Source:- GOOD NEWS

King James Daily Bible Study: Right Thing Made Wrong

As Christians we all long to please God and follow His will, but if we
are not careful we can change the right things into wrong things. There
is a right and a wrong way to do everything, even when it comes to
serving God. Yes, it is good to read the Bible, but if you are reading
it while at church listening to a sermon, it is wrong. It is the right
thing made wrong. If
any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue,
but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain. Pure religion
and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless
and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the
world. - James 1:26,27.

While all the other nations had an earthly king, Israel's king was
God. However, the people never saw God as their king, demanding an
earthly king like the rest of the nations. God fulfilled their request
and sent them Saul, at first the people rejected him, but it did not
take long, (I am sure it was because of something he did that was
pleasing) for them to accept him as their king. Samuel talked to the
people, reminding them who they chose to be their king, and that God was
still the King, even over the king.
Now
therefore behold the king whom ye have chosen, and whom ye have
desired! and, behold, the LORD hath set a king over you. If ye will fear
the LORD, and serve him, and obey his voice, and not rebel against the
commandment of the LORD, then shall both ye and also the king that
reigneth over you continue following the LORD your God: But if ye will
not obey the voice of the LORD, but rebel against the commandment of the
LORD, then shall the hand of the LORD be against you, as it was against
your fathers. Now therefore stand and see this great thing, which the
LORD will do before your eyes. Is it not wheat harvest to day? I will
call unto the LORD, and he shall send thunder and rain; that ye may
perceive and see that your wickedness is great, which ye have done in
the sight of the LORD, in asking you a king. So Samuel called unto the
LORD; and the LORD sent thunder and rain that day: and all the people
greatly feared the LORD and Samuel. - I Samuel 12:13-18.
At
Samuel's word, God sent thunder and rain, at a season of the year when,
in that country there would be none. He showed their error in desiring
an earthly king to save them, rather than God, or Samuel through the
power of God in prayer, reminding them that the king would only give
them their anticipated deliverance if they would fear the Lord, and give
up their rebellion against God. Fearing God does not mean to be afraid
of Him, although some people should be afraid of God after what they
have done to put Him to shame. However, fearing God means to acknowledge
Him as God, respect Him, and listen to Him. “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil. - Ecclesiastes 12:13,14.

It did not take long before Saul, about a year, began serving God on
his terms rather than God's. Saul was instructed to wait for Samuel to
present an offering before God. Regardless of how much power a person
had, no one was allowed to offer up an offering before God, except a
priest, the priest had to offer it on the sinners behalf. However, Saul
took things into his own hands by offering the offering to God himself.
And
Saul said, Bring hither a burnt offering to me, and peace offerings.
And he offered the burnt offering. And it came to pass, that as soon as
he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came;
and Saul went out to meet him, that he might salute him. And Samuel
said, What hast thou done? And Saul said, Because I saw that the people
were scattered from me, and that thou camest not within the days
appointed, and that the Philistines gathered themselves together at
Michmash; Therefore said I, The Philistines will come down now upon me
to Gilgal, and I have not made supplication unto the LORD: I forced
myself therefore, and offered a burnt offering. And Samuel said to Saul,
Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the
LORD thy God, which he commanded thee: for now would the LORD have
established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever. But now thy kingdom shall
not continue: the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart, and
the LORD hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou
hast not kept that which the LORD commanded thee. - I Samuel 13:9-14.

When Samuel confronted Saul about his sin, the first thing he did was make excuses as to why he went against God's command. He
tried to justify himself in what he had done and gave no sign of
repentance for it. Had Saul just confessed to God he probably would have
allowed him to remain king, but that instant God sought a king who was
after His own heart. God will forgive us and even help us get out of our
messes, but unless we sincerely and humbly go before God He will not
justify the sin. But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. - James 4:6,7.

Once again we learn of Saul trying to do the right thing, making it
wrong. The Israelites were in battle with the Philistines, Saul ordered
the people to fast, including the army, if anyone ate during the fast he
would be put to death. And
the men of Israel were distressed that day: for Saul had adjured the
people, saying, Cursed be the man that eateth any food until evening,
that I may be avenged on mine enemies. So none of the people tasted any
food...And when the people were come into the wood, behold, the honey
dropped; but no man put his hand to his mouth: for the people feared the
oath. -I Samuel 14:24,26.
Saul's
severe order was very unwise, it kept the men from being able to fight
the Philistines the proper way. Ever try to do a hard job when you are
tired and weak? Daily work cannot be done without daily bread, which God
graciously gives to us. Saul was turning aside from God, along with
building the altars, his eagerness was to serve the form of godliness,
but he refused to do it the right way. He was not doing any of it to
reach God, but to give himself glory. There are times when fasting is
needed, but fasting is a time to be spent with God for His glory, not
our own. Moreover
when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they
disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I
say unto you, They have their reward. But
thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; That
thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in
secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly. - Matthew 6:16-18.

When choosing to follow God with all our heart, soul, and mind we must
look at the proper ways to do that, otherwise we are serving God in
vain. If we want to truly have a loving, joyous, prosperous relationship
with God we need to learn the right ways to do it. Envyings,
murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell
you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do
such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the
Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. - Galatians 5:21-23.

Jesus Christ Revealed: Today Jesus is revealed through Samuel the intercessor (12:23). Jesus the intercessor for all who believe in Him. Wherefore
he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by
him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.Hebrews 7:25.

Thanks and God Bless You, I am praying for you

King James Daily Bible Study:
A New Creature

An amazing thing happens the second we say amen after we bow our head
and ask Jesus to save us, God changes our heart. We are no longer
trusting in our deeds or behavior to take us to heaven, we are trusting
in our Lord Jesus Christ. The Bible says, Therefore
if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed
away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who
hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the
ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling
the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and
hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are
ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you
in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be
sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of
God in him.- II Corinthians 5:17-21.

Samuel had been judging Israel for quite some time now, he is getting
old and decides to give his two sons some of the responsibility.
However, these two sons fell into the lust of money and caused all kinds
of problems for Israel. That's when all the elders got together, went
to Samuel, and demanded that he give them a king.
Then
all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to
Samuel unto Ramah, And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons
walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the
nations. But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king
to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the LORD. And the LORD said unto
Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto
thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I
should not reign over them. According to all the works which they have
done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this
day, wherewith they have forsaken me, and served other gods, so do they
also unto thee. Now therefore hearken unto their voice: howbeit yet
protest solemnly unto them, and shew them the manner of the king that
shall reign over them. - I Samuel 8:4-9.

Since God is the Almighty God, whom is the all powerful and in control
of all things, we have the tendency to forget that God has created us
in His own image. Therefore, all the things that we feel, God feels them
too. So, when Israel was demanding a king, God took it as a rejection.
Ever have someone turn you down? It doesn't feel so good. Well, God
feels the same way when we seek other means for help over Him. Now, God
does not want us to sit in a corner, pray all day long, and expect Him
to give us things, although He can do that, but He does want to be apart
of our lives in every area of our lives, from work, to marriage, to
family, and even hobbies, God wants to be involved. When we allow God to
be in every area of our lives He will lead us to much greater visions
than we can ever imagine.
Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own
understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy
paths - Proverbs 3:5,6.

God sends Samuel to meet Saul, Saul was a young man, a Benjamite, who
did not think much of himself, remember, the Benjamites were few in
number because of the civil war between them and the rest of the tribes.
However, God saw something in him that no one saw, not even Saul
himself, a godly, faithful, honest, hard working king. Samuel took a
vial of oil and anointed Saul as king and when he did something amazing
happened.
Then
Samuel took a vial of oil, and poured it upon his head, and kissed him,
and said, Is it not because the LORD hath anointed thee to be captain
over his inheritance? .. After that thou shalt come to the hill of God,
where is the garrison of the Philistines: and it shall come to pass,
when thou art come thither to the city, that thou shalt meet a company
of prophets coming down from the high place with a psaltery, and a
tabret, and a pipe, and a harp, before them; and they shall prophesy:
And the Spirit of the LORD will come upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy
with them, and shalt be turned into another man. And let it be, when
these signs are come unto thee, that thou do as occasion serve thee; for
God is with thee. - I Samuel 10:1,5-7.

Saul received the power of God in him the day he got anointed, he was
no longer the same man, he became a new man. This is a great
illustration of God anointing the believer with the blood of Christ when
they ask Jesus to save them. We are no longer the same person, we are
new and when we allow Christ to live in us we literally transform into a
new person, a new creature. I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is
your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye
transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that
good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. For I say, through the
grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of
himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly,
according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. - Romans 12:1-3.

When you first get saved you can expect a lot of rejection from
friends and family, even lose some friends, whom your thought were your
best friends. When word got out that Saul was anointed as king the
people did not take to kindly to it, especially after the first order
given.
And
the people said unto Samuel, Who is he that said, Shall Saul reign over
us? bring the men, that we may put them to death. And Saul said, There
shall not a man be put to death this day: for to day the LORD hath
wrought salvation in Israel. Then said Samuel to the people, Come, and
let us go to Gilgal, and renew the kingdom there. And all the people
went to Gilgal; and there they made Saul king before the LORD in Gilgal;
and there they sacrificed sacrifices of peace offerings before the
LORD; and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly. - I Samuel 11:12-15.

This once despised man was now honored and respected by all, the
people gladly accepted him as their king. One day, Jesus, whom the world
despises, will return and when He does He will reign as King once and
for all, then and only then will He be honored and respected as King. We
who are saved, are the minority, the elect, the few, who honor and
respect Him as our King today. Sadly, we too are despised, but we will
never be put to death because salvation has been brought to all who
asked Jesus to save them. When the world comes to an end and everyone is
scrambling we will be safely awaiting our arrival into God's new
kingdom. And
I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first
earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the
holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared
as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of
heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will
dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be
with them, and be their God. - Revelation 21:1-3. Praise God!

Jesus Christ Revealed: Today Jesus is revealed through Samuel who faithfully served Israel as judge, prophet, and priest. Behold
my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well
pleased: I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall shew judgment to
the Gentiles. Matthew 12:18.

Thanks and God Bless You, I am praying for you

God's Power

I have been doing research on various religions to show the difference
between what that religion follows and what God says otherwise. Just
about every religion I research talks about God and thinks that they are
following God, the problem is not all are following what the Bible
says. If we are going to follow God doesn't it make sense to follow His
Word, since it is God? Of course it does, but the truth is the majority
of religions out there either follow some form of God's Word or make up
their own words all together, which makes God to be no longer the
Almighty God, but a god that they created in their own image. The Bible
says, For
I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this
book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him
the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take
away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away
his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the
things which are written in this book. - Revelation 22:18,19.

The Ark of God or the Ark of the Covenant was a wooden box that
contained a very precious jewel, the Word of God. Just by holding the
Word of God you can feel God's power, but without God's power in you it
is just an ordinary book. While in a battle with the Philistines, the
Israelites came up with an idea, to take the Ark of God, as if it would
save themselves and placing it outside of the Tabernacle.
And
when the people were come into the camp, the elders of Israel said,
Wherefore hath the LORD smitten us to day before the Philistines? Let us
fetch the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of Shiloh unto us, that,
when it cometh among us, it may save us out of the hand of our enemies.
So the people sent to Shiloh, that they might bring from thence the ark
of the covenant of the LORD of hosts, which dwelleth between the
cherubims: and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with
the ark of the covenant of God. And when the ark of the covenant of the
LORD came into the camp, all Israel shouted with a great shout, so that
the earth rang again...And the Philistines fought, and Israel was
smitten, and they fled every man into his tent: and there was a very
great slaughter; for there fell of Israel thirty thousand footmen. And
the ark of God was taken; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas,
were slain. - I Samuel 4:3-5,10,11.

The Israelites foolishly put their faith in the Ark of God, instead of
God Himself. Although the Ark held the presence of God, it was not the
ark itself that held the power, it was God. The Bible is worthless in
our hands if we do not have the power of God upon us. Hophni and
Phinehas are examples of those who are brought up religious, but never
received the power of God upon them. Every person who accepts the Lord
Jesus Christ as their Savior receives the power of God upon them. No
amount of praying, reading the Bible, or good deeds will save you, only
Jesus can save you. However, even if we are saved that does not mean
that we are invincible if we do not acknowledge that God is the source
of that power. For
though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of
God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the
power of God toward you. Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith;
prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus
Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? - II Corinthians 13:4,5.
Reprobate means a person that can not tell right from wrong.

Now, take the Word of God and mix it in with false religion and see
what happens. The Philistines, now in possession of the Ark, had this
idea that because they had Israels God they would be blessed more, after
all they thought their god helped the defeat the Israelites. However,
they got the surprise of their lives when they places the Ark next to
their Dagon. Dagon was a statue with the upper body of a woman and lower
body of a fish, who they idolized and galled their god.
When
the Philistines took the ark of God, they brought it into the house of
Dagon, and set it by Dagon. And when they of Ashdod arose early on the
morrow, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the earth before the
ark of the LORD. And they took Dagon, and set him in his place again.
And when they arose early on the morrow morning, behold, Dagon was
fallen upon his face to the ground before the ark of the LORD; and the
head of Dagon and both the palms of his hands were cut off upon the
threshold; only the stump of Dagon was left to him. Therefore neither
the priests of Dagon, nor any that come into Dagon's house, tread on the
threshold of Dagon in Ashdod unto this day. But the hand of the LORD
was heavy upon them of Ashdod, and he destroyed them, and smote them
with emerods, even Ashdod and the coasts thereof. - I Samuel 5:2-6.

It is incredible and quite laughable to read about the Philistines
passing the Ark from one place to another and the curse it brought upon
them until they got rid of it. The Philistines knew that the Almighty
God truly existed and they were so scared that they thought of
everything they could to get rid of Him. This is the exact same reason
false religions starts, they know that something they are doing goes
against God's Word so, they do anything they can to get rid of the
Almighty and replace Him with a god that would allow them to do it.
However, changing God in the image that they want Him to be never
changes God, He still is the same as He was then, now, and will be the
same for eternity. Remember
them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of
God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.
Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. Be not
carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing
that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not
profited them that have been occupied therein. - Hebrews 13:7-9.

After the Israelites got the Ark back in their possession Samuel spoke
to them, it was time for them to get right with God if they wanted
peace with the Philistines. And
Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye do return unto
the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and
Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the LORD, and
serve him only: and he will deliver you out of the hand of the
Philistines. Then the children of Israel did put away Baalim and
Ashtaroth, and served the LORD only. And Samuel said, Gather all Israel
to Mizpeh, and I will pray for you unto the LORD. And they gathered
together to Mizpeh, and drew water, and poured it out before the LORD,
and fasted on that day, and said there, We have sinned against the LORD.
And Samuel judged the children of Israel in Mizpeh..And the cities
which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel,
from Ekron even unto Gath; and the coasts thereof did Israel deliver out
of the hands of the Philistines. And there was peace between Israel and
the Amorites. And Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life. - I Samuel 7:3-6,14,15.

In order for us to have peace in our lives we need to prepare our
hearts and serve only Him. Let me tell you, I have tried to serve God on
my terms and I was cursed the entire time, falling deeper and deeper
into the whole I dug myself into. It was not until I literally almost
killed myself before I heard God tell me Get up, I did not make you to
go like this!, that was when He got me up and I started serving God on
His terms. Oh, I am still growing, but I know the Power of God is upon
me, I know the power of His Word lives in me because Jesus lives in me.
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ
liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the
faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. - Galatians 2:20.

Jesus Christ Revealed: Today Jesus is revealed through the rock called Ebenezer, (7:12) which means the stone of help. Jesus is the Rock of our salvation. And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. - I Corinthians 10:4.

Thanks and God Bless You, I am praying for you

King James Daily Bible Study:
Just Ask

The word pray is defined as to ask with earnestness or zeal, as for a
favor, or for something desirable, to entreat, to supplicate. Simply
put, praying is asking God for the things we desire. Now, we can praise
God and thank Him, which is often added to prayer, but praying is just
asking. Jesus said, And
I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall
find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh
receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it
shall be opened. - Luke 11:9,10.

The Book of I Samuel is the ninth book of the Old Testament/Bible and
contains thirty-one chapters. The author of the book is Samuel and it
was written to the Israelites. The book records the history of three
people, Samuel, the last judge of Israel, Saul, the first king, and
David, who succeeds Saul as king. The time line for these events took
place approximately 1171 BC to 1056 BC. The purpose of the book was to
continue to record how God dealt with His people. What we are to learn
from the book is the importance of being obedient to God first rather
than giving a sacrifice for repentance later. And
Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and
sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is
better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. - I Samuel 15:22.

Hannah was a godly, faithful woman who had everything she ever needed
or dreamed of except one thing, children. She desperately wanted a
child, but God had made her barren. One day, while at the Temple of the
Lord she poured out her heart to God, she was praying so hard and
intense that she felt the Spirit in her, she knew God was listen.
And
she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore.
And she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed
look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not
forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child,
then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there
shall no razor come upon his head. And it came to pass, as she continued
praying before the LORD, that Eli marked her mouth. Now Hannah, she
spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard:
therefore Eli thought she had been drunken. And Eli said unto her, How
long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from thee. And Hannah
answered and said, No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I
have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul
before the LORD. Count not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial: for
out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto.
Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant
thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him. - I Samuel 1:10-17.
Most
of the time we have to admit when we pray, we really are not expecting
God to give us the things we ask for. Think about it, when asking God
for money to pay a bill, even though we are asking God for it, we are
counting on our source of income for the money, rather than God just
giving to us. However, once in a while God gets our whole heart when
praying, I am talking about the down on your knees, weeping, and running
nose kind of praying. Those are the prayers that we know God is with us
because we feel Him there. God does hear all of our prayers, but these
are the ones that touch His heart more than any. “The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry. - Psalm 34:15.

God heard Hannah's cry and blessed her with a son, whom she name
Samuel, meaning God has heard and just as she promised to gave her
first born to God to be raised in the Temple, she brought him to Eli
where he from his birth taught him about God and the duties of a priest.
Because of her sacrifice and faithfulness to God Hannah was blessed
with five more children, but every year she came by to visit Samuel.
Moreover
his mother made him a little coat, and brought it to him from year to
year, when she came up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice. And
Eli blessed Elkanah and his wife, and said, The LORD give thee seed of
this woman for the loan which is lent to the LORD. And they went unto
their own home. And the LORD visited Hannah, so that she conceived, and
bare three sons and two daughters. And the child Samuel grew before the
LORD. - I Samuel 2:19-21.

Part of receiving God's blessings is following through with the vows
we make with Him. An amazing relationship with God can be formed when we
are not only obedient to Him, but trust Him and are committed to Him as
well. Samuel was just a little boy, perhaps he did not completely
understand all that was going on with him or why he only saw his mother
once a year, but he grew up knowing God had a plan for him. God had a
plan indeed, Samuel would grow up to be a priest, prophet, and a judge
for Israel. Samuel was just a child when God spoke to him for the first
time.
And
the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before Eli. And the word of
the LORD was precious in those days; there was no open vision. And it
came to pass at that time, when Eli was laid down in his place, and his
eyes began to wax dim, that he could not see; And ere the lamp of God
went out in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was, and Samuel
was laid down to sleep; That the LORD called Samuel: and he answered,
Here am I. And he ran unto Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou calledst
me. And he said, I called not; lie down again. And he went and lay down.
And the LORD called yet again, Samuel. And Samuel arose and went to
Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And he answered, I
called not, my son; lie down again. Now Samuel did not yet know the
LORD, neither was the word of the LORD yet revealed unto him. And the
LORD called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli,
and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And Eli perceived that the
LORD had called the child. Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down:
and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, LORD; for
thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and lay down in his place. - I Samuel 3:1-3.

This is a perfect illustration of how often God calls out to us, even
those serving Him, but we are often unaware that it is Him. Probably our
biggest misconception about God is that He does not answer all our
prayers. The truth is He answers every prayer, He just rarely answers
them in the way we expect. I think of God answering a prayer as a stop
light: red, meaning no, yellow, meaning yes, but not yet, and green,
meaning okay, now you can have it. It's all about putting our faith and
trusting in Him while remaining committed to Him. Delight
thyself also in the LORD: and he shall give thee the desires of thine
heart. Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall
bring it to pass. And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the
light, and thy judgment as the noonday. -Psalm 37:4-6.

God has His reasons for answering prayers the way He does, some day we
will understand why, perhaps it may never be until the day we meet Him
face to face, but until then we must not forget that prayer is essential
to our communicating with God. If we do not ask we do not receive. If
any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men
liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him
ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of
the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that
he shall receive any thing of the Lord.James 1:5-7.

Jesus Christ Revealed:
Today Jesus is revealed through Samuel who grew in favor with God and
men (2:26) When Jesus was a child He grew in favor with God and man. And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him. - Luke 2:40.

Thanks and God Bless You, I am praying for you

God's Delight
The
word recompense is defined as to compensate, to make return of an equivalent for
any thing given, done or suffered for. There is no greater joy than to see the
blessings that God gives us for the things we have given, done, or suffered
through. The Bible says, “The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness;
according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me. For I have kept
the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God. For all his
judgments were before me, and I did not put away his statutes from me. I was
also upright before him, and I kept myself from mine iniquity. Therefore hath
the LORD recompensed me according to my righteousness, according to the
cleanness of my hands in his eyesight.� -
Psalm 18:20-24. God delights in our faithfulness and compensates us for it,
especially when we remain faithful to Him through our afflictions.

The
Book of Ruth is the eighth book of the Old Testament/Bible, the author of the
book is unknown, but it was first written to the Israelites during the time of
Judges. The time line for theses events is approximately 1312 BC. The purpose of
the book was to show that even Gentiles who are faithful to God become a part of
His People. Ruth became the great grandmother of David. It also illustrates the
kinsman-redeemer relationship of Jesus Christ. What we are to learn from the
book is that God can turn bitterness into blessings for all who come to Him,
whether Jew or Gentile. “And he shall be unto thee a restorer of thy life,
and a nourisher of thine old age:� -
Ruth 4:15a.

Before Joshua died he gave instructions on who the tribes
were to marry in order to keep their inheritance, basically they were to marry
within their own tribe. After Joshua died God appointed judges to rule over the
Israelites, during that time we learn of Elimelech who was of the tribe of
Judah, he married a woman named Naomi and they had two sons. There was a famine
in land so, Elimelech packed everyone up and headed to Moab, where the family
resided.

“And Elimelech Naomi's husband died; and she was
left, and her two sons. And they took them wives of the women of Moab; the name
of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth: and they dwelled there
about ten years. And Mahlon and Chilion died also both of them; and the woman
was left of her two sons and her husband. Then she arose with her daughters in
law, that she might return from the country of Moab: for she had heard in the
country of Moab how that the LORD had visited his people in giving them
bread...And Naomi said unto her two daughters in law, Go, return each to her
mother's house: the LORD deal kindly with you, as ye have dealt with the dead,
and with me...And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from
following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest,
I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: Where thou
diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more
also, if ought but death part thee and me.� -
Ruth 1:3-6, 8,16,17.

Ruth had no idea what would become of her, the only
thing she knew was that she did not want to go back to the life she lived and
back to the false gods she grew up with. She was determined to follow Naomi and
make her God her God also. Ruth
is an example of the grace of God, giving life to the soul of all who seek to
know Him, regardless of who they are born of or where they have come from. God
delights in all who seek Him. “For there is no difference between the Jew and the
Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon
him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord
shall be saved.� -
Romans 10:12,13.

When Ruth got to Bethlehem I imagine she was
overwhelmed, after all, she was a stranger in a strange land. She could have hid
herself, she could have mingled with the crowds, but instead she chose to go to
work. She went to work for a man named Boaz, who was kin to her late
father-in-law Elimelech.

“Then said Boaz unto Ruth, Hearest thou not, my
daughter? Go not to glean in another field, neither go from hence, but abide
here fast by my maidens: Let thine eyes be on the field that they do reap, and
go thou after them: have I not charged the young men that they shall not touch
thee? and when thou art athirst, go unto the vessels, and drink of that which
the young men have drawn. Then she fell on her face, and bowed herself to the
ground, and said unto him, Why have I found grace in thine eyes, that thou
shouldest take knowledge of me, seeing I am a stranger? And Boaz answered and
said unto her, It hath fully been shewed me, all that thou hast done unto thy
mother in law since the death of thine husband: and how thou hast left thy
father and thy mother, and the land of thy nativity, and art come unto a people
which thou knewest not heretofore. The LORD recompense thy work, and a full
reward be given thee of the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come
to trust.� -
Ruth 2:8-12.

A
mere stranger, blessed to even be able to work in a place where she were not fit
and worthy to enter into the congregation of the Lord finds grace in the eyes of
her master. This is a perfect picture of the grace of God, “For all have sinned,
and come short of the glory of God;� -
Romans 3:23. who finds grace in the eyes of a sinner. None of us are worthy to
enter into the congregation of the Lord. It is only by His grace and our
humbling ourselves before Him that we find His grace. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that
not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should
boast.� -
Ephesians 2:8,9. Our recompense for humbling ourselves before God and professing
our faith in His Son, Jesus Christ gives us the reward of the Kingdom of God.
Praise God!

Ruth had such an impression on Boaz that he eventually made
her his wife, this is the third time that we learn of a person outside of a Jew
becoming part of the heritage that would be were Jesus would descend from,
proving that all who choose Christ are a part of the kingdom of God, both Jew
and Gentile. “For as the body is one, and hath many members, and
all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.
For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or
Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one
Spirit.� -
I Corinthians 12:12,13.

Jesus Christ
Revealed:
Today Jesus is revealed through Bethlehem, which means "House of Bread." Jesus,
the Bread of
Life, satisfies the spiritual hunger of all who come to
Him. “I am the living
bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live
for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the
life of the world.� - John 6:51.

Thanks and God Bless You, I am praying for
you

A Season

When you hear about all the wars and natural disasters going on around
the world today one can not help, but weep, if you are human, you must
have some kind of compassion for those who are suffering, especially
when they really have no idea what is going on. Even Jesus cries and
prays for His people, He may place judgment upon all, but He does not
wish any to end up in hell. The Bible says:
To
every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the
heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a
time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to
heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a
time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; A time to cast
away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace,
and a time to refrain from embracing; A time to get, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to cast away; A time to rend, and a time to
sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; A time to love, and a
time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace. Ecclesiastes 3:1-8.

Through one man's sin elevated a civil war between the entire nation
of Israel against one tribe, the Benjamites. Why? It was the Benjamites
who allowed the children of Belial, who were sodomites, to dwell in
their land.
And
the Levite, the husband of the woman that was slain, answered and said,
I came into Gibeah that belongeth to Benjamin, I and my concubine, to
lodge. And the men of Gibeah rose against me, and beset the house round
about upon me by night, and thought to have slain me: and my concubine
have they forced, that she is dead. And I took my concubine, and cut her
in pieces, and sent her throughout all the country of the inheritance
of Israel: for they have committed lewdness and folly in Israel. Behold,
ye are all children of Israel; give here your advice and counsel...So
all the men of Israel were gathered against the city, knit together as
one man. Judges 20:4-7,11.

The Levite wanted vengeance for the tragic death of his concubine.
While we are all responsible for our own actions, God will use
circumstances like these to His advantage. The war was not only an act
of judgment upon all of Israel, it was an act of repentance and a
reminder that we are all children of God.
The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children
of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with
Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified
together. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not
worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.- Romans8:16-18.

The first two times that Israel finally began seeking God's counsel He allowed the Benjamites to defeat them. And
the children of Benjamin came forth out of Gibeah, and destroyed down
to the ground of the Israelites that day twenty and two thousand men.
And the people the men of Israel encouraged themselves, and set their
battle again in array in the place where they put themselves in array
the first day. (And the children of Israel went up and wept before the
LORD until even, and asked counsel of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up
again to battle against the children of Benjamin my brother? And the
LORD said, Go up against him.) And the children of Israel came near
against the children of Benjamin the second day. And Benjamin went forth
against them out of Gibeah the second day, and destroyed down to the
ground of the children of Israel again eighteen thousand men; all these
drew the sword.- Judges 20:21-25.

Truthfully, Israel was right to go up against the Benjamites, their
disobedience to God was enough to cause God to place judgment upon them.
However, God allowed the Benjamites to defeat Israel for one reason and
one reason only. To get them to repent as well.
Then
all the children of Israel, and all the people, went up, and came unto
the house of God, and wept, and sat there before the LORD, and fasted
that day until even, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings
before the LORD. And the children of Israel enquired of the LORD, (for
the ark of the covenant of God was there in those days, And Phinehas,
the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, stood before it in those days,)
saying, Shall I yet again go out to battle against the children of
Benjamin my brother, or shall I cease? And the LORD said, Go up; for to
morrow I will deliver them into thine hand. Judges 20:26-28.

What comes to mind here is, no sin goes unpunished, one might think
that they have gotten away with something, but it all catches up to them
eventually. And until they repent, there is no peace. Tribulation
and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first,
and also of the Gentile; But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that
worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: For there is
no respect of persons with God. For as many as have sinned without law
shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law
shall be judged by the law; Romans 2:9-12.

God lead Israel to destroy nearly all the Benjamites, but after the
war they cried, had compassion on their brother, and helped them get
things back in order.
And
the people came to the house of God, and abode there till even before
God, and lifted up their voices, and wept sore; And said, O LORD God of
Israel, why is this come to pass in Israel, that there should be to day
one tribe lacking in Israel? And it came to pass on the morrow, that the
people rose early, and built there an altar, and offered burnt
offerings and peace offerings... And the children of Israel departed
thence at that time, every man to his tribe and to his family, and they
went out from thence every man to his inheritance. In those days there
was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own
eyes. - Judges 21:2-4,24,25.

We are all brothers and sisters in Christ, yes, we are going to suffer
affliction through others sin, we are going to fight, but just like
Jesus loves all, gave His life for all, and forgave them, we too are to
show love and compassion to all who have wronged us. Once again, we
learn that there was no king in Israel, which means if they had set
their eyes on God they would have known that He was their king. Yea,
all kings shall fall down before him: all nations shall serve him. For
he shall deliver the needy when he crieth; the poor also, and him that
hath no helper. He shall spare the poor and needy, and shall save the
souls of the needy. He shall redeem their soul from deceit and violence:
and precious shall their blood be in his sight. Psalm 72:11-14.

There is a time and season for all things to come to pass, while
justice may or may not be what we think is fair, it's all God's call. He
is in control, He is King of all and He takes care of His own, whether
it be through rewards, trials, or chastisement. All things that we go
through are for our own good, one day we will see the blessings through
them. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. - Romans 8:28.

Jesus Christ Revealed: Today Jesus is revealed through the Deliverer (20:26-28). Jesus is our deliverer. The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished: - II Peter 2:9.

Thanks and God Bless You, I am praying for you

King James Daily Bible Study:
His Own Eyes

The last five chapters of the Book of Judges
explain how the Israelites fell into corruption, first with the introduction of
false gods and idolatry, then homosexuality and rape. You know, usually when we
are going through some kind of affliction we can not understand why, but after a
while we realize it was not just one thing that caused it, it was several little
things adding up to it. These chapters give us a little insight as to how one
can turn from being a faithful servant of God to not knowing God at all. The
Bible says, “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against
all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in
unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for
God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation
of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made,
even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because
that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful;
but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was
darkened.Romans 1:18-21.
We are all born with the knowledge of God, but the more one
ignores God, the more they sin, the further away the get from Him and of the
truth, hence they make up their own god through their own imaginations.

After Joshua died the Israelites were left without a leader, almost
instantly, the Israelites went from knowing the one true God to following false
gods and idolatry. How? “In those days there was no king in Israel, but every
man did that which was right in his own eyes. Judges 17:6.
They did what they thought was the right thing to do with their own
eyes. So, it did not take long for them to become so corrupted that they had no
idea who the true Almighty God was any more. When the promised land was
distributed by Joshua, considerable territory was allotted to the tribe of Dan,
but submission and obedience to the will of God was missing. As a result, they
did not succeed in defeating the inhabitants as God had commanded them to do.
Now, they were out to find land of their own and came upon the house of Micah.

And the children of Dan sent of their family five
men from their coasts, men of valour, from Zorah, and from Eshtaol, to spy out
the land, and to search it; and they said unto them, Go, search the land: who
when they came to mount Ephraim, to the house of Micah, they lodged there. When
they were by the house of Micah, they knew the voice of the young man the
Levite: and they turned in thither, and said unto him, Who brought thee hither?
and what makest thou in this place? and what hast thou here? And he said unto
them, Thus and thus dealeth Micah with me, and hath hired me, and I am his
priest...And the five men that went to spy out the land went up, and came in
thither, and took the graven image, and the ephod, and the teraphim, and the
molten image: and the priest stood in the entering of the gate with the six
hundred men that were appointed with weapons of war.
- Judges 18:2-4,17.

Those five men took off
with all Micah's idols and the priest he hired, this goes to show us that
everyone wants God in their lives, and His blessings, and are willing to go
through anything to get them. The sad thing is that they go about it the wrong
way, instead of listening to God and learning His way they do what they think is
best, creating a god of their own. Micah's only response when
confronting the Danites. Ye have taken away my gods which I made, and the
priest, and ye are gone away: and what have I more? and what is this that ye say
unto me, What aileth thee? - Judges 18:24.
They took his gods, which he made, Micah thought he lost
everything he had, including God. He did lose God, but all he had to do to see
him was learn of Him and repent.

What he and many others fail to realize
is that God is not a statue or an image, He is God. We do not need a statue, an
image, or person to remind us who God is. God reminds us who He is, from the
beauty of the world, to the birth of a baby, to His Word, God reminds us who He
is. The key to knowing Him is having faith in Him. Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the
evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report.
Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so
that things which are seen were not made of things which do
appear.Hebrews 11:1-3.

The consequences and repercussions of sin rarely effect
just the individual, it effects everyone around them. We learn of this through
another illustration of a Levite and his concubine. When a Levite thought in his
own eyes to get involved with a woman outside of his tribe he never realized the
consequences of that sin, not only for him, but the woman, and all of Israel.
The woman left him and went back home to her father, four months later the
Levite went to retrieve her resulting in a mess of introducing them to adultery,
homosexuality, rape, murder, and vengeance
And when they were by Jebus, the day was far spent;
and the servant said unto his master, Come, I pray thee, and let us turn in into
this city of the Jebusites, and lodge in it. And his master said unto him, We
will not turn aside hither into the city of a stranger, that is not of the
children of Israel; we will pass over to Gibeah. And he said unto his servant,
Come, and let us draw near to one of these places to lodge all night, in Gibeah,
or in Ramah...And, behold, there came an old man from his work out of the field
at even, which was also of mount Ephraim; and he sojourned in Gibeah: but the
men of the place were Benjamites.. .Now as they were making their hearts merry,
behold, the men of the city, certain sons of Belial, beset the house round
about, and beat at the door, and spake to the master of the house, the old man,
saying, Bring forth the man that came into thine house, that we may know him.
And the man, the master of the house, went out unto them, and said unto them,
Nay, my brethren, nay, I pray you, do not so wickedly; seeing that this man is
come into mine house, do not this folly...But the men would not hearken to him:
so the man took his concubine, and brought her forth unto them; and they knew
her, and abused her all the night until the morning: and when the day began to
spring, they let her go.
Judges 19:11-13,16, 22,23,25.

The woman died, the Levite later declared
vengeance, causing a civil war between the tribes. Sin is sin and the
consequences of it is death. “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God
is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.- Romans 6:23.
We can praise God for sending Jesus to redeem us from sin, but the
repercussions of it will never go away. The best thing we can do to avoid
unnecessary suffering is to do what is right in God's eyes, not what is right in
our own. Great peace have they which love thy law: and
nothing shall offend them. LORD, I have hoped for thy salvation, and done thy
commandments. My soul hath kept thy testimonies; and I love them
exceedingly. - Psalm 119:165-167.

Jesus Christ Revealed:
Today Jesus is revealed through the days there was non king in Israel. The
Israelites were to have one king, God, but they rejected Him as king, in search
of an earthly king. Christ was the rejected King of Israel. But they cried out, Away with him, away with him,
crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief
priests answered, We have no king but Caesar. - John 19:15.

Thanks and God Bless You, I am praying for you

Bible Study: Sincerity

Today we will read and learn about God's refusal
to be consulted by the elders; the history of rebellious Israel, Israel's defeat
by Babylon; and Israel scattering among the heathen. Today's message focuses on
the importance of realizing that unless we are sincere in our walk with God He
will not hear us when we call on Him. God will not give us anything that is
going to take His place, harm others or ourselves.

God gave continuous
warnings through the prophet Jeremiah and Ezekiel about the judgement upon
Israel yet the Israelites continually rebeled against it, often expressing their
hatred toward them instead of truly listening to what they had to say. Of course
when the destruction of Jerusalem began taking place the people were questioning
God and asking Him why it was happening. "Then came the word of the LORD unto
me, saying, Son of man, speak unto the elders of Israel, and say unto them, Thus
saith the Lord GOD; Are ye come to enquire of me? As I live, saith the Lord GOD,
I will not be enquired of by you........Notwiths tanding the children rebelled
against me: they walked not in my statutes, neither kept my judgments to do
them, which if a man do, he shall even live in them; they polluted my sabbaths:
then I said, I would pour out my fury upon them, to accomplish my anger against
them in the wilderness. Nevertheless I withdrew mine hand, and wrought for my
name's sake, that it should not be polluted in the sight of the heathen, in
whose sight I brought them forth." (Ezekiel 20:2-3,21-22) . Because the
Israelites disregarded His Word and loved the things and abominations of the
world, God could not bless and protect them, He will not give blessings for evil
doings. Had they returned to God completely He would have listened to their call
for help.

Following this, Ezekiel received a terrifying message from God
of the total destruction of the land. "Son of man, set thy face toward
Jerusalem, and drop thy word toward the holy places, and prophesy against the
land of Israel, And say to the land of Israel, Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I am
against thee, and will draw forth my sword out of his sheath, and will cut off
from thee the righteous and the wicked. Seeing then that I will cut off from
thee the righteous and the wicked, therefore shall my sword go forth out of his
sheath against all flesh from the south to the north: That all flesh may know
that I the LORD have drawn forth my sword out of his sheath: it shall not return
any more." (21:2-5).

Soon we learn of king Zedekiah and the people being
captured as well as the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple by
Nebuchadnezzar. "Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because ye have made your
iniquity to be remembered, in that your transgressions are discovered, so that
in all your doings your sins do appear; because, I say, that ye are come to
remembrance, ye shall be taken with the hand. And thou, profane wicked prince of
Israel, whose day is come, when iniquity shall have an end," (21:24-25). Since
then, no king has been anointed to sit on the throne of David in Israel for the
past 2500 years. Ezekiel foretold, "Thus saith the Lord GOD; Remove the diadem
(crown), and take off the crown: this shall not be the same: exalt him that is
low, and abase (lower) him that is high. I will overturn, overturn, overturn,
it: and it shall be no more, until he come whose right it is; and I will give it
him." (21:26-27). In the time of Jesus, an Edomite named Herod was merely a
puppet king appointed by Rome to govern only the Jews of Judea. The promised
land will continue to exist without a king until the return of Jesus Christ.

To seek God in the midst of trouble without the sincere desire to put
Him first above all things is just foolish. God knows our hearts and unless we
repent and sincerely try to change our ways He will not listen to our call for
help. What is so amazing is that God forgives us for all our sins and wipes them
clean from our slate, every sinner who repents and turns to the Lord, Jesus
Christ is saved by His mercy and grace. Jesus said, "Ye are my friends, if ye do
whatsoever I command you. Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant
knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things
that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. Ye have not chosen
me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth
fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the
Father in my name, he may give it you." (John 15:14-16).

In today's
reading Jesus Christ is revealed through the One who will gather His people from
all nations and purge out the false from the true. (Ezekiel 20:34-38). Jesus
said, "When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with
him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: And before him shall be
gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another." (Matthew
25:31-32).

Today's Prayer:
Dear Lord,
I lift up to you all my
concerns and any areas of my life where I have unrest. I ask that you would take
this burden away from me and bring your joy and peace into my life. My hope is
in you and I praise you for your hand of blessing on me. Thank you that as I
look to you, you shine the light of your face on me and on the path I need to
walk. My hope is in you and I will look to no other one to guide me. In Jesus
name.....Amen.

Have a great and wonderfully blessed day!
God Bless,

Heart, Mind, & Soul


While God is a God of mercy, grace, and forgiveness, He will not be
mocked, He knows when we are sincere and when we have no intention of
changing our ways. The Bible says, Be
not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that
shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh
reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit
reap life everlasting. And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due
season we shall reap, if we faint not.- Galatians 6:7-9.
As long as we follow God with all our heart, mind,
and soul we will see blessings come out of it, but those who really have
no intention of following God, only to seek His help when they are in
trouble will go through a lot of suffering before God will hear their
cry.

For eighteen years the Israelites had been under the control of the
Philistines, they had done evil in the sight of the Lord once again,
forsaking Him for the false gods of not only the Philistines, but the
Amorites, Ammonites, and every other man made god of the people dwelling
in Canaan. This time when the Israelites went to God for help they did
not get the answer they were waiting for.
And
the LORD said unto the children of Israel, Did not I deliver you from
the Egyptians, and from the Amorites, from the children of Ammon, and
from the Philistines? The Zidonians also, and the Amalekites, and the
Maonites, did oppress you; and ye cried to me, and I delivered you out
of their hand. Yet ye have forsaken me, and served other gods: wherefore
I will deliver you no more. Go and cry unto the gods which ye have
chosen; let them deliver you in the time of your tribulation. And the
children of Israel said unto the LORD, We have sinned: do thou unto us
whatsoever seemeth good unto thee; deliver us only, we pray thee, this
day. And they put away the strange gods from among them, and served the
LORD: and his soul was grieved for the misery of Israel. - Judges 10:11-16.

God did help them after they sincerely repented and got rid of their
false gods, a false god is more than some statute, symbol, or god that
someone made up, a false god is anything that takes the place of God. If
a job, hobby, person, or lifestyle takes first place in a persons life,
God sees that as a god. Now, God does not want you to quit your job or
sit in a corner all day and do nothing, but if that job, hobby, person,
or lifestyle goes against your morals or is corrupting you, of course,
God wants you to remove that from your life. God's soul will not grieve
over a soul that has no intention of removing the false gods from their
lives. Yes, it takes time to overcome some sins, but if one is truly
sincere God will hear their misery and His soul will grieve for them.
Blessed
are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall
be filled. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. - Matthew 5:6-8.

God sent a man named Jephthah to help deliver the Israelites out of
the hands of the Philistines. Now, Jephthah was rejected by many,
including his half brothers, because he was the son of a harlot, a
prostitute, but that rejection soon turned into a plea for help when the
Ammonites started war with the Gilead.
Jephthah
the Gileadite was a mighty man of valour, and he was the son of an
harlot: and Gilead begat Jephthah. And Gilead's wife bare him sons; and
his wife's sons grew up, and they thrust out Jephthah, and said unto
him, Thou shalt not inherit in our father's house; for thou art the son
of a strange woman. Then Jephthah fled from his brethren, and dwelt in
the land of Tob: and there were gathered vain men to Jephthah, and went
out with him...And they said unto Jephthah, Come, and be our captain,
that we may fight with the children of Ammon. And Jephthah said unto the
elders of Gilead, Did not ye hate me, and expel me out of my father's
house? and why are ye come unto me now when ye are in distress? And the
elders of Gilead said unto Jephthah, Therefore we turn again to thee
now, that thou mayest go with us, and fight against the children of
Ammon, and be our head over all the inhabitants of Gilead. -Judges 11:1-3,6-8.

Now, Jephthah could have refused to help Gilead, but he knew that it
was God's will that he go and that it was the right thing to do. God had
forgiven Israel, therefore, Jephthah knew it was fitting for him
forgive them for the way they treated him. We can not be blamed or need
not be ashamed of the parents that we are born into. God has a reason
for why He chooses to bring us into the world the way He brings us and
while we may not understand right now there will come a time when we do.
God chose to send Jesus through the lineage of Judah, who slept with
his daughter-in- law, whom God used to bare the son who would carry on
the seed of Judah (See Genesis 38:11-26).
For
thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb.
I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous
are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. - Psalm 139:13,14.

You know, God knows we carry around this flesh with us and because of
that we are going to sin, but there is a difference between a person
truly wanting to follow God with all their heart, mind, and soul and one
that has no intention of ever following Him. So many people think that
salvation gives them the right to do as they please without any
repercussions however, serious repercussions result in abusing God's
good graces. While one may not be cast into hell they will suffer here
on earth before they are allowed to see paradise. Ever wonder why the
wicked always seem to prosper and live longer? God wants them to suffer.
The amazing thing is that while we think they are living the good life,
they are suffering, they just do not want to admit it. The hard thing
is not saying, I told you so. when seeing them fall. Praise God that
His soul grieves for those who truly repent and is faithful to forgive
us, even if we have stopped following Him with our heart, mind, and
soul. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. - I John 1:9.
Jesus Christ Revealed:
Today Jesus is revealed through Jephthah's only child as she wholly
submitted to her father's will (11:34-40). Jesus, who is the Son of God
and God in the flesh, wholly submitted His heart, mind, and soul to the
Father's will.
And
he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O
my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless
not as I will, but as thou wilt. - Matthew 26:39.

Thanks and God Bless You, I am praying for you

Jehovahshalom

As Christians we have one thing going for us that no one in the world
can ever understand and that is our faith and trust in Jesus Christ.
Now, the strength of our faith and trust in Him go up and down like a
roller coaster, mostly upon the circumstances in our lives. I my church
choir we sing a song titled, Lord I need you it's about times that we
unintentionally forget that God is with us when things are going well,
only to fall into tribulation because of it. 95% of the time tribulation
comes from forgetting to acknowledge God. God does not bring upon
tribulation to punish us, it's to keep us faithful to Him. Trust
in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own
understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy
paths.- Proverbs 3:5,6.

Have you ever been praying and praying and praying, doing what seems
right, yet wonder where is God, why He has not answered you, or will you
ever get through this? This is the same response that Gideon had when
his people were forced to live in caves in fear of the Midianites.
And
the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD: and the LORD
delivered them into the hand of Midian seven years. And the hand of
Midian prevailed against Israel: and because of the Midianites the
children of Israel made them the dens which are in the mountains, and
caves, and strong holds...And it came to pass, when the children of
Israel cried unto the LORD because of the Midianites,. .And there came an
angel of the LORD, and sat under an oak which was in Ophrah, that
pertained unto Joash the Abiezrite: and his son Gideon threshed wheat by
the winepress, to hide it from the Midianites. And the angel of the
LORD appeared unto him, and said unto him, The LORD is with thee, thou
mighty man of valour. And Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, if the LORD
be with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where be all his
miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not the LORD bring us
up from Egypt? but now the LORD hath forsaken us, and delivered us into
the hands of the Midianites. - Judges 6:1,2,7,11-13.

Even if we are not living in sin, ignoring God when things are going
well is like turning your back on Him. Sooner or later, if you do not
keep God in your sights, one sin will creep in, turning into another and
before you know it tribulation comes, just as it did with the
Israelites. Then the first thing people do is question why God is doing
it to them. Over the past few years I have learned a valuable lesson,
when things start falling apart it means that I am losing my sight of
God. You know, even when serving God, we can lose sight of Him? That is
why it is important to pay attention to the warnings before things
really start to fall apart. God does not want to see us suffer, but the
sufferings are what bring us closer to God. For
as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also
aboundeth by Christ. And whether we be afflicted, it is for your
consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the
same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is
for your consolation and salvation. II Corinthians 1:5,6.

God assured Gideon that He was with him and He would lead them to
victory over the Midianites, after a few tests to prove God, Gideon was
ready to do the work God called him to do.
And
when Gideon perceived that he was an angel of the LORD, Gideon said,
Alas, O LORD God! for because I have seen an angel of the LORD face to
face. And the LORD said unto him, Peace be unto thee; fear not: thou
shalt not die. Then Gideon built an altar there unto the LORD, and
called it Jehovahshalom: unto this day it is yet in Ophrah of the
Abiezrites. And it came to pass the same night, that the LORD said unto
him, Take thy father's young bullock, even the second bullock of seven
years old, and throw down the altar of Baal that thy father hath, and
cut down the grove that is by it: And build an altar unto the LORD thy
God upon the top of this rock, in the ordered place, and take the second
bullock, and offer a burnt sacrifice with the wood of the grove which
thou shalt cut down. Then Gideon took ten men of his servants, and did
as the LORD had said unto him: and so it was, because he feared his
father's household, and the men of the city, that he could not do it by
day, that he did it by night.Judges 6:22-27.

Sometimes God just needs us to prove Him, nothing pleases God more
than proving to His people and especially the world that He is the one
and only Almighty God. The angel of the Lord is none other than Jesus
Christ Himself, the
word Jehovahshalom, means Jehovah (God) of peace. Jehovahshalom comes
through our tribulations through one person and one person only and that
is our Lord, Jesus Christ. Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By
whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and
rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in
tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And
patience, experience; and experience, hope:- Romans 5:1-4.

While God has the power to do and make anything happen at any time, including give us what we ask instantly,
He rarely gives them to us right away. Why? He wants the recognition.
Thirty-two thousand men showed up to help Gideon defeat the Midianites,
which were about a hundred-fifty thousand men, out of those thirty-two
thousand only three hundred were used by God to defeat the Midianites.
Then
Jerubbaal, who is Gideon, and all the people that were with him, rose
up early, and pitched beside the well of Harod: so that the host of the
Midianites were on the north side of them, by the hill of Moreh, in the
valley. And
the LORD said unto Gideon, The people that are with thee are too many
for me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel vaunt
themselves against me, saying, Mine own hand hath saved me. Now
therefore go to, proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, Whosoever
is fearful and afraid, let him return and depart early from mount
Gilead. And there returned of the people twenty and two thousand; and
there remained ten thousand. And the LORD said unto Gideon, The people
are yet too many; bring them down unto the water, and I will try them
for thee there: and it shall be, that of whom I say unto thee, This
shall go with thee, the same shall go with thee; and of whomsoever I say
unto thee, This shall not go with thee, the same shall not go...And the
LORD said unto Gideon, By the three hundred men that lapped will I save
you, and deliver the Midianites into thine hand: and let all the other
people go every man unto his place. Judges 7:1-4,7.

Had the Israelites used the thirty-two thousand men in battle the
Israelites would have been boasting about their victory. If God was
going to prove to the Israelites and Midianites that He was the one who
lead the Israelites to victory than it would have to be with less
people. God
wants prepared men to fight God's battles with God's weapons in God's
way. Why? This would inspire the Israelites to serve Him with confidence
and the Midianites would fear Him as well. The whole purpose for trials
and tribulations is that we all acknowledge the Almighty God and come
to repentance.
The
Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness;
but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but
that all should come to repentance. - II Peter 3:9.

Jehovahshalom
only comes through Christ, He is our peace and when He is with us no
matter what we are going through we will have peace. Trials and
tribulations come and go, faith and trust is dependent upon trials and
tribulations, we must go through them to realize that God is the
Jehovahshalom. As we endure the trials and tribulations we can say with
Job, Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him:
On
the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him: he hideth
himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him: But he knoweth the way
that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold. - Job 23:8-10.

Jesus Christ Revealed:
Today Jesus is revealed through the Sword of the Lord, (7:18-20) Jesus
is the Sword of the Lord, which is the Word of God made flesh. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: - Ephesians 6:17.
And
the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory,
the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and
truth. - John 1:14.

Thanks and God Bless You, I am praying for you

Arm Yourself

ed as a chief magistrate (official), with civil and
military powers. While we as Christians may not carry military powers,
we do carry something that is powerful and that is the Word of God. The
Bible says, For
the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged
sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of
the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of
the heart. - Hebrews 4:12.

The Israelites were governed by judges for more than three hundred
years. While the judges were alive the Israelites were obedient and
followed God wholeheartedly and prospered, but when they died the
Israelites quickly forgot God, falling right back into the corruption of
those who lived in the world and becoming enslaved to them.

Now
these are the nations which the LORD left, to prove Israel by them,
even as many of Israel as had not known all the wars of Canaan; Only
that the generations of the children of Israel might know, to teach
them war, at the least such as before knew nothing thereof;..And the children of Israel dwelt among the Canaanites, Hittites, and Amorites, and Perizzites, and Hivites, and Jebusites: And
they took their daughters to be their wives, and gave their daughters
to their sons, and served their gods. And the children of Israel did
evil in the sight of the LORD, and forgat the LORD their God, and served
Baalim and the groves. Therefore the anger of the LORD was hot against
Israel, and he sold them into the hand of Chushanrishathaim king of
Mesopotamia: and the children of Israel served Chushanrishathaim eight
years. And when the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, the LORD
raised up a deliverer to the children of Israel, who delivered them,
even Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother. - Judges 3:1,2,5-9.

Temptations
and trials detect the wickedness of the hearts of sinners and
strengthens the graces of believers in their daily conflict with Satan,
sin, and this wicked world. While we must live in this world, we are not
of it and are forbidden to conform to it. The only way we can guard
ourselves against the temptations of the world is through God and
remaining in His Word. Yes, we need a man of God to guide us, it's great
to have studies like these to help us understand God's Word, but what
good is that man or these studies if we do not get in His Word
ourselves. We are all human, although I teach the Bible, I am human and
make mistakes just like you. Reading God's Word for yourself only
confirms my findings or any errors that I have made. “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For
we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities,
against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world,
against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the
whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day,
and having done all, to stand. - Ephesians 6:11-13.

As the Israelites fell away from the Lord again when Ehud died, God gave them into the hands of the Canaanitish king Jabin,
who oppressed them severely for twenty years with a powerful army under
Sisera his general. God will use anyone to help stir us in the right
direction, He even used a woman to judge the people.
And
the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the LORD, when
Ehud was dead. And the LORD sold them into the hand of Jabin king of
Canaan, that reigned in Hazor; the captain of whose host was Sisera,
which dwelt in Harosheth of the Gentiles. And the children of Israel
cried unto the LORD: for he had nine hundred chariots of iron; and
twenty years he mightily oppressed the children of Israel. And Deborah, a
prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time...And
she sent and called Barak the son of Abinoam out of Kedeshnaphtali, and
said unto him, Hath not the LORD God of Israel commanded, saying, Go and
draw toward mount Tabor, and take with thee ten thousand men of the
children of Naphtali and of the children of Zebulun?..And Barak said
unto her, If thou wilt go with me, then I will go: but if thou wilt not
go with me, then I will not go. And she said, I will surely go with
thee: notwithstanding the journey that thou takest shall not be for
thine honour; for the LORD shall sell Sisera into the hand of a woman.
And Deborah arose, and went with Barak to Kedesh. - Judges 3:1-4,6,8,9.
Deborah
was a prophetess, one instructed in Divine knowledge by the inspiration
of the Spirit of God. She judged Israel as God's mouth to them,
correcting abuses, and redressing grievances. By God's direction, she
ordered Barak to raise an army, and engage Jabin's forces. Barak
insisted upon her presence, she was eager to help, though reminding him
that she would be the one honored, whom was the weaker vessel. However,
Barak values the satisfaction of his mind, and the good success of his
enterprise, more than mere honor. God created the woman to be a help
meet for the man, sometimes she is stronger in her faith, but God will
not give us a task that we can not handle, even if that means lifting up
the spirits of man who is weaker in his. Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come. She
openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of
kindness. She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not
the bread of idleness. Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her
husband also, and he praiseth her...Favour is deceitful, and beauty is
vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised. - Proverbs 31:25-28,30.
The
amazing thing about God is that no matter how many times we turn from
Him, He is eager to help when we cry out to Him. That's the key, we need
to cry out to Him. Do you ever wonder why Jesus asked a person what
they needed, well knowing already what they needed? He wanted them to
come to Him on their own. God knows what we need, but just like anyone
else, He will not offer His help until we come up to Him and ask Him for
it. I remember times where I would be working really hard while
watching another just standing there and wondering why they would not
just come over and help. Well, no one wants to overstep their bounds,
they might want to help, but unless I asked they assumed I did not need
any help. God is the same way, if we do not ask, we do not receive. Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. - James 4:2,3.

God is no respecter of persons, therefore, we are to judge no person,
but we can judge a persons behavior and warn them against it. Jesus
said,
Take
heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him;
and if he repent, forgive him. And if he trespass against thee seven
times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I
repent; thou shalt forgive him.
- Luke 17:3,4.
People of the world are clueless to God's judgment upon
them, what they perceive as bad luck or what many might say is karma,
is, in fact, God trying to get their attention. “But
the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they
are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are
spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet
he himself is judged of no man. For who hath known the mind of the Lord,
that he may instruct him? but we have the mind of Christ.
- I Corinthians 2::14-16. There is nothing more powerful than having
the mind of Christ, which can only be obtained by and through the Word
of God.
Jesus Christ Revealed:
Today Jesus is revealed through Othniel, a deliverer upon whom the Lord
rested. The Spirit of the Lord rests upon all who know Christ.

Thanks and God Bless You, I am praying for you

Paying Tribute

The Book of Judges is the seventh book of the Old Testament/Bible and
contains twenty-one chapters. The author of the book is Samuel and it
was written to the Israelites, the time line of these events took place
approximately 1425 BC to 1120 BC. The purpose of the book was to record
the Israelites journey after the death of Joshua, their repeated sin,
and the judges God sent, who ruled, to get them redeemed and right with
God. What we are to learn from the book is that God's chastisement is
for the benefit of all God's people to turn us away from sin and to the
Savior. And
the children of Israel said unto the LORD, We have sinned: do thou unto
us whatsoever seemeth good unto thee; deliver us only, we pray thee,
this day. And they put away the strange gods from among them, and served
the LORD: and his soul was grieved for the misery of Israel. - Judges 10:15,16.

The word tributary is defined as paying tribute (money) to another,
either from compulsion, as an acknowledgment of submission, or to secure
protection, or for the purpose of purchasing peace. The Bible says, Let
every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but
of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore
resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that
resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not a
terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of
the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the
same: For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do
that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for
he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that
doeth evil...Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute
is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom
honour. Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that
loveth another hath fulfilled the law.- Romans 13:1-4,7,8.

God is in control of everything that happens, all the wars, storms,
earthquakes, fires, fighting, even this thing called evolution, are all
under one power and that is God. Now, no matter what generation we live
in someone always thinks they have more power than God or that thy are a
god. So, not one, but all of us are affected by some ego who thinks
they have everything under control. Yea,
and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and
being deceived. But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned
and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And
that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to
make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. - II Timothy 3:12-15.

If you live in America than you know what I am talking about, slowly,
no quickly, our nation is falling under control of foreigners as we are
subject to paying tribute and debts owed to them. The sad thing is that
it's not our government that is affected, it is every person in America.
Paul called it when he said, But
they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many
foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted
after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through
with many sorrows. I Timothy 6:9,10.

The Israelites are now facing life without their leader Joshua, what
were they to do. There were to do just as Joshua said, drive all the
inhabitants from the land and follow God's commands. Well, they followed
some of the commands, but failed to do one important thing, drive all
the inhabitants from the land. The tribes of Judah and Simeon worked
together to get the people out of their towns, but the rest of the
tribes did not want to fight or were afraid of them, the result, either
the Canaanites paid them or even worse the Canaanites paid them to keep
the peace.
And
it came to pass, when Israel was strong, that they put the Canaanites
to tribute, and did not utterly drive them out. Neither did Ephraim
drive out the Canaanites that dwelt in Gezer; but the Canaanites dwelt
in Gezer among them. Neither did Zebulun drive out the inhabitants of
Kitron, nor the inhabitants of Nahalol; but the Canaanites dwelt among
them, and became tributaries. ..Neither did Naphtali drive out the
inhabitants of Bethshemesh, nor the inhabitants of Bethanath; but he
dwelt among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land: nevertheless
the inhabitants of Bethshemesh and of Bethanath became tributaries unto
them. And the Amorites forced the children of Dan into the mountain: for
they would not suffer them to come down to the valley: But the Amorites
would dwell in mount Heres in Aijalon, and in Shaalbim: yet the hand of
the house of Joseph prevailed, so that they became tributaries. - Judges 1:28-30,33-35.

When we make a promise to live our lives for God, He pays attention
and expects us to follow through, now, He knows there are going to be
snares that slow us down, but He is always watching. As God watched the
Israelites compromising with the Canaanites, He did what He promised,
that they would always be a snare in their side. God confronted the
Israelites, reminding them of that very thing.
And
an angel of the LORD came up from Gilgal to Bochim, and said, I made
you to go up out of Egypt, and have brought you unto the land which I
sware unto your fathers; and I said, I will never break my covenant with
you. And ye shall make no league with the inhabitants of this land; ye
shall throw down their altars: but ye have not obeyed my voice: why have
ye done this? Wherefore I also said, I will not drive them out from
before you; but they shall be as thorns in your sides, and their gods
shall be a snare unto you...And the anger of the LORD was hot against
Israel, and he delivered them into the hands of spoilers that spoiled
them, and he sold them into the hands of their enemies round about, so
that they could not any longer stand before their enemies. Whithersoever
they went out, the hand of the LORD was against them for evil, as the
LORD had said, and as the LORD had sworn unto them: and they were
greatly distressed. Nevertheless the LORD raised up judges, which
delivered them out of the hand of those that spoiled them. - Judges 2:1-3,14-16.

While God did make the Canaanites a snare to the Israelites, allowed
them to follow their gods, and allowed them to suffer for it, He did
send judges (leaders) from time to time in hopes that they would turn
from their gods to Him, the one and only, Almighty God. That is all God
ever asks of His people. Now
the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery,
fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred,
variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings,
murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you
before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such
things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit
is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are
Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we
live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. - Galatians 5:19-25.

When Jesus Christ died on the cross He paid tribute to God for every
sinner, paid the debt owed to them for peace with God. All who call on
Christ are secured, the debt is paid in full, and peace is made with
God. What better way to give thanks for the debt paid is by honoring the
promise we made. God will never expect us to do something we are unable
to do, therefore He will never ask us to do it. What He does ask is
that we give it our all. And
thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy
soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the
first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love
thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than
these. - Mark 12:30,31.

Jesus Christ Revealed: Today Jesus is revealed through the Angel of the Lord (2:1), Jesus, is God in the flesh ans Spirit, “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty. - Revelation 1:8



Thanks and God Bless You, I am praying for you

Characteristics of Christ

The word character is defined as a combination of traits and qualities distinguishing the individual nature of a person.
While God gives us our own unique character we really are all a
collection of several people. How? We pick up ideas, thoughts, habits,
and the characteristics of those we get around. The Bible says, Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But
we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord,
are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the
Spirit of the Lord.- II Corinthians 3:17,18.
When Christ lives in us His Spirit is in us
and we begin to take on the characteristics of Him, amazingly we have
never even seen Jesus face to face, yet we become a combination of His
traits and qualities as we get around Him.

After all the land was divided and the Levites got their part, the
Reubenites, Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh were ready to return
to the land Moses promised them on the other side of the Jordan, in
Gilead. When they got there they decided to build an altar as a reminder
that they too are a part of Israel. However, when the other nine and a
half tribes heard that they built an altar it caused so much strife that
nearly a war began.
And
when they came unto the borders of Jordan, that are in the land of
Canaan, the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half
tribe of Manasseh built there an altar by Jordan, a great altar to see
to. And the children of Israel heard say, Behold, the children of Reuben
and the children of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh have built an
altar over against the land of Canaan, in the borders of Jordan, at the
passage of the children of Israel. And when the children of Israel heard
of it, the whole congregation of the children of Israel gathered
themselves together at Shiloh, to go up to war against them...Then the
children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half tribe of
Manasseh answered, and said unto the heads of the thousands of
Israel,..Therefore we said, Let us now prepare to build us an altar, not
for burnt offering, nor for sacrifice: But that it may be a witness
between us, and you, and our generations after us, that we might do the
service of the LORD before him with our burnt offerings, and with our
sacrifices, and with our peace offerings; that your children may not say
to our children in time to come, Ye have no part in the LORD.- Joshua 22:10-12,21, 26,27.

Even though the tribes were on the other side of the promised land they
knew they were God's people, therefore, they knew it was important to
teach their children that even though they are not living in the
promised land, they are still children of God. All who accept Christ are
children of God. It is important that we, be a witness to the next
generations, if we do not leave them with some kind of knowledge of
Jesus and what He has done for us than the next generation will not know
who He is. How do you think we are becoming the minority? Individuals
stop teaching Jesus to their children. Do you know how many teenagers I
meet that have no idea who the Son of God is? When a person stops
getting around Jesus they can forget that He is there, keep doing that
generation upon generation and you have a family that believes in
evolution and not Jesus. For
the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly
seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal
power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when
they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but
became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was
darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And
changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to
corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping
things. - Romans 1:20-23.

Joshua was now one hundred and ten years old, he knew his time on earth
was coming to an end, before he passed he gathered all the elders
together for one last remembrance of the miracles, lessons, blessings,
and laws given by God. First, Joshua reminded them that they are
standing on the promised land because of one person and one person only,
God.
Take
good heed therefore unto yourselves, that ye love the LORD your God.
Else if ye do in any wise go back, and cleave unto the remnant of these
nations, even these that remain among you, and shall make marriages with
them, and go in unto them, and they to you: Know for a certainty that
the LORD your God will no more drive out any of these nations from
before you; but they shall be snares and traps unto you, and scourges in
your sides, and thorns in your eyes, until ye perish from off this good
land which the LORD your God hath given you. - Joshua 23:11-13.

When we are faithful to God, He is faithful to us and will always fight
for those who put their faith and trust in Him. Of course, we are going
to have bad days and our faith is not going to be as strong, but God
knows our hearts, He knows who are His and whether He needs to give us a
good kick to remind us or give someone else a good kick He will fight
for us. Beloved,
think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as
though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as
ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be
revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy...Yet if any man suffer
as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this
behalf. For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of
God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that
obey not the gospel of God? I Peter 4:12,13,16,17.

Joshua reminded, encouraged, and also warned them, Now
therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and
put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the
flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD. And if it seem evil unto you
to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the
gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood,
or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and
my house, we will serve the LORD...And the people said unto Joshua, Nay;
but we will serve the LORD. And Joshua said unto the people, Ye are
witnesses against yourselves that ye have chosen you the LORD, to serve
him. And they said, We are witnesses. Now therefore put away, said he,
the strange gods which are among you, and incline your heart unto the
LORD God of Israel. Joshua 24:14,15,21- 23.

An amazing thing happens when a person calls on Jesus Christ to save
them, they become a witness, meaning they take on His characteristics as
they live their lives with Him in it. Now, a warning comes to those who
have chosen God over their god then continue to serve their god, they will go
through a great deal of suffering before God takes them home. Why? There
is a difference between someone who gets saved and is sincere about it
and someone who just gets saved to continue living a wicked life and not
end up in hell. He will save anyone who comes to Him, but He is going
to make that person suffer for a while, then when they finally get it
and have had enough, that is when God will bring that person home.For
whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he
receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons;
for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?..Now no chastening
for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless
afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them
which are exercised thereby.- Hebrews 12:6,7,11.

Jesus Christ Revealed: Today Jesus is revealed through the Peace Offering (22:27) Jesus offered Himself to us so that we can have peace with God. And,
having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile
all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth,
or things in heaven. - Colossians 1:20.

Thanks and God Bless You, I am praying for you

King James Daily Bible Study: Thou Art My Refuge

The word refuge is defined as a shelter or protection from danger, trouble,
or anything to which one has support for aid, relief, or escape. There
have been or will be times in our lives where we feel as though no one
is on our side, that we are left to fend for ourselves and deal with
something on our own. Can I tell you that we can find refuge in God. The
Bible says,When
my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then thou knewest my path. In the
way wherein I walked have they privily laid a snare for me. I
looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would
know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul. I cried unto thee, O
LORD: I said, Thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the
living...Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise thy name: the
righteous shall compass me about; for thou shalt deal bountifully with
me. - Psalm 142:3-5,7.
God commanded that cities of refuge be given from each tribe amongst
the land they inherited. A city of refuge was a place where anyone could
go if they had been accused of murder to escape the wrath of the family
out to get him while awaiting trial.

And when he that doth flee unto one of those cities shall stand at the
entering of the gate of the city, and shall declare his cause in the
ears of the elders of that city, they shall take him into the city unto
them, and give him a place, that he may dwell among them. And if the
avenger of blood pursue after him, then they shall not deliver the
slayer up into his hand; because he smote his neighbour unwittingly, and
hated him not beforetime. And he shall dwell in that city, until he
stand before the congregation for judgment, and until the death of the
high priest that shall be in those days: then shall the slayer return,
and come unto his own city, and unto his own house, unto the city from
whence he fled - Joshua 20:4-6.

This is an amazing illustration of Christ in two ways, first, He gives
us a place of refuge, our refuge comes when we stand at the entrance of
the gate, confess that we are a sinner, and ask Him to save us, then He
accepts us and saves us from death and hell. And
this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this
life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not
the Son of God hath not lifE - I John 5:11,12.

Second, when the high priest died the accuser would be set free,
allowed to return to their home and family. Christ, being our high
priest, when He died on the cross, enabled all who believe in Him to be
set free, to return to there home and family. That home is none other
than the Kingdom of God, that family, God's, by whom we are made heirs
with Christ when we ask Him to save us. Not
by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his
mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the
Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our
Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs
according to the hope of eternal life Titus 3:5-7.

The Levites patiently waited for all the tribes to receive their
inheritance before going to Joshua and asking him for a place to dwell
among them. Since they were not given a part of the inheritance of the
land God commanded that every tribe give a portion of theirs for them to
dwell on. This was done for two reasons, one they served God in the
ministry, which meant they set up the tabernacle and kept it clean,
while the priests would receive the offerings, so, it was done as a way
to give thanks. Two, it was a way for the people to have a man of God
near by to be able to minister to him at any time rather than have to
make the journey, sometimes long, to Shiloh. Now, each tribe gave a
portion of their land to the Levites.
Then
came near the heads of the fathers of the Levites unto Eleazar the
priest, and unto Joshua the son of Nun, and unto the heads of the
fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel; And they spake unto
them at Shiloh in the land of Canaan, saying, The LORD commanded by the
hand of Moses to give us cities to dwell in, with the suburbs thereof
for our cattle. And the children of Israel gave unto the Levites out of
their inheritance, at the commandment of the LORD, these cities and
their suburbs..All the cities of the Levites within the possession of
the children of Israel were forty and eight cities with their suburbs.
These cities were every one with their suburbs round about them: thus
were all these cities. And the LORD gave unto Israel all the land which
he sware to give unto their fathers; and they possessed it, and dwelt
therein - Joshua 21:1-3,41-43.
There
is an inheritance provided for all saints, God's royal, priesthood,
whom are all who have come to Him for refuge, but if they want to
receive it they must ask for it through the true Joshua, who is Jesus
Christ. Jesus said, ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. - Matthew 7:7,8.
God
will give us anything we ask, especially the things He promises, but
the key is asking, He will not give us anything if we do not ask Him for
it. My nephew asked me the other day, 鈥淣o one can control us, but God,
right? I replied, not even God can control us, only we can control
us. God can not and will not force a person to come to Him, He might
send hints and place every person and thing before you as a reminder
that He is still around, but He will not force you to follow His
commands or accept His Son. We do that of our own free will, no one can
be saved unless they ask to be saved. That
if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe
in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be
saved. For
with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth
confession is made unto salvation... For whosoever shall call upon the
name of the Lord shall be saved - Romans 10:9,10,13.

We do not need to feel all alone or try to handle everything on our
own, God is there for us, He is our refuge, but if we do not ask, we do
not receive. He will let us deal with it by ourselves unless we seek Him
for help. However, there does come a time when He comes to us and just
says, you have gone through enough, it's time you let Me help. That is
when you can say, I cried unto thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my refuge and my portion in
the land of the living...Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise
thy name: the righteous shall compass me about; for thou shalt deal
bountifully with me.- Psalm 142:3-5,7.
It took me two years of suffering before I went to
God and when I did it was the best thing I ever did. He picked me up,
reassured me that He was really never gone, but I needed to see that for
myself, He gave me refuge and that is where I have been ever since,
almost seven years now and counting. Praise God!

Jesus Christ Revealed: Today Jesus is revealed through Eleazar, the chief priest (21:1). Jesus is our high (chief) priest.
Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater
and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of
this building; Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own
blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal
redemption for us. - Hebrews 9:11,12.

Thanks and God Bless You, I am praying for you

Thou Art My Refuge

The word refuge is defined as a shelter or protection from danger, trouble,
or anything to which one has support for aid, relief, or escape. There
have been or will be times in our lives where we feel as though no one
is on our side, that we are left to fend for ourselves and deal with
something on our own. Can I tell you that we can find refuge in God. The
Bible says, When
my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then thou knewest my path. In the
way wherein I walked have they privily laid a snare for me. I
looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would
know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul. I cried unto thee, O
LORD: I said, Thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the
living...Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise thy name: the
righteous shall compass me about; for thou shalt deal bountifully with
me.- Psalm 142:3-5,7.

God commanded that cities of refuge be given from each tribe amongst
the land they inherited. A city of refuge was a place where anyone could
go if they had been accused of murder to escape the wrath of the family
out to get him while awaiting trial.
And
when he that doth flee unto one of those cities shall stand at the
entering of the gate of the city, and shall declare his cause in the
ears of the elders of that city, they shall take him into the city unto
them, and give him a place, that he may dwell among them. And if the
avenger of blood pursue after him, then they shall not deliver the
slayer up into his hand; because he smote his neighbour unwittingly, and
hated him not beforetime. And he shall dwell in that city, until he
stand before the congregation for judgment, and until the death of the
high priest that shall be in those days: then shall the slayer return,
and come unto his own city, and unto his own house, unto the city from
whence he fled. - Joshua 20:4-6.

This is an amazing illustration of Christ in two ways, first, He gives
us a place of refuge, our refuge comes when we stand at the entrance of
the gate, confess that we are a sinner, and ask Him to save us, then He
accepts us and saves us from death and hell. And
this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this
life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not
the Son of God hath not life.- I John 5:11,12.

Second, when the high priest died the accuser would be set free,
allowed to return to their home and family. Christ, being our high
priest, when He died on the cross, enabled all who believe in Him to be
set free, to return to there home and family. That home is none other
than the Kingdom of God, that family, God's, by whom we are made heirs
with Christ when we ask Him to save us. Not
by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his
mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the
Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our
Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs
according to the hope of eternal life. - Titus 3:5-7.

The Levites patiently waited for all the tribes to receive their
inheritance before going to Joshua and asking him for a place to dwell
among them. Since they were not given a part of the inheritance of the
land God commanded that every tribe give a portion of theirs for them to
dwell on. This was done for two reasons, one they served God in the
ministry, which meant they set up the tabernacle and kept it clean,
while the priests would receive the offerings, so, it was done as a way
to give thanks. Two, it was a way for the people to have a man of God
near by to be able to minister to him at any time rather than have to
make the journey, sometimes long, to Shiloh. Now, each tribe gave a
portion of their land to the Levites.
Then
came near the heads of the fathers of the Levites unto Eleazar the
priest, and unto Joshua the son of Nun, and unto the heads of the
fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel; And they spake unto
them at Shiloh in the land of Canaan, saying, The LORD commanded by the
hand of Moses to give us cities to dwell in, with the suburbs thereof
for our cattle. And the children of Israel gave unto the Levites out of
their inheritance, at the commandment of the LORD, these cities and
their suburbs..All the cities of the Levites within the possession of
the children of Israel were forty and eight cities with their suburbs.
These cities were every one with their suburbs round about them: thus
were all these cities. And the LORD gave unto Israel all the land which
he sware to give unto their fathers; and they possessed it, and dwelt
therein. Joshua 21:1-3,41-43.
There
is an inheritance provided for all saints, God's royal, priesthood,
whom are all who have come to Him for refuge, but if they want to
receive it they must ask for it through the true Joshua, who is Jesus
Christ. Jesus said, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. - Matthew 7:7,8.
God
will give us anything we ask, especially the things He promises, but
the key is asking, He will not give us anything if we do not ask Him for
it. My nephew asked me the other day, “No one can control us, but God,
right? I replied, Not even God can control us, only we can control
us. God can not and will not force a person to come to Him, He might
send hints and place every person and thing before you as a reminder
that He is still around, but He will not force you to follow His
commands or accept His Son. We do that of our own free will, no one can
be saved unless they ask to be saved. That
if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe
in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be
saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth
confession is made unto salvation... For whosoever shall call upon the
name of the Lord shall be saved. - Romans 10:9,10,13.

We do not need to feel all alone or try to handle everything on our
own, God is there for us, He is our refuge, but if we do not ask, we do
not receive. He will let us deal with it by ourselves unless we seek Him
for help. However, there does come a time when He comes to us and just
says, You have gone through enough, it's time you let Me help.That is
when you can say, I cried unto thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living...Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise
thy name: the righteous shall compass me about; for thou shalt deal
bountifully with me.- Psalm 142:3-5,7.
It took me two years of suffering before I went to God and when I did it was the best thing I ever did. He picked me up,
reassured me that He was really never gone, but I needed to see that for
myself, He gave me refuge and that is where I have been ever since,
almost seven years now and counting. Praise God!

Jesus Christ Revealed: Today Jesus is revealed through Eleazar, the chief priest (21:1). Jesus is our high (chief) priest. But
Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater
and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of
this building; Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own
blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal
redemption for us. - Hebrews 9:11,12.

Thanks and God Bless You, I am praying for you

Be Content, But Look

The word content is defined as to be satisfied with what one is or has, not wanting more or anything else. The Bible says, But
godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into
this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food
and raiment let us be therewith content...Charge them that are rich in
this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches,
but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; That
they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute,
willing to communicate; Laying up in store for themselves a good
foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal
life. - I Timothy 6:6-8,17-19.

The key to being content and seeing God give us all things richly
through it, is following His commands. Think about it. A person is hired
for a job and gets paid minimum wage, at first he is content with
making minimum wage, but after a while he gets tired of it and wants
more. If he wants to advance he must show an effort, do the labor
needed. This does three things, it shows the employer that he is a hard
worker to keep what he has, is willing to work to advance, and shows
that he can be trusted with more responsibility. But
without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God
must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that
diligently seek him. - Hebrews 11:6.

I imagine that not one of us are doing today what we even imagined
doing as a kid. I remember growing up wanting to be an artist, I even
got accepted for a scholarship at an art school. Then when I got out of
high school I did not go to art school, but a trade school and became an
electronic technician. Today, I am a website designer and a Sunday
school teacher. How those two would mix, I have no clue, but God does.
God used my abilities to design websites to be used to serve Him, not
only in reaching the lost with the Gospel via cyberspace, but keep them
growing in their faith with Bible studies, knowledge, and encouragement
to keep going. You see, if I had just been content with wanting to be an
artist I would have never stepped foot in the world of computers, thus
being here today. While God does want us to be content with what we
have, He does not want us to be so content that we lose sight of our
vision. The Bible says, Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.- Proverbs 29:18.
It is good to be content with what we have, but we
must look to see what other things God has in store for us.

The Israelites were on the promised land, each tribe was given a part
of the land, which was divided by how many people were in the tribe.
What the tribes did not account for was the people already dwelling in
the land, not God or Joshua, the people. The command from God was to
drive them out, the Israelites were not to dwell with the Canaanites.
However, many of the tribes did not want to fight and were content to
live among them, which caused problems for the smaller tribes.
And
the children of Joseph spake unto Joshua, saying, Why hast thou given
me but one lot and one portion to inherit, seeing I am a great people,
forasmuch as the LORD hath blessed me hitherto? And Joshua answered
them, If thou be a great people, then get thee up to the wood country,
and cut down for thyself there in the land of the Perizzites and of the
giants, if mount Ephraim be too narrow for thee. And the children of
Joseph said, The hill is not enough for us: and all the Canaanites that
dwell in the land of the valley have chariots of iron, both they who are
of Bethshean and her towns, and they who are of the valley of Jezreel.
And Joshua spake unto the house of Joseph, even to Ephraim and to
Manasseh, saying, Thou art a great people, and hast great power: thou
shalt not have one lot only: But the mountain shall be thine; for it is a
wood, and thou shalt cut it down: and the outgoings of it shall be
thine: for thou shalt drive out the Canaanites, though they have iron
chariots, and though they be strong. -Joshua 17:14-18.
Joshua
was himself of the tribe of Ephraim, but was far from supporting the
demands of his kinsmen, he tells them that they were given enough of the
land to share amongst them, plenty of it, and if they fought for it
like they were told to do then they would see that. God has much more to
give us, but we must show Him that we are content and thankful with
what we have first and follow through with what He asks us to do. We can
do anything that God asks us to do, He never gives us anything that we
can not handle, above all He strengthens us through Christ, Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and
in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to
abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which
strengtheneth me. - Philippians 4:11-13.

In the midst of the division all the Israelites came together to set up the Tabernacle. And
the whole congregation of the children of Israel assembled together at
Shiloh, and set up the tabernacle of the congregation there. And the
land was subdued before them. - Joshua 18:1.
The setting up of the Tabernacle in Shiloh gives a hint of the coming Shiloh (Christ) of whom Jacob had spoken. The
sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his
feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people
be.- Genesis 49:10.
When Jesus returns all who are His will gather
together, Jew and Christian alike will become one nation lead by our
King of kings. For
the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice
of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ
shall rise first: Then
we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in
the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with
the Lord. I Thessalonians 4:16,17.

God has me on a huge task right now, I admit I am struggling with it
and know that it does have an impact on some of the trials I am facing.
However, I know that I can do it because God knows I can, it's just time
for me to get over the fear and let Christ walk me through it. We all
have something that we fear that hinders God's blessings, but Christ
will walk us through them and allow us to get them done. Oh, it might
take some time, but we will get there as long as we remain content with
where we are looking forward to the riches that can only come as we
diligently do the work He calls us to do. For
God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye
have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints,
and do minister. And we desire that every one of you do shew the same
diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: That ye be not
slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit
the promises...And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the
promise. - Hebrews 6:10-12,15.

Jesus Christ Revealed: Today Jesus is revealed through Shiloh, one day Jesus will return, just as He promises to claim all that are His. In
my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have
told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a
place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that
where I am, there ye may be also. - John 14:2,3.

Thanks and God Bless You, I am praying for you

Value The Promises

While our works do not save us and take us to heaven, the work we do
after we are saved not only determines the inheritance we receive in the
Kingdom of God, but what we will receive here on earth as well. When we
are serving God He pays attention and whatever we ask of Him He will
give it to us, oh, He may give us a different version of what we
anticipate, often even better, but He never goes back on His Word and
always keeps His promises.
According
as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto
life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to
glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious
promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature,
having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. And
beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to
virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance
patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly
kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in
you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor
unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
- II Peter 1:3-8.
As we allow Christ to live in and through us He
transforms us into His likeness and the closer we get to Him the more
fruitful we become.
The time had come for the Israelites to receive the land promised to
them, the amount given had nothing to do with how much they had done for God, it was given to them simply because God chose them to be His
people. However, the amount of land received was according to the number or people in that tribe, with one exception, Caleb.
Then
the children of Judah came unto Joshua in Gilgal: and Caleb the son of
Jephunneh the Kenezite said unto him, Thou knowest the thing that the
LORD said unto Moses the man of God concerning me and thee in
Kadeshbarnea. Forty years old was I when Moses the servant of the LORD
sent me from Kadeshbarnea to espy out the land; and I brought him word
again as it was in mine heart. Nevertheless my brethren that went up
with me made the heart of the people melt: but I wholly followed the
LORD my God. And Moses sware on that day, saying, Surely the land
whereon thy feet have trodden shall be thine inheritance, and thy
children's for ever, because thou hast wholly followed the LORD my
God...Now therefore give me this mountain, whereof the LORD spake in
that day; for thou heardest in that day how the Anakims were there, and
that the cities were great and fenced: if so be the LORD will be with
me, then I shall be able to drive them out, as the LORD said. And Joshua
blessed him, and gave unto Caleb the son of Jephunneh Hebron for an
inheritance. Hebron therefore became the inheritance of Caleb the son of
Jephunneh the Kenezite unto this day, because that he wholly followed
the LORD God of Israel. - Joshua 14:6-9,12-14.

Caleb was one of two men, along with Joshua, that came from the first
generation of Israelites to come out of Egypt. Forty-five years earlier
Moses sent ten people to search the land of Canaan all, but Caleb and
Joshua gave an evil report because they feared the size of the people
and did not want to fight them. Even though Caleb and Joshua stood by
their faith and assured the Israelites that God would help them through
it the people had so much anger toward God that God said no one from
that generation would step foot on the promised land, except for Caleb
and Joshua.
Because
all those men which have seen my glory, and my miracles, which I did in
Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tempted me now these ten times,
and have not hearkened to my voice; Surely they shall not see the land
which I sware unto their fathers, neither shall any of them that
provoked me see it: But my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit
with him, and hath followed me fully, him will I bring into the land
whereinto he went; and his seed shall possess it...Doubtless ye shall
not come into the land, concerning which I sware to make you dwell
therein, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun. - Numbers 14:22-24,30.

Caleb asked for the mountain that God promised Him for following Him
wholly and he got it. God will give us everything He promises us, the
key to receiving it is having faith in Him, learning to wait on His time
table, and wholly following Him. When we wholly follow God we are more
likely to be obedient to Him, conforming into the likeness of His Son.
We will never be Jesus, but we can become more like Him and the result
is receiving the promises He made to us.
Elect
according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through
sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood
of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied. Blessed be
the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his
abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the
resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance
incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in
heaven for you, I Peter 1:2-4.

You are the elect, God has chosen you. Why? Only He knows, but one
reason is that you put your faith and trust in His Son. That alone is
cause for receiving His promise, the promise of eternal life. God may
call you to do only one thing in your life time for Him here on earth,
but that one thing is very important to God and should be honored
because He chose you to do it. Ye
have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye
should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that
whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. - John 15:16. Praise God!
Caleb
shows how he values the promise and insists on the mountain God had
spoken of. The man of faith values that which is given by promise far
above that given by providence only. We too are to value the promise,
while all who call on Jesus to save them are saved, God has much more to give those who are content just to walk in the door. The key to
receiving it is allowing Christ to live in and through you. I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The
thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am
come that they might have life, and that they might have it more
abundantly. I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life
for the sheep...And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never
perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. - John 10:9-11,28. Praise God!

Jesus Christ Revealed: Today Jesus is revealed through Caleb, who wholly followed the Lord. I
can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is
just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father
which hath sent me. John 5:30.

Thanks and God Bless You, I am praying for you

Much Shall Be Revealed

Hello My Friend/Guest,
Sometimes it seems as though burdens just pour out like water, no sooner than you deal with one here comes another, sometimes several at one time. It can be overwhelming and quite deafening to the spirit, especially when it takes so long to get through some of them. However, we can get through them, I imagine how fast we do depends upon who we are putting our faith and trust in to get us through them. Jesus says, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. - Matthew 11:28-30. The key to keeping our spirits up and finding peace and joy through our burdens is Jesus Christ, when we attach ourselves to Him and walk with Him, we can not lose.

Now that the Israelites were on the promised land the task of possessing the land was at hand, this was not an easy task since every bit of it, except where they were camped, was possessed by the Canaanites. The command, destroy them all and possess the land. What a command? Can you imagine the burden? Nations began joining with each other in huge numbers to defeat Israel. However, they failed to realize that no amount of the most skilled fighters can defeat God. God assured Joshua that He was with them and that they will defeat all of them.

And when all these kings were met together, they came and pitched together at the waters of Merom, to fight against Israel. And the LORD said unto Joshua, Be not afraid because of them: for to morrow about this time will I deliver them up all slain before Israel: thou shalt hough their horses, and burn their chariots with fire. So Joshua came, and all the people of war with him, against them by the waters of Merom suddenly; and they fell upon them. And the LORD delivered them into the hand of Israel, who smote them, and chased them unto great Zidon, and unto Misrephothmaim, and unto the valley of Mizpeh eastward; and they smote them, until they left them none remaining... And all the spoil of these cities, and the cattle, the children of Israel took for a prey unto themselves; but every man they smote with the edge of the sword, until they had destroyed them, neither left they any to breathe. As the LORD commanded Moses his servant, so did Moses
command Joshua, and so did Joshua; he left nothing undone of all that the LORD commanded Moses. - Joshua 11:5-814,15.

Sometimes the things that God calls us to do can be overwhelming and fearful, but when we live in obedience to His commands there is nothing He will not do for us. He will give us the strength, no matter how overwhelming the task, to not only do what He commands, but see victory. God never gives us a task or burden that we can not handle. The only way we can be defeated is by detaching ourselves from Him. There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. - I Corinthians 10:13.

With God on their side Joshua lead the Israelites to defeat thirty-one kings and possess the land they possessed. It was time for a rest from battle, during that time Joshua began dividing up the land as God commanded. However, God reminded Joshua that there was still a lot of land to be possessed.

So Joshua took the whole land, according to all that the LORD said unto Moses; and Joshua gave it for an inheritance unto Israel according to their divisions by their tribes. And the land rested from war
Joshua 11:23.
Now Joshua was old and stricken in years; and the LORD said unto him, Thou art old and stricken in years, and there remaineth yet very much land to be possessed... These are the countries which Moses did distribute for inheritance in the plains of Moab, on the other side Jordan, by Jericho, eastward. But unto the tribe of Levi Moses gave not any inheritance: the LORD God of Israel was their inheritance, as he said unto them. Joshua 13:1,32,33.

The Levites were not given a part of the land to possess, each tribe was to give them a portion of what they possessed. Why? God chose the Levites to work in the ministry, their inheritance was God and He would bless them by serving Him. Now, we are all called to serve God in some way, such as encouraging someone or praying for them, but certain people are called to serve God in His ministry. Often, they well carry a lot of burdens, in fact, the more God calls you to do the more burdens you seem to carry. However, what better inheritance to receive than God? Remember, yesterday's lesson, being a child of God means that you are His and He is yours? When you call on Christ to save you, you receive God, I mean you literally get God. You not only get God, you get eternal life with Him and the Kingdom of God too. What better possession is that? Praise God!

The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. - Romans 8:16-18.

We have so much waiting for God to reveal to us, we are going to be burdened, but as long as we stand side by side with Jesus we will seen an end to them. We should really be grateful for the burdens. Why? The more burdens we carry the closer we are to God, and the closer we are to God the more He will reveal to us. While the greatest blessings in the Kingdom of God are waiting for us, God has much more to give us here as well. We will overcome because we possess something that can never be taken away from us and that is God. He is our inheritance.

My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing...Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. - James 1:2-4,12.

Jesus Christ Revealed: Today Jesus is revealed through Moses, the servant of the Lord (11:12). Jesus, gave up His throne in heaven, to become a servant. Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God; He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded...Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me...For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. - John 13:3-5,8,15, 16.

Thanks and God Bless You, I am praying for you

Suffering Reproach

The word reproach is defined as to find fault with,
to be a cause of blame or discredit to. We all have done something that
we are either are the blame of, blame ourselves for, or blame others
for. While we can sit here and dwell on what we could have or should
have done, the important thing to remember is that we can not do
anything about the past, but we can do something about the future. How
we handle reproach determines not only our outlook on life, but those
around us as well. The Bible says, For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: For
it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer...For therefore we both
labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is
the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.
- I Timothy 4:4,5,10.
Everything we go through, whether we have done it
ourselves or someone has done it to us, happens for a reason and has a
purpose, therefore, we are to be thankful each and every time we suffer
reproach.
The Israelites had just miraculously passed over the Jordan, imagine
the excitement and fear, after all, the Canaanites already knew they
were coming and ready for battle. The very first thing that God
commanded them to do was gather twelve stones out of the Jordan.
And
it came to pass, when all the people were clean passed over Jordan,
that the LORD spake unto Joshua, saying, Take you twelve men out of the
people, out of every tribe a man, And command ye them, saying, Take you
hence out of the midst of Jordan, out of the place where the priests'
feet stood firm, twelve stones, and ye shall carry them over with you,
and leave them in the lodging place, where ye shall lodge this
night...And he spake unto the children of Israel, saying, When your
children shall ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean
these stones? Then ye shall let your children know, saying, Israel came
over this Jordan on dry land. For the LORD your God dried up the waters
of Jordan from before you, until ye were passed over, as the LORD your
God did to the Red sea, which he dried up from before us, until we were
gone over: That all the people of the earth might know the hand of the
LORD, that it is mighty: that ye might fear the LORD your God for ever. - Joshua 4:1-3, 21-24.
The twelve stones from the twelve tribes from the Jordan was a token, a
reminder, of the twelve tribes that the Almighty God miraculously sent
over the Jordan by dividing it and allowing them to walk on dry land
through it, just as He did when the first generation crossed over the
Red Sea with Moses over forty years ago. God will often give us tokens,
reminders, of what He has brought us through. While He is a forgiving
and forgetful God He does allow us to keep in remembrance some of the
things that we did and He has gotten us out of over the years. Why? To
keep us obedient and to also be a testimony for others to follow. It
is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. But call
to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye
endured a great fight of afflictions; Partly, whilst ye were made a
gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst ye
became companions of them that were so used...For ye have need of
patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the
promise.- Hebrews 10:31-33,36.

Before the Israelite men were to go any further they had to be
circumcised, circumcision was a command from God upon every male born.
It was done for several reasons, including cleansing and identifying a
male as one of God's, whether he was an Israelite or not. In the forty
years that the new generation had been wandering the wilderness none had
been circumcised and this is why God commanded it to be done.
And
their children, whom he raised up in their stead, them Joshua
circumcised: for they were uncircumcised, because they had not
circumcised them by the way. And it came to pass, when they had done
circumcising all the people, that they abode in their places in the
camp, till they were whole. And the LORD said unto Joshua, This day have
I rolled away the reproach of Egypt from off you. Wherefore the name of
the place is called Gilgal unto this day.- Joshua 5:7-9.

Circumcision was done mainly as an act of cleansing, but circumcision
is not just for males, it is for females as well, not physically, but
spiritually. The only way to be circumcised spiritually is by the
cleansing of the blood of Christ. And
ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and
power: In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made
without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the
circumcision of Christ:..Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that
was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way,
nailing it to his cross;- Colossians 2:10,11,14.
Every sin committed was taken to the cross
with Jesus when He died for you. Calling on Jesus Christ circumcises,
cleanses, you from those sins. Your acceptance of Christ and what He has
done in your life upon doing so is a token that should never be
forgotten and is a wonderful testimony for all to follow.

Let's face it, no one is perfect, we can not please everyone nor can we
avoid offending some one from time to time because we all carry around
this flesh that is full of emotions, past guilt, pride, and anger or
bitterness. We are going to suffer reproach because of this, but it's
not over, God has a plan for you. And
he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit,
because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of
God. And we know that all things work together for good to them that
love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom
he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image
of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
- Romans 8:27-29.
You are a child of God, therefore, He is going to allow you to suffer
reproach from time to time in order to conform you into the likeness of
His Son. Like Jesus, God has a great purpose for you, but until all the
hindrances are removed He will only take you so far. Are you holding on
to something from your past or even recently that you can not let go of?
It's time to give thanks to God for it and release yourself from it. Be
careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with
thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of
God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds
through Christ Jesus.- Philippians 4:6,7.
Thank God for getting you through it and what He
has taught you, thank Him for how much stronger and wiser He has made
you and for bringing you closer to Him. Thank Him for even caring enough
to put you through those things because He does not want you to suffer
far worse had you continued.

Remember, God is with you and loves you, He has forgotten all about
what you have done, if you repented. He just wants you to never forget
what He has taken you away from.
But
now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the
blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath
broken down the middle wall of partition between us;.. Now therefore ye
are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the
saints, and of the household of God; - Ephesians 2:13,14,19.

Jesus Christ Revealed: Today Jesus is revealed through the Captain of the host of the Lord (5:14). Jesus is the Captain of our salvation. For
it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in
bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation
perfect through sufferings. - Hebrews 2:10.

Thanks and God Bless You, I am praying for you

The Fear of God



The word fear is defined as to alarm or warn, to reverence or give
respect to, to awe or show love to, or to be afraid of. You will often
hear the phrase “Fear God”or “Fear the Lord” at some point in your walk
with God. If you put the meanings to the word God is saying one of
several things. “I am warning you.”, “Show some respect for me.”, “Show
love toward me.”, or “Be afraid of me.” The Bible says, “And
be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the
Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,
singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks
always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord
Jesus Christ; Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.” - Ephesians 5:18-21.



Sometimes we do need to be afraid of what God would do to us, but for
the most part, fearing God is simply showing God that you love and
respect Him by not only listening to His warnings, but following them.
We are His people, He knows us better than we do and knows what is going
to happen to us well beyond what we see before our eyes. Therefore, the
best thing we can ever do to help ourselves is to fear God. “Wherefore
we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace,
whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:” - Hebrews 12:28.



Before Moses finished his speech to the Israelites and the Levites he
taught them a song that they were to remember and sing often. It was not
a typical uplifting song, it was a solemn song, one that foretold much
of the future of the Israelites as well as other nations. The objective
of this song was to remind them of God's judgment and salvation to all
who fear the Rock.



“Give
ear, O ye heavens, and I will speak; and hear, O earth, the words of my
mouth. My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as
the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon
the grass: Because I will publish the name of the LORD: ascribe ye
greatness unto our God. He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his
ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right
is he. They have corrupted themselves, their spot is not the spot of his
children: they are a perverse and crooked generation.. .Of the Rock that
begat thee thou art unmindful, and hast forgotten God that formed
thee...How should one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to
flight, except their Rock had sold them, and the LORD had shut them up?
For their rock is not as our Rock, even our enemies themselves being
judges...To me belongeth vengeance and recompence; their foot shall
slide in due time: for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the
things that shall come upon them make haste. For the LORD shall judge
his people, and repent himself for his servants, when he seeth that
their power is gone, and there is none shut up, or left.”- Deuteronomy 32:1-5,18,30, 31,35,36.



God will not watch one of His own living in sin, He will turn His back
on them and let them fall, until He says, “Okay, they have had enough.”
That is when He places that fear in them and reminds them that He is
still around and it's time to repent. Their Rock that will judge or
chaste and save a few is the same Rock that will judge and save a few of
us, Jesus Christ. “Moreover,
brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our
fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; And were
all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; And did all eat the
same spiritual meat; And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for
they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was
Christ.” - I Corinthians 10:1-4.



Now, after the chastening comes the blessings, Moses reminded the
Israelites about the inheritance they were about to receive from God, it
was not by their righteousness that they received it, but simply by
being one of His own. “And
this is the blessing, wherewith Moses the man of God blessed the
children of Israel before his death. And he said, The LORD came from
Sinai, and rose up from Seir unto them; he shined forth from mount
Paran, and he came with ten thousands of saints: from his right hand
went a fiery law for them. Yea, he loved the people; all his saints are
in thy hand: and they sat down at thy feet; every one shall receive of
thy words. Moses commanded us a law, even the inheritance of the
congregation of Jacob.” - Deuteronomy 33:1-4.



You know if we depended on our own self righteousness to receive things
from people we would get absolutely nothing. No one wants to give
people things when they are arrogant and proud. That is why God does not
give us an inheritance into the Kingdom of God by our righteousness.
All who receive His Son receive a part of the inheritance of God's
kingdom.“For
by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is
the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his
workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath
before ordained that we should walk in them. ” - Ephesians 2:8-10.



Moses went up to Mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, one last time to
view the promised land before he died. The beautiful land, flowing with
milk and honey could been seen, but he could not enter it because of his
disobedience. However, God never forgot what Moses had done for Him
throughout the years and even after he was told that he could not go
into the promised land. “And
the LORD said unto him, This is the land which I sware unto Abraham,
unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, saying, I will give it unto thy seed: I have
caused thee to see it with thine eyes, but thou shalt not go over
thither. So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of
Moab, according to the word of the LORD. And he buried him in a valley
in the land of Moab, over against Bethpeor: but no man knoweth of his
sepulchre unto this day...And there arose not a prophet since in Israel
like unto Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face,” - Deuteronomy 34:4-6,10.



Sometimes there are things that we do that forfeit our rights to
receive certain blessings from God here on earth, but when we make
things right with Him He will honor us and bless us accordingly. It is
actually what we do for Him after we are saved that counts and last for
eternity. There will come a time when our life here on earth will be no
more and we will face Jesus Christ for judgment. He is going to show us
an instant replay of our lives, the things we have done for Him, the
opportunities we have missed, and He will also show us what rewards we
will receive, but the most important thing He will judge is whether or
not we know Him. Many people know of Jesus, but do not know Him
personally as their Savior and unfortunately that is going to decide
their fate. “Not
every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom
of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in
thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done
many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew
you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” - Matthew 7:21-23.



The fate of those who do not know Christ is a second death, “And
I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were
opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the
dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books,
according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it;
and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they
were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were
cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was
not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” - Revelation 20:12-15.



Yes, it is a scary thought that one can end up cast into a lake of
fire, that is something we all need to be afraid of, not God. People ask
me, “How can God let so many people end up in hell if He loves
everyone?” The truth is He gave up His Son so no one has to end up in
hell. What greater love is that? It is of one's own choice whether or
not they accept Christ into their lives. God loves them either way,
Christ died for them too, but He will not save someone that does not
want to be saved. “For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” - Romans 10:10.



Jesus Christ Revealed: Today Jesus is revealed through the Rock, He is our foundation that no one can shake. “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” - I Corinthians 3:11.



Thanks and God Bless You, I am praying for you

The Mysteries of God

If you go up to anyone off the streets and ask them, What do you
think about all the fighting, wars, and natural disasters going on? I
imagine you may get answers like the apocalypse is coming, Armageddon,
it's the end of the world, it's karma, it's the sign of the times, or
Jesus is coming, but the majority of people would not know how to answer
that question because they do not even know that God or a god of some
sort exists. That is where we come in, the few and faithful Christians
that know the truth, do not bend it, and are not afraid to speak it.
Jesus said, Because
it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven,
but to them it is not given...For this people's heart is waxed gross,
and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed;
lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their
ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted,
and I should heal them. But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and
your ears, for they hear. For verily I say unto you, That many prophets
and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and
have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not
heard them. - Matthew 13:11,15-17.

People want to know what's going on in the world and instead of
watching some movie, reading some book, or listening to some one who has
no clue what is going on, God has chosen His few and faithful to teach
those who really want to know the truth, the truth. God may have chosen
the Israelites to be the people that would represent Him, but He did not
leave anyone out, if anyone entered the covenant with God they would be
one of His people.
Keep
therefore the words of this covenant, and do them, that ye may prosper
in all that ye do. Ye stand this day all of you before the LORD your
God; your captains of your tribes, your elders, and your officers, with
all the men of Israel, Your little ones, your wives, and thy stranger
that is in thy camp, from the hewer of thy wood unto the drawer of thy
water: That thou shouldest enter into covenant with the LORD thy God,
and into his oath, which the LORD thy God maketh with thee this day:
That he may establish thee to day for a people unto himself, and that he
may be unto thee a God, as he hath said unto thee, and as he hath sworn
unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.- Deuteronomy 29:9-13.

When you accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior you entered a covenant
with God, you made an oath. You are trusting in His Son to save you from
hell and He is giving you heaven and eternal life in doing so.
Not
by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his
mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the
Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our
Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs
according to the hope of eternal life. - Titus 3:5-7.

God blesses the few and faithful, sometimes it may look as though we
can not get ahead and that God is no where to be found, but as God
places trials before us for a reason. He grows us spiritually, increases
our faith and trust in Him, and teaches us to be dependent on Him for
all things. God promised the Israelites that they would be blessed and
prosper in all that they did simply for remaining faithful to Him.
And
the LORD thy God will make thee plenteous in every work of thine hand,
in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the
fruit of thy land, for good: for the LORD will again rejoice over thee
for good, as he rejoiced over thy fathers: If thou shalt hearken unto
the voice of the LORD thy God, to keep his commandments and his statutes
which are written in this book of the law, and if thou turn unto the
LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul. For this
commandment which I command thee this day, it is not hidden from thee,
neither is it far off...But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy
mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it. See, I have set before
thee this day life and good, and death and evil; In that I command thee
this day to love the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his
commandments and his statutes and his judgments, that thou mayest live
and multiply: and the LORD thy God shall bless thee in the land whither
thou goest to possess it. - Deuteronomy 30:9-11,14-16.

God's Word is the key to knowing and following His commandments,
without it we would never know the mysteries of God and would be
guessing at this just like the rest of the world. We must never lose
sight of God's Word, even if you are new at reading the Bible, every
little bit counts. I know people who have decided to read the Bible
cover to cover one chapter a day and still going strong five years
later. The truth is, it's not how fast or how much we read, it's reading
it and taking a little bit in each day.
I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways. I will
delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word. Deal
bountifully with thy servant, that I may live, and keep thy word. Open
thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.
Psalm 119:15-18.
Moses gives some instructions and encouragement to Joshua, who God
chose to lead the people into the promise land and to the priests and
Levites who would take over as ministering to the people. Be
strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the
LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee,
nor forsake thee...And Moses commanded them, saying, At the end of every
seven years, in the solemnity of the year of release, in the feast of
tabernacles, When all Israel is come to appear before the LORD thy God
in the place which he shall choose, thou shalt read this law before all
Israel in their hearing. Gather the people together, men and women, and
children, and thy stranger that is within thy gates, that they may hear,
and that they may learn, and fear the LORD your God, and observe to do
all the words of this law: And that their children, which have not known
any thing, may hear, and learn to fear the LORD your God, as long as ye
live in the land whither ye go over Jordan to possess it. - Deuteronomy31:6,10-13.

It is the few and faithful that God uses to keep His Word going
strong, God appoints people of all walks of life to preach and teach His
Word.
And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and me, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the
work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we
all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of
God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness
of Christ:Ephesians 4:11-13.

We who know the mysteries of God need to take a stand and not be
afraid to tell the truth to those who really need to hear it. Remember,
the truth sets you free. If they do not want to hear the truth than it
is on them, but at least you gave them something to think about and you
did what God asked you to do. Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. - II Timothy 2:15.

Jesus Christ Revealed: Today Jesus is revealed as life (30:15). Jesus is life in all who believe in Him, He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. - I John 5:12.

Thanks and God Bless You, I am praying for you,

Avouched For

The word avouch means to assume responsibility for, to testify
on one's behalf. When Jesus Christ died on the cross He avouched for
all of us, He took on the responsibility for all our sins and gave His
life for everyone, regardless of whether or not they accept Him. Now,
when you call on Jesus Christ to save you, He takes that one step
further, He stands before God and avouches for you, testifies on your
behalf that you have accepted Him and are depending on Him for your
salvation (to be saved from death, hell, and being cast into the lake of
fire).
But
now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your
fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. For the wages of sin
is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our
Lord.Romans 6:22,23.

When God chose the Israelites to be His people, He avouched for them,
took on the responsibility of them as a parent would his very own
children. When God avouches for you He will never go back on His promise
and He will never forsake you, but He does expect you to follow through
with the covenant He made with you. That is why He enforced so many
rules upon the Israelites, even from marriage to divorce God enforced
some kind of rule in order to show the world that His people are not to
follow suit with them. Moses explains this further.
When
a man hath taken a wife, and married her, and it come to pass that she
find no favour in his eyes, because he hath found some uncleanness in
her: then let him write her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her
hand, and send her out of his house. And when she is departed out of his
house, she may go and be another man's wife. And if the latter husband
hate her, and write her a bill of divorcement, and giveth it in her
hand, and sendeth her out of his house; or if the latter husband die,
which took her to be his wife; Her former husband, which sent her away,
may not take her again to be his wife, after that she is defiled; for
that is abomination before the LORD: and thou shalt not cause the land
to sin, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance. When a
man hath taken a new wife, he shall not go out to war, neither shall he
be charged with any business: but he shall be free at home one year, and
shall cheer up his wife which he hath taken. - Deuteronomy 24:1-5.

Marriage is very sacred to God, it means much more to Him than a man and woman saying I do. It is a union in which the man and woman have avouched themselves to each other. They are no longer two separate people, but joined as one. Jesus said, It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement: But
I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the
cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever
shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.
- Matthew 5:31,32.
Fornication means immorality or adultery of any kind
and is the only exception to divorce, if all other means to reconcile
are exhausted.
When
we accept Christ as our Savior we enter a marriage with Him, a union,
joined as one, and nothing can separate or divorce us from Him,
therefore, God sees a marriage between a man and woman just as He would a
marriage between Christ and His convert.
Who
shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or
distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are
accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay,
in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved
us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor
principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor
height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us
from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. - Romans 8:35-39.

God's choice in His people had nothing to do with them being more
righteous than any one else, it had to do simply with the covenant He
made with Abraham, a man who committed adultery with his own wife, to
establish Himself through his seed and make him a father of many
nations. God promised the Israelites that He would not only avouch for
them, He would bless them if they simply hearken to His voice.
This
day the LORD thy God hath commanded thee to do these statutes and
judgments: thou shalt therefore keep and do them with all thine heart,
and with all thy soul. Thou hast avouched the LORD this day to be thy
God, and to walk in his ways, and to keep his statutes, and his
commandments, and his judgments, and to hearken unto his voice: And the
LORD hath avouched thee this day to be his peculiar people, as he hath
promised thee, and that thou shouldest keep all his commandments; And to
make thee high above all nations which he hath made, in praise, and in
name, and in honour; and that thou mayest be an holy people unto the
LORD thy God, as he hath spoken. - Deuteronomy 26:16-19.
God
not only avouches for the Israelites, but all who hearken to His voice,
all who listen to the call to accept Jesus Christ as their Savior. If
you have accepted Christ you are one of God's people, a peculiar people,
unique, and a holy people.
But
ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a
peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath
called you out of darkness into his marvellous light; Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. - I Peter 2:9,10.
Likewise,
God wants you to avouch for Him, to take on the responsibility of
showing the world that being one of God's people is an honor, a
blessing, and something to value. The sad thing is that so many people
who claim to be Christians do not live as Christians or live even worse
than people in the world do. They have put God to shame and caused a
great deal of distrust in Him in the eyes of the world. “Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And
changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to
corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping
things. - Romans 1:22,23.
Therefore,
it is important that we who do live as true Christians avouch for God
in how He has changed our lives and lift Him us as the amazing,
wonderful and merciful God that He is. Feed
the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not
by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither
as being lords over God's heritage, but being examples to the flock.
And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of
glory that fadeth not away... Be sober, be vigilant; because your
adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he
may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same
afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. But
the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by
Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect,
stablish, strengthen, settle you.-I Peter 5:2-4,8-10.

Jesus Christ Revealed: Today Jesus is revealed through the deliverance of the Israelites from Egypt and Pharaoh (26: .The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished: II Peter 2:9.


Thanks and God Bless You, I am praying for you

Magnetized To God

 A magnet is a metal device that is magnetized by positive and negative electrical current in a coil that surrounds it. A magnet will find and attract a certain type of metal hidden between several objects and bring it to it. Once the metal attaches to it it is hard to remove it from the magnet, the stronger the magnet, the stronger the hold it has on the object. Imagine the magnet as God, God will find His people no matter what obstacles are in between Him and them. How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray? And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray. Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish. - Matthew 18:12-14.
Now bring another magnet near it and see what happens, one of two things happens. If the positive and negative sides meet they will attract, if both positive or negative sides meet they will never attract no matter how much you force them. The Bible says, Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work. Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. II Timothy 2:19-22. As Christians we must have a balance of positives and negatives in our lives
if we want God's presence in our lives, meaning we need to remain faithful to Him when things look good and bad. Any change in our heart toward God will cause separation until we get right with Him.
Moses instructs the Israelites on the rebellious and immoral acts that are an abomination to God. While some of the penalties were severe God stresses the importance of why He placed such harsh punishments upon the people. If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son, which will not obey the voice of his father, or the voice of his mother, and that, when they have chastened him, will not hearken unto them: Then shall his father and his mother lay hold on him, and bring him out unto the elders of his city, and unto the gate of his place; And they shall say unto the elders of his city, This our son is stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton, and a drunkard. And all the men of his city shall stone him with stones, that he die: so shalt thou put evil away from among you; and all Israel shall hear, and fear. And if a man have committed a sin worthy of death, and he be to be put to death, and thou hang him on a tree: His body
shall not remain all night upon the tree, but thou shalt in any wise bury him that day; (for he that is hanged is accursed of God;) that thy land be not defiled, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance. - Deuteronomy 21:18-23.
God enforced these punishments upon the people to put the evil away, in other words, to keep the rest of His people from falling into corruption. If they feared that that what was going to happen to them they would not do it. Think about it. If you were just told to stay away from something that is dangerous would you do it? Most people when told they can not do something do it. However, if you actually saw someone get killed from doing it wouldn't you be less likely not to do it? While God does not want to enforce such punishments, He will if it meant that it would be the only way to keep His people from being corrupted. The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished: - II Peter 2:9.
Perhaps the things that are an abomination to God next to following other gods are the things that defile the body. Since God made us in His own image we are to present ourselves as such, while it may seem strange to us, it's the little things that matter to God, even the clothes we wear matter to God. Everything we do that pertains to the body needs to be done as God would want it done. Moses explains this further.

The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman's garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the LORD thy God. If a bird's nest chance to be before thee in the way in any tree, or on the ground, whether they be young ones, or eggs, and the dam sitting upon the young, or upon the eggs, thou shalt not take the dam with the young: But thou shalt in any wise let the dam go, and take the young to thee; that it may be well with thee, and that thou mayest prolong thy days...Thou shalt not plow with an ox and an ass together. Thou shalt not wear a garment of divers sorts, as of woollen and linen together. Thou shalt make thee fringes upon the four quarters of thy vesture, wherewith thou coverest thyself. - Deuteronomy 22:5-7,10-12.
If we would prove ourselves to be God's people, we must have respect to His will and to His glory, and not to the vain fashions of the world. Even in putting on our garments, as in eating or in drinking, all must be done with a serious regard to preserve our own and others purity in heart and actions. The birds nest refers to a persons home, we are responsible for our own sins, not those caused by others, in other words if a parent's wickedness causes a child to sin, the child is not bound to the law, only the parent. As for the plow, it is the same as the magnet, when they oppose nothing gets done. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are - I Corinthians 3:15-17.

Today, we need to be truly grateful that all these laws were done away with when Jesus Christ died on the cross. However, the same principals still apply. When you accepted Christ as your Savior you made a vow with God and God expects you to follow through with it. Moses explains this further.

When thou shalt vow a vow unto the LORD thy God, thou shalt not slack to pay it: for the LORD thy God will surely require it of thee; and it would be sin in thee. But if thou shalt forbear to vow, it shall be no sin in thee. That which is gone out of thy lips thou shalt keep and perform; even a freewill offering, according as thou hast vowed unto the LORD thy God, which thou hast promised with thy mouth.- Deuteronomy 23:21-23.

God promises to all that if they confess with their mouths, with a pure heart, the Lord Jesus that He will follow through with His vow. That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. - Romans 10:9-12.

God opposes all who really have no interest in Him and will not save a person who really does not want to be saved. But if you are saved that means that you are magnetized to God forever, your pure heart keeps God magnetized to you. Even if His people go astray He knows their heart and will bring them back to Him no matter how long it takes. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord - Romans 8:37-39. Praise God!

Jesus Christ Revealed: Today Jesus is revealed through the hanged body on the tree that was taken down (21:22,23). In the evening He was taken down from the cross, signifying the Law had been satisfied. Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: - Galatians 3:13.

Thanks and God Bless You, I am praying for you

God of Peace

The word evil is defined as any wrong doing, immoral,
mischievous, or malicious (hateful) act committed in principle or
practice. In other words, any thought or action that is immoral,
hateful, or wrong is evil and God hates evil. The Bible says, โ€�See
that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which
is good, both among yourselves, and to all men. Rejoice evermore. Pray
without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God
in Christ Jesus concerning you. Quench not the Spirit. Despise not
prophesyings. Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain
from all appearance of evil. And the very God of peace sanctify you
wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved
blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ- I Thessalonians 5:15-23.

As Moses continues to give the Israelites instructions on how they were
to act and reminders of the blessings from God, past, present, and
future, Moses gave strict instructions to remove all evil from their
presence. God wanted every appearance of evil to be removed, even if it
meant killing the one person who caused it to happen.
Thou
shalt not sacrifice unto the LORD thy God any bullock, or sheep,
wherein is blemish, or any evilfavouredness: for that is an abomination
unto the LORD thy God. If there be found among you, within any of thy
gates which the LORD thy God giveth thee, man or woman, that hath
wrought wickedness in the sight of the LORD thy God, in transgressing
his covenant, And hath gone and served other gods, and worshipped them,
either the sun, or moon, or any of the host of heaven, which I have not
commanded; And it be told thee, and thou hast heard of it, and enquired
diligently, and, behold, it be true, and the thing certain, that such
abomination is wrought in Israel: Then shalt thou bring forth that man
or that woman, which have committed that wicked thing, unto thy gates,
even that man or that woman, and shalt stone them with stones, till they
die. - Deuteronomy 17:1-5.

As Christians we are to present ourselves as a living sacrifice,
meaning we are to offer ourselves to God spotless. In other words, if
you are going to live for God do it wholeheartedly, you can not have God
in your life and live in the world too, it's as if you are serving
another god to Him. Now, God knows we are going to sin every now and
then, even when serving Him, but there is a difference between
presenting yourself as spotless or a blemish. I
beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present
your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is
your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye
transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that
good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. For I say, through the
grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of
himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly,
according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. - Romans 12:1-3.

God is adamant about removing all evil thoughts or actions from our
lives and anyone who would cause such. It was important for the
Israelites to drive out the heathens that were possessing the land. God
already knew that these people would not accept Him and He was perfectly
fine with that, but He would not have His own people doing the things
that they were doing.
For
these nations, which thou shalt possess, hearkened unto observers of
times, and unto diviners: but as for thee, the LORD thy God hath not
suffered thee so to do. The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a
Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him
ye shall hearken; According to all that thou desiredst of the LORD thy
God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, Let me not hear again
the voice of the LORD my God, neither let me see this great fire any
more, that I die not. And the LORD said unto me, They have well spoken
that which they have spoken. I will raise them up a Prophet from among
their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and
he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. - Deuteronomy 18:14-18.

The prophet Moses speaks of is none other than Jesus Christ Himself,
everything from the sacrifices, to the tabernacle, to the law was a
representative of Christ that would one day come in the flesh. For
the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image
of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year
by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect...But this man,
after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the
right hand of God;..For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them
that are sanctified.
- Hebrews 10:1,12,14. The amazing thing about God is that He is
perfectly fine if a person does not want to accept Him, while He loves
all and does want all to accept Him, He rather them go about their own
business then mix in with His people and corrupt them. The
Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness;
but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but
that all should come to repentance. - II Peter 3:9.

God promised that He would be there for and assist the Israelites in
possessing the land He promised them, but it was going to be a battle.
However, if the Israelites wanted the best God had to offer they would
have to put their faith and trust in Him, who would in turn show them
how to possess it in a godly way, with His leadership.
When
thou goest out to battle against thine enemies, and seest horses, and
chariots, and a people more than thou, be not afraid of them: for the
LORD thy God is with thee, which brought thee up out of the land of
Egypt. And it shall be, when ye are come nigh unto the battle, that the
priest shall approach and speak unto the people, And shall say unto
them, Hear, O Israel, ye approach this day unto battle against your
enemies: let not your hearts faint, fear not, and do not tremble,
neither be ye terrified because of them; For the LORD your God is he
that goeth with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.Deuteronomy 20:1-4.

Why did God choose for them to possess a land already possessed by
heathens? While God promises to give His people the best life, He wants
us to learn to appreciate it. God will always give us the best, but He
does want us to work for it in order to learn to appreciate it. However,
the incredible thing is that God has an amazing place waiting for all
who put their faith and trust in His Son. We are rewarded eternal life
for accepting Him, but you can be sure that in order to learn to
appreciate that gift we will have to do some work and endure some
suffering here on earth first.
Not
by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his
mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the
Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our
Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs
according to the hope of eternal life. This is a faithful saying, and
these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have
believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things
are good and profitable unto men. - Titus 3:5-8.

The world does not see God as the God of peace that we as Christians
see Him as, even some Christians will question God, especially when
something evil happens to them or someone they love. While my mom is a
faithful Christian, to this day she still has a hard time forgiving
people that harassed my brother ten years ago and questions why God
allowed it to happen in the first place. Can I tell you that everything
we go through, whether it is joy, sorrow, grief, or suffering, works
together for our own good. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
- Romans 8:28. One day we will be able to look back and say, So, that
is why You put me through that? and you will be able to see that God is
truly the God of peace and had a good reason for what He put you
through.

Jesus Christ Revealed: Today Jesus is revealed through the prophet God would send to speak His Word. Believest
thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I
speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in
me, he doeth the works. - John 14:10.

Thanks and God Bless You, I am praying for you

Through Our Faith

The word stiffnecked is defined as stubbornly adhering to one's purpose,
difficult to manage, unyielding. We all have to admit that we are
stiffnecked about something meaning there is something we believe or do
that we do not or have a hard time letting go of. The Bible says, Let
not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in
the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of
unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that
are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of
righteousness unto God. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye
are not under the law, but under grace.
- Romans 6:12-14.
In other words, it is by grace that we receive the
things God gives us, not by our righteousness, but if we want to be
truly blessed by God we need to yield ourselves over to God in every
area of our lives.

For forty years the Israelites wandered around in the wilderness, you
think they did not wonder if they would ever see the promised land?
Well, the time had come, Moses recollects the forty years they were
blessed as well as the times they rebelled and were chastised because of
it. He also assures them of God's promise and what He will give them if
they follow His commandments.
All
the commandments which I command thee this day shall ye observe to do,
that ye may live, and multiply, and go in and possess the land which the
LORD sware unto your fathers. And thou shalt remember all the way which
the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to
humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether
thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no. And he humbled thee, and
suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest
not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man
doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of
the mouth of the LORD doth man live. Thy raiment waxed not old upon
thee, neither did thy foot swell, these forty years. Thou shalt also
consider in thine heart, that, as a man chasteneth his son, so the LORD
thy God chasteneth thee. Therefore thou shalt keep the commandments of
the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, and to fear him. - Deuteronomy 8:1-6.

Just like a parent would punish a child for wrong doing God punishes
His child for wrong doing. It does not mean that He does not love us, in
fact, it means He loves us very much. When you punish a child you do it
out of love and to teach them not to do it again. We are not perfect
and God does not expect us to be, what He does expect us to be is
faithful and remain that way during our journey through the wilderness.
As we walk through the maze we become humbled, dependent upon Him, learn
to trust Him more, and He blesses us through our faith in Him. Blessed
is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall
receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that
love him.- James 1:12.

Truthfully, it is not because of our righteousness that God blesses us,
oh, He is pleased when we do well and we will receive bigger blessings
through it, but God does not give us the things He gives us out of well
doing it is because He promised them to us. The Israelites were reminded
that it was not because of their righteousness that they were
inheriting the land He promised their fathers, it was because they were
His people that they were possessing the land.
Not
for thy righteousness, or for the uprightness of thine heart, dost thou
go to possess their land: but for the wickedness of these nations the
LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee, and that he may
perform the word which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, Abraham, Isaac,
and Jacob. Understand therefore, that the LORD thy God giveth thee not
this good land to possess it for thy righteousness; for thou art a
stiffnecked people. Remember, and forget not, how thou provokedst the
LORD thy God to wrath in the wilderness: from the day that thou didst
depart out of the land of Egypt, until ye came unto this place, ye have
been rebellious against the LORD...Yet they are thy people and thine
inheritance, which thou broughtest out by thy mighty power and by thy
stretched out arm. - Deuteronomy 9:5-7,29.

It is not by righteousness that we are saved, or inherit the Kingdom of
God, it is only by the grace of God through our faith in the Lord Jesus
Christ that we are saved. For
by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is
the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
- Ephesians 2:8,9. God promises all who put their faith in His Son,
Jesus Christ that they will inherit a part of the Kingdom of God, become
one of His people. Not because of our righteousness, but because He
promised to give it to all who put their faith in Him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved - Romans 10:13.

Moses tells the Israelites whatever it is that they are stiffnecked about it is time to let go of it, Circumcise
therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiffnecked. For
the LORD your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a
mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward:
He doth execute the judgment of the fatherless and widow, and loveth the
stranger, in giving him food and raiment. Love ye therefore the
stranger: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt. Thou shalt fear
the LORD thy God; him shalt thou serve, and to him shalt thou cleave,
and swear by his name. He is thy praise, and he is thy God, that hath
done for thee these great and terrible things, which thine eyes have
seen. - Deuteronomy 10:16-21.

To circumcise means to cleanse, we all have something in out hearts
that we are stiffnecked about, while it does not forfeit our inheritance
into the Kingdom of God, it does keep us from receiving more of the
blessings that we could receive from God here on earth. God wants us to
remove, to cleanse these things from our heart so we do not have to go
through needless suffering. Let's face it, life is hard enough as it is
without adding more suffering, but with God He can get us through
anything. To fear God means to respect and acknowledge Him in every area
of our lives, when we do that He knows we need Him and that we have
faith in Him to get us through every situation we face. Keep serving Him
with faith and you will see His blessings unfold. For
we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are
God's building. According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as
a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth
thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For
other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus
Christ.- I Corinthians 3:9-11
It is time to tear down the walls and begin
rebuilding on the foundation of Christ, everything else will fall into
place and you will be blessed abundantly for it.

Sometimes is seems that no matter how righteousness we try to be or how
much we try to live in God's will we can not see God's blessings. It is
as if every direction you turn you hit some sort of wall and wonder if
you will ever get out of the maze you are in. I do not know how many
times I ask God to forgive me for whatever it is that hinders my
relationship with Him from receiving His blessings. You know what
though? The only sin here is doubt, yes, doubting God is a sin. Moses
forfeited his right to enter the earthly promised land because of
disbelief or doubt. And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.
- Romans 14:23.
If we are trusting in our faith in Jesus Christ to keep
us out of hell, we can certainly trust God to get us through the
situations we are going through. Right? For
whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory
that overcometh the world, even our faith...And this is the confidence
that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he
heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know
that we have the petitions that we desired of him. - I John 5:4,14,15.

Jesus Christ Revealed: Today Jesus is revealed through the ark (10:1-5). The ark contained the Word of God, whom Christ is the Word made flesh. And
the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory,
the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and
truth. - John 1:14.

Thanks and God Bless You, I am praying for you.