David was incited (provoked, urged, and stimulated) by Satan to number Israel. Satan appealed to David’s pride and David was curious to take an inventory of his army’s power and numbers. God was greatly displeased with David’s actions and even his general, Joab, was alarmed when he was ordered to carry out David’s command. David acknowledged and confessed his sin to God by saying, “I have sinned greatly in that I have done this thing. But now, please take away the iniquity of your servant, for I have acted very foolishly.” God wanted David to understand that it was not his strength, wisdom, or ability that brought him many victories, but it was God alone that enabled him to conquer his enemies. God further instructed the prophet Gad to give David the choice of three punishments for his disobedience. “…either three years of famine, or three months to be swept away before your foes, while the sword of your enemies overtakes you, or else three days of the sword of the LORD, even pestilence in the land, and the angel of the LORD destroying throughout all the territory of Israel.” “…and David said to Gad, ‘I am in great distress. Please let me fall into the hand of the Lord, for His mercies are very great. But do not let me fall into the hand of man.’” God struck Israel with judgment, and 70,000 men perished from a pandemic pestilence carried out by an angel of the Lord with a drawn sword. David knew there was hope in the midst of this calamity and held on to his God of mercy and grace! He obeyed God’s command to build an altar to the Lord on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. “Then David built an altar to the LORD there and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. And he called to the LORD and He answered him with fire from heaven on the altar of burnt offering. The LORD commanded the angel, and he put his sword back in its sheath.” Today, the altar of the Lord is in our hearts, and we must minister to God as His priests and bring Him an offering of praise and thanksgiving – for God inhabits the praise of His people. We have been granted access into the Holy of Holies through the sacrificial blood of Jesus where we meet with God and call down His presence to push back the darkness in the world today. Build Me an altar! References: I Chronicles 21; Psalm 22:3; Acts 27:15-18 (Audio of message not available.) If you have never put your complete faith in Jesus Christ for your eternal salvation, why not believe what God's word says and call on Jesus Christ to save you right now? Click here and let us show you how you can KNOW JESUS.
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God called Abraham when he was 75 years old to leave his home in Ur of the Chaldees and journey to the land of Canaan. This was the land He was promising to Abraham and his descendants forever. The Canaanites were a culture living in darkness serving Baal and other false gods. They practiced witchcraft, and spirits of darkness were in control of the land influencing the nature of the Canaanite people. However, God had a plan to use Abraham as a forerunner to “push back the powers of darkness” and prepare the way for Joshua to conquer the Promised Land for His people, Israel. In fact, after Abraham arrived at Shechem, God appeared to him and said, “To your descendants I will give this land.” So he built an altar there to the Lord and called upon the Name of the Lord. Abraham, an obedient and faithful servant of God, knew that he was facing a spiritual warfare with the powers of darkness and Satan. He went directly to his Source of strength, wisdom, might and life and “He called upon the Name of the Lord,” to push back the dark forces of evil in the land. Abraham traveled on from there and pitched his tent between Bethel on the West and Ai on the East, and yes, once again, “He built an altar to the Lord and called upon the Name of the Lord.” As God’s children we, too, like Abraham, must establish prayer altars in our own personal lives, our families, our work places, our churches and throughout our nation. These prayer altars today are not to be stone monuments or physical structures, but the altar of God in our hearts. These altars are hearts devoted to God through Christ Jesus in worship, adoration and praise to Him. The voluminous reading of God’s word is imperative and a sincere urgency to minister to God through Jesus as His devoted priests are a must to call down His presence. We are to enter the Holy of Holies in God’s very presence through the atoning blood of Christ and offer the sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving due to Him. God inhabits the praises of His people! God’s presence therefore will push back the darkness of evil forces seeking to destroy the communion He so desires between Himself and His beloved children. References: Genesis 12:1-7; Psalm 22:3 (Hear the entire message below.) If you have never put your complete faith in Jesus Christ for your eternal salvation, why not believe what God's word says and call on Jesus Christ to save you right now? Click here and let us show you how you can KNOW JESUS. There are a number of long distance swimmers who cross the English Channel, or who try to swim from Cuba to the USA, etc. In order to do that, they need some help in conquering the sharks or else they will certainly be consumed. With the Lord, we have the same help to “conquer the sharks” of life. Read Philippians 4:4-13 and you will see the first thing in this battle is to rejoice! It continues in relating how to pray, God’s peace, subject areas of the mind and learning to be content. If you don’t, you will certainly be lunch for some “spiritual shark”! (Listen to entire message below.) If you have never put your complete faith in Jesus Christ for your eternal salvation, why not believe what God's word says and call on Jesus Christ to save you right now? Click here and let us show you how you can KNOW JESUS. The more I read the Scriptures, the more intimate a relationship that develops between Jesus and me…do you find that the same with you? Psalms 104, 105, and 106 give us a wonderful thread of who God is. That thread helps us to know Him all the more…His greatness, His mercy, His love for us. It holds true…to know Him is to love Him! Satan has worked hard to give out so much “misinformation” about God—for deception is his game. Evil doings happen all over the planet, and many people shake their fists at God instead of Satan. Satan IS evil…God IS good…any questions! If you KNOW God, you will push back any deception in regards to Him. Read all of each Psalm: savor what the Scriptures have for us. Psalm 104 – the Lord’s care over all His works Psalm 105 – the Lord’s wonderful works in behalf of Israel Psalm 106 –Israel’s rebelliousness and the Lord’s deliverance If you have never put your complete faith in Jesus Christ for your eternal salvation, why not believe what God's word says and call on Jesus Christ to save you right now? Click here and let us show you how you can KNOW JESUS. Let thankfulness govern your thoughts even though it sounds a little crazy in problematic situations. Remember, in 1 Thessalonians 5:18 it tells us that in everything give thanks. There is a reason for that…a thankful mindset keeps you in touch with God. And when it is all falling apart, that is right where you want to be. In His presence, there’s no room for grumbling and being angry with Him. Practicing a state of thankfulness will safeguard you against the sins of complaints, dissatisfaction, etc. Instead of some scary monster in your closet, you can see things clearly and will be aware of your many blessings. You’ll still have the challenges and sorrows…but how you view them and how you get through them is totally changed…and for the better. Listen in to the sermon and learn how.
James 2:17 says that faith without works is dead; but what kind of works? God makes that clear, too, when we read in John 6:28-29 that the work of God is that you believe in Him Whom He has sent; and that is prerequisite #1! The “works” of God means giving Him thanks, making known His deeds, singing to Him, giving Him glory, speaking of His wonders, being glad, seeking His strength, and remembering His wonders and marvels. So, in addition to feeding the hungry, helping the widows, the unwed mothers and the plethora of works out there, don’t forget to pursue God Himself! God wants us hot not lukewarm (Revelation 3:15-16). (Sermon Originally Recorded: 12/26/12) If you have never put your complete faith in Jesus Christ for your eternal salvation, why not believe what God's word says and call on Jesus Christ to save you right now? Click here and let us show you how you can KNOW JESUS. |
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