A Testimony of God

Posted by Christina Scovone on Saturday, September 24, 2011

King James Daily Bible Study Devotional
Message Title: A Testimony of God
Date: Friday September 23, 2011
Chapters: Amos 6-9, Obadiah, Proverbs 23, Psalm 102
Click Here to Read Them or Go to: http://imfollowingjesus.com/bible-september-23
Highlight of Chapters: The danger of luxury and false security, visions of judgments to come upon Israel, A famine of the Word of God, the ruin of Israel, it's restoration, and the Gospel blessing.

Hello My Friend/Guest,

“Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven...Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” - Matthew 5:3-10,13-16.

Those who receive Christ as their Savior truly have no idea how blessed they are, I admit that I have, during some trials and circumstances in my life, forgotten the blessings that God has given me and that even the trials are blessings. Yes, everything we go through, from the good, to the bad, to the down right ugly, is a blessing from God. In fact, the more you are afflicted, you can be sure that you are being blessed. I was watching a movie and the man is talking to God, he said, “I know everything You do You do because You love me. Love me less.” I think we all think something like that at one time in our lives, but the truth is, whatever we go through we are a testimony to God. As we endure the trials the stronger our faith becomes, the stronger our faith becomes the more Christ is seen through us, the more Christ is seen through us the more of a testimony we become of how great and merciful God truly is, even if we lose our flavor from time to time.

Many people claim to call themselves Christians, yet are far from being close to one, oh, they got saved, but that is about it. They have no regard for what Jesus has done for them or for God's Word, they continue living in sin, and try to conform to the world instead of Christ. Through Amos, God addresses those who know Him, yet continue to live wicked lives. God is talking to those who have been enjoying the finest pleasures of life, yet have not given one word of thanks or worship to Him.

“Woe to them that are at ease in Zion, and trust in the mountain of Samaria, which are named chief of the nations, to whom the house of Israel came!..Ye that put far away the evil day, and cause the seat of violence to come near; That lie upon beds of ivory, and stretch themselves upon their couches, and eat the lambs out of the flock, and the calves out of the midst of the stall; That chant to the sound of the viol, and invent to themselves instruments of musick, like David; That drink wine in bowls, and anoint themselves with the chief ointments: but they are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph...Ye which rejoice in a thing of nought, which say, Have we not taken to us horns by our own strength? But, behold, I will raise up against you a nation, O house of Israel, saith the LORD the God of hosts; and they shall afflict you from the entering in of Hemath unto the river of the wilderness.” - Amos 6:1,3,4-6,13,14.

They Jews had the mentality to think that they could hide their sins, do whatever they pleased as though they were just like David, and get away with it because they were Jews. Can I tell you, they still have than mentality, I have knocked doors of Jews who think that they are going to heaven because they are a Jew. Can I tell you that many religious people have that same mentality, they think their religion is getting them to heaven. The truth is this, no Jew or any other person that does not know Christ will go to heaven. All must receive Christ as their personal Savior before they can go to heaven. “Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: For there is no respect of persons with God. For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law; (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.” - Romans 2:9-13.

God is amazing, He does not force anyone to come to Him, He really does not judge those who refuse to accept His Son, in fact, Jesus said, “And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.” - John 12:47. God only saves those who want to be saved. A lot of people misread God's Word when He says that all of Israel will be restored and that Jesus saves all. What God means is this, the nation of Israel will be restored and upon Christ's return, He will reign from Jerusalem. He will resurrect all for judgment, those who received Christ receive eternal life, those who did not receive Christ receive eternal death. There is only one way to receive Christ. “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” - Romans 10:9,10.

The Book of Obadiah is the thirty-first book of the Old Testament/Bible and contains one chapter. The author of the book is Obadiah and it was written to the people of Edom, descendents of Esau, Jacob's brother. The time line for these events took place approximately between 900BC and 880BC. The purpose of the book was to warn Edom of God's punishment for being a sinful nation and against His people. What we are to learn from the book is that God brings down all whom have been sinfully exalted. “Though thou exalt thyself as the eagle, and though thou set thy nest among the stars, thence will I bring thee down, saith the LORD.” - Obadiah 1:4.

The message of Obadiah gives a sense of assurance, encouragement, and hope to the people of God. Even when faced with overwhelming odds, the justice of God and the assurance of His faithfulness gives us courage that the principles of right and wrong never fail. God will not the world to be puffed up by the humiliation of His people, nor to gloat over them in their afflictions.

“In the day that thou stoodest on the other side, in the day that the strangers carried away captive his forces, and foreigners entered into his gates, and cast lots upon Jerusalem, even thou wast as one of them. But thou shouldest not have looked on the day of thy brother in the day that he became a stranger; neither shouldest thou have rejoiced over the children of Judah in the day of their destruction; neither shouldest thou have spoken proudly in the day of distress. Thou shouldest not have entered into the gate of my people in the day of their calamity; yea, thou shouldest not have looked on their affliction in the day of their calamity, nor have laid hands on their substance in the day of their calamity; Neither shouldest thou have stood in the crossway, to cut off those of his that did escape; neither shouldest thou have delivered up those of his that did remain in the day of distress. For the day of the LORD is near upon all the heathen: as thou hast done, it shall be done unto thee: thy reward shall return upon thine own head.” - Obadiah 1:11-15.

One thing about God is that we do not have to worry about people who mock us and make fun of us because we remain faithful to God. He gets the vengeance for us. “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.” - Romans 12:12-21.

Today's Prayer:
Dear God,
Lord, as we embrace the cross of Calvary and apply Christ’s redemptive blood to our hearts we find newness of life. What great liberty and boundless joy to know that our names are written down in heaven. If we set our hearts on this world we will wear down and lose the joy that comes with newness of life. But as we set our hopes and joys on the joy of our salvation we can be a testimony to all who seek answers that this world cannot provide. Thank You for raising Christ from the dead so that we can be redeemed and walk in newness of life! In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.