16/08/10

Do not be liberal in spiritual matters

2 Kings 14: 10 - Thou hast indeed smitten Edom, and thine heart hath lifted thee up: glory of this, and tarry at home: for why shouldest thou meddle to thy hurt, that thou shouldest fall, even thou, and Judah with thee?


We read in today's message Jehoash the King of Israel advices Amaziah the King of Judah not to be carried away just because of his previous victories that he came challenging him to war.

Going into the background Amaziah a descendant of David did an incredible feat when he defeated the 10,000 Arabs (Edomites) in the Valley of Salt. The Lord was pleased with him because he made efforts to walk in the way of the Lord and helped him in his fight with the Arabs but yet he did not do all things like his fore father David. He allowed worship in high places; he was trying to be more liberal minded to the world. This caused him lose his backing of the Lord and to be utterly defeated by the hands of Jehoash the King of Israel.

Today's message tells us, when we see the blessings of the Lord on us, we become very happy and take things for granted. We do not scrutinize our lives and live totally according to the Word. We try to please the world and God at the same time by being liberal minded in spiritual matters accommodating nonsense of this world along with godly things.

We do have another testimony of what happed when the Ark of Covenant was placed along with an idol in the temple. The Lord bought the head (symbolizing pride) and hands (symbolizing works) face down before the Ark of Covenant. Understand our God is very possessive of things very dear to Him and He will not compromise in those areas.


[ Prayer Starter ]
Lord, help us open our eyes to the areas in our lives where we have taken You for granted, where we have compromised with the Truth to please people of this world. Lord, You are very jealous of things which are holy unto You, therefore You do not compromise or tolerate in those areas. Help us Lord not to take your blessings for granted...

We make this prayer in Jesus' Name Amen.


[ Reference Scripture ]
2 Kings 14:1-14
1 In the second year of Joash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel reigned Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah.
2 He was twenty and five years old when he began to reign, and reigned twenty and nine years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Jehoaddan of Jerusalem.
3 And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, yet not like David his father: he did according to all things as Joash his father did.
4 Howbeit the high places were not taken away: as yet the people did sacrifice and burnt incense on the high places. 5 And it came to pass, as soon as the kingdom was confirmed in his hand, that he slew his servants which had slain the king his father.
6 But the children of the murderers he slew not: according unto that which is written in the book of the law of Moses, wherein the LORD commanded, saying, The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, nor the children be put to death for the fathers; but every man shall be put to death for his own sin.
7 He slew of Edom in the valley of salt ten thousand, and took Selah by war, and called the name of it Joktheel unto this day.
8 Then Amaziah sent messengers to Jehoash, the son of Jehoahaz son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, Come, let us look one another in the face.
9 And Jehoash the king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, The thistle that was in Lebanon sent to the cedar that was in Lebanon, saying, Give thy daughter to my son to wife: and there passed by a wild beast that was in Lebanon, and trode down the thistle.
10 Thou hast indeed smitten Edom, and thine heart hath lifted thee up: glory of this, and tarry at home: for why shouldest thou meddle to thy hurt, that thou shouldest fall, even thou, and Judah with thee?
11 But Amaziah would not hear. Therefore Jehoash king of Israel went up; and he and Amaziah king of Judah looked one another in the face at Bethshemesh, which belongeth to Judah.
12 And Judah was put to the worse before Israel; and they fled every man to their tents.
13 And Jehoash king of Israel took Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Jehoash the son of Ahaziah, at Bethshemesh, and came to Jerusalem, and brake down the wall of Jerusalem from the gate of Ephraim unto the corner gate, four hundred cubits.
14 And he took all the gold and silver, and all the vessels that were found in the house of the LORD, and in the treasures of the king's house, and hostages, and returned to Samaria.

1 Samuel 5:2-5
2 When the Philistines took the ark of God, they brought it into the house of Dagon, and set it by Dagon.
3 And when they of Ashdod arose early on the morrow, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the earth before the ark of the LORD. And they took Dagon, and set him in his place again.
4 And when they arose early on the morrow morning, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the ground before the ark of the LORD; and the head of Dagon and both the palms of his hands were cut off upon the threshold; only the stump of Dagon was left to him.
5 Therefore neither the priests of Dagon, nor any that come into Dagon's house, tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod unto this day.


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