August 1

Today's Reading - 2 Kings 20 - 21

(2 Ki 20:12 KJV) "At that time Berodachbaladan, the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present unto Hezekiah: for he had heard that Hezekiah had been sick."

As we begin the month of August (the name is taken from Augustus Caesar), we see that Hezekiah had become sick and the King of Babylon had sent gifts to him.  Now, on the surface it looked like the King of Babylon was showing concern for Hezekiah, but as we read further on in the chapter, we find that the emissaries were sent by the King to spy out the land.  There is a major principle here that can be applied to us Christians.  First, we must realize that this visit came at a time when Hezekiah was vulnerable because he was sick.  The King of Babylon was probably readying his troops, upon word from the ambassadors as to the condition of Hezekiah.  Whenever there is a problem in leadership, whether it be sickness or political unrest, it seems to destabilize the country and weaken response capabilities, since the armed forces would not know who to take orders from.  

The principle which can be applied to the Christian from this scenario is that Satan will always attack us when we are the most vulnerable.  I am sure we have all experienced his attacks in a weakened state.  A Christian that is out of work for a long time, may be told that the lottery is $46 million dollars this week, and Satan may tempt that Christian to play it.  Then it becomes a steady thing, and the money that would have been used for sustenance, is now used for gambling.  What about a drunk whom the Lord saves facing a situation in their life, and then Satan begins to plant tempting thoughts like, "A cold beer would taste good right now."  Satan will attack us at our weakest time, and in our weakest area.  

A sure sign of a pending fall of a Christian is when they say, "I can handle it."  As soon as any type of temptation comes near you, especially if it is in a weak area, you must instantly ask the Lord to strengthen you in that weakness, so you will have victory before you experience the temptation.  Every Christian that is reading this has a weakness somewhere in their life, and that is where Satan continues his battle with you.  He knows he cannot have you, but he also knows that he can derail you if you fall prey to his temptations.  Look at good ole' Peter.  He was determined that he was going to defend the Lord, and he made no bones about making that public.  But what happened?  A young girl identified him as being with Jesus, and right away, he feared for his life.  Satan attacked his boldness with fear.  This can happen to us.  If we feel that we are self-sufficient in an area, then you leave yourself open to be attacked in that area, and eventually, you may face a defeat.

(2 Cor 12:10 KJV) "Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong."

This is one of the best pieces of advice which can bring the stability every Christian needs.  Make God the first resort, and not the last.  When you know you have a weak area in your life, ask God to strengthen you in it.  I live in New Jersey, and right now, it is the height of the shore season.  If you were to go down to any part of the Jersey shore, you would see both males and females in the most skimpiest bathing suits.  Now, a person who has a problem in the area of lust really needs to avoid these areas, but suppose your job requires you to go to places like this?  That is when we must take it to the Lord, be honest and tell Him you are weak, and let Him strengthen you through it.  There is no shame in having truthful dialogue with the Lord.  (Psa 31:24 KJV) "Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD."

Today's Reading - Zephaniah 1 - 3

(Zep 1:14 KJV) "The great day of the LORD is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the day of the LORD: the mighty man shall cry there bitterly."

In today's reading, we have the book of Zephaniah, which is one of the smallest books in the Bible, yet it is a strong indictment against sin.  Zephaniah had prophesied against the sins of Judah.  He also made mention of the priests and prophets and how they violated the law and became disobedient.  When Zephaniah prophesied his woe against Judah, she was only 40 years from going into captivity with the Babylonians.  This was such a sad day that Zephaniah referred to it as the "day of the LORD."  

When we look at a book like Zephaniah, which teaches a terminal message, what does it call to mind in our own day?  If we are any student of prophecy, it calls to mind that we may be living in the last days.  In fact, I deeply believe that we are the terminal generation.  When we look at the world, we see the rise of sin and the boldness of sin.  In fact, we can see an exponential rise in sin.  When we look at the prophetic passages in Scripture, we can see that this is one of the key signs of the approaching end.  We see a rise in homosexuality and an acceptance as never before.  In the false church, we see homosexuals being ordained to the ministry.  How can a homosexual preach about the very God that is going to judge them and throw them into Hell?  --That goes for every sinner too.  (Psa 50:16-17 KJV) "But unto the wicked God saith, What hast thou to do to declare my statutes, or that thou shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth? {17} Seeing thou hatest instruction, and castest my words behind thee."

God is now preparing the world for judgment, as we see Him slowly removing His restraining Hand, resulting in increased sinful activity.  (2 Th 2:7 KJV) "For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way."  Look at us for a moment.  When was the last time you went driving and someone cut you off and you wanted to get even, or you swore at them?  It happens all too often in the Christian community, especially as we see the Day drawing near.  

Look at our churches, which at one time, were the fortresses of Truth and kept the government in check.  Now the government tells the churches what they can and cannot do or say.  In New Jersey, if a position opens up in a church and a militant homosexual wants that position, by law, the church has to give it to them.  Separation of Church and State means that the government can regulate you and suppress your freedom of speech, but the church is not allowed to respond.  God seems to be cleaning house in the Catholic Church.  The problem going on there is not pedophilia, but it is homosexual activity with teenage boys.  This fact is being covered up by the Roman Catholic Hierarchy.  The Homosexuals have a major hold on who gets to be a priest and who doesn't.  If the unsaved Protestant churches continues to ordain homosexuals as they have been, this problem will also become rampant in their churches too.

God is also cleaning house in the business world.  He is exposing the fraudulent practices, whereby many corporate executives have been stealing the money that belongs to the workers.  I believe this is also a judgment against business for being prejudice against God's Children.  As a result, on the day I am writing this, the stock market is down 200 points again.  Sin is going to bring this nation to a halt.  God's first warning of 9/11 didn't do it, so He will continue to chip away at the very idol Americans have built.  (Num 32:23 KJV) "But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out."  

Get your Bibles ready, Christian, soon we are going to need Billy Sunday's on every corner in America, because this country is about to lose hope with her false gods.  Christians need to do introspection to make sure they are walking with the Lord.  First, we clean up our own house, and then the Mighty Army marches.  Today, begin to preach, hard and strong!  A nation cannot be brought to repentance by pansy Christianity, but only when it is cloaked in the Armor of God.

August 3

(More Understanding Equals More Responsibility)

Today's Reading - Habakkuk 1 - 3

(Hab 1:13 KJV) "Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity: wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously, and holdest thy tongue when the wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous than he?"

In today's reading, we encounter the book of Habakkuk, which tells of another of God's warning to Judah. Habakkuk was written about thirty years before God sent the Chaldeans to take Judah into captivity. Habakkuk was a confused prophet, because God was going to raise up the enemy of Israel to exact a judgment upon them. In the above verse, it seems that Habakkuk was confused, because He rightly saw God as a holy God. Habakkuk didn't think that God would use a heathen enemy of Judah to ravage the country. Habakkuk should have looked at the Northern Kingdom, because they went into captivity by the Assyrians about one hundred years prior. Habakkuk held on to the premise that Judah was more righteous than the Babylonians, and in a way, he was correct, because they held the oracles of God.

Here is the reason that we, as Christians today, must realize. The fact that Judah and Israel had the teachings of God, and God Himself had done many miracles in their sight, are the reasons that they were more culpable to God than the surrounding heathen nations. We, as Christians who carry the Word of God --both in our hearts and under our arms-- are more responsible before God, because we have more understanding. (Psa 119:99 KJV) "I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation." If God truly has saved a person and has given them understanding in the Scriptures, then we, of all people on earth, should know that the God of the Old Testament is as against sin today, as He was back then. (Mal 3:6 KJV) "For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed."

This may be why we see Christians going through tougher times on earth than some unbelievers. The unbelievers that have no, or very little light, are not expected to act like a saved person. The problem is that some Christians act like unsaved people. This is why God sends chastisement into the lives of His Children. Have you ever been chided by a person in authority who was an unbeliever? Even if they do it in private, you feel like two inches tall, but totally convicted if you deserved it. God can send unbelievers to straighten us out if He so desires. As long as we know that we warrant such censure, we can see it as the extended Hand of the Lord chastising us. If we refuse these individual warnings, as Judah and Israel did by rejecting the prophets, then we, too, can expect some type of longer chastisement, whereby God will take His time in exposing our sinful attitudes and in redirecting our Christian Walk. --Guess what? You won't get out until every lesson is learned!

(The Bible, A Book Of Convictions)

Today's Reading - 2 Kings 22 - 25

(2 Ki 22:11 KJV) "And it came to pass, when the king had heard the words of the book of the law, that he rent his clothes."

In today's reading, we read about King Josiah who was a spiritual leader and a King of Judah. Josiah was the son of Amon who was an evil king. This shows us that negative parental influence is not always present in children. Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign. Eighteen years later, Josiah had ordered that the House of the Lord be repaired, and the project was going along well. Hilkiah, the High Priest, found the book of the law somewhere in the house as they were doing repairs. The book was given to Shaphan, the Scribe, who read it to the King. The King became so convicted that he rent his clothes, which was a sign of humility and spiritual bankruptcy. It is theorized that Shaphan may have read Deuteronomy 28 or Leviticus 26. These two chapters detail what God would do to Israel if they disobeyed Him, and what He would do for them if they obeyed Him.

Josiah was a wise man because as soon as he heard these words, he asked his High priest to go inquire of the Lord as to what the words meant. Of course, these words were a prophecy as to what was going to happen to Judah for their disobedience. Have you ever read a passage in the Scriptures, and it seemed to jump right off the page at you? It was like the Lord giving you that passage for the day, or for a certain event in your life. Have you ever become so convicted at a passage that it caused you to change direction in your life? --This is the essence of Scripture. It was written to change us from going in the wrong direction, and to bring us back to order our lives according to God's ways. The Bible is a book of convictions. Let us not lay aside the convicting power of Scripture, lest a fate worse than Judah's befall us!

August 5

(Chosen Remnant = Taken and Brought to Zion)

Today’s Reading - Jeremiah 3 - 5

(Jer 3:14 KJV) "Turn, O backsliding children, saith the LORD; for I am married unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion:"

In today's reading, we come across this verse which gives us a little insight into the Grace of God. We begin to see in the early chapters of Jeremiah how God levels an indictment of apostasy against the nation of Judah. He tells how the priests and the prophets have adulterated themselves in the service of the temple and how the people have come to accept it. When the Scriptures are watered down, then comes a feeling of relief, because the judgments of Scripture become null and void under such a regime. Then obedience to God goes out the window and Scriptural interpretation is at the whim of a person. However, God sees the problem, and He makes a promise.

We see in the above verse that He is going to take one of a city and two of a family and bring them to Zion. Here we see God's salvation plan in action. This verse reminds me of my own situation, which is typical of many. I am the only one saved in my entire family. I am sure that many who read this may find themselves the loner in salvation in their family, or even their workplace. God says He will take those whom He chooses to Zion. Zion is the body of believers. (John 6:37 KJV) "All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out."

As we read further in the chapter, we read that not only will God save a person, but He is also going to supply pastors who will care for the flock. In the temple service, the priests were to be the ones who overlooked the spiritual welfare of the people. God said they had been corrupted and as a result, the whole nation was in a rebellious condition. But the pastors that God was going to give were to be according to God's heart, which simply means that those pastors who were to care for the saved people will be saved pastors, in contrast to the unsaved priests who ruled over the unsaved people. When God begins to save people, He will start leading them to organized groups, which will eventually lead into the organized church because of the numbers of people He will save. The difference between the church today and the temple of yesteryear is that the saved church today will teach the Scriptures from a salvation point of view. Whereas, the temple services required ceremonies in keeping with the Law of God. There was no grace in the ceremonial system. That system only looked forward to the Grace that would come through Christ.

Now, even though today there are many churches that have gone apostate, the Lord Jesus encourages us by telling us that He will be with us until the End. So although only a chosen remnant will be saved, if you are saved today, give God ALL the glory for that marvelous salvation! --For He took you and brought you unto Zion!

(Seek To Return To The Old Paths)

Today's Reading - Jeremiah 6 - 8

(Jer 6:16 KJV) "Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein."

In today's reading, we come across this verse which gives us a bit of restful encouragement. In the midst of God's uncompromising indictment against Judah, He is impressing upon them that they are to seek the old paths --or the old ways. The old ways here is when the children of Israel had come out of the land of Egypt and received the law. God is calling them back to obedience to the law, which made them a strong nation. Israel saw the many battles which God won for them, and God is telling them to reflect on these things, because if they turn from their wicked ways, they will experience the strength of God on their behalf when God routed and dealt with the enemies of Israel. (Mal 4:4 KJV) "Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments." Of course, we read that Judah did not pay any attention to the warnings God gave them, which resulted in their captivity. They forgot the law of God, which resulted in them falling prey to the false religions which surrounded them. (Jer 7:18 KJV) "The children gather wood, and the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead their dough, to make cakes to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto other gods, that they may provoke me to anger." This was the religion of Astarte, which later on became Diana of the Ephesians. It is identified in many world religions under the category of the "Cult of the Virgin."

Is there a message here for us? How many times do we see ourselves going in the wrong direction, not necessarily sinning intentionally against God, but just adopting a wrong teaching or practice? God is encouraging us to go back to the Scriptures. The Scriptures contain, among many things, guidelines for living. This is why God wants us to come back to the Scriptures, so they may redirect our steps. God called Israel back to the old paths, but they did not listen. Sometimes we tie ourselves to religion, or to teachings which may place more burdens on us than is required in Scripture. God does not want His Children living under bondage of religion. Judah got to the point they were sacrificing their own children. Actually, God did them a favor by sending them into captivity, because it stopped the sacrificial killing of children. Today, we can call child sacrifice "abortion." This is because we in the USA have walked away from the Word of God and spurned its teachings. So we degenerated into a society that murders its unborn. But if we ordered our life according to the Scriptures, we would see that life is a precious gift. When the planes hit the towers on 9/11 and three thousand people died, the world cried. But who cries for the forty million murders committed in this country? So we have much in common with the nations of Israel and Judah. We both started with the Word of God and left them, and have deteriorated to murdering our own children. The term, "Valley of Slaughter" is apropos for today's abortuaries. (Jer 7:32 KJV) "Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that it shall no more be called Tophet, nor the valley of the son of Hinnom, but the valley of slaughter: for they shall bury in Tophet, till there be no place." --Let us seek the old paths, before we become as those who have none!

(Glorying In God Alone)

Today's Reading - Jeremiah 9 - 12

(Jer 9:23-24 KJV) "Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: {24} But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD."

In today's reading, we come across this verse which can only apply to the Christian. At the time of Jeremiah, there must have been a lot of bragging by the religious hierarchy and the political leadership that they had some type of special relationship with God in that He wouldn't do anything to His People. God was telling them that if a man has wisdom, that should not be his point of glory. If a person has physical strength, or has influence over others, that should not be their point of glory. If a person has wealth, that should not be their point of glory. All these things fade, or could be taken from a person in a moment. The overriding reason why a person should not brag about these things is because God is the One who gives these things to people. God gives a person the ability to make wealth. God raises up people in authority. God gives health and wisdom. Even if your mother was unsaved, when you were young, were you able to outsmart her? If a person is going to glory, it must not be in temporal things of this fleeting world. God is saying that a person is to glory in Him. The only Ones who can truly glory in God are the Ones God has redeemed. Why would the unbeliever glory in God, their Judge?

Here God is speaking of those individuals who not only know Him, but understand Him. Now, it is almost impossible for a mere human to know God, but to understand Him, would be harder. This is why God gave us the Scriptures, so we may know something of the mind of God. We still see the things of the Lord dimly because of our sin, but the Bible gives us an understanding of God on our level. Knowing God is the "bragging right" of the believer. --Not how many Ph.D's they have, how much money they have, or how much talent they have, because like the unbeliever, all the worldly possessions of the believer will be burnt up too. God wants His Children to delight in the same things that God delights in, as we see in Jeremiah 9:24.

(Isa 62:4 KJV) "Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken; neither shall thy land any more be termed Desolate: but thou shalt be called Hephzibah, and thy land Beulah: for the LORD delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be married." We see that this is a two-way street. The Lord delights in His Children, and His Children delight in Him. This is the perfect relationship between Redeemer and redeemed. Whenever we glory in things, or even in any achievements, it is a diverted glory. If we are not careful, those accomplishments may become the object of our glory, to the point we start believing that we are the ones who did it. God wants His Children to look to Him, and He wants us to glory in Him. This is our testimony which sets us apart from the world. The cultic person, religious person, agnostic, atheist, or even dead church people, cannot make the claim that they can glory in God. Some may glory in that they think they know Him. I remember before I became a Christian, a Catholic asked me what religion I was, and I said, "Protestant and proud of it." Of course, I said it humbly. I was glorying in being Protestant. Many glory in their churches, but that is diverted glory from God. (Isa 42:8 KJV) "I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images." So God is saying let our glory testimony be our relationship to Him, and not as the world glories.

(Transformation, Not Just Reformation)

Today's Reading - Jeremiah 13 - 16

(Jer 13:23 KJV) "Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil."

In today's reading, we come across this verse which basically tells us that the human being cannot do good. Here God is stating to Judah that it would be possible for them to do good if it were possible for an Ethiopian to change his skin, or if the leopard can change his spots. In other words, it is impossible for these two to do that. God is telling Judah that they were so accustomed to do evil that it was impossible for them to change. When we look at this verse, we see that it is impossible for "them" to do good. God is placing the onus on them to try and do good. They cannot do good because their custom is evil. Enter God's great salvation plan. Even in God's salvation plan, it is impossible for a person to do good. God has to transform us first. (Gen 18:14 KJV) "Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son." Now, when we read this verse, we see that nothing is too hard for the Lord. When God saved someone, then they can go from doing evil to doing good. God's salvation plan does not allow man to be involved, except to receive salvation. God saving someone and turning them around is God's Work.

(Luke 11:24-25 KJV) "When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out. {25} And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished." This is the only type of cleansing program an unsaved person can do. They may be able to stop smoking or drinking, but that does not constitute transformation. That is only reformation. As we look in the next verse, we read what happens when a person tries to clean up their own life, even those who think that by saying a few words for salvation, they are saved. (Luke 11:26 KJV) "Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first." Those demons who left, came back with worse fury. If the person in view had been saved, the Holy Spirit would have been dwelling in that person and those demons could not have come back inside this person. But instead, the demons found a place waiting for them with no resistance.

Such is the case of a person who thinks they can manufacture their own salvation plan. You may be able to clean up around the edges, but your heart remains open for satanic attacks. Basically, God says to us in this Jeremiah verse that if we can change our skins, or if the leopard can change his spots, then we can save ourselves. Many have tried with religion, or twelve-step programs. The way I look at a group like AA is that it is better to have a dry sinner on the road than a drunk one. But AA and programs like it offer no hope for salvation, just reformation. As we saw in the Luke passages, that type of situation just creates another invitation of a stronghold to take possession in our life. We cannot do good until God transforms us by His mighty Hand, and not by our own insignificant little plans and programs. Unbelievers who are accustomed to doing evil cannot create any good that is sufficient enough for salvation. We are to be transformed, not just reformed. So thank God that if you are saved, you have been transformed.

August 10

(Burning Desire Despite Obstacles)

Today's Reading - Jeremiah 17 - 20

(Jer 20:9 KJV) "Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay."

In today's reading, we come across this verse, which may describe many of us from time to time. Jeremiah was really doing his ministry correctly, and in the power of God. God had warned him that he was not going to be listened to, and he would be rejected. In Jeremiah 20:7, Jeremiah was so distraught that he felt God had deceived him. How many us of have felt that way from time to time? Don't get religious on me, because you know what I am talking about. You know, those times where it seems you are trying your best to do God's Work, and it is hindered. And sometimes we wonder why God allows Satan to have so much ability to cause so many problems. Here, God tells us that we are to go forth with the Gospel into the world, and it seems that almost around every corner, there is some kind of obstacle which sets us back. It is at these times when we just want to throw our hands up in the air and give up. This is the frame of mind that Jeremiah was in, but he was a faithful prophet and knew that the Word of God burned in him. In other words, he just had to preach the Word of God, and finish his course. This is why, when we learn something, we can't wait to tell it to someone. The Word of God gives us a burning desire to disseminate it.

If you notice in these verses, in the midst of Jeremiah's truthful confession, God did not chide nor condemn him. God knew the frustrations that Jeremiah was going to face, and there was more to come from this point on. Yet, Jeremiah, in the following verses speaks of God as the awesome God who is with him during this brief time of doubt. Jeremiah may have had a temporary lapse of faith, but it was quickly rekindled when he refocused his sight on the magnificence of God. That is the key when we face those continuous obstacles in the Christian faith. If we continue to focus on the hurdles, then we will face a setback in our Walk and ministry.

I have a little saying above my desk, which was my battle cry through Seminary: "Keeping your eyes on the goal, will lessen the height of the hurdles." I coupled that saying with Zechariah 4:7. (Zec 4:7 KJV) "Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it." Whenever we run into a problem which seems like a mountain, then we are to look at it as Zechariah did. With God in the picture, the mountain shall become like a plain. So if you have a temporary lapse in faith, or you are confused by your situation, remember that God knows full well the next step beyond that problem. He is waiting for us to seek Him. As Jeremiah did, we need to continually refocus our thinking and setting our spiritual eyes upon the Lord. Looking to the Lord only on Sunday in church does not prepare a person for the week ahead. We must continually, throughout the week, refocus our eyes on God. It must become a part of our Christian Walk. The world can easily deceive and discourage us. We must refocus on the Lord at the beginning of every obstacle, and not when we have used up all our resources. Remember, God is the first resort and not the last. If we learn that principle of Christian living, we will walk over the mountain as one walks over a plain.


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