Discord In God’s Work

 May 9
 Daily Reading – 2 Samuel 14-15 / Luke 24:36-53

GOD SAID:

2 Samuel 15:6 And on this manner did Absalom to all Israel that came to the king for judgment: so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.

GETTING INTO GOD’S WORD:

     There are some things I just don’t like. I don’t like opening a gallon of milk only to find that it’s spoiled. That turns my stomach. I can’t change a baby’s diaper without gagging and almost tossing my cookies. Those are a couple of things that make me sick. God also gave us a list in His Word of a few things that He finds disgusting. We find them in Proverbs 6:16-19. Here it says; “These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.” I would hate to be on the wrong side of anything that makes God sick.

    Absalom, however, has touched on all seven things in God’s list that He finds to be an abomination. Proud Look! Check, thought he should be king. Lying Tongue! Check, he lies to David about why he’s going to Hebron. Sheds Blood? Yup, he killed Amnon, who was not innocent, but Absalom wasn’t his judge. Wicked Imaginations! Oh yea, stealing a kingdom kind of fits that bill. Run to Mischief! Yup, he’s causing his father great problems. False Witness! Check again, as he deceives all the men at the gate. Finally, Sows Discord! That too, he divides Israel’s loyalty for God’s work of which God made David their King.

GETTING GOD’S WORD INTO ME:

    Absalom’s anger, pride, and disrespect caused him to do some terrible things. We too must check ourselves and our motives. Could what we do and how we live be only self-motivated and displeasing to God? I would hate for God to look at me as spoiled milk.

Do we ever turn God’s stomach?

 

     
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

Daily In God’s Word

 May 8
 Daily Reading – 2 Samuel 11-13 / Luke 24:1-35

GOD SAID:

2 Samuel 12:10 Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife.

GETTING INTO GOD’S WORD:

     As most of you know, the purpose statement of Living In His Word Ministries has always been, “Getting people into the Word of God, and the Word of God into people.” This ministry began with the idea that if we allow God to speak into our lives daily, we are much more in tune with His will for our lives. It is then that the Word of God also begins to take root in our hearts, and by doing so changing our lives. This is one aspect of being daily in God’s Word. However, another reality is that when God promises us something, good or bad, we will also daily live in God’s Word.

    In today’s passage of 2 Samuel 11-13, we see this played out in grave detail. David has sinned. In chapter 11 he sleeps with Bathsheba, another man’s wife, and she becomes pregnant. To cover his sin he has her husband Uriah killed in battle. He then takes Bathsheba as his wife. In 2 Samuel 11:27 it says “…the thing that David had done displeased the Lord.” In chapter 12 God reveals David’s sin to him and tells him, there is a price to pay for your sin. Because David has repented of his sin, 2 Samuel 12:13 tells us that God does forgive him; “…The LORD also hath put away thy sin;…” However, the remainder of David’s life is filled with family turmoil as today’s verse said it would be. There are blessings along the way, yet trials and troubles continually follow David’s family. God’s Word will be played out daily in his life. There is always a consequence for sin.

GETTING GOD’S WORD INTO ME:

     Gal. 6:7 says; “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” If we sow into the world, we reap from the world. However, if we sow in God’s garden, we reap from God’s harvest.

Where are you sowing with your life today?

 

     
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

Delighting In God’s Will

 May 7
 Daily Reading – 2 Samuel 7-10 / Luke 23:27-56

GOD SAID:

2 Samuel 7:14-15 I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men: But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee.

GETTING INTO GOD’S WORD:

     How many times have you set out to begin a project, only to find out it turned into something much bigger than what you intended it to be. That’s where David finds himself in 2 Samuel 7.

      David wanted to replace the tents used for a Tabernacle and build God a more permanent house for the Ark to dwell in. This in itself would be a huge and ambitious undertaking. God said no, I have something much bigger in mind. God didn’t simply want to build a building, He wanted to build a kingdom. David’s view was on something that would last a few hundred years. God’s view was on building something eternal. Something that would touch more than Israel, but all men throughout all history. God tells David no. Instead He says that after David has died that he will allow his son to build a structure. Then God goes on to share how He intends to build a permanent eternal kingdom. Something marvelous and different is promised with this kingdom. God says, I will form a permanent, unbreakable relationship in this kingdom. In this kingdom if sin is committed it will be dealt with here on earth with the punishments of the flesh. However, God says even then, I will not leave nor break this relationship. He promises His mercy will never depart in this new relationship in this new kingdom. Yup, this was a lot bigger project than David expected. Yet, it was a delight to have God step in and take over this building by His will.

GETTING GOD’S WORD INTO ME:

  In this new kingdom, we too have this promise from God. God deals with the sin of the saints here and now, but His mercy endureth forever. Once you become a child of the King, you’re a child of the King for all eternity. What a delight to live in God’s will.

Will you delight in God’s will today?

 

     
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

Doing Things God’s Way

 May 6
 Daily Reading – 2 Samuel 4-6 / Luke 23:1-26

GOD SAID:

2 Samuel 6:13 And it was so, that when they that bare the ark of the LORD had gone six paces, he sacrificed oxen and fatlings.

GETTING INTO GOD’S WORD:

     Doing things for the right reason in the wrong way can be costly. For example; I worked for hours making an accounting sheet on my computer that automatically calculated numbers I entered into it. I was so excited with what I’d done. When I showed it to a guy in church who did that kind of stuff often, I was expecting; “WOW, that’s great.” Instead, in a respectful and polite way he said, “you know if you did this and that it would work a lot better.” Then with a few clicks and key strokes in a few minutes he built something that took me hours. Not to mention, His worked better. If I’d only called him to begin with, I could’ve used those hours to do something else for the Lord. I had the right motive, but didn’t use the best method.

    King David decided to bring the Ark Of God to the city of David to place it in a tabernacle he pitched there. It was a great idea and desire to have the Ark close by. Albeit, David had forgotten the importance of doing things God’s way. He did what he saw the Philistines do. He placed the Ark on a cart pulled by oxen. The problem, God never intended for the Ark to be transported this way. It was to be carried by priest with poles placed in the rings on its corners. When the oxen stumbled, the ark shifted and Uzzah reached out to hold it up. When he touched it, which God said no one was to do, God took his life. David later realized his sin and had the Ark carried instead, God blessed it.

GETTING GOD’S WORD INTO ME:

  Just being busy for the Lord is not always doing the right thing. God intends for us to be a good steward of all He entrusts to us. Our time, our talent, and our treasure. Doing things God’s way always bring God’s blessings.

Do we ever miss God’s best,
by settling for our good?

 

     
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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Respond With Emulation

 May 4 & 5
 May 4 – Daily Reading – 2 Samuel 1-3 / Luke 22:35-71
 May 5 – NO Daily Reading

GOD SAID:

2 Samuel 3:36 And all the people took notice of it, and it pleased them: as whatsoever the king did pleased all the people.

GETTING INTO GOD’S WORD:

    We have all heard the old phrase, “Monkey See, Monkey Do.” Children are the ones who are most likely to emulate someone they respect. They see daddy with a paintbrush, they want to paint too. They see mommy putting on makeup, they want to put on makeup too. It’s always so cute to see them copying their parents. That is until they blurt out a bad word that they have heard, or ask an inappropriate question. Then the cuteness wears right off. We see it with teens and young adults as well, following after people they look up to in society. That could be a good thing, or that can have disastrous consequences. None of this is new. I think Solomon said it best in Ecclesiastes 1:9 when he said; “The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.”

    The People of Israel saw that David was mourning the death of Abner, and his sorrow quickly became their sorrow as well. In fact the verse says; “as whatsoever the king did pleased all the people.” Their high regard for David, caused them to also have a high regard for what David said and did. It was more than just, “Monkey See, Monkey Do.” It was a deep down regard for this man and a care for what touched him. As with everyone, we are all influencing someone. We can use that influence wisely for God, or foolishly and selfishly.

GETTING GOD’S WORD INTO ME:

      The people loved David, so whatever touched or moved David, touched and moved the people as well. Shouldn’t that be our response to Christ? That we love Him so much that whatever touches or moves the Lord, touches and moves us as well.

Do we emulate Christ well with our lives?

THE WEEK IN REVIEW:

      Although we all know David made mistakes in life, one thing He did well was to be “Reverent Toward God.” We saw it many times this week in:

● Run Toward The Enemy
● Recognizing What’s Evil
● Respect Not Earned
● Righteousness Over Ego
● Reign Was Ended
● Respond With Emulation

    He didn’t push ahead of God, He didn’t touch God’s anointed, nor push his way into leadership. Instead He continued onward with “Reverence Toward God.”

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 6, 2019	2 Samuel 4-6	Luke 23:1-26
May 7, 2019	2 Samuel 7-10	Luke 23:27-56
May 8, 2019	2 Samuel 11-13	Luke 24:1-35
May 9, 2019	2 Samuel 14-15	Luke 24:36-53
May 10, 2019	2 Samuel 16-18	John 1:1-34
May 11, 2019	2 Samuel 19-20	John 1:35-51
May 12, 2019	No Passages Assigned

Reverence:
means to treat with profound respect.
To adore and hold in awe.

If this does not describe just a portion
of how you feel toward the Lord our God,
then I’m afraid my friend,
you do not know Him.

 

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