Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

September 2
Sunday


QUIET PLEASE

READ:
1 KINGS 19:1-12
__________________________________

After the earthquake
a fire, but the LORD
was not in the fire;
and after the fire a
still small voice.
__1 Kings 19:12
__________________________________

In recent years, the spread of personal digital music players has resulted in concerns about hearing loss. The design of the music players and their earphones has been the target of complaints and lawsuits. Long-term exposure to music at a high volume has been shown to cause serious hearing impairment. In a sense, too much hearing can result in an inability to hear.

We live in a world filled with noise--noises designed to sell, plead, seduce, and deceive. In the midst of this cacophony of sound, it's easy to miss the one voice that matters most.

Elijah had listened to Jezebel's threats and the voice of his own fear, so he fled to a cave to hide. In the cave he was confronted with the overwhelming noise of wind, and earthquake, and fire (1 Kings 19:11-12). Then the cave grew silent and the voice of the Lord--the only sound that mattered--broke through as "a still small voice" (v.12).

If we are to hear God speaking to our hearts through His Word, we need to pull away from the noise of the crowd. Only when we learn to be quiet can we really understand what it means to commune with the God who cares for us.

In our "quiet time" today, let's make an effort to listen for the voice of God. __Bill Crowder
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Speak, Lord, in the stillness~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~While I wait on Thee;~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Hushed my heart to listen~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~In expectancy. __Grimes~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
____________________________________________________________

To hear God's voice, turn down the world's volume.

*************Today's Bible Reading __ 1 Kings 19:1-12*************

1 And Ahab told Jezebel
all that Elijah had done,
also how he had executed
all the prophets with the
sword. 2 Then Jezebel sent a
messenger to Elijah, saying,
"So let the gods do to me,
and more also, if I do not
make your life as the life of
one of them by tomorrow
about this time."

3 And...he arose and ran
for his life... 4 And he
prayed that he might die,
and said, "It is enough! Now,
LORD, take my life, for I am
no better than my fathers!"

5 Then...an angel touched
him, and said to him, "Arise
and eat." 6 Then he looked,
and there by his head was a
cake baked on coals, and a
jar of water. So he ate and
drank, and lay down again.

7 And the angel of the LORD
came back the second time,
and touched him, and said,
"Arise and eat, because the
journey is too great for you."

8 So he arose, and ate and
drank; and he went in the
strength of that food forty
days and forty nights as far
as Horeb, the mountain of
God. 9 And there he went
into a cave, and spent the
night in that place; and
behold, the word of the LORD
came to him, and He said to
him, "What are you doing
here, Elijah?"

10 So he said, "I have been
very zealous for the LORD
God of hosts; for the children
of Israel have forsaken
Your covenant, torn down
Your altars, and killed Your
prophets with the sword. I
alone am left; and they seek
to take my life."

11 Then He said, "Go out,
and stand on the mountain
before the LORD." And
behold, the LORD passed by,
and a great and strong wind
tore into the mountains...
but the LORD was not in the
wind; and after the wind an
earthquake, but the LORD
was not in the earthquake;

12 and after the earthquake;
fire, but the LORD was not in
the fire; and after the fire a
still small voice.

[cimi]

September 3
Monday


WILL WORK
FOR FRIENDS

READ:
Acts 4:32-37
________________________

Nor was there
anyone among them
who lacked.
__Acts 4:34
________________________

Six friends have formed a home-repair club in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They meet one Saturdy each month at one of their homes to work on projects that cannot be tackled alone. Having helped one another for 20 years, they say they're now bonded together like one big family. A similar group has formed in Snohomish, Washington. Their motto is: "Will Work For Friends."

The concern of these groups for their friends reminds me of the early church (Acts 4:32-37). During this time of great persecution of believers, they especially needed the support of one another. Some people voluntarily sold their lands or houses and brought the proceeds to the apostles, and "they distributed to each as anoyne had need" (v.32).

As followers of Christ today, we too need the spiritual support and encouragement of one another. We may be struggling with a decision about how to serve the Lord, or concerned about a problem at work, or unsure of how to discipline a rebellious child. These are good opportunities to enlist the advice and prayer of fellow Christians.

Through love, let's serve one another__physically and spiritually__in the family of God (Gal. 5:13). __Anne Cetas
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Be not weary in your serving;~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~Do your best for those in need;~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Kindnesses will be rewarded~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~By the Lord who prompts the deed. __Anon.~~~~~~~
____________________________________________________________

Christians stand strong when they stand together.

**************Today's Bible Reading __ Acts 4:32-37**************

32 Now the multitude of
those who believed were
of one heart and one soul;
neither did anyone say
that any of the things he
possessed was his own,
but they had all things in
common. 33 And with great
power the apostles gave
witness to the resurrection
of the Lord Jesus. And great
grace was upon them all.

34 Nor was there anyone
among them who lacked;
for all who were possessors
of lands or houses sold
them, and brought the
proceeds of the things that
were sold, 35 and laid them
at the apostles' feet; and
they distributed to each as
anyone had need.

36 And Joses, who was
also named Barnabas by the
apostles (which is translated
Son of Encouragement).
a Levite of the country of
Cyprus, 37 having land, sold
it, and brought the money
and laid it at the apostles'
feet.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

In verse 36 of today's Bible reading, we are introduced to a man
named Joses, who was renamed "Barnabas" by the spostles. His
ministry of encouragement would have a profound impact on the
early church. He took the hated Saul of Tarsus, also known as
Paul, under his wing when no one else believed in the persecutor's
conversion to Christ. He then mentored and trained Paul, who
became an apostle. Barnabas took him with him for on-the-job
training in Antioch, and accompanied Paul in church-planting
ministry until Acts 15, when the two separated because of Barnabas'
commitment to train another young man with problems, John Mark.

[Mackenaw]

"QUIET PLEASE"

This is awesome, I get so energized when I see and hear His confirmations. God is so very good.

I particularly like the King James version of 1Kings 19:2-3:
Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time.
And when he saw that, he arose, and went for his life, and came to Beersheba, which belongeth to Judah, and left his servan there.

Did you catch that? "And when he saw that..." What did Elijah see? He had just killed 850 prophets -- don't you know it was a horrifying sight. Now, after all that God had brought Elijah through, even to the point of him out-running a horse and chariot (1Kings 18: 44-46), but now Elijah is terrified because the queen sent word by a messenger.

What did he see? Reminds me of another's account in the New Testament -- Peter gets out of the boat to walk on water to Jesus, and he saw the waves.

Elijah had been on top of Mt. Carmel and The Lord was working great miracles for all to see (1Kings 18 ), and where does the Lord find him a few days later? In a cave in Horeb. {if you have access to a map in your Bible, check it out -- it's several hundreds of miles away.}

Amen it's important to get to that quiet place, to connect with Him and listen for that still small voice. Our physical eyes and ears can keep us distracted, and so can our thoughts.

Thank You Holy Spirit.

Mack

[Mackenaw]

WILL WORK FOR FRIENDS (Acts 4:32-36)

I like this one too. Isn't The Bible awesome!!!!!!!

We read of the believers being of one heart and mind. Each contributing to the one cause. Did they keep it all to themselves? Stay in a little corner somewhere and not allow others to partake of the blessings of God? No, what they did was build themselves up in the ways of God. Each contributing what they could, by the leading of The Spirit. Then in Chapter 5 we read how they helped others -- others outside of their group. Acts 5:12-16
The apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers used to meet together in Solomon's Colonnade. No one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded by the people. Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number. As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter's shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by. Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by evil spirits, and all of them were healed.

God's provision came upon the group because of their hearts and minds being in unison with Him -- one accord for God. When you are walking in the will of God, you recognize that everything you have was given you by God; therefore, it is not to be hoarded. We sow from what is given us, the bounty of harvest comes from the power of God working in His people, and it is shared (given) to/with others -- just as it was given to the group. And then the others become the group, and then they too contribute to the group because their mind and heart also is transformed. It is God's great plan.

Thank You Holy Spirit.

Wow Cimi, isn't God an awesome God!!!

God bless,
Mack