John 16:7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
John 16:8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
John 16:9 Of sin, because they believe not on me;
John 16:10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;
John 16:11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.
John 16:12 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.
John 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
John 16:14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
John 16:15 All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
"Before we can be guided, we must hear the voice of the Guide."
What greater person to guide to us, than the Omnipotent! The One who created all things, the One who sees all things, and the One whose presence everywhere cannot be denied! The One who is "Truth!"
Have you ever had your times of doubt?
God, "are You really guiding me?"
Now, that's a question, I know that God hears regularly every day!
There have been times, I've felt like nothing could stop me!
And then again, there have been those times when I felt like a complete failure and a washout before God!
"But the only thing that will keep us from being guided into all truth, is our own selves!"
We must stay in communion with Christ by the Holy Spirit!
We must stay in the Word of God!
We must take heed, how we hear! Be on guard!
1Peter 5:5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
5:6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
5:9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
5:10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
5:11 To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
"In all that we go through, God wants to guide us, into all truth."
"God exhorts us to look into His Word, and see HIS FAITHFUL GUIDING HAND!"
1Corinthians 10:1 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;
10:2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;
10:3 And did all eat the same spiritual meat;
10:4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.
10:5 But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.
"Just because we find ourselves in a wilderness, doesn't mean that God isn't guiding!"
It's in those times when we must draw nearer to God!
So many today, and I've found found myself tempted to pull away from the Lord when I'm in the wilderness!
"But we must not pull away, we must draw nigh to God, He's still guiding His Church!"
They all had the same salvation, deliverance, provision, and protection but God was not pleased with many! They were over thrown in the wilderness!
In our wilderness, we are going to allow God to guide us or either we will be overthrown!
1Corinthians 10:6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.
10:7 Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.
10:8 Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.
10:9 Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.
10:10 Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.
10:11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
10:12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
Our focus must be on God guiding us not on ourselves or any other than Christ!
We have been given examples from the Word of God for our learning! We must take every opportunity to learn to hear God's voice in the wilderness!
Jesus said: "Upon this rock, I will build My Church! And the gates of hell shall not prevail against it!"
Jesus was talking about a people that He is building together that make up His Body! Not mortar and bricks but living stones that make up a "holy habitation" for the Spirit of God to dwell in!
1Corinthians 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
10:14 Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.
"Never, was God unfaithful to those that He brought out!"
God will always remain faithful! But as His children we cannot refuse to hear His voice!
If you would read in Acts 27, you'll find the account of Paul's journey to Rome to appear before Caesar, that he was a man that was in the will of God, hearing the voice of God, and a man being used of God for God's glory!
A man that was given discernment of the way those in charge of the ship were about to take the wrong path!
"I believe that those in charge of leadership in many churches have tried to sail the ship (Jesus) in the wrong place, at the wrong time, and have loaded Jesus down with all of their tackling!"
The soft winds blew for awhile, just as it blew softly after Paul said: "I perceive that this course you're taking will cause much damage!"
Act 27:10 And said unto them, Sirs, I perceive that this voyage will be with hurt and much damage, not only of the lading and ship, but also of our lives.
Acts 27:11 Nevertheless the centurion believed the master and the owner of the ship, more than those things which were spoken by Paul.
They were lulled to sleep in their decision to charge that "Direction of the flesh", the winds are softly blowing and this must be the right time and direction to sail was their thinking.
It won't be long before the biggest storm and greatest ship-wreck that these sailors would have ever encountered before!
We can be assured that those who refuse to hear the voice of God and refuse to be guided by the Holy Spirit will face a storm that only Jesus Christ can get them through!
Just as those on the ship Paul was sailing on, had to lighten the ship by throwing over the board of the ship, the tackling, (things that were inside the ship that they had brought into the ship), there has to be that casting off of the works of man, the inventions of flesh that have corrupt the church and drained its power to be Christ to this world!
"Yes, God is guiding us into all Truth, but Truth without a price being paid, isn't worth much!"
Christ paid the price with His life! We must be willing to lay down our lives to and God will guide us into all Truth!
Friday, February 19, 2010
Monday, February 15, 2010
The Super Bowl has come and gone and we are not saved.
Jeremiah 8:18 When I would comfort myself against sorrow, my heart is faint in me.
Jeremiah 8:19 Behold the voice of the cry of the daughter of my people because of them that dwell in a far country: Is not the LORD in Zion? is not her king in her? Why have they provoked me to anger with their graven images, and with strange vanities?
Jeremiah 8:20 The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.
Jeremiah 8:21 For the hurt of the daughter of my people am I hurt; I am black; astonishment hath taken hold on me.
Jeremiah 8:22 Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there? why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered?
"The prophet Jeremiah's heart was heavy for the condition of his people."
They were dwelling in a far country.
The Lord's presence is gone.
Where's her king?
They've provoked God by their graven images and their strange vanities!
And on top of it all, the summer is ended, and we are not saved!
Anguish for his people had taken hold upon him!
Jeremiah ask: "Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there?" why then is not the health of the daughter of my my people recovered? Jeremiah 8:22
Below is a post comment from www.bradraby.blogspot.com
The Apostle Paul in 2 Timothy 2:15 commands that we “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who doesn't need to be ashamed, correctly teaching the word of truth.” The King James Version reads that we should “Rightly Divide” the truth, God’s Word.
1) The scripture teaches that the “church” is the Body of Christ. Believers whom God’s Son Jesus purchased with His own blood. Colossians 1:18, 1 Corinthians 12:12-13. The church is not a building. Local churches may use a building to meet in, worship together, serve their community, etc. , but the church is the Body of Christ – born again believers. God doesn’t dwell in church buildings. What the author calls a Sanctuary is not a Sanctuary, but an auditorium. However, the Most High does not dwell in sanctuaries made with hands – Acts 7:48. There is nothing scripturally holy about a church’s building. They are but brick and mortar. God resides in the heart of man.
2) Hebrews 10:25 says that “we not staying away from our meetings, as some habitually do, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day drawing near”. To ascribe a man designed schedule of worship services to that scripture is simply heretical. The assertion that Jesus has ordained that local churches hold a Sunday School Service, followed by a corporate worship service in the morning, then gather back in the evening, and then again on Wednesday night is ridiculous. History shows that the Puritans had a Sunday Morning and Evening service in the 1600s, and that in America Mid-week services became common place around 100 years ago. So for the vast majority of church history evening services didn’t even exist. Have we come full circle and become exactly what the Pharisees and Sadducees of Jesus’ day were? I think so. We should bathe ourselves in Galatians so that we can be loosed from this modern day Law. – Galatians 3:10
3) Here are interesting verses: Acts 2:46&47 And every day they devoted themselves [to meeting] together in the temple complex, and broke bread from house to house. They ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And every day the Lord added to them those who were being saved. So they gathered corporately (in the Temple complex) and house to house (uh, in homes). So churches dividing up into small groups, fellowshipping together, even enjoying something like a football game is wrong? Ridiculous. Further evidence that Paul was a fan of athletic competition is all the sports metaphors he uses in scripture. Additionally churches all over America use the Super Bowl as a way to connect their unbelieving family and friends with their church family in an effort to lead them to Christ.
4) Jesus ate with tax collectors and prostitutes without embracing or partaking in their sin. We better figure out how to do that in our culture as well.
5) Sometimes “correctly teaching the word of truth” means rebuking man made traditions for the purity of God’s Holy Scriptures.
My comment:
"Get off the couch! Turn that one-eyed idol off! Put that soda down for Christ sake! Get that burger out of your mouth!"
Then, it won't be hard for you to figure out what you need to do!
Look around you today, they're still hungry! Feed them!
Look around you today, they're still thirsty! Give them water!
Look around you today, they're still the "nobodys" out there! Take them in!
Look around you, they're still naked today! Clothe them!
Look around you, never has man had different types of medicines and drugs for healing, when at the same time never has there been so many people who are sick! Visit them! Take Christ to them!
Look around you, our prisons are full of lost souls, full of christians who have failed God and now are incarcerated! Go to them!
If we want to stay home and watch something on television, regardless of what it is, we are doing what we want to do! Don't call it ministry! Call it what it is! It's our will being done!
That "Super Bowl Ministry" of yours doesn't work!
How do I know?
Out of the millions of souls that met and watched it, surely we would have converted the world by now!
The world isn't any better today because you sat down and watched all of that with the lost!
Jesus said: "Inasmuch as you have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, you have done it unto to me." Matt. 25:40
Jesus called a publican , Matthew the son of Alphaeus, but after his calling, he became a followers of Christ! Yes! Jesus ate in his house, but he was a changed man!
Jesus ate in the house of Zachaeus, a man who was seeking to see Jesus , (not seeking to see the events that were going on), a man that was being drawn to Christ.
"Zachaeus did all that was in his power to see Jesus!"
When Jesus came to where Zachaeus was, Zachaeus was ready to come down and receive Christ!
"Zachaeus, make haste, and come down; for today I must abide at thy house." Luke 19:5
And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully. Luke 19:6
Zachaeus was a changed man as he came down and received Jesus joyfully! (The previous scripture)
Luke 19:7
And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner.
Zachaeus was already changed because he came down and received Jesus joyfully! (Read below)
Luke 19:8 And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.
(Zachaeus' change was evident by his standing before those present, and proclaiming his willingness to live and do what was needed to make restitution to those he had wronged willing and that he had unknowingly wronged. )
Luke 19:9 And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham.
This day! What day?
It's not what you say or I say that makes me saved! It's my obedience to the Word of God and faith in Christ that has sought me and found me, and has changed me!
Luke 19:10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
"Get off the couch folks and get out there where Christ is!"
Jeremiah 8:19 Behold the voice of the cry of the daughter of my people because of them that dwell in a far country: Is not the LORD in Zion? is not her king in her? Why have they provoked me to anger with their graven images, and with strange vanities?
Jeremiah 8:20 The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.
Jeremiah 8:21 For the hurt of the daughter of my people am I hurt; I am black; astonishment hath taken hold on me.
Jeremiah 8:22 Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there? why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered?
"The prophet Jeremiah's heart was heavy for the condition of his people."
They were dwelling in a far country.
The Lord's presence is gone.
Where's her king?
They've provoked God by their graven images and their strange vanities!
And on top of it all, the summer is ended, and we are not saved!
Anguish for his people had taken hold upon him!
Jeremiah ask: "Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there?" why then is not the health of the daughter of my my people recovered? Jeremiah 8:22
Below is a post comment from www.bradraby.blogspot.com
The Apostle Paul in 2 Timothy 2:15 commands that we “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who doesn't need to be ashamed, correctly teaching the word of truth.” The King James Version reads that we should “Rightly Divide” the truth, God’s Word.
1) The scripture teaches that the “church” is the Body of Christ. Believers whom God’s Son Jesus purchased with His own blood. Colossians 1:18, 1 Corinthians 12:12-13. The church is not a building. Local churches may use a building to meet in, worship together, serve their community, etc. , but the church is the Body of Christ – born again believers. God doesn’t dwell in church buildings. What the author calls a Sanctuary is not a Sanctuary, but an auditorium. However, the Most High does not dwell in sanctuaries made with hands – Acts 7:48. There is nothing scripturally holy about a church’s building. They are but brick and mortar. God resides in the heart of man.
2) Hebrews 10:25 says that “we not staying away from our meetings, as some habitually do, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day drawing near”. To ascribe a man designed schedule of worship services to that scripture is simply heretical. The assertion that Jesus has ordained that local churches hold a Sunday School Service, followed by a corporate worship service in the morning, then gather back in the evening, and then again on Wednesday night is ridiculous. History shows that the Puritans had a Sunday Morning and Evening service in the 1600s, and that in America Mid-week services became common place around 100 years ago. So for the vast majority of church history evening services didn’t even exist. Have we come full circle and become exactly what the Pharisees and Sadducees of Jesus’ day were? I think so. We should bathe ourselves in Galatians so that we can be loosed from this modern day Law. – Galatians 3:10
3) Here are interesting verses: Acts 2:46&47 And every day they devoted themselves [to meeting] together in the temple complex, and broke bread from house to house. They ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And every day the Lord added to them those who were being saved. So they gathered corporately (in the Temple complex) and house to house (uh, in homes). So churches dividing up into small groups, fellowshipping together, even enjoying something like a football game is wrong? Ridiculous. Further evidence that Paul was a fan of athletic competition is all the sports metaphors he uses in scripture. Additionally churches all over America use the Super Bowl as a way to connect their unbelieving family and friends with their church family in an effort to lead them to Christ.
4) Jesus ate with tax collectors and prostitutes without embracing or partaking in their sin. We better figure out how to do that in our culture as well.
5) Sometimes “correctly teaching the word of truth” means rebuking man made traditions for the purity of God’s Holy Scriptures.
My comment:
"Get off the couch! Turn that one-eyed idol off! Put that soda down for Christ sake! Get that burger out of your mouth!"
Then, it won't be hard for you to figure out what you need to do!
Look around you today, they're still hungry! Feed them!
Look around you today, they're still thirsty! Give them water!
Look around you today, they're still the "nobodys" out there! Take them in!
Look around you, they're still naked today! Clothe them!
Look around you, never has man had different types of medicines and drugs for healing, when at the same time never has there been so many people who are sick! Visit them! Take Christ to them!
Look around you, our prisons are full of lost souls, full of christians who have failed God and now are incarcerated! Go to them!
If we want to stay home and watch something on television, regardless of what it is, we are doing what we want to do! Don't call it ministry! Call it what it is! It's our will being done!
That "Super Bowl Ministry" of yours doesn't work!
How do I know?
Out of the millions of souls that met and watched it, surely we would have converted the world by now!
The world isn't any better today because you sat down and watched all of that with the lost!
Jesus said: "Inasmuch as you have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, you have done it unto to me." Matt. 25:40
Jesus called a publican , Matthew the son of Alphaeus, but after his calling, he became a followers of Christ! Yes! Jesus ate in his house, but he was a changed man!
Jesus ate in the house of Zachaeus, a man who was seeking to see Jesus , (not seeking to see the events that were going on), a man that was being drawn to Christ.
"Zachaeus did all that was in his power to see Jesus!"
When Jesus came to where Zachaeus was, Zachaeus was ready to come down and receive Christ!
"Zachaeus, make haste, and come down; for today I must abide at thy house." Luke 19:5
And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully. Luke 19:6
Zachaeus was a changed man as he came down and received Jesus joyfully! (The previous scripture)
Luke 19:7
And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner.
Zachaeus was already changed because he came down and received Jesus joyfully! (Read below)
Luke 19:8 And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.
(Zachaeus' change was evident by his standing before those present, and proclaiming his willingness to live and do what was needed to make restitution to those he had wronged willing and that he had unknowingly wronged. )
Luke 19:9 And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham.
This day! What day?
It's not what you say or I say that makes me saved! It's my obedience to the Word of God and faith in Christ that has sought me and found me, and has changed me!
Luke 19:10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
"Get off the couch folks and get out there where Christ is!"
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Give It All!
Act 3:1 Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.
Act 3:2 And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple;
Act 3:3 Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms.
Act 3:4 And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.
Act 3:5 And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.
Act 3:6 Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.
"What do you give a person that is expecting to receive something that you do not have?"
Many people today are trying to impress people by pretending they have so much, when in fact they have so little!
Trying to keep up with the "Jones" has over burdened many Christian people today. Stress is in abundance and peace of mind is out of reach for those who, instead of trusting God and being content with such as they have, they over-extend themselves through the miracle of plastic today! And then they get another piece of plastic to pay for the previous piece of plastic!
Well, there is a remedy! It's called plastic surgery. "You just take a good pair of sharp scissors and cut those little plastic cards in very small pieces." That's the first step to your recovery.
Next, when you are asked: "Plastic or Paper?" Remember this, choose the paper, the pages of the Word of God, be a doer of the Word and not a hearer only!
God's Word tells us of the consequences of our actions that ignore the Truths of the Bible. But the Bible will always show us the Way out if we are willing to humble ourselves and be willing to do what God says. Isaiah 1:19 If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:
No matter how far in debt, no matter how deep in error to the Word of God you are, or how hopeless and helpless you might feel, "Rise up and Walk!"
There was a man in the above passage from Acts chapter 3 that had been dependent upon man all of his life for his help. He looked to man to carry him daily to the temple.
Now, when we think of a man going to the temple, we think of someone going to meet with God. But not so in this man's thinking. His mind was on man getting him to the temple, his mind was on man who would be coming by his way, and his mind was on what he would receive from a man to meet his need for the day.
Many today are like the man at the Beautiful Gate (Jesus is that Beautiful gate), they are content to be brought to the Beautiful Gate by the effort of others, but when they are there, they are content to sit outside of the Beautiful Gate to again receive something from those going into the Beautiful Gate!
That Beautiful gate is a type of Christ, Jesus said: "I am the Door!"
John 10:9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
This man is like so many today, they are looking to the world for their help and so little today are looking to Christ.
Just because you are a Christian doesn't keep you out of hardships. I encourage you today if you are facing hardships or trials right now, don't make things worse by continuing to look to the world's way of fixing your problem, go to the Door! Jesus!
Acts 3:2 And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple;
Most of those that were going into the temple had the same mentality that the lame man had, they were going because the inventions of man would be there.
But there was a few that God had changed, and He would use to change the lives of others for His glory!
"Just suppose, you are at the gate."
Suppose you are the man at the gate, put yourself in his place, feel his despair, feel his outlook for the next day, the next week, the next year!
What do, you want? You are the man!
What do you want somebody to give to you?
Has your mind been conditioned to only look to a natural man to meet your need?
"Some of you reading this today, you are the man! You are the woman! You are the boy! Or you are the girl that is described here in the book of Acts."
Your whole life has been a life of misery. You may have even put up a good front before others, because you just needed their help.
Listen, we need the help of others at times but we must realize that even the help of others, was a way that God was showing His mercy and grace to us!
What do we really need? "We must come in at the Door!"
A song goes like this that I heard: "Gods got a way that you can't go over....Gods got a way that you can't go under.....Gods got a way that you can't go around it....you must come in at the Door!" That Door is Jesus Christ!
"You see, when true servants of the Lord pass your way, hope will be brought your way!"
I, for a moment , will put myself in that man's place.
I find that I'm in the prime of my age but yet have no strength to do very little for myself. This really is no prime of life for me.
As long as I can remember, my life has been a struggle just to make it. But you know, there have been these people, who have come to me, and carried me to the Gate!
I stay here, I've seen many coming and going for so many years now, who are truly in the prime of their life. I've heard them talking about their financial success, I've heard them talking about the new homes that they have built. They have been going into the Beautiful Gate now for so many years. I've heard so many talk about their families and all the happiness they have. "But I sit at the gate."
But lately, after so many years, there's something going on, I don't really know, but still I sit at the gate. I'm still being carried by someone, I still have a voice, I still ask an alm, but I still sit at the gate.
Well, here I am again today, here I sit at the gate. It about the ninth hour, prayer meeting is about to start.
Oh good, here comes two men now, they're coming right to me. "Please give me your spare change!"
I'm the man now!
The one whom has been carried and daily laid at the gate of the temple! "Please, give me just enough to make it through today!"
But right now, I as I'm looking into the eyes of these men that have said to me: "Look on us!"
All of a sudden, I'm feeling something that I've never felt before in my whole life! Never have I sensed this feeling that I'm feeling right now! Something is about to be given unto me!
I'm hearing this man say very loudly in my hearing that he doesn't have any spare change but yet I'm not disappointed!
I'm hearing this man saying with all honesty that he doesn't have enough, just to help me make it through the day, and still I'm not disappointed by what I'm hearing!
"These men are of a different sort!"
I've been rejected before by men but I know I'm not being rejected by these this time!
I know that this time , something else has to be said to me! I know that I'm not going to be passed by!
Something has happened just recently in this city, in an upper room! The power of God has been poured out upon the people of God!
I know these are truly men of God! I still sit at the gate but I expect something today!
As I hear the words, "Silver and gold have I none", I look beyond the the disappointment of those words and I now hear these words: "but such as I have give I thee:"
"Something is about to happen to me that will for ever change my life!"
In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk!
Act 3:7 And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.
Act 3:8 And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.
You, who are reading this today, don't just sit at the Gate, Jesus is right where you are! He is the Beautiful Gate! The entrance into God's Kingdom!
He, and He alone is the Door that we all must enter to be saved!
Believer in Christ, do you realize the, "such as I have", that is within you?
Eph 1:17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:
Eph 1:18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
Eph 1:19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,
Eph 1:20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
Eph 1:21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
Eph 1:22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
Eph 1:23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
Col 2:6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:
Col 2:7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
Col 2:8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
Col 2:9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
Col 2:10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
"What do we give?"
We give such as we have!
We give out of that which Christ has given unto us!
Out of His fulness! We are complete in Christ!
Christ is the Head of us, the Church, the Body of Christ.
We are to give Jesus to those around us!
In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.
And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up:
and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.
And he leaping up stood,
and walked,
and entered with them into the temple,
walking, and leaping, and praising God!
What a beginning! When he began to rise up and walk!
What an abundant life! He entered the Door!
Walking, and leaping, and praising God!
What do you give?
Give it all!
Act 3:2 And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple;
Act 3:3 Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms.
Act 3:4 And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.
Act 3:5 And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.
Act 3:6 Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.
"What do you give a person that is expecting to receive something that you do not have?"
Many people today are trying to impress people by pretending they have so much, when in fact they have so little!
Trying to keep up with the "Jones" has over burdened many Christian people today. Stress is in abundance and peace of mind is out of reach for those who, instead of trusting God and being content with such as they have, they over-extend themselves through the miracle of plastic today! And then they get another piece of plastic to pay for the previous piece of plastic!
Well, there is a remedy! It's called plastic surgery. "You just take a good pair of sharp scissors and cut those little plastic cards in very small pieces." That's the first step to your recovery.
Next, when you are asked: "Plastic or Paper?" Remember this, choose the paper, the pages of the Word of God, be a doer of the Word and not a hearer only!
God's Word tells us of the consequences of our actions that ignore the Truths of the Bible. But the Bible will always show us the Way out if we are willing to humble ourselves and be willing to do what God says. Isaiah 1:19 If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:
No matter how far in debt, no matter how deep in error to the Word of God you are, or how hopeless and helpless you might feel, "Rise up and Walk!"
There was a man in the above passage from Acts chapter 3 that had been dependent upon man all of his life for his help. He looked to man to carry him daily to the temple.
Now, when we think of a man going to the temple, we think of someone going to meet with God. But not so in this man's thinking. His mind was on man getting him to the temple, his mind was on man who would be coming by his way, and his mind was on what he would receive from a man to meet his need for the day.
Many today are like the man at the Beautiful Gate (Jesus is that Beautiful gate), they are content to be brought to the Beautiful Gate by the effort of others, but when they are there, they are content to sit outside of the Beautiful Gate to again receive something from those going into the Beautiful Gate!
That Beautiful gate is a type of Christ, Jesus said: "I am the Door!"
John 10:9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
This man is like so many today, they are looking to the world for their help and so little today are looking to Christ.
Just because you are a Christian doesn't keep you out of hardships. I encourage you today if you are facing hardships or trials right now, don't make things worse by continuing to look to the world's way of fixing your problem, go to the Door! Jesus!
Acts 3:2 And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple;
Most of those that were going into the temple had the same mentality that the lame man had, they were going because the inventions of man would be there.
But there was a few that God had changed, and He would use to change the lives of others for His glory!
"Just suppose, you are at the gate."
Suppose you are the man at the gate, put yourself in his place, feel his despair, feel his outlook for the next day, the next week, the next year!
What do, you want? You are the man!
What do you want somebody to give to you?
Has your mind been conditioned to only look to a natural man to meet your need?
"Some of you reading this today, you are the man! You are the woman! You are the boy! Or you are the girl that is described here in the book of Acts."
Your whole life has been a life of misery. You may have even put up a good front before others, because you just needed their help.
Listen, we need the help of others at times but we must realize that even the help of others, was a way that God was showing His mercy and grace to us!
What do we really need? "We must come in at the Door!"
A song goes like this that I heard: "Gods got a way that you can't go over....Gods got a way that you can't go under.....Gods got a way that you can't go around it....you must come in at the Door!" That Door is Jesus Christ!
"You see, when true servants of the Lord pass your way, hope will be brought your way!"
I, for a moment , will put myself in that man's place.
I find that I'm in the prime of my age but yet have no strength to do very little for myself. This really is no prime of life for me.
As long as I can remember, my life has been a struggle just to make it. But you know, there have been these people, who have come to me, and carried me to the Gate!
I stay here, I've seen many coming and going for so many years now, who are truly in the prime of their life. I've heard them talking about their financial success, I've heard them talking about the new homes that they have built. They have been going into the Beautiful Gate now for so many years. I've heard so many talk about their families and all the happiness they have. "But I sit at the gate."
But lately, after so many years, there's something going on, I don't really know, but still I sit at the gate. I'm still being carried by someone, I still have a voice, I still ask an alm, but I still sit at the gate.
Well, here I am again today, here I sit at the gate. It about the ninth hour, prayer meeting is about to start.
Oh good, here comes two men now, they're coming right to me. "Please give me your spare change!"
I'm the man now!
The one whom has been carried and daily laid at the gate of the temple! "Please, give me just enough to make it through today!"
But right now, I as I'm looking into the eyes of these men that have said to me: "Look on us!"
All of a sudden, I'm feeling something that I've never felt before in my whole life! Never have I sensed this feeling that I'm feeling right now! Something is about to be given unto me!
I'm hearing this man say very loudly in my hearing that he doesn't have any spare change but yet I'm not disappointed!
I'm hearing this man saying with all honesty that he doesn't have enough, just to help me make it through the day, and still I'm not disappointed by what I'm hearing!
"These men are of a different sort!"
I've been rejected before by men but I know I'm not being rejected by these this time!
I know that this time , something else has to be said to me! I know that I'm not going to be passed by!
Something has happened just recently in this city, in an upper room! The power of God has been poured out upon the people of God!
I know these are truly men of God! I still sit at the gate but I expect something today!
As I hear the words, "Silver and gold have I none", I look beyond the the disappointment of those words and I now hear these words: "but such as I have give I thee:"
"Something is about to happen to me that will for ever change my life!"
In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk!
Act 3:7 And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.
Act 3:8 And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.
You, who are reading this today, don't just sit at the Gate, Jesus is right where you are! He is the Beautiful Gate! The entrance into God's Kingdom!
He, and He alone is the Door that we all must enter to be saved!
Believer in Christ, do you realize the, "such as I have", that is within you?
Eph 1:17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:
Eph 1:18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
Eph 1:19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,
Eph 1:20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
Eph 1:21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
Eph 1:22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
Eph 1:23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
Col 2:6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:
Col 2:7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
Col 2:8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
Col 2:9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
Col 2:10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
"What do we give?"
We give such as we have!
We give out of that which Christ has given unto us!
Out of His fulness! We are complete in Christ!
Christ is the Head of us, the Church, the Body of Christ.
We are to give Jesus to those around us!
In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.
And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up:
and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.
And he leaping up stood,
and walked,
and entered with them into the temple,
walking, and leaping, and praising God!
What a beginning! When he began to rise up and walk!
What an abundant life! He entered the Door!
Walking, and leaping, and praising God!
What do you give?
Give it all!
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Get Your Eyes on Jesus
Hebrews 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
Hebrews 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
You must have faith in God!
Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Hebrews 11:3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
Get your eyes on Jesus!
“You must look on Jesus through the eye of faith!”
Abel looked to the Lord with his sacrifice!
Enoch got his eyes on Jesus! God took him!
Noah looked to the Lord in faith!
Abraham believed and looked to the Lord!
Listen! God is no respecter of persons!
Hebrews 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses
"We have a great company of examples to look at for our encouragement!"
We may be encouraged when we read or think about how God moved in the lives of these people in days gone by!
But we must get our eyes on Jesus!
He's the Author and Finisher of our faith!
Jesus told his' disciples to have faith in God!
He's telling you and me today!__Quit trusting in yourselves!
Stop looking to man for your help!
Don't go back to Egypt for help!
Get your eyes on Jesus!
He begins faith in us!
He finishes the work of faith in us!
Looking unto to Jesus!
Phillipians 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
"We must have faith in God__if we expect to get our eyes on Jesus!"
We must lay aside every weight and the besetting sin.
John 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
Romans 6:11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans 6:12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
Romans 6:13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
Romans 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
Romans 6:15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.
Romans 6:16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
Romans 6:17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
Romans 6:18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
Rom 6:19 I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.
Romans 6:20 For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.
Romans 6:21 What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.
Romans 6:22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Nothing compares to presence of the Lord!
Psalms 16:11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
1John 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
The lust of the flesh.
The lust of the eyes.
The pride of life!
Is not of the Father!
"We must lay aside every weight and the sin!"
God's is calling a people out!
2Corinthians 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
"The people of Israel were in bondage! They would have died in Egypt had it not been for God sending a deliverer!"
God has sent us a Deliverer!
His name is Jesus!
We must have faith in God!
We must look to Him!
Get your eyes off your problems and get them on Jesus!
Look to Jesus! Don't let the weights of this world hold you down!
Lay them aside by God's grace! and the power of the Holy Spirit!
He will be your Deliverer! He will give you power over sin and you can live a victorious life looking unto Jesus!
Run the race with patience
"How many a Christian has begun to run this race and has given up or has fallen because their eyes were not on Jesus!"
People , we’ve got to look unto Jesus!
He's our only Hope!
He's our Blessed Hope!
Hebrews 9:28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
Jesus is our very present help in the time of trouble!
There is complete deliverance in Jesus!
Matthew 11:27 All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.
Matthew 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Mathew 11:29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
Mathew 11:30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Get your eyes on Jesus!
#1.Have faith in God!
#2. Lay aside every weight!
#3. Run with patience the race that is set before you!
The Apostle Paul said:
Philipians 3:12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
Philipians 3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Jesus is saying to all of His Church today__"Have faith in God, lay aside every weight, and run with patience the race that is set before you."
"Get your eyes on Jesus."
Hebrews 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
You must have faith in God!
Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Hebrews 11:3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
Get your eyes on Jesus!
“You must look on Jesus through the eye of faith!”
Abel looked to the Lord with his sacrifice!
Enoch got his eyes on Jesus! God took him!
Noah looked to the Lord in faith!
Abraham believed and looked to the Lord!
Listen! God is no respecter of persons!
Hebrews 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses
"We have a great company of examples to look at for our encouragement!"
We may be encouraged when we read or think about how God moved in the lives of these people in days gone by!
But we must get our eyes on Jesus!
He's the Author and Finisher of our faith!
Jesus told his' disciples to have faith in God!
He's telling you and me today!__Quit trusting in yourselves!
Stop looking to man for your help!
Don't go back to Egypt for help!
Get your eyes on Jesus!
He begins faith in us!
He finishes the work of faith in us!
Looking unto to Jesus!
Phillipians 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
"We must have faith in God__if we expect to get our eyes on Jesus!"
We must lay aside every weight and the besetting sin.
John 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
Romans 6:11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans 6:12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
Romans 6:13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
Romans 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
Romans 6:15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.
Romans 6:16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
Romans 6:17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
Romans 6:18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
Rom 6:19 I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.
Romans 6:20 For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.
Romans 6:21 What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.
Romans 6:22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Nothing compares to presence of the Lord!
Psalms 16:11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
1John 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
The lust of the flesh.
The lust of the eyes.
The pride of life!
Is not of the Father!
"We must lay aside every weight and the sin!"
God's is calling a people out!
2Corinthians 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
"The people of Israel were in bondage! They would have died in Egypt had it not been for God sending a deliverer!"
God has sent us a Deliverer!
His name is Jesus!
We must have faith in God!
We must look to Him!
Get your eyes off your problems and get them on Jesus!
Look to Jesus! Don't let the weights of this world hold you down!
Lay them aside by God's grace! and the power of the Holy Spirit!
He will be your Deliverer! He will give you power over sin and you can live a victorious life looking unto Jesus!
Run the race with patience
"How many a Christian has begun to run this race and has given up or has fallen because their eyes were not on Jesus!"
People , we’ve got to look unto Jesus!
He's our only Hope!
He's our Blessed Hope!
Hebrews 9:28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
Jesus is our very present help in the time of trouble!
There is complete deliverance in Jesus!
Matthew 11:27 All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.
Matthew 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Mathew 11:29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
Mathew 11:30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Get your eyes on Jesus!
#1.Have faith in God!
#2. Lay aside every weight!
#3. Run with patience the race that is set before you!
The Apostle Paul said:
Philipians 3:12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
Philipians 3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Jesus is saying to all of His Church today__"Have faith in God, lay aside every weight, and run with patience the race that is set before you."
"Get your eyes on Jesus."
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
It's Too Late For Games
Recently, I went to a local store to pick up some cold medication, and as I was in the check-out line, there were two ladies ahead of me, I heard the cashier ask if they were playing a promotion of the store, the “Game of Life”? Each lady responded passively, no.
Finally, I was next and when the cashier scanned my medicine, it didn’t scan it. She then asked me if I knew the price, I responded with five or six dollars or something. She said that she would go get another box to scan to get the price, while I waited there was a lady holding several items which I told her she could place on the counter, which she did, responding with the words, “I came here to get this one item and I’ve got much more than I came for.”(The Game of Life in action, you always get more than you intended to get!) I said: “Looks like you’ll have time to get some more”, I told the lady as she was placing several items on the counter, because the cashier had scanned the second box of cold medicine and it didn’t scan either. But finally, she returns with the third box and it scans and I know the price, $6.99. So she added my total and then asked me the question, “Are you playing the Game of Life?” I then told her, “No, I played the Game of Life for 28 years but now I live the Life of Another, Jesus Christ!” We must die daily to our self that the Life of Christ might live through us!
Are you playing the Game of Life? Or Living the Life of Another?
The following scriptures are taken from the Message Bible.
1Ki 22:1 They enjoyed three years of peace--no fighting between Aram and Israel.
1Ki 22:2 In the third year, Jehoshaphat king of Judah had a meeting with the king of Israel.
1Ki 22:3 Israel's king remarked to his aides, "Do you realize that Ramoth Gilead belongs to us, and we're sitting around on our hands instead of taking it back from the king of Aram?"
1Ki 22:4 He turned to Jehoshaphat and said, "Will you join me in fighting for Ramoth Gilead?" Jehoshaphat said, "You bet. I'm with you all the way--my troops are your troops, my horses are your horses."
1Ki 22:5 He then continued, "But before you do anything, ask GOD for guidance."
1Ki 22:6 The king of Israel got the prophets together--all four hundred of them--and put the question to them: "Should I attack Ramoth Gilead? Or should I hold back?" "Go for it," they said. "GOD will hand it over to the king."
1Ki 22:7 But Jehoshaphat dragged his heels: "Is there still another prophet of GOD around here we can consult?"
1Ki 22:8 The king of Israel told Jehoshaphat, "As a matter of fact, there is still one such man. But I hate him. He never preaches anything good to me, only doom, doom, doom--Micaiah son of Imlah." "The king shouldn't talk about a prophet like that," said Jehoshaphat.
1Ki 22:9 So the king of Israel ordered one of his men, "On the double! Get Micaiah son of Imlah."
1Ki 22:10 Meanwhile, the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat were seated on their thrones, dressed in their royal robes, resplendent in front of the Samaria city gates. All the prophets were staging a prophecy-performance for their benefit.
1Ki 22:11 Zedekiah son of Kenaanah had even made a set of iron horns, and brandishing them called out, "GOD's word! With these horns you'll gore Aram until there's nothing left of him!"
1Ki 22:12 All the prophets chimed in, "Yes! Go for Ramoth Gilead! An easy victory! GOD's gift to the king!"
1Ki 22:13 The messenger who went to get Micaiah said, "The prophets have all said Yes to the king. Make it unanimous--vote Yes!"
1Ki 22:14 But Micaiah said, "As surely as GOD lives, what GOD says, I'll say."
1Ki 22:15 With Micaiah before him, the king asked him, "So Micaiah--do we attack Ramoth Gilead, or do we hold back?" "Go ahead," he said. "An easy victory. GOD's gift to the king."
1Ki 22:16 "Not so fast," said the king. "How many times have I made you promise under oath to tell me the truth and nothing but the truth?"
1Ki 22:17 "All right," said Micaiah, "since you insist. I saw all of Israel scattered over the hills, sheep with no shepherd. Then GOD spoke: 'These poor people have no one to tell them what to do. Let them go home and do the best they can for themselves.'"
1Ki 22:18 Then the king of Israel turned to Jehoshaphat, "See! What did I tell you? He never has a good word for me from GOD, only doom."
1Ki 22:19 Micaiah kept on: "I'm not done yet; listen to GOD's word: I saw GOD enthroned, and all the angel armies of heaven Standing at attention ranged on his right and his left.
1Ki 22:20 And GOD said, 'How can we seduce Ahab into attacking Ramoth Gilead?' Some said this, and some said that.
1Ki 22:21 Then a bold angel stepped out, stood before GOD, and said, 'I'll seduce him.' 'And how will you do it?' said GOD.
1Ki 22:22 'Easy,' said the angel, 'I'll get all the prophets to lie.' 'That should do it,' said GOD. 'On your way--seduce him!'
1Ki 22:23 "And that's what has happened. GOD filled the mouths of your puppet prophets with seductive lies. GOD has pronounced your doom."
1Ki 22:24 Just then Zedekiah son of Kenaanah came up and punched Micaiah in the nose, saying, "Since when did the Spirit of GOD leave me and take up with you?"
1Ki 22:25 Micaiah said, "You'll know soon enough; you'll know it when you're frantically and futilely looking for a place to hide."
1Ki 22:26 The king of Israel had heard enough: "Get Micaiah out of here! Turn him over to Amon the city magistrate and to Joash the king's son
1Ki 22:27 with this message, 'King's orders: Lock him up in jail; keep him on bread and water until I'm back in one piece.'"
1Ki 22:28 Micaiah said, "If you ever get back in one piece, I'm no prophet of GOD." He added,"When it happens, O people, remember where you heard it!"
1Ki 22:29 The king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah attacked Ramoth Gilead.
1Ki 22:30 The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "Wear my kingly robe; I'm going into battle disguised." So the king of Israel entered the battle in disguise.
1Ki 22:31 Meanwhile, the king of Aram had ordered his chariot commanders (there were thirty-two of them): "Don't bother with anyone, whether small or great; go after the king of Israel and him only."
1Ki 22:32 When the chariot commanders saw Jehoshaphat they said, "There he is! The king of Israel!" and took after him. Jehoshaphat yelled out,
1Ki 22:33 and the chariot commanders realized they had the wrong man--it wasn't the king of Israel after all. They let him go.
1Ki 22:34 Just then someone, without aiming, shot an arrow randomly into the crowd and hit the king of Israel in the chink of his armor. The king told his charioteer, "Turn back! Get me out of here--I'm wounded."
1Ki 22:35 All day the fighting continued, hot and heavy. Propped up in his chariot, the king watched from the sidelines. He died that evening. Blood from his wound pooled in the chariot.
1Ki 22:36 As the sun went down, shouts reverberated through the ranks, "Abandon camp! Head for home!
1Ki 22:37 The king is dead!" The king was brought to Samaria and there they buried him. (The Message Bible verses 1-37)
1Kings 22:38 And one washed the chariot in the pool of Samaria; and the dogs licked up his blood; and they washed his armour; according unto the word of the LORD which he spake. (KJV)
If you look at the above passage of scripture taken from the Old Testament, Romans 15:4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. You can see a picture of three segments of the Church today!
1. Ahab’s crowd and all of his fleshly works.
2. Jehoshaphat’s crowd, carelessly joining Ahab’s crowd.
3. Micaiah represents a remnant that God will always have that will be faithful to their God, no matter the cost!
Micaiah’s remnant aren’t playing the “Game of Life!”
They are living the Life of Another!
“Which crowd do you belong to?”
Finally, I was next and when the cashier scanned my medicine, it didn’t scan it. She then asked me if I knew the price, I responded with five or six dollars or something. She said that she would go get another box to scan to get the price, while I waited there was a lady holding several items which I told her she could place on the counter, which she did, responding with the words, “I came here to get this one item and I’ve got much more than I came for.”(The Game of Life in action, you always get more than you intended to get!) I said: “Looks like you’ll have time to get some more”, I told the lady as she was placing several items on the counter, because the cashier had scanned the second box of cold medicine and it didn’t scan either. But finally, she returns with the third box and it scans and I know the price, $6.99. So she added my total and then asked me the question, “Are you playing the Game of Life?” I then told her, “No, I played the Game of Life for 28 years but now I live the Life of Another, Jesus Christ!” We must die daily to our self that the Life of Christ might live through us!
Are you playing the Game of Life? Or Living the Life of Another?
The following scriptures are taken from the Message Bible.
1Ki 22:1 They enjoyed three years of peace--no fighting between Aram and Israel.
1Ki 22:2 In the third year, Jehoshaphat king of Judah had a meeting with the king of Israel.
1Ki 22:3 Israel's king remarked to his aides, "Do you realize that Ramoth Gilead belongs to us, and we're sitting around on our hands instead of taking it back from the king of Aram?"
1Ki 22:4 He turned to Jehoshaphat and said, "Will you join me in fighting for Ramoth Gilead?" Jehoshaphat said, "You bet. I'm with you all the way--my troops are your troops, my horses are your horses."
1Ki 22:5 He then continued, "But before you do anything, ask GOD for guidance."
1Ki 22:6 The king of Israel got the prophets together--all four hundred of them--and put the question to them: "Should I attack Ramoth Gilead? Or should I hold back?" "Go for it," they said. "GOD will hand it over to the king."
1Ki 22:7 But Jehoshaphat dragged his heels: "Is there still another prophet of GOD around here we can consult?"
1Ki 22:8 The king of Israel told Jehoshaphat, "As a matter of fact, there is still one such man. But I hate him. He never preaches anything good to me, only doom, doom, doom--Micaiah son of Imlah." "The king shouldn't talk about a prophet like that," said Jehoshaphat.
1Ki 22:9 So the king of Israel ordered one of his men, "On the double! Get Micaiah son of Imlah."
1Ki 22:10 Meanwhile, the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat were seated on their thrones, dressed in their royal robes, resplendent in front of the Samaria city gates. All the prophets were staging a prophecy-performance for their benefit.
1Ki 22:11 Zedekiah son of Kenaanah had even made a set of iron horns, and brandishing them called out, "GOD's word! With these horns you'll gore Aram until there's nothing left of him!"
1Ki 22:12 All the prophets chimed in, "Yes! Go for Ramoth Gilead! An easy victory! GOD's gift to the king!"
1Ki 22:13 The messenger who went to get Micaiah said, "The prophets have all said Yes to the king. Make it unanimous--vote Yes!"
1Ki 22:14 But Micaiah said, "As surely as GOD lives, what GOD says, I'll say."
1Ki 22:15 With Micaiah before him, the king asked him, "So Micaiah--do we attack Ramoth Gilead, or do we hold back?" "Go ahead," he said. "An easy victory. GOD's gift to the king."
1Ki 22:16 "Not so fast," said the king. "How many times have I made you promise under oath to tell me the truth and nothing but the truth?"
1Ki 22:17 "All right," said Micaiah, "since you insist. I saw all of Israel scattered over the hills, sheep with no shepherd. Then GOD spoke: 'These poor people have no one to tell them what to do. Let them go home and do the best they can for themselves.'"
1Ki 22:18 Then the king of Israel turned to Jehoshaphat, "See! What did I tell you? He never has a good word for me from GOD, only doom."
1Ki 22:19 Micaiah kept on: "I'm not done yet; listen to GOD's word: I saw GOD enthroned, and all the angel armies of heaven Standing at attention ranged on his right and his left.
1Ki 22:20 And GOD said, 'How can we seduce Ahab into attacking Ramoth Gilead?' Some said this, and some said that.
1Ki 22:21 Then a bold angel stepped out, stood before GOD, and said, 'I'll seduce him.' 'And how will you do it?' said GOD.
1Ki 22:22 'Easy,' said the angel, 'I'll get all the prophets to lie.' 'That should do it,' said GOD. 'On your way--seduce him!'
1Ki 22:23 "And that's what has happened. GOD filled the mouths of your puppet prophets with seductive lies. GOD has pronounced your doom."
1Ki 22:24 Just then Zedekiah son of Kenaanah came up and punched Micaiah in the nose, saying, "Since when did the Spirit of GOD leave me and take up with you?"
1Ki 22:25 Micaiah said, "You'll know soon enough; you'll know it when you're frantically and futilely looking for a place to hide."
1Ki 22:26 The king of Israel had heard enough: "Get Micaiah out of here! Turn him over to Amon the city magistrate and to Joash the king's son
1Ki 22:27 with this message, 'King's orders: Lock him up in jail; keep him on bread and water until I'm back in one piece.'"
1Ki 22:28 Micaiah said, "If you ever get back in one piece, I'm no prophet of GOD." He added,"When it happens, O people, remember where you heard it!"
1Ki 22:29 The king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah attacked Ramoth Gilead.
1Ki 22:30 The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "Wear my kingly robe; I'm going into battle disguised." So the king of Israel entered the battle in disguise.
1Ki 22:31 Meanwhile, the king of Aram had ordered his chariot commanders (there were thirty-two of them): "Don't bother with anyone, whether small or great; go after the king of Israel and him only."
1Ki 22:32 When the chariot commanders saw Jehoshaphat they said, "There he is! The king of Israel!" and took after him. Jehoshaphat yelled out,
1Ki 22:33 and the chariot commanders realized they had the wrong man--it wasn't the king of Israel after all. They let him go.
1Ki 22:34 Just then someone, without aiming, shot an arrow randomly into the crowd and hit the king of Israel in the chink of his armor. The king told his charioteer, "Turn back! Get me out of here--I'm wounded."
1Ki 22:35 All day the fighting continued, hot and heavy. Propped up in his chariot, the king watched from the sidelines. He died that evening. Blood from his wound pooled in the chariot.
1Ki 22:36 As the sun went down, shouts reverberated through the ranks, "Abandon camp! Head for home!
1Ki 22:37 The king is dead!" The king was brought to Samaria and there they buried him. (The Message Bible verses 1-37)
1Kings 22:38 And one washed the chariot in the pool of Samaria; and the dogs licked up his blood; and they washed his armour; according unto the word of the LORD which he spake. (KJV)
If you look at the above passage of scripture taken from the Old Testament, Romans 15:4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. You can see a picture of three segments of the Church today!
1. Ahab’s crowd and all of his fleshly works.
2. Jehoshaphat’s crowd, carelessly joining Ahab’s crowd.
3. Micaiah represents a remnant that God will always have that will be faithful to their God, no matter the cost!
Micaiah’s remnant aren’t playing the “Game of Life!”
They are living the Life of Another!
“Which crowd do you belong to?”
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