June 1, 2014 - Sunday

Start Time: 6:01 A.M.

End Time: 6:36 A.M.

Title: Let Our Love To God Be An Instinct

Scripture: Psalms 63:3 – 5

God’s Message / God’s Promise / God’s Commands:

→ Ps. 63:3-4

 3 Because your love is better than life,
    my lips will glorify you.
⁴ I will praise you as long as I live,
    and in your name I will lift up my hands.
⁵ I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods;
    with singing lips my mouth will praise you.

David wrote this whole chapter when he was in the desert of Judah.  He was running away from his son, Absalom who rebelled against him but despite of the heaviness of what’s he’s carrying during these times, his longing is to be with the Lord.  Instead of pleading God for answers or solutions to his problems, or asking God when will  these problems end?  David’s heart seeks to be with God.  This is one of the reasons why David was known as the man after God’s own heart.  Because as we learned in Isaiah, God created us for the purpose of having a relationship with Him so we can Praise Him and here we see David, in the midst of a tragedy or chaos or trouble, seeks to be in the house of the Lord, praising Him and worshipping God.  David, whether is in victory or in trouble, his actions show his desire to praise and glorify God.  It seems like Praising or loving God becomes an instinct to him.  He doesn’t seek anything else but to worship God.  His level of love towards God is higher as he knows his purpose and no matter what happens around him , to him, he sought to fulfill his purpose, which is to praise the Lord. 

Definition of Instinct in google says that it is a natural impulse.  Just like when we’re walking on the street and we see a puddle of water on our way, we go around it instead of walking thru it.  Or when we see a dark and scary alley, it is our instinct to avoid that alley or find another way. Or when we see a man approaching us, looking dangerously, our instinct tell us to run or hide.  So David’s love to God is an instinct that no matter what happened whether good or bad, his lips will glorify Him, his hands will be lifted up for His Name, his heart and soul will worship the Lord.  But this only happens because David himself saw that God’s love is better than life.  Vs. 3 shows that.  And David was able to reach a level where his love to God became an instinct, where praising and worshipping the Lord is natural no matter what the circumstances are because he can truly testify that God’s love is better than life.  So…

1)     It is important to see God’s love in our lives.  We need to every day look for the hand of God moving for our good.  Let us desire and ask God to open our eyes and see Him work in our lives daily so just like David, we can truly say, God’s love is indeed better than life!  Just like David, despite of what he is going thru, He is still able to see that God’s love is better than life!  God’s love overcomes the pain and troubles around him so David knew the importance of being with God in times of trouble.

2)    Let our love thru praise and worship to God becomes an instinct that no matter what the circumstances are in our lives, we seek to worship Him.  We choose to declare praise and adoration to our God.

A couple in the U.S. was in the news last May 2014.  The husband’s name is Melvin Amrine and he and his wife were married for 60years.  But 3 years ago, Melvin was diagnosed with Alzhiemers and it became difficult for his wife.  His wife has to go with him wherever he goes for he doesn’t know how to get back home.  But the day before mother’s day, his wife was shocked to find their front door open and Melvin is nowhere to be found.  His wife was worried sick and called the police.  After hours of searching, the police saw Melvin.  When the police were interviewed they said that Melvin was not a man lost, instead he was a man on a mission.  Melvin doesn’t want to go home until he buys flowers.  The reason for this is, the day his wife gave birth to their first child, he has been buying and giving flowers to his wife during mothers day.  And that day, the day before mother’s day, he was determined to fulfill his promise.  He doesn’t know what his address, or how to go back home but one thing he is sure, he needs to buy flowers for his wife.  The reporter in the end said, “Wow, see the impossible things happen when love becomes an instinct.”  Let it be that we aim to make our love for God an instinct as well.  That no matter what happens, whether we are sick or healthy, failed or victorious, in trouble or happy, let it be that our natural instinct tells us to praise and glorify God.  For sure, when this happens, we will see the impossible things happen!  We will have our miracles!

3)    Let our whole self be used for its purpose.  Our lips should be used for its purpose, which is to praise and glorify God.  Our hands should be used to its purpose, raised before the Lord.  Our hearts, body and soul be used for its purpose, to praise, worship and love the Lord fully.

Whatever is in us must go out of us.  That’s why David says, because of your love better than life, my lips will glorify You!  Whatever overwhelming emotions we have inside, will go out from our lips and actions.  It is a fact.  That’s why people get sick when they just keep their emotions bottled in.  We need to get it out!  And so we are to declare God’s love that overwhelms us inside.  Speak His goodness.  Let everything in us, give praise and worship to God.

So today… let it become a practice for us daily to declare God’s glory and praise.  Everyday, before you end your day, give at least 5-10 minutes of your time to 1) thank God for what He did to you today 2) Thank God for the people who blessed you today and 3) Thank God for what you are grateful about yourself today.  Let these 3 things become a practice to you to develop a life of praise and thanksgiving to God then it will become an instinct to us to love, worship and praise God no matter what the circumstances are.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, praise and worship You Lord!  Thank You for Your goodness and love that overflows everyday.  Help us Lord to see Your love in our lives daily.  Open our eyes that we may see it visible and tangible to us.  Help us Lord to do our purpose and no matter what our circumstances may be, let it be that our instinct is to love You.  Our natural impulse is to Praise and Worship You.  Lord, it will not be easy as our human nature would want otherwise, but Lord I know with Your power and love, it can be changed and I will be functioning as a person who do as You have purposed me to do.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen!

May 31, 2014 - Saturday

Start Time: 5:18 A.M.

End Time: 5:57 A.M.

Title: David’s Charge to Solomon

Scripture: 1 Kings 2:1 – 46

God’s Message / God’s Promise / God’s Commands:

→When the time drew near for David to die, he gave a charge to Solomon his son. “I am about to go the way of all the earth,” he said. “So be strong, act like a man, and observe what the Lord your God requires: Walk in obedience to him, and keep his decrees and commands, his laws and regulations, as written in the Law of Moses. Do this so that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you go and that the Lord may keep his promise to me: ‘If your descendants watch how they live, and if they walk faithfully before me with all their heart and soul, you will never fail to have a successor on the throne of Israel.’  “Now you yourself know what Joab son of Zeruiah did to me—what he did to the two commanders of Israel’s armies, Abner son of Ner and Amasa son of Jether. He killed them, shedding their blood in peacetime as if in battle, and with that blood he stained the belt around his waist and the sandals on his feet. Deal with him according to your wisdom, but do not let his gray head go down to the grave in peace.  “But show kindness to the sons of Barzillai of Gilead and let them be among those who eat at your table. They stood by me when I fled from your brother Absalom.  “And remember, you have with you Shimei son of Gera, the Benjamite from Bahurim, who called down bitter curses on me the day I went to Mahanaim. When he came down to meet me at the Jordan, I swore to him by the Lord: ‘I will not put you to death by the sword.’  But now, do not consider him innocent. You are a man of wisdom; you will know what to do to him. Bring his gray head down to the grave in blood.” Then David rested with his ancestors and was buried in the City of David. ¹¹ He had reigned forty years over Israel—seven years in Hebron and thirty-three in Jerusalem. ¹² So Solomon sat on the throne of his father David, and his rule was firmly established.

NOTES:

Ø God ensures that His will and plans are passed on to His next person chosen in line to rule His people!  God’s love is so amazing!  He did not allow David to leave earth with unfinished business.  He made sure that whatever duties or obligations or tasks that David can no longer perform are passed on to Solomon who will carry on the torch for Him.  God works the same way.  When He chose us, there were people before us that He chose who had work undone and so those work, God makes sure to pass on to the next generation to fulfill God’s words that remains forever!  Hallelujah!  So God will ensure that everything He set will come to pass and if our lifetime is not enough, the work He gave us will be passed on to the next to carry it until its fulfillment.  Praise the Lord!  So truly we can be assured of God’s words and His promises for God will always find a way to fulfill it!

Ø God took note of what’s need to be done!  The Lord takes note of everything and when we are unable to fulfill it, that specific task or role will never be forgotten, God will find a successor or another chosen person to fulfill whatever promises or word He has spoken.  So whether we can accomplish it for God or not, His word will remain true because that task we cannot complete will be passed on to someone who can.  So God take note of all His word and promises and He makes sure everything is done and fulfilled.  Hallelujah!

Ø The secret to reigning in God’s given role in our lives, is to listen and obey to God’s words.  Before David left, he gave Solomon the secret of becoming great in his reign…to observe what God requires, to walk in obedience to God, and to keep His decrees and commands.  Listening, obeying, and keeping God’s words are the secrets to becoming prosperous on the role God specifically given to us in our lives.  So it’s no longer a secret!  God revealed it in His words that we may prosper and He may keep His promises to us.  Amen!

→ Now Adonijah, the son of Haggith, went to Bathsheba, Solomon’s mother. Bathsheba asked him, “Do you come peacefully?” He answered, “Yes, peacefully.” ¹⁴ Then he added, “I have something to say to you.” “You may say it,” she replied.  “As you know,” he said, “the kingdom was mine. All Israel looked to me as their king. But things changed, and the kingdom has gone to my brother; for it has come to him from theLord. Now I have one request to make of you. Do not refuse me.” “You may make it,” she said.  So he continued, “Please ask King Solomon—he will not refuse you—to give me Abishag the Shunammite as my wife.”  “Very well,” Bathsheba replied, “I will speak to the king for you.”  When Bathsheba went to King Solomon to speak to him for Adonijah, the king stood up to meet her, bowed down to her and sat down on his throne. He had a throne brought for the king’s mother, and she sat down at his right hand.  “I have one small request to make of you,” she said. “Do not refuse me.” The king replied, “Make it, my mother; I will not refuse you.”  So she said, “Let Abishag the Shunammite be given in marriage to your brother Adonijah.”  King Solomon answered his mother, “Why do you request Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? You might as well request the kingdom for him—after all, he is my older brother—yes, for him and for Abiathar the priest and Joab son of Zeruiah!”  Then King Solomon swore by the Lord: “May God deal with me, be it ever so severely, if Adonijah does not pay with his life for this request!  And now, as surely as the Lord lives—he who has established me securely on the throne of my father David and has founded a dynasty for me as he promised—Adonijah shall be put to death today!”  So King Solomon gave orders to Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and he struck down Adonijah and he died. To Abiathar the priest the king said, “Go back to your fields in Anathoth. You deserve to die, but I will not put you to death now, because you carried the ark of the Sovereign Lordbefore my father David and shared all my father’s hardships.” So Solomon removed Abiathar from the priesthood of the Lord, fulfilling the word the Lord had spoken at Shiloh about the house of Eli.  So Benaiah entered the tent of the Lord and said to Joab, “The king says, ‘Come out!’” But he answered, “No, I will die here.” Benaiah reported to the king, “This is how Joab answered me.”  Then the king commanded Benaiah, “Do as he says. Strike him down and bury him, and so clear me and my whole family of the guilt of the innocent blood that Joab shed.  The Lordwill repay him for the blood he shed, because without my father David knowing it he attacked two men and killed them with the sword. Both of them—Abner son of Ner, commander of Israel’s army, and Amasa son of Jether, commander of Judah’s army—were better men and more upright than he. May the guilt of their blood rest on the head of Joab and his descendants forever. But on David and his descendants, his house and his throne, may there be the Lord’s peace forever.” So Benaiah son of Jehoiada went up and struck down Joab and killed him, and he was buried at his home out in the country. ³⁵ The king put Benaiah son of Jehoiada over the army in Joab’s position and replaced Abiathar with Zadok the priest.  Then the king sent for Shimei and said to him, “Build yourself a house in Jerusalem and live there, but do not go anywhere else.  The day you leave and cross the Kidron Valley, you can be sure you will die; your blood will be on your own head.”Shimei answered the king, “What you say is good. Your servant will do as my lord the king has said.” And Shimei stayed in Jerusalem for a long time.  But three years later, two of Shimei’s slaves ran off to Achish son of Maakah, king of Gath, and Shimei was told, “Your slaves are in Gath.”  At this, he saddled his donkey and went to Achish at Gath in search of his slaves. So Shimei went away and brought the slaves back from Gath. When Solomon was told that Shimei had gone from Jerusalem to Gath and had returned, the king summoned Shimei and said to him, “Did I not make you swear by the Lord and warn you, ‘On the day you leave to go anywhere else, you can be sure you will die’? At that time you said to me, ‘What you say is good. I will obey.’  Why then did you not keep your oath to the Lord and obey the command I gave you?”  The king also said to Shimei, “You know in your heart all the wrong you did to my father David. Now the Lord will repay you for your wrongdoing. But King Solomon will be blessed, and David’s throne will remain secure before the Lord forever.”  Then the king gave the order to Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and he went out and struck Shimei down and he died. The kingdom was now established in Solomon’s hands.

NOTES:

Ø God establishes the role He appointed us with to His people!  Solomon carried out the last words of David to him as David’s obedience to God and as Solomon did so, God established him as the rightful king by eliminating everyone who conspired to take away the crown from him.  God will do the same to us.  When God gives us our role in His kingdom, He will establish our role and authority to ensure we are able to do our role for Him.  He will eliminate all hindrances or threat to the role He gives us.  And by eliminating the threats, He also fulfills His words against their family and their clan.  This is so important to trust God because whatever comes from Him, He made sure that everything will come together so that His gift to us will come to pass without any issues or threats.  So we only believe and trust Him fully and obey. 

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, great and mighty King!  Wonderful and amazing Saviour, the Prince of Peace and awesome Conqueror!  You are truly great Father!  Thank You because You ensures that we do not leave this earth with unfinished business.  When we are unable to complete our task or our mission, You find a successor for us to carry on the torch.  Thank You because You lead us to the right path and all we need is to listen and obey.  Simple yet sometimes we are so hard headed.  Lord, give me the heart and the willingness to always listen and obey You and You alone.  Lord I want to live in prosperity of You, I want to continue on earth with Your favor and grace and love overflowing in my life and I want people to see it so that they may Praise Your Glorious Name.  So Lord, please help me to always listen and obey You.  Help me to always consider You in my decisions that whatever I do has Your approval or permission, then You will keep Your promises to me and thank You because despite of my shortcomings, Your Grace and Favor and Love continues to outpour in my life.  Thank You Jesus because when You set me up for a task or a role, You established my position and authority so I may be able to fulfill my duties or the tasks You assigned to me.  Thank You because You took note of everything so I may not forget and my actions will be in accordance to the fulfillment of Your word.  Thank You Lord.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen!

May 29, 2014 - Thursday

Start Time: 8:37 A.M.

End Time: 9:30 A.M.

Title: Adonijah Sets Himself Up as King

Scripture: 1 Kings 1:1 – 52

God’s Message / God’s Promise / God’s Commands:

→ When King David was very old, he could not keep warm even when they put covers over him. So his attendants said to him, “Let us look for a young virgin to serve the king and take care of him. She can lie beside him so that our lord the king may keep warm.” Then they searched throughout Israel for a beautiful young woman and found Abishag, a Shunammite, and brought her to the king.  The woman was very beautiful; she took care of the king and waited on him, but the king had no sexual relations with her. Now Adonijah, whose mother was Haggith, put himself forward and said, “I will be king.” So he got chariots and horses^[a] ready, with fifty men to run ahead of him.  (His father had never rebuked him by asking, “Why do you behave as you do?” He was also very handsome and was born next after Absalom.)  Adonijah conferred with Joab son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest, and they gave him their support. But Zadok the priest, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimeiand Rei and David’s special guard did not join Adonijah. Adonijah then sacrificed sheep, cattle and fattened calves at the Stone of Zoheleth near En Rogel. He invited all his brothers, the king’s sons, and all the royal officials of Judah, but he did not invite Nathan the prophet or Benaiah or the special guard or his brother Solomon.  Then Nathan asked Bathsheba, Solomon’s mother, “Have you not heard that Adonijah, the son of Haggith, has become king, and our lord David knows nothing about it? Now then, let me advise you how you can save your own life and the life of your son Solomon.  Go in to King David and say to him, ‘My lord the king, did you not swear to me your servant: “Surely Solomon your son shall be king after me, and he will sit on my throne”? Why then has Adonijah become king?’ While you are still there talking to the king, I will come in and add my word to what you have said.” So Bathsheba went to see the aged king in his room, where Abishag the Shunammite was attending him. Bathsheba bowed down, prostrating herself before the king. “What is it you want?” the king asked.  She said to him, “My lord, you yourself swore to me your servant by the Lord your God: ‘Solomon your son shall be king after me, and he will sit on my throne.’ But now Adonijah has become king, and you, my lord the king, do not know about it. He has sacrificed great numbers of cattle, fattened calves, and sheep, and has invited all the king’s sons, Abiathar the priest and Joab the commander of the army, but he has not invited Solomon your servant. My lord the king, the eyes of all Israel are on you, to learn from you who will sit on the throne of my lord the king after him. Otherwise, as soon as my lord the king is laid to restwith his ancestors, I and my son Solomon will be treated as criminals.”  While she was still speaking with the king, Nathan the prophet arrived. And the king was told, “Nathan the prophet is here.” So he went before the king and bowed with his face to the ground.  Nathan said, “Have you, my lord the king, declared that Adonijah shall be king after you, and that he will sit on your throne? Today he has gone down and sacrificed great numbers of cattle, fattened calves, and sheep. He has invited all the king’s sons, the commanders of the army and Abiathar the priest. Right now they are eating and drinking with him and saying, ‘Long live King Adonijah!’  But me your servant, and Zadok the priest, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and your servant Solomon he did not invite. Is this something my lord the king has done without letting his servants know who should sit on the throne of my lord the king after him?”

NOTES:

Ø Without God’s permission, man’s decision even if he’s thinking of the good the Lord’s people, will never prevail.  Adonijah is the 4^th son of David and if we really think and analyze, he is rightful to inherit the kingdom and become king yet he made the decision without seeking God’s counsel and approval.  God will not allow it to succeed because He is leading God’s people.  In our lives, we belong to God and our every decision must be with God’s permission.  Let it be that we take God in every action or decision we have in our lives.  Know that our decisions no matter how good our intentions are, will fail without God.  The same with Adonijah, his decision to make himself king was for the people and himself, yet in the end, the Lord opposed it and placed Solomon as king and not him.

Ø Respect is crucial in treating others especially the man of God.  Let it be as it we treat them like how we treat God.  Nathan knew this and his behavior is truly a good example for everyone to follow.  David failed to fulfill his responsibility as a king by doing nothing when Adonijah declared himself as the new king.  Yet Nathan, did not come to put blame on David, instead he politely asked David if Adonijah’s declaration as king is David’s will or not.  He did not react impulsively instead, Nathan, clarified everything and responded to what happened and provided a solution.  So Nathan’s respect for David remained intact until the end and he did not only went to David to present a problem but also provided the solution by telling Bathseeba to come first and talk to the King about Solomon who is next in line as God said he would.  Wow!  This is what God wants us to portray in our lives.  The gentleness, respect and love towards others.  Let us learn it from Nathan who represented the Lord greatly in his life.  Nathan knew when to rebuke and correct (when he confronted David of his sin) and when to be gentle and show respect (when meeting David in his death bed).  We should learn how to act appropriately to best represent the Lord in our lives.

→ Then King David said, “Call in Bathsheba.” So she came into the king’s presence and stood before him.  The king then took an oath: “As surely as the Lord lives, who has delivered me out of every trouble,  I will surely carry out this very day what I swore to you by the Lord, the God of Israel: Solomon your son shall be king after me, and he will sit on my throne in my place.” Then Bathsheba bowed down with her face to the ground, prostrating herself before the king, and said, “May my lord King David live forever!”  King David said, “Call in Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet and Benaiah son of Jehoiada.” When they came before the king,  he said to them: “Take your lord’s servants with you and have Solomon my son mount my own mule and take him down to Gihon. There have Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him king over Israel. Blow the trumpetand shout, ‘Long live King Solomon!’  Then you are to go up with him, and he is to come and sit on my throne and reign in my place. I have appointed him ruler over Israel and Judah.” Benaiah son of Jehoiada answered the king, “Amen! May the Lord, the God of my lord the king, so declare it. As the Lord was with my lord the king, so may he be with Solomon to make his throne even greater than the throne of my lord King David!”  So Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, the Kerethites and the Pelethites went down and had Solomon mount King David’s mule, and they escorted him to Gihon. Zadok the priest took the horn of oil from the sacred tent and anointed Solomon. Then they sounded the trumpet and all the people shouted, “Long live King Solomon!”  And all the people went up after him, playing pipes and rejoicing greatly, so that the ground shook with the sound.  Adonijah and all the guests who were with him heard it as they were finishing their feast. On hearing the sound of the trumpet, Joab asked, “What’s the meaning of all the noise in the city?” Even as he was speaking, Jonathan son of Abiathar the priest arrived. Adonijah said, “Come in. A worthy man like you must be bringing good news.” “Not at all!” Jonathan answered. “Our lord King David has made Solomon king. The king has sent with him Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, the Kerethites and the Pelethites, and they have put him on the king’s mule,  and Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king at Gihon. From there they have gone up cheering, and the city resounds with it. That’s the noise you hear. Moreover, Solomon has taken his seat on the royal throne.  Also, the royal officials have come to congratulate our lord King David, saying, ‘May your God make Solomon’s name more famous than yours and his throne greater than yours!’ And the king bowed in worship on his bed  and said, ‘Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, who has allowed my eyes to see a successor on my throne today.’”  At this, all Adonijah’s guests rose in alarm and dispersed.  But Adonijah, in fear of Solomon, went and took hold of the horns of the altar. Then Solomon was told, “Adonijah is afraid of King Solomon and is clinging to the horns of the altar. He says, ‘Let King Solomon swear to me today that he will not put his servant to death with the sword.’”  Solomon replied, “If he shows himself to be worthy, not a hair of his head will fall to the ground; but if evil is found in him, he will die.”  Then King Solomon sent men, and they brought him down from the altar. And Adonijah came and bowed down to King Solomon, and Solomon said, “Go to your home.”

NOTES:

Ø God will silence whoever takes the role He has entrusted on you without His permission!  Amazing how God made Solomon king.  It was a truly exhilarating time.  Imagine Solomon, fearing for what is to come of him, now that Adonijah has declared himself king and has invited everyone except him.  Clearly, Adonijah was not pleased of Solomon, because he is God’s chosen king to succeed David.  But here God, ensured Solomon with what little support he has on him, most of the leaders are with Adonijah, but all he needs to be King is with him because God is with him.  Amazing how God can silence those who robs us from what is ours and bring it back to us.  King Solomon’s proclamation was something pivotal during this time.  We have King David who is weak and Adonijah claiming the throne behind his back and God turned it around to make a big spectacle of Solomon’s appointment as the true king of Israel.  Hallelujah!

Ø God will ensure that we fulfill every promise and duties we have to His people even to our last breath!  God makes certain that we complete our mission on earth!  The same way as David in his death bed rose up to declare his successor before he died.  God gathered everything needed for David to do his duty.  Bathseba, Solomon, Nathan, Zadok, Benaiah, the Pelethites and Kerethites, even David’s mule.  God collected each valuable pieces to ensure His plan was completed and David’s mission finished!  Praise Jesus!  Thank You!

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, how amazing and wonderful You are.  Thank You because all I need to reign in this life is You.  Your approval is what it takes to make my decisions a success!  Thank You because You find a way to complete my mission, my task, my purpose!  Thank You because You silence those who tries to take away what You have imparted for me.  Lord thank You because all I need is You!  Help me Lord to always carry with me the respect and the love your people deserve or should I say do not deserve.  Lord let me see that when I give love and respect to Your people, I give it to You.  Father, let me follow Your example and show them Your love…the love that no one deserves including me.  Help me Lord to be the best representative I can be, as great as a ruler as King David, as strong and solid as the prophet Nathan, as wise and simple hearted as Solomon, as brave and courageous as Bathsheba, and as loyal and sincere to You as Zadok, Benaiah, the Pelethites, the Kerethites and Nathan.  Lord thank You because You collect everything and gather them all together just for me to fulfill my purpose in this life.  So there’s no point of worrying nor any value in thinking of what is to come negatively because You are in full control and You take the lead in everything in my life as I listen to Your word and approval in the decisions I make in my life.  Let me live according to Your plan Lord.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen!

May 28, 2014 - Wednesday

Start Time: 6:05 A.M.

End Time: 6:31 A.M.

Title: David Enrolls the Fighting Men

Scripture: 2 Samuel 24:1 – 25

God’s Message / God’s Promise / God’s Commands:

→Again the anger of the Lord burned against Israel, and he incited David against them, saying, “Go and take a census of Israel and Judah.” So the king said to Joab and the army commanders^[a] with him, “Go throughout the tribes of Israel from Dan to Beersheba and enroll the fighting men, so that I may know how many there are.” But Joab replied to the king, “May the Lord your God multiply the troops a hundred times over, and may the eyes of my lord the king see it. But why does my lord the king want to do such a thing?” The king’s word, however, overruled Joab and the army commanders; so they left the presence of the king to enroll the fighting men of Israel. After crossing the Jordan, they camped near Aroer, south of the town in the gorge, and then went through Gad and on to Jazer. They went to Gilead and the region of Tahtim Hodshi, and on to Dan Jaan and around toward Sidon.  Then they went toward the fortress of Tyreand all the towns of the Hivites and Canaanites. Finally, they went on to Beersheba in the Negev of Judah. After they had gone through the entire land, they came back to Jerusalem at the end of nine months and twenty days. Joab reported the number of the fighting men to the king: In Israel there were eight hundred thousand able-bodied men who could handle a sword, and in Judah five hundred thousand.  David was conscience-stricken after he had counted the fighting men, and he said to theLord, “I have sinned greatly in what I have done. Now, Lord, I beg you, take away the guilt of your servant. I have done a very foolish thing.”  Before David got up the next morning, the word of the Lord had come to Gad the prophet, David’s seer: ¹² “Go and tell David, ‘This is what the Lord says: I am giving you three options. Choose one of them for me to carry out against you.’”So Gad went to David and said to him, “Shall there come on you three^[b] years of famine in your land? Or three months of fleeing from your enemies while they pursue you? Or three days of plague in your land? Now then, think it over and decide how I should answer the one who sent me.” David said to Gad, “I am in deep distress. Let us fall into the hands of the Lord, for his mercy is great; but do not let me fall into human hands.”  So the Lord sent a plague on Israel from that morning until the end of the time designated, and seventy thousand of the people from Dan to Beersheba died. When the angel stretched out his hand to destroy Jerusalem, the Lord relented concerning the disaster and said to the angel who was afflicting the people, “Enough! Withdraw your hand.” The angel of the Lord was then at the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.  When David saw the angel who was striking down the people, he said to the Lord, “I have sinned; I, the shepherd,^[c] have done wrong. These are but sheep. What have they done? Let your hand fall on me and my family.”

NOTES:

Ø God takes note of everyone of His people!  God commanded David to take a census of Israel and Judah because He wants to ensure that everyone is accounted for and David as the King and His representative at that time needed to know all this.  It took them nine months and twenty days but they were all able to account every single men.  In this chapter the reason why God was angry and why David was suddenly conscience-stricken was not mentioned but it has something to do with the number of fighting men.  It’s possible that David lost track of his men and was surprised to know that they only have 800,000 men who can handle a sword or if they have gone too far in number, which is which I don’t know but the truth is, God directed David for a specific number of men alone and if David went over it or did not reach it, it was an honest disobedient to God’s orders.  (Most like in my opinion, David’s men went beyond the number of men God instructed David to have).  So God had to remind David of his duty and responsibilities.  In layman’s term, they have overpopulated their race.

Ø God allows us to choose which consequences to take! David knew that he sinned and he asked God for forgiveness yet, God asked him what consequence he wants.  David’s reply was that he wants to fall into the hand of the Lord for His mercy is great and not let him fall into human hands.  So God sent plague on Israel and 70,000 died from Dan to Beersheba.

Ø God’s mercy is greater than any rule or law! God’s greater mercy is stronger as He stopped the angel afflicting the people and commanded it to withdraw his hand.  In our lives, many times we test God to the highest limit.  Good thing our measurement of limit is not the same as of God’s or else we would end up dead by now.  But many times, God will withdraw the hands of the angel allowing destruction to come upon us because of His greater love and mercy!  Hallelujah!

→ On that day Gad went to David and said to him, “Go up and build an altar to the Lord on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.” So David went up, as the Lord had commanded through Gad. When Araunah looked and saw the king and his officials coming toward him, he went out and bowed down before the king with his face to the ground.  Araunah said, “Why has my lord the king come to his servant?” “To buy your threshing floor,” David answered, “so I can build an altar to the Lord, that the plague on the people may be stopped.”  Araunah said to David, “Let my lord the king take whatever he wishes and offer it up. Here are oxen for the burnt offering, and here are threshing sledges and ox yokes for the wood. Your Majesty, Araunah^[d] gives all this to the king.” Araunah also said to him, “May the Lordyour God accept you.”  But the king replied to Araunah, “No, I insist on paying you for it. I will not sacrifice to theLord my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing.” So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen and paid fifty shekels^[e] of silver for them.²⁵ David built an altar to the Lord there and sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. Then the Lord answered his prayer in behalf of the land, and the plague on Israel was stopped

NOTES:

Ø God accepts a genuine offering with or without cost.  God saw Araunah’s heart who wanted to give everything to offer to God for free to David and at the same, God saw David’s heart who valued Him more than free, who wanted to give something that will cost him to God.  Both offerings were pleasing to God because in the end it was what’s in their hearts that matters.  Both Araunah and David’s heart were pleasing and true and good, which is what’s important.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus thank You because You are a God of order and when You have direct instructions to us, You never fail to remind us of it even when we simply forget always.  Lord thank You because You take note of everyone of Your people.  You have a plan and You want to stick to that plan.  Thank You because You also give us 2^nd chances and even in receiving the consequence of our actions, You give us the chance to choose.  Lord, let me have the heart of David who was willing to be subject to Your hands instead of the hands of the people, knowing that Your love and mercy are greater.  Lord let me have that kind of confidence in me that though I know, You alone have the power to ultimately destroy me, I still would rather want myself be subjected to Your hands of justice for I know Your love and mercy are greater than any law or rule set.  Let me have that faith like David Lord who can put his trust and heart to You alone completely.  Thank You lord because Your Grace is greater than any other.  Thank You because in the end, You choose to accept my offerings based on the content of my heart.  That’s what valuable to You.  Not the gift of offering, not the altar but my heart and You see if my offering is genuine or tainted.  Lord give me a heart of a genuine believer and giver.  I want to please You Lord.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen!

May 27, 2014 - Tuesday

Start Time: 7:51 A.M.

End Time: 8:16 A.M.

Title: David’s Last Words

Scripture: 2 Samuel 22:1 – 39

God’s Message / God’s Promise / God’s Commands:

→These are the last words of David: “The inspired utterance of David son of Jesse, the utterance of the man exalted by the Most High, the man anointed by the God of Jacob, the hero of Israel’s songs: “The Spirit of the Lord spoke through me; his word was on my tongue. The God of Israel spoke, the Rock of Israel said to me: When one rules over people in righteousness, when he rules in the fear of God, he is like the light of morning at sunrise on a cloudless morning, like the brightness after rain that brings grass from the earth.’ “If my house were not right with God, surely he would not have made with me an everlasting covenant, arranged and secured in every part; surely he would not bring to fruition my salvation and grant me my every desire. But evil men are all to be cast aside like thorns, which are not gathered with the hand. Whoever touches thorns uses a tool of iron or the shaft of a spear; they are burned up where they lie.”

NOTES:

Ø The best ruler works hand in hand with God in his reign!  Otherwise, the ruler’s reign leads only to destruction!  When you are in a position to rule or in a form of authority, your leadership must be in partnership with God.  For He alone is our Rock and with Him by our side, our reign will be victorious and peaceful.  Our enemies are shattered and dispersed. 

→These are the names of David’s mighty warriors: Josheb-Basshebeth,^[a] a Tahkemonite,^[b] was chief of the Three; he raised his spear against eight hundred men, whom he killed^[c] in one encounter. Next to him was Eleazar son of Dodai the Ahohite. As one of the three mighty warriors, he was with David when they taunted the Philistines gathered at Pas Dammim^[d] for battle. Then the Israelites retreated,  but Eleazar stood his ground and struck down the Philistines till his hand grew tired and froze to the sword. The Lord brought about a great victory that day. The troops returned to Eleazar, but only to strip the dead.  Next to him was Shammah son of Agee the Hararite. When the Philistines banded together at a place where there was a field full of lentils, Israel’s troops fled from them. But Shammah took his stand in the middle of the field. He defended it and struck the Philistines down, and the Lord brought about a great victory. During harvest time, three of the thirty chief warriors came down to David at the cave of Adullam, while a band of Philistines was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim. At that time David was in the stronghold, and the Philistine garrison was at Bethlehem. David longed for water and said, “Oh, that someone would get me a drink of water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem!” So the three mighty warriors broke through the Philistine lines, drew water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem and carried it back to David. But he refused to drink it; instead, he poured it out before the Lord. “Far be it from me, Lord, to do this!” he said. “Is it not the blood of men who went at the risk of their lives?” And David would not drink it. Such were the exploits of the three mighty warriors. Abishai the brother of Joab son of Zeruiah was chief of the Three.^[e] He raised his spear against three hundred men, whom he killed, and so he became as famous as the Three. Was he not held in greater honor than the Three? He became their commander, even though he was not included among them. Benaiah son of Jehoiada, a valiant fighter from Kabzeel, performed great exploits. He struck down Moab’s two mightiest warriors. He also went down into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion. And he struck down a huge Egyptian. Although the Egyptian had a spear in his hand, Benaiah went against him with a club. He snatched the spear from the Egyptian’s hand and killed him with his own spear. Such were the exploits of Benaiah son of Jehoiada; he too was as famous as the three mighty warriors. He was held in greater honor than any of the Thirty, but he was not included among the Three. And David put him in charge of his bodyguard. Among the Thirty were: Asahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan son of Dodo from Bethlehem, Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite, Helez the Paltite, Ira son of Ikkesh from Tekoa, Abiezer from Anathoth, Sibbekai^[f] the Hushathite,  Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite, Heled^[g] son of Baanah the Netophathite, Ithai son of Ribai from Gibeah in Benjamin, Benaiah the Pirathonite, Hiddai^[h] from the ravines of Gaash,  Abi-Albon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite,  Eliahba the Shaalbonite, the sons of Jashen, Jonathan son of^[i] Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam son of Sharar^[j] the Hararite, Eliphelet son of Ahasbai the Maakathite, Eliam son of Ahithophel the Gilonite, Hezro the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite, Igal son of Nathan from Zobah, the son of Hagri, Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Beerothite, the armor-bearer of Joab son of Zeruiah, Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite and Uriah the Hittite. There were thirty-seven in all.

NOTES:

Ø God provides us great men by our side!  God gives us everything we need including great men to fight with us for His battles.  David was given strong and mighty warriors alongside him as he fought the battle of God and these men were victorious and had mighty victories with them. 

Ø When you fight alongside the man of God, God gives you the victory and makes you a great warrior!  Josheb-Basshebeth, Joab, Abishai, Eleazar, and many more, there are just a few of David’s men who had great victories in their hands because they were fighting God’s battle.  They became known as great warriors because God was with them.  The same with us, when we choose our battle and we pick God’s side, we put ourselves in a position to be known as great warriors for God so men will always give all glory back to Him who is the source of everything!

Prayer:

Lord Jesus thank You because You are the source of everything.  Thank You because the battles we fight are Yours and You give us the support we need to win it.  You also give us mighty warriors and strong men to fight alongside us and You give us the opportunity to become great as Your warrior when we choose Your side in this battle.  Lord help me to see the value of choosing the right side.  Many times, I fail this and end up getting lured into the wrong side of the arena.  Lord, help me make a stand just like Eleazar who stood his ground.  Help me to stood my ground and choose Your side in every battle because then You will strengthen me and provide me the support I needed to win.  Lord show me the battle arena and let me see the obvious choice, which is You.  Thank You because You know what im going thru and You know what I needed to hear and learn from.  I choose You Lord help me to stand by my choice.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen!

May 26, 2014 - Monday

Start Time: 6:46 A.M.

End Time: 7:36 A.M.

Title: David’s Song of Praise

Scripture: 2 Samuel 22:1 – 51

God’s Message / God’s Promise / God’s Commands:

→ David sang to the Lord the words of this song when the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. He said: “The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield^[a] and the horn^[b] of my salvation. He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior—from violent people you save me. “I called to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and have been saved from my enemies. The waves of death swirled about me; the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me. The cords of the grave coiled around me; the snares of death confronted me. “In my distress I called to the Lord; I called out to my God. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came to his ears. The earth trembled and quaked, the foundations of the heavens^[c] shook; they trembled because he was angry. Smoke rose from his nostrils; consuming fire came from his mouth, burning coals blazed out of it. He parted the heavens and came down; dark clouds were under his feet. He mounted the cherubim and flew; he soared^[d] on the wings of the wind. He made darkness his canopy around him—the dark^[e] rain clouds of the sky. Out of the brightness of his presence bolts of lightning blazed forth. The Lord thundered from heaven; the voice of the Most High resounded. He shot his arrows and scattered the enemy, with great bolts of lightning he routed them. The valleys of the sea were exposed and the foundations of the earth laid bare at the rebuke of the Lord, at the blast of breath from his nostrils. “He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters. He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me. They confronted me in the day of my disaster, but the Lord was my support.  He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me.

NOTES:

Ø God is our Rock and our fortress!  In times of defeat, when things seem to be our end, God finds ways to deliver and save us from hopeless situations!  Nothing is impossible to God and He can save us in the nick of time.  We can absolutely depend and lean on to Him for He is sure to provide us refuge and safety from violence and war.  One Call He comes and save us.  One prayer, He takes action to save us; One cry, He moves to keep us safe and delivered from our enemies!  This is who are God is and He is still the same yesterday, today and even tomorrow!  God is our Rock and fortress, whom shall we fear!  God is on our side, whom shall we be afraid of?  We are standing in the presence of our King where pure safety is set, where refuge is strong and unbroken.  We can trust in God and in Him alone!

Ø God comes to help and save us no matter what! God will come to save us no matter what, no matter what He is doing, or where He is, He will know our situation and He will deliver us when we are confronted with our enemy.  He will support us and He always has our backs.  He will come to rescue us when we are drowning from the hands of our enemies.  He will lift us up and give us life to ensure that our enemy could not take what is His.  Hallelujah!  Only God can give and take away!

→ “The Lord has dealt with me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands he has rewarded me. For I have kept the ways of the Lord; I am not guilty of turning from my God. All his laws are before me; I have not turned away from his decrees. I have been blameless before him and have kept myself from sin. The Lord has rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to my cleanness^[f] in his sight.  “To the faithful you show yourself faithful, to the blameless you show yourself blameless, to the pure you show yourself pure, but to the devious you show yourself shrewd. You save the humble, but your eyes are on the haughty to bring them low. You, Lord, are my lamp; the Lord turns my darkness into light. With your help I can advance against a troop^[g]; with my God I can scale a wall.

NOTES:

Ø God has dealt with us with His grace!  We are unrighteous and we are sinners yet He dealt with us thru the sacrifice and love of His Son Jesus Christ.  God is just and also does justice to our actions.  He will deal with our hands whether clean or unclean but in the end, His grace has covered us with the actions of His Son.  So He deals with us thru the righteousness of His son.  He rewards us thru the righteousness of Jesus, He is faithful to us because Jesus is faithful.  He is blameless to us because of Jesus is blameless.  He is pure because Jesus is.  However for those who have rejected Jesus, God deals with them according to their own righteousness and stature, which will be unable to sustain them.  Thank You Jesus for Your love and grace that allows me to be righteous and blameless in the eyes of our Father!  Praise Jesus!

→ “As for God, his way is perfect: The Lord’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him. For who is God besides the Lord? And who is the Rock except our God? It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure. He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he causes me to stand on the heights. He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze. You make your saving help my shield; your help has made^[i] me great. You provide a broad path for my feet, so that my ankles do not give way.  “I pursued my enemies and crushed them; I did not turn back till they were destroyed. I crushed them completely, and they could not rise; they fell beneath my feet. You armed me with strength for battle; you humbled my adversaries before me. You made my enemies turn their backs in flight, and I destroyed my foes. They cried for help, but there was no one to save them— to the Lord, but he did not answer. I beat them as fine as the dust of the earth; I pounded and trampled them like mud in the streets. “You have delivered me from the attacks of the peoples; you have preserved me as the head of nations. People I did not know now serve me, foreigners cower before me; as soon as they hear of me, they obey me. They all lose heart; they come trembling^[j] from their strongholds.

NOTES:

Ø It is God who gives us the strength to win against our enemy!  The Lord is the source of power and strength and when HE comes to help us, HE gives us the strength we need to battle and win against the fight we have on our enemies.  He allows us to pursue our enemies with His strength and crush them.  Not only that, He also makes sure that our enemies see the power and His glory on us that will drive them running away from us.  Hallelujah!

→ “The Lord lives! Praise be to my Rock! Exalted be my God, the Rock, my Savior! He is the God who avenges me, who puts the nations under me, who sets me free from my enemies. You exalted me above my foes; from a violent man you rescued me. Therefore I will praise you, Lord, among the nations; I will sing the praises of your name. “He gives his king great victories; he shows unfailing kindness to his anointed, to David and his descendants forever.”

NOTES:

Ø God deserves all praises and worship!  Only God deserves our praise and worship!  He alone is worthy of our lips praises.  He is the one who comes to rescue and free us from our bondage, He alone is our deliverer and savior!  So Yes, He deserves all our worship…our hands lifted up and our feet dancing in praise with a grateful heart.  Let everything in us and every part of our bodies praise and lift His Name forever!

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, glorious King, wonderful Father, Amazing God and the Prince of peace.  Thank You for You have always delivered me from all my worse.  Thank You because You saved me again and again, every time I am crush and defeated.  The moment I call upon You, You come running to set me free.  Thank You Jesus for You are my rock and my fortress and no one can win against me because You are my shield.  Thank You Jesus because You step in every time I am weak and I fail.  You take hold of my battles and fight to win for me.  Thank You because You give me the strength to continue and to drive my enemies away from me.  Thank You because You do not only save me but equip me for my battles and ultimately, give me the victory.  Thank You Jesus, my lips, my hands, my feet, my body, my heart, my mind, and my spirit, will praise and worship You alone.  I declare thanksgiving and praise for Your goodness and love that endures forever in me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen!