Tuesday, June 16, 2020
Do Not Trust in Princes
1 Samuel 8:4-9
"4 Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah;
5 and they said to him, “Behold, you have grown old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint a king for us to judge us like all the nations.”
6 But the thing was displeasing in the sight of Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” And Samuel prayed to the Lord.
7 The Lord said to Samuel, “Listen to the voice of the people in regard to all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from being king over them.
8 Like all the deeds which they have done since the day that I brought them up from Egypt even to this day—in that they have forsaken Me and served other gods—so they are doing to you also.
9 Now then, listen to their voice; however, you shall solemnly warn them and tell them of the procedure of the king who will reign over them.”
Israel just like America wanted a king rather than God. They had rejected God and had placed their trust in a man to lead them.
God told Samuel to warn them that the king would not be good for them but they did not listen, they continued to want a king like all the other nations.
So, when you are rejected for warning the Christians that a ruler over their nation will save it, you are in good company, they did this to Samuel too.
When Christians are more concerned about having the president they want rather than devoting their lives to prayer and obedience to him, you will find much angst among those who have invested their time and energy in preserving the life they have always had.
It is entirely possible that difficulties in this life could be the best for this nation to see how much they need Christ. I never pray for a nation to retain all our wealth and pleasures, I pray that those in rebellion against God will be brought to their knees in repentance.
Psalm 107:33-43
33 He changes rivers into a wilderness
And springs of water into a thirsty ground;
34 A fruitful land into a salt waste,
Because of the wickedness of those who dwell in it.
35 He ]changes a wilderness into a pool of water
And a dry land into springs of water;
36 And there He makes the hungry to dwell,
So that they may establish an inhabited city,
37 And sow fields and plant vineyards,
And gather a fruitful harvest.
38 Also He blesses them and they multiply greatly,
And He does not let their cattle decrease.
39 When they are diminished and bowed down
Through oppression, misery and sorrow,
40 He pours contempt upon princes
And makes them wander in a pathless waste.
41 But He sets the needy securely on high away from affliction,
And makes his families like a flock.
42 The upright see it and are glad;
But all unrighteousness shuts its mouth.
43 Who is wise? Let him give heed to these things,
And consider the loving kindnesses of the Lord."
Psalm 146:3-7
3 Do not trust in princes,
In mortal man, in whom there is no salvation.
4 His spirit departs, he returns to the earth;
In that very day his thoughts perish.
5 How blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob,
Whose hope is in the Lord his God,
6 Who made heaven and earth,
The sea and all that is in them;
Who keeps faith forever;
7 Who executes justice for the oppressed;
Who gives food to the hungry.
The Lord sets the prisoners free."
When we trust in Christ alone we are free even while we are in prison. Our freedom has nothing to do with the physical realm, it is about the Spirit of God Who lives in us. We are free no matter where we are.
"4 Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah;
5 and they said to him, “Behold, you have grown old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint a king for us to judge us like all the nations.”
6 But the thing was displeasing in the sight of Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” And Samuel prayed to the Lord.
7 The Lord said to Samuel, “Listen to the voice of the people in regard to all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from being king over them.
8 Like all the deeds which they have done since the day that I brought them up from Egypt even to this day—in that they have forsaken Me and served other gods—so they are doing to you also.
9 Now then, listen to their voice; however, you shall solemnly warn them and tell them of the procedure of the king who will reign over them.”
Israel just like America wanted a king rather than God. They had rejected God and had placed their trust in a man to lead them.
God told Samuel to warn them that the king would not be good for them but they did not listen, they continued to want a king like all the other nations.
So, when you are rejected for warning the Christians that a ruler over their nation will save it, you are in good company, they did this to Samuel too.
When Christians are more concerned about having the president they want rather than devoting their lives to prayer and obedience to him, you will find much angst among those who have invested their time and energy in preserving the life they have always had.
It is entirely possible that difficulties in this life could be the best for this nation to see how much they need Christ. I never pray for a nation to retain all our wealth and pleasures, I pray that those in rebellion against God will be brought to their knees in repentance.
Psalm 107:33-43
33 He changes rivers into a wilderness
And springs of water into a thirsty ground;
34 A fruitful land into a salt waste,
Because of the wickedness of those who dwell in it.
35 He ]changes a wilderness into a pool of water
And a dry land into springs of water;
36 And there He makes the hungry to dwell,
So that they may establish an inhabited city,
37 And sow fields and plant vineyards,
And gather a fruitful harvest.
38 Also He blesses them and they multiply greatly,
And He does not let their cattle decrease.
39 When they are diminished and bowed down
Through oppression, misery and sorrow,
40 He pours contempt upon princes
And makes them wander in a pathless waste.
41 But He sets the needy securely on high away from affliction,
And makes his families like a flock.
42 The upright see it and are glad;
But all unrighteousness shuts its mouth.
43 Who is wise? Let him give heed to these things,
And consider the loving kindnesses of the Lord."
Psalm 146:3-7
3 Do not trust in princes,
In mortal man, in whom there is no salvation.
4 His spirit departs, he returns to the earth;
In that very day his thoughts perish.
5 How blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob,
Whose hope is in the Lord his God,
6 Who made heaven and earth,
The sea and all that is in them;
Who keeps faith forever;
7 Who executes justice for the oppressed;
Who gives food to the hungry.
The Lord sets the prisoners free."
When we trust in Christ alone we are free even while we are in prison. Our freedom has nothing to do with the physical realm, it is about the Spirit of God Who lives in us. We are free no matter where we are.
Stop the Lies and Embrace Truth
Lets tell the truth and stop all the lies to make ourselves feel good.
I voted for the two Bush's and others who were not saved. They all claimed to be Christian. Even Obama who was a devil claimed to be Christian.
Obama claimed to be Christian and held that Bible up in front of the same church where Trump held up the bible. Clinton did this too and he was also a devil. They all do this to schmooze this voting block of "Bible belt Christians." It works every time.
Only this time Trump is giving "conservatives" not necessarily Christian what they want.
I didn't vote for them because they said they were Christian, I voted for them because they were conservative and able to get some things I thought would be right and good. I never expected them to be righteous or do what God wants.
Our country has a problem with admitting bad things about people they love to worship. We ought to be able to say good and bad about anyone. We do not need to be warned about the good, but we do need to be warned about the bad.
1 John 4:1
Testing the Spirits
"4 Beloved, do not believe every spirit but test the spirits to see whether they are from God because many false prophets have gone out into the world."
Hymenaeus and Philetus were spreading a false gospel, they were false converts spreading lies about God. The people were warned not to follow them. Obviously, these men had a following of people who believed them but refused to believe the warnings about them by other godly men.
2 Timothy 2:17-18
17 and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, 18 men who have gone astray from the truth saying that the resurrection has already taken place, and they upset the faith of some."
When we have discernment we can see who is of God and who is not. When others warn us not to "follow" a particular man or men. We should pray that we do not fall into the trap of worship of men through our desire to believe only good about them. Even believing what is not true to make ourselves feel safe.
Matthew 7:15-20
A Tree and Its Fruit
15 “Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
16 You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they?
17 So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit.
18 A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit.
19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
20 So then, you will know them by their fruits."
This passage in Matthew can apply to false converts as well as false teachers.
Discernment takes the ability to call things what they are in truth even when others do not see it or when they become angry at us for speaking truth.
When our president pretends to be a Christian it is damaging to the gospel of Christ. He will do and say things against the word of God causing undiscerning and foolish Christians to follow what he says and act the way he acts.
In order to follow only Christ, we must be able to see ALL aspects of a man's character based on his life and words, not on his words alone. And, everything must be evaluated according to the Word of God.
Our goal as born again believers is not to make a better life for ourselves here on earth. Our goal is to preach the gospel, speak the truth all the time, and leave the rest to God.
Daniel 2:21
"He (God) changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding;"
If we believe this about God controlling leaders then we must know God gives us the leaders we deserve, even the bad ones.
In these last days, he may be giving us leaders who can easily deceive us to show us our own desire to be comfortable more than a desire to live for Christ.
Just saying!!!! Don't trust in any man, EVER especially in these last days of apostasy and deception.
I voted for the two Bush's and others who were not saved. They all claimed to be Christian. Even Obama who was a devil claimed to be Christian.
Obama claimed to be Christian and held that Bible up in front of the same church where Trump held up the bible. Clinton did this too and he was also a devil. They all do this to schmooze this voting block of "Bible belt Christians." It works every time.
Only this time Trump is giving "conservatives" not necessarily Christian what they want.
I didn't vote for them because they said they were Christian, I voted for them because they were conservative and able to get some things I thought would be right and good. I never expected them to be righteous or do what God wants.
Our country has a problem with admitting bad things about people they love to worship. We ought to be able to say good and bad about anyone. We do not need to be warned about the good, but we do need to be warned about the bad.
1 John 4:1
Testing the Spirits
"4 Beloved, do not believe every spirit but test the spirits to see whether they are from God because many false prophets have gone out into the world."
Hymenaeus and Philetus were spreading a false gospel, they were false converts spreading lies about God. The people were warned not to follow them. Obviously, these men had a following of people who believed them but refused to believe the warnings about them by other godly men.
2 Timothy 2:17-18
17 and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, 18 men who have gone astray from the truth saying that the resurrection has already taken place, and they upset the faith of some."
When we have discernment we can see who is of God and who is not. When others warn us not to "follow" a particular man or men. We should pray that we do not fall into the trap of worship of men through our desire to believe only good about them. Even believing what is not true to make ourselves feel safe.
Matthew 7:15-20
A Tree and Its Fruit
15 “Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
16 You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they?
17 So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit.
18 A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit.
19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
20 So then, you will know them by their fruits."
This passage in Matthew can apply to false converts as well as false teachers.
Discernment takes the ability to call things what they are in truth even when others do not see it or when they become angry at us for speaking truth.
When our president pretends to be a Christian it is damaging to the gospel of Christ. He will do and say things against the word of God causing undiscerning and foolish Christians to follow what he says and act the way he acts.
In order to follow only Christ, we must be able to see ALL aspects of a man's character based on his life and words, not on his words alone. And, everything must be evaluated according to the Word of God.
Our goal as born again believers is not to make a better life for ourselves here on earth. Our goal is to preach the gospel, speak the truth all the time, and leave the rest to God.
Daniel 2:21
"He (God) changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding;"
If we believe this about God controlling leaders then we must know God gives us the leaders we deserve, even the bad ones.
In these last days, he may be giving us leaders who can easily deceive us to show us our own desire to be comfortable more than a desire to live for Christ.
Just saying!!!! Don't trust in any man, EVER especially in these last days of apostasy and deception.
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