As way of introduction, may I say how much I love the audio Bible. I encourage
all my web visitors to get the Alexander Scourby audio Bible on DVD. There are
numerous sources online to buy it. There are a few different formats (53 tapes,
62 CD's, 6 MP3 disks or the portable GoBible with ear-buds, and of course my
favorite, just 1 DVD disk). I have been so blessed, and have never learned so
much Bible since I bought the Bible on DVD (both Old
and the New Testaments on one disk). With just one mouse click you can listen to the entire
Bible. There's a great benefit to hearing instead of reading, that is,
when you normally read, part of your mental process is being used to focus on
reading instead of listening. By just listening, your complete attention in
given to focus on what is being said. I've been learning amazing truths lately.
I have never felt so close to my precious Savior, God and King.
I was listening to 1st Samuel today while resting and I jumped up to write this article when I heard 1st Samuel 12:20, “And Samuel said unto the people, Fear not: ye have done all this wickedness: yet turn not aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart.” Isn't that beautiful? The Bible says that when a Christian sins, the thing to do is to keep serving God... FEAR NOT: YE HAVE DONE ALL THIS WICKEDNESS: YET TURN NOT ASIDE FROM FOLLOWING THE LORD, BUT SERVE THE LORD WITH ALL YOUR HEART!!! When you go into sin, get back up and determine to do even more for God. The wicked have nothing to get back up from, because they're always down in the hogpen of sin wallowing in their wickedness. You have to attempt to please God by obeying Him first, before you can fall. How do you fall from a hole? You have to rise up before you can fall down. Amen! When we fall as Christians, we look where we landed and are sad; but God sees where we came from and He is glad, because we were trying in His strength to live upright in the Lord. You can't fail until you first rise up. Proverbs 24:26, “For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.”
Listen to what king David learned in Psalms 119:67 and 71, “Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word. ... It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes” Don't stop serving God just because you blew it! Let the heathen rage against you, because everyone has sinned. Self-righteous religious hypocrites will condemn you, but God says you are NOT condemned if you are trusting in the righteousness of Jesus Christ to save you (Romans 4:5-6; 2nd Corinthians 5:21).
Romans 8:34, “Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.” What a precious Scripture! Who is he that condemneth? The answer is NO ONE because Christ died and rose, having ascended into Heaven, and is now making intercession for the saints as our High Priest (Hebrews 4:15-16). Men can condemn you to the GRAVE, but only God can condemn a person's body and soul to HELL forever (Matthew 10:28). Ecclesiastes 7:20 “For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.” Don't worry about what the wicked say nor do, for the Bible says THEIR DAY IS COMING!!! ...
Psalms 37:7-13, Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil. For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth. For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be. But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace. The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth. The Lord shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming.”
The Israelites Sinned By Demanding A King
We were created to please God (Revelation 4:11). Nothing pleases God except faith (Hebrews 11:6). Faith is depending upon God in all that we do (Proverbs 3:5-6). Ecclesiastes 12:13, “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.”
The children of Israel had demanded a king from Samuel the prophet. Samuel told them that God didn't want them to have a king, but that the Lord would be their King. The people feared war (particularly the Ammonites and the Philistines) and wanted a king with a military to fight their battles for them. An entire sermon can be preached on this subject alone. When we fear, we don't trust God as we should. So then we look to the government to take care of us, like people are doing in America today. Everybody wants the government to feed them, give them health care, fight their battles and provide education...
1st Samuel 8:20, “Nay; but we will have a king over us; That we also may be like all the nations; and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles.”
It is a sin not to trust God. It is wrong to put one's confidence in the strength of men instead of the strength of God...
1st Samuel 18-19, “So Samuel called unto the LORD; and the LORD sent thunder and rain that day: and all the people greatly feared the LORD and Samuel. And all the people said unto Samuel, Pray for thy servants unto the LORD thy God, that we die not: for we have added unto all our sins this evil, to ask us a king.”
Listen to what the Bible has to say. Samuel warned the people that the king they so dearly desired would TAKE everything they owned away from them until they cried out for relief, but God wouldn't hear them...
1st Samuel 8:10-20, “And Samuel told all the words of the LORD unto the people that asked of him a king. And he said, This will be the manner of the king that shall reign over you: He will take your sons, and appoint them for himself, for his chariots, and to be his horsemen; and some shall run before his chariots. And he will appoint him captains over thousands, and captains over fifties; and will set them to ear his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and instruments of his chariots. And he will take your daughters to be confectionaries, and to be cooks, and to be bakers. And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, even the best of them, and give them to his servants. And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants. And he will take your menservants, and your maidservants, and your goodliest young men, and your asses, and put them to his work. He will take the tenth of your sheep: and ye shall be his servants. And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which ye shall have chosen you; and the LORD will not hear you in that day. Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us; That we also may be like all the nations; and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles.”
That's what governments do best... THEY TAKE!!! Through heavy taxation, military drafts and other means governments have always turned tyrannical over time. The sin nature of mankind cannot be tamed. This in itself is proof of God, Who Authored the Bible. The Bible hits-the-nail-right-on-the-head so-to-speak concerning the nature of humanity. No other book in existence even compares to the holy and precious Word of God. I am Soooooo glad that I recognize the Bible as God's Word. We should all love it, study it, cherish it, obey it and let it be the Lamp unto our feet as it was intended to be.
I love God's Word. The Bible is the perfect length, filled with such interesting things and is more practical than we ever could have hoped for. I never realized just how many things originate from the Word of God (like the saying, “God Save The King!” in 1st Samuel 10:24). The Bible fills the empty void in man's soul, fills our souls with divine truth and burns our heart with the knowledge of the things of God. I wanted to cry the other day when I learned that 46% of Americans only read their Bible once or twice a year (from an article titled, HAS AMERICA LOST ITS WAY?; (THE GOOD NEWS magazine; July-August, 2012; pg.26).
My friend, whoever you may be, if you want to draw
nigh unto God, then I recommend that you just start listened to the Bible. Every
time that you hear something that moves you or catches your attention, go to
your Bible and study it. Learn about that subject. There are many wonderful
commentaries and Bible study aids on the internet, but I fear for most people
who don't know the difference between good and bad doctrine on the web. Stick
with the King James Bible and you'll be safe. Of course, the first step to
knowing God is to become a child of God. No person can ever come to know God
personally who does not come by way of the cross of Jesus Christ. Ye must be
born again!
Are You Resting In The Gospel Of Jesus Christ?
Thankfully, and fortunately, every person is offered the free gift of eternal life and forgiveness in Christ. I can't believe that so many people flaunt God's mercy and grace, even blaspheming the very God Who has given His Son for their sins. Wow! I am not worthy, and neither are you! Can any man truly grasp the greatness of what God has so marvelously done for us? I think not.
There's no other book, nor religion, nor prophet, nor teaching, nor philosophy in existence that can even compare or compete with the awe, greatness, amazement and grand scale of what the Bible reveals; of all that God has done for mankind through the Lord Jesus Christ!!! Oh my friend, whoever you may be, I plead with you... “How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him” (Hebrews 2:3). Acts 4:10-12 plainly states that there is NO other name given among men, whereby we must be saved, than the name of JESUS CHRIST OF NAZARETH!!!
Romans 4:5, “But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.” Repeatedly we are warned throughout the Scriptures that God's salvation is offered freely to mankind (Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 11:6; Titus 3:5); paid for by God's gift of His dear Son, and the blood that He shed for us. How much greater then are we insulting God, even trampling underfoot the blood of His covenant, when we ADD anything to it. Don't be deceived, no one who professes to be a Christian is truly saved if they HAVEN'T yet ceased from their own human efforts...
Hebrews 4:10, “For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works...”
Those who teach that faith alone cannot save, but that there must also be human effort—to depart from sin, forsake the world, and surrender to Christ—are NOT SAVED!!! Hebrews 4:10 confirms this! There's a fine line between faith and foolishness, between Heaven and Hell, between salvation and damnation. The dividing line is human effort. Add it and your doomed. Cease from it, and trust upon the Lord, and you're saved! Any attempt to improve mankind spiritually without the Gospel is religious humanism. Don't leave out the cross!!! Jesus DIED, was BURIED and RESURRECTED after three days. That's the Gospel according to 1st Corinthians 15:1-4.
What an awesome God!!! I encourage you whoever you may be to place your total trust in “the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). Christ bore our burden of sin upon the cross, so we don't have to go to Hell forever. Thank you Lord Jesus for dying for my sins!
John 20:31, "But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name."
This website has been created in Jesus' name—the name above every other name (Philippians 2:9-10).
“...Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.” —Zechariah 4:6
Using the internet to bring truth and Christ to a lost world!
