Rehoboam forsook the LORD                             verse 1- 4

And it came to pass when Rehoboam had established the kingdom

and had strengthened himself

he FORSOOK the law of the LORD

                  and all Israel with him

And it came to pass – that in the fifth year of king Rehoboam

Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem

BECAUSE they had transgressed

against the LORD – with twelve hundred chariots

and threescore thousand horsemen

      And the people were without number that

                  came with him out of Egypt

the Lubims –  Sukklims – Ethiopians

And he took the fenced cities which pertained to Judah

and came to Jerusalem

Prophet Shemaiah gave message of the LORD   verse 5

THEN came Shemaiah the prophet to Rehoboam

and to the princes of Judah

that were gathered together to Jerusalem

because of Shishak

and said to them – Thus says the LORD

      You have forsaken ME – and therefore have

I also left you in the hand of Shishak

King and leaders humbled themselves                verse 6

Whereupon the princes of Israel and the king

humbled themselves and they said

The LORD is righteous

Prophet Shemiah came with second message      verse 7- 8

And when the LORD saw that they humbled themselves

the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah

saying

They have humbled themselves

THEREFORE I will not destroy them

BUT I will grant them some deliverance

                  and MY wrath shall not be poured out

upon Jerusalem

by the hand of Shishak

Nevertheless they shall be his servants

that they may know MY service

and the service of the kingdoms of the countries

King Shishak of Egypt plundered Jerusalem      verse 9- 12

So Shishak king of Egypt came on against Jerusalem

and took away the treasures of the house of the LORD

and the treasures of the king’s house – he took all

                  he carried away also the shields of gold

which Solomon had made

Instead of which king Rehoboam made shields of brass

and committed them to the hands of the chief of the guard

      that kept the entrance of the king’s house

And when the king entered into the house of the LORD

the guard came and fetched them

      and brought them again into the guard chamber

And when he humbled himself – the wrath of the LORD

turned from him that HE would not destroy him altogether

      and also in Judah things went well

Rehoboam ruled for seventeen years                   verse 13- 14

So king Rehoboam strengthened himself in Jerusalem – and reigned

for Rehoboam was one and forty years old

when he began to reign

            and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem

      the city which the LORD had chosen out of all the

                  tribes of Israel – to put HIS name there

And his mother’s name was Naamah an Ammonitess

and he did EVIL – BECAUSE he prepared not his heart

to seek the LORD

Record of Rehoboam’s reign                               verse 15- 16

Now the acts of Rehoboam

first and last

Are they not written in the book of Shemaiah the prophet

and of Iddo the seer concerning genealogies?

And there were wars between Rehoboam and Jeroboam continually

and Rehoboam slept with his fathers

and was buried in the city of David

                  and Abijah his son reigned in his stead

COMMENTARY:

DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers

            : 1        And it came to pass, when Rehoboam had established the kingdom,

And had strengthened himself, he forsook the law of the LORD, and all Israel with him. (5800 “forsook” [‘azab] means to leave, let go, give up, abandon, loose, desert, depart from, neglect, or apostatize)            

Rehoboam honored the LORD at the start of his reign over Judah but after he made all the needed changes he decided he didn’t need to be obedient to the LORD.

It is because of his sin that the rest of the nation followed. They thought as long as the king was getting away with sin why shouldn’t they also sin. So leadership does made a difference in the life of believers. If the leadership is not correcting their behavior on a regular basis then those under their leadership will think that it is OK for them to do the same.

We tend to travel the road of least resistance. It is easier to sin than to live a life that is holy to the LORD. We have to keep our eyes on the LORD alone even when those who are in leadership seem to be drifting away from the standards of the Word of God.

Each of us has to answer to the LORD for our actions and attitudes. The children of Judah couldn’t use their king as an excuse. We can’t use our leadership as an excuse for us not honoring the LORD in our daily walk with HIM.

Ask the LORD for guidance daily as you study the Word of God and pray. Never feel that you have arrived at perfection in your relationship with the LORD. We are not to relax and stop serving the LORD with obedience. The standard doesn’t change from the Old Testament to the New Testament regarding the moral standards the LORD has set for HIS people.

DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers

: 2        And it came to pass, that in the fifth year of king Rehoboam Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem, because they had transgressed against the LORD.  (4480 “transgressed” [min] means to be untrue, to violate one’s legal obligations, to do wrong by failing in a relationship or with regard to a standard, whether intentionally or unintentionally)

DEVOTION:  Obedience is key to having a proper relationship with the LORD. It was true in the Old Testament and it is true today. The LORD wants us to serve HIM with our whole heart. HE wants us to understand that if we are faithful to HIM HE will be faithful to us.

Here we find that Rehoboam established his kingdom to serve the LORD and HE was blessing them but then he changed his attitude toward the LORD and went in a direction that was against serving the LORD.

So the LORD sent an enemy up against him to fight with him. The enemy was stronger than he was and so he had to submit to Shishak the king of Egypt. He didn’t like it and realized that he had to change his attitude toward the LORD if he wanted to have a kingdom that was free.

If we disobey the LORD, HE is going to have to send judgment our way to help us realize that it is not proper to go our own way without the LORD. HE wants loyal servants. HE will send trials our way until we realize this FACT.

Sometimes we are stubborn or we just are not thinking straight and it takes us a while to realize the truth regarding our relationship with the LORD. Then through the ministry of the Holy Spirit we realize that we are going in the wrong direction and need to turn around and head back into a proper relationship with the LORD, so that, HE can bless us. There are consequences to sin. This is taught throughout the Old Testament and the New Testament. The LORD wants HIS people to realize that HE will judge anyone or any group that is trying to do things their own way and still want the LORD to bless them.

Judgment in never easy but is sent to teach us that we have to keep our relationship with HIM good or there will be judgment.

Rehoboam repented and then the LORD could bless him and the kingdom again.

CHALLENGE: In our personal life there has to be repentance by humbling ourselves, so that, we change the way we are walking and start walking in the way the LORD wants us to go.

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: 6        Whereupon the princes of Israel and the king humbled themselves, and they said, The LORD is righteous. (3665 “humbled themselves” [kana] means to have to submit, to reduce (someone) in rank, character, or status, to bow the knee, be subdued, cause humility, or be in a state of being conquered either emotionally or physically)

DEVOTION:  Here we find the leaders of Israel and their king realizing that the LORD was right in HIS actions toward them because of their sin. They realized that the LORD is holy and any sin caused HIM to have to bring judgment on HIS people to keep them pure and obedient.

Once the prophet told them what judgment was coming and why it was coming they knew they had a chose to make. They could either face the judgment or repent and ask the LORD for forgiveness. They chose asking the LORD for forgiveness.

They submitted to HIS judgment and asked for mercy. They had to acknowledge that they had sinned and that the LORD was right in HIS judgment of them. Once they came to that point it was up to the LORD what would happen next to them.

The LORD told them that they would not destroy them but would give them a partial deliverance. The nation would still exist but they would be poorer for it because HE would allow the Egyptian army to take away their wealth that they seemed to think was more important than serving HIM.

Worshiping false gods was part of the problem but also looking at their wealth was another problem. God allows wealth as long as wealth doesn’t become our god. The children of Israel struggled in this area and many believers today struggle in this area as well.

We need to realize that judgment is sent from the LORD for our good. HE wants us to honor and obey HIM in good times as well as in bad times. Dependence on HIM is a full time responsibility of every believer. Sometimes HE knows that this only comes when HE takes things away from us. HE always acts righteously!!!

DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers

: 12      And when he humbled himself the wrath of the LORD turned from him, that he would not destroy him altogether: and also, in Judah things went well. (639 “wrath” [’aph] means anger, nostrils, resentment, displeasure, countenance, ire, or a strong emotion or feeling that is oriented toward some real or supposed grievance)

DEVOTION:  Sin makes the LORD angry at HIS people. HE gives specific instructions regarding what it means to be obedient servants and when those servants go in another direction it causes HIM to become angry at them for their disobedience.

The LORD sends warnings regarding HIS anger at HIS people. HE will send prophets to those who are disobedient and give them an opportunity to repent and turn back toward HIM but if they don’t respond HE will send correction in different forms on different occasions.

Here we have a foreign king from Egypt coming as HIS form of judgment on HIS people. HE does send a warning and the people respond with humility when they realize that HE is going to judge them for their sins. Once they repent, HE can turn HIS judgment away or as in this case HIS judgment is less than what it was going to be.

We need to realize that our repentance doesn’t take away all judgment but it can. If it is only partial judgment, we can thank the LORD for this show of mercy.

The captivity of Judah could have been complete at this point in their history but the LORD allowed them to continue for many years after this king.

So, with the partial judgment the nation was going to continue to do well at times. The last part of the verse says that even though they lost all their wealth things went well for Judah.

When we receive judgment from the LORD because we are not willing to confess our sins, HE will again allow us to only face partial judgment if we heed HIS warning. HE loves HIS people in both the Old Testament and New Testament and wants them to repent of their sins and walk in the way HE has laid out in HIS word.

Showing wrath toward sin is not sin. HE wants HIS people to understand that HE takes what they do seriously. We need to take our actions seriously too.

CHALLENGE: Our responsibility is to keep short accounts with the LORD. If HE shows us an area of sin in our life we need to confess it and ask for HIS forgiveness to restore our fellowship with HIM.

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: 14      And he did evil, because he prepared not his heart to seek the LORD.

(3559 “prepared” [kuwn] means to be erect, to set up, confirm, faithfulness, firm, be fitted, frame, ordain, order, be stable, or stand).

DEVOTION:  Have you ever known a Christian who honored the LORD until the LORD had blessed him so much that he started to think he had done it all himself? At that point he/she started to dishonor the LORD. Many Christians have allowed wealth and fame distract them from proper seeking of the LORD.

There is a Biblical worldview presented in the Old Testament. This worldview included worshiping the LORD. This worldview included depending on the LORD for our daily needs. Part of this worldview was that all the followers of the LORD were to seek the LORD’S guidance in their lives.

Here we have the nation of Judah with a king who started out with the LORD high on his priority list. He sought the LORD’s guidance until he had strengthened himself. At this point he forsook the law of the LORD. He didn’t set up the LORD as his standard for daily strength.

Rehoboam strengthened himself without the LORD. He tried to live without the LORD. The LORD is angry with any person or nation that claims to be following the LORD but is not doing it. If the LORD seems to bless a person and then the person turns from the LORD, watch out.

God sends consequences to those individuals and nations that make the false claim of following the LORD. The king led Judah astray. The people followed Rehoboam into not seeking the LORD. 

The land was invaded by Egypt.  The king and the elders got together to plan what to do next. The LORD sent a prophet to them to tell them why all this was happening to them.

Finally, Rehoboam and his leaders decided to humble themselves. The LORD realized that they meant business with HIM. HE sent the prophet again to tell them that HE would not deal with them with HIS wrath but would show them the difference between being under HIS rule and being under human rule. It saved the kingdom but lost him his wealth. He ended his reign being called “evil.”

A second warning of this chapter is that “all Israel with him.” People are sheep and they follow their leader/shepherd. Lead in the right direction whether in the home or church or society.

Are we standing firm with the LORD or are we trying to strengthen ourselves by ourselves? When we go astray, are we willing to humble ourselves before the LORD? Where is our heart today?

CHALLENGE: When the LORD blesses you with wealth and fame will you continue to take up your cross daily and follow HIM? The LORD wants us to be FAITHFUL whether we are rich or poor/ popular or unpopular. HE wants us to be stable in our faith.

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DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:

BODY

Chastity (Purity in living)

Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)

Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)

Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)

Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)

SOUL

Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)

Frugality (wise use of resources)

Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)

Book of Shemaiah the prophet                    verse 15

Book of Iddo the seer                                    verse 15

Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)

Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)

SPIRIT

Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)

Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)

Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)

Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)

Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)

House of the LORD                                      verse 9, 11

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DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:

Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)

Law of the LORD                                         verse 1

Word of the LORD                                       verse 7

God the Father (First person of the Godhead)

LORD – Jehovah (Covenant keeping, Personal)   verse 1, 2, 5- 7, 9,

                                                                                                11- 14

Law of the LORD                                         verse 1

The LORD is righteous                                verse 6

LORD saw humbling                                    verse 7

LORD granted deliverance                          verse 7

Wrath of the LORD                                     verse 7, 12

House of the LORD                                      verse 9, 11

God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)

God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)

Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)    

Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)

Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)

Shishak – king of Egypt                               verse 2- 7, 9

            Against Jerusalem

            Took away treasures of the

                        House of the LORD

            Took treasures of king’s house

            Took shields of god

Lubims with Shiskak                                    verse 3

Sukkims with Shislak                                   verse 3

Ethiopians with Shislak                                verse 3

Ammonitess                                                   verse 13

Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)

Strengthened himself                                    verse 1

Forsook law of the LORD                            verse 1, 5

Transgressed                                                 verse 2

Evil                                                                 verse 14

Prepared NOT heart to seek the LORD    verse 14

Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)

Humbled                                                        verse 6, 7, 12

Deliverance                                                    verse 7

No wrath                                                        verse 7, 12

Service                                                            verse 8

Seek the LORD                                             verse 14

Israel (Old Testament people of God)

Rehoboam                                                      verse 1- 16

            Established his kingdom

            Forsook the law of the LORD

            Humbled himself

            Made shields of brass

            Strengthened himself

            40 years old when he began to reign

            Reigned 17 years

            Mother’s name: Naamah an Ammonitess

            Did evil because he prepared not his

                        heart to seek the LORD

            Acts written in book of Shemaiah the

                        Prophet

            Wars between him and Jeroboam

                        continually

            Buried in city of David

Israel                                                              verse 1

Shemaiah – prophet                                      verse 5, 7, 15

            Talked with Rehoboam and

                        his leaders

Princes of Judah                                           verse 5, 65

Jerusalem                                                       verse 5, 7, 13

Treasures of the house of the LORD taken  verse 9

Treasures of the king’s house taken            verse 9

Book of Shemaiah the prophet                    verse 15

Iddo the seer                                                  verse 15

Abijah reigned instead of Rehoboam         verse 16

Church (New Testament people of God)

Last Things (Future Events)

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DONATIONS:

Remember that all donations to Small Church Ministries are greatly appreciated. The treasurer will send a receipt, at the end of the year unless otherwise requested. Please be sure to make check out to “Small Church Ministries.” The address for the treasurer is P.O. Box 604, East Amherst, New York 14051. A second way to give to the ministry is through PayPal on the website: www.smallchurchministries.org.  Also, if you can support this ministry through your local church, please use that method.  Thank you.

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QUOTES regarding passage

678 II. אַף (ʾǎp̄): n.masc.; ≡ Str 639; TWOT 133a—1. LN 8.9–8.69 nostril, i.e., the breathing passage of the nose, as a particular part of the nose (Ge 2:7); 2. LN 8.9–8.69 nose, i.e., any part of the nose, internal cartilage or external protuberance of any creature (Ge 3:19; 24:47; Pr 11:22); 3. LN 8.9–8.69 face, formally, nose, i.e., the entire front of the head, including eyes, nose, mouth, chin, etc. (Ge 19:1); 4. LN 23.185–23.187 breath, i.e., the vapor and air which comes out of the lungs through the mouth or nostrils (SS 7:9[EB 8]); 5. LN 88.171–88.191 anger, wrath, resentment, formally, nose, i.e., have a strong feeling of displeasure over a person or a situation, as a figurative extension of the nose as an area that can change color when blood rushes to it while one is angry (Ge 27:45); 6. LN 83.33–83.41 before, formally, face, i.e., a spatial position in front of another object (1Sa 25:23); 7. LN 60.75–60.78 unit: אֶחָד אַף (ʾě·ḥāḏ ʾǎp̄)2 a double portion, formally, one pair, i.e., an amount which is a multiple as twice as much, as a figurative extension of a pair of nostrils (1Sa 1:5); 8. LN 88.171–88.191 unit: חָרָה אַף (ḥā·rā(h) ʾǎp̄) anger, formally, hot of nose, i.e., have a strong feeling of displeasure over a person or a situation, as a figurative extension of the nose as an area that can change color when blood rushes to it while one is angry (Ge 30:2); 9. LN 25.167–25.178 unit: אָרֵךְ אַף (ʾā·rēḵ ʾǎp̄)2 patient, slow to anger, tolerant, enduring, formally, long of nose, i.e., pertaining to not being easily angered in a potentially hostile situation, as an extension of a nose not changing color (getting “hot) when one is angry (Pr 16:32); 10. LN 88.206–88.222 unit: גֹּבַה אַף (gō·ḇǎ(h) ʾǎp̄)2 pride, arrogance, formally, high of nose, i.e., an improper haughtiness and self-confidence as a moral failure (Ps 10:4); 11. LN 88.171–88.191 unit: קָצֵר אַף (qā·ṣēr ʾǎp̄)2 quick-tempered, hot-tempered, i.e., pertaining to being angry with relatively little provocation (Pr 14:17+), note: for niv text in Hos 7:6, see 685 (Swanson, J. (1997). Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains : Hebrew (Old Testament). Oak Harbor: Logos Research Systems, Inc.)

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The words “length of face or nostrils” constitute an idiom meaning “longsuffering” or “slow to anger.” It is used both of God and of man: “The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth” (Exod. 34:6). The contrasting idiom, meaning “quick to anger,” might literally mean “short of face/nostrils.” It implies a changeable countenance, a capricious disposition. Prov. 14:17 uses this idiom with a little stronger emphasis: “He that is soon angry dealeth foolishly: and a man of wicked devices is hated.” The accuracy of this translation is supported by the parallelism of the phrase and “a man of evil devices.” Clearly ˒ap must mean something evil in God’s sight.  (Vine, W. E., Unger, M. F., & White, W., Jr. (1996). Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words. Nashville, TN: T. Nelson.)

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The anger of God is particularly related to the sin of his people, which pains and deeply displeases him (II Kgs 13:3). Sin offends and wounds his love. The emotional response to this is divine anger. This anger, though fierce (Jer 25:37) is not sinful, evil, or the source of capricious attitudes or deeds. However, it is expressed in chastisement (Ps 6:1 [H 2]; Isa 12:1) and punishment (II Sam 6:7; Jer 44:6). ((1999). 133 אָנֵף. (R. L. Harris, G. L. Archer Jr., & B. K. Waltke, Eds.)Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament. Chicago: Moody Press.)

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Ver. 12. And when he humbled himself, &c.] That is, Rehoboam; or broke his heart, as the Targum, was of a contrite spirit seemingly, for it was merely external: the wrath of the Lord turned from him; which appeared by the departure of Shishak’s army: that he would not destroy him altogether; or make an utter destruction of him and his people: and also in Judah things went well; prospered and succeeded after this affair of Shishak was over: or in Judah there were good things; there were some good men, priests, Levites, and many of the common people, that did good things, kept up and abode by the pure worship and service of God: and which was another reason why the Lord would not destroy them altogether now, see Gen. 18:31, 32. (Gill, J. (1810). An Exposition of the Old Testament (Vol. 3, p. 57). London: Mathews and Leigh.)

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12 And when he humbled himself, the wrath of the Lord turned from him, that he would not destroy him altogether: ║and also in Judah things went well.

Heb. There were good things. The meaning is either, 1. Though there were many corruptions in Judah, yet there were also divers good things there, which were not in Israel, as the word and ordinances, and pure worship of God, prophets and ministers of God’s institution, and divers truly religious people. And so this is an additional reason why God would not destroy them. Or, 2. Notwithstanding this loss, they began to recruit themselves, and to regain some degree of their former prosperity; whence it follows, ver. 13, So, there being some respite given, and peace being restored, Rehoboam strengthened himself, &c. (Poole, M. (1853). Annotations upon the Holy Bible (Vol. 1, p. 832). New York: Robert Carter and Brothers.)

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FROM MY READING:

(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)

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Berea Bible Church by Pastor Brian Miller (A board member of Small Church Ministries):

Daily Hope

Today’s Scripture

Acts 6.1-7

Coaches often say that the best time to teach is after a loss or failure. Players and everyone on the team suddenly are aware that they are not as good as they believed they were and suddenly are open to instruction and dialogue.

The disciples were coming out of a time when the Jewish officials had made it very clear that the teachings and preaching done by the new band of believers was not going to be allowed without some resistance. The outward tension and resulting conflict drew the group of believers together and caused them to assist and house strangers, those who had come to faith and still were in Jerusalem.

The Hellenists were Greek speaking Jews who probably had come from different parts of the Roman empire. While they were Jewish, they had different dialects and cultural backgrounds that separated them from local Jewish families. Whether this is intentional or not, the complaint was causing a division in the church that had to be reconciled. The rapid growth of the church had placed a strain on the administrative abilities of the apostles, and they needed assistance.

A church meeting was called, and the apostles proposed a solution of appointing men to oversee this ministry while they continued to pray, teach and preach (v.4). This pleased the multitude and they selected seven men to do this work of assisting the needy. After prayer, the men worked diligently and the number of disciples multiplied greatly (v.7).

When conflict arose, the early church acted quickly to address and resolve the problem so that the work of ministry would continue. The apostles understood that their priority was the Word of God, and the needs of the people were delegated to capable men to oversee. In the same way, we are to allow gifted people to do the work of ministry so that the entire church benefits from the quality of organization throughout the body. As the different parts functioned smoothly, the conflict was contained and growth continued both spiritually and numerically.

God uses gifted people to do special responsibilities within the church. Paul said that the body is made up of many parts. All the parts play a vital role and we would not be able to accomplish the work without each supporting one another (1 Corinthians 12: 14-27). Pray for those in the body that are doing their work unto the Lord and show your appreciation toward them. We need toes, ligaments and mouthpieces all to be a part of presenting Christ to the world. What part are you adding to the growth of the church?

With an Expectant hope,

Pastor Miller

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IS SANCTIFICATION AN EXPERIENCE?

We all, with open face, beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory. 2 Corinthians 3:18

Is sanctification an experience? There are large numbers of stories about people who have had marvelous experiences, of people, for example, who had a bad temper or something like that. I accept the experiences without any hesitation at all. Thank God, I am able to testify to some such experiences in my own life. So what of them? Well, here is my answer. First and foremost, there is no evidence at all in the New Testament that this kind of experience means sanctification. It may be a part of sanctification, it may greatly aid sanctification, but it is not sanctification in and of itself. We must not base our doctrine on experiences but on the teaching of the Word of God.
The teaching of the Scripture is that “We all, with open face, beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory” (2 Corinthians 3:18). Sanctification is a growth, a development; it is a going forward. But it seems to me that the main trouble with this teaching about experience is that it confuses two things that are different, and the two things are these various experiences that we get in the Christian life and the grace of God in sanctification.
Sanctification is not an experience it is a condition. It is my relationship to God: “I am changed into the same image [of Jesus Christ] from glory to glory” (2 Corinthians 3:18). Sanctification involves experiences and is helped by them, but in itself it is not an experience. Sanctification is that process of growth and development that starts the moment we are saved, the moment we are justified, the moment we are regenerated. The experiences are not the process of growth, but they do help and stimulate it.
A Thought to Ponder
We must not base our doctrine on experiences but on the teaching of the Word of God.
(From God the Holy Spirit, pp. 216-218, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)

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1 Chronicles 17
God promises David that He will propagate David’s lineage forever.
INSIGHT

David is described as a man after God’s own heart (1 Samuel 13:14). It is difficult for us to accept that statement when David is guilty of lying, adultery, murder, and other indiscretions. However, to be a man after God’s own heart means that David wants the same things God wants. His noble desires and intentions are overruled several times by his passions; but when David’s senses are restored and he repents of his sin, again his heart beats after God’s desires. We may not be as bad as David in his bad moments, but are we as good as David in his good moments? Do our hearts beat after God?

                        (Quiet Walk)

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THE SPIRITUAL FELLOWSHIP OF REVIVAL

I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: which is not another…”   Galatians 1:6-7
Now this is the kind of thing that is being said at the present time: It does not matter what people may teach. Though they may deny the very essence of Christianity, if I like them, if I am attracted to them, if I can talk easily to them, then that is what counts. It is what they are that is important and thus they make an appeal to you. So what do we say about this modern tendency?
That is not the danger today! The danger today is that we are so afraid of legalism that we have become utterly nondescript. We have knocked down all the barriers and the signposts; anything is all right. “We are a happy lot together and we have a wonderful spirit. Roman Catholics are suddenly now changing. Everything is marvelous. We are going to have a great universal church and there will be no more trouble.”
But that is the very opposite of the New Testament teaching. No, I am not arguing for a legalistic precision. All I am arguing for is what the Apostle Paul is putting before us here in Romans 10:3. These Jews, he says, are outside because they have not got this exact knowledge that saves! There are implications and aspects of this great truth about which we cannot and must not speak dogmatically. But about the thing that saves us we must be as dogmatic as we can be This is absolutely essential to salvation.
The Apostle’s case was always this: there is only one gospel. It had been committed to him and he preached it. Any departure from it was a lie, and whoever preached a lie deserved to be “accursed” (Galatians 1:8).
A Thought to Ponder: “Though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.”
      (From Saving Faith, a sermon on Romans 10:3 by Martyn Lloyd-Jones)

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Working Out Salvation
“Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” (Philippians 2:12)
This verse is sometimes used by those who would insist that our salvation requires “works” either to obtain or to maintain the “new birth.” Even a casual reading of the New Testament does not support that view (John 5:24; 6:37; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Ephesians 4:24; etc.).
This passage, both in context and by specific word choices of the Holy Spirit, is focused on what we are to do with our salvation—obey and produce! The writer of the Hebrews letter spoke of “things that accompany salvation” (Hebrews 6:9). And even the Old Testament prophet Isaiah insisted that we should “draw water out of the wells of salvation” (Isaiah 12:3).
Two parables speak specifically to this work: the gift of the talents and the gift of the pounds. God illustrated His grace by the gift of “talents” (Matthew 25:14-30) to His workers, as well as His expectation of their productivity for the profit of the Owner. Differing amounts were given to the servants based on their abilities, and judgment was based on their efficiency, or the percent of their return. In the gift of the pounds (Luke 19:13-27), God is the investor and His servants are all of us who receive (John 1:12) the gift of salvation. What we do with this gift is our responsibility. The same amount was given to each servant, without the mention of abilities. Judgment was then based on the servants’ effectiveness, or gain.
It is no wonder, then, that Paul exhorted us to “work out” the priceless salvation that has been given to us with “fear and trembling.” God is “working” in us, and He expects us to “will and to do his good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13).

                   (HMM III, The Institute for Creation Research)

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Legacy of Kindness

All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them. Acts 9:39

Martha served as a teacher’s aide at an elementary school for over thirty years. Every year, she saved money to buy new coats, scarves, and gloves for students in need. After she lost her fight with leukemia, we held a celebration of life service. In lieu of flowers, people donated hundreds of brand-new winter coats to the students she loved and served for decades. Many people shared stories about the countless ways Martha encouraged others with kind words and thoughtful deeds. Her fellow teachers honored her memory with an annual coat drive for three years after her life ended on this side of eternity. Her legacy of kindness still inspires others to generously serve those in need.

In Acts 9, the apostle Luke shares a story about Dorcas, a woman who was “always doing good and helping the poor” (v. 36). After she got sick and died, the grieving community urged Peter to visit. All the widows showed Peter how Dorcas had lived to serve (v. 39). In a miraculous act of compassion, Peter brought Dorcas back to life. The news of Dorcas’ resurrection spread, and “many people believed in the Lord” (v. 42). But it was Dorcas’ commitment to serving others in practical ways that touched the hearts in her community and revealed the power of loving generosity.

By Xochitl Dixon  (Our Daily Bread)

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THE REAL REASONS FOR REVIVAL: OUTSIDERS

For wherein shall it be known here that I and thy people have found grace in thy sight? Is it not in that thou goest with us? So shall we be separated, I and thy people, from all the people that are upon the face of the earth. Exodus 33:16
The third reason Moses gives for revival is his concern about the heathen who are outside: “For wherein shall it be known here [in the wilderness, where we are] that I and thy people have found grace in thy sight? is it not in that thou goest with us? so shall we be separated, I and thy people, from all the people that are upon the face of the earth.”
We have considered the three motives in praying for revival. For the name and the honor and glory of God and for the sake of the church that is His. Yes, and then for the sake of those people who are outside, who are scoffing, mocking, jeering, laughing, and ridiculing. “Oh, God,” say His people one after another, “arise and silence them. Do something so that we may be able to say to them, ‘Be still, keep silent, give up.’”
“Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). That is the prayer of the people of God. They have their eye on those who are outside. Moses is praying for these people, that they may be stopped short and apprehended and may develop an interest in which God is leading them and is directing them. This should make us ask, therefore, whether we are concerned at all about these people who are outside. It is a terrible state for the church to be in when she merely consists of a collection of very nice and respectable people who have no concern for the world.
A Thought to Ponder: It is a terrible state for the church to be in when she has no concern for the world.  (From Revival, pp. 193-194, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)

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The Meek of the Earth
“Seek ye the LORD all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD’s anger.” (Zephaniah 2:3)
This phrase, “the meek of the earth,” occurs three times in the Bible (see also Psalm 76:9, which promises their salvation; and Isaiah 11:4, which assures them justice). Our text promises deliverance from God’s wrath.
“Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth” (Matthew 5:5), said Jesus, referring to the promise of Psalm 37:11: “But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.”
There are many other similar promises: “The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way” (Psalm 25:9). “He will beautify the meek with salvation” (Psalm 149:4), so we need to put on “the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price” (1 Peter 3:4).
That meekness is not weakness is made clear from the first use of the word in the Bible. “Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth” (Numbers 12:3). Moses was strong and courageous, but also deeply humble and self-sacrificing; a man of prayer and trust in the Word of God, willing to defend it at all costs. The Lord Jesus defined meekness in terms of His own human character: “Learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart” (Matthew 11:29).
A meek spirit enables a Christian to maintain composure in the face of opposition, to accept adversity without complaint, promotion without arrogance, demotion without resentment. It produces a peace that no trouble can disturb and that no prosperity can puff up. Therefore, as our text commands: “Seek meekness!”

             (HMM, The Institute for Creation Research)

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He Hears Us

Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. Jeremiah 29:12

United States President Franklin D. Roosevelt often endured long receiving lines at the White House. As the story is told, he complained that no one paid attention to what was said. So, he decided to experiment at a reception. To everyone who passed down the line and shook his hand, he said, “I murdered my grandmother this morning.” The guests responded with phrases like, “Marvelous! Keep up the good work. God bless you, Sir.” It wasn’t until the end of the line, greeting the ambassador from Bolivia, that his words were actually heard. Nonplussed, the ambassador whispered, “I’m sure she had it coming.”

Do you ever wonder if people are really listening? Or worse, do you fear that God isn’t listening? We can tell if people are listening based on their responses or eye contact. But how do we know if God is listening? Should we rely on feelings? Or see if God answers our prayers?

After seventy years of exile in Babylon, God promised to bring His people back to Jerusalem and secure their future (Jeremiah 29:10–11). When they called upon Him, He heard them (v. 12). They knew that God heard their prayers because He promised to listen. And the same is true for us (1 John 5:14). We don’t need to rely on feelings or wait for a sign to know that God listens to us. He’s promised to listen, and He always keeps His promises (2 Corinthians 1:20).

By Con Campbell

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One song can change a moment,

One idea can change the world,

One step can start a journey

But one prayer can change the impossible.  (Kelly’s Treehouse)

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We now have a Facebook page for Small Church Ministries – please invite others to join us on Facebook. Thank you. Look for the logo from the devotionals.

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PRAYER AND PRAISE:

Prayer request policy: If you want the prayer request to be private or just between me and you please say so in the email. I will pray for those requests. If you don’t mind others praying for the request, than just send the request with no restrictions and I will put it in the devotional for other to pray. We don’t include last names in any of our prayer requests. Thank you.

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Please pray for the MISSIONARIES on your prayer list, which includes your address book, church directory and email list.

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Please remember to pray for the Biblical churches and pastors in the COUNTRIES of ASIA. (REMEMBER THAT IF YOU KNOW BIBLICAL PASTORS IN THESE COUNTRIES TO LET US KNOW THEIR NAMES AND CHURCHES AND WE WILL PRAY FOR THEM)

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Frances Amos (Prayer Chain @Elim EFC): Hello prayer warriors – Tuesday I am having another surgery on my right wrist/hand. My 5th – ugh!! Prayers would be appreciated for success in repairing torn ligaments and cartilage, with the result being smoother range of movement and flexibility. And for my attitude because this was neither planned nor expected, and recovery time will be 6-8 weeks. Thanks so much – I appreciate it!

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Kurt Coffed (NY): Need prayers please going to doctor tomorrow – the pain is unbelievable

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Julia Sharpe (PA) My brother Victors wife – I am back in ICU again waiting on surgery again. Please keep her in prayer. Thank you

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Tia Nowak writes (NY): I can’t even get outta bed to go to the bathroom without getting super light headed and almost passing out. I don’t know what the —- I have, but this the worst sickness ever. Worse than my influenza even! Think of every single negative illness symptom and I have it. Body aches, migraine, weakness, cough, fever, chills, nausea, upset stomach, dizziness, sneezing, stuffy/runny nose, sinus pressure. I literally have all of that and more. I need to take a Covid test for work since I already called in for tomorrow but I’m literally too weak to barely lift my head off the pillow much less leave my house to get one so idk how that’s gonna work. I’m praying whatever this is goes by quick cuz my brain is frying itself n I seriously feel like dying. Sorry ladies for cutting girls night out so short last night. Currently have 102.5 fever and that’s with taking fever reducers throughout the night and this morning. Ugh!! I swear the Resource Center puts a curse on me every time I try to actually take a weekend off!! Something always gets royally screwed up. For real. Aylah is staying a couple extra days with my parents so hopefully she is in the clear of whatever this ridiculous sickness is. In the meantime, if you don’t hear from me in the next day or two, just know I’ll be stuck laying in bed in pure misery. Goodnight world. If somebody finds my body rotting, tell Aylah and all my friends and family I love them dearly.

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Franklin Graham writes: In the darkness of the early morning hours today, the unexpected happened in Surfside, Florida. A 12-story condominium building partially collapsed, leaving area residents and visitors shocked and stunned. Officials say that at least one person is dead and they fear many others may be found as emergency crews search through the debris in the coming hours. Pray for the family members of those who lived in the building waiting to hear if their loved ones are safe or not.

Our Billy Graham Rapid Response Team chaplains are there to minister to and pray with people in the community and first responders. The Bible tells us, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1).

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Faith and Bible based ministry that encourages the faithfulness of the local church and their leaders to the LORD.

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Please invite friends to visit our website: www.smallchurchministries.org or visit our Facebook page at Small Church Ministries with a Bible logo.. If they would like to receive the devotions via email – please have them send their address to me with “devotional” in the message box. Also, if you don’t receive the devotions because you have visited our website or some other source please sign up. The devotions normally go out each covering a chapter of the Bible each day. In three and a half years the entire Bible is covered. Thank you.