Bible Study - Simplicity (1) - A Centered Life - Matthew 6:25-34 - September 1, 2019

Bible Study – Simplicity (1) – A Centered Life – September 1, 2019


This is lesson one (1) in our series entitled “Simplicity: Finding 
Contentment in a Busy Life.”


Our focus scripture is Matthew 6:25-34.


When your life is centered in CHRIST, everything else falls into place.


When a Christian’s life is centered in CHRIST that is the key statement. Being centered in CHRIST does not come from our perspective but from CHRIST’S. How do we measure up on the obedience and trust scale according to GOD? Let’s explore!


Often, our human nature is for us to be anxious. I know, I get anxious when things or schedules don’t go according to my plans. I can stew or quickly shift my thinking to, “Maybe GOD has a reason for delay. Maybe HE has a different plan or schedule for me to follow.”  Often, change or delay prods me to shift into a trust mode. GOD may be telling me to wait or pray about possible alternatives by asking GOD to direct me during uncertain times. We must trust as we prayerfully consider alternatives and look for a path forward.


I recall driving in the mountains and getting into very dense fog. I could not see the centerline in the road. We came upon a parking area. I pulled in. We had traveled about ten miles or at least it seemed like 10 miles. I knew where I had driven onto the road and could drive back the roughly ten miles. I prayed. LORD what shall I do go back or keep going? The answer was keep going in the direction you were headed. I did and within a short distance there was a road that led me off the mountain.


This experience somewhat relates to our subject of not being anxious but trusting our LORD when our path forward is not clear.


Let’ s read Matthew 6:24 which provides the base for our focus scripture:


²⁴ “No one can be a slave of two masters, since either he will hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot be slaves of God and of money.


So, what is the cure? Focus completely upon what you have and not what you wish to have. So, who do we have as Christian’s? A rich uncle or GOD through faith in JESUS? Let’s explore! 


JESUS was teaching HIS fellow Jews from the scriptures. HE departed from the traditional interpretation of the scriptures as presented by the Jewish scholars. Rather than presenting the “letter of the law” JESUS spoke to a greater understanding and application of the law that captured the true spirit of the scriptures. Thus, our study on the value of being “centered in CHRIST” when anxiety raises its head in our lives.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

Let’s read Matthew 6:25-30:

The Cure for Anxiety

²⁵ “This is why I tell you: Don’t worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Isn’t life more than food and the body more than clothing? ²⁶ Look at the birds of the sky: They don’t sow or reap or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you worth more than they? ²⁷ Can any of you add a single cubit to his height^[o] by worrying? ²⁸ And why do you worry about clothes? Learn how the wildflowers of the field grow: they don’t labor or spin thread. ²⁹ Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was adorned like one of these! ³⁰ If that’s how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and thrown into the furnace tomorrow, won’t He do much more for you—you of little faith?

When we, as Christians, look to our ability to provide for ourselves, we come up short. Food and clothing are necessities to sustain life upon earth. JESUS challenged HIS audience to change their focus from what they can provide for themselves to consider what GOD can provide when their faith is in HIM.

The key phrase is “Don’t worry.” Don’t worry when you have the right relationship with GOD through faith in JESUS. When we do not worry, does it mean we do not plan? No! Even the birds of the air have to seek the food which GOD provides for them. JESUS was teaching that worry only increases a person’s anxiety. Worry is a form of distrust. Worry reveals a flaw in our relationship with GOD that needs to be confessed and to be repaired.  GOD’S sufficiency versus self-sufficiency.

A caution here. This is not putting planning for the future on the sidelines. We are to plan but seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit. We are to trust when our obvious needed resources are not evident. GOD knows what we, as humans, need to sustain life upon earth. JESUS stated “don’t worry,” which is an ongoing command to “stop worrying.” JESUS used a verb tense in our next scripture that carries the idea of “don’t start worrying.” Worrying can be off and on. What is the cure?

Let’s read Matthew 6:31-32:

³¹ So don’t worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ ³² For the idolaters^[p] eagerly seek all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.

Trust in GOD’S provision to provide for our needs in life, therefore “don’t start worrying” because GOD knows what you have need of and HE provides for HIS children. JESUS was saying let your trust in GOD be a witness to the pagan or non-Christian world around you.

The pagans did all sorts of rituals to cajole their false gods to provide for their needs but you are different. Reveal your difference by your trust and relying upon the One True GOD, Yahweh.  Trust in GOD through faith in JESUS. Doing so is a witness to those who do not have the right relationship with JESUS. It does not mean that Christians are opulent but rest in the sweet assurance of being in right relationship with GOD and trusting HIM for our needs.

JESUS taught that Christians are not to worry or start to worry about their needs. Our focus as Christians is to build the right relationship with GOD through faith in JESUS? Let’s read on -----

Let’s read Matthew 6:33-34:

³³ But seek first the kingdom of God^[q] and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you. ³⁴ Therefore don’t worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

So, what is the key to building the right relationship with GOD?

First, as born-again believers in JESUS, we are to seek the right relationship with GOD. Salvation is ground zero and it is the foundation upon which all Christians build their relationship with GOD.

Do you recall our study of King Asa? He physically cleaned out the pagan worship symbols in the land for which he was responsible. Salvation could be the beginning process of allowing the Light of the Holy Spirit to shine deep within to reveal that which we need to confess and either remove from our lives or ask JESUS to help us remove.

All who place their faith in JESUS are made righteous as revealed in 2 Corinthians 5:21 – ²¹ He made the One who did not know sin to be sin^[l] for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. But there is a process for removing the shackles that hold us back. Who are we as born-again Christians?

As GOD’S Child through the miracle of rebirth we are citizens of the Kingdom of GOD. Second Corinthians 5:20 - ²⁰ Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, certain that God is appealing through us. We plead on Christ’s behalf, “Be reconciled to God.”

Philippians 3:20 tell us - ²⁰ but our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.

As Christians, we seek to obediently serve in the Kingdom of GOD. Once we are born-again and are citizens of the Kingdom of GOD, we seek to obediently serve GOD and in obediently serving we build faith and trust in GOD to meet all of our needs. Therefore, GOD provides.

I heard/read a story many years ago regarding the faith of George Mueller. George Mueller established an orphanage. George decided to live by faith, thus the title of the article below:

No Salary for George
George Mueller had joyfully dedicated his "whole life to the object of exemplifying how much may be accomplished by prayer and faith." When he had moved to Bristol in 1832 to take the pulpit of Gideon chapel, he and his wife Mary decided not to accept a salary from the congregation. They wanted to daily depend upon the Lord for their needs, and they accepted only unsolicited freewill offerings. Mueller's journal is full of the amazing ways the Lord directed funds to them throughout his sixty-six years of ministry.

The orphan children all had their dinners and were ready for bed. They always felt loved and cared for in the Bristol orphanage; little did they know that the orphanage had no money and there was no food for breakfast the next day. Though he did not know how, George Mueller was confident the Lord would provide for the orphans--after all, wasn't he a "Father to the fatherless" (Psalm 68:5)? Mr. Mueller went to bed, committing the care of the orphans to God. The next morning, he went for a walk, praying for God to supply the orphanage's needs. In his walk he met a friend who asked him to accept some money for the orphanage. . . Mr. Mueller thanked him, but did not tell the friend about the pressing need. Instead, he praised God for the answer to prayer and went to the orphanage for breakfast.

Copied from Christianity.com is a member of the Salem Web Network of sites Copyright © 2019, Christianity.com. All rights reserved. Article Images Copyright © 2019 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated.

Another story published in Guideposts: Pray Like George Müller

What if you really expected God to answer your prayers? 

by Bob Hostetler Posted in Answered Prayers, Feb 26, 2018

Another time, Müller and the children sat down for a meal, even though there was no food in the house. Nonetheless, they bowed their heads and prayed and, as the prayer ended, someone knocked on the door. It was the baker, with fresh bread. As if that wasn’t enough, the milkman’s cart broke down—in front of the orphanage—so he supplied them with fresh milk.

GOD provides when we trust in HIM. But it may mean that we stare a great need in the face but with confidence. When we trust and GOD provides it builds our faith and confidence in HIS provision.

We must be careful not to test GOD by avoiding what we can do to meet our needs so we can watch GOD work. What is wrong with that picture? That is testing GOD.

JESUS stated in John 15:5 - ⁵ “I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without Me.” Christians abide in JESUS. This means we are totally dependent upon HIM for our care and growth.

Trust and obey for there is no other way to be happy in JESUS but to trust and obey. Rest in HIM knowing that all of our needs are taken care of.

Think back to George Mueller. He prayed the night before trusting that GOD would provide. The next morning, he walked along a street trusting that GOD would provide. A man happened to be walking on the same street and gave him the funds he needed to provide breakfast for the orphanage. Often, we have to take the action GOD leads us to take to meet our needs through others. George took a walk. Then there are times HE sends others to us to meet our needs as in the story of the baker who brought bread and the milk wagon breaking down at the orphanage when the baker delivered the bread. Coincidence? No! GOD was at work.

Blessings!!!

Bible Study - Living (6) - Leave A Legacy - 2 Chronicles 17:1-13 - August 23, 2019

Bible Study – Living (6) – Leave A Legacy – August 25, 2019


This is lesson six (6) and our final lesson in our series entitled “Living A 
Godly Life in an Ungodly World.”


Our focus scripture is 2 Chronicles 17:1-13.


Godly living impacts future generations.

GOD’S Word reveals to us in Isaiah 55:11, “So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth;
It shall not return to Me ^[a]void,
But it shall accomplish what I please,
And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.

[a]Footnotes: Isaiah 55:11 empty, without fruit

All of us like to make wise investments. The wisest investment we can make is to invest in our personal relationship with GOD through faith in JESUS. In turn, we pass that relationship along to our family and others who GOD has brought into our kingdom – spouse, children, friends, co-workers, etc. Investing in JESUS has eternal value and our investment is placed in the safest place possible as recorded in Matthew 6:19-21:

¹⁹ “Don’t collect for yourselves treasures^[n] on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. ²⁰ But collect for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves don’t break in and steal. ²¹ For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.


We have studied that King Asa had a great Spiritual start in his life but he ended not so well. But had his faith in GOD benefitted others? Let’s 
explore!


King Asa was dead. Who would be his successor? What kind of leader would the new king be?


Let’s read 2 Chronicles 17:1-6:

Judah’s King Jehoshaphat

17 His son Jehoshaphat became king in his place and strengthened himself against Israel. ² He stationed troops in every fortified city of Judah and set garrisons in the land of Judah and in the cities of Ephraim that his father Asa had captured.

³ Now the Lord was with Jehoshaphat because he walked in the former ways of his father David.^[a] He did not seek the Baals ⁴ but sought the God of his father and walked by His commands, not according to the practices of Israel. ⁵ So the Lord established the kingdom in his hand. Then all Judah brought him tribute, and he had riches and honor in abundance. ⁶ His mind rejoiced in the Lord’s ways, and he again removed the high places and Asherah poles from Judah.

WOW! What a joy when an investment yields good results. In spite of how the final years of King Asa’s life turned out, King Asa was an example to his son, Jehoshaphat – “He did not seek the Baals ⁴ but sought the God of his father and walked by His commands, not according to the practices of Israel. ⁵ So the Lord established the kingdom in his hand.” What a joy when an eternal investment pays off, especially when that investment honors GOD and those for whom we are responsible in the kingdom GOD has allowed us to rule.

When we are in right relationship with GOD that allows GOD to work through us and reveal Himself, “⁵ So the Lord established the kingdom in his hand. Then all Judah brought him tribute, and he had riches and honor in abundance. ⁶ His mind rejoiced in the Lord’s ways, and he again removed the high places and Asherah poles from Judah.” King Jehoshaphat cleared the remnants of pagan worship from the kingdom he ruled.

Unfortunately, many of our adults, as children, either were dropped off at church or had little to no Spiritual instructions from their parents. Many do not see the value in having and maintaining the right relationship with GOD through faith in JESUS. History repeats itself.

In today’s world, it is so sad when some of the young adults do not see the value in seeking or having a personal relationship with GOD through faith in JESUS. Why do you think that is the case? What do we, as Christians and servants of JESUS do? What is the kingdom GOD has given to us in which we are to oversee and the vineyard we are to work in?

Let’s read 2 Chronicles 17:7-9:

Jehoshaphat’s Educational Plan

⁷ In the third year of his reign, Jehoshaphat sent his officials—Ben-hail,^[b] Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah—to teach in the cities of Judah. ⁸ The Levites with them were Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah,^[c] Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, and Tob-adonijah; the priests, Elishama and Jehoram, were with these Levites. ⁹ They taught throughout Judah, having the book of the Lord’s instruction with them. They went throughout the towns of Judah and taught the people.

GOD knew the heart of King Jehoshaphat. When we have the desire to obediently serve our LORD, HE leads and guides our decision making. King Jehoshaphat considered the needs of those for whom he was responsible. Education and in particular, his people needed to know the One True GOD of Judah, Yahweh. So, he dispatched those to teach the people and those who could lead them in worship.

When a nation chooses GOD over weapons of war, the nation’s surrounding them take notice. Why? What had been the legacy of the Israelites? GOD had revealed HIS power to the Israelites as HE led them out of Egyptian bondage and into the Promised Land. Not only did HE demonstrate HIS power to the Israelites but to the nations of the known world.

Have we in America forgotten the power of GOD through faith in JESUS? Do we, as Christians and evangelical churches need to pray for revival first in our hearts and then in the hearts of the people in the world? YES!

Let’s read 2 Chronicles 17:10-13:

¹⁰ The terror of the Lord was on all the kingdoms of the lands that surrounded Judah, so they didn’t fight against Jehoshaphat. ¹¹ Some of the Philistines also brought gifts and silver as tribute to Jehoshaphat, and the Arabs brought him flocks: 7,700 rams and 7,700 male goats.

When we renew our resolve to obediently serve GOD through faith in JESUS it sends a powerful message to others. The enemy of Judah sent them gifts to maintain the right relationship with them. When we are in right relationship with GOD through faith in JESUS then our desire is to share with those who do not know JESUS. Having the right relationship with fellow people gives us the opportunity to present JESUS to them.

Jehoshaphat’s Military Might

¹² Jehoshaphat grew stronger and stronger. He built fortresses and storage cities in Judah ¹³ and carried out great works in the towns of Judah. He had fighting men, brave warriors, in Jerusalem.

While there is light, we need to be busy working to present the Good News/JESUS to others. 


What is GOD calling us to do? What legacy will we leave behind. Leave that which is eternal.  Blessings!!!

Bible Study - Living (5) - Remember GOD'S Faithfulness - 2 Chronicles 16:1-13 - August 18, 2019

Bible Study – Living (5) – Remember GOD’S Faithfulness – August 18, 2019


This is lesson five (5) in our series entitled “Living A Godly Life in an Ungodly World.”


Our focus scripture is 2 Chronicles 16:1-13.


The One True GOD who guided you in the past will guide you now and in the future.


We, as Christians, must be very careful in our successes not to forget the source of our success. Some of the time, we erroneously think that we do not want to bother GOD. That is Satan’s lie. GOD’s desire is for HIS children to consult with HIM 24/7.


King Asa’s success had been because he had the right relationship with GOD and cleaned the land of false worship. As we studied in last week’s lesson, he cleaned out the Queen Mother’s shrine made to Asherah.


When you are responsible for a kingdom, issues consistently arise. The question becomes how do we handle them? Keep in mind that every person is a kingdom unto themselves. Let’s explore!


Let’s read 2 Chronicles 16:1-6:

Asa’s Treaty with Aram

16 In the thirty-sixth year of Asa, Israel’s King Baasha went to war against Judah. He built Ramah in order to deny access to anyone—going or coming—to Judah’s King Asa. ² So Asa brought out the silver and gold from the treasuries of the Lord’s temple and the royal palace and sent it to Aram’s King Ben-hadad, who lived in Damascus, saying, ³ “There’s a treaty between me and you, between my father and your father. Look, I have sent you silver and gold. Go break your treaty with Israel’s King Baasha so that he will withdraw from me.”

King Asa faces an issue in the 36^th year of his reign. King Baasha of Israel threatened Judah by starting to build a city, Ramah, on the main highway between the two countries only five miles from Jerusalem. Building Ramah would have, in essence, controlled or stopped access into Judah. This was an act of aggression by King Baasha which greatly concerned King Asa and as resulted King Asa had to take action. The question was, “What to do about the situation?” Where did King Asa turn? Where should have King Asa turned?

What should we, as Christians, do when we encounter a problem? What is GOD’S desire for us to do? HIS desire is for us to seek HIS counsel. What did King Asa do?

King Asa panicked and took all of the “silver and gold from the treasuries of the LORD’S temple and the royal palace and sent it to Aram’s King Ben-hadad who lived in Damascus.” King Asa asked Aram’s King Ben-hadad to break their treaty with Israel’s King Baasha. King Asa reminded King Ben-hadad there was a treaty between their two countries. When King Ben-hadad attacked cities under the rule of King Baasha, King Baasha likely sent an envoy to King Ben-hadad and learned of King Asa’s request for King Ben-hadad’s help. So, King Baasha ordered the effort to build Ramah to stop. When the work stopped, King Asa sent the people of Judah to dismantle what King Baasha’s people had done to build Ramah. King Asa had Geba and Mizpah built using the materials from Ramah.

All this sounds good. But what was missing? King Asa was doing all this in his strength and by his wisdom rather than enquiring what GOD wanted him to do to handle this situation. Why should we go to The LORD and seek HIS guidance and leadership? We will read the answer in verses 7-9.

This happens often in our lives. We have situations to arise in our family, workplace, social gathering, among friends which need to be resolved. How do we handle them? First, we need to pray/consult with our LORD how to go forward. Second, we need to follow what the Holy Spirit reveals to us and trust GOD for the results. Our desire is for healing to take place and for GOD to be glorified and our faith and trust in GOD to be increased.

King Asa recalled a long-standing treaty between their country and Aram, King Ben-hadad -------

⁴ Ben-hadad listened to King Asa and sent the commanders of his armies to the cities of Israel. They attacked Ijon, Dan, Abel-maim,^[a] and all the storage cities^[b] of Naphtali. ⁵ When Baasha heard about it, he quit building Ramah and stopped his work. ⁶ Then King Asa brought all Judah, and they carried away the stones of Ramah and the timbers Baasha had built it with. Then he built Geba and Mizpah with them.

Sounds like things went along smoothly until GOD sent Hanani ---

Let’s read 2 Chronicles 16:7-9:

Hanani’s Rebuke of Asa

⁷ At that time, Hanani the seer came to King Asa of Judah and said to him, “Because you depended on the king of Aram and have not depended on the Lord your God, the army of the king of Aram has escaped from your hand. ⁸ Were not the Cushites and Libyans a vast army with many chariots and horsemen? When you depended on Yahweh, He handed them over to you. ⁹ For the eyes of Yahweh roam throughout the earth to show Himself strong for those whose hearts are completely His. You have been foolish in this matter. Therefore, you will have wars from now on.”

What was King Asa’s problem with GOD? He took matters in his own hands and failed to seek GOD’S wisdom and guidance on how to handle the problem. GOD had a plan but King Asa took the opportunity out of GOD’S hands.

A seer sees into the future and GOD knows the future and that is why GOD’S desire is for HIS children to seek HIM and HIS guidance according to HIS plan and purpose.

How did King Asa respond to the information from GOD’S prophet/seer Hanani?  Was it, “How dare you question my decision!” I have experienced this with leaders in industry and seen them fail. Seek GOD’S guidance because HE sees the entire picture even into the future. As GOD’S children, we must learn to go to HIM first and trust HIS leadership.

Let’s read 2 Chronicles 16:10-13:

¹⁰ Asa was angry with the seer and put him in prison^[c] because of his anger over this. And Asa mistreated some of the people at that time.

How should King Asa have responded? When we get angry with GOD and attempt to make our decision the right decision over GOD’S desire, we are in opposition to GOD and it is downhill from there. Why? Disobedience is a sin and sin block’s the right relationship we have with GOD. So, what happened to King Asa? He started his reign being obedient to GOD but how does he end up?

Asa’s Death

¹¹ Note that the events of Asa’s reign, from beginning to end, are written in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel. ¹² In the thirty-ninth year of his reign, Asa developed a disease in his feet, and his disease became increasingly severe. Yet even in his disease he didn’t seek the Lord but only the physicians. ¹³ Asa died in the forty-first year of his reign and rested with his fathers. ¹⁴ He was buried in his own tomb that he had made for himself in the city of David. They laid him out in a coffin that was full of spices and various mixtures of prepared ointments; then they made a great fire in his honor.

Never give up on GOD, never because HE never gives up on you!

When we get to the end of our lives, how do we want to finish?

In unity, harmony and fellowship with GOD or “we did it our way?”

Blessings!!!

Bible Study - Living (4) - Worship Continually - 2 Chronicles 15:10-19 - August 11, 2019

Bible Study – Living (4) – Worship Continually – August 11, 2019


This is lesson four (4) in our series entitled “Living A Godly Life in An Ungodly World.”


Our focus scripture is 2 Chronicles 15:10-19.


Live your life as an act of worship.


Often, most Christians think of worship as something we attend. But do we have to attend a worship service in a church to worship GOD/JESUS? NO!

Do you recall the scripture in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20?


¹⁹ Don’t you know that your body is a sanctuary of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, ²⁰ for you were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God in your body.^[a]


As Christians, we have our place of worship within us 24/7. Since that is true, when and where can we worship GOD/JESUS?


Worship is not something Christians attend but something we do. We truly worship when we partake of the LORD’S Supper. When worship is external, it matters only that we appear to be Holy, whereas genuine worship is where the rubber hits the road and takes place in the “eyes of our hearts” where truth prevails.


Christians live under the new covenant of “GOD’S Grace,” where as under the old covenant, GOD’S people lived under the “Law.” The “Law” is external with internal application.


King Solomon built a magnificent temple for the Jews to worship but a magnificent external temple is not enough to hold in check a wandering heart. When GOD is magnificent to us internally and we walk with HIM through faith in JESUS, the power of the Holy Spirit can help us overcome that which lures us away from GOD. When temptation comes knocking on the doors of our hearts, that is when our hearts need to turn to GOD in honest, true worship. Let’s continue with our focus scripture ----


Let’s read 2 Chronicles 15:10-15:

¹⁰ They were gathered in Jerusalem in the third month of the fifteenth year of Asa’s reign. ¹¹ At that time they sacrificed to the Lord 700 cattle and 7,000 sheep from all the plunder they had brought. ¹² Then they entered into a covenant to seek the Lord God of their ancestors with all their mind and all their heart. ¹³ Whoever would not seek the Lord God of Israel would be put to death, young or old,^[b] man or woman. ¹⁴ They took an oath to the Lord in a loud voice, with shouting, with trumpets, and with rams’ horns. ¹⁵ All Judah rejoiced over the oath, for they had sworn it with all their mind. They had sought Him with all their heart, and He was found by them. So, the Lord gave them rest on every side.

Five years after King Asa and his army had defeated Zerah. During these five years, King Asa had cleared the land of foreign shrines and repaired the temple. King Asa extended an invitation to Israel and their Jewish neighbors the opportunity to enter into this time of repentance, worship and celebration of GOD. Plus, they planned to make a new covenant with GOD. This event was carefully planned.

First, those attending this event should be prepared to confess their sins and be cleansed from their sins by the shedding of the animal sacrifices. They had obtained these animals as the spoils of war. The sacrifices would reflect their gratitude to GOD by the large proportion of sacrifices they would make to GOD. They had gathered seven hundred cattle and seven thousand sheep and goats for sacrifice.

The timing of this event was important.

Let’s consider “¹⁰ They were gathered in Jerusalem in the third month of the fifteenth year of Asa’s reign.” The “third month” coincided with the Feasts of Weeks which is the time of Pentecost or fifty days after the Passover. This was the time when many people made a pilgrimage to Israel. King Asa invited all Jews in the surrounding area to Jerusalem and to the temple. King Asa was led to choose a holy day to call GOD’S people together and worship in a renewed land (cleansed of all pagan shrines) and a renovated temple.   

They wanted all who were serious about repenting and renewing their relationship with GOD to come or else face the consequence of death. Unity in purpose was vital. It was not a time to party but a time to earnestly seek the right relationship with GOD because GOD had delivered them from their physical enemy.

Certainly, coming with the right Spirit, under the penalty of death, would get your attention and encourage all to be prepared to confess their sins and renew their covenant with GOD for the right purpose.

A true worshiper is a person who seeks to have the right relationship with GOD. The time had come for GOD to teach the people to again worship HIM in Spirit and Truth. All the people “took an oath to the LORD.”

When we rededicate ourselves to the LORD, the burden of guilt and shame resulting from sin and its consequence is lifted, there is great joy. They found the LORD and The LORD found them. There was no sin barrier between GOD and those who had come with the right purpose.

The term “The LORD found them” can lead one to think that GOD abandoned them but in fact GOD never moved. They removed the obstacles and barriers, mainly the sin of worshiping false gods. This is true today, when we confess our sins, repent, meaning to stop doing them and walk away from them, acknowledge JESUS as the ONE WHO fills our lives our relationship with GOD through faith is restored.

JESUS stated in John 4:24 - ^24 “God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

As Christians, we can come into the very presence of GOD anytime we choose. We should come boldly. How can we come boldly? In 1 John 1:5-10:

⁵ Now this is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you: God is light, and there is absolutely no darkness in Him. ⁶ If we say, “We have fellowship with Him,” yet we walk in darkness, we are lying and are not practicing^[c] the truth. ⁷ But if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. ⁸ If we say, “We have no sin,” we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us. ⁹ If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. ¹⁰ If we say, “We don’t have any sin,” we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.

Yes, Christians have been washed clean of all sin by the shed blood of the Lamb, JESUS, but we are to confess our sins to maintain fellowship with GOD. As I was led to write in last weeks lesson, confession is open to us 24/7. A good time for us to reflect, ask the Holy Spirit to examine our hearts and confess our sins is before we take the sacraments of the LORD’S Supper.

Let’s read 2 Chronicles 15:16-19:

¹⁶ King Asa also removed Maacah, his grandmother,^[c] from being queen mother because she had made an obscene image of Asherah. Asa chopped down her obscene image, then crushed it and burned it in the Kidron Valley. ¹⁷ The high places were not taken away from Israel; nevertheless, Asa was wholehearted his entire life.^{[d] 18} He brought his father’s consecrated gifts and his own consecrated gifts into God’s temple: silver, gold, and utensils.

¹⁹ There was no war until the thirty-fifth year of Asa’s reign.

Often, family members are stumbling blocks to obediently serving GOD. King Asa faced such a dilemma. His grandmother, Maacah, the queen mother had made “an obscene image of Asherah.” Asa chopped it down, chopped it up and burned it.

Often, those we love most do things which do not allow them to be in right relationship with the One True GOD. They may need our help to do the right things e.g. we need to pray with or for them. We may need to seek GOD’S help and guidance for the action we need to take.

King Asa was passionate about keeping clean these high places of pagan worship from the land.

He also took back to the temple the consecrated things that his father had accumulated from the victories the LORD had given him. These consecrated things rightfully belonged to GOD and were to be displayed in the temple for all to know that GOD give them victory.

King Asa had also brought “his own consecrated gifts into the temple.”

That is what we, as Christians, need to do, as led by the Holy Spirit. We need to return to GOD that which we have claimed for ourselves withheld from HIM.

GOD has given us life which is our kingdom. We are to make certain that we keep the pagan shrines torn down and cleaned out of our lives. When the Holy Spirit reveals areas where we have compromised, we must take action. What action? Ask the LORD JESUS to reveal the action needed. You may need help such as: Christian counseling or dropping certain relationships, stop going to certain places, or stop looking at certain things and the list goes on.

In our scripture, we read that King Asa continued to bring things to the LORD. When we are obedient to GOD, we have peace. Ask the Holy Spirit to examine our lives and reveal areas where we are compromising our walk with our LORD JESUS.

King Asa was obedient to GOD and what was the result? Here, we read that ¹⁹ There was no war until the thirty-fifth year of Asa’s reign.

Christians must keep and maintain their focus upon GOD through their faith in JESUS. We all encounter things in life that tempt us to compromise that relationship. Christians are to come before the LORD with hearts that earnestly seek HIM in all honesty, truth, fully confessed, no hidden issues that can compromise their relationship with HIM. Keep in mind GOD already knows it all, so don’t try to hide any thing from HIM. Do not try to con GOD with hidden agendas of why you are coming to HIM. GOD cannot not be conned. HE is truth and knows all; even the things hidden in our hearts. Continually keep a close eye upon the high place in your life and be careful not build an altar to a false god. Seek truth as GOD is truth and ask HIM to reveal truth to you as you study HIS Word and obediently serve HIM.

Christians must keep in mind that worship in not something we attend but something we do. Live your life as an act of worship.

Allow the indwelling Holy Spirit to lead and guide your life, especially your decision making. All Christians are under construction until the instant we meet JESUS face to face. Blessings!!!