Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | August 19, 2015

“You are justified when You speak And blameless when You judge.”

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Kings Chapter 17.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Kings+17&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“6 In the ninth year of Hoshea, the king of Assyria captured Samaria and carried Israel away into exile to Assyria, and settled them in Halah and Habor, on the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes.

7 Now this came about because the sons of Israel had sinned against the Lord their God, who had brought them up from the land of Egypt from under the hand of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and they had feared other gods 8 and walked in the customs of the nations whom the Lord had driven out before the sons of Israel, and in the customs of the kings of Israel which they had introduced.  9 The sons of Israel did things secretly which were not right against the Lord their God.  Moreover, they built for themselves high places in all their towns, from watchtower to fortified city.  10 They set for themselves sacred pillars and Asherim on every high hill and under every green tree, 11 and there they burned incense on all the high places as the nations did which the Lord had carried away to exile before them; and they did evil things provoking the Lord.  12 They served idols, concerning which the Lord had said to them, “You shall not do this thing.”  13 Yet the Lord warned Israel and Judah through all His prophets and every seer, saying, “Turn from your evil ways and keep My commandments, My statutes according to all the law which I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you through My servants the prophets.”  14 However, they did not listen, but stiffened their neck like their fathers, who did not believe in the Lord their God.  15 They rejected His statutes and His covenant which He made with their fathers and His warnings with which He warned them.  And they followed vanity and became vain, and went after the nations which surrounded them, concerning which the Lord had commanded them not to do like them.  16 They forsook all the commandments of the Lord their God and made for themselves molten images, even two calves, and made an Asherah and worshiped all the host of heaven and served Baal.  17 Then they made their sons and their daughters pass through the fire, and practiced divination and enchantments, and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the Lord, provoking Him.  18 So the Lord was very angry with Israel and removed them from His sight;  none was left except the tribe of Judah.

19 Also Judah did not keep the commandments of the Lord their God, but walked in the customs which Israel had introduced.  20 The Lord rejected all the descendants of Israel and afflicted them and gave them into the hand of plunderers, until He had cast them out of His sight.”  2 Kings 17:6-20.

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Today’s Scripture presents God’s justice in punishing Israel.  After we read all of the evil things that Israel did, particularly after all of the warnings, we can only conclude that God acted justly in His punishment of Israel.

Other doctrine is only concerned about man and what happens to man.  It looks inward at man’s predicament.  It may seek forgiveness, but it is only concerned about the effect of the sin on man, namely the pain of punishment.

But, Reformed Doctrine seeks to look upward at God and properly recognize God’s qualities and glorify God.   Reformed Doctrine also seeks forgiveness, but because it is primarily concerned about the effect of sin on God, namely that sin is a transgression against God.  Reformed Doctrine seeks to understand the justice of God in rendering the punishment.  Reformed Doctrine seeks to glorify God for His justice.

“1 Be gracious to me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness;
According to the greatness of Your compassion blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity
And cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I know my transgressions,
And my sin is ever before me.
4 Against You, You only, I have sinned
And done what is evil in Your sight,
So that You are justified when You speak
And blameless when You judge.”  Psalm 51:1-4.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | August 18, 2015

Sound Doctrine: “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.”

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

I quote only the following verses.

“7 So Ahaz sent messengers to Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria, saying, “I am your servant and your son;  come up and deliver me from the hand of the king of Aram and from the hand of the king of Israel, who are rising up against me.”  8 Ahaz took the silver and gold that was found in the house of the Lord and in the treasuries of the king’s house, and sent a present to the king of Assyria.  9 So the king of Assyria listened to him; and the king of Assyria went up against Damascus and captured it, and carried the people of it away into exile to Kir, and put Rezin to death.

10 Now King Ahaz went to Damascus to meet Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria, and saw the altar which was at Damascus;  and King Ahaz sent to Urijah the priest the pattern of the altar and its model, according to all its workmanship.  11 So Urijah the priest built an altar;  according to all that King Ahaz had sent from Damascus, thus Urijah the priest made it, before the coming of King Ahaz from Damascus.

…

17 Then King Ahaz cut off the borders of the stands, and removed the laver from them;  he also took down the sea from the bronze oxen which were under it and put it on a pavement of stone.  18 The covered way for the sabbath which they had built in the house, and the outer entry of the king, he removed from the house of the Lord because of the king of Assyria.”  2 Kings Chapter 16:  Verses 7-11 and 17-18.

———————–

In today’s Scripture, King Ahaz of Judah changed elements of the worship of the LORD to copy or fit with elements of the worship of the Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria.

Do we intentionally or negligently change elements of our worship of the LORD to copy or fit with the customs or elements of worship of others?

If our worship is based only on our memory of the worship of the LORD, it will be more susceptible to other such influences.

But, if our worship is solidly grounded on Scripture and sound doctrine, then it will be less susceptible to other such influences.

Scripture emphasizes the importance of truth.

Jesus said both in Matthew 15:9 and Mark 7:7:  ‘BUT IN VAIN DO THEY WORSHIP ME, TEACHING AS DOCTRINES THE PRECEPTS OF MEN.’”

Jesus also stated in John 4:23-24:  “But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth;  for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers.  God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

Jesus also stated in John 16:13:  “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; …”

“Brethren, my heart’s desire and my prayer to God for them is for their salvation.  For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not in accordance with knowledge.  For not knowing about God’s righteousness and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God.  For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.”  Romans 10:1-4.

There are those who “did not receive the love of truth so as to be saved”.  2 Thessalonians 2: 10-13.

Truth is revealed by Scripture, not by our feelings as to what is just and true.

Doctrine summarizes Scripture. 

In recent years, we have witnessed the explosion in growth of nondenominational churches under such labels as community churches, fellowships, and mega-churches. Some of these churches are not only rejecting denominational standards, they are also rejecting or ignoring well-established doctrinal standards as well.  And, even some of the denominational churches are also rejecting or minimizing the importance of doctrinal standards as well.  Some of these churches primarily market themselves to seekers who want to feel good without truth or doctrinal restraints.  Some of these churches portray doctrine as unnecessary, divisive, or worse.

But, doctrine is simply defined as “teachings”.  Therefore, doctrine cannot be avoided unless a preacher or teacher just quotes Scripture without making any summary or other comment which just does not happen.

So, doctrine can not be avoided.  We can only have false doctrine or true doctrine a/k/a sound doctrine. 

Sound doctrine accurately summarizes Scripture.  False doctrine does not accurately summarize Scripture.  

Sound Doctrine

“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.”  2 Timothy 2:15.

Sound doctrine accurately summarizes Scripture and teaches that salvation is a work of God alone, by grace alone, and that God handles all the points of salvation from “Unconditional Election” through “Limited Atonement” through “Irresistible Grace” through “Preservation of the Saints”, the “U”, “L”, “I”, and “P” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation.    This true doctrine of salvation is more fully taught in the Reformed Confession called Canons of Dordt.

In addition to the Canons of Dordt, the other major Reformed Creeds forming sound doctrine are Belgic Confession, Heidelberg Catechism, and Westminster Larger Confession.  They are all organized and easily readable.  In the right margin column, there are links to these major Reformed Creeds and also a link to a web site titled “Daily Confessions” which contains a daily dose of Reformed Creeds.

Final Exhortation

“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.”  2 Timothy 2:15.

“But as for you, speak the things which are fitting for sound doctrine.”  Titus 2:1. 

“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine;  but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths.  But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.”  2 Timothy 4:3-5.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | August 17, 2015

“For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation”

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Kings 15:13-38.  Here is a link to this Scripture – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Kings+15&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“27 In the fifty-second year of Azariah king of Judah, Pekah son of Remaliah became king over Israel in Samaria, and reigned twenty years.  28 He did evil in the sight of the Lord; he did not depart from the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he made Israel sin.

29 In the days of Pekah king of Israel, Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria came and captured Ijon and Abel-beth-maacah and Janoah and Kedesh and Hazor and Gilead and Galilee, all the land of Naphtali;  and he carried them captive to Assyria.  30 And Hoshea the son of Elah made a conspiracy against Pekah the son of Remaliah, and struck him and put him to death and became king in his place, in the twentieth year of Jotham the son of Uzziah.”   2 Kings 15:27-30.

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In 2 Kings 15:13-38, we read about a series of kings of Israel.  We also read about most of them that they also did evil in the sight of the LORD.

Sometimes, it appears for a while as if the wicked go unpunished.  But, then we perceive their end.  Psalm Chapter 73 gives such an example.

“3 For I was envious of the arrogant
As I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4 For there are no pains in their death,
And their body is fat.
5 They are not in trouble as other men,
Nor are they plagued like mankind.”  Psalm 73:3-5.

“17 Until I came into the sanctuary of God;
Then I perceived their end.
18 Surely You set them in slippery places;
You cast them down to destruction.
19 How they are destroyed in a moment!
They are utterly swept away by sudden terrors!”  Psalm 73:17-19.

I chose to quote only 2 Kings 15:27-30, because it expressly stated two possible punishments for such evil.  Although the quoted Scripture does not state that God inflicted these punishments for such evil, we read the following.  First, Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria came and captured certain cities and areas of Israel, and he carried them captive to Assyria.  Second, Hoshea conspired against and killed Pekah king of Israel.

It is better if we do quickly experience punishment for sin, so that (and if) we are sorrowful and quickly repent and quickly turn away from evil.

“I now rejoice, not that you were made sorrowful, but that you were made sorrowful to the point of repentance;  for you were made sorrowful according to the will of God, so that you might not suffer loss in anything through us.  For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death.”  2 Corinthians 7:9-10.

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. ”  1 John 1:9.

“All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful;  yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.”  Hebrews 12:11.

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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.

———————————-

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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