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I Kings 19:3-4 - And he was afraid and arose and ran for his life and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there.
But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree; and he requested for himself that he might die, and said, "It is enough; now, O Lord, take my life, for I am not better than my fathers." · What Not Trusting in God Looks Like. Elijah isn't having one of his better days in the above scripture text. Maybe you can relate to Elijah? He had experienced a spiritual high. He had defeated the 450 false prophets of Baal. God honored him by sending fire down from heaven and consuming the water drenched sacrifice after Baal didn't answer the prayers of his false prophets. Jezebel then threatens to take Elijah's life and he flees. What is with that? I really don't understand Elijah's actions here. You would have thought he would have told her “to bring it on”. He had defeated the 450 false prophets of Baal by trusting in God and now he is going to flee when he is threatened by one evil woman. I would like to ask Elijah a few questions: "Why not trust God one more time? Why did you flee?" God has been on your side this whole time. Elijah had shown his faith so many times by trusting in God. He was used by God to raise the dead, multiplied the widow’s oil, and he had been fed by ravens during the drought. He knew he had a special relationship with God. So why did Elijah become such a wimp? He runs away and hides and now he wants to die. When have you not trusted God? How did you feel afterwards? You will want to remember that awful feeling. Why? So that you don't have to feel it again. So that it motivates you to stay faithful and not become a wimp. · When Do Opportunities Not To Trust God Usually Come? What does your not trusting God look like? Have you experienced any spiritual highs? If I were you I would be careful because I have observed that right after a spiritual high comes a time of testing of your faith. This usually will result in a spiritual low if you aren't prepared to battle against this test. Not trusting God can come in many ways of testing or trials. The word "beware" is used 14 times in the New Testament. That is a pretty good indication that we should be on guard as we walk through this life. We have an enemy who seeks to devour us. · When Trusting God There Will Be Times When It Looks Like You're Losing. One must always remember no trial is able to defeat you and your God. You must keep the faith. When it is looking very dim for you that is the time to draw closer to God not run away from Him. You can never lose by keeping your faith in God. NEVER! Think About These: It is one thing to believe in God and another to believe God. As soon as you learn to trust God, you’ll learn how to really live. God has proven Himself as a faithful Father. Now it falls to us to become trusting children. Max Lucado Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word
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2 Thes 2:10 - "…they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved." NASU
What "truth" in the Bible do you have a hard time believing? There are people who have a hard time believing that God created the world even though the very first verse in the Old Testament says, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." The word "atheist" is the word used to describe a person who does not believe in God. There is a video called - Top Ten Reasons People Don't Believe In God. Atheists are people then who would not have a "love of the truth" found in the Bible. After watching the video I could see how some people have decided there is no God but I totally didn't agree with them for doing so. One of the reasons was hypocrisy in the church. I can testify to this fact there is a lot of "hypocrisy" in the church, but there is none in Christ or God. They say the Bible says, God is love and yet some of His followers are the most non-loving, non-caring and judgmental people walking on the earth. Again, I agree with their assessment but that doesn't mean God is any of those things. I believe their last point was their best one and one that has caused me some consternation at times. They don't believe in God because of suffering and evil that is in the world. If God is all powerful, as we Christians say, then why doesn't God do away with evil and suffering? I have been a Christian for 51 years and I can tell you I have asked myself that question on more than one occasion. However, because I don't have a completely satisfactory answer to that question is not going to cause me to not believe in Him. (I know the Christian pat answer to that question because there is a devil.) If I am permitted to ask Him about why He allowed evil and suffering to exist I am sure that an omniscient God will be able to answer my question sufficiently.
In verse 41 we are told that those who received what Peter was preaching did what he said. In other words, they were baptized and we are told that 3,000 people were baptized. Have you ever wondered how many were NOT baptized? How many didn't have the love of the truth of God's word in their hearts and because they didn't love what Peter was preaching they walked away. I have had numerous people over the years tell me they didn't believe they had to be baptized. I would always say, "Then you believe God is telling us to do something that isn't necessary?" They would always say, "Well, No, I just don't believe it is necessary." I think what they were really telling me is "Well, No, I just don't have a love for the truth like others because I am not going to be baptized." When I found out that I needed to be baptized to have my sins forgiven I didn't argue with God. I did it. I was baptized and I believe God did what He said He was going to do. He forgave me of my sins and filled me with the Holy Spirit.
The choice is yours you can either love it by obeying it or not, but I hope you will love it. There is a fantastic promise that comes with "loving the truth" and that is you will be saved for all eternity. Think About This: The exact same truth can either set you free or make you mad. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word Prov. 17:28 - Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise; When he closes his lips, he is considered prudent. NASU
I am sure we have all said something we wish we hadn't. If we could only get those words back into our mouth, but once they are out that is when the regrets begin.
Matt. 16:22-23 - Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, "God forbid it, Lord! This shall never happen to You." 23 But He turned and said to Peter, "Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God's interests, but man's." Jesus won't let Peter's rebuke of Him go without being addressed. Jesus isn't saying Peter has the devil in him. The word "satan" means "adversary" and an adversary is one whose plans or goals are different from yours. (The word "satan" should have been translated instead of transliterated and this would have eliminated a lot of confusion over this verse.) Jesus had just informed His disciples He was going into Jerusalem where He would suffer, be killed, and raised on the third day. This was God's plan before the foundation of the world and now Peter is telling Jesus this will never happen. In other words, Peter's plan is different from God's plan. Well, we all know Jesus was correct and Peter was wrong once again.
If you are going to talk then use gentle answers or soft tones. He goes on to say, "a harsh word stirs up anger." In other words, the way you speak can either diffuse a situation or exacerbate it. So it all depends on you. Do you want to keep your foot out of your mouth? If yes, then learn how to give gentle answers or keep your mouth closed. I would like to share one more proverb with you today. Prov. 13:3 - The one who guards his mouth preserves his life; The one who opens wide his lips comes to ruin. Think About These: It's too bad more people are thoughtless than speechless. Wisdom is knowing when to speak your mind and when to mind your speech. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word Daniel 3:16-18 - Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to give you an answer concerning this matter. "If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire;
and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king. "But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up." NASU
In our text today, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego would not bow down and worship Nebuchadnezzar's made up gods nor would they bow to the golden image. So they are going to be cast into the fiery furnace because of their disobedience to man but obedience to God. In life you may be following God's commands and then be punished because of it. This is what was happening to S, M, A. Their faith didn't waiver. They knew God could deliver them but if He didn't no big deal. He was still God and they were still faithful obedient servants of God. If they died physically they would graduate into the next life.
God may not always remove us from our trials but you can be sure He is right there with us the entire way. Daniel 3:23-25 - But these three men, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, fell into the midst of the furnace of blazing fire still tied up. Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astounded and stood up in haste; he said to his high officials, "Was it not three men we cast bound into the midst of the fire?" They replied to the king, "Certainly, O king." He said, "Look! I see four men loosed and walking about in the midst of the fire without harm, and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods!" God knows all about our lives because He loves us. He will never leave us nor forsake us. We have this as a promise from Him. Just because we might suffer for doing good doesn't mean God has abandoned us. Friends you can take God's promises to the bank. Think About These: God Calls for us to stand, though not always to understand. God doesn't call us to be successful. He calls us to be faithful. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word |
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