Seek God's Wisdom 04.22.08

Hello My Friends/Guest,

It is Tuesday April 22, 2008 and today we are continuing our study on the book of I Kings. Please read Chapters 3-4 in your Bible or Click Here to read. http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=I%20Kings%203-4&version=9

Today we will read and learn about Solomon marrying the Pharoah's daughter and his kingdom becoming secure. Today's message focuses on realizing that God is the source of all wisdom and without Him we can not understand what is good or bad regardless of how good it looks to us.

Soon after Solomon became king we read that he creates a relationship with the Pharoah of Egypt and marries his daughter. He also declared his love for God, "And Solomon made affinity with Pharaoh king of Egypt, and took Pharaoh's daughter, and brought her into the city of David, until he had made an end of building his own house, and the house of the LORD, and the wall of Jerusalem round about. Only the people sacrificed in high places, because there was no house built unto the name of the LORD, until those days. And Solomon loved the LORD, walking in the statutes of David his father: only he sacrificed and burnt incense in high places." (I Kings 3:1-3).

The Tabernacle and the Altar of Burned Offering were still located at Gibeon, about six miles northwest of Jerusalem. The last major event to take place at Gibeon was Solomon's great dedication service as king and on the night of that great sacrifice, Solomon had a remarkable dream. "And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment; Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee. And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days. And if thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as thy father David did walk, then I will lengthen thy days. And Solomon awoke; and, behold, it was a dream. And he came to Jerusalem, and stood before the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and offered up burnt offerings, and offered peace offerings, and made a feast to all his servants." (3:11-15). God's purpose for this dream was to remind Solomon that He is the source of all wisdom and, without Him, man is but a little child who needs help in order to discern between good and bad. This "dream" is recorded to remind us that this important need still exists today.

This dream revealed the abundant mercy and grace that God would give Solomon or anyone else who chooses to live to love the Lord with all his heart and keeps His commandments . Sadly, this remarkable dream had no lasting affect on his life for he became increasingly self-centered. Solomon ignored God's Word concerning what the kings of Israel were commanded, "But he shall not multiply horses to himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt, to the end that he should multiply horses: forasmuch as the LORD hath said unto you, Ye shall henceforth return no more that way. Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away: neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold." (Deuteronomy 17:16-17). He not only turned to Egypt for horses, but he also took Pharaoh's daughter as a wife. He offered enormous sacrifices to God, built the world famous Temple in Jerusalem, and offered the longest recorded prayer in the Bible; but his disregard for God's Word, his many marriages to pagan wives, and his worship at their Canaanite high places were all acts of rebellion against God.

Solomon refused to follow his godly father's advice to keep the Lord's commandments, he is typical of the brilliant, multitalented people who compromise biblical principles and still assume that God is pleased since they are successful and popular. But compromise is the first foothold of sin that sooner or later destroys one's spiritual usefulness and influence for Christ.

Too often people claim to be Christians because it will benefit them in some manner, but a real relationship with Christ begins by loving the Lord with all your heart and not becoming consumed with the lusts of the world. "Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment." (Matthew 22:37-38).

In today's message Jesus Christ is revealed through the wisdom which God gave Solomon (I Kings 3:12). "But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:" (I Corinthians 1:30)

Today's Psalm: 86:12
"I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore."

Today's Prayer:
Dear Lord,
Help our ears to be alert, our eyes to be open, and our hearts perceptive as we follow in Your ways. May we be eager to hear Your teaching and apply it to our lives so that we may be found blameless before You and experience the joy You give to those who follow Your commands. When Your meaning is clear help us to seek no other meaning to satisfy our own desires or to change the clear meaning of Your message. Align our desires with Your own, that we might find genuine peace and wholehearted obedience as You bring spiritual healing to our lives. Help us to follow Your will as You will bless us abundantly in doing so. In Jesus' name, I pray....Amen.

Have a terrific Tuesday and God bless you,
Christina

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Do Not Compromise 04.21.08

Hello My Friend/Guest,

It is Monday April 21, 2008 and today we begin our study on the book of I Kings. The book of I Kings is the eleventh book of the Old Testament and contains 22 chapters. The author of the book is unknown, but could be Jeremiah and was written to the people in Israel in order to continue the record of God's dealings with His people. The purpose of the book is to teach all to understand that compromise may seem easy but it is always costly later. Please read Chapters 1-2 in your Bible or you can Click Here to read. http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=I%20Kings%201-2&version=9

Today we will read and learn about David becoming stricken in his old age and his son, Adonijah, rebels and tries to take over a king; Joab defecting; Abiathar defecting; and King David charges Solomon to be obedient to God's Word as he makes him king. Today's message focuses on the importance of realizing that we need to stand firm in following God's will.

"Now king David was old and stricken in years; and they covered him with clothes, but he gat no heat." (I Kings 1:1). David's son, Adonijah persuaded the two most influential men in Israel to join him and become traitors to David. Abiathar, the high priest, through whom Adonijah would have religious approval by the people, and the powerful Joab, commander in chief of David's army, cooperated with Adonijah in this ruthless conspiracy. "Then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, I will be king: and he prepared him chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him. And his father had not displeased him at any time in saying, Why hast thou done so? and he also was a very goodly man; and his mother bare him after Absalom. And he conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah, and with Abiathar the priest: and they following Adonijah helped him." (1:5-7).

Presuming that since he was the oldest living son of David this gave him the right to the throne, and disregarding his father's prolonged illness, Adonijah ruthlessy attempted to seize the throne by force. However, God was still Soverign over Israel and retained the unchallengeable right of selecting the one who would reign over His people. Solomon had been designated by both God and David as his successor to the throne and is publicly announced. "So Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, went down, and caused Solomon to ride upon king David's mule, and brought him to Gihon. And Zadok the priest took an horn of oil out of the tabernacle, and anointed Solomon. And they blew the trumpet; and all the people said, God save king Solomon." (1:38-39).

From a human point of view, all of David's disappointments were a tragedy but, from God's point of view, they were designed to expose the selfish and greedy motives in the hearts of those "loyal" and close friends. They were also a clear revelation of the sovereign hand of God over the practical concerns in everyone's life. David's last words to Solomon revealed his greatest desire for his son, that he would live to please the Lord. David said nothing to Solomon about gaining material wealth or fame for his kingdom, instead he stressed the true values of living in obedience to God. "Now the days of David drew nigh that he should die; and he charged Solomon his son, saying, I go the way of all the earth: be thou strong therefore, and shew thyself a man; And keep the charge of the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, that thou mayest prosper in all that thou doest, and whithersoever thou turnest thyself: That the LORD may continue his word which he spake concerning me, saying, If thy children take heed to their way, to walk before me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, there shall not fail thee (said he) a man on the throne of Israel." (2:1-4). We are to stand firm against all pressure to compromise to keep us from following the will of God.

It was important that Solomon keep God's Commandments so that he, as well as we, might please God and be an example to his and our children as well as others. David's concern was that he prosper spiritually by living in complete harmony with God's Word.

In today's message Jesus Christ is revealed through the oil used to anoint Solomon (I Kings 1:39). Christ (Greek) and Messiah (Hebrew) mean "The Anointed One." Oil is symbolic of the Holy Spirit, which was poured out upon those chosen by God for special service. Jesus is God's Anointed One who declared: The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me (Luke 4:18). We also have been anointed as His chosen vessels (II Corinthians 1:21).

Today's Psalm: 1:2-3
"But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper."

Today's Prayer:
Dear Lord,
Often the daily grind is not appealing as I awaken each morning to the tasks before me. Sometimes the routine seems endless and at times pointless. I find myself lacking fulfillment in this aspect of my life and yet it requires the majority of my time and focus. Jesus, please help me to find the hidden strength that only comes from seeking You to deal with the negative attitudes that tempt me daily. Help me also to look beyond the immediate to the deeper meaning of each day's task. Above all, help me to keep my eyes on spiritual truths as I meditate upon Your Word and apply its meaning to my life each new day. It is in this faithful practice of placing You at the center of my focus that I can rise above the difficulties that come my way. May You restore to me, this day, the joy of Your salvation and renew a steadfast spirit within me. In Jesus' name, I pray.....Amen.

Have a marvelous Monday and week.
God Bless,
Christina

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Free Will 04.20.08

Hello My Friend/Guest,

It is Sunday April 20, 2008 and today we are completing our study on the book of II Samuel. Please read Chapters 23-24 in your Bible or you can Click Here to read. http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=II%20Samuel%2023-24&version=9

Today we will read and learn about the last words of David; his last recorded sin; David building an altar; his sacrifice; and the three-day plague. Today's message focuses on the importance of realizing that God blesses us with the free will to follow Him.

The last words of David, "Now these be the last words of David. David the son of Jesse said, and the man who was raised up on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel, said, The Spirit of the LORD spake by me, and his word was in my tongue. The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God. And he shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun riseth, even a morning without clouds; as the tender grass springing out of the earth by clear shining after rain. Although my house be not so with God; yet he hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things, and sure: for this is all my salvation, and all my desire, although he make it not to grow. But the sons of Belial shall be all of them as thorns thrust away, because they cannot be taken with hands: But the man that shall touch them must be fenced with iron and the staff of a spear; and they shall be utterly burned with fire in the same place." (II Samuel 23:1-7).

David never lost a battle in his 40-year reign. Although he had often prayed for the Lord's direction during his early years of conquest, his desire at this time to take a census of his army was obviously not based on any threat by invaders and it resulted in a three-day plague which killed 70,000 people. When we ignore the Word of God, Satan is quick to suggest wrong thoughts, as he did with David. From the standpoint of the absolute sovereignty of God over everything, including Satan, we read. "And again the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them to say, Go, number Israel and Judah. For the king said to Joab the captain of the host, which was with him, Go now through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan even to Beersheba, and number ye the people, that I may know the number of the people.....And Joab gave up the sum of the number of the people unto the king: and there were in Israel eight hundred thousand valiant men that drew the sword; and the men of Judah were five hundred thousand men. And David's heart smote him after that he had numbered the people. And David said unto the LORD, I have sinned greatly in that I have done: and now, I beseech thee, O LORD, take away the iniquity of thy servant; for I have done very foolishly.....And David built there an altar unto the LORD, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. So the LORD was intreated for the land, and the plague was stayed from Israel." (II Samuel 24:1-2,9-10,25).

It would be inconceivable for God to actually force David to commit this sin and then, before the census was completed, to destroy 70,000 people because of it . The Holy Spirit directed the writing of II Samuel to let us see that everyone is under the sovereign will of God but that He allows us to stubbornly go our own way, for He will not violate our free will.

There is no record that taking a census was prohibited. But the Law did state, "When thou takest the sum of the children of Israel after their number, then shall they give every man a ransom for his soul unto the LORD, when thou numberest them; that there be no plague among them, when thou numberest them. This they shall give, every one that passeth among them that are numbered, half a shekel after the shekel of the sanctuary: (a shekel is twenty gerahs:) an half shekel shall be the offering of the LORD." (Exodus 30:12-13). Because of this violation, a plague spread over the land. David's tragic experience is a reminder of how important it is that we pray one for another that we follow His will. "Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen." (Hebrews 13:20-21).

In today's message Jesus Christ is revealed through the silver which David used to purchase the threshing floor upon which he built an altar unto the Lord (II Samuel 24:24-25). Silver symbolizes Christ's redemption offered for all, " (Jedas) And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver." (Matthew 26:15).

Today's Psalm: 54:6
"I will freely sacrifice unto thee: I will praise thy name, O LORD; for it is good."

Have a great and wonderful Sunday!
God Bless,
Christina

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Praise God Always 04.19.08

Hello My Friend/Guest,

It is Saturday April 19, 2008 and today we are continuing our study on the book of II Samuel. Please read Chapter 21-22 in your Bible or you can Click Here to read. http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=II%20Samuel%2021%20--22&version=9

In today's message we will read and learn about God punishing Israel with a 3-year famine; seven members of Saul's family being put to death; and victories over Philistine giants. Today's message focuses on the importance of praising God through all circumstances.

The days of harvest had once again come, but there was nothing to eat because there was a famine in the land which lasted for 3 years. "Then there was a famine in the days of David three years, year after year; and David enquired of the LORD. And the LORD answered, It is for Saul, and for his bloody house, because he slew the Gibeonites." (II Samuel 21:1). Saul had violated the covenant that Israel had made with the Gibeonites 400 years earlier. That treaty was still sacred because the covenant had been sworn to in the Name of God (Joshua 9:3,15-19).

The surviving Gibeonites did not ask David for silver or gold to compensate for the murder of loved ones or for the loss of their property. Instead, they asked permission to hang seven men who were descendants of Saul. "And the Gibeonites said unto him, We will have no silver nor gold of Saul, nor of his house; neither for us shalt thou kill any man in Israel. And he said, What ye shall say, that will I do for you. And they answered the king, The man that consumed us, and that devised against us that we should be destroyed from remaining in any of the coasts of Israel, Let seven men of his sons be delivered unto us, and we will hang them up unto the LORD in Gibeah of Saul, whom the LORD did choose. And the king said, I will give them." (21:4-6). Therefore, David was responsible before God to deliver the seven men to the Gibeonites. Because of his covenant with Jonathan, an exception was made for his crippled son, Mephibosheth, "But the king spared Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan the son of Saul, because of the LORD's oath that was between them, between David and Jonathan the son of Saul." (21:7).

Throughout the Old Testament, we learn the value God has placed on keeping our promises. Let us recognize the danger of disregarding our moral and spiritual responsibilities. In God's eyes, not even the king of a nation is above its laws.

Although David's life was filled with many disappointments, sufferings, and sorrows, he readily acknowledged that it was the Lord who gave every deliverance from his enemies. Because of his many years of prayerful conversation with the Lord, it was natural for David to write a song for Him. (II Samuel 22). David teaches us to give praise to God in the midst of stressful times regardless of our circumstances. Such a testimony may be God's means of letting others come to know Him.

There are times when believers pray without getting immediate answers from God. "But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." (Isaiah 40:31). Consider your motive when praying, God cannot answer prayers that are out of harmony with His will. Therefore it is in our best interest that we come to know and then live in harmony with His revealed Word.

Today's Psalm:18:49
"Therefore will I give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the heathen, and sing praises unto thy name."

Today's Prayer: From Psalm 18
1I will love thee, O LORD, my strength.

2The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.

3I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.

4The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid.

5The sorrows of hell compassed me about: the snares of death prevented me.

6In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears.

Have a great and wonderful Saturday night and enjoy the rest of your weekend. I apologize for the delay in the message today.
God Bless,
Christina

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Remain Faithful Through Grief 04.18.08

Hello My Friend/Guest,

It is Friday April 18, 2008 and today we are continuing our study on the book of II Samuel. Please read Chapters 19-20 in your Bible or you can Click Here to read. http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=II%20%20Samuel%2019-20;&version=9

Today we will read and learn about Joab rebuking David; he returns to Jerusalem; Sheba rebelling and is killed. Today's message focuses on the importance of having faith and trust in God through all things including grief and sorrow.

David's deep grief at the death of his evil son Absalom made him incapable of feeling or carrying out his responsibility to both God and the people. His sorrow was so great that he lost all sense of gratitude to God and his faithful followers. But the death of the rebel leader was the only way by which peace could be restored to the nation and the throne could be restored to its God-appointed king. "And it was told Joab, Behold, the king weepeth and mourneth for Absalom. And the victory that day was turned into mourning unto all the people: for the people heard say that day how the king was grieved for his son. And the people gat them by stealth that day into the city, as people being ashamed steal away when they flee in battle. But the king covered his face, and the king cried with a loud voice, O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son!" (II Samuel 19:1-4).

A great crisis faced the nation and, if Joab had not aroused David to action, the consequences could have been disastrous. "And Joab came into the house to the king, and said, Thou hast shamed this day the faces of all thy servants, which this day have saved thy life, and the lives of thy sons and of thy daughters, and the lives of thy wives, and the lives of thy concubines; In that thou lovest thine enemies, and hatest thy friends. For thou hast declared this day, that thou regardest neither princes nor servants: for this day I perceive, that if Absalom had lived, and all we had died this day, then it had pleased thee well. Now therefore arise, go forth, and speak comfortably unto thy servants: for I swear by the LORD, if thou go not forth, there will not tarry one with thee this night: and that will be worse unto thee than all the evil that befell thee from thy youth until now. Then the king arose, and sat in the gate. And they told unto all the people, saying, Behold, the king doth sit in the gate. And all the people came before the king: for Israel had fled every man to his tent." (19:5-8). David's weakness here is one of which all of us in similar circumstances need encouragement. Although we may take exception to the spirit of Joab's rebuke to David as rude and unkind, no one can contradict his reasoning. Subsequently, David manifested a proper spirit and acknowledged himself wrong.

The general discontent of Israel gave Sheba, an ambitious leader, the opportunity to start another civil war. "And there happened to be there a man of Belial, whose name was Sheba, the son of Bichri, a Benjamite: and he blew a trumpet, and said, We have no part in David, neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: every man to his tents, O Israel. So every man of Israel went up from after David, and followed Sheba the son of Bichri: but the men of Judah clave unto their king, from Jordan even to Jerusalem." (20:1-2).

The years of suffering, rebellion, murder, and civil war during David's reign were directly related to his sin with Bathsheba (12:10). Little could David realize, when he beheld the beautiful Bathsheba taking a bath, that it could bring so much suffering. Although the Lord forgave David's sin (12:13), its consequences continued to plague him throughout the last half of his reign. The fleeting, momentary pleasures of sin always come at a price much higher than was expected.

All of us, at times, are responsible for the adversities and sorrows which we experience. It is also natural to condemn ourselves for our faults and failures, or even to blame others for the things that disappoint us. Like David, we can grieve too long over what might have been. If we are out of the will of God, we need to repent of our sins, ask God to forgive us, and move forward.

In our darkest moments, we all need friends to remind us to trust the Lord. In turn, we need to be a friend who will share comforting words with a despondent sufferer. By God's grace, we should encourage them to become involved in a local church where others can help deepen and nurture their faith in the love of God for we are members of Christ's body.

Grief and sorrow come to all of us sooner or later, but Christians who put their lives and their trust in Jesus are able to endure all things. "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." (Philippians 4:13).

In today's message Jesus Christ is revealed through David, who wished to be invited back as king (II Samuel 19:11). Our Lord Jesus wants to be invited into the hearts of all mankind. He won't force His will on us; He only comes in by our invitation. "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne." (Revelation 3:19-21).

Today's Psalm: 30:5
"For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning."

Today's Prayer:
Dear Lord,
When we consider how many struggles, hardships and temptations we face in our lifetime the weight of these difficulties could overwhelm us. Lord, comfort those who are grieving, give them peace and let them know that You are near and that you are with them and have not forsaken them. Remind them that it is in Your resurrection that we stand victorious in the end when we face our last enemy on this side. In Jesus' name, I pray....Amen.

Have a great and wonderful Friday and weekend.
God Bless,
Christina

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