1 Corinthians 1: 18

PRAYER THOT: Thank you, Lord, for being a "promise-keeping" Lord.
I Chronicles 21 vs.24 - And king David said to Ornan, Nay; but I will verily buy it for the full price: for I will not take that which is thine for the LORD, nor offer burnt offerings without cost.

For further study - I Chronicles 21:18-30

Our extended devotional reading for today is the account of King David purchasing the threshingfloor from the Jebusite, to be used as a place for an altar upon which David could offer sacrifice. You might recall that King David had conquered the Jebusite's stronghold known as Jerusalem and made it the "political capital" of the Jewish people, II Samuel 5.

In II Samuel 6, David brought the Ark of the Covenant into Jerusalem and then made Jerusalem the "spiritual capital" of the Jewish people.

Jerusalem would be the location where David's son would build the first temple. The threshingfloor that Ornan, the Jebusite, owned was the location that King David wanted as a place of sacrifice and the Israeli King was willing to pay cash money for that piece of real estate.

You'll notice in our extended reading that the Jebusite, Ornan, wanted to give King David this exact location for the place of this altar that the Jewish king wanted for offering sacrifices. When Ornan offered to give the land to King David, the king refused saying that he would not offer sacrifice unless he paid for this sacrificial site.

Let the record show that King David paid cash money for Ornan's threshingfloor, 600 shekels of gold, approximately $100 in present day currency. It is important to see that King David did not take this site as a gift but instead paid cash money for the location which was on the peak of Mount Moriah. Remember, Mount Moriah is the spot where Abraham offered his son Isaac to the Lord, Genesis 22:2.

Mount Moriah is also the location where King Solomon built the first temple, II Chronicles 3:1.

This location, Mount Moriah, the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, is where the next temple will be built during the Tribulation Period, Daniel 9:27; Matthew 24:15; II Thessalonians 2:4; and Revelation 11:2. This sacred spot where the first and second temples stood and where the next two temples will also stand is the piece of real estate that a Jewish king purchased for "cash money."

That should settle the question of ownership but it does not. The Temple Mount will be the center of controversy until the Antichrist has a temple built on the spot where Jesus Christ will one day build his millennial Temple prior to the 1,000 year Kingdom.

The only problem for building a Jewish temple today up on the Temple Mount is a gold-domed building, a Muslim religious center; however, the Jewish temple will be built there one day, not too far into the future.
PRAYER THOT: Help me Lord to recognize the times in which we are living and to look for Your soon return.
I Chronicles 23 vs25 - For David said, The LORD God of Israel hath given rest unto his people, that they may dwell in Jerusalem for ever: For further study - I Chronicles 23:1-32

I Chronicles 23 takes place at the end of King David's life and at the time he anoints his son Solomon to become King over Israel. You might remember that even though David wanted to build the Temple as a permanent worship center for the Jewish people, God had not allowed him to do so because of disobedience. As in I Kings, the record is clear in I Chronicles 22 that King David prepared for the building of the Temple by gathering together the monies needed, plus the manpower and materials for the Temple including all the furniture of the Temple, I Chronicles 22:14.

David would also gather the Levites together to set them in "order" so that they might serve in the Temple at an allotted time of the year as well as the times of the Jewish Feast Days. I Chronicles 24 is the schedule for the priest to serve in the Temple as set forth by King David.

In our extended reading we find some very significant information on the service at the Temple. Verse 3 states that the priests who serve at the Temple begin their "priesthood" at the age of thirty, having studied for twenty-eight years the priestly duties and responsibilities.

The number of Levites serving the Temple in one capacity or another is 38,000, verse 3. And of these, 24,000 of them were to "set forth the work of the house of the Lord", verse 4.

It's interesting to note that 4,000 of the 38,000 were "to praise the Lord" with instruments which King David had made to be used for "praising the Lord". It was the "harp" that King David had made and used to "praise the Lord". He also wrote many of the Psalms by using his harp.

As you read through the entire 23rd chapter of I Chronicles, you'll notice that in verses 7-23 King David sets certain families aside for service in the Temple. This is similar to the divisions of the sons of Aaron into the twenty-four orders to serve at the Temple, as found in I Chronicles 24.

From verses 24-32, David gives further instructions for service at the Temple. Please notice King David's statement in verse 25, it is very prophetic. David, because of the Davidic Covenant, the promise from the Lord to David, the aged King of Israel was told by God that the Jewish people would dwell in Jerusalem, forever. By the way, the word "forever" means forever, even into eternity future. There, in fact, will be a temple in Jerusalem, forever, Ezekiel 37:26 & 28.

One final word about what King David did to prepare for the first temple, Solomon's Temple. David selected the priest, set the number needed in place and even the four thousand to play the harps. Today in Jerusalem there are men studying the "priestly duties" so that they can operate the next Temple. Even the harps have been made to use in the next Temple. The next Temple could be built very soon. The only thing that must happen before the building of the Temple is the Rapture of the Church, and that could happen today.

PRAYER THOT: Help me Lord, to live today as if this is the day that the Rapture will happen.

I Corinthians 1 verse 18 - For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

For further study -I Corinthians 1:18-31

In the passage for our devotional reading today we see how those today who exalt “human wisdom” will one day come to an understanding that man's wisdom is "foolishness in the things of God."

That's how Paul begins our devotional passage, which is an excerpt of his letter to the very "carnal church" in Corinth. What a powerful truth, that which seems to be "foolishness" to those of the world today who are not saved, not believers in Jesus Christ for eternal life, how they consider the "preaching of the cross" foolishness.

But Paul tells those of us who do believe that we came to that belief by the "preaching of the cross" which is to those of us who believe, the "power of God", verse 18.

If we take a closer look at the philosophy of this world today, and its people, they are bound up by "human wisdom", the knowledge and intellect of man. Even the "church", the institution ordained by God on Earth, has appropriated that "humanistic" philosophy, that "human wisdom," which they have made key to their "pattern of life".

Paul uses this letter to the Church in Corinth, who had bought into this philosophy and he revealed to them that man's wisdom was "foolishness." God's wisdom is what we should long for. It is very evident in what is termed "post-modern Christianity" in the Church today that they have allowed for "man's wisdom" to take control of leadership and ministry.

In fact, Paul even said that the foolishness of God, verse 25, is wiser than men. Verse 27 reveals God's plan for this matter. God has chosen the "foolishness of this world to confound the wise."

Paul realizes that many in this world must have "signs" to believe what is of the Lord, verse 22, especially the Jew. If one has to have a "sign" to believe, faith will not then spring forth.

Hebrews 11:1 says that "faith" is the substance of things "hoped for", the evidence of things "not seen." If we must have a "sign" before we believe then we don't have "real faith".

Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God, Romans 10:17. The Jew and some others require a "sign" and the Gentile craves for wisdom, the wisdom of man, verse 22. Both are the opposite of God's design for the Church and it's ministry and worship.

Paul sets the standard, verse 23, "we preach Christ crucified." Not only crucified, but resurrected, ascended into heaven and one day coming again.

Now that is "real wisdom", God's wisdom.

PRAYER THOT: Help me to stay in the Bible for the Godly wisdom that will carry me through life and into eternity future.

I Corinthians 2:9 

But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

For further study - I Corinthians 2:1-16

I love our key verse, verse 9, it is a promise of things that God will give me and you, if you know Him as Lord and Saviour, things that I can not even imagine. My eyes have not seen them, my ears have not heard them and my heart is void of what these things might be that will come to me in the future.

What we do know is that God has prepared these things. Because I love Him they will come to me. I feel like a little child who has the prospect of receiving “something special” from someone special. In order to receive from God this “something special” we must not only love the Lord, but we must be "born again", become a “new creation”.
Verse 14 states that the "natural man", a lost person without Jesus Christ, will not be able to know about God's gift. Whatever God would count as special, the lost person would consider it all foolishness. The gifts coming from the Lord will be better in focus as we study through the Word of the Lord, the Bible.
Paul explains in this passage the ministry of the Holy Spirit in communicating to the believer what God wants him to know. The first method that God uses to communicate to man is "inspiration," verse 13.
Paul says it wasn't his words and his wisdom but the Holy Spirit breathing into him, as He did into some 40 men over 1,500 years, 66 books, the Bible; with God's message for humankind, II Timothy 3:16.
These "truths" or "revelation" were also God-breathed and given to men, men the Lord Himself chose. None of the prophets received these truths by his own will but were Holy men of God and were able to speak prophetic truth as they were moved by the Holy Spirit, II Peter 1:21.
Maybe the most exciting thought in this passage is that we as Christians have the Holy Spirit living in us to not only empower us but also to teach us through "illumination," a third ministry of the Holy Spirit.
Jesus told His disciples that He must go, but He promised that when He had gone, He would send the Holy Spirit to teach us. And notice, the Holy Spirit would not only teach us but teach us things to come, John 16:7-14.
I must admit that after 50 years of studying God's Word there is much more than I can imagine that the Lord has in store for me, in the future.
PRAYER THOT: Thank you, Lord, for breathing into Godly men, Your Word, and then sending the Holy Spirit, the one who gave men Your Word, to dwell within me and teach me Your Word.

I Corinthians 3 verse 8 

Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.

For further study - I Corinthians 3:1-15

The apostle Paul, who wrote our reading today, also wrote to the Thessalonians about the Rapture of the church, I Thessalonians 4:13-18, and he told us of the sound of the trumpet, the shout of the archangel and at our Lord's shout, we will enter His presence. It is at that time in the future that the “Judgment” Seat of Christ takes place.

The Judgment Seat of Christ is when all Christians will be judged by Jesus Christ, John 5:22, for his or her labor for the Lord. It is at that time that we will receive either rewards or suffer loss of rewards.
The procedure for this awesome time before the Lord at the "Judgment Seat" is found in our reading for today. The reality that we will one day stand at the "Judgment Seat" is awesome as we consider the events that will unfold on that day.
Verse 12 tells us of the two categories of works that we will be judged for at the Judgment Seat. There are the “wood, hay and stubble” works and the “gold, silver, and precious stones” works. Those wood, hay and stubble works are works we did after becoming a Christian. These are works that we have done in our own strength and for our own glory. The gold, silver and precious stones works are those works we did in His power, for His glory.
Let me remind you that works are not for salvation, but a result of salvation. Salvation is by grace through faith, Ephesians 2:8-9. Works are what follows because we are "created unto good works" after salvation, Ephesians 2:10.
All of our works from either category will be judged, actually by fire, and what remains will be that which indicates whether we gain rewards or suffer loss. Naturally, those wood, hay and stubble works will be burned up.
The gold, silver and precious stones works will be purified in the fire and bring us rewards for the works we have done for Him and for His glory and in His power.
These works are the "righteous acts" we do during our lifetime as a Christian. The righteous acts then become our “wedding garments” that we, as the bride of Christ, will wear when we are married to Jesus Christ.
This “marriage ceremony” will precede the "marriage supper of the Lamb”, Revelation 19:7-9. It is exciting to consider the wedding garment we will wear at that ceremony for our groom, Jesus Christ.
However, it is a bit concerning to realize that one day, possibly very soon, at the Rapture we will stand face to face with Christ and have to respond at the Judgment Seat of Christ. This should motivate each us to get things in order so we will be ready to face Jesus. It could be today!
PRAYER THOT: Help me to do all works in His power and only for His honor and glory.

I Corinthians 10 vs31 

Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

For further study - I Corinthians 10:23-33

Paul, in his letter to the Corinthian Church, lays out the guidelines for the use of the liberty that the Lord has given to us for our Christian life. The apostle writes to a very “carnal church”, the church in Corinth, that everything is lawful for him, verse 23, but He gives them then four guidelines for living by the "law of love" in the liberty that God gives.

Paul says that though everything is lawful, everything is not expedient. In other words, everything is permissible but it is not always beneficial. Then Paul sets another standard for what he does. It must edify - it must build up those around him, verse 23.
Paul's lifestyle is not to promote himself or to do those things that bring attention, glory, or advancement for him, verse 24. Paul's goal is to promote the good of others. This type of lifestyle, serving others, is chosen by Paul so that he might bring many people to Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, verse 33. Paul's standard sets the bar high for each of us to set as our goal for the life we lead daily in front of others.
These principles in our passage from Paul's writings are worth our reading for today. But before we leave, let me share another principle, a “prophetic principle” as well as a “personal principle”. Paul says in verse 32, in light of his chosen lifestyle, that he will not be an offense to the Jews, the Gentiles, or the Christians. This verse goes along with the theme of our reading for today but it also is a key component as you start to study prophecy.
Paul divided humankind into three members of the “human family”, Gentiles, Jews, and Christians. Every person on earth is one of these family members. For the first 2,000 years of human history, from Genesis 1-12, there were only Gentiles on the earth.
When God brought Abraham to the Promised Land, He made this Gentile, Abraham, the first Hebrew, Genesis 14:13, and started another people, the Jewish people.
Then, for the next 2,000 years from Genesis 12 to Acts 1, there were Gentiles and Jews on earth, but no Christians. A Jew or a Gentile that believed God for righteousness was a believing Jew or Gentile.
On the Day of Pentecost, Acts 2, the Lord started the Church and there then was a third member of the human family, Christians. All these members of the human family are in play from Acts 2 to Revelation 22.
This information is key to understanding Bible prophecy. As we read the Word, the prophetic Word, we must keep this "prophetic principle" in mind. It will help us to know who the Lord is addressing in His prophetic plan and for what time in history.
PRAYER THOT: Dear Lord, help me to approach my study of Your word with the principles that will give me understanding of Your prophetic plan.


I Corinthians 15 vs20

But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.

For further study - I Corinthians 15:1-23

This 15th chapter is a power-packed portion of Scripture. I guess that you have noticed that our reading today is out of order, we were to have read a portion of Nehemiah which we will do tomorrow. I have chosen I Corinthians 15 for today, Easter, the traditional day to celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Our reading today is the evidence that could be used in a court of law to find Jesus guilty of resurrecting from the dead. There were eyewitnesses of the appearances of Jesus Christ alive, after His death - in fact over 500 of them.
I love this chapter of I Corinthians because it begins with the Resurrection of Jesus and concludes with the Rapture of the Church when He calls us to join Him “in the air” forever more.
In the very first verse, Paul says here is the "gospel." Then, in verses 2-4, he gives us the gospel, the “good news”. The “gospel” is the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Verses 5-8 tell us of those who saw Jesus Christ alive after His resurrection. The number is over 500 people in Jerusalem and in the Galilee who saw Him and could give testimony of the fact that the Lord was alive.
This evidence would stand up in a court of law to prove Him guilty of resurrection. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the “cornerstone of our faith”. If He did not come back to life after death, then we are still in our sin, I Corinthians 15:17.
By the way, the resurrection of Jesus is the “foundation for the truth” that if we should die before the Rapture we will resurrect from the dead also, I Corinthians 15:20-23.

Not only is the resurrection the cornerstone of our faith, it is the “foundation for Bible prophecy”. Revelation 1:18 says that Jesus claimed to be that One that was alive, dead, and alive, forever more.

Revelation 1:19 then reveals to us the future as Jesus tells John to write of those things which were, which are, and which will be hereafter. That is an outline for Revelation and the story of the End Times.
One final thought, because of the Resurrection of Jesus, that power that raised Him is available to each of us who know Him as Lord and Savior. We, by faith, can appropriate the “resurrection power” of Jesus to live through each and every day, Ephesians 1:19-20.
In a later devotional, we will look at the last portion of this powerful passage and study the prophecy of the coming Rapture. Remember, we can believe that there is going to be a Rapture because of His Resurrection.
PRAYER THOT: Thank you Lord, for giving me the Resurrection power to live daily, for You.


I John 1 vs7 

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

For further study - I John 1:1-7

The apostle John was entrusted by God to be the writer of five books of the New Testament, the one for our devotional reading today, the epistles of II and III John, the Gospel of John and the book of Revelation. There are unique messages in each of John's books but I John has a multi-faceted theme.

John writes about knowledge of great spiritual truths, what true love is and where it comes from and how to have true fellowship. Verse 3 relates to us how to have true fellowship. I am not speaking of a pleasant conversation or a surface relationship, God tells us how to have Biblical fellowship.
True fellowship is found in our relationship with God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ. When that relationship is right, then, and only then, can we have that same type of relationship with our fellow man.
Then John gets real practical in his thoughts. John adds that God is light – there is no darkness in Him at all, verse 6. The fellowship and relationship, we say we have with God, will be manifested by our walk in light - in God who is light. We can-not walk in darkness and have fellowship with God or others.
For those of us who have been cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ, we are the ones who walk in the light as He is in the light. Thus, we can have fellowship one with another and with Him. At this point in history, our fellowship is with others in human kind. But one day, when we enter His presence, we will have the same fellowship with Him we experience with others.
John, when writing of the New Jerusalem in Revelation 21 and 22, mentioned that in eternity future there will be a “tree of life” in the midst of the New Jerusalem which we will eat from, forever, Revelation 22:2.
Stop and consider for a moment. We will eat forever of the “tree of life”. When you think of fellowship, what do you think of? Food! Food and fellowship are synonymous terms. What a great thought. We will fellowship together forever - that means fellowship with God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ.
But it also means believers in Christ, not only of today, but from all of history. That includes all of the Biblical characters as well. I can hardly wait to talk to people like Noah, Jonah, Daniel, Joshua and so many others. By the way, if we are going to fellowship forever with believers, why don't we start practicing right now.
PRAYER THOT: Help me Lord, to walk in the light so that I can have fellowship one with another and with You.


I John 2 vs15 

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

For further study - I John 2:15-26

We know that the 40 or more authors of the Bible were all Jewish men, who had "breathed into them" the very Word of God, II Timothy 3:16. Several of the authors wrote more than one book: Moses, Ezra, Solomon, Luke, Paul, and the author of our reading today, John. John the Apostle, who was very close to Jesus, wrote a total of 5 books of the New Testament - the Gospel of John, I, II, and III John, and the Revelation of Jesus Christ.

In his Gospel, John gives the account of Jesus Christ in His “divine nature”. In the book of Revelation, John wrote what Jesus told him to write as relayed to him by an angel. In his epistles, the apostle writes very “practical letters” to Christians.
The book of I John is written that we might “know that we have eternal life”, I John 5:11-13. In fact, the word "know" is used 39 times in this letter to believers. By the way, that would be a great approach to studying I John. Just look at all of the "know" phrases in their context.
Today's key verse tells about where we are and how we should live. Don't you just love people who are so direct, right to the point? That is John's method in the writing of this book. "Don't love the world." Then he tells us how we can know if the “love of the Father” is in us.
If we have a love for this world, the love of the Father - God's Love - is not in us. John also reminds us that this world with all of its attractions will one day pass away. But we who do the “will of God” will abide forever, I John 2:17.
John, who will receive the Revelation from Jesus Christ about 5 years after writing this letter, recognized that we are in the Last Days, I John 2:18. This statement was applicable for John's day and much more so for our day. John warns of an “antichrist”, but also issues a warning against the philosophy of the times.
I John 2:22 states that those individuals and religions of the world that deny that Jesus Christ is the Son of God are of the “antichrist philosophy”. This atmosphere will be prevalent during the time of the appearing of "The Antichrist". By reading John's warnings and exhortations, we can realize that we are living in the times that John was writing about.
John concludes this portion of scripture by telling us one of the reasons why he wrote this book. We can recognize those who would try to seduce us, I John 2:26. It is so good to have an author who is so down-to-earth, so real. It is also good to have someone who will deal directly with us about the issues of the day, the Last Days.
PRAYER THOT: Thank you, Lord, for such a practical straightforward manual on "How to Live the Christian Life." Help me to follow its instructions.

I John 3 vs. 3 

And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

For further study - I John 3:1-5

Though our extended reading is a short five verses today, it is power-packed. This passage will contradict the “worlds” philosophy today. Someone mentioned to me once the title of the song from the islands, that is a philosophy of life for many people. The song, "Don't worry, be happy."

That is the driving force in the lives of many people today, to be "happy." The possibility of being happy is based upon "happenings", in other words what is happening around you.
John reveals to us that real "joy" not "happiness" is based on what the Father has done for us. In fact, John warns us that the "happenings" will be tough since the "world", all those outside of Jesus, will have little or no relationship with us.
There is nothing new about this reaction, we should expect it, since the world had no relationship with Jesus either. The world will not understand our relationship with Jesus, a relationship like a husband and a wife. By the way, the book of I John was written that we may have "full joy" in Him, I John 1:4.
I John 3:1 let’s us know that the Fathers love has been bestowed upon each of us so that we shall be called the "sons of God", children of God, verse 1.
Then John answers an often-asked question, "What will we be like in heaven?" The truth is that I am incapable of explaining that to you except for what John wrote to us, "when He appears we shall be like Him", verse 2.
The question of how will we be in the future will only be answered when Jesus comes again. Speaking of the Lord's return, the reality of that event happening is our hope, our "blessed hope". That "hope" that is within our being is that which will, or should, make us pure.
Because that hope is within us, we must "purify ourselves". Jesus sets the example, He is pure, and He sets the standard for purity.
I told you this short passage would be "power-packed". The Father's love has been poured out on us and has made us the children of God, children who don't know yet what we will be like except we will be like Him when He returns and appears before us.
These truths are made manifest in our lives as we, in anticipation of His coming, go about purifying ourselves, even as He is pure.
A continuing study of Bible prophecy and the understanding of current events as they are setting the stage for these prophecies to be fulfilled will help us to look for Him to come and to change us into His image. This knowledge will also help us to purify ourselves.
PRAYER THOT: Keep me focused on your soon return and my understanding of how close that could be, which is that hope that purifies.

I John 4 vs17

Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.

For further study - I John 4:1-21

We will read the entire chapter of I John 4 for our extended reading today. I John 4 is a marvelous description of what and who "love" is in our world today. Verse 8 jumps right out at me as I read about "love", from verses 7-21. In fact the word "love" is used 26 times in these verses.

John tells us "Who" love is in verse 8, "God is love". John then defines "love" by what God did, He gave His Son, Jesus Christ, to become sin for us so that we might be saved, verse 10.
Then we are told to follow God's example by “loving” one another, since God “loved” us. John tells us how we can know God and know that He dwells within each of us, it is by "loving others," verses 10 & 12.
Verse 17 tells us how “our love” will be made perfect when we stand in boldness in the "day of judgment." Verse 18 tells us how to "cast out fear" by “loving” God and others.
John gives us a test so that we can know for sure that we “love” the Lord, Verse 20. This verse states that if we "hate" our brother, fellow man, and say that we "love" the Lord, we are "liars." How could we truly “love” the Lord Whom we have not seen and yet hate those whom we have seen.
I John 4 is a great statement about "love"; however, it is very interesting to see that the first four verses of this chapter deal with another issue all together. John warns us to not believe every spirit, but to try them, hold them up to the standard of the Word of God.
The reason for this is especially true for the days in which we are living today. The reason is that there are many "false prophets" out there.
John gives us another test, this one to determine the nature of these spirits or teachers that come our way. A true spirit or teacher that represents the one true God is the one that admits, confesses, that Jesus is the Son of God, come in the flesh.
If the spirit or teacher says Jesus was not the Son of God, then it is the spirit of "Antichrist." Any religion that claims "its god had no son" and that Jesus Christ is not the Son of God in the flesh is an "Antichrist religion."
That's God's Word, not mine, and God's Word is absolute. We live in a day of many false teachers and religions, these are the days preparing for, and leading up to the Antichrist, the last days.
PRAYER THOT: Help me dear Lord to love You and others as I abide by Your Word and follow Your example.

I John 5 vs5 - Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

For further study - I John 5:1-21

John defines for us who an "overcomer" is in I John 5. He tells us what's in store for those of us who are "overcomers" as foretold in Revelation 2 and 3. I'll get back to you on that in a moment but first to things that we know for sure, as confirmed by this chapter of I John.

Verses 11-13 tell us, on the record, how we can have a "know so"

salvation. God, verse 11, has given us "eternal life". This is a gift from God for all of us who recognize that this life is in His Son.

The text tells us "this life is in His Son". The positive and negative are found in verse 12, "he that hath the Son of God hath life," and vice-versa, "he that hath not the Son of God hath not life."

The truth is very simple. There is no need to question or worry about salvation, eternal life. In fact, the reason John wrote this book is so that we can "know" for sure that we have eternal life. That's not a feeling, a 'hope so" or a "guess so", but a "know so" salvation.

Then John gives us confidence about our "prayer life", and that confidence is found in the Lord, also. John tells us that if we ask anything according to His will, we can know that the Lord hears us.

Then we are told that since He hears us, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him, verses 14-15. You may say, how can we know His will so that we can pray in His will?

The "Word of God" is the "will of God". Know the "Word of God" and you will know the "will of God". But you may say, I can't determine the "will of God" from the Word on a specific matter, that's where Romans 8:26-27 comes into the equation. When we can not determine the "will of God" the Holy Spirit takes over and intercedes for us according to the "will of God", Romans 8:26-27.

There is another "great nugget" for us to take away from our Bible reading today. It's found in I John 5:4-5. John, as I said earlier, defines who is an "overcomer". An "overcomer" is someone who is born of God. That would be someone who believes that Jesus is the Son of God who died for us and rose from the dead.

We must "admit" that we are sinners, in need of salvation. We then "believe" that the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus was that which our Lord did to take away our sin. After admitting and believing, we then "call" upon Him to save us, Romans 10:13. An "overcomer" is someone who is born again.

With that information we can see what is guaranteed to all "overcomers" as found in the letters to the seven churches of Asia Minor, Revelation 2 and 3. Common in all of the letters to the seven churches, "he that is an "overcomer", precedes the promise that the Lord makes to all "overcomers."

PRAYER THOT: Thank you Lord for giving me eternal life by making me an "overcomer". And thank you also for all that is promised in Your letter to the seven churches of Revelation to "overcomers.

I Kings 1 vs.39 - And Zadok the priest took an horn of oil out of the tabernacle, and anointed Solomon. And they blew the trumpet; and all the people said, God save king Solomon.

For further study - I Kings 1:28 - 40

The time is around 3000 years ago as we come to the record of King David anointing his son Solomon to be king of all of Israel. It almost did not happen this way for another son of David, Adonijah had plotted to seize the kingdom from his stepbrother Solomon when their father, King David, learned of the plan and had Bathsheba call his

staff to his death bed to make certain Solomon was crowned King.

Bathsheba brought Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet to anoint Solomon King of Israel.

It is interesting to note that this prophet Nathan is the same prophet that told King David that he would not be allowed to build the temple but it would be built by his son. Nathan also is key in the giving of the Davidic Covenant (II Samuel 7) to David. It was Nathan who helped select Solomon to be the third king of Israel and one of the ones to anoint Solomon.

God had promised David that one of his seed would rule on the throne and also play a key role in the building of the permanent worship center of the Lord, the Temple. That promise will ultimately be fulfilled by Jesus Christ who will return to earth and build His Temple, Messiah's Temple, Zechariah 6:12. The Lord Jesus will also reign from that temple as the King, Zechariah 6:13.

Thus we have seen the first step in the long journey over the centuries to Jesus through the Davidic line. But, I want you to notice something else in this passage. Nathan the prophet and Zadok were to bring Solomon to the Gihon River which is located in the city of David, the original site for Jerusalem. It was at the Gihon that these men would anoint Solomon to be king over Israel.

Maybe you remember where you have heard of that river, the Gihon, before. If not, look back to Genesis 2. The Gihon is one of the rivers mentioned in the reference to the Garden of Eden, Genesis 2:13. In fact, the Gihon is the river, the one river, that flowed out of the Garden of Eden and became four rivers somewhere outside of the Garden, Genesis 2:10. This text is telling us that, as Jewish scholarship has believed for almost 6000 years, the Temple Mount in Jerusalem is the original site of the Garden of Eden. (see my study, Return to Eden https://shop6.gospelcom.net/epages/

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One of David's seed will rule from a Temple in the original Garden of Eden one day.

PRAYER THOT: Help me to be pure and productive as I await His return.

I Kings 2 vs12

Then sat Solomon upon the throne of David his father; and his kingdom was established greatly.

For further study - I Kings 2:1-12

This is the record of the death of one King and the installation of another. It is also the first installment of the promise made to King David. Before we look at these two issues, let's look at King David's charge to his son who was to become “King of Israel”.

As David began the charge he used a very picturesque description for his pending death. "I go the way of all the earth," is a statement that shows David was a realist who knew he would soon die and thus the reason for the charge to his son, the “heir apparent”.
As I read the “charge”, I was reminded of the “charge” Moses gave to Joshua. There are some familiar phrases which are actually good Biblical principles for us to follow as well.
Notice verse 3. David charges Solomon to “walk in the Lord's ways and to keep His statutes”, as written in the word of God. The promise for doing this will be that Solomon and each of us also will prosper.
Just this reminder - to "prosper" is not necessarily to be “wealthy”. That is not what the Lord has in mind. The Lord's idea of "prosper" is to “fulfill the will of the Lord for our lives and to bring glory to Him”.
Before I look at the first installment of God's promise to King David, notice verse 10. King David, after serving 40 years as King of the Jewish people, dies and is buried in the city of David, which is the city of Jerusalem.
The place of David's burial is the actual location of where the events of what happened in Acts 2 took place. The Day of Pentecost, when the church was born, is at the same spot where King David is buried, Acts 2:29.
Verse 12 tells us that David's son Solomon did indeed ascend to the ‘throne of his father’ and thus fulfilled the first installment of the Davidic Covenant, II Samuel 7:12-13.
This is evidence that God's plan was in force and will be in force in the future as well. The Davidic Covenant will be fulfilled - a King from David's family will be on the throne in the Temple in Jerusalem with a Kingdom that will be forever.
Solomon was the first installment of that promise. The coming Messiah, Jesus Christ will be the ultimate fulfillment of the Davidic Covenant. I believe we are living in the days of that Kingdom, which is yet to come.
PRAYER THOT: Thank you for keeping Your promises, Lord, to each of us, as You did to King David.

I Kings 8 vs11 

So that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of the LORD.

For further study - I Kings 8:1-11

King Solomon, the third king of Israel, was the one God would have to build the Temple, the first permanent worship center for the Jewish people. The account of Solomon's Temple, up and operating in Jerusalem, is the portion of I Kings that I've selected for today’s devotional reading.

Until Solomon's Temple the tabernacle, a transportable worship center, was used by the Lord to “dwell among His people”, especially during the forty years of wandering in the wilderness and also during the first 350 years of the Jewish people living in the Promised Land.
After the Philistines took the Ark of the Covenant from the Jews they kept the Ark for only seven months, I Samuel 6:1. And then for another 120 years the Ark was at a place about 15 miles west of Jerusalem.
King David brought the Ark to Jerusalem, II Samuel 6, and wanted to build a temple to house the Ark. Because of David's disobedience he was not allowed that honor; however, his son Solomon would be the one to build the temple.
David gathered the manpower, the monies and the materials for Solomon to use in the building of the temple. He even purchased the site where the temple would be erected. David paid cash money for the site of Araunah's threshing floor, II Samuel 24:24, which was on Mt Moriah, II Chronicles 3:1.
King David passed from the earth into paradise and his son Solomon, as promised by the Lord, built the first temple which took him seven years to build this "worship center" for the Jewish people, I Kings 6:38.
With the temple built, Solomon assembled the elders of Israel and the heads of all the tribes of Israel for the dedication of the Temple and the placing of the “Ark of the Covenant”, theShakinah Glory, in the Holy of Holies of this “permanent worship center” of the Jewish people.
King Solomon had the Levites to bring the Ark from the tabernacle that King David had erected to house the Ark until the temple was ready. As the men brought the Ark into the Temple, into the Holy of Holies, the "glory of the Lord" filled the "house of the Lord" so that the priests could not minister.
There would be a second temple built in Jerusalem, after the Babylonian Captivity; however, the "Glory of the Lord" would not be on the Ark of the Covenant because the "Glory" departed the Ark and the Holy of Holies before the Temple was destroyed, Ezekiel 8-11.
The Ark was never again in the Temple, even during the lifetime of Jesus. The location of the Ark is known today and it will be placed in the Temple that stands on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem during the Tribulation Period; however, the "Glory of the Lord" will not be resting on the Ark.
The "Glory of the Lord" manifested in the person of Jesus Christ will once again enter the "House of the Lord" going into the Holy of Holies and He will fill the "House of the Lord" with His glory when He comes back to Jerusalem.
Remember, the Ark will be used in the Tribulation Temple, but Jesus is the "Ark" for His Temple, a Temple where He will rule and reign from during His kingdom.
PRAYER THOT: Even so come, Lord Jesus.

I Kings 9:3 - And the LORD said unto him, I have heard thy prayer and thy supplication, that thou hast made before me: I have hallowed this house, which thou hast built, to put my name there for ever; and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually.

For further study - I Kings 9:1-9

In fulfillment of God's promise to David, II Samuel 7, King David's son Solomon would build the temple, the first permanent dwelling place for the worship of the Jewish people in Jerusalem. I Kings 5 is the record of Solomon's preparations to build the temple with the gathering together of the manpower and materials. I Kings 6, Solomon begins the building of the temple. I Kings 7 is the story of the building of the home of Solomon. Notice in 7:1, it took Solomon 13 years to build his house and according to 6:38 it only took 7 years to build the Temple. Solomon had a very interesting priority. I Kings 8 reveals that Solomon brought the "Ark of the Covenant" into the Temple. What a day that was when the "Glory of the Lord filled the House of the Lord."

As we come to our devotional reading for today, I Kings 9:1-9, we see recorded the second pre-incarnate appearance of Jesus to King Solomon, the first being in Gibeon, I Kings 3:5. The Lord tells the King of Israel that He had heard his prayer and supplication, verse 3. And that Solomon's permanent "worship center", the Temple, was to be "hallowed" by Him.

The Lord also said He would put His name there at the Temple, forever, and that His eyes and His heart would be there "perpetually". The Lord then makes a promise and gives a warning to the King. In verses 4-5 the Lord promises Solomon that if He would walk before Him as his father David did, and do according to all the Lord commanded him to do, King Solomon's kingdom would be established forever, as He had promised his father David.

However here is a "but", verse 6. The Lord tells Solomon that if he or his children turn from following Him, do not keep His commandments and follow after other gods, then Israel would be cut off out of the land that He had given the children of Israel.

The Lord also told Solomon the Temple would be destroyed, a result of the children of Israel failing to follow and obey Him. Solomon was told that people of the world would look at Israel as a "proverb and byword".

These worldly people would ask why Israel was not in the land and why was the Temple destroyed. The Lord answers that question in advance, "because the people of Israel forsook the Lord their God", verse 9.

This prophecy that the Jesus gave to Solomon was fulfilled, in fact fulfilled, twice. In 586 BC Nebuchadnezzar destroyed Solomon's Temple and took the Jews out of their God-given land. Some seventy years later the Jews returned to the land and built another Temple, Ezra 1-6.

Then, because of additional disobedience, the Lord followed through on His promise again and had the Roman Army destroy the Second Temple and disbursed the Jews out of their land. When God makes a promise, He keeps that promise.

The Lord made another promise, that He would bring the Jews back into the land in the last days and give them another Temple. This scenario found in God's prophetic word is in the process of being played out in our world today.

PRAYER THOT: Help me Lord, to walk before You daily and do that which You direct me to do as I await Your return.

I Kings 11 vs11

Wherefore the LORD said unto Solomon, Forasmuch as this is done of thee, and thou hast not kept my covenant and my statutes, which I have commanded thee, I will surely rend the kingdom from thee, and will give it to thy servant.

For further study - I Kings 11:1-12
The fulfillment of this prophecy is recorded in I Kings 12:16-24. The dividing of the Kingdom of Solomon - 10 tribes under Jeroboam known as Israel and two tribes under Rehoboam known as Judah.
These 12 tribes would reunite almost 500 years later. This reunification of the twelve tribes of Israel would take place in the days of the reign of Cyrus of theMedo-Persian Empire, Ezra 1:1-3 and Ezra 2.
But the ancient Jewish prophet Ezekiel reveals another division among the Jewish people will take place during the last days leading up to and during the seven year Tribulation Period. Ezekiel 37:15-23. There will be two Jewish states at that time known as “Israel” and “Judah” (see my study on Ezekiel 37 on my CD “Ezekiel, Retribution and Restoration) .
The stage is being set for this prophecy to be fulfilled with the growing division among the Jewish people of Israel over the issue of the Jewish settlements in the area of Judea and Samaria (sometimes referred to as the "West Bank").
We are witnessing the formation of the two Jewish states called for in Bible Prophecy, even today. The Rapture will happen before this division of the single Jewish State of Israel today. Thus the Rapture could be today........so let's keep looking up.
PRAYER THOT: Dear Lord, as I watch the preparations for the fulfillment of Bible Prophecy help me to allow my understanding of future events to cause me to live in light of your Word, a life expecting You to call me to be with You at any moment.


I Peter 1 vs13 

Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

For further study - I Peter 1:13-25

I do want you to read all thirteen verses of our extended reading for today; however, we will focus on the first three verses of our devotional for our time in the Word.
Let me remind you, as I reminded myself as I read these verses, that our "new birth", the fact that we have been "born again", that we are saved means that we should live a “lifestyle of holiness”.
The first three verses of our extended reading will set us on the way to that kind of a lifestyle. Peter actually gives us five pointed exhortations that should bring us in line with a daily experience of "holy living."
In verse 13 we see the first three exhortations. "Gird up the loins of your mind" is saying prepare your minds for "action". There is much we cannot control in life but we can control our "minds".
Paul told us to "think right", Philippians 4:8. Paul said to think on things pure, true, honest, lovely, good and just. We are to think on these things. When we "think right" we are "girding up our minds", preparing them for "action".
Peter then tells us to "be sober" which means to be "self-controlled". We are to "hope to the end" when Jesus Christ comes back, when He is revealed. His return is our "blessed hope" and that motivation for us to "lay aside" that which is not Godly and "live" that which is "Godly," as we "look" for Him to come.
Verse 14 tells us to "be obedient" to the Lord and don't walk in the lifestyle of the "former lust" that can take us astray. In other words, be not conformed to previous evil desires.
The fifth exhortation from Peter is the central theme of this passage, "be ye holy", verse 15. Holiness is what the Lord expects of each of us. This is true because He is "holy", and we are to be conformed to His image.
Holiness is to penetrate "all manner of conversation". That's not referring only to how we talk but our entire lifestyle should reveal holiness, even as He is holy.
Remember, this is possible as we prepare our minds, live under self-control, stay away from former lust, and look for the coming of Jesus. By the way, that coming of Jesus could be today!
PRAYER THOT: Dear Lord, help me to think right, live self-controlled, stay away from evil desires and be holy as I await Your soon return.


I Peter 2 vs9 

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;

For further study - I Peter 2:1-10

Right out of the gate in I Peter 2, the apostle helps each of us know how to “grow” in our relationship with Jesus. Peter first informed us of what to “lay aside”. The list of items Peter mentions will be the activities that will harm or at least hinder our growth.
These activities to be removed – “malice, guile, hypocrisies, envies, and evil speaking” cause a slowdown in our advancement in the Christian lifestyle the Lord wants each of us to have in Him.
Next, Peter exhorts us to “desire the sincere milk of the Word” that we might be able to “grow”. Notice Peter did not say the "meat" of the Word, a real deep study of the Word of God. What he mentioned was the "milk" of the Word. "Meat" is for "grownups" and "milk" is for those young in the Lord. Now, age here is not talking about how long you have been saved, but how mature you and I might be in the Lord.
From verse 2 we look over at verse 9. This is a logical path to follow as we partake of the milk of the Word so that we can "grow." Then we "show" forth the one who has called us out of darkness into His marvelous light. But please look again at verse 9.
You might recognize the phrasing as something you read in the Old Testament and you would be correct. Just before the Lord met with Moses to give him the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20, in Exodus 19 the Lord tells Moses that the Jewish people have a special calling and He has set them aside for His purpose.
Look at Exodus 19:5-6. The Lord tells Moses the Jewish people are a “peculiar treasure”, a “people above all people”, a “kingdom of priests”, and a “holy nation”. It does sound very similar to I Peter 2:9. What God does when His chosen people, the Jewish people, are disobedient and run away from God's plan for their lives, He then turns to Christians to carry forth the message.
There are some slight changes in the 4 descriptions of the people God wants to use to reach the world but the same game plan is in play. When the Jews rejected Jesus Christ, the Messiah and Savior of the world, He set the Jews aside and gave the present-day ministry to Christians. Remember, I said "set aside" not replaced them.
God still has a plan for the Jews as spoken to Moses in Exodus 19. After the Rapture, during the seven year Tribulation Period, the Lord will re-commission the Jews to “show forth the praises of Him who has called us out of darkness into His marvelous light”.
PRAYER THOT: Help me, dear Lord, to "grow" so that I may "show."