King James Bible Study – [And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. – Mark 8:34]
Date: Wednesday, March 24, 2024
Chapters: Deuteronomy Chapters 27-28
Message: Eternal Life Requires Faith
Hello My Friend,
[Christian, take good care of thy faith; for recollect faith is the only way whereby thou canst obtain blessings. If we want blessings from God, nothing can fetch them down but faith. Prayer cannot draw down answers from God’s throne except it be the earnest prayer of the man who believes…Faith is the telegraphic wire which links earth and heaven-on which God’s messages of love fly so fast, that before we call he answers, and while we are yet speaking he hears us. But if that telegraphic wire of faith be snapped, how can we receive the promise? Am I in trouble?-I can obtain help for trouble by faith…But without faith how can I receive anything of the Lord? Let not him that wavereth-who is like a wave of the Sea-expect that he will receive anything of God!] – Charles Spurgeon
There comes a time in everyone’s life when they do start to wonder about life and where they will be once they die. Now, some people are down right ignorant to the fact that life does not end when the flesh dies, but whether one chooses to believe that or not, the soul has to go somewhere and the place it will end up has to do with our faith in God. Today, in order to get God’s blessing we need Jesus Christ, even those who were here before Christ came here in the flesh knew that He was coming and it was that belief that saved their souls too.
[Romans 4:16-17,20-21 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all, 17 (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were. 20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; 21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.]
As we continue in the reading of Deuteronomy, Moses, had just given the new generation of Israelites as well as those who chose to cross over with them into the promise land a rundown of the Law and what God expected of them once they got there. As soon as they crossed over there was something the Israelites were to do first.
[Deuteronomy 27:1-3,5-6 And Moses with the elders of Israel commanded the people, saying, Keep all the commandments which I command you this day. 2 And it shall be on the day when ye shall pass over Jordan unto the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, that thou shalt set thee up great stones, and plaister them with plaister: 3 And thou shalt write upon them all the words of this law, when thou art passed over, that thou mayest go in unto the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, a land that floweth with milk and honey; as the LORD God of thy fathers hath promised thee. 5 And there shalt thou build an altar unto the LORD thy God, an altar of stones: thou shalt not lift up any iron tool upon them. 6 Thou shalt build the altar of the LORD thy God of whole stones: and thou shalt offer burnt offerings thereon unto the LORD thy God:]
[And thou shalt write upon them all the words of this law,] Once they crossed over the Jordan River they were to build a stone wall and write every word of the Law written upon it. This was done so that anyone coming in can see it, read it, know that God was there, and had the choice to follow it themselves. The second that a lost soul finds Jesus, their soul has crossed over from death to life, the Gospel has been written upon their hearts, and eternal life enters their souls, [2 Corinthians 3:3 Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.]
[Thou shalt build the altar of the LORD thy God of whole stones:] They very first thing they were to do once they crossed over was build an altar for God and give an offering to God. At the precise moment that one receives Christ the Holy Spirit enters it and dwells there until it is brought home to God. This is where it would be wise to get baptized shortly after as a token of ones faith, [Romans 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.]
It is important that a converted soul read the Bible and keeps reading it until it indwells their heart as one cannot read the Bible one time and know God. In fact, it is a Christian lifetime of reading it just to reach the surface. The Bible is not hard to understand and do not buy into the deception that you need several versions in order to understand it, the Holy Spirit will teach a save soul how to understand it. If you ask me, the versions are harder to understand because they are taking away key words and phrases that are clearly written. Moses, points out that they were to write the words of the Law very plainly.
[Deuteronomy 27:8-13 And thou shalt write upon the stones all the words of this law very plainly. 9 And Moses and the priests the Levites spake unto all Israel, saying, Take heed, and hearken, O Israel; this day thou art become the people of the LORD thy God. 10 Thou shalt therefore obey the voice of the LORD thy God, and do his commandments and his statutes, which I command thee this day. 11 And Moses charged the people the same day, saying, 12 These shall stand upon mount Gerizim to bless the people, when ye are come over Jordan; Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and Issachar, and Joseph, and Benjamin: 13 And these shall stand upon mount Ebal to curse; Reuben, Gad, and Asher, and Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali.]
[this day thou art become the people of the LORD thy God.] You do not become a people of God by joining a church or even getting baptized, you become a people of God as soon as you cross over in your faith in Christ. God, makes everything simple, it is man made religion that complicates things and literally keeps a soul from the truth of the Gospel, [Galatians 1:6-7 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: 7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.]
[And these shall stand upon mount Ebal to curse;] So, the chief’s of each tribe were divided and half of them were to climb up to Mount Gerizim, which was a mountain in Samaria opposite to Mount Ebal, while the other half were to climb up to Mount Ebal. Notice how the tribes were divided, those who were the children of Leah and Rachel, were sent to Mount Gerizim while the others were of the handmaids or concubines. This was done to show both the dignity of the blessings above the curses, and that the blessings belong only to those who are set free from the curse of death, [Romans 6:22-23 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. 23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.]
Saved or not, sin will always bring curses and if one is saved and lives a life of sin those curses will overtake the blessings. Why? Since the Holy Spirit now indwells the soul it is impossible to keep living in sin as it will literally become a boxing match between the flesh and Spirit. And believe me, the curses always outweigh the blessings. Now, after the tribes were divided and climbed up the mountains, the Levites were to shout out what those curses and blessings were. They turned toward Mount Gerizim and began shouting out the curses.
[Deuteronomy 27:15-19,26 Cursed be the man that maketh any graven or molten image, an abomination unto the LORD, the work of the hands of the craftsman, and putteth it in a secret place. And all the people shall answer and say, Amen. 16 Cursed be he that setteth light by his father or his mother. And all the people shall say, Amen. 17 Cursed be he that removeth his neighbour’s landmark. And all the people shall say, Amen. 18 Cursed be he that maketh the blind to wander out of the way. And all the people shall say, Amen. 19 Cursed be he that perverteth the judgment of the stranger, fatherless, and widow. And all the people shall say, Amen. 26 Cursed be he that confirmeth not all the words of this law to do them. And all the people shall say, Amen.]
[And all the people shall say, Amen.] They cannot argue with God and they can attempt to erase the words of God with these perversions of God’s written word. The only thing you can do when you come to the knowledge that something you have done or are doing is sin is to say, Amen. I have had to do this a few times, but I will say this, it is much better to confess and accept the chastening from God than it is to be chastened before we come clean, [Hebrews 12:11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.]
The chastening from God is actually what brings us to our senses, and while God already knows everything it is much better for us to admit what we did rather than to hide it or even worse, keep on doing it. There is a difference between someone who tries and fails and someone who has no intention of trying, and God does know the difference. Now, the Levites turned toward Mount Ebal, and the blessings were shouted out loud.
[Deuteronomy 28:1-6 And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth: 2 And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God. 3 Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field. 4 Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy ground, and the fruit of thy cattle, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep. 5 Blessed shall be thy basket and thy store. 6 Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out.]
[Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in,] The second that one receives Christ as their Saviour they are going in blessed, and even if they do not any other thing they will leave here blessed solely because of their faith in Christ. We know that this is possible because of one of the men who got saved while hanging on his own cross next to Jesus, [Luke 23:42-43 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. 43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.] With that said, those who do have a little more time with their salvation other than on their deathbed ought to be living their lives through Christ. Why? Because we are a holy people. Moses, reminds the Israelites of this.
[Deuteronomy 28:9-13 The LORD shall establish thee an holy people unto himself, as he hath sworn unto thee, if thou shalt keep the commandments of the LORD thy God, and walk in his ways. 10 And all people of the earth shall see that thou art called by the name of the LORD; and they shall be afraid of thee. 11 And the LORD shall make thee plenteous in goods, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy ground, in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers to give thee. 12 The LORD shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow. 13 And the LORD shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the LORD thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do them:]
[the LORD shall make thee the head, and not the tail;] There is truly a difference between being at the head of the line rather the end. Those who are faithful and obedient to God tend to be the front-runners and leaders of the pack, their nations are blessed and respected by even their enemies. However, those who are not will indeed bring curses upon their nations, and they will overtake that nation.
[Deuteronomy 28:15,28-29,37,44 But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee: 28 The LORD shall smite thee with madness, and blindness, and astonishment of heart: 29 And thou shalt grope at noonday, as the blind gropeth in darkness, and thou shalt not prosper in thy ways: and thou shalt be only oppressed and spoiled evermore, and no man shall save thee. 37 And thou shalt become an astonishment, a proverb, and a byword, among all nations whither the LORD shall lead thee. 44 He shall lend to thee, and thou shalt not lend to him: he shall be the head, and thou shalt be the tail.]
[And thou shalt become an astonishment…among all nations] Some gruesome prophesies are written within the curses that will come when they turn on God. This is why I always say that America is a mirror of Israel, it mimics it so much, including the curses that have come at the result of their turning their backs on God. Moses, goes on to describe what will happen as a result of these curses that they would bring upon themselves.
[Deuteronomy 28:46-49,53 And they shall be upon thee for a sign and for a wonder, and upon thy seed for ever. 47 Because thou servedst not the LORD thy God with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart, for the abundance of all things; 48 Therefore shalt thou serve thine enemies which the LORD shall send against thee, in hunger, and in thirst, and in nakedness, and in want of all things: and he shall put a yoke of iron upon thy neck, until he have destroyed thee. 49 The LORD shall bring a nation against thee from far, from the end of the earth, as swift as the eagle flieth; a nation whose tongue thou shalt not understand; 53 And thou shalt eat the fruit of thine own body, the flesh of thy sons and of thy daughters, which the LORD thy God hath given thee, in the siege, and in the straitness, wherewith thine enemies shall distress thee:]
[Because thou servedst not the LORD thy God with joyfulness,] This is what it all comes down to and I get it, things are not always joyful even when we are obedient. In fact, Jesus said that part of our blessings will come through persecution, [Matthew 5:10-12 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.]
The truth is whether or not we choose Christ we are still going to face hardships and persecution so we might as well get on God’s side. We always have a choice, but we may not like the outcome should we choose to accept Christ and not serve Him with joyfulness. Moses, goes on to remind the Israelites what the result would be should they choose God and will not observe the Law.
[Deuteronomy 28:58-62,66 If thou wilt not observe to do all the words of this law that are written in this book, that thou mayest fear this glorious and fearful name, THE LORD THY GOD; 59 Then the LORD will make thy plagues wonderful, and the plagues of thy seed, even great plagues, and of long continuance, and sore sicknesses, and of long continuance. 60 Moreover he will bring upon thee all the diseases of Egypt, which thou wast afraid of; and they shall cleave unto thee. 61 Also every sickness, and every plague, which is not written in the book of this law, them will the LORD bring upon thee, until thou be destroyed. 62 And ye shall be left few in number, whereas ye were as the stars of heaven for multitude; because thou wouldest not obey the voice of the LORD thy God. 66 And thy life shall hang in doubt before thee; and thou shalt fear day and night, and shalt have none assurance of thy life:]
[that thou mayest fear this glorious and fearful name,] God, is not out to strike us dead every time we mess up and He does not want to send everyone to hell. In fact, He doesn’t want to send any soul to hell, and He would have saved every soul that is in hell right now if they only believed in Him. All He wants is some respect as we all do, [Leviticus 26:9-12 For I will have respect unto you, and make you fruitful, and multiply you, and establish my covenant with you. 10 And ye shall eat old store, and bring forth the old because of the new. 11 And I will set my tabernacle among you: and my soul shall not abhor you. 12 And I will walk among you, and will be your God, and ye shall be my people.]
[and shalt have none assurance of thy life:] Do you know where you are going when your body dies? Your soul will go to one of two places until Jesus returns, heaven or hell. The world does not have the assurance of their lives. Religion, does not have the assurance of their lives. However, those who do believe in and receive Christ as their Saviour do have the assurance of eternal life with Him, [1 John 5:12-13 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. 13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.]
Jesus Christ Revealed/Magnified: [Deuteronomy 28:9-10 The LORD shall establish thee an holy people unto himself, as he hath sworn unto thee, if thou shalt keep the commandments of the LORD thy God, and walk in his ways. 10 And all people of the earth shall see that thou art called by the name of the LORD; and they shall be afraid of thee.]
Today’s Prayer: God, Thank You, for making it easy to come to You and escape the curse of death upon my soul. We do not have to remember hundreds of commands, we just need to believe in Your Son, Jesus Christ. Through our faith alone in Your Son, we not only receive life, it is eternal and we get to dwell with You here as the Holy Spirit makes His home into our soul. Lord, Since You do dwell in us, lead us and guide us so that we might serve You with joyfulness as get in Your Word, study it, and ingrain it into our hearts. We may not know everything, but we are one step closer to You and that is all You ask of us. I ask these things in Your name, Jesus, Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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