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Today is Sunday August 08, 2010 and we are reading through the Bible in a year. Today's message comes from the reading of the Book of Isaiah, chapters 38-42. 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.imfollowingjesus.com/bible-august-8

Today's Message: Our Guard From Thieves

Did you ever stop to think just how cunning and organized thieves are? They appear helpful, blend in with everyone, yet the entire time they are planing their scheme to take whatever it is they are after. Thieves steal more than just material things, they can steal identities, lives, and even ones innocence. It aggravates me, and I am sure others feel the same way, when the media and government tell all the world about the weapons we have and our strengths and weaknesses as a nation, whatever nation it may be. That's like parking a car in a bad neighborhood, leaving the keys in it, and wondering why the car was stolen. It is very important to watch who we tell our information to and just how much information we tell. The Bible says, “For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night....Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.” - I Thessalonians 5:2,5-8. We need to be awake and sober to what is around us, who we talk to, and what we tell the heathens, they are constantly out there to destroy us. Of course, we are to tell all about Christ and what He has done to us, but we need to be very careful of whom we reveal more than the Gospel to.

About 13 years had passed since Isaiah brought Hezekiah, king of Judah, the exciting news that the southern kingdom would be miraculously saved from the invincible armies of the Assyrian Empire (Isaiah 37). Now, Hezekiah is gravely ill and about to die when he gets a visit from Isaiah. “In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came unto him, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Set thine house in order: for thou shalt die, and not live. Then Hezekiah turned his face toward the wall, and prayed unto the LORD, And said, Remember now, O LORD, I beseech thee, how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore. Then came the word of the LORD to Isaiah, saying, Go, and say to Hezekiah, Thus saith the LORD, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will add unto thy days fifteen years.”- Isaiah 38:1-5. Hezekiah reminded the God how he had served Him faithfully and had not departed from the Lord's Commandments. He had sincerely lived to please the Lord, he just made some dumb decisions when things were going well. God heard his prayer and added fifteen years on to his life.

Now, here is where Hezekiah messed up, after his miraculous recovery he began telling all, even his enemies what God had done for him. Now, the error was not in telling the people about what God had done for him, it is who and what he told them.“At that time Merodachbaladan, the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present to Hezekiah: for he had heard that he had been sick, and was recovered. And Hezekiah was glad of them, and shewed them the house of his precious things, the silver, and the gold, and the spices, and the precious ointment, and all the house of his armour, and all that was found in his treasures: there was nothing in his house, nor in all his dominion, that Hezekiah shewed them not. Then came Isaiah the prophet unto king Hezekiah, and said unto him, What said these men? and from whence came they unto thee? And Hezekiah said, They are come from a far country unto me, even from Babylon. Then said he, What have they seen in thine house? And Hezekiah answered, All that is in mine house have they seen: there is nothing among my treasures that I have not shewed them.” - Isaiah 39:1-4. Hezekiah accepted gifts from the enemy and on top of that he disclosed secret information to them. The warning here is to watch out what you show and tell to anyone who does not know God or His Word, for that is what shall be used against you in due time.


Christ is the good Shepherd; he shows tender care for young converts, weak believers, and those of a sorrowful spirit. By His word He requires no more service, and by his providence he inflicts no more trouble, than he will strengthen them for. “O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God! Behold, the Lord GOD will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him. He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young....Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” - Isaiah 40:9-11,28-31. The glad tidings of the coming of Christ are to be sent forth to the ends of the earth. Satan is a strong man armed, but our Lord Jesus is stronger; and He shall proceed, and do all that He purposes. Where God had begun the work of grace, he will perfect it. He will help those who, in humble dependence on him, help themselves.

Many of the circumstances in the world, regardless of whether it is war, disease, or poverty, comes from the decisions we make. Many people wonder if there is a God then why all the war, why all the suffering, why all the disease, but in reality, none of these would have even come into play had we listened to God in the first place and that means all of us and all of His Word. “Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth instruction: but he that regardeth reproof shall be honoured.” - Proverbs 13:18. God has given us every warning and instructions on how we can avoid the thieves in the night. “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.” - John 10:9-11. Jesus Christ is the only one who can guard us from the thieves. He is life and all who allow Him to guide them will be prepared and able to discern whether or not a person is an enemy. Trust in Jesus and He will keep you safe. Praise God!

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

All Scripture is quoted from the King James Version.
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