KJB Daily Devotion – Following Jesus Through Every Chapter
Date: Tuesday, May 10, 2016
Chapters: 2 Chronicles 15-17
Message: Communicating With God
Hello My Friend,
People have this notion, and a lot of pastors and teachers will tell you this also, that the God written in the Bible is not the same God we worship today. Oh, they say that He is the same yesterday, today, and forever, but they do not believe that He does the same things He did during Old and New Testament days. Now, since we are under the law of grace and not works, we can only get to God through Jesus, but He is still the same God and very capable of parting the seas and bringing fire down from heaven. Why is it that we do not see Him do so many extraordinary things today? Unbelief. “And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.” – Matthew 17:20,21.
Prayer is the key to communicating with God, He wants us to talk to Him, not just through some ritual prayer, but all day long. Fasting is when we go that extra mile to get God’s attention. Prayer and fasting do not guarantee that we see the outcome we like, but it does guarantee our efforts will not go unnoticed by God. Asa did very well as king, in fact, he prospered greatly and the land had rest from their enemies for the majority of his reign. Asa credited his success to God, and even did great things to make sure that the only law in Judah was God’s law.
“And he gathered all Judah and Benjamin, and the strangers with them out of Ephraim and Manasseh, and out of Simeon: for they fell to him out of Israel in abundance, when they saw that the LORD his God was with him. So they gathered themselves together at Jerusalem in the third month, in the fifteenth year of the reign of Asa. And they offered unto the LORD the same time, of the spoil which they had brought, seven hundred oxen and seven thousand sheep. And they entered into a covenant to seek the LORD God of their fathers with all their heart and with all their soul; That whosoever would not seek the LORD God of Israel should be put to death, whether small or great, whether man or woman. And they sware unto the LORD with a loud voice, and with shouting, and with trumpets, and with cornets. And all Judah rejoiced at the oath: for they had sworn with all their heart, and sought him with their whole desire; and he was found of them: and the LORD gave them rest round about.” – 2 Chronicles 15:9-15.
“when they saw that the LORD his God was with him.” Believe it or not, when the presence of God is noticed by the world many will flock to Him. The lost are not hopeless, many are in search of something to show them that they get get through their problems. There is a church next door to my gym, it’s called Rethink Life Church. It has nothing to do with God or Jesus, but focuses having a positive attitude within. Yeah, I know, not exactly what the world needs, but this proves that people know this world is a mess and are looking for something to give them hope. Jesus is that hope we all need, and if people see Jesus in us than He will wear off on us and people will come to Him through us. That is why it is important that we communicate with God all day long, if we feel He is distant, that is when we need to get fasting. “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 4:6,7.
Asa was about to find out first hand that even if you are saved You need constant communication with God. Asa and the kingdom of Judah enjoyed many years of peace and prosperity, but later when Baasha, king of Syria, became a threat, Asa made a foolish decision to buy them off to find peace rather than ask God how to handle it. God confronted Asa about that decision, but instead of listening to God he stopped all communication with him.
“And at that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah, and said unto him, Because thou hast relied on the king of Syria, and not relied on the LORD thy God, therefore is the host of the king of Syria escaped out of thine hand. Were not the Ethiopians and the Lubims a huge host, with very many chariots and horsemen? yet, because thou didst rely on the LORD, he delivered them into thine hand. For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars. Then Asa was wroth with the seer, and put him in a prison house; for he was in a rage with him because of this thing. And Asa oppressed some of the people the same time. And Asa in the thirty and ninth year of his reign was diseased in his feet, until his disease was exceeding great: yet in his disease he sought not to the LORD, but to the physicians.” – 2 Chronicles 16:7-10,12.
“yet in his disease he sought not to the LORD,” Asa let his guilt and pride get in the way and died prematurely because he refused to admit he sinned. When he found out that God was angry at the decision he made he was ashamed to stand before him, so, instead of seeking forgiveness he forsook God. Many saved people have left God, even denounced their faith in Jesus after either getting caught in sin or felt that they did something unforgivable. Let me tell you, once saved always saved, as long as we receive Christ as our Saviour and meant it when we did, we will forever be saved. It is the guilt and pride of the flesh that causes people to stop living for God, but God knows the true heart, and if they were saved before they went awol they will be found when Jesus calls them. “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” – John 10:11-28.
Now, Jehoshaphat reigns in Asa’s stead, and he did more to restore the kingdom than any of the kings had done, since David. “And Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his stead, and strengthened himself against Israel. And he placed forces in all the fenced cities of Judah, and set garrisons in the land of Judah, and in the cities of Ephraim, which Asa his father had taken. And the LORD was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the first ways of his father David, and sought not unto Baalim; But sought to the LORD God of his father, and walked in his commandments, and not after the doings of Israel. Therefore the LORD stablished the kingdom in his hand; and all Judah brought to Jehoshaphat presents; and he had riches and honour in abundance. And his heart was lifted up in the ways of the LORD: moreover he took away the high places and groves out of Judah.” – 2 Chronicles 17:1-6.
“Therefore the LORD stablished the kingdom in his hand;” Jehoshaphat made sure everything he did reflected God, from his own life to his family, and even business affairs, the people knew that God was a big part of his life. God blesses us when we are faithful to Him, being faithful to God does not mean we are not going to mess up from time to time, it means He is a part of every part of our lives. Having constant communication with God is the key to making Him a part of everything we do. Yes, we are going to have days of silence, but when we do not have the energy to speak God will speak to us. Jesus teaches us how we are to communicate with God. “But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him. Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.” – Matthew 6:6-8,16-18.
Jesus Christ Revealed: Today, Jesus is revealed through Jehoshaphat, who established the kingdom under the authority of God. When Jesus returns, His kingdom will be established in His hand. “When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:” – Matthew 25:31,32.
Today’s Prayer: God, As much faith as I have in You, I still find myself struggling with unbelief sometimes. Lord, help my unbelief, help me to always seek You first, to keep talking to You, even when I do not have the strength to talk. Give me faith that not only moves mountains, but crushes them, help me to let go of any guilt or shame from the past that keeps me from moving closer to You and asking You for what I am in need of. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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