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Today is Tuesday May 04, 2010 and we are reading through the Bible in a year. Today's message comes from the reading of the Book of II Kings, chapters 9-10. 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-may-4

Title: Bible Study: Serve God Willingly
At times, in the midst of our troubles we can forget that God is with us, this is especially true for those who fall away from Him and into sin. Regardless of where we are in our lives, all who accept Christ as their Savior have the Holy Spirit within them, that means God is in all who know Christ. Now, we can choose to live the rest of our lives for Christ or we can choose to just get saved and go on with our lives as if we never knew Him. Either choice, God still uses us for His purpose, in fact He uses everyone, even those who do not know Christ, for His purpose. We can serve Him willingly and receive His blessings or we can serve Him anyway, not knowing, yet always wondering where the blessings are.

After Ahab's death, his son Ahaziah reigned over Israel for two years, followed by the twelve year reign of another son, Jehoram (also known as Joram). These two kings zealously promoted Baal worship, which had been initiated by their wicked mother Jezebel. Baal worship had also become popular in the southern kingdom of Judah due to its king, who was also named Jehoram as he married Jezebel's daughter Athaliah, and their son, also named Ahaziah, was equally wicked. During this time of spiritual decline, God was preparing Jehu, the military commander of the armies of the northern kingdom, to fulfill His purpose as the one who would destroy all the house of Ahab, including wicked Jezebel, just as it was foretold by Elijah about twenty years ago and make him king of Israel.“And Elisha the prophet called one of the children of the prophets, and said unto him, Gird up thy loins, and take this box of oil in thine hand, and go to Ramothgilead: And when thou comest thither, look out there Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat the son of Nimshi, and go in, and make him arise up from among his brethren, and carry him to an inner chamber; Then take the box of oil, and pour it on his head, and say, Thus saith the LORD, I have anointed thee king over Israel. Then open the door, and flee, and tarry not....And he arose, and went into the house; and he poured the oil on his head, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I have anointed thee king over the people of the LORD, even over Israel. And thou shalt smite the house of Ahab thy master, that I may avenge the blood of my servants the prophets, and the blood of all the servants of the LORD, at the hand of Jezebel. For the whole house of Ahab shall perish: and I will cut off from Ahab him that pisseth against the wall, and him that is shut up and left in Israel:” - II Kings 9:1-3,6-8. Make no mistake, God avenges His people, it may take a while, but if someone is deliberately making His people sin, He will place His judgment upon them far worse than any punishment that anyone receives here on earth.

Jehu did not live his life for God, but God used him to execute the people responsible for causing all of Israel to sin. He executed Joram (Jehoram), the king of Israel, and then Ahaziah, the king of Judah. Then God used Jehu to have Jezebel thrown out of a window by her own people and she was killed as he trampled her with his horses, fulfilling the prophecy that she would be killed and unrecognizable. He also had all of Ahab's family, friends, and anyone associated with his family executed as well as all the Baal worshipers, making sure that not a prophet, priest,or servants of God would be harmed. “And Jehu sent through all Israel: and all the worshippers of Baal came, so that there was not a man left that came not. And they came into the house of Baal; and the house of Baal was full from one end to another. And he said unto him that was over the vestry, Bring forth vestments for all the worshippers of Baal. And he brought them forth vestments. And Jehu went, and Jehonadab the son of Rechab, into the house of Baal, and said unto the worshippers of Baal, Search, and look that there be here with you none of the servants of the LORD, but the worshippers of Baal only. And when they went in to offer sacrifices and burnt offerings, Jehu appointed fourscore men without, and said, If any of the men whom I have brought into your hands escape, he that letteth him go, his life shall be for the life of him. And it came to pass, as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, that Jehu said to the guard and to the captains, Go in, and slay them; let none come forth. And they smote them with the edge of the sword; and the guard and the captains cast them out, and went to the city of the house of Baal. And they brought forth the images out of the house of Baal, and burned them. And they brake down the image of Baal, and brake down the house of Baal, and made it a draught house unto this day. Thus Jehu destroyed Baal out of Israel.” - II Kings 10:21-28.

There was some good about Jehu and his 28-year reign over Israel, but there was also much that was wrong with him. His zeal for the Lord and his reformation were, but a partial turning to the Lord, just enough to achieve his own needs. Jehu demonstrated that it is possible for one to be used by God and yet never live their lives for Christ. Hypocrites serve the Lord for their own self interests, but will eventually fall. We can not use God for our own agenda, He will always bring judgment upon those who use Him to get ahead. “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 3:15,16. God knows our hearts and what we are up to and if we are only using Him He will put a stop to it. However, we can praise God because He will give us the chance to make things right with Him. “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.” - Revelation 3:19-21. Jesus loves us and because He loves us He will chasten us if we need it, just like a parent would a child who had disobeyed. He knocks on the door of all who have fallen away from Him, waiting patiently for them to open the door and let Him in. He wants you to fulfill His purpose and He will get you to do it no matter what He has to do or how long it takes for Him to do it. What a blessing it is to fulfill His purpose willingly as the blessings will just pour out and the best one of all is that we get to sit with Jesus on the throne. Praise God!

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