I'm Following Jesus – Page 1763 – 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: Wednesday, July 03, 2019
Chapters: II Chronicles 20-23
Message: Blessed Is The Nation Who’s God Is LORD

Hello My Friend,

As we celebrate Independence Day tomorrow in America, we can take a look through history and see how great our nation was when it was under godly leadership. George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, all of these men fought huge battles so that we can enjoy the freedoms that we have today. These were some amazing God fearing men, and it showed through their leadership, and how great a nation we had become. So, it is no surprise that a leader who fears God will lead that nation into one great nation under God because blessed is the nation who’s God is the LORD. “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance. Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy; To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine. Our soul waiteth for the LORD: he is our help and our shield.” – Psalm 33:12,18-20.

“Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD;” Jehoshaphat was a good, God fearing king, he had much to be thankful for, and found out first hand that his nation was blessed because he made God LORD of it. Judah was suddenly under attack not by one, but two nations. Jehoshaphat knew before he made one move he needed to consult God on this, he proclaims a fast throughout the land, they all gather as one nation at the temple. Ans as Jehoshaphat was praying, Jahaziel, a priest came to him with a message from God Himself.

“Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against them: for the LORD will be with you. And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground: and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell before the LORD, worshipping the LORD. And the Levites, of the children of the Kohathites, and of the children of the Korhites, stood up to praise the LORD God of Israel with a loud voice on high. And they rose early in the morning, and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa: and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper. And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the LORD, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the LORD; for his mercy endureth for ever. And when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten.” – II Chronicles 20:17-22.

“And when they began to sing and to praise,” We have nothing to fear when we put our faith and trust is our LORD, Jesus Christ. When one or two gather together great things happen, but can you imagine an entire nation? You see, it was when they started singing and praising Him that He began His work. God always does His best work when we give it all over to Him, and praise Him, even though it looks impossible. The reason so many Christians live defeated lives is because they have no faith in Him being their victory. “Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.” – Matthew 17:20-21.

“Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.” Sometimes we need to afflict ourselves a little bit more in order to get God’s undivided attention. And while nothing is impossible with God, battles are lost, not because of a weak body, it is because of a weak faith. Sadly, this revival that took place on Judah did not last too long, after Jehoshaphat died, his son Jehoram reigned, he killed all his brothers, and turned the kingdom into something resembling that of the rest of Israel. Jehoram was married to one on Ahab’s daughters, and did not walk in the fear of God as Jehoshaphat, instead, under the influence of his wife, turned the entire nation to Baal.

“Now when Jehoram was risen up to the kingdom of his father, he strengthened himself, and slew all his brethren with the sword, and divers also of the princes of Israel. Jehoram was thirty and two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem. And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, like as did the house of Ahab: for he had the daughter of Ahab to wife: and he wrought that which was evil in the eyes of the LORD. And there came a writing to him from Elijah the prophet, saying, Thus saith the LORD God of David thy father, Because thou hast not walked in the ways of Jehoshaphat thy father, nor in the ways of Asa king of Judah, But hast walked in the way of the kings of Israel, and hast made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to go a whoring, like to the whoredoms of the house of Ahab, and also hast slain thy brethren of thy father’s house, which were better than thyself: Behold, with a great plague will the LORD smite thy people, and thy children, and thy wives, and all thy goods:” – II Chronicles 21:4-6,12-14.

“which were better than thyself:” This is referring to their faith, these were God fearing men walking in the ways of their father. God could have destroyed the nation right there, but He made a covenant with David, ant therefore, He would not go back on His word. Jehoram did not last long as king, his son Ahaziah began to reign, and things did not get better, in fact got worse. Remember Omri, Ahab’s father, well his daughter, Athaliah was mother to Ahaziah, and she turned Judah upside down. After she found out her son was dead, she killed all of her grandkids, and took the throne for herself, except for one who was a baby. One brave soul, took and hid him.

“Forty and two years old was Ahaziah when he began to reign, and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. His mother’s name also was Athaliah the daughter of Omri. He walked also after their counsel, and went with Jehoram the son of Ahab king of Israel to war against Hazael king of Syria at Ramothgilead: and the Syrians smote Joram. And he returned to be healed in Jezreel because of the wounds which were given him at Ramah, when he fought with Hazael king of Syria. And Azariah the son of Jehoram king of Judah went down to see Jehoram the son of Ahab at Jezreel, because he was sick. And it came to pass, that, when Jehu was executing judgment upon the house of Ahab, and found the princes of Judah, and the sons of the brethren of Ahaziah, that ministered to Ahaziah, he slew them. But when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the seed royal of the house of Judah. But Jehoshabeath, the daughter of the king, took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him from among the king’s sons that were slain, and put him and his nurse in a bedchamber. So Jehoshabeath, the daughter of king Jehoram, the wife of Jehoiada the priest, (for she was the sister of Ahaziah,) hid him from Athaliah, so that she slew him not. And he was with them hid in the house of God six years: and Athaliah reigned over the land.” – II Chronicles 22:2,5-6,8,10-12.

“and Athaliah reigned over the land.” Could you imagine that wicked woman ruling a nation? She was worse than the kings of Israel. It is probable to believe that this was all an attempt by the devil to keep Jesus from coming through the lineage of David, but as I thought on this, it was not the devil at all, this was God. Think about it, Ahaziah’s children would have been raised under Athaliah’s influence, the only logical thing to do was keep the baby alive. God’s judgments always begin at His house, but He never goes back on His word either, His Son would come through David as promised. Now, while many Christians are not that great at confrontations, and often compromise with the world in an effort to bring peace, eventually they will say, enough is enough, and join together to get the evil out of their country. All it takes is one person willing to step up, even if that means the threat of being persecuted themselves. Jehoiada, the priest, came up a plan to make Joash king.

“And in the seventh year Jehoiada strengthened himself, and took the captains of hundreds, Azariah the son of Jeroham, and Ishmael the son of Jehohanan, and Azariah the son of Obed, and Maaseiah the son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat the son of Zichri, into covenant with him. Then they brought out the king’s son, and put upon him the crown, and gave him the testimony, and made him king. And Jehoiada and his sons anointed him, and said, God save the king. Now when Athaliah heard the noise of the people running and praising the king, she came to the people into the house of the LORD: And she looked, and, behold, the king stood at his pillar at the entering in, and the princes and the trumpets by the king: and all the people of the land rejoiced, and sounded with trumpets, also the singers with instruments of musick, and such as taught to sing praise. Then Athaliah rent her clothes, and said, Treason, Treason. Then Jehoiada the priest brought out the captains of hundreds that were set over the host, and said unto them, Have her forth of the ranges: and whoso followeth her, let him be slain with the sword. For the priest said, Slay her not in the house of the LORD. So they laid hands on her; and when she was come to the entering of the horse gate by the king’s house, they slew her there. And Jehoiada made a covenant between him, and between all the people, and between the king, that they should be the LORD’S people.” – II Chronicles 23:1,11-16.

“that they should be the LORD’S people.” I thought about this as I read these chapters today, “What would happen if God’s people took a stand, and gathered together as one to bring this nation back under godly leadership? We can do that, but it will take much fasting, prayer, and all of us united as one to vote in true men and women of God. When we unite together as one, Jesus is right there with us. “Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” – Matthew 18:18-20.

Jesus Christ Magnified: “Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against them: for the LORD will be with you.” – II Chronicles 20:17.

Today’s Prayer: God, Thank You for loving me and not giving up on me, and even when I was at my worse You still saw the best in me, and never let go of me. I can never thank You enough for catching me from my fall, and for the life You have given me since I made the choice to live my life with Your Son in it. You are my strength, and I know that I mess up a lot, but You are forever watching over me and protecting me. Thank You for Your endless mercy and grace, and for never letting me go. You are the key to a great and prosperous nation, when we fear You we are free, when You are forsaken we are imprisoned. Lord, Lead us and guide us, let us unite together as one nation that chooses You to be our LORD, raise up godly leaders that are grounded in Your Word to keep us free. And protect and watch over us, help us to keep our eyes on You at all times, trusting and fearing You, not what man can do to us. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,

Christina

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