King James Bible Study – [Mark 8:34 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.]
Date: Tuesday, May 25, 2021
Chapters: I Chronicles 24-25, Psalms 131, 138-139
Message: Hope And Growth
Hello My Friend,
I have been telling you about my discovery of having Celiac, I noticed something that gave me hope that I am getting better, and it was my fingernails. One of the deficiencies that comes from a gluten allergy is iron, your body cannot produce enough red blood cells that enables them to carry oxygen (hemoglobin), which is necessary to keep our blood healthy. Your fingernails become brittle, and you can see this ripple effect on the nails, which I have had for a while. I have been taking iron supplements and also eat a hamburger every day. and notice the new growth coming in at the bottom, the ripple effect is not there, they even look like healthier. Now, if the nails would just grow a little faster, nevertheless, our bodies do heal from the inside out, and it can take some time. I will tell you what, all of this sure has given me a new perspective on how much life is in the blood, and not just any blood, it needs to be pure blood. Which also brings me to that fact that we not only need pure blood to keep our flesh alive we need it for our soul as well. The only pure blood for our soul is Christ, [John 6:53 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.]
Of course, we know that Jesus did not mean that we are to physically eat His flesh and drink His blood, He meant spiritually since it is our soul that needs that amazing, purifying, blood that only He can give it to live beyond this life. That is the greatest hope of every believer, and our hope is not the same as the hope the world has, [Romans 8:24-26 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? 25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. 26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.]
[Hope; A desire of some good, accompanied with at least a slight expectation of obtaining it, or a belief that it is obtainable.] Let me tell you what happens when you get that glimmer of hope, it makes everything hard and difficult thing that we go through worth the effort. Someone from a Celiac support group said that she does not know how she nor her daughter can live every day reading labels and watching everything you eat. Life itself is a series of reading labels and watching everything we do, there are some things that we must do and avoid if we want to be healthy in our mind, body, and spirit. Hope will do absolutely nothing for us if we do not make an effort. God is as powerful as we allow Him to be in our lives, we can trust that He can do the impossible, but we must also make an effort to show Him that He believe that He is our hope.
[Psalms 131:1-3 A Song of degrees of David. LORD, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty: neither do I exercise myself in great matters, or in things too high for me. 2 Surely I have behaved and quieted myself, as a child that is weaned of his mother: my soul is even as a weaned child. 3 Let Israel hope in the LORD from henceforth and for ever.]
[neither do I exercise myself in great matters,] There are things that we will never understand, things much too wonderful to comprehend in our own human mind. That is where hope comes in, it is believing in something when you do not see it. Take for instance the creation of life itself, we can see some amazing images these days of life inside the womb, see is the formation of each and every cell that forms each and every part of the human body. From conception we were thought of and designed by our Creator, which is why these fools who are quick to end a life in the womb cannot comprehend the fact that life does begin at conception.
[Psalms 139:13-18 For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb. 14 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. 15 My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. 16 Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them. 17 How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them! 18 If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.]
[Thine eyes did see my substance,] God knew what we would become, He knows what we have done, and knows what we are going to do. He has the plan and purpose for our lives, the beginning and the end, but it us up to us to make the best of the in between. He is going to challenge us to bring us to our full potential, we cannot run from Him, so we need to embrace Him, trust Him, and lean on His understanding, [Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.]
I do not recall of one person since Moses to teach the next generation the importance of following the Law and making sure things were set in order before he died, but David did, and he was going to make sure everything was set for Solomon to reign as a Godly king. Yesterday we read about his setting the Levites in order, now, David sets in order the priest’s office.
[I Chronicles 24:1-3,6,19 Now these are the divisions of the sons of Aaron. The sons of Aaron; Nadab, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. 2 But Nadab and Abihu died before their father, and had no children: therefore Eleazar and Ithamar executed the priest’s office. 3 And David distributed them, both Zadok of the sons of Eleazar, and Ahimelech of the sons of Ithamar, according to their offices in their service. 6 And Shemaiah the son of Nethaneel the scribe, one of the Levites, wrote them before the king, and the princes, and Zadok the priest, and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, and before the chief of the fathers of the priests and Levites: one principal household being taken for Eleazar, and one taken for Ithamar. 19 These were the orderings of them in their service to come into the house of the LORD, according to their manner, under Aaron their father, as the LORD God of Israel had commanded him.]
[These were the orderings of them in their service to come] There is something unexpectedly amazing that happens when we receive Christ as our Saviour, we become one of His. The body of Christ, and it is Jesus who divides us to up to serve Him wherever we will be needed most. Did you think that the skills you possess are just a coincidence? Nope, every skill we have is given personally by God to be used for His purpose. And if we do it right, we will reap the benefits of using our gifts for His glory. It might take some effort, but once God sees our faith, He will make the effort, [James 2:18-20 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. 19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. 20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?]
Faith and works go hand in hand, without faith we are not going to make much of an effort, nor will we get save, and without the works after we are saved we are not going to maintain our faith. Let me tell you, there is no way to avoid Christ, whether we believe in Him or not, those who do believe in Him can only grow, and in order to grow properly we need to get involved in His work. David knew the importance of a Godly group of people running the Temple outside of the priests as well, he did not just set them in order, he set all the Levites in order of their service, even the musicians. Asaph, would be credited for writing quite a few songs or Psalms.
[I Chronicles 25:1-4,7-8 Moreover David and the captains of the host separated to the service of the sons of Asaph, and of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who should prophesy with harps, with psalteries, and with cymbals: and the number of the workmen according to their service was: 2 Of the sons of Asaph; Zaccur, and Joseph, and Nethaniah, and Asarelah, the sons of Asaph under the hands of Asaph, which prophesied according to the order of the king. 3 Of Jeduthun: the sons of Jeduthun; Gedaliah, and Zeri, and Jeshaiah, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah, six, under the hands of their father Jeduthun, who prophesied with a harp, to give thanks and to praise the LORD. 4 Of Heman: the sons of Heman; Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel, and Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, and Romamtiezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, and Mahazioth: 7 So the number of them, with their brethren that were instructed in the songs of the LORD, even all that were cunning, was two hundred fourscore and eight. 8 And they cast lots, ward against ward, as well the small as the great, the teacher as the scholar.]
[who should prophesy with harps,] The songs, hymns and spiritual songs of the Psalms were often accompanied with the playing of instruments, and as you can see, there was quite a bit of prophecy written in them, especially concerning the coming of Christ and even His crucifixion. We will never understand everything that God does, but we can understand that everything written has and will come to pass as it is written. We do not need to understand it all, and that is what hope is all about. We can praise and sing out to God when we do understand and we can praise and sing out to Him when we do not.
[Psalms 138:1-8 A Psalm of David. I will praise thee with my whole heart: before the gods will I sing praise unto thee. 2 I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name. 3 In the day when I cried thou answeredst me, and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul. 4 All the kings of the earth shall praise thee, O LORD, when they hear the words of thy mouth. 5 Yea, they shall sing in the ways of the LORD: for great is the glory of the LORD. 6 Though the LORD be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: but the proud he knoweth afar off. 7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me. 8 The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O LORD, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands.]
[The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me:] Each and every challenge that we go through in this life is what God uses to perfect us, and He does it from the inside out. Meaning, He works on our heart, and He is so longsuffering and patient that He is in no rush to do it. The more we walk with Christ the more we become like Him, in other words, we are perfected in the way that God will best be able to use us.
[Psalms 139:1-10,23-24 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me. 2 Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. 3 Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. 4 For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether. 5 Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it. 7 Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? 8 If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. 9 If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; 10 Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. 23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: 24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.]
[thou knowest it altogether.] God knows what we need, and when we need it, well before we even think of it. Because God’s thoughts of us are precious, He gave us His Word that we might be able to fellowship with Him as He wishes. Keep in mind that when we were babies we needed milk until we were old enough to eat baby food, then eventually graduating to solid foods. The same thing goes for our spiritual growth. It takes time to grow in Christ, so do not expect instant results, but as long as you stay faithful, Jesus will nurture and grow you into someone resembling Him, [I Peter 2:2-5 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: 3 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. 4 To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, 5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.]
Jesus Christ Magnified: [Psalms 138:6-7 Though the LORD be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: but the proud he knoweth afar off. 7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me.]
Today’s Prayer: God, There is something both comforting, and overwhelming in knowing that I am so precious to you that You gave Your life to save me. I also know that my life is in Your hands, through my faith in Your Son my hope is in seeing You in Your Kingdom. The path to getting there comes with challenges, questions, and sometimes things that are too wonderful for me. Lord, prepare my heart, open it, and let it be willing to learn and grow so that my works become a reflection of Your Son. Jesus, You have certainly worked a miracle in me, and every day only gets better as You lead me down the path that You have chosen for me. Give me Your power, mercy, and grace to get through each challenge. Watch over me, and protect me, I know that You are my strength, my hope, and I will forever praise You in my flesh until the day You bring me home. I pray these things in Your name, Jesus. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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