Daily Bible Study Devotional
Message Title: Acknowledging God 
Date: Wednesday January 18, 2012
Today's Chapters: Exodus 8-10
Preview of Today's Message: From creation, God has made Himself known to man, but pride, corruption, and wicked imaginations are what changes a persons belief or acceptance of God into something questionable. All Scripture quoted from the King James Version.

Hello My Friend,

I remember growing up knowing that God existed and Jesus too, but I also grew up with mother nature, and with the belief that whatever religion you came from that lead to God. After getting saved and listening to only One Book, I realized that all the corruptible and false things I learned about God were due to two reasons. One, it's what I was taught and two, I came up with my own conclusions when what I was taught did not make sense. I am not alone, a lot of people are brought up the same way, and suffer through a lot of heartache and disillusions as a result of it. I am just glad that God showed up in my life before I really did something stupid. The truth is, we are all born with the knowledge of God in us, it is the life we choose that acknowledges Him as our God. 

“For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.” - Romans 1:20-25. 

No matter how much God shows Himself to be the one and only God, who is in control of all things, there are some people bent on proving that He does not exist, or that they are a god. Pharaoh knew quite well that there was only one God, but refused to acknowledge that He was more powerful than his magicians. Through a series of plagues, he was quick to offer a bargain with God in order to remove a curse, but he failed to realize that no one bargains with God, even his magicians realized that they were powerless against God.

“Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron, and said, Intreat the LORD, that he may take away the frogs from me, and from my people; and I will let the people go, that they may do sacrifice unto the LORD. And Moses said unto Pharaoh, Glory over me: when shall I intreat for thee, and for thy servants, and for thy people, to destroy the frogs from thee and thy houses, that they may remain in the river only? And he said, To morrow. And he said, Be it according to thy word: that thou mayest know that there is none like unto the LORD our God...And the LORD did according to the word of Moses; and the frogs died out of the houses, out of the villages, and out of the fields. And they gathered them together upon heaps: and the land stank...Then the magicians said unto Pharaoh, This is the finger of God: and Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said.” -Exodus 8:8-10,13,14,19. 

God's curse upon a man will pursue him wherever he goes, and lie heavy upon him in whatever he does until they truly repent. Only until the heart is renewed by the grace of God, can one admit that they have sinned and find favor with God. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” -1 John 1:9. 

Now, after some time, Pharaoh, for the first time he admits that he sinned against the Lord. “So there was hail, and fire mingled with the hail, very grievous, such as there was none like it in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation...And Pharaoh sent, and called for Moses and Aaron, and said unto them, I have sinned this time: the LORD is righteous, and I and my people are wicked. Intreat the LORD (for it is enough) that there be no more mighty thunderings and hail; and I will let you go, and ye shall stay no longer. And Moses said unto him, As soon as I am gone out of the city, I will spread abroad my hands unto the LORD; and the thunder shall cease, neither shall there be any more hail; that thou mayest know how that the earth is the LORD'S. But as for thee and thy servants, I know that ye will not yet fear the LORD God...And when Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the thunders were ceased, he sinned yet more, and hardened his heart, he and his servants. And the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, neither would he let the children of Israel go; as the LORD had spoken by Moses.” -Exodus 9:24,27-30,34,35. 

Pharaoh humbled himself, he could not have spoken better, he admits he sinned and acknowledges that the

God is righteous. Yet his heart was hardened all this while. Pharaoh was frightened by the tremendous judgment of God, but when that was over, his fair promises were forgotten. Those that are not bettered by judgments and mercies, commonly become worse. “Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.” - Ephesians 4:18,19. 

Why did God afflict them with so much? Here is His answer, “And the LORD said unto Moses, Go in unto Pharaoh: for I have hardened his heart, and the heart of his servants, that I might shew these my signs before him: And that thou mayest tell in the ears of thy son, and of thy son's son, what things I have wrought in Egypt, and my signs which I have done among them; that ye may know how that I am the LORD.” - Exodus 10:1,2. 

The plagues of Egypt show the disease of sin, they warn the children of men not to strive with their Creator. Pharaoh had pretended to humble himself, but no account was made of it, for he was not sincere. We cannot hide from God, we cannot ignore Him or pretend that he does not exist, and we cannot create a god in our own image in order to live a wicked, immoral life, it will catch up to everyone. “And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.” -2 Timothy 2:24-26. 

The Hebrews were to be a testimony of the power of God that would be taught from generation to generation, but little by little they became a testimony that would show the wrath of God by their corruption and wicked imaginations. The truth is, until a hardened heart truly comes to the acknowledgment of God they will endure more and more affliction. We must hit rock bottom before we realize who God truly is who He says He is. It happened to me, it took me fifteen years of affliction to acknowledge God after I had been saved, it happens to everyone at some point. I know people who grew up in the church that have said they questioned what they were taught until something happened that truly made them acknowledge that God is who He says He is. “I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face: in their affliction they will seek me early.” -Hosea 5:15. 

Today's Psalm: “ I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.” -Psalm 32:5.
Today's Proverb: “In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” -Proverbs 3:6. 
Today's Prayer: God, it is only when I trust in You with all my heart that I can acknowledge that everything comes from You. When You are first in my thoughts my attitudes and actions will prove that You are my God. Instead of plotting I will pray, instead of being afraid I will be courageous, instead of being weak I will be strong in You. I will not resort to my own understanding for it is faulty, frail, and full of vain imaginations. More of You, less of me is my prayer that I might trust You with all of my heart and acknowledge You in all things. In Jesus' name. Amen. 

Enjoy the rest of your day/night. 
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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Daily Bible Study Devotional
Message Title: Faith By My Works
Date: Tuesday January 17, 2012
Today's Chapters: Exodus 5-7
Preview of Today's Message: While only faith in the Gospel of Christ saves us, without works of love toward God to accompany our faith we will never learn to appreciate our salvation and what God truly has saved us from. All Scripture quoted from the King James Version.

Hello My Friend,

I imagine we all would like a comfortable life, to be prosperous and successful in what we do, now, what we think is a comfortable life is dependent upon how we grew up, people born into poverty think a comfortable life is a lot different than people born into riches. We all need faith that we can be successful in reaching our goals, but without making an effort to reach those goals we will never get very far. Likewise, we can work very hard at reaching our goals, but without faith we will not get very far. “What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?..Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?..And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.” - James 2:14,17-24. 

When Moses and Aaron met with the Hebrew elders and showed them that God was with them and they would be set free from the Egyptians they were ecstatic, they were ready to do whatever it took to be free. Little did they, including Moses, realize that they were going to have to endure some affliction in order to be set free. Just like God told him, Moses went before Pharaoh and asked that he let Israel go. 

“And Pharaoh said, Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the LORD, neither will I let Israel go. And they said, The God of the Hebrews hath met with us: let us go, we pray thee, three days' journey into the desert, and sacrifice unto the LORD our God; lest he fall upon us with pestilence, or with the sword...And Pharaoh commanded the same day the taskmasters of the people, and their officers, saying, Ye shall no more give the people straw to make brick, as heretofore: let them go and gather straw for themselves...And the officers of the children of Israel, which Pharaoh's taskmasters had set over them, were beaten, and demanded, Wherefore have ye not fulfilled your task in making brick both yesterday and to day, as heretofore?..And they met Moses and Aaron, who stood in the way, as they came forth from Pharaoh: And they said unto them, The LORD look upon you, and judge; because ye have made our savour to be abhorred in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to slay us.” - Exodus 5:2,3,6,7,14,20,21. 

Pharaoh did not release them, in fact, he put more affliction upon them. Pharaoh thought himself to be a god so, when Moses and Aaron asked them to let them go to worship God he afflicted them even more, siting that if they have time to worship God they need more work to do. On top of that the Hebrews went to Moses complaining about the affliction they caused upon them. These guys were complaining because they had to work harder. They did not have faith that God could really set them free, all they could think of was the affliction they were facing, and blaming it on Moses. We all get discouraged when we work hard at something to see it fail, but we keep trying and with faith something good will come out of it. “For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing. For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:” -1 Peter 3:17,18. 

The Hebrews complained so much that even Moses went to God and asked Him why He even told them to go up to Pharaoh. “And God spake unto Moses, and said unto him, I am the LORD: And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them. And I have also established my covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their pilgrimage, wherein they were strangers. And I have also heard the groaning of the children of Israel, whom the Egyptians keep in bondage; and I have remembered my covenant. Wherefore say unto the children of Israel, I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with a stretched out arm, and with great judgments: And I will take you to me for a people, and I will be to you a God: and ye shall know that I am the LORD your God, which bringeth you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians...And Moses spake so unto the children of Israel: but they hearkened not unto Moses for anguish of spirit, and for cruel bondage.” -Exodus 6:2-7,9. 

God reminded Moses I am JEHOVAH, the Almighty, I will bring you out of captivity, but the people did not listen. Their faith was dead because they could not see past the affliction they were facing, it is us who cannot see pass the afflictions and walk away from God. God allows affliction in our lives not to punish us or hurt us, but to grow us, to prepare us, and to show us that He is JEHOVAH. Believe it or not, we are not the most appreciative people when we are just handed things to us. 90% of the world, maybe even more than that, have a me, myself, and I mentality. They want what is best for them, not thinking of the consequences it might bring to others, forgetting or ignoring that God gave it to them all along. Of course, we all want things and God wants to give them to us, but He wants us to put our faith and trust in Him, first. “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” - Matthew 6:33. 

Now, after the pep talk Moses and Aaron went back to Pharaoh and tried once again. This time God brings Moses down to the level of Pharaoh, he thinks he is a god, well, God will prove Himself JEHOVAH.“And the LORD said unto Moses, See, I have made thee a god to Pharaoh: and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet. Thou shalt speak all that I command thee: and Aaron thy brother shall speak unto Pharaoh, that he send the children of Israel out of his land. And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and multiply my signs and my wonders in the land of Egypt. But Pharaoh shall not hearken unto you, that I may lay my hand upon Egypt, and bring forth mine armies, and my people the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great judgments. And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I stretch forth mine hand upon Egypt, and bring out the children of Israel from among them.” - Exodus 7:1-5. 

Whenever God is ready to do something through us to show His existence to others there is often affliction before there are rewards, yet they are all blessings from God. We cannot truly be satisfied with the reward if we have not worked at receiving it. Think about it, if things are just given to you are you as excited about receiving them as you are when you receive them after working so hard to get them? If God just hands everything over to us do you think we would realize it came from God. Until we get to the point where we know, “THIS CAME FROM GOD” than we will endure some affliction. “Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?” - I Peter 4:15,17. 

Today's Psalm: “For thou, LORD, hast made me glad through thy work: I will triumph in the works of thy hands.” -Psalm 92:4. 
Today's Proverb: “Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.” - Proverbs 20:11.

Today's Prayer: God, let us continually remember the work that we do that produces our faith in Christ, our work is prompted by our love for You. The afflictions we endure become inspirations by the hope we have in the Lord Jesus Christ. How grateful are we for the love and fellowship we enjoy with our brothers and sisters who serve You all over the world. We lift up those who are presently enduring matters that weigh heavy on their hearts. May the hope they have in the Lord Jesus Christ inspire confidence that You will give them victory as they continue to work to produce more faith in You, In Jesus' name. Amen. 

Enjoy the rest of your day/night. 
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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