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A Spiritual Guide


 Bible Study: God's Spirit In All
 

God's Spirit In All 05.10.08

Hello My Friend/Guest,

It is Saturday May 10, 2008 and today we are continuing our studies on the book of II Kings. Please read Chaoters 21-22 in your Bible or Click Here to read. www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=II%20Kings%2021-22&version=9

Today we will read and learn about the evil reigns of Manasseh and Amon; Josiah's good reign; the Book of the Law being discovered; true worship being restored; and idolatry being destroyed. Today's message focuses on the importance of realizing that God's Spirit is in all who have trusted Jesus as their saviour.

Hezekiah was one of the best kings in the history of Judah; but his son Manasseh was even more wicked than Hezekiah's father Ahaz. "Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and reigned fifty and five years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Hephzibah. And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, after the abominations of the heathen, whom the LORD cast out before the children of Israel. For he built up again the high places which Hezekiah his father had destroyed; and he reared up altars for Baal, and made a grove, as did Ahab king of Israel; and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them. And he built altars in the house of the LORD, of which the LORD said, In Jerusalem will I put my name. And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the LORD. And he made his son pass through the fire, and observed times, and used enchantments, and dealt with familiar spirits and wizards: he wrought much wickedness in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger." (II Kings 21:1-6).

Manasseh's wickedness resulted in Judah being defeated and captured by the fierce Assyrians. (See II Chronicles 33). However, after pleading with God the Lord permitted him to return to Jerusalem and be reinstated as king. This was an answer to Manasseh's prayers for mercy and forgiveness, as well as to the prayers of his godly father Hezekiah many years before.

God forgives even the most evil of sinners when they truly repent and pray for forgiveness. Upon being restored as king, Manasseh immediately destroyed the false gods and altars he had previously built and rebuilt the Temple's altar and returned to true worship of the Lord. But Manasseh could not relive the wasted years of his wicked rule nor even convince his own son to reject idols and worship the Lord. After Manasseh's death, his son Amon reinstated all the wicked, idolatrous practices of his father's earlier reign. "Amon was twenty and two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned two years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Meshullemeth, the daughter of Haruz of Jotbah. And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, as his father Manasseh did. And he walked in all the way that his father walked in, and served the idols that his father served, and worshipped them: And he forsook the LORD God of his fathers, and walked not in the way of the LORD." (21:19-22).

The third King mentioned in these chapters, Hezekiah's great-grandson, was noted as one of the most godly of all the kings. Josiah, walked not in the ways of evil as his father did, but walked with God. "Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned thirty and one years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Jedidah, the daughter of Adaiah of Boscath. And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, and walked in all the way of David his father, and turned not aside to the right hand or to the left." (22:1-2).

Though little is known of Huldah, the prophetess, she had great influence in Jerusalem. Hilkiah, the high priest and king Josiah recognized her prophetic gift and sought spiritual guidance from her. "And she said unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Tell the man that sent you to me, Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will bring evil upon this place, and upon the inhabitants thereof, even all the words of the book which the king of Judah hath read: Because they have forsaken me, and have burned incense unto other gods, that they might provoke me to anger with all the works of their hands; therefore my wrath shall be kindled against this place, and shall not be quenched." (22:15-17)

God is no respecter of persons or sex in the distribution of His precious gifts. Unlike religions which disregard the equality of women, the Bible reveals a respect and regard for them as evidenced by Huldah, the prophetess during the days when the Word of God was discovered in the Temple, as well as the four daughters of Philip, the evangelist in the New Testament who also prophecied (Acts 21:8-9). Earlier God had said, "And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit." (Joel 2:28-29).

Today, God's Spirit indwells in each and every person who believes that Jesus died for us. "And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him." (Romans 5:5-9)

In today's message Jesus Christ is revealed through the prophets (II Kings 21:10). "God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;" (Hebrews 1:1-2).

Today's Psalm: 55:11
"Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me."

Today's Prayer:
Dear Lord,
Lord Jesus, I am full of gratitude today as I consider Your abiding presence in my life. You planned my existence in my mother's womb before I even drew my first breath. When so many people have come into my life and exited it throughout the years You have taken up residence and You forever rule my heart. When the path before me was unclear You have always gone before me sustaining me in my wilderness journey. Though all forsake me You remain faithful, and remarkable as it seems, even if we are faithless, You will remain faithful, for You cannot deny Yourself. Thank You for being my Supreme Savior and the Sustainer of my soul. In Jesus' Name.....Amen.

Have a great day and enjoy the rest of your weekend.
God Bless,

Christina

P.S. I apologize for not getting this out Saturday.

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 Bible Study: Compromising God For Wealth
 

Compromising God For Wealth 05.08.08

Hello My Friend/Guest,

It is Thursday May 8, 2008 and today we are continuing our study on the book of II Kings. Please read Chapters 16-17 in your Bible or Click Here to read. http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=II%20Kings16-17&version=9

Today we will read and learn about Ahaz's reign in Judah and his defiling the Temple; Hoshea's reign in Israel; the fall of Samaria; and the captivity and deportations of Israel. Today's message focuses on the importance of realizing that we can not compromise God for material gain. Material gain without putting God first will only become disastrous.

The reign of King Ahaz in Judah is a disaster, nations were warring, making alliances, plotting, invading, and being carried into captivity. Fearing the growing power of Assyria, Pekah, king of Israel, made an alliance with Rezin, king of Syria (Aram) (II Kings 15:37). Together, they attempted to force Ahaz, to join them. When Ahaz refused, Syria's King Rezin and Israel's King Pekah came up to wage war against Jerusalem. "Then Rezin king of Syria and Pekah son of Remaliah king of Israel came up to Jerusalem to war: and they besieged Ahaz, but could not overcome him." (II Kings 16:5).

In retaliation, Ahaz made an alliance with Tiglath-pileser, king of Assyria, to attack Syria and Israel. This cost Ahaz to lose everything in the House of the Lord. "At that time Rezin king of Syria recovered Elath to Syria, and drave the Jews from Elath: and the Syrians came to Elath, and dwelt there unto this day. So Ahaz sent messengers to Tiglathpileser king of Assyria, saying, I am thy servant and thy son: come up, and save me out of the hand of the king of Syria, and out of the hand of the king of Israel, which rise up against me. And Ahaz took the silver and gold that was found in the house of the LORD, and in the treasures of the king's house, and sent it for a present to the king of Assyria." (16:6-8). The king of the Assyrian Empire conquered the small kingdom of Syria and killed Rezin, its king (16:9). Tiglath-pileser also defeated the tribes of Reuben and Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh on the eastern side of the Jordan. All that was left of the ten-tribe northern kingdom of Israel was the capital city of Samaria and the surrounding hill country of Ephraim.

The captivity and dispersion of the northern kingdom throughout Assyria took place because the Israelites served idols. They lived as if God did not exist. We must remember, whoever or whatever receives our loyalty becomes our idol, be it a person, purpose, or possession.

The two and one-half tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Manassah chose to live just outside the promised land. However, they did join the other tribes and entered Canaan under Joshua to help fight for the promised. They then returned to their "profitable" territory on the east side of the River Jordan. As the years passed, compromising sins eventually left them powerless before their enemies. "In the ninth year of Hoshea the king of Assyria took Samaria, and carried Israel away into Assyria, and placed them in Halah and in Habor by the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes.....Yet the LORD testified against Israel, and against Judah, by all the prophets, and by all the seers, saying, Turn ye from your evil ways, and keep my commandments and my statutes, according to all the law which I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you by my servants the prophets. Notwithstanding they would not hear, but hardened their necks, like to the neck of their fathers, that did not believe in the LORD their God." (17:6,13-14).

The people of the ten-tribe Northern Kingdom were defeated and deported into a heathen land which forever ended their existence as a separate kingdom. The dispersion of the ten tribes occurred in two stages, Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh were the first to be defeated by the Assyrians.

Instead of crossing Jordan into the promised land as God had directed, these tribes chose by what materially appeared would bring success (Numbers 32:33). Such people are the first to give up and become obsessed with worldly pleasures. They compromise convictions for what appears to be material advantage instead of being obedient to the Word of God. They are examples of the so called worldly Christians today who give more time to planning their vacation than they do in how they can better serve the Lord. We see the after effects of their choice, "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry."(II Timothy 4:3-5). Just as a desire for material gain led the two and one-half tribes to settle outside the promised land. Many compromised what they know to be God's will in order to gain their personal goals.

A halfhearted commitment to Christ results in instability to every other area of our lives. "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him." (I John 2:15).

In Today's message Jesus Christ is revealed through the Brazen (bronze) Altar made by Solomon (II Kings 16:14). The Brazen Altar is a type of the cross on which Christ, our whole burned offering, offered Himself to God. Unlike the necessary daily sacrifices on the Brazen Altar, the cross He did once, "Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself." (Hebrews 7:27).

Today's Psalm: 73:11-13
"And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High? Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches. Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency."

Today's Prayer:
Dear Lord,
I am full of gratitude today as I consider Your abiding presence in my life. You planned my existence in my mother's womb before I even drew my first breath. When so many people have come into my life and exited it throughout the years You have taken up residence and You forever rule my heart. When the path before me was unclear You have always gone before me sustaining me in my wilderness journey. Though all forsake me You remain faithful, and remarkable as it seems, even if we are faithless, You will remain faithful, for You cannot deny Yourself. Thank You for being my Supreme Savior and the Sustainer of my soul. In Jesus' name, I pray.....Amen.

Have a wonderful Thursday and God Bless you.....Christina

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Posted by A Spiritual Guide at 3:02 PM - No Comments   Add a Comment  
 

 Bible Study: Deception of Material Wealth
 

Deception Material of Wealth 05.07.08

Hello My Friend/Guest,

It is Wednesday May 7, 2008 and today we are continuing our study on the book of II Kings. Please read Chapters 14-15 in your Bible or Click Here to read. http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=II%20Kings%2014-15&version=9

Today we will read and learn about the reign of Amaziah, Azariah (Uzziah), and Jotham over Judah; and the reign of five of last six kings over Israel. Today's message focuses on realzing that material success can be deceptive. We must not let success become more important than God, if that happens we will have nothing to show for it in the end.

Following the death of his father Jehoash, Jeroboam II ruled the northern kingdom of Israel in Samaria for 41 years (II Kings 14:16-29). However, he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD. "And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD: he departed not from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin." (II KIngs 14:24). Immorality and idolatry flourished during the reign of Jeroboam II.

For about 30 years the nation enjoyed peace, prosperity, and political prestige unparalleled since the days of David and Solomon. "He restored the coast of Israel from the entering of Hamath unto the sea of the plain, according to the word of the LORD God of Israel, which he spake by the hand of his servant Jonah, the son of Amittai, the prophet, which was of Gathhepher." (14:25). Sadly, Israel's prosperity did not cause the people to worship the Lord. It appears that they attributed their prosperity to idols. However, After Jeroboam's death, anarchy prevailed and Israel rapidly degenerated.

Material success is often deceptive, as it was for King Jeroboam II. We cannot measure a man's character by the length of his life, his friends, or his wealth. All things are temporal, especially wealth, you can not take any of it with you nor will you have many true friends. Just as Isreal rapidly degenerated so will ours if we are not walking in God's will. God knows the secrets of the heart and He will bless us with prosperity in all areas of our lives as long as we acknowledge Him is what we do, or at least try our best to put Him first above all things.

Surely the goodness of God should lead us, in gratitude, to do the will of Jesus Christ our Lord. "Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist." (Colossians 1:12-17).

Today's Psalm: 44:20-21
"If we have forgotten the name of our God, or stretched out our hands to a strange god; Shall not God search this out? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart."

Today's Prayer:
Dear Lord,
I pray that You will help me to sow for myself righteousness, so that I will reap the fruit of Your unfailing love. Break up the unplowed ground of my heart that is stony and hard so that I acknowledge my sins, receive Your forgiveness, and look to You for guidance. May I thoroughly discern the vain philosophies and empty deception that pervades our society. I want to seek Your will above man’s agenda so that You shower Your blessings upon me. In Jesus' name, I pray.....Amen.

Have a wonderful Wednesday.
God Bless,
Christina

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Posted by A Spiritual Guide at 9:42 PM - No Comments   Add a Comment  
 
 Bible Study: Make An Effort
 

Make An Effort 05.06.07

Hello My Firend/Guest,

It is Tuesday May 6, 2008 and today we are continuing our study on the book of II Kings. Please read Chapters 11-13 in your Bible or Click Here to read.

Today we will read and learn about Athaliah's reign; David's descendants being murdered; Joash crowned as king; repairing the Temple; worship being restored; and the evil reign of Jehoahaz. Today's message focuses on the importance of realizing that if we want God to do great things for us we must make an effort. God will guide us, but we must make an effort to follow His will.

When Athaliah, daughter of Ahab and Jezebel, received word that her son, King Ahaziah, was dead, she seized the throne of Judah and proclaimed herself queen. To make sure she had no competition, she ruthlessly murdered her own grandsons. "And when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the seed royal." (II KIngs 11:1). She thought she had killed all of David's descendants, however God intervened and saved the one-year-old Joash, the sole link that preserved the dynasty of David and the lineage through which Jesus Christ would come. "But Jehosheba, the daughter of king Joram, sister of Ahaziah, took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him from among the king's sons which were slain; and they hid him, even him and his nurse, in the bedchamber from Athaliah, so that he was not slain. And he was with her hid in the house of the LORD six years. And Athaliah did reign over the land." (11:2-3).

When Joash was about seven years old, Jehoiada brought forth the king's son, and reigned him king over Isreal. "And he brought forth the king's son, and put the crown upon him, and gave him the testimony; and they made him king, and anointed him; and they clapped their hands, and said, God save the king." (11:12).The excited shouts caught the attention of Athaliah, who ran into the Temple court just in time to hear Jehoiada the high priest command the captains of the guard to execute her. "But Jehoiada the priest commanded the captains of the hundreds, the officers of the host, and said unto them, Have her forth without the ranges: and him that followeth her kill with the sword. For the priest had said, Let her not be slain in the house of the LORD. And they laid hands on her; and she went by the way by the which the horses came into the king's house: and there was she slain." (11:15-16).

The account of Athaliah illustrates that to forsake the Word of God results in untold miseries, "Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness." (II Thessalonians 2:9-12)

There are two Joashes in II Kings. There is Joash, the king of Judah (chapters 11; 12; 13:10), and there is Joash (Jehoash), the king of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, who often rejected Elisha's admonitions, however the king of the Northern Kingdom of Isreal came to visit with Elisha when he found out that he was dying. "Now Elisha was fallen sick of his sickness whereof he died. And Joash the king of Israel came down unto him, and wept over his face, and said, O my father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof." (II Kings 13:14). It was quite remarkable for King Joash to visit the dying prophet. It implies that the king knew that the man of God had been Israel's spiritual strength and they needed his counsel and prayers.

Israel was at that time at war with Syria. As a sign that God intended to give victory to His people, the king was bidden to take the bow and arrows. "And Elisha said unto him, Take bow and arrows. And he took unto him bow and arrows. And he said to the king of Israel, Put thine hand upon the bow. And he put his hand upon it: and Elisha put his hands upon the king's hands. And he said, Open the window eastward. And he opened it. Then Elisha said, Shoot. And he shot. And he said, The arrow of the LORD's deliverance, and the arrow of deliverance from Syria: for thou shalt smite the Syrians in Aphek, till thou have consumed them. And he said, Take the arrows. And he took them. And he said unto the king of Israel, Smite upon the ground. And he smote thrice, and stayed. And the man of God was wroth with him, and said, Thou shouldest have smitten five or six times; then hadst thou smitten Syria till thou hadst consumed it: whereas now thou shalt smite Syria but thrice." (13:15-19). King Joash was bidden to strike the ground until he consumed, but he only struck it three times. If he had smitten the ground six times, he would have shot six arrows and he would have had complete victory. As the arrow was shot through the air, the prophet said the arrow represented the Lord's deliverance of His people from Syrian domination.

Deliverance is of the Lord, but it must be accomplished by human effort. Joash had to actively take the bow and arrows, but God sovereignly would guide the people. We should not let our arrows lie still as if to say: "We are trusting God to shoot our arrows, we will just wait upon the Lord." It is an equally serious error to neglect the hand of God resting upon our activity.

Many well meaning Christians are content to attend church worship and be fed, but Jesus said, "I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing." (John 15:1-5)

Today's Psalm: 91:14-15
"Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him."

Today's Prayer:
Dear Lord,
As we live by faith and not by sight we see much of what the world does not see because we see it through eyes of faith. By faith we see a risen Savior who died for us and who is now interceding on our behalf. By faith we believe that life’s trials will be worth it all when we are ushered into the pearly gates and gather with saints of all the ages to praise our glorious Savior around the throne. It is by faith that we come to Jesus and it is by faith that we will stay the course. For it is not the one who runs the swiftest nor the one who runs for a day, but the one who endures to the end that will be saved. The struggles of this life diminish when we walk by faith and not by sight. Navigate our steps as we journey here and deliver us from all unrighteousness. In Jesus' name, I pray.....Amen.

Have a Wonderful Tuesday and God Bless You.
Christina

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 Bible Study: Be Aware of Your Actions
 

Be Aware of Your Actions 05.05.08

Hello My Friend/Guest,

It is Monday May 5, 2008 and today we are continuing our study on the book of II Kings. Please read Chapters 9-10 in your Bible or Click Here to read. http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=II%20Kings%209-10&version=9

Today we will read and learn about Jehu anointed king of Israel; Jehu killing Joram and Ahaziah; Jezebel being killed; Ahab's family being killed; and Baal worshipers being executed. Today's message focuses on the importance of realizing that we need to be careful in the actions that we take to become prosperous. If they make us do things that we know are wrong then we need to walk away from them.

Jehu was very popular since he had become a powerful captain in Israel's army during the Syrian war. He was known throughout the entire army and country for his speed in driving his horses, "And Elisha the prophet called one of the children of the prophets, and said unto him, Gird up thy loins, and take this box of oil in thine hand, and go to Ramothgilead: And when thou comest thither, look out there Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat the son of Nimshi, and go in, and make him arise up from among his brethren, and carry him to an inner chamber; Then take the box of oil, and pour it on his head, and say, Thus saith the LORD, I have anointed thee king over Israel. Then open the door, and flee, and tarry not." (II Kings 9:1-3). Of all the kings of the ten northern tribes, only Jehu was ever anointed to be king. He was appointed as the anointed king of the Lord to destroy the house of Ahab.

Jehu drove his chariots furiously to Jezreel where he executed Joram (Jehoram), king of Israel, and then Ahaziah, king of Judah. Then Jehu had Jezebel thrown out of a window and he trampled her and dog are her body. All these events took place just as Elisha foretold, "And thou shalt smite the house of Ahab thy master, that I may avenge the blood of my servants the prophets, and the blood of all the servants of the LORD, at the hand of Jezebel. For the whole house of Ahab shall perish: and I will cut off from Ahab him that pisseth against the wall, and him that is shut up and left in Israel: And I will make the house of Ahab like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah: And the dogs shall eat Jezebel in the portion of Jezreel, and there shall be none to bury her. And he opened the door, and fled." (9:7-10).

Jehu zealously executed all the family of Ahab in Samaria (II Kings 10:1-17). However, Athaliah, the daughter of Jezebel, continued to promote Baal worship as queen in Judah. Jehu had bragged to Jehonadab, but his zeal for the LORD was just enough to achieve his own selfish ends. "And the LORD said unto Jehu, Because thou hast done well in executing that which is right in mine eyes, and hast done unto the house of Ahab according to all that was in mine heart, thy children of the fourth generation shall sit on the throne of Israel. But Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of the LORD God of Israel with all his heart: for he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam, which made Israel to sin. In those days the LORD began to cut Israel short: and Hazael smote them in all the coasts of Israel; From Jordan eastward, all the land of Gilead, the Gadites, and the Reubenites, and the Manassites, from Aroer, which is by the river Arnon, even Gilead and Bashan." (10:30-33).

This illustrates that it is possible for one to be used by God and yet never be in submission to Christ as Lord of one's life. How watchful we need to be as at any time we could be found helping Satan in his worldly schemes. Ask yourself: "Can I do this and be faithful to Jesus? Many times, people who do evil in the sight of the Lord seem to prosper, but God ultimately will execute judgment against all who oppose Him. Unlike this world or the world's religions, a Christian understands that sooner or later God's justice will prevail. "Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more. For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God: That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified. For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness." (I Thessaloians 4:1-7).

In today's message Jesus Christ is revealed through Elisha who sent one of the sons of the prophets with oil to anoint Jehu as king (II Kings 9:1-6). Oil symbolizes the Holy Spirit, and the Lord sent the Holy Spirit to anoint believers, "But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him." (I John 2:27).

Today's Prayer:
Dear Lord,
I confess to You that my heart can easily become like unplowed ground. Destructive attitudes that I justify rather than repent of remain in my heart and cause me to be hardened toward You and others that I love. I invite the work of Your Holy Spirit to cleanse, renew and refresh me as I yield my heart to the searchlight of Your Word. As I seek You, Lord, You will come and shower Your righteousness and blessing upon my life as the fruit of Your unfailing love flows out to those around me. In Jesus' name, I pray....Amen.

Have a marvelous Monday and week.
God Bless,
Christina

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Author: A Spiritual Guide
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Age: 37
 
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