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, June 26, 2019
Chapters: I Kings 16-17, II Chronicles 17
Message: Revival Begins At The Pulpit
Hello My Friend,
There are several statistics showing that there are between six to ten thousand churches closing their doors per year. Given the fact that I believe God is not in every church that has the name of a Christian denomination on it, that number is still staggering. A church needs to grow spiritually in order to stay active and remain open. When we walk out of a church service we ought to leave feeling better than we did when we came in. Its healing powers of truth, encouragement, hope, and conviction should be running through our spiritual veins, and we should be growing. Remember, Jesus is our great physician, we could rely on a thousand doctors to try and heal us, but without Jesus it would never happen. “And when the scribes and Pharisees saw him eat with publicans and sinners, they said unto his disciples, How is it that he eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners? When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” – Mark 2:16-17.
“but sinners to repentance.” When a church starts to decline in numbers they start to panic, and sadly, this is where many start to allow the world to creep in, and before you know it they are ignoring the Word of God for the sake of keeping the offering plate full. I do not know about you, but I am tired of seeing churches turning a blind eye to sin and even welcoming it in. WE ARE NOT TO BE LIKE THE WORLD. If a church cannot stand becoming like the world, neither can a nation. With Israel divided as a nation, the Northern kingdom was falling downhill fast, Jeroboam started it all with his causing the nation to turn away from God when he had two golden calves made and the people started worshiping them. In the forty-one years that Asa reigned in the Southern Kingdom, Jeroboam and his entire family along with several others lost their lives under God’s judgment, and the kingdom would literally be taken over by someone even more evil than the last one. Now, we come to Ahab.
“And in the thirty and eighth year of Asa king of Judah began Ahab the son of Omri to reign over Israel: and Ahab the son of Omri reigned over Israel in Samaria twenty and two years. And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD above all that were before him. And it came to pass, as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took to wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Zidonians, and went and served Baal, and worshipped him. And he reared up an altar for Baal in the house of Baal, which he had built in Samaria. And Ahab made a grove; and Ahab did more to provoke the LORD God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel that were before him.” – I Kings 16:29-33.
that he took to wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal” It was Jezebel that was the influence here, she was a ruthless queen, and Ahab was wrapped around he little finger. She forbid the Law of God to be taught in the kingdom, and killed anyone who would dare teach them. And because of all this, God had sent a drought.
“And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word. And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan. And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there. And it came to pass after a while, that the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land. And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongeth to Zidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee.” – I Kings 17:1-4,7-9.
“I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee.” You see, even though the kingdom was in ruins, God was not out of the picture, He knew there were some godly people there that would not bow down to Baal, and He took care of them. In this world of uncertainty, and not only churches, but Christianity on a decline, we who are faithful do not have to worry because God will sustain us. “Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” – Matthew 6:31-33.
“and all these things shall be added unto you.” You see, a church, nation, or a person who seeks God first will always be taken care of, regardless, of what is going on around them. You can be sure that the devil will be close by to see if we re going to trust God, and God is more willing to prove to him that His people are faithful. This widowed woman’s faith was about to be tried, when her son died. She cries out to Elijah in disbelief.
“And he said unto her, Give me thy son. And he took him out of her bosom, and carried him up into a loft, where he abode, and laid him upon his own bed. And he cried unto the LORD, and said, O LORD my God, hast thou also brought evil upon the widow with whom I sojourn, by slaying her son? And he stretched himself upon the child three times, and cried unto the LORD, and said, O LORD my God, I pray thee, let this child’s soul come into him again. And the LORD heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived. And Elijah took the child, and brought him down out of the chamber into the house, and delivered him unto his mother: and Elijah said, See, thy son liveth. And the woman said to Elijah, Now by this I know that thou art a man of God, and that the word of the LORD in thy mouth is truth.” – I Kings 17:19-24.
“And the LORD heard the voice of Elijah;” God hears the voice of His people, we just have to believe, and have faith that He will sustain us. And even if He takes us home, we have nothing to worry about because, just like the boy was revived, so will we be. “Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you. For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.” – II Corinthians 4:14-15.
“For all things are for your sakes,” God has us in the midst of all this for a reason, we are actually the Elijah’s of today, right smack dab in a godless society, where sin is not only encouraged, is welcomed in the church. Nevertheless, we can endure all this, and we can actually send this nation or part of it back on godly path. In the Southern Kingdom, things were going pretty well in the land of Judah was flourishing after Jehoshaphat succeeded his father, Asa, in becoming king after he died. Jehoshaphat was a godly man, walking in the ways of David, he even went as far as to have his children, and the entire nation taught the Law of God.
“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. Also in the third year of his reign he sent to his princes, even to Benhail, and to Obadiah, and to Zechariah, and to Nethaneel, and to Michaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah. And with them he sent Levites, even Shemaiah, and Nethaniah, and Zebadiah, and Asahel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehonathan, and Adonijah, and Tobijah, and Tobadonijah, Levites; and with them Elishama and Jehoram, priests. And they taught in Judah, and had the book of the law of the LORD with them, and went about throughout all the cities of Judah, and taught the people.” – II Chronicles 17:3-9.
“Therefore the LORD stablished the kingdom in his hand;” Let me tell you, all this begins at the pulpit. Our churches must stop allowing the sinful practices of this world to be in them. We must preach truth, and not some sugar coated lies just to keep the doors open, God will not stand for it, He will close the doors before He allows it to remain a place for the devil. And by the way, all those mega churches that are thriving right now, and all those mosques that are popping up all over the world, they are all run by Satan. “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.” – Hebrews 13:8-9.
Jesus Christ Magnified: “And the LORD heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived.” – I Kings 17:22.
Today’s Prayer: God, Thank You for the amazing church You have me to be a part of, it truly is a true place of worship that has you coming as you are and leaving better through Your spiritual powers. As I seek to live my life the way You want me to live in a nation that turns more godless every day, there are many difficulties, people, challenges, and struggles that are constantly trying to discourage me, but I know that all things will come to pass and that You will lead me to great things as I remain faithful to You. Lord, lead me and guide me, give me Your strength, wisdom, and guidance to get through each day trusting, believing, and knowing that You will provide me with everything I need. Watch over me, and protect me in this corrupt nation, and let me be the example You need me to be to reach those who need to know Your Son. Keep the devil from coming in and wrecking our churches, and revive these dead churches with Your truth, encouragement, direction, and conviction. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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