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Today is Monday June 28, 2010 and we are reading through the Bible in a year. Today's message comes from the reading of the Book of Psalms, chapters 18-22. If you would like to read the chapters along with us here online you can Click Here to read them or copy & paste this link onto your browser: http://www.readytofollow.com/bible-june-28

Today's Message: Only You Can Stop God's Blessings

As Christians we are going to constantly face criticism from those who have no interest in following or have fallen away from God. Have you heard comments like these before? “Where is your God now?”, “I thought you were a Christian?”, “That's not God, that's just coincidence.”, “I use to be like you, but I got smart.” Or my favorite, “You're a hypocrite, I know who you really are.” We are going to get all sorts of comments and criticism, but deep down they do it because they are envious of us. They see the change in us and the blessings from God, they see us happy and joyful even through sorrow. Then they look at themselves, wonder where their blessings are, why they are struggling, and get a little grievous of their lives and since we are close by we get the grunt of their guilt. All they have to do is get past their egos and they too can see their lives change and the blessings from God. Only we stop God's blessings, “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments....Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.” - I John 2:1-3,15-17. Nothing here on earth lasts forever, but those who put their trust in Christ, even if they have fallen, abide with Him forever. We may face criticism for putting our faith in and changing our lives through Christ, but we can not be removed from Him. Praise God!
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The Bible was given to us to show us how we can have a relationship with God. While He could have chosen any nation God chose Israel to represent Him first. He chose people like you and I as His witness, all were sinners, some were murderers, adulterers, and idol worshipers too, but all used of God to show just how blessed one can be to have Him in their lives as well as how fast those blessings are lost by wrecking that relationship. David, was known as the apple of God's eye. He loved God with all his heart, mind, and soul. He was not perfect, but he knew that by keeping his faith in God he would always see victory, even when facing some harsh criticism and struggles. Many of the Psalms were written by David according to what he was going through, God had given him victory over Saul and his enemies and now he is king and rejoicing. The key to David's success, the Word of God. King David habitually sought instruction from God and testified how He delivered him on every occasion. “I will love thee, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.” - Psalm 18:1-3. David knew that the Lord was his strength and trusted in Him for his salvation. All who call upon the Lord Jesus Christ are saved. They can criticize us all they want, but they can not remove us from our deliverer, our strength, or our salvation. Only we can remove Christ from our lives, but He will never remove us from His, if we have truly accepted Him as Lord and Savior He is always with us, even if we turn away from Him. Praise God for eternal life! Although the people of God who pray and trust in His unseen presence may appear outnumbered, they always rise up triumphantly while their enemies are brought down. “We will rejoice in thy salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners: the LORD fulfil all thy petitions. Now know I that the LORD saveth his anointed; he will hear him from his holy heaven with the saving strength of his right hand. Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God. They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen, and stand upright.” - Psalm 20:5-8.

The key to receiving God's blessings is knowing how God operates, to know how He operates we must read His Word. We can not just read parts of it, we must read all of it, including the Old Testament. It contains many insights, including the birth, death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. Yes, all throughout the Psalms we will discover prophecies of Christ, His crucifixion, and resurrection. These were all predicted centuries before they happened. For example, Psalm 18 foreshadows Jesus' death on the cross, “In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears. Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations also of the hills moved and were shaken, because he was wroth.” - Psalm 18:6,7. This prophecy was confirmed as we read in Matthew chapter 27, “Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;” - Matthew 27:50,51. Psalm 22 foreshadows His crucifixion, “All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying, He trusted on the LORD that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him....For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet. I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me. They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.” - Psalm 22:7,8,16-18. This was confirmed in Mark chapter 15, “And when they had crucified him, they parted his garments, casting lots upon them, what every man should take. And it was the third hour, and they crucified him....And they that passed by railed on him, wagging their heads, and saying, Ah, thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, Save thyself, and come down from the cross. Likewise also the chief priests mocking said among themselves with the scribes, He saved others; himself he cannot save.” - Mark 15:24,25,29-31. Jesus is the Word of God in the flesh, He was there from the beginning and will remain the Word of God for eternity. The effects of the Word of God are beyond compare, for it was by His Word that the worlds were created and by which they are still upheld.

Most exciting is the transforming power of Jesus, upon all who receive Him as Lord. “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” - II Corinthians 5:17-21. Christ living inside of us changes our lives and blesses us, God will bless anyone who believes in His Son and wants Him in their lives. Praise God! Before I chose to live my life for Christ I was very unhealthy, depressed, lived an immoral life, and was engaged to an man in prison. Now, Jesus has transformed me into a godly, moral, upright, and prosperous woman, who not only lives her life for Christ and serves Him faithfully, but is also becoming a successful website designer. Only you can stop God's blessings, if you have been transformed, don't hide it, embrace it, let them keep on criticizing you, God knows your heart and wants to bless you for your faithfulness. Praise God!

Enjoy the rest of your day/night and have a great week.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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