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: Sunday, July 05, 2020
Chapters: II Kings 12-13, II Chronicles 24
Message: Living By Grace
Hello My Friend,
Many Christians pride themselves on their faith, how they know the Scriptures, obey them, they are quick to point out others sin, and tell them that we will given an account to God for everything they have done after we got saved. We need to be careful, yes, we need discipline, we need to obey God, and we are accountable to God for our actions. In fact, I believe we face His judgment well before He brings us home and we stand before Him. So, when did grace get lost in our walk with Christ and get replaced with the Law? Let me tell you, if Christ accepted our faith in Him while we were yet sinners before having received Him, I am sure He accepts our faith in while we are yet sinners after we receive Him, and we are still under the Law of grace. [James 2:10-13 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. 11 For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law. 12 So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty. 13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.]
You do understand that we are all guilty of sin, and if we are going to judge someone out of the Law for one sin, then we too are guilty of all sin? Being a faithful Christian is not about checking off all these good works that we do after we are saved, it is about knowing we need the grace of God upon us every second. Yes, God wants us to serve Him, but without His grace, works will not maintain our faith. After Jehoiada had Athaliah executed, he personally and spiritually guided Joash until he was of age to run the kingdom on his own. Then when Joash began to run the kingdom, it was under his godly influence, and the result was a prosperous and protected nation. Joash wanted the temple repaired, he instructed the priests to take all the money received in the temple and use it for repairs. However, they were taking the money to repair the temple, but nothing was done are all.
[II Kings 12:1-2,4-7 In the seventh year of Jehu Jehoash began to reign; and forty years reigned he in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Zibiah of Beersheba. 2 And Jehoash did that which was right in the sight of the LORD all his days wherein Jehoiada the priest instructed him. 4 And Jehoash said to the priests, All the money of the dedicated things that is brought into the house of the LORD, even the money of every one that passeth the account, the money that every man is set at, and all the money that cometh into any man’s heart to bring into the house of the LORD, 5 Let the priests take it to them, every man of his acquaintance: and let them repair the breaches of the house, wheresoever any breach shall be found. 6 But it was so, that in the three and twentieth year of king Jehoash the priests had not repaired the breaches of the house. 7 Then king Jehoash called for Jehoiada the priest, and the other priests, and said unto them, Why repair ye not the breaches of the house? now therefore receive no more money of your acquaintance, but deliver it for the breaches of the house.]
[all his days wherein Jehoiada the priest instructed him.] While the Holy Spirit lives in each saved, born again Christian, and He is very capable of teaching us the ways of God, it is still very important that we have faithful, saved, born again spiritual leaders to guide us as well. They not only confirm to us that what we are learning is in fact the ways of God, they help keep us faithful to God when they are no longer around. Now, the king came up with a different plan to get the money to pay for the repairs, and this time it worked perfectly.
[II Chronicles 24:8-9,11-13 And at the king’s commandment they made a chest, and set it without at the gate of the house of the LORD. 9 And they made a proclamation through Judah and Jerusalem, to bring in to the LORD the collection that Moses the servant of God laid upon Israel in the wilderness. 11 Now it came to pass, that at what time the chest was brought unto the king’s office by the hand of the Levites, and when they saw that there was much money, the king’s scribe and the high priest’s officer came and emptied the chest, and took it, and carried it to his place again. Thus they did day by day, and gathered money in abundance. 12 And the king and Jehoiada gave it to such as did the work of the service of the house of the LORD, and hired masons and carpenters to repair the house of the LORD, and also such as wrought iron and brass to mend the house of the LORD. 13 So the workmen wrought, and the work was perfected by them, and they set the house of God in his state, and strengthened it.]
[and hired masons and carpenters to repair the house of the LORD,] You see, they finally allotted the money for the correct purpose, and gave the funds for the repairs to the right people so they were able to repair it. Tithes are not given just to pay the pastors and workers, in fact, most workers in the church are volunteers, it is given and allotted for everything from paying the bills and taxes on the property to giving aid to those in need as well as missionaries who travel all over the world assisting those in need, [Malachi 3:10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.]
While Joash was having success in Judah, Jehu’s son was not doing so well in Israel. Remember, Jehu had destroyed all the Baal idols, and even the worshipers of Baal, but he did not put an end to the idol worship that Jeroboam had started. When his son, Jehoahaz reigned, the kingdom went back to the ways of Jeroboam, and as a result God judged them. When Israel got invaded by Syria, and it would not end, Jehoahaz called on God.
[II Kings 13:1-6,23 In the three and twentieth year of Joash the son of Ahaziah king of Judah Jehoahaz the son of Jehu began to reign over Israel in Samaria, and reigned seventeen years. 2 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, and followed the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which made Israel to sin; he departed not therefrom. 3 And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he delivered them into the hand of Hazael king of Syria, and into the hand of Benhadad the son of Hazael, all their days. 4 And Jehoahaz besought the LORD, and the LORD hearkened unto him: for he saw the oppression of Israel, because the king of Syria oppressed them. 5 (And the LORD gave Israel a saviour, so that they went out from under the hand of the Syrians: and the children of Israel dwelt in their tents, as beforetime. 6 Nevertheless they departed not from the sins of the house of Jeroboam, who made Israel sin, but walked therein: and there remained the grove also in Samaria.) 23 And the LORD was gracious unto them, and had compassion on them, and had respect unto them, because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and would not destroy them, neither cast he them from his presence as yet.]
[(And the LORD gave Israel a saviour,] Why does God give us a Saviour? What does the very next sentence in the Scripture say? [Nevertheless they departed not from the sins of the house of Jeroboam,] We are all sinners, yet God is forever gracious toward us because of the covenant He made with us. [Romans 3:10,12,21-24 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: 12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. 21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: 23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:]
Being saved does not mean we will never sin again, it does mean that we will not lose our salvation when we do. There is one thing I use to tell my Sunday School class every Sunday, [Once you accept Christ as your Saviour, He takes a hold of your hand, and never lets you go. If you walk away from Jesus, He is still with you, He will always be with you because He promises to never let you go.] Some Christians have forgotten that truth, they mix the law with grace, often forgetting that while they may be faithful to God, they are still sinners. If we are going to judge someone for their sin, we might as well judge ourselves because we all are guilty of sin, [I John 1:8-10 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.]
And this is exactly why we need spiritual leadership, if we do not, then eventually pride takes over, the heart does what it thinks is right, and before you know it, God is out of the picture all together. Joash did very well as king because he was raised under the spiritual leadership of Jehoiada, all that was about to change, instead of listening to Jehoiada’s son, Zechariah, he listened to his brothers, and the entire kingdom turned on God.
[II Chronicles 24:18,20-21,23,25 And they left the house of the LORD God of their fathers, and served groves and idols: and wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem for this their trespass. 20 And the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, which stood above the people, and said unto them, Thus saith God, Why transgress ye the commandments of the LORD, that ye cannot prosper? because ye have forsaken the LORD, he hath also forsaken you. 21 And they conspired against him, and stoned him with stones at the commandment of the king in the court of the house of the LORD. 23 And it came to pass at the end of the year, that the host of Syria came up against him: and they came to Judah and Jerusalem, and destroyed all the princes of the people from among the people, and sent all the spoil of them unto the king of Damascus. 25 And when they were departed from him, (for they left him in great diseases,) his own servants conspired against him for the blood of the sons of Jehoiada the priest, and slew him on his bed, and he died: and they buried him in the city of David, but they buried him not in the sepulchres of the kings.]
[and destroyed all the princes of the people from among the people,] God only gives grace to those who humble themselves before Him. God’s amazing grace can help us if we turn to Him for everything, even our own messes. It does not matter if we had gotten so far away that we succumb to the evils of this world, He will help us repair the damage done, but if we do not come to Him we will suffer and die in our sin. Why? Well, since we are saved by grace, and will not stand before Christ in judgment for our sin, we must face judgment before that happens, [I Peter 4:17-19 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? 18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? 19 Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.]
Today’s Prayer: God, Thank You, for Your mercy and grace to save a sinner like me the second I believed that Your Son died a sinless death, was buried, and arose three days later to save my soul from death and hell. I know that I am not saved of any of my own works, but by my faith alone in Christ. And I also know that You promise to never leave nor forsake me, and that no one or thing could ever pluck me out of Your hand. While I cannot do anything to keep my salvation, I do want to live my life as as humble and faithful child and servant because I know I am a sinner and what my flesh is capable of. Lord, lead me and guide me, give me Your mercy, grace, and Your hedge of protection from the evils of this world. Keep my heart tender, pure, and always looking to You. Let me not get caught up in pride, let me always have respect for my spiritual leaders, and be willing to learn and teach Your truths to be a faithful and humble guide to those who are weaker in their faith. I ask these things in Your name, Jesus. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
Are You 100% Sure You Are Going To Heaven?: http://readytofollow.com/
Receive The KJB Daily Devotions In Your Email: http://eepurl.com/2WMzT
Missed A Message: https://imfollowingjesus.com/Biblestudy/
Visit I’m Following Jesus Missions: https://imfollowingjesus.com/Biblestudy/welcome/
I’m Following Jesus On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/readytofollowJesus/
Copyright © 2020 I’m Following Jesus, All rights reserved.