God plagued the Philistines for stealing the Ark of God. They asked, "What shall we do to the ark of the LORD? tell us wherewith we shall send it." On a cart pulled by two cows, they put the ark with a trespass offering. If the cows pulled it unassisted to Bethshemesh, that would prove that God sent the plagues. God speaks to sinners.
1 Samuel 6:12 - "...the kine took the straight way to the way of Bethshemesh, and went along the highway, lowing as they went, and turned not aside to the right hand or to the left."
PRINCIPALS - "Samuel the Prophet"
Not just any man can see and know the mind of the LORD. In the days of the Judges, there was "no open vision" in Israel. No particular person had ready understanding of God's doings. But that changed with Samuel. "The LORD revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh" and everybody knew that he was an anointed prophet.
I Samuel 3:19-20 - "...Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground. And all Israel from Dan even to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the LORD."
PRINCIPLES - "God versus Idols"
Philistines stole the Ark of the Covenant from Shiloh, and set it in the house of their god, Dagon. First night, the idol fell over. They stood it up. Second night, it fell and broke into pieces. God killed many Philistines and smote the rest with hemorrhoids. They figured, wisely, that they had better return the Ark. NOBODY will ever get by blaspheming the Holy One of Israel - then or now!
1 Samuel 5:11 - "..[they] said, Send away the ark of the God of Israel, and let it go again to his own place, that it slay us not."
PROPHECIES - "Eli Cursed, Ark Taken"
The prophecy cursed Eli's household, and said Hophni and Phinehas must die for profaning the priesthood. The Philistines came to war. Israel foolishly took the Ark of the Covenant into battle for protection, but took a beating. 30,000 died. Hophni and Phinehas were killed. The Ark was taken. 98-year-old Eli heard the news, fell over and died. Phinehas' pregnant wife died delivering "Ichabod."
1 Samuel 4:21 - "...she named the child Ichabod, saying, The glory is departed from Israel: because the ark of God was taken, and because of her father in law and her husband."
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| Clickhere 4 Testimony |
When people tell you what you can’t do or have, what they're really revealing is their own personal belief limitations. They're telling you what they don’t believe that they can have or do. They're throwing their own fears and trying to bounce them off of you. Go ahead & succeed!
Living the Love Life |
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. – John 15:13 |
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We often think of "laying down your life" for someone else in terms of dying. That's what Jesus did. He loved us so much He laid down His life by dying in our place so that we could live. But now, He's asked us to lay down our lives in a different way. He's asked us to show our love, not by dying for others, but by living for them. Exactly what does that mean? Sometimes it means giving our lives by spending time in prayer for someone. Other times it means giving of ourselves with love and understanding. Many times it means laying down our own selfish desires in order to meet the needs of another. Romans 15:1 puts it this way, "We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves." When you lay down your life, you live to please God instead of yourself. You let your life be guided by His love. If love leads you to the person next door, you follow. When love calls you to intercede for someone in need, you yield. Commit yourself today to lay down your own life—and take up the love life. Say: "Father, in Jesus' Name, I see from Your Word that You were willing to give of Yourself, in the person of Your Son, for all men. I understand that because Jesus is Lord of my life, I, too, am called to give myself to others. I choose to accept that calling today. "I'll give of my time. I'll give of Your love in me. I'll be strong and lift up those who are weak. I'm willing to be available to be used of You so that those around me might experience the abundant life You have provided. "You have loved me, Lord, with the greatest love there is. I count it a privilege now to share that love with others. I thank You for it in Jesus' Name. Amen." |
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