Have We Given God the Praise He Deserves

 The Lord Our Help and Our Shield

 Book of Psalms 115

 We have just witnessed nature's power, and those folks in Florida have seen much more of nature's power than we have seen.

 No doubt many will blame God, and most others will question God's love and concern for people.

 Some will sneer at the mention of the existence of God.

 When many of our brothers and sisters are affected, the unbelievers will mock our faith.

 We know our God is righteous so everything He does was the right thing to do.

 Did God send these Hurricanes, my answer would be no.

 Could God have stopped these mighty storms from causing devastation then certainly my answer is yes.

 We know that Satan has some powers even over storms just read the Book of Job where a tornado or something similar causes all of Job's children to die at the same time. There were ten of them.

 When tragedy strikes, our first response should not be "Where is God"!

 Today's lesson will teach us that God is great in His moral excellence.

 "Mercy and truth" are the foundation of moral greatness!

 This was the mission of the Lord Jesus Christ!

 Jhn_1:17  For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

 A man may be capable of making some laws for people to live by, but most of them are seldom based upon righteousness.

 Grace and truth came from the Lord Jesus Christ.

 The question we should ask when tragedy comes is, how have we treated our Savior?

 Have we given Him the glory that He deserves?

 *****Psa 115:1  Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth's sake. 

 Our faith must be based upon the truth or reality.

 Without love, we will live in a world of selfishness which we see today.

 Selfishness is the essence of sin!

 Selfishness is contrary to the law of God!

 The reality is that we have no right to question God for any action He might take!

 We can ask the Lord any question, but we will not always be pleased with His answers.

 We must not show any lack of faith when we are talking to the Lord our God!

 If the Lord does not interfere on behalf of His people, we must not think that His attributes of love and faithfulness have vanished.

 No matter what is happening in our world, we must give God the glory!

 Here in Anderson during the last storm, five deaths were storm related.

 We must not condemn God for those deaths, we must give God the glory that there were no more than five deaths here where we live.

 When Jerusalem fell to Nebuchadnezzar, we can be sure that many unbelievers were mocking God, but the truth is that God was using the Babylonians to discipline Israel.

 Israel had turned to idols but after the conquest by the Babylonians, Israel never turned to idols again.

 Sometimes God's methods may seem harsh, but they are effective. Harsh does not ever mean abuse!

 As God's people, we will suffer through trials and tribulations, and unbelievers will mock us, but we must never retreat from our goal of serving the Lord until we get to Heaven.

 Why should anyone question our loyalty to God?

 We must always do our very best to look like Jesus Christ!

 *****Psa 115:2  Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is now their God? 

Psa 115:3  But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased. 

 When we go about our daily routine looking defeated our enemies will ask us, "Where is your God now, when you need Him so desperately?

 If we look back at the Jews, we know that they had endured the taunts of the idolatrous nations.

 We do not have to go that far today as our Heavenly Father and the Lord Jesus Christ are blasphemed today.

 On that day, the heathen had scoffed at the invisible God.

 Keep in mind those who scoffed had to go home and wipe the dust off of some idol who could not even talk to them.

 When the Jews returned to Jerusalem, they made a strong confession of their faith and even though they were far from perfect they were not called idol worshipers again.

 Though they struggled to put their lives back together they knew to go to God and not go to man.

 We have seen over and over again that when we pray, we need to tell God what we are going through.

 Yes, He already knows, but He wants us to understand that that is nothing too hard for God!

 They happily proclaimed the superiority of the Living God to all who had ears!

 When we are true to the Lord, He will be true to us!

 It angers the Lord for His name to be blasphemed, and He will show His power by His people much of the time.

 If God does not help His children, then Satan and his children will triumph!

 Where is God? He is in the Heavens in a place where He can see all His people.

 The truth is God does as He pleases all the time.

 There is never a time that Jehovah God is wondering what He is going to do next!

 Our dearly loved Savior always, ALWAYS wants to help us through this life and He has already prepared for our future non-ending life in Glory.

 God not only has the will to help those who love Him, He also has the power to make sure what He does is done right!

 Mic 7:10  Then she that is mine enemy shall see it, and shame shall cover her which said unto me, Where is the LORD thy God? mine eyes shall behold her: now shall she be trodden down as the mire of the streets. 

 Another thing we must understand is that, if we are suffering then it is the will of God and He has a good reason for that suffering.

 In most cases it is to bring us closer to Him!

 God never lacks the power to end our suffering.

 Isa 55:11  So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

 There are no gods who can hinder the work of God!

 False gods are either a figment of their imagination or they are pieces of wood, gold, silver, or some other handmade object that can do nothing.

 *****Psa 115:4  Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men's hands. 

Psa 115:5  They have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not: 

Psa 115:6  They have ears, but they hear not: noses have they, but they smell not: 

Psa 115:7  They have hands, but they handle not: feet have they, but they walk not: neither speak they through their throat. 

Psa 115:8  They that make them are like unto them; so is every one that trusteth in them. 

 Anyone who comes to us questioning our God, we should ask them about their god!

 People may scoff, which is mockery and ridicule, at Jehovah who we worship but the fact remains that He is alive, but He is invisible.

 He is invisible for the reason that if He had shown Himself without His glory people would have made an idol of Him and they would have worshipped that idol instead of the invisible God just as people did the pole with a serpent of brass.

 Num 21:6  And the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died. 

Num 21:7  Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD, and against thee; pray unto the LORD, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people. 

Num 21:8  And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live. 

Num 21:9  And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived. 

 What happened?

 This brazen serpent known as Nehushtan, became on object of idolatry and King Hezakiah destroyed it.

 2Ki 18:4  He removed the high places, and brake the images, and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the brasen serpent that Moses had made: for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it: and he called it Nehushtan.

 This brazen serpent upon a pole had a reality as a type of the Lord Jesus upon the cross, when He died for our salvation.

 Joh 3:14  And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 

Joh 3:15  That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 

 Idols cannot speak, see. hear, smell, feel, or walk.

 Yet even today some people still worship idols.

 Psa 135:18  They that make them are like unto them: so is every one that trusteth in them. 

 An idol is anything more important to you than God, anything that absorbs your heart and imagination more than God, and anything that you seek to give you what only God can give.

 Many today have made themselves to be idols such as so-called movie stars, or some sports figures, and yes, some political figures think they should be worshipped, and we certainly cannot leave out those who worship Satan.

 Then there is the idol of money/material things:

 We already know what God says about this.

 1Ti 6:7  For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 

1Ti 6:8  And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. 

1Ti 6:9  But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. 

1Ti 6:10  For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

 Money is the root of all the evil of today. Most all our politicians are bought out in one way or another.

 Other modern idols include, status, physical appearance, entertainment, influence, and yes sex has become an idol which is why abortion is fought so hard along with the LBGTQ is prevalent in our nation and now sex change.

 These are all idols that are worshipped by the “now” generation and God is tossed aside as irrelevant in today's world.

 All these people are in for a terrible surprise very soon.

 Such gods drag down their worshippers to a level of senseless stupidity!

 Rom 1:21  Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 

Rom 1:22  Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 

Rom 1:23  And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. 

Rom 1:24  Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: 

 God does not play around with idol worshippers!

 We must trust in the Lord!

*****Psa 115:9  O Israel, trust thou in the LORD: he is their help and their shield.

Psa 115:10  O house of Aaron, trust in the LORD: he is their help and their shield. 

Psa 115:11  Ye that fear the LORD, trust in the LORD: he is their help and their shield. 

 Trust means we are reliant upon God for all things including life, justice, and our love for one another.

 We do not worship a god we have made, but we worship the God who has made us, our Creator, our Maker!

 There is only one true God.

 There are many today that say all religions worship the same God, but nothing could be further from the truth! They just do not know Jehovah.

 God has revealed Himself to us through the Lord Jesus Christ and the Bible if you have a true Bible.

 It is true that once we come to know Christ as our Savior, we need to constantly examine our hearts for spiritual idolatry.

 Jehovah is also a jealous God! The lost do what lost people do, but anyone that claims Christ as their Savior and falls into the trap of idolatry could come under the truth of God's jealousy.

 Three times these verses say the word trust.

 1) God is our help and our shield.

 God is safe to depend upon for defense and for offense for all those who love the Lord Jesus Christ, the Messiah.

 God is also our shield to cover us from danger and to protect us from assault and injury.

 2) For all those who preach the truth of the Scriptures, God is also their help and their shield.

 3) The Lord has had His mind on us since our creation. The remnant of this world who love the salvation gift of God.

 Mat_7:14  Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

 This one verse should tell all those who think we all worship the same God that it is simply not true. By the way, this was the lord Jesus Himself that was speaking. He knows everything.

 We could look at this passage as God's invitation for Israel to join the Church because it is the Church that God is protecting in this world.

 The battles of Israel will show that only the Church is on their side along with Jehovah, the Lord Jesus Christ.

 Even this week our administration has sent a unit to Israel that can intercept missiles from Iran to try to keep Israel from going after the oil and nuclear sites of Iran.

 This is only bribery when Israel should destroy Iran, and this world would be a little bit better because of it.

 We cannot trust man, but we can trust God to do the right things.

Many scientists and archaeologists wonder what happened to many old civilizations, but they are not around, and many have no history because God knew no one needed to know how wicked they were.

 We should not forget that Iran is that part of old Persia and the other part Iraq is trying its best to get away from the USA and then they will join Iran and Persia will be again and war mongering nation.

 God will only bless those who trust Him!

 You cannot trust idols because they cannot do anything at all!

 The Holy Spirit wants us to grasp the importance of trusting God!

 We will face persecution, but we must not falter in our trust for the Almighty God!

 If we are worried about what is going on in our nation and in this world, then we do not trust the God of all creation and His plan which He has given us a copy of.

 We must have confidence in our Holy God and His Word salvaged by the Holy Spirit and is the truth.

 Pro 3:5  Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 

Pro 3:6  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. 

Pro 3:7  Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.

 We were once a part of the world but now if you love the Lord Jesus, we are part of Heaven. Ambassadors to this world.

 We are always on the mind of our God!

 *****Psa 115:12  The LORD hath been mindful of us: he will bless us; he will bless the house of Israel; he will bless the house of Aaron. 

Psa 115:13  He will bless them that fear the LORD, both small and great. 

Psa 115:14  The LORD shall increase you more and more, you and your children. 

Psa 115:15  Ye are blessed of the LORD which made heaven and earth. 

 Who does the Lord bless?

 He blesses those who trust Him!

 Even though Israel does not trust the Son of God, most of them do trust Jehovah (Yahweh).

They reject that they are the same God!

 They are wrong to not accept the Messiah, but they will eventually, at least a remnant of them will.

 We should keep in mind that this Psalm was probably written for the dedication of the Second Temple after the return from Babylon.

 They had been released by the King of Persia who had defeated Babylon.

 We could say that God would bless those who had returned with many children for only about fifty thousand had returned of those who were captured.

 Israel began to see just how great their God is.

 God is always, ALWAYS, working to do good to His people!

 God is always, ALWAYS, mindful of the covenants He has made with all His children!

 God is always, ALWAYS, mindful of the promises He has made, and He will never break a promise He has made to anyone.

 Why is God able to bless so much?

 It is pretty simple, God is our Creator, the Creator of Heaven and Earth, and God can do anything He wants to His creation, but He cannot go against His Word!

 Notice that Israel is back in a part of the land God had given to them and God will get the remainder of that land that was promised back to Israel.

 We may be seeing this today, the Lord giving Israel their entire homeland and the world cannot stop it!

 No, there will never be a Palestinian nation within the boundaries of the land God gave to Abraham, the same land God gave to Israel!

 When those who hate God scoff at us, we need to stand firm in our confidence in the Lord.

 We may go through trials.

We may go through persecution.

We may go through attacks.

We may be oppressed.

 God's purpose for us cannot be defeated!

 Nothing can separate us from the love of God!

 Rom 8:35  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 

Rom 8:36  As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 

Rom 8:37  Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 

Rom 8:38  For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 

Rom 8:39  Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

 *****Psa 115:16  The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD'S: but the earth hath he given to the children of men. 

 Verse fifteen says it is our LORD who is the Creator of the heavens, and we know of three heavens.

 The first heaven is the space where we get our air to breathe and the place where the birds fly.

The second heaven is what we call outer space, a place where all planets, all stars, and anything we find in outer space, and it is immense.

The third Heaven is the place where God dwells with His angels and all those souls who are in that Heaven today.

 Notice the Earth is mentioned as the only place God has given mankind to live.

 We know the earth is also the Lord’s:

 Psa 24:1 The earth is the LORD'S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. 

 This Psalmist has said that God has given the earth to mankind to live upon.

 Gen 1:28  And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. 

Gen 1:29  And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat. 

Gen 1:30  And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so. 

 God has not given mankind any other planet, moon, or star to live.

 This earth is where we belong, where we live and work and where our future lies unless we believe all these things and our Creator who made all these things, then our future lies in the third Heaven with our God.

 We know that mankind has not cooperated with God on the development of all the resources of this Earth, but they are all gifts from God for our use.

 God has given the occupants of Earth the responsibility of overseeing the resources of Earth.

 This Earth is the only planet that God gave to be inhabited!

 Isa 45:18  For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else. 

 We need to be sure to know that God only declares things that are right and not wrong!

 Isa 45:19  I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth: I said not unto the seed of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain: I the LORD speak righteousness, I declare things that are right. 

 The trouble today is that a few greedy people have tried their best to gain control of the earth's resources and for the most part they have, and the governments control the rest.

 But you see God has reconciled the world back to Himself by the Lord Jesus Christ.

 2Co 5:18  And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 

2Co 5:19  To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. 

 Now I cannot explain the meaning of all these things, but I know that these words are true.

 Jesus Christ (Messiah) came to this earth to establish the only means of salvation which is available to all people.

 The desire to let the whole redeemed world know of its redemption should move in the heart of every man but the world is tied up with greed for the resources of our planet, corrupt governments, and immorality.

 *****Psa 115:17  The dead praise not the LORD, neither any that go down into silence. 

Psa 115:18  But we will bless the LORD from this time forth and for evermore. Praise the Lord.

It should be obvious that those who are dead cannot praise anyone.

When we die our voices are silenced.

In fact, those who are dead lose all communication with the Lord who died for them.

Isa 38:18  For the grave cannot praise thee, death can not celebrate thee: they that go down into the pit cannot hope for thy truth.

I must never forget my job is to praise my Lord.

No matter what I'm going through, I need to praise the Lord, and I know I do not praise Him enough.

Even when the Lost World scoffs at me, I will praise the Lord!

My opportunities to praise the Lord will cease when I take my last breath, but my blessings will continue because I am a child of God!

Psa 118:17  I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the LORD. 

Psa 118:18  The LORD hath chastened me sore: but he hath not given me over unto death. 

Psa 118:19  Open to me the gates of righteousness: I will go into them, and I will praise the LORD: 

Psa 118:20  This gate of the LORD, into which the righteous shall enter. 

Psa 118:21  I will praise thee: for thou hast heard me, and art become my salvation.

Rev 5:13  And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. 

 Amen

A Test of Our Faith

 Appointed to Affliction

Book of 1 Thessalonians Chapter 3

The Bible is clear concerning the fact that God's people will suffer persecution!

We may not like it but it is a fact and we need to be prepared for it.

The persecution of Christians takes place all around this world we live in.

It is not that God causes our suffering, but God does have a purpose in our suffering.

In fact, the suffering of the Christian is another way that actually proves that the Bible is true.

The suffering of each Christian is a test of faith!

The one main thing that is needed in the Church today is a strong faith!

The is a faith that honestly knows the Lord Jesus Christ and knows what it is to be walking with Him day by day, trusting Him.

Walking means we are not to be standing still but growing in our faith.

Chapter three verse one.

*****1Th 3:1  Wherefore when we could no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left at Athens alone; 

1Th 3:2  And sent Timotheus, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellowlabourer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith:

Paul only spent three weeks in Thessalonica before he had to leave because his life was threatened.

It was a group of unbelieving Jews who were trying to stop the growth of Christianity so, Paul was anxious to know how this Church was doing and he sent Timothy back to Thessalonica to confirm this new church full of babes in Christ.

Paul was now alone in Athens Greece.

Sometimes the Holy Spirit can do His greatest work in us when we are alone.

It is a sad thing that this world is determined to stamp out and destroy the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

What is this world so afraid of?

Paul may have been in Athens but his heart was still in Thessalonica.

Timothy was like a son to Paul, but at the same time a brother in Christ and a great man of God.

Every true preacher is concerned about the establishment of believers not because of the truth of God, but simply because this world is so full of hate for the Lord Jesus Christ.

This new church was standing its ground against the Devil.

We can see that it is a must that we stand by our faith, or this world will try to walk all over us.

The one thing true in Athens was that Paul saw the whole city given to idolatry.

It is this thing that stirred up the Apostle Paul.

Then, Paul went into the Jewish Synagogues and preached at the market where there were many philosophers speaking on all types of subjects.

It is always a good time to get busy serving the Lord!

Timothy had the same concerns for the church in Thessalonica as did Paul.

Before the Lord Jesus Christ, this world had nothing firm to base their lives upon. This world had no solid foundation to place their faith.

Many of them had good intentions, but these intentions could not prosper in a land full of lies and deceit.

The "Gospel" gives us a sound foundation for a moral life where we can grow in the "Grace of God".

We all need encouragement from time to time and this is what Timothy gave to that church in Thessalonica.

Persecution is not going away, in fact it will get worse, but our faith will carry us through it all.

No amount of persecution can change the fact that our souls are saved and will be in Heaven in the end.

*****1Th 3:3  That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto. 

We should be able to see that the same afflictions that make us better Christians will harden the heart of a sinner.

An example in the Bible are the plagues of Egypt every plague caused the heart of Pharaoh's to harden even more.

1Pe 4:12  Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: 

1Pe 4:13  But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

When we are recognized as someone trying to be like Jesus Christ, then this should make us feel good and even bring joy to us because this is should be our goal until the day we die, to be more like Jesus.

As our faith endures such afflictions, it will make us to be stronger and purer Christians!

God may give riches to some in this world, but the stores of Heavenly treasures are far greater than anything on this earth and are set aside for God's children when they go home.

2Ti 4:18  And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. 

Mat 5:11  Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 

Mat 5:12  Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. 

Every Christian will suffer some from the afflictions that come from this world, because this world hates the Lord Jesus Christ even though there is no reason to do so.

The only things Jesus ever did was all good things. Jesus never did one bad thing!

*****1Th 3:4  For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know. 

1Th 3:5  For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in vain. 

There was a direct attack upon the Apostle Paul to destroy him.

It began with rumors and lies. These people felt if they could destroy the reputation of the Apostle Paul that they could destroy the early Church.

This is impossible!

They forgot what Jesus said: "and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it", referring to the Church.

It is impossible for this world to destroy God's Church!

The shameful treatment of God's people will only stir up the wrath of God.

There may come a time that the Church will speak with martyrdom but it has not yet.

The truth is that we should not be moved by these afflictions.

We must understand that we are not of this world and this is the way this world will treat all aliens.

Joh 15:19  If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. 

The Christian is hated because we point out the sin and the lies and the immoralities of this world!

The Christian is hated because we live in world where everyone wants to be their own god.

The world believes that a true God should fulfill all their desires no matter their own personal behavior.

The truth is God is love, but God is also "just" and God "demands righteous behavior"!

This is what the world rebels against the most.

As Christians, we must keep in mind that it is Satan who is behind all afflictions aimed at believers.

The truth is, that Jesus Christ died for our sins so that we would not perish in a sinner's hell.

It is Jesus Christ who gives us the privilege to live with Him in Heaven.

We must not give in to the temptations of this world!

Our faith is the key to life everlasting in a place that the word paradise cannot describe sufficiently.

*****1Th 3:6  But now when Timotheus came from you unto us, and brought us good tidings of your faith and charity, and that ye have good remembrance of us always, desiring greatly to see us, as we also to see you: 

A wise man once said, “As cold water is to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.” 

A strong faith is a faith that gives an excellent testimony!

Timothy brought relief to the Apostle Paul. Those believers were standing fast in their faith in Jesus Christ.

They were continuing to study the Word of God, and to pray and to worship together.

They were witnessing for Christ as the opportunity arose and His promise of eternal life.

Joh 6:28  Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? 

Joh 6:29  Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. 

They were meeting the needs of those in the Church who had a need.

They remembered the one who had set them on the path of righteousness, the Apostle Paul and had a longing to see him again.

What is the message of our Church?

We have faith that will stand fast in the face of opposition.

We have a faith that demonstrates the love of God.

We have a faith that longs for the fellowship with our Pastor.

We have a strong faith in the truth of God.

*****1Th 3:7  Therefore, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress by your faith: 

1Th 3:8  For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord. 

What is the greatest motivation we can give to our Pastors?

Our own faith in the truth of God that he preaches!

The Apostle Paul was in Corinth at this time and he was facing fierce persecution against him and the new church in Corinth.

Again, it was that group of Jewish religionists that had stirred up much trouble for Paul and early Christians especially those Jews who had converted to Christianity and were excommunicated.

They had dragged Paul before a Roman court.

Many believe that some threat or some savagery happened to Paul at this time that is not recorded, and it brought great affliction to the Apostle Paul.

This good news of the faith of the Thessalonians had brought great comfort to Paul, the comfort he desperately needed.

The strong faith of the Thessalonians stirred renewed life and purpose to the ministry of the Apostle Paul and those with him.

Paul had been discouraged but not defeated!

Paul was stirred to share Jesus Christ as never before.

This church of the Thessalonians were a testimony to the Apostle Paul.

They were suffering persecution and they were remaining steadfast to the Lord.

They were a great example of the true Church.

As we go about serving the Lord we never know when our own faith and our own strength in the Lord are needed to help some other believer.

We must always stand fast in our faith in the truth of the Gospel and in all the Word of God.

Our faith will certainly help our Pastor as he goes about answering his own calling to serve the Lord.

If we stand fast in our faith we will grow more to be like our Savior!

Php 1:27  Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; 

The heart of Paul was touched by the actions of these Thessalonians.

*****1Th 3:9  For what thanks can we render to God again for you, for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God; 

1Th 3:10  Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith?

Paul's grief had turned to joy.

A wise man wrote: Of all the emotions and affections of the soul, love is the only one we can interchange with God.

We can try to love Him like He loves us!

God has that perfect love a love that we need to seek and show to Him.

This is love that comes from the heart. 

We can show our joy to God by fervent thanksgiving.

There is never a day that we should not be thanking the Lord for what He has done in our lives!

Paul prayed earnestly that he could return to this Church and preach to them the meat of the Gospel.

We never have so much knowledge in the Word of God that we cannot learn more!

We never have so much faith that we cannot increase our faith.

We never have so much love that we cannot increase our love.

We can also pray continuously for our brothers and sisters in Christ and for the men of God who carry God's message to the world.

The more we get busy serving the Lord the more joy we will see in our Pastor!

The more we get busy serving the Lord the more joy we will see in our Church.

The more people who get saved in our community the more joy we will see in our community.

It is a joyous feeling to know you have missed out on Hell.

I know it was for me.

You just want to be around people like that.

This is one of the greatest testimonies of the true Church.

Why would anyone want to be around a bunch of sad sacks?

A sad church is a miserable church!

Like my Pastor says, "who wants to be around a bunch of people who are mad because they are saved"?

The relationship of the Pastor to his people is so close and vital, that they have within their power to make his life happy or they can make his life miserable. 

A good Pastor will not stay in a miserable church!

The church in Corinth was at that time full of problems and it was telling upon the Apostle Paul so of course he had a great yearning to be with a people who had joy in their salvation.

It took some time, but the church at Corinth did become a good church.

A true church will have sympathy for the lost, a faith that is rock solid, a steadfastness to the Word of God, and a spirit of joy for missing out on Hell.

Another thing every church needs is to grow in the Spirit and Grace of the Lord.

A church that is standing still is losing ground and may stumble and fall at any time.

Php 1:25  And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith; 

Php 1:26  That your rejoicing may be more abundant in Jesus Christ for me by my coming to you again.

Paul had a great goal of making every Christian perfect for the Lord Jesus Christ!

Paul had a Pastor's heart but God called him to be an evangelist and church planter.

The goal for the Christian Church is for every Christian to come to a unity of the faith in Jesus Christ!

Eph 4:11  And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 

Eph 4:12  For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 

Eph 4:13  Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 

In some churches the Lord Jesus Christ is no longer present so they have no Holy Ghost power!

*****1Th 3:11  Now God himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way unto you. 

For the true Church to be stronger then, we must be sure about God and know who Jesus Christ is!

It is God alone who can fill the desires of His servants!

How do you see God?

God is the Supreme and Matchless being in our universe, the Supreme Intelligence, the Creator and Maker of all things, the Giver and the Sustainer of Life and of everything else. The person who dwells everywhere in Perfect and Supreme Power, Knowledge, and Being.

Some people only think of God as someone who lives in Heaven, in outer space somewhere, and does not really care what is going on in the world.

In fact God is much, much more!

God is intimately involved in our lives.

God is actively involved in our lives!

God is not only in Heaven, but He is also right here with us!

God is our Heavenly Father!

How do you see the Lord Jesus Christ?

The Lord Jesus Christ has existed eternally in Heaven and loves us enough to become our Lord.

The Lord Jesus Christ who loved us enough to come to this earth in the person of Jesus, the Jewish Carpenter from Nazareth.

The Lord Jesus Christ who is the promised Messiah and the Savior of this world.

It is this God who Paul prayed to and it is this same God who we are to pray to.

If this not your God then you are wasting your time praying!

It is only this God who can direct our ways!

He is also the Lord of love!

*****1Th 3:12  And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you: 

Love is what this world needs and not that lustful existence that is in our world today.

Every believer needs love!

Every believer needs to show love!

Every believer needs to grow in love!

We need to grow in love toward all mankind and not just love for each other.

In the Bible it is called "agape" love.

The English language has only one word for love to describe affectionate experiences whereas the Greek language has four.

1) There is "eros", a passionate love. This physical love between the sexes, the patriotic love a person has for his nation, or the ambition of a person for power or wealth. Eros can be a good love or a bad love.

2) There "storge" love or affectionate love. This is the love that exists between a parent and a child and between a loyal citizens and a trustworthy ruler.

3) There is "phileo" love or endearing love. Phileo love is the love between a husband and a wife for each other. Of brothers and sisters, and sometime close friends.

4) Then there is "agape" love. A selfless and sacrificial love. Agape love is a love of the mind, of reason and of will.

Agape love loves a person who is undeserving of that love. Agape love is love for a person who is unworthy of that love.

Agape love is the love God has for us. Agape love is the love Christ Jesus demonstrated on the cross.

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

It is the love for unworthy sinners.

Rom 5:8  But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 

It is the love of God for undeserving enemies.

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

Selfless agape love is a gift of God.

There is no agape love without a relationship with Jesus Christ because this is the love that comes to us by the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit will not come into us without a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.

1Co 13:13  And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity. 

After our salvation and prayer, the next greatest gift we get from the Lord is agape love.

Without the love of God, He would certainly be that distant God who would not care what we are doing at any time but He loved us before we even knew Him.

1Jn_4:10  Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

1Jn_4:19  We love him, because he first loved us.

The result of this love is that we will be presented unblameable before God when the Lord Jesus returns to take us home.

*****1Th 3:13  To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints. 

The great result of God's love is that the Lord Jesus will present His Church unblameable before God His Father when we meet Him in the clouds.

The Lord Jesus as our Advocate will stand before His Father and say, "these are the ones I have been telling you about".

The Lord Jesus will confirm our relationship with Him!

No one else has the power nor the right to present us before God, than our Redeemer.

That word unblameable means that we will be without a blemish and without a spot, free from fault and free from blame.

We will be free from all the charges that Satan has brought against us.

If it our Savior who is the only One who can make us unblameable before God!

If Jesus Christ, the Son of God, does not have the power nor the desire to present us before God, then we are all doomed.

Jesus is the only One who has ever risen from the dead to live for evermore.

Yes, the Lord raised some from the dead when He was upon this earth, but they later had to die again.

He will present all those who died in Christ.

He will present all those who lived until the Rapture of the Church.

We will one day not too far into the future be presented face to face to the Almighty Living God.

This is the promise of God Himself.

Joh 14:2  In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 

Joh 14:3  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. 

We know our Lord does not ever break His promises!

Amen

Living in This World of Sin

 A Living Faith in Trials and Temptations

Book of James Chapter 1

We know that this James was the half-brother of Jesus Christ.

Mat 13:55  Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas? 

Mar 6:3  Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him. 

It was this James who was one of eyewitnesses to the resurrected Lord.

1Co 15:7  After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. 

It was this James who became the Pastor of the first Christian Church after Peter had to flee for his life, which was in Jerusalem.

This is also when Peter started a mission for Jesus Christ.

Act 12:16  But Peter continued knocking: and when they had opened the door, and saw him, they were astonished. 

Act 12:17  But he, beckoning unto them with the hand to hold their peace, declared unto them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, Go shew these things unto James, and to the brethren. And he departed, and went into another place. 

It seems it was this James that took over for Peter who actually began this first church of Christianity.

It was this James who was the presiding officer of the first Jerusalem Counsel.

Act 15:13  And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me: 

Act 15:14  Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name. 

It was this James who was named one of the pillars of the early Church.

Gal 1:19  But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord's brother. 

Gal 2:9  And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.

We can see that the half-brother of our Lord was held to a high standard to be mentioned along with Peter and John.

We know that this James was well versed in the Old Testament.

We know that this James knew how to apply the Old Testament to the New Testament of the Lord Jesus Christ.

We know that this James was really familiar with the Sermon on the Mount, because he has included much of it in this first Book of the New Testament named after him.

We can trust this Book of James to be written under the guiding hand of the Holy Spirit!

This Book was written to the Christians who were scattered because of the persecution of the Jews.

*****Jas 1:1  James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting. 

Jas 1:2  My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 

Jas 1:3  Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 

We can imagine it took a lot of faith for a brother to confess that his brother was actually the Messiah and the Creator of this Universe.

That faith came when he saw his brother, the Lord Jesus Christ after his death, as He was resurrected from the grave, because the grave could not hold Him because death could not hold Him!

No doubt James was proud to say he was a servant to his half-brother Jesus because he did so.

We know that Moses was a slave to God, along with Joshua, and David, and Paul, and Jude, and all the Apostles and this James along with all the Prophets and now each of us who believe the truth and are all called Christians.

James had a calling to reach out to all Christians.

God used this letter so James could remain with the early Church when Peter had to flee from Herod and begin his own mission to reach the lost.

We should understand that it is not always easy to be a Christian in this world and it has been that way since the beginning of the Church.

We should expect trials and temptations and prepare for them because they will surely come!

When we think about having joy in these things, it first seems ridiculous, but in truth, life is not an easy walk for most people to begin with.

We should also understand that temptation also means to test, to try, and to prove, so we can have a better understanding of it.

When we conquer temptation and the trials of life, we become a much purer person, more holy, more righteous and more just.

We become a stronger person and become ready to be that servant the Lord can use.

The more we conquer these things, the more we become like the Lord Jesus Christ which must be our goal after salvation!

Remember the Lord Jesus told us take up our own cross and follow Him. That cross is a sign of death.

Mar_8:34  And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

Then the Lord teaches us:

2Co 4:17  For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; 

2Co 4:18  While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. 

Joy is not one of the things we feel while we are going through these things.

But Joy is the attitude that is needed.

The Lord is saying that when we look back on the things that have made us more Christian, we will find that some of our reactions were indeed laughable.

In reality, we should have joy in the fact that the world sees us as a Christian.

One of the greatest rewards we can receive upon this earth is patience!

We should understand that the Lord did not send us temptations nor trials in this life, but He will chasten us for our sin.

Heb 12:11  Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. 

Will the Lord test our faith? We can be certain that He will!

An untested faith is a faith that may not exist.

1Pe 1:7  That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: 

1Pe 1:8  Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: 

1Pe 1:9  Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. 

The Lord is seeking to improve our endurance to all these things.

Mat 10:22  And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.

Mat 10:23  But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come. 

Notice the Lord says, if it gets too bad in some areas, we may have to flee, but we can be assured that the Lord is coming back to get those who have not already gone home to Heaven.

This is called the rapture of the Church.

In all things we must allow patience to be our rule in this life!

*****Jas 1:4  But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. 

We should understand that if we truly want to become a citizen of Heaven, we must not refuse to enter the school of suffering which the Lord Jesus Himself has established here on earth!

When we look at these things as opportunities to get the blessings of the Lord, then we will see that we can have joy as we go through them.

When we can conquer our trials and temptations and get stronger, then we have fulfilled the purpose that God sent them.

We can see how these words become real in this day we are living.

Listen to the Lord Jesus:

Mat 10:22  And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved. 

God's purpose for us is to become more like the Lord Jesus Christ.

We cannot say we are Christian if we are not becoming more like Jesus. Do not let this world fool you! 

The more like Jesus that we become the more this world will hate us, because this world hates the Lord Jesus Christ!

If we stand firm in our faith in Christ, then we have conquered death just as He conquered death!

This is when the Lord opens the windows of Heaven and pours out more blessings than we can absorb while we are upon this earth.

We will have an eternity of perfection.

We will have an eternity of fitness, of completion, and fulfillment and all these things throughout eternity and that mansion will not be a bad thing either.

My pastor once preached that some of the people left behind might be injured for all those false teeth, those old joints that have been replaced with steel, all those glasses we need on this earth, all those braces, and crutches and any other thing that was placed in our bodies while we were living on this earth as they fall down as we are going up.

It will be the strangest rain they have ever seen!

We will lack nothing.

We will want for nothing.

We will have the abundance and the fullness of this life, but it cannot compare to those days of eternity in God's Heaven in His House!

We cannot reach this fullness of life if we lack the wisdom of the Lord!

*****Jas 1:5  If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. 

We will not be able to conquer anything in this life without the wisdom of the Lord!

Wisdom means far more than knowledge.

Wisdom is far more than just being intellectual about life of some area of this life.

Many people in this world have much knowledge; they are very common.

Many knowledgeable people fail trials and temptations because all that knowledge did not help them.

Only wisdom can grasp the great truths of life.

Scientists of today when they do not understand life they just add another billion years or so to it.

They may have knowledge, but they lack wisdom and they certainly lack understanding in the truth of God, at least most of them do!

Wisdom is seeing and knowing what to do about life!

Wisdom grasps the great truth of life without having to make up some false idea about life.

Wisdom sees the trials and temptations that surround life and death, the Lord and mankind, time, and eternity, good and evil, the deep things of the universe and the reality of the Lord our Creator.

Wisdom not only understands these things but wisdom knows what to do with these things!

Wisdom gains victory over all these things!

Psa_111:10  The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.

Pro_2:6  For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.

Pro_3:19  The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens.

The Lord is willing to share all His wisdom with us, but it can be too much for us, so he shares it a little at a time.

Asking wisdom of God is the way to conquer our trials and temptations and the Lord will always, will always, provide a means to escape.

God will never scold us for not knowing how to handle some trial or some temptation!

We must understand there is no question that the Lord cannot answer.

We must also understand if we cannot believe that the Lord has those answers we dearly need, then He will not provide that answer.

*****Jas 1:6  But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. 

If we are making a cake, then flour would be a necessary ingredient.

If we are making sweet tea, then sugar would be a necessary ingredient.

If we are praying to the Lord our Father in Heaven, then "faith" is a necessary ingredient.

Not just any faith, but faith in His ability to answer our prayers.

How can we ask in Christ's name, which is another ingredient, if we do not believe the truth of the Lord Jesus Christ?

Joh 16:23  And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. 

There will be no answer for those who are not true believers!

Joh 9:31  Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth. 

The things we ask for must be an object of our faith!

1Jn 5:14  And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: 

1Jn 5:15  And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

That word wavering means being in doubt.

How can anyone who rejects the truth of the Lord even think that our Father in Heaven would even consider answering their prayers when He has said He will not?

No matter how great the storms of life are to the unbeliever, they do not bother our Savior.

Mat 8:24  And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep. 

He was asleep, because these twelve men had no faith and the things of this world, no matter how severe they seem to be they do not bother the Lord!

Those that pray without faith, how can they expect their prayers to be heard?

Those that reject the Lord, how can they expect to go to Heaven?

Prayer is the greatest gift the Lord gives to believers after the gift of salvation that comes by faith and faith only!

*****Jas 1:7  For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. 

Jas 1:8  A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. 

Unbelieving prayer is useless.

Though they may receive something it did not come from the Lord and they certainly have no right to blame the Lord either way.

They cannot expect anything more because they are not under the assurance of God's promises as is the believer.

Now the believer may not receive an answer they expected, but the Lord will listen to their prayers and His answer will be what is best for them.

God will never reward doubt!

God cannot answer the prayer of a doubting person because if He did, He would be rewarding doubt.

We must believe that God is who He says He is!

God will not hear nor can He answer any person who wavers in his faith!

Those who waver in their faith do not know the value of the gifts of God and cannot receive those gifts!

Those who waver in their faith are unstable in all their ways.

We cannot live our lives up and down, or back and forth and say we belong to the Lord, because we are not sure of anything.

We cannot be unstable in our Christian life and still insist we are living in the will of God. It is not God's will that we live in such a way!

This is the very reason so many saved people receive so little from the Lord.

Some have enough faith to be saved, but they remain babes in Christ all their days, never taking that next step of being Christian, a servant of the Lord trying to be like Him.

We must understand that the fruits of our prayers are received from the nail scared hands of the Lord Jesus Christ.

It is the Lord Jesus Christ who is the middle person by whom God conveys His blessings!

Our strength comes from our relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ!

*****Jas 1:12  Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. 

We must understand that we will face the temptations of Satan, the Devil.

We must also understand that we will face the temptations of those who are lost in this world, our fellow human beings who are the children of the Devil whether they recognize it or not.

We must also understand that we will be tempted by the actions of those of this world that is so full of sin!

The Lord expects us to endure temptation no matter who we are.

It is true that sometimes, the strongest among us fail because they felt like they could not fail.

We must rejoice in the Lord no matter our circumstances!

Even the lowest Christian on the face of this earth will be exalted as a king and prince when the Lord returns.

No one has rank in God's New Heaven except the Lord Jesus Christ.

Knowing this, then if we are poor in this life we can think of ourselves as kings when the Lord returns.

All kings live in mansions and the Lord is building us all a mansion.

Rev 1:5  And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, 

Rev 1:6  And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. 

Dan 12:3  And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.

We must never accuse the Lord of things that He cannot do!

We must never think our temptations come from the Lord!

*****Jas 1:13  Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: 

So, where does temptation come from if not from God?

Because we still have that sin nature, sometimes the desire and the craving for things upon this earth are almost unbearable.

This is what temptation is: the desire and the craving for wrong things, things that the Lord forbids, and are harmful to our bodies, and to our spirits.

Just because some man justifies it, and says that it is acceptable, does it make these things right for us.

Such as alcohol, the Lord will never approve the drinking of any alcoholic beverage!

Pro 23:31  Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright. 

Pro 23:32  At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder. 

Certainly if we are not to look upon alcohol, then we should not be drinking it!

It does not matter that some religions allow the consumption of alcohol when the Lord says no to partake of it. They are wrong!

In this case the Holy Spirit uses wine and He says to not even look upon it.

We must not take into our bodies anything that dulls our senses and lowers our moral tone.

We must not yield to the temptation of anything that influences us to go against the Word of God!

God will never tempt us to go against Him!

We always want to blame someone else for our failures, but our failures are our own and we are the blame for all of them.

*****Jas 1:14  But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. 

Jas 1:15  Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. 

Jas 1:16  Do not err, my beloved brethren. 

While we are in these bodies with that sin nature that we cannot avoid, evil thoughts and immoral desires will rule our lives if we allow them to.

These things will lure us into sin!

Even the unbeliever cannot use other excuses for rejecting the Lord Jesus Christ.

It is their decision to make and their opportunity to miss.

God cannot ever induce anyone to act against His will.

God will never go against anything He causes to be written down for us.

There is never a modern Gospel and there never will be a more modern Gospel than we have now. God never changes!

The Word of God is a Living Word that is real and is the truth, in all ages.

We must understand that some of our desires can be a sin, even if we do not act upon them!

Mat 5:27  Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: 

Mat 5:28  But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. 

When we face temptation from the normal and natural desires of man or woman, and think we cannot turn away from them, then these things become sin.

There is no person who is not a man or a women based upon the sex with which they were born.

Those that desire to be someone of the opposite sex is living in sin just as much as any of those desires that goes against the Word of God.

We cannot desire to do what sinners do and still say we are the children of God!

We are never to given in to our desires if they go against the Word of God!

1Jn 2:15  Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 

1Jn 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. 

1Jn 2:17  And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. 

We must understand that it is the intention of the Word of God to be our guide in living the way that God has decided what is best for us, because we prove over and over again that we do not make good decisions based upon the rules of this world.

*****Jas 1:21  Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. 

Jas 1:22  But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 

The Lord Jesus does not see us as wise unless we are keeping the Word of God!

Mat 7:24  Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:

Our house is this body we have been given, and it is this house we are to build upon with that Rock of Jesus Christ!

We must understand that just because we sit in God's house and listen to that sermon God gave to our pastor, that these things make us acceptable to Him.

It is not these things that make us safe and secure!

When we slip into some sin, we must not believe that God will forgive us just because we ask this of Him.

We must never think that God will not reject us.

We must clearly understand, God does not accept us because we hear and know the Word of God nor because we confess our sins.

These things are necessary and are very important but God accepts us because we confess our sins and then repent of them.

Repentance is turning away from sin and turning toward God!

God accepts us because we turn to Him and live for Him.

When we truly believe the Lord Jesus, then we will trust and follow Him and doing exactly what He says.

So many believe they can hang on to that pet sin they keep hidden and ask for forgiveness when we slide into it, but repentance is still required.

We are only deceiving ourselves when we think that God will just forgive us because of His grace!

Rom 6:1  What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 

Rom 6:2  God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

There is no sin that we can continue in claiming God's Grace to be forgiven!

It is the doer of the Word of God who is blessed and not those who just hear the Word of God!

We are deceiving ourselves if we believe otherwise!

We are attempting to defraud the Lord Jesus Christ when we attempt to do these things.

We owe Him all we are and all we have!

*****Jas 1:23  For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: 

Jas 1:24  For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. 

When we see the Word of God as our mirror, we can see just how great a sinner we have been since our birth

This holds true to every human being upon the face of this earth, no matter who they are.

Eze 33:31  And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness. 

Eze 33:32  And, lo, thou art unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument: for they hear thy words, but they do them not. 

Many of those who are lost do see the Words of God as great words to live by, but they go their own way because they do not see the Word of God applying to them.

They have made themselves self-righteous.

Mat 13:22  He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. 

Much of this world believe the Word of God is too harsh to live by, and they go their own way doing what suits them.

In either of these cases these who are lost forget that they are sinners in need of a Savior and the Bible says that Savior is the Lord Jesus Christ and there are no other saviors.

They forget the destruction of this world that the Bible says will happen.

These are the loudest voices when the world speaks of "climate change" or "nuclear war” because they see this world as savable when the Lord says it is not savable.

Rev_21:5  And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.

The Lord would not make all things new if this world were worth saving!

The greatest gift we can give to our pastors or preachers who preach the message God has given to them, is obedience.

When they preach, they must be looking for fruit.

As hearers we must carry out what we hear, or the preaching of the Word is falling upon deaf ears and that preacher will get discouraged and quit.

There are not enough true preachers today, but there are many impostors.

We cannot get the blessings of God from an impostor!

If we cannot find faith in the Word of God then as hearers, we also become impostors.

Then there are some who find the truth of God.

*****Jas 1:25  But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

What is the Word of God? It is the perfect law of liberty. Liberty from the bondage of Satan!

It is only the Lord Jesus Christ who can make us free from the bondage of the wickedness of this world.

When we live according to the Word of God, we will find that we can be freed from all the things that enslave our souls upon this earth.

We are free to know and fellowship with the Lord forever and ever.

We must continue in the Word of God all our days.

The trouble with this world is that those who deny the Lord Jesus, deny that there is life after the death of our bodies.

You would think that even the greatest believer in evolution could see that the miracle of life must extend after death.

They see animals of many kinds that can go dormant for periods of time and then come back to life and this is what God is telling them, there is life after death!

The Lord promises us that it is in this life that we are to prepare for the next life which is eternal!

The Word of God is the truth.

Heaven and Hell are real places!

Amen

The Patience of a National Ruler

 David's Patience

2 Samuel Chapter 5

If we remember, we first met David when we studied the First Book of Samuel.

We should all remember when David defeated that Philistine named Goliath who was a giant of a man but he was weak man because he defied Jehovah and the people of God.

If we know one thing for sure, it is the fact that after we met the Lord Jesus Christ and began a personal relationship with Him, our lives began to have real meaning.

We know that one of the traits of David was his patience, waiting on God and we need to have that same patience.

As we studied in the Book of Mark, the Bible is a book about our Savior, but is also the Book of Promises and God will always keep His promises.

Knowing this, then we need to have patience when waiting on the truth of God to manifest itself in our lives.

Godly patience can be described as, that calm and unruffled temper with which a godly man bears the evils in this life.

God is also the God of patience and the Word of God contains the promises of God that will comfort us in those days when our patience is lacking.

Rom 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. 

Rom 15:5  Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: 

Rom 15:6  That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

Rom 15:7  Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.

To the world David was nothing but a lowly shepherd up until the time when he killed Goliath.

He was only about seventeen, too young to be in the army of Israel when this took place and David accomplished this thing because of his faith in Jehovah God.

David was no match for Goliath in his own power.

We do not have the power to stand against the giants that come before us today unless we have the power of God living within us!

At the end of the Book of First Samuel, King Saul and three of his sons had died at the hand of the Philistines and David was made King of Judah and Abner the general to King Saul had convinced the remainder of Israel to choose Ishbosheth the only remaining son of Saul to be King.

We know that this went against the Word of God because Jehovah had chosen David to be King of all of Israel.

The name Ishbosheth has the meaning of "a man of shame" and he was the youngest of King Saul's sons.

Ishbosheth was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, but it was Abner who handled all the affairs of the state and all negotiations with King David of Judah.

Abner was brother to the father of King Saul, who was Kish.

They went to war on several occasions as Abner sought revenge upon David, when it was the Philistines who had taken the life of Saul and his family.

We know that David had no part in that war but had gone back home, which was another one of our lessons.

He considered David a traitor to King Saul.

When Abner died, Ishbosheth had no support for his Kingship and because he was such a feeble man, some of the men of Israel murdered him in his sleep.

Abner's death came when he tried to turn on Ishbosheth and tried to be friends with King David but he was killed by Joab and Abishai in revenge for Abner killing Asahel who was King David's nephew the son of David's sister Zeruiah.

Our lesson begins today as King David of Judah becomes King of all the tribes Israel.

We should understand that David has been the most famous of the kings of Israel throughout their history.

Israel still flies the flag that is called the "Star of David".

A new weapon they have used in the war with Hamas is called the "sling of David".

Israel is still waiting on the King in the line of David to sit upon the throne of Israel just as Christians are also waiting on the return of the Messiah who will return as King of kings and Lord of lords after He has removed the Church.

*****2Sa 5:1  Then came all the tribes of Israel to David unto Hebron, and spake, saying, Behold, we are thy bone and thy flesh. 

2Sa 5:2  Also in time past, when Saul was king over us, thou wast he that leddest out and broughtest in Israel: and the LORD said to thee, Thou shalt feed my people Israel, and thou shalt be a captain over Israel.

2Sa 5:3  So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron; and king David made a league with them in Hebron before the LORD: and they anointed David king over Israel. 

2Sa 5:4  David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years. 

2Sa 5:5  In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months: and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty and three years over all Israel and Judah. 

After seven and a half years of war and skirmishes King David was finally able to unify the nation of Israel.

It had been twenty years since a teenager named David, whose father was Jesse, had been anointed by Samuel, to be God's choice as King of all Israel.

This is a lesson on patience because David had to wait on Jehovah to do these things that he could not do himself.

This is a great lesson for us all!

David had faith.

David certainly had courage as we saw as he faced Goliath.

David was a warrior, which showed his ability to lead.

David was God's chosen man to lead Israel.

But David was not a complete man of God without patience!

We should not look past the fact that before these things David was a shepherd, which showed that he was a responsible man.

1) These tribes of Israel found out that their strength as a nation came from their unity.

This is the truth of our own nation but we have allowed foolish sin and corruption and immorality, to divide our nation and the world now sees us as a weak nation.

Just like David and just like Israel, our true strength comes from God and we had better get back to obedience and patience.

We see it was these tribes of Israel that approached King David stating that they were all one family, the descendants of Abraham and Sarah.

2) They knew that King David was a proven military leader. He had been the leading military strategist in King Saul's army. He had led his own small army to victory on every occasion because he had the help of God.

3) They acknowledged that David was God's choice to be ruler and judge of all of Israel.

They looked more on his military experience, but God looked more upon him as a shepherd to lead His people who acted more like sheep, just as we do here in America today.

Even much of the Church would rather be sheep than the saints of God!

David was to be first a shepherd, and then, a prince over the people of God.

If we are paying attention, we can easily see King David as a type of Christ.

The Lord Jesus may see us as sheep but He sees us as the sheep of His pasture and not the goats of this world!

The one thing we had better understand as a nation is, that we will suffer and fail if we fight against the Divine purposes of the Lord, as would David if he went against the Lord.

Rom 8:28  And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. 

We must be in harmony with God's purpose as an individual, as the Church, and as a nation!

Rom 8:33  Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. 

Rom 8:34  Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. 

Rom 8:35  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 

Rom 8:36  As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 

Rom 8:37  Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 

This is the only way we can conquer our enemies and it is by the power of the Lord Jesus and this through the power of the Gospel.

Our nation has become corrupt, wicked, and divided and these things will ruin any nation and cause their downfall.

The people of Israel were not created for the king but King David was created for the people.

The Lord Jesus Christ was not created at all, He just is, but He came for the people.

All religions are just the opposite, the people are created for all false religions, because they are all man-made religions.

The Church is a creation of God and the Messiah is sent for the people of God!

We know that shepherds, lead, provide, and protect their sheep, and this is the same way that Jesus Christ leads the people of God.

What does a good shepherd do?

1) He guides the sheep to his pasture and away from dangerous places.

2) He seeks and saves all those who are lost.

3) He protects the sheep, willing to sacrifice his own life for the sheep to be saved.

4) He restores those sheep that go astray and returns them to the sheepfold.

The Lord Jesus Christ is proven the Ruler over God's people.

David was thirty years old when he began to reign over all of Israel.

The Lord Jesus Christ was thirty years old when He began His ministry.

We must never forget that our Savior is also the Sovereign Lord and Majesty of the universe, all His creation!

It was King David that made Jerusalem the capitol city of all of Israel.

Psa_122:6  Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.

We had better pay close attention to what this verse says today as the world and much of America are turning their backs on Israel.

Some of the so-called churches are saying things they do not understand if they go against the Word of God.

Gen_12:3  And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

Gal 3:8  And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. 

Gal 3:16  Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. 

Rom 4:11  And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also: 

David became a mighty king and part of the reason was because he moved his capitol city from Hebron to Jerusalem and in his heart he loved Jehovah.

By choosing Jerusalem to be the capital of Israel, Jerusalem became the city of peace between all the tribes of Israel.

Jerusalem will again one day be the City of Peace and not the city of turmoil that it is today!

Solomon, the son of David chose Jerusalem to be the place for the Temple that was to be a House of Prayer for all of Israel.

He did this because his father David insisted that the city of Jerusalem would be the place to house the House of God, the House of Prayer.

Jerusalem also became known as the city of David.

*****2Sa 5:10  And David went on, and grew great, and the LORD God of hosts was with him. 

2Sa 5:11  And Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, and carpenters, and masons: and they built David an house. 

2Sa 5:12  And David perceived that the LORD had established him king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for his people Israel's sake. 

David was not a perfect man and he made many mistakes in his life, but he never forgot where his strength came from.

It can be the same for every Christian if we never forget that our strength comes only from the Lord Jesus Christ!

David called Him Jehovah, we call Him the Lord Jesus, they are one and the same.

Once we give our life to the Lord we will grow and mature in Him!

The phrase the “Son of David” is mentioned twenty-six times in the Bible.

Sometimes it was spoken of Solomon the son of King David, but many times it refers to the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Son of David is proclaimed from Heaven as King of those who love Him and He will rule by treating everyone according to justice and reason.

Psa 98:9  Before the LORD; for he cometh to judge the earth: with righteousness shall he judge the world, and the people with equity.

We are to grow more and more, to be like the Lord Jesus Christ.

1) Living righteous and holy lives.

2) Showing love and compassion to all people.

3) Forgiving others as we have been forgiven.

4) Helping others when they have a need.

5) Walking humbly before all others, acknowledging them, and building them up.

6) Most of all being obedient to all the Word of God, rightly divided.

We do this by growing in Christ!

Eph 4:13  Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 

Eph 4:14  That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 

Eph 4:15  But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: 

As David grew in the LORD, the Philistines became aware that if they had any chance to defeat David, then they had better get started before he became too powerful.

This is the same thought the false priests and elders in the time of Jesus.

They decided they had better get rid of Him before He had too many followers to overcome them.

The world has the same thought today as the hatred for the true Church continues to grow because we are followers of the Lord Jesus Christ!

If were possible, though it is not, for the world to get rid of the Jews, the world would immediately turn to attempt to get rid of the Church and they will continue until they find this out. God loves His people!

*****2Sa 5:17  But when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines came up to seek David; and David heard of it, and went down to the hold. 

2Sa 5:18  The Philistines also came and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim. 

2Sa 5:19  And David enquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up to the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into mine hand? And the LORD said unto David, Go up: for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into thine hand. 

The Philistines, the Palestinians of today, had not bothered David up until this time, because Judah and Israel were fighting with each other almost constantly, but as soon as David was made king over all the tribes of Israel, they decided to attack him before he could get his armies organized.

They feared David's growing power!

David was not only a man after God's own heart, but also a shrewd politician and a mighty general and we will see for many years David would always consult with God before he jeopardized the lives of the armies of Israel.

Only Israel does this today!

George Washington did this same thing and some few others, but I dare say it is only the mothers and fathers and the Church who pray for our militaries today.

The Philistines invaded Israel to try to stop Israel from growing into a dominant nation and they had gathered their entire military forces to do this.

It was the wrong time for these wicked people to attack God's people!

The Philistines marched their armies within a mile of Jerusalem.

Rephaim, at one time meaning the valley of the giants was the same place that Og the king of Bashan belonged.

There were a few remaining of these giants in the days of David.

The Philistines had an old quarrel with David and they came to make all of Israel their slaves, at least this way their intent.

Jos 15:8  And the border went up by the valley of the son of Hinnom unto the south side of the Jebusite; the same is Jerusalem: and the border went up to the top of the mountain that lieth before the valley of Hinnom westward, which is at the end of the valley of the giants northward: 

It was a place of very fertile land:

Isa 17:5  And it shall be as when the harvestman gathereth the corn, and reapeth the ears with his arm; and it shall be as he that gathereth ears in the valley of Rephaim. 

We see that David enquired of the Lord something we should all do before we make major decisions and probably before every decision we make.

This is an example for us all and especially for every national leader!

I am sure the leaders of Israel have done the same thing many times today before they went after Hamas. 

We can also see they did not rush into this war; they made the proper preparations.

It amazes me that the world sees the so-called Palestinians as innocent victims when few of them are.

They have to go to a place where they can learn the truth and see the truth and come to know the Lord Jesus in a personal way to ever change.

I saw one in the news reports the other day and i was impressed with him as he reminded me of Mary Magdalene amazed that God could forgive him of the things he had done. A sinner just as we all are.

Most of the Palestinians no matter where they are located remain partners with Hamas, a terrorist’s group who may be more wicked and evil than all the rest in the likes of ISIS!

This week I saw where they had roasted a baby in an oven in that raid into Israel and maybe more than one and beheaded several.

The abortionists cannot say much about this because they are just as guilty of atrocities like this.

The Lord told David to go up against the Philistines and He would give David victory over those wicked people.

*****2Sa 5:20  And David came to Baalperazim, and David smote them there, and said, The LORD hath broken forth upon mine enemies before me, as the breach of waters. Therefore he called the name of that place Baalperazim. 

2Sa 5:21  And there they left their images, and David and his men burned them.

2Sa 5:22  And the Philistines came up yet again, and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim. 

2Sa 5:23  And when David enquired of the LORD, he said, Thou shalt not go up; but fetch a compass behind them, and come upon them over against the mulberry trees. 

2Sa 5:24  And let it be, when thou hearest the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt bestir thyself: for then shall the LORD go out before thee, to smite the host of the Philistines. 

2Sa 5:25  And David did so, as the LORD had commanded him; and smote the Philistines from Geba until thou come to Gazer.  

Baalperazim would be known as the place where, not David, but "the Lord led Israel to a great victory" over these Philistines.

Many times in the Old Testament we have seen where the Lord just took over the battles that came against Israel.

The world had better be really careful today because the Lord could take over the battle, the war Israels faces with Hamas because much of the world has sided with terrorist. Far too much of the world has sided with them!

Israel is still God's people.

This world one day will wake up to the fact that there is a God and He is the God of Israel and the God of the Church.

In retreating from this first battle the Philistines left behind the idols that they worshipped as gods.

Some say that it was only after these idols were paraded through the streets of Jerusalem before these idols were burnt but either way, they were burnt till there was nothing left but ashes.

The Philistines later regrouped and came after Israel repeatedly again David prayed to the Lord.

This time the Lord gave David a strategy to pursue in defeating the Philistines.

One thing we should notice in these battles is the God is never on the side of the Philistines.

God will never be on the side of the Palestinians!

The Palestinians had better figure out the God is never on their side unless they accept His Son Jesus.

God told David not to attack these Philistines head-on on but to flank them and to circle around behind and attack them in front of mulberry trees.

David would catch his enemy by surprise and this time they would not be able to retreat.

Many passivist would frown on this tactic today saying it was a war crime because Israel could slaughter the Philistines.

In verse twenty-four we see that phrase "hearest the sound of going".

This "going" would be "the sound" of a massive army all marching in step, when there was not one!

In other words, these Philistines would hear this sound like a massive army coming at them, and they would retreat and run right into Davids army waiting upon them and they would have nowhere to run and they would be slaughtered.

David and his army pursued the few stragglers that tried to get away for over twenty miles until they all had been slaughtered them all.

Israel had desired a king to lead them into battles and they had gotten Jehovah back.

King David proved to Israel that it was far better to allow the Lord to lead them in all their battles rather than any king.

A great lesson for us all today, especially as we see where this world is headed.

A world that is on the side of the enemies of God, when God cannot be defeated!

Even with all these things we read that happened, still the most important thing we read is, that it is prayer that is most important!

The greatest power we have today is prayer and we must not wait till troubles come before we ask God for help!

We need to be in daily contact with our Holy but All-Powerful God, who is always on our side!

God promises us He will deliver us no matter how terrifying our trials.

He promised to make us conquerors.

Rom_8:37  Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

Joh 15:7  If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

And one of the most important prayers in the Bible for Israel and for the Church.

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

Jer 29:13  And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. 

God has His rules and we just need to obey them all!

Amen

Is God Listening

 An Answered Prayer

Book of 1 Samuel Chapter 1

As we begin this study into the first Book of Samuel, we should understand that we do not know by whose hands the Holy Spirit used to author the books of Samuel. We can believe that Samuel probably wrote some of the books that bear his name, but no one knows for sure who the writer was.

If we rightly divide the Bible, we know that the Books of Samuel were written to the Israelites, but we also know that all the Bible is written to the Church.

The Books of Samuel gives us a historical record of the transition of the nation of Israel from the era of Judges to the era of Kings. 

This book gives us a record of the birth and the establishment of the monarchy.

We also know that these things were done in rebellion to Jehovah God!

The era of Judges became a corrupt era, and the era of the kings would not be much better, in fact we could say it was worse in many ways.

We do know that each king was to rule and serve under the authority of Jehovah God, just as the Judges were to rule according to the Word of God.

We will see how the sovereign power of God moves events to bring about His purposes and to work out all things for the good, the good of all those who follow Him.

God can make some good come from any dire situation!

This study of the first Book of Samuel begins with prayer just as throughout our lives we need to begin each day with prayer.

Prayer is the source for receiving all things of God!

Jas 4:2  Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, "yet ye have not, because ye ask not". 

Jas 4:3  Ye ask, "and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts". 

We can see that all things are available through prayer, but our own actions are the greatest deterrent to the answering of our prayers.

In this first lesson we meet Hannah, the barren wife of Elkanah and we need to pay attention to how she prays.

*****1Sa 1:1  Now there was a certain man of Ramathaimzophim, of mount Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephrathite: 

1Sa 1:2  And he had two wives; the name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah: and Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children. 

We first met Elkanah who was the father of Samuel. He lived in Ephratah, an old name of Bethlehem. (Bethlehem Ephratah)

This is the same place where Jesse and his son David was born, but more important it is the same place where Joseph, a descendant of David, took the Virgin Mary for the Lord Jesus to be born in a stable, because there was no room for him in the Inn.

This was the very first sign that the world did not want to make room for our Savior.

The world still does not to make room for the Lord Jesus Christ, but this will not stop the return of Christ.

Even today the world still rejects the Lord Jesus Christ and still refuses to make room for the Lord Jesus and His Church.

Elkanah was a Levite in the same line as Heman the singer, but it does not seem that he performed any usual Levitical duties.

We immediately see that he had two wives which was his rebellion against the Word of God.

God still says a marriage is between one man and one woman in the way He created them!

God does not change even if the world changes.

The world is always wrong when it goes against the Word of God.

This is not my opinion; it is simply Biblical Truth.

All children are important to this world!

We have no idea how all those aborted babies could have changed our world for the better!

Children were important to the way of life of the Hebrews and Hannah his first wife was barren.

No doubt that Elkanah felt it was more important to have many children than to obey the Word of God.

We always seem to forget that God will provide our needs if we stay true to Him.

This was just as important to the Jews as it is to the Christian today.

Obedience is the greatest quality we can show to our Heavenly Father!

Obedience to God may be considered:

(1) as virtual, which consists in a belief of the Gospel, of the holiness and equity of its precepts, of the truth of its promises, and a true repentance of all our sins.

(2) actual obedience, which is the practice and the exercise of the several graces and duties of Christianity.

(3) perfect obedience, which is the exact conformity of our hearts and lives to the law of God, without the least imperfection. 

This last one is peculiar to a glorified state, though it should be our aim to always be obedient to the Lord.

As all true Israelites did, Elkanah went to the Tabernacle to worship three times a year as directed by the Word of God.

The Tabernacle was located in Shiloh at this time, where it had been since Joshua led the children of Israel into the Promised Land.

*****1Sa 1:3  And this man went up out of his city yearly to worship and to sacrifice unto the LORD of hosts in Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the LORD, were there. 

Elkanah came from a priestly family that were to become the ancestors of skilled musicians who would serve in the Tabernacle and later the Temple.

Elkanah was a bigamist! 

Elkanah had conformed to the culture where he lived instead of remaining in the culture that God had decided for him!

It is bad enough when the world turns carnal as it has today, but for the priests to do the same things again as we see today, it shows us just how wicked our societies have become as they had in the time of Samuel.

Elkanah had lost his faith in the Lord!

Bigamy and polygamy are transgressions against the Lord just as much as any other sin.

We seem to forget that all sin has only one punishment. 

It separates us from our Holy God!

Marriage is to be between one man and one woman, their sex determined at their birth, and together these two become one flesh.

Two people of the same sex cannot become one flesh!

This union is the way God has chosen for the human race to continue and the values of human life to be learned!

All the great values of life are to be found in the union of the husband and wife and established in the family they establish.

Every family is to be a "type" of the Church family!

Gen 2:23  And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. 

Gen 2:24  Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. 

Because of what Elkanah had done, Hannah was in deep sorrow and broken hearted and there was strife in the home that was unnecessary.

Though the family remained devout, it is obvious that Elkanah the family priest had lost his faith in the ability of God to take care of his family.

Elkanah had joined in the immoral society that was around him just like many who call themselves Christians have done today.

Jdg 21:25  In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes. 

God expects us to separate ourselves from the ways of the unbeliever!

2Co_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,

It seems today that the family has just about disappeared in America because marriage is no longer the foundation of the family.

A marriage must remain the union of one man and one woman the sex they were assigned at birth by God Himself!

People are so confused they do not know if they are male or female and people would rather to just live together without being married because they do not want the responsibilities of family.

People are afraid of making a commitment!

Men in America have grown pathetic!

We should understand that a broken heart is the cause behind many of the problems we see in America today.

Just as Hannah suffered in deep sorrow and a broken heart, we see many more today suffering because we do not see ourselves in step with the world.

Thank goodness I have no desire to be in step with this world!

I would rather seek to be in step with the Word of God that I can trust!

Like Hannah, I place my faith and my trust in the Lord of all the Heavenly Host.

God is the Lord of all the Heavenly Hosts, the angelic armies.

God is also the Lord of the human hosts, those who now live in glorified bodies in Heaven.

It is the Lord Jesus who will very soon subject all those who oppose Him!

It is the Lord God of Heaven who is the Supreme Ruler of all His Creation!

We should notice that Eli, the High Priest of that day, had two wicked sons and we see their names mentioned in this passage, Hophni and Phinehas who were themselves priests, but they used the priesthood to do evil, wicked, and immoral things.

It was now time for Elkanah to make his offerings to the Lord.

Out of the sacrifice of these peace offerings, we should know that the greatest portions went back to the one who offered them, and was eaten by him and his friends or guests, before the Lord.

Out of these portions, he shared with his family as the master of the feast.

He gave a double portion of this meat that had been sacrificed, to Hannah.

*****1Sa 1:9  So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk. Now Eli the priest sat upon a seat by a post of the temple of the LORD. 

1Sa 1:10  And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore. 

We see that Hannah actually lived a life of misery, and her misery peaked at the time of this festival.

All Hannah knew to do was to take her misery and her burdens and give them to the Lord.

This is a fitting example for us all!

I love to pray at the altar of God at the end of each service. 

It just seems that I am a little closer to God surrounded by so many others who love of the Lord.

Hannah went to pray in the Tabernacle.

Her soul was full of bitterness and her eyes were full of tears. This was a broken woman!

Hannah was so desperate to be a mother that she made a vow unto the Lord.

Every child needs a mother and a father and the Lord Jesus Christ!

To be without a mother or a father is terrible enough but every child need Jesus!

These things cannot happen in a home where there are two men trying to be a family, because Christ is not in that home.

These things cannot happen in a home where there are two women are trying to be a family, because Christ is not in that home.

Hannah made a vow to the Lord.

*****1Sa 1:11  And she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head. 

We might understand why Hannah prayed this prayer but should also notice that this vow was the vow of the Nazarite, which is a complete separation of our lives from the world and to give our life to the Lord.

No doubt this is a vow of repentance, but Hannah had a condition that the Lord would give her a son and she would also give this son to the Lord all the days of his life.

Hannah had rededicated her life to the Lord and then she made a baby dedication for her first baby.

If we put this in perspective, we can know that this is exactly what Father God has done for each and every believer.

He has given His Son Jesus to every believer all the days of His life which is eternal, forever.

The key to Hannah's prayer was faith and obedience, and then the vow to give her firstborn son.

The key to our relationship with God the Father is faith and obedience, and we receive the vow of His only begotten Son Jesus the Messiah.

Hannah says she is God's servant, His handmaiden.

God does not ever forget His servants and being a servant of God is not like being a slave, but we should keep in mind that the Lord Jesus Christ when He died, He paid for each one of us with His blood and should He ask us to be His slaves then we should be His slaves.

But Jesus says I will make you my brother or my sister and you will be part of my family and my friend.

Like Hannah we all desperately need the Lord!

We desperately need the Lord to meet our needs!

We desperately need the Lord to remove our burdens!

Hannah spoke from her heart, and we must also do the same.

Hannah's prayer was short, so a prayer of need does not have to contain many words, but only the words that are necessary because God listens to our heart.

One thing was sure, Hannah expected an answer to her prayer, and this is the faith we need in all our prayers.

Many of our prayers are an utterance of our agony and the Holy Spirit will even help us to pray these prayers.

Hannah's lips were moving but her prayer was silent and Eli the High Priest and Judge of Israel was watching her.

*****1Sa 1:12  And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli marked her mouth. 

1Sa 1:13  Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had been drunken. 

1Sa 1:14  And Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from thee. 

Instead of being an understanding priest, Eli immediately became a judge.

It is so sad when many Christians act this way in the Church.

We are not called to judge; we are called to witness.

Eli's main calling was the priesthood, but he failed in this just he failed to be a father to his sons.

Why did Eli think this?

Because of the motions of her face and body.

Because of her passion.

Because of the fervency of her prayer.

A true priest would have seen the truth.

A judge would think evil of her.

When we pray, we do not have to be heard by those around us! 

God said to get alone with Him, and we can do this even with a crowd of people around us.

Rom 8:26  Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 

Rom 8:27  And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. 

No doubt Eli had heard many a prayer and a great many would consist of many words and many boastful words.

The difference being the prayer of Hannah was answered!

The Temple of Hannah was her heart.

The ruler of the heart must be our High Priest, the Lord Jesus Christ.

1Co_6:19  What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

Hannah informed Eli that she was not drunk. 

In fact she had not been drinking wine nor any other strong drink, all these things available in Bible times.

Not every word for wine means alcohol when used in the Bible!

In fact, most of the time when we see the word "wine", it means grape juice, fresh or not so fresh.

The Lord Jesus made the freshest of grape juice in His first miracle of the New Testament. Check me out.

*****1Sa 1:15  And Hannah answered and said, No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the LORD. 

1Sa 1:16  Count not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial: for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto.

Are we wrong to judge Eli? We are wrong to judge anyone.

It is the Word of God that will be the Judge of all people.

Hannah believed it was the will of God for her to be a mother and she was right!

We must always pray according to the will of God, and then we will know that He hears us!

Isa 55:6  Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: 

Isa 55:7  Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. 

Hannah told Eli she was simply pouring her heart out to her God.

We must never judge according to the appearance of things.

Joh 7:24  Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment. 

One thing is certainly true, when we act like the Lord Jesus Christ, then we will certainly be misunderstood in this world!

Tit_2:14  Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

If we are not seen as being peculiar to this world then, maybe we need to renew our relationship with the Lord!

Hearing these truths, Eli gave assurance that God would hear her prayer.

Every prayer that God hears, will also receive an answer even though it may not be the answer we are seeking.

God will never go outside His will for us to answer our prayers!

Hannah boldly said to Eli that she was a handmaiden to God.

Handmaiden meaning a servant to the will of God for her life not some worthless, wicked woman.

What was Hannah to do? 

When we leave a prayer of this type, then we should walk away at peace with ourselves and at peace with God, because we know He heard our prayer and we know if He heard our prayer, He would surely answer that prayer.

*****1Sa 1:17  Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him. 

1Sa 1:18  And she said, Let thine handmaid find grace in thy sight. So the woman went her way, and did eat, and her countenance was no more sad. 

We must understand that to make a prayer of any value there must be definite objects for which we plead.

Many times we spend our prayer time talking about many subjects, but our soul is not concentrating on our main subject, and God will not see us as being serious.

Our prayers should concern the plan God has for us!

We are wrong to go to God telling Him what blessing we are designed to have.

God has a dump truck full of blessings ready to give to us, but we must be serious about the will of God for our lives, until we go home to be with the Lord.

We must be searching for the "Grace" of God for our lives.

Grace being God's Riches At Christ Expense!

Hannah walked away after finishing her prayer no longer sad, content that she had poured her heart out to God who had His ears open to hearing her.

*****1Sa 1:19  And they rose up in the morning early, and worshipped before the LORD, and returned, and came to their house to Ramah: and Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and the LORD remembered her. 

1Sa 1:20  Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come about after Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of the LORD. 

There were some reliable results from Hannah's prayer. God heard her prayer and that prayer stayed with Him as all prayers do.

The prayer of Hannah stayed on God's mind, and we know every child of God are of equal in importance to Him.

Whatever part of Hannah that kept her from conceiving a child was now healed!

We should have no doubt that God has been answering prayer from the beginning of human history!

The very reason God saves us is to answer our prayers!

Luk 18:7  And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? 

Luk 18:8  I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth? 

Our duty as Christians is to continue to pray all the days God will give to us!

Mat 6:5  And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 

Mat 6:6  But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. 

Mat 6:7  But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. 

Mat 6:8  Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.

We should be specific in our prayers!

Php 4:6  Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 

Php 4:7  And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 

Our prayer life is the most important gift from God we have, after our salvation and is part of God’s Grace.

God empowered the body of Hannah to have children.

Samuel was her first child, but he was not her only child.

The name Samuel means "God heard".

Hannah may have had some doubts about Jehovah, but those doubts no longer existed!

Samuel was God's gift to Hannah, just like every child is a precious gift to that mother who conceive that child. A gift from God.

So many of these precious gifts have been destroyed before they were ever born, and God has every one of them with Him in Heaven today.

God knows our needs, but God will always listen to us when we are gripped by sorrow or a broken heart.

Now God still hears all our prayers, but it is good to know that we can touch the heart of God.

We look at Heaven as being above the stars, but it is also good to know that the Lord is close enough to hear our prayers even when we pray like Hannah, our lips moving but the words are silent to those around us.

We rob ourselves of this great privilege of prayer if we keep back anything that we could have asked for!

Jas_4:2  Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.

Now we may not get everything we ask for, but it will because God knew it would not be right for us, but we will surely never get what we think we want if we do not ask for them.

When we pour out our hearts with "thanksgiving" we will receive the things that are in the will of God for our lives!

We need to thank the Lord God for what He has done, for what He is doing, and for what He will do!

Rom 15:13  Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost. 

1Pe 1:8  Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: 

1Pe 1:9  Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. 

Amen.