arose – Praying Pint

10.p. “For the nation and the kingdom which will not serve you will perish”

Jonah 3:1 Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time, saying, “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it the message that I tell you.” So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, three days’ journey in breadth. Jonah began to go into the city, going a day’s journey. And he called out, “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!” And the people of Nineveh believed God. They called for a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least of them. The word reached the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, removed his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. And he issued a proclamation and published through Nineveh, “By the decree of the king and his nobles: Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything. Let them not feed or drink water, but let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and let them call out mightily to God. Let everyone turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands. Who knows? God may turn and relent and turn from his fierce anger, so that we may not perish.”

When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil way, God relented of the disaster that he had said he would do to them, and he did not do it.

Luke 15:18-20 I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”’ And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.

Deuteronomy 8:20 “Like the nations that the Lord makes to perish before you, so you shall perish; because you would not listen to the voice of the Lord your God.

Proverbs 1:32 “For the waywardness of the naive will kill them, And the complacency of fools will destroy them.

Isaiah 60:12 “For the nation and the kingdom which will not serve you will perish, And the nations will be utterly ruined.

Jonah repented and went back to Nineveh to speak the word of the Lord. He called out against that great city as the Lord commanded. Nineveh listened and acted upon what they heard. They repented as a whole city, from the king down to every citizen, or at least most of them. They heard the word spoke against their current way of living, they believed it to be a true understanding of their sinful ways. They believed God. They had to know something of God and both His promises of destruction and His gracious acts that turned away from anger when those condemned repent. They believed in 40 days they would be destroyed because the word of God proclaimed to them. Do you ever wonder what people would do if they were told in 40 days they would die because of their sin? Some believe and some do not. Some think all of this talk about God and sin is foolishness. Others believe it to be true but will wait until later in life. And, still, others take immediate action and believe. They understand the eternal consequence of dying in their sin. They understand the frailty of life and that they could die at any moment for a host of reasons. We have not been given a 40-day notice, but we have been given notice. We can deny it, wait, or take repentant action. It all depends on what you believe to be the truth. Nowhere is it more clear than in John 3:16-19 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.

140. Let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit

1 Kings 8:54 Now as Solomon finished offering all this prayer and plea to the Lord, he arose from before the altar of the Lord, where he had knelt with hands outstretched toward heaven. And he stood and blessed all the assembly of Israel with a loud voice, saying, “Blessed be the Lord who has given rest to his people Israel, according to all that he promised. Not one word has failed of all his good promise, which he spoke by Moses his servant. The Lord our God be with us, as he was with our fathers. May he not leave us or forsake us, that he may incline our hearts to him, to walk in all his ways and to keep his commandments, his statutes, and his rules, which he commanded our fathers. Let these words of mine, with which I have pleaded before the Lord, be near to the Lord our God day and night, and may he maintain the cause of his servant and the cause of his people Israel, as each day requires, that all the peoples of the earth may know that the Lord is God; there is no other. Let your heart therefore be wholly true to the Lord our God, walking in his statutes and keeping his commandments, as at this day.”

1 Chronicles 28:9 “And you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve him with a whole heart and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches all hearts and understands every plan and thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will cast you off forever.

2 Corinthians 7:1 Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.

Wholly true and with your whole heart and willing mind serving Jesus are indicators of a life that is intentional and committed. There was a great price paid for our salvation. Blood was shed and pain beyond what we can imagine was endured to death and freely given so that we could be redeemed from our sin and separation from God. The Hymn says it like this; “Jesus paid it all, All to Him I owe; Sin had left a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow.” When we are able to see the depth and width of our sin in the light of the Holiness of Jesus and we understand that were it not for His sacrifice we would be lost and awaiting our eternal doom and torment, our heart and mind become willing to wholly serve, honor, glorify, follow, and obey the author and finisher of our salvation. Sin knocks at our door every day and comes in many forms; lies, pride, lust, greed, self-serving, jealousy, anger, envy…. The word of God exposes these temptations and things that are starting to root in our heart and mind. If we think we can remain wholly true with a whole heart and mind and not be feeding on God’s word each day we are fooling ourselves. “The word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Without His active word in our life, we will slowly drift away from Him and lose sight and awareness of the price that was paid for our sin. Worthy of all praise is Jesus Christ. Worthy of our whole heart and mind and soul is Jesus Christ. Worthy of our service and obedience is Jesus Christ.

123. And the Lord afflicted the child that Uriah’s wife bore to David,

2Samuel 12:15 And the Lord afflicted the child that Uriah’s wife bore to David, and he became sick. David therefore sought God on behalf of the child. And David fasted and went in and lay all night on the ground. And the elders of his house stood beside him, to raise him from the ground, but he would not, nor did he eat food with them. On the seventh day the child died. And the servants of David were afraid to tell him that the child was dead, for they said, “Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spoke to him, and he did not listen to us. How then can we say to him the child is dead? He may do himself some harm.” But when David saw that his servants were whispering together, David understood that the child was dead. And David said to his servants, “Is the child dead?” They said, “He is dead.” Then David arose from the earth and washed and anointed himself and changed his clothes. And he went into the house of the Lord and worshiped. He then went to his own house. And when he asked, they set food before him, and he ate. Then his servants said to him, “What is this thing that you have done? You fasted and wept for the child while he was alive; but when the child died, you arose and ate food.” He said, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept, for I said, Who knows whether the Lord will be gracious to me, that the child may live?’ But now he is dead. Why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me.”

How do we end up sinning – Sometimes we think of the natural consequences of sin and we fear it and so we don’t do that sin. That may be true, but perhaps we are ignorant, perhaps we were unwise, perhaps we were tempted, perhaps we’re even told to do it even when we know it was wrong as if we were coerced. No matter how it happened, our sin is not something we want to continue in our lives. You should love God so much that when you sin, you realize that you hurt God. You should love God so much that after you sin, you want to restore your relationship with God. God wants to get our attention. He wants to help us out of our failure, but we have to listen to Him when He warns us. God gives us the Holy Spirit as our warning system. The Holy Spirit tells us when we are doing something that is against God and His commands. Nothing messes up your relationship with God more than unconfessed sin. God wants to forgive your sin, but you have to come to Him and confess it.

Do not be blinded by neglect and complacency. Recognize sin and run from it. Sin always has consequences and unconfessed sin will eat away at your soul.

97. And the word of the Lord was rare in those days

1 Samuel 3:1 Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the Lord in the presence of Eli. And the word of the Lord was rare in those days; there was no frequent vision. At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying down in his own place. The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was. Then the Lord called Samuel, and he said, “Here I am!” and ran to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call; lie down again.” So he went and lay down. And the Lord called again, “Samuel!” and Samuel arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call, my son; lie down again.” Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, and the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him. And the Lord called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” Then Eli perceived that the Lord was calling the boy. Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down, and if he calls you, you shall say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant hears.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. And the Lord came and stood, calling as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant hears.”

1 Corinthians 12:6-11 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.

Can you imagine what it would be like to to have the word of God almost not available? Days, weeks, and months would pass by without reading or hearing His word. Hebrews 4:12–13 says, “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.”

We know the Bible to be the true Word of God and seek to align our lives to what it says. We also have the indwelling Holy Spirit who is transforming us to be more like God. As we grow in our walk with Christ, we bear fruit. This fruit has an impact on those around us. As the Bible influences us, it influences society. Likewise, if the word of God is not active, desired, needed and intentional in our daily life, then the reverse happens. We are influenced by society rather than by the word of God. Somehow we seem to have come to an understanding of service to God to mean we attend church. It is not as though we thought about it and said: “this is what it means to serve, honor, follow, worship, and obey God.” More than likely busyness of life, technology, family, work…. all have taken their part into our lives, pushing out the word of God and by result our influence on family, friends, society.

The word of God will never influence the life of the person who spends no time in it. Is it possible we have chosen to only have enough of God’s word in our life to feel good but not enough of it to transform, lead, instruct, convict, and empower us to hear it speak to our heart and mind? Choosing to be in His word with desire to know and be known by God is an active and intentional choice. No one at the end of their life has said: “I spent too much time in God’s word and in service to Him.” Many have said I wish I had spent more time on the important (knowing and being known by God) and less on everything else that I thought important.

Daily commitment to time in God’s word is never a waste of time.

Good old age

Genesis 15:15 As for you, you shall go to your fathers in peace; you shall be buried in a good old age.

Genesis 25:8 Abraham breathed his last and died in a good old age, an old man and full of years,

Acts 13:36 For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep and was laid with his fathers

Judges 2:10 And all that generation also were gathered to their fathers. And there arose another generation after them who did not know the LORD or the work that he had done for Israel.

Job 21:14 They say to God, ‘Depart from us! We do not desire the knowledge of your ways.

Exodus 5:2 But Pharaoh said, “Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice and let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, and moreover, I will not let Israel go.”

1 Samuel 2:12 Now the sons of Eli were worthless men. They did not know the LORD.

1 Chronicles 28:9 “And you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve him with a whole heart and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches all hearts and understands every plan and thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will cast you off forever.

Isaiah 5:12 They have lyre and harp, tambourine and flute and wine at their feasts, but they do not regard the deeds of the LORD, or see the work of his hands.

Galatians 4:8-9 Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those that by nature are not gods. But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more?

Titus 1:16 They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.

We know one thing for sure – we do not get out of this life alive. How blessed to live to a ripe old age in peace. There is a peace that passes all understanding that comes from the indwelling Holy Spirit and can only be understood when experienced first hand. Though life may throw trials and trouble our way, peace is found in trusting God and putting it in His hands.

How sad would it be to go to your grave knowing that the next generation would not know God or that if they did know Him they would choose not to regard Him or righteous living to honor Him. Sadder yet would be to know of Him and choose to disregard and neglect Him.

We are called to be a light – be that light, used by God, to encourage others to walk a life worthy of honor and glory to God. Let it be on our head should we choose to neglect this calling from God of proclaiming salvation and the wondrous works of God.

Choices of others are not our responsibility but the choices we make are. Complacently is a choice to lukewarmly follow God. Be on guard of being so busy that God is but a second thought and the peace, joy, power, strength and hope found in serving Him are not experienced, proclaimed and cherished.

Placed into their heart

John 13:2 During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him,

Acts 5:3 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land?

Ephesians 2:3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.

Luke 22:31 “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat

James 1:13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

Ezra 7:27 Blessed be the LORD, the God of our fathers, who put such a thing as this into the heart of the king, to beautify the house of the LORD that is in Jerusalem,

Nehemiah 2:12 Then I arose in the night, I and a few men with me. And I told no one what my God had put into my heart to do for Jerusalem.

2 Corinthians 8:16 But thanks be to God, who put into the heart of Titus

Revelation 17:17 for God has put it into their hearts to carry out his purpose by being of one mind and handing over their royal power to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled.

Romans 1:19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools

Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. Note the examples above. Satan temps and places intents in the heart of man. Yet it also says that man lured away and enticed by his own desires. Man acts on these temptations, desires, enticements and gives way to them in their life. What is our hope against such things happening. The word of God. His word will bring light to the darkness associated with sin. It will give knowledge and wisdom to understand things of this world that are contrary to God and as well things of God that are good for the heart, mind, and soul. Our own sinful nature and it’s desires can not be left on their own for our nature is contrary to God and His ways. Our help comes from God and through His word of hope, guidance, love, mercy, courage, promises, light, redemption, refuge, peace…. Staying in God’s word is the beginning of the battle for our soul.