Full of Faith 2 Kings 3 16-18, 25

Read the passage: 2 Kings 3

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Kings+3&version=ASV

The man full of faith:

v.16 1. Hears and recognizes God’s instruction by its uniqueness.

(And he said, Thus saith the Lord, Make this valley full of ditches.)

v.16 2. Identifies with and responds to God’s unique instruction.

dug ditches

v.17 3. Does not require physical manifestations to have faith.

(For thus saith the Lord, Ye shall not see wind, neither shall ye see rain; yet that

valley shall be filled with water, that ye may drink, both ye and your cattle, and 

your beasts.)

v.17 4. Sees spiritually very clearly that which God promised.

(valley shall be filled with water)

v.17 5. Recognizes God’s work because of the impossibility of the work.

v.18 6. Aware that God may have more glory planned than just meeting his needs.

(And  this is but a light thing in the sight of the Lord: He will deliver the Moabites

  also into your hand.)

God’s meeting our needs often is a preparatory step to his gaining greater glory through our obedience and ministry.

v.25 7. Gloriously receives the manifestation of His divine presence.

(And they beat down the cities, and on every good piece of land cast every man 

his stone, and filled it: and they stopped all the wells of water, and felled all the

good trees: only in Kirharaseth left they the stones thereof: howbeit the 

singers went about it, and smote it.)

God was with them. They delighted in His presence and cooperated usefully in 

His presentation of the message, “God is God”.

both to the Israelites and the Moabites.

Christ's Teachings-Whom to Seek Luke 12 31, 32

Read the passage: Luke 12

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=luke+12&version=ASV

v.31 1. Not what but whom.

(But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto 

you.)

2. Not for some things, but all things inclusively.

Not things, but virtues.

3. Not worldliness, but heaven’s provision.

4. Not man’s will, but God’s will.

5. Not man’s increase, but God’s increase.

v.32 6. Not what is best for me, but what is God’s pleasure.

(Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.)

7. Not my security, but God’s securing.

(fear not,)

8. Not independence, but dependence upon Christ, my provider, my everything.

9. Not free as man sees it, but spiritually free indeed.

John 8: 32, 36

10. Not temporal, but things eternal.

The Pathway to Abundant Living John 10 9, 10

Read the passage: John 10

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=john+10&version=ASV

v.9 1. Accept Jesus as Savior.
(by me if any man enter in , he shall be saved,)

v.9 2. Enter in to all Jesus is. 
(enter in ,...)

v.9 3. Place Jesus' will above all else.

4. Accept nothing that is not of Jesus. 
(and shall go in and out,)

5. Partake fully of all Jesus offers. 
(and find pasture.)

v.10 6. Realize spiritual life is only in and from Jesus. 
(I am come that they might have life,)

v.10 7. Realize abundant living is Jesus' gift to a believer. 
(and that they might have it more abundantly.)

Continually seek Jesus as if you were searching for treasure.

Study the gospels to learn all you can about Jesus. (focus on the red letters). Tell Jesus you want to know Him, His ways.

Seek to apply scripture to your life so that you are depending upon Jesus for life.

Make a journal of truths God is showing you. Ask.

Look for how those truths impact and affect your life.

Seek to depend upon Jesus for all things in your life.

Look at your life from the point of view of true needs. (asking questions of what is my need?) 
Ask Jesus to meet that (those) needs.

Abundant living- the personal appropriation of Jesus to/for you. 
Have Jesus on your heart and mind as much as you can. 

Free Choice Psalms 54 4-7

Read the passage: Psalms 54

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalms+54&version=ASV

God has given liberty to His people.

Thus, His people are:

v.1 1. Free from bondage.
(Save me, O God, by thy name,)

v.2 2. Free to seek God.
(Hear my prayer, O God;)

v.4 3. Free to trust God totally. 
(Behold, God is mine helper;)

v.6 4. Free to give your heart.
(I will freely sacrifice unto thee; I will)

v.6 5. Free to give praise.
(I will praise thy name, O Lord; for )

v.6 6. Free to enjoy God. 
(for it is good.)

v.7 7.Free to walk with and serve God.
(For he hath delivered me out of all trouble: ...) 

Liberty in Unexpected Circumstances Psalms 105 17-23

Read the passage: Psalms 105

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalms+105&version=ASV

v.17 1. An obedient man fits in to God’s plan.
(He sent a man before them, even Joseph, who)

v.17 2. An obedient man is not bound though mistreated by men. 
(who was sold for a servant:)

v.18 3. An obedient man does not have his spiritual growth impaired by man’s oppression.
(Whose feet they hurt with fetters: he was laid in iron:)

v.19 4. An obedient man is not impatient with God’s timing. 
(Until the time that His word came: the word)

v.19 5. An obedient man is not discouraged nor worn by testing. 
(the word of the Lord tested him.)

v.20 6. An obedient man does not tie his ministry to his circumstances.
(The king sent and loosed him; even the ruler of the people, and let)

v.20 7. An obedient man is free first in his heart; his circumstances will follow. 
(and let him go free.)
God will see so. He was already free.

v.21 8. An obedient man will have a ministry where others could not. 
(He made him lord of his house, and rule of all his substance:)

v.22 9. Refusal by God’s people of an obedient man’s ministry will not keep that man from a ministry.
(To bind his princes at his pleasure; and teach his senators wisdom.)
God’s people can be resistant to the servant of God and his God assigned ministry.
But God will keep a door of ministry open. 2 Samuel 22: 19 
Men cannot withhold the promises of God.

v.23 10. An obedient man is an extension in God’s plan, encouraging future liberty. 
(Israel also came into Egypt; and Jacob sojourned in the land of Ham.) 
see also Gen. 45: 7 An obedient man will not give up. 

When God is Present Genesis 28 16-20

Read the passage: Genesis 28

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=genesis+28&version=ASV

v.16 1.God is at work before His servant is aware of it.
(And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the Lord is in this place; and I knew it not.)

v.16  2.God is communicating truth often before His servant realizes it.
(And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the Lord is in this place; and I knew it not.)How true. How often we miss God, are unaware of His presence.

v.17  3.When God reveals His majestic presence, it is awesome.
(And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place!)v.12- (And the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it ...)
pictures- God’s call of a servant.

v.17 4.When God clearly reveals Himself, it is unmistakable. 
(this is none other but the house of God, ...)
He knew God was there with him.

v.17  5.God lets a servant know that He is extending heavenly privilege. 
(...and this is the gate of heaven.) 

v.18  6.God's servant will never forget his special meeting with God.
(And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it.) (And he called the name of that place Bethel:)

v.20 7.God's servant will never be the same after his special meeting with God. 
(And Jacob vowed a vow, saying,...) 

Seeking the Lord 2 Chronicles 26 4, 5

Read the passage: 2 Chronicles 26

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+chronicles+26&version=ASV

1. Obey God’s instruction. V.4 
(he did that which was right)

2. Be open to God’s examination. V.4 
(in the sight of the Lord)

3) Follow Godly example v.4
( according to all that his father, Amaziah, did. )

4) Search for God's answers to life situations - revelation - truth. V.5
( he sought God ) ... (who had understanding in the visions of God )

5) Implement God's revelation in a timely manner v.5 
( in the days of Zechariah )

6) Seek God continually find Him, know Him. V.5 
( as long as he sought the Lord )
7)
AllowGod to express Himself freely in your life. V.5
( God made him prosper ) 

On the Lord's Side 2 Kings 3 16-19, 25-27

Read the passage: 2 kings 3

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+kings+3&version=ASV

v.16 1. Guided by the word.

(And he said, Thus saith the Lord, Make this valley full of ditches.)

Holding His promise.

v.17,2. Informed of God’s plan.

   18 (For thus saith the Lord, Ye shall not see wind, neither shall ye see rain; yet that 

valley shall be filled with water, that ye may drink, both ye and your cattle, and 

your beasts.)

(And  this is but a light thing in the sight of the Lord: He will deliver the Moabites

also into your hand.)

A believer may not always know how God is going to do His work, but knows 

what God’s  word says regarding God’s work and God’s purposes and God’s 

ways.

v.19 3. Informed of the impending opposition and of the believer’s victorious position.

(And ye shall smite every fenced city, and every choice city, and shall fell every 

good tree, and stop all wells of water, and mar every good piece of land with 

stones.)

v.20 4. Experienced in the life sustaining provision of God.

(And it came to pass in the morning,when the meat offering was offered, that, 

behold, there came water by the way of Edom, and the country was filled with 

water.)

v. 255. Assured of the believer’s position in the Lord.

(And they beat down the cities, and on every good piece of land cast every man

his stone, and filled it: and they stopped all the wells of water, and felled all the

good trees: only in Kirharaseth left they the stones thereof: howbeit the singers 

went about it, and smote it.)

This enables the believer to rest and fight at the same time.

This allows the believer to make a full commitment to the work of the Lord.

Focus on perfection of Christ not the imperfection of myself.

The enemy wants our focus on our performance in Christ, rather than our 

position in Christ.

Israel had poor performance, but a recognized position.

v.25 6. Delighted in service.

The believer gets to see God at work.

This brings delight to his soul and much thanksgiving and praise that he is on

God’s side.

v.25-7. Established in victory.

    27 (And when the king of Moab saw that the battle was too sore for him, he took 

                with him seven hundred men that drew swords, to break through even unto

                the king of Edom: but they could not.)

(Then he took his eldest son that should have reigned in his stead, and offered 

him for a burnt offering upon the wall. And there was great indignation against 

Israel: and they departed from him, and returned to their own land.)

                                

God's Encouragement 1 Kings 19 4-8

Read the passage: 1 Kings 19

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Kings+19&version=ASV

1. God hears the cry of distress of His servant. V. 4
   Psalms 77: 1-20 David crying out to God
   Psalms 107 God’s people crying out (record of)
   Psalms 34: 17 The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.
   Never be afraid to cry out to God.
   Ps. 145: 18 The Lord is near unto all them who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth.
   
   
2. God hears with a sensitive ear knowing our petition may not be a stable one. 
   v.4 (take away my life)
   Sometimes we don’t give an accurate report of God’s favor.
   Psalms 42: 5-8 cast down
   Psalms 94: 11, 19, 20 The Lord knoweth the thought of man, that they are vanity
   
   God sees our life and its continuing value in His work. The Godly work he wants us to carry on.
   God is bigger than our struggle.
   
   
3. God comes to His servant encouraging and offering spiritual bread. V. 5
   God is full of compassion and mercy. Psalms 145: 8
   Ps. 34: 8 Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who trusteth
   in Him.
   Psalms 68: 19 Blessed be the Lord who daily loadeth us with benefits, ...
   Psalms 119: 103 How sweet are thy words unto my taste, yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth.
   

          God is always so faithful. Praise His name! God doesn’t ridicule or discredit.

4. God may choose to give a physical manifestation to aid man’s understanding of piritual need.
   Psalms 107: 9 For He satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness
   Over and again God did this with His people Israel.
   We often measure our needs from a physical point of view.
   Illustrate from our daily living- God’s concern for spiritual needs.
   
   
5. God repeats His offer of encouragement to get us to partake of all He offers. V. 7 
   There is always more God wants for His children.
   Believers partake of so little of God’s abundance.
   Psalms 16: 11 show me path of life, in they presence is fullness of joy.
   Psalms 65: 4 be satisfied with Him Psalms 66: 5 see Him

6. God knows of the journey that lies ahead and of the needed nurture and sustainment. His supply is sufficient.
   The Great commission- Matt. 28: 20 Lo I am with you always
   The journey is too great for us; we cannot do it alone.
   
   Psalms 34: 9, 10 No lack to them who fear Him; they who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing.
   2 Corin. 12: 9 My grace is sufficient for thee, for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the
   power of Christ may rest upon me. V. 10-
   
   
7. With God’s encouragement man goes on readied for the next step. V.8
   God restores His purposes. 1 Chronicles 29: 11-13
   Man says I cannot; God says you can.
   Psalms 40: 2, 3 Man should not fix his eyes on Himself and his predicament but upon Jesus. 
   SEE THE GREATNESS OF GOD.

          Isaiah 40: 26 Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created all things. 
          Psalms 121: 1, 2 
          I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills. From whence cometh my help? My help cometh from the 
          Lord.
          Hebrews 12: 1 Let us run with patience the race that is set before us.
          God wants us to go on with Him.

          Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith. Heb. 12: 2 
          God can finish what He starts.

          Encourage with the word. Allow God to encourage.