I'm Following Jesus – Page 1759 – 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.

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: Thursday, July 04, 2019
Chapters: II Kings 9-11
Message: Where The Spirit Of The LORD Is, There Is Liberty

Hello My Friend,

On March 1775, at St. John’s Church in Richmond, Virginia, as the Virginia convention debated whether to send troops to fight in the Revolutionary War, Patrick Henry gave a speech before Congress, that included this, “It is only in this way that we can hope to arrive at truth, and fulfil the great responsibility which we hold to God and our country. Should I keep back my opinions at such a time, through fear of giving offense, I should consider myself as guilty of treason toward my country, and of an act of disloyalty toward the Majesty of Heaven, which I revere above all earthly kings….Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!”

These people would rather die for their faith and freedoms than live under the rule of a nation that chose their religion for them. For those who say that America was not a nation of God, a great lesson in truth needs to be told, and not all this garbage denouncing our founding fathers because they had slaves. They fought for the freedoms of all the people, and while our leaders promise free money, free food, free healthcare, they are the very people taking away the freedoms these men gave their lives for. The world thinks by rejecting God they have liberty, but fail to understand without Him there is no liberty. “Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” – II Corinthians 3:17-18.

“and where the Spirit of the Lord is,” Take a good look at all those nations and even states in this country that reject Christ, you will see that they are ruled by the real dictators, who enforce harsh laws and their own religion or it will be to their death. Let me tell you, if God has chosen a nation as His, and their leaders have turned their backs on Him He will remove them from office one way or another. God judges His people His way, and He will not stand for anyone bringing death upon them by their own hands. Remember, Ahab, and his wife Jezebel, before he was killed in his own battle God told him of the judgment placed on his family, and that all of them would be executed. Now, the time has come, Elisha sends a prophet to Jehu, who God anointed king of Israel.

“And he arose, and went into the house; and he poured the oil on his head, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I have anointed thee king over the people of the LORD, even over Israel. And thou shalt smite the house of Ahab thy master, that I may avenge the blood of my servants the prophets, and the blood of all the servants of the LORD, at the hand of Jezebel. For the whole house of Ahab shall perish: and I will cut off from Ahab him that pisseth against the wall, and him that is shut up and left in Israel: And the dogs shall eat Jezebel in the portion of Jezreel, and there shall be none to bury her. And he opened the door, and fled. Then Jehu came forth to the servants of his lord: and one said unto him, Is all well? wherefore came this mad fellow to thee? And he said unto them, Ye know the man, and his communication. And they said, It is false; tell us now. And he said, Thus and thus spake he to me, saying, Thus saith the LORD, I have anointed thee king over Israel. Then they hasted, and took every man his garment, and put it under him on the top of the stairs, and blew with trumpets, saying, Jehu is king.” – II Kings 9:6-8,10-13.

“I have anointed thee king over the people of the LORD, even over Israel.” Keep in mind that the LORD’s people and Israel are not the same, He defends the country because He gave it to the children of Israel “See Romans 9:3-15”. God’s people are by far perfect, but they are His and He will defend them, and rid the nation of the ones who cause His people to sin. And Jehu wasted no time in executing judgment on the house of Ahab.

“And it came to pass, when Joram saw Jehu, that he said, Is it peace, Jehu? And he answered, What peace, so long as the whoredoms of thy mother Jezebel and her witchcrafts are so many? And Joram turned his hands, and fled, and said to Ahaziah, There is treachery, O Ahaziah. And Jehu drew a bow with his full strength, and smote Jehoram between his arms, and the arrow went out at his heart, and he sunk down in his chariot. But when Ahaziah the king of Judah saw this, he fled by the way of the garden house. And Jehu followed after him, and said, Smite him also in the chariot. And they did so at the going up to Gur, which is by Ibleam. And he fled to Megiddo, and died there. And when Jehu was come to Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it; and she painted her face, and tired her head, and looked out at a window. And as Jehu entered in at the gate, she said, Had Zimri peace, who slew his master? And he lifted up his face to the window, and said, Who is on my side? who? And there looked out to him two or three eunuchs. And he said, Throw her down. So they threw her down: and some of her blood was sprinkled on the wall, and on the horses: and he trode her under foot.” – II Kings 9:22-24,27,30-33.

“There is treachery, O Ahaziah.” As soon as Joram heard what Jehu said regarding his grandmother he knew he was in danger, but he could not escape. No one can escape God’s judgment unless they truly repent. Now, it was time to get vengeance on Jezebel, God made sure her execution would be exactly as He told them it would be and it was not pretty. Jehu went a step further, he came up with a plan to rid the nation of Baal worship as well.

“So Jehu slew all that remained of the house of Ahab in Jezreel, and all his great men, and his kinsfolks, and his priests, until he left him none remaining. And when he came to Samaria, he slew all that remained unto Ahab in Samaria, till he had destroyed him, according to the saying of the LORD, which he spake to Elijah. And Jehu gathered all the people together, and said unto them, Ahab served Baal a little; but Jehu shall serve him much. Now therefore call unto me all the prophets of Baal, all his servants, and all his priests; let none be wanting: for I have a great sacrifice to do to Baal; whosoever shall be wanting, he shall not live. But Jehu did it in subtilty, to the intent that he might destroy the worshippers of Baal. And it came to pass, as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, that Jehu said to the guard and to the captains, Go in, and slay them; let none come forth. And they smote them with the edge of the sword; and the guard and the captains cast them out, and went to the city of the house of Baal. And they brought forth the images out of the house of Baal, and burned them. And the LORD said unto Jehu, Because thou hast done well in executing that which is right in mine eyes, and hast done unto the house of Ahab according to all that was in mine heart, thy children of the fourth generation shall sit on the throne of Israel. But Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of the LORD God of Israel with all his heart: for he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam, which made Israel to sin. In those days the LORD began to cut Israel short: and Hazael smote them in all the coasts of Israel;” – II Kings 10:11,17-19,25-26,30.

“In those days the LORD began to cut Israel short:” Keep in mind, while God’s mercies are endless, there does come a time when He says, “Enough is enough, I have given them ample warnings, they refuse to turn to me, so, I will no longer defend them.” While Jehu did rid the nation of Baal worship, he still chose the god of Jeroboam over Him, and therefore, God took away their freedoms all together, one by one each tribe would lose their country. God was not done, Judah had gone the way of Baal as well when Jehoram, Jehoshaphat’s son married one of Ahab’s daughters. Ahaziah was Jehoram’s son, Athaliah, being his mother. As we read yesterday, after she found out the Ahaziah died she took the throne for herself, killing the sons of the house of David, except one.

“And he was with her hid in the house of the LORD six years. And Athaliah did reign over the land. And the seventh year Jehoiada sent and fetched the rulers over hundreds, with the captains and the guard, and brought them to him into the house of the LORD, and made a covenant with them, and took an oath of them in the house of the LORD, and shewed them the king’s son. And he brought forth the king’s son, and put the crown upon him, and gave him the testimony; and they made him king, and anointed him; and they clapped their hands, and said, God save the king. And when Athaliah heard the noise of the guard and of the people, she came to the people into the temple of the LORD. And they laid hands on her; and she went by the way by the which the horses came into the king’s house: and there was she slain. And Jehoiada made a covenant between the LORD and the king and the people, that they should be the LORD’S people; between the king also and the people. And all the people of the land went into the house of Baal, and brake it down; his altars and his images brake they in pieces thoroughly, and slew Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars. And the priest appointed officers over the house of the LORD.” – II Kings 11:3-4,12-13,16-18.

“between the king also and the people.” Liberty is not black or white, it is not the freedom to choose whether or not we worship God, it is not fulfilling every lust known to man. Liberty is the freedom of a nation or state from all unjust restraint of its rights and independence by another nation. In other words, “For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.” – Galatians 5:13. And this is why celebrate Independence Day, to be free from the rule of dictators who choose who we worship, and what we do. Take a look at all those nations under a dictatorship right now, and take a look at our own leaders as they are already dictating what we can and cannot do. You think it is your right to abort a baby, well, wait until they force you or limit you how many children you can have, or even deny you the care you need because you are too old or have cancer or heart problems. Freedom is never free, it always comes with a price, and it is usually at the cost of someone’s life. As we celebrate freedom in America let us take a moment to reflect on the men and women who gave their lives for us to be a free nation. And remember that true freedom does not come from man, it comes from Jesus Christ. “Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever. If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” – John 8:34-36.

Jesus Christ Magnified: “Surely I have seen yesterday the blood of Naboth, and the blood of his sons, saith the LORD; and I will requite thee in this plat, saith the LORD. Now therefore take and cast him into the plat of ground, according to the word of the LORD.” – II Kings 9:26.

Today’s Prayer: Jesus, Thank You for sacrificing Your life so that we can be freed from the bondage and penalty of our sins. All we need to do is believe in You, and receive You as the payment for our sin debt, and we will be forever Yours, and one of our Father’s people for eternity. Lord, You gave is liberty when You set us free through our faith in You, lead us and guide us, give us Your power, protection, and Your mercies and grace to live in this world by Your example. Let us not use our liberty as an occasion to fulfill every lust of the flesh, rather use it for the edifying of Your name so that others can see You through us, and receive You as well. In Your name, Jesus, I pray. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,

Christina

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