after King David as he and his crew are fleeing from Absalom. Now, you might say, "That's not a faithful servant...leaving Mephibosheth like that!" But wait! Who does Ziba really serve - Mephibosheth or King David? Ziba only served Mephibosheth because of David's request. Ziba knew who he really served! Thus, Ziba came to David and his group bringing with him some desperately needed food and supplies.
My question to you is..."Who do you REALLY serve?" Are you a faithful servant to your employer or to God? You may be working for someone else, but all of us really serve God!
2) Shimei - the stupid and foolish citizen! As David and his company of men rode past Shimei's home, being that he was a member of Saul's family and held grudges against David, he ran out and began shouting foul language and throwing stones at them! What's most interesting about Shimei is that he is basing his entire perspective about David on a lie! Shimei saw David as "a scoundrel", but it was Saul who was the scoundrel! He called David a "murderer", but it was Saul who wanted to murder David and eventually murdered over 70 priests out of anger! Shimei had no clue about the real Saul. And, so Shimei curses David and bases all of his perspective and feelings about him on lies. David was the opposite of the image Shimei had in his mind about him!
There are so many people today that do the very same thing! They are just like Shimei. They base their feelings and conversations about others from a perspective that is opposite the truth! Have you ever had anyone conjur up an image of you that wasn't based on the truth or actual events? Have they ever accused you of something that was quite the opposite of what really happened or what was really said? I'm sure they have! What you and I need to learn from this is that we shouldn't be quick to judge people - we may not know the whole truth!
When I was a pastor doing marriage counseling, I could always expect two different sides of the story! I knew that somewhere in the middle was the truth. The key was to sort out the truth and then live life according to the truth. What a sad, sad thing to live your life or base your thoughts about someone on a bunch of lies.
3) Ahithophel - the smart and prideful servant! Ahithophel was a smart man, but made a foolish choice. He chose to join Absalom in a conspiracy against Absalom's father, King David. His intelligence, however, was respected by Absalom and thus he was given the incredible honor of being an advisor to him. In fact, Ahithophel was so smart and articulate in word and thought that the Bible says in 16:23 - "For every word Ahithophel spoke seemed as wise as though it had come directly from the mouth of God." But, God threw a wrench into the workings of Absalom and Ahithophel whereas Absalom took the advice of Hushai over that of Ahithophel's - even though Ahithophel's plans were better (17:14).
Ahithophel's pride was so damaged by the fact that Absalom would not take his advice that he went home, put his affairs in order, and hung himself! What a baby!
The problem with Ahithophel was that he was more worried about his image and what he wanted rather than what the King wanted. His pride and arrogance was so great that it destroyed him!
There are many people today who are more interested in what they want than what God wants! Out of pride and arrogance, they simply reject God and refuse to succumb to reason. They don't want the truth. They want to believe what they want to believe...period! Do you know of anyone like that?
4) Hushai - the sacrificial and faithful servant! Hushai took on one of the most dangerous tasks - that of infiltrating the camp of the enemy and pretending to be one of them in order to pass on the details of insider information! Although he was a faithful follower of King David, he sacrificially gave himself into the hands of the enemy for David's sake. As it turns out, God uses him in a mighty way! He thwarts the plans of the enemy and sets them up for David's men to overthrow. There is much else that's said about Hushai in the Scriptures, but he played a key role in David's life and reign as king! This one event alone was worth a thousand events!
You may feel like God has abandoned you or insignificant in God's overall purpose and work in the world, but know this - that God never makes a mistake, He has a purpose for you being here, and He will work His plan in your life at some point. Be patient! He may be preparing you for a short period of time - just like He did with Jesus! Jesus worked as a carpenter until He was 30 years old, and then only served His Father for a brief 3 1/2 years. But during all those 30 years, our Heavenly Father was preparing His Son for those brief 3 1/2 years. Just like He's doing in your life today!
That's all for now! Have a wonderful, Spirit-filled life today!
Today, there are 4 characters the Bible talks about that I find especially interesting. Two of them are good, and two of them are bad. The two good ones show great spiritual discernment, the other two base their lives on injustice and lies. Let's take a closer look at these 4 guys...
1) Ziba - the smart and faithful servant! Ziba is a good guy! He possesses the heart of a faithful servant. He He faithfully served King Saul until his death (9:2), and now desires to be a faithful servant to King David. In chapter 9, Ziba has abandoned his position as Saul's servant since Saul had died in battle. When David called him into the palace to ask him whether or not there were any remaining survivors of Saul's family "to show God's kindness to", Ziba was willing to offer any information to help the king out. When David asked him and his family to serve as Mephibosheth's servants, he was more than willing.
The next time we see Ziba, he abandons the city (and Mephibosheth) and runs after King David as he and his crew are fleeing from Absalom. Now, you might say, "That's not a faithful servant...leaving Mephibosheth like that!" But wait! Who does Ziba really serve - Mephibosheth or King David? Ziba only served Mephibosheth because of David's request. Ziba knew who he really served! Thus, Ziba came to David and his group bringing with him some desperately needed food and supplies.
My question to you is..."Who do you REALLY serve?" Are you a faithful servant to your employer or to God? You may be working for someone else, but all of us really serve God!
2) Shimei - the stupid and foolish citizen! As David and his company of men rode past Shimei's home, being that he was a member of Saul's family and held grudges against David, he ran out and began shouting foul language and throwing stones at them! What's most interesting about Shimei is that he is basing his entire perspective about David on a lie! Shimei saw David as "a scoundrel", but it was Saul who was the scoundrel! He called David a "murderer", but it was Saul who wanted to murder David and eventually murdered over 70 priests out of anger! Shimei had no clue about the real Saul. And, so Shimei curses David and bases all of his perspective and feelings about him on lies. David was the opposite of the image Shimei had in his mind about him!
There are so many people today that do the very same thing! They are just like Shimei. They base their feelings and conversations about others from a perspective that is opposite the truth! Have you ever had anyone conjur up an image of you that wasn't based on the truth or actual events? Have they ever accused you of something that was quite the opposite of what really happened or what was really said? I'm sure they have! What you and I need to learn from this is that we shouldn't be quick to judge people - we may not know the whole truth!
When I was a pastor doing marriage counseling, I could always expect two different sides of the story! I knew that somewhere in the middle was the truth. The key was to sort out the truth and then live life according to the truth. What a sad, sad thing to live your life or base your thoughts about someone on a bunch of lies.
3) Ahithophel - the smart and prideful servant! Ahithophel was a smart man, but made a foolish choice. He chose to join Absalom in a conspiracy against Absalom's father, King David. His intelligence, however, was respected by Absalom and thus he was given the incredible honor of being an advisor to him. In fact, Ahithophel was so smart and articulate in word and thought that the Bible says in 16:23 - "For every word Ahithophel spoke seemed as wise as though it had come directly from the mouth of God." But, God threw a wrench into the workings of Absalom and Ahithophel whereas Absalom took the advice of Hushai over that of Ahithophel's - even though Ahithophel's plans were better (17:14).
Ahithophel's pride was so damaged by the fact that Absalom would not take his advice that he went home, put his affairs in order, and hung himself! What a baby!
The problem with Ahithophel was that he was more worried about his image and what he wanted rather than what the King wanted. His pride and arrogance was so great that it destroyed him!
There are many people today who are more interested in what they want than what God wants! Out of pride and arrogance, they simply reject God and refuse to succumb to reason. They don't want the truth. They want to believe what they want to believe...period! Do you know of anyone like that?
4) Hushai - the sacrificial and faithful servant! Hushai took on one of the most dangerous tasks - that of infiltrating the camp of the enemy and pretending to be one of them in order to pass on the details of insider information! Although he was a faithful follower of King David, he sacrificially gave himself into the hands of the enemy for David's sake. As it turns out, God uses him in a mighty way! He thwarts the plans of the enemy and sets them up for David's men to overthrow. There is much else that's said about Hushai in the Scriptures, but he played a key role in David's life and reign as king! This one event alone was worth a thousand events!
You may feel like God has abandoned you or insignificant in God's overall purpose and work in the world, but know this - that God never makes a mistake, He has a purpose for you being here, and He will work His plan in your life at some point. Be patient! He may be preparing you for a short period of time - just like He did with Jesus! Jesus worked as a carpenter until He was 30 years old, and then only served His Father for a brief 3 1/2 years. But during all those 30 years, our Heavenly Father was preparing His Son for those brief 3 1/2 years. Just like He's doing in your life today!
That's all for now! Have a wonderful, Spirit-filled life today!
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