May 2023

  SORRY TO SEND OUT TWO.
  FIRST ONE HAD THE WRONG READING FOR TODAY.
  GOD BLESS AND HAVE A GREAT DAY  
 

  May 31, 2023
  Daily Reading – 2 Kings 4-5 / John 10:1-21

 

 GOD’S WORD:

2 Kings 4:6 And it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said unto her son, Bring me yet a vessel. And he said unto her, There is not a vessel more. And the oil stayed.

 

 GETTING INTO GOD’S WORD:

        I have heard several good men preach out of 2 Kings 4:1-7. Some have likened the oil to the presence of the Holy Spirit. Others say the oil represents God’s grace being poured out, and as long as there is an open vessel to fill, God’s grace continues to pour. One man viewed the closed door behind which the miracle took place as showing that God’s blessings are for the faithful in God’s family. Many have said the number of vessels borrowed show the measure of her faith. Surmising if she had collected more vessels, the oil would have continued to flow. It very well may have. However, what I see in this passage is that when the vessels collected were full, it stopped. Not a drop more, not a drop less than what she needed.

 

        When looking at the story again, we see that what she asked for was her debt to be paid to rescue her sons from serving out the debt as bondsmen. That was all she wanted. Yet God gave her more than her heart desired. 2 Kings 4:7 says, “Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, Go, sell the oil, and pay thy debt, and live thou and thy children of the rest.” This says God supplied enough oil to pay the debt and free her sons as she asked. Also, He supplied enough for the family to live on after that. Any more oil may have made them prideful, any less may have put them back in debt very soon. The oil stopped when God said it was enough. 

 

 GETTING GOD’S WORD INTO ME:

        What more could she ask for? God met the immediate need she had and blessed far beyond. To want more pots and more oil was unnecessary. God knows what we need, and often blesses us with more.

 

Could some of our desires be wants, and not needs?

 

 

  May 31, 2023
  Daily Reading – 2 Kings 4-5 / John 10:1-21

 

 GOD’S WORD:

2 Kings 4:6 And it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said unto her son, Bring me yet a vessel. And he said unto her, There is not a vessel more. And the oil stayed.

 

 GETTING INTO GOD’S WORD:

        I have heard several good men preach out of 2 Kings 4:1-7. Some have likened the oil to the presence of the Holy Spirit. Others say the oil represents God’s grace being poured out, and as long as there is an open vessel to fill, God’s grace continues to pour. One man viewed the closed door behind which the miracle took place as showing that God’s blessings are for the faithful in God’s family. Many have said the number of vessels borrowed show the measure of her faith. Surmising if she had collected more vessels, the oil would have continued to flow. It very well may have. However, what I see in this passage is that when the vessels collected were full, it stopped. Not a drop more, not a drop less than what she needed.

 

        When looking at the story again, we see that what she asked for was her debt to be paid to rescue her sons from serving out the debt as bondsmen. That was all she wanted. Yet God gave her more than her heart desired. 2 Kings 4:7 says, “Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, Go, sell the oil, and pay thy debt, and live thou and thy children of the rest.” This says God supplied enough oil to pay the debt and free her sons as she asked. Also, He supplied enough for the family to live on after that. Any more oil may have made them prideful, any less may have put them back in debt very soon. The oil stopped when God said it was enough. 

 

 GETTING GOD’S WORD INTO ME:

        What more could she ask for? God met the immediate need she had and blessed far beyond. To want more pots and more oil was unnecessary. God knows what we need, and often blesses us with more.

 

Could some of our desires be wants, and not needs?

 

 

  May 30, 2023
  Daily Reading – 2 Kings 1-3 / John 9:24-41

 

 GOD’S WORD:

2 Kings 2:9 And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me.

 

 GETTING INTO GOD’S WORD:

        When everything is said and done, what is it that you really want out of life? Homes are nice, but they break down and are in constant need of repair. Cars, boats, and motor toys are fun, but they too need lots of attention. Sooner or later a newer model will come along and catch our attention. I heard one person say, when asked what they wanted for a birthday gift, “Well money always seems to work really well!” As true as that is, even that statement proves that money cannot purchase any items that completely satisfy us. People seem to chase their tales in the daily grind trying to find the next thing that will make them happy. At some point we should stop and ask, what is it that we are actually seeking out of life? Might the best thing we possess be a Godly heritage to pass on to those we love?

 

        Elisha has followed after Elijah to his last days. He has watched, listened, and learned all he can from this man of God. Now Elijah turns to Elisha and says, “…Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee.” So, after all this time, what does Elisha ask for? Material things Elijah might leave behind? No. He asks for a double portion of Elijah’s spiritual heritage. The bible says, “… I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me.” Elijah must have been so proud to know at that moment, the work God had begun in him would be carried on through his spiritual son Elisha. 

 

 GETTING GOD’S WORD INTO ME:

        When we reach the end of this life, our best gift to the next generation is our faith and love for God. That is what will see them through the trials of life when we are long gone.

 

What better gift could you leave for your loved ones than a true faith and trust in your God?

 

 

  May 29, 2023
  Daily Reading – 1 Kings 22 / John 9:1-23

 

 GOD’S WORD:

1 Kings 22:14 And Micaiah said, As the LORD liveth, what the LORD saith unto me, that will I speak.

 

 GETTING INTO GOD’S WORD:

        I recently read a humorous story about a man who was at an auction. On the auction block was one of the most beautiful Parrots the man had ever seen. He had not come with the idea of buying anything, yet when the bidding started at one hundred dollars, He could not resist. Suddenly from somewhere toward the front he heard “two hundred!” The auctioneer said, “I have two hundred do I hear three.” So, the man raised his paddle and said, “three.” Almost as suddenly as he had bid, someone yelled, “four hundred.” This went on for some time. His pride and competitive spirit would not allow him to stop. Finally, he won the bid for one thousand dollars. At the end of the auction, he went to pay for the bird and take him home. As he was writing the check he said, “I sure hope this bird can talk after all that.” “OH, he can talk alright,” said the auctioneer, “who do you think was bidding against you?” You know parrots only repeat what they have heard someone else say. When it comes to God’s Word, we might learn something from the parrot.

 

        Micaiah the prophet was asked to agree with other prophets in what he would say to the king. Micaiah said, “…what the LORD saith unto me, that will I speak.” What God’s Word says today may not be popular with society and their desires of life. However, it is still the truth and still what God said. Does anyone want a cracker? 

 

 GETTING GOD’S WORD INTO ME:

        We need to share the truth; however, the Bible says, we need to do it in love. Sometimes the truth can be harsh and hard to hear. Still, if someone knows we are telling them the truth because we care for them, it is easier to hear.

 

Will you show people you care, before you share?

 

 

 May 27 & 28, 2023
 May 27 – Daily Reading – 1 Kings 20-21 / John 8:31-59
 May 28 – NO READING

 

 GOD’S WORD:

Kings 20:28 And there came a man of God, and spake unto the king of Israel, and said, Thus saith the LORD, Because the Syrians have said, The LORD is God of the hills, but he is not God of the valleys, therefore will I deliver all this great multitude into thine hand, and ye shall know that I am the LORD.

 

 GETTING INTO GOD’S WORD:

        Where Is God? This is a question we hear often when there is a tragedy in someone’s life. People ask this question when tornadoes have moved in and leave nothing but devastation through an area. Some have asked where God has been when hurricanes have hit a shoreline and destroyed lives and homes. People will often ask a Pastor where is God after the sudden unexplained death of a loved one. When someone takes weapons into a school or crowded area and randomly takes the lives of innocent people, we hear, where is God in all this? At times it is hard to see God in the midst of natural disasters or the sinful outbursts of man. Yet, in the aftermath, if you will look around, you will see this loving God picking up the pieces of broken lives and putting them back together again. There is a biblical name for God and Christ that will answer this question. IMMANUEL. Which means, “God with us.”

 

        In today’s reading of 1 Kings 20 we find the Syrian army not understanding the presence of God. They thought that He was a territorial God like their false imagined gods. They had hoped that this God was only with man on the mountain, and not in the valley. How soon they found out that the one true God is not a god of mud, but a God of Man. The God of Man is not confined to one place, nor is He only there in certain situations. He is the God of Man always. 

 

 GETTING GOD’S WORD INTO ME:

        Just remember, the God of the mountain top experiences in life, is also the God who walks with, and through the valleys of your life. He is the God you can count on when nature and man prove to be unreliable. He is always there.

 

Can the world see God in you, even in the bad times?

 

THE WEEK IN REVIEW:

        Every step in life taken with the Lord brings us closer to Him. Even mistakes in life will develop Godly Maturity if we learn from them, as seen in:

 

  ● Given Even More
  ● Guiding Their Memories
  ● God Still Matters
  ● Guaranteed A Meal
  ● Guarded And Mistaken
  ● God With Man

        What a blessing to know that just as a parent leads a child, our Heavenly Father is leading us into Godly Maturity.

       Enjoy today with your church and hear what God has prepared in the heart of His man for you this week.

   See you tomorrow.  

 

 SUNDAYS:

       Today we suggest you read and study whatever the Lord has laid on your Pastors heart. Whatever scripture he uses for today’s messages were given to him by God for your specific needs.

May 29, 2023	1 Kings 22	John 9:1-23
May 30, 2023	2 Kings 1-3	John 9:24-41
May 31, 2023	2 Kings 4-5	John 10:1-21
June 1, 2023	2 Kings 6-8	John 10:22-42
June 2, 2023	2 Kings 9-10	John 11:1-37
June 3, 2023	2 Kings 11-13	John 11:38-57
June 4, 2023	No Passages Assigned

Godly Maturity