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2/17 The Shepherd Of His Sheep

2012-02-17T05:35:00.001-06:00

KingJames Daily Bible Study Devotional
MessageTitle:TheShepherd To His Sheep
Date:Friday February 17, 2012Today'sChapters:Numbers27-29

Hello My Friend,

A shepherd is a man employedintending, feeding, and guarding of the sheep. Sheep are perhaps one ofthe most useful species that God Created, its wool provides materialfor warm clothing, its flesh provides food. Before Jesus came theywere used in the sacrificial offering for atonement of the sinner.Interestingly sheep have a harmless temper, are meek, friendly, andquite submissive, but they are also quick to walk into danger if theywanderfrom within the confinements of the shepherd. The shepherd neverstops caring for his sheep, should they wander away he never stopssearching for them. This is a perfect illustration of Jesus, who isthe shepherd to all who have received them as His Savior, He tends tous, feeds us, and guards us within His walls, yet, if we wander, Henever stops looking for us.
“Thensaid Jesus unto them again,Verily,verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.Allthat ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep didnot hear them.Iam the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shallgo in and out, and find pasture.Thethief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I amcome that they might have life, and that they might haveitmoreabundantly.Iam the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for thesheep. But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose ownthe sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, andfleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.Thehireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for thesheep.Iam the good shepherd, and know mysheep,andam known of mine.Asthe Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down mylife for the sheep.”- John 10:7-15.

The Jews were days from the promised land, itwas time for them to receive their final instructions, God told Mosestogo up to mount Abarim, from that mountain Moses could see thepromised land, miles and miles of beautiful plain and waters beheldhim. It was there that God told Moses that that was as close to thepromised land as he could get. “Andthe LORD said unto Moses, Get thee up into this mount Abarim, and seethe land which I have given unto the children of Israel. Andwhen thou hast seen it, thou also shalt be gathered unto thy people,as Aaron thy brother was gathered. For ye rebelled against mycommandment in the desert of Zin, in the strife of the congregation,to sanctify me at the water before their eyes: that is the water ofMeribah in Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin. And Moses spake unto theLORD, saying, Let the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, seta man over the congregation, Which may go out before them, and whichmay go in before them, and which may lead them out, and which maybring them in; that the congregation of the LORD be not as sheepwhich have no shepherd.”- Numbers 27:12-17.

Moses did not complain, He did not stopserving God when He told him that he would not be able to step footon the promised land. This sight of Canaan, as magnificent as it was,gave Moses hope of a better country, that is, the Kingdom of God thatwas awaiting him. You see, while Moses was stricken from enteringthe promised land on earth he was not stricken from entering God'sKingdom in heaven. This is a perfect example of God's mercy andforgiveness, no matter what we have done in the past, while we maylose some of the blessings we could have received on earth, we areforgiven and allowed to enter the Kingdom of God solely because ofour faith and acceptance of the Lord Jesus Christ, who is our hopefor a better country. “Theseall died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seenthem afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, andconfessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. Forthey that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence theycame out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. Butnow they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore Godis not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for thema city.”- Hebrews 11:13-16.

Moses was weary of the Jews going intothe promised land with no supervision, God appointed Joshua to be theshepherd that would lead the Jews to and through the promised land,“Andthe LORD said unto Moses, Take thee Joshua the son of Nun, a man inwhom is the spirit, and lay thine hand upon him; Andset him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation;and give him a charge in their sight. And thou shalt put some ofthine honour upon him, that all the congregation of the children ofIsrael may be obedient. And he shall stand before Eleazar the priest,who shall ask counsel for him after the judgment of Urim before theLORD: at his word shall they go out, and at his word they shall comein, both he, and all the children of Israel with him, even all thecongregation. And Moses did as the LORD commanded him: and he tookJoshua, and set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all thecongregation: And he laid his hands upon him, and gave him a charge,as the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses.”- Numbers 27:18-23.

Joshua had been ordained to be the onewho would not only lead the Jews into the promised land, but overseetheir care as well. Talk about a huge responsibility? I imagine hewas quite excited, overwhelmed, and scared all at the same time.Though he was full of the Spirit, and had all this honor put uponhim, Joshua was told that he must not do anything without askingcounsel of God, not leaning to his own understanding. God assures himthat He would always be there to advise him, after all who knows whatwe need better than God. God never appoints us to do anything withoutHis counsel, those who fall do so because they did not listen toGod's warnings. God often speaks to us through His Word, the HolySpirit, people, and prayer, we must be willing to do exactly what Heinstructs us to do if we want to succeed in anything. “Neverthelessthe foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lordknoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name ofChrist depart from iniquity. Butin 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 todishonour. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be avessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, andprepared unto every good work...And the servant of the Lord must notstrive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, Inmeekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if Godperadventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of thetruth;”- 2 Timothy 2:19-21,24-26.

Today, God appoints Jesus as theShepherd to His sheep, much more than a shepherd, He was the sheep,the sacrificial lamb that would save mankind once and for all. Hisdeath on the cross settled the war between God and man, but just likeJoshua, a person must follow God's instructions if they want tosucceed. God's instructions to be saved, believe in and receive mySon. Once you take that step Jesus will lead you through the counselof God. “Nowthe God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus,that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of theeverlasting covenant, Make you perfect in every good work to do hiswill, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, throughJesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”- Hebrews 13:20,21.

I was out soul winning last night, a man,very kind became unkind when he realized we were Baptist, he did notwant to hear about Jesus, kept telling us that he was Catholic. Beinga Baptist or Catholic does not save us, only Jesus does, trusting inones religion will sent a person straight to hell, only trusting inChrist and Christ alone will save them. “Thatif thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shaltbelieve in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thoushalt be saved. Forwith the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouthconfession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoeverbelieveth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no differencebetween the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is richunto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the nameof the Lord shall be saved.”-Romans 10:9-13.
Today'sPsalm:100:3 - “Knowye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not weourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.”

Today'sProverb: 3:5 - “Trustin the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine ownunderstanding.”

Today'sPrayer:God, It never ceases to amaze me just how loving and merciful you areto us, no matter what we have done with our lives you never give upon us, whether it is to get us to receive Your Son, or seek counselfrom You, You are right there for us. It is so easy to be led astraywhen we get tempted beyond the walls of Your safety, some of us havefallen, but Your mercy and grace never falls. Show us the way, Lord,give us peace, help us to overcome all temptation and remove anyhindrances that keep us confined within our own walls. In Jesus'name. Amen.
Enjoythe rest of your day/night. GodBless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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2/16 Another Gospel

2012-02-16T05:38:00.002-06:00

KingJames Daily Bible Study Devotional
MessageTitle: AnotherGospel
Date:Thursday February 16, 2012Today'sChapters:Numbers25-26

Hello My Friend,
Everyonce in a while someone will approach me with this question, “Howdo you know you are saved?” I respond like I always do, “BecauseI accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior and am trusting in Him alone.”Shortly after, the debate begins, they start twisting God's Word tothe point that they try to convince me that I am not saved. No matterwhat verses I use in truth to support my belief, they debate me.After a few times I give up, tell them I am done with this debate,and stop talking to them. There is only one thing that saves us andthat is by believing in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. If we are notcareful of who we allow in our lives, even as strong Christians, wecan fall away from the truth and start trusting in a false Christ,which will not save, but send people straight to hell.

“Formany shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceivemany...But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall besaved.Andthis gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for awitness unto all nations; and then shall the end come...For thereshall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew greatsigns and wonders; insomuch that, ifitwerepossible,they shall deceive the very elect...Thereforebe ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of mancometh.”- Matthew 24:5,13,14,24,44.
Nomatter how nice and caring a person can be they can be destructive inour relationship with God, sooner or later, those who follow theirown version of God start convincing faithful Christians that theirbehavior is acceptable to God, and if we take our eyes off God forone second we could be doing the same things. TheJews sojourned a while in the plains of Moab, the problem with theirstaying put in a foreign land was that they began to fellowship withthe Moabites, who were notorious for idolatry and immorality to saythe least. It did not take long for the weaker Jews to fall rightinto their wicked lifestyles, including worshiping their false god.

“AndIsrael abode in Shittim, and the people began to commit whoredom withthe daughters of Moab. And they called the people unto the sacrificesof their gods: and the people did eat, and bowed down to their gods.And Israel joined himself unto Baalpeor: and the anger of the LORDwas kindled against Israel. And the LORD said unto Moses, Take allthe heads of the people, and hang them up before the LORD against thesun, that the fierce anger of the LORD may be turned away fromIsrael. And Moses said unto the judges of Israel, Slay ye every onehis men that were joined unto Baalpeor.”-Numbers 25:1-5.

Baal-Peor, Baal was a general name for“lord,” and Peor for a “mount” in Moab. The real name of theidol was Chemosh, and his rites of worship were celebrated by thegrossest obscenity. In participating in this festival, the Jewscommitted a triple offense, idolatry, worshiping another god, andcondoning deliberate sin, which all resulted in instant death. Aperson can say that they know God or even profess Christ as theirSavior, but if they are trusting in a false god or another Gospel tosave them then they are not saved. “Imarvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into thegrace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but therebe some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. Butthough we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto youthan that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.”- Galatians 1:6-8.
Whatis another Gospel? There are 5 things to believe and accept to besaved. 1. We are all sinners. 2. The price for sin is death and hell.3. Jesus Christ, who is the sinless Son of God, died to pay thatprice, He was buried and three days later arose from the dead to giveus victory over death and hell. 4. God has a gift for all who believein Jesus Christ, eternal life. 5. To receive eternal life, believeand accept the last four things and ask Jesus to save you. “Thatif thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shaltbelieve in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thoushalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness;and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”- Romans 10:9,10.
Thissimple plan becomes altered and corrupt when people add to it, suchas you must do these things and be baptized, or the recent claim, youmust have been witnessed to with a King James Bible or you are notsaved. If you received Christ according to those 5 statements then donot believe anyone who tries to tell you otherwise. If you have beentaught another Gospel, it's time to accept the true Gospel becauseyou are not saved. “Verily,verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on himthat sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come intocondemnation; but is passed from death unto life.Verily,verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the deadshall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shalllive.”-John 5:24,25.
Itis one thing to commit sin of your own doing, we face affliction forour own actions, but it is another to cause others to commit sin, Godwill not stand for someone causing His people to fall intocorruption, especially idolatry and immoral corruption. The cursethat falls upon those who corrupt God's people is all uponthemselves, not God, not Satan. We all have a choice, if you knowJesus Christ personally as your Savior then the curse has beenremoved and you are blessed with eternal life, nothing you do canmake you lose your salvation. Satan may try to get you to doubt yoursalvation, but nothing or no one can remove the blessing that God hasgiven you for believing in His Son. “ForI am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, norprincipalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able toseparate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”- Romans 8:38,39.

A second census was taken of the Jews,602,730 men twenty years old and above were counted, not includingthe Levites, out of the 602,730 only two men were from the firstgeneration that came out of Egypt. “Thesewere the numbered of the children of Israel, six hundred thousand anda thousand seven hundred and thirty. And the LORD spake unto Moses,saying, Unto these the land shall be divided for an inheritanceaccording to the number of names. To many thou shalt give the moreinheritance, and to few thou shalt give the less inheritance: toevery one shall his inheritance be given according to those that werenumbered of him...But among these there was not a man of them whomMoses and Aaron the priest numbered, when they numbered the childrenof Israel in the wilderness of Sinai. For the LORD had said of them,They shall surely die in the wilderness. And there was not left a manof them, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun.”- Numbers 26:51-54,64,65.

Those who receive Jesus Christ astheir Savior receive not only eternal life, but an inheritance fromGod, and while the things we do after we are saved do not keep ussaved, they do increase the amount we inherit in heaven and beyond.“Forthe Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels;and then he shall reward every man according to his works.” -Matthew 16:27.
Today'sPsalm:118:14 - “TheLORD is my strength and song, and is become my salvation.”

Today'sProverb: 8:35 - “Forwhoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD.”

Today'sPrayer:God, Error, confusion, and false teaching have existed since Youcreated man, leading millions of people to face death and hell. Weknow it is crucial that we adhere to the true teachings of Christ andHis Gospel as we know it from Your Word. As we acknowledge that He isthe only way to salvation, give us confidence, peace, anddisinterment when approached by those who, in truth, question theirown faith. Let us not be persuaded nor plagued by those who aredetermined to question Your Word and distort it with their ownperversions. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Enjoythe rest of your day/night. GodBless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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2/15 Turning Curses Into Blessings

2012-02-15T05:57:00.002-06:00

KingJames Daily Bible Study Devotional
MessageTitle:TurningCurses Into Blessings
Date:Wednesday February 15, 2012Today'sChapters:Numbers22-24

Hello My Friend,

The word curse is defined asthecauseofevil,tribulation, misfortune,ortrouble,to afflict one with great evil. While God does allow His people toface some trials and tribulations, it is impossible for Him to causegreat evil or afflict us with great evil. Many people will questionhow God can destroy a nation or allow such evil to take place in theworld, but God is not the one who brings about these curses. WhileSatan executes them, man submits to them all by themselves. You know, Satan may tempt and provoke us, but he cannot make us do anything wedo not want to do any more than God can. We are given countlessexamples in the Bible that prove that very thing.

“Nowthese things were our examples, to the intent we should not lustafter evil things, as they also lusted. Neitherbe ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The peoplesat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. Neither let us commitfornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three andtwenty thousand. Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them alsotempted, and were destroyed of serpents...Therehath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God isfaithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye areable; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that yemay be able to bear it.”- 1 Corinthians 10:6-9.

While curses can have some power, they can only go so far,they cannot overthrow God. The Jews were getting close to thepromised land, as they were traveling through the wilderness news gotaround of how strong and powerful they were and that scared thepeople. As they were passing through Moab, Balak, the king of Moab,persuaded one of God's prophets, Balaam to place a curse on thechildren of Israel.
“Hesent messengers therefore unto Balaam the son of Beor to Pethor,which is by the river of the land of the children of his people, tocall him, saying, Behold, there is a people come out from Egypt:behold, they cover the face of the earth, and they abide over againstme: Come now therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people; for theyare too mighty for me: peradventure I shall prevail, that we maysmite them, and that I may drive them out of the land: for I wot thathe whom thou blessest is blessed, and he whom thou cursest iscursed... And they came to Balaam, and said to him, Thus saith Balakthe son of Zippor, Let nothing, I pray thee, hinder thee from comingunto me: For I will promote thee unto very great honour, and I willdo whatsoever thou sayest unto me: come therefore, I pray thee, curseme this people. And Balaam answered and said unto the servants ofBalak, If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, Icannot go beyond the word of the LORD my God, to do less or more. Nowtherefore, I pray you, tarry ye also here this night, that I may knowwhat the LORD will say unto me more.”- Numbers 22:5,6,16-19.

God did not want Balaam to go toBalak, He even went as far as using the donkey he was riding on tospeak to him, but he continued. God's promise and warning to Balaam,was the more you try to curse my people the more blessed they willbecome. Yet, he had a strong desire to accept the offer, and hopedthat God might give him leave to go. God always warns us of thedangers we face, but just like Balaam, personal desires oftenpersuade one into going against God's will. However, once Christenters your life you are one of God's and nothing or no one can curseyou, in fact, curses become blessings as long as we endure them withGod's help. “Blessedis the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shallreceive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them thatlove him. Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: forGod cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: Butevery man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, andenticed.”- James 1:12,13.

Balaamdid meet up with Balak, three times he instructed Balak to buildseven altars and offer seven oxen and ram sacrifices, in an attemptto curse the people or Israel, each time Balaam went to God to seewhat they curse would be, but instead of being cursed, blessings wereforetold. “Andhe took up his parable, and said, Balak the king of Moab hath broughtme from Aram, out of the mountains of the east, saying, Come, curseme Jacob, and come, defy Israel. How shall I curse, whom God hath notcursed? or how shall I defy, whom the LORD hath not defied? For fromthe top of the rocks I see him, and from the hills I behold him: lo,the people shall dwell alone, and shall not be reckoned among thenations. Who can count the dust of Jacob, and the number of thefourth part of Israel? Let me die the death of the righteous, and letmy last end be like his! And Balak said unto Balaam, What hast thoudone unto me? I took thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thouhast blessed them altogether. And he answered and said, Must I nottake heed to speak that which the LORD hath put in my mouth?”- Numbers 23:7-12.

Jacob is referred to as the children ofIsrael, God will never reverse His blessing of eternal life to any ofHis people. No one can curseone of God's people to the point that they lose their salvation, themore we endure the more God blesses us. Today, if you know JesusChrist as your personal Savior than you are one of God's people.Thosewho are saved may expect some affliction or chastisement once in awhile for living in and out of God's will, but we will never end upin hell, we have been removed from that curse. The good that we do oreven the bad does not determine our eternal state, trusting in andonly in Jesus Christ to save you determines that state. “Forthe wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal lifethrough Jesus Christ our Lord.”- Romans 6:23.

Those who oppose God and His people willsooner or later be made to see for themselves that they are onlydeceiving themselves. An amazing prophecy of Christ, who is coming toreign in great glory, not only over Israel but over all, is revealedafter the third and final attempt on Balaam and Balak to curseIsrael. “Andhe took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said,and the man whose eyes are open hath said: He hath said, which heardthe words of God, and knew the knowledge of the most High, which sawthe vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having hiseyes open: I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but notnigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall riseout of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy allthe children of Sheth. And Edom shall be a possession, Seir alsoshall be a possession for his enemies; and Israel shall do valiantly.Out of Jacob shall come he that shall have dominion, and shalldestroy him that remaineth of the city.”- Numbers 24:15-19.

Under the powerful influence of the HolySpirit, God foretold the future prosperity and dominion of Israel aswell as Balaam's own life for trying to curse Israel. A Star wouldcome from the seed of Jacob, Balaam shall see the Star, but not beable to get near Him. Christ is that star and shall be King, not onlyof the house of Jacob, but of all the world. Many will get a taste ofwhat Christ can do for them, but will never enter the Kingdom of Godbecause they tried to curse God's people for their own glory. “Ask,and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and itshall be opened unto you:Forevery one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and tohim that knocketh it shall be opened...Not every one that saith untome, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he thatdoeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.Manywill say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thyname? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done manywonderful works?Andthen will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, yethat work iniquity.”- Matthew 7:7,8,21-23.
Today'sPsalm:2:12 - “Kissthe Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrathis kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust inhim.”

Today'sProverb: 3:33 - “Thecurse of the LORD is in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth thehabitation of the just.”

Today'sPrayer:God, When we come up against afflictions and trials that exceed ourown ability to endure we rely not on ourselves but on You, who healsthe sick and raises the dead, who delivers us from death. It is onlyYou that we have hope and confidence that You will continue todeliver us, that You will make a way to endure when there is none.God, keep me in Your Word, grace, and mercy, let me not be tempted todo things my way instead of Your way, help me to endure alltemptation looking only to You for guidance. In Jesus' name.Amen
Enjoythe rest of your day/night. GodBless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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2/15 Fundamental Thoughts

2012-02-15T05:30:00.000-06:00

Jesus Gives Us Challenge!

Psalms 23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I willfear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfortme.

Thisverse should both comfort and challenge Christians. “[C]omfort” comes becausewe know that God is always with us. Inthat “comfort” we have no fear as we know of God’s protection.

Ourgreatest “challenge” is the “walk through the valley ofthe shadow of death.” There is asong entitled, “God Of The Mountain.” In the lyrics we are told that The God inthe valley is the same God on top of the mountain. (In “our walk through life,” many of us havealready experienced many valleys and many mountaintops.)

Psalms 27:2-5 When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me toeat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. (3) Though an host should encampagainst me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in thiswill I be confident. (4) One thing have Idesired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house ofthe LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and toenquire in his temple. (5) For in the time of trouble he shall hide mein his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall setme up upon a rock.

Intimes like these, we feel there are those who want to destroy us. They are surrounding us (morally, physically,and financially.) We do know, or shouldknow that “[H]e shall hide me [us] inhis pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle.” Our need is to desire “the LORD, that will I seek after” for Hisprotection in “the secret of his tabernacle.”

“Reader,are you in a valley so deep, it seems you are drowning? Can you see a way out?” Sometimes we get in the “valleyof the shadow of death” by circumstances beyond our control, the death of aloved one, a sudden impairment, or a sudden change in the economy. We may find (in hindsight) that we are theone who put ourselves in the valley, (adultery, alcoholism, drugs, and anger,just to name a few.) If you are in avalley, regardless of the circumstance, you need to look up (from the valleyfloor) for a friend.

Isaiah 41:10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I amthy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold theewith the right hand of my righteousness.

God will strengthen you. He will help you. He will hold you up. If you have not called on Jesus as yourSaviour, this is the day. This is thehour.

Romans 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Do it now, not tomorrow. What if God calls you into eternity tonight? It will be too late. You must accept Jesus prior to eternity as TheLake of Fire is “our default eternity.” Accept Christ Now.

Bro John R. E Chastain

Retired Pastor

Wylie, Texas

fundamentalthoughts-preacher.blogspot.com FundamentalThoughts

2/15 A Plain Path

2012-02-15T05:00:00.000-06:00

Judges 16:4

"And it came to pass afterward, that he loved a woman in the valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah."

from Forrest Ritchey

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2/14 Fundamental Thoughts

2012-02-14T22:00:00.000-06:00

Are You A Christian?

John 8:42 Jesus said unto them, If God were yourFather, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither cameI of myself, but he sent me.

John8:44 Ye are of your father thedevil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from thebeginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. Whenhe speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father ofit.

Not all who claim Christianity areChristians. Many will claim Jesus andclaim the works they have done as their proof.

(Matthew7:22) Many will say to me in that day,Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast outdevils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

Yet, they havenot done what is necessary to be a Christian. Many will claim their Infant Baptism, and others will claim their Adult Baptism. Most will include their morality alongwith their works and/or Baptism.

Ephesians2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved throughfaith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Notof works, lest any man should boast.

Our scripture is clear: None of these “make” a person aChristian. Jesus tells us:

John 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily,verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

John3:7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Yemust be born again.

Jesus may leaveus with the question: “How are we “bornagain?” It all begins with belief. Jesus tells us:

John3:15-17 That whosoever believeth in himshould not perish, but have eternal life. 16 ForGod so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoeverbelieveth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world tocondemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

To “beborn again,” we must “believe” that Jesus is “[H]is [God’s] onlybegotten Son.” This must bea sincere belief. With this “belief”Salvation is granted. (We also read thatthis Salvation is an “everlasting life.”)

Some may believe that “their pastlives” will hinder them from being accepted by Jesus. Yet, if we read John 3:16 (quoted above) wesee that Jesus tells us “that whosoever believeth in him shouldnot perish.” Consider the word “whosoever.” This word is “all inclusive.” It includes the “worst of the worst,” the“best of the best,” and “everyone” in between.

God sent Jesus to the earth to save ALLof the lost.

Luke19:10 For the Son of man is come to seekand to save that which was lost.

The actualsimplicity of Salvation is what many of us consider impossible. Their thoughts: “I must do something to earnthis Salvation. In my past, I have beenso horrible that God could or would never allow me into His realm.”

Our Bible is full of stories aboutmen and women that had horrible pasts. God not only saved them, but also used them inmighty ways. (Rahab the Harlot, thewoman at the well, King David, Saul of Tarsus, etc.)

“Reader, have you called on Jesus’name for your Salvation?” If not, todayis the day. God tells us in:

Romans10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thymouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised himfrom the dead, thou shalt be saved.

All God asksis that you believe. (Believe what?) That God “so loved the world,that he gave his only begotten Son,” or “believe in thine heart thatGod hath raised him from the dead,” or what God tells us in His Word about His SonJesus’ doctrine. Then “confesswith thy mouth the Lord Jesus.” This is notgoing to a “phone booth” and tellingone person. This is confessing to allyou know, and some you don’t know. Whenthis conviction has taken place, (and in your heart, you know that Jesus The Christis your Saviour, and have “Confessed” it to others,) Salvation by God isyours.

Be obedient: submit yourself for Baptism at a conservativeBible preaching Church. Then attendfaithfully.

You are a Christian.

Bro John R. E Chastain

Retired Pastor

Wylie, Texas

fundamentalthoughts-preacher.blogspot.com FundamentalThoughts

2/14 Spurgeon Today

2012-02-14T14:06:00.000-06:00

“And his allowance was a continual allowance given him of the king, a daily rate for every day, all the days of his life.”
2 Kings 25:30
Jehoiachin was not sent away from the king’s palace with a store to last him for months, but his provision was given him as a daily pension. Herein he well pictures the happy position of all the Lord’s people. A daily portion is all that a man really wants. We do not need tomorrow’s supplies; that day has not yet dawned, and its wants are as yet unborn. The thirst which we may suffer in the month of June does not need to be quenched in February, for we do not feel it yet; if we have enough for each day as the days arrive we shall never know want. Sufficient for the day is all that we can enjoy. We cannot eat or drink or wear more than the day’s supply of food and raiment; the surplus gives us the care of storing it, and the anxiety of watching against a thief. One staff aids a traveller, but a bundle of staves is a heavy burden. Enough is not only as good as a feast, but is all that the greatest glutton can truly enjoy. This is all that we should expect; a craving for more than this is ungrateful. When our Father does not give us more, we should be content with his daily allowance. Jehoiachin’s case is ours, we have a sure portion, a portion given us of the king, a gracious portion, and a perpetual portion. Here is surely ground for thankfulness.
Beloved Christian reader, in matters of grace you need a daily supply. You have no store of strength. Day by day must you seek help from above. It is a very sweet assurance that a daily portion is provided for you. In the word, through the ministry, by meditation, in prayer, and waiting upon God you shall receive renewed strength. In Jesus all needful things are laid up for you. Then enjoy your continual allowance. Never go hungry while the daily bread of grace is on the table of mercy.

2/14 Water of Separation

2012-02-14T07:16:00.002-06:00

KingJames Daily Bible Study Devotional
MessageTitle:Waterof Separation
Date:Tuesday February 14, 2012Today'sChapters:Numbers19-21

Hello My Friend,

The word defile is definedas tomakefoul,dirty,orunclean.Out of all the sins committed, those that defile the flesh are moredetestable to God than all the rest. Why? Besides the body being theTemple in which God dwells in all believers, it is the only type ofsin that one can sin against their own body. “Fleefornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but hethat committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. What?know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which isin you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye arebought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in yourspirit, which are God's.”- I Corinthians 6:18-20.

While ordinary fresh water is ameans to cleanse the flesh of it's impurities, that was not the casewhen a person defiled themselves by touching a dead body, human oranimal. A special kind of water was necessary to cleanse a body thatwas defiled by a dead body. Therefore,God instituted the law of the water of separation. “Thisis the ordinance of the law which the LORD hath commanded, saying,Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring thee a red heiferwithout spot, wherein is no blemish, and upon which never cameyoke:..And a man that is clean shall gather up the ashes of theheifer, and lay them up without the camp in a clean place, and itshall be kept for the congregation of the children of Israel for awater of separation: it is a purification for sin...Whosoevertoucheth the dead body of any man that is dead, and purifieth nothimself, defileth the tabernacle of the LORD; and that soul shall becut off from Israel: because the water of separation was notsprinkled upon him, he shall be unclean; his uncleanness is yet uponhim...And for an unclean person they shall take of the ashes of theburnt heifer of purification for sin, and running water shall be putthereto in a vessel: And a clean person shall take hyssop, and dip itin the water, and sprinkle it upon the tent, and upon all thevessels, and upon the persons that were there, and upon him thattouched a bone, or one slain, or one dead, or a grave: And the cleanperson shall sprinkle upon the unclean on the third day, and on theseventh day: and on the seventh day he shall purify himself, and washhis clothes, and bathe himself in water, and shall be clean at even.”- Numbers 19:2,9,13,17-19. Theheifer was to be wholly burned, the ashes mixed with water was apurification for sin, which our Lord Jesus Christ made by His deathon the cross. Just a sprinkle of His precious blood cleanses us andseparates us from the dead body that defiled us. What dead body do wetouch? Our own. A body without Christ in it is a dead body, it doesnot have the Spirit of God in it. The one thing that the law couldnot do was conquer death nor abolish it, for the wages of sin isdeath. However, Jesus Christ made a way to conquer death by offeringHimself, who was sinless and without spot to die for us. How did Heabolish death? He arose three days later, giving victory over deathto all who believe in Him. “Knowingthat Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath nomore dominion over him. For in that he died, he died unto sin once:but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Likewise reckon ye alsoyourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God throughJesus Christ our Lord...Forthe wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal lifethrough Jesus Christ our Lord.”- Romans 6:9-11,23.

Thirty-eight years had come to pass sincethe ten spies encouraged the people not to go into the promised land,all, but Moses, Aaron, Caleb, and Joshua had died and now they wereallowed to head back toward Canaan. While passing through they cameto Edom, it was the shortest route to the promised land, but they hadto get permission to pass through. When they refused to let the Jewspass and they had to go another route the became distraught andbegan complaining that there was no water for them to drink. God gaveMoses a command to get water for them to drink from a rock. “Andthere was no water for the congregation: and they gathered themselvestogether against Moses and against Aaron. And the people chode withMoses, and spake, saying, Would God that we had died when ourbrethren died before the LORD!..And the LORD spake unto Moses,saying, Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou,and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes;and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to themwater out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and theirbeasts drink...And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because yebelieved me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children ofIsrael, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the landwhich I have given them...And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron inmount Hor, by the coast of the land of Edom, saying, Aaron shall begathered unto his people: for he shall not enter into the land whichI have given unto the children of Israel, because ye rebelled againstmy word at the water of Meribah.”- Numbers 20:2,3,7,8,12,23,24.

While our works do not save usnor keep us saved, they do play a part in the rewards that we get, wemay even get some here on earth, but most of our rewards will be inheaven. That day Moses and Aaron lost their rights to be able to walkon the promised land. What was the offense that caused Moses andAaron to forfeit their rights to the promised land? There wereseveral reasons, but the one that struck Him the most was theirunbelief, even the slightest disbelief (which is a sin) in God cancause us to lose some of the blessings that He would have given us,but we are not cut off from God as those who do not believe at allwould be. While sin can cause a hindrance in our relationship withGod, it cannot take us from God once we are saved because we aresaved by faith in Christ not by anything that we have done. “Knowingthat a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faithof Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we mightbe justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law:for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. But if,while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are foundsinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid.”- Galatians 2:16,17.
TheJews were wearied by a long march round the land of Edom, this timeinstead of blaming Moses they began to speak discontentedly of whatGod had done for them, and distrustfully of what he would do. Out ofanger He sent fiery serpents among them, which bit or stung many todeath. “Andthe people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have yebrought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is nobread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this lightbread. And the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and theybit the people; and much people of Israel died. Therefore the peoplecame to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken againstthe LORD, and against thee; pray unto the LORD, that he take away theserpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people. And the LORD saidunto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and itshall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he lookethupon it, shall live. And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put itupon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten anyman, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.”- Numbers 21:5-9.

The serpent represents Satan and sin, Satancontrols us by sin, of course, the wages of sin is death. The brassserpent becomes a type of Christ who knew no sin, but was made sinfor us, anyone who looked to the brass serpent was cured. Today, inorder to be cured one must personally look to Christ, believing onlyHe can save them. We must have faith in Him, God will not granteternal life to anyone who does not have faith that only His Son cansave them. Faith is talking yourself into believing that what Godsays He will do. God never lies, therefore, if He says we can only besaved through Christ and that He alone gives us eternal life than Hewill do what He says, without faith in Christ we are not saved. “Andas Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must theSon of man be lifted up:Thatwhosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.”- John 3:15.Today'sPsalm:51:7 - “Purgeme with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiterthan snow.”

Today'sProverb: 30:12 -“Thereis a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is notwashed from their filthiness.”

Today'sPrayer:God, Youare truly the One who meets all our needs. We turn to worry when weconsider ourselves to be the source of our provisions rather thanYou. There is nothing we lack when we commit our faith and trust inYou and ask You to provide for our needs. You know what we have needof before we ask it, but You are pleased that we acknowledge You tobe our provider of natural, physical, and spiritual resources. Whenour hearts are secure in You, we have no fear as we look to our LordJesus Christ. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Enjoythe rest of your day/night. GodBless You, I am praying for you,
ChristinaAreYou 100% Sure That You Are Going To Heaven? You Can Be. Visit:God's Price
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2/13 Spurgeon Today

2012-02-13T14:03:00.000-06:00

“Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God.”
1 John 3:1,2
“Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us.” Consider who we were, and what we feel ourselves to be even now when corruption is powerful in us, and you will wonder at our adoption. Yet we are called “the sons of God.” What a high relationship is that of a son, and what privileges it brings! What care and tenderness the son expects from his father, and what love the father feels towards the son! But all that, and more than that, we now have through Christ. As for the temporary drawback of suffering with the elder brother, this we accept as an honour: “Therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.” We are content to be unknown with him in his humiliation, for we are to be exalted with him. “Beloved, now are we the sons of God.” That is easy to read, but it is not so easy to feel. How is it with your heart this morning? Are you in the lowest depths of sorrow? Does corruption rise within your spirit, and grace seem like a poor spark trampled under foot? Does your faith almost fail you? Fear not, it is neither your graces nor feelings on which you are to live: you must live simply by faith on Christ. With all these things against us, now—in the very depths of our sorrow, wherever we may be—now, as much in the valley as on the mountain, “Beloved, now are we the sons of God.” “Ah, but,” you say, “see how I am arrayed! my graces are not bright; my righteousness does not shine with apparent glory.” But read the next: “It doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him.” The Holy Spirit shall purify our minds, and divine power shall refine our bodies; then shall we see him as he is.

2/13 Separation From The Rebellious

2012-02-13T05:44:00.004-06:00

KingJames Daily Bible Study Devotional
MessageTitle:SeparationFrom The Rebellious
Date:Monday February 13, 2012Today'sChapters:Numbers16-18

Hello My Friend,

The word rebellion means anopen,organized,andarmedresistanceto one's government or ruler,a resistance to or defiance of any authority, control, or tradition.Most often people who rebel against God rebel against any form ofauthority. The worse thing is that they do not keep it to themselves,they are usually obnoxious, loud, and seem to attract every otherobnoxious and loud person as well. While we all have a little bit ofrebellion in us from time to time, there is a big difference whenthere is a complete resistance to God's Law, which causes them andeveryone who follows them to suffer, and those who stand by God's Lawno matter what obstacles they face. “Comenow, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins beas scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red likecrimson, they shall be as wool. If ye be willing and obedient, yeshall eat the good of the land: But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shallbe devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spokenit.”- Isaiah 1:18-20.

News of the eldest Jews not being able to gointo the promised land did not go so well, Korah,Dathan, and Abiram, who were Levites, decided to gather a group ofpeople together to challenge these laws. They cornered Moses andAaron, accused them of being the ones who caused all these things tohappen and took it upon themselves to be the ones in authority of thecongregation. While Korah and his accomplices contend for thepriesthood against Aaron, Moses pleads with God to save the lives ofthe people. “Andthe LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, Separateyourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them in amoment. And they fell upon their faces, and said, O God, the God ofthe spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and wilt thou be wrothwith all the congregation? And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,Speak unto the congregation, saying, Get you up from about thetabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram.”- Numbers 16:20-24.

Godcomplies, but He commanded the congregation to separate themselvesfrom them for His judgment was upon all who rebelled against Him. Assoon as Moses had spoken to the congregation, God caused the earth toopen and swallow all the rebels, including the ones who followedKorah, Dathan, and Abiram, and everything that belonged to them.
“AndMoses said, Hereby ye shall know that the LORD hath sent me to do allthese works; for I have not done them of mine own mind. Ifthese men die the common death of all men, or if they be visitedafter the visitation of all men; then the LORD hath not sent me. Butif the LORD make a new thing, and the earth open her mouth, andswallow them up, with all that appertain unto them, and they go downquick into the pit; then ye shall understand that these men haveprovoked the LORD. And it came to pass, as he had made an end ofspeaking all these words, that the ground clave asunder that wasunder them: And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up,and their houses, and all the men that appertained unto Korah, andall their goods. They,and all that appertained to them, went down alive into the pit, andthe earth closed upon them: and they perished from among thecongregation.”- Numbers 16:28-33.

This is an example of false religion,people who go against God's commands to serve Him on their own terms, only to find themselves cast straight into hell for their rebellion.The sad thing is they deceive people into believing their lies anddrag them into the pit with them. It does not matter if we acceptfalse religion out of ignorance, the same judgment applies to all, weare all presented with the opportunity to receive Jesus Christ as ourpersonal Savior at least once in our lives, He is the only one whocan save us from being cast into the pit. “Butthe fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, andwhoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall havetheir part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: whichis the second death.”- Revelation 21:8.

Just as Moses pleaded with God time andtime again to save those who did not rebel against Him, Jesus pleadswith God to save those who believe in Him and accept Him into theirlives. While we would be quick to send our enemies to hell God doesnot want to send anyone to hell, His desire is that all repent oftheir rebellion and be saved from that fiery death, but He will notsave anyone who does not want to be saved. “Knowingthis first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walkingafter their own lusts,..The Lord is not slack concerning his promise,as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, notwilling that any should perish, but that all should come torepentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in thenight; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise,and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and theworks that are therein shall be burned up.”- 2 Peter 3:3,9,10.
Ifrebels are going to cause the righteous to sin God will separatethem, sometimes He is subtle, but most of the time He is going to letthe whole congregation know that unbelievers are not welcome in HisChurch. God not only separates the rebels from the righteous He alsorewards those who believe in and follow Him no matter what obstaclesthey faced. God reconfirmed the covenant that He made with theLevites, they would be the ones who would do the service of Hisministry and all the rest of the tribes would give to themaccordingly. “Andthe LORD said unto Aaron, Thou and thy sons and thy father's housewith thee shall bear the iniquity of the sanctuary: and thou and thysons with thee shall bear the iniquity of your priesthood. And thybrethren also of the tribe of Levi, the tribe of thy father, bringthou with thee, that they may be joined unto thee, and minister untothee: but thou and thy sons with thee shall minister before thetabernacle of witness...And ye shall eat it in every place, ye andyour households: for it is your reward for your service in thetabernacle of the congregation.”- Numbers 18:1,2,31.

God always rewards those who diligentlyseek and serve Him, we do not have to give into the rebelliousinstigators, God is always with us, even if we have to live amongstthem, and He will always take care of His people. The most importantthing anyone can do to overcome those who try to get us to rebelagainst God is to keep our eyes on Him, stay in His Word, study it,and apply it daily to our lives. “Ifwe suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also willdeny us: Ifwe believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.

Ofthese things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lordthat they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subvertingof the hearers. Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workmanthat needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto moreungodliness.”-2 Timothy 2:12-16.
Today'sPsalm: 68:18 - “Thou hastascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast receivedgifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the LORD God mightdwell among them.”

Today'sProverb: 11:27 - “Hethat diligently seeketh good procureth favour: but he that seekethmischief, it shall come unto him.”

Today'sPrayer:God, At times we can foolish, unruly, and rebellious people, we needYour guidance and enduring patience constantly to even get throughthe day. Through Your Word You teach us what is good and nourishesour soul and that which is destructive, bringing us down and othersalong with us. We invite the work of Your Holy Spirit to cleanse oursoul and create a hunger that gives us spiritual cravings for more ofYou and obedience to Your Word as we study it to be approved untoYou. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Enjoythe rest of your day/night. GodBless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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2/12 Tempting God

2012-02-12T05:43:00.001-06:00

KingJames Daily Bible Study Devotional
MessageTitle:TemptingGod
Date:Sunday February 12, 2012Today'sChapters:Numbers14-15

Hello My Friend,

The word temptation meanstheact of tempting; it's the solicitation of the passions, enticementsto do evil proceeding from the prospect of pleasure or advantage. Howmany times have you been tempted to do something when you were forbidto do it? Thanks to our sin nature, temptation comes easy for us,even things that we would never think of doing can entice us when weare told not to do it and if we do not keep our eyes on God we willfall right into them. “Blessedis the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shallreceive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them thatlove him. Letno man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot betempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man istempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Thenwhen lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it isfinished, bringeth forth death.”- James 1:12-15.

While we have all had our share of fallinginto temptation or even being the tempter, the worse person we canever tempt is God. Now, it is one thing to say to God, “You did itfor them, I know You can do it for me.” But it is another thing tosay, “I am going to do what I want, I do not believe You can dothat to me.” That is tempting God and cause for His wrath, nomatter how small the temptation. Right after the twelve spies cameback from their expedition to the promise land ten of themdiscouraged the people and said we cannot enter, it's too dangerous.A big uproar came about to stone Moses and Aaron, but Joshua andCaleb, the other two spies tried to calm them down.
“AndJoshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were ofthem that searched the land, rent their clothes: Andthey spake unto all the company of the children of Israel, saying,The land, which we passed through to search it, is an exceeding goodland. If the LORD delight in us, then he will bring us into thisland, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey. Onlyrebel not ye against the LORD, neither fear ye the people of theland; for they are bread for us: their defence is departed from them,and the LORD is with us: fear them not.”- Numbers 14:1,2,6-9.

The people did not listen to Joshua andCaleb, or Moses and Arron, God was so angry at their behavior that Hewas ready to destroy the whole congregation. After Moses pleaded withGod and reminded Him of His promise He repented of destroying thepeople, but not one person that murmured against God, was allowed toenter the promised land, including the ten who caused the uproar inthe first place.
“Yourcarcases shall fall in this wilderness; and all that were numbered ofyou, according to your whole number, from twenty years old andupward, which have murmured against me, Doubtless ye shall not comeinto the land, concerning which I sware to make you dwell therein,save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun. But yourlittle ones, which ye said should be a prey, them will I bring in,and they shall know the land which ye have despised...And Moses toldthese sayings unto all the children of Israel: and the people mournedgreatly. And they rose up early in the morning, and gat them up intothe top of the mountain, saying, Lo, we be here, and will go up untothe place which the LORD hath promised: for we have sinned. And Mosessaid, Wherefore now do ye transgress the commandment of the LORD? butit shall not prosper...Then the Amalekites came down, and theCanaanites which dwelt in that hill, and smote them, and discomfitedthem, even unto Hormah.”-Numbers 14:29-31,39-41,45.

So many people think(unbelievers) that they have the power to go up against God and liveto tell about it. These unbelieving Jews pretty much told God, “Iam going to the promised land whether you forbid me to or not.” Noone can get to heaven on their own, no one, if anyone tries to buytheir way or force their way into heaven they will bare their ownsins and just like the unbelieving Jews died so will anyone else thattries to go against God. The devil himself has no power over God,even he must obey God and will be cast into hell and the lake of firewith all those who do not believe in Christ. “Andthe devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire andbrimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall betormented day and night for ever and ever.”- Revelation 20:10.

After the uproar God had Moses gathereveryone together to tell them how every sinner, Jew or stranger(Gentile) could reconcile with God and be saved. “Oneordinance shall be both for you of the congregation, and also for thestranger that sojourneth with you, an ordinance for ever in yourgenerations: as ye are, so shall the stranger be before the LORD. Onelaw and one manner shall be for you, and for the stranger thatsojourneth with you...And if any soul sin through ignorance, then heshall bring a she goat of the first year for a sin offering. And thepriest shall make an atonement for the soul that sinneth ignorantly,when he sinneth by ignorance before the LORD, to make an atonementfor him; and it shall be forgiven him. Ye shall have one law for himthat sinneth through ignorance, both for him that is born among thechildren of Israel, and for the stranger that sojourneth among them.But the soul that doeth ought presumptuously, whether he be born inthe land, or a stranger, the same reproacheth the LORD; and that soulshall be cut off from among his people.”- Numbers 15:15,16,27-30.

Sins committed ignorantly must havean atonement made for them too, although God is very merciful withthe ignorant, their ignorance cannot justify them, we face the samejudgment for sins committed ignorantly and willingly. Sadly, we learnthe fate of a man tempting God in this manner, “Andwhile the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a manthat gathered sticks upon the sabbath day...Andthe LORD said unto Moses, The man shall be surely put to death: allthe congregation shall stone him with stones without the camp.”- Numbers 15:32,35.

Many people ask me why God was so cruelto have this man stoned for picking up some sticks. The reason he wasstoned was because he tempted God, He purposely sinned against Him.Do you think God wanted to cast him into hell? Of course He didn't!He does not want to cast anyone into hell, but He will allow it ifthey have no faith in Him. God loves us so much that He gave Himselfas a sacrifice to save us! Who do you know that would take the blameand punishment for your sins? I do not know anyone who would.Therefore, as Christians we are to, “Standfast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, andbe not entangled again with the yoke of bondage...For, brethren, yehave been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasionto the flesh, but by love serve one another. For all the law isfulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour asthyself. But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye benot consumed one of another. This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, andye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh...And they that areChrist's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. Ifwe live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”- Galatians 5:1,13-16,24,25.

If you have personally receivedChrist as your Savior than you are saved, that means you have beenreconciled with God simply by trusting in Jesus Christ. We are goingto be tempted, we are going to be tried, but as long as we keep oureyes on God we will not fall into the temptation nor will we becomethe tempter. “Therehath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God isfaithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye areable; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that yemay be able to bear it.”-1 Corinthians 10:13.
Today'sPsalm:78:18 - “Andthey tempted God in their heart by asking meat for their lust.”

Today'sProverb: 16:27 - “Anungodly man diggeth up evil: and in his lips there is as a burningfire.”

Today'sPrayer:God, it is Your desire that we stay faithful to Your teachings.Scripture gives many examples of those who knew to do right, butchose to do wrong. The consequences of their wrong actions broughtupon death, loss, life-long regret and emotional pain, not only forthemselves, but those around them as well. Lord, help us to avoid thetraps Satan has set for Your believers by not only reading Your Word,but applying its truth to our lives, and standing firm when thetemptation to do wrong is ever before us. Help us keep our eyes onYou so that we do not fall into temptation nor bring anyone else intotemptation by not following You in the first place. In Jesus' name.Amen.
Enjoythe rest of your day/night. GodBless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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2/12 Devotions from God’s Word

2012-02-12T05:21:00.000-06:00

Encouraged in God’s Love ~ Romans 8.31-39

In our daily lives we are pressed by many things. Sometimes we forget the love that God has for His children – The love that God has for you. We hear many messages on how we to get right (and we do), and how to serve (which we do), but here is a reminder of the love that God has given to us THROUGH CHRIST!

31. God is on our side if we have the His Spirit dwelling in us.

Look at Romans 8.1-11

Psalms 118:6 “The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?”

32. God spared not His Son – that we might be received by the Father

Romans 5:6 “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.”

Romans 5:10 “For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life”

33. God has justified His Children

Isaiah 50:8-9 “He is near that justifieth me; who will contend with me? let us stand together: who is mine adversary? let him come near to me. 9 Behold, the Lord GOD will help me; who is he that shall condemn me? lo, they all shall wax old as a garment; the moth shall eat them up.”

**We cannot allow Satan to confuse us in our lives. He will bring up our failures and try to defeat us...using our closest family or friends.

34. Through Christ we are able to go to the Father

a. In Christ we cannot be condemned. (John 3.16-18 1 John 2.1)

b. Christ makes intercession for us. (Hebrews 7.25, 9.24)

35. Can anything separate us from the love of God?

a. This I believe is for everyone that has every stepped foot on this earth. Whether they believed it or not. (Romans 5.6, 8)

b. Then when we have accepted Jesus as Saviour it is binding by the Holy Spirit of God. (Ephesians 1.13-14) and will never be taken away. (2 Corinthians 4.7-10)

36. We are dead to ourselves

(1 Corinthians 6.20, 7.23)

2 Timothy 2:21 “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.”

37. We are more than conquerors

a. Here not only do we have the victory – we will never lose! There is no going back (1 John 4.4-6, 5.4, 5)

38-39. Persuaded in the love of God

In our lives we will see many things that the Lord will do for us – non greater that His love. NOTHING CAN SEPARATE HIS LOVE TOWARDS US!

2/11 An Attitude of Gratitude

2012-02-11T08:08:00.001-06:00

KingJames Daily Bible Study Devotional
MessageTitle:AnAttitude of Gratitude
Date:Saturday February 11, 2012Today'sChapters:Numbers11-13

Hello My Friend,

Faith is talking yourselfinto believing that God can do something He says He is going to do,quite often, people do not receive the things they ask God forbecause deep down they do not have faith that He can really do whatHe says. I always look at how God answers prayers like a trafficlight, red means no, I am not giving you that. Yellow means, slow, bepatient and wait, and green means, go, you can have it now. There isa reason why God says no, slow, and go, much of is about faith, butalso gratitude plays a big part in how God answers prayers.
“Nowfaith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of thingsnot seen. Forby it the elders obtained a good report. Through faith we understandthat the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things whichare seen were not made of things which do appear...Butwithout faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh toGod must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them thatdiligently seek him...They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, weretempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskinsand goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;(Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and inmountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. And these all, havingobtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: Godhaving provided some better thing for us, that they without us shouldnot be made perfect.”- Hebrews 11:1-3,6,37-40.

God loves to provide for Hispeople, it thrills Him to give us what we need, but start complainingthat what He gives is not good enough and, how does the saying go,“You better be careful what you wish for.” The problem with theJews was that they had, and still have, the assumption that sincethey are God's chosen He will not destroy them, no matter what theydo. While God did choose the Jewish nation to represent as His peoplethat did not mean God would not cast them in hell for their sins. Asthey were heading toward the promised land they began complainingthat God was not giving them enough to eat.
“Andthe mixt multitude that was among them fell a lusting: and thechildren of Israel also wept again, and said, Who shall give us fleshto eat? We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; thecucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and thegarlick: But now our soul is dried away: there is nothing at all,beside this manna, before our eyes...And Moses said unto the LORD,Wherefore hast thou afflicted thy servant? and wherefore have I notfound favour in thy sight, that thou layest the burden of all thispeople upon me?..And the LORD said unto Moses, Is the LORD'S handwaxed short? thou shalt see now whether my word shall come to passunto thee or not...And there went forth a wind from the LORD, andbrought quails from the sea, and let them fall by the camp, as itwere a day's journey on this side, and as it were a day's journey onthe other side, round about the camp, and as it were two cubits highupon the face of the earth. And the people stood up all that day, andall that night, and all the next day, and they gathered the quails:he that gathered least gathered ten homers: and they spread them allabroad for themselves round about the camp. And while the flesh wasyet between their teeth, ere it was chewed, the wrath of the LORD waskindled against the people, and the LORD smote the people with a verygreat plague.”- Numbers 11:4-6,14,23,31-33.

Although God graciously allowsus to complain to Him when there is cause, He is justly provoked ifwe keep complaining when there is no cause for it and especially whenwe have been surrounded with His provisions. The plague they weregiven was the result of their lust and greed, there was not even amention of thanks either.

Thosewho do not know Jesus Christ personally as their Savior truly have nohealthy appetite for the Bread of life, the things of Christ, andwill desire things pleasing to the flesh over things pleasing to God.“For, brethren, ye have beencalled unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to theflesh, but by love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled inone word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Butif ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumedone of another. ThisI say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust ofthe flesh.”-Galatians 5:13-16.

Now, Aaron and Miriam were probably themost influential people in the camp, Aaron, a prophet, and the headof the service of God, Miriam, a prophetess, and first rank among thewomen of Israel. Both were discontent and began complaining aboutMoses. God heard the complaining and called them all out of thetabernacle to confront them.
“Andthe LORD spake suddenly unto Moses, and unto Aaron, and unto Miriam,Come out ye three unto the tabernacle of the congregation. And theythree came out. And the LORD came down in the pillar of the cloud,and stood in the door of the tabernacle, and called Aaron and Miriam:and they both came forth. And he said, Hear now my words: If there bea prophet among you, I the LORD will make myself known unto him in avision, and will speak unto him in a dream. My servant Moses is notso, who is faithful in all mine house. With him will I speak mouth tomouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitudeof the LORD shall he behold: wherefore then were ye not afraid tospeak against my servant Moses? And the anger of the LORD was kindledagainst them; and he departed. And the cloud departed from off thetabernacle; and, behold, Miriam became leprous, white as snow: andAaron looked upon Miriam, and, behold, she was leprous.”-Numbers 12:4-8.

Moses had the spirit of prophecy in a waythat set him far above all prophets, he was able to talk with God ina free, friendly, and familiar manner, as one friend speaks toanother, without any fear or dread. To have such a relationship withGod would be astounding, but the greatest Christian on earth cannotcompare to Jesus Christ, who removes our darkest sins. While Godnever leaves nor forsakes those who are saved, the removal of Hispresence is eminent by those who question Him and have no desire tolive in His will until they repent. “Andthe times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all menevery where to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in the whichhe will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hathordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that hehath raised him from the dead.”-Acts 17:30,31.

God promises to always take care of andprotect His faithful servants, but fear can often get the best of us,which keeps us from letting God give us with what He really wants togive us. The time had come for the Jews to see the promised land,Moses sent twelve men, one from each tribe, to scope it out, only twoout of the twelve were ready to fight for their land, the othersdiscouraged the entire congregation by telling them that they weretoo weak. “And theyreturned from searching of the land after forty days. And they wentand came to Moses, and to Aaron, and to all the congregation of thechildren of Israel, unto the wilderness of Paran, to Kadesh; andbrought back word unto them, and unto all the congregation, andshewed them the fruit of the land...And Caleb stilled the peoplebefore Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for weare well able to overcome it. But the men that went up with him said,We be not able to go up against the people; for they are strongerthan we.”- Numbers 13:25,26,30,31.

We have no one, but ourselves toblame for not being grateful and thankful to God for what He has andis willing to give us, we just need to make a little effortsometimes. Remember, faith without works is dead. You can believe inChrist all you want, but unless you admit you are a sinner and ask Heto save you, you will not be saved. God loves us and will do anythingfor us, but unless we apply an attitude of gratitude once in a whileHe will hold back some of the blessings. “Letthe word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching andadmonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. Andwhatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the LordJesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.”-Colossians 3:16,17.
Today'sPsalm: 100:4 - “Enter into hisgates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankfulunto him, and bless his name.”

Today'sProverb: 20:4 - “Thesluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he begin harvest, and have nothing.”

Today'sPrayer:God, I feel such deep gratitude when I consider how patient You arewith my frequent shortcomings. You do not toss me aside and move onto a more deserving person, but You continue to come alongside me andYour Word continues to renew my hope day by day. When I am tempted togive up the fight, You never let me go and keep encouraging me to domy best. Let me not use the circumstances in my life to find a reasonto complain, but use it as a reason to improve my relationship withYou and to fully trust in You evey area of my life. In Jesus' name.Amen.
Enjoythe rest of your day/night. GodBless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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2/11 A Plain Path

2012-02-11T05:00:00.000-06:00

II Chronicles 6:1

"Then said Solomon, The Lord hath said that he would dwell in the thick darkness."

from Bro. Jonathan Ritchey

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2/10 Spurgeon Today

2012-02-10T13:58:00.000-06:00

“I know how to abound.”
Philippians 4:12
There are many who know “how to be abased” who have not learned “how to abound.” When they are set upon the top of a pinnacle their heads grow dizzy, and they are ready to fall. The Christian far oftener disgraces his profession in prosperity than in adversity. It is a dangerous thing to be prosperous. The crucible of adversity is a less severe trial to the Christian than the refining pot of prosperity. Oh, what leanness of soul and neglect of spiritual things have been brought on through the very mercies and bounties of God! Yet this is not a matter of necessity, for the apostle tells us that he knew how to abound. When he had much he knew how to use it. Abundant grace enabled him to bear abundant prosperity. When he had a full sail he was loaded with much ballast, and so floated safely. It needs more than human skill to carry the brimming cup of mortal joy with a steady hand, yet Paul had learned that skill, for he declares, “In all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry.” It is a divine lesson to know how to be full, for the Israelites were full once, but while the flesh was yet in their mouth, the wrath of God came upon them. Many have asked for mercies that they might satisfy their own hearts’ lust. Fulness of bread has often made fulness of blood, and that has brought on wantonness of spirit. When we have much of God’s providential mercies, it often happens that we have but little of God’s grace, and little gratitude for the bounties we have received. We are full and we forget God: satisfied with earth, we are content to do without heaven. Rest assured it is harder to know how to be full than it is to know how to be hungry—so desperate is the tendency of human nature to pride and forgetfulness of God. Take care that you ask in your prayers that God would teach you “how to be full.”
“Let not the gifts thy love bestows
Estrange our hearts from thee.”

2/10 Our Faithful Guide

2012-02-10T05:40:00.001-06:00

KingJames Daily Bible Study Devotional
MessageTitle:OurFaithful Guide
Date:Friday February 10, 2012Today'sChapters:Numbers8-10

Hello My Friend,

Christians, have something inthem that no person outside of the Kingdom of God, Satan, or even theangels do not have, we have the Spirit of God dwelling in us. He isour guide, our teacher, and our knowledge of Christ and everythingGod. “Whosoeverbelieveth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one thatloveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him...Forwhatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is thevictory that overcometh the world, even our faith...He that believethon the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth notGod hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record thatGod gave of his Son. Andthis is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and thislife is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hathnot the Son of God hath not life.”-1 John 5:1,4,10-12. What exactly is a Christian? A Christian is areal disciple of Christ, one who believes in the truth of the Gospel,and studies to follow the example of Jesus Christ, hence the wordChrist-ian.

Now, everysaved born again child of God has the Spirit of God in them, once youaccept Christ as your Savior you are saved, it is God's grace thatsaves us not our being a Christian. However, that does not mean thateveryone who is saved is a Christian, to be a Christian one mustfollow the example of Christ, or at least keep moving toward thatexample. To do that, one needs to allow that amazing gift in them toguide them. We are no different today then we were before Christcame, the people still needed to be saved, they still needed theSpirit of God to guide them, and they still needed to follow byexample, the difference between us and them, God dwelt in aTabernacle. “Forwe know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved,we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal inthe heavens.”- 2 Corinthians 5:1.

As we learned earlier, God chose theLevites as the tribe that would serve Him in the Tabernacle, now thetime has come to make it official. It was time to concentrate all theLevites and separate them from the rest of the tribes. “Takethe Levites from among the children of Israel, and cleanse them...AndAaron shall offer the Levites before the LORD for an offering of thechildren of Israel, that they may execute the service of the LORD.And the Levites shall lay their hands upon the heads of the bullocks:and thou shalt offer the one for a sin offering, and the other for aburnt offering, unto the LORD, to make an atonement for the Levites.And thou shalt set the Levites before Aaron, and before his sons, andoffer them for an offering unto the LORD. Thus shalt thou separatethe Levites from among the children of Israel: and the Levites shallbe mine.”- Numbers 8:6,11-14.

Why were they separated? To keep themfrom getting mixed up in the world and corrupting themselves. Did youever wonder why there is so many false religion and even versions ofthe Bible out there? It is Christians who corrupted themselves bymixing the world in with Christ. To justify their behavior, whichthey know is sin, they remove Scripture from God's Word and createdtheir own religion based on what they took out or in some cases addedto their version of God's Word. “Becausethat, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither werethankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolishheart was darkened. Professingthemselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory ofthe uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, andto birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.”-Romans 1:21-23.

Next, God commanded that all of Israel andeveryone among them who were clean, observe the Passover, “Letthe children of Israel also keep the passover at his appointedseason.In the fourteenth day of this month, at even, ye shall keep itin his appointed season: according to all the rites of it, andaccording to all the ceremonies thereof, shall ye keep it.

AndMoses spake unto the children of Israel, that they should keep thepassover. And they kept the passover on the fourteenth day of thefirst month at even in the wilderness of Sinai: according to all thatthe LORD commanded Moses, so did the children of Israel...But the manthat is clean, and is not in a journey, and forbeareth to keep thepassover, even the same soul shall be cut off from among his people:because he brought not the offering of the LORD in his appointedseason, that man shall bear his sin. And if a stranger shall sojournamong you, and will keep the passover unto the LORD; according to theordinance of the passover, and according to the manner thereof, soshall he do: ye shall have one ordinance, both for the stranger, andfor him that was born in the land.”- Numbers 9:2-5,13,14.

Just as God freed the Jews out ofEgypt, Christ frees us from hell when we receive Him as our Savior,we should never loose sight of what He did for us on the cross and toobserve it quite often. Of all the observances of Christ there is torecognize, Resurrection Day is by far the greatest, after all, therewill come a day when we will all resurrect, thanks to Jesus Christthose who believe in Him and receive Him get a new glorified body andeternal life those who do not receive Him bare their own sin andreceive eternal death. “Marvelnot at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in thegraves shall hear his voice, Andshall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection oflife; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection ofdamnation.”-John 5:28,29.

Ithad been over two years that the Jews were set free and embarked ontheir journey to the promised land. They had been given all theinstructions and commands, now, it was time to move the camp andreach the promised land. “AndMoses said unto Hobab, the son of Raguel the Midianite, Moses' fatherin law, We are journeying unto the place of which the LORD said, Iwill give it you: come thou with us, and we will do thee good: forthe LORD hath spoken good concerning Israel. And he said unto him, Iwill not go; but I will depart to mine own land, and to my kindred.And he said, Leave us not, I pray thee; forasmuch as thou knowest howwe are to encamp in the wilderness, and thou mayest be to us insteadof eyes. And it shall be, if thou go with us, yea, it shall be, thatwhat goodness the LORD shall do unto us, the same will we do untothee. And they departed from the mount of the LORD three days'journey: and the ark of the covenant of the LORD went before them inthe three days' journey, to search out a resting place for them. Andthe cloud of the LORD was upon them by day, when they went out of thecamp.”- Numbers 10:29-34.

Those who through Christ, are bound forthe heavenly Canaan should invite and encourage their friends to goalong with them. The Holy Spirit was their guide the entire journey,when He walked they walked, when He stood, they stood. When we allowthe Holy Spirit to guide us He will steer us in the right directionall the time, we may perhaps get off course sometimes, but thanks toHis GPS He will get us back on the right path when we simply stop andask Him for directions. “Howbeitwhen he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into alltruth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shallhear, thatshall he speak: and he will shewyou things to come...At that day ye shall ask in my name: and I saynot unto you, that I will pray the Father for you:For the Father himself lovethyou, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out fromGod.”- John 16:13,26,27.
Today'sPsalm: 32:8 - “I will instructthee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide theewith mine eye.”

Today'sProverb:1:23 - “Turnyou at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I willmake known my words unto you.”Today'sPrayer:God, it is truly amazing that You love us so much that you arewilling to live inside of us to guide us and keep us from thatdangers of the world. Although we can get off course from time totime it is comforting to know that You will not leave us lost in thewilderness, but guide us to safety when we simply ask for direction.Lord, lead me and guide me, open my eyes, ears, and heart to listenfor You at all times, help me to know the path I am on and whether orit is the right one. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Enjoythe rest of your day/night. GodBless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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2/10 Fundamental Thoughts

2012-02-10T04:00:00.000-06:00

Has He Restored Your Soul?

Psalms 23:3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness forhis name's sake.

AsChristians, all that we are is: “for his name's sake.” Jesus died on that cruel old tree to acceptALL of our sins, (so that through His Blood, He could atone for us.) He became our “Passover Lamb.”

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, thatwhosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

God sent His Son, (His Only Begotten Son,) to die forus so we can have “everlasting life.” In His death on the Cross, Jesus made available a means of restorationfor us. Through His Blood, we are ableto choose God. I received The HolySpirit (by one decision, accepting Jesus as my Saviour.)

I hadbeen bound for hell, (the “wrath of God.”)

John 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he thatbelieveth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

“But BrotherJohn, you just don’t know what I have done.” This is true, but Saul (Paul) said that he was the Chiefest of Sinners,and God selected him to speak for Jesus. All of Jesus’ followers had “faith” in God andHis Son Jesus The Christ. It was never“what they were.” It was always “whatyou can be.”

Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: itis the gift of God: (9) Not of works, lest any man should boast.

If we go back and study we find many were the “worstof the worst,” (but God accepted them,) because one day they realized theirsoul was depleted, and needed restoring. Someone told them The Gospel (or they might have read a tract,) theymade a choice, and chose Jesus.

(Theyreceived a new life, a new home, and an everlasting, forevermore eternity.) God tells us (through Paul) in The Book ofRomans that once we have made “The Choice,” we need to tell others that we haveaccepted Jesus The Christ as our Saviour.

Romans 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shaltbelieve in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt besaved.

We made this decision based on belief. In this verse, God asks us to “believein thine heart” that He (God) did “raise…him[Jesus] fromthe dead.” In our “belief,” God willsave us eternally.

“Reader,accept Jesus today. Allow theconviction of God’s Holy Spirit to draw you nearer to God.”

John 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him:and I will raise him up at the last day.

Be “draw[n]” today. Accept Him. Now is The Appointed Time.

Bro John R. E Chastain

Retired Pastor

Wylie, Texas

fundamentalthoughts-preacher.blogspot.com FundamentalThoughts

2/9 Spurgeon Today

2012-02-09T13:52:00.000-06:00

“And David enquired of the Lord.”
2 Samuel 5:23
When David made this enquiry he had just fought the Philistines, and gained a signal victory. The Philistines came up in great hosts, but, by the help of God, David had easily put them to flight. Note, however, that when they came a second time, David did not go up to fight them without enquiring of the Lord. Once he had been victorious, and he might have said, as many have in other cases, “I shall be victorious again; I may rest quite sure that if I have conquered once I shall triumph yet again. Wherefore should I tarry to seek at the Lord’s hands?” Not so, David. He had gained one battle by the strength of the Lord; he would not venture upon another until he had ensured the same. He enquired, “Shall I go up against them?” He waited until God’s sign was given. Learn from David to take no step without God. Christian, if thou wouldst know the path of duty, take God for thy compass; if thou wouldst steer thy ship through the dark billows, put the tiller into the hand of the Almighty. Many a rock might be escaped, if we would let our Father take the helm; many a shoal or quicksand we might well avoid, if we would leave to his sovereign will to choose and to command. The Puritan said, “As sure as ever a Christian carves for himself, he'll cut his own fingers;” this is a great truth. Said another old divine, “He that goes before the cloud of God’s providence goes on a fool’s errand;” and so he does. We must mark God’s providence leading us; and if providence tarries, tarry till providence comes. He who goes before providence, will be very glad to run back again. “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go,” is God’s promise to his people. Let us, then, take all our perplexities to him, and say, “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?” Leave not thy chamber this morning without enquiring of the Lord.

2/09 Free Will Offering

2012-02-09T05:40:00.001-06:00

KingJames Daily Bible Study Devotional
MessageTitle:FreeWill Offering
Date:Thursday February 09, 2012Today'sChapters:Numbers7

Hello My Friend,

We will all stand before Christone day and one of two things will happen, Jesus will say, “Welldone,thougoodand faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, Iwill make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thylord.”- Matthew 25:21, and you will join Him in His Kingdom. Or He willsay, “Departfrom me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil andhis angels:”- Matthew 25:41b, and you will be cast into the lake of fire. “AndI saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books wereopened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: andthe dead were judged out of those things which were written in thebooks, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead whichwere in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were inthem: and they were judged every man according to their works. Anddeath and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the seconddeath. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life wascast into the lake of fire.”- Revelation 20:12-15.

As Christians we truly have no idea howblessed we are, I do not think we fully understand how merciful Godis until we get into a situation where we are dependent solely onGod. Every day that goes by I feel wretched and unworthy to even bein His presence let alone to know that I am still forgiven and haveescaped hell through my faith in Christ alone. Let me tell you, thecloser you get to Jesus the more wretched you feel and trulyunderstand what He did to save you. The best thing any of us can doto thank God for what He did is to offer ourselves to Him. “Ibeseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that yepresent 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 provewhat is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”- Romans 12:1,2.
TheTabernacle was all set up, the people were told what they needed todo, the time had finally come for the Jews to be able to show God howdedicated they were to Him by giving the offerings God explained.After Moses sanctified the Tabernacle prince of each of the twelvetribes stood before the tent with their offerings and every day fortwelve days the same offering was offered. “Andit came to pass on the day that Moses had fully set up thetabernacle, and had anointed it, and sanctified it, and all theinstruments thereof, both the altar and all the vessels thereof, andhad anointed them, and sanctified them; That the princes of Israel,heads of the house of their fathers, who were the princes of thetribes, and were over them that were numbered, offered: And theybrought their offering before the LORD, six covered wagons, andtwelve oxen; a wagon for two of the princes, and for each one an ox:and they brought them before the tabernacle. And the LORD spake untoMoses, saying, Take it of them, that they may be to do the service ofthe tabernacle of the congregation; and thou shalt give them unto theLevites, to every man according to his service.”- Numbers 7:1-5.

One by one, each prince brought theirofferings to be presented before God, cheerfully and of their ownfree will. God loves a cheerful giver, He delights in seeing Hispeople acknowledging Him, seeking forgiveness, and giving thanks toHim for all He has done for them. “Butthis I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; andhe which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every manaccording as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; notgrudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. And Godis able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always havingall sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:”- 2 Corinthians 9:6-8.

Now, God knows that we are not goingto be cheerful all the time, and that we are even going to be alittle slothful from time to time, He accepts that, in fact, He willeven tell us when we are overdoing things and need to rest. Yet, evenwhen we are not cheerful we can give ourselves completely to Him, infact, God will bless us even more for pressing forward through thetrying times in our lives. “Beloved,think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you,as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuchas ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his gloryshall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye bereproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit ofglory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spokenof, but on your part he is glorified.”- 1 Peter 4:12-14.

After the princes presented theirofferings, Moses presented them to God on their behalf. “Thiswas the dedication of the altar, in the day when it was anointed, bythe princes of Israel: twelve chargers of silver, twelve silverbowls, twelve spoons of gold: Each charger of silver weighing anhundred and thirty shekels, each bowl seventy: all the silver vesselsweighed two thousand and four hundred shekels, after the shekel ofthe sanctuary: The golden spoons were twelve, full of incense,weighing ten shekels apiece, after the shekel of the sanctuary: allthe gold of the spoons was an hundred and twenty shekels. All theoxen for the burnt offering were twelve bullocks, the rams twelve,the lambs of the first year twelve, with their meat offering: and thekids of the goats for sin offering twelve. And all the oxen for thesacrifice of the peace offerings were twenty and four bullocks, therams sixty, the he goats sixty, the lambs of the first year sixty.This was the dedication of the altar, after that it was anointed.”- Numbers 7:84-88.

Moses was the mediator, the middleman,the one who presented the offerings before God, in a sense he waslike a lawyer defending his client. He stood before God, the judge,presented his case, all the evidence, and pleaded before his clientslife to be spared. If the judge saw that the offering was sincere Hepardoned that man or woman for the sake of the one pleading for theirlives. Today, Jesus is our mediator, He presents our case before Godand pleads with Him for us, all we have to do to be spared is ask Himto save us. “Forthis is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who willhave all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of thetruth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men,the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to betestified in due time.”- 1 Timothy 2:3-6.

God knows our hearts and whether or notwe are wholeheartedly devoted to Him or really have no interest inHim. Count it a blessing that even if you are not wholeheartedlydevoted to Him Jesus wholeheartedly devoted Himself to you by givingHis life for you. You only have to go before Him once and you arepardoned forever. Even if you never do anything ever again for Himyou are saved, but just imagine the blessings you will receive notonly here on earth, but up in heaven when you get there simply bygiving some of your time to Him. Jesus said, “Hethat is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, lethim be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteousstill: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. And, behold, Icome quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man accordingas his work shall be. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and theend, the first and the last. Blessed are they that do hiscommandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and mayenter in through the gates into the city.”- Revelation 22:11-14.
Today'sPsalm:32:5 - “Iacknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. Isaid, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thouforgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.”

Today'sProverb: 23:26 - “Myson, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways.”

Today'sPrayer:God,I offer myself freely to You. May my actions not be based on man’schanging words or the standards of my brothers and sisters, for Iknow we are frail and subject to faulty thinking. I want thestandards of Your unchanging, living Word to be an anchor for my souljudging the thoughts and attitudes of my heart so that I will keepmoving forward in my Savior Jesus Christ. Help me to be watchful forthose who are veering off course so that I can encourage them in thefaith and be prayerful for their wandering souls. In Jesus' name.Amen.
Enjoythe rest of your day/night. GodBless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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2/8 Spurgeon Today

2012-02-08T13:51:00.000-06:00

“He shall save his people from their sins.”
Matthew 1:21
Many persons, if they are asked what they understand by salvation, will reply, “Being saved from hell and taken to heaven.” This is one result of salvation, but it is not one tithe of what is contained in that boon. It is true our Lord Jesus Christ does redeem all his people from the wrath to come; he saves them from the fearful condemnation which their sins had brought upon them; but his triumph is far more complete than this. He saves his people “from their sins.” Oh! sweet deliverance from our worst foes. Where Christ works a saving work, he casts Satan from his throne, and will not let him be master any longer. No man is a true Christian if sin reigns in his mortal body. Sin will be in us—it will never be utterly expelled till the spirit enters glory; but it will never have dominion. There will be a striving for dominion—a lusting against the new law and the new spirit which God has implanted—but sin will never get the upper hand so as to be absolute monarch of our nature. Christ will be Master of the heart, and sin must be mortified. The Lion of the tribe of Judah shall prevail, and the dragon shall be cast out. Professor! is sin subdued in you? If your life is unholy your heart is unchanged, and if your heart is unchanged you are an unsaved person. If the Saviour has not sanctified you, renewed you, given you a hatred of sin and a love of holiness, he has done nothing in you of a saving character. The grace which does not make a man better than others is a worthless counterfeit. Christ saves his people, not in their sins, but from them. “Without holiness no man shall see the Lord.” “Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.” If not saved from sin, how shall we hope to be counted among his people. Lord, save me now from all evil, and enable me to honour my Saviour.

2/08 Compensated Plus A Salary

2012-02-08T06:08:00.001-06:00

KingJames Daily Bible Study Devotional
MessageTitle:CompensatedPlus A Salary
Date:Wednesday February 08, 2012Today'sChapters:Numbers5-6

Hello My Friend,

A lot of people, includingmany Christians, are unaware that many of the things they do, whichseem normal, are in fact, sin. Sinis any wrong doing in ones life that God sees as immoral, wicked,corrupted, or abominable. Now, whether we have committed sin recentlyor years ago, we have all sinned and that constitutes us as beingsinners. There is a payment owed for sin, even the one we do notthink to be sin, the payment owed is death. “Forthe wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal lifethrough Jesus Christ our Lord.”- Romans 6:23. We cannot earn enough wages to pay for sin, therefore,Jesus came to compensate for us.
“Asit is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: Thereis none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.They are all gone out of the way, they are together becomeunprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one...Thereforeby the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in hissight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now therighteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessedby the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which isby faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: forthere is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of theglory of God;”- Romans 3:10-12,20-23.
BeforeJesus came people also owed a payment for sin also,however, in placeof their life, God accepted animal sacrifices. Along with a sin ortrespass, thanksgiving, and peace payment to God, the sinner had topay compensation to the one they caused sin upon, if they sinnedagainst themselves they had to give the payment to the priest. “Speakunto the children of Israel, When a man or woman shall commit any sinthat men commit, to do a trespass against the LORD, and that personbe guilty; Then they shall confess their sin which they have done:and he shall recompense his trespass with the principal thereof, andadd unto it the fifth part thereof, and give it unto him against whomhe hath trespassed. But if the man have no kinsman to recompense thetrespass unto, let the trespass be recompensed unto the LORD, even tothe priest; beside the ram of the atonement, whereby an atonementshall be made for him.”- Numbers 5:6-8.

Today, those who are trusting only in JesusChrist to save them do not owe that payment, Jesus made the paymentfor you. However, any sin not accounted for after you are saved willcause some affliction until you seek forgiveness. Got sin in yourlife that you have forgotten? Still wrestling with something thathappened years ago? You are forgiven, but perhaps there is no peacebecause you will not let it go. Remember, God forgives all, He wantsyou to forgive all as well. He will tell you when you need to repentof something from the past, He will tell you when you need to forgiveothers, and He will even tell you when you need to ask others toforgive you, even from years past. In order for us to move on andgrow as a Christian we need to seek forgiveness, be forgiving,sometimes compensate for the pain we caused others. “Judgenot, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not becondemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:”- Luke 6:37.

God gave specific commands to those who wereNazarites, a Nazarite was a person who vowed to separate themselvescompletely from the worldly things, giving total commitment to God.Now, this does not mean that the person would be sin free, but itwould mean that they would live their lives centered on God and dotheir best to avoid any temptations that would cause them to sin.

“Andthe LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speakunto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When either man orwoman shall separate themselves to vow a vow of a Nazarite, toseparate themselves unto the LORD: He shall separate himself fromwine and strong drink, and shall drink no vinegar of wine, or vinegarof strong drink, neither shall he drink any liquor of grapes, nor eatmoist grapes, or dried...All the days of his separation he is holyunto the LORD.”- Numbers 6:1-3,8.

When we vow a vow to God, He expects usto keep it, if we do not follow through we are going to face somedifficulties until we do what we said. “Benot deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, thatshall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of theflesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of theSpirit reap life everlasting.”- Galatians 6:7,8. Yet, God knows our flesh and that we are going tomess up from time to time, He also knows our heart and whether or notwe truly want Him in our lives or not. He will bless us tremendouslywhen we do all we can to live our lives for Him, but is alsoforgiving when we seek forgiveness.“Ifwe confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins,and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”- 1 John 1:9.

God promised the Jews that He would bless themfor their obedience. “Andthe LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto Aaron and unto hissons, saying, On this wise ye shall bless the children of Israel,saying unto them, The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: The LORD makehis face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The LORD lift uphis countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. And they shall put myname upon the children of Israel, and I will bless them.”- Numbers 6:22-27.

God puts His name upon all who put theirfaith and trust in Jesus Christ. Jesus not only compensated for oursins, He gives us a salary as well. The word salary is defined asmoney paid for work being done, or something obtained or received,it's a gift. That salary is eternal (forever) life with God in HisKingdom. A person who gets paid a salary gets compensated one amountno matter how many hours worked. He can work 1 hour or 100,regardless he gets paid the same amount. “AndJesus answered and said, VerilyI say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, orsisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for mysake, and the gospel's,Buthe shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, andbrethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, withpersecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.Butmanythatarefirstshall be last; and the last first.”-Mark 10:29-31.

So, whether we compensated years ago or fiveminutes ago, the same salary applies to all, eternal life. It doesnot matter if you were born into the godly life, left then came back,or just got saved today you will receive the same salary, eternallife through Jesus Christ. “Forthe wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal lifethrough Jesus Christ our Lord.”- Romans 6:23. Praise God!
Today'sPsalm:76:11 - “Vow,and pay unto the LORD your God: let all that be round about him bringpresents unto him that ought to be feared.”

Today'sProverb: 13:21 - ”Evilpursueth sinners: but to the righteous good shall be repayed.”

Today'sPrayer:God, mayI never consider my good works or righteous acts to be a cover up forthe hidden sin I harbor in my heart or try to use them as payment formy sins. May my attitude be, God be merciful to me a sinner! If Iexalt myself it will eventually lead to my downfall, but when Ihumble myself I will be exalted by You as I fulfill the vow You madewhen I completely trusted in Your Son to pay the debt I owed. Now,give me the power to fulfill the vow I made when I promised to loveYou with all my heart, mind, and soul. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Enjoythe rest of your day/night. GodBless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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2/8 Fundamental Thoughts

2012-02-08T04:00:00.000-06:00

Do We Know Him?

1John 2:3-6 And hereby we do know that weknow him, if we keep his commandments. (4) He that saith, I know him,and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. (5) But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected:hereby know we that we are in him. (6) He that saith he abideth inhim ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

Theseverses are extremely hard for Christians. As we look over our lives (since Salvation,) most Christians find wehave miserably fallen short of God’s Will.

Romans3:23 For all have sinned, and come shortof the glory of God;

(God knows we will fall short.) If you have read yourBible and heard a few sermons, you also know you will fall short. However, you are the only one (outside ofGod) who knows your heart. The problemwith many Christians is that we use this (falling short) as an excuse for NOTkeeping “his commandments.”

Thisexcuse makes each of us “a liar.” God tells us “thetruth is not in him.” So when wemake excuses, (what have we become and what are we?)

Ourverses tell us if we do not have “the truth” we do NOThave Salvation. Our sins (which werepaid for in full) are still with us, and we are still Hell bound.

Iknow, I can hear it now, “Brother John, aren’t you being a bit legalistic?” The problem is I do read my Bible, and (withinthe context of this writing,) what else could God mean? The Bible is God’s Word, not mine. What God says is what we need to heed. If we liberalize the context, it would be “theintent of a man’s heart” to obey God. (Wemust strive to obey.)

1Samuel15:22 And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings andsacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better thansacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.

We as Christians are not free to do just as weplease. (We are free to do what wedesire within God’s Word.) (When youaccepted Jesus as your Saviour, your “want to’s” should have changed. All Christians have some old “want to’s.” I don’t “want to” do what I used to do, andhave to battle to control the old “want to’s.” Satan knows this and wants us back.) He can’t have our souls, (as God placed TheHoly Spirit within us,) but he can ruin our testimonies.

1Peter5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because youradversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he maydevour:

(We must be vigilant in our “Christian walk.” There are many who as a “roaringlion”will try to push us off our path with Christ. We are “perfect[ing]” our Salvation as we walk throughlife, and it will be made perfect when God calls us Home.) Until that time, we are to walk as close aswe can to Jesus’ walk.

Reader,the question is: “Do you know Jesus TheChrist” as your Lord and Saviour?” Doyou claim Jesus, but aren’t “walking the walk” that glorifies Him? Haveyou come to the realization that you are a “liar” and “thetruth is not in” you? If your father is the devil, do you realize thatyour soul is heading directly to hell?”

If we are walking with the devil, we cannot also walkwith Jesus. (We cannot walk with bothTruth and un-truth.) We must choose.

John3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him,Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

Choose, and accept Jesus. Call on His name in belief. AcceptHim today.

Bro John R. E Chastain

Retired Pastor

Wylie, Texas

fundamentalthoughts-preacher.blogspot.com FundamentalThoughts

2/07 His Footsteps

2012-02-07T05:51:00.003-06:00

KingJames Daily Bible Study Devotional
MessageTitle:HisFootsteps
Date:Tuesday February 07, 2012Today'sChapters:Numbers3-4

Hello My Friend,

Part of serving God is servingHim in whatever duties He appoints us. Regardless of who we are, Godchooses us to serve Him in some way, some He uses to serve Him intheir jobs, some their homes, even some when passing by somestranger. Jesus, the Son of God, came to earth in the flesh as aservant, He lowered Himself to a mere servant even though He couldhave done anything He wanted to do. Why? To show us that we are allservants and are to follow His example. “Soafter he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and wasset down again, he said unto them,Knowye whatIhave done to you?Yecall me Master and Lord: and ye say well; forsoIam.IfI then,yourLordand Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash oneanother's feet.ForI 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.Ifye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.”- John 13:12-17.

While God always uses anyone willing to serveHim out of the church, He appoints specific people to work for Him inthe Church. People that He actually employes, meaning, He providesfor them Himself through others outside the church for fulfilling theduties of the church. God set the Levites apart from the rest of thetribes to work for Him in the church, the sons of Aaron were to carryon the priestly duties, but the rest of the Levites were givenspecific duties for setting up, taking down, and even carrying theparts of the tabernacle. “Thesealso are the generations of Aaron and Moses in the day that the LORDspake with Moses in mount Sinai...And I, behold, I have taken theLevites from among the children of Israel instead of all thefirstborn that openeth the matrix among the children of Israel:therefore the Levites shall be mine; Becauseall the firstborn are mine; for on the day that I smote all thefirstborn in the land of Egypt I hallowed unto me all the firstbornin Israel, both man and beast: mine shall they be: I am the LORD.”- Numbers 3:1,12,13.

God appointed the Levites to serve in thechurch, because He adopted them as His own in the place of all thefirst-born of Egypt. When He slew the first-born of Egypt, Hesanctified to Himself all the first-born of Israel, of man and beast,for His own possession. However, He decided to sanctify all theLevites instead of the first-born of all the tribes instead. While wemay choose to serve God in our own free will God has already chosenus, adopted us into His family. “Accordingas he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, thatwe should be holy and without blame before him in love: Havingpredestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ tohimself, according to the good pleasure of his will,”-Ephesians 1:4,5.

Those who God chooses to serve in His churchare appointed certain duties and no matter how obscure the duty is itis equally important to God. Whether you are chosen to be a pastor, apastor's wife, a teacher, a cook, or a janitor, no job goes unnoticedwith God and as long as we do it willingly He is happy. “Letevery man abide in the same calling wherein he was called. Art thoucalled being a servant? care not for it: but if thou mayest be madefree, use it rather. Forhe that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord'sfreeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ'sservant.”-1 Corinthians 7:20-22.

Sometimesit can feel like a burden when you serve in the Church, you areworking for God, you have more responsibility and not only is yourreputation on the line, so is God's, you do something out of thechurch that is questionable and it disgraces God and you. Guess what?It's supposed to be a burden, the word burden means, thatwhichiscarried,a heavy load to carry. God gave the burden, of the Tabernacle and allthe duties of it to the Levites, anyone over the age of thirty wasappointed to work in the Tabernacle. The Levites were the smallesttribe of all the congregation, yet they were appointed the mosthonorable task of all. “Allthose that were numbered of the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron and thechief of Israel numbered, after their families, and after the houseof their fathers, From thirty years old and upward even unto fiftyyears old, every one that came to do the service of the ministry, andthe service of the burden in the tabernacle of the congregation, Eventhose that were numbered of them, were eight thousand and fivehundred and fourscore. According to the commandment of the LORD theywere numbered by the hand of Moses, every one according to hisservice, and according to his burden: thus were they numbered of him,as the LORD commanded Moses.”- Numbers 4:46-49.

If God has you working in the Church,count is a blessing, He chose you, He knows this is a burden that youcan handle. How? If Christ is with you, you can do anything. Godknows what you can bare and has chosen you out of thousands of peopleto be the example for others to follow in the footsteps of Christ.“Accordingto the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to mytrust. AndI thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that hecounted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;..Thisis a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that ChristJesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first JesusChrist might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to themwhich should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.”- 1 Timothy 1:11,12,15,16.
AsChristians, we are all appointed to carry the burden of reaching thelost, those who do not know Jesus Christ personally as their Savior.Ministering the Gospel to the lost is the most noblest task that Godgives us and the most rewarding as well. He will bless youtremendously for it, even if only one out of twenty receive Him. Youdo not have to do it alone, Jesus is with you. “AndJesus came and spake unto them, saying,Allpower is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, andteach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and ofthe Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all thingswhatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, evenunto the end of the world. Amen.”- Matthew 28:18-20.
Today'sPsalm:33:15 - “Hefashioneth their hearts alike; he considereth all their works.”

Today'sProverb: 16:3 -”Committhy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.”

Today'sPrayer:God, Yesterday, today, and forever You are the faithful, changelessOne. Your works in the past are a testimony to Your majesty, power,and provision for our lives today. Your presence today steadies ourwalk with You as You lead us in the paths of righteousness while weserve You in the field You have called us. Our future blessings areawaiting as we faithfully serve You as Jesus served. We look to Youfor everything we need for life and godliness as we follow in thefootsteps of Your Son. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Enjoythe rest of your day/night. GodBless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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2/6 With Christ in the School of Prayer

2012-02-06T22:43:00.000-06:00

What sin destroyed, grace has restored. What the first Adam lost, the second has won back. In Christ man regains his original position, and the Church, abiding in Christ, inherits the promise: ‘Ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.’ Such a promise does by no means, in the first place, refer to the grace or blessing we need for ourselves. It has reference to our position as the fruit-bearing branches of the Heavenly Vine, who, like Him, only live for the work and glory of the Father. It is for those who abide in Him, who have forsaken self to take up their abode in Him with His life of obedience and self-sacrifice, who have lost their life and found it in Him, who are now entirely given up to the interests of the Father and His kingdom. These are they who understand how their new creation has brought them back to their original destiny, has restored God’s image and likeness, and with it the power to have dominion. Such have indeed the power, each in their own circle, to obtain and dispense the powers of heaven here on earth. With holy boldness they may make known what they will: they live as priests in God’s presence; as kings the powers of the world to come begin to be at their disposal. They enter upon the fulfilment of the promise: ‘Ask whatsoever ye will, it shall be done unto you.’

Church of the living God! thy calling is higher and holier than thou knowest. Through thy members, as kings, and priests unto God, would God rule the world; their prayers bestow and withhold the blessing of heaven. In His elect who are not just content to be themselves saved, but yield themselves wholly, that through them, even as through the Son, the Father may fulfil all His glorious counsel, in these His elect, who cry day and night unto Him, God would prove how wonderful man’s original destiny was. As the image-bearer of God on earth, the earth was indeed given into his hand. When he fell, all fell with him: the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together. But now he is redeemed; the restoration of the original dignity has begun. It is in very deed God’s purpose that the fulfilment of His eternal purpose, and the coming of His kingdom, should depend on those of His people who, abiding in Christ, are ready to take up their position in Him their Head, the great Priest-King, and in their prayers are bold enough to say what they will that their God should do. As image-bearer and representative of God on earth, redeemed man has by his prayers to determine the history of this earth. Man was created, and has now again been redeemed, to pray, and by his prayer to have dominion. ‘LORD, TEACH US TO PRAY.’

2/6 Fundamental Thoughts

2012-02-06T11:46:00.000-06:00

Ye Shall Know Them

Matthew7:20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shallknow them.

As Christians, we are to be seen, butnot as worldly people. God tells us thatwe are to show others the “fruits” of our labor (for Him,) but not to call attention to “our works” as aprideful person. Others ought to be ableto see “our works” by watching us as we serve God.

Many will ask the question, “What isit that God would have me to do?” (Saulasked that same question as he lay in the dust talking to Jesus.)

Acts9:6 And he trembling and astonishedsaid, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? ...

Saulrealized that Jesus was The Christ indeed, (as he lay in that dust talking withThe Messiah Himself.)

When we finally realized that Jesus isour Saviour, (we probably weren’t lying in the middle of a dusty road,) but we mayhave been “at the end of our rope.” (Wewere so relieved to know we were Heaven bound, saved from our sins, and no longer bound for hell.)

But for many Christians, justknowing that they “are saved” is the “end of the road.” Whether they becomeCEO’s (Christmas and Easter Only,) or attend Church on a regular basis, manyfeel nothing more is expected of them. (Godexpects more from us who claim His Son.)

Romans 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, [Christian] bythe mercies of God, that ye [you] present your [you] bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptableunto God, which is your [you] reasonable service. 2 Andbe not conformed to this world: but be ye [you] transformed by the renewing of your [you] mind, that ye [you] may prove what is that good, andacceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Noticethat this verse references “any and ALL Christians.” (This verse isn’t just for your Pastor orthose who “work” at the Church.) If youhave called on God’s Name, this verse is for YOU.

God (via The Holy Spirit) calls allto serve. Our problem is that only a few“answer.” We read in The Book of Isaiah:

Isaiah6:8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord,saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here amI; send me.

Noticethat Isaiah accepted without exception. (Hedidn’t put limits on what he would do, or where he would go.) At Church we sing, “I Surrender All.” The lyricsstate: “I [will] surrender all”to God. (Many Christians sing with theirhearts, “I Surrender Some.”) God wants our hearts. He doesn’t want “just some of it.”

Mark 12:30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with allthy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength:this is the first commandment.

Christian,have you asked God, “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?” If you have, have you answered God bysaying, “Here am I; send me?” If you haven’t,and if you aren’t reading your Bible, not attending Church, nor praying, “Howdo you know you are a Christian?” “Whereare your “fruits” of labor for Him?”

God tells us:

Romans10:9-10 That if thou shalt confess withthy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raisedhim from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth untorighteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Weas individuals must decide to accept Jesus as our Saviour. (It must be “a personal heart felt”consideration.) Once we have resolvedwithin our heart to say “yes,” we must accept Jesus “in belief.” Our next step is to “confesswith thy mouth the Lord Jesus,” and God will save us. (If there is what some might call a “catch,”)it is that our “belief” and “accepting Jesus” must be “withthe heart,” meaning sincerely.

“Salvation” is a serious, personaldecision. It must never be taken lightly.

“Reader, what are you going todo? Accept Him today, for tomorrow nevercomes.”

Bro John R. E Chastain

Retired Pastor

Wylie, Texas

fundamentalthoughts-preacher.blogspot.com FundamentalThoughts

2/06 Follow The Captain

2012-02-06T05:26:00.004-06:00

KingJames Daily Bible Study Devotional
MessageTitle:FollowThe Captain
Date:Monday February 06, 2012Today'sChapters:Numbers1-2

Hello My Friend,

Because we believe in Jesusand live our lives for Him we are going to face a lot of criticismand rejection, but we are soldiers for Christ in His army, we are Hisvery own elect, and the amazing thing is that He is right there withus. He is our Captain, He is very pleased that we have not gone AWOLon Him, like any good soldier we are going to face some difficultiesfor serving Him, but as long as we keep fighting we will see somelives saved in the battle. “Thoutherefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.Andthe things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the samecommit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.Thoutherefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No manthat warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; thathe may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier...Wherein Isuffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of Godis not bound. ThereforeI endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtainthe salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.”- 2 Timothy 2:1-4,9,10.
TheBook of Numbers is the forth book of the Old Testament/Bible andcontains thirty-six chapters. The author of the book is Moses and itwas originally written to the Jews. The timeline for these eventstook place approximately between 1490-1451BC. The purpose of thebook was to record the forty years that the Jews were wandering inthe wilderness as a result of their disbelief/disobedience of God.What we are to learn from the book is that God is not pleased withanything less than a total commitment to Him. “Ifa man vow a vow unto the LORD, or swear an oath to bind his soul witha bond; he shall not break his word, he shall do according to allthat proceedeth out of his mouth.”- Numbers 30:2.

It had been two years since God brought theJews out of bondage to Egypt, God ordered the first census among thepeople, every male 20 years and older was numbered according to theirtribe and automatically drafted into the army, except for the tribeof the Levi.

“Takeye the sum of all the congregation of the children of Israel, aftertheir families, by the house of their fathers, with the number oftheir names, every male by their polls; From twenty years old andupward, all that are able to go forth to war in Israel: thou andAaron shall number them by their armies...Sowere all those that were numbered of the children of Israel, by thehouse of their fathers, from twenty years old and upward, all thatwere able to go forth to war in Israel; Even all they that werenumbered were six hundred thousand and three thousand and fivehundred and fifty. But the Levites after the tribe of their fatherswere not numbered among them. For the LORD had spoken unto Moses,saying, Only thou shalt not number the tribe of Levi, neither takethe sum of them among the children of Israel: But thou shalt appointthe Levites over the tabernacle of testimony, and over all thevessels thereof, and over all things that belong to it: they shallbear the tabernacle, and all the vessels thereof; and they shallminister unto it, and shall encamp round about the tabernacle.”- Numbers 1:2,3,45-50.

The reason the tribe of Levi was notnumbered is because they would not be serving God as a layman, but inHis ministry. While God appoints an elect to serve Him in theministry, the majority of people will be laymen, soldiers in His armyto serve Him outside of the ministry. Why? There is only so manypeople that can be reached in a church, laymen serve God in theoccupations, studies, and even their hobbies by being a testimony forChrist. The most important job God has given us is to tell the Gospelto everyone we meet, if they do not want to hear it, that's okay,your tried and that is all God asks, but a good solider for Christ,follows their Captain by preaching the Gospel, just as He did. “AndJesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon calledPeter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for theywere fishers. And he saith unto them,Followme, and I will make you fishers of men.Andthey straightway left their nets, and followed him... AndJesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, andpreaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner ofsickness and all manner of disease among the people.”- Matthew 4:18-20,23.
Afterthe tribes were numbered they were given specific areas within thecamp to dwell according to the number of people in the tribe. Thetribes were to encamp about the Tabernacle, which was to be in thecenter of them. It was a token of God's gracious presence among them,yet, they were to pitch their tents at a distance from thetabernacle. “Andthe LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, Everyman of the children of Israel shall pitch by his own standard, withthe ensign of their father's house: far off about the tabernacle ofthe congregation shall they pitch... Then the tabernacle of thecongregation shall set forward with the camp of the Levites in themidst of the camp: as they encamp, so shall they set forward, everyman in his place by their standards...And the children of Israel didaccording to all that the LORD commanded Moses: so they pitched bytheir standards, and so they set forward, every one after theirfamilies, according to the house of their fathers.”- Numbers 2:1,2,17,34.
Godis a God of order and not confusion, therefore, the camp of Hisfollowers should be compact, in order, training to be ready forbattle, and close to the Captain and able to reach Him at a momentsnotice. Soldiers for Christ are not grouped up in one bunch, they arespread abroad and scattered all over the world, teachingthe Gospel to all who will listen. Why? Remember our beginningScripture? “ThereforeI endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtainthe salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.”- II Timothy 2:10. We keep going, where ever our Captain leads us tofind more willing souls, and more recruits for His army.

So,how do we follow our Captain? Jesus explains, “Thereforesaid he unto them,Theharvest trulyisgreat,but the labourersarefew:pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forthlabourers into his harvest.Goyour ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves.Carryneither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes: and salute no man by the way.Andinto whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peacebetothis house...And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them,The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.Butinto whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you not, go your waysout into the streets of the same, and say,Eventhe very dust of your city, which cleaveth on us, we do wipe offagainst you: notwithstanding be ye sure of this, that the kingdom ofGod is come nigh unto you.”-Luke 10:2-5,9-11.

Healing the sick is preaching the Gospel tothe lost, some will accept it and be healed, some will reject it anddie. “Theythat are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick:I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”- Mark 2:17. There is nothing we can do if they reject Christ, butpray that God will soften their hardened hearts. It is God that saveswe are merely the messengers of the Gospel, if they reject theGospel, they are rejecting God, not us. There will be many, includingfamily and friends, that will reject Christ, but we must keep going,we must follow our Captain and never stop believing that every soulcan be saved if they believe. “TheLord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men countslackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that anyshould perish, but that all should come to repentance.”- 2 Peter 3:9.
Today'sPsalm:18:39 - “Forthou hast girded me with strength unto the battle: thou hast subduedunder me those that rose up against me.”

Today'sProverb: 21:31 - “Thehorse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of theLORD.”

Today'sPrayer:God, We want to march on as good soldiers for Christ, as our Captaingives the orders to go out and tell the Gospel let us not be weary inthe fight for victory over Satan and death to every soul lost. Giveus Your power and might to be bold, to march on even when we arerejected, and to keep going no matter how difficult it gets. InJesus' name. Amen.
Enjoythe rest of your day/night. GodBless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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2/5 With Christ in the School of Prayer

2012-02-05T22:38:00.008-06:00

‘Whose is this image?’
Prayer in Harmony with the Destiny of Man.

‘He saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription?
‘And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.’

‘Whose is this image?’ It was by this question that Jesus foiled His enemies, when they thought to take Him, and settled the matter of duty in regard to the tribute. The question and the principle it involves are of universal application. Nowhere more truly than in man himself. The image he bears decides his destiny. Bearing God’s image, he belongs to God: prayer to God is what he was created for. Prayer is part of the wondrous likeness he bears to His Divine original; of the deep mystery of the fellowship of love in which the Three-One has His blessedness, prayer is the earthly image and likeness. The more we meditate on what prayer is, and the wonderful power with God which it has, the more we feel constrained to ask who and what man is, that such a place in God’s counsels should have been allotted to him. Sin has so degraded him, that from what he is now we can form no conception of what he was meant to be. We must turn back to God’s own record of man’s creation to discover there what God’s purpose was, and what the capacities with which man was endowed for the fulfilment of that purpose.
Man’s destiny appears clearly from God’s language at creation. It was to fill, to subdue, to have dominion over the earth and all in it. All the three expressions show us that man was meant, as God’s representative, to hold rule here on earth. As God’s viceroy he was to fill God’s place: himself subject to God, he was to keep all else in subjection to Him. It was the will of God that all that was to be done on earth should be done through him: the history of the earth was to be entirely in his hands.

In accordance with such a destiny was the position he was to occupy, and the power at his disposal. When an earthly sovereign sends a viceroy to a distant province, it is understood that he advises as to the policy to be adopted, and that that advice is acted on: that he is at liberty to apply for troops and the other means needed for carrying out the policy or maintaining the dignity of the empire. If his policy be not approved of, he is recalled to make way for some one who better understands his sovereign’s desires’ as long as he is trusted, his advice is carried out. As God’s representative man was to have ruled; all was to have been done under his will and rule; on his advice and at his request heaven was to have bestowed its blessing on earth. His prayer was to have been the wonderful, though simple and most natural channel, in which the intercourse between the King in heaven and His faithful servant man, as lord of this world, was to have been maintained. The destinies of the world were given into the power of the wishes, the will, the prayer of man.

With sin all this underwent a terrible change—man’s fall brought all creation under the curse. With redemption the beginning was seen of a glorious restoration. No sooner had God begun in Abraham to form for Himself a people from whom kings, yea the Great King, should come forth, than we see what power the prayer of God’s faithful servant has to decide the destinies of those who come into contact with him. In Abraham we see how prayer is not only, or even chiefly, the means of obtaining blessing for ourselves, but is the exercise of his royal prerogative to influence the destinies of men, and the will of God which rules them. We do not once find Abraham praying for himself. His prayer for Sodom and Lot, for Abimelech, for Ishmael, prove what power a man, who is God’s friend, has to make the history of those around him.
This had been man’s destiny from the first. Scripture not only tells us this, but also teaches us how it was that God could entrust man with such a high calling. It was because He had created him in His own image and likeness. The external rule was not committed to him without the inner fitness: the bearing God’s image in having dominion, in being lord of all, had its root in the inner likeness, in his nature. There was an inner agreement and harmony between God and man, and incipient Godlikeness, which gave man a real fitness for being the mediator between God and His world, for he was to be prophet, priest, and king, to interpret God’s will, to represent nature’s needs, to receive and dispense God’s bounty. It was in bearing God’s image that he could bear God’s rule; he was indeed so like God, so capable of entering into God’s purposes, and carrying out His plans, that God could trust him with the wonderful privilege of asking and obtaining what the world might need. And although sin has for a time frustrated God’s plans, prayer still remains what it would have been if man had never fallen: the proof of man’s Godlikeness, the vehicle of his intercourse with the Infinite Unseen One, the power that is allowed to hold the hand that holds the destinies of the universe. Prayer is not merely the cry of the suppliant for mercy; it is the highest forth-putting of his will by man, knowing himself to be of Divine origin, created for and capable of being, in king-like liberty, the executor of the counsels of the Eternal.

2/05 Redeemed & Restored

2012-02-05T05:33:00.004-06:00

KingJames Daily Bible Study Devotional
MessageTitle:Redeemed& Restored
Date:Sunday February 04,2012Today'sChapters:Leviticus25-27

Hello My Friend,

Have you accepted JesusChrist as your Savior? Was there a time that you said in some form,“God, I admit I am a sinner, I believe that Your Son died to pay mysin debt, and that He arose from the dead to give me life too. I askYou to save me and from this moment on I am depending only on Him formy salvation. Amen.” If you said something like that than you are asinner saved by grace and child of the One And Only Living God. “Thatif thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shaltbelieve in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thoushalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness;and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”-Romans 10:9,10. Praise God! Regardless of whether you said thatprayer today or forty years ago, you are a child of God. Have youmessed up since then? Sure you have, we all have, but you areredeemed and God has restored you, not only that You will receive aninheritance that no one can take from you.

God gave specificinstructions to the Jews on how they were to behave when they gotinto the promised land. But knowing the flesh He came up the withyear of jubile. Theyear of jubile would be a time of restoration, ayearlongperiodto be observed by the Jews once every fifty years,duringwhichJewish slaves were to be set free, alienatedlandswereto be restored to their original owner or anheir,and all agriculturallabors wereto be suspendeduntil the next year. “Andye shall hallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughoutall the land unto all the inhabitants thereof: it shall be a jubileunto you; and ye shall return every man unto his possession, and yeshall return every man unto his family. A jubile shall that fiftiethyear be unto you: ye shall not sow, neither reap that which growethof itself in it, nor gather the grapes in it of thy vine undressed.For it is the jubile; it shall be holy unto you: ye shall eat theincrease thereof out of the field...And in all the land of yourpossession ye shall grant a redemption for the land. If thy brotherbe waxen poor, and hath sold away some of his possession, and if anyof his kin come to redeem it, then shall he redeem that which hisbrother sold.”- Leviticus 25:10-12,24,25..

The kinsman redeemer is anillustration of Jesus Christ who took on our nature in order to beour next of kin to redeem a piece of land for our inheritance in theKingdom of God, which we forfeited through sin. Jesus, who is ourRedeemer, restores us when we receive Him. “Blessedbe the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according tohis abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by theresurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritanceincorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved inheaven for you,”-1 Peter 1:3,4.

We should never disregard nor take forgranted the wonderful gift that God has given us, while obeying Godhas nothing to do with our salvation, it has everything to do withhonoring and respecting Him for giving His life for us. Keep in mind, Jesus died once on the cross, that means we only have to ask Himonce to save us. No matter what we have done or will do in the futurewe are still saved. Now, that does not mean that we will not face anychastisement for future sin, but it does mean that you are saved bygrace alone and that you will not lose your inheritance in theKingdom of God. “Forby grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: itis the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”- Ephesians 2:8,9.
Godpromises the Jews if they obey His commands, He will continue tobless them, but if they disregard them they can expect to face someconsequences, in fact, they will be seven times more severe. “Ifye walk in my statutes, and keep my commandments, and do them; Then Iwill give you rain in due season, and the land shall yield herincrease, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit...And ifye shall despise my statutes, or if your soul abhor my judgments, sothat ye will not do all my commandments, but that ye break mycovenant: I also will do this unto you; I will even appoint over youterror, consumption, and the burning ague, that shall consume theeyes, and cause sorrow of heart: and ye shall sow your seed in vain,for your enemies shall eat it. AndI will set my face against you, and ye shall be slain before yourenemies: they that hate you shall reign over you; and ye shall fleewhen none pursueth you. And if ye will not yet for all this hearkenunto me, then I will punish you seven times more for your sins.”- Leviticus 26:3,4,15-18.
Whenwe allow Christ to live through us it only gets better, however,those who choose to live the same life they lived before they gotsaved with no intention of repenting are going to face some serioustribulations. While God wants to see everyone trust in His Son fortheir salvation, He will not stand for a person receiving Him for thesake of remaining in their sinful life. Jesus said, “Iknow thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wertcold or hot.Sothen because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spuethee out of my mouth.Becausethou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need ofnothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, andpoor, and blind, and naked:Icounsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest berich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, andthattheshame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes witheyesalve, that thou mayest see.Asmany as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, andrepent.Behold,I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and openthe door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he withme.”- Revelation 3:15-20.

God foretold to the severe punishmentthe Jews would receive if they did not walk in His statutes andcommands.“Andif ye walk contrary unto me, and will not hearken unto me; I willbring seven times more plagues upon you according to your sins. Iwill also send wild beasts among you, which shall rob you of yourchildren, and destroy your cattle, and make you few in number; andyour high ways shall be desolate. And if ye will not be reformed byme by these things, but will walk contrary unto me; Then will I alsowalk contrary unto you, and will punish you yet seven times for yoursins.”- Leviticus 26:21-24.

Once in a while I will get someonequoting Bible verses like these to me, claiming that God is cruel andwill strike you down if you do not do exactly what He says. That isjust absurd. All the events that took place happened because they didthe very things He warned them not to do. God does not give uscommands so we cannot live He gives so we can live. The things thatthese people did to get God that angry were things that would angerus. And let me tell you, God is more forgiving than we are, I didsome pretty cruel things to people out of anger before I repented ofthe life I lived in the world. People reap what they sow, andunfortunately innocent people get tangled up in the reaping, but Godwill get the vengeance upon anyone who hurts His child. “Dearlybeloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: forit is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give himdrink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Benot overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.”-Romans 12:19-21.
Today'sPsalm:49:16 - “ButGod will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shallreceive me. Selah.”

Today'sProverb: 23:11 - “Fortheir redeemer is mighty; he shall plead their cause with thee.”

Today'sPrayer:God, it is because of the great love of Your Son, Jesus, and Hiswillingness to take on our sins to redeem us that we can receive Yourinheritance. It is truly amazing, the love You have for me andeveryone, when I was lost, broken, and without hope, You took me in,You accepted me, and You made me one of Yours. Lord, I want to begrateful and honor You as Your child, lead me and guide me tounderstand and obey Your statutes and commands. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Enjoythe rest of your day/night. GodBless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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2/4 Spurgeon Today

2012-02-04T13:48:00.000-06:00

“The love of the Lord.”
Hosea 3:1
Believer, look back through all thine experience, and think of the way whereby the Lord thy God has led thee in the wilderness, and how he hath fed and clothed thee every day—how he hath borne with thine ill manners—how he hath put up with all thy murmurings, and all thy longings after the flesh-pots of Egypt—how he has opened the rock to supply thee, and fed thee with manna that came down from heaven. Think of how his grace has been sufficient for thee in all thy troubles—how his blood has been a pardon to thee in all thy sins—how his rod and his staff have comforted thee. When thou hast thus looked back upon the love of the Lord, then let faith survey his love in the future, for remember that Christ’s covenant and blood have something more in them than the past. He who has loved thee and pardoned thee, shall never cease to love and pardon. He is Alpha, and he shall be Omega also: he is first, and he shall be last. Therefore, bethink thee, when thou shalt pass through the valley of the shadow of death, thou needest fear no evil, for he is with thee. When thou shalt stand in the cold floods of Jordan, thou needest not fear, for death cannot separate thee from his love; and when thou shalt come into the mysteries of eternity thou needest not tremble, “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.” Now, soul, is not thy love refreshed? Does not this make thee love Jesus? Doth not a flight through illimitable plains of the ether of love inflame thy heart and compel thee to delight thyself in the Lord thy God? Surely as we meditate on “the love of the Lord,” our hearts burn within us, and we long to love him more.

2/04 Holy Things

2012-02-04T06:11:00.001-06:00

KingJames Daily Bible Study Devotional
MessageTitle:HolyThings
Date:Saturday February 04, 2012Today'sChapters:Leviticus22-24

Hello My Friend,

Every person that hasreceived Christ as their Savior has one person dwelling in them thatenables them to live the life that God wants them to live. Thatperson is the Holy Spirit, and believe it or not the talents you havewere given to you to serve God in some way, like I said before, allGod wants is someone to be ready and willing to serve Him in theprofession that He has given them. The key to being ready andreceiving the gifts rewarded for serving Him is letting the HolySpirit do His work in you. “Thereis one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope ofyour calling; OneLord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is aboveall, and through all, and in you all. But unto every one of us isgiven grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ...Andhe gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists;and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, forthe 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 ofthe Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the statureof the fulness of Christ:”- Ephesians 4:4-7,11-13.

God chose the tribe of Levi to bethose who would serve Him in the ministry, that did not mean that Hewould not use any other tribe to serve Him, but that they would bethe ones who would work in the actual church. God gave Aaron specificinstructions on how he and generations after him would serve Him inthe church. “Speakunto Aaron and to his sons, that they separate themselves from theholy things of the children of Israel, and that they profane not myholy name in those things which they hallow unto me: I am the LORD.Say unto them, Whosoever he be of all your seed among yourgenerations, that goeth unto the holy things, which the children ofIsrael hallow unto the LORD, having his uncleanness upon him, thatsoul shall be cut off from my presence: I am the LORD...They shalltherefore keep mine ordinance, lest they bear sin for it, and dietherefore, if they profane it: I the LORD do sanctify them. Thereshall no stranger eat of the holy thing: a sojourner of the priest,or an hired servant, shall not eat of the holy thing. But if thepriest buy any soul with his money, he shall eat of it, and he thatis born in his house: they shall eat of his meat.”- Leviticus 22:2,3,9-11.

The holy things offered to thepriests and their family members was the meat offerings given asprovision for the work they had done for God in the church. No priestor member or his family who had become unclean was allowed to touchor eat of the sacrifices unless they were cleansed from their sins,no stranger was allowed to eat of them either unless their soul wasbought and they became part of the family. This is an illustration ofJesus, while we can serve God, unless we receive Jesus He does notaccept the offer, Jesus purchased our souls when He died on thecross, and the only way to partake of the sacrifice is to receive Himas your Savior. “What?know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which isin you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? Forye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, andin your spirit, which are God's.”- 1 Corinthians 6:19,20.

God instructs the Jews on holypeople, holy things, and holy places, now He instructs them of holydays. “Andthe LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel,and say unto them, Concerning the feasts of the LORD, which ye shallproclaim to be holy convocations, even these are my feasts. Six daysshall work be done: but the seventh day is the sabbath of rest, anholy convocation; ye shall do no work therein: it is the sabbath ofthe LORD in all your dwellings. These are the feasts of the LORD,even holy convocations, which ye shall proclaim in their seasons.”- Leviticus 23:2-4.

Though the yearly feasts were made moreremarkable by general attendance at the tabernacle, these must not beobserved more than the sabbath. On that day they must withdraw fromall business of the world. It is a sabbath day of rest, representinga spiritual rest from sin, and rest in God. God's sabbaths are to beobserved in every private house, by every family apart, as well as byfamilies together, and in holy assemblies. This does not mean that weshould all take Saturday's or Sunday's off, but we should have oneday a week where we devote it only to God. “Orhave ye not read in the law, how that on the sabbath days the priestsin the temple profane the sabbath, and are blameless?ButI say unto you, That in this place isonegreaterthan the temple.Butif ye had known whatthismeaneth,I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned theguiltless.Forthe Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day.”-Matthew 12:5-8.

The word blaspheme is defined as tospeakevilof,to swear, slander,or abuse,especially toward God or in reference to Him. We all go throughthings in life or see things happening and wonder at times why Godallows them to happen. That is natural and God expects and acceptsour questions, even when we get angry or upset. God can handle anger,what He can not handle is speaking evil of, slandering, or abusingHis name. “Andthe LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Bringforth him that hath cursed without the camp; and let all that heardhim lay their hands upon his head, and let all the congregation stonehim. And thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel, saying,Whosoever curseth his God shall bear his sin. And he that blasphemeththe name of the LORD, he shall surely be put to death, and all thecongregation shall certainly stone him: as well the stranger, as hethat is born in the land, when he blasphemeth the name of the LORD,shall be put to death.”- Leviticus 24:13-16.

Today,we are lucky that this law is no longer in effect, but the same ruleapplies to the blasphemer, to the one who curses God, he shall bearhis sin, that is, bare the punishment for cursing God. Out of all thesins we can commit nothing is more dangerous the Holy Spirit. “VerilyI say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, andblasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme:Buthe that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath neverforgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation:”- Mark 3:28,29.

We have the great Spirit of God dwelling inus, it is our gift to Him for trusting only in His Son to save us.That means that we have something holy in us, which no one can takefrom us. He is our guide, our teacher, our conscience, our only wayto understanding the Bible and how God wants us to use the talents Hehas given us for His glory. When we truly respect God in reference toHis law there is nothing that He will not do for us. “Butas it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither haveentered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared forthem that love him. ButGod hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spiritsearcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.”-1 Corinthians 2:9,10.
Today'sPsalm:37:4 - “Delightthyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thineheart.”

Today'sProverb: 20:25 - “Itis a snare to the man who devoureth that which is holy, and aftervows to make enquiry.”

Today'sPrayer:God, Yourarm is not too short to save, nor Your ear too dull to hear ourprayers. Our iniquities have separated us from You. Today, I repentof those things that have distanced me from my holy God, Lord, revealanything that I need to part with to be in complete harmony with You.Help my faith to be renewed and help me resolve to follow Your will.May I be found faithful as I call out to You, for I know You hear mebecause Your Son is a part of me. In Jesus' name. Amen,
Enjoythe rest of your day/night. GodBless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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2/3 SpurgeonToday

2012-02-03T13:46:00.000-06:00

“Therefore, brethren, we are debtors.”
Romans 8:12
As God’s creatures, we are all debtors to him: to obey him with all our body, and soul, and strength. Having broken his commandments, as we all have, we are debtors to his justice, and we owe to him a vast amount which we are not able to pay. But of the Christian it can be said that he does not owe God’s justice anything, for Christ has paid the debt his people owed; for this reason the believer owes the more to love. I am a debtor to God’s grace and forgiving mercy; but I am no debtor to his justice, for he will never accuse me of a debt already paid. Christ said, “It is finished!” and by that he meant, that whatever his people owed was wiped away forever from the book of remembrance. Christ, to the uttermost, has satisfied divine justice; the account is settled; the handwriting is nailed to the cross; the receipt is given, and we are debtors to God’s justice no longer. But then, because we are not debtors to our Lord in that sense, we become ten times more debtors to God than we should have been otherwise. Christian, pause and ponder for a moment. What a debtor thou art to divine sovereignty! How much thou owest to his disinterested love, for he gave his own Son that he might die for thee. Consider how much you owe to his forgiving grace, that after ten thousand affronts he loves you as infinitely as ever. Consider what you owe to his power; how he has raised you from your death in sin; how he has preserved your spiritual life; how he has kept you from falling; and how, though a thousand enemies have beset your path, you have been able to hold on your way. Consider what you owe to his immutability. Though you have changed a thousand times, he has not changed once. Thou art as deep in debt as thou canst be to every attribute of God. To God thou owest thyself, and all thou hast—yield thyself as a living sacrifice, it is but thy reasonable service.

2/03 I Am The Lord Your God

2012-02-03T05:51:00.002-06:00

KingJames Daily Bible Study Devotional
MessageTitle:IAm The Lord Your God
Date:Friday February 03, 2012Today'sChapters:Leviticus19-21

Hello My Friend,
Manypeople know of Jesus or even believe that He died to save people, butvery few will believe in His death, burial, resurrection, and that Healone is the Only One who will save them from hell. However, it isonly when we believe that Jesus Christ is the one who can save us andreceive Him as our personal Savior can we be saved. Any alteration tothis simple rule is among the unbelieving who will not be one ofGod's children and will be cast into the lake of fire no matter howgood you try to be.
“Andhe said unto me, Itis done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will giveunto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.Hethat overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, andhe shall be my son.Butthe fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, andwhoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall havetheir part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: whichis the second death.Andthere shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neitherwhatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which arewritten in the Lamb's book of life.”-Revelation 21:6-8,27.

God chose Israel to be the nation thatHe would represent as His children, but that did not mean that everyJew would be one of His children. They had to live by the law and ifthey did anything that God considered to be an abomination they werecut off from the family. But God did not just limit Himself to theJews, any person, regardless of their race that wanted God in theirlives was able to receive Him, they just had to follow the same law.“Speakunto all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say untothem, Ye shall be holy: for I the LORD your God am holy. Ye shallfear every man his mother, and his father, and keep my sabbaths: I amthe LORD your God. Turn ye not unto idols, nor make to yourselvesmolten gods: I am the LORD your God. And if ye offer a sacrifice ofpeace offerings unto the LORD, ye shall offer it at your ownwill...And if a stranger sojourn with thee in your land, ye shall notvex him. But the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you asone born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye werestrangers in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God...Thereforeshall ye observe all my statutes, and all my judgments, and do them:I am the LORD.”- Leviticus 19:2-5,33,34,37.

The same punishment that wereceive regarding sin is the same punishment they received as well,the second death, anyone who rejected God, regardless of their race,would be sent to hell and later on will be cast into the lake of firewhen Jesus returns. Goddid and still saves those who want Him in their lives, a sacrifice isstill required, but this time it is not the blood of animals thatsaves us, but the blood of Jesus Christ, He became the onlyacceptable, perfect sacrifice to redeem a soul from hell. “Tothem who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory andhonour and immortality, eternal life: Butunto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obeyunrighteousness, indignation and wrath, Tribulation and anguish, uponevery soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of theGentile; But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that workethgood, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: Forthere is no respect of persons with God.”- Romans 2:7-11.

God has distinguished His children from allothers by a holy covenant, and while being or not being obedient toHim is what saves us, He expects His children to be holy, because Heis your God, and He is holy. “Sanctifyyourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I am the LORD your God. Andye shall keep my statutes, and do them: I amthe LORD which sanctify you. For every one that curseth his father orhis mother shall be surely put to death: he hath cursed his father orhis mother; his blood shall be upon him. And the man that committethadultery with another man's wife, even he that committeth adulterywith his neighbour's wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shallsurely be put to death...If a man also lie with mankind, as he liethwith a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shallsurely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them...And ye shallbe holy unto me: for I the LORD am holy, and have severed you fromother people, that ye should be mine.”- Leviticus 20:7-10,13,26.

While God uses certain people toserve Him in the ministry, He accepts all, no matter what infirmitieswe have, after all He made us. God instructs Aaron on who would serveHim in the ministry. Priests laboring under any personal defect werenot allowed to officiate in the public service, they might beemployed in some duties about the sanctuary, but could not performany sacred office, meaning receive the sacrifices. “Speakunto Aaron, saying, Whosoever he be of thy seed in their generationsthat hath any blemish, let him not approach to offer the bread of hisGod. For whatsoever man he be that hath a blemish, he shall notapproach: a blind man, or a lame, or he that hath a flat nose, or anything superfluous, Or a man that is brokenfooted, or brokenhanded, Orcrookbackt, or a dwarf, or that hath a blemish in his eye, or bescurvy, or scabbed, or hath his stones broken; No man that hath ablemish of the seed of Aaron the priest shall come nigh to offer theofferings of the LORD made by fire: he hath a blemish; he shall notcome nigh to offer the bread of his God. He shall eat the bread ofhis God, both of the most holy, and of the holy. Only he shall not goin unto the vail, nor come nigh unto the altar, because he hath ablemish; that he profane not my sanctuaries: for I the LORD dosanctify them.”- Leviticus 21:17-23.

The reason why a priest with aninfirmity was not allowed to receive and offer the offerings of thepeople to God was because their physical appearance would have causeda distraction to what the people would really be there for. This didnot mean that God pushed the person away from serving Him, He justgave them other jobs to do. It is the same way today, there arehundreds of women heading up churches today, this is considered as aninfirmity and one in which God does not agree with. While we can allbe teachers we are not all to be ministers, “ButI suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man,but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adamwas not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in thetransgression. Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, ifthey continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.”- 1 Timothy 2:12-15.
Peopleask me all the time, why is it important to learn these laws whenthey do not apply to us today? The entire Bible, Old and NewTestaments, represents one person, that is Jesus Christ and the themeof the entire book is the Blood. All of the laws before He came toearth were a foreshadow of Him and while we are no longer bound tothe law itself, it is important that we understand what God detests,and that they are things that we should detest. We need to be verygrateful that we are no longer bound to the law, otherwise we wouldlearn very quick how to fear God. The truth is we all need to fearGod, and I do not mean to be afraid of Him, I mean to respect Him, tohonor Him, and to be holy, for He is the Lord Your God. How hard isit for us to live the way God wants us to live? To have some moralsabout how we live our lives? If we truly want to understand God andlive the way He wants us to live it is important to learn all of HisWord. “Allscripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable fordoctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction inrighteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughlyfurnished unto all good works.”-2 Timothy 3:16,17.
Today'sPsalm:34:11 - “Come,ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD.”

Today'sProverb: 14:26 - “Inthe fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shallhave a place of refuge.”

Today'sPrayer:God, I will never understand just how simple it is to be one of Yourchildren, but I believe that Your perfect Son died for me to save mefrom that horrible second death and I am trusting only in Him to saveme. However, I do want to show You how much I love You and howgrateful I am to be redeemed and the only way I can show thatgratitude is to be holy as You are holy. Lord, keep me in Your Word,help me to understand the importance of learning all of it andapplying those concepts to my life today. In Jesus' name. Amen
Enjoythe rest of your day/night. GodBless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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2/3 Fundamental Thoughts

2012-02-03T04:00:00.000-06:00

I Was Blind, Now I See

Habakkuk 3:15-19 Thou didst walk through the sea with thine horses, through theheap of great waters. (16) When I heard, my belly trembled; my lipsquivered at the voice: rottenness entered into my bones, and I trembled inmyself, that I might rest in the day of trouble: when he cometh up unto thepeople, he will invade them with his troops. (17) Although the fig tree shallnot blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour ofthe olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall becut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: (18) Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of mysalvation. (19) The LORD God is my strength, and hewill make my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make me to walk uponmine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments.

This lastChapter in Habakkuk is a Psalm, (a prayer in song.) (Habakkuk is prophesying the destruction ofJudah. Some historians believe that Danieland other Sons of Israel were already in captivity. Habakkuk saw what was coming and his “belly trembled.” He was sawbleakness, and was dismayed at Israel’s future, his future. He saw the calamity, Israel’s future.)

Habakkuksaw what we, as Christians ought to see happening here in The UnitedStates. It isn’t general freedoms we arelosing, (but we are, and at an alarming rate.) We as Christians are losing our freedom tochoose our God, and that should terrify us.

Our society and our government is paralleling TheNation of Judah. (I fear as a Citizenand as a Christian, we as a Nation are at a point of captivity.)

Habakkukrealized that God had a plan and he “rejoice[d] in the LORD.” We must alsocome to the realization that God is still in control. (As Controller, God will change what He willchange. We are at The Mercy of God, justlike Judah. We must turn our hearts backto God, walk as He expects us to walk, and like Lott’s wife, don’t look back.)

LikeHabakkuk we must remember that The “LORD God ismy strength.” In thatknowledge, we must gird our loins and start working for The Lord, (doing the“work” He has given.)

2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, andpray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear fromheaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

Our task as Christians is to do The Will of TheLord. What is God’s Will? Glorify Him in ALL we do. We Glorify Him by calling on His “name,” by “humble[ing]”ourselves, by our “pray[ing]” to Him, and always “seek [ing]” Him. (Weglorify Him by turning from our “wicked ways.”) “Change” will not come from The President, norfrom our Government. It must come from ourChurches. In order to “heal [our] land,” we mustbe the Christians we claim to be.

Romans 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that yepresent your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which isyour reasonable service. (2) And be not conformed to this world: but be yetransformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is thatgood, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Some pushaside 2 Chronicles 7:14 as a statement for Israel. I do agree. But Paul tells us to “present your bodies a living sacrifice.” (Paul incorporates 2 Chronicles 7:14 toinclude The Christian Church.)

Ourstrength (as an individual Christian, as a Church body, and as a Nation) is “God.”

“Reader,what are you going to do? Are you goingto Glorify God, or “figure” that somebody else will do it for you? The sad part is if you don’t do your part,nobody will. What is coming should makeour “belly tremble…,” and our hearts beat faster. There should be a fear of “what’s next,” and “whenis the next shoe gonna drop?”

God’sWrath may be on its way. It may be asevere chastisement, or it may be The “Rapture.”

2/2 Spurgeon Today

2012-02-02T13:44:00.000-06:00

“Without the shedding of blood is no remission.”
Hebrews 9:22
This is the voice of unalterable truth. In none of the Jewish ceremonies were sins, even typically, removed without blood-shedding. In no case, by no means can sin be pardoned without atonement. It is clear, then, that there is no hope for me out of Christ; for there is no other blood-shedding which is worth a thought as an atonement for sin. Am I, then, believing in him? Is the blood of his atonement truly applied to my soul? All men are on a level as to their need of him. If we be never so moral, generous, amiable, or patriotic, the rule will not be altered to make an exception for us. Sin will yield to nothing less potent than the blood of him whom God hath set forth as a propitiation. What a blessing that there is the one way of pardon! Why should we seek another?
Persons of merely formal religion cannot understand how we can rejoice that all our sins are forgiven us for Christ’s sake. Their works, and prayers, and ceremonies, give them very poor comfort; and well may they be uneasy, for they are neglecting the one great salvation, and endeavouring to get remission without blood. My soul, sit down, and behold the justice of God as bound to punish sin; see that punishment all executed upon thy Lord Jesus, and fall down in humble joy, and kiss the dear feet of him whose blood has made atonement for thee. It is in vain when conscience is aroused to fly to feelings and evidences for comfort: this is a habit which we learned in the Egypt of our legal bondage. The only restorative for a guilty conscience is a sight of Jesus suffering on the cross. “The blood is the life thereof,” says the Levitical law, and let us rest assured that it is the life of faith and joy and every other holy grace.
“Oh! how sweet to view the flowing
Of my Saviour’s precious blood;
With divine assurance knowing
He has made my peace with God.”

2/02 The Day of Atonement

2012-02-02T05:15:00.000-06:00

KingJames Daily Bible Study Devotional
MessageTitle:TheDay of Atonement
Date:Thursday February 02, 2012Today'sChapters:Leviticus16-18

Hello My Friend,

God gave the things of theworld to be desired and possessed as He intended, to be used by Hisgrace and glory. God wants us to have things, but believer's mustlearn not to desire or possess things that introduce sin. Theworld draws the heart from God and the more the love of the worldprevails, the more the love of God fails. Three are three things inthe world that destroy our relationship with God, 1, the lust of theflesh, which is the appetite of indulging in sensual pleasures. 2,the lust of the eyes, which is the appetite of seeking something thatbelongs to others. And 3, the pride of life, which is the appetite ofone's own power and glory.
“Lovenot the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any manlove the world, the love of the Father is not in him. Forall that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of theeyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of theworld. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he thatdoeth the will of God abideth for ever...And now, little children,abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, andnot be ashamed before him at his coming. Ifye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doethrighteousness is born of him.”- 1 John 15-17,28,29.
TheDay of Atonement was the one day of the year that the high priestcould make an atonement for the entire congregation for their sins ofthe past year. In addition to the normal sin, trespass, and peaceofferings were two goats, one for God and one to be the scapegoat. Ascapegoat one that takes the blame and punishment for others.“Thusshall Aaron come into the holy place: with a young bullock for a sinoffering, and a ram for a burnt offering...And Aaron shall offer hisbullock of the sin offering, which is for himself, and make anatonement for himself, and for his house. Andhe shall take the two goats, and present them before the LORD at thedoor of the tabernacle of the congregation. And Aaron shall cast lotsupon the two goats; one lot for the LORD, and the other lot for thescapegoat. AndAaron shall bring the goat upon which the LORD'S lot fell, and offerhim for a sin offering. But the goat, on which the lot fell to be thescapegoat, shall be presented alive before the LORD, to make anatonement with him, and to let him go for a scapegoat into thewilderness.”-Leviticus 16:3,6-10.

Since it was for the entirecongregation Aaron, the high priest, in a sense, took on all theirsins. Aaron had to put his hands on the scapegoat, placing all thesins of the people on that goat, he said a prayer and let the goattake off into the wilderness, taking all the sins with it. Thisentire ceremony represents Jesus Christ, first,He is our high priest, He took on every sin known to man. Second, Hebecame the sin sacrifice, and third He became the scapegoat, whichtakes away all the sins of those who believe in Him, making anatonement for their sins. Jesus took the blame for all of us and diedfor all of our sins, only those who believe in Him will receive theatonement for their sins. “Forif, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death ofhis Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord JesusChrist, by whom we have now received the atonement.”-Romans 5:10,11.

Did you ever see a person hooked up to aheart monitor? There is a line that goes across the screen, you hearbleeps when the heart beats. The bleeps are a persons lifeline, thething that keeps the heart beating is the blood, without bloodpumping into it you would hear flatline instead of a lifeline. Bloodis so important to God that He gave strict commands on how to handleblood.

“Forthe life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to youupon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is theblood that maketh an atonement for the soul. Therefore I said untothe children of Israel, No soul of you shall eat blood, neither shallany stranger that sojourneth among you eat blood. And whatsoever manthere be of the children of Israel, or of the strangers that sojournamong you, which hunteth and catcheth any beast or fowl that may beeaten; he shall even pour out the blood thereof, and cover it withdust. For it is the life of all flesh; the blood of it is for thelife thereof: therefore I said unto the children of Israel, Ye shalleat the blood of no manner of flesh: for the life of all flesh is theblood thereof: whosoever eateth it shall be cut off.”-Leviticus 17:11-14.

There is nothing more powerful thanblood to bring life to a person, I am anemic and there are times whenI get so drained that nothing cures me, but eating a good steak. Therich blood in that meat brings me back to life, if you have Jesus inyou, you have His blood pumping through you, He is your lifeline, Hebrings life to you. Jesus said, “Exceptye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have nolife in you. Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hatheternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. For my fleshis meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He that eateth myflesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. As theliving Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he thateateth me, even he shall live by me.”- John 6:53-57. This is spiritually speaking, when we receive Christwe spiritually eat the sin sacrifice, drink of the blood that He shedfor us, which then His rich blood gives us life.

While allsin wrecks our relationship with God, some are just plain disgustingto Him, the most disgusting are of the flesh. Fleshly lusts waragainst the soul and will certainly be the ruin of it, God commandedIsrael to abstain from all lusts of the flesh.

“Afterthe doings of the land of Egypt, wherein ye dwelt, shall ye not do:and after the doings of the land of Canaan, whither I bring you,shall ye not do: neither shall ye walk in their ordinances. Ye shalldo my judgments, and keep mine ordinances, to walk therein: I am theLORD your God. Ye shall therefore keep my statutes, and my judgments:which if a man do, he shall live in them: I am the LORD. None of youshall approach to any that is near of kin to him, to uncover theirnakedness: I am the LORD...Moreover thou shalt not lie carnally withthy neighbour's wife, to defile thyself with her. And thou shalt notlet any of thy seed pass through the fire to Molech, neither shaltthou profane the name of thy God: I am the LORD. Thou shalt not liewith mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination. Neither shaltthou lie with any beast to defile thyself therewith: neither shallany woman stand before a beast to lie down thereto: it is confusion.”- Leviticus 18:3-6,20-23.

We think that what we see goingaround the world is something new, it is not new to God. There is notone thing in this life that God has not seen already over thecenturies, this includes every immoral act of the flesh such asfornication, adultery, incest, bestiality, homosexuality, and evenbringing immorality into the marriage bed. We are children of God,that means that we are to start acting like it and not do the thingsthat we see or have done while we were in the world. Yes, we may havedone some things while in the world that we were ignorant to, butthat does not give us an excuse to do them now. A saved soul hasmuch more to affliction to deal with than one who never knew Christ.Why? To get them to repent, to turn away from living in sin. “Forgodly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of:but the sorrow of the world worketh death.”- 2 Corinthians 7:10.
Today'sPsalm:116:17 - “Iwill offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call uponthe name of the LORD.”

Today'sProverb: 21:3 - “Todo justice and judgment is more acceptable to the LORD thansacrifice.”

Today'sPrayer:God, thankYou for Your indwelling Spirit that replaces my sinful nature withthat of a spiritual nature. As I walk in Your ways year after year, Iam aware of sins that wreck my relationship with You. Help me toremove all the sin that keeps me from receiving the desires andpossessions You have for me for my faithfulness to You. In Jesus'name. Amen.
Enjoythe rest of your day/night. GodBless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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2/2 A Plain Path

2012-02-02T05:00:00.000-06:00

Isaiah 6:8

"Also I heard the voice of the LORD, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me."

from Forrest Ritchey

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2/1 Spurgeon Today

2012-02-01T13:43:00.000-06:00

“They shall sing in the ways of the Lord.”
Psalm 138:5
The time when Christians begin to sing in the ways of the Lord is when they first lose their burden at the foot of the Cross. Not even the songs of the angels seem so sweet as the first song of rapture which gushes from the inmost soul of the forgiven child of God. You know how John Bunyan describes it. He says when poor Pilgrim lost his burden at the Cross, he gave three great leaps, and went on his way singing—
“Blest Cross! blest Sepulchre! blest rather be
The Man that there was put to shame for me!”
Believer, do you recollect the day when your fetters fell off? Do you remember the place when Jesus met you, and said, “I have loved thee with an everlasting love; I have blotted out as a cloud thy transgressions, and as a thick cloud thy sins; they shall not be mentioned against thee any more forever.” Oh! what a sweet season is that when Jesus takes away the pain of sin. When the Lord first pardoned my sin, I was so joyous that I could scarce refrain from dancing. I thought on my road home from the house where I had been set at liberty, that I must tell the stones in the street the story of my deliverance. So full was my soul of joy, that I wanted to tell every snow-flake that was falling from heaven of the wondrous love of Jesus, who had blotted out the sins of one of the chief of rebels. But it is not only at the commencement of the Christian life that believers have reason for song; as long as they live they discover cause to sing in the ways of the Lord, and their experience of his constant lovingkindness leads them to say, “I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.” See to it, brother, that thou magnifiest the Lord this day.
“Long as we tread this desert land,
New mercies shall new songs demand.”