Mike Kines

1 Kings 13:31, "And it came to pass, after he had buried him, that he spake to his sons, saying, When I am dead, then bury me in the sepulchre wherein the man of God is buried; lay my bones beside his bones:"

What would motivate a man to make such a request? As we know this old prophet was a liar and a deceiver. It was because of him that the man of God from Judah died in the first place, and now he wants to be buried with him?

This reminds me of how the religious people in the Lord's time built the tombs of the prophets which their forefathers murdered. Why is this?

There is something every evil about this man. May God deliver us from this evil spirit that seeks to glory in the death of people and seek to build our own name and our memory by associating ourselves with martyrs.

Heavenly Father, deliver me from the religious spirit that kills the prophets and then builds their tombs! Deliver me from this spirit of religion that wallows in death and spreads spiritual death to others. Deliver me from religious people who deceive and pretend to be righteous but actually spread death and destruction. Lord, protect me from this, in Jesus name. Amen.

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Matthew 8:21-22, "And another of his disciples said unto him, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. 22 But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead."

These verses speak to us about having the right priority in life. God is not against us attending the funeral of a family member. But this man was putting his family duties before his duty to God. We are always to put the Lord Jesus first in everything.

Also, notice Jesus said "let the dead bury their dead". There are people walking around on this earth who are spiritually dead, and the Lord says let those people take on the work of this dead world system. But as followers of Christ we are to be working for the kingdom of God. Ephesians 2:1-3.

Heavenly Father, I was once dead in my trespasses and sins. I was blind and dead inside. But now you have made me alive in Christ. My heart's desire is to serve Jesus and to invest my life into the kingdom of God. Help me every day to deny myself, take up the cross, and follow Jesus. Amen.

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2 Corinthians 5:9-10, "Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. 10, For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad."

For some reason Christians have the idea that God will not hold them accountable for how they live their life after they are saved. Scripture is clear that believers will appear before the judgment seat of Christ and they will receive from the Lord the things we did in this body, whether it was good or bad.

At the judgment seat of Christ believers will be judged and will receive reward and inheritance or they will lose reward and inheritance. 1 Corinthians 3:13-15; Ephesians 5:5.

Heavenly Father, grant me grace and mercy to live today in such a way that I may receive the proper reward at the judgment seat of Christ. Help me, Lord Jesus, to have a pure heart and clean hands, and to be fruitful in every good work. Lord, deliver me from wasting my life in the pursuit of those things which have no eternal value. Lord use my life to bless, encourage, build, and comfort my brothers and sisters in Christ. Amen.

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Romans 14:11-12, "For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. 12, So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God."

Here we see the truth of giving an account to God again. The Lord calls unbelievers to account for their rejection of Christ. The Lord calls the believer to account for the life they lived. One is to be judged unto condemnation; the other will be judged for reward or loss of reward.

Notice how Jesus made sure his disciples gave an account for the scraps of fish and bread left over after he fed the multitude? Notice how the Bible gives the exact number of fish that the disciples brought in at the shore after Jesus resurrection? This exact accounting is a picture of God's calling men to account for everything. Matthew 16:9-10.

Heavenly Father, I know that you have counted every hair on my head. Every sparrow that falls to the ground is numbered. You are exact and precise in your knowledge of all you have created. Lord, men are made in the image of God. There is no doubt we belong to you and are held accountable for the life you gave us. Help me this day, Lord, to live a life worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, bearing fruit in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God. Amen.

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Amos 4:12, "Therefore thus will I do unto thee, O Israel: and because I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Israel."

The Bible teaches us to live our life in view and in the knowledge of giving an account for our life. The Lord gave us life. He will call us to an account of how we used the life he gave to us. This truth is repeated over and over throughout the Bible in detailed lists of numbering and accounting practices.

Are you prepared to meet God? As a Christian, if Jesus were to come back today, would you be ashamed of your life and how you are living? Live in such a way that there will be no reason to be ashamed of yourself at the coming of the Lord. 1 Peter 4:7.

Heavenly Father, I pray that I can live every day with the expectancy of the return of Christ. Help me every day to be on fire for the Lord Jesus, and not in compromise. I pray that my heart will be fixed on the Lord Jesus every day. Amen.

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2 Timothy 4:6, "For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand."

The Lord revealed to Paul that his death was imminent. He was ready to face the end of his earthly life. He already made the statement that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. He said to live is Christ and to die is gain. I am convinced that Paul had no fear or dread of his departure from this life. He was looking forward to being with Jesus.

Are you looking forward to being with Jesus? Or do you still love this temporary life more? Evaluate where you are at and ask yourself if your priorities are truly in agreement with the Bible. Read Psalm 90.

Lord, your word teaches me over and over that this life in this body is brief and temporary. It won't last for very long. Please help to live in view of eternity and not just this temporary existence right now. Help me to remember each day to give myself to prayer and to the ministry of the word, and to invest my life into what will truly count for eternity. Amen.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mikekines.substack.com

Philippians 1:21, "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain."

Another clear statement that to die is gain because we will immediately be in the presence of the Lord Jesus. While we are alive in the body our life is for the Lord. We are serving the Lord Jesus. But to leave this body and die is gain because we will be with Jesus and receive our eternal reward and inheritance.

What does it mean "to live is Christ"? How would you describe this in your daily experience in life? Read also Galatians 2:20.

Heavenly Father, I pray that each and every day I may live completely for Jesus. I want to live for Christ with my whole heart, and soul, and body. I offer myself to you today again to be a living sacrifice for Jesus, amen.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mikekines.substack.com

2 Corinthians 5:8, "We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord."

This is a clear statement from the Bible that when we leave our physical body at the point of death we will immediately be in the presence of the Lord. There is no soul sleep here. We go from this life into the next life with Jesus. Amen.

It is much better to be absent from this body and to be present with the Lord. Paul was torn between his duties here as an apostle and leaving this life to be with the Lord. Philippians 1:23-24.

Father God, I thank you for this promise in your word that when I die I will immediately be taken to be in your presence. I am so glad that I do not have to fear death, because Jesus has defeated death, and he has given me eternal life through his name. Lord, I know it is much better to be absent from this body and to be present with the Lord. I look forward to being with you, Lord Jesus. Amen.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mikekines.substack.com

2 Corinthians 5:1, "For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens."

The earthly house mentioned here is our physical body that is perishing with time. One day it will break down and die. However, we have another body that God will give us at the resurrection and this new body will be eternal in his kingdom.

Jesus promised his disciples that in the kingdom of his Father there are many mansions for those who in Him. He went away to prepare this place for us and will return again so that we may be with him in heaven. John 14:1-3.

Heavenly Father, it is easy for me to acknowledge as I get older that this body is temporary and passing away. My heart yearns for that new resurrection body that you have promised. I look forward to living with you forever in your kingdom, Lord. Lord, return to us quickly, and receive us unto yourself, that where you are we may be also. Amen.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mikekines.substack.com

1 Samuel 2:6, "The LORD killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up."

God has the power of life and death. Each day we are alive it is because of the grace of God. This should teach us to fear the Lord and to give thanks to him for his goodness and mercy.

Jesus taught people to fear God who has the power to kill the body and cast the soul into hell. Luke 12:4-5.

Heavenly Father, you have all power and might, glory and honor. I give thanks to you today for waking me up and giving me another day on this earth. I am thankful that you saved my soul from hell through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. I thank you, Lord, that you will raise me up because of what the Lord Jesus has done for us. Thank you Jesus! Amen.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mikekines.substack.com