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Today is Wednesday March 17, 2010 and we are reading through the Bible in a year. Today's message comes from the reading of the Book of Joshua, chapters 11-13. If you would like to read the chapters along with us here online you can Click Here to read them or copy & paste this URL onto your browser: http://www.readytofollow.com/bible-march-17

Title: Bible Study: Work For It
You know, God has an amazing way of answering prayers, just this morning I am praying and asking God to teach me how to pray and show me whether I am praying for something I really need right now, something I keep praying for in hopes of getting it, or something I just need to stop praying for all together. He answers every prayer. So, I begin reading today's chapters and as I seek God's guidance in what to write about through these chapters, it hits me. God promises to give us the things we need and even desire, but it's not going to be easy, we are going to have to work for it.

God promised the Israelites that He would give them the land that He promised them. However, the land was already occupied by other people, heathens no doubt, so if they were to possess it, they had to fight for it. However, He did promise that He would be there with them and lead them to victory as long as they made an effort. “And it came to pass, when Jabin king of Hazor had heard those things, that he sent to Jobab king of Madon, and to the king of Shimron, and to the king of Achshaph, And to the kings that were on the north of the mountains, and of the plains south of Chinneroth, and in the valley, and in the borders of Dor on the west, And to the Canaanite on the east and on the west, and to the Amorite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, and the Jebusite in the mountains, and to the Hivite under Hermon in the land of Mizpeh. And they went out, they and all their hosts with them, much people, even as the sand that is upon the sea shore in multitude, with horses and chariots very many. And when all these kings were met together, they came and pitched together at the waters of Merom, to fight against Israel. And the LORD said unto Joshua, Be not afraid because of them: for to morrow about this time will I deliver them up all slain before Israel: thou shalt hough their horses, and burn their chariots with fire. So Joshua came, and all the people of war with him, against them by the waters of Merom suddenly; and they fell upon them. And the LORD delivered them into the hand of Israel, who smote them, and chased them unto great Zidon, and unto Misrephothmaim, and unto the valley of Mizpeh eastward; and they smote them, until they left them none remaining.” - Joshua 11:1-8. These kings knew they were powerless against the people of God alone, so, they thought if they joined together they had a chance. Wrong. People just never get the fact that God is in control and it does not matter how many nations join together to try and stop Him, they are powerless against Him. God assured Joshua that he had nothing to fear because He was with them and would deliver the enemy into their hands and He did.

Joshua defeated all the Canaanites and executed their kings, but the people within each tribal territory still had to be subdued as God commanded. “Now Joshua was old and stricken in years; and the LORD said unto him, Thou art old and stricken in years, and there remaineth yet very much land to be possessed.........All the inhabitants of the hill country from Lebanon unto Misrephothmaim, and all the Sidonians, them will I drive out from before the children of Israel: only divide thou it by lot unto the Israelites for an inheritance, as I have commanded thee. Now therefore divide this land for an inheritance unto the nine tribes, and the half tribe of Manasseh,.......Nevertheless the children of Israel expelled not the Geshurites, nor the Maachathites: but the Geshurites and the Maachathites dwell among the Israelites until this day. ” - Joshua 13:1,6,7,13. God allotted the Israelites the territory that would best meet their physical and spiritual needs. However, although the land had been allotted to them, they had to exercise faith and trust the guidance from the Lord to possess the land. Sadly, many of the tribes did not do as God commanded, to destroy all the people, so they dwelt among the people and this is how all the trouble of the new generation began. They thought they had the power to control the people dwelling among them, but without God they are powerless against the enemy. As long as we are in the will of God and seek His guidance, we have the power to defend ourselves against the enemy, but the second we think we can control the situation ourselves we lose that power and are defeated.

If we want things from God we must be willing to do the work to get it, think about it. A person gets paid at their job for the work they have done, you can not expect to get a pay check until the labor is done. Jesus Said, “The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.” - Matthew 9:37,38. Jesus is saying, many want the blessings of God, but few are willing to labor to get it. If we want things, we need to work to get it. Now, one thing I would like to point out is that our works is not what gets God to give us the things we need and desire. Of course, we have to work to receive wages, but our work should not replace God and if it does, we are going to suffer for it eventually. Jesus Said, “Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed. Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.” - John 6:27-29. God knows our hearts and knows if we are doing something just to get recognition or truly believe in Him and seeking His will in the process.

God answers all prayers for those who do the work, sometimes He will give us the thing we desire, sometimes He will show something miraculous, but often He will give us answers that raise questions. My brother just passed away with pneumonia a few days ago, at the age of 34, we prayed and prayed and did everything possible to help him get better and He did help him get better, only He took him home to heaven. Of course, we question why he was taken so soon or if we prayed enough or did enough to prevent this from happening. You know what though? Satan loves to put those questions in our heads and try to get us to doubt God, many people become very bitter and angry with God when losing a loved one because of that, but we fail to realize that God does what is best for His child. My brother got so ill that it would have taken months for him to get better and who knows what his life would have been like after that. God saw what his life would have been like and knew that He was not going to let His child go through needless suffering, so, He answered our prayer and healed him so he would not have to go through any needless suffering. Of course, it hurts, but a little bit of heartache is easier to deal with than seeing my brother in so much pain. Through Solomon, God Said, “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace. What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth?…....And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God. ” - Ecclesiastes 3:1-9,13. As long as we do everything we can in the will of God we will receive and enjoy the things we desire. We may cry at times, but through sorrow comes joy and we will see blessings because of that. One day I will see my brother again, in his mansion, doing the things he loved doing here and even the things he always wanted to do, but could not. And that is the greatest gift and answered prayer that anyone could receive. Praise God!

Enjoy the rest of your day/night and Happy St. Patrick's Day.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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