A Word From God
1. To Hear And Understand A Word From God
We can go all the way back to the beginning of time to see the power of the Word of God. "And God said, Let there be light: and there was light." (Genesis 1:3) God spoke. And the heavens and earth were created. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.... All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made." (John 1:1 & 3) Through the power of the Word of God, we can find peace and hope for today. I want us to make a diligent search in the scriptures, and listen with open ears, to see if we can hear and understand a Word from God.
2. Saul Enquired Of God Through The Prophet Samuel
We open our new devotional theme today with the first story we have of Saul, long before he became the king of Israel. Kish was the father of Saul, and when his donkeys were lost he sent Saul and his servant to find them. After they went throughout the country looking for them they decided to go and ask the Prophet Samuel to give them an answer from God.
"6 And he said unto him, Behold now, there is in this city a man of God, and he is an honourable man; all that he saith cometh surely to pass: now let us go thither; peradventure he can shew us our way that we should go.
7 Then said Saul to his servant, But, behold, if we go, what shall we bring the man? for the bread is spent in our vessels, and there is not a present to bring to the man of God: what have we?
8 And the servant answered Saul again, and said, Behold, I have here at hand the fourth part of a shekel of silver: that will I give to the man of God, to tell us our way.
9 (Beforetime in Israel, when a man went to enquire of God, thus he spake, Come, and let us go to the seer: for he that is now called a Prophet was beforetime called a Seer.)
10 Then said Saul to his servant, Well said; come, let us go. So they went unto the city where the man of God was." (I Samuel 9:6-10)
Samuel told them the donkeys had been found, and also that God had chosen Saul to be the first king of Israel. People who lived during Bible times did not have the written Word of God available to them as we are blessed to have today. Except for the few who were spoken to by the angel of the Lord, they had to rely on the prophets, and priests, and the Word that was passed down from the parents to their children to know what God had said. When questions and problems arise in our lives we can go to the Lord in prayer and read our Bible to find help from the Word of God. For our new Bible study we will try to find some of the blessed passages that can give us help for the problems we face from day to day. Just as Saul went to the Prophet Samuel to inquire of God, we will go to the scriptures to find a Word from God.
3. A Word From God When Something Is Lost
If my child accidently turned over a glass of milk we just scurried to wipe it up, and it didn't really bother me. But, if we had a missing library book on the day they were due, it really upset me. I got so stressed out when something was lost. Saul spent days looking for lost donkeys and he went to Prophet Samuel to get a word from God. In chapter 15 of the book of Luke we find Jesus telling 3 parables of lost things. First, there was the shepherd who left the 99 to go and find the one lost sheep. Then, He told of the woman who lost one piece of the 10 pieces of silver, and after lighting a candle and sweeping the house she found it and called her friends and neighbors to rejoice with her. The third parable was about a lost son, who went away from home. When he finally "came to himself" he went back home where the father was waiting.
We didn't use candles to search the house when we lost things, but we often carried our flashlights around looking under beds and couch cushions until the items were found. But, I think the biggest help of all, was our prayer. I still lose things today, just as often as I ever did. And I have learned to pray when I begin to search, and not wait until I have looked everywhere I know to look. The main point I want to make today is to that someone who may be reading this and is lost, without God. God is waiting to forgive and bring you into His family if you will put your trust in Him.
"16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." (John 3:16-18)
You don't have to stay lost. "For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost." (Luke 19:10) Believe in your heart that Jesus is the Son of God and that He came to die on the cross for your sin. Ask Him to forgive you and trust in Him to be your Savior. Don't wait until it is too late. Jesus is the Good Shepherd who gave His life for the sheep. He loves you and is waiting to save you.
4. A Word From God When You Are Anxious
Michael started back to school Monday. Wow, this has been a short summer. Can't believe that it is over, but going back to school has a way of making it feel official. And while we are talking about a short summer, does anyone else feel like the years get shorter and shorter? Michael has taught 40 years, and I can still remember the first one. It will soon be Thanksgiving, and then Christmas, and if the Lord tarries we will be starting a New Year before we know it. I have noticed all the photos on Facebook of smiling little faces starting school. If those kids are anything like I was, those smiles are hiding some anxiety. I liked starting back to school but I was always a little anxious about meeting my new teacher and going into new classrooms with new people. Now that I am older I still have things that come up that make me anxious. I really enjoyed directing the church Christmas play, and planning youth meetings and parties a few years back, but I would get so nervous and ask myself why I kept doing it. Well, you get the picture. Sometimes we get anxious about life! Today I want to share some verses from the Apostle Paul that may help you through these disturbing times.
"4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.
5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.
6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you." (Philippians 4:4-9)
5. A Word From God When Others Put You Down
I see and hear so much about bullying in school and it breaks my heart. Bullying is not always of a physical nature. People can use harsh words to put others down and belittle them. I moved to a new school in the ninth grade. A revival preacher at our church had challenged us to read through the Bible in one year, and since I was shy and not good at making new friends I took my Bible to school and read during homeroom and other free time. A girl who sat near me in homeroom started calling me "Preacher" and she tried to put me down in every way possible. She knew enough about the Bible to point out places where there seemed to be contradictory verses. One that I remember was Matthew 26:34, "Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice" and Mark 14:30, "And Jesus saith unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this day, even in this night, before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice." I let her have her say and over time I found out that her Dad was a deacon in the church and he and the Pastor argued and fought a lot. She lost all respect for God and His Word and anything else that pertained to Him. One day she came in and said, "So, what do you think of Matthew 5:44?" I turned over my notebook and showed her that I had written the verse on the back. "But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;" She was very surprised, that I had written down the very verse that she mentioned, or maybe at the thought that I would pray for her. I found out a long time ago that even though it may be hard to do, it helps to pray for those that put you down. School is not the only place where some people try to hatefully rule over others. I see men and women yell at their spouses. I have noticed on playgrounds that the bigger children often push and shove the smaller ones. It is especially difficult in work situations where those over you treat you with disrespect and may even lie and cheat to get ahead and there is not anything you can do about it. Try to pray for them. God may change them, or He may change your situation. I tried to be a good Christian witness to the girl, but I never saw a change in her during our high school years. I never lost hope for her, as sometimes the Lord will bring her to my mind and I pray for her. When we pray for others God can give us a love and concern for their soul, and an understanding heart.
6. A Word From God When We Have A Financial Need
God blessed us with five children and it was a joy to be a stay-at-home Mom when they were small. The Lord always provided our needs, but sometimes money was tight. Michael taught school and worked at odd jobs, and they were odd, (like putting on metal roofs during temperatures in the high 90's) in the summers. I stayed home with the children, except for the rare occasions when I worked little part-time jobs the Lord placed in our lives, such as waiting tables or running a cash register. After they were all in school I went to work full-time and it helped with the financial burden, but the children were growing and so were the expenses. God always supplied our needs. I remember one time in the grocery store when we saw someone we had helped with a need in the past and he handed Michael some money he had put back to return the favor. Six years ago I lost my job and with times being the way they are, I could not find another job. But, God has never let us down. He continues to provide. One of the verses that has strengthened my faith is Malachi 3:10, "Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it." I found out many years ago that the more I give to the Lord and to others, the more He returns to me. When I would give away three bags of clothes the boys had outgrown, the Lord would send five bags back to me from another Mom with growing children. We have often said, "You can't out-give God." One more favorite verse to close... "But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:19)
7. A Word From God When There Is Something We Want
Have you ever seen something and thought, "I really like that" or "I would like to have something like that" and soon afterwards you got it? That has happened to me over and over again. I usually don't mind walking through the rain, but when I worked it was hard to get drenched and then sit at a desk in a cold air conditioned office. So one day I thought, "I need a good umbrella." And what do you think happened? The place where I worked bought each employee a new, good quality, umbrella with the company logo on it. Yesterday we talked about how God provides our needs, but there have been many times that I just thought in my mind, without telling anyone else, of something that I would like to have and the Lord sent it my way. Sometimes it was something I needed, like the umbrella, and other times it was something extra, a desire in my heart that nobody else knew was there. I remember one time thinking how long it had been since I had a good doughnut, and Michael "just happened" to go by Krispy Kreme on his way home from work and walked in with a dozen doughnuts. Sometimes it's the little things in life that make us smile. My verse... Psalms 37:3-4, "Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart." Another one is Matthew 6:33, "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." Put God first, trust Him, be thankful, and give Him your best, and He will send things in your life to make you smile.
8. A Word From God When You Forget To Be Thankful
I got a text this week from my son who lives in another town. His working schedule varies and we rarely see him and his wife, but he is hoping to be off for Thanksgiving and wants to come for lunch and to spend time with our family. It is great that we have a special time set aside to be thankful. We can be with our families and enjoy good food and fellowship and remember all that God has done for us. But we don't have to wait until Thanksgiving Day to be thankful. We talked about how God supplies our needs and how He gives us "the desires of our heart." He also watches over us and gives us protection. If we could not think of any other reason to be thankful, we could never thank Him enough for giving His life on the cross so that we can be forgiven of our sins and be saved. We should get up every morning and be thankful for a new day, and take time to thank Him for His continued blessings when we lay down at night. We could even be like Daniel and kneel to give the Lord thanks three times a day. "Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime." (Daniel 6:10) We can even be like the Apostle Paul, "Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;" (Ephesians 5:20)
"1 <<A Psalm of David.>> Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:
3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;
4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;
5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.
6 The LORD executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed." (Psalm 103:1-6)
9. A Word From God When You Feel Alone
It has been 15 years since my Dad died and I know that there are times when Mom feels lonely, but she has done very well. She goes to breakfast with a group from church, and with her high school graduating class once a month. She eats lunch with different people from time to time. She keeps in contact with the people she worked with, and often drives to take friends shopping. She has a close friend that helps her mow her yard and they eat together often. And she spends time with her four girls and their families, with home makeovers, shopping, and going places. She has been faithful to God and her church and He has blessed her with many friends. Some people don't have the strength, ability, or character to be such a helpful friend to so many others. Many are lonely. Do you need a friend? Proverbs 18:24 tells us, "A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother." Try to make some friends. Today is the Lord's day. If you are able, find a good Bible believing church and be as faithful as you can. Christian brothers and sisters can sometimes be as close as our family relatives. Help others. There are always people who can use a helping hand and a listening ear. And remember that the Lord has promised to be with you always!
"Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen." (Matthew 28:20)
"Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." (Isaiah 41:10)
"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)
"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 31:8)
10. A Word From God About Signs From Heaven
I live in North Carolina not far from the path of the 2017 solar eclipse. I see news estimates that millions are traveling to the United States for this rare occasion. I have been amazed at all the stories and headlines, some saying that this is a great sign from God about the end of time. So, on this special day I want to look at some of the verses in the Bible and see what God says about signs from heaven.
"1 The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven.
2 He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red.
3 And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowring. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?
4 A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed." (Matthew 16:1-4)
Jesus had healed the sick and fed thousands with only a few loaves and fishes, but they wanted a sign from heaven. Jesus gave them the sign of Jonah. "For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here." (Matthew 12:40-41) The Word of God does give us signs for the last days.
"1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away." (II Timothy 31-5)
"4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.
5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
8 All these are the beginning of sorrows." (Matthew 24:4-8)
You can read of God's judgment falling on the earth by fire in II Peter 3 and John gives us more about the end of time in the book of Revelation. God also gave the prophet Joel signs of the sun, moon, and stars. "The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble: the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining:... The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come... The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining." (Joel 2:10, 2:31 and 3:15) I don't know if the eclipse is a sign from God as some have said. But I do believe that mankind is turning away from God more than I have ever seen in my lifetime, and we better be ready to meet our Maker.
11. A Word From God When You Are Tired And Weary
We sing a song in church that begins, "Are you weary, are you heavy hearted? Tell it to Jesus. Tell it to Jesus." "Tell It To Jesus" was written by Jeremiah Eames Rankin in 1855. I like this old song, and "Yes" I am often weary and heavy hearted. And this is very good advice, "Tell it to Jesus." The verses that come to my mind when I am tired and weary are found in Isaiah 40:28-31.
"28 Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.
29 He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.
30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:
31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint."
I also like what Jesus told the disciples in Mark 6:31. "And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat." I have heard preachers say, "Come apart, before you come apart." At the first of summer Michael broke his hand and then our car was totaled in a wreck, and with all the work we were doing in the garden, we didn't get a vacation this summer. So, Friday we took off for a short weekend get-away in the mountains. We had a great time and it helped us re-charge our batteries, so to speak. It is great to work for our Lord and keep busy but sometimes we get tired and weary, and we need to take time to relax. I close with another great verse, "Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth." (Psalm 46:10)
12. A Word From God When You Are In Pain
I drink a lot of water. All day long, I drink water. When we went away for the weekend I put bottled water in the cooler, along with some canned colas. For those three days I not only drank water, but also several cans of cola. I decided to go back to my water on Monday, and by late afternoon I had the beginning of a headache due to not having the caffeine, so I drank a little cola. I was up at 3:00 am with the worst headache I have had in a long time and had to take something for the pain. This was pain that I really brought on myself. Sometimes we suffer from things that we bring on ourselves, not necessarily on purpose, but maybe through neglect, or just because we were not thinking. There are other times when we suffer with pain through no fault of our own. It all hurts just the same. Sometimes we can take medicines or do things to alleviate the pain, but there are some who live helplessly in pain, day after day. What Word from God can we find about pain? First I want to say that Jesus has compassion for your pain. Over and over we read in the New Testament that Jesus had compassion on the people. Jesus loves us and He suffered beyond measure when he was beaten and nailed to the cross to die for our sin. He knows how it feels to be in pain and He cares for us and is at the right hand of God making intercession for us. "Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God." (Romans 8:26-27)
Following these verses is another verse that shows us that God has everything under control. "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28) We don't understand the pain and suffering that we sometimes have to go through, but we have the promise that nothing can separate us from the love of God. Let's look again at Romans 8.
"34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:34-39)
13. A Word From God When We Are Worried
"Are you troubled at the thought of dying? Tell it to Jesus, tell it to Jesus.
For Christ’s coming kingdom are you sighing? Tell it to Jesus alone."
This is another verse of that great old song by Jeremiah E. Rankin, "Tell It To Jesus". We are asking the question, "Are you worried?" Are you worried about dying? If you are not sure of your salvation, then you have a reason to worry. Jesus can give you peace if you ask Him to save you. Accept that you are a sinner and can't go to heaven on your own merit. Believe that Jesus is God's Son and that He left heaven to come and give His life to pay for your sin. Then confess your sin to God and ask Him to forgive you and save you. He really can give you peace in your soul, even over dying. "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me." (Psalm 23:44) And for those who are saved but have drifted away from God, you can also confess your sin and ask the Lord for forgiveness. We don't know when our time on earth will be done, so we better do what needs to be done to make peace with God. Now, looking at the next line, are you sighing for Christ's coming? Every day I see more and more in the news that makes me say, "Even so, come, Lord Jesus." (Revelation 22:20) The sinful state and condition of our world may cause us to worry about what the future holds for our children and grandchildren. We can't change the world or the future, but we can "Tell it to Jesus." We can pray. Jesus has a Word for us when we are worried about what we have, and He also has comfort for us when we are worried about what we don't have.
"6:19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
25 ...Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?
28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
32 ...your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself..." (Portions from Matthew 6:19-34)
14. A Word From God When We Are Afraid
We tried to teach our children Bible verses when they were young, and one of the first ones was Psalm 56:3. I can still hear Matthew say it when he was very small. "What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee. Psalm 56 verse 3." It was great that he learned to trust in the Lord when he heard sounds in the night, or when other things came up that made him afraid. I have found comfort in those words through the years, too. Children are not the only ones who get afraid of noises and other scary things. Doctor visits can be frightful. Trials and storms can bring fear to our hearts. But, God can give us peace that overcomes our fears. There are many verses in the Bible that tell us to "be not afraid", and maybe even more that encourage us to "fear not". Jesus can calm the storms in our lives, and He can calm us in the midst of the storms.
"24 When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.
25 Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh.
26 For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken." (Proverbs 3:24-26)
"Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." (Isaiah 41:10)
15. A Word From God When You Need Encouragement
Are you discouraged? Do you sometimes feel like you are the only one distressed? Do you feel buried under your debt? Or maybe you have become discontent? You are not alone. Sometimes we feel like we are going through problems that others don't have. David had been given a hero's welcome after he killed the giant Philistine. But, it wasn't long before King Saul got so jealous that David had to flee for his life. Maybe he thought that nobody else had problems like he had. He went to hide in a cave and was soon joined by others who had problems. "And every one that was in distress, and every one that was in debt, and every one that was discontented, gathered themselves unto him; and he became a captain over them: and there were with him about four hundred men." (I Samuel 22:2) The message today is, "Don't get discouraged and feel like you are the only one going through trials." Jesus promised never to leave us. We need to put our trust in Him. "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6) And for those who are not in the storms, try to encourage those who are. Storms have a way of coming up suddenly, and you may find yourself in the same boat as your weary companions.
16. "What Doest Thou Here, Elijah?"
As we continue with our series on "A Word From God" I want to look at some of the times in the Bible when God spoke to specific people. The ones I want to look at are people to whom God asked a question. Since we talked about being discouraged yesterday, I want to begin with Elijah. Elijah had a great victory over the Baal worshipers on Mount Carmel. But, when Jezebel threatened to kill him he ran for his life, and left his servant behind, as he went onward, a day's journey into the wilderness. He sat under a juniper tree and asked the Lord to let him die. We can go from a mountain top victory to a discouraged low just as quickly when we work so hard and get so tired, when we go without food and rest, and when we go off alone and shut everyone out of our lives. God let Elijah sleep and then He fed him. He went forty days to Mount Horeb and settled down in a cave, and God asked him, "What doest thou here, Elijah?" (I Kings 19:9)
"10 And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.
11 And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake:
12 And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.
13 And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?
14 And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.
15 And the LORD said unto him, Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when thou comest, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria:
16 And Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel: and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abelmeholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room.
17 And it shall come to pass, that him that escapeth the sword of Hazael shall Jehu slay: and him that escapeth from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha slay.
18 Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him." (I Kings 19:10-18)
What a compassionate God we serve! He spoke to Elijah in "a still small voice." When we are feeling low and discouraged we don't need anyone to blow us away with their strong words of hot air, or brake us in pieces, or burn us with their hot tempered condemnation. We can look to God and listen for that still small voice. The Lord then gave Elijah some important tasks to do and told him that Elisha was going to take his place. Elijah didn't just die. He went to heaven in a chariot of fire, with horses of fire.
Maybe you have become overwhelmed with sudden discouragement, even though you are working for the Lord. Listen for God's still small voice. And think about this question, "What are you doing here?" You may need some time to eat, sleep and rest. You may need to let your friends and loved ones back into your life. God may have some important work for you to do. Your journey out of discouragment may begin with asking yourself, "What am I doing here?"
Michael has offered to write the next three devotionals on sermon notes from Preacher Mike Soop's messages during the youth jubilee this summer.
17. "Where Art Thou?"
The first question God ever asked man was the question that God asked Adam and Eve in Genesis 3:9. "And the Lord God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?" Remember that any time God asks a man a question, it is not so that God can gain information. God already knows the answer to any question He asks, but He asks the question so that man will reach a point of realization as to the answer. In Genesis 3 God and Adam had been walking and talking together, so God is pointing out to Adam that it is Adam who is not at the place that he should be. Preacher Mike Soop preached on this verse and summed up the situation perfectly: "Every person is either walking with God or hiding from God." God is asking all of us, "Where art thou?" So where are you in your relationship with God? Are you walking with God? Or are you hiding from God? You may be openly serving God, singing in the choir, or teaching a Sunday School class. But are you walking with God or hiding from God? Many hide in plain sight, appearing to others to be walking with God. But inwardly they are hiding from God, and spending no time at all fellowshipping with the Father.
God is asking you this question right now: Are you walking with God, or hiding from God? You are the only one who can answer that question.
18. "What's It To You?"
Preacher Mike Soop preached a sermon on this question during Youth Jubilee this year. The text is in John 21:18-23.
"18 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.
19 This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.
20 Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee?
21 Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do?
22 Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.
23 Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?
When Peter was told what would happen to him when he was older, he became concerned about what would happen to John ("the disciple whom Jesus loved"). But Jesus asked Peter the same question He asks us today: "What is that to thee?" So many times we get concerned about other people, but we need to simply do what Jesus told Peter to do after He asked him this question: "Follow thou me."
Maybe God wants you to go to a higher level of sanctification--maybe there are things in your life that need to be done away with so that you can walk closer to the Lord. Do not hesitate even a moment to think about what others may think. Jesus says to you, as He said to Peter, "What is that to thee? Follow thou me."
19. "What Think Ye Of Christ?"
"While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, Saying, What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, The Son of David." (Matthew 22:41-42)
I believe this is the most important question that God has ever asked man. It is not simply a Gallop poll question that is answered with your opinion. It is the question that will determine where you will spend eternity. If your answer is that Jesus is a good man, or that He was a wonderful teacher, your soul is in great danger. If you answer that Jesus was a great miracle worker sent from God, or that He was a role model who showed us all how to live for others, you face a horrible judgment at your death.
"9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." (Romans 10:9-13)
What think ye of Christ? There must be a heart belief and a confession that Jesus is your Lord and Savior by what He did at Calvary. Any other answer will be tragic.
20. "How Shall We Escape?"
The voice of those who denounce anything that has to do with God and Christianity is getting stronger. I believe that one reason we are seeing less and less people getting saved in our churches is because they feel like they don't need God. In their minds, they are doing well enough on their own. But, in reality, this is man making himself equal with God. Another sad reason is that more and more claim to be atheists and say they don't believe there is a God. How can a person look around at all the wonders of God's creation and not believe in God? Then, there are some who have never had to pay for their sin and they shake their fists in the face of God and dare Him to judge them. It will be a sad day when they fall before God, and they will fall before God. "For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God." (Romans 14:11) God's judgment is sure. And God's judgment is eternal. "And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire." (Revelation 20:15) With all the prophecy I have read in the Bible, I feel like we are in the last days. I am looking forward to Jesus coming to take His church away. The things going on in this wicked world are nothing compared to what God's Word has said would come during the tribulation. Then judgment from Almighty God will fall on this earth. Trusting in Jesus Christ as your Savior is the only way to escape eternal judgment. My question from God today is found in Hebrews 2:3-4. "How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?"
21. "Where Were You?"
You may know the story of Job. Satan told God that Job served Him because God blessed him. So God allowed Satan to take Job's wealth, his children, and his health. As Job sat on the ash heap his three friends, and I use the term lightly, came to mourn with him, but mainly they condemned him of having sin in his life that caused his great misery. Job actually claimed, "I have heard many such things: miserable comforters are ye all." (Job 16:2) He also told them, "No doubt but ye are the people, and wisdom shall die with you." (Job 12:2) Those verses are not really my thoughts for today, but that is a little introduction. We don't know at what point Elihu joined their little group around the ash heap, but he finally spoke up on God's behalf. He told them that he was young and they were "very old" and they should be wise, but "Great men are not always wise..." (Job 32:9) He goes on to praise the mighty greatness of God. Then in chapter 38 the Lord answers Job... and those are our questions from God for today.
"1 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,
2 Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?
3 Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me.
4 Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.
5 Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it?
6 Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof;
7 When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
8 Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it brake forth, as if it had issued out of the womb?"
God continues through chapter 41 and when Job sees God as He is, he sees himself as he is.
"1 Then Job answered the LORD, and said,
2 I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee.
3 Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not.
4 Hear, I beseech thee, and I will speak: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me.
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 42:1-6)
The verses remind us that when we start to feel like God is not working in our lives the way we think He should, we can remember God's questions to Job, "Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth?" In other words, "Where were you when God created the earth?" I can't leave out the ending of the story... "And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before." (Job 42:10)
22. "Is Anything Too Hard For God?"
I open today with our question from God, "Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?" (Jeremiah 32:27) I have seen lives changed and prayers answered and I can surely say, "There is nothing too hard for my God." But, you don't have to take my word for it, we have scripture for the answer. "Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee:" (Jeremiah 32:17) There is a great song by Marcia Henry that blesses me every time we sing it, so I close with those words.
"Is Anything Too Hard For God?"
Verse 1
It's out of your hands, you've done all you can do.
You've given God the problem, it's no longer up to you.
You've prayed the prayer of faith, you're standing on God's truth.
While you're waiting on an answer He has a question for you.
Chorus
Is anything too hard for God?
Who's got a problem beyond His pow'r to solve?
Are there situations He's not the master of?
Is anything too hard for God?
Verse 2
Only believe trust His word, you'll see.
His plans are now unfolding performing perfectly.
It's clear how much He loves you; look at all He's done.
For all your questions there is really only One.
Chorus
Is anything too hard for God?
Who's got a problem beyond His pow'r to solve?
Are there situations He's not the master of?
Is anything too hard for God?
23. A Word For The Lord To Give Him The Glory
We began with "A Word From God" and then moved on to questions from God. This week I want to share a word for the Lord. It is a blessing when the preacher asks, "Does anyone have a word for the Lord?" It is a joy to hear different ones in the church give a word of testimony and praise to our great God. The Psalms are filled with praise and glory for our Lord and we begin with a Psalm of David. 29:1-2, "Give unto the LORD, O ye mighty, give unto the LORD glory and strength. Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness." Today is the Lord's day. It is a great day to give Him praise. It is a perfect day to "worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness"! (Psalm 29:1-2)
24. A Word For The Lord In Thanksgiving
We had a cool day last week and it made me think of our Thanksgiving holiday. There is something special about fall weather. We leave the hot days of summer behind and enjoy the cool days and nights, (before the freezing weather settles in.) I like to see the leaves change colors on the trees, and anticipate the smell of pumpkin pies, and the sound of the crackling fire in the woodstove. God gives us so much to be thankful for. If He saved us, and nothing else we could never thank Him enough, but He blesses us along the way with so much more. Our word for the Lord today is Psalm 100, my favorite Thanksgiving Psalm.
"1 <<A Psalm of praise.>> Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.
2 Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.
3 Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
5 For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations." (Psalm 100)
25. A Word For The Lord In Gladness And Song
I enjoy singing. I often sing while I wash dishes and clean about the house. I sing when I am in my garden. Some of my favorite singing was when I rocked my babies at night, and the house was quiet. Those were such peaceful times to sing praises to my God. I love to sing the old hymns and sometimes tears run down my cheeks as I think of the love the Lord has given me. I sing songs of praise to my Savior, but He blesses me more than I could ever express. Our word today is from Psalm 104:33-34. "I will sing unto the LORD as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being. My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the LORD."
26. A Word For The Lord As I Rejoice In The Light Of My Salvation
We live in dark times, but the Lord is the Light that shines in the darkness. Jesus said in John 12:46, "I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness." We also read in II Corinthians 4:6, "For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." Today I praise the Lord for the Light of salvation that shines in my life. Because we have the Light, we don't have to walk in darkness. "Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." (John 8:12) I don't have to fear the darkness of night and I rejoice in the Lord! Our Psalm of praise for the Lord is Psalms 27:1, "<<A Psalm of David.>> The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?"
27. A Word For The Lord Because He Keeps His Word
There are many things in this world that we are not sure about. Someone may give you their word, and you believe them, only to find out later that they don't keep their word. I praise the Lord today that He always keeps His Word. The Bible is filled with promises and we can be sure He will keep them. We have been looking into the book of Psalms for our praises this week, and here are three different verses from the book of Psalms telling us that the Word of God is sure.
"The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple." (Psalm 19:7)
"Thy testimonies are very sure: holiness becometh thine house, O LORD, for ever." (Psalm 93:5)
"The works of his hands are verity and judgment; all his commandments are sure." (Psalm 111:7)
All of God's covenants and promises are sure. God tells us in Jeremiah 33:20-21 that if we can break His covenant of day and night, then His covenant with David could be broken. Since we are mere human and could never break God's laws of day and night, then we can be sure that none of His other covenants can be broken. Oh, what a promise! That God's promises can never be broken and He is still in control! "Thus saith the LORD; If ye can break my covenant of the day, and my covenant of the night, and that there should not be day and night in their season; Then may also my covenant be broken with David my servant, that he should not have a son to reign upon his throne; and with the Levites the priests, my ministers."
28. A Word For The Lord For A Beautiful Day
I love to hear my grandchildren pray! We sit down for a meal and ask, "Who wants to ask the blessing?" and their little hands pop up into the air. They pray and almost every time they will thank the Lord for the beautiful day. It gives me great joy to hear one of them say, "Thank you, God, for the best day ever!" Susanna said that Jedidiah prayed at breakfast and even thanked God "for this cold day." I told her, "What a difference it would make in our lives if we thanked God every day for the beautiful day like my grandchildren do." Let's try it today. Let's make it our goal to be thankful for this beautiful day. There are many struggling and life is hard, but God has given us another day, and for that we can be thankful. "This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it." (Psalm 118:24)
29. A Word For The Lord For His Great Love
I have seen several "What If" type movies where the main character gets a chance to see what would have been different in his or her life if different choices had been made in the past. I know the premise of these stories is false. We can't see how our lives would be changed, but it might do us good to look back over our lives and think of what a different path we would have taken in life if God had not saved us by His wonderful grace. In trying to decide on what to write about for this last "Word For The Lord" I decided that His amazing love has made the greatest impact on my life. Jesus died to give His life to pay for my sin so that I could have everlasting life. I knew John 3:16, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life", but "what if" I had never taken that first step out of the little church pew when the Holy Spirit convicted me of my sin and showed me I was lost. One day I was thinking about God's great gift of salvation and I had the horrible thought that "what if" God had not given the gift of salvation to the whole world. I am not a Jew and I would have no hope, if Christ had not opened the way of salvation for us all. How terrible it would be to live in fear that you might die and not be saved. But, we don't have to live in that fear. Jesus will save us "if" we believe and trust in Him. We can't buy our way to heaven. And we can never get there by our good works. We just have to have faith in Jesus, who died for us and rose again, and is waiting to call His children home. Today I praise Him for His great love! "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." (John 15:13)
