The Biblical Path of Life

Tag: Hear

  • Joy Comes in the Morning

    “For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.”

    Psalm 30:5

    There are times God allows events to occur in people’s lives to bring about His plan. Through these events, those who continued to walk with God grew in their faith and dependence upon God. Did they always know what God was doing? No! Consider this: when do you grow the most in your spiritual life? When things are going well and you have no hard times? Or do you grow the most when an unexpected crisis comes into your life (a death, a sickness, a loss of a job, etc.), and you remember that God promised not to forsake you, but help you? It is in times like this that we feel as if we are walking in darkness – we cannot see God working in the events that have transpired. “Who is among you that feareth the LORD, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the LORD, and stay upon his God” (Isaiah 50:10). Notice this verse is talking about someone who fears the Lord, obeys the voice of His servant, yet walks in darkness. The darkness here refers to the fact that one cannot see what God may be doing in this event. It is something that God has allowed, giving one the opportunity to grow in that spiritual walk with Him.

    To help us understand times of darkness in our lives, recognize that there are some things that you can see in the dark that you cannot see in the light.“I clothe the heavens with blackness, and I make sackcloth their covering” (Isaiah 50:3). When the sky is dark at night, clothed with blackness, what do you see? The stars. They are always there, yet when the sun is out and it is day, no one can see their beauty. But when the darkness comes, the stars shine in all of their glory. The darker the sky, the more stars are revealed. They are much like hidden treasures in the sky, only revealed when the darkness comes.

    If you are walking with the Lord, obeying Him, when times of darkness or troubles come, recognize that God allowed them in your life. Consider: One cannot let darkness into a room of light. Darkness cannot chase away light. The light always chases away the dark. The dark can never chase away the light. The only way darkness can come, is for the light to have been removed. If the light has been removed, it is because God has removed it for a purpose. God has allowed you to be in the darkness for a reason. For it is in the darkest of times, when we trust and depend upon God, that we can grow the most spiritually. Sometimes the day of light is so bright, busy, and full of noise that one cannot hear God speak. However, in the stillness of the dark of night, as you think upon Him and His Word, God can speak to you and help you understand. “The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned” (Isaiah 50:4). When you wake in the morning, you will realize that you have learned something. Your ears have learned to hear. It is then that you can find the treasures of what God is teaching you. This is why the best example to understand these treasures hidden in darkness are the vast stars in the night sky. Think about it. When it is light, we see what is near to us. But in the dark, we can see that which is far away. There are some things that you see in the darkness that you cannot see in the daylight. Because so much can be seen in the daylight, one needs the stillness and quiet of the darkness to think some of the deepest thoughts. Once you can hear and understand what God is teaching you (that hidden treasure), you can be at peace with joy. Remember the Psalm at the dedication of the house of David: “1. I will extol thee, O LORD; for thou hast lifted me up, and hast not made my foes to rejoice over me. 2. O LORD my God, I cried unto thee, and thou hast healed me. 3. O LORD, thou hast brought up my soul from the grave: thou hast kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit. 4. Sing unto the LORD, O ye saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness. 5. For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning” (Psalm 30:1-5). After fleeing from Saul for years, God delivered David to become king.

    We often think that Christians who walk with God daily, following His plan for their lives, should never have devastating things happen to them but have a nearly perfect life here on this earth. God never promised us this. However, He did promise us He would never leave us or forsake us. “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Hebrews 13:5). This should encourage us to continue faithfully, whatever may come. Why? “So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me” (Hebrews 13:6). It is important to remember this when trying times come.

    Have you walked in a time of darkness, learning to trust and depend upon God, and then growing spiritually?

  • Hardhearted, Deaf, and Blind

    “For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.”

    Acts 28:27

    Paul preached the Gospel Message of Jesus. He went on three specific missionary journeys, traveling to many towns and countries to deliver the message of salvation only through Jesus Christ. Acts chapters 13-28 tell of Paul’s travels, ending with his trip by ship to Rome as a prisoner. His heart’s desire was to see the Jews believe upon Jesus and accept Him as their Messiah (Christ), their Saviour. However, many rejected his preaching of the Gospel Message of Jesus. “4. And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks. 5. And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ. 6. And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles” (Acts 18:4-6). Can you sense his frustration that his people, whom he loved dearly, would reject the only salvation through Jesus? Because of this rejection, he went to the Gentiles to teach them of Jesus.

    When Paul finally made it to Rome as a prisoner, he was met by a group of Jews who wanted to hear what Paul had to say. There were misunderstandings as to why he was imprisoned by the Romans. “For this cause therefore have I called for you, to see you, and to speak with you: because that for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain” (Acts 28:20). He wanted them to understand that because the Jewish religious leaders rejected Jesus as the Messiah, “the hope of Israel”, he had been arrested. He had an opportunity to tell this group of Jews about Jesus. Throughout the Old Testament, God had promised to send One who would restore the relationship between God and man, caused by Adam’s initial sin in the garden (see Genesis 3:15). That separation has been between God and man since then. However, God sent His only Son, Jesus (see John 3:16), as the One who could restore that relationship. “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). Jesus is the only way to salvation. Paul spent many years teaching this truth to people, winning many people to the Lord. However, there were many who rejected Jesus – especially among the Jews. He recognized this would happen, for hundreds of years earlier Isaiah had been told the same basic thing (that the people would not hear see Isaiah 6:9). This saddened Paul, especially because as much as he tried to persuade the people of the truth about Jesus, most of the Jews still rejected Him. Paul then quoted from Isaiah: “For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them” (Acts 28:27). Waxed gross means “to thicken, that is, rendered callous.” Because the hearts of the people where callous to the truth of Jesus, their hearts were hardened. Worse yet, they closed their eyes to the truth of Jesus’ salvation. This message from Isaiah (called Esaias in the New Testament) is quoted in each of the four Gospels. Remember an easier one to understand: “39. Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again, 40. He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them” (John 12:39-40). The Jews had rejected Jesus so often, hardening their hearts and refusing to see, that they were no longer able to believe. Paul understood this. However, Paul recognized that many Gentiles believed in Jesus. “Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it” (Acts 28:28). Salvation is available to any who will “hear it.”

    Have you noticed that the same thing seems to be happening again today? Almost anywhere one goes today, people’s hearts have “waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed”. There comes a point in each person’s heart when they have rejected Jesus so often, hardening the heart and refusing to see, that they are no longer able to believe. This is a scary place for anyone to reach. “(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now isthe accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)” (2 Corinthians 6:2). When one hears the call of the Gospel Message of Jesus, one should immediately respond and not delay! Now is the day of salvation – not tomorrow. If you have loved ones whose hearts appear to have “waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed”, don’t give up on them. Continue to pray. It may be that you can be instrumental in bringing them to Christ.

    Have you heard the call of the Gospel Message in your heart, or shared it with others?

    Have you understood the importance of responding to that call, receiving Jesus into one’s heart and life before it is too late?

    How to be saved

  • The Marks of a True Believer

    “Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;”

    John 8:31

    Jesus taught the people the way of salvation – only through true belief in Jesus that brings a change of heart and life (see John 8:1-32). At this point, many believed. “As he spake these words, many believed on him” (John 8:30). This is the first step of salvation. However, Jesus wanted them to understand it was more than a “mental assent” to Jesus. Belief demands a changed life that begins in the heart (see Romans 10:9-10). In these teachings, Jesus taught them much more than the way of salvation. He revealed to them the ways to identify true salvation – in their own lives and even in the lives of others.

    We remembered the step of salvation: “As he spake these words, many believed on him” (John 8:30).

    Jesus continued with the first mark of true salvation: “Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him,If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed” (John 8:31). Indeed means “truly; of a surety.” For those who truly give their hearts and lives to Jesus, making Jesus the Lord of that life, it is only natural that one must continue in Jesus’ Word (see 2 Timothy 3:14-17). One must read and learn more about the Bible. As one learns more about the Bible, that life is changed from the inside out. One learns to walk like Jesus (see Colossians 1:10; 2:6-7, and Ephesians 5:8).

    The next thing Jesus emphasized was knowing the truth: “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32). Make you free means “to liberate; the result of redemption.” Knowing the truth of God’s Word gives Christians much freedom. Jesus fulfilled the Law for us, setting us free to walk with Him according to His Word (see James 1:22). Christians are to continue in that liberty. Paul later emphasized the importance of keeping one’s liberty and not returning to the bondage of the Old Testament Law (see Galatians 5:1).

    The Pharisees challenged Jesus: “They answered him, We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?” (John 8:33). If you know the history of the Israelites at all, this statement might make you laugh. This nation had been in bondage many times through the years. For example, Moses led them out of bondage in Egypt (see Exodus 5-14). Think of the times of the Judges where God had to send deliverers many time to free the from bondage. Even in the days of the Pharisees who challenged Jesus, God’s people were under the bondage of Rome.

    The bondage the Pharisees were referring to was something completely different than what Jesus was trying to get them to understand. “Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin” (John 8:34). Jesus came to set them free from the law of sin and death (see Romans 8:2). With that freedom comes an understanding that we are to no longer be servants of sin. Later, Paul taught more on this subject (see Romans 6:12-14). All of Romans chapter six will help in the understanding of the importance of not allowing sin to rule a Christian’s life. Christians are to yield to righteousness.

    Jesus taught that true Christians will hear God’s Word: “He that is of God heareth God’s words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God” (John 8:47). People had come to Jesus before this to hear the Word of God (see Luke 5:1). Jesus later calls Christians His sheep: “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:27). We know that the Bible is the Word of God.

    A Believer must keep His Word, for it is a proof of the salvation in the heart. “Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death” (John 8:51). Why is it so important to keep His Word? “21. He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.22. Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? 23. Jesus answered and said unto him,If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. 24. He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me” (John 14:21-24). Manifest means “to disclose (by words): appear, declare (plainly), inform.” Not only does keeping His Word show that we love Him, but Jesus said He would manifest Himself to those who keep His Word. Obedience to God’s Word is a key mark of one who is a true Believer (see 1 John 2:3-6).

    When others see you, do they find the marks of a true Believer?

  • The Resurrection and the Life

    “Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:”

    John 11:25

    Most remember reading about Lazarus, the brother of Mary and Martha, who was sick and died. When Martha questioned Jesus about Lazarus’ death, Jesus told her that he would rise again. Martha believed in a resurrection, one day. “25. Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: 26. And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? 27. She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world” (John 11:25-27). Do you see where her faith fell short? She did not yet believe or understand that Jesus had power over life and death. Mary went to Jesus, and they all went to the tomb. “39. Jesus said, Take ye away the stone.Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days. 40. Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?” (John 11:39-40).

    When Jesus called Lazarus from the grave, Lazarus rose from the dead. Jesus drew the people’s attention to God, His Father, “that they may believe that thou hast sent me” (see John 11:42). More importantly, we read “many of the Jews which … had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him” (see John 11:45).

    A short time later, Jesus went to Bethany where Lazarus lived. “There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him” (John 12:2). Mary took a costly ointment (one often used to anoint bodies for burial) and anointed the feet of Jesus. Judas Iscariot asked why the ointment wasn’t sold to give the money to the poor. “This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein” (John 12:6). Jesus understood why Mary had done this. “Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this” (John 12:7). Although it appeared no one understood, Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem for the final week of His life. But did someone understand?

    This is the same Mary who chose to sit at the feet of Jesus a previous time Jesus came to eat with them, listening to Him teach. Remember that her sister, Martha, complained to Jesus because Mary wasn’t serving with her. “41. And Jesus answered and said unto her,Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: 42. But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:41-42). Jesus declared that it was good that Mary had chosen to sit at the feet of Jesus, listening to Him teach. “And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word” (Luke 10:39). Take note that Mary “heard his word”. She understood when Jesus taught. No one could ever take away from Mary that which she learned at the feet of Jesus.

    Now, we have remembered that Mary was one who heard Jesus as He taught, and she witnessed Jesus raise her brother from the dead. Remember something that Jesus revealed to His disciples often, although they did not understand. “From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day” (Matthew 16:21). Jesus had often declared that He would die and live again (see Matthew 17:22-23; Mark 8:31; 9:31; Luke 9:22; 18:31; etc.). After remembering these things, one can understand why Jesus said, “Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this” (John 12:7b). Jesus knew that Mary understood that He was going to die soon. Jesus knew, and we can understand that Mary knew. She may not have fully understood what all was about to transpire, but we can see she believed. Jesus acknowledged this. She had witnessed the death of her brother, Lazarus. Four days later, she witnessed Jesus raise him from the dead. It was only a short time later that she anointed Jesus’ feet with oil. Something in her heart had obviously clicked, and she understood. She must have remembered what Jesus had said to Martha, her sister: “25. … I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: 26. And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?” (John 11:25-26).

    Do you know where Mary was obviously absent? “Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene” (John 19:25). (See also Matthew 27:56.) Although there were women named Mary at the foot of the cross, it appears that Mary, the sister of Martha and Lazarus, is absent. She understood that even when Jesus died, He would live again.

    Mary believed.

    Have you acknowledged that Jesus is the resurrection and the life, and whosoever believes in Jesus, shall live?

    What to do when you belive.

  • Ezekiel, a Watchman

    “So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me.”

    Ezekiel 33:7

    God called Ezekiel five years after he had been captured from Jerusalem and carried into Babylon (see Ezekiel 1:1-2). God would send Ezekiel to warn His people of pending judgment for sin. “1. And he said unto me, Son of man, stand upon thy feet, and I will speak unto thee. 2. And the spirit entered into me when he spake unto me, and set me upon my feet, that I heard him that spake unto me” (Ezekiel 2:1-2). Take note that God told Ezekiel to stand, giving him God’s Word, and he was then filled with God’s Spirit which would enable Ezekiel to do the task at hand. In that calling, like other prophets before him, he was warned that the people would not hear him. “But the house of Israel will not hearken unto thee; for they will not hearken unto me: for all the house of Israel are impudent and hardhearted” (Ezekiel 3:7). Take note that God said they were “impudent and hardhearted.” Impudent means “powerful and able to resist. It can have a connotation of stubbornness, impudence, and being unyielding see Ezekiel 2:4; 3:7-8)”. Hardhearted means “inflexible, obstinate, hardened, stubborn of heart: the totality of man’s inner or or immaterial nature”. This sounds like it would be an extremely difficult task!

    Why would the people not hear? Then in turn, why would God not hear them?

    • “Son of man, thou dwellest in the midst of a rebellious house, which have eyes to see, and see not; they have ears to hear, and hear not: for they are a rebellious house” (Ezekiel 12:2). They were a rebellious people.
    • “Because they despised my judgments, and walked not in my statutes, but polluted my sabbaths: for their heart went after their idols” (Ezekiel 20:16).
    • “Therefore will I also deal in fury: mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity: and though they cry in mine ears with a loud voice, yet will I not hear them” (Ezekiel 8:18).

    To add to the difficulty of Ezekiel’s task, God said Ezekiel would be dumb (unable to speak) for a period of time. “26. And I will make thy tongue cleave to the roof of thy mouth, that thou shalt be dumb, and shalt not be to them a reprover: for they are a rebellious house. 27. But when I speak with thee, I will open thy mouth, and thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; He that heareth, let him hear; and he that forbeareth, let him forbear: for they are a rebellious house.” (Ezekiel 3:26-27). Until Ezekiel could speak again, God had Ezekiel act out several signs of warnings (see Ezekiel 4-5). God let Ezekiel know that the dumbness would be removed. In the meantime, Ezekiel was one of the signs that was given to the Israelite people who were already in captivity. “In that day shall thy mouth be opened to him which is escaped, and thou shalt speak, and be no more dumb: and thou shalt be a sign unto them; and they shall know that I am the LORD” (Ezekiel 24:27). That dumbness of Ezekiel would be removed when Jerusalem was destroyed by Babylon. “21. And it came to pass in the twelfth year of our captivity … that one that had escaped out of Jerusalem came unto me, saying, The city is smitten. 22. Now the hand of the LORD was upon me in the evening, afore he that was escaped came; and had opened my mouth, until he came to me in the morning; and my mouth was opened, and I was no more dumb” (Ezekiel 33:21-22). God opened Ezekiel’s mouth so he could speak again.

    God called Ezekiel to be a watchman to the house of Israel. The first time, He was to give them a warning from God (see Ezekiel 3:16-27). Before God opened Ezekiel’s mouth, God called Ezekiel to give another warning, however it included a promise of restoration one day (see Ezekiel 33:22). “So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me” (Ezekiel 33:7). If Ezekiel was not faithful to declare God’s Word to the people, Ezekiel would be accountable for their lives (see Ezekiel 33:8-9).

    Christians live in a world today where most people do not want to hear about God. However, we can share the good news of Jesus with others. We should follow the example of Paul. “5. For our gospel came not unto you in word only …as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake. 6. And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost: 7. So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia. 8. For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing. 9. For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; 10. And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come” (1 Thessalonians 1:5-10). Paul not only shared the Gospel message, but lived a Christ-like life. The people heard, saw, and turned from idols to serve the living God by believing in Jesus. This faith in Jesus, delivers from the “wrath to come”.

    Do you live a life where others can see Jesus in you, then able to hear as you share the Gospel message?

    The Gospel Message

  • Forgiveness and Mercy

    “For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.”

    Psalm 86:5

    King Josiah was a good king. He chose to do what was right. We can read that he was even compared back to King David, and that Josiah “turned not aside to the right hand or to the left” (see 2 Kings 22:2). Turned not aside means “being faithful to God; to veer neither to the right nor to the left.” But see what other information we are given in Second Chronicles. “For in the eighth year of his reign, while he was yet young, he began to seek after the God of David his father …”(2 Chronicles 34:3). It is because he sought God while he was yet young that set the course for his life.

    The nation of Judah had just endured two of their worst kings: Manasseh and Amon. Because of the sins of King Manasseh, God declared the people would be judged, allowing only a remnant to be saved (see 2 Kings 21:9-16). However, because King Josiah sought God and led the people to seek after God, the judgment was delayed for a time.

    What was it about Josiah that spared him and caused God to delay his judgment?

    Josiah became king when he was only eight years old, and in the eighth year of that reign he began to seek after God. In the twelfth year of his reign, he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem (and even into Israel in the north) from the idol worship by destroying the idols and their places of worship (see 2 Chronicles 34:3-7). In the eighteenth year of his reign, he sent men to repair the house of the Lord (the Temple). While they were repairing the Temple, the priest “found a book of the law of the LORD given by Moses” (2 Chronicles 34:14b). When this book was read to the king, he rent his clothes. Read why he did this: “for great is the wrath of the LORD that is poured out upon us, because our fathers have not kept the word of the LORD, to do after all that is written in this book” (2 Chronicles 34:21b). Although it was in King Josiah’s heart to seek after God, making many great reformations and even repairing the Temple, when Josiah heard what was written in God’s Word, he recognized they deserved God’s wrath. He wanted to hear from God. God revealed that Jerusalem and Judah would be destroyed for her great sin before God, but God had a special word for King Josiah because he inquired of the Lord. “27. 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. 28. Behold, I will gather thee to thy fathers, and thou shalt be gathered to thy grave in peace, neither shall thine eyes see all the evil that I will bring upon this place, and upon the inhabitants of the same. So they brought the king word again” (2 Chronicles 34:27-28). God spared King Josiah from the judgment to come because Josiah humbled his heart before God.

    Did you notice that the king was not spared because of all of the great deeds and reformations that he made trying to please God? The king was in the process of bringing the people back to the worship of God after eliminating the idol worship. However, when the king heard God’s Words from the Law of Moses (the first five books in the Bible), then he recognized the sin against God. Immediately, King Josiah repented: “humbledst thyself before me, and didst rend thy clothes, and weep before me; I have even heard thee also, saith the LORD.” It was then that God heard and spared Josiah.

    Understanding the importance of hearing God’s Word, King Josiah called together all of the people, great and small, and read to them God’s Word. “And the king stood in his place, and made a covenant before the LORD, to walk after the LORD, and to keep his commandments, and his testimonies, and his statutes, with all his heart, and with all his soul, to perform the words of the covenant which are written in this book” (2 Chronicles 34:31). Josiah’s heart was changed. He walked after the Lord.

    Recognition of sin came to King Josiah when he heard God’s Word read, and he then displayed true repentance. Josiah then recognized what he must do. He had to seek God: “For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee” (Psalm 86:5). It was then he understood God’s forgiveness and mercy.

    Jesus taught the importance of God’s Word: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life” (John 5:24). Without hearing the Word of God, no one would know to believe upon Jesus to have everlasting life or how to then please God in this world. Read what else Jesus declared. “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me” (John 5:39). The Bible is all about Jesus.

    Read your Bible.

    Then you will be able to tell others what the Bible has to say.

    Have you committed to reading the Bible every day, recognizing the importance of God’s Word?

  • Who is Jesus to You?

    “He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?”

    Matthew 16:15

    Most people remember that Micah was the Old Testament prophet who declared Jesus would be born in Bethlehem (see Micah 5:2). But other than that, most people do not take time to hear the message God gave Micah to deliver. Micah called the people to “hear” God’s Words. He warned them that God saw their sin, and judgment was coming because of habitual sin. He declared that there would be a time that the Jewish people would not be considered a people (Assyria and Babylon carried them captive from their land, ending the kingdom years). However, God promised that He would restore them as His people – one day.

    After hearing that God would discipline His people (showing He truly loved His people), remove idol worship from them (only allowing place to do what is right – worshiping the one and only true God), and promising to restore them one day, recognize something else. “18. Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy. 19. He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea” (Micah 7:18-19). Did you notice the final question Micah asked as he was closing the book? He asked “Who is a God like unto thee?” God in that verse means “might; power; strength.” God wanted to be more than a name to His people, He wanted to be a reality to them – someone they deemed as all powerful; one who can do anything. God would never fail to keep a promise He made to His people, so they were to live on that hope, remembering to watch for that Promised One (Jesus who was to come). No matter how far away from God the Israelites strayed; God would not forsake His people forever. One day, when they recognize Jesus as their Lord (see Hosea 5:15 and Philippians 2:6-11), God will fulfill His promise to them. Because He is a merciful God, He will take those sins and cast them into the depths of the sea, where they can never be retrieved – never to be seen again. The book ends with this reminder: “Thou wilt perform the truth to Jacob, and the mercy to Abraham, which thou hast sworn unto our fathers from the days of old” (Micah 7:20). This is another reminder that God will keep His promises – including sending Jesus.

    Just as Micah called God’s people to “hear,” we too, are to “hear” God’s Words today. Even Peter, as he preached in the early church, said. “And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe” (Acts 15:7). Peter understood the importance of preaching the Gospel message so people could believe. What is the word of the Gospel? How can one believe?

    There is nothing anyone can do (no works: see John 6:28-29) that can save anyone. How then can one be saved? One must recognize his or her sin, asking for forgiveness from God, and believe that He will save one (through faith in His Son, Jesus). Only belief in Jesus as the One who came to pay the penalty for sin can save. Jesus told them how. “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6). Once one recognizes that a life apart from Jesus, there is a decision to be made. One must decide who Jesus is to him or her. Remember what Jesus asked his disciples. “13. When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? 14. And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. 15. He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? 16. And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. 17. And Jesus answered and said unto him,Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealeditunto thee, but my Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 16:13-17). Each person must choose if they will recognize Jesus for who He is: “the Christ, the Son of the living God”. Christ means “anointed, that is, the Messiah.” Messiah means “Christ, the anointed; the Saviour of the world.” Just as God’s people in the Old Testament had to decide just who God was to them, today, one must decide who Jesus is to them. Is He your Saviour, the one who came to forgive your sins, giving you a new life 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).

    Be encouraged to understand the importance of hearing and obeying God’s Words, deciding who Jesus is to you. Also, remember that Christians are to be living examples in the world today. What kind of an example do you want to be? One like Judah and Israel (who failed miserably and were eventually carried away from their homeland, disciplined), or do you want to be an obedient example, like Jesus – who obeyed his Father unto death, even the death of the cross (see Philippians 2:8).

    Who is Jesus to you?

    Find out How to be Saved Here

  • Lesson 4: Micah: Hear God’s Words

    Key Verse

    But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.

    —Luke 11:28

    Key Verse Thought: Read the Key Verse. Do you understand what this verse means?  (Remember that this is Jesus speaking. As Jesus was teaching the people, a woman in the crowd spoke up. She said that the woman who bore and nursed Him, Jesus’ mother, should be blessed. Our key verse in this lesson is Jesus’ response.) The word blessed means: “fully satisfied; possessing the favor of God; a partaker of God’s nature through faith in Christ.” Hear means “to understand or comprehend.” Keep means “to keep, to observe, to not violate.” Jesus declared we are blessed if we obey God’s Word (the Bible).

    Emphasis: As Christians, we have the hope (promise) that God will forgive our sin, forever, and we are to show that we believe by hearing God’s Word (reading the Bible).

    Lesson Summary: The book of Micah begins with, “The word of the LORD that came to Micah the Morasthite in the days of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, which he saw concerning Samaria and Jerusalem” (Micah 1:1). This tells us when he lived and to whom God sent him to speak. Notice that these were the same kings to whom Isaiah spoke, so they lived around the same time – Micah coming just a little later. He warned the people of the coming judgment, but he also told them of the future blessing. One of the main things we can remember about Micah is that he called for the people to hear. “Hear, all ye people; hearken, O earth, and all that therein is …” (Micah 1:2a). 

    Micah spoke to both Israel and Judah during the reign of King Hezekiah (see Jeremiah 26:18). We can also see that this helped King Hezekiah decide to make great reformations in Judah. In addition, remember that Israel was carried captive during the reign of King Hezekiah of Judah. Therefore, Micah saw Israel carried away captive by the Assyrian army.

    Like many prophets before him, he reminded the people where they had failed, calling for the people to repent and to have a right relationship with God (by obeying His commands). He warned of the coming destruction of Jerusalem. Nevertheless, he too, left the people with the hope of restoration one day. God even allowed Micah to reveal where the Messiah would be born (see Micah 5:2). He then left the people with hope – God would remove their sin (as far as the depths of the sea), and He would keep His promises made, “… to Jacob … Abraham, which thou hast sworn unto our fathers from the days of old” (Micah 7:20).

    Y2Q3 – Lesson 4 Questions

    Y2Q3 – Lesson 4 Children’s Worksheets

    If you are teaching this to young children, the following is an idea for a craft to go along with this lesson.

    We made a journal to write special Bible verse in to help us remember God’s Word and the importance of keeping those Words (obeying them). We added stickers to the front along with Proverbs 3:1-2.

  • Have you seen God?

    “I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee.”
    Job 42:5

    God created all things. We can understand that He created all things, including us, for his pleasure. “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created” (Revelation 4:11). But have you ever taken time to hear about God? How about trying to see Him?

    What does it really mean when people say they have “seen” God? Can anyone really “see” God? Some things you see without physical eyes. This “seeing” is referring to the movement of God in one’s own personal life. A few books in the Old Testament reveal men wanting to know God better – in a personal way. Job, King David (in the book of Psalms), and King Solomon (in the books of Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and Song of Solomon) were such men. We also see God move in the hearts and lives of these men. There is a great picture of this in the life of Job.

    Job opens with a behind-the-scenes event that Job never knew about (a very important fact for us to consider!). Satan presents himself before the throne of God. Remember; God knows all, see: “… for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts …” (1 Chronicles 28:9b). Yet we find that He asks Satan if he has set his heart upon Job. Read how Job is described: “… a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth (turns away from) evil” (Job 1:8). Satan wants to “steal, kill, and destroy” (John 10:10). This fact is vividly portrayed in the book of Job. Job lost all of his wealth, his ten children, and eventually even his health. Yet through all of the adversity that Job endured, he never cursed God. He sought his own heart, and he acknowledged God and who He is. When he did not understand what it was that was happening to him, he appealed to God.

    And God answered him.

    Although Job never fully understood what happened, or why, we can read about it for ourselves in the book of Job. Job’s faith and trust in things of which he did not know is rather amazing. Yet through it all, Job’s faith and trust in God grew. Even knowing how God described Job at the beginning of the book, read what Job recognized about his own condition in the presence of God. “5. I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee. 6. Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes” (Job 42:5-6).

    These events give us much insight, if only we will receive it. Although Job never knew that God allowed Satan to cause these events in his life, we find that he trusted God. There is an important thing that we should remember – God knew Job. He knew that Job could endure all of those things and even grow in his faith and trust in Him. When we are faced with things, we should understand that God won’t allow anything to happen to us that He doesn’t already know we can handle. If we just will! “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it” (1 Corinthians 10:13). Temptation here means “putting to proof (by experiment [of good], or experience [of evil]; to try.” And the words to be tempted here mean “to test.” But my favorite part: the words God is faithful. The word faithful here means “trustworthy; faithful; true.” I can trust God because He is faithful through it all! Job understood this before it was even written.

    Have you trusted God to be faithful during your trying times?

    Posted also at Lighthouse Gospel Beacon