"And also for the innocednt blood that he shed: for he filled Jerusalem with innocent blood; which the Lord would not pardon."
We read in II Chronicles of Manasseh's evil reign and how he was taken into captivity. While in captivity he calls upon the Lord, Who allows for him to return to being king. There is the prayer of Manasseh found within the Acrophya. But we realize by these verse in chapter 24 of II Kings that even though the Lord is merciful to forgive and pardon, there are some things that must be accounted for and answered for. This verse alone deals with the innocent blood that he shed. And also for the innocent blood that he shed - Manasseh must have killed any and all that his desire led him to do; There must have been none safe from his hand of anger. Whether old or young, friend or foe, man or woman, he must have executed them all at his own whim. Let us know that the power of rulers has the ability to kill thousands, if not millions by a word given. But that does not detract from the repsonbility that someone must give an account of the life taken. 'For the life of the flesh is in the blood', and he who slays a man are responbile for that blood on their own hands. Let the Lord be strong to defend the innocent. We have over the last several decades allowed the death of the innocent. Millions of lives have been shed while still in the womb, oh, what wrath is against such a people that kills the next generation simply for the fact of self indulgence. WE are guilty, for allowing it and not raising a horde of prayers, messages and ultimatatums over the fact that God is going to unleash on us the same force He did upon Manasseh for this one sin alone. The innocent have been slain, and God is a just judge and will make us give an answer for the death of these precious souls. Oh, the wickedness of a nation to pracitce such behavior and think that we will not have to answer for it. Which the Lord would not pardon - two sins in the Bible are unpardonable; 1. the sin against the Holy Spirit, termed 'the unpardonable sin'. Jesus says all sin can be forgiven agains the Son and the Father, but the Spirit grieved and rejected is crossing the line. That sin of rejecting the Holy Spirit as He calls one to be saved. The Holy Spirit having been rejected and grieved away will not return and thus the sin of damnation. For without the Spirit drawing a soul to God, they cannot come. Men cannot come of thier own devices, it is the work of the Lord to call men unto salvation. He empowers the word, sends the Spirit and causes by grace for a soul to have a chance of salvation. 2. the blood that is shed on the ground must be atoned for. Manasseh's murders would not be pardoned and he was already dead and gone. Yet, the land and the descendants of the next generation would ahve to face the punishment of the Lord. Josiah found mercy during his reign but God promised that this sin of Manasseh's would be accoutned for. This generation may pass away, for we have already come almost 40 years since the Roe vs. Wade decision, but soon this nation will answer for their folly against a most Holy God.
Friday, July 31, 2009
II Kings 23:17
"Then he said, What title is that that I see? And the men of the city told him, It is the sepulchre of the man of God, which came from Judah, and proclaimed these things that thou hast done against the altar of Bethel."
Josiah had completely turned unto the Lord in all his ways. Judah had followed with him, as the leader is, so are the people. He then left Judah and entered into Israel, for the Lord had removed them becuase of their evil. We have in this chapter his great work of cleansing the land from all abominations and sins found within the land. And here in this verse we have the prophecy of 350 years earlier coming to pass. What title is that that I see? word study, to see; and great questions of the Bible; It was the old prophet of Bethle's sepulchre but the young prophet was found within it for what he had foretold was to be. The prophecy was of a king of Judah, named Josiah, that shall overturn the altar and burn it and break it down. WE should consider the other titles in the Bible. Do you remember the title of Christ in Revelation as He returns? 'Upon His vesture is written, King of Kings and Lord of Lords'. The title of Aaron, the high priest and that which is upon him? Holiness unto the Lord. The title of His children? The bride of Christ. What is your title, dear brethern? What is said of you and whose you are? And these are not false titles, of our own making or vain comments by fellow people, these are titles of truth that regard who we are and what we are in this present world. Let us be worthy of the mark that is upon us as children of the King. Let our title be remembered in our hearts andminds of what is said of us: 'they are the sons of God' 'children of God. And if chidlren, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ'. What say we of those that are not Christs'? They are of their father the devil; the sons of perdition; the damned; the unsaved. Oh, what a motley scene is these; but never forget, 'for such was some of you'. Praise the Lord, born in sin, raised in sin, yet, when grace came and Calvary did its best work, my title changed from goat to sheep, from lost to saved, from blind to seeing. Cherish "what title that that I see". It is the sepulchre of the man of God, which came from Judah - word study, to come; he was the appointed prophet during that time. shortly following his time, Elijah came along. He was the prophet without a name only recognized by what he had said and done during that time of confrontation with Jeroboam, the king of Israel, who made Israel to sin. And even though, the old prophet decieved him and destroyed him out of jealousy and envy, this young man was 'a man of God'. And there is a clear title. Vance Havner was asked what title (epitaph) he wanted and he replied, "Just a preacher". For any preacher this is their desire, "A man of God"; for any Christian, "A man or woman of God" Is it true of us? For the Lord Who cannot lie, will not declare unto us a title that is not so. A man of God must be holy, blameless, pure, fervor for the Lord, zeal and passion for the things of God and perfect desire to know the Lord. And proclaimed these things that hou hast done against the altar of Bethel - the ungodly altar of the false gods of Jeroboam; The altar that does not honor the Lord, that shall be destroyed and put down. Let us constatnly seek to put down the false altars that we have bowed down to in this world. The sins of religion, money, lusts, pride, self are all altars of decpetion that leads us away from the Lord. Josiah destoryed them all and said, 'Ye shall worship the Lord God, and Him only shall you worship.' Let out desire be the same, bow the knee to no one else but Him, Who is worthy. The word of the Lord is shall come to pass. . . the young prophet proclaimed it and Josiah fulfilled it. The Lord which is past, present and future saw, knew and accomplished His desired end upn this false altar. Let us be what the Lord desires of us to be to accomplish His kingdoms work while we are here. Our time is drawing short, much time has been wasted and llost. Let this day be a day of honor unto Him. Throw down the altars of the world and of Satan and serve the Lord with all your heart.
Josiah had completely turned unto the Lord in all his ways. Judah had followed with him, as the leader is, so are the people. He then left Judah and entered into Israel, for the Lord had removed them becuase of their evil. We have in this chapter his great work of cleansing the land from all abominations and sins found within the land. And here in this verse we have the prophecy of 350 years earlier coming to pass. What title is that that I see? word study, to see; and great questions of the Bible; It was the old prophet of Bethle's sepulchre but the young prophet was found within it for what he had foretold was to be. The prophecy was of a king of Judah, named Josiah, that shall overturn the altar and burn it and break it down. WE should consider the other titles in the Bible. Do you remember the title of Christ in Revelation as He returns? 'Upon His vesture is written, King of Kings and Lord of Lords'. The title of Aaron, the high priest and that which is upon him? Holiness unto the Lord. The title of His children? The bride of Christ. What is your title, dear brethern? What is said of you and whose you are? And these are not false titles, of our own making or vain comments by fellow people, these are titles of truth that regard who we are and what we are in this present world. Let us be worthy of the mark that is upon us as children of the King. Let our title be remembered in our hearts andminds of what is said of us: 'they are the sons of God' 'children of God. And if chidlren, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ'. What say we of those that are not Christs'? They are of their father the devil; the sons of perdition; the damned; the unsaved. Oh, what a motley scene is these; but never forget, 'for such was some of you'. Praise the Lord, born in sin, raised in sin, yet, when grace came and Calvary did its best work, my title changed from goat to sheep, from lost to saved, from blind to seeing. Cherish "what title that that I see". It is the sepulchre of the man of God, which came from Judah - word study, to come; he was the appointed prophet during that time. shortly following his time, Elijah came along. He was the prophet without a name only recognized by what he had said and done during that time of confrontation with Jeroboam, the king of Israel, who made Israel to sin. And even though, the old prophet decieved him and destroyed him out of jealousy and envy, this young man was 'a man of God'. And there is a clear title. Vance Havner was asked what title (epitaph) he wanted and he replied, "Just a preacher". For any preacher this is their desire, "A man of God"; for any Christian, "A man or woman of God" Is it true of us? For the Lord Who cannot lie, will not declare unto us a title that is not so. A man of God must be holy, blameless, pure, fervor for the Lord, zeal and passion for the things of God and perfect desire to know the Lord. And proclaimed these things that hou hast done against the altar of Bethel - the ungodly altar of the false gods of Jeroboam; The altar that does not honor the Lord, that shall be destroyed and put down. Let us constatnly seek to put down the false altars that we have bowed down to in this world. The sins of religion, money, lusts, pride, self are all altars of decpetion that leads us away from the Lord. Josiah destoryed them all and said, 'Ye shall worship the Lord God, and Him only shall you worship.' Let out desire be the same, bow the knee to no one else but Him, Who is worthy. The word of the Lord is shall come to pass. . . the young prophet proclaimed it and Josiah fulfilled it. The Lord which is past, present and future saw, knew and accomplished His desired end upn this false altar. Let us be what the Lord desires of us to be to accomplish His kingdoms work while we are here. Our time is drawing short, much time has been wasted and llost. Let this day be a day of honor unto Him. Throw down the altars of the world and of Satan and serve the Lord with all your heart.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
II Kings 22:19
"Because thine heart was tender, and thou hast humbled thyself before the Lord, when thou heardest what I spake against this place, and against the inhabitants therof, that they should become a desolation and a curse, and hast rent thy clothes, and wept before me; I also have heard thee, saith the Lord."
Here is Josiah, who has given himself unto the Lord completely. One verse describes him, 'no king before him or after, that turned to the Lord with all his heart'. There had been much sin, much iniquity filled the land, there was much to answer for before a holy God. Josiah had heard the words from the law about the wrath of God upon the people when they forsook Him and worshipped false gods. Josiah knew that destruction was determined against the people and the land. He cared not for himself, but thrust himself unto the Lord for mercy. Look at the description the Lord offers of Josaih and may we pattern ourselves after him: heart was tender - a heart hearted man is unfeeling toward the things of importance; His only interest is of self, and the Lord God is not like that. 'His compassions they fail not', and our heart should be tender unto the things of the Lord. If you are unmoved by the present condition of this world, pray for the Lord to soften your heart. Thou hast humbled thyself before the Lord - I believe many a man may be humble, but the difference here is where it takes place; Let us bow low before the Lord. The knees that will not bend, the man that will not position himself rightly shall we the other end of mercy. Pride does swell the heart and the head of those that refuse to acknoweldge that the Lord is worthy to be praised. And His anger is to be turned away from us by humility and not arrogance or self-righteousness. What I spake against this place, and against the inahbitants - what has the Lord said concerning those that have sinned and rebelled against the word of the Lord?; He has declared that those that are on the field in battle will die with the sword; those in the city shall die of famine and pestilence; the death will be horrible, painful and extreme in affliction as loved turns on one another for their own self preservation. How horrible is the death of such that rebel against the Lord. And what has He said concerning those lost today? they shall be bound hand and foot and carried into the tortures of hell. With no hope, no light, no exits, no mercy, and no water. The Lord has pronounced judgment on all such as refuse the invitation of salvation. Oh, what a horrible plight for all the lost!ARe you still unmoved? that they should become a desolation and a curse - no blessing is to be found among them; They are sentenced even in this life for the life to come. Desolate and cursed among all the sons of men. Those that are family, friend, neighbor and stranger. They are as marked by the Lord for cursing as was Cain when he received the mark for killing Abel. They shall be left with nothing, possess nothing and attain to nothing. They are nothing in the sight of God. And oh, how dreadful for He that is Creator is also able to Uncreate. But Josiah, heard and contemplated all this folly upon the children of Judah because of their wickedness and his reaction touched the heart of God. Hast rent thy clothes, and wept before me - this cannot be worked up, faked, it is legit, for the Lord knows the heart. And what shall be said of you, who have not cried a tear, have not mourned, have not prayed and could care less? Your fate will not be much different than that of those that we have jsut read of. And what of you, who are only moved in certain occassions, as when it touches close to home? You are never moved unless a preacher tells a sorrowing story and touches your heart for a moment but you are quickly moved on to the next thing. Why is it that the people of God are not laboring daily and hourly over the lost condition of this world? How can one go to the cross of Christ and not be touched with the infirmities of mankind as He was? We have not been taught of the death of the self well enough to know. We can quote Galatians 2:20, but very little of the essence of it do we know. Let us have the mind of Christ; the sufferings of Christ; the prayers of intercessions of Christ. Let us be Christ like for this lost world and we shall respond as Josiah. Tears, brokenness, contrition and belief that God is able to show Himself merciful. I also have heard thee - the Lord does not hear all prayers, but He hears this kind of prayers; Have we touched the throne of God? Have we received the promise, that the Lord has heard us? We have not prevailed enough, long enough, deep enough and we have been content to let our prayers remain unanswered. Will this verse not stir us up to seek and find the Lord as Josiah did? Then we can see what Josiah did during his days of bringing Judah back to God. And not Judah only, but he went up and destoryed the idols of Jeroboam and cleansed the land. Let us be like Josiah to cleanse the land, cleanse the heart, cleanse our homes and cleanse the house of the Lord so that He may be exalted and honored among us. All Honor and Glory and Praise to the Lord God Almighty for His Unspeakable Gift!!
Here is Josiah, who has given himself unto the Lord completely. One verse describes him, 'no king before him or after, that turned to the Lord with all his heart'. There had been much sin, much iniquity filled the land, there was much to answer for before a holy God. Josiah had heard the words from the law about the wrath of God upon the people when they forsook Him and worshipped false gods. Josiah knew that destruction was determined against the people and the land. He cared not for himself, but thrust himself unto the Lord for mercy. Look at the description the Lord offers of Josaih and may we pattern ourselves after him: heart was tender - a heart hearted man is unfeeling toward the things of importance; His only interest is of self, and the Lord God is not like that. 'His compassions they fail not', and our heart should be tender unto the things of the Lord. If you are unmoved by the present condition of this world, pray for the Lord to soften your heart. Thou hast humbled thyself before the Lord - I believe many a man may be humble, but the difference here is where it takes place; Let us bow low before the Lord. The knees that will not bend, the man that will not position himself rightly shall we the other end of mercy. Pride does swell the heart and the head of those that refuse to acknoweldge that the Lord is worthy to be praised. And His anger is to be turned away from us by humility and not arrogance or self-righteousness. What I spake against this place, and against the inahbitants - what has the Lord said concerning those that have sinned and rebelled against the word of the Lord?; He has declared that those that are on the field in battle will die with the sword; those in the city shall die of famine and pestilence; the death will be horrible, painful and extreme in affliction as loved turns on one another for their own self preservation. How horrible is the death of such that rebel against the Lord. And what has He said concerning those lost today? they shall be bound hand and foot and carried into the tortures of hell. With no hope, no light, no exits, no mercy, and no water. The Lord has pronounced judgment on all such as refuse the invitation of salvation. Oh, what a horrible plight for all the lost!ARe you still unmoved? that they should become a desolation and a curse - no blessing is to be found among them; They are sentenced even in this life for the life to come. Desolate and cursed among all the sons of men. Those that are family, friend, neighbor and stranger. They are as marked by the Lord for cursing as was Cain when he received the mark for killing Abel. They shall be left with nothing, possess nothing and attain to nothing. They are nothing in the sight of God. And oh, how dreadful for He that is Creator is also able to Uncreate. But Josiah, heard and contemplated all this folly upon the children of Judah because of their wickedness and his reaction touched the heart of God. Hast rent thy clothes, and wept before me - this cannot be worked up, faked, it is legit, for the Lord knows the heart. And what shall be said of you, who have not cried a tear, have not mourned, have not prayed and could care less? Your fate will not be much different than that of those that we have jsut read of. And what of you, who are only moved in certain occassions, as when it touches close to home? You are never moved unless a preacher tells a sorrowing story and touches your heart for a moment but you are quickly moved on to the next thing. Why is it that the people of God are not laboring daily and hourly over the lost condition of this world? How can one go to the cross of Christ and not be touched with the infirmities of mankind as He was? We have not been taught of the death of the self well enough to know. We can quote Galatians 2:20, but very little of the essence of it do we know. Let us have the mind of Christ; the sufferings of Christ; the prayers of intercessions of Christ. Let us be Christ like for this lost world and we shall respond as Josiah. Tears, brokenness, contrition and belief that God is able to show Himself merciful. I also have heard thee - the Lord does not hear all prayers, but He hears this kind of prayers; Have we touched the throne of God? Have we received the promise, that the Lord has heard us? We have not prevailed enough, long enough, deep enough and we have been content to let our prayers remain unanswered. Will this verse not stir us up to seek and find the Lord as Josiah did? Then we can see what Josiah did during his days of bringing Judah back to God. And not Judah only, but he went up and destoryed the idols of Jeroboam and cleansed the land. Let us be like Josiah to cleanse the land, cleanse the heart, cleanse our homes and cleanse the house of the Lord so that He may be exalted and honored among us. All Honor and Glory and Praise to the Lord God Almighty for His Unspeakable Gift!!
II Kings 21:12
"Therefore thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Behold, I am bringing such evil upon Jerusalem and Judah, that whosoever heareth of it, both his ears shall tingle."
The providence of God is demonstrated with the reign of Manasseh. We have 4 kings that half-heartedly worshipped and served the Lord and then Hezekiah. King Hezekiah turned unto the Lord and did that which was right in the sight of the Lord. yet, we the extra 15 years of life that was bestowed upon him, he had a son, named Manasseh. And during the first 12 years of life of this boy, it seems that something was lacking in his upbringin. Perhaps, Hezekiah was too old and spoiled him, it is unknown, but no doubt, he did not bring him up in fear of the Lord. For when Manasseh, came to be king, he spent 55 years of evil in the land of Judah. In the book of II Chronicles we have a better picture of some of the things that transpired, but we have 16 verses here in this chapter that tells us of his evil. You cannot practive such evil and not expect for God to answer it. His justice and holiness must answer for such actions. the land was polluted, the people were defiled and His Name was not revered. Even though, His mercy, grace is great and longsuffering is without measure to us, there comes a point of crossing the line. God has sent His prophets to warn, to teach and it fell on deaf ears. The hearts of the king and the people were hardened against the word of the Lord. And so we have this declaration about that which shall be. This punishment because fo the evil of Manasseh goes on far beyond his lifetime, even until after all the good that Josiah does. LEt us not think that we shall escape the punishment of our forefathers and of this evil generation. are we not facing punishment, even now? Behold, I am bringing such evil upon Jerusalem and Judah - it was the Lord bringing this, not a person; What shall a nation do when sets Himself to bring judgement? Can there be any hope or help? How can God bring evil? God cannot know evil nor practice evil. therefore, if God would be absent from the place, without His holy Presence, evil must be present. And the absence of God allows for the presence of the Evil One, whose one purpose is to ruin, ravage and decimate lives. Isn't he doing a wonderful job? And when people conitnue to ask, "Why is this happening to me?' This is usually the answer, evil has come because God is absent in their lives. The absence of God in a life, a family, a church, a nation, is a void created that will be filled with the evil of satan and sin. It is Satan's great desire to destroy all of God's creation and work. And what better attack to launch than against the city of David and the people of Judah who were the promised people. God would remove Himself from their midst for the iniquity that Manasseh had done and evil would fill the land. What king of evil? That whosoever heareth of it, both his ears shall tingle - the saddest of news has been proclaimed; A news so horrible that the ear does tingle upon hearing it. Has it not been like this when bad news was being told, that you said or thought, 'enough, I don't want to hear anymore'? Dealing with lives and families and souls in and out of the church, some times it is almost the same message, "Enough". No more sicknesses, no more destruction of lives, no more ruining of families, no more godlessness, no more lostness of hardened sinners, let it be enough to the tingling of the ears. And how can we read Revelation and not have our ears to tingle at the final judgment? Oh, how awful is the time of the great tribulation and end events. That after God lets evil have its way, men will not repent but curse God even more. Oh, how great will be their damnation for all eternity. These are loved ones, ,friends, those that we knew that are lost and great will be the fall of them. Is your ear dull of hearing? The judgments against Manasseh and Judah were severe. They had offended the Lord God with all their evil ways. And what shall we say of our nation? Manasseh shed blood and filled the land; the US shed blood 10 times as much, how great will be our judgment when it is meeted out? And jsut as the Lord dealt with the sins of the land from Manasseh's wicked reign, He raised up Josiah that purged the land and then the captivity. May it be possible, that God will raise up a Josiah for another world wide revival to purge the world and then His glorious return? We shall see!
The providence of God is demonstrated with the reign of Manasseh. We have 4 kings that half-heartedly worshipped and served the Lord and then Hezekiah. King Hezekiah turned unto the Lord and did that which was right in the sight of the Lord. yet, we the extra 15 years of life that was bestowed upon him, he had a son, named Manasseh. And during the first 12 years of life of this boy, it seems that something was lacking in his upbringin. Perhaps, Hezekiah was too old and spoiled him, it is unknown, but no doubt, he did not bring him up in fear of the Lord. For when Manasseh, came to be king, he spent 55 years of evil in the land of Judah. In the book of II Chronicles we have a better picture of some of the things that transpired, but we have 16 verses here in this chapter that tells us of his evil. You cannot practive such evil and not expect for God to answer it. His justice and holiness must answer for such actions. the land was polluted, the people were defiled and His Name was not revered. Even though, His mercy, grace is great and longsuffering is without measure to us, there comes a point of crossing the line. God has sent His prophets to warn, to teach and it fell on deaf ears. The hearts of the king and the people were hardened against the word of the Lord. And so we have this declaration about that which shall be. This punishment because fo the evil of Manasseh goes on far beyond his lifetime, even until after all the good that Josiah does. LEt us not think that we shall escape the punishment of our forefathers and of this evil generation. are we not facing punishment, even now? Behold, I am bringing such evil upon Jerusalem and Judah - it was the Lord bringing this, not a person; What shall a nation do when sets Himself to bring judgement? Can there be any hope or help? How can God bring evil? God cannot know evil nor practice evil. therefore, if God would be absent from the place, without His holy Presence, evil must be present. And the absence of God allows for the presence of the Evil One, whose one purpose is to ruin, ravage and decimate lives. Isn't he doing a wonderful job? And when people conitnue to ask, "Why is this happening to me?' This is usually the answer, evil has come because God is absent in their lives. The absence of God in a life, a family, a church, a nation, is a void created that will be filled with the evil of satan and sin. It is Satan's great desire to destroy all of God's creation and work. And what better attack to launch than against the city of David and the people of Judah who were the promised people. God would remove Himself from their midst for the iniquity that Manasseh had done and evil would fill the land. What king of evil? That whosoever heareth of it, both his ears shall tingle - the saddest of news has been proclaimed; A news so horrible that the ear does tingle upon hearing it. Has it not been like this when bad news was being told, that you said or thought, 'enough, I don't want to hear anymore'? Dealing with lives and families and souls in and out of the church, some times it is almost the same message, "Enough". No more sicknesses, no more destruction of lives, no more ruining of families, no more godlessness, no more lostness of hardened sinners, let it be enough to the tingling of the ears. And how can we read Revelation and not have our ears to tingle at the final judgment? Oh, how awful is the time of the great tribulation and end events. That after God lets evil have its way, men will not repent but curse God even more. Oh, how great will be their damnation for all eternity. These are loved ones, ,friends, those that we knew that are lost and great will be the fall of them. Is your ear dull of hearing? The judgments against Manasseh and Judah were severe. They had offended the Lord God with all their evil ways. And what shall we say of our nation? Manasseh shed blood and filled the land; the US shed blood 10 times as much, how great will be our judgment when it is meeted out? And jsut as the Lord dealt with the sins of the land from Manasseh's wicked reign, He raised up Josiah that purged the land and then the captivity. May it be possible, that God will raise up a Josiah for another world wide revival to purge the world and then His glorious return? We shall see!
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
II Kings 20:5
"Turn again, and tell Hezekiah the captain of my people, Thus saith the Lord, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee: on the third day thou shalt go up unto the house of the Lord."
One of the most beautiful answer to prayers in the Bible. Hezekiah has served the Lord. He has been faithful through all the difficulities. But now he is sick and has just received the word from Isaiah, the prophet, that he was to get his house in order because this sickness was unto death. And instead of excepting that word from the prophet, he turned his face to the wall and wept and cried out to God for mercy. And as Isaiah the prophet is leaving the Lord speaks to him in this verse. Turn again - he had performed his command from the Lord, but now there was unfinished business; The Lord in His providence waited for Hezekiah to cry out to Him for healing. And as soon as the Lord heard and saw the tears and prayers of the king He gave command for the prophet to turn again unto him. How often would we seek for these words to be uttered to us. For in being sent to the people, the message is given, "You have been weighed in the balances and found wanting". And after delivering that message, and returning home, to hear from the Lord, 'Turn again'. Jonah heard it, for the people of Nineveh repented. "Turn again", says the Lord, "for I have granted deliverance from the My wrath." And tell Hezekiah the captian of my people - the ordained leader of God's people; The Lord has established an order to honored among His people. For the Lord places who He will in the offices to accomplish His set desire. "He removeth kings and setteth up kings", Daniel declares. He is the captain of Judah, leading them in the right way. We have seen so often the kings and leaders leading in the wrong way. Judgement is great upon them and all their decisions to turn away from the Lord. Just as we are accoutnable for everysoul within our reach, so leaders are given a fuller responsiblity fo the people. Yet, we read in Revelation that there will be no more man as captain, but the Lord Jesus shall ride upon His white horse, for He is the captian of the redeemed. I have heard thy prayer - God declares of His ability to hear the cries of His children; Then put away the doubts and fears of whether the Lord has heard you or not. He has heard the prayers of His people. I would be quick to remind you, it is not the Lord's inability to hear, but our neglect of not praying. The Lord would gladly hear His children, but they are silent. 'I sought for a man to make up the hedge but I could not find one.' Have we not be silent for so long? He has stood patiently waiting for us to cry out in prayer to Him, and yet we have failed. Glory that there is a remnant stirring up prayers to be heard. There is faith and hope, becuase the God Who hears prayers is attentive to our cries. But let us not fail in praying! I have seen thy tears - word study, to see; Just as He is able to hear all things of prayer, so He is able to see all the tears of His children. Again, is there any tears to be seen. Keith Green sings the son, 'My Eyes are Dry', and I wonder if that is not the dominate trait of the Lord's house? Far too often the compassion, care and brokeness of the Lord's people is shallow and selfish. We do not blush, nor come broken hearted that leads to tears of desperation for the lost and the hurting. Hezekiah was crying for himself, and the Lord had compassion on him. There are legitmate needs of the Lord's people and cares that rest sore upon us that moves us to tears. Are your eyes dry? Are you moved at the lost persihing into eternal hell forever? Too long there has not been godly sorrow that leads to repentance by tears and contrition. Behold, I will heal thee - the Lord grants him his petition; Many a child of God afflicted has cried out for healing, and it is has not been granted. It was not the Lord's will. This work of grace and healing was a harmonized miracle between man and God. God waited for His captain to cry out to Him, so that He might show Himself mighty to heal. Hezekiah prevail in prayer. Too often prayers are weak, and not given place to prevail with God. If we don't receive an answer, we simply give up and move on. Dear beleiver, pray until your breath leaves your body or until the Lord returns. Never give up on such things, unless the Lord has revealed His Divine will, for who knoweth if He will return and leave a blessing behind Him?'The Lord is the God that heals and He is able to do all things and nothing is beyond Him. Is our faith strong enough and persisitent enough to achieve glory unto Him? On the third day thou shalt go up unto the house of the Lord - word study, go; Here is specific instructions on the healing and a time frame. The Lord knew Hezekiahs place of worship and that he would be allowed to return to that in three days. The Lord is faithful and merciful, let us adore His greatness and celebrate that He hears, sees, heals and answers in mighty ways. And as true believers He knows that we shall also go up unto the house of the Lord to worship and glorify His Name. May this verse accomplish that which the Lord desires in us and through us, in Christ Name, Amen!
One of the most beautiful answer to prayers in the Bible. Hezekiah has served the Lord. He has been faithful through all the difficulities. But now he is sick and has just received the word from Isaiah, the prophet, that he was to get his house in order because this sickness was unto death. And instead of excepting that word from the prophet, he turned his face to the wall and wept and cried out to God for mercy. And as Isaiah the prophet is leaving the Lord speaks to him in this verse. Turn again - he had performed his command from the Lord, but now there was unfinished business; The Lord in His providence waited for Hezekiah to cry out to Him for healing. And as soon as the Lord heard and saw the tears and prayers of the king He gave command for the prophet to turn again unto him. How often would we seek for these words to be uttered to us. For in being sent to the people, the message is given, "You have been weighed in the balances and found wanting". And after delivering that message, and returning home, to hear from the Lord, 'Turn again'. Jonah heard it, for the people of Nineveh repented. "Turn again", says the Lord, "for I have granted deliverance from the My wrath." And tell Hezekiah the captian of my people - the ordained leader of God's people; The Lord has established an order to honored among His people. For the Lord places who He will in the offices to accomplish His set desire. "He removeth kings and setteth up kings", Daniel declares. He is the captain of Judah, leading them in the right way. We have seen so often the kings and leaders leading in the wrong way. Judgement is great upon them and all their decisions to turn away from the Lord. Just as we are accoutnable for everysoul within our reach, so leaders are given a fuller responsiblity fo the people. Yet, we read in Revelation that there will be no more man as captain, but the Lord Jesus shall ride upon His white horse, for He is the captian of the redeemed. I have heard thy prayer - God declares of His ability to hear the cries of His children; Then put away the doubts and fears of whether the Lord has heard you or not. He has heard the prayers of His people. I would be quick to remind you, it is not the Lord's inability to hear, but our neglect of not praying. The Lord would gladly hear His children, but they are silent. 'I sought for a man to make up the hedge but I could not find one.' Have we not be silent for so long? He has stood patiently waiting for us to cry out in prayer to Him, and yet we have failed. Glory that there is a remnant stirring up prayers to be heard. There is faith and hope, becuase the God Who hears prayers is attentive to our cries. But let us not fail in praying! I have seen thy tears - word study, to see; Just as He is able to hear all things of prayer, so He is able to see all the tears of His children. Again, is there any tears to be seen. Keith Green sings the son, 'My Eyes are Dry', and I wonder if that is not the dominate trait of the Lord's house? Far too often the compassion, care and brokeness of the Lord's people is shallow and selfish. We do not blush, nor come broken hearted that leads to tears of desperation for the lost and the hurting. Hezekiah was crying for himself, and the Lord had compassion on him. There are legitmate needs of the Lord's people and cares that rest sore upon us that moves us to tears. Are your eyes dry? Are you moved at the lost persihing into eternal hell forever? Too long there has not been godly sorrow that leads to repentance by tears and contrition. Behold, I will heal thee - the Lord grants him his petition; Many a child of God afflicted has cried out for healing, and it is has not been granted. It was not the Lord's will. This work of grace and healing was a harmonized miracle between man and God. God waited for His captain to cry out to Him, so that He might show Himself mighty to heal. Hezekiah prevail in prayer. Too often prayers are weak, and not given place to prevail with God. If we don't receive an answer, we simply give up and move on. Dear beleiver, pray until your breath leaves your body or until the Lord returns. Never give up on such things, unless the Lord has revealed His Divine will, for who knoweth if He will return and leave a blessing behind Him?'The Lord is the God that heals and He is able to do all things and nothing is beyond Him. Is our faith strong enough and persisitent enough to achieve glory unto Him? On the third day thou shalt go up unto the house of the Lord - word study, go; Here is specific instructions on the healing and a time frame. The Lord knew Hezekiahs place of worship and that he would be allowed to return to that in three days. The Lord is faithful and merciful, let us adore His greatness and celebrate that He hears, sees, heals and answers in mighty ways. And as true believers He knows that we shall also go up unto the house of the Lord to worship and glorify His Name. May this verse accomplish that which the Lord desires in us and through us, in Christ Name, Amen!
II Kings 19:14
"And Hezekiah received the letter of the hand of the messengers, and read it: and Hezekiah went up into the house of the Lord, and spread it before the Lord."
Hezekiah went up into the house of the Lord - word study, went; The Lord had delivered Judah out of the hand of the king of Assyria. But it was not a time to rejoice, for a letter was sent threatening and warning Judah and Hezekiah that this wasnot over but the Lord God of Judah would not be able to deliver Judah out of the hand of the Assyrians. It is not a wise thing to do to threaten the Lord. The foolishness of people to believe in false gods and believe in their own ability. Failure to give glory and thanks to God for what He has done, is an affront unto Him. These heathen nations refused to hear the truth and recognize that God is Lord of heaven and earth. He maketh nations to rise and fall, He puts in kings and removes them. The Lord God Almighty is in control of this world and all that is found therein. Our personal lives are under His watchful eye, and there is nothing that happens that is a secret to Him, for He knows all. If there be problesm, difficulties, words said against you, go up to the house of the Lord. There you find the Lord waiting for you to reveal on that is on your heart. Hezekiah knew enough to worship the Lord and declare his hearts desires unto Him. For the Lord delighteth in His children's prayers and faith in Him. Let us not be vain or sinful in neglecting of going to Him. Let us not fail to pray and seek His face. Far to long this has been the affront of God's own people, we have neglected the Lord. We are in the situation we are in this nation for such neglect. "Return unto Me, andI will return unto you." Will we not find Him mericful? Will we not find Him mighty to save? Let us not forsake the assemblying of ourselves together, but go up to the altar of the Lord. That wonderful invitational son, 'Is Your All on the Altar?' speaks volumes about what used to be in the church in this land. But then they forsook the altar, they forsook the mourners bench and made it a designer show for looks and beeauty. What we need is people that will bow the knee and the face before the Lord as Hezekiah did and worhsip Him and cry out ot Him. And spread it before the Lord - is this not the need of the hour? Let those that read this make this day, a day of prayer of spreading out before the Lord the great need of the hour. Hezekiah received this threatening demeaning letter against him, Judah and the Lord, and where else to go but unto the Lord. Declare before Him all that is on your heart and mind. Lay it out before Him that which bothers, disrupts and causes sorrow. Is it possible that one would say, they have nothing to spread out before the Lord? Is there not a cause? Is there not a need? How blind so many are on what is happening and where our nation is going. We are plummeting into hell on the fast track in our nation. Evil is rising, wickedness is spreading faster and faster and the lost are dying by the scores and dropping into hell, is there not cause for prayer? Families are exploding apart, divorce continues its rampage against ungodly and godly homes and children have lost their innocence, is this not something to spread out before the Lord? Cancer, diseasee, sickness and death continues to afflict every home, almost the same as the night of the Lord passing over Egypt in which every home suffered, is it not a time to go before the Lord? Spread it out dear brethern, bring all your cares, needs, wants and lay it out before th Lord. Hold nothing back, He is able to deal with it all. He desires to show Himself mighty before the eyes of this lost generation and the nations that have gnashed the teeth at Him. Let us not be as we have been for so long in neglecting Him and instead of spreading our desires out before Him, holding them to ourselves or trying to deal with it oursevles. The hour is desperate, just as it was to Hezekiah and may our hearts and souls obey as He did in going ot the right place and doing the right thing.
Hezekiah went up into the house of the Lord - word study, went; The Lord had delivered Judah out of the hand of the king of Assyria. But it was not a time to rejoice, for a letter was sent threatening and warning Judah and Hezekiah that this wasnot over but the Lord God of Judah would not be able to deliver Judah out of the hand of the Assyrians. It is not a wise thing to do to threaten the Lord. The foolishness of people to believe in false gods and believe in their own ability. Failure to give glory and thanks to God for what He has done, is an affront unto Him. These heathen nations refused to hear the truth and recognize that God is Lord of heaven and earth. He maketh nations to rise and fall, He puts in kings and removes them. The Lord God Almighty is in control of this world and all that is found therein. Our personal lives are under His watchful eye, and there is nothing that happens that is a secret to Him, for He knows all. If there be problesm, difficulties, words said against you, go up to the house of the Lord. There you find the Lord waiting for you to reveal on that is on your heart. Hezekiah knew enough to worship the Lord and declare his hearts desires unto Him. For the Lord delighteth in His children's prayers and faith in Him. Let us not be vain or sinful in neglecting of going to Him. Let us not fail to pray and seek His face. Far to long this has been the affront of God's own people, we have neglected the Lord. We are in the situation we are in this nation for such neglect. "Return unto Me, andI will return unto you." Will we not find Him mericful? Will we not find Him mighty to save? Let us not forsake the assemblying of ourselves together, but go up to the altar of the Lord. That wonderful invitational son, 'Is Your All on the Altar?' speaks volumes about what used to be in the church in this land. But then they forsook the altar, they forsook the mourners bench and made it a designer show for looks and beeauty. What we need is people that will bow the knee and the face before the Lord as Hezekiah did and worhsip Him and cry out ot Him. And spread it before the Lord - is this not the need of the hour? Let those that read this make this day, a day of prayer of spreading out before the Lord the great need of the hour. Hezekiah received this threatening demeaning letter against him, Judah and the Lord, and where else to go but unto the Lord. Declare before Him all that is on your heart and mind. Lay it out before Him that which bothers, disrupts and causes sorrow. Is it possible that one would say, they have nothing to spread out before the Lord? Is there not a cause? Is there not a need? How blind so many are on what is happening and where our nation is going. We are plummeting into hell on the fast track in our nation. Evil is rising, wickedness is spreading faster and faster and the lost are dying by the scores and dropping into hell, is there not cause for prayer? Families are exploding apart, divorce continues its rampage against ungodly and godly homes and children have lost their innocence, is this not something to spread out before the Lord? Cancer, diseasee, sickness and death continues to afflict every home, almost the same as the night of the Lord passing over Egypt in which every home suffered, is it not a time to go before the Lord? Spread it out dear brethern, bring all your cares, needs, wants and lay it out before th Lord. Hold nothing back, He is able to deal with it all. He desires to show Himself mighty before the eyes of this lost generation and the nations that have gnashed the teeth at Him. Let us not be as we have been for so long in neglecting Him and instead of spreading our desires out before Him, holding them to ourselves or trying to deal with it oursevles. The hour is desperate, just as it was to Hezekiah and may our hearts and souls obey as He did in going ot the right place and doing the right thing.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
II Kings 18:19
"And Rabshakeh said unto them, Speak ye now to Hezekiah, thus saith the great king, the king of Assyria, What confidence is this wherein thou trustest?"
This chapter is all linked together. Hezekiah is presented with a major work to undertake by faith, when he rebels against he king of Syria. The king of Syria sends his dignitaries to coerce the people to revolt from Hezekiah and serve him. Found throughout this chapter is the word that is used to garner all that is said, "Trust". Verse 5, "He trusted in the Lord God. . ."; verse 22, "WE trust in the Lord our God. . ."; verse 30, "Neither let Hezekiah make you trust in the Lord. . ." These verses are used to call into question Hezekiah's faith in the Lord God. Speak ye now to Hezekiah, thus saith the great king, the king of Assyria - the king of Syria really thought a lot of himself; His servants declared him to be the great king. The great king, the only king is King Jesus. Now note the insult to Hezekiah, who was a king, as he refers not to Hezekiah as king but only to declare that his king was the greatess. It is not uncommon to hear or see how man thinks more of themselves than they should. Pride and vanity are a deadly combo for men to give place to, rather than giving place to the Lord Who made all things and keeps all things. He is great and greatly to be praised among all men, especially among His own. What confidence is this wherein thou trustest? - great questions of the Bible; Hezekiah was being called into question over his actions. You and I should count it a compliment when people question us wherein our strength lies. Our faith is not man, it is not in our own selves, but it is in the Lord. Do they see it within our lives? Is there evidence taht we rest in Him, our Lord and God? What do they think when they see Christians melted under the weight of adversity, problems, sickness and death? They think we have no confidence, we are a shame, and only say the words, we never mean them. But to one who takes the promises of God and knows the ways of God, he can demonstrate the great power of God to the nations, for he knows wherein his confidence is, it is in the Lord.
This chapter is all linked together. Hezekiah is presented with a major work to undertake by faith, when he rebels against he king of Syria. The king of Syria sends his dignitaries to coerce the people to revolt from Hezekiah and serve him. Found throughout this chapter is the word that is used to garner all that is said, "Trust". Verse 5, "He trusted in the Lord God. . ."; verse 22, "WE trust in the Lord our God. . ."; verse 30, "Neither let Hezekiah make you trust in the Lord. . ." These verses are used to call into question Hezekiah's faith in the Lord God. Speak ye now to Hezekiah, thus saith the great king, the king of Assyria - the king of Syria really thought a lot of himself; His servants declared him to be the great king. The great king, the only king is King Jesus. Now note the insult to Hezekiah, who was a king, as he refers not to Hezekiah as king but only to declare that his king was the greatess. It is not uncommon to hear or see how man thinks more of themselves than they should. Pride and vanity are a deadly combo for men to give place to, rather than giving place to the Lord Who made all things and keeps all things. He is great and greatly to be praised among all men, especially among His own. What confidence is this wherein thou trustest? - great questions of the Bible; Hezekiah was being called into question over his actions. You and I should count it a compliment when people question us wherein our strength lies. Our faith is not man, it is not in our own selves, but it is in the Lord. Do they see it within our lives? Is there evidence taht we rest in Him, our Lord and God? What do they think when they see Christians melted under the weight of adversity, problems, sickness and death? They think we have no confidence, we are a shame, and only say the words, we never mean them. But to one who takes the promises of God and knows the ways of God, he can demonstrate the great power of God to the nations, for he knows wherein his confidence is, it is in the Lord.
II Kings 17:18
"Therefore the Lord was very angry with Israel, and removed them out of his sight: there was none left but the tribe of Judah only."
At last, the children of Israel and all their wickedness had reached the place of no return. How long can you offend God before He sends forth judgement? His lovingkindess is rich, His mercy is enduring and longsuffering is far beyond anything that we know and yet, there is a point that is reached that has gone to far in sin and evil. God is also just and holy and must deal with and answer the such evil with punishment and vengance. He had been faithful to warn, to beseech them, to encourage them to forsake the gods of the people and turn to Him. And when they did He was there and blest; and when they turned from Him they reaped their own rewards of their evil. Therefore - a singular word connecting all that has been said to that which shall be said; We have read in the previous verses all the sinfulness and wicked devices of the children of Israel. From verses 7 - 17, it is listed of all that they did in disobedience and willfulness against His commands. Now we come to this first word of this verse and after all the listings of the sins, now, "therfore', we will see the response to their actions. the Lord was very angry with Israel - who can stand against the wrath of God? Note, He was not just angry as we have read in other verses, but He is 'very angry'. There is a greater level of degree of His anger found here. Is it not bad enough to make the Lord angry? But what shall be done when He is very angry? And against His own people. It is expected of the lost, for they are constant in their sin and disobedience, that He would be very angry with them. But toward His own people to be very angry, what causes such a thing to be? It is far worse for them that know to do good and do it not. Jesus declared to those that had heard and seen His works and messge, that judgement would be far worse for them than those that had not seen and heard Him. The severity of His anger is understood and the wrath of it is beyond our comprhension. And removed them out of his sight - oh what hope is there now, when cast forth from His all seeing eye; It is that God can see everything, yet He restrains Himself from seeing here. When God purposefully removes from seeing them, there is no help to be consdiered. His mercy is all that will remain for such. And yet, we know that for eternity, those in hell, who have been cast forth from His sight, there is no mercy. Forever banished from Him, removed for their evil and sin, oh what a plight for the lost. 'Take this unprofitable servant and bind them hand and feet and remove them from My sight forever.' Oh dearly beloved, is this your plight? Have you sinned and sinned and sinned agianst Him, pushing His anger to very angry till at last He removed you from His sight? Will you not wake up and know that eternity is hanging in the balances for your soul forever? Cry out for mercy, confess and repent before it is too late. And brethern, can we not see the case for billions around us and their lost estate. Can we go left unaffected by such words to know what awaits those that we love and care for?
At last, the children of Israel and all their wickedness had reached the place of no return. How long can you offend God before He sends forth judgement? His lovingkindess is rich, His mercy is enduring and longsuffering is far beyond anything that we know and yet, there is a point that is reached that has gone to far in sin and evil. God is also just and holy and must deal with and answer the such evil with punishment and vengance. He had been faithful to warn, to beseech them, to encourage them to forsake the gods of the people and turn to Him. And when they did He was there and blest; and when they turned from Him they reaped their own rewards of their evil. Therefore - a singular word connecting all that has been said to that which shall be said; We have read in the previous verses all the sinfulness and wicked devices of the children of Israel. From verses 7 - 17, it is listed of all that they did in disobedience and willfulness against His commands. Now we come to this first word of this verse and after all the listings of the sins, now, "therfore', we will see the response to their actions. the Lord was very angry with Israel - who can stand against the wrath of God? Note, He was not just angry as we have read in other verses, but He is 'very angry'. There is a greater level of degree of His anger found here. Is it not bad enough to make the Lord angry? But what shall be done when He is very angry? And against His own people. It is expected of the lost, for they are constant in their sin and disobedience, that He would be very angry with them. But toward His own people to be very angry, what causes such a thing to be? It is far worse for them that know to do good and do it not. Jesus declared to those that had heard and seen His works and messge, that judgement would be far worse for them than those that had not seen and heard Him. The severity of His anger is understood and the wrath of it is beyond our comprhension. And removed them out of his sight - oh what hope is there now, when cast forth from His all seeing eye; It is that God can see everything, yet He restrains Himself from seeing here. When God purposefully removes from seeing them, there is no help to be consdiered. His mercy is all that will remain for such. And yet, we know that for eternity, those in hell, who have been cast forth from His sight, there is no mercy. Forever banished from Him, removed for their evil and sin, oh what a plight for the lost. 'Take this unprofitable servant and bind them hand and feet and remove them from My sight forever.' Oh dearly beloved, is this your plight? Have you sinned and sinned and sinned agianst Him, pushing His anger to very angry till at last He removed you from His sight? Will you not wake up and know that eternity is hanging in the balances for your soul forever? Cry out for mercy, confess and repent before it is too late. And brethern, can we not see the case for billions around us and their lost estate. Can we go left unaffected by such words to know what awaits those that we love and care for?
Monday, July 27, 2009
II Kings 16:3-4
"But he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, yea, and made his son to pass through the fire, according to the abominations of the heathen, whom the Lord cast out from befor ethe children of Israel. And he sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places, and on th ehills, and under every gree tree."
Let us look at Ahaz and see his wickedness. This is the path of evil and sin that leads men to practice such evil. For we have seen king and after king continue to grow worse and worse. Step by step they walk away from the Lord, and now we arrive at Ahaz and see the evil of his life. But he walked in the way of the kings of Israel - word study, way; He walked which way? In the path of the kings of Israel, who had forsaken the ways of the Lord. Every person chooses which way they will go. You and I must determine how we will walk in this world. Either for the Lord or against Him? Yea, and everyone is watching your daily walk. Are you holy? Are you sinful? The way fo the kings of Israel, was only evil continually. they practiced mischief to offend the Lord God. They had heard that they were found in defiance against the Lord, yet they still chose to sin. The way of man today is no differnet, they are walking in the paths of their fathers. And is it not common to see that as the son is, so is the father? Children learn their behaviors from thsoe around them. This next genreation has seen the continued evil of 50 years and embraced. We cannot expect to be shocked by what we see, for it has been before us all these years. The church has allowed it. Their walk in evil has been consistently before us. Yea, and made his son to pass through the fire, according to the abominations of the heathen - word study, made; How evil? As evil as the heathen that God judges and destoryed before Israel came into the promised land. So evil that they could send their chidlren through the fire. Anytime in the Bible this practice is mentioned, it is assoicated with the worst of beings. to sacrifice the children for their false religion shows the depths of evil that men are possessed with. Nothing else but Satan encourages such works that lose any sight of decency and enters utter evil. Oh, the depths of evil that men practice, not knowing their eternity is based on these evils. Abominations, heathens, pagan practices all show the evil of the heart that has slowly and over time crept away from the Lord and His ways. It is a spiral downward away from goodness and wholeness. It is before us in this generation, they continue to become more vile an devil all the time. Healines, entertainment is more perverted and sadistic in their ways. Children are now passed through the fire for the sake of their wicked hearts. Innocent children are rare to find, that have not been scarred by the evil of abuse, pagnism and indulgences of evil. God sees all this and allows it for a paticular purpose. After all these kings of evil, Ahaz is the worst and in the darkness of evil, God shines forth His light of redemtpion and hope. For after Ahaz we have Hezekiah who leads them back to God and perfect worship.
Let us look at Ahaz and see his wickedness. This is the path of evil and sin that leads men to practice such evil. For we have seen king and after king continue to grow worse and worse. Step by step they walk away from the Lord, and now we arrive at Ahaz and see the evil of his life. But he walked in the way of the kings of Israel - word study, way; He walked which way? In the path of the kings of Israel, who had forsaken the ways of the Lord. Every person chooses which way they will go. You and I must determine how we will walk in this world. Either for the Lord or against Him? Yea, and everyone is watching your daily walk. Are you holy? Are you sinful? The way fo the kings of Israel, was only evil continually. they practiced mischief to offend the Lord God. They had heard that they were found in defiance against the Lord, yet they still chose to sin. The way of man today is no differnet, they are walking in the paths of their fathers. And is it not common to see that as the son is, so is the father? Children learn their behaviors from thsoe around them. This next genreation has seen the continued evil of 50 years and embraced. We cannot expect to be shocked by what we see, for it has been before us all these years. The church has allowed it. Their walk in evil has been consistently before us. Yea, and made his son to pass through the fire, according to the abominations of the heathen - word study, made; How evil? As evil as the heathen that God judges and destoryed before Israel came into the promised land. So evil that they could send their chidlren through the fire. Anytime in the Bible this practice is mentioned, it is assoicated with the worst of beings. to sacrifice the children for their false religion shows the depths of evil that men are possessed with. Nothing else but Satan encourages such works that lose any sight of decency and enters utter evil. Oh, the depths of evil that men practice, not knowing their eternity is based on these evils. Abominations, heathens, pagan practices all show the evil of the heart that has slowly and over time crept away from the Lord and His ways. It is a spiral downward away from goodness and wholeness. It is before us in this generation, they continue to become more vile an devil all the time. Healines, entertainment is more perverted and sadistic in their ways. Children are now passed through the fire for the sake of their wicked hearts. Innocent children are rare to find, that have not been scarred by the evil of abuse, pagnism and indulgences of evil. God sees all this and allows it for a paticular purpose. After all these kings of evil, Ahaz is the worst and in the darkness of evil, God shines forth His light of redemtpion and hope. For after Ahaz we have Hezekiah who leads them back to God and perfect worship.
II Kings 15:37
"In those days the Lord began to send against Judah Rezin the king of Syria, and Pekah the son of Remaliah."
We have read of the last four kings of Judah and their epitahs, "They did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, yet not like Davdi." I would not call the fall of Judah a free fall into judgment and punishment, but we see this verse at the conlcusion of Jothams reign. AFter four kings of half-heartedness and lack of zeal to the Lord, we see the Judah beginning to sink against her enemies. In those days the Lord began to send against Judah - word study, to send; Why was the Lord sending this armies against Judah, were they not better than the evil Israel? Yes, they was better in their ways. But, we must understand that the half hearted attempts at worhsipping God are harmful and unyielding to His glory. No fruit is produced in such times. These four kings: Jehoash, Amaziah, Uzziah and Jotham reigned almost for 100 years and yet we see the demise of Judah because of their lack of fervor in the things of God. And the Lord will not have it to be so, you must serve Him with the whole heart. I use again my point of invitation: the Lord will not say to someone on judgement day, "Well done"; if they have not done well. For the Lord cannot lie, and has a soul that has been half hearted done well? No, they have failed to die to self and surrender all. Be careful when you sing that song, "I Surrender all" if you have no done it, for then you are lying in the Presence of the Lord. This is what Jesus taught, "If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross and follow Me." This is complete surrender to Christ as Lord and Ruler of your life. To not do it, means that He is not your Lord and SAvior. Oh, the weight of our daily actions. The weight of a lifetime that could have been given unto Him and the moments missed for our failure to love and serve Him. These four kings failed in that and the chidlren of Judah suffered at the hands of these wicked kings. And do we not understand tha our nation, families and future generations are suffering and will suffer unless the church breaks out of this 50 years half hearted allegiance unto Him? He will send against us His judgements to bring wholly back to Him. Even now, He is sending these things, do you have eyes to see? And what good does it do to read and understand these truths if we do not learn and amend our ways? We are as foolish as they and there is no wisdom found within us. Mark the blessings of the Lord upon DAvid, Hezekiah, and Josiah, for they wholly followed the Lord. Mark the judgements and evil that grew with theses other ones. Let the confession be in our hearts, minds and souls that we are not right with the Lord. Our ways are polluted inworhsipping and serving Him. WE cannot be blest by the Lord with such sin in our lives, He will send against us the things to cause us to repent. In REvelation we read where God sent against the people punishments and instead of them repenting they hardened themselves. Let us not be as them, in hardening our hearts. Let us be faithful to give heed to the things which He has commanded and that which He expects of His children. There is no hope apart from walking worthy and rightyly with Him. CAst off the works of darkness and live in the light of the Lord. 'Alone with God, will make one wholly for the Lord' - Andrew Murray
We have read of the last four kings of Judah and their epitahs, "They did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, yet not like Davdi." I would not call the fall of Judah a free fall into judgment and punishment, but we see this verse at the conlcusion of Jothams reign. AFter four kings of half-heartedness and lack of zeal to the Lord, we see the Judah beginning to sink against her enemies. In those days the Lord began to send against Judah - word study, to send; Why was the Lord sending this armies against Judah, were they not better than the evil Israel? Yes, they was better in their ways. But, we must understand that the half hearted attempts at worhsipping God are harmful and unyielding to His glory. No fruit is produced in such times. These four kings: Jehoash, Amaziah, Uzziah and Jotham reigned almost for 100 years and yet we see the demise of Judah because of their lack of fervor in the things of God. And the Lord will not have it to be so, you must serve Him with the whole heart. I use again my point of invitation: the Lord will not say to someone on judgement day, "Well done"; if they have not done well. For the Lord cannot lie, and has a soul that has been half hearted done well? No, they have failed to die to self and surrender all. Be careful when you sing that song, "I Surrender all" if you have no done it, for then you are lying in the Presence of the Lord. This is what Jesus taught, "If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross and follow Me." This is complete surrender to Christ as Lord and Ruler of your life. To not do it, means that He is not your Lord and SAvior. Oh, the weight of our daily actions. The weight of a lifetime that could have been given unto Him and the moments missed for our failure to love and serve Him. These four kings failed in that and the chidlren of Judah suffered at the hands of these wicked kings. And do we not understand tha our nation, families and future generations are suffering and will suffer unless the church breaks out of this 50 years half hearted allegiance unto Him? He will send against us His judgements to bring wholly back to Him. Even now, He is sending these things, do you have eyes to see? And what good does it do to read and understand these truths if we do not learn and amend our ways? We are as foolish as they and there is no wisdom found within us. Mark the blessings of the Lord upon DAvid, Hezekiah, and Josiah, for they wholly followed the Lord. Mark the judgements and evil that grew with theses other ones. Let the confession be in our hearts, minds and souls that we are not right with the Lord. Our ways are polluted inworhsipping and serving Him. WE cannot be blest by the Lord with such sin in our lives, He will send against us the things to cause us to repent. In REvelation we read where God sent against the people punishments and instead of them repenting they hardened themselves. Let us not be as them, in hardening our hearts. Let us be faithful to give heed to the things which He has commanded and that which He expects of His children. There is no hope apart from walking worthy and rightyly with Him. CAst off the works of darkness and live in the light of the Lord. 'Alone with God, will make one wholly for the Lord' - Andrew Murray
Sunday, July 26, 2009
II Kings 14:3
"And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, yet not like David his father: he did according to all things as Joash his father did."
It is the difference between whole heartedness and half heartedness. David loved the Lord with all his heart. Jehoash served the Lord half heartedly. And for some they would think that half is better than none. But in regards to the Lord God Almighty, He has required everything or nothing. So a halfhearted effort and service is all in vain. In REvelation 3, we have the word on this, "I would you were cold or hot, but since you are lukewarm I will spue you out of my mouth". And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord - this first phrase of this verse is good enough, but when it is coupled with the next phrase, yet not like David his father, then we know that something is missing and lacking. The first part of the phrase is a blessed testimony, but not the clear statement of this man. All the kings that are called good, have the descirption in comparison to David. Either they were like David or they were not like David. Too many Christians are found in Christ, but they do not live like the Lord. They are labeled carnal Christians and worldly,this is such a dangerous place to be. 'For if the righteous scarecely be saved what shall the ungodly do.' It is taking a dangerous chance if the Lord will receive you or not. Take not hope in baptism, church membership or your personal prayer of salvation; for if your actions are not rooted in faith and obedience what does it matter what your outside experiences are. Let your whole heart be given unto him and play not the fool as these kings tha faced so much sorrow and tribualtions because they have this title, 'yet not like David'. I would also point out that in most of the saints lives they had a beginning in the things of God. It was not instanteous holiness within their life. But events and people helped to shape them and mold them for the Lords desire in their life. Anyone that has read the life of David knows that his life was one found in sin on several occassions. Yet, the Lord honored him because his heart was perfect. These kings, the descendants of David, had the same choice. Their hands may fail, but keep the heart pure and undefiled in Him. Let the church understand that the heart is what is to be checked and ridden of false impressions, self advancement, pride and the other impurities that cause us to sin. Keep yourself from all evil, "Avoid all apprearance of evil". And if you study these kings that 'did good in the sight of the Lord; yet not like David', see the end of their lives and the misery and collapse of their kingdom. These things happen to the soul that is not wholly given unto the Lord is fair game for the devil. The devil waits for God's children to lessen their purusit, fall away from His Presence and then he has them. Note in any life, that when a chidl of God begins to waver in their walk with the Lord, if they do not catch themselves and repent quickly, the devil is waiting for them. In this day and age, we have toomuch of this found within the ranks fo Christianity, and it it the norm. The costs of what we are reaping because of this half way faithfulness and service is allow for evil to grow and multiply. What we need to couner and shew forth God's mighty hand is a whole hearted man or woman of God. Chose you this day Who you will serve? But as for me and my house we shall serve the Lord.
It is the difference between whole heartedness and half heartedness. David loved the Lord with all his heart. Jehoash served the Lord half heartedly. And for some they would think that half is better than none. But in regards to the Lord God Almighty, He has required everything or nothing. So a halfhearted effort and service is all in vain. In REvelation 3, we have the word on this, "I would you were cold or hot, but since you are lukewarm I will spue you out of my mouth". And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord - this first phrase of this verse is good enough, but when it is coupled with the next phrase, yet not like David his father, then we know that something is missing and lacking. The first part of the phrase is a blessed testimony, but not the clear statement of this man. All the kings that are called good, have the descirption in comparison to David. Either they were like David or they were not like David. Too many Christians are found in Christ, but they do not live like the Lord. They are labeled carnal Christians and worldly,this is such a dangerous place to be. 'For if the righteous scarecely be saved what shall the ungodly do.' It is taking a dangerous chance if the Lord will receive you or not. Take not hope in baptism, church membership or your personal prayer of salvation; for if your actions are not rooted in faith and obedience what does it matter what your outside experiences are. Let your whole heart be given unto him and play not the fool as these kings tha faced so much sorrow and tribualtions because they have this title, 'yet not like David'. I would also point out that in most of the saints lives they had a beginning in the things of God. It was not instanteous holiness within their life. But events and people helped to shape them and mold them for the Lords desire in their life. Anyone that has read the life of David knows that his life was one found in sin on several occassions. Yet, the Lord honored him because his heart was perfect. These kings, the descendants of David, had the same choice. Their hands may fail, but keep the heart pure and undefiled in Him. Let the church understand that the heart is what is to be checked and ridden of false impressions, self advancement, pride and the other impurities that cause us to sin. Keep yourself from all evil, "Avoid all apprearance of evil". And if you study these kings that 'did good in the sight of the Lord; yet not like David', see the end of their lives and the misery and collapse of their kingdom. These things happen to the soul that is not wholly given unto the Lord is fair game for the devil. The devil waits for God's children to lessen their purusit, fall away from His Presence and then he has them. Note in any life, that when a chidl of God begins to waver in their walk with the Lord, if they do not catch themselves and repent quickly, the devil is waiting for them. In this day and age, we have toomuch of this found within the ranks fo Christianity, and it it the norm. The costs of what we are reaping because of this half way faithfulness and service is allow for evil to grow and multiply. What we need to couner and shew forth God's mighty hand is a whole hearted man or woman of God. Chose you this day Who you will serve? But as for me and my house we shall serve the Lord.
Saturday, July 25, 2009
II Kings 13:4
"And Jehoahaz besought the Lord, and the Lord hearkened unto him: for he saw the oppression of Israel, because the king of Syria oppressed them."
It is one of the few time, if not the only time in Scripture that we read of one of the kings of Israel beseeching the Lord. Since Jeroboam, who made Israel to sin, all that we read of the kings of Israel are that they did evil in the sight of the Lord. WE read of the prophets going to them and speaking the word of the Lord, and they never repent nor serve the Lord. This is as close as we get with Jehoahaz. It is a time of trouble, The armies of Syria are coming against them with a fury and there is no hope nor help for the children of Israel. The king defintely ahs heard of the Lord and knows of Elisha the prophet. He cries out to the Lord out of his need for deliverance and help. Many a time this is the only time a person or family will cry out ot God, is when they are in trouble. Let us read of the Lord's reply, "and the Lord hearkened unto him - what a merciful God we do serve; Despit all their wickedness and sin, despite all their hard hearts and evil practices, the Lord hears their cry for help. Is He not willing that none should perish but that all should be saved? He hears and knows the needs of the children. And how much more is the Lord willing to hearken unto us that despite our sinfulness, He stands ready to hear and answer. In Psalm 66, "If I regard iniquity in my heart the Lord will not hear me"; and IN Psalm 65, "O Thou that hearest prayer". It is true that sin will limit our prayer life. God limits Himself from hearing prayer from sinners. But His children receive mercy from Him. Israel was the descendants of Abraham, who God had made a covenant with. And even though, they were in sin and breaking the covenant, God was still holding up His part to preserve them for the sake of Abraham. And we as well, when we sin, we limit God from hearing us, but His grace and mercy aids us so that we are not left to our own undoing. This is His provision at His discretion. Do not dare think for a moment that you can take advantage of this and conintue in sin, for this is not the will of the Father. For he saw the oppression of Israel, because the king of Syria oppressed them - word study, to see; He sees all and knows exactly what Syria was doing unto His people. He looks upon the church and sees all the SAtan is doin against us and the vices of the world that afflict us. Let us seek Him with our whole heart and not have one inkling of comparison to the children of Israel and their disobedience. Love the Lord your God, fear Him and follow after Him and when oppression is pressing sore against us, the Lord will take care of it all. His faithfulness reaches to us in the midst of the battles.
It is one of the few time, if not the only time in Scripture that we read of one of the kings of Israel beseeching the Lord. Since Jeroboam, who made Israel to sin, all that we read of the kings of Israel are that they did evil in the sight of the Lord. WE read of the prophets going to them and speaking the word of the Lord, and they never repent nor serve the Lord. This is as close as we get with Jehoahaz. It is a time of trouble, The armies of Syria are coming against them with a fury and there is no hope nor help for the children of Israel. The king defintely ahs heard of the Lord and knows of Elisha the prophet. He cries out to the Lord out of his need for deliverance and help. Many a time this is the only time a person or family will cry out ot God, is when they are in trouble. Let us read of the Lord's reply, "and the Lord hearkened unto him - what a merciful God we do serve; Despit all their wickedness and sin, despite all their hard hearts and evil practices, the Lord hears their cry for help. Is He not willing that none should perish but that all should be saved? He hears and knows the needs of the children. And how much more is the Lord willing to hearken unto us that despite our sinfulness, He stands ready to hear and answer. In Psalm 66, "If I regard iniquity in my heart the Lord will not hear me"; and IN Psalm 65, "O Thou that hearest prayer". It is true that sin will limit our prayer life. God limits Himself from hearing prayer from sinners. But His children receive mercy from Him. Israel was the descendants of Abraham, who God had made a covenant with. And even though, they were in sin and breaking the covenant, God was still holding up His part to preserve them for the sake of Abraham. And we as well, when we sin, we limit God from hearing us, but His grace and mercy aids us so that we are not left to our own undoing. This is His provision at His discretion. Do not dare think for a moment that you can take advantage of this and conintue in sin, for this is not the will of the Father. For he saw the oppression of Israel, because the king of Syria oppressed them - word study, to see; He sees all and knows exactly what Syria was doing unto His people. He looks upon the church and sees all the SAtan is doin against us and the vices of the world that afflict us. Let us seek Him with our whole heart and not have one inkling of comparison to the children of Israel and their disobedience. Love the Lord your God, fear Him and follow after Him and when oppression is pressing sore against us, the Lord will take care of it all. His faithfulness reaches to us in the midst of the battles.
II Kings 12:8
"And the priests consented to receive no more money of the people, neither to repair the breaches of the house."
The king of Judah, Jehoash, had began to reign at the early age of 7. He reigned for 40 years,and so long as Jehoiada was priest, he did that which was right. But as soon as he died Jehoash turned away from the Lord. Now during the reign of the wicked woman, Athaliah, they had desecreated and destroyed the temple. It was in need of repairs and upkeep. Sometime during the first 23 years of the kings reign, he made a proclamation for them to collect the offering money and put forth to the repairs. And on the 23rd year the repairs were still not done, so the king took away the money to be given for the repairs. Apparaently it was a long time given for the repiars to be done,, and nothing had happned. And so when the king took away themoney, this verse before us describes their response. They decided not to receive the money, and neither would they repair the house. It sounds like childish behavior to me: 'if you won't play with me, then I won't play with you'. This wasn't about the king nor was it about the priests and the money, it was about the Lord's house. Why was there delay over this? One writer refers that even though Jehoiada was good and pious in his life, zeal and acitivity was not his best quality. And I would dare say, that this is true of so many of our day. They may be good and know the Lord, but they are doin very little for Him. There zeal and activity is about other things and not the work of the Lord. They labor in sweat and diligent pursuing of worldly things, but not for the kingdom of God. And our inactivity has allowed for the repairs to remain and the work to cease. Could it be that they left the house in this condition for over 20 years? And they couldn't get things done, in 20 years? Do we not know that we shall give an account of the things done before us? We are not always given 20 years, so we must labor while we are able and have time. 'The night cometh when no man can work.' Inactiviy may not be the sin of sloth, but it is accoutnability just the same. WE are in a place of dire need for zeal and activity to show forth the works of God. But yet what the church is made up of is passive, content people not repairing the damage done by decades of inactivity. Rise up and be doing, and tend to the thins at hand. Now the repsonse of the priests needs to be dealt with as well. They were scolded for their inactivity and they repsonded with a childish attitude. 'If we don't get the money, then we won't do the work', was their attitude. Well, they had not done the work anyway in 10 or 20 years (we don't know how long they was given to do thework). It is only right, that if the labor is not done, then they don't get paid. But our society is corrupted in this attitude, we expect to get paid whetehr we do the work or not. 'A labor is worthy of his hire'. 'And if you don't work, you don't eat.' But I believe there is a relationship in all this. Twenty years without the temple being what it was intended to be; the priests with a sinful attitude; Jehoiada was up in years, he was well over 100 years old when he made Jehoash king, which could explain his inability of activity; and the people were not forth right about their attitude toward the temple nor in their service to God. All this coupled together, as soon as Jehoiada is dead, Jehoash turns away from the Lord and forsakes the house of the Lord for the remainder of his days. Let us guard against this attitude and lack of activity for it only produces a greater sin in the years to come. All these things took the children of Judah away from the Lord. And we must understand that if we are not wholly following the Lord and our zeal is light then we are ready to fall away from the Lord all together. And the latter end is worse than the beginning. Take heed and know that all things will be called into account.
The king of Judah, Jehoash, had began to reign at the early age of 7. He reigned for 40 years,and so long as Jehoiada was priest, he did that which was right. But as soon as he died Jehoash turned away from the Lord. Now during the reign of the wicked woman, Athaliah, they had desecreated and destroyed the temple. It was in need of repairs and upkeep. Sometime during the first 23 years of the kings reign, he made a proclamation for them to collect the offering money and put forth to the repairs. And on the 23rd year the repairs were still not done, so the king took away the money to be given for the repairs. Apparaently it was a long time given for the repiars to be done,, and nothing had happned. And so when the king took away themoney, this verse before us describes their response. They decided not to receive the money, and neither would they repair the house. It sounds like childish behavior to me: 'if you won't play with me, then I won't play with you'. This wasn't about the king nor was it about the priests and the money, it was about the Lord's house. Why was there delay over this? One writer refers that even though Jehoiada was good and pious in his life, zeal and acitivity was not his best quality. And I would dare say, that this is true of so many of our day. They may be good and know the Lord, but they are doin very little for Him. There zeal and activity is about other things and not the work of the Lord. They labor in sweat and diligent pursuing of worldly things, but not for the kingdom of God. And our inactivity has allowed for the repairs to remain and the work to cease. Could it be that they left the house in this condition for over 20 years? And they couldn't get things done, in 20 years? Do we not know that we shall give an account of the things done before us? We are not always given 20 years, so we must labor while we are able and have time. 'The night cometh when no man can work.' Inactiviy may not be the sin of sloth, but it is accoutnability just the same. WE are in a place of dire need for zeal and activity to show forth the works of God. But yet what the church is made up of is passive, content people not repairing the damage done by decades of inactivity. Rise up and be doing, and tend to the thins at hand. Now the repsonse of the priests needs to be dealt with as well. They were scolded for their inactivity and they repsonded with a childish attitude. 'If we don't get the money, then we won't do the work', was their attitude. Well, they had not done the work anyway in 10 or 20 years (we don't know how long they was given to do thework). It is only right, that if the labor is not done, then they don't get paid. But our society is corrupted in this attitude, we expect to get paid whetehr we do the work or not. 'A labor is worthy of his hire'. 'And if you don't work, you don't eat.' But I believe there is a relationship in all this. Twenty years without the temple being what it was intended to be; the priests with a sinful attitude; Jehoiada was up in years, he was well over 100 years old when he made Jehoash king, which could explain his inability of activity; and the people were not forth right about their attitude toward the temple nor in their service to God. All this coupled together, as soon as Jehoiada is dead, Jehoash turns away from the Lord and forsakes the house of the Lord for the remainder of his days. Let us guard against this attitude and lack of activity for it only produces a greater sin in the years to come. All these things took the children of Judah away from the Lord. And we must understand that if we are not wholly following the Lord and our zeal is light then we are ready to fall away from the Lord all together. And the latter end is worse than the beginning. Take heed and know that all things will be called into account.
Friday, July 24, 2009
II Kings 11;1
"And when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the seed royal."
Such is the evil that men do in all the earth. If you keep up with current events, you will hear and read of a constant attack on people throughout the world. Nations fighting for power, fighting for freedom, abuses, war, and the inncocent that die needlessly are a part of our world. Here is the house of David, the children of Judah, that was protected and blessed of the Lord and here is the evil of their hands. For this woman Athaliah, to me, was worse than Jezebel, for she was the daughter of Omri, 'who did evil more than any king before him'. Here is the learned trait of evil and how to practice it. For she hears of her sons death by the hand of Jehu, who was executing judgment on the house of Ahab and she in a fit of rage rises up and slays all the children of the king. What a possesses a woman to do such a thing? Evil; for out of the heart proceedeth wickedness which is contrary to the will of God. And it is the sad fact that when a people have such leaders and examples that the people do corrupt themselves with greater evil. 'As the leaders are, so are the people'; wicked leaders, wicked people; righteous leades, righteous people. Who are we? The church might be the righteous of the Lord but we dwell in an evil land. This woman slew these innocent out of rage and lusts for power and control. And I always muse with the question: Was there no one there to stop her? So, with the evil of our day, is there none fighting against it? curbing the evil of their hands? Who is raging the war to reclaim the land and the people from their evil influence? The danger is when leaders corrupt the people and we go beyond people practicing evil in their own heart to subverting a whole nation. And then when the majority or the greater part of them practice this evil, it leads to the next step: 'they call evil good, and good evil'. This is where we are at, brethern. We have left the land of indvidiaul evil in the hearts of men, fallen headlong into a nation of heathens and now the conscious choice of men is continually toward evil. This is the last step before the judgment of God. The land cannot contain such evil in the midst. One Scirpture declares, 'The land will vomit you out for such evil, wicked and uncleanness'. For this woman, Athaliah slew the royal seed of the king, the next in line for the throne, a whole generation of leaders slain by her hand. And what of our day? In a week's time, in a day's time, whole generations are slain in the practice of evil of abortion. But abortion is not defined as murder, it is newly named and proclaimed a law of the land. I don't care what the law or the courts say, who has the say of decency and morals? God has already spoken on that. But you see, in our land, the evil of aborion is called good, labeled as choice; and those that point to the reality of murder, just as Athaliah did, we are called evil for judging or condemening their unholy deeds. We have arrived beloved into the land of evil. Now is there any hope? Is it all over? Well, let us return to the Word andsee if it was all over for Judah. God still brought to the throne, Hezekiah, and Josiah who led Judah back to God. God is mercifula nd longsuffering with our evil and the evil of the land. He has Joash hiding in the temple from the hands of Athaliah; He preserved Moses int he waters from the hand of Pharaoahs murders of the male babies. God is able to deliver and redeem us. It is our duty to conitnue to speak the truth, proclaim pronouncments against the evil of the land so that they might know this is not the way it is intended to be. Make sure evil is not present in your home, lodged in your heart and mind. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners and purify your hearts, ye double minded and draw nigh unto the Lord and He will draw nigh unto you. The will of the Lord is to redeem and be glorified in all the nations. Pray and labor agains tthe evil of our land and the wickedness in the hands and hearts of those around us. Prevail in prayer for our nation, leaders and the near future of what shall be. Let us be found faithful unto Him, Who loved us and redeemed us.
Such is the evil that men do in all the earth. If you keep up with current events, you will hear and read of a constant attack on people throughout the world. Nations fighting for power, fighting for freedom, abuses, war, and the inncocent that die needlessly are a part of our world. Here is the house of David, the children of Judah, that was protected and blessed of the Lord and here is the evil of their hands. For this woman Athaliah, to me, was worse than Jezebel, for she was the daughter of Omri, 'who did evil more than any king before him'. Here is the learned trait of evil and how to practice it. For she hears of her sons death by the hand of Jehu, who was executing judgment on the house of Ahab and she in a fit of rage rises up and slays all the children of the king. What a possesses a woman to do such a thing? Evil; for out of the heart proceedeth wickedness which is contrary to the will of God. And it is the sad fact that when a people have such leaders and examples that the people do corrupt themselves with greater evil. 'As the leaders are, so are the people'; wicked leaders, wicked people; righteous leades, righteous people. Who are we? The church might be the righteous of the Lord but we dwell in an evil land. This woman slew these innocent out of rage and lusts for power and control. And I always muse with the question: Was there no one there to stop her? So, with the evil of our day, is there none fighting against it? curbing the evil of their hands? Who is raging the war to reclaim the land and the people from their evil influence? The danger is when leaders corrupt the people and we go beyond people practicing evil in their own heart to subverting a whole nation. And then when the majority or the greater part of them practice this evil, it leads to the next step: 'they call evil good, and good evil'. This is where we are at, brethern. We have left the land of indvidiaul evil in the hearts of men, fallen headlong into a nation of heathens and now the conscious choice of men is continually toward evil. This is the last step before the judgment of God. The land cannot contain such evil in the midst. One Scirpture declares, 'The land will vomit you out for such evil, wicked and uncleanness'. For this woman, Athaliah slew the royal seed of the king, the next in line for the throne, a whole generation of leaders slain by her hand. And what of our day? In a week's time, in a day's time, whole generations are slain in the practice of evil of abortion. But abortion is not defined as murder, it is newly named and proclaimed a law of the land. I don't care what the law or the courts say, who has the say of decency and morals? God has already spoken on that. But you see, in our land, the evil of aborion is called good, labeled as choice; and those that point to the reality of murder, just as Athaliah did, we are called evil for judging or condemening their unholy deeds. We have arrived beloved into the land of evil. Now is there any hope? Is it all over? Well, let us return to the Word andsee if it was all over for Judah. God still brought to the throne, Hezekiah, and Josiah who led Judah back to God. God is mercifula nd longsuffering with our evil and the evil of the land. He has Joash hiding in the temple from the hands of Athaliah; He preserved Moses int he waters from the hand of Pharaoahs murders of the male babies. God is able to deliver and redeem us. It is our duty to conitnue to speak the truth, proclaim pronouncments against the evil of the land so that they might know this is not the way it is intended to be. Make sure evil is not present in your home, lodged in your heart and mind. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners and purify your hearts, ye double minded and draw nigh unto the Lord and He will draw nigh unto you. The will of the Lord is to redeem and be glorified in all the nations. Pray and labor agains tthe evil of our land and the wickedness in the hands and hearts of those around us. Prevail in prayer for our nation, leaders and the near future of what shall be. Let us be found faithful unto Him, Who loved us and redeemed us.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
II Kings 10:16
"And he said, Come with me, and see my zeal for the Lord. So they made him ride in his chariot."
Here is a fellow traveler that Jehu meets up with. This man is later mentioned in Jeremiah 35 and of his devotion unto the Lord. And the Lord secures him a continued house to be in Israel for his faithfulness. But as these two meet the discussiono of their work is considered. Come with me - word study, to come; It is the gathering together of beleivers that are liked minded. Is ti hard for you to find such as yourself? I do not make mention of those that are out there in right field or have left the stadium in their doctrine or theology, but those that are joined in heart and soul for the glory of the Lord. and the plea is offered, 'come with me', let us be joined for this cause, the cause of Christ. See my zeal for the Lord - word study, to see; Look upon the work that I have done and that which I shall do, is his statement. This parrallels, the work of Melchidek toward Abraham as Jehu and Jehonadab are linked together. Zeal is a passion, a fervour for the things of God. Now granted that zeal can be for earthly, wordly, sinful things as well, but within our thought today it is toward the things of God. Phinehas was rewarded for his zeal; do you know anyone that has zeal? ARe you filled with zeal? The vast majority that I behold are barely able to make it through. Their standard is more to the liking of 'lack of zeal'. You are not around a person that has zeal very long, before you know it. It is exciting and eventful, never a dull moment at hand. Zeal pulsates on the thngs of holiness, power and Divine love in christ. Zeal is what motivates the heart to seek after God, for they adore Him and all His wonder. Look upon your efforts, your labors, your life, where has it shown true zeal for God? Is it your prayer of confession that your zeal has lacked? Is it your desire to have greater zeal? Then go to Him Who gives His blessings in such a way and ask and seek and you shall find. So they made him ride in his chariot - word study, made; These two likeminded men were joined together and had fellowship as they rode together. There was conversation about the things of the Lord. Nothing is more spiritually healthy than to hear and share of the greatness of God and His mighty deeds. Is there not encouragement upon hearing how God has worked? Is faith not increased to know that God is in our midst working even now? Too often it is the sad testimony, that Christians have not had a fellow believer like this to share with, to grow with. They are alone and swallowed up by the world. Fellowship is broken among God's people. This is one reason, I cannot believe that church's are continuing to downsize services throughout the week. First they cut the prayer meetings, then they cut Sunday evening church and now mid-week services are being removed. All for the reason that people are too busy. WE do not know the danger we are invoking by removing the fellwoship of believers together. People are busy, but if too busy to fellowship in the house of the Lord, 4 times a week, then you are in sin of busyness but not for the glory of the Lord. Let the fellowship of believers be restored and see the impact of glorying in His Presence.
Here is a fellow traveler that Jehu meets up with. This man is later mentioned in Jeremiah 35 and of his devotion unto the Lord. And the Lord secures him a continued house to be in Israel for his faithfulness. But as these two meet the discussiono of their work is considered. Come with me - word study, to come; It is the gathering together of beleivers that are liked minded. Is ti hard for you to find such as yourself? I do not make mention of those that are out there in right field or have left the stadium in their doctrine or theology, but those that are joined in heart and soul for the glory of the Lord. and the plea is offered, 'come with me', let us be joined for this cause, the cause of Christ. See my zeal for the Lord - word study, to see; Look upon the work that I have done and that which I shall do, is his statement. This parrallels, the work of Melchidek toward Abraham as Jehu and Jehonadab are linked together. Zeal is a passion, a fervour for the things of God. Now granted that zeal can be for earthly, wordly, sinful things as well, but within our thought today it is toward the things of God. Phinehas was rewarded for his zeal; do you know anyone that has zeal? ARe you filled with zeal? The vast majority that I behold are barely able to make it through. Their standard is more to the liking of 'lack of zeal'. You are not around a person that has zeal very long, before you know it. It is exciting and eventful, never a dull moment at hand. Zeal pulsates on the thngs of holiness, power and Divine love in christ. Zeal is what motivates the heart to seek after God, for they adore Him and all His wonder. Look upon your efforts, your labors, your life, where has it shown true zeal for God? Is it your prayer of confession that your zeal has lacked? Is it your desire to have greater zeal? Then go to Him Who gives His blessings in such a way and ask and seek and you shall find. So they made him ride in his chariot - word study, made; These two likeminded men were joined together and had fellowship as they rode together. There was conversation about the things of the Lord. Nothing is more spiritually healthy than to hear and share of the greatness of God and His mighty deeds. Is there not encouragement upon hearing how God has worked? Is faith not increased to know that God is in our midst working even now? Too often it is the sad testimony, that Christians have not had a fellow believer like this to share with, to grow with. They are alone and swallowed up by the world. Fellowship is broken among God's people. This is one reason, I cannot believe that church's are continuing to downsize services throughout the week. First they cut the prayer meetings, then they cut Sunday evening church and now mid-week services are being removed. All for the reason that people are too busy. WE do not know the danger we are invoking by removing the fellwoship of believers together. People are busy, but if too busy to fellowship in the house of the Lord, 4 times a week, then you are in sin of busyness but not for the glory of the Lord. Let the fellowship of believers be restored and see the impact of glorying in His Presence.
II Kings 9:32
"And he lifted up his face to the window, and said, Who is on my side? who? And there looked out ot him two or three eunuchs."
The word of the LOrd is being fulfilled by the hand of Jehu. The sins of Israel were bad enough, but the added on the sins of Ahab and Jezebel were too much. The hand of the Lord's wrath against their evil had to be poured out. The vessel used to adminster the punishment was Jehu. Ahab had already been slain and Jezebel was living in Jezreel, no doubt, still practicing her evil. Jehu's assignment was to remove the house of Ahab from the earth. Not one was to be left. We see this as a constant mark for the kings of Israel. Their evil was so great against the Lord that they were removed from existence. The weight of this is hard to conceive. so many generations brought forth our family line and because of evil they are wiped out. No more to exist, they cease to be. Imagine the weight of this upon everything that was, now is no more. So as Jehu comes tothe city and Jezeel yells at him from the window. Jehus returns answer to her and this verse is a part of that speech. Who is on my side? who? study of great questions of the Bible; Of course, the question should have been, 'Who is on the Lord's side?' Even though Jehus is executing the will of the Lord, we learn that Jehu does no turn unto the Lord with all his heart. So his question is a selfish one, 'who is on my side?' It is not about your side or my side, it is about the Lord's side. For if we be on the Lord's side, who can come against us and harm us; for if the Lord be for us who can be against us? Think not of self here,but being with the Lord and for the Lord. Labor not for the meat that perisheth but labor for the eternal things of God. But in our society there are many who are on their own side. They think life is all about them. They know nothing of anything else but 'my side'. They live and breath for self and self-indulgence and wonder why they are never satisfied. But they that live for self are actually on the devil's side. For he gathers all that are of self and about self. They that are nto with Christ are against Christ. Now when Jehu asks the question of seeing who was on his side for righting the wrongs of this evil woman, eunuchs appeared. And there looked out to him two or three eunuchs - word study, to look; Let the eyes fix on gazing at the world and see the work of God in our midst. With so much sin and evil, God is still working and moving. He always has His people where He wants them. The work of Jehu could not be complete without these eunuchs. These that had sepearated themselves, hopefully unto the Lord's great work. They were the vessels used to destroy Jezebel. They looked, they saw the work that needed to be done and they threw her out the window to put evil away from among them. See what lies around you. Who are people for? what side are they on? See the eunuchs that are with you. And know that God Who is just andholy will vanquish and reward all evil in His set time. Make sure you are ont he right side, the Lord's side. Do not labor for self or this world or any one else, only for the Lord.
The word of the LOrd is being fulfilled by the hand of Jehu. The sins of Israel were bad enough, but the added on the sins of Ahab and Jezebel were too much. The hand of the Lord's wrath against their evil had to be poured out. The vessel used to adminster the punishment was Jehu. Ahab had already been slain and Jezebel was living in Jezreel, no doubt, still practicing her evil. Jehu's assignment was to remove the house of Ahab from the earth. Not one was to be left. We see this as a constant mark for the kings of Israel. Their evil was so great against the Lord that they were removed from existence. The weight of this is hard to conceive. so many generations brought forth our family line and because of evil they are wiped out. No more to exist, they cease to be. Imagine the weight of this upon everything that was, now is no more. So as Jehu comes tothe city and Jezeel yells at him from the window. Jehus returns answer to her and this verse is a part of that speech. Who is on my side? who? study of great questions of the Bible; Of course, the question should have been, 'Who is on the Lord's side?' Even though Jehus is executing the will of the Lord, we learn that Jehu does no turn unto the Lord with all his heart. So his question is a selfish one, 'who is on my side?' It is not about your side or my side, it is about the Lord's side. For if we be on the Lord's side, who can come against us and harm us; for if the Lord be for us who can be against us? Think not of self here,but being with the Lord and for the Lord. Labor not for the meat that perisheth but labor for the eternal things of God. But in our society there are many who are on their own side. They think life is all about them. They know nothing of anything else but 'my side'. They live and breath for self and self-indulgence and wonder why they are never satisfied. But they that live for self are actually on the devil's side. For he gathers all that are of self and about self. They that are nto with Christ are against Christ. Now when Jehu asks the question of seeing who was on his side for righting the wrongs of this evil woman, eunuchs appeared. And there looked out to him two or three eunuchs - word study, to look; Let the eyes fix on gazing at the world and see the work of God in our midst. With so much sin and evil, God is still working and moving. He always has His people where He wants them. The work of Jehu could not be complete without these eunuchs. These that had sepearated themselves, hopefully unto the Lord's great work. They were the vessels used to destroy Jezebel. They looked, they saw the work that needed to be done and they threw her out the window to put evil away from among them. See what lies around you. Who are people for? what side are they on? See the eunuchs that are with you. And know that God Who is just andholy will vanquish and reward all evil in His set time. Make sure you are ont he right side, the Lord's side. Do not labor for self or this world or any one else, only for the Lord.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
II Kings 8:11
"And he settled his countenance steadfastly, until he was ashamed: and the man of God wept."
No word studies in this verse, just a profound moment unfolding. The prophet of the Lord, Elisha, has been sent to Damascus. The king of Syria is sick and he send his servant, Hazael to him to enquire for his health. The whole thought of this is mind boggling when we consdier the scenario of events unfolding. God is going ot allow Hazael to become king. The prophet tells him exactly what is about to unfold in historica fashion. Upon looking intently upon him here in this verse, the Lord is revealing to him the sorrow that will come from the hands of Hazael. There a few instances in church history that show forth the power of an anointed look. Charles Finney demonstrated this once by looking at a woman that had made fun of him. Looking at her streadfastly with sorrow over her lost estate, and not saying one word to her, just looking at her. She fell under conviction and soont he Spirit of God was unleashed upon the whole cotton mill and revival was at hand. All this from a look. The same look that Elisha is presenting to Hazael. STaring at him intently as in his mind the events of the future are being unfolded before him. Who but God is able to do such a thing unto man? Why would God reveal this? For the matters to be undertaken and set forth are directly related to what Hazael learns from this. Remove the conversation with Elisha and Hazael would not even think of killin his master. Now some doubter would cast forth scorn to say, that these events caused the death of the king. The death of the king was told so that all might know that God knows our past, present and future. He knows our choices and the scenarios of our life and all mankind. He gazes so intently upon him, that Hazael is overcome with shame. Does conviction come to our hearts andminds as Christ fixes His eyes on us? ARe we moved at all over our neglect, and sinulness? Whereis the shame of God's people today? They are enboldened to stare back at Him as if to say, 'Nothing is wrong'. When we are covered insin and unfaithfulness before Him. WE know nothing of the true state of ou wetchedness if no conviction and ashamedness is present within our hearts and minds. Let His gaze upon us, not be for scorn or wrath, but for mercy and forgivenss. Let us lay low before Him, Who is Divine love and blessing for His own. And he wept - how absent are the tears of the people of God; Knowing the results of Hazael's hand caused him to weep over the butchery that he would do. Now even though he denied it in the following verse, it all came to pass. And do we not have a cause to weep over the sinful and evil ones? Do we not know their future state in hell? The eternal punishment and misery forever over their rejection of many invitations and opportunities. Is it possible that a child of God cannot weep over their loved ones perishing? But it is the true testimony of the church today, 'Our eyes are dry'.
No word studies in this verse, just a profound moment unfolding. The prophet of the Lord, Elisha, has been sent to Damascus. The king of Syria is sick and he send his servant, Hazael to him to enquire for his health. The whole thought of this is mind boggling when we consdier the scenario of events unfolding. God is going ot allow Hazael to become king. The prophet tells him exactly what is about to unfold in historica fashion. Upon looking intently upon him here in this verse, the Lord is revealing to him the sorrow that will come from the hands of Hazael. There a few instances in church history that show forth the power of an anointed look. Charles Finney demonstrated this once by looking at a woman that had made fun of him. Looking at her streadfastly with sorrow over her lost estate, and not saying one word to her, just looking at her. She fell under conviction and soont he Spirit of God was unleashed upon the whole cotton mill and revival was at hand. All this from a look. The same look that Elisha is presenting to Hazael. STaring at him intently as in his mind the events of the future are being unfolded before him. Who but God is able to do such a thing unto man? Why would God reveal this? For the matters to be undertaken and set forth are directly related to what Hazael learns from this. Remove the conversation with Elisha and Hazael would not even think of killin his master. Now some doubter would cast forth scorn to say, that these events caused the death of the king. The death of the king was told so that all might know that God knows our past, present and future. He knows our choices and the scenarios of our life and all mankind. He gazes so intently upon him, that Hazael is overcome with shame. Does conviction come to our hearts andminds as Christ fixes His eyes on us? ARe we moved at all over our neglect, and sinulness? Whereis the shame of God's people today? They are enboldened to stare back at Him as if to say, 'Nothing is wrong'. When we are covered insin and unfaithfulness before Him. WE know nothing of the true state of ou wetchedness if no conviction and ashamedness is present within our hearts and minds. Let His gaze upon us, not be for scorn or wrath, but for mercy and forgivenss. Let us lay low before Him, Who is Divine love and blessing for His own. And he wept - how absent are the tears of the people of God; Knowing the results of Hazael's hand caused him to weep over the butchery that he would do. Now even though he denied it in the following verse, it all came to pass. And do we not have a cause to weep over the sinful and evil ones? Do we not know their future state in hell? The eternal punishment and misery forever over their rejection of many invitations and opportunities. Is it possible that a child of God cannot weep over their loved ones perishing? But it is the true testimony of the church today, 'Our eyes are dry'.
II Kings 7:16
"And the people went out, and spoiled the tents of the Syrians. So a measure of fine flour was sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, according to the word of the Lord."
there are two things in this verse that speak to me. The people went out - word study, went; Now it is to me the word studies that I do that speak volumes to me. Here is the question, Because they went out, what did they find? And if they had not gone out, what would they have missed? There was a pile of bounty left behind by the Syirans. For the Lord had made them to flee away. The city had been surrounded and the famine was great within. And here again, look upon the faithfulness of God to His disobedient people. The prophet, Elisha, was withint he city walls; God always has His people in the right places. His glory was about to be shown again. And as consistent as God is toward His people, see their conttinued rejection of Him over and over again. ARe we any better than the children of Israel? How much has He done for you? What have you done for HIm? But it is the work of faith that secures this. For all this bounty was laying on the ground strewed throughout their quick exit. Just waiting to be picked up and spoiled. but if they did not go out, it would have laid and rotted and the greatness of this miracle would have been missed. How much blessigns are strewed throughout the landside and we miss out, becuse we went not out. Our God Who is merciful has provided great resources for His people but if we go not out, it will be wasted and missed. According to the word of the Lord - the second truth that should speak to us out of this verse; It is often repeated and given throught Scripture on the faithfulness of God to keep His word. I share it over and over so that it might finally make a firm foundation to our hearts. The Lord cannot lie, His word is sure and steadfast to His people. What He says, shall come to pass. Here in this chapter is the demonstration of what the Lord had said would come to pass, and here at the conclusion all was fulfilled. And what about us? Are we able to say, 'according to the word of the Lord'? Are we able to believe His Word? We must know it; we must memorize it; we must ponder on it with our hearts and let teh Spirit speak to us on it. This much is certain that if the Lord ahs spoken to you, it will come to pass. According to the Word of the Lord is a sure promise and hope for us. Let us anchor ourselves in His blessed Word, feasting on the hopes of it. The people of God are filled to much with uncertainty, too much unbelief and have settled for someone's else word or their own word rather than 'according to the Word of the Lord.' Itis a prophetic word, it is sure, that which shall be, He already knows and it is ceratain. It is a word of encouragement; for does not the Lord know the plights that we face and that will befall us? Then according to the word of the Lord let it be established in Him for our strength and uplifting. It is a word of edifying, the need to overcome and be lifted up in Him. It is a word of rebuke, for our neglect, our unbelief, our foolishness of fear, doubt, and mistrust in Him. so let it be established, it is the Word of the Lord. According to the Word of the Lord
there are two things in this verse that speak to me. The people went out - word study, went; Now it is to me the word studies that I do that speak volumes to me. Here is the question, Because they went out, what did they find? And if they had not gone out, what would they have missed? There was a pile of bounty left behind by the Syirans. For the Lord had made them to flee away. The city had been surrounded and the famine was great within. And here again, look upon the faithfulness of God to His disobedient people. The prophet, Elisha, was withint he city walls; God always has His people in the right places. His glory was about to be shown again. And as consistent as God is toward His people, see their conttinued rejection of Him over and over again. ARe we any better than the children of Israel? How much has He done for you? What have you done for HIm? But it is the work of faith that secures this. For all this bounty was laying on the ground strewed throughout their quick exit. Just waiting to be picked up and spoiled. but if they did not go out, it would have laid and rotted and the greatness of this miracle would have been missed. How much blessigns are strewed throughout the landside and we miss out, becuse we went not out. Our God Who is merciful has provided great resources for His people but if we go not out, it will be wasted and missed. According to the word of the Lord - the second truth that should speak to us out of this verse; It is often repeated and given throught Scripture on the faithfulness of God to keep His word. I share it over and over so that it might finally make a firm foundation to our hearts. The Lord cannot lie, His word is sure and steadfast to His people. What He says, shall come to pass. Here in this chapter is the demonstration of what the Lord had said would come to pass, and here at the conclusion all was fulfilled. And what about us? Are we able to say, 'according to the word of the Lord'? Are we able to believe His Word? We must know it; we must memorize it; we must ponder on it with our hearts and let teh Spirit speak to us on it. This much is certain that if the Lord ahs spoken to you, it will come to pass. According to the Word of the Lord is a sure promise and hope for us. Let us anchor ourselves in His blessed Word, feasting on the hopes of it. The people of God are filled to much with uncertainty, too much unbelief and have settled for someone's else word or their own word rather than 'according to the Word of the Lord.' Itis a prophetic word, it is sure, that which shall be, He already knows and it is ceratain. It is a word of encouragement; for does not the Lord know the plights that we face and that will befall us? Then according to the word of the Lord let it be established in Him for our strength and uplifting. It is a word of edifying, the need to overcome and be lifted up in Him. It is a word of rebuke, for our neglect, our unbelief, our foolishness of fear, doubt, and mistrust in Him. so let it be established, it is the Word of the Lord. According to the Word of the Lord
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
II Kings 6:17
"And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of th eyoun man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha."
One of my favorite passages is before us in this section of verses. Elisha has replaced Elijah and is demosntrating the power of God at just about every turn. The king of Syria is the sworn enemy to the children of Israel. And even though, the children of Israel are not walking rightly with the Lord, He is still looking out for them. elisha continues to tell the king of Israel where the army of the Syrians is moving and coming from. The king of syrai thinks there is a spy in his ranks, until finally one tells him of the prophet of the Lord. The king of syria sends an army against Elisha. And here is the response of these events: Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see - word study, to see; elisha is in direct communciation with the Lord. And his request is not for the enemy but for his servant that is seated next to him. His eyes had scales that prohibited him from seeing the presence of the Lord around them. Elisha walked with the Lord and was able to see that other realm, which is oblivious to us. Oh, that we had eyes to see the other realm. We see that which is before us; that which is around us, but what of the other realm that is present but beyond our limited seeing ability. Have you prayed for your eyes to open? How few of God's own people refuse to pray the prayer to have their eyes open. this is why the Scripture is relevant for us, 'Having eyes to see and cannot see'. The prayer of faith mentioned in James is this seeing in faith. 'For faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen'. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man - the Lord did this, not man; Man prayed, but God responded and did it. Too often we glorify the person praying, the person that performs the healing prayer, and the attention is taken off the Lord. Two reasons why healing is restricted today, is for this reason that God is not glorified as He should be; and second, our unbelief, we simply do not believe; Was it ever said of old, that they eyes of the blind could see? and this is not physical sight being restored, but spiritual eyesight. did Fanny Crosby, the great hymnist, pray for her eyesight to be restored? No, for she said that she wanted the first thing her new eyes to see was the Lord Jesus. And having no physical eyesight she had spiritual eyesight. Only the Lord is able to open the spiritual eyesight to allow us to see what He desires for us to see. would the Lord put a desire to see spiritual thing if He did not intend to do it? And he saw - word study, to see; That which God pronounces and His right arm is outstretched, it is done. What the Lord so wills and desires within us, may it be done. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about elisha - What did he see? He saw the angleic hosts gathered before them. What a sight to behold. And do we think that this limited to them, and do we not understand that the Lord stands ready to show Himself mighty in such manner as all of His saints? The fullness of horses and fiery chariots are around us to fight for us. The Bible gives several instances of this, that when looked upon in the whole, we see the activity of God's angelic hosts fighting for the saints. NOt only against the forces of evil of this world, but also the hosts of hell that is laboring over the souls of men and matters of this world as well. Only in eternity will we see the direct results of deliverance that while men were at war here, the spiritual realm was in war as well. I feel Imust give an answer to this, for some will not understand nor recall the Scirpture of what I have just shared. IN Daniel, Daniel was in prayer for three weeks and his angel came to him and said, "That at the moment he began to pray he was sent, but was withstood for three weeks fighting with the enemy before he could get to Daniel.'
One of my favorite passages is before us in this section of verses. Elisha has replaced Elijah and is demosntrating the power of God at just about every turn. The king of Syria is the sworn enemy to the children of Israel. And even though, the children of Israel are not walking rightly with the Lord, He is still looking out for them. elisha continues to tell the king of Israel where the army of the Syrians is moving and coming from. The king of syrai thinks there is a spy in his ranks, until finally one tells him of the prophet of the Lord. The king of syria sends an army against Elisha. And here is the response of these events: Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see - word study, to see; elisha is in direct communciation with the Lord. And his request is not for the enemy but for his servant that is seated next to him. His eyes had scales that prohibited him from seeing the presence of the Lord around them. Elisha walked with the Lord and was able to see that other realm, which is oblivious to us. Oh, that we had eyes to see the other realm. We see that which is before us; that which is around us, but what of the other realm that is present but beyond our limited seeing ability. Have you prayed for your eyes to open? How few of God's own people refuse to pray the prayer to have their eyes open. this is why the Scripture is relevant for us, 'Having eyes to see and cannot see'. The prayer of faith mentioned in James is this seeing in faith. 'For faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen'. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man - the Lord did this, not man; Man prayed, but God responded and did it. Too often we glorify the person praying, the person that performs the healing prayer, and the attention is taken off the Lord. Two reasons why healing is restricted today, is for this reason that God is not glorified as He should be; and second, our unbelief, we simply do not believe; Was it ever said of old, that they eyes of the blind could see? and this is not physical sight being restored, but spiritual eyesight. did Fanny Crosby, the great hymnist, pray for her eyesight to be restored? No, for she said that she wanted the first thing her new eyes to see was the Lord Jesus. And having no physical eyesight she had spiritual eyesight. Only the Lord is able to open the spiritual eyesight to allow us to see what He desires for us to see. would the Lord put a desire to see spiritual thing if He did not intend to do it? And he saw - word study, to see; That which God pronounces and His right arm is outstretched, it is done. What the Lord so wills and desires within us, may it be done. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about elisha - What did he see? He saw the angleic hosts gathered before them. What a sight to behold. And do we think that this limited to them, and do we not understand that the Lord stands ready to show Himself mighty in such manner as all of His saints? The fullness of horses and fiery chariots are around us to fight for us. The Bible gives several instances of this, that when looked upon in the whole, we see the activity of God's angelic hosts fighting for the saints. NOt only against the forces of evil of this world, but also the hosts of hell that is laboring over the souls of men and matters of this world as well. Only in eternity will we see the direct results of deliverance that while men were at war here, the spiritual realm was in war as well. I feel Imust give an answer to this, for some will not understand nor recall the Scirpture of what I have just shared. IN Daniel, Daniel was in prayer for three weeks and his angel came to him and said, "That at the moment he began to pray he was sent, but was withstood for three weeks fighting with the enemy before he could get to Daniel.'
II Kings 5:7
"And it came to pass, when the king of Israel had read the letter, that he rent his clothes, and said, Am I God, to kill and to make alive, that this man doth send unto me to recover a man of his leprosy? wherefore consider, I pray you, and see how he seeketh a quarrel against me."
Jehoram is given a request from the king of Syria for Naaman to be healed of his leprosy. It is for us to remember that Naaman had heard of the Lord God from his Israel servant girl. She had told him of the power of Elisha by the hand of God upon him. The king of Syria and Naaman are simply responding to this claim. IN desperation to be rid of leprosy, he would try anything and everything to be made whole. In desperation this world will come to God when they need him most. It came to pass - word study, to come; It is always a phrase to bring us to the next set of events. Something has just happned, the letter and request has been sent; now, we must prepare for what response that will provoke. Our life is full of 'it came to pass'; one event triggers the next. But the response is what is key, for is it for the glory of God or for the glory of men? when the king of Israel had read the letter, that he rent his clothes - Jehoram is a religious man, but not unto the Lord, so his rending his garment is not unto God but of his own desire; This is a weighty letter and we should well sympathize with Jehoram, for what would we do upon such a request to have a leprous man made whole? Jehoram sees a plight from the king of Syria to provoke a fight and is left without an answer. And said, Am I God, to kill and to make alive? a reasonable statement that only God is able to do such things; In Deuteronomy 32:39, "See now that I , even I, am he, and there is no god with me: I kill and I make alive; I wound, and I heal, neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand" Jehoram was right to say that he was not God and that he could not heal Naaman. but the Lord, He is God and he is able to do such things. And we see it here in this verse, the power of God in all the events of our life. Birth, sickness, problems, and death, all things are under His hand to shape us and form us for His glorys or so that He will get the glory. We are not God and in such times of need for others to be healed and prayed for, let us turn to the One Who is able to do all things well. that this man doth send unto me to recover a man of his leprosy? word study, to send; great questions of the Bible; It is the opportunity that is presented to us sometimes for God to work and be glorified. We do not ask for people with sickness and problems to come to us. But in desperation they will call upon those taht they know pray, so that we might pray for them. And here it was God's desire to heal Naaman and Elisha was the man who could do it with the power of God upon him. Their will be those that are sent to us to recover them of their issues and we must show them Jesus, they must see Jesus and He must be lifted up. Wherefore consider, I pray you, and see how he seeketh a quarrel against me - word stuy, to see; His conclusion is a worldly thought and he is unable to see the potential for God to be glorified among the heathen. But Jehoram is not a king that serves the Lord and deep down he knows that his false gods have never and could never do any such thing. When situations arise, do not look at the circumstance or behold that matter of how difficult it is, look unto Jesus. do not see a quarrel but see an opportunity for God to work His best work. Are you ready to see? Or are the scales blocking your sight? No doubt, it is what you are focused on instead of Who you are focusing on. For with faith, God is able to do great and abundant things above all that we can think or ask for.
Jehoram is given a request from the king of Syria for Naaman to be healed of his leprosy. It is for us to remember that Naaman had heard of the Lord God from his Israel servant girl. She had told him of the power of Elisha by the hand of God upon him. The king of Syria and Naaman are simply responding to this claim. IN desperation to be rid of leprosy, he would try anything and everything to be made whole. In desperation this world will come to God when they need him most. It came to pass - word study, to come; It is always a phrase to bring us to the next set of events. Something has just happned, the letter and request has been sent; now, we must prepare for what response that will provoke. Our life is full of 'it came to pass'; one event triggers the next. But the response is what is key, for is it for the glory of God or for the glory of men? when the king of Israel had read the letter, that he rent his clothes - Jehoram is a religious man, but not unto the Lord, so his rending his garment is not unto God but of his own desire; This is a weighty letter and we should well sympathize with Jehoram, for what would we do upon such a request to have a leprous man made whole? Jehoram sees a plight from the king of Syria to provoke a fight and is left without an answer. And said, Am I God, to kill and to make alive? a reasonable statement that only God is able to do such things; In Deuteronomy 32:39, "See now that I , even I, am he, and there is no god with me: I kill and I make alive; I wound, and I heal, neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand" Jehoram was right to say that he was not God and that he could not heal Naaman. but the Lord, He is God and he is able to do such things. And we see it here in this verse, the power of God in all the events of our life. Birth, sickness, problems, and death, all things are under His hand to shape us and form us for His glorys or so that He will get the glory. We are not God and in such times of need for others to be healed and prayed for, let us turn to the One Who is able to do all things well. that this man doth send unto me to recover a man of his leprosy? word study, to send; great questions of the Bible; It is the opportunity that is presented to us sometimes for God to work and be glorified. We do not ask for people with sickness and problems to come to us. But in desperation they will call upon those taht they know pray, so that we might pray for them. And here it was God's desire to heal Naaman and Elisha was the man who could do it with the power of God upon him. Their will be those that are sent to us to recover them of their issues and we must show them Jesus, they must see Jesus and He must be lifted up. Wherefore consider, I pray you, and see how he seeketh a quarrel against me - word stuy, to see; His conclusion is a worldly thought and he is unable to see the potential for God to be glorified among the heathen. But Jehoram is not a king that serves the Lord and deep down he knows that his false gods have never and could never do any such thing. When situations arise, do not look at the circumstance or behold that matter of how difficult it is, look unto Jesus. do not see a quarrel but see an opportunity for God to work His best work. Are you ready to see? Or are the scales blocking your sight? No doubt, it is what you are focused on instead of Who you are focusing on. For with faith, God is able to do great and abundant things above all that we can think or ask for.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
II Kings 4:26
"Run now, I pray thee, to meet her, and say unto her, Is it well with thee? is it well with thy husband? is it well with the child? And she answered, It is well."
The prophet Elisha did not know what was going on. He sent his servant to find out. He was to ask three questions pertaining to the innermost people around her. And to ask, Is it well? word study, well; word study, great questions of the Bible; run now - go forth with haste to find out; it is not a time to miss, but with haste find out quickly. We are prone to walk, when He has commanded to run. 'Run the race that is set before you'. How can you expect to win if you walk? run to the people that are before you to enquire of their well being? enquire of their soul? Is it well? The three people of interest: herself, her husband and the child; Each one carries a special place and their interest is important. It is not a question of how are things in your city or state, but the three most intimate people in her life. Look upon those that are closest to you, are they well? A spouse, a child, a parent, a sibling, and perhaps even a friend that is closer than a brother, someone close and dear these are focus of interest. Yes, we are to pray for lost co-workers, school mates, neighbors and strangers, but don't pass by the closest to you. Many a person can get so busy with lost friends and acquaintances and forget the responsiblity of those near them. Now, the question, Are they well? This woman's son was dead, her husband had sent him into her and seemed to care nothing that his son had died. It is a question of physical care, are they physically well. Many a home this day has sickness, diseases and appointments of tests and doctors, our society is a sick society. The Lord promsied the children of Israel that He could keep the diseases away from them or allow for them multiply. We are at the place of seeing more and more sickness and disease as a result of our sinfulness. Are we emotional well? Abuse, fatique, pain in the soul and heart over past experiences, divorces, neglect, rejection and on it goes to show the scars and pains of peoples emotional instability. We are not well emotionally because of the lack of love, compassion, patitence inside the family, and found on the streets of our cities. Abuse is rampant and growing more evil each day. Are we well spiritually? And we could very easily say that if the first two questions are revealing that we are not well, then do we not know that it is directly related to thsi question. Have we ever seen so many lost people on the earth as this time? And those that are saved, have little faith, little hope and struggle with a carnal world that is always attacking. The church is losing ground and the enemies of our Lord are gaining strength and momentum. Prayer, which is the greatest weapon for our strength and well being, is neglected and rejected. The Bible which is full of promises, and hopes of the absolute truth is not read nor studied by God's own people. It almost seems to me that atheist read the Bible more than Christians so they can prove it wrong. (I pray I am wrong on this) But never have we had a more ignorant church on the Bible. We don't have a sword to fight with, we have a dull kitchen knife. And now the answer, And she answered, It is well. What? her son is dead, her husband isn't anywhere for support or compassion and she is fleeing to find the man of God, how can it be well? Oh, what faith! what steadfastness! what perserverance! what hope! When all else is gone wrong, LOok unto Jesus, the Author and finisher of our faith. When all is not well physically, emotionally and spiritually, look unto Jesus, Who can speak the word and all will be made right. The storm came upon the boat and the disciples and Jesus was fast asllep. They toiled, they fought it, the storm threatened to sink them, it was not well. But upon looking unto Jesus for help, He arose and spake a word and all was well. It will never be well going to and fro from person to person, from doctor to doctor, go to the Great Physician. It will never be well taking meds, seeing physcologist and other quacks about abuses, go to Jesus Who can touch the heart and the mind and bring healing within. Adn in a lost and dying world sinking into hell, look unto Jesus Who is high and lifted up and then we can say, It is well.
The prophet Elisha did not know what was going on. He sent his servant to find out. He was to ask three questions pertaining to the innermost people around her. And to ask, Is it well? word study, well; word study, great questions of the Bible; run now - go forth with haste to find out; it is not a time to miss, but with haste find out quickly. We are prone to walk, when He has commanded to run. 'Run the race that is set before you'. How can you expect to win if you walk? run to the people that are before you to enquire of their well being? enquire of their soul? Is it well? The three people of interest: herself, her husband and the child; Each one carries a special place and their interest is important. It is not a question of how are things in your city or state, but the three most intimate people in her life. Look upon those that are closest to you, are they well? A spouse, a child, a parent, a sibling, and perhaps even a friend that is closer than a brother, someone close and dear these are focus of interest. Yes, we are to pray for lost co-workers, school mates, neighbors and strangers, but don't pass by the closest to you. Many a person can get so busy with lost friends and acquaintances and forget the responsiblity of those near them. Now, the question, Are they well? This woman's son was dead, her husband had sent him into her and seemed to care nothing that his son had died. It is a question of physical care, are they physically well. Many a home this day has sickness, diseases and appointments of tests and doctors, our society is a sick society. The Lord promsied the children of Israel that He could keep the diseases away from them or allow for them multiply. We are at the place of seeing more and more sickness and disease as a result of our sinfulness. Are we emotional well? Abuse, fatique, pain in the soul and heart over past experiences, divorces, neglect, rejection and on it goes to show the scars and pains of peoples emotional instability. We are not well emotionally because of the lack of love, compassion, patitence inside the family, and found on the streets of our cities. Abuse is rampant and growing more evil each day. Are we well spiritually? And we could very easily say that if the first two questions are revealing that we are not well, then do we not know that it is directly related to thsi question. Have we ever seen so many lost people on the earth as this time? And those that are saved, have little faith, little hope and struggle with a carnal world that is always attacking. The church is losing ground and the enemies of our Lord are gaining strength and momentum. Prayer, which is the greatest weapon for our strength and well being, is neglected and rejected. The Bible which is full of promises, and hopes of the absolute truth is not read nor studied by God's own people. It almost seems to me that atheist read the Bible more than Christians so they can prove it wrong. (I pray I am wrong on this) But never have we had a more ignorant church on the Bible. We don't have a sword to fight with, we have a dull kitchen knife. And now the answer, And she answered, It is well. What? her son is dead, her husband isn't anywhere for support or compassion and she is fleeing to find the man of God, how can it be well? Oh, what faith! what steadfastness! what perserverance! what hope! When all else is gone wrong, LOok unto Jesus, the Author and finisher of our faith. When all is not well physically, emotionally and spiritually, look unto Jesus, Who can speak the word and all will be made right. The storm came upon the boat and the disciples and Jesus was fast asllep. They toiled, they fought it, the storm threatened to sink them, it was not well. But upon looking unto Jesus for help, He arose and spake a word and all was well. It will never be well going to and fro from person to person, from doctor to doctor, go to the Great Physician. It will never be well taking meds, seeing physcologist and other quacks about abuses, go to Jesus Who can touch the heart and the mind and bring healing within. Adn in a lost and dying world sinking into hell, look unto Jesus Who is high and lifted up and then we can say, It is well.
II Kings 3:18
"And this is but a light thing in the sight of the Lord; he will deliver the Moabites also into your hand."
The kings of Edom, Israel and Judah had gathered to fight against the Moabites. But in poor fashion they forgot water for the battle and their livestock. Of them, only Jehoshaphat, turned to look unto the Lord to find an answer and provision. Elisha the prophet was present and taking a minstrel to play for him, he heard the words of the Lord. By faith they were to dig ditches that would be filled water in the morning, following the morning sacrifice. No rain, no wind, just water to be found, Who else could do this but the Lord? And here we have our verse: And this is but a light thing in the sight of the Lord - 'Is anything too hard for the Lord?' He is able to do all things; He is aable to do abundanatly above all that we ask of think. There is no god like our God. 'A little thing' - even the smallest of 'little things' in the sight of the Lord is great and powerful to us. And how much more does He desire to do for us? How little we have sought Him, called upon Him and waited before Him for His blessings and provisions. George Mueller would awake every morning and pray for hours before the breakfast time, for they were in need of His daily provisions of food and drink. And never once did God fail. He cannot fail, and He waits for us to call upon Him. We would do well to remember that that which is big to us is little to Him. There are no restraints upon what He is able to do. For He is able to take the dead tree and make it fruitful; and able to take the fruitful tree and curse it and it whithers away, for the Lord speaks it. He speaks and it is done. And what can we say here? All that the Lord said came to pass. What is the church waiting for? what are they asking for? what are they expecitng? It is a little thing. For He that can destory a people and raise one up in their place is able to do these little things today. And if God is able to save me, 'the chiefest of sinners', is He not able to save this lost world? He is able, for He is mighty to save. What are you expecting, brethern? what are desiring to see God do? He will deliver the Moabites also into your hand - Not only provide the water for these kings armies and their livestock, but delvier this army into their hands for victory; If the Lord speak it, who can resist His command? The enemies of our Lord are always present around us. There be more of them than of us. We need His aid, fro without Him we can do nothing. Our enemies are more than us, they are empowered by their leader, Satan, they are wiser than us and we are not able to defeat such an army as this. But with God all things are possible, He will deliver them into our hands. The evil, the wickedness, the sinnful are all vessels that must yield to His command. Cry out for Him to speak, to deliver, to save the lost and bring glory unto His Name among the nations. WE have lost toomuch time, too much ground, let us wait upon the Lord and know that He is able and it is a littlet thing to delvier water and the our enemies into our hands. But note here in this chapter, 'if it were not for Jehoshaphat, I would not even look toward thee'. It is the righteous king that gains the favor of God. It is only those that have pure hearts and clean hands that shall go up the mountain. We msut be right with God to see His great hand work. 'For if I regard iniqutiy in my heart the Lord will not hear me'. Perhaps, the most awful accusation of Satan is, that he knows we have so much sin in the church and among the believers that he is cozy to know God better than we do, taht He restrains Himself because of our unbelief. We won't dig the ditches because we think it foolish and waste fo time. We won't go fight the Moabites because they are bigger than us and stronger, we don't believe. The sin of unbelief is our greatest foe, fight against it and prevail or we will never see the little things of the Lord prevail.
The kings of Edom, Israel and Judah had gathered to fight against the Moabites. But in poor fashion they forgot water for the battle and their livestock. Of them, only Jehoshaphat, turned to look unto the Lord to find an answer and provision. Elisha the prophet was present and taking a minstrel to play for him, he heard the words of the Lord. By faith they were to dig ditches that would be filled water in the morning, following the morning sacrifice. No rain, no wind, just water to be found, Who else could do this but the Lord? And here we have our verse: And this is but a light thing in the sight of the Lord - 'Is anything too hard for the Lord?' He is able to do all things; He is aable to do abundanatly above all that we ask of think. There is no god like our God. 'A little thing' - even the smallest of 'little things' in the sight of the Lord is great and powerful to us. And how much more does He desire to do for us? How little we have sought Him, called upon Him and waited before Him for His blessings and provisions. George Mueller would awake every morning and pray for hours before the breakfast time, for they were in need of His daily provisions of food and drink. And never once did God fail. He cannot fail, and He waits for us to call upon Him. We would do well to remember that that which is big to us is little to Him. There are no restraints upon what He is able to do. For He is able to take the dead tree and make it fruitful; and able to take the fruitful tree and curse it and it whithers away, for the Lord speaks it. He speaks and it is done. And what can we say here? All that the Lord said came to pass. What is the church waiting for? what are they asking for? what are they expecitng? It is a little thing. For He that can destory a people and raise one up in their place is able to do these little things today. And if God is able to save me, 'the chiefest of sinners', is He not able to save this lost world? He is able, for He is mighty to save. What are you expecting, brethern? what are desiring to see God do? He will deliver the Moabites also into your hand - Not only provide the water for these kings armies and their livestock, but delvier this army into their hands for victory; If the Lord speak it, who can resist His command? The enemies of our Lord are always present around us. There be more of them than of us. We need His aid, fro without Him we can do nothing. Our enemies are more than us, they are empowered by their leader, Satan, they are wiser than us and we are not able to defeat such an army as this. But with God all things are possible, He will deliver them into our hands. The evil, the wickedness, the sinnful are all vessels that must yield to His command. Cry out for Him to speak, to deliver, to save the lost and bring glory unto His Name among the nations. WE have lost toomuch time, too much ground, let us wait upon the Lord and know that He is able and it is a littlet thing to delvier water and the our enemies into our hands. But note here in this chapter, 'if it were not for Jehoshaphat, I would not even look toward thee'. It is the righteous king that gains the favor of God. It is only those that have pure hearts and clean hands that shall go up the mountain. We msut be right with God to see His great hand work. 'For if I regard iniqutiy in my heart the Lord will not hear me'. Perhaps, the most awful accusation of Satan is, that he knows we have so much sin in the church and among the believers that he is cozy to know God better than we do, taht He restrains Himself because of our unbelief. We won't dig the ditches because we think it foolish and waste fo time. We won't go fight the Moabites because they are bigger than us and stronger, we don't believe. The sin of unbelief is our greatest foe, fight against it and prevail or we will never see the little things of the Lord prevail.
Friday, July 17, 2009
II Kings 2:14
"And he took the mantel of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said, Where is the Lord God of Elijah? And when he aslo had smitten the waters, they parted hither and thither: and Elisha went over."
Elijah had been carried away and was gone. Only his mantle remained behind for elisha to pick up and use. The way the two had crossed over was the way Elisha used to return across. Upon taking the mantle, he took the place of Elijah as the prophet of the Lord. where is the Lord God of Elijah? great questions of the Bible; AS if now to say, Elijah is gone to be with You, now will You be with me? elijah had stood against the prophets of BAal and no doubt, everyone knew his name abroad. The power of God was upon Him, who called fire out of heaven and made the rain to cease for over three years. The power of God to be upon Elisha was now being invoked by this question. And what of today? Is there not a man to take the mantle and smite the waters and cry out for the Lord God Almighjty to show Himself mighty? Where is the Lord God of the book of Acts? Where is the God of Finney? The God of Wesley? The God of Edwards? The God of Brainerd? Is He asleep, away for forgetful of His people? No, a thousand times no. He is near and stands ready to show Himself mighty unto those that are perfect toward Him. Those men were perfect toward Him. There is no perfection today. But soon God will reveal such a man for it is not the man but for the glory of His Name among the nations. And when he also had smitten the waters, they parted hither and thither - the hand of God to separate the waters; Moses separated the waters; Joshua separated the waters; Elijah separated the waters; and Christ walked on the waters and commanded the seas. For God Almighty made the waters and He commnads all of His creation in heaven and earth. And went over - word study, went;
Elijah had been carried away and was gone. Only his mantle remained behind for elisha to pick up and use. The way the two had crossed over was the way Elisha used to return across. Upon taking the mantle, he took the place of Elijah as the prophet of the Lord. where is the Lord God of Elijah? great questions of the Bible; AS if now to say, Elijah is gone to be with You, now will You be with me? elijah had stood against the prophets of BAal and no doubt, everyone knew his name abroad. The power of God was upon Him, who called fire out of heaven and made the rain to cease for over three years. The power of God to be upon Elisha was now being invoked by this question. And what of today? Is there not a man to take the mantle and smite the waters and cry out for the Lord God Almighjty to show Himself mighty? Where is the Lord God of the book of Acts? Where is the God of Finney? The God of Wesley? The God of Edwards? The God of Brainerd? Is He asleep, away for forgetful of His people? No, a thousand times no. He is near and stands ready to show Himself mighty unto those that are perfect toward Him. Those men were perfect toward Him. There is no perfection today. But soon God will reveal such a man for it is not the man but for the glory of His Name among the nations. And when he also had smitten the waters, they parted hither and thither - the hand of God to separate the waters; Moses separated the waters; Joshua separated the waters; Elijah separated the waters; and Christ walked on the waters and commanded the seas. For God Almighty made the waters and He commnads all of His creation in heaven and earth. And went over - word study, went;
II Kings 1:13
"And he sent again a captain of the third fifty with his fifty. And the third captain of fifty went up, and came and fell on his knees before Elijah, and besought him, and said unto him, O man of God, I pray thee, let my life, and the life of these fifty thy servants, be precious in thy sight."
The king of Israel took too much upon him to go and fetch the man of God. He sent after the prophet to have him brought before him to hear what the word of the Lord is. The word had been spoken by Elijah and that was enough. But pride and arrogance took over and he thought by force to bring him. But as the two groups of fifty mena nd their captain approached unto the prophet, they ordered him to come down and report to the king. Upon which, when elijah heard their words, he said, "If I be a man of God, then let fire come down and consume you and your fifty men." And presently fire came down and consumed them. OUr verse shows the third captain did not come as the other ones. and he sent again a captain fo the third fifty with his fifty - word study, sent; 'He', is referring to the king of Israel. The foolish king did not get it, and would have continued to send men to die for him. For the anger of the Lord was against the king of Israel, for he was Ahab's son, and was determined to die. And the third captain of fity went up - word study, went; This was a captain and he was to obey the word of the king. He followed after the other captains just as they had done. and came and fell on his knees before elijah - word study, to come; He followed after the others, but his approach unto the man of God was quite different. What captain would come on his knees before one aged man? A wise man. Having known of the fate of the other men, he chose to humble himself and come asking not demanding. And besought him - this is a pleading word; We don't use this word any more, but I love the use of it. 'We beseech the Lord'; 'I besought Him'. Part of the problem today, is that men do not beseech the Lord. And there is a wholesome fragance about this word left out when we say, 'I asked the Lord'. Beseeching is earnest pleading, far deeper and richer in prayer than simply asking or 'saying prayers'. O man of God, I pray thee, let my life and the life of these fifty thy servants, be precious is in thy sight - the prayer of earnestness for his very life, and not only his, but those he was resposnbile for; do you plead with God for the souls of men? Is God's anger not put forth against us for our iniquities? WE should learn from this captain of how to approach God. For appraoched the man of God, becuase the man of God had demonstrated the power of God coming down in fire to consume them. We know that we deserved God's wrath to be destroyed but His grace and mercy saved us rather than destroying us. WE came beseeching and pleading for mercy, 'destroy me not in the fire of hell' was the decision of many. And now, being delivered we view the lost world, those entrusted to us and see their plight and we ask for their lives to be spared as well.
When I first composed my list of lost souls to pray for, I counted them up and had close to 50. this verse became my prayer for them. These 50 to be saved and won. The number has increased since then, but the plea is still the same for God, Who is mighty to save, to save to the uttermost.
The king of Israel took too much upon him to go and fetch the man of God. He sent after the prophet to have him brought before him to hear what the word of the Lord is. The word had been spoken by Elijah and that was enough. But pride and arrogance took over and he thought by force to bring him. But as the two groups of fifty mena nd their captain approached unto the prophet, they ordered him to come down and report to the king. Upon which, when elijah heard their words, he said, "If I be a man of God, then let fire come down and consume you and your fifty men." And presently fire came down and consumed them. OUr verse shows the third captain did not come as the other ones. and he sent again a captain fo the third fifty with his fifty - word study, sent; 'He', is referring to the king of Israel. The foolish king did not get it, and would have continued to send men to die for him. For the anger of the Lord was against the king of Israel, for he was Ahab's son, and was determined to die. And the third captain of fity went up - word study, went; This was a captain and he was to obey the word of the king. He followed after the other captains just as they had done. and came and fell on his knees before elijah - word study, to come; He followed after the others, but his approach unto the man of God was quite different. What captain would come on his knees before one aged man? A wise man. Having known of the fate of the other men, he chose to humble himself and come asking not demanding. And besought him - this is a pleading word; We don't use this word any more, but I love the use of it. 'We beseech the Lord'; 'I besought Him'. Part of the problem today, is that men do not beseech the Lord. And there is a wholesome fragance about this word left out when we say, 'I asked the Lord'. Beseeching is earnest pleading, far deeper and richer in prayer than simply asking or 'saying prayers'. O man of God, I pray thee, let my life and the life of these fifty thy servants, be precious is in thy sight - the prayer of earnestness for his very life, and not only his, but those he was resposnbile for; do you plead with God for the souls of men? Is God's anger not put forth against us for our iniquities? WE should learn from this captain of how to approach God. For appraoched the man of God, becuase the man of God had demonstrated the power of God coming down in fire to consume them. We know that we deserved God's wrath to be destroyed but His grace and mercy saved us rather than destroying us. WE came beseeching and pleading for mercy, 'destroy me not in the fire of hell' was the decision of many. And now, being delivered we view the lost world, those entrusted to us and see their plight and we ask for their lives to be spared as well.
When I first composed my list of lost souls to pray for, I counted them up and had close to 50. this verse became my prayer for them. These 50 to be saved and won. The number has increased since then, but the plea is still the same for God, Who is mighty to save, to save to the uttermost.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
I Kings 22:14
"And Micaiah said, As the Lord liveth, what the Lord saith unto me, that will I speak."
Ahab and Jehoshaphat are teamed up to go and fight against Ramothgilead. Ahab is wicked and has his false prophets gathered around to tell him what he wants to hear. Jehoshaphat is God fearing and must see through this false prophecy. He asks for a real prophet,"Is there one?' And Ahab knew exactly what he was asking for, and says, "Yes, there is one". Isn't it amazing that there is only one? Are we able to say today, "is there one man of God to proclaim, 'Thus saith the Lord. . .'? " This one prophet was, Micaiah. I am so impressed by this man, that I named my third son's middle name after him, Jonathan Micaiah. Of course, it is with the hope that he will be and fulfill this verse for the Lord. As the Lord liveth, what the Lord saith unto me, that will I speak - there is no falsehood in what he will proclaim; The servant that was to fetch the one prophet told Micaiah what the other prophets had said. He wanted him to comprimise and say exactly what they had said. This is Micaiah's response to that comprimise. Now it is that every Christian is to live by the same standard of this mark. We may no all be prophets to declare future events like he did, but we are to live by the word of the Lord. We are to speak it, we are not to change it. The warning in Revelation should teach us, "If any man add to or take away from this word, let the curses of this book come upon him." That is a warning not to change or alter the word of the Lord. But what the Lord has said, we must adhere to and live by. We must tell those all around us what the word of the Lord is. LEt us not be ashamed their eternal destination depends on it. If we be ashamed and comprimise then we are like the false prophets of Ahab. is there not one among us?
Ahab and Jehoshaphat are teamed up to go and fight against Ramothgilead. Ahab is wicked and has his false prophets gathered around to tell him what he wants to hear. Jehoshaphat is God fearing and must see through this false prophecy. He asks for a real prophet,"Is there one?' And Ahab knew exactly what he was asking for, and says, "Yes, there is one". Isn't it amazing that there is only one? Are we able to say today, "is there one man of God to proclaim, 'Thus saith the Lord. . .'? " This one prophet was, Micaiah. I am so impressed by this man, that I named my third son's middle name after him, Jonathan Micaiah. Of course, it is with the hope that he will be and fulfill this verse for the Lord. As the Lord liveth, what the Lord saith unto me, that will I speak - there is no falsehood in what he will proclaim; The servant that was to fetch the one prophet told Micaiah what the other prophets had said. He wanted him to comprimise and say exactly what they had said. This is Micaiah's response to that comprimise. Now it is that every Christian is to live by the same standard of this mark. We may no all be prophets to declare future events like he did, but we are to live by the word of the Lord. We are to speak it, we are not to change it. The warning in Revelation should teach us, "If any man add to or take away from this word, let the curses of this book come upon him." That is a warning not to change or alter the word of the Lord. But what the Lord has said, we must adhere to and live by. We must tell those all around us what the word of the Lord is. LEt us not be ashamed their eternal destination depends on it. If we be ashamed and comprimise then we are like the false prophets of Ahab. is there not one among us?
I kIngs 21:27
"And it came to pass, when Ahab heard those words, that he rent hi sclothes, and put sackcloth upon his flesh, and fasted, and lay in sackcloth, and went softly."
Hast thou found me, O mine enemy?, were the words of Ahab to Elijah. This chapter is known by those that study the Bible and glean of its fruit as 'Naboth and his vineyard'. Old R G Lee preached his famous sermon from it entitled, "Payday someday". Ahab had just learned of his destruction for his neglect and sin in the previous chapter. He returns home to covet his neighbors vineyard, Naboth's. He seeks to buy, and his advances for the property are dismissed. Upon this he returns home and pouts in the kings chambers. His wife, Jezebel, who is as evil as they come, consoled him not to fret she would take care of everything. And within the week she had conspired, murdered and took the land for Ahab to own. God immediately sends Elijah the prophet to tell Ahab that all this was done before Him and he will kill Ahab for his evil and all his family, He will remove them from the earth. Now it is the last chapter, the prophet had told Ahab that his life would go for the king of Assyria and the people of Israel for the people of Syria and it broke Ahab's heart that he went home heavy and displeased. but let us now look at his response to the words of Elijah. And it came to pass - word study, to come; Events are unfolding and things are happening that need to be noted. They are directly related to that which was just said and the reaction of Ahab. All that proceeds now comes from the prophet's words. 'And it came to pass as a direct result from Elijah's words'. when Ahab heard those words - faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God; But faith is not always the direct result, sometimes it is words that are judgement. many a soul hears the words of the Lord and rejects them. But how much worse is this, for Ahab hears the words and responds but does not repent, nor does he seekt o change his life for God's mercy. He simply has heard the words and now laments, with no hope. His fate is sealed and secured; it is not a matter of 'if' the Lord will stike him, it is only the question of 'when' He will strike him for his evil. He has heard, and the Scriptures tell us, 'that the Gospel hath appeared unto every man'. They have heard, but what is their response? That he rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his flesh,a dn fasted, and lay in sackcloth - all these are signs of repentance and remorse; But sorrow and anguish over sin is one thing and sorrow and grief over punishment is another. Ahab had been told before that his life would be taken, yet it only sorrowed him. Now he hears of his life as well as his families life will perish and be removed, and we see all this done. But all of his sorrow of this acts of remorse matter nothing so long as he allowed for Baal to remain, so long as he allowed for the sins of Jerobaom to remain. there is no true work of repentance found here. God is merciful and I have no doubt believing and understanding that if Ahab would have made the wrongs right, he could have found mercy in the eyes of the Father. If this people of our land, families and churches would only understand, that simply confessing our sins and neglects are not enough, but there must be change, real repentance foudn among the evil works of our lives. WE cannot get up from confessing our sin and go home and return to the same old sin. It must be removed and destroyed from our lives. And went softly - word study, went; Walking on eggshells, for all was determined now. How could he face his children? His family was destroyed for hisi evil deeds. Oh, when the weight of a man's choices comes home to the heart and we realize our evilness has offended a most holy God, what sorrow. But many a times it is only selfish interest, what about me? But lift up the eyes and see that there are others to be affected, the children, the grandchildren, the parents, the spouses, all will feel the weight of sin found out. What shame should grip our hearts to know how much we have costs our Lord and how much damage we have allowed to be done by our actions. do more than sorrow dear reader, put away and destroy the sin that does so easily beset you. Labor not for the meat that perisheth here on this earth,b ut labor for the spiritual fruit that glorifies the Lord. Go softly, for we know our sins have offended Him and His anger is waxed hot against us. Go softly and beseech Him for mercy. For He is merciful and gracious and longsuffering in all His ways. He is willing to abundantly pardon. But in our day, we see such pride, arrogance and self being displayed that they will not go softly. the Lord will humble us in this. But how can any child of God be self-righteous when we see our iniquities and know the price that was paid for our sins, we will go softly. 'When I survey the wondrous cross. . .I see His hands, His feet and His head, the blood flowing down for me, for my family, for the church for the people of this world.' For it is the Lord's will that none shoudl perish but that all may be reached and rescued. Save today, O Lord, save today as we go softly.
Hast thou found me, O mine enemy?, were the words of Ahab to Elijah. This chapter is known by those that study the Bible and glean of its fruit as 'Naboth and his vineyard'. Old R G Lee preached his famous sermon from it entitled, "Payday someday". Ahab had just learned of his destruction for his neglect and sin in the previous chapter. He returns home to covet his neighbors vineyard, Naboth's. He seeks to buy, and his advances for the property are dismissed. Upon this he returns home and pouts in the kings chambers. His wife, Jezebel, who is as evil as they come, consoled him not to fret she would take care of everything. And within the week she had conspired, murdered and took the land for Ahab to own. God immediately sends Elijah the prophet to tell Ahab that all this was done before Him and he will kill Ahab for his evil and all his family, He will remove them from the earth. Now it is the last chapter, the prophet had told Ahab that his life would go for the king of Assyria and the people of Israel for the people of Syria and it broke Ahab's heart that he went home heavy and displeased. but let us now look at his response to the words of Elijah. And it came to pass - word study, to come; Events are unfolding and things are happening that need to be noted. They are directly related to that which was just said and the reaction of Ahab. All that proceeds now comes from the prophet's words. 'And it came to pass as a direct result from Elijah's words'. when Ahab heard those words - faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God; But faith is not always the direct result, sometimes it is words that are judgement. many a soul hears the words of the Lord and rejects them. But how much worse is this, for Ahab hears the words and responds but does not repent, nor does he seekt o change his life for God's mercy. He simply has heard the words and now laments, with no hope. His fate is sealed and secured; it is not a matter of 'if' the Lord will stike him, it is only the question of 'when' He will strike him for his evil. He has heard, and the Scriptures tell us, 'that the Gospel hath appeared unto every man'. They have heard, but what is their response? That he rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his flesh,a dn fasted, and lay in sackcloth - all these are signs of repentance and remorse; But sorrow and anguish over sin is one thing and sorrow and grief over punishment is another. Ahab had been told before that his life would be taken, yet it only sorrowed him. Now he hears of his life as well as his families life will perish and be removed, and we see all this done. But all of his sorrow of this acts of remorse matter nothing so long as he allowed for Baal to remain, so long as he allowed for the sins of Jerobaom to remain. there is no true work of repentance found here. God is merciful and I have no doubt believing and understanding that if Ahab would have made the wrongs right, he could have found mercy in the eyes of the Father. If this people of our land, families and churches would only understand, that simply confessing our sins and neglects are not enough, but there must be change, real repentance foudn among the evil works of our lives. WE cannot get up from confessing our sin and go home and return to the same old sin. It must be removed and destroyed from our lives. And went softly - word study, went; Walking on eggshells, for all was determined now. How could he face his children? His family was destroyed for hisi evil deeds. Oh, when the weight of a man's choices comes home to the heart and we realize our evilness has offended a most holy God, what sorrow. But many a times it is only selfish interest, what about me? But lift up the eyes and see that there are others to be affected, the children, the grandchildren, the parents, the spouses, all will feel the weight of sin found out. What shame should grip our hearts to know how much we have costs our Lord and how much damage we have allowed to be done by our actions. do more than sorrow dear reader, put away and destroy the sin that does so easily beset you. Labor not for the meat that perisheth here on this earth,b ut labor for the spiritual fruit that glorifies the Lord. Go softly, for we know our sins have offended Him and His anger is waxed hot against us. Go softly and beseech Him for mercy. For He is merciful and gracious and longsuffering in all His ways. He is willing to abundantly pardon. But in our day, we see such pride, arrogance and self being displayed that they will not go softly. the Lord will humble us in this. But how can any child of God be self-righteous when we see our iniquities and know the price that was paid for our sins, we will go softly. 'When I survey the wondrous cross. . .I see His hands, His feet and His head, the blood flowing down for me, for my family, for the church for the people of this world.' For it is the Lord's will that none shoudl perish but that all may be reached and rescued. Save today, O Lord, save today as we go softly.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
I Kings 20:43
"And the king of Israel went ot his house heavy and displeased, and came to Samaria."
Poor Ahab, never did right except for one time, which we will look at later on. But here he has won the victory by the hand of the Lord. Twice it is given in this chapter that the Lord would defeat the Syrians because they mocked God and feared HIm not. And He delcared to them, 'ye shall know that I am the Lord'. Let there be no doubt about our Lord that He is God and there is none else beside Him. God gave Ahab the victory and secured Israel, despite their evil and sinfulness against Him. Why? It was because of His own Name that He is jealous of and will defend it against such nations and people. But the king of Syria was to be destroyed by the hand of Ahab and the people of Syria had mocked the Lord and questioned Who He was. The people were to be destroyed and Ahab let them go with diplomacy and peace. So a prophet is sent to Ahab to tell him that the Lord holds him responsible for letting the king of Syria go and the people go free. Therefore, his life shall be taken for the king of Syria and the people of Israel will be instead of the Syrians. this is the verse that proceeds the verse we are to look at now. For upon hearing that his life was determined to be taken from him because of his foolish choices, the wages of sin is death. and the king of Israel went to his house - word study, went; Where else would he go? He went home to find consolation and solace. Is there a safe haven for most to run to and hide? It is at home. Now, i fully understand to many that home is not a place of such rest and protection, for they live in a hostile, abusive home. Parents in disarry, disharmony; children disobedient, family life is non existent and they live in chaos. But Ahab went there to find something, possible from jezebel. For it was the queen that when he went home before sulking over Naboths vineyard that she came to console him and told him that she would take care of everything. And she did, and he went out to possess it only to to meet Elijah and and hear the appointed message of despair. Now again, he has heard the word of the prophet and he is going home. Heavy and displeased - sorrow upon sorrow was given to him, and he definitely bore a huge amount of grief; And he is right to sorrowful in this manner, for he has occasioned the loss of his own life and the life of the people. And what shall we shall as we view the world and all those around us, should we not be heavy hearted and displeased that so many are lost and we have the glorious Gospel message? Perishing, one and all, what have we done about it? Have we prevailed in prayer? Have we labored sowing precious seed with tears? Have we believed in faith that God is mighty to save? Should we not close the day with heaviness and displeasure in their sinful rejection of Him and our futile efforts? I tell you, the ones that should be most watched are the ones who rest well at night in the midst of this maddness. The ones who are filled with heaviness and sorrow are the broken and contrite ones that God will respect. And came to Samaria - word study, to come; he has returned home to face his end. go Ahab, and get your house in order for the Lord will require of you all of your wickedness. You have mocked Him and scorned His servants, now reap the whirlwind of His wrath. You have failed to do His bidding and now you must be weighed in the balances. And to all that have abhorred His Word and His grace and mercy, they are found wanting. To each of these that are living today, lost and in darkness, they come home each day but what is the message unto them, 'Ichabod'. It is upon our nation, upon families and upon many churches. We have come home to Samaria, the place of sin that forsookt he Lord God Almighty and have walked contrary unto Him and His way for the pleasures of self.
Poor Ahab, never did right except for one time, which we will look at later on. But here he has won the victory by the hand of the Lord. Twice it is given in this chapter that the Lord would defeat the Syrians because they mocked God and feared HIm not. And He delcared to them, 'ye shall know that I am the Lord'. Let there be no doubt about our Lord that He is God and there is none else beside Him. God gave Ahab the victory and secured Israel, despite their evil and sinfulness against Him. Why? It was because of His own Name that He is jealous of and will defend it against such nations and people. But the king of Syria was to be destroyed by the hand of Ahab and the people of Syria had mocked the Lord and questioned Who He was. The people were to be destroyed and Ahab let them go with diplomacy and peace. So a prophet is sent to Ahab to tell him that the Lord holds him responsible for letting the king of Syria go and the people go free. Therefore, his life shall be taken for the king of Syria and the people of Israel will be instead of the Syrians. this is the verse that proceeds the verse we are to look at now. For upon hearing that his life was determined to be taken from him because of his foolish choices, the wages of sin is death. and the king of Israel went to his house - word study, went; Where else would he go? He went home to find consolation and solace. Is there a safe haven for most to run to and hide? It is at home. Now, i fully understand to many that home is not a place of such rest and protection, for they live in a hostile, abusive home. Parents in disarry, disharmony; children disobedient, family life is non existent and they live in chaos. But Ahab went there to find something, possible from jezebel. For it was the queen that when he went home before sulking over Naboths vineyard that she came to console him and told him that she would take care of everything. And she did, and he went out to possess it only to to meet Elijah and and hear the appointed message of despair. Now again, he has heard the word of the prophet and he is going home. Heavy and displeased - sorrow upon sorrow was given to him, and he definitely bore a huge amount of grief; And he is right to sorrowful in this manner, for he has occasioned the loss of his own life and the life of the people. And what shall we shall as we view the world and all those around us, should we not be heavy hearted and displeased that so many are lost and we have the glorious Gospel message? Perishing, one and all, what have we done about it? Have we prevailed in prayer? Have we labored sowing precious seed with tears? Have we believed in faith that God is mighty to save? Should we not close the day with heaviness and displeasure in their sinful rejection of Him and our futile efforts? I tell you, the ones that should be most watched are the ones who rest well at night in the midst of this maddness. The ones who are filled with heaviness and sorrow are the broken and contrite ones that God will respect. And came to Samaria - word study, to come; he has returned home to face his end. go Ahab, and get your house in order for the Lord will require of you all of your wickedness. You have mocked Him and scorned His servants, now reap the whirlwind of His wrath. You have failed to do His bidding and now you must be weighed in the balances. And to all that have abhorred His Word and His grace and mercy, they are found wanting. To each of these that are living today, lost and in darkness, they come home each day but what is the message unto them, 'Ichabod'. It is upon our nation, upon families and upon many churches. We have come home to Samaria, the place of sin that forsookt he Lord God Almighty and have walked contrary unto Him and His way for the pleasures of self.
I Kings 19:12
"And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice."
For most, this verse speaks volumes to the soul and heart. All the loud clamouring, shouting, ridiculous antics and personal preferences amount to nothing at the close of the day. It is the still small voice of the Lord that does the work. The strong wind, the earthquake, and the fire declare that the Lord was not in them. That is a study in itself, that if the Lord was not in them, what or who caused them and how does such things relate to our current natural disasters? Then we come to his verse that speaks of two of the three and the last half of the verse: and after the fire a still small voice - after all the natural extremes, it is the simplest thing that breaks Elijah; The focus of this verse is to prepare us for the next verse. The still small voice is the cause of Elijah's response. Elijah was in despair, depression and total animosity toward mankind. He looked to no man but felt he was only in the Presence of the Lord. This display of God's glory and power here changes all that. The thought of this phrase is that it does not mention that the Lord was in the still small voice. And it is easy to assume that the Lord was in the still small voice in comparison of the other three natural acts. For every act is concluded with this phrase, 'the Lord was not in this'. Then the still small voice, but nothing else said; so it is easy to agree that because it is does not follow the other three that there is a change in the nature of this. Not to mention all the other acccounts of God's still small voice that does His work inthe hearts and souls of men. It is in agreement that God is in the still small voice. And I would offer to you an alternative study of this found in Adam Clarke; He states that the three natural events were done but by a supernatural force; and each of these three things is finished with, 'But the Majesty of the Lord was not in these'; the still small voice is the lone voice of singing in the stillness. Is there anything more impacting than in a group of people, silence prevails, and then Divinely led, a soloist begins to sing. What a tremendous force is experienced when it is God! We always consider the voice to speak to Elijah, but what if it is the Name of God being declared in song like we read of in Revelation? It is a great declaration and it is powerful for it broke Elijah. And oh, when the Spirit of God comes and speaks and it breaks our voices.
For most, this verse speaks volumes to the soul and heart. All the loud clamouring, shouting, ridiculous antics and personal preferences amount to nothing at the close of the day. It is the still small voice of the Lord that does the work. The strong wind, the earthquake, and the fire declare that the Lord was not in them. That is a study in itself, that if the Lord was not in them, what or who caused them and how does such things relate to our current natural disasters? Then we come to his verse that speaks of two of the three and the last half of the verse: and after the fire a still small voice - after all the natural extremes, it is the simplest thing that breaks Elijah; The focus of this verse is to prepare us for the next verse. The still small voice is the cause of Elijah's response. Elijah was in despair, depression and total animosity toward mankind. He looked to no man but felt he was only in the Presence of the Lord. This display of God's glory and power here changes all that. The thought of this phrase is that it does not mention that the Lord was in the still small voice. And it is easy to assume that the Lord was in the still small voice in comparison of the other three natural acts. For every act is concluded with this phrase, 'the Lord was not in this'. Then the still small voice, but nothing else said; so it is easy to agree that because it is does not follow the other three that there is a change in the nature of this. Not to mention all the other acccounts of God's still small voice that does His work inthe hearts and souls of men. It is in agreement that God is in the still small voice. And I would offer to you an alternative study of this found in Adam Clarke; He states that the three natural events were done but by a supernatural force; and each of these three things is finished with, 'But the Majesty of the Lord was not in these'; the still small voice is the lone voice of singing in the stillness. Is there anything more impacting than in a group of people, silence prevails, and then Divinely led, a soloist begins to sing. What a tremendous force is experienced when it is God! We always consider the voice to speak to Elijah, but what if it is the Name of God being declared in song like we read of in Revelation? It is a great declaration and it is powerful for it broke Elijah. And oh, when the Spirit of God comes and speaks and it breaks our voices.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
I Kings 18:43
"And said to his servant, Go up now, look toward the sea. And he went up, and looked, and said, There is nothing. And he said, Go again seven times."
What a masterful account of prayer and faith. The servant has no faith; by the way, who is this servant of no name? Elijah is on his knees praying and believing until the answer comes. 'The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.' Go up now - word study, to go; The pressing time is now. Today is the salvation, now is the accepting time. Let us go now, not tomorrow, for it may be too late. Let us arise, for we have far too long be slumbering and busy about the wrong business. Go up now and do your Lord's bidding. Seek His face, inquire of Him and wait for Him. And if you delay, know that you will miss the opportunity that cannot be restored. Obey now, for everything depends on it. Look toward the sea - word study, to look; they was inland and the sea lay to the west. Most storms would come from off the water, and Elijah and told his servant to go and look toward the sea to see what was there. Now as the servant of the Lord went, Elijah was in conversation with the Lord. He had just defeated the fase god and the prophets and the people were ready to return unto the Lord. And now for the fulfilment of God's word, 'today, there will be rain'. Let the word bew accomplished to honor YOur Name among Your people, he prayed. go and look and see what is on thehorizon. and may I ask of you, dear reader, what are you looking for? Are you expecting something of faith from your faithful High Priest? Is He not able to do all things? Is He not able to send rain from cloudless skies? Yea, Lord, You are able; then look brethern and see the wonders of the Lord. How wonderful is that word found throughout the Scripture, "Look". What are you looking for? And he went up - word study, went; He obeyed the voice of Elijah and went up to look. Let us be sure that when we have a word from the Lord that we are faithful and obedient in all things. May it be said of us, "He went up" and was found obeying that which the Lord spoke to us. When the evening falls today, have you went up where you were supposed to be? Obey and go. And looked , and said, There is nothing- word study, to look; there be many that are obedient in religious duty and that alone. There is no faith, no love that moves them, they are creatures of obedience just through duty. We should obey to see God glorified, not to obey for the works sake. And to go without faith is an affront to ou Lord. This servant went, he looked, he did all that was expected, but without expecting to see anything. Perhaps he said, "What am I to be looking for?" and he went not knowing what he was to see. Ho many of saints go forth doing their duty, but expecting nothing. They pray, but never expect answers; they worship in church services, but never expect to be met by God; they witness, but never expect to see a soul saved. It is the work of busyness, but not of faith; it is vanity. And many a church is saying, 'We see nothing'. then may the Lord take away the scales so that we may see as He would have of us. But to those that arise in faith, it may seem like nothing to some but to them it is enough. How many fish and bread have you? Five and two; it is nothing compared to the multitude in need. and Jesus says, "It is enough". How many miracles that seemed as nothing? But with the touch of the Masters hand, it is enough and to spare. He is faithful that to declare His greatness to those that cannot see nothing. Go again, seven times - word study, to go; The number seven, how mysterious and perfect it is. Seven days of creation; seven men for deacons; seven churches, seven golden candlesticks; seven stars; seven is God's perfect number. And the saints are marked with the number of 777; the number of 666 is dreaded and feared so much, but it is simply the mark of man, one number short of perfection and the number of the beast is the the number of a man. Now go 7 times, and i wonder if his faith began to rise each time he went. Until the last time when he saw the cloud the size of man's hand. Before all the times, there was nothing; Now, there is something. Do you believe enough to keep going until 7 times, until 7 x 70 until nothing is something? Where is your faith? Where is your belief in a mighty God? Go up and look and believe.
What a masterful account of prayer and faith. The servant has no faith; by the way, who is this servant of no name? Elijah is on his knees praying and believing until the answer comes. 'The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.' Go up now - word study, to go; The pressing time is now. Today is the salvation, now is the accepting time. Let us go now, not tomorrow, for it may be too late. Let us arise, for we have far too long be slumbering and busy about the wrong business. Go up now and do your Lord's bidding. Seek His face, inquire of Him and wait for Him. And if you delay, know that you will miss the opportunity that cannot be restored. Obey now, for everything depends on it. Look toward the sea - word study, to look; they was inland and the sea lay to the west. Most storms would come from off the water, and Elijah and told his servant to go and look toward the sea to see what was there. Now as the servant of the Lord went, Elijah was in conversation with the Lord. He had just defeated the fase god and the prophets and the people were ready to return unto the Lord. And now for the fulfilment of God's word, 'today, there will be rain'. Let the word bew accomplished to honor YOur Name among Your people, he prayed. go and look and see what is on thehorizon. and may I ask of you, dear reader, what are you looking for? Are you expecting something of faith from your faithful High Priest? Is He not able to do all things? Is He not able to send rain from cloudless skies? Yea, Lord, You are able; then look brethern and see the wonders of the Lord. How wonderful is that word found throughout the Scripture, "Look". What are you looking for? And he went up - word study, went; He obeyed the voice of Elijah and went up to look. Let us be sure that when we have a word from the Lord that we are faithful and obedient in all things. May it be said of us, "He went up" and was found obeying that which the Lord spoke to us. When the evening falls today, have you went up where you were supposed to be? Obey and go. And looked , and said, There is nothing- word study, to look; there be many that are obedient in religious duty and that alone. There is no faith, no love that moves them, they are creatures of obedience just through duty. We should obey to see God glorified, not to obey for the works sake. And to go without faith is an affront to ou Lord. This servant went, he looked, he did all that was expected, but without expecting to see anything. Perhaps he said, "What am I to be looking for?" and he went not knowing what he was to see. Ho many of saints go forth doing their duty, but expecting nothing. They pray, but never expect answers; they worship in church services, but never expect to be met by God; they witness, but never expect to see a soul saved. It is the work of busyness, but not of faith; it is vanity. And many a church is saying, 'We see nothing'. then may the Lord take away the scales so that we may see as He would have of us. But to those that arise in faith, it may seem like nothing to some but to them it is enough. How many fish and bread have you? Five and two; it is nothing compared to the multitude in need. and Jesus says, "It is enough". How many miracles that seemed as nothing? But with the touch of the Masters hand, it is enough and to spare. He is faithful that to declare His greatness to those that cannot see nothing. Go again, seven times - word study, to go; The number seven, how mysterious and perfect it is. Seven days of creation; seven men for deacons; seven churches, seven golden candlesticks; seven stars; seven is God's perfect number. And the saints are marked with the number of 777; the number of 666 is dreaded and feared so much, but it is simply the mark of man, one number short of perfection and the number of the beast is the the number of a man. Now go 7 times, and i wonder if his faith began to rise each time he went. Until the last time when he saw the cloud the size of man's hand. Before all the times, there was nothing; Now, there is something. Do you believe enough to keep going until 7 times, until 7 x 70 until nothing is something? Where is your faith? Where is your belief in a mighty God? Go up and look and believe.
I Kings 17:24
"And the woman said to Elijah, Now by this I know that thou art a man of God, and that the word of the Lord in thy mouth is truth."
The performin of miracles is found in a man of God. This woman exclaimis this because of the evidence that is placed in front of her, her child was restored. Now remember, Elijah is in hiding, he is being protected from Ahab as the duration of the drought continues. God is allowing for time to take its toll on the Israelites because of the sin of Jeroboam and the sin of Ahab. And while this time is going forth, the Lord has provided for Elijah by the brook and with this widow woman. Two characteristics is noted here: Now by this I know that thou art a man of God - word study, to know; She knew by the power of God demonstrated right before her eyes. Is there evidence around us of this power? the church is weak, the ministers are weak and the power is lacking. Sharing of answered prayers is almost a grief to me, because the way people perceive the testimony. They do not give glory to God, but they look with skepticism and unbelief. This woman bases everything of her perception about Elijah on this one event. I fear too many are of the same mindset. When they get what they want then they will believe God. And if they don't get it then they excuse themselves to say, "There is no God", simiply because they didn't get their selfsih desires. There is evidence within the people of God, God does answer prayer, God does show Himself mighty for His people. The man of God should be leading in this. But this is all based on his walk with the Lord. If he has no walk, he has no power. If he is in sin, the Lord will not hear him. The power in a man or the church is shut off for one reason, sin dwells within. Remove the sin, ask for the power to return, for the glory of God. 2. And that the word of the Lord in thy mouth is truth - not the word of man, but the word of the Lord is truth; The two get interchanged and mixed up quite often. We become reliant on tradition and vani repetitions of what the Lord has said and what He is saying. For example, I know many people that can recite the Lord's prayer, for they do so in many church servcies every Sunday. They have learned it, they can recite it, but the meaning and practise of it, they do not do, it is a vani repetition. This is the sin of 'saying prayer', they recite what they always recite and never speak in truth. For how can we ask the Lord to forgive us our sins, when we know there is sin toward someone else and we know that we must make right with them first? We don't, we go ahead and ask for forgiveness and ease our conscience because we 'said' our prayers. But this is not truth, for truth is secured and based upon one's thoughts and intents of the heart. Elijah spoke and the child was raised, that is power in speech. At least, this womoan recognized it as the 'word of the Lord'. Too many in churches know not the word of the Lord. They don't read their Bibles and they don't apply the truths found therin to everyday life. Jesus declared 'the truth shall set you free'. PErhaps, the reason so many are still bound is the truth is not know nor accepted.
The performin of miracles is found in a man of God. This woman exclaimis this because of the evidence that is placed in front of her, her child was restored. Now remember, Elijah is in hiding, he is being protected from Ahab as the duration of the drought continues. God is allowing for time to take its toll on the Israelites because of the sin of Jeroboam and the sin of Ahab. And while this time is going forth, the Lord has provided for Elijah by the brook and with this widow woman. Two characteristics is noted here: Now by this I know that thou art a man of God - word study, to know; She knew by the power of God demonstrated right before her eyes. Is there evidence around us of this power? the church is weak, the ministers are weak and the power is lacking. Sharing of answered prayers is almost a grief to me, because the way people perceive the testimony. They do not give glory to God, but they look with skepticism and unbelief. This woman bases everything of her perception about Elijah on this one event. I fear too many are of the same mindset. When they get what they want then they will believe God. And if they don't get it then they excuse themselves to say, "There is no God", simiply because they didn't get their selfsih desires. There is evidence within the people of God, God does answer prayer, God does show Himself mighty for His people. The man of God should be leading in this. But this is all based on his walk with the Lord. If he has no walk, he has no power. If he is in sin, the Lord will not hear him. The power in a man or the church is shut off for one reason, sin dwells within. Remove the sin, ask for the power to return, for the glory of God. 2. And that the word of the Lord in thy mouth is truth - not the word of man, but the word of the Lord is truth; The two get interchanged and mixed up quite often. We become reliant on tradition and vani repetitions of what the Lord has said and what He is saying. For example, I know many people that can recite the Lord's prayer, for they do so in many church servcies every Sunday. They have learned it, they can recite it, but the meaning and practise of it, they do not do, it is a vani repetition. This is the sin of 'saying prayer', they recite what they always recite and never speak in truth. For how can we ask the Lord to forgive us our sins, when we know there is sin toward someone else and we know that we must make right with them first? We don't, we go ahead and ask for forgiveness and ease our conscience because we 'said' our prayers. But this is not truth, for truth is secured and based upon one's thoughts and intents of the heart. Elijah spoke and the child was raised, that is power in speech. At least, this womoan recognized it as the 'word of the Lord'. Too many in churches know not the word of the Lord. They don't read their Bibles and they don't apply the truths found therin to everyday life. Jesus declared 'the truth shall set you free'. PErhaps, the reason so many are still bound is the truth is not know nor accepted.
Monday, July 13, 2009
I Kings 16:33
"And Ahab made a grove, and Ahab did more to provoke the Lord God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel that were before him."
Just previously in verse 30, we read of Ahab's father, Omri, who did more evil than all the others. Now we come to Ahab and we read this of his account. Is there not a progression of evil? In my book, "The Continuance of Evil" there is that concept of evil spreading and growing. It feeds off the other evil that has gone before it. A son becomes more evil than the father; a society submerges into greater evil than the one before it because it devours all the evil at hand and adds to it. and Ahab made a grove - word study, made; Jeroboam had already made false gods and now he added to it, the making of a grove to false worship. I find this to be the sad testimony of many people today. They have made a grove in their life. They worship self, money, entertainment, family, work, and wordly possessions. they bow down to it and replace God with their own desires and lusts. these are the lost souls of the earth, this is not about the saints or the church. But it is for the church to understand that when such things are being worshiped and bowed down to, the last half of this verse may becoming to fruition. and Ahab did more to provoke the Lord God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Istrael that were before him - he is declared to be the worst of the worst, the most evil and the most provoking to God; Why stand and provoke God blatantly to wrath? Surely they would know they cannot win such an attempt, but they are blind and they do not know Whom they are offending. But a genertaion that provokes God will continue to enlarge their evil if their path is not turned aroung to salvation and restoring broken relationship with the Lord. And so we see the truth here, Omri was wicked, but Ahab was far worse, the worst of all the kings. What is prepared for such? Oh, look upon the evil men of this generation, what is prepared for them? How shall they escape the wrath of God? God has said, "They that despise Me, I will repay them to their face". Look upon the land and see how it has despised Him and provoked Him to great anger. Their laws, their practices, their values, their habits, the use of their time and on and on it goes of how they have provoked Him. Shall He not answer? Yea, even now; He begins to unleash a wave of wrath upon the land. Terrorists actions, devastations, weather disasters and economic woes, and is this the end? No because they have done more to provoke God than any other generation before them, He will upend these that have sought to dsihonor Him. The next judgment will be worse than the last and so on and so on until we are destroyed or repent. And what is the church's role? there were 7,000 that had not followed after ahab and all his evil. God has His remnant even today, but what are we doing to stop this, to curb this, to rid the land of its evil. The church is doing what? is it praying? is it studying to show itself approved unto God? is it not forsaking the assembly of itselves together? Is it evangelizing? Such a small effort is being put forth with so much evil present. May God awaken us to the task at hand and be busy about His work. At the beginning of the next chapter, we see God's answer to the most wicked king ever, here comes Elijah. 'The effectual prayer of a righteous man avails much' and elijah was that man who prevailed against the evils of Ahab and brought Israel back from the growth of evil in the nation. Where is Elijah today?
Just previously in verse 30, we read of Ahab's father, Omri, who did more evil than all the others. Now we come to Ahab and we read this of his account. Is there not a progression of evil? In my book, "The Continuance of Evil" there is that concept of evil spreading and growing. It feeds off the other evil that has gone before it. A son becomes more evil than the father; a society submerges into greater evil than the one before it because it devours all the evil at hand and adds to it. and Ahab made a grove - word study, made; Jeroboam had already made false gods and now he added to it, the making of a grove to false worship. I find this to be the sad testimony of many people today. They have made a grove in their life. They worship self, money, entertainment, family, work, and wordly possessions. they bow down to it and replace God with their own desires and lusts. these are the lost souls of the earth, this is not about the saints or the church. But it is for the church to understand that when such things are being worshiped and bowed down to, the last half of this verse may becoming to fruition. and Ahab did more to provoke the Lord God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Istrael that were before him - he is declared to be the worst of the worst, the most evil and the most provoking to God; Why stand and provoke God blatantly to wrath? Surely they would know they cannot win such an attempt, but they are blind and they do not know Whom they are offending. But a genertaion that provokes God will continue to enlarge their evil if their path is not turned aroung to salvation and restoring broken relationship with the Lord. And so we see the truth here, Omri was wicked, but Ahab was far worse, the worst of all the kings. What is prepared for such? Oh, look upon the evil men of this generation, what is prepared for them? How shall they escape the wrath of God? God has said, "They that despise Me, I will repay them to their face". Look upon the land and see how it has despised Him and provoked Him to great anger. Their laws, their practices, their values, their habits, the use of their time and on and on it goes of how they have provoked Him. Shall He not answer? Yea, even now; He begins to unleash a wave of wrath upon the land. Terrorists actions, devastations, weather disasters and economic woes, and is this the end? No because they have done more to provoke God than any other generation before them, He will upend these that have sought to dsihonor Him. The next judgment will be worse than the last and so on and so on until we are destroyed or repent. And what is the church's role? there were 7,000 that had not followed after ahab and all his evil. God has His remnant even today, but what are we doing to stop this, to curb this, to rid the land of its evil. The church is doing what? is it praying? is it studying to show itself approved unto God? is it not forsaking the assembly of itselves together? Is it evangelizing? Such a small effort is being put forth with so much evil present. May God awaken us to the task at hand and be busy about His work. At the beginning of the next chapter, we see God's answer to the most wicked king ever, here comes Elijah. 'The effectual prayer of a righteous man avails much' and elijah was that man who prevailed against the evils of Ahab and brought Israel back from the growth of evil in the nation. Where is Elijah today?
Sunday, July 12, 2009
I Kings 15:12
"And he took away the sodomites out of the land, and removed all the idols tha this fathers had made."
Asa is described as a good king that followed the ways of David until the end of his life. His father, Abijam, had reigned only a short time and then Asa came in to rule. But let us look upon this text for what it reveals about the situation of that day and compare it to our own. David and Solomon had reigned for 80 years and primarily, except for the collapse of Solomon at the end, they worshipped and taught the people to fear God. But after the division of Rehoboam and the short reign he had, during his days we read in chapter 14 that sodomites lived in the land. How quick does the wicked rise up! But again, it is always a progression. We see Solomon bring in the false gods of his wives and then they offer sacrifice. Sin is a breeding groud for more sin. And now the evil spirals out of control toward sodomy. This perversion is one of the worse, for it not only goes against holiness, but against the natural order of creation. And so as quickly as the worship fo the Lord is deferred to other false gods, the evil sets in among the people. Now what is the problem with this? Usually it is not that generation that must deal with the rebuke of the Lord, but the next generation that comes. And now Asa is king, and he must deal with this wickedness and evil that is present and he took away the sodomites out of the land - the best thing is to remove it completely. Our land will not do it. We have become so allowing of anyone and everyone's sin, we will allow anything to go on. And as our society plummets into hell, again, it is the next generation that will reap the whirlwind of our iniquities. How weak and evil we are in our approach of holiness. Just be happy, the world says; but the Lord says, 'Be holy'. and a holy christian is a happy Christian; but just because someone is happy may not mean they are holy. He removed them completely out of the land to restore holiness. Sin must be put away completely in our lives to restore holiness. do not allow for it to linger close at hand, where it will be a temptation and enticement. when Potiphar's wife set her eyes on Joseph and caught hold of him, he cried out, "How can I do this great evil against my God?" and then he ran for his life. Fleeing may need to happen sometimes. Be wise in this, brethern. And removed all the idols that his fathers had made - word study, made; Here is the son and granson, cleaning up the mess of his forefathers. How much will our children and grandchildren need to clean up of ours? WE allow it, we permit it, we encourage it; but when the Lord purifies His church all this will need to be made right. For how can the Lord, Who cannot lie, say to the church, "Well done",if we are not doing well? He must cleanse us before us return, He must prepare His bride. And we read those words in Hebrews, that there will be another great shaking to restore the witness of the church to what God intended anddesired. Cast out, remove, destroy and vanquish the evil, labor to do the works that God called us to. Recognizing the sin is hard in this day for some. We have grown up with a set standard of 'Well we have always done this'. And because we have lived with it, we do not recognize it as sin. We do not know God and therefore, we cannot see as He sees. But His Holy Spirit will teach us the right from the wrong, the holy fromt he unholy and the pure from the defiled. then we must confess and repent and remove the idols of our fathers, taking away the sin that is the lust of the eyes, the pride of life and the lust of the flesh. Pray and seek for the Lord's holiness to abide and sustain His bride. Pray that we be purified and do the work as Asa did to ride the land of evil. Let us remember that if we don't, then somebody has to pay the price of inqiutiy. Already we begin to see the signs of that. Pray, yea, more than pray - Prevail!
Asa is described as a good king that followed the ways of David until the end of his life. His father, Abijam, had reigned only a short time and then Asa came in to rule. But let us look upon this text for what it reveals about the situation of that day and compare it to our own. David and Solomon had reigned for 80 years and primarily, except for the collapse of Solomon at the end, they worshipped and taught the people to fear God. But after the division of Rehoboam and the short reign he had, during his days we read in chapter 14 that sodomites lived in the land. How quick does the wicked rise up! But again, it is always a progression. We see Solomon bring in the false gods of his wives and then they offer sacrifice. Sin is a breeding groud for more sin. And now the evil spirals out of control toward sodomy. This perversion is one of the worse, for it not only goes against holiness, but against the natural order of creation. And so as quickly as the worship fo the Lord is deferred to other false gods, the evil sets in among the people. Now what is the problem with this? Usually it is not that generation that must deal with the rebuke of the Lord, but the next generation that comes. And now Asa is king, and he must deal with this wickedness and evil that is present and he took away the sodomites out of the land - the best thing is to remove it completely. Our land will not do it. We have become so allowing of anyone and everyone's sin, we will allow anything to go on. And as our society plummets into hell, again, it is the next generation that will reap the whirlwind of our iniquities. How weak and evil we are in our approach of holiness. Just be happy, the world says; but the Lord says, 'Be holy'. and a holy christian is a happy Christian; but just because someone is happy may not mean they are holy. He removed them completely out of the land to restore holiness. Sin must be put away completely in our lives to restore holiness. do not allow for it to linger close at hand, where it will be a temptation and enticement. when Potiphar's wife set her eyes on Joseph and caught hold of him, he cried out, "How can I do this great evil against my God?" and then he ran for his life. Fleeing may need to happen sometimes. Be wise in this, brethern. And removed all the idols that his fathers had made - word study, made; Here is the son and granson, cleaning up the mess of his forefathers. How much will our children and grandchildren need to clean up of ours? WE allow it, we permit it, we encourage it; but when the Lord purifies His church all this will need to be made right. For how can the Lord, Who cannot lie, say to the church, "Well done",if we are not doing well? He must cleanse us before us return, He must prepare His bride. And we read those words in Hebrews, that there will be another great shaking to restore the witness of the church to what God intended anddesired. Cast out, remove, destroy and vanquish the evil, labor to do the works that God called us to. Recognizing the sin is hard in this day for some. We have grown up with a set standard of 'Well we have always done this'. And because we have lived with it, we do not recognize it as sin. We do not know God and therefore, we cannot see as He sees. But His Holy Spirit will teach us the right from the wrong, the holy fromt he unholy and the pure from the defiled. then we must confess and repent and remove the idols of our fathers, taking away the sin that is the lust of the eyes, the pride of life and the lust of the flesh. Pray and seek for the Lord's holiness to abide and sustain His bride. Pray that we be purified and do the work as Asa did to ride the land of evil. Let us remember that if we don't, then somebody has to pay the price of inqiutiy. Already we begin to see the signs of that. Pray, yea, more than pray - Prevail!
I Kings 14:16
"And he shall give Israel up because of the sins of Jeroboam, who did sin, and who made Israel to sin."
As was the sin of Adam and Eve in the beginning, that afflicted all humanity; so now, the sin of Jeroboam now affects all the childre of Israel. We must remember that out of this hosts of people, for it was a nation, there was those that did not agree with Jeoboam, but they did nothing. This is the greater sin. Then there was a hosts of them that did nto agree and picked up and went into the land of Judah. And he shall give Israel up - what does anyone do, when God says He will give them up?; word study, to give; Oh, men forsake and people disappoint, but when compared to a faithful, merciful God there is no hope for such. God's nature is to aid, to help and to rescue, but when sin has broken the bonds and severed the people from their God, they are left to their own deluge. God give them up to their own fate. Now think of this for oursevles, what if God had given us up? Where would we be? Would we not already be destroyed and ravaged by this world? For when God gives them up, SAtan stands ready to do his best work. For as long as God is present, there is protection and delvierance from the devil's onslaught. What shall we say of a family that God has given them up to their sins? How long shall they last? Will there even be another generation? No, it ends and is wiped from the oracles of history, they cease to be. (Weigh the magnitutude of that) - cease to be; And what shall we say of a nation that God gives them up to their ways of sin and evil? Will they not quickly perish from off the eart? Every empire and nation that has not honored the Lord, and even, this, His own children of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, did He given them up to their sinful ways of destruction. for the wages of sin is death. Because of the sins of Jerobaom - his continued curse for the two calfs placed in Israel to replace God; His sin was no small sin, it affected a nation of people. It affected history itself. Let no one ever consider their sin, "Well, it isn't hurting anyone else. It is just my sin." Sin reaps the whirlwind of suffering,d estruction and shame. The sins of one man did this, and how much more does our sin affect those around us? Oh, the weight of this that our sins affect others; one person's sins affects everything around their life: health, wealth, children, neighbors, church, nation, everything. Who did sin - It is declared here that sin is present; Too many want to skirt the issue of what is sin. Others do not want to beleive it is wrong, but under the eyes of the Lord it is sin. There is no whitewashing, no color coating, it is sin. Of Jeroboam, 'you sinned against the Lord'; of Israel, 'they sinned against the Lord'; and of us? 'we have sinned against the Lord'; of God's church, 'they have sinned against the Lord'. We are a wicked people in the sight of the Lord. let us cast off this sin, the sin that does so easily beset us and live holy, righteous and faithful unto Him. And let this phrase, 'Who did sin', be turned to 'Who was holy unto the Lord'. And who made israel to sin - word study, made; He made them? He set up the altar, the images and mandated the worship of the calfs as god. He forced the people to sin in this and they like sheep went along to the slaughter of his own devices. How many follow along and never consider the work of one's man sin? The choices that are made that last a lifetime. It is all accounted for and for nothing else but the grace of God are we able to survive. He made them to sin and the people did obey it. The people have a responsiblity also, to speak, to act against such things that are contrary to the known will of God. And if people look for justification to speak against rulers, against nations, then let us see the destruction that is spoken of here and later on recorded that God gives them up for a people that is apathetic and silent. That which is sown will be reaped. We chose what we want to reap; the blessings fo the Lord or the punishment of the Lord?
As was the sin of Adam and Eve in the beginning, that afflicted all humanity; so now, the sin of Jeroboam now affects all the childre of Israel. We must remember that out of this hosts of people, for it was a nation, there was those that did not agree with Jeoboam, but they did nothing. This is the greater sin. Then there was a hosts of them that did nto agree and picked up and went into the land of Judah. And he shall give Israel up - what does anyone do, when God says He will give them up?; word study, to give; Oh, men forsake and people disappoint, but when compared to a faithful, merciful God there is no hope for such. God's nature is to aid, to help and to rescue, but when sin has broken the bonds and severed the people from their God, they are left to their own deluge. God give them up to their own fate. Now think of this for oursevles, what if God had given us up? Where would we be? Would we not already be destroyed and ravaged by this world? For when God gives them up, SAtan stands ready to do his best work. For as long as God is present, there is protection and delvierance from the devil's onslaught. What shall we say of a family that God has given them up to their sins? How long shall they last? Will there even be another generation? No, it ends and is wiped from the oracles of history, they cease to be. (Weigh the magnitutude of that) - cease to be; And what shall we say of a nation that God gives them up to their ways of sin and evil? Will they not quickly perish from off the eart? Every empire and nation that has not honored the Lord, and even, this, His own children of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, did He given them up to their sinful ways of destruction. for the wages of sin is death. Because of the sins of Jerobaom - his continued curse for the two calfs placed in Israel to replace God; His sin was no small sin, it affected a nation of people. It affected history itself. Let no one ever consider their sin, "Well, it isn't hurting anyone else. It is just my sin." Sin reaps the whirlwind of suffering,d estruction and shame. The sins of one man did this, and how much more does our sin affect those around us? Oh, the weight of this that our sins affect others; one person's sins affects everything around their life: health, wealth, children, neighbors, church, nation, everything. Who did sin - It is declared here that sin is present; Too many want to skirt the issue of what is sin. Others do not want to beleive it is wrong, but under the eyes of the Lord it is sin. There is no whitewashing, no color coating, it is sin. Of Jeroboam, 'you sinned against the Lord'; of Israel, 'they sinned against the Lord'; and of us? 'we have sinned against the Lord'; of God's church, 'they have sinned against the Lord'. We are a wicked people in the sight of the Lord. let us cast off this sin, the sin that does so easily beset us and live holy, righteous and faithful unto Him. And let this phrase, 'Who did sin', be turned to 'Who was holy unto the Lord'. And who made israel to sin - word study, made; He made them? He set up the altar, the images and mandated the worship of the calfs as god. He forced the people to sin in this and they like sheep went along to the slaughter of his own devices. How many follow along and never consider the work of one's man sin? The choices that are made that last a lifetime. It is all accounted for and for nothing else but the grace of God are we able to survive. He made them to sin and the people did obey it. The people have a responsiblity also, to speak, to act against such things that are contrary to the known will of God. And if people look for justification to speak against rulers, against nations, then let us see the destruction that is spoken of here and later on recorded that God gives them up for a people that is apathetic and silent. That which is sown will be reaped. We chose what we want to reap; the blessings fo the Lord or the punishment of the Lord?
Friday, July 10, 2009
I Kings 13:6
"And the king answered and said unto the man of God, Entreat now the face of the Lord thy God, and pray for me, that my hand may be restored me again. and the mand of God besought the Lord, and the king's hand was restored him again, and became as it was before."
The chapter of the 'Old Prophet'. A sermon that me and my father have savored for years of the young prophet and the old prophet. I never would have dreamed how relevant it would become in the current status of the SBC. But for me, it was always a warning of what not to allow, nor of what to become. The young prophet had come out of Judah to denounce the altar, the image and the king of Israel. the king stretched out his hand to issue a command to seize the young man. And when he did, his hand dried up so that he could not draw it into him. The altar was also upended and the ashes poured out. And the king answered and said unto the man of God - answered him for what? the prophet had said nothing to him; Was there more dialogue between the two? One of those unknowable answers until we are home. Entreat now the face of the Lord thy god - when peopel get in trouble and difficulties arise, they want prayer warriors to call out on their behalf; Notice the term, 'Thy God'; not "My God', but 'thy', a pvery revealing thought of personal relationship. Listen to people of how they refer to our God, by the pronoun that they use. But he is being asked to 'entreat the Lord'. You and I are given a great opportunity to entreat Him. Let us be constant at it and not miss the opportunity. Pray for me - it is rare but the doors do open at times, when we are called upon to do such thingss; And even though prayer be the most neglected resource of God's people, we are still beseeched to pray. Let us not forget the weight that is set upon us for prayer. the whole human race is in need of an intercessor. Those that are in sin and lost, need a prayer; those that are hurting, need a prayer; those that need answers, need a prayer; those that are sick and dying, need a prayer; those families that are crumbling, need a prayer; Oh, how many need a prayer. Are you praying? Are you holding up the brothers and sisters in Chrsit? Are you crying out to God for the lost? Are you offer prayer for a nation? Samuel said it and we should echo it: 'God forbid it me, that I should cease praying for you'. And what shall I say to those that read these words, "Pray for me". that my hand may be restored me again - God was going to judge the people over his sins and when he asks for prayer, what is it for? It is for his hand to be restored. Does this not reveal his true selfish interest? He cares not for the things of God, only for his own selfish ends. But let us see at least his faith. He believed that the prophet was able to restore his hand. too many are skeptical and unbelieving of God's own people let alone the lost, and wretched to believe that He is able to do all things, including restoring a hand to physical health. And the man of God besought the Lord - the young prophet in the midst of his task grants this petition of mercy; We msut tell the truth to those around us, they are lost and perishing and sinking into hell. Let us not lose heart to say, "Well, let them sink, they deserve it". For we all deserve it, let us beseech Him for them. They are afflicted and in darkness, 'and such were some of you', let us cry out ot God for them. The greater work of God is always done, when we see this act of mercy demonstrate to those that are being judged by God. God's anger was against Jeroboam and the people, and yet when afflicted and prayed for, God heals and restores. Does this not show how merciful and gracious He is? Let us never doubt that God desires to show Himself merciful to those that don't deserve it. And the king's hand was restored him again, and became as it was before - who else is able to do such things, but our God; He is able to to restore for He is the Creator and Sustainer of all things. Look upon His great works and consider His desire toward us and this present world. Is it not to heal and restore our broken relationship? Let us cry out to him to heal us again. We are blighted, marred, crippled, vexed and we deserve it all, yet He is merciful to heal. 'Will You not revive us again, O Lord?" I will entreat Him, pray unto Him for them, beseech the Lord for His mercies which fail not; and wait for Him Who is able to do all things and see if He will not bless and heal us again for His glory.
The chapter of the 'Old Prophet'. A sermon that me and my father have savored for years of the young prophet and the old prophet. I never would have dreamed how relevant it would become in the current status of the SBC. But for me, it was always a warning of what not to allow, nor of what to become. The young prophet had come out of Judah to denounce the altar, the image and the king of Israel. the king stretched out his hand to issue a command to seize the young man. And when he did, his hand dried up so that he could not draw it into him. The altar was also upended and the ashes poured out. And the king answered and said unto the man of God - answered him for what? the prophet had said nothing to him; Was there more dialogue between the two? One of those unknowable answers until we are home. Entreat now the face of the Lord thy god - when peopel get in trouble and difficulties arise, they want prayer warriors to call out on their behalf; Notice the term, 'Thy God'; not "My God', but 'thy', a pvery revealing thought of personal relationship. Listen to people of how they refer to our God, by the pronoun that they use. But he is being asked to 'entreat the Lord'. You and I are given a great opportunity to entreat Him. Let us be constant at it and not miss the opportunity. Pray for me - it is rare but the doors do open at times, when we are called upon to do such thingss; And even though prayer be the most neglected resource of God's people, we are still beseeched to pray. Let us not forget the weight that is set upon us for prayer. the whole human race is in need of an intercessor. Those that are in sin and lost, need a prayer; those that are hurting, need a prayer; those that need answers, need a prayer; those that are sick and dying, need a prayer; those families that are crumbling, need a prayer; Oh, how many need a prayer. Are you praying? Are you holding up the brothers and sisters in Chrsit? Are you crying out to God for the lost? Are you offer prayer for a nation? Samuel said it and we should echo it: 'God forbid it me, that I should cease praying for you'. And what shall I say to those that read these words, "Pray for me". that my hand may be restored me again - God was going to judge the people over his sins and when he asks for prayer, what is it for? It is for his hand to be restored. Does this not reveal his true selfish interest? He cares not for the things of God, only for his own selfish ends. But let us see at least his faith. He believed that the prophet was able to restore his hand. too many are skeptical and unbelieving of God's own people let alone the lost, and wretched to believe that He is able to do all things, including restoring a hand to physical health. And the man of God besought the Lord - the young prophet in the midst of his task grants this petition of mercy; We msut tell the truth to those around us, they are lost and perishing and sinking into hell. Let us not lose heart to say, "Well, let them sink, they deserve it". For we all deserve it, let us beseech Him for them. They are afflicted and in darkness, 'and such were some of you', let us cry out ot God for them. The greater work of God is always done, when we see this act of mercy demonstrate to those that are being judged by God. God's anger was against Jeroboam and the people, and yet when afflicted and prayed for, God heals and restores. Does this not show how merciful and gracious He is? Let us never doubt that God desires to show Himself merciful to those that don't deserve it. And the king's hand was restored him again, and became as it was before - who else is able to do such things, but our God; He is able to to restore for He is the Creator and Sustainer of all things. Look upon His great works and consider His desire toward us and this present world. Is it not to heal and restore our broken relationship? Let us cry out to him to heal us again. We are blighted, marred, crippled, vexed and we deserve it all, yet He is merciful to heal. 'Will You not revive us again, O Lord?" I will entreat Him, pray unto Him for them, beseech the Lord for His mercies which fail not; and wait for Him Who is able to do all things and see if He will not bless and heal us again for His glory.
I Kings 12:30
"And this thing became a sin: for the people went to worship before the one, even unto Dan."
"The Continual Mark of Sin"; jeroboam had become king, given the opportunity to rule and reign like David. But alas!, what did he do, within his first acts as king, he made false idols and utterly led the people away from God. and is this a little thing? No, it is found throughout the rest of the history of the kings of Israel, 'Who sinned against the Lord with the sins of Jeroboam, who made Israel to sin.' How would you like that for your ephitah for ever and ever? And this thing became a sin - two calfs set in two cities, dan and Bethel; Idol worship is set quicly before the people, and they rejected going to the house of the Lord in Jerusaleum, because Jeroboam was afraid that the people would turn back to the house of Judah and reject him. Pride and vanity is the source of this sinful fall. The Lord had promised him that he would be established if he served the Lord like David. But this became a sin, a continual sin, generation after generation, leading the people astray. ARe we able to see what has become sin in our own land? Entertainment, materialism, money, time, family, love of self, are the things that have been set up in place of God Almighty. These are the things our time, money and interest are given to. These are the things that have become sin. And as long as we have these false gods ruling and reigning in our lives, we cannot be serving the Lord. We cannot be blest nor walking worhty and holy as the Lord has called us. What of your own personal life? What has become sin to you? What is it that when your mind roams, it lands on? What occupies your time? What takes your money? What is the love of your heart? If it is not the Lord, it has become a sin. Cast it away, destroy before you have the title imparted to Jeroboam for the rest of your existing memory. For the people went to worship before the one - word study, went; There was only one place the people were to worship, the temple of the Lord. They immediately began false worship. Is there not much false worship today? They enter the house of the Lord, yet they know not the God in whom they are worshipping? They know not His voice; they know not His attritubtes; there is no personal relationship between the Lord and them. We have forgotten our God and turned and worshipped wrongly. When we read in REvelation the angelic hosts and how they worship the Lord, does it not burn within us to say, 'Give me a glimpse at how to worship Him in trueness and glorifying unto Him.'? And let us see the whole truth of this, it was not just a few or small group, it says, 'the people'. An entire hosts of the people went after this false god. And yet, we are quick to remember the great sin of Ahab and Jezebel, that where Israel was falsely worshipping this one, Ahab gave them Baal and this one. He multiplied their inquity. Seea and behold the wickedness of the people as they go off Sunday after Sunday to worship the sun god, the water god, the ball god and any thing else besides the One True God. Let us understand that when Jeroboam came to be king he instituted all of this fasle worship in a quick time frame. And so it is that our nation, and people are worshipping something that only recently has been set up in our nation. These things that take us away from the house of the Lord on Sunday have only in the last 30 years been established, it has not always been this way. And let me be quick to remind you again of this truth: David reigned 40 years; Solomon reigned 40 years and Jeroboam and Rehoboam have only begun to reign in our text; How quickly was the fall in this 80 years? They went from ruling the world and God fulfilling all that He promised to them, to be sinful and wicked in this sin of Jeroboam and that which Solomon had allowed in his later years. Guard against any thing that takes us away from the straight and narrow. Pray unceasinly that God would be merciful and restore us to where we should be before Him. Speak the truth to those around that there would be a witness born before the people of what the Lord has said and what is expected. Cast off the works of darkness for we are vessels of light and salt in this present world. But if the salt have lost its savor, wherein shall it profit?
"The Continual Mark of Sin"; jeroboam had become king, given the opportunity to rule and reign like David. But alas!, what did he do, within his first acts as king, he made false idols and utterly led the people away from God. and is this a little thing? No, it is found throughout the rest of the history of the kings of Israel, 'Who sinned against the Lord with the sins of Jeroboam, who made Israel to sin.' How would you like that for your ephitah for ever and ever? And this thing became a sin - two calfs set in two cities, dan and Bethel; Idol worship is set quicly before the people, and they rejected going to the house of the Lord in Jerusaleum, because Jeroboam was afraid that the people would turn back to the house of Judah and reject him. Pride and vanity is the source of this sinful fall. The Lord had promised him that he would be established if he served the Lord like David. But this became a sin, a continual sin, generation after generation, leading the people astray. ARe we able to see what has become sin in our own land? Entertainment, materialism, money, time, family, love of self, are the things that have been set up in place of God Almighty. These are the things our time, money and interest are given to. These are the things that have become sin. And as long as we have these false gods ruling and reigning in our lives, we cannot be serving the Lord. We cannot be blest nor walking worhty and holy as the Lord has called us. What of your own personal life? What has become sin to you? What is it that when your mind roams, it lands on? What occupies your time? What takes your money? What is the love of your heart? If it is not the Lord, it has become a sin. Cast it away, destroy before you have the title imparted to Jeroboam for the rest of your existing memory. For the people went to worship before the one - word study, went; There was only one place the people were to worship, the temple of the Lord. They immediately began false worship. Is there not much false worship today? They enter the house of the Lord, yet they know not the God in whom they are worshipping? They know not His voice; they know not His attritubtes; there is no personal relationship between the Lord and them. We have forgotten our God and turned and worshipped wrongly. When we read in REvelation the angelic hosts and how they worship the Lord, does it not burn within us to say, 'Give me a glimpse at how to worship Him in trueness and glorifying unto Him.'? And let us see the whole truth of this, it was not just a few or small group, it says, 'the people'. An entire hosts of the people went after this false god. And yet, we are quick to remember the great sin of Ahab and Jezebel, that where Israel was falsely worshipping this one, Ahab gave them Baal and this one. He multiplied their inquity. Seea and behold the wickedness of the people as they go off Sunday after Sunday to worship the sun god, the water god, the ball god and any thing else besides the One True God. Let us understand that when Jeroboam came to be king he instituted all of this fasle worship in a quick time frame. And so it is that our nation, and people are worshipping something that only recently has been set up in our nation. These things that take us away from the house of the Lord on Sunday have only in the last 30 years been established, it has not always been this way. And let me be quick to remind you again of this truth: David reigned 40 years; Solomon reigned 40 years and Jeroboam and Rehoboam have only begun to reign in our text; How quickly was the fall in this 80 years? They went from ruling the world and God fulfilling all that He promised to them, to be sinful and wicked in this sin of Jeroboam and that which Solomon had allowed in his later years. Guard against any thing that takes us away from the straight and narrow. Pray unceasinly that God would be merciful and restore us to where we should be before Him. Speak the truth to those around that there would be a witness born before the people of what the Lord has said and what is expected. Cast off the works of darkness for we are vessels of light and salt in this present world. But if the salt have lost its savor, wherein shall it profit?
Thursday, July 9, 2009
I Kings 11:4
"For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father."
Only 3 chapters earlier, Solomon was praying before the Lord that the people would be perfect bewfore the Lord in all their ways. Now, we see how quickly one can fall away. For it came to pass - word study, to come; Events of life flow from one to the other. Days move forward and time clicks along. These events lead from one point to the next, until something happens of significance. What came to pass? that solomon's age caught up with him and his actions were not right with the Lord. When Solomon was old - we age, and the years move along; Youth withers away and age teaches us to number our days. Not all learn how to grow old, they just become old. Solomon allowed age to blind him and allow things, that no doubt, he never would have allowed in younger years of life. Let us not be foolish to think that old age will protect us from the devil's attacks. His wives turned away his heart after other gods - how? I allow my mind to much to dwell on this. I wonder how a man that was so blest by God could allow for others to turn hm away from the Lord. What happened? How do you guard against such things? Why do we allow such things? But nevertheless he had over 1000 women pulling at him, and this was not meant to be. Diversions is Satan's masterful tatic. And this must have been a continaul barage of assaults for Solomon to divert his attention to each one of them and give audience to these false gods. And slowly but surely, they swept him away from a whole hearted zeal for God. And then, it was too late. And his heart was not perfect with the Lord his God - Deuteronomy 18:14, "Thou shalt be perfect with the Lord thy God". there is no room for anything less than what the Lord has decreed and desires. The heart is desperately wicked and prone to evil ways. we must guard it harder than normally, for it was Satan is shooting at. Weaken our hearts and our will will follow suit. Sinking sand is the fact that once he began to fall there was no time, nor strength for hims to recover. What say you of your own self? aRe you sinking? Are you perfect with the Lord? Too many Christians don't even want to discuss this word nor give place to it in our devotion to Christ. Too far away from Him we are and not willing to die completely to self in order to be perfect. And for the rare Chrsitians that have and are perfect with Him, they are a rare gem of delight and greatly pleasing to our beloved Lord and Savior. But to many in the church today have this description of their walk with the Lord, they are not perfect. The Lord does not except such halfheartedness, lukewarmness and unyieldedness. We learn tha tSolomon paid the price for it, and his descendants. Let us not think that we shall escape. We must follow the whole command of the Lord and not pick an dchose what we would do. As was the heart of David his father - comparison of father and son; And who are we in comparison with? Does our children follow after us? Does our walk influence others? the father was perfect with the Lord and the son was to follow suit. But far too often, there is one perfect and the next is ungodly. One walks rightly and the other is out of step. There is no consistencey in this matter. There are too many comparison of the church oracles that I would love to make on this. But let it suffice to pray for the children that they walk worthy of the calling laid upon them.
Only 3 chapters earlier, Solomon was praying before the Lord that the people would be perfect bewfore the Lord in all their ways. Now, we see how quickly one can fall away. For it came to pass - word study, to come; Events of life flow from one to the other. Days move forward and time clicks along. These events lead from one point to the next, until something happens of significance. What came to pass? that solomon's age caught up with him and his actions were not right with the Lord. When Solomon was old - we age, and the years move along; Youth withers away and age teaches us to number our days. Not all learn how to grow old, they just become old. Solomon allowed age to blind him and allow things, that no doubt, he never would have allowed in younger years of life. Let us not be foolish to think that old age will protect us from the devil's attacks. His wives turned away his heart after other gods - how? I allow my mind to much to dwell on this. I wonder how a man that was so blest by God could allow for others to turn hm away from the Lord. What happened? How do you guard against such things? Why do we allow such things? But nevertheless he had over 1000 women pulling at him, and this was not meant to be. Diversions is Satan's masterful tatic. And this must have been a continaul barage of assaults for Solomon to divert his attention to each one of them and give audience to these false gods. And slowly but surely, they swept him away from a whole hearted zeal for God. And then, it was too late. And his heart was not perfect with the Lord his God - Deuteronomy 18:14, "Thou shalt be perfect with the Lord thy God". there is no room for anything less than what the Lord has decreed and desires. The heart is desperately wicked and prone to evil ways. we must guard it harder than normally, for it was Satan is shooting at. Weaken our hearts and our will will follow suit. Sinking sand is the fact that once he began to fall there was no time, nor strength for hims to recover. What say you of your own self? aRe you sinking? Are you perfect with the Lord? Too many Christians don't even want to discuss this word nor give place to it in our devotion to Christ. Too far away from Him we are and not willing to die completely to self in order to be perfect. And for the rare Chrsitians that have and are perfect with Him, they are a rare gem of delight and greatly pleasing to our beloved Lord and Savior. But to many in the church today have this description of their walk with the Lord, they are not perfect. The Lord does not except such halfheartedness, lukewarmness and unyieldedness. We learn tha tSolomon paid the price for it, and his descendants. Let us not think that we shall escape. We must follow the whole command of the Lord and not pick an dchose what we would do. As was the heart of David his father - comparison of father and son; And who are we in comparison with? Does our children follow after us? Does our walk influence others? the father was perfect with the Lord and the son was to follow suit. But far too often, there is one perfect and the next is ungodly. One walks rightly and the other is out of step. There is no consistencey in this matter. There are too many comparison of the church oracles that I would love to make on this. But let it suffice to pray for the children that they walk worthy of the calling laid upon them.
I Kings 10:7
"Howbeit I believed not the words, until I came, and mine eyes had seen it: and, behold, the half was not told me: thy wisdom and prosperity exceedeth the fame which I heard."
The queen of Sheba had come to seek for Solomon's wisdom. Two things will drive people to search: 1. curiosity, "Can it really be so?" and 2. Desire to seek truth. She had heard of all of Solomon's wisdom and was intrigued and moved so much to go out and find him and ask all that was on her heart to prove him. Howbeit I believed not the words - she had been told, but did not accept them; this is unbelief at its worst. For here is Solomon, full of wisdom, and yet thsoe that could drain him of it, will not believe. Thewords were not good enough to accept, she must go and see and hear for herself. Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things nott seen. For what is seen is not faith. Yet, we must credit her with once she heard of his wisdom, even though, she beleived not, it caused her to rise up and go and seek for him. We give to the world the words of eternal life, forgiveness of sins and hope. Many have this testimony, 'they beleive not'; yet, we know not if it will compell some soul to rise up and seek for the truth of it and find it. When we read and hear of the glory of God and His bountiful blessings of that which is and that which shall be, let us cast off any unbelief and hold fast to the truth of it. It is His Word and promises and He cannot lie, therefore, it is truth. Until I came - word study, to come;
The queen of Sheba had come to seek for Solomon's wisdom. Two things will drive people to search: 1. curiosity, "Can it really be so?" and 2. Desire to seek truth. She had heard of all of Solomon's wisdom and was intrigued and moved so much to go out and find him and ask all that was on her heart to prove him. Howbeit I believed not the words - she had been told, but did not accept them; this is unbelief at its worst. For here is Solomon, full of wisdom, and yet thsoe that could drain him of it, will not believe. Thewords were not good enough to accept, she must go and see and hear for herself. Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things nott seen. For what is seen is not faith. Yet, we must credit her with once she heard of his wisdom, even though, she beleived not, it caused her to rise up and go and seek for him. We give to the world the words of eternal life, forgiveness of sins and hope. Many have this testimony, 'they beleive not'; yet, we know not if it will compell some soul to rise up and seek for the truth of it and find it. When we read and hear of the glory of God and His bountiful blessings of that which is and that which shall be, let us cast off any unbelief and hold fast to the truth of it. It is His Word and promises and He cannot lie, therefore, it is truth. Until I came - word study, to come;
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
I Kings 9:13
"And he said, What cities are these which thou hast given me, my brother? And he called them the land of Cabul unto this day."
With all of Solomon's wisdom, he did not do so well here. Hiram had helped greatly in all that Solomon had undertaken. And to repay, an ally, a friend, was not a very good witness. When Hiram saw the land and the cities, he was displeased at them. Knowing that much timber, land and men had put forth effort to do his bidding. What cities are these which thou hast given me - great questions of the Bible; word study, to give; What is this that he has done? Were they not big enough? Why were they not pleasing to him? And what shall we say for what has been given to us? Is it enought for you? Has the Lord blest you enough or do you seek more? No doubt, He is able to do abundantly above all that we ask or thing, but are we content in whatever state we are to be happy and joyful in the Lord. Is He not able to give us cities for Hsi glory? Oh, what would that be to see the hand of God move in revival and one by one the cities be given unto us to teach, declare and lift up His great Name. Will He give us cities? Areyou praying for yours? aRe you seeking for it to be won unto Him? All things are His, then pray for the cities to be given. my brother - there was a relationship here; It goes far beyond what we consider of political allies. They had a relationship that apparently Solomon was taking advantage of. Am I my brothers keeper? Is he my brother? Who is my brother? Jesus said that those that do His work are His family. Look upon our brothers and sisters in Christ and know that He has given us one unto another for His kingdoms work. Pray, for the brethern. And he called them the land of Cabul unto this day - he named a name out of his displeasure; Much discussion and uncertainty on the name of Cabul. some ventrure it to relate to a land already named, found in Joshua. Others relate it to mean, a bounday or border. But Josephus named it 'Displease' or "Dirty', which fits the context a whole lot better. In verse 12 we note Hiram's displeasure at them; and then he calls it a name after questioning Solomon on the cities. You normally name something aftyer your emotion toward it. A name carries with it a descirption of thought, meaning and attitude toward it. Cabul meaning displease or dirty relates that emotion toward the land. And when so named it carries on, 'unto this day'.
With all of Solomon's wisdom, he did not do so well here. Hiram had helped greatly in all that Solomon had undertaken. And to repay, an ally, a friend, was not a very good witness. When Hiram saw the land and the cities, he was displeased at them. Knowing that much timber, land and men had put forth effort to do his bidding. What cities are these which thou hast given me - great questions of the Bible; word study, to give; What is this that he has done? Were they not big enough? Why were they not pleasing to him? And what shall we say for what has been given to us? Is it enought for you? Has the Lord blest you enough or do you seek more? No doubt, He is able to do abundantly above all that we ask or thing, but are we content in whatever state we are to be happy and joyful in the Lord. Is He not able to give us cities for Hsi glory? Oh, what would that be to see the hand of God move in revival and one by one the cities be given unto us to teach, declare and lift up His great Name. Will He give us cities? Areyou praying for yours? aRe you seeking for it to be won unto Him? All things are His, then pray for the cities to be given. my brother - there was a relationship here; It goes far beyond what we consider of political allies. They had a relationship that apparently Solomon was taking advantage of. Am I my brothers keeper? Is he my brother? Who is my brother? Jesus said that those that do His work are His family. Look upon our brothers and sisters in Christ and know that He has given us one unto another for His kingdoms work. Pray, for the brethern. And he called them the land of Cabul unto this day - he named a name out of his displeasure; Much discussion and uncertainty on the name of Cabul. some ventrure it to relate to a land already named, found in Joshua. Others relate it to mean, a bounday or border. But Josephus named it 'Displease' or "Dirty', which fits the context a whole lot better. In verse 12 we note Hiram's displeasure at them; and then he calls it a name after questioning Solomon on the cities. You normally name something aftyer your emotion toward it. A name carries with it a descirption of thought, meaning and attitude toward it. Cabul meaning displease or dirty relates that emotion toward the land. And when so named it carries on, 'unto this day'.
I Kings 8:10, 11
"And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house of the Lord, So that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud: for the glory of the lord had filled the house of the Lord."
WE will take two verses this time, seeing that this is all one sentence anyway. Only a comma separates at the end of verse 10. And it is a most glorious sight of God manifesting His Presence before His people. How rare the times of God coming in this manner. The study of the glory of th Lord is marvellous to behold. And it should it be the desire of God's people crying out for His glory to manifest Himself again to us. And it came to pass - word study, to come; Such an unique phrase found rarely through the Scripture; it brings us to a place in time. A moment, that others things have led to this one moment. That after all the other things have completed now they are set in motion for the will of God to be completed. After such and such events in life, 'this will come to pass'. It is the continual motion of life's events. And let us ask the question even now of our own life, What has come to pass in your life? When the priests were come out of the holy place - word study, to come, used twice in this one verse; The priests had finished carrying the ark into the holy of holies. And upon their leaving of the place, 'it came to pass'. God was now ready to take ownership of this place. When a person becomes a saved Christian, they recognize their sin, they cry out for a SAvior to save them from their sins, they confess their sins, they repent with a yielded spirit of consecration and then, 'it will come to pass' that He enters in. That the cloud filled the house of the Lord - the Presence of God was descending and filling every corner; Oh, how vast the difference between, simply entering in and filling the whole. He filled the house, for it was His'. It is the same reference used throughout Scripture that when God descended the cloud was covering. For no man shall see the Lord and live. The cloud descended on Mount sinai; the cloud descended on the mount of trasfiguration. It is His manifested Presence. It should be our desrie to seek for such an entire filling of our temples. 'Know you not that your bodies are the temple of God'. then let Him fill and have all of us. Nothing left untouched by His great hand of mercy, power and holiness. so that the priest coudl not stand to minister because of the cloud - it was a time to cease religious activity and busyness and be still; when God comes in such times and manners, God's people are to adore and worship. You cannot continue on with our orthodoxy and relious activity fo motion. Let the work cease and lie low in His Presence. The accounts of the Hebrides revival was that when God descended, (although, not in a cloud), the people ceases from all work to gather in unity before Him. Many laid low, foudn confessing and crying out for mercy. Oh, to see the days againt where the work ceases and God is glorified. And let us be honest, at such times God does more in those days than all the decades that proceeded it with the church's activity. The holiness of the cloud, which contained God's Divine Presence drove the men from the place. He owned and occupied now, it was holy. For wherever the Lord is, holiness is present. and if it be not holy, then it is Ichabod. What say you of your church? Which is it? What say you of your home? What about your vessel, your life? Whose is it and what are you doing for Him? The glory of the Lord had filled the house of the Lord - the house was built to draw people into a right relationship to Him, He must fill it; It is no different with us, the glory of the Lord must fill us and have all of us. Enter into the church, He must fill it and own it, it msut be His'. This is the most neglected and sought after aspect in the Scripture, 'the glory of the Lord'. But it should be our very most desried end. We msut pray for this, seek it, desire it and give ourselves for it, until it comes to pass.
WE will take two verses this time, seeing that this is all one sentence anyway. Only a comma separates at the end of verse 10. And it is a most glorious sight of God manifesting His Presence before His people. How rare the times of God coming in this manner. The study of the glory of th Lord is marvellous to behold. And it should it be the desire of God's people crying out for His glory to manifest Himself again to us. And it came to pass - word study, to come; Such an unique phrase found rarely through the Scripture; it brings us to a place in time. A moment, that others things have led to this one moment. That after all the other things have completed now they are set in motion for the will of God to be completed. After such and such events in life, 'this will come to pass'. It is the continual motion of life's events. And let us ask the question even now of our own life, What has come to pass in your life? When the priests were come out of the holy place - word study, to come, used twice in this one verse; The priests had finished carrying the ark into the holy of holies. And upon their leaving of the place, 'it came to pass'. God was now ready to take ownership of this place. When a person becomes a saved Christian, they recognize their sin, they cry out for a SAvior to save them from their sins, they confess their sins, they repent with a yielded spirit of consecration and then, 'it will come to pass' that He enters in. That the cloud filled the house of the Lord - the Presence of God was descending and filling every corner; Oh, how vast the difference between, simply entering in and filling the whole. He filled the house, for it was His'. It is the same reference used throughout Scripture that when God descended the cloud was covering. For no man shall see the Lord and live. The cloud descended on Mount sinai; the cloud descended on the mount of trasfiguration. It is His manifested Presence. It should be our desrie to seek for such an entire filling of our temples. 'Know you not that your bodies are the temple of God'. then let Him fill and have all of us. Nothing left untouched by His great hand of mercy, power and holiness. so that the priest coudl not stand to minister because of the cloud - it was a time to cease religious activity and busyness and be still; when God comes in such times and manners, God's people are to adore and worship. You cannot continue on with our orthodoxy and relious activity fo motion. Let the work cease and lie low in His Presence. The accounts of the Hebrides revival was that when God descended, (although, not in a cloud), the people ceases from all work to gather in unity before Him. Many laid low, foudn confessing and crying out for mercy. Oh, to see the days againt where the work ceases and God is glorified. And let us be honest, at such times God does more in those days than all the decades that proceeded it with the church's activity. The holiness of the cloud, which contained God's Divine Presence drove the men from the place. He owned and occupied now, it was holy. For wherever the Lord is, holiness is present. and if it be not holy, then it is Ichabod. What say you of your church? Which is it? What say you of your home? What about your vessel, your life? Whose is it and what are you doing for Him? The glory of the Lord had filled the house of the Lord - the house was built to draw people into a right relationship to Him, He must fill it; It is no different with us, the glory of the Lord must fill us and have all of us. Enter into the church, He must fill it and own it, it msut be His'. This is the most neglected and sought after aspect in the Scripture, 'the glory of the Lord'. But it should be our very most desried end. We msut pray for this, seek it, desire it and give ourselves for it, until it comes to pass.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
I Kings7:1
"But Solomon was building his own house thirteen years, and he finished all his house."
And which is remembered more, the Lord's house that bears His Name or Solomon's house? He spent almost twice as long building of his own house, 13 years, than the 7 years working on the Lord's house. And is this not true for most? They spend twice as much time on self than they do for the Lord. When we gather before the judgement seat of Christ and the books are opened it will be revealed exactly how much time was spent for the Lord and how much time on self. What shall we say? wE are guilty as charged. A lifetime is spent on laboring for the things of this life. We neglect the most important things to be found in God. He waits, He leads us and He beckons unto us to learn and glean from Him, but we are a stiffnecked people that turn a deaf ear to Him. Now I would say unto you, how do we make up for the lost time? How do we undo the damage of wasted years, wasted opportunities adn wasted moments? The thought must possess us, else we will allow for more time to slip away. Let us answer the question in our own hearts, who am I living for more? Christ or self? What does the record show of my efforts, intents and actions? What have we done with this day alone? Has it been for Him? Then let us set about making up for lost time to live for Him and in Him. Rare is the person that comes along that made the most of their life in Him. From early days they came to know Him, younger years they grew in Him and adult years they gloried in Him. Matthew Henry probably matches that more than others. Saved at the age of 4, learned Greek, Latin and Hebrew by age 10 and served the Lord all the days of His life. Time vested in himself, very little and time was given unto the Lord. Such people are a blessing unto the Lord having labored for Him and served Him faithfully. Let us look at Paul; for he was an adult before he got saved, but look at the transfomration after his meeting Jesus on the Damascus road. And would we not say, he lilved the first half of his life for himself in the law; he lived the last half for Christ and He alone. what happens after the point of salvation? A person on their death bed can be saved. But they cannot undo the damage reaped of 70 years of life for self and SAtan. Give God the glory and die to self and live unto Him all your days. So let it be now and forever more.
And which is remembered more, the Lord's house that bears His Name or Solomon's house? He spent almost twice as long building of his own house, 13 years, than the 7 years working on the Lord's house. And is this not true for most? They spend twice as much time on self than they do for the Lord. When we gather before the judgement seat of Christ and the books are opened it will be revealed exactly how much time was spent for the Lord and how much time on self. What shall we say? wE are guilty as charged. A lifetime is spent on laboring for the things of this life. We neglect the most important things to be found in God. He waits, He leads us and He beckons unto us to learn and glean from Him, but we are a stiffnecked people that turn a deaf ear to Him. Now I would say unto you, how do we make up for the lost time? How do we undo the damage of wasted years, wasted opportunities adn wasted moments? The thought must possess us, else we will allow for more time to slip away. Let us answer the question in our own hearts, who am I living for more? Christ or self? What does the record show of my efforts, intents and actions? What have we done with this day alone? Has it been for Him? Then let us set about making up for lost time to live for Him and in Him. Rare is the person that comes along that made the most of their life in Him. From early days they came to know Him, younger years they grew in Him and adult years they gloried in Him. Matthew Henry probably matches that more than others. Saved at the age of 4, learned Greek, Latin and Hebrew by age 10 and served the Lord all the days of His life. Time vested in himself, very little and time was given unto the Lord. Such people are a blessing unto the Lord having labored for Him and served Him faithfully. Let us look at Paul; for he was an adult before he got saved, but look at the transfomration after his meeting Jesus on the Damascus road. And would we not say, he lilved the first half of his life for himself in the law; he lived the last half for Christ and He alone. what happens after the point of salvation? A person on their death bed can be saved. But they cannot undo the damage reaped of 70 years of life for self and SAtan. Give God the glory and die to self and live unto Him all your days. So let it be now and forever more.
I Kings 6:38
"And in the eleventh year, in the month Bul, which is the eighth month, was the house finished throughout all the parts thereof, and according to all the fashion of it. So was he seven years in building it."
Solomon began this work 4 years into his reign. SEven years elapsed to finish it, bringing him to his eleventh year of reigning. Knowing that he reigned for 40 years, he was 1/4 of the way through reigining. God had intended for Solomon to build this house and to complete it. He provided and moved everything for the work to be done. Everything is done in His time. The number seven always symbolizes complete, perfection in the Bible. And so it was, that Solomon's great work of building the Lord God a house to bear His Name was done. It is not my desire to labor over the details of the specifics of what was built and how it was built. But for us in our study, the house finished throughout all the parts thereof, and according to all the fashion of it - the work of all is mentioned twice; The works that we do here in this life should be all. Salvation is all; 'old things are past away and behold, all things are become new. Christianity is all or nothing. The specific details of all are finished. Every bowl, every piece of furniture, every work for the altar and the holy of holies, everything is complete. For Solomon with everything complete, what is left for him ask king? Solomon put forth the right hand to begin and finish this task and now 11 years into his reign it is done. Is there anything like completion of a task, job, an idea coming to fruition? But then what? Maintaining purpose is hard for us as Christians, we seek so often the here and the now. We see not the great work of God in our lives to make us complete inHim. So often it is the details of this life that influence us and shape us, but we miss what the Lord is saying and doing in us. I point this out for the very fact of Solomon's life lesson to teach us. Solomon finishes the task, and then is demise begins with all his wifes leading him astray. He lost his purpose, his standard of working for the Lord and began to live life for himself. Looking back at histroy, in biographies, you caneasily see what moment things began to go wrong and see the upheaval unfold in reading or hearing the tale of a life. WE need to understand that purpose for the Lord is the only thing that moves us toward God. Without God we will surely perish. Without labor of love for God, we will be led to the things that are not of God. Upon every defeat, every setback, every lost step, every unbelieving thought and intent holds up the completion of the task. If Solomon's workers would have had a strike against him, the work would have be delayed, left unfinished. If the cedar from Lebanon would have left uncut because of a court case filed by enviromentalists, the work would have been delayed. But God moved to finish and aided the workers and Solomon for this was of Him. And so in us, every besetting sin is a delay in the work of God in our hearts, minds and bodies. Every selfish intent is a delay in completion. This is the cause of searching our hearts and knowing our lives to see where the sin is, and cutting it out. Rise to the task and complete. And when self has died, and the flesh is put into its place, what then? There must always be purpose of heart for the Lord. God gives the next work, leads to the next task. the work of dying to self can come to some very quickly; others will spend a lifetime trying to die to self. but what happens when that goal is complete of dying to self? Then you affect those around you; the family, the body of christ in your worship. Then what? You reach the saints out from you. Then what? Then you reach the world for Christ. It is found in Acts 1, "You shall be witnesses unto me in Jerusaleum, Judaea, Samaria and unto the uttermost parts of the world." What say you? Is the task done? Are you laboring or are you on strike? Have your grown, or are you preoccupied with other things? Isn't it amazing how we view things that are priority but unto the Lord they are not even on the screen of importance. Choose you this day, what is your priority and labor not for the meat that perishes but for that which is of the Lord that lasts eternally.
Solomon began this work 4 years into his reign. SEven years elapsed to finish it, bringing him to his eleventh year of reigning. Knowing that he reigned for 40 years, he was 1/4 of the way through reigining. God had intended for Solomon to build this house and to complete it. He provided and moved everything for the work to be done. Everything is done in His time. The number seven always symbolizes complete, perfection in the Bible. And so it was, that Solomon's great work of building the Lord God a house to bear His Name was done. It is not my desire to labor over the details of the specifics of what was built and how it was built. But for us in our study, the house finished throughout all the parts thereof, and according to all the fashion of it - the work of all is mentioned twice; The works that we do here in this life should be all. Salvation is all; 'old things are past away and behold, all things are become new. Christianity is all or nothing. The specific details of all are finished. Every bowl, every piece of furniture, every work for the altar and the holy of holies, everything is complete. For Solomon with everything complete, what is left for him ask king? Solomon put forth the right hand to begin and finish this task and now 11 years into his reign it is done. Is there anything like completion of a task, job, an idea coming to fruition? But then what? Maintaining purpose is hard for us as Christians, we seek so often the here and the now. We see not the great work of God in our lives to make us complete inHim. So often it is the details of this life that influence us and shape us, but we miss what the Lord is saying and doing in us. I point this out for the very fact of Solomon's life lesson to teach us. Solomon finishes the task, and then is demise begins with all his wifes leading him astray. He lost his purpose, his standard of working for the Lord and began to live life for himself. Looking back at histroy, in biographies, you caneasily see what moment things began to go wrong and see the upheaval unfold in reading or hearing the tale of a life. WE need to understand that purpose for the Lord is the only thing that moves us toward God. Without God we will surely perish. Without labor of love for God, we will be led to the things that are not of God. Upon every defeat, every setback, every lost step, every unbelieving thought and intent holds up the completion of the task. If Solomon's workers would have had a strike against him, the work would have be delayed, left unfinished. If the cedar from Lebanon would have left uncut because of a court case filed by enviromentalists, the work would have been delayed. But God moved to finish and aided the workers and Solomon for this was of Him. And so in us, every besetting sin is a delay in the work of God in our hearts, minds and bodies. Every selfish intent is a delay in completion. This is the cause of searching our hearts and knowing our lives to see where the sin is, and cutting it out. Rise to the task and complete. And when self has died, and the flesh is put into its place, what then? There must always be purpose of heart for the Lord. God gives the next work, leads to the next task. the work of dying to self can come to some very quickly; others will spend a lifetime trying to die to self. but what happens when that goal is complete of dying to self? Then you affect those around you; the family, the body of christ in your worship. Then what? You reach the saints out from you. Then what? Then you reach the world for Christ. It is found in Acts 1, "You shall be witnesses unto me in Jerusaleum, Judaea, Samaria and unto the uttermost parts of the world." What say you? Is the task done? Are you laboring or are you on strike? Have your grown, or are you preoccupied with other things? Isn't it amazing how we view things that are priority but unto the Lord they are not even on the screen of importance. Choose you this day, what is your priority and labor not for the meat that perishes but for that which is of the Lord that lasts eternally.
Monday, July 6, 2009
I KIngs 5:5
"And, behold, I purpose to build an house unto the name of the Lord my God, as the Lord spake unto David my father, saying, Thy son, whom I will set upon thy throne in thy rooom, he shall build an house unto my name."
David had sat on his kingly throne and ccontemplated that he was in a house but the Lord's ark was in tents. No where did God command to build Him a temple; yet, God so allowed for David's thoughts to run to this. It is worth considering how much our thoughts are on things of this world and how much goes to the things of God. And oh, that He would guide our thoughts and lead us in the way of righteousness to dwell of pure thoughts for His kingdom and His glory. But David was not permitted to build it and was passed on to his son, Solomon. Now Solomon is king and there peace all around him so that he may begin the work. And, behold, I purpose to build an house - he is resolved in this; The Lord has granted him space to do it. Without his heart and mind committed to it, he would leave the work undone, or quicky neglect it. To often we enter into the work only to leave it undone. to often Christians make their decsisions unto Him and quickly fade away from His place. Unto the Name of the Lord my God - no house could contain Him, so it is built unto His Great Name; The Names of the Lord, how marvellous they are in all their ways. Learn them, learn His attributes and learn more of God Who is infinte in all His ways. the house of the Lord was to be built for the place of worshipping Him, by stating His great Name. It is the edict, 'My house shall be a house of prayer'. In prayer we are exercising the power of His great Name. But how often, even on Sunday's, is His Name removed, reproached and dishonored among His own people. I wonder often, that if we were to stop in the midst and ask those that are distracted, bored, 'having to be there' or even asleep, 'Who did you come here to worship?" they have forgotten Who He is and they know not how to worship Him.Are we guilty of this? ARe we condemned in our worship? As the Lord spake unto David my father - the Lord gave David clear instructions on this project; David came up with this idea and was ready to go. Nathan the prophet gave his blessing on it. Then the Lord spake. Oh, may we be smart enough, still enough and believing enough to hear when the Lord speak. Is it not true that so many have a Christian expereince but never hear from the Lord? When asked the question, 'Is there any word from the Lord?' We hear so often, "There is no word from the Lord". There was four hundred years of silence between the covenants. And there are many that never hear Him speak. But blessed are those that do hear, and He speaks to us. what say you? the Lord is speaking, do you hear Him?Thy son, whom I will set upon thy throne in thy room - this is an extended form of the covenant that God made with DAvid; His sons would set on his throne and there would always be a king from his line to rule. God is the one that sets them. We see His hand of mercy to keep His promsie to David through the years. They were disobedient, rebells and wayward, unlike David, but still God kept His word. He shall build an house unto my name - Solomon was the chosen one to follow David to accomplish this task; God has His people and raises them up for such a time as this. ARe you busy for the Lord and doing that which He desires of you? Are you building a house unto His Name with your family? within your home church? within the body of believers? ARe you leaving behind a legacy of faithfulness, righteousness and honor unto the LOord and His great Name? Let us seee all that we are doing and know that He has called us, ordained us, elected us and loved us. Let our labors be for Him and Him alone. "I am building a sure house unto my Lord and King."
David had sat on his kingly throne and ccontemplated that he was in a house but the Lord's ark was in tents. No where did God command to build Him a temple; yet, God so allowed for David's thoughts to run to this. It is worth considering how much our thoughts are on things of this world and how much goes to the things of God. And oh, that He would guide our thoughts and lead us in the way of righteousness to dwell of pure thoughts for His kingdom and His glory. But David was not permitted to build it and was passed on to his son, Solomon. Now Solomon is king and there peace all around him so that he may begin the work. And, behold, I purpose to build an house - he is resolved in this; The Lord has granted him space to do it. Without his heart and mind committed to it, he would leave the work undone, or quicky neglect it. To often we enter into the work only to leave it undone. to often Christians make their decsisions unto Him and quickly fade away from His place. Unto the Name of the Lord my God - no house could contain Him, so it is built unto His Great Name; The Names of the Lord, how marvellous they are in all their ways. Learn them, learn His attributes and learn more of God Who is infinte in all His ways. the house of the Lord was to be built for the place of worshipping Him, by stating His great Name. It is the edict, 'My house shall be a house of prayer'. In prayer we are exercising the power of His great Name. But how often, even on Sunday's, is His Name removed, reproached and dishonored among His own people. I wonder often, that if we were to stop in the midst and ask those that are distracted, bored, 'having to be there' or even asleep, 'Who did you come here to worship?" they have forgotten Who He is and they know not how to worship Him.Are we guilty of this? ARe we condemned in our worship? As the Lord spake unto David my father - the Lord gave David clear instructions on this project; David came up with this idea and was ready to go. Nathan the prophet gave his blessing on it. Then the Lord spake. Oh, may we be smart enough, still enough and believing enough to hear when the Lord speak. Is it not true that so many have a Christian expereince but never hear from the Lord? When asked the question, 'Is there any word from the Lord?' We hear so often, "There is no word from the Lord". There was four hundred years of silence between the covenants. And there are many that never hear Him speak. But blessed are those that do hear, and He speaks to us. what say you? the Lord is speaking, do you hear Him?Thy son, whom I will set upon thy throne in thy room - this is an extended form of the covenant that God made with DAvid; His sons would set on his throne and there would always be a king from his line to rule. God is the one that sets them. We see His hand of mercy to keep His promsie to David through the years. They were disobedient, rebells and wayward, unlike David, but still God kept His word. He shall build an house unto my name - Solomon was the chosen one to follow David to accomplish this task; God has His people and raises them up for such a time as this. ARe you busy for the Lord and doing that which He desires of you? Are you building a house unto His Name with your family? within your home church? within the body of believers? ARe you leaving behind a legacy of faithfulness, righteousness and honor unto the LOord and His great Name? Let us seee all that we are doing and know that He has called us, ordained us, elected us and loved us. Let our labors be for Him and Him alone. "I am building a sure house unto my Lord and King."
I Kings 4:21
"And Solomon reigned over all kingdoms from the river unto the land of the Philistines, and unto the border of Egypt: they brought presents, and served Solomon all the days of his life."
Solomon is established as king. He has been honored by the Lord with his request for wisdom. And greatly because of David, his father, all lands are subdued before him. Israel is at their peak now in world history. Many an historian would argue, nations, regimes, and empires rise only so they shall fall. Many an individual life is like that, they are on top then comes the fall. And others would add, 'It is the law of nature; whatever goes up must come down.' All these things can be proven by examples of history. What we need to consdier by this passage and all of chapter 4, which tells of Solomons kingdom, is that God is the creator of all such prosperity and leading. Daniel 2, "He removeth kings and restoreth kings"; Exodus, "I have raised up to demonstrate my power"; It is the Lord's desire and will that such things should happen. God had promised Israel that their borders would be enlarged from Egypt to the great rivers. God promised them that they would sit under their tree and have peace all around them. God fulfilled His word to them. Their part was to worship Him, delcare His ways, and obey in all things. Here we find the Lord, as always, faithful to His word of promise. And if He promsied and fulfilled with them, then what word is there to us, out of His many wonderful promises, that He desires to fulfill for us? God is able to do such things, and He waits upon us to obey so that He might fulfill. Oh, how long has He waited? Looking for a man, a woman, a child that touched by His grace, will rise up and be what God wants them to be for His glory and to fulfill His kingdom's work. Are you that one? Has God touched your life in a way that has awakened you and drawn fast after Him? Do you hunger and thirst after righteousness? then let us take warning to what comes next. After God has risen us up to serve and know Him, and count it a privlege that He permits us to do such, there will come times of testing, the devil's desrie for us to fall and give an occasion against His great Name. Many a saint has risen high, only to fall miserably. Few have risen high and stayed there in His Presence. Isn't that the account of Enoch and Elijah? Risen up and God swept them on home to be with Him. Then let us 'watch and pray' for we know not when the adversary will come. Look again at Solomon, in these early years of his kingdom, he walked with God and grew in wisdom of His ways; but when he started to age, that which was his pinnacle of glory was the marking of his downfall. Within one generation, forty years of Solomon as king, Israel was at its height among the world, only to be divided and led astray. How long did it take for America to fall? Within the last 50 to 60 years we have grown from world power, blest in every way, advancement in every field; but as evil and corrupt as Sodom and
Gomorrah. Do we honestly think that God is going to continue to allow this defamation of His Great Name and honor? Unless we confess and repent there will be no mercy. And we will have become like Solomon, great for a while, but soon comes the fall. We have already started down the other side of our pinnacle, and only the Lord can restore.
Solomon is established as king. He has been honored by the Lord with his request for wisdom. And greatly because of David, his father, all lands are subdued before him. Israel is at their peak now in world history. Many an historian would argue, nations, regimes, and empires rise only so they shall fall. Many an individual life is like that, they are on top then comes the fall. And others would add, 'It is the law of nature; whatever goes up must come down.' All these things can be proven by examples of history. What we need to consdier by this passage and all of chapter 4, which tells of Solomons kingdom, is that God is the creator of all such prosperity and leading. Daniel 2, "He removeth kings and restoreth kings"; Exodus, "I have raised up to demonstrate my power"; It is the Lord's desire and will that such things should happen. God had promised Israel that their borders would be enlarged from Egypt to the great rivers. God promised them that they would sit under their tree and have peace all around them. God fulfilled His word to them. Their part was to worship Him, delcare His ways, and obey in all things. Here we find the Lord, as always, faithful to His word of promise. And if He promsied and fulfilled with them, then what word is there to us, out of His many wonderful promises, that He desires to fulfill for us? God is able to do such things, and He waits upon us to obey so that He might fulfill. Oh, how long has He waited? Looking for a man, a woman, a child that touched by His grace, will rise up and be what God wants them to be for His glory and to fulfill His kingdom's work. Are you that one? Has God touched your life in a way that has awakened you and drawn fast after Him? Do you hunger and thirst after righteousness? then let us take warning to what comes next. After God has risen us up to serve and know Him, and count it a privlege that He permits us to do such, there will come times of testing, the devil's desrie for us to fall and give an occasion against His great Name. Many a saint has risen high, only to fall miserably. Few have risen high and stayed there in His Presence. Isn't that the account of Enoch and Elijah? Risen up and God swept them on home to be with Him. Then let us 'watch and pray' for we know not when the adversary will come. Look again at Solomon, in these early years of his kingdom, he walked with God and grew in wisdom of His ways; but when he started to age, that which was his pinnacle of glory was the marking of his downfall. Within one generation, forty years of Solomon as king, Israel was at its height among the world, only to be divided and led astray. How long did it take for America to fall? Within the last 50 to 60 years we have grown from world power, blest in every way, advancement in every field; but as evil and corrupt as Sodom and
Gomorrah. Do we honestly think that God is going to continue to allow this defamation of His Great Name and honor? Unless we confess and repent there will be no mercy. And we will have become like Solomon, great for a while, but soon comes the fall. We have already started down the other side of our pinnacle, and only the Lord can restore.
Sunday, July 5, 2009
I Kings 3:12
"Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee."
the Lord had asked Solomon to make his request unto the Lord. solomon had asked for wisdom to lead the people. The Lord was intreated by his request and granted it to him. Many a time I have pondered the question if it would be asked of me. The answer reveals so much of a person and where they view themselves in the light of God's will. Behold, I ahve done according to thy words - the Lord grants his request, He is still compassionate to hear and answer our prayers; Because his answer for wisdom so pleased the Lord, He granted it ot him. Let it encourage us that we might hear the same from Him as well. Are you making supplication to Him? ARe you crying out for His will to be done? What would you give for God to say to you, following your prayers? 'I have done according to thy words'. Could it not be that many people expect nothing from the Lord, because they are asking nothing of the Lord. Lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart - word study, to give; God is the giver of wisdom; for wisdom proceeds from Him. Who is all wise as He? there is none that matches or compares to Him Who is wisdom and understanding. He is imparting to Solomon and He will impart to us. 'If any of you lack wisdom let him ask of God Who giveth to all men.' God is the one Who is able to do such things, and man cannot selfindulge in this. Let us not resolve in our minds to gain or achieve this but acknowledge He is the only One able to give us such things. And these things are not to be given for our own selfish advancement or pleasure. They are given for His glory and honor to be recognized and adored by the nations.
the Lord had asked Solomon to make his request unto the Lord. solomon had asked for wisdom to lead the people. The Lord was intreated by his request and granted it to him. Many a time I have pondered the question if it would be asked of me. The answer reveals so much of a person and where they view themselves in the light of God's will. Behold, I ahve done according to thy words - the Lord grants his request, He is still compassionate to hear and answer our prayers; Because his answer for wisdom so pleased the Lord, He granted it ot him. Let it encourage us that we might hear the same from Him as well. Are you making supplication to Him? ARe you crying out for His will to be done? What would you give for God to say to you, following your prayers? 'I have done according to thy words'. Could it not be that many people expect nothing from the Lord, because they are asking nothing of the Lord. Lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart - word study, to give; God is the giver of wisdom; for wisdom proceeds from Him. Who is all wise as He? there is none that matches or compares to Him Who is wisdom and understanding. He is imparting to Solomon and He will impart to us. 'If any of you lack wisdom let him ask of God Who giveth to all men.' God is the one Who is able to do such things, and man cannot selfindulge in this. Let us not resolve in our minds to gain or achieve this but acknowledge He is the only One able to give us such things. And these things are not to be given for our own selfish advancement or pleasure. They are given for His glory and honor to be recognized and adored by the nations.
I Kings 2:2
"I go the way of all the earth: be thou strong therefore, and shew theyself a man;"
We have been looking at David's death over the last several chapters, starting in II Samuel. DAvid has had several sections over these chapters that are entitled, 'The Last Words of David'. He had his last words with praise, thanksgiving and pray unto theLord; he had his last words to the kingdom of who should be king, Adonjiah or Solomon? And now his last words to Solomon, as king, and to his son. This is a verse of instruction for him to live and be. It has seemed to die on the general part, of the older generation imparting last words to sons, daughters and grandchidlren. The Lord blessed these words and I would see a need to return to this. As I ask of many a church people, if this ever took place in their life; well over 90% was never left with a lasting word to impress or guide them. Could this be why the next generation continues to go away from God instead of to Him? This is also another reason of so much regret that people live with because they never say what ought to be said before it is too late. I go the way of all the earth - word study, to go and way; What way? the way of all the earth, which is death. AGe and years have taken their tolll and life is ebbing low. David had had a rough a life; running from Saul; fighting the Philistines, Assyrians and Ammonites and the other enemies of the Lord; his own family stress and strain over their iniquities. All these take a toll upon the physical health and life of a man. He was 70 years old and God spoke in the Psalms, 'if' your life be 70 and 'if' it be 80 year old. Too often that verse is not quoted right and leads to the false impression. The Lord had said that the years of man shall not surpass 120 years old. We are all 'going' this way, each day, each hour, each minute, each breath brings us closer to our last one. 'The wages of sin is death' and sin is eating away at our bodies as an agressive cancer. Life is not cherished as it should be. It is a gift from God to bring forth glory and honor unto Him. He imparts His grace for our life to be more than what we could ever make of it. And the reason that we have those that rise above is due to a Holy Father Who imaprts His hand of mercy and grace. David had lived that life, a life as a tesimony to the blessings and faithfulness of God. He was now at the end of that 'special' life and knew that God Who was the giver of life, now would be the taker of that life. It is the fact of our reality; and apart from being like Enoch or Elijah, which I haven't seen any likethem, we will all go the same way to death. So let us live, like we are dying and that death may be today. Make the most of life, lest you be like the unprofitable servant, who took his talent and went and buried it; making nothing for his master. We must give an acouunt of every thought, word, task and experience, live it unto the LOrd and in the Lord. Be thou strong therefore - this life is not easy and requires strength to live it right; Too many a soul has perished in the way, over come by the world and its ways. Death came early for some. Others, aborted babies, never even began, it is oh so hard to live. To anchor ourselves in being strong, it must be unto the Lord. For from the Lord is all strength and ability. He Who holds our breath is able to give unto us that which we need. Even those that labor to be strong physically, emotionally, and every other way, perish. Let our life be found in Him, Who is perfect stregnth. Let faith, patience, hope and waiting upon the Lord teach us that in ourselves is no good thing; but in Him is all the ways of lliving. Even DAvid Brainerd and Robert Murray McCheyne, who were only 29 years old when they died, lived a full life and has spoken for centuries to the church, for they was strong in Him. Shew thyself a man - a man that leaves a legacy by trusting and walking with the Lord; DAvid had left his mark upon humanity forever, because he was a man after God's own heart. Those that rise the highest among the sons of men are those that shew themselves men in God. For He is able to build up or tear down. Too many men try to live like their fathers, live like their idols, live like someone else, be strong in the Lord and in the pwoer of His might and shew yourself to be a man of God.
We have been looking at David's death over the last several chapters, starting in II Samuel. DAvid has had several sections over these chapters that are entitled, 'The Last Words of David'. He had his last words with praise, thanksgiving and pray unto theLord; he had his last words to the kingdom of who should be king, Adonjiah or Solomon? And now his last words to Solomon, as king, and to his son. This is a verse of instruction for him to live and be. It has seemed to die on the general part, of the older generation imparting last words to sons, daughters and grandchidlren. The Lord blessed these words and I would see a need to return to this. As I ask of many a church people, if this ever took place in their life; well over 90% was never left with a lasting word to impress or guide them. Could this be why the next generation continues to go away from God instead of to Him? This is also another reason of so much regret that people live with because they never say what ought to be said before it is too late. I go the way of all the earth - word study, to go and way; What way? the way of all the earth, which is death. AGe and years have taken their tolll and life is ebbing low. David had had a rough a life; running from Saul; fighting the Philistines, Assyrians and Ammonites and the other enemies of the Lord; his own family stress and strain over their iniquities. All these take a toll upon the physical health and life of a man. He was 70 years old and God spoke in the Psalms, 'if' your life be 70 and 'if' it be 80 year old. Too often that verse is not quoted right and leads to the false impression. The Lord had said that the years of man shall not surpass 120 years old. We are all 'going' this way, each day, each hour, each minute, each breath brings us closer to our last one. 'The wages of sin is death' and sin is eating away at our bodies as an agressive cancer. Life is not cherished as it should be. It is a gift from God to bring forth glory and honor unto Him. He imparts His grace for our life to be more than what we could ever make of it. And the reason that we have those that rise above is due to a Holy Father Who imaprts His hand of mercy and grace. David had lived that life, a life as a tesimony to the blessings and faithfulness of God. He was now at the end of that 'special' life and knew that God Who was the giver of life, now would be the taker of that life. It is the fact of our reality; and apart from being like Enoch or Elijah, which I haven't seen any likethem, we will all go the same way to death. So let us live, like we are dying and that death may be today. Make the most of life, lest you be like the unprofitable servant, who took his talent and went and buried it; making nothing for his master. We must give an acouunt of every thought, word, task and experience, live it unto the LOrd and in the Lord. Be thou strong therefore - this life is not easy and requires strength to live it right; Too many a soul has perished in the way, over come by the world and its ways. Death came early for some. Others, aborted babies, never even began, it is oh so hard to live. To anchor ourselves in being strong, it must be unto the Lord. For from the Lord is all strength and ability. He Who holds our breath is able to give unto us that which we need. Even those that labor to be strong physically, emotionally, and every other way, perish. Let our life be found in Him, Who is perfect stregnth. Let faith, patience, hope and waiting upon the Lord teach us that in ourselves is no good thing; but in Him is all the ways of lliving. Even DAvid Brainerd and Robert Murray McCheyne, who were only 29 years old when they died, lived a full life and has spoken for centuries to the church, for they was strong in Him. Shew thyself a man - a man that leaves a legacy by trusting and walking with the Lord; DAvid had left his mark upon humanity forever, because he was a man after God's own heart. Those that rise the highest among the sons of men are those that shew themselves men in God. For He is able to build up or tear down. Too many men try to live like their fathers, live like their idols, live like someone else, be strong in the Lord and in the pwoer of His might and shew yourself to be a man of God.
Saturday, July 4, 2009
II Kings 1:3
"So they sought for a fair damsel throughout all the coasts of Israel, and found Abishag a Shunammite, and brought her to the king."
David is old and his days are numbered. He has the physical health problems and those that tended to him where seeking for a soulution. They determined to find him a virgin that would tend to him and keep him warm. Their remedy was flesh on flesh to produce the body heat. We are told of the woman here in this verse, Abishag a Shunammite. So they sought . . .and found - word study, 'sought and found' or 'sought and found not'; The whold Gospel is given for the very fact that man is seeking and searching for something. some declare it to be truth, others something else. 'Deep calleth unto deep' and the touch of the Creator exists within each one of us to cause us as His creation to seek for Him. He is truth, yes, but only as love, mercy, power and His other attributes, truth proceeds our of Him. He is all these things, and each part of this describes Him. WE are seeking Him. To the soul that it can be said of, 'Sought and found'; they ahve foudn a great treasure, one that cannot be matched here on thsi earth to anything else. It is the level of searching that makes the difference. Throughout all the coasts of Israel - high and low, it was inclusive search; Far too many are very content to seek in a haphazard manner and content to not find Him. Others seek, but grow weary and frustrated that it does not come sooner, they have not the endurance to the end. Others, labor and perservere, but only to fall short and miss the riches and rewards of knowing Him. 'Few there be that find Him'; those that have sought and foudn. The two are locked together for His glory. Where are you at brethern? How goes your search among the endeavors of this life? Are we content with any phase just mentioned except the very last one, 'sought and found'? then having found Him, do not let Him go. Hold fast, for the world and Satan will seek to separate you and to entice you with other things to replace Him. Remember, He cannot be replaced, He is the ONe and Only for our heart and soul. And having sought and found, brought her to the king - we are presented to Him, King Jesus; Hearing those words, 'Well done, thou good and faithful servant; Enter now into the joys of the Lord'. Let us know what is to come, we are to face Him at the judgment bar. WE are to give an acouunt of our desire and time. What did we invest our energy and time in? WAs it in temporal things or spiritaul things? things of this life, or things to come? Set your affections on things above, not on things of this life'. Labor not for the meat that perishes but for that which is of His hand that satisfies.
David is old and his days are numbered. He has the physical health problems and those that tended to him where seeking for a soulution. They determined to find him a virgin that would tend to him and keep him warm. Their remedy was flesh on flesh to produce the body heat. We are told of the woman here in this verse, Abishag a Shunammite. So they sought . . .and found - word study, 'sought and found' or 'sought and found not'; The whold Gospel is given for the very fact that man is seeking and searching for something. some declare it to be truth, others something else. 'Deep calleth unto deep' and the touch of the Creator exists within each one of us to cause us as His creation to seek for Him. He is truth, yes, but only as love, mercy, power and His other attributes, truth proceeds our of Him. He is all these things, and each part of this describes Him. WE are seeking Him. To the soul that it can be said of, 'Sought and found'; they ahve foudn a great treasure, one that cannot be matched here on thsi earth to anything else. It is the level of searching that makes the difference. Throughout all the coasts of Israel - high and low, it was inclusive search; Far too many are very content to seek in a haphazard manner and content to not find Him. Others seek, but grow weary and frustrated that it does not come sooner, they have not the endurance to the end. Others, labor and perservere, but only to fall short and miss the riches and rewards of knowing Him. 'Few there be that find Him'; those that have sought and foudn. The two are locked together for His glory. Where are you at brethern? How goes your search among the endeavors of this life? Are we content with any phase just mentioned except the very last one, 'sought and found'? then having found Him, do not let Him go. Hold fast, for the world and Satan will seek to separate you and to entice you with other things to replace Him. Remember, He cannot be replaced, He is the ONe and Only for our heart and soul. And having sought and found, brought her to the king - we are presented to Him, King Jesus; Hearing those words, 'Well done, thou good and faithful servant; Enter now into the joys of the Lord'. Let us know what is to come, we are to face Him at the judgment bar. WE are to give an acouunt of our desire and time. What did we invest our energy and time in? WAs it in temporal things or spiritaul things? things of this life, or things to come? Set your affections on things above, not on things of this life'. Labor not for the meat that perishes but for that which is of His hand that satisfies.
II Samuel 24:1
"And again the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them to say, Go, number Israel and Judah."
There is much left unsaid in this verse. Things which we will ponder without any absolute answers, for only the Lord knows. But there is enough said in this verse that should warn us and aid us to walk worthy of the calling laid upon us. And again the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel - it is a repeated offence again by the children of God that produced His holy anger; Numerous times we read of God's children sinning against Him and reaping His wrath, or judgmeent. His anger waxes hot against those taht profance His great Name. His anger is against those that refuse to be holy. And whereas, we can assume that the lost world cares not, nor has any inclination to please God, this is to be understood. But as for God's own children, they should desire to be holy, they should desire to please Him. It is not a Christian principle, that a child of God would ever seek to anger God by sin. But we know of what happens to those that provoke the Lord. Repeated offences show that there is something wrong in the chidlren's relationship. Let us not for a moment, consider to point to God that He is in the wrong because He became angery. Looking again at this point, there is the differnce between anger and holy anger. Holy anger is not sin, but anger is sin. A holy anger is just and right, and is to vanquish all sin that offends a holy God. God has a holy anger, and God cannot sin. The church should have this same holy anger and revile sinners for their ungodliness. But anger in the flesh is sin or leads to sin. We must guard against this sort of sin that does not glorify His perfect Nature. It is of selfisness, pride, vanity and all other things that is an offence to God. 'Doest thou well to be angry?' And how often is said of us, the same as said of the children of Israel, "The Lord was angry again at the children of Israel for their sin"; "The Lord is angry with me, with His church again for our sin, for my sins." Let us cease in kindling the anger of the Lord against us. And he moved DAvid against them - God allowed for David to chose to do this work of sin; God is God and His ways are not our ways. When sin comes, sin must be punished; the children of Israel sinned and God was going to bring punishment upon them. So He allowed for Satan to come and tempt DAvid and cause him to sin.
There is much left unsaid in this verse. Things which we will ponder without any absolute answers, for only the Lord knows. But there is enough said in this verse that should warn us and aid us to walk worthy of the calling laid upon us. And again the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel - it is a repeated offence again by the children of God that produced His holy anger; Numerous times we read of God's children sinning against Him and reaping His wrath, or judgmeent. His anger waxes hot against those taht profance His great Name. His anger is against those that refuse to be holy. And whereas, we can assume that the lost world cares not, nor has any inclination to please God, this is to be understood. But as for God's own children, they should desire to be holy, they should desire to please Him. It is not a Christian principle, that a child of God would ever seek to anger God by sin. But we know of what happens to those that provoke the Lord. Repeated offences show that there is something wrong in the chidlren's relationship. Let us not for a moment, consider to point to God that He is in the wrong because He became angery. Looking again at this point, there is the differnce between anger and holy anger. Holy anger is not sin, but anger is sin. A holy anger is just and right, and is to vanquish all sin that offends a holy God. God has a holy anger, and God cannot sin. The church should have this same holy anger and revile sinners for their ungodliness. But anger in the flesh is sin or leads to sin. We must guard against this sort of sin that does not glorify His perfect Nature. It is of selfisness, pride, vanity and all other things that is an offence to God. 'Doest thou well to be angry?' And how often is said of us, the same as said of the children of Israel, "The Lord was angry again at the children of Israel for their sin"; "The Lord is angry with me, with His church again for our sin, for my sins." Let us cease in kindling the anger of the Lord against us. And he moved DAvid against them - God allowed for David to chose to do this work of sin; God is God and His ways are not our ways. When sin comes, sin must be punished; the children of Israel sinned and God was going to bring punishment upon them. So He allowed for Satan to come and tempt DAvid and cause him to sin.
Friday, July 3, 2009
II Samuel 23:5
"Although my house be not so with God; yet he hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things, and sure: for this is all my slavation, and all my desire, although he make it not to grow."
The last words of David. Very profound and holding fast to the words of the Lord in all his life. And here at the end of his life, he is still beleiving in God for all His mercies, not just upon himself, but for the whole of his family. Although my house be not so with God - a rare find is it indeed to find a house that is given to God; And is it true, that among those that read, that your house is right with God? A lost child, a lost spouse, a lost parent, a lost sibling, someone is not right with God. Let us not be decieved over this either. Too many because of their love and affection toward their family member, covers it with sugar to cloud who thye really are and where their eternity is destined for unless they repent. This is of epidemic portions across our land and in our churches. I know not of to many churches that sit all the family, in all the servies, all the time. We are not right with God; our homes are not right with God and we need God. Our prayers should be offered up continously on their behalf. And what shall we say of those who don't even pray for their lost loved ones? Have they not made a deal with the devil to spoil and have their family member? Their silence is the worst of the sinfulness that is present. Yet - one word is able to change everything; The stated fact is now given a turn, a hope. And with God all t hings are possible, be belieiving in this. he hath made with me an everalsting covenant - word study, made; God hath spoken a word to David that Hismercies will abide upon his descendants. David held fast to this beloved word. And what shall we say when God gives us a word? Does our heart and soul not magnify His goodness and mercy? Yet the word of God is inspired and holy ordrained. He hath spoken this to David and He hath given us a mighty word to hold fast to also. God is faithful in all His ways and it is His desire much more than it is ours. He hath made an everlasting covenant with us, who enter into agreement with Him through His Beloved Son and our SAvior Jesus Christ. We have an eternal word from Him for our eternity in heaven. We are bought with a price and sealed with a holy covenant byt His precious blood. Ordered in all things and sure - God is a God of order; He commands order from the hierarchy of life to the ways and means of life. He speaks and it is done, for who can thwart His word. It is sure and steady, it has continued for centuries and will contineu on until He says, 'Let it ened'. He is the Lord God and Hsi ways are sure for each of us. Can we not trust in Him? ARe you leary of His ways? It is a sure and ssteady way for all who will trust and obey. For this is all my salvation - He alone provides salvation to our souls; No man can cvome to the Father unelss the Spirit draws him. It is not my desire some paticular mornign to rise up and be saved, it is the Lord 's way of salvation. He is my all and in Him is my salvation complete. I am a debtor to Him for His sacrifice, HIs atonement, His grace and mercy and His Divine love. All my salvation is in Him, and Him alone. What say you? All my desire -
The last words of David. Very profound and holding fast to the words of the Lord in all his life. And here at the end of his life, he is still beleiving in God for all His mercies, not just upon himself, but for the whole of his family. Although my house be not so with God - a rare find is it indeed to find a house that is given to God; And is it true, that among those that read, that your house is right with God? A lost child, a lost spouse, a lost parent, a lost sibling, someone is not right with God. Let us not be decieved over this either. Too many because of their love and affection toward their family member, covers it with sugar to cloud who thye really are and where their eternity is destined for unless they repent. This is of epidemic portions across our land and in our churches. I know not of to many churches that sit all the family, in all the servies, all the time. We are not right with God; our homes are not right with God and we need God. Our prayers should be offered up continously on their behalf. And what shall we say of those who don't even pray for their lost loved ones? Have they not made a deal with the devil to spoil and have their family member? Their silence is the worst of the sinfulness that is present. Yet - one word is able to change everything; The stated fact is now given a turn, a hope. And with God all t hings are possible, be belieiving in this. he hath made with me an everalsting covenant - word study, made; God hath spoken a word to David that Hismercies will abide upon his descendants. David held fast to this beloved word. And what shall we say when God gives us a word? Does our heart and soul not magnify His goodness and mercy? Yet the word of God is inspired and holy ordrained. He hath spoken this to David and He hath given us a mighty word to hold fast to also. God is faithful in all His ways and it is His desire much more than it is ours. He hath made an everlasting covenant with us, who enter into agreement with Him through His Beloved Son and our SAvior Jesus Christ. We have an eternal word from Him for our eternity in heaven. We are bought with a price and sealed with a holy covenant byt His precious blood. Ordered in all things and sure - God is a God of order; He commands order from the hierarchy of life to the ways and means of life. He speaks and it is done, for who can thwart His word. It is sure and steady, it has continued for centuries and will contineu on until He says, 'Let it ened'. He is the Lord God and Hsi ways are sure for each of us. Can we not trust in Him? ARe you leary of His ways? It is a sure and ssteady way for all who will trust and obey. For this is all my salvation - He alone provides salvation to our souls; No man can cvome to the Father unelss the Spirit draws him. It is not my desire some paticular mornign to rise up and be saved, it is the Lord 's way of salvation. He is my all and in Him is my salvation complete. I am a debtor to Him for His sacrifice, HIs atonement, His grace and mercy and His Divine love. All my salvation is in Him, and Him alone. What say you? All my desire -
Thursday, July 2, 2009
II Samuel 22:33
"God is my strength and power; and he maketh my way perfect."
David is giving praise and thanks for the Lord's mighty hand of deliverance through all his calamities and enemies. A declaration of God's faithful hand. Worship is the declaring of Who God is and what He has shared with us through His Holy Word. Let us not the the three things mentioned here: 1. God is strength - the quality or state of being strong; power to resist force; impregnability; Who can match His strength? There is none. Who is as strong as He? There is none; Who can force His hand or ways? There is none; He is impregnable aginst all forces of evil and sin. 2. God is power - ability or act to produce an effect; possession of control, influence over others; a source or means of producing energy; physical might; Who produced the effects of this universe and all that is in it; He is the Lord God Almighty; Who is the One that influcences and controls all of the existence of this universe from beginning to end? He is the Lord God Almighty; Who is able to thwart His physical power? He speak and it is ; 3. He maketh my way perfect - word study, perfect and way; the only way he could make David's way perfect was to be perfect Himself; The Lord God is perfect in the term of meaning of sinless and without fault in any way or shape. David declares his way to be perfect. Perfect for man is not sinless, but complete. Paul declared, "I am complete in Him". The way of perfection is by the way of the Lord. It is declared for all, 'Be ye perfect even as your heavenly Father is perfect". But too few wish or desire to obey in this. It is too easy to sin and fail. To be perfect is the farthest thing from the children of God today. But every so often the Lord stirs up those that desire to taste and see that the Lord is good. And that the Lord would not command something in the Holy Scriptures if He did not mean to fulfill and finish it. And many will say, "We shall be perfect when we are in eternity with Him." Yes, but what of the here and the now? 'And Noah was perfect; and Job wa sperfect; and David was perfect; and Paul was perfect'. Here are the exmaples of saints that God called and they obeyed in the way of being perfect before the Lord. Oh, that we would hunger and thirst after righteousness in these things.
David is giving praise and thanks for the Lord's mighty hand of deliverance through all his calamities and enemies. A declaration of God's faithful hand. Worship is the declaring of Who God is and what He has shared with us through His Holy Word. Let us not the the three things mentioned here: 1. God is strength - the quality or state of being strong; power to resist force; impregnability; Who can match His strength? There is none. Who is as strong as He? There is none; Who can force His hand or ways? There is none; He is impregnable aginst all forces of evil and sin. 2. God is power - ability or act to produce an effect; possession of control, influence over others; a source or means of producing energy; physical might; Who produced the effects of this universe and all that is in it; He is the Lord God Almighty; Who is the One that influcences and controls all of the existence of this universe from beginning to end? He is the Lord God Almighty; Who is able to thwart His physical power? He speak and it is ; 3. He maketh my way perfect - word study, perfect and way; the only way he could make David's way perfect was to be perfect Himself; The Lord God is perfect in the term of meaning of sinless and without fault in any way or shape. David declares his way to be perfect. Perfect for man is not sinless, but complete. Paul declared, "I am complete in Him". The way of perfection is by the way of the Lord. It is declared for all, 'Be ye perfect even as your heavenly Father is perfect". But too few wish or desire to obey in this. It is too easy to sin and fail. To be perfect is the farthest thing from the children of God today. But every so often the Lord stirs up those that desire to taste and see that the Lord is good. And that the Lord would not command something in the Holy Scriptures if He did not mean to fulfill and finish it. And many will say, "We shall be perfect when we are in eternity with Him." Yes, but what of the here and the now? 'And Noah was perfect; and Job wa sperfect; and David was perfect; and Paul was perfect'. Here are the exmaples of saints that God called and they obeyed in the way of being perfect before the Lord. Oh, that we would hunger and thirst after righteousness in these things.
II Samuel 21:14
"And the bones of Saul and Jonathan his son buried they in the country of Benjamin in Zelah, in the sepulchre of Kish his father: and they performed all that the king commanded. And after that God was intreated for the land."
Once the sin is removed the Lord is able to restore blessings instead of cursing. The sin of Saul is found in verse 1 of this chapter. He had gone after the Gibeonites for some reason and in this brought a curse upon the whole of the chidlren of Israel. Now Saul had been dead for years, can we not see that the sin of such lingers upon the land, upon the families, upon the churches and upon our nation. We cannot allow for such things to remain, or we shall never receive the blessing of the Lord. These things of famine and war and other such curses are not trifle, they are the results of sin by someone, or a group of people. David, set about to right the wrongs of this as we have seen in this chapter. David went further to fix everything and make it right. He went to the men of Jabeshgilead, who had so valiantly broke through the Philsintes ranks and gathered the bodies of Saul and Jonathan. Then they buried them under a tree. David knew that this was not a proper burial so he went and restored the bones to Saul's father, Kish's grave, ande buried them there. There is something to be said of this that dead bodies are cursed; we read in the old law, that any one touching the dead bones was unclean. So the land is unclean to ashes and bodies spread abroad. It brings out the animal scavangers and they should be a clear sign it is not meant to be in such a way. And they performed all the king commanded - obedience is truly rewarded; The people of God should perform all that is commanded. We are in the mess we are because of our sin and not keeping all that is commanded. WE feel we can leave some things undone, and that it will not matter. We are dreadfully wrong with such thoughts and intents. One command left undone, allows for the devil to pour out greater sin in all ways. This is the message of Old and New Testament: 'with the whole heart'; 'keep the whole law'; 'with all your heart'; nothing left for the devil to sink his teeth into. Perfom all brethern, lest we give a foothold to the enemy. Adn after that God was intreated for the land - is God intreated for our land? Note, it wasn't the people but the land God was intreated for. He is as caring for His creation as He is His people. He is consistent for all things of this universe. The land effects us, through these famines, stroms, earthquakes and such things. If we would seek God to be intreated for our land again, then we must remove the sin. Their must be confession, repentance, and a keeping of the whole Word. Let us lay aside the sin that does so easily beseech us and move forward to be holy as He has called us to be.
Once the sin is removed the Lord is able to restore blessings instead of cursing. The sin of Saul is found in verse 1 of this chapter. He had gone after the Gibeonites for some reason and in this brought a curse upon the whole of the chidlren of Israel. Now Saul had been dead for years, can we not see that the sin of such lingers upon the land, upon the families, upon the churches and upon our nation. We cannot allow for such things to remain, or we shall never receive the blessing of the Lord. These things of famine and war and other such curses are not trifle, they are the results of sin by someone, or a group of people. David, set about to right the wrongs of this as we have seen in this chapter. David went further to fix everything and make it right. He went to the men of Jabeshgilead, who had so valiantly broke through the Philsintes ranks and gathered the bodies of Saul and Jonathan. Then they buried them under a tree. David knew that this was not a proper burial so he went and restored the bones to Saul's father, Kish's grave, ande buried them there. There is something to be said of this that dead bodies are cursed; we read in the old law, that any one touching the dead bones was unclean. So the land is unclean to ashes and bodies spread abroad. It brings out the animal scavangers and they should be a clear sign it is not meant to be in such a way. And they performed all the king commanded - obedience is truly rewarded; The people of God should perform all that is commanded. We are in the mess we are because of our sin and not keeping all that is commanded. WE feel we can leave some things undone, and that it will not matter. We are dreadfully wrong with such thoughts and intents. One command left undone, allows for the devil to pour out greater sin in all ways. This is the message of Old and New Testament: 'with the whole heart'; 'keep the whole law'; 'with all your heart'; nothing left for the devil to sink his teeth into. Perfom all brethern, lest we give a foothold to the enemy. Adn after that God was intreated for the land - is God intreated for our land? Note, it wasn't the people but the land God was intreated for. He is as caring for His creation as He is His people. He is consistent for all things of this universe. The land effects us, through these famines, stroms, earthquakes and such things. If we would seek God to be intreated for our land again, then we must remove the sin. Their must be confession, repentance, and a keeping of the whole Word. Let us lay aside the sin that does so easily beseech us and move forward to be holy as He has called us to be.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
II Samuel 20:6
"And David said to Abishai, Now shall Sheba the son of Bichri do us more harm than did Absalom: take thou they lord's servants, and pursue after him, lest he get him fenced cities, and escape us."
Amasa had been given the command and failed to employ in the set time. David is in need to squash this insurection against him. He turns to a faithful man of his, Abishai. Abishai was also the brother of Joab and a relative to David. But becuase of Amasas failure, the work was now in jeopardy. Now shall Sheba the son of Bichri do us more harm - the greater evil and danger; Delay of Amasa caused this. It is needful for us to understand what our prcrastination and sloth causes in the lifes of the kingdom of our Lord. When we offer excuses of as to why we don't need to speedily take care of something we are in sin. 'I will get to that tomorrow'; "I don't feel like doing that today"; "I will let someone else do it". These are excuses do more harm than we can possible understand in the spiritual world. Amasa's fault was found in having not done this before and being unprepared. Many a young person is thrust into the work, with no counsel, wisdom and no ability and this does more harm. Than did Absalom - hard to conceive but David was afraid that this would be worse than leaving Jerusaleum and losing the kingdom; Perhaps he thought it might lead to civil war or something worse, but David compared this to his experience he had just come out of. WE compare often between cirucmstances and experiences, 'the greater of two evils'. Take thou thy lord's servants - use the fellow workers to do the task and complete it; Our Lord's servants are our brothers and sister's in Christ. Talent, gifted, desire and willingness are their traits and the resources of the church are enough for us to finish the task. Take the lord's servants of David, they were seasoned, fighters and warring men and knew how to deal with Sheba. Theri are seasoned saints among us that can aid us and help us fight the Lord's battles and squash the insurrection the devil may stir up. many a young pastor should seek counsel of a seasoned pastor to know how to deal with issues that arise and be taught and not let pride get in the way. and pursue after him - the urgency of pursuing; Oh, that there was in God's people to pursue after holiness and righteousness. They are pursuing everything else, degrees, fame, wealth, acceptance, why, oh why, won't God's people pursue Him? Becasue our hearts are not right with him. DAvid knew that his servants in pursing Sheba, they would not cease till they accomplished the goal. Are you pursuing? Are you moving forward in the will of the Lord? Remember the man that stops pursuing is cursed in the ways of the Lord for he has lost heart in all his ways. Lest he get him fencwed cities, and escape us - if Sheba got away he would be able to lead and raise up an army for his insurrection, he must be caught before he gets away; We are guite content to let them get away. We are not worried about those that escape. We are not desiring to puruse, becasue we are so busy with life. The enemies of our Lord are fenced in and raising an army aginst His kingdom, against His church, do we not care? We have played the unfaithful servant of Amasa and allowed for Sheba to do great harm to teh Name and the work of Christ. Let us be like Abishai and the lord's servants and pursue and catch and destroy those workers of iniquities that fight against our Lord Jesus. Be strong, be faithful, faint, yet pursuing in all His ways.
Amasa had been given the command and failed to employ in the set time. David is in need to squash this insurection against him. He turns to a faithful man of his, Abishai. Abishai was also the brother of Joab and a relative to David. But becuase of Amasas failure, the work was now in jeopardy. Now shall Sheba the son of Bichri do us more harm - the greater evil and danger; Delay of Amasa caused this. It is needful for us to understand what our prcrastination and sloth causes in the lifes of the kingdom of our Lord. When we offer excuses of as to why we don't need to speedily take care of something we are in sin. 'I will get to that tomorrow'; "I don't feel like doing that today"; "I will let someone else do it". These are excuses do more harm than we can possible understand in the spiritual world. Amasa's fault was found in having not done this before and being unprepared. Many a young person is thrust into the work, with no counsel, wisdom and no ability and this does more harm. Than did Absalom - hard to conceive but David was afraid that this would be worse than leaving Jerusaleum and losing the kingdom; Perhaps he thought it might lead to civil war or something worse, but David compared this to his experience he had just come out of. WE compare often between cirucmstances and experiences, 'the greater of two evils'. Take thou thy lord's servants - use the fellow workers to do the task and complete it; Our Lord's servants are our brothers and sister's in Christ. Talent, gifted, desire and willingness are their traits and the resources of the church are enough for us to finish the task. Take the lord's servants of David, they were seasoned, fighters and warring men and knew how to deal with Sheba. Theri are seasoned saints among us that can aid us and help us fight the Lord's battles and squash the insurrection the devil may stir up. many a young pastor should seek counsel of a seasoned pastor to know how to deal with issues that arise and be taught and not let pride get in the way. and pursue after him - the urgency of pursuing; Oh, that there was in God's people to pursue after holiness and righteousness. They are pursuing everything else, degrees, fame, wealth, acceptance, why, oh why, won't God's people pursue Him? Becasue our hearts are not right with him. DAvid knew that his servants in pursing Sheba, they would not cease till they accomplished the goal. Are you pursuing? Are you moving forward in the will of the Lord? Remember the man that stops pursuing is cursed in the ways of the Lord for he has lost heart in all his ways. Lest he get him fencwed cities, and escape us - if Sheba got away he would be able to lead and raise up an army for his insurrection, he must be caught before he gets away; We are guite content to let them get away. We are not worried about those that escape. We are not desiring to puruse, becasue we are so busy with life. The enemies of our Lord are fenced in and raising an army aginst His kingdom, against His church, do we not care? We have played the unfaithful servant of Amasa and allowed for Sheba to do great harm to teh Name and the work of Christ. Let us be like Abishai and the lord's servants and pursue and catch and destroy those workers of iniquities that fight against our Lord Jesus. Be strong, be faithful, faint, yet pursuing in all His ways.
II Samuel 19:10
"And Absalom, whom we anointed over us, is dead in battle. Now therefore why speak ye not a word of bringing the king back?"
The path and the plan of God is not always adhered to by men. We chose our own ways, and many a time it is found contrary to the will of God. Oh, that we would know Who are king is and not waver back and forth, but be solid in our allegiance to King Jesus. and Absalom, whom we anointed over us - anointed by men for the selfish purpose of a man; The anointing was to be by Divine instruction. We read of how Samuel was Divinely sent by God to DAvid and the clear instruction of David being the king, 'Rise up and anoint this one'. Absalom was anointed by the hands of men that means nothing in the sight of God. If we would be anything we must be something only through what Christ does in us and through us. LEt His anointing be upon us. Far to many a soul seeks to please God and the world at the same time, this is impossible. And when the Lord's anointing is upon a person we know that the grace of God will lead them. Is dead in battle - only for a short time was he king; David told his captains to be kind to Absalom and spare him, but Joab viewed him as a traitor and there is only one end to a traitor, death. And of all the ways to die, it was not in a fierce battle, but he was stuck in the tree by his hair and killed without ability to stay off anything. He died as a fool. He died in battle for he had risen up agianst his father, he served himself and not the Lord. Have you noticed in this account of Absalom that there is not one mention of his relatiosnhip of the Lord? 'the light of the wicked shall be put out'. WE do not teach men to fear the Lord and they face it in this life time often. Now therefore why speak ye not a word of bringing the king back? great questions of the Bible; But let us ask this question how is it that the king was removed and replaced to begin with? It was not the desire of the Lord, for David was the chosen and anointed king. Too many people chose wrongly over life's choices, that God allows for us to make. But we will fail every time when we fail to seek counsel fo the Lord. And they would hear, 'This is not the will of the Lord.' The king was removed by the hand's of man. Now man was calling for king David to be restored. Can we not say that as we look at our life we have removed king Jesus from our heart too many times? And not that we are jumping in and out of salvation, but that we repalce His authoirty over our life with self and worldly efforts. Too often we find ourselves not adoring and worhsiping the King as we should we have replaced Him with a counterfeit. Then let the Spirit ask the question to our hearts today, 'Why bring you not back the King?' Will you not see and recognize the hand of God in Divine Providence that His elect should serve Him, should obey Him should love Him. If you ahve committed and surrendered to Him as your Lord and King, then why have you allowed Him to be removed or replaced with other interest? Your zeal and passion has grown cold; your worship is weak and all because of Who or who? reigns in your heart. No doubt, the people of Israel went along with the few that swung Absalom into power. Let us not be as those that simply follow the ways of man and replace King Jesus. Let us remain loayl as David's mighty men. Let us go with theKing whether to Calvary, to the wilderness or unto the Father's right hand. He is our King and we are His subjects, bow the knee and worship Him. Give no place to the things that would seek to dethrone Him in your life, mind and heart and stay faithful. Very few are able to say with Paul, 'I have fought a good fight, I have kept the faith, and I have finished my course.' Let us not branded traitors, but let us be loyalists unto Him Who is our Lord and King Almighty. All hail King Jesus! All Hail King Jesus! ALL HAIL KING JESUS! Who reigns forever and ever over all things. God pardon any that have lost their way and followed Absalom and restore the True King and pardon our unfaithfulness and selfish amibition and let us go forth and bring men into Thy kingdom. May He find us faithful to the end!
The path and the plan of God is not always adhered to by men. We chose our own ways, and many a time it is found contrary to the will of God. Oh, that we would know Who are king is and not waver back and forth, but be solid in our allegiance to King Jesus. and Absalom, whom we anointed over us - anointed by men for the selfish purpose of a man; The anointing was to be by Divine instruction. We read of how Samuel was Divinely sent by God to DAvid and the clear instruction of David being the king, 'Rise up and anoint this one'. Absalom was anointed by the hands of men that means nothing in the sight of God. If we would be anything we must be something only through what Christ does in us and through us. LEt His anointing be upon us. Far to many a soul seeks to please God and the world at the same time, this is impossible. And when the Lord's anointing is upon a person we know that the grace of God will lead them. Is dead in battle - only for a short time was he king; David told his captains to be kind to Absalom and spare him, but Joab viewed him as a traitor and there is only one end to a traitor, death. And of all the ways to die, it was not in a fierce battle, but he was stuck in the tree by his hair and killed without ability to stay off anything. He died as a fool. He died in battle for he had risen up agianst his father, he served himself and not the Lord. Have you noticed in this account of Absalom that there is not one mention of his relatiosnhip of the Lord? 'the light of the wicked shall be put out'. WE do not teach men to fear the Lord and they face it in this life time often. Now therefore why speak ye not a word of bringing the king back? great questions of the Bible; But let us ask this question how is it that the king was removed and replaced to begin with? It was not the desire of the Lord, for David was the chosen and anointed king. Too many people chose wrongly over life's choices, that God allows for us to make. But we will fail every time when we fail to seek counsel fo the Lord. And they would hear, 'This is not the will of the Lord.' The king was removed by the hand's of man. Now man was calling for king David to be restored. Can we not say that as we look at our life we have removed king Jesus from our heart too many times? And not that we are jumping in and out of salvation, but that we repalce His authoirty over our life with self and worldly efforts. Too often we find ourselves not adoring and worhsiping the King as we should we have replaced Him with a counterfeit. Then let the Spirit ask the question to our hearts today, 'Why bring you not back the King?' Will you not see and recognize the hand of God in Divine Providence that His elect should serve Him, should obey Him should love Him. If you ahve committed and surrendered to Him as your Lord and King, then why have you allowed Him to be removed or replaced with other interest? Your zeal and passion has grown cold; your worship is weak and all because of Who or who? reigns in your heart. No doubt, the people of Israel went along with the few that swung Absalom into power. Let us not be as those that simply follow the ways of man and replace King Jesus. Let us remain loayl as David's mighty men. Let us go with theKing whether to Calvary, to the wilderness or unto the Father's right hand. He is our King and we are His subjects, bow the knee and worship Him. Give no place to the things that would seek to dethrone Him in your life, mind and heart and stay faithful. Very few are able to say with Paul, 'I have fought a good fight, I have kept the faith, and I have finished my course.' Let us not branded traitors, but let us be loyalists unto Him Who is our Lord and King Almighty. All hail King Jesus! All Hail King Jesus! ALL HAIL KING JESUS! Who reigns forever and ever over all things. God pardon any that have lost their way and followed Absalom and restore the True King and pardon our unfaithfulness and selfish amibition and let us go forth and bring men into Thy kingdom. May He find us faithful to the end!
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