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Today is Thursday May 7, 2009 and we are continuing our studies on the book of II Kings. Please read chapters 14-15 in your Bible or Click Here to read them online. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=II%20Kings%2014-15&version=9

Today's Message: Fully Surrender
If we have not fully surrendered to the Word of God we do not know the fullness of His blessings and His plan for our lives.

Following the death of his father Jehoash, Jeroboam II ruled the northern kingdom of Israel in Samaria for 41 years, one of the longest reigns of any of Israel's kings. However, Immorality and idolatry flourished during the reign of Jeroboam II. "In the fifteenth year of Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah Jeroboam the son of Joash king of Israel began to reign in Samaria, and reigned forty and one years. And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD: he departed not from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin. He restored the coast of Israel from the entering of Hamath unto the sea of the plain, according to the word of the LORD God of Israel, which he spake by the hand of his servant Jonah, the son of Amittai, the prophet, which was of Gathhepher." (II Kings 14:23-25). For about 30 years the nation enjoyed peace, prosperity, and political prestige unparalleled since the days of David and Solomon. Unfortunately, his military abilities were not matched by any desire for doing the will of God, which eventually caused destruction in the land. God is interested in obedience to His Word more than in political accomplishments.

God showed His love for His people through prophets, such as Jonah, but the people rejected the Word of God. They attributed their prosperity to their idols and worshiped them more than ever, while immorality and violence continued to thrive. Scripture gives little credit to Jeroboam for his success, but the Lord foretold it through His servant Jonah. "For the LORD saw the affliction of Israel, that it was very bitter: for there was not any shut up, nor any left, nor any helper for Israel. And the LORD said not that he would blot out the name of Israel from under heaven: but he saved them by the hand of Jeroboam the son of Joash............And Jeroboam slept with his fathers, even with the kings of Israel; and Zachariah his son reigned in his stead." (14:26-27,29). After Jeroboam's death, anarchy prevailed and Israel rapidly degenerated even more. Jeroboam was succeeded by his son Zechariah, who reigned only six months. This was the fourth and last generation of the house of Jehu.

About 30 years after Jeroboam's death, the words of the prophets were fulfilled. The northern kingdom was destroyed and its people taken captive by the Assyrians. If they had only repented of their sins, been obedient to the Word of God, and worshiped the Lord, their wonderful peace and prosperity surely would have continued. "For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?" (Romans 14-16). We are not to submit ourselves to commiting evil because we know we are saved by the blood of Christ. We are to fully surrender ourselves over to Him, it is only then that we continue to enjoy prosperity.

Material success is often very deceptive, as it was for King Jeroboam II. We must not measure men's character by the length of their lives, nor by their material prosperity, for only God knows the secrets of the heart. Surely the goodness and mercy of God should lead us, in gratitude, to do the will of Jesus Christ our Lord. "For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:" (Colossians 1:9-13).

Today's Psalm: 44:20-21
"If we have forgotten the name of our God, or stretched out our hands to a strange god; Shall not God search this out? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart."

Today's Prayer:
Dear God,
I want my heart to be tuned to Your Truth and righteousness, for You are the Way, the Truth and the Life. I place my complete trust in You and reject the godless trends and vain philosophies promoted by the world. May Your words be embedded in my heart and mind through the faithful study of Scripture so that I might not sin against You and so that I will recognize truth from error. Keep me faithful and true. In Jesus' Name.........Amen.

Have a wonderful and blessed day/night.
God Bless you,
Christina

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