Category: 1st and 2nd Chronicles-BibleTrekToday
Trek through 1st and 2nd Chronicles
Unity and direction from the Holy Spirit
Scripture reading for May 4th: 1st Samuel 21-22, 1st Chronicles 5, Psalm 52, Acts 15
Key Scriptures: Acts 15:25-29 “. . . it has seemed good to us, having come to one accord, to choose men and send them to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, men who have risked their lives for the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who themselves will tell you the same things by word of mouth. For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay on you no greater burden than these requirements: that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well.”
The council at Jerusalem met with the key apostolic leadership of the early church to discuss the division being caused by Jewish believers insisting on circumcision for new Gentile converts. The council came to one accord as they waited on the Holy Spirit and discussed the situation, looking at Scripture as a guide. The only requirement for the Gentiles would be to abstain from meat sacrificed to idols and from blood of strangled animals as well as all sexual immorality. Personal messengers delivered this message.
Psalm 52:9 “I will thank You forever, because You have done it. I will wait for Your Name, for it is good, in the presence of the godly.”
Faith confession and prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for the Holy Spirit and the unity and direction that He brings to believers in need of direction. Help me to be filled with the Holy Spirit each day.
1st Samuel 22:5 “Then the prophet Gad said to David, “Do not remain in the stronghold; depart, and go into the land of Judah.”
Persecution part of the package!
Scripture reading for May 1st: 1st Samuel 20, 1st Chronicles 4, Psalm 56, 57, 142, Acts 14
Key Scriptures: Acts 14:19-22 “But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having persuaded the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead. But when the disciples gathered about him, he rose up and entered the city, and on the next day he went on with Barnabas to Derbe. When they had preached the Gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God”
Paul was stoned for preaching the Gospel at Lystra and left for dead. The other disciples gathered around him and prayed and he arose and entered the city. The crowd that stoned him had been stirred up by Jews from Antioch, their home mission base. This did not stop them from their mission! They continued to preach in Lystra and made many disciples there and even went back to Iconium and Antioch, strengthening the church members. They understood that persecution and tribulation was a part of kingdom opposition.
Psalm 57:2-3 “I cry out to God Most High, to God Who fulfills His purpose for me. He will send from heaven and save me; He will put to shame him who tramples on me.”
Faith confession and prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for the privilege of preaching the Gospel and for persecution for the kingdom’s sake. Help me to boldly trust You each day for strength and help.
1st Samuel 20:3 “. . . But truly, as the Lord lives and as your soul lives, there is but a step between me and death.”
Called by God to do His Work!
Scripture reading for April 30th: 1st Samuel 18-19, 1st Chronicles 3, Psalm 59, Acts 13
Key Scriptures: Acts 13:1-3 “Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a lifelong friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.”
The early church sought the will of God by fasting, prayer and worship. In the gathering of believers, some had the gift of prophesy and spoke prophetically to the believers concerning Saul and Barnabas. God had already revealed to them a calling to preach to the Gentiles and now their calling was confirmed during a prayer meeting. The church responded by obediently commissioning them through the laying on of hands.
Psalm 59:17 “O my Strength, I will sing praises to You, for You, O God, are my fortress, the God who shows me steadfast love.”
Faith confession and prayer: Lord, You alone have prepared the good works that You want me to do. Help me daily to see each day’s portion of Your plan as I worship and pray to You alone. Thank You that You are with me always!
1st Samuel 18:14 “And David had success in all his undertakings, for the Lord was with him. And when Saul saw that he had great success, he stood in fearful awe of him.”
Giants fall!
Scripture reading for April 29th: 1st Samuel 17, 1st Chronicles 2, Acts 12
Key Scriptures: Acts 12:20-24 “Now Herod was angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon, and they came to him with one accord, and having persuaded Blastus, the king’s chamberlain, they asked for peace, because their country depended on the king’s country for food. On an appointed day Herod put on his royal robes, took his seat upon the throne, and delivered an oration to them. And the people were shouting, “The voice of a god, and not of a man!” Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him down, because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and breathed his last. But the Word of God increased and multiplied.”
King Herod was an arrogant political power-broker for the Roman government. He liked being in control and lording his power over the people. As a group of people from Tyre and Sidon came before him to ask for peace and food, Herod gave a speech. The people began to worship him to get their needs met. Herod was soaking it up when suddenly the angel of the Lord struck him down and he was eaten by worms and died. Failure to give God glory is a deadly sin.
Faith Confession and prayer: Lord, You alone are God and deserve all worship and glory. All in authority derive their power from Your throne. Help me to always walk under Your authority and give You all glory.
1st Samuel 17:48-49 “When the Philistine (Goliath) arose and came and drew near to meet David, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet the Philistine. And David put his hand in his bag and took out a stone and slung it and struck the Philistine on his forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the ground.”
Testing Once
testing again
The Gift for repentant hearts!
Scripture reading for April 28th: 1st Samuel 15-16, 1 Chronicles 1, Psalm 39, Acts 11
Key Scriptures: Acts 11:15-18 “As I (Peter) began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them just as on us as the beginning. And I remembered the Word of the Lord, how He said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ If then God gave the same gift to them as He gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God’s way?” When they heard these things they fell silent. And they glorified God, saying, “Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life.””
Peter recounted his visit to the Gentile Cornelius’ home and how God used his message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to bring repentance and the infilling of the Holy Spirit to these Gentiles. He had remembered the Word of Jesus concerning how Jesus would baptized with the Holy Spirit and understood that God was giving that same Gift to these who were not Jews. God’s ways are above our ways. We must not stand in His way!
Psalm 39:7 “And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in You.”
Faith Confession and prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for Your great plan of salvation and Your gift of the Holy Spirit given to all who believe in their heart. May the Holy Spirit fall on all those hearing the Gospel message from my lips.
1st Samuel 16:7 “But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”
Living by Faith in the unfailing promises!
Scripture reading for April 3rd: Joshua 18-21, Psalm 15, Luke 18
Key Scriptures: Luke 18:6-8 “And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says. And will not God give justice to His elect, who cry to Him day and night? Will He delay long over them? I tell you, He will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?”
Jesus told a parable to His disciples to reinforce His teaching that men ought “always to pray and not faint.” He told of a widow that came repeatedly to an unjust judge asking for “justice against her adversary.” She came so often that the judge finally agreed to help her to get her off his case. Jesus used the reluctant judge to contrast with God’s speedy answers to His own people when they called in faith. The question is, would Jesus find people asking for justice and honestly seeking God’s help when He returned for them?
Psalm 15:1-2 “O Lord, who shall sojourn in Your tent? Who shall dwell on Your holy hill? He who walks blamelessly and does what is right and speaks truth in his heart; . . .”
Faith confession and prayer: Lord Jesus, I desire to dwell with You eternally. Help me to walk in faith today and obey Your holy Word trusting in all Your good promises. You, alone, will bring justice to the earth!
Joshua 21:45 “Not one word of all the good promises that the Lord had made to the house of Israel had failed; all came to pass.”
God’s faithful blessings and provision!
Scripture reading for March 26th: Deuteronomy 27-31, Luke 12
Key Scriptures: Luke 12:27-31 “Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith! And do not seek what you are to eat, and what you are to drink, nor be worried. For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, seek His kingdom, and these things will be added to you.”
Jesus called His disciples attention to the birds and the lilies of the field. God takes care of each of these, clothing them and feeding them. Man is much more valuable than these! God’s people should not worry about their daily needs, God knows about them and promises to supply! God’s people should seek His kingdom and all their needs will be met! God’s provision will run after them and overtake them!
Faith confession and prayer: Father, I trust You to meet all my needs for food, clothing and shelter as I pass through this life. I have set my heart to seek first Your kingdom, knowing Your blessing will follow after me! Give me open doors today to share Your kingdom and righteousness.
Deuteronomy 28:1-2 “And if you faithfully obey the voice of the Lord your God, being careful to do all His commandments that I command you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the voice of the Lord your God.”
Despising God’s Word
Scripture reading for June 7th: 2nd Chronicles 35-36, Ezra 1, Acts 25
Key Scriptures: 2nd Chronicles 36:15-16 “The Lord, the God of their fathers, sent persistently to them by His messengers, because He had compassion on His people and on His dwelling place. But they kept mocking the messengers of God, despising His words and scoffing at His prophets, until the wrath of the Lord rose against His people, until there was no remedy.”
The writer of Chronicles summed up the captivity of God’s people. God had been persistent and merciful to His people. But His people mocked the messengers God sent them and despised His Word. This left them under God’s wrath, from which there was no remedy!
Acts 25:11 “”If then I am a wrongdoer and have committed anything for which I deserve to die, I do not seek to escape death. But if there is nothing to their charges against me, no one can give me up to them. I appeal to Caesar.””
Prayer: Lord, thank You that we can now appeal to You through Your Son Jesus Christ. Keep us from the temptation to despise Your Word and those who speak it. Amen.
Believing the Word!
Scripture reading for June 6th: 2nd Chronicles 31-34, Acts 24
Key Scriptures: Acts 24:14-16 “But this I confess to you, that according to the Way, which they call a sect, I worship the God of our fathers, believing everything laid down by the Law and written in the Prophets, having a hope in God, which these men themselves accept, that there will be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust. So I always take pains to have a clear conscience toward both God and man.”
Paul, making his defense before Felix, told how he believed everything written in the Law and Prophets. He had a hope in God and believed in a resurrection of the just and the unjust. Because of this, he took pains to have a clear conscience before God and man. Paul had a clear conscience because He believed the Word.
2nd Chronicles 31:20-21 “Thus Hezekiah did throughout all Judah, and he did what was good and right and faithful before the Lord his God. And every work that he undertook in the service of the house of God and in accordance with the law and the commandments, seeking his God, he did with all his heart, and prospered.”