King James Daily Bible Study: God's Power
Date: Saturday April 02, 2011
Chapters: I Samuel 4-7
Click Here to Read Them or Go to: http://www.imfollowingjesus.com/bible-april-2
Details of Today's Reading: The Philistines fight with the Israelites and take the Ark of God, the Ark of God becomes a curse to Philistines, the Ark is sent back to the Israelites, a revival takes place, the Israelites put away their false gods to serve only God, and Samuel judges Israel.

Hello My Friend/Guest,
I have been doing research on various religions to show the difference between what that religion follows and what God says otherwise. Just about every religion I research talks about God and thinks that they are following God, the problem is not all are following what the Bible says. If we are going to follow God doesn't it make sense to follow His Word, since it is God? Of course it does, but the truth is the majority of religions out there either follow some form of God's Word or make up their own words all together, which makes God to be no longer the Almighty God, but a god that they created in their own image. The Bible says, “For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.” - Revelation 22:18,19.

The “Ark of God” or the “Ark of the Covenant” was a wooden box that contained a very precious jewel, the Word of God. Just by holding the Word of God you can feel God's power, but without God's power in you it is just an ordinary book. While in a battle with the Philistines, the Israelites came up with an idea, to take the Ark of God, as if it would save themselves and placing it outside of the Tabernacle.

“And when the people were come into the camp, the elders of Israel said, Wherefore hath the LORD smitten us to day before the Philistines? Let us fetch the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of Shiloh unto us, that, when it cometh among us, it may save us out of the hand of our enemies. So the people sent to Shiloh, that they might bring from thence the ark of the covenant of the LORD of hosts, which dwelleth between the cherubims: and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God. And when the ark of the covenant of the LORD came into the camp, all Israel shouted with a great shout, so that the earth rang again...And the Philistines fought, and Israel was smitten, and they fled every man into his tent: and there was a very great slaughter; for there fell of Israel thirty thousand footmen. And the ark of God was taken; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were slain.” - I Samuel 4:3-5,10,11.

The Israelites foolishly put their faith in the Ark of God, instead of God Himself. Although the Ark held the presence of God, it was not the ark itself that held the power, it was God. The Bible is worthless in our hands if we do not have the power of God upon us. Hophni and Phinehas are examples of those who are brought up religious, but never received the power of God upon them. Every person who accepts the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior receives the power of God upon them. No amount of praying, reading the Bible, or good deeds will save you, only Jesus can save you. However, even if we are saved that does not mean that we are invincible if we do not acknowledge that God is the source of that power. “For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you. Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?” - II Corinthians 13:4,5. Reprobate means a person that can not tell right from wrong.

Now, take the Word of God and mix it in with false religion and see what happens. The Philistines, now in possession of the Ark, had this idea that because they had Israels God they would be blessed more, after all they thought their god helped the defeat the Israelites. However, they got the surprise of their lives when they places the Ark next to their Dagon. Dagon was a statue with the upper body of a woman and lower body of a fish, who they idolized and galled their god.

“When the Philistines took the ark of God, they brought it into the house of Dagon, and set it by Dagon. And when they of Ashdod arose early on the morrow, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the earth before the ark of the LORD. And they took Dagon, and set him in his place again. And when they arose early on the morrow morning, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the ground before the ark of the LORD; and the head of Dagon and both the palms of his hands were cut off upon the threshold; only the stump of Dagon was left to him. Therefore neither the priests of Dagon, nor any that come into Dagon's house, tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod unto this day. But the hand of the LORD was heavy upon them of Ashdod, and he destroyed them, and smote them with emerods, even Ashdod and the coasts thereof.” - I Samuel 5:2-6.

It is incredible and quite laughable to read about the Philistines passing the Ark from one place to another and the curse it brought upon them until they got rid of it. The Philistines knew that the Almighty God truly existed and they were so scared that they thought of everything they could to get rid of Him. This is the exact same reason false religions starts, they know that something they are doing goes against God's Word so, they do anything they can to get rid of the Almighty and replace Him with a god that would allow them to do it. However, changing God in the image that they want Him to be never changes God, He still is the same as He was then, now, and will be the same for eternity. “Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation. Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.” - Hebrews 13:7-9.

After the Israelites got the Ark back in their possession Samuel spoke to them, it was time for them to get right with God if they wanted peace with the Philistines. “And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye do return unto the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the LORD, and serve him only: and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines. Then the children of Israel did put away Baalim and Ashtaroth, and served the LORD only. And Samuel said, Gather all Israel to Mizpeh, and I will pray for you unto the LORD. And they gathered together to Mizpeh, and drew water, and poured it out before the LORD, and fasted on that day, and said there, We have sinned against the LORD. And Samuel judged the children of Israel in Mizpeh..And the cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron even unto Gath; and the coasts thereof did Israel deliver out of the hands of the Philistines. And there was peace between Israel and the Amorites. And Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life.” - I Samuel 7:3-6,14,15.

In order for us to have peace in our lives we need to prepare our hearts and serve only Him. Let me tell you, I have tried to serve God on my terms and I was cursed the entire time, falling deeper and deeper into the whole I dug myself into. It was not until I literally almost killed myself before I heard God tell me “Get up, I did not make you to go like this!”, that was when He got me up and I started serving God on His terms. Oh, I am still growing, but I know the Power of God is upon me, I know the power of His Word lives in me because Jesus lives in me. “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” - Galatians 2:20.

Jesus Christ Revealed: Today Jesus is revealed through the rock called Ebenezer, (7:12) which means the stone of help. Jesus is the Rock of our salvation. “And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.” - I Corinthians 10:4.

Thanks and God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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