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Today is Wednesday September 23, 2009 and we are completing our studies in the book of Amos and also studying the book of Obadiah, please read Amos chapters 6-9 and Obadiah chapter 1 in your Bible or Click Here to read them. http://www.readytofollow.com/bible-september-23

Today's Message: Be A Christian
What's it like to be a Christian? There are many whom say that they are Christian's, yet have no clue as to what that means. They are doing well for themselves, enjoying a prosperous life, yet consistently living in sin, and trying to conform to the world instead of Christ.

Many people claim to call themselves a Christian, yet are far from being close to one, oh, they believe in God, but that is about it. Through Amos, God addresses those whom call themselves His People, yet do not acknowledge Him. “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. Therefore now shall they go captive with the first that go captive, and the banquet of them that stretched themselves shall be removed. The Lord GOD hath sworn by himself, saith the LORD the God of hosts, I abhor the excellency of Jacob, and hate his palaces: therefore will I deliver up the city with all that is therein.” - Amos 6:3-8. God is talking to those who are rich and have been enjoying the finest pleasures in life, yet have not given one word of thanks or worship to Him. They have the mentality to think that they can hide their sins, create music that elevates themselves to think that they are as important as David was to God. They are so centered in their spiritual drunken state, and pampering themselves with perfumes and ointments, that they have no time for the grief and affliction that this godless system has put on God's people. These people, and we too are guilty of this, overlooked the fact that God has given them the things that have and just as He can give it He can take it away. God despises those, especially churches, whom claim to know Him and follow Him, yet dedicate their talents to blasphemy, money making, and self-gratification, instead of worship and praise to Him. He is warning them that they are in far more danger of judgment than those whom do not even know who He is.

Amos, in vision, saw God standing upon the idolatrous altar at Bethel. The people were fleeing to escape the destruction that was taking place, “I saw the LORD standing upon the altar: and he said, Smite the lintel of the door, that the posts may shake: and cut them in the head, all of them; and I will slay the last of them with the sword: he that fleeth of them shall not flee away, and he that escapeth of them shall not be delivered….......Behold, the eyes of the Lord GOD are upon the sinful kingdom, and I will destroy it from off the face of the earth; saving that I will not utterly destroy the house of Jacob, saith the LORD. For, lo, I will command, and I will sift the house of Israel among all nations, like as corn is sifted in a sieve, yet shall not the least grain fall upon the earth. All the sinners of my people shall die by the sword, which say, The evil shall not overtake nor prevent us. In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof; and I will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old: That they may possess the remnant of Edom, and of all the heathen, which are called by my name, saith the LORD that doeth this.” - Amos 9:1,8-12. Wherever sinners flee from God's judgment, it will overtake them, there is no escape. Just as corn is shaken in a sieve and some are left behind, He will save some from among them. Those whom God brings to heaven by his grace, shall never be cast down, but those whom think they can reach heaven by vain confidence in themselves, will be cast down and filled with shame. God will set His eyes upon them for evil, not for good. Christ died to gather together the children of God that were scattered abroad, here He said to be those who were called by his name. God marvelously preserves his elect amidst the most fearful confusions and miseries. When all seems desperate, He wonderfully revives his church, and blesses her with all spiritual blessings in Christ Jesus. And great shall be the glory of that period, in which not one good thing promised shall remain unfulfilled.


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 purpose of the book was to warn them 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. The Edomite's had been hostile to the Israelite's for centuries from the time Esau (Edom) forfeited his family birthright and was replaced by his brother Jacob (Israel). The Edomite's were always ready and willing to aid an attacking army against the Jews and now God is addressing this. “For thy violence against thy brother Jacob shame shall cover thee, and thou shalt be cut off for ever. 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 1:10-15. About four years after the fall of Jerusalem, Nebuchadnezzar's army swept through Ammon, Moab, and Edom. Edomite refugees fled to the western area of their country south of Judea. They then made incursions northward into Judea, taking part of that land. This territory became known as Idumaea, from which later came Herod, the Roman-appointed puppet king who sought to kill the Child Jesus. Eventually, the Edomite's disappeared from history, just as Obadiah had earlier foretold.

A modern-day Edomite may aid the forces that are opposed to the followers of Christ and engage in open hostilities against pastors or people. But the God of Jacob never fails to have the last word and can send confusion to the most astute intellect, emptiness to the wealthiest home, or failure to the greatest business. The message of Obadiah also 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.

Have a wonderful and blessed day/night and enjoy the rest of your week.
God Bless You,
Christina

P.S. I apologize for this being sent out late or for any errors in my messages, I have been overwhelmed with a conference at my church and with work and just could not keep up the last few days.

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