Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | August 16, 2015

“My purpose will be established, And I will accomplish all My good pleasure”

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Kings 15:1-12.  Here is a link to this Scripture – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Kings+15&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“8 In the thirty-eighth year of Azariah king of Judah, Zechariah the son of Jeroboam became king over Israel in Samaria for six months.  9 He did evil in the sight of the Lord, as his fathers had done;  he did not depart from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which he made Israel sin.  10 Then Shallum the son of Jabesh conspired against him and struck him before the people and killed him, and reigned in his place.  11 Now the rest of the acts of Zechariah, behold they are written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel.  12 This is the word of the Lord which He spoke to Jehu, saying, “Your sons to the fourth generation shall sit on the throne of Israel.”  And so it was.”   2 Kings 15:8-12.

———————–

Zechariah did evil in the sight of the LORD, but the LORD was not surprised.  The LORD was not rattled.  The LORD did not need to react.

Some doctrine portray their god as one who constantly needs to react to man’s alleged free-will actions.

But Reformed Doctrine shows the God of Scripture Who initiates.  God establishes history, “His Story”, to accomplish His purpose.  God often shows us the end of history first:  “Declaring the end from the beginning”.

“9 “Remember the former things long past,
For I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is no one like Me,
10 Declaring the end from the beginning,
And from ancient times things which have not been done,
Saying, ‘My purpose will be established,
And I will accomplish all My good pleasure’;”  Isaiah 46:9-10.

“And so it was.” in today’s Scripture.  The word of the LORD was fulfilled “which He spoke to Jehu, saying, “Your sons to the fourth generation shall sit on the throne of Israel.”  Verse 12.

Note that God did not have to react and scramble to deal with Zechariah’s evil.  God initiated and had declared to Jehu, four generations earlier, that Jehu’s royal line would end after the fourth generation (after Zechariah’s reign).

Joshua in his farewell address reminded Israel that all of God’s words were fulfilled.

“Now behold, today I am going the way of all the earth, and you know in all your hearts and in all your souls that not one word of all the good words which the Lord your God spoke concerning you has failed;  all have been fulfilled for you, not one of them has failed.”  Joshua 23:14.

Reformed Doctrine joyfully proclaims predestination a/k/a “Unconditional Election”, the “U” of “TULIP”, not as a wild theological strand of teaching in the Bible but as part of God’s sovereign establishment of history to accomplish His purpose:  “Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things which have not been done, Saying, ‘My purpose will be established,  And I will accomplish all My good pleasure’”.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him.  In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.  In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us.  In all wisdom and insight He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth.  In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory.”  Ephesians 1:3-12.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | August 14, 2015

Rest in Reformed Doctrine – “Trust also in Him, and He will do it.”

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Kings Chapter 14.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Kings+14&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“7 He (Amaziah, King of Judah) killed of Edom in the Valley of Salt 10,000 and took Sela by war, and named it Joktheel to this day.

8 Then Amaziah sent messengers to Jehoash, the son of Jehoahaz son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, “Come, let us face each other.”  9 Jehoash king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, “The thorn bush which was in Lebanon sent to the cedar which was in Lebanon, saying, ‘Give your daughter to my son in marriage.’  But there passed by a wild beast that was in Lebanon, and trampled the thorn bush.  10 You have indeed defeated Edom, and your heart has become proud.  Enjoy your glory and stay at home;  for why should you provoke trouble so that you, even you, would fall, and Judah with you?” 

11 But Amaziah would not listen.  So Jehoash king of Israel went up;  and he and Amaziah king of Judah faced each other at Beth-shemesh, which belongs to Judah.  12 Judah was defeated by Israel, and they fled each to his tent.  13 Then Jehoash king of Israel captured Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Jehoash the son of Ahaziah, at Beth-shemesh, and came to Jerusalem and tore down the wall of Jerusalem from the Gate of Ephraim to the Corner Gate, 400 cubits.  14 He took all the gold and silver and all the utensils which were found in the house of the Lord, and in the treasuries of the king’s house, the hostages also, and returned to Samaria.”  2 Kings 14:7-14.

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King Amaziah did not have peace nor contentment.  He did not rest after his victory over Edom.  He wanted to fight Israel, ignored the warning of Jehoash, king of Israel, and suffered disastrous consequences.

We should have peace and be content with Reformed Doctrine.  We should rest in Reformed Doctrine.  But, on an individual level and on a church level, we are often not peaceful and content.  We do not rest in Reformed Doctrine.

Instead of being content to be lighthouses of Reformed Doctrine, many Reformed churches have tried to be community churches like every other church.  They have been jealous of the glittering fool’s gold of other churches who have seemed to prosper by bringing in big numbers by shunning doctrine.  They serve superficial cotton candy christianity, or they serve political or social agendas, either way bowing down to the tastes of the sensitive seekers.  They have left the Reformed faith and lost their salt.

Instead of resting on God’s works, many Reformed individuals act as if their faith was based on their own works.  They are like the surf of the sea in James 1:6, driven and tossed by the wind of their own insecurities, always trying to do more, always trying to do something different, to prove themselves.

“Therefore, let us fear if, while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you may seem to have come short of it.  For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also;  but the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard.  For we who have believed enter that rest, just as He has said,

“As I swore in My wrath,
They shall not enter My rest,”

although His works were finished from the foundation of the world.”  Hebrews 4:1-4.

But, there is hope!

“8 Come, behold the works of the Lord,
Who has wrought desolations in the earth.
9 He makes wars to cease to the end of the earth;
He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two;
He burns the chariots with fire.
10 “Cease striving and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
11 The Lord of hosts is with us;
The God of Jacob is our stronghold.  Selah.”  Psalm 46:8-11.

Come, behold the works of the LORD:   “Unconditional Election” through “Limited Atonement” through “Irresistible Grace” through “Preservation of Saints”, the “U”, “L”, “I”, and “P” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation!

“Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him;
Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way,
Because of the man who carries out wicked schemes.”  Psalm 37:7.

“For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His.  Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall, through following the same example of disobedience. ”  Hebrews 4:10-11.

Be “… content with what you have;  for He Himself has said, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,”  Hebrews 13:5.

“5 Commit your way to the Lord,
Trust also in Him, and He will do it.
6 He will bring forth your righteousness as the light
And your judgment as the noonday.”  Psalm 37:5-6.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | August 13, 2015

“But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ”

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Kings Chapter 13.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Kings+13&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“1 In the twenty-third year of Joash the son of Ahaziah, king of Judah, Jehoahaz the son of Jehu became king over Israel at Samaria, and he reigned seventeen years.  2 He did evil in the sight of the Lord, and followed the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, with which he made Israel sin; he did not turn from them.  3 So the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and He gave them continually into the hand of Hazael king of Aram, and into the hand of Ben-hadad the son of Hazael.  4 Then Jehoahaz entreated the favor of the Lord, and the Lord listened to him; for He saw the oppression of Israel, how the king of Aram oppressed them.  5 The Lord gave Israel a deliverer, so that they escaped from under the hand of the Arameans; and the sons of Israel lived in their tents as formerly.  6 Nevertheless they did not turn away from the sins of the house of Jeroboam, with which he made Israel sin, but walked in them;  and the Asherah also remained standing in Samaria.

…

22 Now Hazael king of Aram had oppressed Israel all the days of Jehoahaz.  23 But the Lord was gracious to them and had compassion on them and turned to them because of His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and would not destroy them or cast them from His presence until now.

24 When Hazael king of Aram died, Ben-hadad his son became king in his place. 25 Then Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz took again from the hand of Ben-hadad the son of Hazael the cities which he had taken in war from the hand of Jehoahaz his father.  Three times Joash defeated him and recovered the cities of Israel.”  2 Kings Chapter 13:  Verses 1-6 and 22-25.

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Israel sinned.  “So, the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and He gave them continually into the hand of Hazael king of Aram …”.  Verse 3.

“Then Jehoahaz entreated the favor of the Lord, and the Lord listened to him;  for He saw the oppression of Israel, how the king of Aram oppressed them.   The Lord gave Israel a deliverer, so that they escaped from under the hand of the Arameans;  and the sons of Israel lived in their tents as formerly.  Nevertheless they did not turn away from the sins …”  Verses 4-6.

In summary, Israel did not deserve such mercy;  Israel continued to sin.

“But the Lord was gracious to them and had compassion on them and turned to them because of His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and would not destroy them or cast them from His presence until now.”  Verse 23.

The word “But” gives us hope too!

“But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.  For by grace you have been saved through faith;  and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;  not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.”  Ephesians 2:4-8.

“For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.  For one will hardly die for a righteous man;  though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die.  But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.  Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.  For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.”  Romans 5:6-10.

Our hope is not based on our alleged free-will, that we will comes to our senses and stop sinning.

“Total Depravity”, the “T” of “TULIP”, describes our natural condition.  We were dead in sin, hostile to God, enslaved to sin and Satan.

Our hope is based on God’s work:  “Unconditional Election” through “Limited Atonement” through “Irresistible Grace” through “Preservation of Saints”, the “U”, “L”, “I”, and “P” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | August 12, 2015

“You will raise up the age-old foundations”

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Kings Chapter 12.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Kings+12&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“1 In the seventh year of Jehu, Jehoash became king, and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem;  and his mother’s name was Zibiah of Beersheba.  2 Jehoash did right in the sight of the Lord all his days in which Jehoiada the priest instructed him.  3 Only the high places were not taken away;  the people still sacrificed and burned incense on the high places.

4 Then Jehoash said to the priests, “All the money of the sacred things which is brought into the house of the Lord, in current money, both the money of each man’s assessment and all the money which any man’s heart prompts him to bring into the house of the Lord, 5 let the priests take it for themselves, each from his acquaintance;  and they shall repair the damages of the house wherever any damage may be found.”  2 Kings 12:1-5.

———————–

“Those from among you will rebuild the ancient ruins;
You will raise up the age-old foundations;
And you will be called the repairer of the breach,
The restorer of the streets in which to dwell.”  Isaiah 58:12.

We can repair the house of the LORD, we can “raise up the age-old foundations”, so to speak, by preaching and teaching the true and sound doctrine of the church:  Reformed Doctrine.

We are eager to proclaim:  “Your God reigns!”

“7 How lovely on the mountains
Are the feet of him who brings good news,
Who announces peace
And brings good news of happiness,
Who announces salvation,
And says to Zion, “Your God reigns!”
8 Listen! Your watchmen lift up their voices,
They shout joyfully together;
For they will see with their own eyes
When the Lord restores Zion.
9 Break forth, shout joyfully together,
You waste places of Jerusalem;
For the Lord has comforted His people,
He has redeemed Jerusalem.
10 The Lord has bared His holy arm
In the sight of all the nations,
That all the ends of the earth may see
The salvation of our God.”  Isaiah 52:7-10.

We are eager to detail the “Total Perfect Triumph” of God.

“I have not hidden Your righteousness within my heart;
I have spoken of Your faithfulness and Your salvation;
I have not concealed Your lovingkindness and Your truth from the great congregation.”  Psalm 40:10.

“Your faithfulness and Your salvation” is summarized by the good news of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation.  God has done everything for our salvation, totally as gift for us by His grace alone, from “Unconditional Election” through “Limited Atonement” through “Irresistible Grace” through “Preservation of Saints”, the “U”, “L”, “I”, and “P” of “TULIP”.

And, we see the necessity of receiving everything from God, because of “Total Depravity”, the “T” of “TULIP”.  We were dead in sin and hostile to God.  We could not and would not even reach out to God.  We needed to be made alive by God and be irresistibly drawn to God.

“But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.  For by grace you have been saved through faith;  and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;  not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.”  Ephesians 2:4-8.

“For who regards you as superior?  What do you have that you did not receive?  And if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?”  1 Corinthians 4:7.

“Thus says the LORD, “Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches;  but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth;  for I delight in these things,” declares the LORD.”  Jeremiah 9:23-24.

“9 “Remember the former things long past,
For I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is no one like Me,
10 Declaring the end from the beginning,
And from ancient times things which have not been done,
Saying, ‘My purpose will be established,
And I will accomplish all My good pleasure’;
11 Calling a bird of prey from the east,
The man of My purpose from a far country.
Truly I have spoken;  truly I will bring it to pass.

I have planned it, surely I will do it.”  Isaiah 46:9-11.

God accomplishes all of His good pleasure:  Total Perfect Triumph!

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | August 11, 2015

“But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ”

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Kings Chapter 11.  Here is a link to this Scripture – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Kings+11&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“1 When Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she rose and destroyed all the royal offspring.  2 But Jehosheba, the daughter of King Joram, sister of Ahaziah, took Joash the son of Ahaziah and stole him from among the king’s sons who were being put to death, and placed him and his nurse in the bedroom.  So they hid him from Athaliah, and he was not put to death.  3 So he was hidden with her in the house of the Lord six years, while Athaliah was reigning over the land.

4 Now in the seventh year Jehoiada sent and brought the captains of hundreds of the Carites and of the guard, and brought them to him in the house of the Lord.  Then he made a covenant with them and put them under oath in the house of the Lord, and showed them the king’s son.

…

13 When Athaliah heard the noise of the guard and of the people, she came to the people in the house of the Lord.  14 She looked and behold, the king was standing by the pillar, according to the custom, with the captains and the trumpeters beside the king;  and all the people of the land rejoiced and blew trumpets.  Then Athaliah tore her clothes and cried, “Treason! Treason!”  15 And Jehoiada the priest commanded the captains of hundreds who were appointed over the army and said to them, “Bring her out between the ranks, and whoever follows her put to death with the sword.”  For the priest said, “Let her not be put to death in the house of the Lord.”  16 So they seized her, and when she arrived at the horses’ entrance of the king’s house, she was put to death there.

17 Then Jehoiada made a covenant between the Lord and the king and the people, that they would be the Lord’s people, also between the king and the people.  18 All the people of the land went to the house of Baal, and tore it down;  his altars and his images they broke in pieces thoroughly, and killed Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars.  And the priest appointed officers over the house of the Lord. 19 He took the captains of hundreds and the Carites and the guards and all the people of the land;  and they brought the king down from the house of the Lord, and came by the way of the gate of the guards to the king’s house.  And he sat on the throne of the kings.  20 So all the people of the land rejoiced and the city was quiet.  For they had put Athaliah to death with the sword at the king’s house.”  2 Kings Chapter 11:  Verses 1-4 and 13-20.

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“When the righteous triumph, there is great glory,
But when the wicked rise, men hide themselves.”  Proverbs 28:2.

“When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices,
And when the wicked perish, there is joyful shouting.”  Proverbs 11:10.

“14 Shout for joy, O daughter of Zion!
Shout in triumph, O Israel!
Rejoice and exult with all your heart,
O daughter of Jerusalem!
15 The Lord has taken away His judgments against you,
He has cleared away your enemies.
The King of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst;
You will fear disaster no more.
16 In that day it will be said to Jerusalem:
“Do not be afraid, O Zion;
Do not let your hands fall limp.
17 “The Lord your God is in your midst,
A victorious warrior.
He will exult over you with joy,
He will be quiet in His love,
He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy.”  Zephaniah 3:14-17.

“But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place. ”  2 Corinthians 2:14.

Which doctrine is more consistent with “always leads us in triumph in Christ”? 

Other doctrine subject to fleeting and failing man’s work and man’s alleged free-will? 

Or, Reformed Doctrine subject to God and God’s work from “Unconditional Election” to “Limited Atonement” to “Irresistible Grace” to “Preservation of the Saints”, the “U”, “L”, “I”, and “P” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation?! 

Doesn’t “always leads us in triumph in Christ” remind you of Reformed Doctrine’s golden chain of salvation in Romans 8:29-30!  “For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;  and these whom He predestined, He also called;  and these whom He called, He also justified;  and these whom He justified, He also glorified.”  Romans 8:29-30.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | August 10, 2015

“For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.”

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Kings 10:12-36.  Here is a link to this Scripture – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Kings+10&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“Thus Jehu eradicated Baal out of Israel.  However, as for the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which he made Israel sin, from these Jehu did not depart, even the golden calves that were at Bethel and that were at Dan.  The Lord said to Jehu, “Because you have done well in executing what is right in My eyes, and have done to the house of Ahab according to all that was in My heart, your sons of the fourth generation shall sit on the throne of Israel.”  But Jehu was not careful to walk in the law of the Lord, the God of Israel, with all his heart; he did not depart from the sins of Jeroboam, which he made Israel sin.

In those days the Lord began to cut off portions from Israel;  and Hazael defeated them throughout the territory of Israel:  from the Jordan eastward, all the land of Gilead, the Gadites and the Reubenites and the Manassites, from Aroer, which is by the valley of the Arnon, even Gilead and Bashan.”   2 Kings 10:28-33.

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Like Jehu, we may do well in certainly things.  We may do well enough to stay around for a while.  We may feel content.

But, like Jehu, we may not be careful to walk in the word of God with all our heart.  We may worship our own idols of our own heart.  And, we also may be tolerant of other people’s idols.

We notice that in those days of Jehu the LORD began to cut off fringe portions of Israel.  Likewise, in our days, we see fringe church goers leave the church.   

The fringe church goers who leave the church are like those in the parable of the sower in Matthew 13:20-21.  “The one on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, this is the man who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy;  yet he has no firm root in himself, but is only temporary, and when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he falls away.”  Matthew 13:20-21.

We need to take care as to which doctrine is the foundation of our faith.

Is our doctrine based on ourselves (man), our own works, and our own alleged free-will?  

Or, is our doctrine based on God, God’s works, and God’s will for us? 

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock.  And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house;  and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock.  Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.  The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell—and great was its fall.”  Matthew 7:24-27.

In The Reformed Doctrine of Predestination, a book written by Loraine Boettner in 1932, in Chapter XXVII, there is a thought-provoking section titled “4. ONLY CALVINISM WILL STAND ALL TESTS”.

Here is a quote from it.

“We are living in a day in which we see practically all of the historic Protestant churches attacked by unbelief from within.  Many of them have already succumbed and the line of descent has invariably been from Calvinism to Arminianism, and from Arminianism to Modernism or Unitarianism;  and this latter state has proved to be self-destructive.  We firmly believe that the fortunes of Christianity are bound up with the fortunes of Calvinism.  Certainly the history of Modernism and Unitarianism in this country has proved that they are too weak to maintain themselves.  Where the principles of Calvinism are abandoned, there is a powerful tendency leading downward into the depths of Naturalism. Some have declared– and rightly we believe — that there is no consistent middle ground between Calvinism and Atheism. These distinctions which we have set forth between Calvinism and Arminianism are broad and important;  and until one has made a special study of these truths he does not realize what a large amount of heresy has been incorporated into the Arminian system.  If one system is true, the other is radically false.  As strict Calvinists we believe these doctrines to embody final truth and to be eternally right.  We believe this to be the only system of Christian truth which is taught in the Bible and the only one that can be logically and respectably defended before the world. …”

“Enter through the narrow gate;  for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it.  For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.”  Matthew 7:13-14.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | August 9, 2015

“I will put my trust in You. In God, whose word I praise”

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Kings 10:1-11.

“Now Ahab had seventy sons in Samaria.  And Jehu wrote letters and sent them to Samaria, to the rulers of Jezreel, the elders, and to the guardians of the children of Ahab, saying, “Now, when this letter comes to you, since your master’s sons are with you, as well as the chariots and horses and a fortified city and the weapons, select the best and fittest of your master’s sons, and set him on his father’s throne, and fight for your master’s house.”  But they feared greatly and said, “Behold, the two kings did not stand before him; how then can we stand?”  And the one who was over the household, and he who was over the city, the elders, and the guardians of the children, sent word to Jehu, saying, “We are your servants, all that you say to us we will do, we will not make any man king;  do what is good in your sight.”  Then he wrote a letter to them a second time saying, “If you are on my side, and you will listen to my voice, take the heads of the men, your master’s sons, and come to me at Jezreel tomorrow about this time.”  Now the king’s sons, seventy persons, were with the great men of the city, who were rearing them.  When the letter came to them, they took the king’s sons and slaughtered them, seventy persons, and put their heads in baskets, and sent them to him at Jezreel.  When the messenger came and told him, saying, “They have brought the heads of the king’s sons,” he said, “Put them in two heaps at the entrance of the gate until morning.”  Now in the morning he went out and stood and said to all the people, “You are innocent; behold, I conspired against my master and killed him, but who killed all these?  Know then that there shall fall to the earth nothing of the word of the Lord, which the Lord spoke concerning the house of Ahab, for the Lord has done what He spoke through His servant Elijah.”  So Jehu killed all who remained of the house of Ahab in Jezreel, and all his great men and his acquaintances and his priests, until he left him without a survivor.”   2 Kings 10:1-11.

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“Know then that there shall fall to the earth nothing of the word of the Lord, which the Lord spoke concerning the house of Ahab, for the Lord has done what He spoke through His servant Elijah.”  Verse 10.

“Not one of the good promises which the Lord had made to the house of Israel failed;  all came to pass.”  Joshua 21:45.

“So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth;
It will not return to Me empty,
Without accomplishing what I desire,
And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.”  Isaiah 55:11.

We can trust God! 

“3 When I am afraid,
I will put my trust in You.
4 In God, whose word I praise,
In God I have put my trust;
I shall not be afraid.
What can mere man do to me?”  Psalm 56:3-4.

“7 The works of His hands are truth and justice;
All His precepts are sure.
8 They are upheld forever and ever;
They are performed in truth and uprightness.
9 He has sent redemption to His people;
He has ordained His covenant forever;
Holy and awesome is His name.”  Psalm 111:7-9.

“The sum of Your word is truth,
And every one of Your righteous ordinances is everlasting.”  Psalm 119:160.

“For when God made the promise to Abraham, since He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself, saying, “I will surely bless you and I will surely multiply you.”  And so, having patiently waited, he obtained the promise.  For men swear by one greater than themselves, and with them an oath given as confirmation is an end of every dispute.  In the same way God, desiring even more to show to the heirs of the promise the unchangeableness of His purpose, interposed with an oath, so that by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have taken refuge would have strong encouragement to take hold of the hope set before us.  This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil, where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.”  Hebrews 6:13-20.

“Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord;  seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.  For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.”  2 Peter 1:2-4.

Our hope is based on the precious and magnificent promises of God for our salvation:  “Unconditional Election”, “Limited Atonement”, “Irresistible Grace”, and “Preservation of the Saints”, the “U”, “L”, “I” and “P” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation.  “For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;  and these whom He predestined, He also called;  and these whom He called, He also justified;  and these whom He justified, He also glorified.”  Romans 8:29-30.

“The Lord has bared His holy arm
In the sight of all the nations,
That all the ends of the earth may see
The salvation of our God.”  Isaiah 52:10.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | August 7, 2015

The “Vengeance is Mine” Warning of God

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Kings Chapter 9.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Kings+9&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“1 Now Elisha the prophet called one of the sons of the prophets and said to him, “Gird up your loins, and take this flask of oil in your hand and go to Ramoth-gilead.  2 When you arrive there, search out Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat the son of Nimshi, and go in and bid him arise from among his brothers, and bring him to an inner room.  3 Then take the flask of oil and pour it on his head and say, ‘Thus says the Lord, “I have anointed you king over Israel.”’  Then open the door and flee and do not wait.”

4 So the young man, the servant of the prophet, went to Ramoth-gilead.  5 When he came, behold, the captains of the army were sitting, and he said, “I have a word for you, O captain.”  And Jehu said, “For which one of us?”  And he said, “For you, O captain.”  6 He arose and went into the house, and he poured the oil on his head and said to him, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘I have anointed you king over the people of the Lord, even over Israel.  7 You shall strike the house of Ahab your master, that I may avenge the blood of My servants the prophets, and the blood of all the servants of the Lord, at the hand of Jezebel.  8 For the whole house of Ahab shall perish, and I will cut off from Ahab every male person both bond and free in Israel.  9 I will make the house of Ahab like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah.  10 The dogs shall eat Jezebel in the territory of Jezreel, and none shall bury her.’”  Then he opened the door and fled.”  2 Kings 9:1-10.

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“Vengeance is Mine, and retribution,
In due time their foot will slip;
For the day of their calamity is near,
And the impending things are hastening upon them.’”  Deuteronomy 32:35.

“Rejoice, O nations, with His people;
For He will avenge the blood of His servants,
And will render vengeance on His adversaries,
And will atone for His land and His people.”  Deuteronomy 32:43.

“For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a terrifying expectation of judgment and the fury of a fire which will consume the adversaries.  Anyone who has set aside the Law of Moses dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.  How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace?  For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay.”  And again, “The Lord will judge His people.”  It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”  Hebrews 10:26-31.

Both the general “Vengeance is mine” attribute of God and the specific warning of what behavior will bring about God’s vengeance in Hebrews 10:26-32 should give us pause to consider how Christ’s blood could be considered as unclean and how Spirit of Grace could be insulted.

This warning is so severe that we should not have the primary motivation in considering this Scripture as to how it may offend some people.  But, rather, we should try to understand to whom it could apply, and we should warn them.

First of all, we can exclude one group.

This Hebrews 10:26-31 Scripture does not apply to the people totally outside of the church circle, although there are other Scriptures that apply judgment to them.  But, in this Scripture, that person did not receive the knowledge of truth as stated in Hebrews 10:26.  That person is not sanctified, so to speak, as is stated in Hebrews 10:29.  That person does not talk about the blood of Christ.  That person is not part of “His people” as stated in Hebrews 10:30. 

Rather, this Hebrews 10:26-31 Scripture could apply to Arminians who steadfastly continue to hang on to Arminianism despite receiving knowledge of the truth of Calvinism.  They received or were exposed to knowledge of the truth.  They were sanctified so to speak and at least superficially considered as part of “His people”, but they nevertheless by their false doctrine denied the power of the blood and insulted the Spirit of grace.

Arminians hang on to the false doctrine that Jesus died for everyone (“Universal Atonement” – The Third Point of Arminianism) and they love to speak about the power in Christ’s blood.  But, Arminians realize that their doctrine forces them to conclude that Christ’s blood (as they claim, shed for everyone) by itself did not save, “purchase”, or “redeem” anyone, because they admit that most people are not saved.  Arminians claim that it is up to man to generate his own faith through his own free will in order to make Christ’s blood effective to save.  They claim that the only difference between the saved and the unsaved is not Christ’s blood, because everyone gets the blood, but rather the only difference is whether or not a certain individual will generate his own faith through his own free will to make the blood effective.  According to this logic of these Arminians, man’s faith, not Christ’s blood, is the determining factor as to whether or not one will be saved.

Because Arminians talk about the blood all the time, it is true that in a sense they are trampling it, not in the sense of being hateful to it but in the sense of treating it as ineffective by itself, like the description in Matthew 5: 13:  “…if the salt has become tasteless, how will it be made salty again?  It is good for nothing anymore, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men.”

Likewise, the Arminian can be compared to the one who insults the Spirit of Grace as is mentioned above in Hebrews 10:29.  Think of a situation in which your father graciously took you out to a very expensive and lavish dinner, paid for everything, and even left the tip in addition.  However, you did not think that the tip was sufficient so you add your $5 to the tip.  Wouldn’t your father be insulted that you thought that what he did was not enough?

Likewise, Arminians insult God by their doctrine that believes that the blood of Christ is not enough, they feel that they must add their own tip of faith.  The Calvinist thinks of faith as a gift of God;  the Arminian thinks that faith is their own gift to God which is necessary to secure salvation.

But, there is hope!
 
Reformed Doctrine properly holds a high view of what the blood of Christ effectively accomplished and properly gives all credit for their salvation to the Spirit of grace. 

Article 8.  For this was the sovereign counsel, and most gracious will and purpose of God the Father, that the quickening and saving efficacy of the most precious death of his Son should extend to all the elect, for bestowing upon them alone the gift of justifying faith, thereby to bring them infallibly to salvation:  that is, it was the will of God, that Christ by the blood of the cross, whereby he confirmed the new covenant, should effectually redeem out of every people, tribe, nation, and language, all those, and those only, who were from eternity chosen to salvation, and given to him by the Father;  that he should confer upon them faith, which together with all the other saving gifts of the Holy Spirit, he purchased for them by his death; should purge them from all sin, both original and actual, whether committed before or after believing; and having faithfully preserved them even to the end, should at last bring them free from every spot and blemish to the enjoyment of glory in his own presence forever.  SECOND HEAD OF DOCTRINE Of the Death of Christ, and the Redemption of Men Thereby of Canons of Dordt.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | August 6, 2015

“His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature”

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Kings 8:16-29.  Here is a link to this Scripture – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Kings+8&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“Now in the fifth year of Joram the son of Ahab king of Israel, Jehoshaphat being then the king of Judah, Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat king of Judah became king.  He was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem.  He walked in the way of the kings of Israel, just as the house of Ahab had done, for the daughter of Ahab became his wife;  and he did evil in the sight of the Lord.  However, the Lord was not willing to destroy Judah, for the sake of David His servant, since He had promised him to give a lamp to him through his sons always.”  2 Kings 8:16-19.

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Article 3.  By reason of these remains of indwelling sin, and the temptations of sin and of the world, those who are converted could not persevere in a state of grace, if left to their own strength.  But God is faithful, who having conferred grace, mercifully confirms, and powerfully preserves them herein, even to the end. FIFTH HEAD OF DOCTRINE Of the Perseverance of the Saints of Canons of Dordt.

Our hope is not based on our own works.  Our hope is not based on our own alleged free-will to choose Christ.  Our hope is not based on our own ability to resist temptations and stay steadfast to Christ.

Our hope is based on the promises of God such as quoted in Article 3 above which is “Preservation of the Saints”, the “P” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation.

“Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord;  seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.  For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.”  2 Peter 1:2-4.

“Not one of the good promises which the Lord had made to the house of Israel failed;  all came to pass.”  Joshua 21:45.

“For as many as are the promises of God, in Him they are yes;  therefore also through Him is our Amen to the glory of God through us.  Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and anointed us is God, who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a pledge.”  2 Corinthians 1:20-22.

“Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as referring to many, but rather to one, “And to your seed,” that is, Christ.  What I am saying is this:  the Law, which came four hundred and thirty years later, does not invalidate a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to nullify the promise.  For if the inheritance is based on law, it is no longer based on a promise;  but God has granted it to Abraham by means of a promise.”  Galatians 3:16-18.

“For when God made the promise to Abraham, since He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself, saying, “I will surely bless you and I will surely multiply you.”  And so, having patiently waited, he obtained the promise.  For men swear by one greater than themselves, and with them an oath given as confirmation is an end of every dispute.  In the same way God, desiring even more to show to the heirs of the promise the unchangeableness of His purpose, interposed with an oath, so that by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have taken refuge would have strong encouragement to take hold of the hope set before us.  This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil, where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.”  Hebrews 6:13-20.

“But now He (Christ) has obtained a more excellent ministry, by as much as He is also the mediator of a better covenant, which has been enacted on better promises.”  Hebrews 8:6.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | August 5, 2015

“If you had known in this day, even you, the things which make for peace! … recognize the time of your visitation.”

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Kings 8:7-15.

“7 Then Elisha came to Damascus.  Now Ben-hadad king of Aram was sick, and it was told him, saying, “The man of God has come here.” 8 The king said to Hazael, “Take a gift in your hand and go to meet the man of God, and inquire of the Lord by him, saying, ‘Will I recover from this sickness?’”  9 So Hazael went to meet him and took a gift in his hand, even every kind of good thing of Damascus, forty camels’ loads;  and he came and stood before him and said, “Your son Ben-hadad king of Aram has sent me to you, saying, ‘Will I recover from this sickness?’”  10 Then Elisha said to him, “Go, say to him, ‘You will surely recover,’ but the Lord has shown me that he will certainly die.”  11 He fixed his gaze steadily on him until he was ashamed, and the man of God wept.  12 Hazael said, “Why does my lord weep?”  Then he answered, “Because I know the evil that you will do to the sons of Israel:  their strongholds you will set on fire, and their young men you will kill with the sword, and their little ones you will dash in pieces, and their women with child you will rip up.”  13 Then Hazael said, “But what is your servant, who is but a dog, that he should do this great thing?”  And Elisha answered, “The Lord has shown me that you will be king over Aram.”  14 So he departed from Elisha and returned to his master, who said to him, “What did Elisha say to you?”  And he answered, “He told me that you would surely recover.”  15 On the following day, he took the cover and dipped it in water and spread it on his face, so that he died.  And Hazael became king in his place.”  2 Kings 8:7-15.

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Today’s Scripture, particularly verse 12, reminds me of the following Luke 19:41-44.  Like Elisha wept, Jesus wept.  Like Elisha prophesied, Jesus prophesied.  Like Elisha prophesied of destruction, Jesus prophesied of destruction.

“When He approached Jerusalem, He saw the city and wept over it, saying, “If you had known in this day, even you, the things which make for peace!  But now they have been hidden from your eyes.  For the days will come upon you when your enemies will throw up a barricade against you, and surround you and hem you in on every side, and they will level you to the ground and your children within you, and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not recognize the time of your visitation.”  Luke 19:41-44.

We want peace, so we should know “the things which make for peace”.  We want to recognize the time of our visitation when God comes close to us, so to speak.  

“17 Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel,

“I am the Lord your God, who teaches you to profit,
Who leads you in the way you should go.
18 “If only you had paid attention to My commandments!
Then your well-being would have been like a river,
And your righteousness like the waves of the sea.
19 “Your descendants would have been like the sand,
And your offspring like its grains;
Their name would never be cut off or destroyed from My presence.”

20 Go forth from Babylon!  Flee from the Chaldeans!
Declare with the sound of joyful shouting, proclaim this,
Send it out to the end of the earth;
Say, “The Lord has redeemed His servant Jacob.”
21 They did not thirst when He led them through the deserts.
He made the water flow out of the rock for them;
He split the rock and the water gushed forth.
22 “There is no peace for the wicked,” says the Lord.”  Isaiah 48:17-22.

“6 Seek the Lord while He may be found;
Call upon Him while He is near.
7 Let the wicked forsake his way
And the unrighteous man his thoughts;
And let him return to the Lord,
And He will have compassion on him,
And to our God,
For He will abundantly pardon.”  Isaiah 55:6-7.

“11 So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth;
It will not return to Me empty,
Without accomplishing what I desire,
And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.
12 “For you will go out with joy
And be led forth with peace;
The mountains and the hills will break forth into shouts of joy before you,
And all the trees of the field will clap their hands.”  Isaiah 55:11-12.

In summary, if we seek peace and well-being, then we should diligently seek the LORD by reading God’s Word and seeking to understand God and His works.  We should forsake our own ways, and seek forgiveness and God’s ways.  

But, there are superficial “Christians”.  They are satisfied with “Cotton Candy Christianity”.  They are content of receiving the most simple and superficial lessons from Scripture usually about something they should do to have a better life.  They don’t diligently study Scripture to learn about God and God’s Works.  In the parable of the sower, they are like:  “The one on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, this is the man who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy;  yet he has no firm root in himself, but is only temporary, and when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he falls away.  And the one on whom seed was sown among the thorns, this is the man who hears the word, and the worry of the world and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.”  Matthew 13:20-22.

Reformed Doctrine can help!

Reformed Doctrine reveals God and His Works from “Unconditional Election” through “Limited Atonement” through “Irresistible Grace” to “Preservation of Saints”, the “U”, “L”, “I” and “P” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation.

Reformed Doctrine causes us to trust ourselves less through “Total Depravity”, the “T” of “TULIP”.

Reformed Doctrine causes us to trust God more.

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