I apologize for this being posted late, I was very ill yesterday. You will receive today's devotional later today. Thanks for your faithfulness and patience with me these past few weeks.

King James Bible Study: Remaining Faithful
For: Monday May 16, 2011
Chapters: I Chronicles 14-16
Click Here to Read Them or Go to: http://imfollowingjesus.com/bible-may-16
Details of Today's Reading: The prosperity of King David, Israel's double defeat of the Philistines, the Ark is brought to Jerusalem in the appointed way, David’s festival and psalm of thanksgiving, and the Ark established in Jerusalem.

Hello My Friend/Guest,

“Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted...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 10:6,13.

There are going to be lots of struggles in our lives, however, we are to remain faithful to God at all times, not only through joy, happiness, and blessings, but through temptations, pain, financial difficulties, marital problems, loneliness, or whatever it is that we are going through. Everything we go through is really a blessing and as long as we remain faithful to God we will see joy, happiness, and lots more blessings.

David went through one trial after another before he became king, through it all he never failed to praise God or seek His guidance in the steps he took. In fact, most of the Psalms were written by David as he was going through these struggles. Now, he is king and once again the Philistines are causing problems, the first thing David did was seek God's advice.

“And the Philistines came and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim. And David enquired of God, saying, Shall I go up against the Philistines? and wilt thou deliver them into mine hand? And the LORD said unto him, Go up; for I will deliver them into thine hand... And the Philistines yet again spread themselves abroad in the valley. Therefore David enquired again of God; and God said unto him, Go not up after them; turn away from them, and come upon them over against the mulberry trees. And it shall be, when thou shalt hear a sound of going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt go out to battle: for God is gone forth before thee to smite the host of the Philistines. David therefore did as God commanded him: and they smote the host of the Philistines from Gibeon even to Gazer.” - I Chronicles 14:9,10,13-16.

David's success did not come because of all the mighty men in his army, it came because he sought God's advice and did exactly what He told him. Can I tell you that many of the struggles we go through are the result of our not doing exactly what God tells us to do. God still talks to us as He did David, to hear Him we just need to listen and “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.” - Proverbs 3:5.

David knew that the nation's success was only dependent upon God's presence being in their midst. During the forty years that Saul reigned over Israel, the Ark, which was where God's present was known to Israel, was ignored, so, there was not a lot of faithful followers. David was bent on bringing the Ark to Jerusalem, the first attempt, was very unsuccessful and caused a man to lose his life. The second attempt proved successful as this time David learned the proper way to move the Ark.

“And David gathered all Israel together to Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the LORD unto his place, which he had prepared for it. And David assembled the children of Aaron, and the Levites:..And said unto them, Ye are the chief of the fathers of the Levites: sanctify yourselves, both ye and your brethren, that ye may bring up the ark of the LORD God of Israel unto the place that I have prepared for it. For because ye did it not at the first, the LORD our God made a breach upon us, for that we sought him not after the due order. So the priests and the Levites sanctified themselves to bring up the ark of the LORD God of Israel. And the children of the Levites bare the ark of God upon their shoulders with the staves thereon, as Moses commanded according to the word of the LORD.” - I Chronicles 15:3,4,12-15.

This time David carefully obeyed God, telling the priests to sanctify themselves and bear the Ark of God upon their shoulders as Moses commanded according to God's Word. God's work must be done His way not our own, even in our best intentions serious repercussions can occur if we do not follow His instructions precisely. Ignorance does not save a person from ending up in hell, there is only one way to escape the lake of fire and that is through Jesus Christ.

“But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.” - II Peter 7-10.

There is only One True and Living God, if it is our faith in His Son that keeps us from hell, the sad thing is that people create other gods and worship them as if they were God, but all they are doing is deceiving themselves and sending themselves right to hell, if they have not accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior. Even before Jesus came to earth in the flesh people knew they needed to be saved, David encouraged the people to rejoice in their salvation in public, recognizing that there is only One God for our salvation and all others are just man made, false gods.

“Sing unto the LORD, all the earth; shew forth from day to day his salvation. Declare his glory among the heathen; his marvellous works among all nations. For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised: he also is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the people are idols: but the LORD made the heavens. Glory and honour are in his presence; strength and gladness are in his place.” - I Chronicles 16:23-27.

David never stopped praising God, even when he sinned and was chastised he still praised God and remained faithful to Him. When we praise God in everything we will not only send joy to God we will become strengthen and prepared to handle the next trial we face. “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. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.” - I Peter 4:12-14. Praise God!

Jesus Revealed: Today Jesus is revealed through David's fame and exaltation, God highly exalted Christ. “And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. “ - Matthew 3:17.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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