I have never done this, but today I'm passing on a paper from Os Hillman.
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Friday, September 30, 2022
Deliverance from the Black Hole
Thursday, September 29, 2022
The Lord Sends Rain
1 Kings 18:41-46
July 16, 2021
The Lord Sends Rain
And Elijah said to Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink, for there is a sound of the rushing of rain.” So, Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Mount Carmel. And he bowed himself down on the earth and put his face between his knees. And he said to his servant, “Go up now, look toward the sea.” And he went up and looked and said, “There is nothing.” And he said, “Go again,” seven times. And at the seventh time he said, “Behold, a little cloud like a man's hand is rising from the sea.” And he said, “Go up, say to Ahab, ‘Prepare your chariot and go down, lest the rain stop you.’” And in a little while, the heavens grew black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode and went to Jezreel. And the hand of the Lord was on Elijah, and he gathered up his garment and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.
If you had not read anything up to now you might think Elijah was in charge and Ahab was under his authority. If you were to think that you would be 100% correct in that it was Elijah that was giving the orders, though Ahab was the king. Have no doubt the king may have believed he was in charge, but Ahab was taking orders from God’s prophet, and Elijah was doing only what God had told him to do. Elijah's servant went seven times to check out the sea, and six-time he came back and reported not a cloud in the sky, but the seven-time his report changed, he had seen a cloud the size of a man’s hand rising from the sea, Now with that information, Elijah told his servant to go Ahab and tell him the following: “Go up, say to Ahab, ‘Prepare your chariot and go down, lest the rain stop you.’”
As we end chapter 18, we find God all over Elijah, we see him running ahead of Ahab all the way to Jezreel. It was a great day. The false prophets of Baal are dead, and the nation's people have once more come to the understanding that only God is true and all the little gods people trust in have no authority, cannot see or hear much less sent fire from heaven. And the land is once more being blessed with rain.
From the Back Porch,
Bob Rice
Wednesday, September 28, 2022
1Kings 18:30-40
July 14, 2021
Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come near to me.” And all the people came near to him. And he repaired the altar of the Lord that had been thrown down. Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the Lord came, saying, “Israel shall be your name,”2 and with the stones, he built an altar in the name of the Lord. And he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two seahs of seed. And he put the wood in order and cut the bull in pieces and laid it on the wood. And he said, “Fill four jars with water and pour it on the burnt offering and on the wood.” And he said, “Do it a second time.” And they did it a second time. And he said, “Do it a third time.” And they did it a third time. And the water ran around the altar and filled the trench also with water.
And at the time of the offering of the oblation, Elijah the prophet came near and said, “O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel, and that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your word. Answer me, O Lord, answer me, that this people may know that you, O Lord, are God and that you have turned their hearts back.” Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt offering and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces and said, “The Lord, he is God; the Lord, he is God.” And Elijah said to them, “Seize the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape.” And they seized them. And Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon and slaughtered them there
You do understand, it makes no sense to those standing around why you would put water on wood that you wanted to burn, but then much of what God is up to does not follow human knowledge. The Prophets of Baal had spent most of the day begging the god that could not see, nor hear to send fire to their altar, they even cut themselves, so blood ran from their bodies. But no fire had come.
Elijah builds the altar and fills the altar with wood and the cut-up bull, and water till it fills the trench around the altar, and then he said. “O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel, and that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your word. Answer me, O Lord, answer me, that this people may know that you, O Lord, are God and that you have turned their hearts back.” Fire fell from heaven and consumed the altar, the meat, the wood, and the water, and the people fell on their faces in fear of the God who is not a little god who could not hear or see, much less sent the fire.
Do you want God to awaken the Church in the USA, to our Creator the Lord Jesus Christ that died for the sin of the world?
From the Back Porch,
Bob Rice
Tuesday, September 27, 2022
The Prophets of Baal Defeated
1 Kings 18:20-29
July 13, 2021
The Prophets of Baal Defeated
`So Ahab sent to all the people of Israel and gathered the prophets together at Mount Carmel. And Elijah came near to all the people and said, “How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.” And the people did not answer him a word. Then Elijah said to the people, “I, even I only, am left a prophet of the Lord, but Baal's prophets are 450 men. Let two bulls be given to us, and let them choose one bull for themselves and cut it in pieces and lay it on the wood, but put no fire to it. And I will prepare the other bull and lay it on the wood and put no fire to it. And you call upon the name of your god, and I will call upon the name of the Lord, and the God who answers by fire, he is God.” And all the people answered, “It is well spoken.” Then Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Choose for yourselves one bull and prepare it first, for you are many, and call upon the name of your god, but put no fire to it.” And they took the bull that was given them, and they prepared it and called upon the name of Baal from morning until noon, saying, “O Baal, answer us!” But there was no voice, and no one answered. And they limped around the altar that they had made. And at noon Elijah mocked them, saying, “Cry aloud, for he is a god. Either he is musing, or he is relieving himself, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is asleep and must be awakened.” And they cried aloud and cut themselves after their custom with swords and lances until the blood gushed out upon them. And as midday passed, they raved on until the time of the offering of the oblation, but there was no voice. No one answered, no one paid attention.
If God asks you the question that He had Elijah ask the people of Israel, how would you answer? “How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.” All of us will have to replace the name Baal for what we are putting our faith in, a retirement plan, self, the military, the government, your mass property, and even the amount of stock and bonds you have in an account.
I do not know what you are placing your faith in but to be sure if it is not the God who can answer by fire from heaven, it is a misplaced faith. And as you read, ask the Lord to open your eyes to see if you are limping between two different opinions.
Since a very young age I’ve worked and it is a blessing to work, and at the age of 79, I’m still working, yesterday I put about 7 yards of mulch on my flower bed and then trim trees in the yard. I am so thankful that the LORD has allowed me to be able to work at this age. As I said often, I’ve always worked hard, it took a long time to learn how to work smart, but Jan and I made it our goal to give a tithe of what the Lord had blessed us with, and to not be a slave to the lender. We waited for God to provide before we bought most things. But as I got blessed in my business life, I often took credit for God’s many blessings in my life. The Holy Spirit who encourages us also points out the foolishness of our ways, and I can tell you that it was all God, he gave me the skills and the insights I need to live a life of taking care of this body, He refers to it as a temple, to help others in need, and to support ministry that was sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ. To support with a tithe and offerings for our local church and to work hard and save my money.
We live in a time not one of us could imagine, and the little gods of money and material can be gone in a moment, but the promises of God still stand. This morning I read this account from an anonymous Confederate soldier, a devout young man who fought in the American Civil War. The lines of this poem express the soul of a man who has learned to view his times of adversity from a different perspective: “I asked God for strength, that I might achieve; I was made weak, that I might learn humbly to obey. I asked God for health, that I might do greater things; I was given infirmity, that I might do better things. I asked for riches, that I might be happy; I was given poverty, that I might be wise. I asked for power, that I might have the praise of men; I was given weakness, that I might feel the need of God. I asked for all things, that I might enjoy life; I was given life, that I might enjoy all things. I got nothing that I asked for but everything I had hoped for. Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered. I am among men, most richly blessed.”
From the Back Porch,
Bob Rice
Monday, September 26, 2022
Elijah Confronts Ahab
1 Kings 18:17-19
July 12, 2021
Elijah Confronts Ahab
When Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab said to him, “Is it you, you troubler of Israel?” And he answered, “I have not troubled Israel, but you have, and your father's house because you have abandoned the commandments of the Lord and followed the Baals. Now, therefore, send and gather all Israel to me at Mount Carmel, and the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel's table.”
A word many do not like is the word “Confrontation” but often it is one of the best things that can happen. As a person who made my living in sales, I welcome having and exchanging with the decisionmaker who told me why he was not interested in my product. Up to that point had no place to go in explaining why my product would far exceed his reason for not considering it. In a family where no one is sharing the reason for distrust, it will require confrontation to get the area out in the open.
But confrontation is not going to happen unless both parties have the right to have an exchange of thoughts and state the reason for taking a stand. Shall we look at the example of Ahab and Elijah? What were the first words out of King Ahab's mouth, “Is it you, you troubler of Israel?” Now that sounds like a little confrontation to this writer. And did you notice how Elijah replied, “I have not troubled Israel, but you have, and your father's house because you have abandoned the commandments of the Lord and followed the Baals.”
Elijah knew authority, and he was not about to allow a wicked man no matter of his earthly title to bully him, for he came with a word to the King from the King of Kings and LORD of lords. He was not speaking for himself but for God, and he had no fear of man, but only of God.
How different it is today where very few are willing to stand up to man’s authority, whether it be mayor pastor or governor, and say we must not follow your orders for our God has said. I wonder if in the future health crisis, and you can bet we will have one, it worked. This is what I wonder, will the pastor of this nation once more close the doors of the Church, or will they stand on the word of God to assemble?
From the Back Porch,
Bob Rice
Thursday, September 22, 2022
Elijah Confronts Ahab
1 Kings 18: 1-16
July 11, 2021
Elijah Confronts Ahab
After many days the word of the Lord came to Elijah, in the third year, saying, “Go, show yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain upon the earth.” So, Elijah went to show himself to Ahab. Now the famine was severe in Samaria. And Ahab called Obadiah, who was over the household. (Now Obadiah feared the Lord greatly, and when Jezebel cut off the prophets of the Lord, Obadiah took a hundred prophets and hid them by fifties in a cave and fed them with bread and water.) And Ahab said to Obadiah, “Go through the land to all the springs of water and to all the valleys. Perhaps we may find grass and save the horses and mules alive, and not lose some of the animals.” So, they divided the land between them to pass through it. Ahab went in one direction by himself, and Obadiah went in another direction by himself.
And as Obadiah was on the way, behold, Elijah met him. And Obadiah recognized him and fell on his face and said, “Is it you, my lord Elijah?” And he answered him, “It is I. Go, tell your lord, ‘Behold, Elijah is here.’” And he said, “How have I sinned, that you would give your servant into the hand of Ahab, to kill me? As the Lord your God lives, there is no nation or kingdom where my lord has not sent to seek you. And when they would say, ‘He is not here,’ he would take an oath of the kingdom or nation, that they had not found you. And now you say, ‘Go, tell your lord, “Behold, Elijah is here.”’ And as soon as I have gone from you, the Spirit of the Lord will carry you I know not where. And so, when I come and tell Ahab and he cannot find you, he will kill me, although I your servant have feared the Lord from my youth. Has it not been told my lord what I did when Jezebel killed the prophets of the Lord, how I hid a hundred men of the Lord's prophets by fifties in a cave and fed them with bread and water? And now you say, ‘Go, tell your lord, “Behold, Elijah is here”’; and he will kill me.” And Elijah said, “As the Lord of hosts lives, before whom I stand, I will surely show myself to him today.” So, Obadiah went to meet Ahab and told him. And Ahab went to meet Elijah.
What was unusual about Elijah's response to God’s telling him to go to Ahab? I would have wanted a little more information. I might have asked God if he tried to kill me; will you protect my life. Maybe I would ask where I might find him, or what am I to tell him?
Could my problem be the same as many who go by the name Christian, we have not experienced the same relationship with God as Elijah, he believed God and it was counted to him as righteousness, as was Moses. Elijah also walked with God and had a history of obedience to God’s voice. So could the difference in Elijah and most of us who go by the label Christian be his dependent and in our case we only seek God in times of great need, the rest of the time it in ourselves, or our bank account, or etc.
From the Back Porch,
Bob Rice
Wednesday, September 21, 2022
Elijah Raises the Widow's Son
July 10, 2021
1 Kings 17:17-24
Elijah Raises the Widow's Son
After this the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, became ill. And his illness was so severe that there was no breath left in him. And she said to Elijah, “What have you against me, O man of God? You have come to me to bring my sin to remembrance and to cause the death of my son!” And he said to her, “Give me your son.” And he took him from her arms and carried him up into the upper chamber where he lodged and laid him on his own bed. And he cried to the Lord, “O Lord my God, have you brought calamity even upon the widow with whom I sojourn, by killing her son?” Then he stretched himself upon the child three times and cried to the Lord, “O Lord my God, let this child's life come into him again.” And the Lord listened to the voice of Elijah. And the life of the child came into him again, and he revived. And Elijah took the child and brought him down from the upper chamber into the house and delivered him to his mother. And Elijah said, “See, your son lives.” And the woman said to Elijah, “Now I know that you are a man of God and that the word of the Lord in your mouth is truth.”
For all of us without medical degrees, when a person stops breathing or as this states, has no breath in them they are dead. So, the widow's son was dead, and he was her only son, the one that would be her provider in old age. This means she would be one of the many who would beg for food, and yet she had been faithful to take care of Elijah.
Was she different from many who go by the name Christian, many who attend church each Sunday, and believe their pastor is a man of God? She also believes Elijah was a prophet of God. If you recall when he came to her she only had enough flour and oil for one meal and believe it would be her last, but obey the man of God and did as he told her, now is that not different than most of those who attend Sunday Church?
My pastor has said more than one time that he believes there is a giant eraser at the doors as you go out that removes all that he has said. My friend Carroll Ray Jr. whose dad was a Baptist Pastor, often said that until God save him, he always believe that was just what preachers were to say. That we all have preacher filters that dismiss most of the message. But God, had a plan for Carroll Ray Jr., and one day he sat in a church in Burleson, Texas on a Sunday morning and hear a layman tell of what Jesus had done for him, and he had no filter for that. My dear friend Carroll became a change agent for God, he had an amazing impact on my life and my marriage. He became a great teacher and leader to many, thank God that He does not give up on us.
The Widow said, “Now I know that you are a man of God and that the word of the Lord in your mouth is truth.” Could it be time for each of us to tell our story of what God has done for us, who knows the filters God will remove from those who are in your concentric circle of influence?
From the Back Porch,
Bob Rice
Tuesday, September 20, 2022
Elijah Predicts a Drought
1 Kings 17:1-7
July 7, 2021
Elijah Predicts a Drought
Now Elijah the Tishbite, of Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the Lord, the God of Israel, lives before whom I stand, there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word.” And the word of the Lord came to him: “Depart from here and turn eastward and hide yourself by the brook Cherith, which is east of the Jordan. You shall drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there.” So he went and did according to the word of the Lord. He went and lived by the brook Cherith that is east of the Jordan. And the ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening and he drank from the brook. And after a while, the brook dried up, because there was no rain in the land.
As one who follows Jesus Christ, what is to be learned from the seven verses, can bring peace, yes contentment in the worst of storms. The God you serve is a promise keeper, if He gives you a job to do, He will provide, and protect you in the middle of the storm. God will do for you as He did for Elijah. When the brook dried up Elijah knew that God was to bring judgment on Ahab and his evil wife who killed the prophet of God. He had no doubt that God would keep His promise both to Ahab and to Him.
The Church and I am not referring to a denomination but those who believe the Scriptures and try to follow them. That is the Church, and it took its eyes off the promise of God and put its trust in men, during the pandemic. It was a testimony of a lack of faith in a Big God, who had made so many promises to His people, it was the Church telling the world we cannot trust the promises of God. That was not the testimony of Elijah.
Jan and I sought the Lord and searched the Scriptures for His promises, our friend Joyce Ray did the same and later she told us this was the promise she held to, and it brought peace not fear during the pandemic. Psalm 91:9-11, “Because you have made the Lord your dwelling place—the Most High, who is my refuge—no evil shall be allowed to befall you, no plague come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.”
Now maybe the problem with the Church is that too many go by the name but it is only words, and the Lord is not their dwelling place or their refuge?
From the Back Porch,
Bob Rice
P.S. The gate of Hell shall not prevail against it. Jesus talking about the Church
Monday, September 19, 2022
Ahab Reigns in Israel
1 Kings 16:29-34
July 4, 2021
Ahab Reigns in Israel
In the thirty-eighth year of Asa king of Judah, Ahab the son of Omri began to reign over Israel, and Ahab the son of Omri reigned over Israel in Samaria twenty-two years And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the Lord, more than all who were before him. And as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, he took for his wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and went and served Baal and worshiped him. He erected an altar for Baal in the house of Baal, which he built in Samaria. And Ahab made an Asherah. Ahab did more to provoke the Lord, the God of Israel, to anger than all the kings of Israel who were before him. In his days Hiel of Bethel built Jericho. He laid its foundation at the cost of Abiram his firstborn, and set up its gates at the cost of his youngest son Segub, according to the word of the Lord, which he spoke by Joshua the son of Nun.
More information that will give insight into Ahab as king of the northern kingdom, Israel.
Ahab lived in Samaria, the royal capital established by Omri, and built a temple and altar to Baal there. These actions were said to have led to severe consequences for Israel, including a drought that lasted for several years and Jezebel's fanatical religious persecution of the prophets of Yahweh, which Ahab condoned.
On that day God’s prophet was a man named Elijah, and if you go to 1 Kings 17:1, you will see how God speaks through Elijah to Ahab. “Now Elijah the Tishbite, from Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word.”
God told Elijah to leave the area and no matter where the king had his people look for Elijah he could not be found, for God was hiding him. If you want the rest of the story turn to 1 Kings chapter 18. Are you can wait for a few weeks till we study that?
From the Back Porch,
Bob Rice
Thursday, September 15, 2022
Omri Reigns in Israel
1 Kings 16:21-28
July 3, 2021
Omri Reigns in Israel
Then the people of Israel were divided into two parts. Half of the people followed Tibni the son of Ginath, to make him king, and half followed Omri. But the people who followed Omri overcame the people who followed Tibni the son of Ginath. So Tibni died, and Omri became king. In the thirty-first year of Asa king of Judah, Omri began to reign over Israel, and he reigned for twelve years; six years he reigned in Tirzah. He bought the hill of Samaria from Shemer for two talents of silver, and he fortified the hill and called the name of the city that he built Samaria, after the name of Shemer, the owner of the hill.
Omri did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, and did more evil than all who were before him. For he walked in all the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and in the sins that he made Israel to sin, provoking the Lord, the God of Israel, to anger by their idols. Now the rest of the acts of Omri that he did, and the might that he showed, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel? And Omri slept with his fathers and was buried in Samaria, and Ahab his son reigned in his place.
We come a long way from the time of kings, in fact, you may recall, something called the Boston Tea Party, December 16, 1773. The Boston Tea Party was a political protest that occurred on December 16, 1773, at Griffin's Wharf in Boston, Massachusetts. American colonists frustrated and angry at Britain for imposing “taxation without representation,” dumped 342 chests of tea, imported by the British East India Company into the harbor. This act of a few people brought about, On April 19, 1775, local militiamen clashed with British soldiers in the Battles of Lexington and Concord in Massachusetts, marking the “shot heard round the world” that signified the start of the Revolutionary War.
This action was about the right to live free, as a free people, to form a government of the people by the people. To have the freedom to worship, not to seek government approval to buy and own property, and so much more. Did this freedom come at a cost, yes? 56 men signed the Declaration of Independence, and they were men of integrity, of wealth, and many of them lost not only their wealth but the loss of family, home, and lives.
They were not for or against a man, they were not choosing between two men as were the people of Israel, but a new concept, one that they believed God gave men freedom, a government of the people for the people, and many of the men were strong Christian such as John Hart.
What can you and I learn from this as Followers of Jesus Christ? The first and most important is not to put our trust in a man, we have seen too many leaders in the Christian Church bring shame on the name of our Lord. At one time in my life, I was such a man, but I would rather be dead than bring shame again on my Lord and Savior.
We would be wise to know that the Church is not a denomination, denominations are man-made, but God’s Church has only one purpose, to be Christ's witness to a sinful world., yes, to be a light, yes a witness of our freedom in Christ. That Jesus, so loves the sinners that He pays their price by dying on a cross for them. It matters not how big is your sin, it was covered on the cross. And He has promised if you confess your sins, He will forgive you. What does that mean, confession is agreeing with God you have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God. Confession and repentance, mean you are in full agreement with God that He only is good, and all people have sinned and need the redeeming blood of Jesus. Hebrews 9:22, tells us; “In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” That is why Jesus had to meet the requirement of Law given to Moses, by God. He loves you so much that He allowed His Son, His only Son to take your place, Jesus took the full wrath of God for your sins.
From the Back Porch,
Bob Rice
Wednesday, September 14, 2022
Zimri Reigns in Israel
1 Kings 16:15-20
June 30, 2021
Zimri Reigns in Israel
In the twenty-seventh year of Asa king of Judah, Zimri reigned seven days in Tirzah. Now the troops were encamped against Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines, and the troops who were encamped heard it said, “Zimri has conspired, and he has killed the king.” Therefore, all Israel made Omri, the commander of the army, king over Israel that day in the camp. So Omri went up from Gibbethon, and all Israel with him, and they besieged Tirzah. And when Zimri saw that the city was taken, he went into the citadel of the king's house and burned the king's house over him with fire and died, because of his sins that he committed, doing evil in the sight of the Lord, walking in the way of Jeroboam, and for his sin which he committed, making Israel to sin. Now the rest of the acts of Zimri, and the conspiracy that he made, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?
Is it not of interest how Zimri was the one to bring the judgment on the house of Baasha and appointed himself King of Israel? But as one who has watched men take over very large companies, they put a lot of time and money into making sure they have the backing to do so. Zimri did not do so, and it tells us that all of Israel made Omri the Commander of the army, king over Israel that day in the camp. It seemed that Zimri kingship had no one following it, the nations had spoken, and he was out.
We in the USA also have seen the evil of lies and deception, of a man who has lost his ability to speak without notes, a rigged election and not knowing who is pulling the strings of our government. That government has most of the media under its control, but it does not have the hearts of the majority approval, it is my belief they are under God’s judgment. The sad news is our nation is not turning back to the LORD, in prayer, we the people of God must lead them back.
From the Back Porch,
Bob Rice
Tuesday, September 13, 2022
Elah Reigns in Israel
June 29, 2021
1 Kings 16:8-14
Elah Reigns in Israel
In the twenty-sixth year of Asa king of Judah, Elah the son of Baasha began to reign over Israel in Tirzah, and he reigned two years. But his servant Zimri, commander of half his chariots, conspired against him. When he was at Tirzah, drinking himself drunk in the house of Arza, who was over the household in Tirzah, Zimri came in and struck him down and killed him, in the twenty-seventh year of Asa king of Judah, and reigned in his place.
When he began to reign, as soon as he had seated himself on his throne, he struck down all the house of Baasha. He did not leave him a single male of his relatives or his friends. Thus, Zimri destroyed all the house of Baasha, according to the word of the Lord, which he spoke against Baasha by Jehu the prophet, for all the sins of Baasha and the sins of Elah his son, which they sinned and which they made Israel to sin, provoking the Lord God of Israel to anger with their idols. Now the rest of the acts of Elah and all that he did, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?
No surprise, God spoke through His prophet Jehu to Baasha, and he dismissed all that the prophet said. Have you given thought to the truth that God now speaks to us through His written Word and when we ignore its direction and teaching, we are in rebellion? One example is God’s command to assemble ourselves together for worship, many today are not doing so and are setting themselves up for heartache. Hebrews 10:25, “Let us not neglect meeting together, as some have the habit of doing. Rather, let us encourage each other, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” I have a good friend who has quit coming to worship, and when asked why his answer was; "I’m getting everything I need on Sundays sitting at home watching the sermon." This man was a deacon, a greeter at the door, and an encouragement to me and many others. When he left his place in this army of Christ, he left a hole in the line.
Is the Church so slow to grasp, that we cannot have body life if we do not meet together to encourage one another? Body Life is the Christian Army coming together for instruction, correction, encouragement, and to pray for one another. If you can do that sitting at home in your PJ and drinking coffee and eating breakfast, please tell me how that works.
From the Back Porch,
Bob Rice
Monday, September 12, 2022
Baasha King of Israel
June 28, 2021
1Kings 15:32-34
There was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel throughout their reigns.
Baasha King of Israel
In the third year of Asa’s king of Judah, Baasha son of Ahijah became king of all Israel in Tirzah, and he reigned twenty-four years. He did evil in the eyes of the Lord, following the ways of Jeroboam and committing the same sin Jeroboam had caused Israel to commit.
Often, I have more questions than answers, so let me ask this question: Why did the kings of Israel keep repeating the evil of the last king? That brings up a second question; should this be a wake-up for you and me who are followers of Jesus the Christ?
Then the word of the Lord came to Jehu son of Hanani concerning Baasha: “I lifted you up from the dust and appointed you ruler over my people Israel, but you followed the ways of Jeroboam and caused my people Israel to sin and to arouse my anger by their sins. So, I am about to wipe out Baasha and his house, and I will make your house like that of Jeroboam son of Nebat. Dogs will eat those belonging to Baasha who die in the city, and birds will feed on those who die in the country.”
As for the other events of Baasha’s reign, what he did, and his achievements, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Israel? Baasha rested with his ancestors and was buried in Tirzah. And Elah his son succeeded him as king.
Moreover, the word of the Lord came through the prophet Jehu son of Hanani to Baasha and his house, because of all the evil he had done in the eyes of the Lord, arousing his anger by the things he did, becoming like the house of Jeroboam—and also because he destroyed it.
I read that repeating the action of yourself or others and expecting a different result is insanity. We know that God has said, the fool said in his heart there is no God. So is the one that thing they can con God!
From the Back Porch,
Bob Rice
Thursday, September 8, 2022
Nadab King of Israel
1 Kings 15: 25-32
June 26, 2021
Nadab King of Israel
Nadab son of Jeroboam became king of Israel in the second year of Asa king of Judah, and he reigned over Israel two years. He did evil in the eyes of the Lord, following the ways of his father and committing the same sin his father had caused Israel to commit.
Why would Israel’s leaders keep repeating the failed actions of the past? Why did they desire the foolish and evil ways of the country and nations around them? Why did they reject the God who parted the Red Sea and brought them out of being slaves in Egypt? If one could answer those questions, then you have the answer to why the USA is doing the same thing. Could it be like no fear of the Lord, and unbelief?
Baasha son of Ahijah from the tribe of Issachar plotted against him, and he struck him down at Gibbethon, a Philistine town, while Nadab and all Israel were besieging it. Baasha killed Nadab in the third year of Asa king of Judah and succeeded him as king.
This was prophesied by Ahijah the Shilonite a servant of the Lord, in 1 Kings 14:7-10, “Go, tell Jeroboam, ‘Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: “Because I exalted you from among the people and made you leader over my people Israel and tore the kingdom away from the house of David and gave it to you, and yet you have not been like my servant David, who kept my commandments and followed me with all his heart, doing only that which was right in my eyes, but you have done evil above all who were before you and have gone and made for yourself other gods and metal images, provoking me to anger, and have cast me behind your back, therefore behold, I will bring harm upon the house of Jeroboam and will cut off from Jeroboam every male, both bond and free in Israel, and will burn up the house of Jeroboam, as a man burns up dung until it is all gone.”
This question comes to mind, God has not changed, and the leadership in the USA is going in the same way as Jeroboam why do they not fear God? Are judgment on them and our nations going to get a pass from the LORD? Let me answer those questions; they are ignorant of the God they claim to follow or they like Jeroboam are full of self and so proud and arrogant that they have no fear of God.
As soon as he began to reign, he killed Jeroboam’s whole family. He did not leave Jeroboam anyone that breathed, but destroyed them all, according to the word of the Lord given through his servant Ahijah the Shilonite. This happened because of the sins Jeroboam had committed and had caused Israel to commit, and because he aroused the anger of the Lord, the God of Israel.
The only thing we have to fear is God, He is the same today as He was yesterday, and His Church, looks big and like a powerless tiger without teeth, but it not big it is small and it is powerful, come be part of those few who fear God and obey his commandments.
As for the other events of Nadab’s reign, and all he did, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Israel? There was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel throughout their reigns.
From the Back Porch,
Bob Rice
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