Many start the race but few finish.
Along the way, other things become more interesting to some church people than the Word of God, or things can become more important to them, and their love of God and their love for the Word of God grows cold and they no longer want to read the Bible or spiritual blogs.
When this begins to happen we must recognize it quickly and pray: God, please help me. Please don't let me grow cold to YOU or to the Word. Please give me the spark I need to cause that fire for the Word to light in my heart. Please don't let me be swept away.
I believe this is something that happens to all at various points in life.
We have to fight for faith at that point in time. And a starting place is prayer.
Jesus warned: And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many (for the Word of God) shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. (Mt. 24:12-13)
The honeymoon is great! But life destroys some marriages. We have to work to keep that fire for the Word of God burning within us as long as we live on this present earth.
Jesus warned: And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many (for the Word of God) shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. (Mt. 24:12-13)
The honeymoon is great! But life destroys some marriages. We have to work to keep that fire for the Word of God burning within us as long as we live on this present earth.
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Jesus says:
Luke 21
35 For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.
36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
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I Corinthians 9
25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:
27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
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When we are troubled, what are we supposed to do?
Philippians 4
6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
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Romans 1
28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
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Here is an example from the Old Testament of a king starting out well on the highway of God, doing the right thing in the sight of God with all his heart, but allowing himself to make the wrong choices, leaving God out of his decisions, toward the end of his life.
Learn from his mistakes.
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II Chronicles 14
1 So Abijah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David: and Asa his son reigned in his stead. In his days the land was quiet ten years.
2 And Asa did that which was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his God:
3 For he took away the altars of the strange gods, and the high places, and brake down the images, and cut down the groves:
4 And commanded Judah to seek the Lord God of their fathers, and to do the law and the commandment.
5 Also he took away out of all the cities of Judah the high places and the images: and the kingdom was quiet before him.
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Today the church groups set up many idols and command their congregations to follow these idols which are not in the New Testament Bible.
* They call their ministers "Reverend", making the minister an idol among themselves.
* Some cross themselves to "bless themselves", but this is false doctrine for it is not in the Bible to do such a thing as this. Instead we bless ourselves when we follow scripture and obey that Word of God.
* They light candles as part of their religious service. This is not in New Testament Bible.
* They set up graven images in their churches as well as in their homes. Very evil.
* The Catholics call their ministers, "Father", which Jesus tells us not to do. Matthew 23
* The Catholics set up "Holy Water", not in Bible.
* The Catholics pray to Mary, who is dead.
* They set up saints to watch over people but these saints are also dead and have no power.
* They teach their followers to trust in things that are not God.
Each time we, a servant of God, speak against these idols in churches today, we cut down these idols before all.
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I Timothy 6
6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.
7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.
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II Chronicles 14 (Concerning king Asa)
6 And he built fenced cities in Judah: for the land had rest, and he had no war in those years; because the Lord had given him rest.
7 Therefore he said unto Judah, Let us build these cities, and make about them walls, and towers, gates, and bars, while the land is yet before us; because we have sought the Lord our God, we have sought him, and he hath given us rest on every side. So they built and prospered.
II Chronicles 14 (Concerning king Asa)
6 And he built fenced cities in Judah: for the land had rest, and he had no war in those years; because the Lord had given him rest.
7 Therefore he said unto Judah, Let us build these cities, and make about them walls, and towers, gates, and bars, while the land is yet before us; because we have sought the Lord our God, we have sought him, and he hath given us rest on every side. So they built and prospered.
As long as we remember to seek God in all our way, God makes us prosper. But if we forget God and begin to do that which is right in our own eyes, we begin our downfall.
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Asa calls on God for help:
II Chronicles 14
9 And there came out against them Zerah the Ethiopian with an host of a thousand thousand, and three hundred chariots; and came unto Mareshah. (greatly outnumbering the army of king Asa)
10 Then Asa went out against him, and they set the battle in array in the valley of Zephathah at Mareshah.
11 And Asa cried unto the Lord his God, and said, Lord, it is nothing with thee to help, whether with many, or with them that have no power: help us, O Lord our God; for we rest on thee, and in THY name we go against this multitude. O Lord, thou art our God; let no man prevail against thee.
12 So the Lord smote the Ethiopians before Asa, and before Judah; and the Ethiopians fled.
***
Enemies arise against us in this life. We must remember God in these times and call on God for our help, not depending on our own wisdom. As long as we remember God, we will overcome through God. Our downfall will come when we forget God and leave HIM out of our plans.
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I Chronicles 14
14 And they smote all the cities round about Gerar; for the fear of the Lord came upon them: and they spoiled all the cities; for there was exceeding much spoil in them.
15 They smote also the tents of cattle, and carried away sheep and camels in abundance, and returned to Jerusalem.
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A message from God through a prophet of God:
II Chronicles 15
2 And he went out to meet Asa, and said unto him, Hear ye me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin; The Lord is with you, while ye be with HIM; and if ye seek HIM, HE will be found of you; but if ye forsake HIM, HE will forsake you.
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3 Now for a long season Israel hath been without the true God, and without a teaching priest, and without law.
Remember king Jeroboam of Israel? He made 2 golden calves for Israel to worship and place one golden calf at Bethel and the other golden calf at Dan and had the people of Israel go to those two cities and fall down before the golden calves and worship.
Also Jeroboam would not let the appointed ministers, the tribe of Levi, work as priests of God. But Jeroboam appointed his own priests of vile fellows who were not ordained by God for the work of God. And the Levites had to leave and move to Judah to do the work of God. And for a time they lost the book of the Law of God and did many evils.
4 But when they in their trouble did turn unto the Lord God of Israel, and sought HIM, HE was found of them.
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It seems impossible that we could forget to call on God, but sometimes we do. We go in our own plans without talking with God and we do our own thing and even marvel in that which "we" have done. Then disaster strikes!
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The prophet of God continues to speak, reminding them of the past victories of God and how the enemies of God were vexed for their sake as long as they called on God.
II Chronicles 15
6 And nation was destroyed of nation, and city of city: for God did vex them with all adversity.
7 Be ye strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak: for your work shall be rewarded.
Be strong in that remembrance of what God has done.
***
II Chronicles 15
9 And he gathered all Judah and Benjamin, and the strangers with them out of Ephraim and Manasseh, and out of Simeon: for they fell to him out of Israel in abundance, when they saw that the Lord his God was with him.
10 So they gathered themselves together at Jerusalem in the third month, in the fifteenth year of the reign of Asa.
11 And they offered unto the Lord the same time, of the spoil which they had brought, seven hundred oxen and seven thousand sheep.
12 And they entered into a covenant to seek the Lord God of their fathers with all their heart and with all their soul;
God hates "religious idols". Asa removed these idols and destroyed them after the prophet spoke. They then turned to the Lord and made a covenant with God.
***
I Chronicles 15
13 That whosoever would not seek the Lord God of Israel should be put to death, whether small or great, whether man or woman.
14 And they sware unto the Lord with a loud voice, and with shouting, and with trumpets, and with cornets.
15 And all Judah rejoiced at the oath: for they had sworn with all their heart, and sought him with their whole desire; and he was found of them: and the Lord gave them rest round about.
16 And also concerning Maachah the mother of Asa the king, he removed her from being queen, because she had made an idol in a grove: and Asa cut down her idol, and stamped it, and burnt it at the brook Kidron.
17 But the high places were not taken away out of Israel: nevertheless the heart of Asa was perfect all his days.
14 And they sware unto the Lord with a loud voice, and with shouting, and with trumpets, and with cornets.
15 And all Judah rejoiced at the oath: for they had sworn with all their heart, and sought him with their whole desire; and he was found of them: and the Lord gave them rest round about.
16 And also concerning Maachah the mother of Asa the king, he removed her from being queen, because she had made an idol in a grove: and Asa cut down her idol, and stamped it, and burnt it at the brook Kidron.
17 But the high places were not taken away out of Israel: nevertheless the heart of Asa was perfect all his days.
But in time, Asa forgets God and Asa turns to man for his help.
II Chronicles 16
2 Then Asa brought out silver and gold out of the treasures of the house of the Lord and of the king's house, and sent to Benhadad king of Syria, that dwelt at Damascus, saying,
3 There is a league between me and thee, as there was between my father and thy father: behold, I have sent thee silver and gold; go, break thy league with Baasha king of Israel, that he may depart from me.
4 And Benhadad hearkened unto king Asa, and sent the captains of his armies against the cities of Israel; and they smote Ijon, and Dan, and Abelmaim, and all the store cities of Naphtali.
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God sends a prophet to correct Asa and to pronounce a judgment upon Asa:
(In those days, prophets were also called "seers".)
II Chronicles 16
7 And at that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah, and said unto him, Because thou hast relied on the king of Syria, and not relied on the Lord thy God, therefore is the host of the king of Syria escaped out of thine hand.
8 Were not the Ethiopians and the Lubims a huge host, with very many chariots and horsemen? yet, because thou didst rely on the Lord, HE delivered them into thine hand.
9 For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew Himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward HIM. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars.
A judgment from God comes upon Asa. In the future they will have wars and not peace as before.
Asa reacts with anger toward the prophet and also oppressed some of the people:
II Chronicles 16
10 Then Asa was wroth with the seer, and put him in a prison house; for he was in a rage with him because of this thing. And Asa oppressed some of the people the same time.
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The end of king Asa: When disease strikes Asa, he turns to physicians and forgets to seek God.
II Chronicles 16
13 And Asa slept with his fathers, and died in the one and fortieth year of his reign.
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As great as king Asa was in the beginning of his reign, in putting away idols from the land of Judah, at the end he made two very grave mistakes in failing to remember God and in setting about his own plans.
These are examples for the church today.
To the end of our days, we must "remember" God in all our ways, seeking the will of God in all things.
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