Posts

The Battle is the Lord’s

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  2 Kings 6-7; 2 Chronicles 20; 1 Timothy 3   “This is what the Lord says to you: Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army, for the battle is not yours but God’s. Tomorrow, march down against them…You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you…Do not be afraid, do not be discouraged…the Lord will be with you.” 2 Chronicles 20:15-17 There is great freedom in resting in the Lord. We must seek the face of God and His counsel and direction. However, once we have that direction, we can rest in faith that God will fulfill His word. Jehosophat and his men needed to take up their positions; however, they were not to fight. They were to stand firm and watch God’s deliverance. Jehosophat’s role was to stand in faith without fear; God promised deliverance. Are we striving in our flesh to do what God has already accomplished for us in Christ?   Are we afraid of an enemy that has already been defeated? The p
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First of All

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2 Kings 4-5; Psalms. 83; 1 Timothy 2   “I urge then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone:- for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.” 1 Timothy 2:1-2 Our prayers and intercession move the hand of God and will affect the lives and destinies of people and nations. Satan targets those in authority because they have the power to influence justice and righteousness in the spheres in which they lead. Where there is peace, godliness and holiness, a society is expressing the values of God’s Kingdom and God’s blessing. In contexts like this, the salvation of God is transforming lives, relationships and the values of society. Intercession for this transformation in our lives and community is of first importance. Intercession for those in authority is of first importance. Our future depends on it. “Lord Jesus, pour out your Spirit on our land. Fill our leaders with the desire
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Keep Focused on the Good Fight

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  2 Kings 1-3; Psalms.82; 1 Timothy 1   “Timothy, my son, I give you this instruction in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by following them, you may fight the good fight, holding on to faith and a good conscience.” 1 Timothy 1:18-19 We follow the principles of God’s Word, not prophecies. However, God uses prophecies sometimes to confirm His call or direction in our lives. When we receive a prophecy we can ask the Lord for its application in our lives too quickly. It’s wiser to put that prophecy ‘on the shelf’ in our lives, and when we need it, the Holy Spirit will remind us of that word to us as a confirmation of what is already happening to encourage us in our faith. We are in a battle to not just hold on to our faith, but to share this faith with others. We are in a battle to maintain unbroken fellowship with God through His Spirit. The enemy wants to tempt us into sin and cloud our consciences so that we experience doubt and fear. God desires to speak to us a
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Anointed Speech

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1 Kings 22; 2 Chronicles 18-19; Colossians 4   “Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” Colossians 4:5-6   Disciples or followers of Jesus are always trying to win those they meet with the gospel. The mission that Jesus has given us is not ‘just for Sundays’ or mission trips. Every day our interactions with those we meet either advance or hinder the gospel. Our conversation either testifies that we live by the grace of God or for ourselves. The salting of our words indicates that our speech is being led by the Holy Spirit so that we speak appropriate words which preserve truth, disinfect slander and flavor conversations with God-honoring speech. Words matter to God. It requires self-control, wisdom and the Spirit’s anointing to be a consistent witness to the world around us with our speech. In order to make the most of every opportuni
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Dead to Sin, Alive to God

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  1 Kings 20-21; 2 Chronicles 17; Colossians 3   “For you died and your life is now hidden with Christ in God…put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature…” Colossians 3:3, 5 We have died to our old life of sin and self-indulgence when we repent of our sins and receive the forgiveness and new life of Jesus Christ. However, this death to sin and self is both once for all at our conversion, and a daily choice we must make as we follow Jesus. We have died and been raised to new life in Christ, but we must also ‘put to death’ each day whatever belongs to our earthly nature (sexual immorality, impurity, greed, etc. Colossians 3:5-8). This daily discipline of ‘taking off’ and ‘putting on’ thoughts, attitudes and behaviors can only be accomplished in the power of the Spirit. “Lord Jesus, You are my life. Keep me vigilant today to the sins of the flesh and alive to the work of your Spirit.”
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The Widow at Zarephath

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1 Kings 17-19; Colossians 2   “Then the Word of the Lord came to him: “Go at once to Zarephath of Sidon and stay there. I have commanded a widow in that place to supply you with food.” 1 Kings 17:8-9 Elijah lived on mission with God. The price of that mission was obedience and faith in God as his Source – for all things. While Ahab the king hunted for him to kill him, Elijah was sent by God to Zarephath, the hometown of Ahab’s wicked wife Jezebel. God’s appointed place of refuge was a Sidonian widow from Zarephath. Even more unusual than the ravens that had already fed Elijah for some time in the Kerith Ravine, God now used a Sidonian widow to provide for Elijah’s needs. When Jesus told this story as an example of the scope of God’s kingdom mission and the depth of His mercy, the people in his hometown of Nazareth rioted (Luke 4:26). They could not accept that God’s salvation extended to the Sidonians.   Who is the ‘Widow of Zarephath’ that God wants to use in our lives today to reveal
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Strength in the Lord

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  1 Kings 16; 2 Chronicles 15-16; Colossians 1   “But as for you, be strong and do not give up for your work will be rewarded.” 2 Chronicles 15:7 “For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him…” 2 Chronicles 16:9 Where does our strength come from? We can find strength in rest, in affirmation, in our wealth or in friends. God invites us to find our strength in Him, to be “…strong in the Lord.” Asa found his strength in the Lord against a massive Cushite army. His prayer was, “Lord, there is no one like you to help the powerless against the mighty. Help us, O Lord our God, for we rely on you…” (2 Chronicles 14:11). Why then did Asa rely on the Arameans years later to deliver him from Israel?   Was it because he was now wealthy and secure and he’d forgotten the early days of faith and dependency on the Lord for his strength? Last year’s testimony isn’t enough. We need new strength from God today. “Lord Jesus, You are my str
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