King James Bible Study Daily Devotional


Message Title: On Fire For God
Date: Monday May 30, 2011
Chapters: II Chronicles 31-33
Click Here to Read Them or Go to: http://imfollowingjesus.com/bible-may-30
Details of Today's Chapters: Idols destroyed and other reforms of Hezekiah, Invasion of Sennacherib, his army defeated when Hezekiah prayed, Manassah’s reign, his evil ways and repentance, and the reign and death of Amon.

Hello My Friend/Guest,

“Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name...I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.” - Revelation 3:10-12,15,16.

While God would love for every man, woman, and child to come to Him and follow Him with all their heart, soul, and mind that is not the case. Amazingly, God would rather see people not live by Him at all than see them serve Him and serve the world at the same time. Jesus said, “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.“ - Matthew 6:24. If we truly want God's blessings upon our lives we need to learn to be on fire for Him.

When Hezekiah became king and assumed leadership, idol worship was both popular and accepted in the nation. Furthermore, his father had placed the kingdom of Judah in subjection to Assyria, which was fast becoming the world's most powerful kingdom. In addition, Sennacherib, king of Assyria, had jurisdiction over 46 walled cities inside the kingdom of Judah. Hezekiah could have mourned over the mess he inherited, either hating his father or blaming God for the wretched moral and economic conditions that prevailed throughout the nation. Instead he chose to put his faith and trust in God alone, destroyed everything that was wicked in the nations and restored the true worship of God in Judah and Jerusalem.

“Now when all this was finished, all Israel that were present went out to the cities of Judah, and brake the images in pieces, and cut down the groves, and threw down the high places and the altars out of all Judah and Benjamin, in Ephraim also and Manasseh, until they had utterly destroyed them all. Then all the children of Israel returned, every man to his possession, into their own cities...Moreover he commanded the people that dwelt in Jerusalem to give the portion of the priests and the Levites, that they might be encouraged in the law of the LORD. And as soon as the commandment came abroad, the children of Israel brought in abundance the firstfruits of corn, wine, and oil, and honey, and of all the increase of the field; and the tithe of all things brought they in abundantly...And when Hezekiah and the princes came and saw the heaps, they blessed the LORD, and his people Israel.” - II Chronicles 31:1,4,5,8.

As soon as Hezekiah gave the command every faithful servant willingly brought tithe, not just what they were commanded by law to give, but what was in their hearts to give. God loves a cheerful giver, being on fire for God means we are willing to give not only what God commands, but what He has placed on their hearts to give. In doing so, we not only get back what we gave, we receive much more than that. “But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:” - II Corinthians 9:6-8.

As the king of Assyria saw all that Hezekiah was doing and the amazing progress that was being made he tried to get the people of Jerusalem to revolt. Sennacherib began mocking God and the people for putting their faith and trust in God.

“After these things, and the establishment thereof, Sennacherib king of Assyria came, and entered into Judah, and encamped against the fenced cities, and thought to win them for himself...Thus saith Sennacherib king of Assyria, Whereon do ye trust, that ye abide in the siege in Jerusalem? Doth not Hezekiah persuade you to give over yourselves to die by famine and by thirst, saying, The LORD our God shall deliver us out of the hand of the king of Assyria?..Now therefore let not Hezekiah deceive you, nor persuade you on this manner, neither yet believe him: for no god of any nation or kingdom was able to deliver his people out of mine hand, and out of the hand of my fathers: how much less shall your God deliver you out of mine hand?..Then they cried with a loud voice in the Jews' speech unto the people of Jerusalem that were on the wall, to affright them, and to trouble them; that they might take the city.” - II Chronicles 32:1,10,11,15,18.

Many people become lukewarm when they allow people and circumstances to distort their thinking. When you are on fire for God others see it and you can be sure that you are going to face opposition, not only from those who live in the world, but other Christians as well. There are a lot of lukewarm Christians out there who will try to convince you that it's okay to go against God because they are doing it, but we can not let anyone scare us into thinking that we are better off doing it their way instead of God's way. God will take care of His people. “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”- I Corinthians 10:13.

During all the chaos and taunting Hezekiah did the one and only thing he knew best, he prayed to God. “And for this cause Hezekiah the king, and the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz, prayed and cried to heaven. And the LORD sent an angel, which cut off all the mighty men of valour, and the leaders and captains in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he returned with shame of face to his own land. And when he was come into the house of his god, they that came forth of his own bowels slew him there with the sword. Thus the LORD saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib the king of Assyria, and from the hand of all other, and guided them on every side. And many brought gifts unto the LORD to Jerusalem, and presents to Hezekiah king of Judah: so that he was magnified in the sight of all nations from thenceforth.” - II Chronicles 32:20-23.

Sennacherib failed to realize that the reason why he was able to take control of the other nations who put their faith in their gods was that they were all man made gods, but this time he was up against the Only Living God. After all that taunting and boasting and trying to get the people to discredit God and Hezekiah the only thing it got him was his own shame and to be killed by his own sons. People can taunt us and give us a hard time, but they can not change the fact that God does exist, His Word is true, He never goes back on His Word, and He promises to fulfill every promise He makes to all of us. “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.” - I Peter 4:12,13.

God is waiting to bless us beyond what we dream, the key to receiving those blessings and keeping them is serving God with all your heart, mind, and soul. Yes, there are times that our faith is weak as well as our flesh, but when we get that way we need to just let it go and get with God. He is right there with us, He is going to try us and see just how faithful we are, but all who endure pass the test. “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.” - James 1:12-14.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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