That’s When It Stopped

 May 29
 Daily Reading – 2 Kings 4-5 / John 10:1-21

GOD SAID:

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:

      Over the years I’ve heard several good men preach on 2 Kings 4:1-7. Some have likened the oil to the presence of the Holy Spirit. Others say the oil represents the grace of God 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 blessing 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’s 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?

 

     
Living In His Word Ministries
    “Getting people into the Word of God…
                               … and the Word of God into people.”

Dr. Franklin J. Senters Th.D.
Founder and Executive Director
Hebrews 2:12

That’s What He Sought

 May 28
 Daily Reading – 2 Kings 1-3 / John 9:24-41

GOD SAID:

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 breakdown and are in constant need of repair. Cars, boats and motor toys are fun, but they too need lots of attention. Sooner or later and 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 real well!” As true as that is, even that statement proves that money can’t seem to 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?

 

     
Living In His Word Ministries
    “Getting people into the Word of God…
                               … and the Word of God into people.”

Dr. Franklin J. Senters Th.D.
Founder and Executive Director
Hebrews 2:12

That’s What He Said

 May 27
 Daily Reading – 1 Kings 22 / John 9:1-23

GOD SAID:

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 read recently 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, however, when the bidding started at one hundred dollars, He couldn’t 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 hollered; “three.” Almost as sudden as he had bid someone else yelled, “four hundred.” This went on for some time, his pride and competitive spirit not allowing him to stop. Finally he won the bid at one thousand dollars. At the end of the auction he went up 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 doing the bidding against you?” You know that 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’s 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. However, 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?

 

     
Living In His Word Ministries
    “Getting people into the Word of God…
                               … and the Word of God into people.”

Dr. Franklin J. Senters Th.D.
Founder and Executive Director
Hebrews 2:12

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God With Man

 May 25 & 26
 May 25 – Daily Reading – 1 Kings 20-21 / John 8:31-59
 May 26 – NO Daily Reading

GOD SAID:

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. I’ve heard people ask this question when tornadoes have moved in and left 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 this question 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 with no warning, we hear, where is God in all this? At times it’s hard to see God in the midst of natural disasters or the sinful outbursts of man. However 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 will walk with, and through the valley of your life. He’s the God you can count on when nature and man prove to be unreliable. He’s 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.

SUNDAY’S:

        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 27, 2019	1 Kings 22	John 9:1-23
May 28, 2019	2 Kings 1-3	John 9:24-41
May 29, 2019	2 Kings 4-5	John 10:1-21
May 30, 2019	2 Kings 6-8	John 10:22-42
May 31, 2019	2 Kings 9-10	John 11:1-37
June 1, 2019	2 Kings 11-13	John 11:38-57
June 2, 2019	No Passages Assigned

God is still teaching us,
if we will only learn from His lessons in life.

Matthew 11:29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me;
for I am meek and lowly in heart:
and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

 

Living In His Word Ministries
            “Getting people into the Word of God…
                               … and the Word of God into people.”

Dr. Franklin J. Senters Th.D.
Founder and Executive Director
Hebrews 2:12

Guarded And Mistaken

 May 24
 Daily Reading – 1 Kings 18-19 / John 8:1-30

GOD SAID:

1 Kings 18:21 And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.

GETTING INTO GOD’S WORD:

      Ok, now what do I do? Yup, we have all been there. A decision has to be made, yet we are just not sure what to do. Many times our problem in deciding something has a lot to do with the people that our decision may affect. If we do this, these people will be happy, but some others may not. If we go the other way, just the opposite is true. What should I do? It’s in these situations we find that many people will decide to guard their opinion and saying nothing at all. One big problem with that is, then both sides see you as indecisive and wishy washy. What to do?

Elijah has just given the children of Israel this same ultimatum. Follow God, or follow Baal. If they choose to follow the God of Elijah, then many of their friends and neighbors will be mad. They may not get invited to the next neighborhood barbecue. However, if they choose Baal, well then if Elijah’s God is real, they might become the next item barbecued. What to do, what to do. So they did what many people still do today when faced with a tough decision. They do nothing. Our verse today says; “…And the people answered him not a word.” They were not willing to stand up for God. Later, when God proves himself to everyone with fire from heaven we find them on their faces before God in 1 Kings 18:39 crying out; “…The LORD, he is God.” Why, well everyone was doing it and they were scared. When given a choice they followed the crowd.

GETTING GOD’S WORD INTO ME:

    Standing up for Christ may not always be easy. Guarding what we say may seem right. However, when we do, no one hears of our wonderful Saviour’s willingness to save. We live a guarded, but mistaken life.

What will you do?
Stand Up, Stand out, or stand mute?

 

     
Living In His Word Ministries
    “Getting people into the Word of God…
                               … and the Word of God into people.”

Dr. Franklin J. Senters Th.D.
Founder and Executive Director
Hebrews 2:12