God wants everyone to know His word. There was a time when the scripture was Lost. 2 Chronicles 34:14-18
An 8 year old boy had become King. Some wicked men had killed his father. The boy’s name was Josiah. When he became King, the whole country was wicked and evil. Hey worshipped false gods, including Balaam. God’s house, the Temple was not used and nobody knew where the Scripture was.
Josiah was different from his people. He believed in God. As he grew older he ordered his people to quit worshipping false gods. He ordered them to clean and fix God’s house, the Temple. They were to bring their offerings and the priests were to collect it and pay the men who fixed up the Temple. And while this was going on, HILKIAH a priest found the Scripture…It was the word of God, (The Pentateuch, 1st 5 books of the Bible).
HILKIAH was very excited and took it to the King. Oh, the King was happy. Now he could find out more about the Lord God. So, the King ordered the book to be read out loud, for the people. The book told about God’s Love… It told about a coming Saviour… It told about God’s Laws …. It told about how sinful man is…. It told about how God must punish sin …..
The King was very sad, for he found out how evil his people were ant that they must be punished for their sin … He was very sad, even rent his clothing.
God want us to know his word. His word helps keep us from sinning and tells us about God’s forgiveness. Then we don’t have to be sad or punished.
King Josiah decided then to obey God’s word, keep His Law. God sent a message to the King thru a prophetess who said that all the days of the King’s life, God would not sent the punishments upon Israel.
Only when we know God’s word and obey it can we be truly happy.
Some questions for you to ponder…. What are false god’s? How often should one read God’s Word? How old do you have to be to believe in God? What’s the first 5 books of the Bible called? What are the two parts of the Bible? How many Books in the Bible? How many Books in each part?
The assemble in Jerusalem was growing, more and more were believing that Jesus was the Messiah. The Jewish leaders were getting angry! King Herod (Jewish King of Israel under Rome) had James, the brother of John, an apostle killed. This made them happy. So, he planned to have Peter arrested and killed. But it was time for the Passover. So Peter was held in prison and killed later. The Jewish believers started praying. They had an all night prayer session at someone’s house.
In prison Peter was taken to an inner cell. There, two guards were chained to him. Outside the first door were two more guards and outside the second door were two more guards. He was NOT to escape.
As Peter slept, and the believers prayed, God sent an Angel to free him. The guards slept, the chains were removed and Peter followed the Angel right through the locked doors and past all the guards to freedom. Even as Peter stood on the street, he thought he was dreaming. Finally, he knew it was real, he was free. He went to the house (God led him) where the believers were praying.
Believers should always pray! God will answer according to His will.
When Peter knocked on the door, Rhoda answered, but didn’t believe it was Peter. Neither did anyone else when she told them. Finally, they let Peter into the house and they rejoiced that God had answered their Prayers and Peter was safe.
We should pray always, whether we are in trouble or not.
1 Samuel 3:1-10, 1 Corinthians 6:19 The boy who worshipped God.
(When we worship God, He will guide us).
Samuel’s parents didn’t have any children. His mother went to the temple and promised God her son would be given to Him to serve Him. When Samuel (the son God gave her) was about 6 years old his mother took him to the temple and gave him to the high Priest. Samuel lived in the Temple and served God. Eli the Priest was getting old, his sons who served in the Temple did bad and wicked things. God didn’t speak with they because they were so evil.
(When we worship God, He will guide us).
One night as Samuel was in bed sleeping the Lord God called to Samuel. Samuel awoke and ran to Eli and said “Here I am”. Eli told him to return to bed. Again, Samuel heard the Lord God call to him and Samuel ran to Eli and said “Here I am”. Eli told him to return to bed. For a third time Samuel heard the Lord God call to him Samuel ran to Eli and said “Here I am”. This time Eli knew what was happening, so he told Samuel to go back to bed, but this time when he heard his name being called, to answer “Speak, for thy servant heareth”.
Yes, when we worship God, He will guide us. Oh, not verbally but we will know.
Samuel did what Eli told him to do and God gave Samuel instructions for the Nation of Israel. From that time, Samuel was a Prophet and Priest, serving the Living God.
2 Kings 5, Romans 1:16 We should be willing to tell others what the Lord can do.
A little girl is used to help others.
Naaman was Captain of the Syrian Army. He was one of the Kings best men. He was a really brave man, one of valor. He was also a LEPER. During a war he brought home a young Israel girl. She was to be a servant for his wife. One day she told Naaman’s wife about a man in Israel who God used to heal people.
She was willing to tell others what the Lord can do.
The wife told Naaman and Naaman told the King. The King wrote a letter to the King of Israel and Naaman took it along with some gifts. The King of Israel sent Naaman to Elisha’s house.
Elisha sent a servant to tell Naaman to wash in the Jordan 7 times. Naaman got angry. Why couldn’t Elisha just come out an touch him, surely that would heal him. Why did it have to the dirty Jordan river? There were better (cleaner) rivers in Syria, couldn’t he go to one of them? His friends tell him what the Lord can do IF you obey. Naaman finally goes to the Jordan and after dipping 7 times, He is washed clean of his Leprosy.
All this happened because a little girl was not afraid to tell others what her Lord could do.
Do you share your faith? To you tell others about God?
Jesus had been teaching in the Temple. As he left he warned his followers the Temple would be destroyed. Later they came to him and wanted to know when it would happen. And when would he come again. He told them not to be deceived… He gave them signs to watch for … Wars and rummers of wars, famines, pestilences, earthquakes on a world-wide scale … These would be but a beginning. He gave them other signs to watch for, but the best one is when he said “It will be as in the days of Noah”.
Genesis 6 Tells the story of Noah.
The world was evil- wicked- sinful- nobody had time for God. They not only did these things, there thoughts were evil continually. God warned them that He would give them 120 years, but nobody headed His warning. He warned that he would destroy the whole face of the earth. But nobody listened … Awww! God wouldn’t do that.
But Noah believed God. Noah worshipped God. Noah talked with God God told Noah what He was going to do and what He wanted Noah to do. Noah, build an ARK. God gave him the plans.
Noah began to build when he was about 480 years old. He finished when he was 600 years old. God told Noah to take all the animals, two by two, his family. His wife, his three sons, Shem, Ham and Japhet and their wives and get into the Ark. It rained 40 days and 40 nights and they were on the Ark for one whole year.
Yes, God was true to his word. God must punish sin.
What were the days of Noah like before the flood? Just like today. The people were eating, drinking, marrying, buying and selling. BUT they had forgotten about God They didn’t have time for God. They weren’t putting Him first. They removed Him from all things. JUST LIKE TODAY
Yes, God had to punish the whole world for its sin. AND He will have to do it again.
It’s almost time for the Lord Jesus to return. First the Rapture, then Tribulation, then 2nd coming. ARE YOU READY?
Real fruit is mentioned in Scripture. Some times the fruit, sometimes the tree.
Apple the apple of Deuteronomy 32:10, Psalm 17:8, Proverbs 7:2, Lamentations 2:18, Zechariah 2:8 the apple tree Song of Solomon 2:3, 8:5, Joel 1:12
Almond the almond tree Ecclesiastes 12:5, Jeremiah 1:11
Fig Fig leaves Genesis 3:7 Fig tree In the Old Testament Deuteronomy 8:8, Judges 9:10-11, 1 Kings 4:25, 2 Kings 18:31, Psalms 105:33, Proverbs 27:18, Song of Solomon 2:13, Isaiah 34:4, 36:16, Jeremiah 5:17,8:13, Hosea 2:12, 9:10 Joel 1:7,12, 2:22 Amos 4:9, Micah 4:4, Nahum 3:12, Habakkuk 3:17, Haggai 2:19, Zechariah 3:10 In the New Testament Matthew 21:19-21,24:32, Mark 11:13,20-21, 13:28, Luke 13:6-7, 21:29, John 1:48,50, James 3:12, Revelation 6:13
Grape gather every grape Leviticus 19:10 blood of the grape Deuteronomy 32:14 unripe grape Job 15:33 the tender grape Song of Solomon 2:13, 7:12 sour grape Isaiah 18:5, Jeremiah 31:29-30
Olive In the Old Testament olive leaf Genesis 8:11 oil olive Exodus 27:30, 30:24, Leviticus 24:2, Deuteronomy 8:8, 2 Kings 18:32, Psalm 52:8, 128:3, Isaiah 17:6, 24:13, Jeremiah 11:16, Hosea 14:6, Amos 4:9 olive tree Deuteronomy 24:20, 28:40, Judges 9:8-9, 1 Kings 6:23,31-33, 1 Chronicles 27:28, Haggai 2:1, Zechariah 4:3,11 olive branches Nehemiah 8:15, Zechariah 4:12 the olive Job 15:33, Habakkuk 3:17, In the New Testament olive tree Romans 11:17,24, Revelation 11:4 olive berries James 3:12
Pomegranate a pomegranate Exodus 28:34, 39:26, Song of Solomon 4:3, a pomegranate tree 1 Samuel 14:2, Joel 1:12, Haggai 2:19
Epaphras is mentioned 3 times in the New Testament, in 2 epistles of the Apostle Paul; Colossians and Philemon. Paul was in prison when he penned these Epistles and in Philemon he calls Epaphras “my fellow prisoner”. Did he mean Epaphras was in prison with him? Probably not. For he states “in Christ”. Paul considered himself to be a prisoner, a bond servant of Christ. It also appears Epaphras was “a minister to the Colossians”, he probably was the founder of the Colossian Church. It would also appear Philemon abode in Colossae.
Colossians 1:7-8As ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellowservant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ; Who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit.
Colossians 4:12-13Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. For I bear him record, that he hath a great zeal for you, and them that are in Laodicea, and them in Hierapolis.
Philemon 1:23There salute thee Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus;
At least three men are named Amram. The most important is the son of Kohath, the husband of Jochebed (his aunt), the father of Moses. He lived 137 years.
Exodus 6:18And the sons of Kohath; Amram, and Izhar, and Hebron, and Uzziel: and the years of the life of Kohath were an hundred thirty and three years. Exodus 6:20 And Amram took him Jochebed his father’s sister to wife; and she bare him Aaron and Moses: and the years of the life of Amram were an hundred and thirty and seven
More is mentioned in Numbers. Numbers 3:19And the sons of Kohath by their families; Amram, and Izehar, Hebron, and Uzziel. Numbers 26:58-59 These are the families of the Levites: the family of the Libnites, the family of the Hebronites, the family of the Mahlites, the family of the Mushites, the family of the Korathites. And Kohath begat Amram. And the name of Amram’s wife was Jochebed, the daughter of Levi, whom her mother bare to Levi in Egypt: and she bare unto Amram Aaron and Moses, and Miriam their sister.
More is mentioned in 1 Chronicles. 1 Chronicles 6:2-3 And the sons of Kohath; Amram, Izhar, and Hebron, and Uzziel. And the children of Amram; Aaron, and Moses, and Miriam. The sons also of Aaron; Nadab, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. 1 Chronicles 6:18 And the sons of Kohath were, Amram, and Izhar, and Hebron, and Uzziel. 1 Chronicles 23:12-13 The sons of Kohath; Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel, four. The sons of Amram; Aaron and Moses: and Aaron was separated, that he should sanctify the most holy things, he and his sons for ever, to burn incense before the LORD, to minister unto him, and to bless in his name for ever. 1 Chronicles 24:20 And the rest of the sons of Levi were these: Of the sons of Amram; Shubael: of the sons of Shubael; Jehdeiah.
Mentioned indirectly in Hebrews. Hebrews 11:23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king’s commandment.
The other two: A son of Dishon. 1 Chronicles 1:41 The sons of Anah; Dishon. And the sons of Dishon; Amram, and Eshban, and Ithran, and Cheran.
A son of Bani. Ezra 10:34Of the sons of Bani; Maadai, Amram, and Uel,
Numbers 26:59 And the name of Amram’s wife was Jochebed, the daughter of Levi, whom her mother bare to Levi in Egypt: and she bare unto Amram Aaron and Moses, and Miriam their sister.
She was a very brave woman expecting a baby, whom Pharaoh had ordered put to death (Exodus 1:22), she hid her pregnancy and bore a baby boy. She keep him for 3 months and then hid him in a basket placing him in the river trying to save his life. (Hebrews 11:23By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king’s commandment.)
Read the story in Exodus 2:1-10. When Pharaoh’s daughter found the baby, she needed someone to nurse him. Jochebed got that honor, so she was able to raise her sone for 3-5 years. This allowed Moses to learn about his family, before he was returned to Pharaoh’s daughter and be raised as an Egyptian.
The name Elias is of Hebrew origin and means “the Lord is God” or “Yahweh is God”. Elias is a form of Elijah in various languages and appears in the Greek New Testament, and the New Testament has a lot to say about him.
Luke 1:17And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.
John 1:21 And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No. John 1:25 And they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet?
Matthew 11:14And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come.
Mark 6:15Others said, That it is Elias. And others said, That it is a prophet, or as one of the prophets. Matthew 16:14 And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. Luke 9:8 And of some, that Elias had appeared; and of others, that one of the old prophets was risen again. Luke 9:19 They answering said, John the Baptist; but some say, Elias; and others say, that one of the old prophets is risen again. Mark 8:28 And they answered, John the Baptist; but some say, Elias; and others, One of the prophets.
Matthew 17:3-4 And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him. Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. Mark 9:4-5And there appeared unto them Elias with Moses: and they were talking with Jesus. And Peter answered and said to Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. Luke 9:30 And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias: Luke 9:33 And it came to pass, as they departed from him, Peter said unto Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias: not knowing what he said.
Matthew 17:10-12And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come? And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things. But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them. Mark 9:11-13 And they asked him, saying, Why say the scribes that Elias must first come? And he answered and told them, Elias verily cometh first, and restoreth all things; and how it is written of the Son of man, that he must suffer many things, and be set at nought. But I say unto you, That Elias is indeed come, and they have done unto him whatsoever they listed, as it is written of him. Luke 4:25-26 But I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land; But unto none of them was Elias sent, save unto Sarepta, a city of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow. Luke 9:54 And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did?
Matthew 27:46-47 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Some of them that stood there, when they heard that, said, This man calleth for Elias. Matthew 27:49The rest said, Let be, let us see whether Elias will come to save him. Mark 15:35-36And some of them that stood by, when they heard it, said, Behold, he calleth Elias. And one ran and filled a spunge full of vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink, saying, Let alone; let us see whether Elias will come to take him down.
The Apostle Paul referenced Elias: Romans 11:2 God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel saying, James also referenced Elias: James 5:17Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.
