Monday, February 29, 2016

Mighty Man

Super Hero Formula Revealed
The  comic book hero Mighty Man does what every superhero does, fights evil and wins.  There are many examples of great men in the Bible.  One man by the name of Jotham is described as follows:
So Jotham grew mighty, for he ordered his ways in the sight of the Lord his God.
2 Chronicles 27:6.  Very simply put he walked with God, ordered his ways before God and he was a Mighty Man.  There you have it, the super hero formula you have been looking for.

Friday, February 26, 2016

Pride

To Big For Your Britches
A dangerous place to be in life is when we become "all that" and pride creeps in.  It was King Uzziah who had sought the Lord and had been strengthened by the hand of the Lord that allowed pride to override.  Pride certainly does come before the fall.  One of the things God hates is a proud heart.  Pride was the very thing that drew Lucifer to his fate (Isa. 14:12ff) 
  II Chronicles 26:16,19,21  But when he became strong, his heart was so proud that he acted corruptly, and he was unfaithful to the Lord his God, for he entered the temple of the Lord to burn incense on the altar of incense. But Uzziah, with a censer in his hand for burning incense, was enraged; and while he was enraged with the priests, the leprosy broke out on his forehead before the priests in the house of the Lord , beside the altar of incense. King Uzziah was a leper to the day of his death; and he lived in a separate house, being a leper, for he was cut off from the house of the Lord . And Jotham his son was over the king's house judging the people of the land.

Thursday, February 25, 2016

Yearn

The Key to A Fulfilling Life
Fulfillment can come in many different ways.  We can be fulfilled for a brief moment of for an extended period of time even days or weeks.  What is the most critical key to a lifetime of fulfillment? YEARN!  Uzziah learned early on how critical it was to his well being.      II Chronicles 16:5
He set himself to seek God in the days of Zechariah, who instructed him in the things of God; and as long as he sought (inquired of, yearned for) the Lord, God made him prosper.
It is not a one time deal, it is a continual action, day by day as the Psalmist says.
O God, You are my God; I shall seek You earnestly; My soul thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for You, In a dry and weary land where there is no water.
Psalms 63:1 
Have you yearned after Him today?

Wednesday, February 24, 2016

Pray and Vote

The Prayer and Voting Link

Many have said, including this author, that 2016 is a critical voting year.  The reality is every year is a critical voting year.  Politics in and of itself will not change or shape a nation, however it is an integral piece of the puzzle that makes up the national landscape.  There are two prevailing attitudes in regards to politics and voting.  Attitude #1:  If we just elect the right candidates then America will forever change.  Attitude #2:  It doesn't make any difference whether we vote or not, there is no hope for America.  Both attitudes are wrong!  

There is a clear Biblical mandate that links our responsibility to pray and vote.  The principle is found in two texts of scripture that complement each other.  

1 Timothy 2:1-4 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.  

James 2:17-18 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.  

We should pray and vote!  Pray so that we might lead a quiet and peaceable life and so that those who are in political leadership without Christ, will come to Christ.  Prayer, which is an act of faith, trusting God to do what only he can do, must be coupled with action or it is worthless.  Just praying and saying "Oh Lord please put the right person in office" and then never voting is like praying "Oh Lord please save so and so" but never opening your mouth to witness or going to share the gospel. Faith without works is dead and praying without voting is equally as preposterous.  

Can prayer and voting have a direct impact on the righteousness of the culture and the peaceable life of Christians?  Absolutely!  So this election cycle, Pray! Pray! Pray! and then get registered if you're not, and go VOTE!  

Tuesday, February 23, 2016

Love God and Love People

Love God and Love People
There are many outstanding epitaphs in the Bible and many that are heartbreaking.  One of the great epitaphs is about a priest named Jehoiada.  Was he perfect, no.  But the epitaph really sums up what Jesus  Christ later in the New Testament says sums up everything. Remember when Jesus was asked what is the greatest commandment?  Love your God with your heart, soul, mind and strength and love your neighbor as yourself.    
II Chronicles 24:15-16
But Jehoiada became old and full of age, and he died. He was 130 years old at his death. They buried him in the City of David among the kings, because he had done good in Israel and toward God and His house.
Reminder: Love God and Love people!

Friday, February 19, 2016

A Mother's Influence


Remember Susan Smith the mother from SC who drown her children?  The nation was in shock!   Susan Smith buckled her children in the car and let it slide into the lake, believing it will mend the broken relationship. Both her sons, 3-year-old Michael Smith, and 14-month-old Alexander Smith, lay dead when she innocently pleaded on the national television for 9 days for their rescue and return. All this was for the sake of having a relationship with local wealthy man.
Solomon said there is nothing new under the sun.  Athalia the mother of Ahaziah killed all the children of the royal family.  (II Chronicles  22:10)
Mother's you have incredible influence either for good or wickedness. 
II Chronicles 22:3-4 Forty-two years old was Ahaziah when he began his one-year reign in Jerusalem. His mother was Athaliah, a granddaughter of Omri. He also walked in the ways of the house of Ahab, for his mother was his counselor to do wickedly.

Wednesday, February 17, 2016

Heritage Ruined

Messing Up A Great Heritage
Jehoram(not a real popular name today, by the way) could have continued with a great heritage his father had laid for him, but instead he determined to follow selfish desires.  Don't ruin the heritage that has been left for you and if you don't have a great example to follow build a great heritage for the generations coming after you. 
II Chronicles 21:1-6 JEHOSHAPHAT SLEPT with his fathers and was buried with [them] in the City of David. Jehoram his son reigned in his stead. He had brothers: Azariah, Jehiel, Zechariah, Azariah, Michael, and Shephatiah, all the sons of Jehoshaphat king of Israel. Their father gave them great gifts of silver, gold, and precious things, together with fortified cities in Judah, but the kingdom he gave to Jehoram, the firstborn. When Jehoram had ascended to the kingship of his father, he strengthened himself and slew all his brethren with the sword and also some of Israel's princes. Jehoram at thirty-two years of age began his eight-year reign in Jerusalem. He walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, as did the house of Ahab, for he married the daughter of Ahab and did what was evil in the eyes of the Lord.

Tuesday, February 16, 2016

Ship Wreck


Literally!  A ship wreck.  Poor choices of friends and close acquaintances will leave you a wreck.  Choose your close alliances very carefully!  That doesn't mean you are to be snobbish to those who don't align with your Biblical Worldview it just means surround your inner circle with those who do.  Jehoshaphat, struggled making those clear sound choices and as a result....Ship Wreck!
II Chronicles 20:32-37 And he walked in the ways of Asa his father and departed not from it, doing what was right in the sight of the Lord. But the high places [of idolatry] were not taken away, for the people had not yet set their hearts on their fathers' God. Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, from first to last, they are written in the records of Jehu son of Hanani, which are in the Book of the Kings of Israel. After this, Jehoshaphat king of Judah joined with Ahaziah king of Israel, who did very wickedly. He joined him in building ships to go to Tarshish, building them in Ezion-geber. Then Eliezer son of Dodavahu of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, Because you have joined Ahaziah, the Lord will destroy your works. So the ships were wrecked and unable to go to Tarshish.

Monday, February 15, 2016

Battle Ready

The Battle
Not that we would abdicate on our responsibility or run from adversity and difficulty, that is not the point!  In the fray, in the trouble, make sure you are standing; having on your armour as you should when the enemy attacks.  Whether the enemy is from within your own desires or from without. Know that you have a Battle Captain who is able to defeat the worst of your enemies.  Sometimes I am my own worst enemy and my own desires need to be defeated and at other times there are external forces hurling garbage my way.  I can do my part and resist(Jam. 4) and stand fast (Eph.6) all the while  knowing with great confidence, the Battle belongs to the Lord.  II Chronicles 20:15

Saturday, February 13, 2016

FEAR!

Fear!
There seems to be an attitude that fear is a "four letter word" and that if you fear you are somewhat less of a person or even less of a Christian because we are supposed to be above it.  In reality, as human beings we have a built in fear mechanism granted to us by God, whose handiwork is all over us.  The key is, what do we do with the fear, focus on it and become crippled by it, or turn our eyes to the God of the universe who is able to overcome our circumstances.  Another lesson learned from Jehoshaphat.
II Chronicles 20:1-6 AFTER THIS, the Moabites, the Ammonites, and with them the Meunites came against Jehoshaphat to battle. It was told Jehoshaphat, A great multitude has come against you from beyond the [Dead] Sea, from Edom; and behold they are in Hazazon-tamar, which is En-gedi. Then Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself [determinedly, as his vital need] to seek the Lord; he proclaimed a fast in all Judah. And Judah gathered together to ask help from the Lord; even out of all the cities of Judah they came to seek the Lord [yearning for Him with all their desire]. And Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem in the house of the Lord before the new court And said, O Lord, God of our fathers, are You not God in heaven? And do You not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations? In Your hand are power and might, so that none is able to withstand You.

Thursday, February 11, 2016

Overcoming The Beast

The Beast
There is coming a day of great deception and delusion unlike humanity has ever seen.  The key to overcoming  the Beast of Revelation 13 and all his deceptive actions is very simple.  Read the text very carefully and the answer is there.  Make sure your name is recorded in the Lambs Book of Life!
Revelation 13:1-2; 6-8 [AS] I stood on the sandy beach, I saw a beast coming up out of the sea with ten horns and seven heads. On his horns he had ten royal crowns (diadems) and blasphemous titles (names) on his heads. And the beast that I saw resembled a leopard, but his feet were like those of a bear and his mouth was like that of a lion. And to him the dragon gave his [own] might and power and his [own] throne and great dominion. And he opened his mouth to speak slanders against God, blaspheming His name and His abode, [even vilifying] those who live in heaven. He was further permitted to wage war on God's holy people (the saints) and to overcome them. And power was given him to extend his authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation, [Dan. 7:21, 25.] And all the inhabitants of the earth will fall down in adoration and pay him homage, everyone whose name has not been recorded in the Book of Life of the Lamb that was slain [in sacrifice] from the foundation of the world.

Wednesday, February 10, 2016

Alliances


Greatness was often determined in ancient civilization by the alliances you held with other leaders.  Those alliances were often forged by marriages.  The old saying..."You are who you are by the people you know and the books you read" certainly bears weight but you better be sure those alliances are spiritually healthy.  Jehoshaphat wasn't real selective in one particular alliance when he married into a relationship with King Arab of Israel and could have cost him his life were it not for God's merciful intervention.  Forge great alliances(by the way...NOT by multiple marriages) and be very selective. 
II Chronicles 18:1; 29-31.                        NOW JEHOSHAPHAT had great riches and honor, but was allied [by marriage] with Ahab. And [Ahab] king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, I will disguise myself and will go to the battle, but you put on your royal robes. So King Ahab of Israel disguised himself, and they went into the battle. Now Syria's king had commanded his chariot captains, Fight not with small or great, but only with the king of Israel. And when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat [of Judah], they said, It is the king of Israel. So they turned to fight against him, but Jehoshaphat cried out, and the Lord helped him; and God moved them to depart from him.

Tuesday, February 9, 2016

Problem Solved

Solution to America's Problems
We have been looking in all the wrong places trying to solve all our issues with the wrong antidotes.  Amazingly the solution has been hidden right under our noses all along, or in the back window of the car or stuffed on a shelf at home somewhere or in the lost and found box at church or obscured among all the other apps on our smart device.  What the President needs to do is just send out our congressmen and senators and let them go across america teaching the Bible along with all the preachers.  PROBLEMS SOLVED!
Read what Jehoshaphat did. He was so politically incorrect.  Where was the ACLU and the People for the Separation of Church and State when they were so badly needed.
II Chronicles 17:7-9 Also in the third year of his reign he sent his princes Ben-hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah to teach in the cities of Judah; And with them were the Levites–Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, and Tob-adonijah; and with these Levites were the priests Elishama and Jehoram. And they taught in Judah, and had the Book of the Law of the Lord with them; they went about throughout all the cities of Judah and taught among the people.

Monday, February 8, 2016

Yearning For God

The Lord Was With Him!
There are no greater words that characterize a man or woman of God than just the simple statement...."God was with him"  Why?  Because Jehoshaphat sought and yearned for God.  Are you yearning for God?
II Chronicles 17:3-4 Lord was with Jehoshaphat because he walked in the first ways of his father [David]. He did not seek the Baals But sought and yearned with all his desire for the Lord, the God of his father, and walked in His commandments and not after the ways of Israel.

Saturday, February 6, 2016

Finish Well

Starting with great purpose, intentions and gusto is one thing but finishing well is another.  Asa had done well,  he had sought the Lord over and over,  he had even kicked his own mother off the throne for doing wickedly, there were no wars and Judah was at peace.  A test came along for Asa and instead of doing as he had done so many times before he relied on an alliance with another King and relied on the doctors for a personal need. As a result war insued, he was deceased in his feet and he died.  FINISH WELL, don't quit trusting God!
II Chronicles 16:7-13. At that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah and said to him, Because you relied on the king of Syria and not on the Lord your God, the army of the king of Syria has escaped you. Were not the Ethiopians and Libyans a huge host with very many chariots and horsemen? Yet because you relied then on the Lord, He gave them into your hand. For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth to show Himself strong in behalf of those whose hearts are blameless toward Him. You have done foolishly in this; therefore, from now on you shall have wars. Then Asa was angry with the seer and put him in prison [in the stocks], for he was enraged with him because of this. Asa oppressed some of the people at the same time. The acts of Asa, from first to last, are written in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel. In the thirty-ninth year of his reign Asa was diseased in his feet–until his disease became very severe; yet in his disease he did not seek the Lord, but relied on the physicians. And Asa slept with his fathers, dying in the forty-first year of his reign.

Friday, February 5, 2016

Dethroning


There are important things in our lives and important people in our lives.  Sometimes those things and people need to be set aside because they are or can be distractions to living our lives pleasing to God.  Sometimes those things or people are sitting on a throne where they do not belong.  But dethroning your own mother?  That is exactly what Asa did.  Mommas little boy kicked her right out of the Queens chair.  That is heartless, cruel and unexceptable right....no it was the what needed to be done.  What needs to be dethroned in your life?
II Chronicles15:16 And also concerning Maacah, King Asa's mother, he removed from being queen mother, because she had made an abominable image for [the goddess] Asherah. Asa cut down her idol, crushed it, and burned it at the brook Kidron.

Thursday, February 4, 2016

Just Press The Button!


We all can relate to needing help.  Sometimes we are to proud to ask and suffer through the circumstances all alone.  Sometimes we are like the proverbial wolf that crys for help when it is really not neeeded.  But in those moments, when help is needed,  you can be sure of this one thing, it makes no difference whether you are weak or mighty, our God is all powerful and always ready willing and able to help.  Just press the button!  Asa did!
II Chronicles 14:9-12 There came out against Judah Zerah the Ethiopian with a host of a million [that is, too many to be numbered] and 300 chariots, and came as far as Mareshah. Then Asa went out against him, and they set up their lines of battle in the Valley of Zephathah at Mareshah. Asa cried to the Lord his God, O Lord, there is none besides You to help, and it makes no difference to You whether the one You help is mighty or powerless. Help us, O Lord our God! For we rely on You, and we go against this multitude in Your name. O Lord, You are our God; let no man prevail against You! So the Lord smote the Ethiopians before Asa and Judah, and the Ethiopians fled.

Wednesday, February 3, 2016

Got Any Idols


"An idol is an image or other material object representing a deity to which religious worship is addressed or any person or thing regarded with admiration, adoration, or devotion."
Would you like to have "rest" and peace in your personal kingdom?  What about rest and peace for an entire nation?
1.   The first step to aquiring rest and peace is...get rid of the idols.  Anything and I mean anything people, job, food, family, material posessions...
2.  The second step is...Seek the Lord God and crave for Him. Is God only a vital necessity when we are in distress or all the time?
3.  The third step is...Fortify your life, home, family and your mind spiritually.
II Chronicles 14:2-4
And Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his God. He took away the foreign altars and high places and broke down the idol pillars or obelisks and cut down the Asherim [symbols of the goddess Asherah] And commanded Judah to seek the Lord, the God of their fathers [to inquire of and for Him and crave Him as a vital necessity], and to obey the law and the commandment. Also Asa took out of all the cities of Judah the idolatrous high places and the incense altars. And the kingdom had rest under his reign.  And he built fortified cities in Judah, for the land had rest. He had no war in those years, for the Lord gave him peace.

Tuesday, February 2, 2016

F.R.O.G.


Simple, yet profound.  There are only two possibilities.  Rely on God or rely on you.  Who is wiser, knowing all things?  Who is everywhere at the same time? Who has all power?  A perfect example is found in a battle that takes place between two kings in II Chronicles 13.   "Thus the Israelites were brought low at that time, and the people of Judah prevailed because they relied upon the Lord, the God of their fathers." (13:8)  Simple yet profound.  F.R.O.S.  not hardly it doesn't even make sense (that's fully rely on Steve) F.R.O.G. FULLY RELY ON GOD!

Monday, February 1, 2016

Great Family Benefit Plan


Fear The Lord
Psalm 128  "BLESSED (HAPPY, fortunate, to be envied) is everyone who fears, reveres, and worships the Lord, who walks in His ways and lives according to His commandments. [Ps. 1:1, 2.] For you shall eat [the fruit] of the labor of your hands; happy (blessed, fortunate, enviable) shall you be, and it shall be well with you. Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine in the innermost parts of your house; your children shall be like olive plants round about your table. Behold, thus shall the man be blessed who reverently and worshipfully fears the Lord. May the Lord bless you out of Zion [His sanctuary], and may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life; Yes, may you see your children's children. Peace be upon Israel!"