The Biblical Path of Life

Tag: God

  • Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs

    “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”

    (Colossians 3:16)

    The following is an excerpt from “The Biblical Path of Life – Year One Quarter Four”, Lesson 2:

    “Many of the Psalms were written when different men approached God in prayer because of circumstances surrounding them. You can see instances of great sorrow, admitted sin, repentance, hope and trust in God, faith, and a great love for God. Throughout Psalms, man’s prayers from the heart turn to singing in that prayer, ending with man praising God, revealing that the Psalms are not only prayers from the heart but songs as well. Some were written in praise and adoration of who God is versus who man is. So many of these hymns are rich in Israel’s history. If we know the history, we will better understand the circumstances surrounding many of these songs.

    “In the book of Psalms, we find God is infinite, sovereign. Yet despite man’s failings, God still communicates with man, and allows man to communicate with Him…

    “One of the most important things we can recognize from the first book of Psalms is the recognition of God and His dealings with mankind. Not only does God care about man, but He is in constant contact with him. We will look at Psalm 8 to help us understand just one recorded instance of God’s specific love and care for man. “3. When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; 4. What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? 5. For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. 6. Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet: 7. All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field; 8. The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas. 9. O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!” (Psalm 8:3–9).

    “David began by reflecting again on God’s creation of the world. Such power; how could God even consider any dealings with man, let alone have a one-on-one relationship with man? (Visited here means “an action on the part of God which produced a profitable result for His people. The first time that word was used was in Genesis 21:1 when God ‘visited’ Sarah. She conceived the promised son, Isaac, when she was very old.”) God chose to reveal Himself to the people who became the nation Israel, descendants of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph. He chose this family—Abraham and his wife, Sarah, who had no children—and gave them a child to show Himself mightily to them and to all of the world.

    “David then recognized that God made mankind just “a little lower than the angels.” Not only that, but He “crowned him with glory and honor.” God made man very special. He even gave mankind dominion over the creatures of the world (see Genesis 1:26; 9:2).

    “David ended this acknowledgement of God’s choosing to have a special relationship with man with these words: “O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!” (Psalm 8:9).”

    Understanding these things, consider the following verse: “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord” (Colossians 3:16). The following definitions can help in the understanding of this verse.

    • word of Christ: “refers to the revelation that Jesus brought into the world, which is undiscoverable except by God and the Scriptures”.
    • wisdom: “practical wisdom; sound judgment; good sense”.
    • teaching: “to advise or put in mind, as a tutor would do”.
    • admonishing: “to caution or reprove gently; to warn”.
    • hymns: “a song sung in praise to God”.

    This verse should help us understand the importance of reading and understanding the Psalms recorded so long ago for us. The Psalms are so much more than just songs sung as praises to God, by they are also to instill wisdom and good judgment in our hearts and minds to teach us how to live lives pleasing to God.

    Have you taken time to read and understand the Psalms, understanding that God wants to have a special relationship with you?

  • The Kindness of God

    “And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.”

    Joel 2:13

    Have you ever worked on a puzzle? Can you make out the complete picture with only a few pieces? Consider the way God’s heart was revealed in the Bible to the world. It was revealed piece by piece. One thing at a time. However, when one takes the time to put some pieces together, you begin to see a picture.

    David was a mighty king. Remember how God had David described in the New Testament. “And when he had removed him (King Saul), he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will” (Acts 13:22). In 2 Samuel chapters 1-8 David had become a mighty ruling king in the land of Israel, having subdued the enemies that had encompassed the land. He had brought the Ark of God to Jerusalem, the new capital. “And the LORD preserved David whithersoever he went” (2 Samuel 8:14b).

    David then sought out one from the house of the former king, Saul, to whom he could show the “kindness of God unto”. “And the king said, Is there not yet any of the house of Saul, that I may shew the kindness of God unto him? And Ziba said unto the king, Jonathan hath yet a son, which is lame on his feet” (2 Samuel 9:3). Jonathan and David had been great friends. David wanted to show a special kindness to Jonathan’s son, Mephibosheth. After King Saul and Jonathan’s deaths, Mephibosheth had been hiding out in Lodebar. David sent for him. David extended grace to him by exalting him to not only have all of his land restored (of which he had lost), but also to sit at the king’s table. He basically adopted Mephibosheth in the family as one of the king’s own sons.

    This is a great picture of the way that the Lord deals with people. When we are separated from God, He reaches out to us. He sends messengers after us where they find us in our exile, separated from God. God touches our heart, extends His grace to us, and will forgive us of our sin. When we receive this gift of grace, He then lifts us up, restoring life to us, and adopts us as His very own. We are then privileged to sit at His table, able to fellowship with Him. This is what being a Christian is all about.

    There is another event in the life of David that reveals another picture of God’s gracious, loving kindness. In 2 Samuel 10, David heard the king of Ammon had died. “Then said David, I will shew kindness unto Hanun the son of Nahash, as his father shewed kindness unto me …” (2 Samuel 10:2a). However, the counselors of Hanun gave him bad advice. When David’s servants came to Hanun, he mistreated them and sent them away. King David sent to meet them to have them taken care of. When the children of Ammon heard they “stank before David” (means “be abhorred (had in abomination, loathsome, odious)”), they hired other nations to go fight with them against David. Take note that they did not repent of the rejection of David’s words, or of the evil they had done to David’s men. “And when David heard of it, he sent Joab, and all the host of the mighty men” (2 Samuel 10:7). King David’s men defeated the enemies who planned to come against them. So much so, that they made peace with Israel and feared to help the children of Ammon any more.

    This is a great picture of when God extends his grace, and it is rejected. He sends His messengers with words of peace. God is love, but God is also holy. He will not permit evil and sinful men to mistreat His messengers with impunity. When His messengers are sent with the Gospel message, God will not allow people to treat His Gospel message as garbage. God gives time for repentance and a change of heart. But if one refuses the Gospel message, God, who is holy and righteous, will respond as his holiness and righteousness demands: in his wrath. “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him” (John 3:36).

    However, what do we understand from reading God’s Word? “12. Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: 13. And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil” (Joel 2:12-13). When one will turn to God with all of his or her heart, God is merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness. He will forgive and turn from the evil that was destined to befall one.

    Have you received the “kindness of God” and given your heart and life to Jesus?

    Or,

    Have you rejected God’s extension of Grace in the Gospel message, waiting for the wrath of God?

    http://biblicalpath.com/index.php/how-to-be-saved/

  • Saul

    “Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.”

    Psalm 19:13

    Samuel was an important man in the Old Testament. He was called as a young boy and lived a faithful life serving God as a judge, priest, and a prophet. However, when he was old, the people of Israel declared that they wanted a king. “And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations” (1 Samuel 8:5). Samuel was not pleased. However, he obeyed God and anointed the people a king (see 1 Samuel 8:7). His name was Saul.

    Saul became the first king of Israel. God gave him what he would need to be a great king. Saul was:

    • goodly, handsome, and head and shoulders taller than all (see 1 Samuel 9:2)
    • given a new heart by God (see 1 Samuel 10:9),
    • given the Spirit of God that would come upon him (see 1 Samuel 10:6, 10)
    • given loyal friends (see 1 Samuel 11:12)
    • privileged with the guidance and prayers of Samuel (see 1 Samuel 12:23)

    When Saul began, he looked, acted and sounded like a great king. He led the people into a victorious battle against the enemy (see 1 Samuel 11). Yet in spite of these advantages given to him by God, he failed miserably. It was not long before Saul chose:

    • to become deceitful (see 1 Samuel 13:3-4 where he took credit for Jonathan’s victory)
    • to become impatience (see 1 Samuel 13:9-11 after he had been told to wait in 1 Samuel 10:8)
    • to show irreverent presumption (see 1 Samuel 13:12-14)
    • to become prideful (see 1 Samuel 14)
    • to be disobedient to God’s Word (see 1 Samuel 15)
    • to became presumptuous in his sin against God (see 1 Samuel 15:19-21), falsely proclaiming he obeyed God and blaming the people for his sin.

    It was at this point in Saul’s kingdom that God rejected him as king of Israel.

    What is a presumptuous sin? Sins that are committed with knowledge: “If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin” (John 15:22). Read the prayer in Psalms. “Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression” (Psalm 19:13).

    Saul was not disadvantaged. God had given him everything he would need to become a great king. Yet with all that he had all going for him, Saul chose to disobey God’s Word. “22. And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. 23. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king” (1 Samuel 15:22-23). God wanted obedience above all else. Because he disobeyed God, God rejected him as king.

    Saul could have repented at that point. Instead, he only admitted that he had sinned. There was no change in his attitude or life. “24. And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned: for I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD, and thy words: because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice. 25. Now therefore, I pray thee, pardon my sin, and turn again with me, that I may worship the LORD” (1 Samuel 15:24-25). Notice that Saul wanted forgiveness of sin, but he did not want to turn from that sin. Repentance would have been revealed if Saul had wanted to turn from that sin. Instead, he wanted Samuel to turn with Saul. That was the opposite of what was required for forgiveness. Why wouldn’t Samuel turn with Saul? “And Samuel said unto Saul, I will not return with thee: for thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, and the LORD hath rejected thee from being king over Israel” (1 Samuel 15:26). Samuel understood what Saul was saying. Remember what happened when Samuel would not return with Saul. “27. And as Samuel turned about to go away, he laid hold upon the skirt of his mantle, and it rent. 28. And Samuel said unto him, The LORD hath rent the kingdom of Israel from thee this day, and hath given it to a neighbour of thine, that is better than thou” (1 Samuel 15:27-28). The thing that determined the removal of the kingdom from Saul and his family was when he disobeyed God and determined to continue in that choice. God would choose a man who would seek after God’s heart. A man who would obey God. Read how it is explained to us in the New Testament. “And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will” (Acts 13:22).

    Apart from God, Saul was just another man. When God allowed Saul to become the first king of Israel, Saul had the opportunity to be a mighty leader who followed God and led the people back into a right relationship with God. However, when Saul became proud, presumptuous, and refused to obey God’s Word, he failed disastrously. When Saul would not repent and turn back to God, he then lost the kingdom to a man who sought after God’s own heart.

    Have you chosen to obey God, and not continue in presumptuous sin against God?

  • How to Live Successfully

    “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”

    Romans 12:1

    After the Israelites crossed the Jordan River on dry land into the Promised Land, God told Joshua to circumcise all of the men. This was done in front of their enemies. The men remained still for three days healing from that circumcision. This circumcision was an act of obedience to God’s Word (see Joshua 5:1-9). One cannot help but wonder if Joshua considered what had happened to the men of Shechem (see Genesis 34). Nevertheless, Joshua obeyed God’s Word. God then allowed the Israelites to defeat the city of Jericho (see Joshua 6). “So the LORD was with Joshua; and his fame was noised throughout all the country” (Joshua 6:27). Joshua then proceeded to lead the people to conquer the land of Canaan (the land promised to Abraham and his descendants). “So Joshua took the whole land, according to all that the LORD said unto Moses; and Joshua gave it for an inheritance unto Israel according to their divisions by their tribes. And the land rested from war” (Joshua 11:23).

    What does this have to do with Christians today?

    Consider how this relates to a Christian and their ability to walk a conquered Christian life. First, we are to understand that the Promised Land is a picture of a Christian’s life here on earth. The crossing of the Jordan into the Promised Land, is much like a picture of one’s death, burial, and resurrection when they are saved. “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4). Just as the Israelites were “dying” to their old life in the wilderness, they were beginning a new life in the Promised Land. One who becomes a Christian must die to their old life of sin, becoming a new creature in Christ. “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

    When the men were circumcised on the enemies’ side of the Jordan, obeying God’s Word, it was as if they were a “living sacrifice” before God (see Romans 12:1: “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service”). This had to be done as a first act of faith before they began the conquering of the land. They had to have wondered if the enemies would come and try to defeat them in a weakened state. It was this act of faith (recognizing God’s protection before their enemies at their weakest point), that enabled them not to conform to the way the world does things. They followed God’s Word, allowing their minds to be “transformed” proving the will of God. “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Romans 12:2).

    This is a physical picture of what a Christian must do spiritually. A Christian must present his or her self to God, obeying God’s Word. This act of faith reveals the understanding that obedience to God’s Word is required before one can live a successful Christian life. Remember that Christians’ lives are not their own, for we have been bought with a price! “For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s” (1 Corinthians 6:20). It is then that a Christian is enabled to live a life, not like the rest of the world, but different from the world! This reveals the transformation of the mind that is required to “prove” (means “by implication to approve; to allow, discern”) God’s will in one’s life. Once a Christian has discerned and allowed God’s will to guide one’s life, God will help defeat all opposition. Just as God helped Joshua as he led God’s people to conquer the Promised Land. When they failed, they sought God, and God corrected. God will do the same thing in a Christian’s life.

    If Romans 12:1-2 does not happen immediately after one becomes born again, it will be almost impossible to live a successful Christian life.

    Have you presented your life to God as a living sacrifice, ready to prove God’s will in your life?

  • Joshua

    “Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.”

    Joshua 1:9

    Joshua was born a slave in Egypt. He saw the mighty works of God revealed in the ten plagues, providing the exit of the Israelite people out of bondage. Joshua saw the parting of the Red Sea for God’s people, and the destruction of the Egyptian army. About two months later, Moses called upon Joshua to lead an army against the Amalekites. In this battle, as long as Moses’ arms were held high in the air, Joshua was able to lead the people in winning that battle until the enemy was defeated (see Exodus 17:8-16). “And the LORD said unto Moses, Write this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua: for I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven” (Exodus 17:14). God wanted Moses to write this victory down and remind Joshua. Have you considered that this was done so that Joshua would remember this as he prepared for the battles in the Promised Land?

    Joshua was called Moses’ minister (a servant). “And Moses rose up, and his minister Joshua: and Moses went up into the mount of God” (Exodus 24:13). This is the time-frame when God gave Moses the “tables of stone, and a law, and commandments which I have written” (see Exodus 24:12). Joshua was with Moses when Moses came down from the mount and saw the golden calf (see Exodus 32:17).

    While the Israelites traveled through the wilderness, Moses set up a special tent where he met with God (before the Tabernacle was built. See Exodus 33:7-11). Joshua stayed in that tent. “And the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. And he turned again into the camp: but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, departed not out of the tabernacle” (Exodus 33:11).

    Most people remember that Joshua was one of the twelve spies sent to spy out the Promised Land. Only he and Caleb believed God (see Numbers 15). Joshua was not afraid to stand up with Moses and Caleb against the 10 spies, the majority. Joshua and Caleb revealed that they believed God was greater than the difficulties ahead, and God would defeat the enemies for them. However, because the people listened to the ten spies, God declared they would wander in that wilderness for forty years until that generation died. All died in the wilderness except for Joshua and Caleb, two who believed God. Even with the delay of 40 years to enter the Promised Land, Joshua stayed with Moses. For those 40 years in the wilderness, Joshua and Caleb watched as the older generation died off, but each day brought them closer to the Promised Land.

    Looking back upon Joshua’s life, notice something. Throughout the wanderings, God was preparing Joshua to be the successor to Moses. Remember the defeat of Og, king of Bashan where Moses encouraged Joshua to not be afraid of his enemies (see Deuteronomy 3:21-28 and Numbers 21:33-35). “21. And I commanded Joshua at that time, saying, Thine eyes have seen all that the LORD your God hath done unto these two kings: so shall the LORD do unto all the kingdoms whither thou passest. 22. Ye shall not fear them: for the LORD your God he shall fight for you” (Deuteronomy 3:21-22).

    Before Moses died, he revealed God had chosen Joshua to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land (the land of Cannan). “7. And Moses called unto Joshua, and said unto him in the sight of all Israel, Be strong and of a good courage: for thou must go with this people unto the land which the LORD hath sworn unto their fathers to give them; and thou shalt cause them to inherit it. 8. And the LORD, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed” (Deuteronomy 31:7-8). God would be with Joshua.

    When Moses died and Joshua became the leader of God’s people, God encouraged Joshua. “Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest” (Joshua 1:9).

    Looking back at Joshua’s life, God had been preparing him for many years for the task at hand.

    First, Joshua had to obey God. We read no hesitation on his part. Even more encouraging is that he completed what God asked him to do. “As the LORD commanded Moses his servant, so did Moses command Joshua, and so did Joshua; he left nothing undone of all that the LORD commanded Moses” (Joshua 11:15). See also: “So Joshua took the whole land, according to all that the LORD said unto Moses; and Joshua gave it for an inheritance unto Israel according to their divisions by their tribes. And the land rested from war” (Joshua 11:23).

    Remember how Joshua felt at the end of his life. “14. Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD. 15. And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD” (Joshua 24:14-15).  

    Have you considered the things God has placed in your live to prepare you for what He has planned for you?

  • Recognize Your Enemy

    “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it.”

    Mark 8:35

    Christians have an enemy. Read what the Bible calls him: “… that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world…” (Revelation 12:9). Satan deceives the whole world. What are some of his ploys?

    Remember the first thing Satan said to Eve in the garden: “Yea, hath God said” (see Genesis 3:1). He questioned God’s Word. Satan is described as subtle (means crafty, sly). He wants you think negatively about God, to doubt God and His Word, to question what God said. Satan wants you to think suspiciously about God. The best lie sounds the most like the truth. Satan does not want you to know the truth. He would deceive you today (or at least get you to tune out) so you cannot hear God. Satan is a liar. He denies God’s truthfulness.

    Satan is a murderer – he wants you to be his victim. Remember what he told Eve: “And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die” (Genesis 3:4). He lied about the fact of death.

    Read what Jesus said to the religious leaders. “43. Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word. 44. Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. 45. And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not” (John 8:43-45). Satan uses lust. He is a murder and there is no truth in him for he is a liar.

    It is important to understand the deceitfulness of sin (brought by lust). Those who know the least about sin are the ones who have been blinded, they have a reprobate mind of whom the Bible warns us (see Romans 1:18-32). In our world, people are encouraged to experiment with sin, experience it just a bit. If it is good and ok to do, you will find out. If it isn’t so great, you can just step away from it. They will tell you that experience is the best teacher: not somebody else’s word about it. However, when it comes to sin, experience is the worst teacher. Those who know the least about sin are the ones who are the deepest into sin. These people are most often the ones who draw others into their sin. They cannot tell light from dark (see John 1:1; John 3:19). They think they are the one who decides what is good or bad.

    Remember what the Bible teaches: “Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21). And also: “Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God” (3 John 1:11).

    Most people want to become their own god where no one tells them what to do, where to go, what to believe, or what to say. Christians are not to buy into the devil’s lies. God wants us to be like God – not become our own god. See what we are to do: “As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness” (Psalm 17:15).

    What do we understand about God? There are so many, but read the following two: “Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart” (Psalm 37:4). And “For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly” (Psalm 84:11). In spite of what these verses teach, Satan wants you to doubt the goodness of God and think negatively about Him. He encourages people to think carelessly about God, and not to believe Him.

    What is Satan’s end? “And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him” (Revelation 12:9). He will be cast out, eventually spending eternity in the lake of fire. “And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever” (Revelation 20:10).

    How does one overcome the devil, the old serpent, the dragon? Read what Jesus told the people and his disciples: “34. … Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 35. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it. 36. For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? 37. Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? 38. Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels” (Mark 8:34-38). Those who defeat the devil’s influence in their lives must love not their lives. Christians must love Jesus so much that they will be willing to die for their faith in Him.

    Have you quit listening to the lies of the devil, becoming one willing to lose your life for Christ’s sake?

  • Elijah and his Message for King Ahaziah

    “And as it is appointed unto men once to die but after this the judgment:”

    Hebrews 9:27

    The following is an excerpt from “The Biblical Path of Life” Year Two, Quarter One – Lesson 3:

    “Ahaziah, wicked King Ahab’s son, became king of Israel. As we begin 2 Kings, we learn that Ahaziah fell through a lattice in his chamber and was sick (injured). He sent messengers to inquire of Baalzebub, the god of Ekron, to see whether he would recover.

    “… The angel of the Lord appeared to Elijah with a word for the king’s messenger to take back to the king. He said, “Is it not because there is not a God in Israel, that ye go to enquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron?” (2 Kings 1:3b). The message continued with the words that the king would not recover, but he would die — because he sought an answer from a false god instead of the Lord. The messenger returned to the king and delivered the message from Elijah. The king wanted to know who this man was. Read the description the Bible gives us of His prophet, Elijah. “And they answered him, He was an hairy man, and girt with a girdle of leather about his loins.  And he said, It is Elijah the Tishbite” (2 Kings 1:8).

    The king sent a captain with 50 men to Elijah with a message of his own. “… Thou man of God, the king hath said, Come down” (2 Kings 1:9b). Elijah’s response? “And Elijah answered and said to the captain of fifty, If I be a man of God, then let fire come down from heaven, and consume thee and thy fifty. And there came down fire from heaven, and consumed him and his fifty” (2 Kings 1:10). The king sent another captain and his fifty with another message. “… O man of God, thus hath the king said, Come down quickly” (2 Kings 1:11b). Elijah’s response? “And Elijah answered and said unto them, If I be a man of God, let fire come down from heaven, and consume thee and thy fifty. And the fire of God came down from heaven, and consumed him and his fifty. response? “1b).he king sent another captain and his fifty with another message. “ng to see who answered by fire; ___ ood gushe” (2 Kings 1:12). We see that the king sends a captain with his fifty a third time. However, see the difference in this captain’s actions and the words he spoke to Elijah. “13b.… And the third captain of fifty went up, and came and fell on his knees before Elijah, and besought him, and said unto him, O man of God, I pray thee, let my life, and the life of these fifty thy servants, be precious in thy sight. 14. Behold, there came fire down from heaven, and burnt up the two captains of the former fifties with their fifties: therefore let my life now be precious in thy sight” (2 Kings 1:13b-14). When the third captain came with these words and humble attitude, the angel of the Lord told Elijah to go with him and not to be afraid. 

    When Elijah went to the king, he gave the king the same message as before: because the king had not inquired of the Lord, but of the false god, Baalzebub the god of Ekron, the king would not get up off his bed but would surely die. What happened? “So he died according to the word of the LORD which Elijah had spoken …” (2 Kings 1:17a)…

    “A Deeper Path: Aside from the fact that King Ahaziah inquired an answer from a false god, he asked the wrong question. He asked if he was going to die. He should have asked what he needed to do to be well. The question of which we need the answer is not if, or when, we will die — we know what the Bible teaches. “And as it is appointed unto men once to die …” (Hebrews 9:27a). Everyone will die sometime (unless of course Jesus returns first!). Nevertheless, see the important part of that same verse: “…but after this the judgment:” The part we should be concerned with is if we are “well” (the judgment) — whether we will live forever or spend eternity in hell. This is the question we should have answered in our hearts and lives: where will one spend eternity. To spend eternity in heaven is a gift — free; if only we will receive. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8). 

    Notice that King Ahaziah was probably angry because the message Elijah sent reminded him of the God of Israel. Most people to whom you witness will not want to be reminded of God. When one is reminded of God, they become aware of the sin in their life apart from God (“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” Romans 3:23). Does that make it harder for us to tell people about Jesus?

    Remember when the apostles were imprisoned by the religious leaders for preaching the gospel of Jesus in Acts 5? When the angel opened the prison doors and let them out of prison, he told them to “Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life” (Acts 5:20). Peter and the apostles went right to the temple, preaching the gospel of Jesus to the people. When confronted by the religious leaders who had thrown them into prison, “Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29). That should always be our answer. We can see by Elijah’s response that he feared the God of Israel, not the king of Israel.”

    Do you know where you will spend eternity?

    Do you share the Gospel message with others, fearing God and not man?

    How one can be saved.

  • Joseph, God’s Plan

    “And his master saw that the LORD was with him, and that the LORD made all that he did to prosper in his hand.”

    Genesis 39:3

    No matter what happened in Joseph’s life, the presence of God was revealed in his life. The LORD was with Joseph. Remember some highlights from Joseph’s life:

    Joseph came from a dysfunctional family – Jacob (his father) was a trickster most of his life (until God got a hold of him).

    Joseph’s mom died while he was a teenager.

    Joseph was his father’s favorite (probably because he was born of Rachel – his father’s true love).

    His father gave him a special coat of many colors.

    Joseph had two amazing dreams. God revealed to Joseph that all of the world’s resources would be in his control and all of the world rulers would bow down to him.

    His brothers were wicked, ungodly, jealous of Joseph (remember the coat), and resented him (because of the dreams).

    Joseph’s brothers stripped him of his coat, threw him into a pit, and sold him as a slave.

    When Joseph made it to Egypt, he was bought by Potiphar as a slave. “2. And the LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man… 3. And his master saw that the LORD was with him, and that the LORD made all that he did to prosper in his hand” (Genesis 39:2-3).

    After Joseph became the head over Potiphar’s entire household, Potiphar’s wife began to entice him, falsely accusing Joseph.

    Potiphar had Joseph cast into prison. “But the LORD was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison” (Genesis 39:21).

    Joseph became the head in the prison. “The keeper of the prison looked not to any thing that was under his hand; because the LORD was with him, and that which he did, the LORD made it to prosper” (Genesis 39:23).

    While in prison, Joseph interpreted the dreams of Pharaoh’s butler and baker.

    After two years, the butler remembered Joseph in prison when Pharaoh had a dream he needed interpreted.

    Pharaoh called Joseph out of prison, Joseph interpreted the dreams, and Pharaoh put him in charge of collecting and storing the grain for the future famine, making Joseph ruler only under Pharaoh. “And Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is?” (Genesis 41:38). 

    Because of the famine, Joseph’s brothers appeared before Joseph, whom they did not recognize, and asked for grain.

    Joseph eventually revealed himself to his brothers. Remember what Joseph acknowledged: “Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life” (Genesis 45:5). Joseph recognized that God had planned all of these things.

    Joseph prospered no matter what happened to him, because God’s presence was evident in Joseph’s life. Joseph chose to be different. He told the truth, when his brothers were doing what was wrong (see Genesis 37:1-2). Even when his brothers hated him the more for his dreams and his words (see Genesis 37:5-8). However, Joseph did not conform to the wickedness of his brothers. This was revealed early in his life. As he followed God, living an honest life of integrity, God worked.

    We should take note of this. As Christians, Joseph is a great example of allowing God to be revealed in our lives. We should be truthful, not conforming to the wickedness that is around us. We should understand that God has a plan for each Christian’s life. How do you find out what that plan is? Pray and read your Bible. Remember what we learn in Romans. “1. I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Romans 12:2). These verses will help you understand God has a plan for you, and how to find out what that plan is. First, a Christian should present that life to God, allowing Him to work in that life. Pray, asking God to transform your life. You must understand that “be ye transformed” has to come from within. What is the inner nature of a Christian? Because Jesus is in the heart and life, the influence of Jesus is what should come out. Christians are to have the mind of Christ. “For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ” (1 Corinthians 2:16). Christians can only have the mind of Christ when we read our Bible. As we obey God’s Word, we find ourselves obeying God’s will. We are to allow God to be real in our lives. Remember what happens to a butterfly. The worm after entering the cocoon, exits a beautiful butterfly. In the same way, as Christians follow God’s Word (by renewing our minds to God’s ways), our lives will become what God wants them to be. Take note, Christians need to refuse the world’s conformity that does not let that new nature (born of Jesus) to come out into our lifestyles. When we refuse that conformity, becoming transformed, it is then that we can begin to see God working in our lives, recognizing God’s will revealed in our lives. This is how we know the will of God for us. Joseph revealed this in amazing ways. Joseph followed God, and God worked in his life. As you follow God, ask Him to continue speaking to your heart through His Word. Understand that the devil does not want you to walk in the paths God has for your life, so it will not always be easy (remember Joseph’s life!).

    Joseph did not find God’s will for his life. God’s will found Joseph. Because Joseph willingly trusted God, God was with Him, and God’s plan for Joseph’s life was revealed. This was the plan for Joseph’s life.

    Have you trusted God, recognized him working in your life, then seeing His plan to revealed in your life?

  • The Problem

    “And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.”

    1 John 5:19

    What is The Problem in the world today?

    Sin. “And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness” (1 John 5:19). Those who belong to Jesus live in a world that lies in wickedness. Recognizing this, Christians are to warn those who do not know Jesus, while understanding that we are not to be a part of this world.

    One must remember that God created man without sin. However, since sin entered into the world (when Adam sinned in the garden), all people have sinned and fallen short. “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).

    Once we hear the problem, we often quit with that verse. However, the verses immediately following give the solution to this problem. “Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:24). One can be justified freely because Jesus came to take the penalty of that sin. Justified means “to render (that is, show or regard as) just or innocent: be righteous.” Who can be regarded as just or innocent? Any one who will just believe in Jesus.

    How and why is this possible? “25. Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; 26. To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus” (Romans 3:25-26). God sent His only Son, Jesus (remember John 3:16) to be a propitiation. Propitiation means “a place of conciliation, expiation, what the ancients called altar or place of sacrifice. It does not refer to the expiatory sacrifices themselves. Jesus Christ is designated not only as the place where the sinner deposits his sin, but He Himself is the means of expiation (expiation means ‘the act of making amends or reparation for guilt or wrongdoing: i.e. sin; atonement’)…” This is explained well in the following verse. “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him” (2 Corinthians 5:21). Jesus, who never sinned, took man’s sin, so that whoever trusts in this act (the expiation) can be made righteous.

    Notice: It is a choice – to accept this gift or reject it. Do you remember what the Bible declares is the penalty for sin? “For the wages of sin is death …” (Romans 6:23). However, notice that there is an offering of eternal life. “… but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23). This eternal life can only be obtained because of Jesus’ death on the cross for sin. Jesus paid the penalty for anyone who would just believe upon Him. The Bible is full of verses declaring that Jesus is the only Way. And if these few verses were the only ones that declared this truth, they would be enough.

    Nevertheless, many choose to remain in that sin, refusing to believe what Jesus did for them. What happens to them? Jesus said, “I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins” (John 8:24). He also said, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned” (Mark 16:16). Damned means “to judge against, that is, sentenced: condemned.”

    For those who choose to trust in Jesus’ expiation by His death, has everlasting life. “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him” (John 3:36). On the converse, those who reject Jesus will have the wrath of God upon them – forever.

    It is as simple as this: “11. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life” (1 John 5:11-12). If you have Jesus, you have life. If you choose to reject Jesus, you will not have life (having been judged, condemned to eternal death). “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death” (Revelation 21:8). It only takes unbelief to spend eternity in the “lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death”.

    Have you chosen to believe, and then to warn any other unbelievers of the second death?

    Watch the following five-minute video, and then share it with someone: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANvaqeBVELc

  • How to Draw Nigh to God

    “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.”

    James 4:8

    Repentance before God is very important.

    From the call to Adam in the Garden of Eden (see Genesis 3:8-10), God has called for man’s repentance. This call comes when one’s heart is convicted of sin (when one recognizes the sin in their life), understanding the need for repentance. Repentance means “compunction (for guilt, including reformation); by implication reversal (of [another’s] decision); it is the understanding that one is to think differently or afterwards, that is, reconsider (morally to feel compunction).” This act is revealed when one asks God for forgiveness and then trusts in Jesus to take the sin away. “10. He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. 11. For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. 12. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. 13. Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him” (Psalm 103:10-13). We call this salvation, or becoming a Christian. (See http://biblicalpath.com/index.php/how-to-be-saved/ for more information). One then proceeds by allowing God to change that heart and life.

    Nevertheless, because we still live in this world, all Christians sin. It is not right or good. However, it is important to turn from that sin immediately, asking God for forgiveness. Understanding that, a Christian should always live a life pleasing to the Lord. Right? More often than not, Christians harbor sin in their hearts. Sometimes unwittingly, sometimes on purpose, but all have sin that enters their hearts and lives (see Psalm 44:20-21). The important thing is to repent of that sin, asking God to cleanse that heart again. This should be a daily chore – to check one’s heart, making sure that sin is not hiding out there. But most Christians become so busy, they do not check their hearts daily. It is then that the sin begins to reside in the heart (most often unrecognized). This is dangerous because that Christian has allowed Satan to have influence in that life.

    You may not know what is wrong, but you feel that something is not right in your spirit. You acknowledge that you have not been acting right in your life. Things are not going well for you, you know there is something that is off, but you just do not know what it is. When you recognize that something is just not quite right, you should pray and ask the Lord what it is. “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. 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” (James 1:5-6). When you do not know what you must do, read your Bible. It is then that God will reveal what the problem is and what must be done. When there is hidden sin in the heart, God will reveal it. It is then that one must repent. Yes, again! Repentance should be a constant in a Christian’s life – for we consistently fail to live a Christ-like life.

    How do we truly repent? There is an order of repentance, and God gives it to us in His Word. “6. But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. 7. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded” (James 4:6-8). It is at this point you ask the Lord what it is that you must do to correct the course of your life. How do you repent?

    There are four movements to repentance: Submit, cleanse your heart, resist the devil, and draw near to God.

    Understand that when God touches your heart, you need to submit unto Him. When you learn to submit to God, you are then able to submit to others. Until you submit to God, you will never submit to anyone else. God resists the proud. You then ask for forgiveness.

    It is then that you realize that you have been listening to the devil and living in the way of the world (of which Satan is the temporary ruler: see Ephesians 2:2-10). This is the point that one must resist the devil and his ways. This is the second step. It is at this point that the devil will flee from you. When you resist him, he has no power over you. The only power he ever had over mankind was death. Jesus took the sting of death from Satan (removing that power away from him) when Jesus rose from the dead (see 1 Corinthians 15:54-58). Remember the devil has come to steal, kill, and destroy (see John 10:10). When one has Christ, the devil has no power over you – as long as you submit to the Lord. Therefore, we have no reason to fear the devil. However, one must remember that one cannot draw near to God unless you resist the devil. When one resists the devil, one is then able to draw near to God. That is the third thing one must do. It is then that God will draw near to you. What an encouraging promise!

    Finally, cleanse your hands and purify your hearts. This is a reminder that once one recognizes the need for repentance, one must remove the sin from that heart and life. Then allow God to change that heart and life. Do not enter into that sin again (“ye double minded”). “A double minded man is unstable in all his ways” (James 1:8).

    The call to repentance is throughout the Bible, even to the end in Revelation. “And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely” (Revelation 22:17).  – if you are thirsty come.

    Do you check your heart, recognizing when you need to repent, enabling you to draw nigh to God?