GREAT MEN OF THE BIBLE

There were many great men of the Bible who did great things because they depended on God for everything. They all loved the Lord and had a close personal relationship with Him.  They all prayed to God and praised Him. They all had great faith. They all were obedient to God’s commands. They all repented when they made mistakes. They all thanked the Lord when He helped and delivered them.

A. GREAT MEN OF THE OLD TESTAMENT—MOSES, JOSEPH, DAVID, JOSHUA, SHADRACH MESCHACH AND ABEDNEGO, KING HEZEKIAH, AND ELIJAH  

MOSES

Moses brought the Israelites out of their slavery in Egypt. Through his faith, God performed many miracles—He saved them from the angel of death that killed the firstborn of the unbelieving Egyptians (the Passover), parted the Red Sea, gave them food (manna) in the desert, and gave them the 10 commandments.

Let’s study his parting of the Red Sea.

Exodus 14: 5-6, 10-16, 21-31 AND Exodus 15: 1-2 The Lord brought a great plague on Egypt, and the Pharaoh finally agreed to free the Israelites from slavery and to let Moses’ people go out of Egypt. Moses led the people to the Red Sea which they would have to cross to get to the Promised Land. Then God hardened Pharaoh’s heart and Pharaoh decided to pursue and kill the people. The people were terrified and grumbled and complained, but Moses had great faith in God and told them God would deliver them. Moses cried out to God who told him to stretch out his hand over the sea. God parted the waters and the people safely crossed the sea on dry land. Then God told Moses to once again stretch his hand over the sea, and the waters came together again, drowning all the pursuing Egyptians. MOSES HAD GREAT FAITH IN GOD. HE HAD A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD. HE LOVED THE LORD. HE CRIED OUT TO GOD. HE OBEYED EVERYTHING GOD TOLD HIM TO DO. HE WAS THE SERVANT OF GOD. AND GOD DELIVERED THE PEOPLE. THE PEOPLE THEN PUT THEIR TRUST IN GOD. THEN MOSES LED THE PEOPLE IN A SONG OF PRAYER THANKING GOD.

 5 When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, Pharaoh and his officials changed their minds about them and said, “What have we done? We have let the Israelites go and have lost their services!” 6 So he had his chariot made ready and took his army with him… 10 As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up, and there were the Egyptians, marching after them. They were terrified and cried out to the LORD. 11 They said to Moses, “Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? 12 Didn’t we say to you in Egypt, ‘Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians’? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!”  13 Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. 14 The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.”  15 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to move on. 16 Raise your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground…21 Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the LORD drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. The waters were divided, 22 and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left.  23 The Egyptians pursued them, and all Pharaoh’s horses and chariots and horsemen followed them into the sea. 24 During the last watch of the night the LORD looked down from the pillar of fire and cloud at the Egyptian army and threw it into confusion. 25 He made the wheels of their chariots come off so that they had difficulty driving. And the Egyptians said, “Let’s get away from the Israelites! The LORD is fighting for them against Egypt.”  26 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea so that the waters may flow back over the Egyptians and their chariots and horsemen.” 27 Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and at daybreak the sea went back to its place. The Egyptians were fleeing toward it, and the LORD swept them into the sea. 28 The water flowed back and covered the chariots and horsemen—the entire army of Pharaoh that had followed the Israelites into the sea. Not one of them survived. 29 But the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left. 30 That day the LORD saved Israel from the hands of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians lying dead on the shore. 31 And when the Israelites saw the great power the LORD displayed against the Egyptians, the people feared the LORD and put their trust in him and in Moses his servant.

EXODUS 15: 1-2 MOSES AND THE PEOPLE SANG PRAISES TO THE LORD

1 Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the LORD: “I will sing to the LORD,   for he is highly exalted. The horse and its rider he has hurled into the sea. 2 The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him.

JOSEPH

Genesis 37:23-24, 28 Gen 39:7-9, 20-23 Gen 40: 12-14, 23 Gen 41: Genesis 41: 8-16, 25-27, 33-43 Gen 50: 18-19Joseph’s brothers were jealous of him. They cast him into a pit and sold him into slavery in Egypt. He was later cast into prison because he refused to sin against God by sleeping with his master’s wife. But, because he trusted and obeyed God, God bestowed His favor on Joseph. Joseph eventually rose from being a slave to become second in command only to the Pharaoh. He saved both Egypt and Israel from starvation because God revealed to him in a dream about the 7 years of plenty followed by the 7 years of famine.   What the enemy meant for harm God turned to good because Joseph loved the Lord and was called according to His purpose.

Gen 37: 23-24, 28 Joseph His brothers throw him in the pit and then sell him into slavery in Egypt.

23 So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe—the richly ornamented robe he was wearing- 24 and they took him and threw him into the cistern. Now the cistern was empty; there was no water in it… 28 So when the Midianite merchants came by, his brothers pulled Joseph up out of the cistern and sold him for twenty shekels of silver to the Ishmaelites, who took him to Egypt.

Gen 39: 7-9 Joseph refuses to commit adultery because he refuses to sin against God.

7 and after a while his master’s wife took notice of Joseph and said, “Come to bed with me!”  8 But he refused. “With me in charge,” he told her, “my master does not concern himself with anything in the house; everything he owns he has entrusted to my care. 9 No one is greater in this house than I am. My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?”

Gen 39: 20-23 His master throws Joseph into prison but the Lord was with Joseph and granted him favor in the eyes of the warden who put Joseph in charge of everything.

20 Joseph’s master took him and put him in prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined. But while Joseph was there in the prison, 21 the LORD was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden. 22 So the warden put Joseph in charge of all those held in the prison, and he was made responsible for all that was done there. 23 The warden paid no attention to anything under Joseph’s care, because the LORD was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did…

Genesis 40: 12-14, 23 Joseph correctly interprets the dream of the cup bearer of Pharaoh, telling him he would be restored in three days to his former position. He asks the cup bearer to remember him and mention him to Pharaoh, but the cup bearer forgets him.

12 “This is what it means,” Joseph said to him. “The three branches are three days. 13 Within three days Pharaoh will lift up your head and restore you to your position and you will put Pharaoh’s cup in his hand, just as you used to do when you were his cupbearer. 14 But when all goes well with you, remember me and show me kindness; mention me to Pharaoh and get me out of this prison… 23 The chief cupbearer, however, did not remember Joseph; he forgot him.

Genesis 41: 8-16, 25-27, 33-43 Joseph remained two more years in prison but never grumbled or complained. He remained faithful to God. Then one day Pharaoh had a dream, which his so called wise men could not interpret. But the cup bearer now remembered Joseph, and told Pharaoh about him. Pharaoh called for Joseph, who told him that he himself could not interpret the dream but that God could do so. God revealed the interpretation to Joseph, who told God’s word to Pharaoh. Pharaoh put Joseph in charge of Egypt, second in command only to Pharaoh. Pharaoh acknowledged that God made all things known to Joseph. JOSEPH REMAINED PATIENT AND FAITHFUL TO GOD THROUGH ALL HIS TROUBLES. HE PUT HIS TRUST IN THE LORD AND THE LORD DELIVERED AND LIFTED HIM UP.

8 In the morning his mind was troubled, so he sent for all the magicians and wise men of Egypt. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but no one could interpret them for him.  9 Then the chief cupbearer said to Pharaoh, “Today I am reminded of my shortcomings. 10 Pharaoh was once angry with his servants, and he imprisoned me and the chief baker in the house of the captain of the guard. 11 Each of us had a dream the same night, and each dream had a meaning of its own. 12 Now a young Hebrew was there with us, a servant of the captain of the guard. We told him our dreams, and he interpreted them for us, giving each man the interpretation of his dream. 13 And things turned out exactly as he interpreted them to us: I was restored to my position, and the other man was hanged. “14 So Pharaoh sent for Joseph, and he was quickly brought from the dungeon. When he had shaved and changed his clothes, he came before Pharaoh. 15 Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I had a dream, and no one can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.” 16 “I cannot do it,” Joseph replied to Pharaoh, “but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires.” …25 Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, “The dreams of Pharaoh are one and the same. God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do. 26 The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good heads of grain are seven years; it is one and the same dream. 27 The seven lean, ugly cows that came up afterward are seven years, and so are the seven worthless heads of grain scorched by the east wind: They are seven years of famine…33 “And now let Pharaoh look for a discerning and wise man and put him in charge of the land of Egypt. 34 Let Pharaoh appoint commissioners over the land to take a fifth of the harvest of Egypt during the seven years of abundance. 35 They should collect all the food of these good years that are coming and store up the grain under the authority of Pharaoh, to be kept in the cities for food. 36 This food should be held in reserve for the country, to be used during the seven years of famine that will come upon Egypt, so that the country may not be ruined by the famine.”  37 The plan seemed good to Pharaoh and to all his officials. 38 So Pharaoh asked them, “Can we find anyone like this man, one in whom is the spirit of God?” 39 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one so discerning and wise as you. 40 You shall be in charge of my palace, and all my people are to submit to your orders. Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you.” 41 So Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt.” 42 Then Pharaoh took his signet ring from his finger and put it on Joseph’s finger. He dressed him in robes of fine linen and put a gold chain around his neck. 43 He had him ride in a chariot as his second-in-command, and men shouted before him, “Make way!” Thus he put him in charge of the whole land of Egypt.

Genesis 50: 18-21 In the chapters from 42 through 49, the Word of God tells us that the interpretation of the Pharaoh’s dream came true. Egypt did well in the time of famine because they obeyed God and had stored up the excess grain in the time of plenty. Eventually, the Israelites were running out of food, and Joseph’s brothers came to Egypt to buy food. They were brought before Joseph, but did not realize he was their brother. He eventually revealed to them all that had occurred since they had sold him into slavery. He forgave them for their sins against him. Then he settled the Israelites and his family in Egypt where they were treated very well because of Joseph’s stature in the land. Then his father, Jacob, died. His brothers became afraid that Joseph would hold a grudge against them and take vengeance on them. But Joseph told them not to be afraid, and that what they had meant for harm against him, God had turned into good. God allowed Joseph to go through many trials, and because Joseph remained totally faithful, he rewarded Joseph, and used Joseph to save his people.

 18 His brothers then came and threw themselves down before him. “We are your slaves,” they said. 19 But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? 20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. 21 So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.” And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.

DAVID

David was a man after God’s own heart. He had great faith. Although he sometimes made mistakes, he would then cry out to the Lord with all his heart, and repent of his sins. He always sang praises to the Lord, and had a close relationship with him. This is seen in his songs of praise and prayer to the Lord in the Psalms.

Psalm 40: 1-4 David patiently waited on the lord during his times of troubles. He cried out to God. God answered David and delivered him from the slimy pit. God set David’s feet upon the solid rock. David loved the Lord. He put all his trust only in God. He sang praises to the Lord.

1 I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. 2 He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. 3 He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD. 4 Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust, who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods.

 Ps 3: 1-5 David had sinned with Bathsheba. Because he turned away from God, he underwent many troubles. He was fleeing from his son, Absalom, who was trying to kill David and replace him as King. In this Psalm, David repented of his sins and turned back to God. He cried out to God. God heard his cry and became a shield for David. God delivered David from his oppressors, and restored him to his former glory. If we trust in the Lord he will lift us up and be our shield.

1 Lord, how are they increased that trouble me! Many are they that rise up against me. 2Many there be which say of my soul, there is no help for him in God. 3But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of my head.  4I cried unto the LORD with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. 5 I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me.

Psalm 103: 1-5 David praises the Lord. He agrees, with all his soul, that God is the only one who can redeem us from destruction and can renew our strength.

1 Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me bless his holy name.  2Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:  3Who forgives all your iniquities; who heals all your diseases; 4Who redeems your life from destruction; who crowns you with love and kindness and tender mercies; 5Who satisfies your mouth with good things; so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

In First Samuel, 17, we see how David was the only one who wholeheartedly trusted in the Lord. This is the great story of David and Goliath.

1 Samuel 17: 20-24, 45-52 The Philistines were a dreaded enemy of the Israelites. They had a feared warrior named Goliath, who was a giant that no one could stand against. He killed all who he fought against. He challenged the Israelites to send out their best warrior to fight him one and one and the winner’s people would be granted the victory. When the Israelites saw Goliath approaching they all fled in fear. But, David who was a young boy of slight build offered to fight Goliath. He was an unknown shepherd boy, the son of Jesse, a man who also was not well known. David refused to wear the armor of the soldiers. He told King Saul that the Lord would be his shield and armor and would deliver him. So he went out to face Goliath, telling the giant that the Lord would hand over Goliath to him. He smote Goliath with a stone from his slingshot. Goliath fell to the ground and David cut off his head. The Philistines fled and were pursued and killed by the Israelites. He struck down the giant without any armor or any sword because he relied on the armor of God and the sword of the Spirit. He had complete trust in the Lord, and the Lord was able to use him mightily. God made him King over Israel after Saul died. WHEN WE TRUST AND OBEY THE LORD WILL FIGHT OUR BATTLES.

20 Early in the morning David left the flock with a shepherd, loaded up and set out, as Jesse had directed. He reached the camp as the army was going out to its battle positions, shouting the war cry. 21 Israel and the Philistines were drawing up their lines facing each other. 22 David left his things with the keeper of supplies, ran to the battle lines and greeted his brothers. 23 As he was talking with them, Goliath, the Philistine champion from Gath, stepped out from his lines and shouted his usual defiance, and David heard it. 24 When the Israelites saw the man, they all ran from him in great fear… 45 David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the LORD will hand you over to me, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. Today I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. 47 All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.”  48 As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him. 49 Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell facedown on the ground.  50 So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him. 51 David ran and stood over him. He took hold of the Philistine’s sword and drew it from the scabbard. After he killed him, he cut off his head with the sword. When the Philistines saw that their hero was dead, they turned and ran. 52 Then the men of Israel and Judah surged forward with a shout and pursued the Philistines to the entrance of Gath and to the gates of Ekron. Their dead were strewn along the Shaaraim road to Gath and Ekron.

JOSHUA

Joshua had full trust in the Lord. He spoke with the Lord and followed all of God’s instructions, even those that might seem silly to our worldly minds. And the Lord used him to do great things. God appointed him to lead the people across the Jordan River into the Promised Land, and to win the battle of Jericho.

Joshua 3: 7-17 The Lord exalted Joshua to all the people by parting the waters of the Jordan River so the people could cross over on dry land in order to enter the Promised Land. Joshua spoke to God and relayed God’s commands to the people. They completely obeyed all God’s instructions and God parted the waters. Joshua had and intimate relationship with God, spoke to Him, and was faithful and obedient. God responded by giving him favor.

 7 And the LORD said to Joshua, “Today I will begin to exalt you in the eyes of all Israel, so they may know that I am with you as I was with Moses. 8 Tell the priests who carry the Ark of the Covenant: ‘When you reach the edge of the Jordan’s waters, go and stand in the river.’ “9 Joshua said to the Israelites, “Come here and listen to the words of the LORD your God. 10 This is how you will know that the living God is among you and that he will certainly drive out before you the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites and Jebusites. 11 See, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth will go into the Jordan ahead of you. 12 Now then, choose twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one from each tribe. 13 And as soon as the priests who carry the ark of the LORD -the Lord of all the earth—set foot in the Jordan, its waters flowing downstream will be cut off and stand up in a heap.” 4 So when the people broke camp to cross the Jordan, the priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant went ahead of them. 15 Now the Jordan is at flood stage all during harvest. Yet as soon as the priests who carried the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water’s edge, 16 the water from upstream stopped flowing. It piled up in a heap a great distance away, at a town called Adam in the vicinity of Zarethan, while the water flowing down to the Sea of the Arabah (the Salt Sea) was completely cut off. So the people crossed over opposite Jericho. 17 The priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firm on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan, while all Israel passed by until the whole nation had completed the crossing on dry ground.

Joshua 6: 1-5, 20, 27 God told Joshua to have his army march around Jericho once each day for six days, with the ark, and to have the priests carry rams horns. Then on the seventh day, they were to march seven times around the city seven times, then the priests were to blast the trumpets, and the people were to let out a loud shout, and the wall of Jericho would collapse. This wall was impenetrable, but Joshua and his men were obedient, and the wall collapsed. Then the Israelites took the whole city. Because of Joshua’s great faith and total obedience, God made the wall collapse, and God exalted Joshua. THE LORD WAS WITH JOSHUA AND GAVE HIM FAVOR AND FAME. NO MATTER HOW SILLY GOD’S COMMANDMENTS OR INSTRUCTIONS MAY SEEM TO THE WORLD, IF WE TRUST AND OBEY HE WILL GIVE US THE VICTORY.

1 Now Jericho was tightly shut up because of the Israelites. No one went out and no one came in. 2 Then the LORD said to Joshua, “See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men. 3 March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days. 4 Have seven priests carry trumpets of rams’ horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets. 5 When you hear them sound a long blast on the trumpets, have all the people give a loud shout; then the wall of the city will collapse and the people will go up, every man straight in.” …  20 When the trumpets sounded, the people shouted, and at the sound of the trumpet, when the people gave a loud shout, the wall collapsed; so every man charged straight in, and they took the city…  27 So the LORD was with Joshua, and his fame spread throughout the land.

SHADRACH MESCHACH AND ABEDNEGO

DANIEL 3: 13-30 The three Jewish men trusted in God with such strong faith that they defied the King’s edict and willingly went into the fiery furnace. They refused to worship King Nebuchadnezzar’s golden idol, so the King threw them into the furnace, but neither they, nor even their clothing, was burned.  They trusted in the Lord, and He delivered them totally. The King was amazed, and even proclaimed that he saw Jesus in the midst of the fire along with the three young men. So marvelous was their faith and so  glorious was the manner of God’s deliverance, that the King acknowledged that the Lord was the one and only God. The King said that only our Lord can save—Isaiah said that the Lord is the only savior.

13 Furious with rage, Nebuchadnezzar summoned Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king, 14 and Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego that you do not serve my gods or worship the image of gold I have set up? 15 Now when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and all kinds of music, if you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?” 16 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. 17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and He will rescue us from your hand, O king. 18 But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”  19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and his attitude toward them changed. He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual 20 and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace. 21 So these men, wearing their robes, trousers, turbans and other clothes, were bound and thrown into the blazing furnace. 22 The king’s command was so urgent and the furnace so hot that the flames of the fire killed the soldiers who took up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, 23 and these three men, firmly tied, fell into the blazing furnace. 24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers “Weren’t there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?” They replied, “Certainly, O king.”  25 He said, “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like the Son of God.”  26 Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, “Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!” So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire, 27 and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers crowded around them. They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them.  28 Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king’s command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. 29 Therefore I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be cut into pieces and their houses be turned into piles of rubble, for no other god can save in this way.” 30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the province of Babylon.

KING HEZEKIAH

2 Kings 18: 3-7 King Hezekiah was a great man of God who (see 2 Kings) “did good in the eyes of the Lord.” He reversed the evil ways of some of the earlier Kings; he purified the temple, removed all idols from Judah, and brought all the people back to worshiping and obeying the Lord. HE TRUSTED IN THE LORD, KEPT HIS COMMANDS, AND WAS SUCCESSFUL IN EVERYTHING HE DID.

3 He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father David had done. 4 He removed the high places, smashed the sacred stones and cut down the Asherah poles. He broke into pieces the bronze snake Moses had made, for up to that time the Israelites had been burning incense to it… 5 Hezekiah trusted in the LORD, the God of Israel. There was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, either before him or after him. 6 He held fast to the LORD and did not cease to follow him; he kept the commands the LORD had given Moses. 7 And the LORD was with him; he was successful in whatever he undertook.

Isaiah 38: 9, 17-18 After King Hezekiah became sick, he became bitter. However he repented and confessed his bitterness to God. God cured him and delivered him from the pit. He was sick and became bitter, but he then repented and God delivered him. GOD IS LOVE AND IN HIS LOVE HE HEALED THE KING.

9The writing of Hezekiah king of Judah, when he had been sick, and then recovered of his sickness:  17Behold, for peace I had great bitterness: but thou has in love to my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption: for thou hast cast all my sins behind thy back.18For the grave cannot praise you, death can not celebrate you: they who go down into the pit cannot hope for your truth.

 ELIJAH

1 Kings 18: 16-26, 36-39 Elijah was a great prophet who would only say and do what God told him. The wicked King Ahab met Elijah, who told Ahab that it was Ahab who brought trouble to the Israelites because he had abandoned the Lord’s commands, and worshipped the idol of Baal. Elijah went to Mt. Carmel, and stood firmly against the 450 so called prophets of Baal. He threw out a challenge to see if Baal or God would be the one to set fire to the sacrifice on Baal’s altar or the sacrifice on the altar of God. The cries of the 450 men availed no results. But the prayer of one fervent man of God resulted in God immediately setting the sacrifice on God’s altar on fire. All the people were amazed and said “The Lord-He is God.”

16 So Obadiah went to meet Ahab and told him, and Ahab went to meet Elijah. 17 When he saw Elijah, he said to him, “Is that you, you troubler of Israel?”  18 “I have not made trouble for Israel,” Elijah replied. “But you and your father’s family have. You have abandoned the LORD’s commands and have followed the Baals. 19 Now summon the people from all over Israel to meet me on Mount Carmel. And bring the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal and the four hundred prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table.” 20 So Ahab sent word throughout all Israel and assembled the prophets on Mount Carmel. 21 Elijah went before the people and said, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him.” But the people said nothing. 22 Then Elijah said to them, “I am the only one of the LORD’s prophets left, but Baal has four hundred and fifty prophets. 23 Get two bulls for us. Let them choose one for themselves, and let them cut it into pieces and put it on the wood but not set fire to it. I will prepare the other bull and put it on the wood but not set fire to it. 24 Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the LORD. The god who answers by fire—he is God.” Then all the people said, “What you say is good.” 25 Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Choose one of the bulls and prepare it first, since there are so many of you. Call on the name of your god, but do not light the fire.” 26 So they took the bull given them and prepared it. Then they called on the name of Baal from morning till noon. “O Baal, answer us!” they shouted. But there was no response; no one answered… 36 At the time of sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed: “O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. 37 Answer me, O LORD; answer me, so these people will know that you, O LORD, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again.” 38 Then the fire of the LORD fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench. 39 When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, “The LORD -he is God! The LORD -he is God!”

B. GREAT MEN OF THE NEW TESTAMENT—PAUL AND SILAS, PETER, AND ZECHARIAH

PAUL AND SILAS

ACTS 16:20-33 God will free you from your chains if you cry out to Him in praise, song and prayer. Paul and Silas did not grumble or complain. They did not tremble in fear. They sang and prayed to the Lord and God set them free. The prison keeper was so moved that he asked them how he could be saved, and they told him to believe on Jesus. Then the jailor and all his family were saved.

20They brought them before the magistrates and said, “These men are Jews, and are throwing our city into an uproar 21by advocating customs unlawful for us Romans to accept or practice.”  22The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten. 23After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. 24Upon receiving such orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.  25About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. 26Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everybody’s chains came loose. 27The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. 28But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!”  29The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. 30He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”  31They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” 32Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. 33At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his family were baptized

PETER

 ACTS 12:1-11 When Peter was imprisoned, the Church earnestly prayed to God, and God delivered Peter out of the jail. His chains fell off, and even the main gate to the City opened before the angel of the Lord. IF ANYONE IS IN A PRISON IN HIS MIND AND EVERYTHING SEEMS TO BE AGAINST THEM, JUST REACH OUT TO THE LORD IN FAITH AND YOUR CHAINS WILL FALL IN JESUS’ NAME.

1It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them. 2He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword. 3When he saw that this pleased the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This happened during the Feast of Unleavened Bread. 4After arresting him, he put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out for public trial after the Passover. 5So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him. 6The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance. 7Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. “Quick, get up!” he said, and the chains fell off Peter’s wrists.  8Then the angel said to him, “Put on your clothes and sandals.” And Peter did so. “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me,” the angel told him. 9Peter followed him out of the prison, but he had no idea that what the angel was doing was really happening; he thought he was seeing a vision. 10They passed the first and second guards and came to the Iron Gate leading to the city. It opened for them by itself, and they went through it. When they had walked the length of one street, suddenly the angel left him. 11Then Peter came to himself and said, “Now I know without a doubt that the Lord sent his angel and rescued me from Herod’s clutches and from everything the Jewish people were anticipating.”

ZECHARIAH

Luke 1:5-14 Be upright with the Lord and be obedient and righteous and God will answer your prayers. He will miraculously transform your life. Look what He did for Zechariah.

⁵In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. ⁶Both of them were upright in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commandments and regulations blamelessly. ⁷But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren; and they were both well along in years. ⁸Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, ⁹he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. ¹⁰And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside. ¹¹Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. ¹²When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. ¹³But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John. ¹⁴He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth.

SEE THE SONG, I BLESS YOUR NAME, BELOW

 I BLESS YOUR NAME

In prisoners’ chains
With bleeding stripes
Paul and Silas prayed that night
And in their pain began to sing
Their chains were loosed
And they were free

I bless Your Name
I bless Your Name
I give You honor, I give You praise
You are the Life, the Truth, the Way
I bless Your Name
I bless Your Name

Some midnight hour
If you should find
You’re in a prison in your mind
Sing out in praise
Defy those chains
And they will fall
In Jesus’ Name

We bless Your Name
We bless Your Name
We give You honor, give You praise
You are the Life, the Truth, the Way
We bless Your Name
We bless Your Name

FAITH

A. THE IMPORTANCE OF FAITH TO GOD AND HIS SON, JESUS

Revelation 21:7-8 The fearful and unbelieving head the list of sinners who will go to hell. If you have no belief you will live a life full of fear. But if we have faith we will overcome and be children of God and will inherit eternal life with God.

⁷He that overcomes shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. ⁸But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

Hebrews 11:1-3 Faith is the opposite of unbelief. If you have faith you will have hope.

¹Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.   ²For by it the elders obtained a good report.  ³Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.  

HEBREWS 11:6 You must have faith to please God.

⁶But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that comes to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Hebrews 10:38-39 God states that you are righteous if you live by faith, and will be destroyed if you shrink back in fear. 

38But my righteous one will live by faith. (The just live by faith-Kings James) And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him.” 39But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved.

Romans 4: 1-3 God said that Abraham was made righteous by his faith and not by his works.

1What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather, discovered in this matter? 2If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about—but not before God. 3What does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”

 Matthew 8:25-26 Jesus rebuked the disciples when they lacked faith.

 ²⁵And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish.  ²⁶And he said to them, Why are you fearful, O you of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.

B. WHAT ARE SOME OF THE BENEFITS OF HAVING A STRONG FAITH?

2 Timothy 1:7 God’s Holy Spirit that lives inside of those who are saved gives them a spirit of power and love (and faith) and drives away fear.  

⁷For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

Matthew 21:21-22 Strong Faith can move mountains. It can free you from the pit you are in. It can heal your body mind and spirit. It will bring you answers to your prayers.

²¹Jesus answered and said to them, Verily I say unto you, If you have faith, and doubt not, you shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if you shall say to this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.  ²²And all things, whatsoever you shall ask in prayer, believing, you shall receive.

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Philippians 4:4-7 Faith and prayer will bring you God’s peace.

⁴Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.  ⁵Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.   ⁶Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.    ⁷And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

NOTE: WE NEED FAITH IN ORDER TO PRAY IN SUPPLICATION AND THANKSGIVING ESPECIALLY WHEN EVERYTHING SEEMS TO BE GOING WRONG BUT BY FAITH WE KNOW OUR HOPES AND NEEDS WILL BE MET IF WE DO NOT FAINT. WHEN WE PRAY IN FAITH, BELIEVING WITHOUT ANY DOUBT THEN WE RECEIVE THE PEACE OF GOD. THEN OUR VESSEL IS FILLED WITH HIS PEACE, LEAVING NO ROOM FOR FEAR.

James 5:15 Faith can heal.

¹⁵And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.

Mark 5: 24-32 An example of faith healing-the woman who touched Jesus’ garment was healed. Jesus told her “your faith healed you.” Throughout the Bible, Jesus could heal only those that believed.

24.A large crowd followed and pressed around him. 25And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. 26She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. 27When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, 28because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” 9Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering.  30At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?” 31“You see the people crowding against you,” his disciples answered, “and yet you can ask, ‘Who touched me?’ “32But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it. 33Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. 34He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.”

C. HOW DO WE GET A STRONG FAITH?

Romans 10:17 We get faith by reading and hearing the word of God. Read the Bible and go to church to hear God’s Word in sermons, prayer and song. Participate in the praying and singing. When God answers our prayers this also builds our faith (see lesson on prayer answered for more about what helps and hinders our prayers from being answered)

¹⁷So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Hebrews 12: 2-3 Jesus is the source of our strength. Look to Jesus and believe on Him and your faith will be strong.

2Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter  (finisher in Kings James) of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart

Ephesians 1: 13-14 and Galatians 5:22 When we are saved, God places the Holy Spirit inside of us. Then the Holy Spirit causes us to produce good fruit. One of these fruits is faith. Therefore, believing on Jesus and repenting of our sins, will save us—it also will place the Holy Spirit inside of us—then we will have the sweet fruit of a strong faith.

Ephesians 1: 13-14

13And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.

Gal 5:22-23

22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

D. MEN OF GREAT FAITH IN THE OLD TESTAMENT

Hebrews 11: 7-12, 22-33 Noah, Abraham, Moses, Joseph, David and many other great men lived by great faith, and were able to do great things because their faith released God’s power in their lives.

7By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.  8By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. 9By faith he made his home in the Promised Land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. 10For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.  11By faith Abraham, even though he was past age—and Sarah herself was barren—was enabled to become a father because he considered him faithful who had made the promise. 12And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore…  22By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and gave instructions about his bones.  24By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. 25He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time. 26He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward. 27By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible. 28By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel. 29By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned. 30By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the people had marched around them for seven days… 32And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets, 33who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, 34quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies.  

Moses brought the Israelites out of their slavery in Egypt. Though his faith, God performed many miracles—He saved them from the angel of death that killed the firstborn of the unbelieving Egyptians (the Passover), parted the Red Sea, gave them food (manna) in the desert, and gave them the 10 commandments. (SEE EXODUS)

Though prayer and faith, Joseph rose from a slave in Egypt to become second only to Pharaoh in the land. He saved both Egypt and Israel from starvation because God revealed to him in a dream about the 7 years of plenty followed by the 7 years of famine. (SEE GENESIS 41)

While all the seasoned soldiers fled in fear from the giant, Goliath, David ran towards Goliath, shouting that the battle was the Lord’s. God guided the stone to hit the small opening in the head armor of Goliath, knocking him unconscious. (SEE 1 SAMUEL 17)

 Joshua did not doubt God’s instructions to march around Jericho for six days, and on the seventh day to march around it seven times and then blow the trumpet. It might seem a silly way to many of us to fight a battle, but God uses the silly to confound the wise, and the wall fell down when the trumpet was blown. (SEE JOSHUA 6)

Daniel was not afraid to go into the lion’s den.  King Darius put him there because he followed the ways of God, not the customs and edicts of the King. Because of his great faith and obedience, God tamed the lions, and he was not harmed. The King then acknowledged God and elevated David to a high position in the land. (SEE DANIEL 6)

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to worship the King’s golden idol, so he threw them into the fiery furnace but neither they nor even their clothing were burned. King Nebuchadnezzar was amazed, and even proclaimed that he saw the Son of Man in the midst of the fire. He praised God and stated that all were forbidden from speaking against God. (SEE DANIEL 3)

E. WE CAN DECLARE OUR OWN DESTRUCTION OR BRING BIG PROBLEMS ON OURSELVES BY USING OUR TONGUE TO PROCLAIM FEAR AND DEFEAT INSTEAD OF HAVING FAITH AND DECLARING VICTORY. WE CAN BRING ON OUR OWN PROBLEMS BY THE VERY WORDS WE UTTER.

The Israelites refused to believe God when God told them to go into the Promised Land, and that He would be with them, and make them successful and victorious. Instead of having faith in God they shrunk back in fear because there were giants and large walled cities, and they feared they would perish. Because of their unbelief, and disobedience, God made them wander in the desert for 40 cities until all the unbelieving generation had passed away. Only Joshua and Caleb –out of all these people—were allowed to enter the Promised Land because they were the only ones who believed God’s promises. (SEE NUMBERS 13-14)

At our Thanksgiving Dinner at the men’s Shelter, we had an excellent turnout. The men were very responsive to our message of hope and very grateful for the love we showed them as God’s hand extended.

However, one of the men, we will call Henry, came over to talk to us. He related how his father suddenly died a few weeks ago, and how he now hated God, because if God is love, why would God take away the only person who had showed him love. He grew up in a large, dysfunctional family. His mother sexually abused him when he was young, and his siblings physically abused him. His father was the only one who he could depend on for love and support. His father was a man of God and took him to church every week. Henry had accepted Jesus as savior and attended church regularly, but now he was angry at God, and said he would never go to church again or follow God again.

We tried our best to minister to him, to comfort him, and to give him words of encouragement, reminding him that his father had told him “don’t blame God,” but it appeared that we were not getting through to his heart, or that his attitude would change. Then, things got even worse because he got into a heated argument with one of the residents, we will call Jesse, who, in the past, was a very violent and troublesome person. Jesse threatened to bust him up.

But then God turned what the enemy meant as harm to good.  One of the other residents who had been attending our Bible study meetings went over to Jesse and explained to him that Henry was acting in a hostile manner because he had just lost his father Jesse then melted and apologized to Henry. This was not the first time that one of the residents helped us to defuse a difficult situation. The seeds we plant at our bimonthly shelter meetings are bearing fruit amongst the men.

And a little later that day, Henry came over to us and said he wanted to come to church with us the next day. We promised one of us would take him to the church. He said, “don’t forget me.” We told him we would never forget him, and one of the team workers brought him to church. He went up to the altar with the worker, who introduced Henry to some of the members of our ministry for young men, which Henry now will be joining. And he also attended our church’s prayer service.

From this we see that we cannot judge things by the surface appearance. We were patient in the face of Henry’s initial resistance and did not give up on him, and God’s Holy Spirit did the rest. We had prayed for Henry after we had initially spoken to him, and God heard us from high on his Holy Hill.

Postscript: as we were leaving the shelter we ran into Jesse. He hugged us and asked us “when will you be coming back.” He now will be attending our meetings at the shelter.

God Provided Evidence that Faith is not in Vain

We visit a shelter for men with psychological and/or addiction problems. Nevertheless, through God’s help, many of these men have accepted Jesus, walked in the Spirit, and broken free of the chains that bound them.

God will make all things work together for the good of those that love the Lord and are called according to His purpose, and He certainly orchestrated a series of amazing events that gave hope to the men.

At our last bi monthly visit, we were encouraging the men by giving them true examples of men who previously broken free of their chains, got out of the shelter, found jobs and now lived independently and productively. Suddenly, one of the men stood up to give his testimony. He stated that he had intended to sleep late that day and to not go to this meeting, but God would not let him sleep, as he had a message he felt compelled to tell the men. He said that he had to come down to tell the men that he had obtained a job and his own apartment, and that this would be his last day at the shelter. He told them to never give up hope. His words provided visible evidence of what we had just been saying to the men, and they were very encouraged. God sent him as a messenger of evidence of what we had been telling the men. At the end of the meeting we had an altar call, and all the men said the sinner’s prayer and accepted Jesus as Savior.

And at the meeting two weeks prior to the above meeting a very similar miracle occurred. One of our workers was delayed coming into the meeting because he ran into a former resident of the shelter. This man used to be a follower of Islam and had come to our meetings, but always was resistant to our message. However, over time, he did accept Jesus. He told our worker he now had a good job and his own apartment, and he praised God for that. So the worker then rushed over to the meeting to give this great testimony to the men, not knowing, that we had just finished telling them true stories of men who had broken free of the shelter system.

So, for two meetings in a row God sent a messenger to reinforce what we had just been relating to the men. We see here, powerful evidence that Romans 8:28 is absolutely true. All Glory and Honor to the Lord!

1. THANK YOU SONG

“Give Thanks with a Grateful Heart” Don Moen

GIVE THANKS WITH A GRATEFUL HEART
GIVE THANKS TO THE HOLY ONE
GIVE THANKS BECAUSE HE’S GIVEN
JESUS CHRIST, HIS SON

AND NOW LET THE WEAK SAY I AM STRONG
LET THE POOR SAY I AM RICH
BECAUSE OF WHAT THE LORD HAS DONE

FOR US

REPEAT

GIVE THANKS    link for song:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Rf_iPsB8LU

2. THANK YOU BIBLE VERSES 

Ephesians 5: 19-20

19 Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord.  20 Always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Psalm 103: 1-6

1 Praise the LORD, O my soul; all within me, praise his holy name.  2 Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits-  3 who forgives all your sins  and heals all your diseases,  4 who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion,  5 who satisfies your desires with good things  so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.  6 The LORD works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed.

3. THANK YOU GOD PRAYER

The song, verses and prayer will be presented at our visit this Saturday to a men’s shelter for their Thanksgiving Dinner

Thank you, God for bringing us together today to praise your name

Thank you, God for being our Father. Thank you for breathing life into us. Thank you for creating the heavens, the earth, and all life on the earth. Thank you for creating us in your image. Thank you for being the one and only God, who is faithful and true, and the only one who can save us and place our feet on a solid rock. Thank you for not leading us into temptation. Thank you for protecting us and for delivering us from evil.  Thank you, for your grace and mercy towards us. Thank you for your patience with us even as we stray from your commands. Thank you for always giving us another chance.  Thank you for waking us up every morning. Thank you for answering our prayers, according to your will, your grace, and your timing. Thank you for providing us with our daily bread. Thank you for providing us with roofs over our heads, clothing and food and water. Thank you for giving us the strength necessary to carry on from day to day. Thank you for forgiving us for our sins, as we forgive others. Thank you for healing our diseases.

Thank you for the men that you have drawn to you, who have been saved, and whose prayers you have answered. Thank you for the men you set free from their bondage, and who now are functioning on their own. They sought you, and knocked on your door. They asked you for help. You opened your door, and answered their prayers.

Thank you for the brother, whose prayers to be reunited with his family were answered. Thank you for the brother, who was miraculously reunited with his wife through your grace and mercy. He did not know where she was, but you knew, and you led him right to her. Thank you for the brothers who you helped to get the SSI and workers compensation benefits they needed. Thank you for opening the door of opportunity for the brothers for who you found jobs and housing. Thank you for healing one of the men from a terribly inflamed leg. It was swollen and red and in a cast. We prayed the prayer of faith for his healing. When we came back two weeks later, his leg was totally healed.

Thank you that you loved us so much that you sacrificed your only son, Jesus, to die on the cross so all our sins could be nailed to the cross, and so those who accept Jesus as Savior could be washed of all our sins and purified by His precious blood.

Thank you for providing us with the free gift of salvation, which we qualify for, not by our deeds, but just by believing in Jesus, accepting Him as Lord and Savior, and repenting of our sins. That is all we have to do to be saved. We don’t even have to clean ourselves up first. We only have to believe and repent. Thank you for giving us a second free gift. Thank you that as soon as we are saved, you place your Holy Spirit inside of us. He will guide us, instruct us, comfort and strengthen us, help us to pray. He will help us to obey your commandments. He will help us to love you with all our mind and heart, and to love others as we love you. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to accept your free gifts of salvation and of the Holy Spirit. Thank you that all we have to say in response to your free offer is “yes.”

Thank you that when Jesus returns and your Kingdom comes, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Thank you that you will bring to earth the New Jerusalem where all that are saved will have eternal life, with no more suffering and no more sickness. Thank you that your children will dwell there in your presence. Thank you that you will restore to the believers the tree of life. Thank you for the gates of Pearl and the streets of gold in your holy city. Thank you that there will be no strife and no more injustice. Even the wolf will lie down with the lamb. Love will prevail. All will serve you and praise you constantly.

Father God, we give you all the glory and all the honor. We praise you. We worship you. We trust you. We bow down before you. We will obey your commands.  We love you with all our heart, all our soul, all our mind, and all our spirit. And we will love our neighbors as ourselves. We will forgive others as you forgive us.   You are our shield and the lifter of our heads. You are our fortress in times of trouble. You lift us up with your love. Only you can rescue us from the miry pit. Without you, we are nothing.  You are the one and only God.

Trust and Obey

See words and hear tune at http://nethymnal.org/htm/t/r/trstobey.htm 

Hear song on you tube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c98_uwooblA

When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will, He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.

Refrain

Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

Not a shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies,
But His smile quickly drives it away;
Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh or a tear,
Can abide while we trust and obey.

Refrain

Not a burden we bear, not a sorrow we share,
But our toil He doth richly repay;
Not a grief or a loss, not a frown or a cross,
But is blessed if we trust and obey.

Refrain

But we never can prove the delights of His love
Until all on the altar we lay;
For the favor He shows, for the joy He bestows,
Are for them who will trust and obey.

Refrain

Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at His feet.
Or we’ll walk by His side in the way.
What He says we will do, where He sends we will go;
Never fear, only trust and obey.

Refrain

This beautiful song sums up, in two words, what we must do to please God and obtain His blessings. Just Trust and Obey.

Trust is imperative because it is impossible to please God without faith (Heb 11:6). Jesus said if we have only the faith of a mustard seed, we can move the mountain (Matt 17:20). We all face our mountains be it external circumstances that are trying us or problems with controlling our flesh, but if we go to God in faith and repentance, He will be faithful and forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9), and whatever we pray for, believing in faith, we will receive (Matt 21:22). God will bless those that trust Him—“O Lord Almighty, blessed is the man who trusts in you” (Ps 84:11-12). If we trust the Lord and lean not on our own understanding, God will lead us in straight paths (Prov 3:5-6). How many times do we try to do things our way and by our self will without consulting God, and then flat on our face, and then cry out to God, and, in His great mercy He lifts us up? If we consult God, the Spirit of Truth will guide us in all things.

Obedience is also crucial to please God. See the scripture quotes, below:

Be watchful and obey all these words which I command you, that it may go well with you and with your children after you forever, when you do what is good and right in the sight of the Lord your God. (Deut 12:28)

If you love me, you will obey what I command. (John 14:15). Jesus says if we love Him, we must obey Him.

If you obey My commands you will remain in My love and live on in it, just as I have obeyed My Father’s commands and remain in His love. (John 15:10)

My command is this: love one another as I have loved you. (John 15:12). Jesus gave us this commandment and the other commandment, of course, was to love the Lord with all our heart, mind and spirit.

But He said, Blessed rather are those who hear the Word of God and obey it! (Luke 11:28). Apparently, Jesus agrees with Deut 12:28!

And we receive from Him whatever we ask, because we obey His commands and do what pleases Him. (1 John 3:22). So, we receive if we believe (TRUST) as stated in Matt 21:22, and also receive if we OBEY. Therefore, just do as the song says and Trust and Obey. There really is no other way. Do not get caught up in the debate of obedience vs. faith. It’s not trust or obey,  but both of the above that we need to please God.

So, how can we make ourselves be more obedient? Hint: in Ezek 36:27, God says: I will put my Spirit in you to cause you to obey my commandments. We need to fan the flame of the Holy Spirit daily so He can help us to walk in the Spirit and overcome the flesh. We fan the flame of the Holy Spirit by prayer, repentence, and reading the Word daily.

Thou, Oh Lord

Please click on the following link to see the fabulous song “Thou, Oh Lord”   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y284YvkYrZo

God Hears Our Heartfelt Cries

If we cry out to God with our whole heart in a spirit of repentance and faith, He will hear our cry and deliver us from the trials that besiege us and the pit we have fallen into. We need to cry out with repentance, faith, a pure heart, and with praise and thanksgiving. The lord will forgive us, redeem us, and save us from the pit of destruction. See the passages, below.

The first passage, Psalm 3, is the Psalm from which the above song is derived almost word for word, from the Kings James translation.

Ps 3: 1-5 David had sinned with Bathsheba. Because he turned away from God, he underwent many troubles. He was fleeing from his son, Absalom, who was trying to kill David and replace him as King. In this Psalm, David repented of his sins and turned back to God. He cried out to God. God heard his cry and became a shield for David. God delivered David from his oppressors, and restored him to his former glory. If we cry out in trust, the Lord he will lift us up and be our shield. He will restore and sustain us.

1 Lord, how are they increased that trouble me! Many are they that rise up against me. 2Many there be which say of my soul, there is no help for him in God. 3But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of my head.  4I cried unto the LORD with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. 5 I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me.

Psalm 46: 1-3 God is our strength. He will protect us through all our trials and storms and calm the waves just like Jesus did when the vessel carrying Jesus and his disciples was in the midst of a great storm. But we must cry out in faith and not fear. Remember when Peter was walking towards Jesus on the water, he had no problem until the wind kicked up and he took his eyes off of Jesus, looked at the world around him and began to fear. Then he began to sink and Jesus held him up saying to Peter, ye of little faith. So we must cry out to the Lord but not in a mindset of fear. See the passage, below for further emphasis on the importance of an attitude of faith.

1God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.  2Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;  3Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof.

 2 Corinthians 1:9-10 If we trust the Lord and not ourselves, He will deliver us from our troubles.

9But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God who raised the dead:  10Who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us.

Psalm 40: 1-4 David waited on the lord. He cried out to God. God answered David and delivered him from the slimy pit. God set David’s feet upon the solid rock. David loved the Lord. He put all his trust only in God. He sang praises to the Lord.

1 I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. 2 He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. 3 He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD. 4 Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust, who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods.

Isaiah 38: 9, 17-18 The King confessed his bitterness to God. God cleansed him of all his prior sins, and delivered him from the pit of corruption. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just, forgives our sins, and cleanses us from all unrighteousness (see 1 John 1:9).

9The writing of Hezekiah king of Judah, when he had been sick, and then recovered of his sickness:  17Behold, for peace I had great bitterness: but thou has in love to my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption: for thou hast cast all my sins behind thy back.18For the grave cannot praise you, death can not celebrate you: they who go down into the pit cannot hope for your truth.

Psalm 103: 1-5 David praises the Lord. He agrees, with all his soul, that God is the only one who can redeem us from destruction (deliver us from the pit) and can renew our strength.

1 Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me bless his holy name.  2Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:  3Who forgives all your iniquities; who heals all your diseases;  4Who redeems your life from destruction; who crowns you with love and kindness and tender mercies;  5Who satisfies your mouth with good things; so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

In prisoners’ chains
With bleeding stripes
Paul and Silas prayed that night
And in their pain began to sing
Their chains were loosed
And they were free

I bless Your Name, I bless Your Name
I give You honor, I give You praise
You are the Life, the Truth, the Way
I bless Your Name, I bless Your Name

Some midnight hour
If you should find
You’re in a prison in your mind
Reach out and praise
Defy those chains
And they will fall
In Jesus’ NameWEB SITES FOR THIS SONG

We bless Your Name, We bless Your Name
We give You honor, give You praise
You are the Life, the Truth, the Way
We bless Your Name, We bless Your Name
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjc8wWb-CkI      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBDLMgQ7ojM&feature=related   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYuosfwiHeY

STUDY THE SCRIPTURES BELOW AND SEE HOW THEY APPLY TO THE LESSON OF THIS SONG. SEE HOW SOME GREAT MEN OF THE BIBLE TRUSTED IN THE LORD AND WERE FREED FROM THEIR CHAINS AND TRIBULATIONS.

ACTS 16:20-33 God will free you from your chains if you cry out to Him in praise, song and prayer. Paul and Silas did not grumble or complain. They did not tremble in fear. They sang and prayed to the Lord and God set them free. The prison keeper was so moved that he asked them how he could be saved, and they told him to believe on Jesus. Then the jailor and all his family were saved.

20They brought them before the magistrates and said, “These men are Jews, and are throwing our city into an uproar 21by advocating customs unlawful for us Romans to accept or practice.”  22The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten. 23After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. 24Upon receiving such orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.  25About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. 26Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everybody’s chains came loose. 27The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. 28But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!”  29The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. 30He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”  31They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” 32Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. 33At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his family were baptized

DANIEL 3: 13-30 The three Jewish men trusted in God with such strong faith that they defied the King’s edict and willingly went into the fiery furnace. They trusted in the Lord, and He delivered them totally. Not only that, but Jesus, the Son of God, was present with them inside the furnace. So marvelous was their faith and so  glorious was the manner of God’s deliverance, that the King acknowledged that the Lord was the one and only God.

13 Furious with rage, Nebuchadnezzar summoned Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king, 14 and Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego that you do not serve my gods or worship the image of gold I have set up? 15 Now when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and all kinds of music, if you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?” 16 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. 17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and He will rescue us from your hand, O king. 18 But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”  19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and his attitude toward them changed. He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual 20 and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace. 21 So these men, wearing their robes, trousers, turbans and other clothes, were bound and thrown into the blazing furnace. 22 The king’s command was so urgent and the furnace so hot that the flames of the fire killed the soldiers who took up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, 23 and these three men, firmly tied, fell into the blazing furnace. 24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, “Weren’t there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?” They replied, “Certainly, O king.”  25 He said, “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like the Son of God.”  26 Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, “Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!” So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire, 27 and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers crowded around them. They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them.  28 Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king’s command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. 29 Therefore I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be cut into pieces and their houses be turned into piles of rubble, for no other god can save in this way.” 30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the province of Babylon.

COMMENTS—IF WE PRAY AND PRAISE GOD AND SING TO HIM IN TIMES OF TROUBLE HE WILL DELIVER US—HE WILL DELIVER US FROM THE MIDST OF TRIBULATION –AND LIKE THE SONG SAYS HE WILL FREE US FROM THE CHAINS OF OUR MIND THAT CAN IMPRISON US JUST LIKE A REAL PRISON CAN—HE WILL REPLACE OUR FEAR AND ANXIETY AND WORRIES WITH THE PEACE OF GOD AND WITH HIS LOVE THAT WILL ENTER OUR HEARTS.

QUESTION? WHO WAS THE FOURTH MAN THAT GOD SAW IN THE FIERY FURNACE—HE CAST IN ONLY THE 3 YOUNG MEN BUT THEN A FOURTH MAN APPEARED—WE SEE THAT THIS MAN IS THE “SON OF GOD”, WHICH THE KING HIMSELF TESTIFIES TO—THE KING SAW JESUS IN THE FURNACE MANY YEARS BEFORE JESUS WAS BORN

QUESTION TO EVERYONE READING THIS STUDY: WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF FACED WITH A SITUATION LIKE SHADRACH, MESHACH, AND ABEDNEGO? WOULD WE HAVE ENOUGH FAITH TO ACT LIKE THEY DID OR TO SING AND PRAISE GOD AS PAUL AND SILAS DID? IS OUR LACK OF FAITH A BARRIER TO EXPERIENCE THE FULL EXTENT OF THE MIRACLES GOD WANTS TO DO FOR US?

Fear can cause great damage to our body, mind and spirit. It can make us physically ill, lose our good judgment, weaken our faith, and can harm our relationship with God. We can become a slave to fear. Fear is a sin because it means we do not have faith in God. If we turn to God and Jesus for help, they will replace our fear with faith, joy and peace. If we turn to the world for help it will not be very effective. Only God can rescue and save us. The choice is yours.

Psalm 34: 3-4 EXALT THE LORD AND HE WILL DELIVER YOU FROM ALL YOUR FEARS

3 Glorify the LORD with me; let us exalt his name together. 4 I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.

Psalm 40: 1-3 IF YOU CRY OUT IN FAITH GOD WILL LIFT YOU OUT OF THE PIT AND PUT YOU ON A SOLID ROCK

1 I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry.  2 He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.  3 He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD.

Psalm 46: 1-5 GOD IS OUR REFUGE AND STRENGTH IN TIME OF TROUBLE-DO NOT FEAR

1 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.  2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,  3 though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. 4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of our God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. 5 God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day.

Deut 1: 1, 21, 32-36—FEAR STRUCK OUT—DUE TO LACK OF FAITH THE ISRAELITES WERE NOT ALLOWED TO ENTER THE PROMISED LAND

1 These are the words Moses spoke to all Israel…8 See, I have given you this land. Go in and take possession of the land that the LORD swore he would give to your fathers—to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob—and to their descendants after them.”… 21 See, the LORD your God has given you the land. Go up and take possession of it as the LORD, the God of your fathers, told you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”… 32 In spite of this, you did not trust in the LORD your God, 33 who went ahead of you on your journey, in fire by night and in a cloud by day, to search out places for you to camp and to show you the way you should go. 34 When the LORD heard what you said, he was angry and solemnly swore: 35 “Not a man of this evil generation shall see the good land I swore to give your forefathers, 36 except Caleb. He will see it, and I will give him and his descendants the land he set his feet on, because he followed the LORD wholeheartedly.”

1 Samuel 17: 24, 45, 48—FAITH WON THE VICTORY-DAVID AND GOLIATH

24 When the Israelites saw the man, they all ran from him in great fear…45 David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, …48 As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him.

Isaiah 26: 3-4 HE WHO TRUSTS THE LORD WILL HAVE PERFECT PEACE

3 You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. 4 Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD, is the Rock eternal.

Isaiah 40: 29-31 THOSE WHO HOPE ON GOD WILL BE STRENGTHENED AND SOAR AS EAGLES

29 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. 30 Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; 31 but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

Isaiah 41:10 DO NOT FEAR FOR THE LORD IS WITH US TO UPHOLD US

10 So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Matthew 14: 28-33 PETER WALKED IN FAITH ON THE WATER BUT THEN HE FEARED AND BEGAN TO SINK BUT THE LORD IN HIS MERCY RESCUED PETER WHEN HE CALLED OUT TO HIM

28“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”  29“Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” 31Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”

John 14:27 JESUS LEAVES HIS PEACE WITH US THROUGH THE PRESENCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT WHO LIVES INSIDE ALL BELIEVERS

25“All this I have spoken while still with you. 26But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. 27Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

2 Corinthians 4: 6-10 GOD’S HOLY SPIRIT SHINES IN US SO WE CAN MAKE IT THROUGH THE HARDEST OF TIMES

6For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.  7But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 8We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 10We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.

Phil 4: 6-7, 11-13 DON’T BE AFRAID BUT THANK GOD IN PRAYER AND HE WILL GIVE US THE PEACE AND STRENGTH WE NEED

6Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus….11I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13I can do everything through him who gives me strength.    

2 Timothy 1:7 GOD’S HOLY SPIRIT WHO LIVES INSIDE THE BELIEVERS GIVES THEM A SPIRIT OF POWER AND A SOUND MIND

7For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

1 Peter 5:5-6 CAST YOUR FEARS AND TROUBLES ON GOD OUR FATHER

6Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time. 7Cast all your cares on Him because He cares for you.

1 John 4: 18-19 GOD IS LOVE-HIS LOVE INSIDE US WILL DRIVE OUR FEAR AWAY

 God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in Him. 17In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the Day of Judgment, because in this world we are like him. 18There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

Revelation 21: 1, 6-8 MESSAGE TO JOHN FROM GOD FROM THE THRONE WHEN THE NEW JERUSALEM COMES DOWN TO EARTH—MESSAGE IS: YOU CAN CHOSE HEAVEN OR HELL BY BELIEVING ON JESUS (FAITH) OR CHOOSING TO NOT BELIEVE AND TO LIVE IN FEAR

1Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2I saw the Holy City, the New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” …6He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life.

7He who overcomes [the believers] will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son. 8But the fearful, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”

The meeting was very anointed and successful. We prayed for the men and praised God. Then we sang some songs of hope with the men such as Victory is Mine and All the Way to Calvary.

Then we conducted a Bible Study on John 1 and 2. The men took turns reading the verses, and then we discussed the meaning of what was read, and how it applied to our lives and the lives of the men we were visiting. The men actively participated in the discussion. We discussed how if we believe in Jesus we will become children of God with the Holy Spirit as a deposit placed inside of us, and with the guarantee of eternal life in the presence of God. We discussed how Nazareth,  was a very small and insignificant town with a bad reputation, yet our Savior, Jesus, came from there. If something great can come from Nazareth, so can a great deal come from people who now are living in the men’s shelter if they accept Jesus and let the Lord transform them. And just like Jesus turned the water into the best wine, He can transform the men we visited from impurity into holiness. The Holy Spirit will transform them by producing the fruit of the Spirit in them: faith, love, patience, goodness, long-suffering, etc.

I gave my testimony about how I was saved after God miraculously healed 3 herniated discs in my neck, and one of the men said he also had the same 3 herniated discs as I had. One of my brothers in Christ gave them hope by testifying about how he once was a coke addict living in a shelter, but that he got saved, and then broke free of the chains that were binding him, and now is reaching out to the other prisoners (many people are prisoners in their mind). We then told the men how many prior residents of the shelter they live in were miraculously set free after being saved and after praying to God in faith and praise.

We then prayed for some of the men who wanted prayer, and had them fill out prayer cards which the Prayer Band at my church will pray over for 30 days.

Then we invited the men to accept Jesus as Savior by repenting of their sins and accepting him by faith, through the sinners’ prayer. Twelve of the 25 men present accepted Jesus as Savior. The Word of God has great power. Hallelujah, thank you Lord for your presence today at our meeting with the men.  

Not only was it so encouraging to see so many souls saved, but it was very heartening that every one of the men asked if they could keep the large print books of John we had handed out, and of course these books now belong to them, and we encouraged them to read the book during the 2 weeks before we come again, and to study the scriptures by meeting in small groups.

We then ended the meeting by serving the men a dinner of chicken and rice, salad, fruit drinks and wonderful cakes. We did what the sheep of Matthew 25 did. We gave the men food and drink, visited them in their loneliness, reached out to them with the Love of God, and planted the Word of God in their hearts.

Remember, we must be doers and not just sayers of the Word. Christians need to get up out of their seats at Church and join ministries to reach out to the multitudes who still are living in darkness, and not receiving the light.

9 In King Hezekiah’s fourth year… Shalmaneser king of Assyria marched against Samaria and laid siege to it. 10 At the end of three years the Assyrians took it. So Samaria was captured …11 The king of Assyria deported Israel to Assyria and settled them in Halah, in Gozan on the Habor River and in towns of the Medes.

ASSYRIA WAS A VERY CRUEL EMPIRE. HEZEKIAH WAS THE KING OF JUDAH, WHICH WAS THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE JEWISH EMPIRE. THE CAPITAL OF JUDAH WAS JERUSALEM. THE NORTHERN PORTION OF THE JEWISH EMPIRE WAS ISRAEL, AND ITS CAPTITAL WAS SAMARIA. DURING THE TIME HEZEKIAH RULED JUDAH, THE ASSYRIANS CONQUERED ISRAEL AND ITS CAPITAL, SAMARIA. HOWEVER, THEY FAILED TO CONQUER JUDAH. THE JEWISH PEOPLE HATED ASSYRIA BECAUSE IT NOT ONLY CONQUERED ISRAEL, BUT ALSO TOOK THE PEOPLE CAPTIVE INTO ASSYRIA AS SLAVES. THE CAPITAL OF ASSYRIA WAS NINEVEH, A VERY WICKED CITY THAT WAS EVIL IN THE EYES OF GOD.

Jonah 1: 1-17

 1 The word of the LORD came to Jonah …2 “Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.”  3 But Jonah ran away from the LORD and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the LORD. 4 Then the LORD sent a great wind on the sea, and such a violent storm arose that the ship threatened to break up…7 Then the sailors said to each other, “Come, let us cast lots to find out who is responsible for this calamity.” They cast lots and the lot fell on Jonah.  8 So they asked him, “Tell us, who is responsible for making all this trouble for us? … 9 He answered, “I am a Hebrew and I worship the LORD, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the land.” 10 This terrified them and they asked, “What have you done?” (They knew he was running away from the LORD, because he had already told them so.) 11 The sea was getting rougher and rougher. So they asked him, “What should we do to you to make the sea calm down for us?” 12 “Pick me up and throw me into the sea,” he replied, “and it will become calm. I know that it is my fault that this great storm has come upon you.” 13 Instead, the men did their best to row back to land. But they could not, for the sea grew even wilder than before. 14 Then they cried to the LORD, “O LORD, please do not let us die for taking this man’s life. Do not hold us accountable for killing an innocent man, for you, O LORD, have done as you pleased.” 15 Then they took Jonah and threw him overboard, and the raging sea grew calm. 16 At this the men greatly feared the LORD, and they offered a sacrifice to the LORD and made vows to him.17 But the LORD provided a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was inside the fish three days and three nights.

LATER IN HISTORY, GOD TOLD JONAH TO GO TO NINEVEH AND PREACH AGAINST IT BECAUSE OF ITS WICKEDNESS IN THE EYES OF THE LORD

FOR THE REASONS SEEN IN 2 KINGS, JONAH HATED ASSYRIA AND ITS CAPITAL NINEVEH AND JONAH WANTED TO SEE THE CITY DESTROYED SO INSTEAD OF ACTING BASED ON THE WILL OF GOD (AS JESUS DID ON THE CROSS), JONAH ACTED ON HIS OWN SELF WILL AND TRIED TO FLEE FROM GOD

HOWEVER WHEN GOD CALLS YOU, YOU CANNOT RUN AWAY FROM GOD, AND ALL JONAH GOT FOR HIS EFFORTS WAS BEING SWALLOWED INSIDE THE BELLY OF A HUGE FISH, WHERE HE REMAINED FOR 3 DAYS AND 3 NIGHTS (JUST LIKE JESUS WAS BURIED IN THE TOMB FOR 3 DAYS AND THEN ROSE AGAIN)

Jonah 2: 1-10

1 From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the LORD his God. 2 He said: “In my distress I called to the LORD, and he answered me. From the depths of the grave I called for help, and you listened to my cry. 3 You hurled me into the deep, into the very heart of the seas, and the currents swirled about me; all your waves and breakers swept over me. 4 I said, ‘I have been banished from your sight; yet I will look again toward your holy temple…. But you brought my life up from the pit, O LORD my God. 7 “When my life was ebbing away, I remembered you, LORD, and my prayer rose to you, to your holy temple. 8 “Those who cling to Worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs. 9 But I, with a song of thanksgiving, will sacrifice to you. What I have vowed I will make good. Salvation comes from the LORD.” 10 And the LORD commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.

GOD HAS THROWN JONAH INTO THE PIT OF DEATH AND BROUGHT JONAH TO HIS KNEES. GOD NOW HAS CAUGHT THE ATTENTION OF JONAH. IF WE ARE RUNNING FROM GOD AND HIS WILL AND PLAN FOR US, GOD WILL SUBJECT US TO TRIBULATIONS AND TRIAS TO GET OUR ATTENTION, AND WHEN THIS OCCURS WE REALLY DO NEED TO WAKE UP AND SMELL THE COFFEE.

JONAH PRAYS TO GOD AND REPENTS FOR HIS DISOBEDIENCE. NOTICE HOW HE PRAYS IN STRONG FAITH, DECLARING, IN ADVANCE, THAT GOD WOULD BRING HIM UP OUT OF THE PIT.

HE PRAYS WITH THANKSGIVING TO THE LORD, AND VOWS TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT, AND WHAT GOD HAD ASKED HIM TO DO—TO PREACH TO NIENEVEH

BECAUSE HE AGAIN WAS FOCUSING ON THE LORD, AND THE WILL OF GOD, THE LORD COMMANDED THE FISH TO VOMIT JONAH ONTO DRY LAND, AND THE FISH DID SO. ONLY GOD, AND NOT ANY MAN, CAN REDEEM US WHEN WE ARE IN THE PIT.

Jonah 3:

1 Then the word of the LORD came to Jonah a second time: 2 “Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you.”  3 Jonah obeyed the word of the LORD and went to Nineveh …4 On the first day, Jonah started into the city. He proclaimed: “Forty more days and Nineveh will be overturned.” 5 The Ninevites believed God. They declared a fast, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth. 6 When the news reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, took off his royal robes, covered himself with sackcloth and sat down in the dust. 7 Then he issued a proclamation in Nineveh: “By the decree of the king and his nobles: Do not let any man or beast, herd or flock, taste anything; do not let them eat or drink. 8 But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth. Let everyone call urgently on God. Let them give up their evil ways and their violence. 9 Who knows? God may yet relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger so that we will not perish.” 10 When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he had compassion and did not bring upon them the destruction he had threatened. (see 2 Chronicles 7:14)

GOD AGAIN COMMANDED JONAH TO GO TO NINEVEH AND PROCLAIM THE MESSAGE GOD PREVIOULSY HAD GIVEN TO JONAH

THIS TIME JONAH OBEYED THE WILL OF GOD AND TOLD THE PEOPLE OF NINEVEH THAT THEY HAD ONLY 40 DAYS BEFORE THEY WOULD BE DESTROYED.

THE PEOPLE FASTED, REPENTED FROM THEIR EVIL WAYS AND GOD RELENTED BECAUSE THEY HAD TURNED FROM THEIR EVIL WAYS.

DESPITE THE TERRIBLE EVIL DONE IN THE CITY, AND DESPITE THE EVIL ASSYRIA HAD DONE TO THE KINGDOM OF ISRAEL, GOD FORGAVE THE PEOPLE WHEN THEY SINCERELY REPENTED, JUST AS GOD FORGIVES US WHEN WE BELIEVE IN HIM AND HIS SON AND REPENT OF OUR SINS. IT IS NEVER TOO LATE TO REPENT AND ACCEPT JESUS AS OUR SAVIOR.

NOTE THAT REPENTENCE INVOLVES A SINCERE DESIRE TO SIN NO MORE AND TO DO THE WILL OF GOD. IT ALSO INVOLVES DOING YOUR BEST TO GO FORWARD AND OBEY GOD. GOD FORGAVE JONAH WHEN HE REPENTED AND FORGAVE NINEVEH WHEN IT REPENTED AND WHEN THEY ACTUALLY DID OBEY THE WILL OF GOD ONCE MORE.

 Matthew 12: 38-41

38Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law said to him, “Teacher, we want to see a miraculous sign from you.”  39He answered, “A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a miraculous sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 41The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now one greater than Jonah is here.

JESUS TELLS THE WICKED PHARISEES THAT THEIR GENERATION ARE WICKED AND WILL NOT SEE A MIRACULOUS SIGN FROM HIM OR FROM GOD

INSTEAD ON THE JUDGMENT DAY WHEN JESUS COMES AGAIN, THEY WILL BE CONDEMNED AND THE ONLY SIGN THEY SEE, AT THAT TIME, WILL BE THE SIGN OF JONAH, WHEN THE MEN OF JONAH WHO REPENTED WILL STAND UP, ALONG WITH JESUS, TO CONDEMN THE GENERATION OF THE PHARISEES. THE MEN OF NINEVEH WHO REPENTED WILL BE SAVED, BUT THE PHARISEES WHO WERE HYPOCRITES WHO REFUSED TO REPENT OF THEIR SINS WOULD BE CONDEMNED TO HELL. THE NINEVITES LISTENED TO JONAH’S WARNING, BUT THE PHARISEES REFUSED TO LISTEN TO THE WARNINGS AND TEACHINGS OF THE SON OF GOD.

Jonah 4: 1-4, 11

1 But Jonah was greatly displeased and became angry. 2 He prayed to the LORD, “O LORD, is this not what I said when I was still at home? That is why I was so quick to flee to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity. 3 Now, O LORD, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live.” 4 But the LORD replied, “Have you any right to be angry?”… 11 But Nineveh has more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left, and many cattle as well. Should I not be concerned about that great city?”

EVEN AFTER OBEYING GOD AND GIVING GOD’S WARNING TO NINEVEH, JONAH AGAIN IS ANGRY. HE IS TELLING GOD HE ORIGINALLY HAD TRIED TO RUN AWAY FROM GOD AND HIS COMMAND BECAUSE HE KNEW GOD WAS A GOD OF LOVE AND WOULD SPARE NINEVEH IF IT REPENTED. BUT GOD NOW EXPLAINS TO JONAH THAT HE SHOULD NOT BE ANGRY BECAUSE GOD IS A GOD OF LOVE AND IS CONCERNED ABOUT ALL THE GREAT NUMBERS OF PEOPLE IN THE CITY, ESPECIALLY AS THESE PEOPLE ARE CONFUSED AND NEED HIS LOVE AND HIS HELP. WE MUST LOVE AND FORGIVE OUR ENEMIES.