If you confess the Lord Jesus with your mouth,
and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead,
you will be saved. Explain more »
If I be wicked, woe unto me;We shouldn't contend with and reprove the almighty God like Job did.
and [if] I be righteous, [yet] will I not lift up my head.
[I am] full of confusion;
therefore see thou mine affliction;
In the end of the story, the wicked won't get away with his wickedness, and the righteous won't go unrewarded.
Even if our situation doesn't seem like it, the Lord sees our affliction.Which alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the waves of the sea.
Which maketh Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the chambers of the south.
Which doeth great things past finding out; yea, and wonders without number.The Lord is "wise in heart, and mighty in strength".
Praise the Lord.
Doth God pervert judgment?
or doth the Almighty pervert justice?
Some situations are hard for us.
We're tempted to think that God's unfair.
That's what the story of Job was like.
In situations like that, we should remember Job. Remember the end of Job's story, if you know it. If we think God isn't just right now, that's because we don't know the end of the story yet.Remember that the Lord is just, and don't think He's unfair.
Therefore I will not refrain my mouth;We should refrain our mouths from trying to contend with and reprove the Almighty God.
I will speak in the anguish of my spirit;
I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.
We shouldn't complain that way.
How forcible are right words!Use right words instead of arguing that doesn't prove anything.
but what doth your arguing reprove?
Behold, happy [is] the man whom God correcteth:When we have a hard time, we should remember the Lord's mercy and Love to us. He will be very kind and merciful to us.
therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty:
We should trust the Lord and be patient.
Remember, I pray thee, who [ever] perished, being innocent?
or where were the righteous cut off?
If you tell the truth, you know you have done bad things.For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;Romans 3:23
Job's friend was talking to Job like the bad things happened to Job because Job had sinned. Actually, Job's friend was wrong. that wasn't the reason those bad things happened to Job.
Job was a picture of the Lord Jesus Christ. Did Jesus ever sin? No, He has always been perfectly innocent and righteous. But remember the cross. Jesus is the One who died for all of the sins we have all done.
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.Romans 5:8
Why don't you accept the best gift, today?
Receive everlasting life, the gift of God.
For the wages of sin [is] death; but the gift of God [is] eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.Romans 6:23
For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me,When you feel bad, pour out your complaint to the Lord, and "show" Him your trouble.
and that which I was afraid of is come unto me.
But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.Notice the part that says, "In all this did not Job sin with his lips."
In the worst possible situation, we should be like Job was in this verse.
We still shouldn't speak any evil.Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped,When terrible things happened happened to Job, he worshiped the Lord.
We should worship the Lord even when bad things happen, not just at happy times.
For Mordecai the Jew [was] next unto king Ahasuerus, and great among the Jews, and accepted of the multitude of his brethren, seeking the wealth of his people, and speaking peace to all his seed.Mordecai was "seeking the wealth of his people".
We should try to do things that are good for others.
As the days wherein the Jews rested from their enemies, and the month which was turned unto them from sorrow to joy, and from mourning into a good day: that they should make them days of feasting and joy, and of sending portions one to another, and gifts to the poor.The Lord turned something terrible around to something great.
Praying and seeking the Lord is worth it.
And Esther spake yet again before the king,Esther spake yet again before the king. That was even though she had been bold before, and done what was right, and besought the king.
and fell down at his feet,
and besought him with tears
to put away the mischief of Haman the Agagite,
and his device that he had devised against the Jews.
After we've already prayed to the Lord, we should also do it "yet again". We should keep praying.
Then Esther the queen answered and said, If I have found favour in thy sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request:When Esther was asking the king to save their lives, she said, "...if it please the king..."
We should pray that way, and seek for what would please the Lord.
So Haman came in. And the king said unto him,The king wanted to honor Mordecai, but Haman wanted to kill Mordecai.
What shall be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour?
Now Haman thought in his heart, To whom would the king delight to do honour more than to myself?
When the king asked Haman about how to honor somebody, Haman didn't know it was Mordecai.
Haman was presumptuous, and gave an answer before he heard the whole matter out. Haman just thought the king wanted to honor him.
Have you ever said something before you knew the whole story behind what you were talking about? For example, have you ever thought, "They must be planning a surprise present for my birthday." Isn't it embarrassing and disappointing when you find out you were wrong?He that answereth a matter before he heareth [it], it [is] folly and shame unto him.Proverbs 18:13
Then said Zeresh his wife and all his friends unto him, Let a gallows be made of fifty cubits high, and to morrow speak thou unto the king that Mordecai may be hanged thereon: then go thou in merrily with the king unto the banquet. And the thing pleased Haman; and he caused the gallows to be made.Don't try to do something evil to someone else. You might just end up doing it to yourself.
Also he gave him the copy of the writing of the decree that was given at Shushan to destroy them,
to shew [it] unto Esther, and to declare [it] unto her, and to
charge her that she should go in unto the king,
to make supplication unto him,
and to make request before him for her people.
The way we can come to the Lord, the King, is by praying in Jesus' name.
We have been charged to "make supplication unto" Him.
We have an opportunity "to make request before him".
We should be bold to "go in unto the king."And the letters were sent by posts into all the king's provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish, all Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day, [even] upon the thirteenth [day] of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, and [to take] the spoil of them for a prey.We have spiritual enemies, and people are sick, and appointed to die, and be killed.
Fortunately, we have special access to the Lord, the King. Even though He's such a great king, we are His bride. We must be bold to come to Him by prayer.
We should pray for sick and dying people, and the people involved with abortion.And Mordecai walked every day before the court of the women's house, to know how Esther did, and what should become of her.We should be good friends like this. We should be diligent to see how each other are doing.
But the queen Vashti refused to come at the king's commandment by [his] chamberlains: therefore was the king very wroth, and his anger burned in him.The Lord is the King of Kings.
We can come to the Lord by
I'm not sure that everything the king in this story did, was right.
There is one thing I do know.
When the Lord commands us to "come to Him", we shouldn't refuse.
If we do, we miss out on more than we know.
For in the days of David and Asaph of oldThere were many people giving thanks. They praised the Lord. It was commanded.
[there were] chief of the singers,
and songs of praise and thanksgiving unto God.
It was with gladness. God made them rejoice with great joy.
It was with singing and musical instruments. Part of v42 says, "...the singers sang loud...". The sound was heard far away.
There were many of them. They were in all kinds of places.
We should rejoice when we praise the Lord.For [it was] the king's commandment concerning them, that a certain portion should be for the singers, due for every day.Being a singer was actually a really important job. We need to work on singing praises to the Lord. We should consider how important it is.
For the children of Israel(I added the styles.)
and the children of Levi
shall bring the offering
of the corn, of the new wine, and the oil,
unto the chambers, where [are] the vessels of the sanctuary,
and the priests that minister, and the porters, and the singers:
and we will not forsake the house of our God.
Our Lord's house is His people. We shouldn't forget about the Lord's people. We should be willing to
And didst see the affliction of our fathers in Egypt, and heardest their cry by the Red sea;Many times we've done evil sins.
The Lord has heard us from heaven.
The Lord has had manifold mercies.
He has saved us and delivered us.
So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly,We should preach the Word distinctly. We shouldn't just get the things said, but we should give people the real sense of the Word.
and gave the sense,
and caused [them] to understand the reading.
When we tell people about the Lord, besides just telling it, we should also help them understand.
That I gave my brother Hanani, and Hananiah the ruler of the palace, charge over Jerusalem: for he [was] a faithful man, and feared God above many.The faithful man feared God more than many other people feared God. We should fear "God above many".
If we want to be in charge, we should Be Faithful and Fear God.
For they all made us afraid, saying, Their hands shall be weakened from the work, that it be not done. Now therefore, [O God], strengthen my hands.
Think upon me, my God, for good, [according] to all that I have done for this people.We should do a lot of good things for the Lord's people. Take opportunities to Love one another.
So built we the wall; and all the wall was joined together unto the half thereof: for the people had a mind to work.We should be like the Lord's people who built the wall. We should have a mind to work.
After him Baruch the son of Zabbai earnestly repaired the other piece, from the turning [of the wall] unto the door of the house of Eliashib the high priest.This chapter talks about many people repairing parts of the city for the Lord. Mr. Baruch stands out, because this chapter says he "earnestly repaired".
We should be serious about our work to serve the Lord.
Wherefore the king said unto me, Why [is] thy countenance sad, seeing thou [art] not sick? this [is] nothing [else] but sorrow of heart. Then I was very sore afraid,
Then the king said unto me, For what dost thou make request? So I prayed to the God of heaven.When you're very sore afraid, pray to the Lord, the God of heaven.
Let thine ear now be attentive, and thine eyes open, that thou mayest hear the prayer of thy servant, which I pray before thee now, day and night, for the children of Israel thy servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against thee: both I and my father's house have sinned.(I added the emphasis.)
It's good to pray often, and when we just got up in the morning, and before we go to bed at night. How can we stay awake and pay attention? Here's 1 way.
As soon as it's time to pray, write down 5 names of people you'll pray for. Then, go back and write down 1 simple thing to pray about for each of them. Pray the thing for each person, in order. If you think of something else before you finish, save the thought and don't think about it until you finish the list.
And Shechaniah the son of Jehiel, [one] of the sons of Elam, answered and said unto Ezra, We have trespassed against our God, and have taken strange wives of the people of the land: yet now there is hope in Israel concerning this thing.People of Israel had sinned. Shechaniah said, "we have trespassed". Sometimes we do things that are wrong... or we don't do something that we know is right. That's sin, and our sin is the worst, most miserable thing there is.
Why did Shechaniah say, "...yet now there is hope..."?
Arise; for [this] matter [belongeth] unto thee: we also [will be] with thee: be of good courage, and do [it].
We can repent.
Don't say, "I've sinned. There's no hope. I'll just have to keep sinning." Duh. Jesus is very merciful and forgiving. We know we can change our minds and turn around to go the right way.
"...be of good courage, and do [it]."And said, O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to thee, my God: for our iniquities are increased over [our] head, and our trespass is grown up unto the heavens.When Ezra prayed, he said that the Lord was righteous, and he confessed their sin. When we pray, we should be humble in front of the Lord.
So we fasted and besought our God for this: and he was intreated of us.I'm not fasting right now while I'm writing this, but fasting with prayer is a good way to seek the Lord.
When we're in danger, and when we're ashamed, we should pray. We can entreat the Lord.
Whatsoever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be diligently done for the house of the God of heaven: for why should there be wrath against the realm of the king and his sons?We should do whatever God commands, diligently. He is the God of heaven. We should get it done.
We should work like that for His house. God's house is His people, and we should diligently do what He teaches us to do for them. We should prepare for and participate in the meetings when we meet together as His house.
And kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with joy:The Lord helps us with our work for Him. He can just take a person and make him joyful. Don't we need the Lord to do this for us?
for the LORD had made them joyful,
and turned the heart of the king of Assyria unto them,
to strengthen their hands in the work of the house of God,
the God of Israel.
The Lord changes hearts of people in places like the government. The Lord turns people's hearts to us. He makes our hands strong to do the work.
Pray about these things. Praise the Lord.Be it known unto the king, that we went into the province of Judea, to the house of the great God, which is builded with great stones, and timber is laid in the walls, and this work goeth fast on, and prospereth in their hands.They said, "...this work goeth fast on...". We should serve the Lord diligently, with great care, and with much energy. Our work should go on quickly.
But Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the rest of the chief of the fathers of Israel, said unto them, Ye have nothing to do with us to build an house unto our God; but we ourselves together will build unto the LORD God of Israel, as king Cyrus the king of Persia hath commanded us.I should keep working hard to do what's right, even when there are challenges to stop me.
They gave money also unto the masons, and to the carpenters; and meat, and drink, and oil, unto them of Zidon, and to them of Tyre, to bring cedar trees from Lebanon to the sea of Joppa, according to the grant that they had of Cyrus king of Persia.Please pray for my work. This talks about masons, and I've working on building an interlocking block retaining wall. I should keep working faithfully.
And they sang together by course in praising and giving thanks unto the LORD; because [he is] good, for his mercy [endureth] for ever toward Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid.I should keep singing hymns.
These sought their register [among] those that were reckoned by genealogy, but they were not found: therefore were they, as polluted, put from the priesthood.There were some priests that had descended from the wrong kind of ancestors. They had to be kicked out of being priests because they were "polluted".
We miss out on the rewards of righteousness by being polluted. One way to keep from being polluted is to make sure that the thoughts we think are pure.
Who [is there] among you of all his people? his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which [is] in Judah, and build the house of the LORD God of Israel, (he [is] the God,) which [is] in Jerusalem.As Christians, the Lord's people, there's something we should do.
The real house of the Lord today isn't some physical building in the city of Jerusalem. We, His people, are His house.
By preaching the gospel and bringing people to Jesus, preaching the Word, praying, and serving in other ways, we can build up each other, and build the house of the Lord.And prepare [yourselves] by the houses of your fathers, after your courses, according to the writing of David king of Israel, and according to the writing of Solomon his son.The king told the Lord's servants to prepare themselves. We should get ready for when we meet together as the Lord's body.
Because thine heart was tender, and thou didst humble thyself before God, when thou heardest his words against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, and humbledst thyself before me, and didst rend thy clothes, and weep before me; I have even heard [thee] also, saith the LORD.They had found a book of the law of the Lord given by Moses, and read it in front of this king. Obviously, he believed it, and applied it to his own life. How do you respond to reading the Bible? We should respond to it.
Also notice that the Lord heard the king weep. The Lord hears us seeking Him by weeping.
And, lastly, the Lord's Word does have an effect. Look how it changed this king's life when they read it to him. After that, the prophet sent this message (v27,28) back from the Lord to the king. Then the king called all the people together and read it to them. It even had an effect on all the people- they served the Lord, and didn't depart from following the Lord all the days of this king. Wow. The fact that it makes a big difference should encourage us to get the Lord's Word out to other people.His prayer also, and [how God] was intreated of him, and all his sin, and his trespass, and the places wherein he built high places, and set up groves and graven images, before he was humbled: behold, they [are] written among the sayings of the seers.This king sinned very badly, like I've sinned very badly. After that, this king humbled himself very much. When he was in trouble, he besought the Lord, and prayed. We should humble ourselves like that.
The Lord has great mercy to be entreated by people who've done very evil things. The Lord hears supplications of humble people who are in trouble. The Lord brought him back out of his trouble.
I should humble myself greatly, and beseech the Lord by praying with supplications. He will be very kind and have great mercy.
And for this [cause] Hezekiah the king, and the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz, prayed and cried to heaven.It's good when more than 1 of us prays for the same thing.
When we're in trouble we should pray out loud and cry to the Lord.
And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, and in the law, and in the commandments, to seek his God, he did [it] with all his heart, and prospered.
v27
Then the priests the Levites arose and blessed the people: and their voice was heard, and their prayer came [up] to his holy dwelling place, [even] unto heaven.Even if you haven't done everything right, prepare your heart to seek the Lord.
Pray for people with your voice, knowing that the Lord listens and hears!
v11
My sons, be not now negligent: for the LORD hath chosen you to stand before him, to serve him, and that ye should minister unto him, and burn incense.We should serve the Lord the first time we have a chance to do something.
We should get up early in the morning to serve the Lord.
We should be upright in heart to set ourselves apart.
Instead of being negligent, I'll get ready to sing praises.
v13
And said unto them, Ye shall not bring in the captives hither: for whereas we have offended against the LORD [already], ye intend to add [more] to our sins and to our trespass: for our trespass is great, and [there is] fierce wrath against Israel.When we've already sinned and are in trouble, we still shouldn't sin more.
So Jotham became mighty, because he prepared his ways before the LORD his God.We should prepare, establish, or order our behavior with the Lord.
I'll pray about a decision I have to make.
v16
But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to [his] destruction: for he transgressed against the LORD his God, and went into the temple of the LORD to burn incense upon the altar of incense.This man stopped seeking the Lord, and instead, he went to do something that was sin. Maybe he even thought that the Lord would honor him for it. It would have been a good thing to do, except it wasn't for him.
Even when we've sought the Lord before, and the Lord has made us prosper, even when we're strong, sin will still lead to destruction.
When people come to point out sin that we're doing, and tell us it's wrong, we shouldn't get mad at them.
v2
And he did [that which was] right in the sight of the LORD, but not with a perfect heart.It's good to start out doing things that are right, but we still need to make sure that we Don't Turn Away From Following the Lord.
v2
And Joash did [that which was] right in the sight of the LORD all the days of Jehoiada the priest.It's easy to do what's right when there's a Jehoiada in our lives. We just follow his example, and, as long as he's around, and being a good example, we do what's right. But what about when that good example isn't around any more?
Joash's problem is that he didn't remember. He disregarded all of the kindness that Jehoiada had done for him (which was a lot,) and became very wicked. Do we remember our Jehoiadas? After they're not around, or after they're not a good example any more, do we forget, and stop doing what's right, but be very wicked, instead?
What we can see from this chapter, is that God is real, and when people changed, He didn't. We should remember to do what's right, even when other people who have been our examples, change.
v13
And she looked, and, behold, the king stood at his pillar at the entering in, and the princes and the trumpets by the king:If an important person visited us, wouldn't we get excited about him?
and all the people of the land rejoiced,
and sounded with trumpets,
also the singers with instruments of musick,
and such as taught to sing praise.
Then Athaliah rent her clothes, and said, Treason, Treason.
Isn't Jesus an important person? He's the most important of all. He's the King of all.
We have a King to rejoice about. We should make music for Jesus. We should desire to sing and praise the Lord from our hearts.
v4
Wherefore he did evil in the sight of the LORD like the house of Ahab: for they were his counsellors after the death of his father to his destruction.There's safety in a multitude of counselors, but there can also be bad counselors.
We shouldn't listen to people who counsel us to do evil.
From part of v6b:
...he wrought [that which was] evil in the eyes of the LORD.
The king that this chapter tells about, didn't follow the Lord so well.
He has miserable consequences for his sin.
We keep being tempted to do things we've already known are bad things to do. We need to remember that it's just not worth it to do evil.
v12
O our God, wilt thou not judge them? for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes [are] upon thee.When we don't know what to do, we should seek the Lord.
v2
And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him, and said to king Jehoshaphat, Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the LORD? therefore [is] wrath upon thee from before the LORD.
Don't disregard the fact that a person hates the Lord, just because you love the person.
We shouldn't make an affinity, and say, "I'm like you, and my people are like yours."
Don't help people be ungodly.
...Jehoshaphat cried out, and the LORD helped him...
(From part of v31b.)
When we're in trouble, we should cry out to the Lord, and He will help us.v4,5
But sought to the [LORD] God of his father, and walked in his commandments, and not after the doings of Israel.
Therefore the LORD stablished the kingdom in his hand; and all Judah brought to Jehoshaphat presents; and he had riches and honour in abundance.There was this king Jehoshaphat in Judah, who sought the Lord. That means, for example, if you loose something, and try to find it, you seek it.
This king didn't seek an idol, but he sought the Lord instead. The Lord gave him all kinds of great rewards because of that.
There will be a Great Reward For Seeking the Lord.
v7
And at that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah, and said unto him, Because thou hast relied on the king of Syria, and not relied on the LORD thy God, therefore is the host of the king of Syria escaped out of thine hand.We shouldn't rely on other people, or other things instead of relying on the Lord.
We should Seek the Lord First.
v15
And all Judah rejoiced at the oath:They "...sought Him with their whole desire..."
for they had sworn with all their heart,
and sought him with their whole desire;
and he was found of them:
and the LORD gave them rest round about.
We should seek the Lord With Our Whole Desire.
Also remember Psalm 27:4.
v11
And Asa cried unto the LORD his God, and said,Yesterday I talked about how relying on the Lord shows believing in Him. Resting on the Lord also shows believing.
LORD, [it is] nothing with thee to help, whether with many, or with them that have no power:
help us, O LORD our God;
for we rest on thee,
and in thy name we go against this multitude.
O LORD, thou [art] our God;
let not man prevail against thee.
When they relied on the Lord, "...they cried unto the Lord..." (From part of 2 Chronicles 13:14.) When king Asa rested on the Lord, he "...cried unto the Lord..." (From part of 2 Chronicles 14:11a.) We should apply our faith in prayer.
If we believe in the Lord, we should Rest on the Lord.
Some of my friends and I are in "Release Ministries". We've been telling detainees at a place that's like a jail, about Jesus.
Every Friday, release ministries sends a prayer request email. The email is long, but you wouldn't have to read the whole thing. It includes a short list of prayer requests from "unit 8". Unit 8 is the place where some of my friends and I have been going.
If you would like to get the prayer request email, there are 2 steps.
valerie@releaseministries.org
You can also view the latest prayer request letter online.
Please do pray for us. The Bible teaches us that we should continue in prayers and supplications night and day. Thank you.
We know that if we believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, we will be saved from the lake of fire. But what does it mean to believe on Him?
One time, Israel split into 2 countries, Israel, and Judah. There was a war between the 2 countries. Listen to 1 thing that happened.
v18
Thus the children of Israel were brought under at that time, and the children of Judah prevailed, because they relied upon the LORD God of their fathers.It says "...they relied upon the LORD God..." Jesus must be the 1 we rely on to give us everlasting life. We must not rely on ourselves, or anybody else, or anything else, to save us.
Once we've been converted from going to the terrible place, to going to heaven, we need to keep on believing.
If you believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, 1 thing that means is that you can Rely on the Lord.
v14
And he did evil, because he prepared not his heart to seek the LORD.I'll make the first thing I think about when I get up in the morning, and the last thing I think about when I go to bed at night, a Bible verse.
v4
Thus saith the LORD, Ye shall not go up, nor fight against your brethren: return every man to his house: for this thing is done of me. And they obeyed the words of the LORD, and returned from going against Jeroboam.It was a good thing "They obeyed the Words of the Lord".
When the Bible teaches us to do or not do something, we should Obey the Words of the Lord.
v7
And they spake unto him, saying, If thou be kind to this people, and please them, and speak good words to them, they will be thy servants for ever.I know I've said this before, but we should speak to people this way.
v23
And all the kings of the earth sought the presence of Solomon, to hear his wisdom, that God had put in his heart.God had put wisdom in Solomon's heart. The wisdom was so great that all the kings of the earth looked for being with Solomon, to hear his wisdom. God had put it there.
The Lord is able to give us wisdom. Have faith, and ask the Lord for it.
And they departed not from the commandment of the king unto the priests and Levites concerning any matter, or concerning the treasures.We shouldn't go away from what the Lord, our King, tells us to do.
We shouldn't disobey about anything, Concerning Any Matter.
v14
If my people, which are called by my name, shallThe Lord hears prayer, forgives sin, and heals.
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.
We must Turn From Wicked Ways.
...The LORD hath said that he would dwell in the thick darkness.
But I have built an house of habitation for thee, and a place for thy dwelling for ever.(From part of v1-2.)
But will God in very deed dwell with men on the earth? behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house which I have built!
...
That thine eyes may be open upon this house day and night, upon the place whereof thou hast said that thou wouldest put thy name there; to hearken unto the prayer... toward this place.
Hearken therefore unto the supplications... toward this place: hear thou from thy dwelling place, [even] from heaven...(From part of v18-21.)
...the LORD God of Israel, who hath with his hands fulfilled [that] which he spake with his mouth...(From part of v4.)
The LORD therefore hath performed his word that he hath spoken... as the LORD promised...(From part of v10.)
[there is] no God like thee in the heaven, nor in the earth; which keepest covenant...
Thou which hast kept... that which thou hast promised... and spakest with thy mouth, and hast fulfilled [it] with thine hand, as [it is] this day.
...keep... that which thou hast promised...
...let thy word be verified, which thou hast spoken unto thy servant...(From part of v14-17.)
v20-21 show how we can be forgiven, and the Lord can answer prayer. That's only through Jesus.
v24-27 shows that something has to go between the sinful people and the Holy God, to intercede. It must be the thing that God chooses and puts His name on. Jesus intercedes for us.
v29,33,38,40 Show how prayer had to be in the house, toward it, or in the place. We can only come to God through Jesus, and we can only come through Jesus' name.
Revelation 21:22 says this about the holy city:And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.
Have respect therefore to the prayer of thy servant, and to his supplication, O LORD my God, to hearken unto the cry and the prayer which thy servant prayeth before thee...(v19.)
And if thy people Israel be put to the worse before the enemy, because they have sinned against thee; and shall return and confess thy name, and pray...(From part of v24)
When the heaven is shut up, and there is no rain, because they have sinned against thee; [yet] if they... turn from their sin, when thou dost afflict them...(From part of v26.)
The encouragement today, is to be zealous to repent. Hunt down all those sins which to easily beset you, and be merciless with them. Contact the people you need to contact. Apologize. Be reconciled. Make sure. Turn with all your heart and all your soul.
If they sin against thee, (for [there is] no man which sinneth not,) and thou be angry with them, and deliver them over before [their] enemies, and they carry them away captives unto a land far off or near;
Yet [if] they bethink themselves... and turn and pray... saying, We have sinned, we have done amiss, and have dealt wickedly;
If they return to thee with all their heart and with all their soul...
Then hear thou... and forgive thy people which have sinned against thee.(From part of v36-29.)
v13
It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers [were] as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD; and when they lifted up [their] voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of musick, and praised the LORD, [saying], For [he is] good; for his mercy [endureth] for ever: that [then] the house was filled with a cloud, [even] the house of the LORD;We should lift up our voice and sing. We should sing together like 1 person, to make people hear 1 sound.
I've been getting ready to sing gospel hymns together with other people. I've been preparing sing loudly, and to sing just the melody.
Sing, and Sing With 1 Voice.
v17 talks about 2 pillars set up in the temple.
These 2 pillars have names!
1 of the pillars is called "Boaz".
That word has to do with strength.
We should be strong, and serve the Lord with all our strength. The Lord gives strength to His people.
Part of v14:
...skilful to work... and to find out every device which shall be put to him...I should be skillful to figure out every kind of "device" on which I have to work.
I should Be "Skillful to Work".
v11
...Because this was in thine heart...What do you ask the Lord to give you for yourself? It's OK to ask for something for yourself, just what are you asking for it for?
I knew the story of Solomon asking for wisdom, but I struck by hearing this. He didn't just ask for wisdom and knowledge. Asking for it was in his heart.
The desires of our hearts should be to please the Lord. What is In Your Heart?
David said,
Now I have prepared with all my might for the house of my God...(From part of v2a.)
I noticed the "with all my might" part. We should Love the Lord with all our strength.
Build the Lord's people.
Be strong, and do it.
And thou, Solomon my son,
know thou the God of thy father, and
serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind:
for the LORD searcheth all hearts,
and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts:
if thou seek him, he will be found of thee;
but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.
...stood up upon his feet, and said, Hear me...Standing on a street corner, in a crowded place... Shout out the gospel!
...Be strong and of good courage, and do [it]: fear not, nor be dismayed: for the LORD God, [even] my God, [will be] with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, until thou hast finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD.
The Lord blesses His servants. We should serve the Lord with our whole hearts.
Are you ever disappointed because you look for something new here, but I haven't posted?
Would you please ask the Lord to help me redeem the time?
Thank you.
These [were] the orderings of them in their service to come into the house of the LORD, according to their manner, under Aaron their father, as the LORD God of Israel had commanded him.We're each supposed to serve the Lord, and His people, in 1 sort of manner or another.
No matter how I get a chance to serve the Lord, I'll do what I can.
Later, v30 says:
And to stand every morning to thank and praise the LORD, and likewise at even;All the time, we should thank and praise the Lord.
...be strong, and of good courage; dread not, nor be dismayed.(From part of v13b.)
There are times when things get very discouraging. We can encourage ourselves in the Lord.
Now set your heart and your soul to seek the LORD your God...(From part of v19a.)
Stay very determined to completely seek the Lord.
...in my trouble I have prepared for the house of the LORD...(From part of v14a.)
Even when we have a hard time, we can serve the Lord. He'll do great things through us.
...the house [that is] to be builded for the LORD [must be] exceeding magnifical, of fame and of glory throughout all countries: I will [therefore] now make preparation for it. So David prepared abundantly...(From part of v5b.)
We, the Lord's people, are His house. We should serve each other abundantly. When He returns, it will be...
And David built there an altar unto the LORD, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings, and called upon the LORD; and he answered him from heaven by fire upon the altar of burnt offering.David called on the Lord, and the Lord answered him.
...David saw that the LORD had answered him...(From part of v28b.)
Call on the Lord in prayer.
v3 There can be really bad counselors. Don't listen to bad counsel, and don't assume evil of people.
Be of good courage, and let us behave ourselves valiantly for our people, and for the cities of our God: and let the LORD do [that which is] good in his sight.We should:
So David reigned over all Israel, and executed judgment and justice among all his people.I thought of Psalm 119:121, "I have done judgment and justice..."
Before, I read about all of the incredible treasures and stuff Solomon had later. I saw here how some of it had been prepared.
David was so faithful in the battles and preparations and service for the Lord. The Lord really blessed His servants.
...David the king... said... Who am I... ?(From part of 1 Chronicles 17:16a)
...O Lord, there is none like You...(From part of 1 Chronicles 17:20a)
We should worship the Lord like this. There's no one like Him. Be humble, and praise the Lord.
My eyes fail for Your salvation, and for the Word of Your righteousness.(From v123.)
Do you even care if people get saved? We should want people to be saved, and we should preach the gospel. We should pray for it.
We should do what we can, and preach the gospel, and preach the Word. We should pray, write, call, or whatever we can do. Can you honestly say, "I have done judgment and justice"?
Be surety for Your servant for good...(From part of v122a.)
Deal with Your servant according unto Your mercy...(From part of v124a.)
I [am] Your servant...(From part of v125a.)
Will the Lord deal with you according to His mercy? Or, is salvation far from you? When we pray and cry to the Lord, and look for His help, will the Lord help us? Will He hear us and be near us?
Seek His Word, and His salvation. Do judgment and justice.
Am I Really God's Servant?
This is based on notes I originally took at 2006 09 09 1100.
God's people cried to Him in a battle, and He listened to them and helped them.
Why?...because they put their trust in Him.
...and consent not to wholesome words...(From part of 1 Timothy 6:3b.)
Salvation [is] far from the wicked: for they seek not Thy statutes.(Psalm 119:155.)
...teach me Thy statutes.(From part of Psalm 119:124b.)
...give me understanding, that I may know Thy testimonies.(From part of Psalm 119:125b.)
If any man teach otherwise...(From part of 1 Timothy 6:3a.)
the doctrine which is according to godliness(From part of 1 Timothy 6:3d.)
Mine eyes fail for thy salvation, and for the Word of Thy righteousness.(From Psalm 119:123, I added the emphasis.)
This chapter shows me how Our Father is cares about how we feel. He warns us about the trouble we'll go through, and explains why.
In v6, the Lord knew their hearts were full of sorrow. He knows when our hearts are filled with sorrow. In v7, the Lord promised to send the Comforter. In v13, He promised that He shows us things from the future, about Himself.
v19 says "Now Jesus knew that they were desirous to ask him." Jesus knows the things that we're desirous of, and answers, even when we're afraid to ask. In v20, He knew we'd weep and lament in sorrow while the world rejoices. In v21 and 22, He promises such joy in our very hearts that no man can take it from us, and so that we won't even remember our anguish any more.
He told us to ask, and promised that we'd receive, and it was all so that our joy may be full. In v32 we can known that even when all our friends are scattered and go to their own houses and their own Church meetings and leave us alone, we're not alone because the Lord is with us.
When we can't have peace in the world, we can have peace in Him. That's why these things are written here in this chapter. He told us the truth about the trouble we'd have, but told us to be of good cheer because He overcame the world.
John 16:33
These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.Have you been amazingly depressed lately? While I was studying this chapter, the Lord said to ask and our joy would be full, so I asked Him for a bunch of stuff, and He gave it to me. Do you ever wonder, how can you be cheerful when your heart is full of sorrow?
I started noticing I was receiving things I'd asked for. The things I've received seem so small, and there's so much I asked for I haven't seen yet. But... there were a few things I prayed for a lot, and I got great answers to prayer about every one of them. I can't believe this. There are so many things I can't tell them all!
I saw prayer specifically answered.
So now my application is to answer the question.
v24
Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.The way to be cheerful when your heart is full of sorrow, is to ask the Lord, and you will receive.
I originally took these notes at 2005 12 06 1439.
I have sent also unto you all my servants the prophets, rising up early and sending [them], saying, Return ye now every man from his evil way, and amend your doings, and go not after other gods to serve them, and ye shall dwell in the land which I have given to you and to your fathers: but ye have not inclined your ear, nor hearkened unto me.Don't lay up for yourself treasure on earth or think about your worldly needs. Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. Be willing to suffer instead of enjoying the pleasures of sin for a season. Don't be a lover of pleasure more than a lover of God. Don't seek gain or seek to be rich.
Is pleasure sin? Aren't the pleasures of this world good things that God has given to us to enjoy? He gives us, richly, all things to enjoy.
What's the difference between treasuring worldly things and enjoying the goodness of God?
How can we be content and fully enjoy even the good things of this world?
It is the difference between giving and receiving.
What good are the shallow, unsatisfying, sin-stained, physical things of this present world? They are earthen vessels. They will all be destroyed. But they can have treasure hidden inside of them. Everything is now deep instead of shallow, contenting instead of unsatisfying; instead of sinful, holy, and fully blissful and eternal. How?
How can I seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness? How can I set my heart on laying up and treasuring things in heaven? What use are all these earthen vessels besides to turn my eyes away from the Lord?
That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;1 Timothy 6:18
Give. That's the secret. Try it and see whether it's more blessed to give or to receive.
That's what these earthen vessels are for: entering into the presence of the Lord, and obtaining eternal pleasures and fullness of joy even in this present world today. Love the Lord and keep His commandments- which are not grievous, but rather more blessed than anything. Love one another. The Lord gives us these things not so that we can enjoy getting them, but so that we can give them to others, and fully enjoy Him.
Things are not to get! We can't richly enjoy either seeking or getting things. You won't ever get enough to satisfy yourself. If you trust Jesus, won't you give up everything you have today, and everything you receive?
At least give one cold drink to a little child. That will taste better than doing 100 times as much drinking yourself. First, take warning! You'll just be miserable, if you don't do it believing in Jesus- that He Is, and that He Is the Rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
Isn't it blessed when the Lord shows you that He Loves you by letting you hear someone's voice praying for you? Letting you hear hymns being sung? Letting you hear preaching? Giving you money, jobs, education, friends, and everything else?
It's much more blessed to Love the Lord back. Lift up your voice in prayer for others. Sing those joyful hymns. Teach others, and preach the gospel. Send gifts to the needy, work hard, and be a good friend to people.
I originally took these notes at 2005 05 25 0759.
I originally took these notes at 2006 08 02 1256.
You did the best you could. You followed the rules. You worked hard in practice. You gave it your best swing. You made a good run, but it wasn't good enough to get you all the way home. Now, you're stuck on second. You need someone to get you on home.
In the game of life, Jesus has what it takes to get you on Home.
"All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23) Not one of us can gain God's best in our own strength.
He is on our side! "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life." (John 3:16) The penalty for our sins is death. The Lord Jesus paid the penalty for you (and me) when He died on the cross. Those who accept His sacrifice and trust in Him are saved from eternal destruction, and receive the gift of a victorious, eternal life!
You must choose to accept Him. He wants to be your Captain. He has the will and the power to lead you to victory. "He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him." (Hebrews 7:25)
"Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know." (Jeremiah 33:3)
What must I do to be saved? "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved..." (Acts 16:31)
(Click here for a printable version of this flyer.)...the wages of sin is death...If we couldn't be saved, we would all have to go to Hell because of the bad things we've done.
Jesus suffered and died on the cross so we can get rid of that old kind of life.
Please pray and ask God to save you, if you've never done that before.
...the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.Jesus came back to life after He died.
If you believe Jesus, you can have a new kind of life, that never stops, and is full of joy.
Please keep reading the Bible, and doing what it teaches....because thou hast not obeyed the voice of the Lord...(From part of 1 Kings 20:36a)
A man was told something a little bit like, Because you haven't obeyed the Lord's voice, as soon as you've gone away from me, a lion will kill you.
And, of course... what do you think?
It did.
The Lesson: Obey the Voice of the Lord.And now, O Lord GOD, thou [art] that God, and thy words be true, and thou hast promised this goodness unto thy servant:The Lord does promise good things to His servants. He does that with His Word.
Acts 16:31
Romans 3:23; Romans 5:8; Romans 6:23; Romans 10:9
Memorizing these Bible verses can help you be ready to preach the gospel....the LORD shall reward the doer of evil according to his wickedness.
And it came to pass after this, that David enquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah? And the LORD said unto him, Go up. And David said, Whither shall I go up? And he said, Unto Hebron.The Lord can clearly direct.
What did He mean, the truth will make you free? You haven't ever been a slave, right? Well, if you sin, that's just like you become the slave of sin. Because even if you know better, you end up sinning again. You might think, "How did I get to be sinning again? I didn't want to do this sin." But you can't get free.
That's where the Word of God comes in. If you want real freedom, you have to keep on listening to the Bible, and following what it says.
This is how to be an example.
Let no man despise thy youth...Even little children can be examples.
...but be thou an example of the believers...Before you're an example, you need to be a believer. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved.
...in word...We should be talking about the Lord.
...in purity.We shouldn't talk about dirty things.
Don't tell impure jokes.
...in conversation...We should stop doing bad things, when our parents tell us to.
...in charity...We should Love our brothers and sisters.
We should do kind things for other people at the meetings.
Be an example.
...I have found no fault in him since he fell [unto me] unto this day...A ruler of "the Philistines" was talking about David.
v6
...Surely, [as] the LORD liveth, thou hast been upright, and thy going out and thy coming in with me in the host [is] good in my sight: for I have not found evil in thee since the day of thy coming unto me unto this day...David can make us think about the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus is always the good and upright one without any evil.
v8
...But what have I done? and what hast thou found in thy servant so long as I have been with thee unto this day...David had confidence that no fault could be found in him. Do you have the same kind of clean conscience?
v9
...I know that thou [art] good in my sight, as an angel of God...Like no fault could be found in David, there was no fault in Jesus. We should take this example, and there should be no fault in us.
In 1 Samuel 28:15, Saul was "sore distressed."
Also, the Lord wasn't answering him.
In v18, I saw that it was because he did not obey the voice of the Lord.
I learned that we better obey the voice of the Lord.
And the time that David dwelt in the country of the Philistines was a full year and four months.That time, David was waiting a whole year and 4 months. We should be patient, like David was.
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.(Romans 10:9)
...the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.The thing that makes the difference between whether you're saved or not, is whether you believe.
See John 3:36.
I want to make sure that your soul is really saved. Salvation must be through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach...There's a reason we have to work hard, and labor in the Lord's work. There's a reason for our suffering.
See Acts 14:22.
We must have much trouble in order to enter into the kingdom. Keep believing that Jesus is the Lord, and that He will reward you.
...trust in the living God...Trust in the Lord.
See Proverbs 3:5.
David therefore departed thence, and escaped to the cave Adullam: and when his brethren and all his father's house heard [it], they went down thither to him.
And every one [that was] in distress, and every one that [was] in debt, and every one [that was] discontented, gathered themselves unto him; and he became a captain over them: and there were with him about four hundred men.Like when David's relatives, and all these other people, went down to where he was, the Lord Jesus Christ wants you to come to Him.
Are you:
v23
Abide thou with me, fear not: for he that seeketh my life seeketh thy life: but with me thou [shalt be] in safeguard.Just abide with Jesus. Then we won't have to be afraid of anything any more, even for our lives. Then we will be "in safeguard."
And be not ye like your fathers, and like your brethren, which trespassed against the LORD God of their fathers, [who] therefore gave them up to desolation, as ye see.(The Lord was speaking to His people Israel, through this man who was saying these things.)
v8a
Now be ye not stiffnecked...(That means stubborn.)
v8b
...as your fathers [were, but] yield yourselves unto the LORD, and enter into his sanctuary, which he hath sanctified for ever: and serve the LORD your God, that the fierceness of his wrath may turn away from you.v9a
For if ye turn again unto the LORD, your brethren and your children [shall find] compassion before them that lead them captive...(This was when the children of the people of Israel had been taken captive by their enemies.)
v9b
...so that they shall come again into this land...And this is my favorite part:
v9c
...forthe LORD your God [is] gracious and merciful,andwill not turn away [His] face from you,if youreturn unto Him.
But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for [the LORD seeth] not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.1 Samuel 16:7
But refuse profane and old wives' fables,and exercise thyself [rather] unto godliness.
For bodily exercise profiteth little:1 Timothy 4:7,8but godliness is profitable unto all things,having promise of the life that now is,and of that which is to come.
Notice that "...godliness is profitable...".
In order to get godliness, you have to refuse ungodliness.Don't go out and look for things to think about, that have profanity in them. Don't spend your time on those things. Don't use profanity in your language.
Don't let profane things be what you're exercised for. Don't even accept them. Profanity is ungodly. Refuse it.
Some say that you can get out of debt and make a lot of money without much hard work.
There are outward practices, especially about the body. Old wives tales about "bodily exercise" are ungodly. Refuse those fables.
You could watch and talk about fables from movies. You could learn fables from preachers who preach fables instead of the truth.
You could spread fables when you repeat what other people say. In order to be godly, beware of fables.
don't touch a frog or you'll get warts.That's an exercise of your body, to not touch a certain thing.
Some old wives' tales say that certain products and practices will heal, strengthen, and improve your body.
Some teach all different kinds of outward things that you have to do, or can't do, in order to please the Lord... But they're strange things that the Bible doesn't even teach!
This verse says "bodily exercise profiteth little."
...[there is] no restraint to the LORD to save by many or by few.From 1 Samuel 14:6b.
Remember to Receive Good Teaching, Not Bad Teaching.
If you speak lies, this is about you. If you pretend to be good, like a hypocrite, this is about you. Don't speak lies in hypocrisy. These are things that people who go away from believing, do.
Good doctrine, is what the Bible teaches.
Remember these things- this is good doctrine.
Listen to people who teach you what the Bible says (good doctrine.)
The Bible is how you can listen to the Spirit of God instead of to devils who will trick you. Paying attention to what the Bible says, is the way to tell what doctrine is good.
Paul reasoned "...out of the Scriptures," (See v2.)
v11 says, "...they received the Word...", and it says they "...searched the Scriptures...".
v13 says, "the Word of God was preached."
"...he preached unto them Jesus," (See v18.)
v3 says, "...this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ."
v31 says, "...[that] man whom he hath ordained; [whereof] he hath given assurance unto all [men]..."
Paul preached about Jesus' suffering.
In v3, he said, "...Christ must needs have suffered...".
"...and the resurrection." (See v18.)
In v3, he said, "...Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead..."
v18 says, "...he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection."
v31 says, "...He hath raised him from the dead."
v32 says, "they heard of the resurrection of the dead..."
v2 says, "as his manner was."
Also see, v10, v16 and 17, (and v22 and 23.)
And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures, Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ.
Make it your habit to preach the Word, Jesus, His Suffering, and His Resurrection.
v10 Says that they immediately, "endeavored to go."
v13 "where prayer was wont to be made" Prayer was involved so much.
v28 "Do thyself no harm."
This is after being beaten openly, receiving many stripes, thrown into prison, with their feet tightly in the stocks.They said "Do thyself no harm." to somebody else.
Their concern was for others.
v9,10 When somebody calls for me to come help them, what am I supposed to think that the Lord wants me to do, besides preaching the gospel to them?
v25 Midnight makes me think of being in the middle of the hardest time. It seems like midnight, because we're so busy, and have so little time, and so many people are sick, and dying, and there are so many things to pray about, and so much work to do.
v26 Marvelous Promises
Many times I pray for the Lord to "open doors," meaning for Him to give us opportunities for Himself, especially for preaching the gospel.
The Lord is promising that, in the middle of the hardest time, in response to prayer and singing praise, suddenly all the doors will be open. He's going to give us all kinds of the opportunities.
People need saved, and people have bands of sin, being enslaved to wickedness, and we have lots of troubles that are like bands that need loosed. Part of the promise of the Lord is that everyone's bands will be loosed.
v28 Remember that their concern was for others (Do thyself no harm.) Even after going through great pain and an incredibly hard time and what could have been miserable, our concern must not be to get other people to pity us, because the Lord will pity us, but to comfort the brethren when we see them, even in a time like that.
v40 When they had seen the brethren, they comforted them. The brethren needed comfort after these had gone through this hard time. When 1 member suffers, all members suffer with it. We should remember those who are bound, as bound with them, and weep with those who weep.
v28 "Paul cried with a loud voice" We should be this brave, but it must be the appropriate situation.
v29,30 "Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down... And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" This, is what I call, an open door! It led to his spiritual bands of wickedness being loosed. But we must be brave enough, first, to cry to the person, with a loud voice.
v25 Pray and Sing Praises
Good News! The Bible says, That if you confess the Lord Jesus with your mouth, and believe in your heart, that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
He is "the Lord Jesus." Jesus is the boss, the one-of-a-kind Son born to God.
Jesus suffered terribly and died on the cross to pay the punishment for the bad things you and I have done.
"God has raised Him from the dead." After Jesus was dead, God made Him alive again on the 3rd day.
God promised that every one that believes will live forever, instead of going to the Lake of Fire.
If you believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, "you will be saved."
If you would please receive this gift, we'll be quiet for moment now, and you can say something with your mouth, to God, like,
Dear God,
Please save me,
In the Lord Jesus' name,
Amen.
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.Romans 10:9
If you know of any word in the modern American English language, that means exactly the same thing as "shalt", please tell me.
Some Bible translations leave this word out, (like "if you confess... and believe in your heart...",) or change it to "will," (like "you will be saved.")
I think it has a little stronger meaning than "will," since "If you will" could mean you want to, but "If thou shalt" has more of a sense of it certainly being done by you.
...That if you confess the Lord Jesus with your mouth, and believe in your heart, that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
The Lord fights for me and gives me the promise.
He drives my enemies out of my sight.
Keep the law, and don't turn left or right.
Cleave to the Lord.
Love the Lord.
Don't go back.
v1 The way very many people believed, was just by a couple of people speaking.
v3 When the Lord did signs and wonders, it was with the people who were preaching the Word.
v7 has a clear message.
v6 Sometimes it's OK to run away.
v23 "...prayed with fasting..." Fasting wasn't just good before Jesus came. It's still good for us to pray with fasting sometimes.
v26b "...the work which they fulfilled."
v21 "...when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again..."
v25 "...when they had preached the word in Perga, they went..."
Don't be discouraged thinking that there's just more and more work, and it's too hard to get anything done. Work can be fulfilled.
I'm studying Joshua 5 today.
...their heart melted, neither was there spirit in them any more...The Lord gives incredible victories that melt the heart of the enemy.
The fathers "were consumed, because they obeyed not the voice of the LORD."
...the LORD swore that He would not show them the land ... a land that flows with milk and honey.
They lost a wonderful, beautiful, and pleasurable treasure.
I just looked up Gilgal, and I guess it means "a wheel," or, "rolling."
The Lord kept the promise to give His people these wonderful things.
They tasted the things, and were filled with them, and strengthened by them.
The captain of the Lord's host came and stood over against Joshua, with his sword drawn in his hand.
I don't have to be afraid, because the Lord has promised that His angel encamps around about those who fear Him, and delivers them.
That all the people of the earth might know the hand of the LORD, that it [is] mighty: that you might fear the LORD your God for ever.Joshua 4:24
The LORD lives;Psalm 18:46
and blessed [be]
my rock;
and let the
God of my salvation
be exalted.
v49 How many more people would have died if he just hadn't acted with such zeal?
v50 It makes a difference.
Know therefore this day,
and consider [it] in thine heart,
that the LORD He [is] God in heaven above,
and upon the earth beneath:
[there is] none else.
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