Tag: Trials

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2Chronicles 20, We will have trouble!

2Ch 20:1, It happened after this that the people of Moab with the people of Ammon, and others with them besides the Ammonites, CAME TO BATTLE AGAINST JEHOSHAPHAT.

JESUS said “IN THE WORLD YOU WILL HAVE TROUBLE” John 16:33. how will you react?

2Ch 20:3-4, And Jehoshaphat feared, AND SET HIMSELF TO SEEK THE LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. SO JUDAH GATHERED TOGETHER TO ASK HELP FROM THE LORD; and from all the cities of Judah THEY CAME TO SEEK THE LORD.

Often in times of trouble, when all the other options have failed, then we seek GOD! YET, the king and people of Judah immediately went to the LORD for help!

Psa 50:15, Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.” 

Heb 11:6, But without faith it is impossible to please Him, FOR HE WHO COMES TO GOD MUST BELIEVE THAT HE IS, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. 

When we see GOD at work in our lives, it builds up faith. YET, as gold is refined in fire, our faith also is refined through trouble!

1Peter 1:7, Mal 3:3

Jer 17:10, I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give every man according to his ways, According to the fruit of his doings. 

2Ch 20:14-15, Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jahaziel … And he said, “Listen, all you of Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you, King Jehoshaphat! THUS SAYS THE LORD TO YOU: ‘DO NOT BE AFRAID NOR DISMAYED BECAUSE OF THIS GREAT MULTITUDE, FOR THE BATTLE IS NOT YOURS, BUT GOD’S.

BEING AT HIS FEET IN PRAYER, READING HIS WORD AND SEEKING HIS FACE DAILY IS WHERE WE FIND OUR STRENGTH IN THIS LIFE! TROUBLE WILL COME, BUT KNOW THIS! HE IS FAITHFUL AND HE IS ALWAYS WITH US!

Heb 13:6, So we may boldly say: “THE LORD IS MY HELPER; I WILL NOT FEAR. WHAT CAN MAN DO TO ME?” 

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2Kings 18, a time of testing!

2Ki 18:5-6, HE TRUSTED IN THE LORD GOD of Israel, so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor who were before him.  FOR HE HELD FAST TO THE LORD; he did not depart from following Him, BUT KEPT HIS COMMANDMENTS, WHICH THE LORD HAD COMMANDED MOSES. 

Hezekiah was a godly king and did what was right in the sight of the LORD! YET he was going to be tested!

2Ki 18:7, THE LORD WAS WITH HIM; HE PROSPERED WHEREVER HE WENT. And HE REBELLED AGAINST THE KING OF ASSYRIA AND DID NOT SERVE HIM. 

He defied Sennacherib, and he came after him!

2Ki 18:15, So Hezekiah gave him all the silver that was found in the house of the LORD and in the treasuries of the king’s house. 

Hezekiah, a godly man gripped by fear tried to pay off the king of Assyria, yet that failed!

2Ki 18:29-30, Thus says the king: ‘Do not let Hezekiah deceive you, for he shall not be able to deliver you from his hand; nor let Hezekiah make you trust in the LORD, saying, “The LORD will surely deliver us; this city shall not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria.” ‘

2Co 4:8-9, We are hard-pressed on every side, YET NOT CRUSHED; we are perplexed, BUT NOT IN DESPAIR; persecuted, BUT NOT FORSAKEN; struck down, BUT NOT DESTROYED

NEVER TAKE YOUR EYES OFF THE LORD, FOR HE IS OUR STRENGTH AND NO WEAPON FORMED AGAINST US SHALL PROSPER! TRUST IN HIM!

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1Kings 20, the strength of GOD!

1Ki 20:2-3, Then he sent messengers into the city to Ahab king of Israel, and said to him, “THUS SAYS BEN-HADAD: ‘YOUR SILVER AND YOUR GOLD ARE MINE; YOUR LOVELIEST WIVES AND CHILDREN ARE MINE.’ “

Thus says Ben-Hadad? For a man following God this would hold no power, no threat, but for Ahab, an evil king, he surrendered all!

1Ki 20:6, but I will send my servants to you tomorrow … AND IT SHALL BE, THAT WHATEVER IS PLEASANT IN YOUR EYES, THEY WILL PUT IT IN THEIR HANDS AND TAKE IT.’ “

BUT BEN-HADAD WANTED MORE!

1Ki 20:13-14, Suddenly a prophet approached Ahab king of Israel, saying, “THUS SAYS THE LORD: ‘HAVE YOU SEEN ALL THIS GREAT MULTITUDE? BEHOLD, I WILL DELIVER IT INTO YOUR HAND TODAY, and you shall know that I am the LORD.’ ” So Ahab said, “BY WHOM?” And he said, “Thus says the LORD: ‘By the young leaders of the provinces…

BY WHOM? AS CHRISTIANS WE OFTEN SAY THIS TO OURSELVES! HOW ARE WE GOING TO DO THIS? WE DON’T HAVE THE MONEY OR THE HELP TO ACCOMPLISH THIS? HE CAN TAKE OUR MEAGER RESOURCES AND MULTIPLY THEM GREATLY!

Zec 4:6, … ‘NOT BY MIGHT NOR BY POWER, BUT BY MY SPIRIT,’ SAYS THE LORD OF HOSTS. 

Psa 44:6-7, For I will not trust in my bow, Nor shall my sword save me. But You have saved us from our enemies, And have put to shame those who hated us.

KNOW WHERE YOUR STRENGTH COMES FROM; IT’S NOT WITHIN YOU IT’S ABOUT HIM!

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1Kings 15, SEEK THE LORD NOT MAN

1Ki 15:11-12, ASA DID WHAT WAS RIGHT IN THE EYES OF THE LORD, AS DID HIS FATHER DAVID. AND HE BANISHED THE PERVERTED PERSONS FROM THE LAND, and REMOVED ALL THE IDOLS that his fathers had made.

Mat 1:7, Solomon begot Rehoboam, Rehoboam begot Abijah, and ABIJAH BEGOT ASA.

1Ki 15:13-14, Also he removed MAACHAH HIS GRANDMOTHER FROM BEING QUEEN MOTHER, because she had made an obscene image of Asherah. And Asa cut down her obscene image and burned it by the Brook Kidron. ….ASA’S HEART WAS LOYAL TO THE LORD ALL HIS DAYS

His heart was loyal to the LORD But, when Baasha king of Israel came up against him; Asa did not go to the LORD for help he went to the king of Syria!

2Ch 16:7, And at that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah, and said to him: “BECAUSE YOU HAVE RELIED ON THE KING OF SYRIA, AND HAVE NOT RELIED ON THE LORD YOUR GOD, therefore the army of the king of Syria has escaped from your hand. 

THE LORD MAKES A PERSON STRONG IF THEY ARE LOYAL TO THE LORD!

2Ch 16:9, For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him. In this you have done foolishly; therefore from now on you shall have wars.” 

IN TIMES OF TROUBLE AND IN TIMES OF PROSPERITY ALWAYS SEEK THE LORD AND RELY ON HIS STRENGTH!

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2Samuel 15, Absalom’s Conspiracy!

2Sa 15:12, THEN ABSALOM SENT FOR AHITHOPHEL THE GILONITE, DAVID’S COUNSELOR, … AND THE CONSPIRACY GREW STRONG, FOR THE PEOPLE WITH ABSALOM Continually Increased In Number. 

Ahithophel, David’s counselor was also the grand father of Bathsheba! His advice was as if it were an oracle of God (2Sa 16:23)!

2Sa 15:31, Then someone told David, saying, “Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” And David said, “O LORD, I PRAY, TURN THE COUNSEL OF AHITHOPHEL INTO FOOLISHNESS!” 

Psa 41:9, EVEN MY OWN FAMILIAR FRIEND IN WHOM I TRUSTED, WHO ATE MY BREAD, HAS LIFTED UP HIS HEEL AGAINST ME.

David was betrayed by Ahithophel as JESUS was betrayed by Judas, But the difference here is that DAVID SUFFERED FOR HIS OWN SINS WHERE AS THE CHRIST SUFFERED FOR OUR SINS! YET, AFTER ALL THIS DAVID PLACED HIS TRUST IN THE LORD!

2Sa 15:26, BUT IF HE SAYS THUS: ‘I HAVE NO DELIGHT IN YOU,’ HERE I AM, LET HIM DO TO ME AS SEEMS GOOD TO HIM.” 

SEEK HIM IN THE GOOD TIMES AND IN THE BAD. SEEK HIM AND HIS WORD, FOR HE IS OUR STRENGTH IN TIMES OF TROUBLE!

Pro 28:1, The wicked flee when no one pursues, BUT THE RIGHTEOUS ARE BOLD AS A LION. 

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1Samuel 30, Strength in the LORD!

1Sa 30:3, So David and his men came to the city, and there it was, BURNED WITH FIRE; and THEIR WIVES, THEIR SONS, AND THEIR DAUGHTERS HAD BEEN TAKEN CAPTIVE. 

David was rejected by the Philistines, rejected by Israel and now he came home to his family and found a burnt ghost town!

1Sa 30:4, Then David and the people who were with him lifted up their voices and wept, until they had no more power to weep. 

Everything he thought he had was taken from him. This is David’s lowest point in life; a broken man!

1Sa 30:6, NOW DAVID WAS GREATLY DISTRESSED, … BUT DAVID STRENGTHENED HIMSELF IN THE LORD HIS GOD. 

DAVID STRENGTHEN HIMSELF BY REMEMBERING THE LORD AND WHAT HE HAD DONE IN THE PAST! THOSE GREAT VICTORIES HE HAD GIVEN DAVID! HIS CALLING, HIS PROMISES, HE REMEMBERED THAT HIS STRENGTH ONLY CAME FROM THE LORD!

1Sa 30:8, SO DAVID INQUIRED OF THE LORD, SAYING, “SHALL I PURSUE THIS TROOP? SHALL I OVERTAKE THEM?”….

Pro 3:5-6, Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.

A BROKEN MAN CAN BE GREATLY USED BY GOD; FOR HIS STRENGTH IS NOT HIS OWN BUT COMES FROM THE LORD!

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1Samuel 27, David trusted in his heart!

1Sa 27:1, THEN DAVID SAID IN HIS HEART, “Now I shall perish one day by the hand of Saul. There is NOTHING BETTER for me than that I should escape…

Trusting in his heart David said there is NOTHING BETTER? Better would be seeking GOD and HIS wisdom!  The heart is wicked!

Jer 17:10, “I the LORD search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.” 

1Sa 27:5, Then David said to Achish, “IF I HAVE FOUND FAVOR IN YOUR EYES, let a place be given me in one of the country towns, that I may dwell there. For why should YOUR SERVANT dwell in the royal city with you?” 

David was seeking favor from the enemies of GOD the philistines? This is what happens when you trust your heart rather than the Word of GOD! 

1Sa 27:11-12, And David would leave neither man nor woman alive to bring news to Gath, thinking, … And Achish trusted David, thinking, “He has made himself an utter stench to his people Israel…

DAVID WAS LIVING A LIE AND HE KILL ANYONE THAT WOULD TELL ACHISH THE TRUTH!  DAVID IS NOW LIVING IN A BACKSLIDEN LIFESTYLES ALL BECAUSE HE TRUSTED IN HIS HEART!

Pro 14:14, The backslider in heart will be filled with the fruit of his ways, and a good man will be filled with the fruit of his ways. 

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1Samuel 22, The Cave of Adullam!

1Sa 22:1, DAVID THEREFORE DEPARTED FROM THERE AND ESCAPED TO THE CAVE OF ADULLAM. So when his brothers and all his father’s house heard it, they went down there to him. 

David escaped the Philistines and went to the cave of Adullam. This was David’s refuge because there was no place for him to go! ADULLAM MEANS REFUGE THIS IS THE PLACED WHERE HE WROTE PSALM 142!

Psa 142:1-3, …I CRY OUT TO THE LORD WITH MY VOICE; With my voice to the LORD I MAKE MY SUPPLICATION. I POUR OUT MY COMPLAINT BEFORE HIM; I DECLARE BEFORE HIM MY TROUBLE. WHEN MY SPIRIT WAS OVERWHELMED WITHIN ME, …

Psa 62:8, TRUST IN HIM AT ALL TIMES, you people; POUR OUT YOUR HEART BEFORE HIM; GOD IS A REFUGE FOR US. SELAH 

1Sa 22:2, And everyone who was in distress, everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was discontented gathered to him. …

WHEN THERE NO WAY OUT, NO WHERE TO GO HE IS OUR REFUGE IN TIMES OF TROUBLE! DRAW NEAR TO GOD AND HE WILL DRAW NEAR TO YOU (James 4:8). JESUS WILL DRAW HIS PEOPLE TO HIMSELF! HE KNOWS HIS SHEEP FOR THEY FOLLOW HIM! 

2Cor 4:8-9, We are hard-pressed on every side, YET NOT CRUSHED; we are perplexed, BUT NOT IN DESPAIR; persecuted, BUT NOT FORSAKEN; struck down, but NOT DESTROYED

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1Samuel 21, David’s lowest point!

1Sa 21:9, So the priest said, “The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you killed in the Valley of Elah, …And DAVID SAID, “THERE IS NONE LIKE IT; GIVE IT TO ME.” 

David was running for his life and rather than to put his trust in the LORD he sought protection using the sword that he took from Goliath and beheaded him!  HIS FAITH IN GOD WAS STRONGER THAN GOLIATH SWORD, BUT NOW HE IS LOSING HIS FAITH BY RELYING IN A SWORD RATHER THAN GOD!

1Sa 21:13, So he changed his behavior before them, PRETENDED MADNESS in their hands, scratched on the doors of the gate, and let his saliva fall down on his beard. 

David went to Gath to seek safety from Saul yet, this is Goliath hometown (1Sa 17:4), and he is carrying Goliath’s sword! The Philistines captured David according to Psalm 56!

Psa 56:1, …When the Philistines Captured Him in Gath. Be merciful to me, O God..

Psa 34:1, A Psalm of David When He Pretended Madness Before Abimelech, Who Drove Him Away, and He Departed.

WHEN DAVID WAS CAPTURED, HE CAME BACK TO THE LORD IN PRAYER AND PRAISE! AND PRETENDED TO BE MAD TO ESCAPE FROM THE HAND OF THE PHILISTINES!

Psa 56:3-4, WHENEVER I AM AFRAID, I WILL TRUST IN YOU. IN GOD (I will praise His word), IN GOD I HAVE PUT MY TRUST; I WILL NOT FEAR. What can flesh do to me?

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1Samuel 20, The testing of David!

1Sa 20:3, “YOUR FATHER CERTAINLY KNOWS THAT I HAVE FOUND FAVOR IN YOUR EYES, …But truly, … THERE IS BUT A STEP BETWEEN ME AND DEATH.” 

David is discouraged That Saul is trying to kill David but doesn’t know why? Ver 1 “WHAT HAVE I DONE? WHAT IS MY INIQUITY”

1Sa 20:15-16, but you (David) SHALL NOT CUT OFF YOUR KINDNESS FROM MY HOUSE FOREVER,…” SO JONATHAN MADE A COVENANT WITH THE HOUSE OF DAVID, SAYING, “LET THE LORD REQUIRE IT AT THE HAND OF DAVID’S ENEMIES.” 

Jonathan, the current prince of Israel knew that David would be king. So, he made a covenant with David that he would remember his (Jonathan’s) family and show kindness! David kept his promise (2Sam 9:1-8)

1Sa 20:31, For as long as the son of Jesse lives on the earth, you shall not be established, nor your kingdom. Now therefore, send and bring him to me, for he shall surely die.”

DAVID HAD MANY TRIALS AND AT TIMES HE BELIEVED HE WOULD DIE, YET THE LORD WAS MOLDING HIM INTO A MAN THAT COULD GUIDE HIS PEOPLE!  THE LORD KNOWS WHAT IT TAKES TO PREPARE A MAN FOR THE WORK OF THE LORD!

1Pe 1:7, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, THOUGH IT IS TESTED BY FIRE, MAY BE FOUND TO PRAISE, HONOR, AND GLORY AT THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST,