Bible Studies

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Cont'd from (part3)

Provision
God Provides and Caresv17
Although Jonah was disobedient, God still cared for him. On this occasion he prepared a wale to swallow him before he was thrown into the sea.

Again we can see that the God we serve knows all things. He knew what will happen before it happens, so He can live tomorrow before tomorrow comes. He can be trusted with our tomorrows. We can trust Him to provide before a need arises. Gen22:14,Phil4:19, Ps23
God can cause storms in our lives to conform us to His will.
Such storms are blessings in disguise to keep us from the path of destruction.
Before I was afflicted I went astray,
but now I obey your word. 71
It was good for me to be afflicted
so that I might learn your decrees
Streams of tears flow from my eyes,
for your law is not obeyed.
165 Great peace have they who love your law,
and nothing can make them stumble.
ps119:67,71,136,165

Oh, that my ways were steadfast
in obeying your decrees!-119:5

Finally, to obey is better than sacrifice. This echoes Samuel’s word to a disobedient King Saul what thought partial obedience was acceptable to the Lord.
17 Samuel said, "Although you were once small in your own eyes, did you not become the head of the tribes of Israel? The LORD anointed you king over Israel. 18 And he sent you on a mission, saying, 'Go and completely destroy those wicked people, the Amalekites; make war on them until you have wiped them out.' 19 Why did you not obey the LORD? Why did you pounce on the plunder and do evil in the eyes of the LORD?"
20 "But I did obey the LORD," Saul said. "I went on the mission the LORD assigned me. I completely destroyed the Amalekites and brought back Agag their king. 21 The soldiers took sheep and cattle from the plunder, the best of what was devoted to God, in order to sacrifice them to the LORD your God at Gilgal."
22 But Samuel replied:
"Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices
as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD ?
To obey is better than sacrifice,
and to heed is better than the fat of rams.
23 For rebellion is like the sin of divination,
and arrogance like the evil of idolatry.
Because you have rejected the word of the LORD,
he has rejected you as king." (1Sam15:22-23)

Don’t follow peer or people pressure, the popular, public opinion or the convenient. Follow the Lord whole-heartedly like Joshua and Caleb and you will enter your promised land, have the peace of God which transcend all understanding. Paul followed the people or soldiers or used them as an excuse for disobedience and lost his kingdom. The ten spies followed their feelings and eyes and died in the wilderness, not entering the Promised Land, whereas Joshua and Caleb did because they followed the Lord whole-heartedly.(Num13:26-33;-14:20-25)
Do you have a storm in your life because of disobedience? If so, turn, whatever He says to you, do it and your storm will cease.
Main points:
1. God speaks to His own v1
2. His sheep hear his voice 1-2
3. God wants us to witness and have a similar compassion that He has for the sinnerv1
4. God wants to make us co-workers with Him, although He all-powerfulv1

5. He is sovereign, controlling the elements – the sea, floods winds, storms and can use them for His purposesv3
6. There is no storm or circumstance so powerful that He cannot stop or control v15
7. God is everywhere and it is absurd to run from Him v3
8. It is one thing to hear from God, it is another to do what He tell youv2
9. God will not always tell us what we want to hear v2
10. God hates sin but loves the sinner v1
11. God wants us to obey Him v3
12. There are consequences for disobedience v3
13. God leads us in many ways primarily through His word, He could use other non-conventional ways; and we must be open to Him v7
14. Our sins may affect others that we’re connected or come in contact with v3-15
15. It is not every storm or negative circumstances that come from the devil v4

16. When God bring a storm into our lives it is for our goodv14
17. God makes before the need arisesv17
18. God loves and cares for us v17

Make sure you see these points in this scripture. Meditate on it until they seep into you, like water into sponge.

Let Us Pray
My Father and my God, I cannot hide from you. You are all-knowing, ever-present and all-powerful. I belong to you spirit, soul and body. I surrender to You. Not my will, Lord, but Your will be done in my life, in my family as it is in heaven. Teach me to do your will. Captivate my heart. Let your kingdom come. I live to do your will. I live to serve your purposes. Lead me in Your way everlasting. Lead me to my green pastures and still waters. Open the eyes of my spiritual understanding to see what you are showing, go where you are bidding.
Can the clay say to the potter, ‘What are you doing? I yield to your loving arms. You are the only wise God, who knows what is best for me. I slide out of the driver’s seat for you to take over. Take complete control of life. Help me Lord to keep in step with you. May I hear a voice saying to me, ‘This is the way, walk in it.’
I silence the voice of my flesh, ego, convenience and popular opinion. I would rather obey God.
My Lord and my God you said in Your word, ‘My sheep hear My voice, and the voice of a stranger they will not follow’. Speak, Lord, your servant hears. So help me God, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

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