What Causes People to do Evil Things....

What causes people to do evil things? To worship false gods? To turn their back on God Himself? Sin. Sin blinds us to the truth. It deceived us into thinking evil is good, and good is evil. When we turn our backs on God, He turns His back in us. He gives us over to the foolishness of a depraved mind. Our minds become dark and confused. Black becomes white, day becomes night, and good is substituted for evil. And in all this we believe our behavior is right. King Ahab did all of this, and he encouraged others to do it as well. As a result, his life and all Judah suffered greatly. Even in his trials he never consulted God. Instead he rejected Him. Think of all the evil going on today: abortion in demand, selling aborted baby body parts, same sex marriage, transgenderism, euthanasia, banning guns, racism, domestic violence, drugs, and sexual harassment.... I could go on and on. Why do people reject God? Because of their sinful behavior blinds them to the truth. How do you expect to get better if you continue to feed your problem. The bigger the monster gets, and the further you get from the solution, the end is inevitable. Fortunately, we serve a God Who specializes in the impossible. It’s a shame most people don’t realize it. It’s our job to shine the light of truth into this dark world. It’s God’s job to save them. In the darkest night, a flicker of light makes a pathway clear to see and follow. Speak truth in all you do, you might just help make some one blind see.

3 He offered sacrifices in the valley of Ben-Hinnom, even sacrificing his own sons in the fire. In this way, he followed the detestable practices of the pagan nations the Lord had driven from the land ahead of the Israelites. 2 Chronicles 28:3

19 The Lord was humbling Judah because of King Ahaz of Judah, for he had encouraged his people to sin and had been utterly unfaithful to the Lord.20 So when King Tiglath-pileser of Assyria arrived, he attacked Ahaz instead of helping him. 21 Ahaz took valuable items from the Lord’s Temple, the royal palace, and from the homes of his officials and gave them to the king of Assyria as tribute. But this did not help him.22 Even during this time of trouble, King Ahaz continued to reject the Lord. 23 He offered sacrifices to the gods of Damascus who had defeated him, for he said, “Since these gods helped the kings of Aram, they will help me, too, if I sacrifice to them.” But instead, they led to his ruin and the ruin of all Judah.24 The king took the various articles from the Temple of God and broke them into pieces. He shut the doors of the Lord’s Temple so that no one could worship there, and he set up altars to pagan gods in every corner of Jerusalem. 25 He made pagan shrines in all the towns of Judah for offering sacrifices to other gods. In this way, he aroused the anger of the Lord, the God of his ancestors.26 The rest of the events of Ahaz’s reign and everything he did, from beginning to end, are recorded in The Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel. 27 When Ahaz died, he was buried in Jerusalem but not in the royal cemetery of the kings of Judah. Then his son Hezekiah became the next king. 2 Chronicles 28:19-27

Willfully Following God...

We all have a choice in how we respond to God’s commands. We can either: ignore them, listen but do little or nothing, or we can do exactly what He says to do. When we choose to do right, all that are involved benefit because God is pleased. When Israel was warned by the prophet Oded, several men listened. They presented their case to the leaders. Fortunately, Israel responded in proper fashion to God’s command and both Israel and Judah survived. Why is it here in America when people present their case about God, people don’t listen. They ignore His commands and thus drive this nation further and further away from truthful living. America needs to respond in obedience. If we don’t, the dissension and destruction of or way of life will continue. We succeed by willfully making the decision to follow God one person at a time. It starts with me.

9 But a prophet of the Lord named Oded was there in Samaria when the army of Israel returned home. He went out to meet them and said, “The Lord, the God of your ancestors, was angry with Judah and let you defeat them. But you have gone too far, killing them without mercy, and all heaven is disturbed. 10 And now you are planning to make slaves of these people from Judah and Jerusalem. What about your own sins against the Lord your God? 11 Listen to me and return these prisoners you have taken, for they are your own relatives. Watch out, because now the Lord’s fierce anger has been turned against you!”12 Then some of the leaders of Israel–Azariah son of Jehohanan, Berekiah son of Meshillemoth, Jehizkiah son of Shallum, and Amasa son of Hadlai–agreed with this and confronted the men returning from battle. 13 “You must not bring the prisoners here!” they declared. “We cannot afford to add to our sins and guilt. Our guilt is already great, and the Lord’s fierce anger is already turned against Israel.”14 So the warriors released the prisoners and handed over the plunder in the sight of the leaders and all the people. 15 Then the four men just mentioned by name came forward and distributed clothes from the plunder to the prisoners who were naked. They provided clothing and sandals to wear, gave them enough food and drink, and dressed their wounds with olive oil. They put those who were weak on donkeys and took all the prisoners back to their own people in Jericho, the city of palms. Then they returned to Samaria. 2 Chronicles 28:9-15

It’s Part of His Structure.....

I don’t know why God sometimes allows evil to reign. Why He allows it for times longer than others. I do know that what we question about His will, is His patience. Why would God allow people to speak falsely about Him? Use His name to prosper themselves? Allow people to manipulate in ways that only hurt and confuse others? I don’t know. God allows it, but He doesn’t condone it. In time it will be dealt with. And His judgement is righteous. He will judge. And when He does, it will be appropriate, exacting, just, and final. I don’t want to be on the opposing side of His judgement. This is all part of His structure. His love for us gives us the freewill to choose. Instead of questioning His patience, maybe we should be examining our faith. Do we trust Him like we should?

A group of Jews was traveling from town to town casting out evil spirits. They tried to use the name of the Lord Jesus in their incantation, saying, “I command you in the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, to come out!” 14 Seven sons of Sceva, a leading priest, were doing this. 15 But one time when they tried it, the evil spirit replied, “I know Jesus, and I know Paul, but who are you?” 16 Then the man with the evil spirit leaped on them, overpowered them, and attacked them with such violence that they fled from the house, naked and battered.17 The story of what happened spread quickly all through Ephesus, to Jews and Greeks alike. A solemn fear descended on the city, and the name of the Lord Jesus was greatly honored. 18 Many who became believers confessed their sinful practices. Acts 19:13-18

Believing Marketing’s Message...

My job requires marketing. I have to promote myself in order to get work. I don’t like doing it, but I have to to live and provide for my family. Marketing has always been kind of a deceptive practice. It’s core message is, “you need this, it will make your life better”. Since the invention of TV, marketing has continually been growing into a monster of deception. With the advent of the internet, it’s taken on a new and more powerful form of deception. It based its core on feelings. Why? Because feelings are easily altered, and they are so vulnerable to deception. The biggest ploy marketers push is, “the current thing you own is inadequate, and if you buy our product you will be happy”. It teaches us to be discontent with what we have. It’s no longer “you need this product”. Now it’s in order to be happy, you have to have this product. And with the constant progress of technology, companies are catching on and designing their products to fit this concept. Some cars now have a sealed engine block. When the car breaks, you can’t fix it. You are forced to buy a new car; and fill up landfills with your old product). Products are built to last only a couple of years now, as opposed to years ago being built to last a long, long time. We have a freezer that’s over 50 years old and still running fine. The worst is with computer software. Companies force you to upgrade because technology doesn’t allow older software to work anymore, it’s incompatible. My point to all of this is modern marketing/advertising teaches us to go for the quick-fix, take short cuts, skip important steps, and throw away perfectly good, working devices due to our deceived mindset to its inadequacy. Hard work, dedication, perseverance, and integrity will never go out of style. When society tries to tell you these aren’t true, take the short cut, don’t listen. It’s better to stand for something (you know is true), because if you don’t, you’ll fall for anything. You’ll be robbed of the real joy these truths bring, by simply believing the lies of marketing.

5 Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty. Proverbs 21:5

God’s Will Guarantees...

When we constantly seek guidance from the Lord (pursue Him with all of our hearts), He makes our path straight. It’s God’s nature to provide for our needs. It’s His Will that we should seek. Why? Because His Will guarantees His glory, so if His glory is our purpose, success is guaranteed. It’s that simple.

4 He did what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight, just as his father, Amaziah, had done. 5 Uzziah sought God during the days of Zechariah, who taught him to fear God. And as long as the king sought guidance from the Lord, God gave him success. 2 Chronicles 26:4-5

6 King Jotham became powerful because he was careful to live in obedience to the Lord his God. 2 Chronicles 27:6

Turning to Inadequate Things....

Why do people turn back to things (in hope of resolving their problems) when those very things have proven themselves inadequate? The answer is simple: PRIDE. When PRIDE sets in, you can forget about talking sense in to the person. Here’s how to handle it. Simply state your warning and leave the conversation. Then continually pray for God to intervene and open the eyes of the prideful person. It’s all you can do. Here we see Amaziah in this very situation. The prophet sent by God asks Amaziah why he is worshipping the gods of the Edomites when they couldn’t save them from his own troops. Amaziah’s pride eventually cost him his life. Never allow yourself the mindset to think you don’t need God. He’s the only thing we will ever need. And with Him, He will fulfill our every need. Never forget this. We need God more than anything, for He is everything to us.

14 When King Amaziah returned from slaughtering the Edomites, he brought with him idols taken from the people of Seir. He set them up as his own gods, bowed down in front of them, and offered sacrifices to them! 15 This made the Lord very angry, and He sent a prophet to ask, “Why do you turn to gods who could not even save their own people from you?”16 But the king interrupted him and said, “Since when have I made you the king’s counselor? Be quiet now before I have you killed!”So the prophet stopped with this warning: “I know that God has determined to destroy you because you have done this and have refused to accept my counsel.” 2 Chronicles 25:14-16

20 But Amaziah refused to listen, for God was determined to destroy him for turning to the gods of Edom. 2 Chronicles 25:20 is

The Standard We Use....

What standard we use determines our attitude in life. If we use our own standards what we do will seem right in our own eyes. We will constantly justify our actions, and live according to what we perceive as right and wrong. It will be a roller coaster ride of a life; never knowing what true security feels like. If we use God’s standards, we will know the truth and it will set us free. We will never have to guess what is right or question if we did the right thing. And we won’t follow our feelings around wishing for stability. Gods standard in the rock on which we stand. When the storms of life come (and they will come), we will have solid footing to endure the storm and come out stronger spiritually because of it. And the best part is we will be closer to God because of it. And that my friend, is worth the journey through adversity. Don’t ever allow yourself to forget your Maker. If you do, your entire focus in life will be from a self-centered point of view. It will eventually lead you to seeing yourself as the one in control and your decision making will become flawed. It will take you down a road full of regret. Be honest. See yourself for who you truly are. Then and only then you’ll see your need of rescue and God will meet that need.

2 People may be right in their own eyes, but the Lord examines their heart. Proverbs 21:2

How to Witness to an Unbeliever...

How do you witness to an unbeliever? Simply relate something known to the Gospel. Paul did it in Athens. He took the Unknown God, and explained that is the real, and only knowable God of Israel. How effective was his speech? Let’s just say, his influence is still to this day effectively pointing people to Jesus.

16 While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was deeply troubled by all the idols he saw everywhere in the city. 17 He went to the synagogue to reason with the Jews and the God-fearing Gentiles, and he spoke daily in the public square to all who happened to be there.18 He also had a debate with some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers. When he told them about Jesus and His resurrection, they said, “What’s this babbler trying to say with these strange ideas he’s picked up?” Others said, “He seems to be preaching about some foreign gods.”19 Then they took him to the high council of the city. “Come and tell us about this new teaching,” they said. 20 “You are saying some rather strange things, and we want to know what it’s all about.” 21 (It should be explained that all the Athenians as well as the foreigners in Athens seemed to spend all their time discussing the latest ideas.)22 So Paul, standing before the council, addressed them as follows: “Men of Athens, I notice that you are very religious in every way, 23 for as I was walking along I saw your many shrines. And one of your altars had this inscription on it: ‘To an Unknown God.’ This God, whom you worship without knowing, is the One I’m telling you about.24 “He is the God who made the world and everything in it. Since He is Lord of heaven and earth, He doesn’t live in man-made temples, 25 and human hands can’t serve His needs–for He has no needs. He Himself gives life and breath to everything, and He satisfies every need. 26 From one man He created all the nations throughout the whole earth. He decided beforehand when they should rise and fall, and He determined their boundaries.27 “His purpose was for the nations to seek after God and perhaps feel their way toward Him and find Him–though He is not far from any one of us. 28 For in Him we live and move and exist. As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are His offspring.’ 29 And since this is true, we shouldn’t think of God as an idol designed by craftsmen from gold or silver or stone.30 “God overlooked people’s ignorance about these things in earlier times, but now He commands everyone everywhere to repent of their sins and turn to Him. 31 For He has set a day for judging the world with justice by the Man He has appointed, and He proved to everyone who this is by raising Him from the dead.”32 When they heard Paul speak about the resurrection of the dead, some laughed in contempt, but others said, “We want to hear more about this later.” 33 That ended Paul’s discussion with them, 34 but some joined him and became believers. Among them were Dionysius, a member of the council, a woman named Damaris, and others with them. Acts 17:16-34

Don’t Fret, God Is In Control....

Many people think a leader makes all the decisions for his/her group, but God is the One directing the show. Even when you have an evil leader, God is still in control. When things seem out of your control, God is reigning and His sovereignty cannot be overthrown. Whoever seems in control really isn’t. This is the very reason we shouldn’t fret if we disagree with who’s in control. God directs the stream of thoughts in the king’s heart. It goes where God wants it to go. Never forget this.

1 The king’s heart is like a stream of water directed by the Lord;He guides it wherever He pleases. Proverbs 21:1

The Way We Live....

The way we live our lives determines many things, one being who and how many attend our funeral. I know for believers this won’t really matter to them, but don’t forget, even in death, you can be a great witness for Christ by the way you lived your life. Live it well, have a influential funeral. Live it selfishly, and you’ll have “Jehoram” grave-side service.

20 Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years. No one was sorry when he died. They buried him in the City of David, but not in the royal cemetery. 2 Chronicles 21:20

Trouble Makers.....

There will always be trouble makers. They are stirred by jealousy. They refuse to research the truth, and even if they know it to be true, they will not accept it. Stay away from them, and please don’t ever join them. We serve God, Who is the truth. If we deny truth, as they do, we oppose God. I don’t ever want to be on a team fighting truth. There is no victory in that. When you fight against God, you will always lose. Just remember, God fights for us, so if you are fighting against Him and stirring up trouble in the lives of those who are on His side, you’ll suffer more than just a loss, you’ll pay the ultimate price with your life. A life without truth (God) has little significance.

5 But some of the Jews were jealous, so they gathered some troublemakers from the marketplace to form a mob and start a riot. They attacked the home of Jason, searching for Paul and Silas so they could drag them out to the crowd. 6 Not finding them there, they dragged out Jason and some of the other believers instead and took them before the city council. “Paul and Silas have caused trouble all over the world,” they shouted, “and now they are here disturbing our city, too. 7 And Jason has welcomed them into his home. They are all guilty of treason against Caesar, for they profess allegiance to another king, named Jesus.”8 The people of the city, as well as the city council, were thrown into turmoil by these reports. 9 So the officials forced Jason and the other believers to post bond, and then they released them. Acts 17:5-9

Call Me “Old Fashioned”...

Call me “old fashioned”, but when the paddle was removed from the classroom, respect was lost in public education. Take the Bible out of society, and anarchy soon follows. The lack of discipline in society, and specifically our public education system, has destroyed the fabric of its foundation. It’s the number one cause of this now broken system. Without responsibility, you cannot educate the masses. It’s much easier to educate a pure heart, than stuff information in a rebellious one.

30 Physical punishment cleanses away evil; such discipline purifies the heart. Proverbs 20:30

Each Phase in Life Has Positives and Negatives...

In life each phase has its positives and negatives. In youth, we have freedom from many responsibilities. We have strength and stamina, but we lack experience, wisdom and patience. In our older years, the switch happens. We gain experience, wisdom and patience, at the expense of strength and stamina. Each serves its purpose. Think about it: why do young men fight wars? Because they lack fear, they are strong, and have the stamina to endure. Why do old men lead them? They have experience, wisdom and patience. They save the young with warfare strategy, while the young save the old with their strong fighting skills. Each phase has its positives, we just need to recognize and embrace them, while letting go of what’s not important anymore. You are who you are because the life you lived. You wouldn’t be who you are if you lived a different life. Accept it, and share the wisdom and experience you gained along the way. You’re still important and necessary.

29 The glory of the young is their strength;the gray hair of experience is the splendor of the old. Proverbs 20:29

Who Is the First Person You Go to When....

Who is the first person you go to when faced with calamity? For me, it’s my wife. I know it should be God, but it’s in my nature to talk to a tangible, touchable person. God wants us to come to Him with all things, not just our trials. When we do our dependence on Him won’t seem so difficult to do. He is our Rock, our Hiding Place, our Refuge. He will fight for us, we just have to show up and be willing to follow and do what He says. Here, Jehoshaphat, does just that. He’s terrified, desperate, and seemingly helpless. He goes to God, and God rescues Him. He still has to show up, but he’s confident God will do what He says He’ll do (fight for them). What is it going to take for me to have this kind of faith? Simple acting on what I know to be true. And that is going to God first with everything, and then showing up in the mist of His battle, and watching Him fight for me. It just takes a little faith.

1 After this, the armies of the Moabites, Ammonites, and some of the Meunites declared war on Jehoshaphat. 2 Messengers came and told Jehoshaphat, “A vast army from Edom is marching against you from beyond the Dead Sea. They are already at Hazazon-tamar.” (This was another name for En-gedi.)3 Jehoshaphat was terrified by this news and begged the Lord for guidance. He also ordered everyone in Judah to begin fasting. 4 So people from all the towns of Judah came to Jerusalem to seek the Lord’s help.5 Jehoshaphat stood before the community of Judah and Jerusalem in front of the new courtyard at the Temple of the Lord. 6 He prayed, “O Lord, God of our ancestors, You alone are the God who is in heaven. You are ruler of all the kingdoms of the earth. You are powerful and mighty; no one can stand against You! 7 O our God, did You not drive out those who lived in this land when Your people Israel arrived? And did You not give this land forever to the descendants of Your friend Abraham? 8 Your people settled here and built this Temple to honor Your name. 9 They said, ‘Whenever we are faced with any calamity such as war, plague, or famine, we can come to stand in Your presence before this Temple where Your name is honored. We can cry out to You to save us, and You will hear us and rescue us.’10 “And now see what the armies of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir are doing. You would not let our ancestors invade those nations when Israel left Egypt, so they went around them and did not destroy them. 11 Now see how they reward us! For they have come to throw us out of Your land, which You gave us as an inheritance. 12 O our God, won’t You stop them? We are powerless against this mighty army that is about to attack us. We do not know what to do, but we are looking to You for help.”13 As all the men of Judah stood before the Lord with their little ones, wives, and children, 14 the Spirit of the Lord came upon one of the men standing there. His name was Jahaziel son of Zechariah, son of Benaiah, son of Jeiel, son of Mattaniah, a Levite who was a descendant of Asaph.15 He said, “Listen, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem! Listen, King Jehoshaphat! This is what the Lord says: Do not be afraid! Don’t be discouraged by this mighty army, for the battle is not yours, but God’s. 16 Tomorrow, march out against them. You will find them coming up through the ascent of Ziz at the end of the valley that opens into the wilderness of Jeruel. 17 But you will not even need to fight. Take your positions; then stand still and watch the Lord’s victory. He is with you, O people of Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid or discouraged. Go out against them tomorrow, for the Lord is with you!”18 Then King Jehoshaphat bowed low with his face to the ground. And all the people of Judah and Jerusalem did the same, worshiping the Lord. 19 Then the Levites from the clans of Kohath and Korah stood to praise the Lord, the God of Israel, with a very loud shout.20 Early the next morning the army of Judah went out into the wilderness of Tekoa. On the way Jehoshaphat stopped and said, “Listen to me, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem! Believe in the Lord your God, and you will be able to stand firm. Believe in His prophets, and you will succeed.”21 After consulting the people, the king appointed singers to walk ahead of the army, singing to the Lord and praising Him for His holy splendor. This is what they sang: “Give thanks to the Lord;His faithful love endures forever!” 22 At the very moment they began to sing and give praise, the Lord caused the armies of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir to start fighting among themselves. 23 The armies of Moab and Ammon turned against their allies from Mount Seir and killed every one of them. After they had destroyed the army of Seir, they began attacking each other. 24 So when the army of Judah arrived at the lookout point in the wilderness, all they saw were dead bodies lying on the ground as far as they could see. Not a single one of the enemy had escaped.25 King Jehoshaphat and his men went out to gather the plunder. They found vast amounts of equipment, clothing, and other valuables–more than they could carry. There was so much plunder that it took them three days just to collect it all! 26 On the fourth day they gathered in the Valley of Blessing, which got its name that day because the people praised and thanked the Lord there. It is still called the Valley of Blessing today.27 Then all the men returned to Jerusalem, with Jehoshaphat leading them, overjoyed that the Lord had given them victory over their enemies. 28 They marched into Jerusalem to the music of harps, lyres, and trumpets, and they proceeded to the Temple of the Lord.29 When all the surrounding kingdoms heard that the Lord Himself had fought against the enemies of Israel, the fear of God came over them. 30 So Jehoshaphat’s kingdom was at peace, for his God had given him rest on every side. 2 Chronicles 20:1-30

“Don’t Judge”.....

When you hear the words “don’t judge”, what comes to mind? For me I think of of making a first impression; like appearance, or hearsay, or even seeing a picture of someone on the internet. I also think of people who are doing something wrong and say it because they are not willing to listen to what you have to say. I think the majority of people who say it do it because they don’t know how to deal with their guilt (that’s if they even feel guilty). My take in this begs the question, what is the basis for judgement? What is the criteria for making a sound, rational decision? It has to be based on the behavior of the person and the standard God provides for us in the Bible. Is not He the Maker of the rules? The Author of HIS-story? Can’t He do as He pleases? In order to make a sound judgement, the Bible tells us to judge with integrity, act in fear of the Lord, and do it in faithfulness with an undivided heart. Jesus Himself said, “Stop judging by mere appearances, but instead judge correctly." We are to judge. But the problem comes in as to what standard are we using? God’s or man’s? So the next time someone says to you, “don’t judge”, simply reply (to finish the statement), “with man’s standard”. Our entire existence and the key to God’s heart is to accept truth, acknowledge sin, and agree with God. And that my friend takes the ability to discern, or more easily stated, judge rightly. It’s only possible when we use God’s standard.

4 Jehoshaphat lived in Jerusalem, but he went out among the people, traveling from Beersheba to the hill country of Ephraim, encouraging the people to return to the Lord, the God of their ancestors. 5 He appointed judges throughout the nation in all the fortified towns, 6 and he said to them, “Always think carefully before pronouncing judgment. Remember that you do not judge to please people but to please the Lord. He will be with you when you render the verdict in each case. 7 Fear the Lord and judge with integrity, for the Lord our God does not tolerate perverted justice, partiality, or the taking of bribes.”8 In Jerusalem, Jehoshaphat appointed some of the Levites and priests and clan leaders in Israel to serve as judges for cases involving the Lord’s regulations and for civil disputes. 9 These were his instructions to them: “You must always act in the fear of the Lord, with faithfulness and an undivided heart. 10 Whenever a case comes to you from fellow citizens in an outlying town, whether a murder case or some other violation of God’s laws, commands, decrees, or regulations, you must warn them not to sin against the Lord, so that He will not be angry with you and them. Do this and you will not be guilty. 2 Chronicles 19:4-10

If You Truly Want to Know Yourself....

I’ve probably mentioned this numerous times, but it’s always worthy to reiterate in my writings: if you truly want to know yourself, get to know God first. Then and only then, you’ll truly be able to know yourself. Just be prepared and willing to accept the truth. If you aren’t willing, the truth won’t set you free.

27 The Lord’s light penetrates the human spirit, exposing every hidden motive. Proverbs 20:27

God Always Makes the Right Choice.....

The heart of God and the heart of man revealed in scripture. Both are for our best, but only One is true to the task. Only One can accomplish what it’s set out to do. And even though one fights against God, God doesn’t fight back, He grants its wishes and allows the circumstances to follow. Love is a choice. And God ALWAYS makes the right choice.

Sing praises to God, our strength.Sing to the God of Jacob.2 Sing! Beat the tambourine.Play the sweet lyre and the harp.3 Blow the ram’s horn at new moon,and again at full moon to call a festival!4 For this is required by the decrees of Israel;it is a regulation of the God of Jacob.5 He made it a law for Israelwhen He attacked Egypt to set us free. I heard an unknown voice say,6 “Now I will take the load from your shoulders;I will free your hands from their heavy tasks.7 You cried to Me in trouble, and I saved you;I answered out of the thundercloudand tested your faith when there was no water at Meribah.Interlude 8 “Listen to Me, O My people, while I give you stern warnings.O Israel, if you would only listen to Me!9 You must never have a foreign god;you must not bow down before a false god.10 For it was I, the Lord your God,who rescued you from the land of Egypt.Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it with good things. 11 “But no, My people wouldn’t listen.Israel did not want Me around.12 So I let them follow their own stubborn desires,living according to their own ideas.13 Oh, that My people would listen to Me!Oh, that Israel would follow Me, walking in My paths!14 How quickly I would then subdue their enemies!How soon My hands would be upon their foes!15 Those who hate the Lord would cringe before Him;they would be doomed forever.16 But I would feed you with the finest wheat.I would satisfy you with wild honey from the rock.” Psalms 81:11-16

The ONE That Convicts You....

There are so many points to learn from in this chapter, but I will only emphasize one. BELIEF IS SOMETHING YOU HOLD, CONVICTION IS SOMETHING THAT HOLDS YOU. Jehoshaphat and Micaiah were both convicted by the Lord. Ahab wasn’t. Ahab’s “pie-in-the-sky” outlook on life didn’t align with the truth spoken by Micaiah, that’s why he hated him. Jehoshaphat’s conviction lead to more discernment about going into battle. This lead him to seek out truth, which Micaiah only spoke. In a world full of different beliefs, how do you know which is true? The one that convicts you. When it does, there’s no turning back; no matter the cost. What are you convicted about?

1 Jehoshaphat enjoyed great riches and high esteem, and he made an alliance with Ahab of Israel by having his son marry Ahab’s daughter. 2 A few years later he went to Samaria to visit Ahab, who prepared a great banquet for him and his officials. They butchered great numbers of sheep, goats, and cattle for the feast. Then Ahab enticed Jehoshaphat to join forces with him to recover Ramoth-gilead.3 “Will you go with me to Ramoth-gilead?” King Ahab of Israel asked King Jehoshaphat of Judah.Jehoshaphat replied, “Why, of course! You and I are as one, and my troops are your troops. We will certainly join you in battle.” 4 Then Jehoshaphat added, “But first let’s find out what the Lord says.”5 So the king of Israel summoned the prophets, 400  of them, and asked them, “Should we go to war against Ramoth-gilead, or should I hold back?”They all replied, “Yes, go right ahead! God will give the king victory.”6 But Jehoshaphat asked, “Is there not also a prophet of the Lord here? We should ask him the same question.”7 The king of Israel replied to Jehoshaphat, “There is one more man who could consult the Lord for us, but I hate him. He never prophesies anything but trouble for me! His name is Micaiah son of Imlah.”Jehoshaphat replied, “That’s not the way a king should talk! Let’s hear what he has to say.”8 So the king of Israel called one of his officials and said, “Quick! Bring Micaiah son of Imlah.” 9 King Ahab of Israel and King Jehoshaphat of Judah, dressed in their royal robes, were sitting on thrones at the threshing floor near the gate of Samaria. All of Ahab’s prophets were prophesying there in front of them. 10 One of them, Zedekiah son of Kenaanah, made some iron horns and proclaimed, “This is what the Lord says: With these horns you will gore the Arameans to death!”11 All the other prophets agreed. “Yes,” they said, “go up to Ramoth-gilead and be victorious, for the Lord will give the king victory!”12 Meanwhile, the messenger who went to get Micaiah said to him, “Look, all the prophets are promising victory for the king. Be sure that you agree with them and promise success.”13 But Micaiah replied, “As surely as the Lord lives, I will say only what my God says.”14 When Micaiah arrived before the king, Ahab asked him, “Micaiah, should we go to war against Ramoth-gilead, or should I hold back?”Micaiah replied sarcastically, “Yes, go up and be victorious, for you will have victory over them!”15 But the king replied sharply, “How many times must I demand that you speak only the truth to me when you speak for the Lord?”16 Then Micaiah told him, “In a vision I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, like sheep without a shepherd. And the Lord said, ‘Their master has been killed. Send them home in peace.’ ”17 “Didn’t I tell you?” the king of Israel exclaimed to Jehoshaphat. “He never prophesies anything but trouble for me.”18 Then Micaiah continued, “Listen to what the Lord says! I saw the Lord sitting on His throne with all the armies of heaven around Him, on His right and on His left. 19 And the Lord said, ‘Who can entice King Ahab of Israel to go into battle against Ramoth-gilead so he can be killed?’“There were many suggestions, 20 and finally a spirit approached the Lord and said, ‘I can do it!’“ ‘How will you do this?’ the Lord asked.21 “And the spirit replied, ‘I will go out and inspire all of Ahab’s prophets to speak lies.’“ ‘You will succeed,’ said the Lord. ‘Go ahead and do it.’22 “So you see, the Lord has put a lying spirit in the mouths of your prophets. For the Lord has pronounced your doom.”23 Then Zedekiah son of Kenaanah walked up to Micaiah and slapped him across the face. “Since when did the Spirit of the Lord leave me to speak to you?” he demanded.24 And Micaiah replied, “You will find out soon enough when you are trying to hide in some secret room!”25 “Arrest him!” the king of Israel ordered. “Take him back to Amon, the governor of the city, and to my son Joash. 26 Give them this order from the king: ‘Put this man in prison, and feed him nothing but bread and water until I return safely from the battle!’ ”27 But Micaiah replied, “If you return safely, it will mean that the Lord has not spoken through me!” Then he added to those standing around, “Everyone mark my words!” 28 So King Ahab of Israel and King Jehoshaphat of Judah led their armies against Ramoth-gilead. 29 The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “As we go into battle, I will disguise myself so no one will recognize me, but you wear your royal robes.” So the king of Israel disguised himself, and they went into battle.30 Meanwhile, the king of Aram had issued these orders to his chariot commanders: “Attack only the king of Israel! Don’t bother with anyone else.” 31 So when the Aramean chariot commanders saw Jehoshaphat in his royal robes, they went after him. “There is the king of Israel!” they shouted. But Jehoshaphat called out, and the Lord saved him. God helped him by turning the attackers away from him. 32 As soon as the chariot commanders realized he was not the king of Israel, they stopped chasing him.33 An Aramean soldier, however, randomly shot an arrow at the Israelite troops and hit the king of Israel between the joints of his armor. “Turn the horses and get me out of here!” Ahab groaned to the driver of the chariot. “I’m badly wounded!”34 The battle raged all that day, and the king of Israel propped himself up in his chariot facing the Arameans. In the evening, just as the sun was setting, he died. 2 Chronicles 18

God Seeks to Strengthen Us....

Isn’t it comforting to know that God seeks us out? I mean He looks throughout the earth for those who have a heart for Him. When He finds a dedicated, humble heart, He strengthens it. We serve a God that loves to help us. Yes, His purpose is to be glorified; which Nature and human beings do, but He helps put us in the position to honor Him, which He eventually honors. I’m not painting God into a corner, or trying to make Him out to be a genie in a bottle, existing for our pleasure, I’m just making the point that His agenda is to find people that honor Him, and in return He honors them. We don’t do it to get something back, it’s just part of the equation. We do it because He is worthy of our honor, devotion, time and treasure. If it weren’t for Him, you wouldn’t be reading this because you wouldn’t have eyes to see or the next breath to survive the time it takes you to read this passage. When we keep ourselves focused on God, our priorities stay in the proper in place. In response, He strengthens us, keeping our reputation in tact, so we can continue to be effective witnesses for Him. His strengthening means our example and words will matter more to others. We will strengthen those that believe, and help draw a little closer those that don’t. This is one of my favorite verses in all of scripture. It’s a shame some don’t get this.

The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him. 2 Chronicles 16:9a

A “WHY” Person...

I’m a “why” person. It’s why I have such a hard time in life. I’ve got to learn to let go. It’s all about trusting the One in charge. Make the decision today, and stick with it.

24 The Lord directs our steps, so why try to understand everything along the way? Proverbs 20:24

Turning Away From Reconciliation....

How do you respond to God’s workings? King David always responded to truth by accepting it, repenting if necessary and making things right by doing it God’s way. King Asa, didn’t finish well. He was loyal to God His entire life, until the end. In an effort to keep the King of Israel from attacking his territory, he paid off the King of Aram to defend him. God was not happy with his decision to not consult Him with this problem. Asa didn’t know how to deal with his lack of trusting God, so he withdrew. He didn’t seek out the Lord for anything in his last years. He eventually died from a foot disease that God could’ve easily cured. How you handle guilt and shame, shows directly how much pride you have in your heart. Humble yourself and go to God with it, and you’ll have resolution. Keep it inside, and stop seeking God, and you’ll eventually find yourself in an bottomless pit, that eventually will snuff all the life out of you. Imagine all the problems and pursuits people have these days. They seek acceptance, significance, or love from others because they refuse to go to God in order to deal with it. Running away from the only means of true reconciliation is the biggest irony in life. Don’t be the one who chooses this route. It will only be to your demise. And it will add to the broken-heartedness of our loving Lord.

1 In the thirty-sixth year of Asa’s reign, King Baasha of Israel invaded Judah and fortified Ramah in order to prevent anyone from entering or leaving King Asa’s territory in Judah.2 Asa responded by removing the silver and gold from the treasuries of the Temple of the Lord and the royal palace. He sent it to King Ben-hadad of Aram, who was ruling in Damascus, along with this message: 3 “Let there be a treaty between you and me like the one between your father and my father. See, I am sending you silver and gold. Break your treaty with King Baasha of Israel so that he will leave me alone.” 4 Ben-hadad agreed to King Asa’s request and sent the commanders of his army to attack the towns of Israel. They conquered the towns of Ijon, Dan, Abel-beth-maacah, and all the store cities in Naphtali. 5 As soon as Baasha of Israel heard what was happening, he abandoned his project of fortifying Ramah and stopped all work on it. 6 Then King Asa called out all the men of Judah to carry away the building stones and timbers that Baasha had been using to fortify Ramah. Asa used these materials to fortify the towns of Geba and Mizpah.7 At that time Hanani the seer came to King Asa and told him, “Because you have put your trust in the king of Aram instead of in the Lord your God, you missed your chance to destroy the army of the king of Aram. 8 Don’t you remember what happened to the Ethiopians and Libyans and their vast army, with all of their chariots and charioteers? At that time you relied on the Lord, and He handed them over to you. 9 The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him. What a fool you have been! From now on you will be at war.”10 Asa became so angry with Hanani for saying this that he threw him into prison and put him in stocks. At that time Asa also began to oppress some of his people. Summary of Asa’s Reign 11 The rest of the events of Asa’s reign, from beginning to end, are recorded in The Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel. 12 In the thirty-ninth year of his reign, Asa developed a serious foot disease. Yet even with the severity of his disease, he did not seek the Lord’s help but turned only to his physicians. 13 So he died in the forty-first year of his reign. 14 He was buried in the tomb he had carved out for himself in the City of David. He was laid on a bed perfumed with sweet spices and fragrant ointments, and the people built a huge funeral fire in his honor. 2 Chronicles 16

If We All Took God Seriously...

Can you imagine what kind of world we would live in if people took God seriously? Doing the things, as Jesus said, that have no law (the fruits of the Spirit)? I guess that’s what Heaven will be like. Something we can always look forward to.

11 On that day they sacrificed to the Lord 700  cattle and 7 ,000 sheep and goats from the plunder they had taken in the battle. 12 Then they entered into a covenant to seek the Lord, the God of their ancestors, with all their heart and soul. 13 They agreed that anyone who refused to seek the Lord, the God of Israel, would be put to death–whether young or old, man or woman. 14 They shouted out their oath of loyalty to the Lord with trumpets blaring and rams’ horns sounding. 15 All in Judah were happy about this covenant, for they had entered into it with all their heart. They earnestly sought after God, and they found Him. And the Lord gave them rest from their enemies on every side. 2 Chronicles 15:11-15

The Conundrum of Life....

The conundrum of life: God stays with us as long as we stay with Him. Abandon Him, and He will abandon you. Why are so many people angry with God? He only does what He says He’ll do.

1 Then the Spirit of God came upon Azariah son of Oded, 2 and he went out to meet King Asa as he was returning from the battle. “Listen to me, Asa!” he shouted. “Listen, all you people of Judah and Benjamin! The Lord will stay with you as long as you stay with Him! Whenever you seek Him, you will find Him. But if you abandon Him, He will abandon you. 3 For a long time Israel was without the true God, without a priest to teach them, and without the Law to instruct them. 4 But whenever they were in trouble and turned to the Lord, the God of Israel, and sought Him out, they found Him. 2 Chronicles 15:1-4

The Best Definition of Forgiveness...

The best definition I’ve heard about forgiveness is this: it’s giving up your right to get even. And it’s only possible when you give it to God and trust Him with the outcome.

22 Don’t say, “I will get even for this wrong. ”Wait for the Lord to handle the matter.” Proverbs 20:22

Prayer Isn’t Welcome....

How far has America come to where prayer isn’t welcomed. Asa prayed to God in a battle with the Cushites (Ethiopians) in which he was out numbered at least 2 to 1 (probably more). He knew God would fight for him, but he had to ask Him first. In the same way President FDR prayed a nationally broadcast prayer over the radio on June 6, 1944; D-Day (read it here http://www.historyplace.com/speeches/fdr-prayer.htm ). America welcomed his prayer, and God honored it. Could you see a current US President praying on tv? Could you see our current president praying in public? There would be a lynch mob and so many lawsuits, the courts would be so backed up they would cease working. Where has the people’s reverence for God gone? In the same place their morality has gone to, the dump. The hope I have in this world the world can’t touch, because my hope is in the One not of this world. He lives in Heaven. My job is to tell people about Him, one person at a time.

9 Once an Ethiopian named Zerah attacked Judah with an army of 1,000,000 men and 300  chariots. They advanced to the town of Mareshah, 10 so Asa deployed his armies for battle in the valley north of Mareshah. 11 Then Asa cried out to the Lord his God, “O Lord, no one but You can help the powerless against the mighty! Help us, O Lord our God, for we trust in You alone. It is in Your name that we have come against this vast horde. O Lord, You are our God; do not let mere men prevail against You!” 2 Chronicles 14:9-11

When You Fight Against God...

I wish every soul in America (much less the world) would read the words of Abijah to Jeroboam here in 2 Chronicles chapter 13. When you fight against God, you will always lose. And many times, your loss affects more than just you. It’s selfish to fight against God, especially when you know you can’t win. It cost Jeroboam 500,00 lives that day. What will it cost you?

8 “Do you really think you can stand against the kingdom of the Lord that is led by the descendants of David? You may have a vast army, and you have those gold calves that Jeroboam made as your gods. 9 But you have chased away the priests of the Lord (the descendants of Aaron) and the Levites, and you have appointed your own priests, just like the pagan nations. You let anyone become a priest these days! Whoever comes to be dedicated with a young bull and seven rams can become a priest of these so-called gods of yours!10 “But as for us, the Lord is our God, and we have not abandoned Him. Only the descendants of Aaron serve the Lord as priests, and the Levites alone may help them in their work. 11 They present burnt offerings and fragrant incense to the Lord every morning and evening. They place the Bread of the Presence on the holy table, and they light the gold lampstand every evening. We are following the instructions of the Lord our God, but you have abandoned Him. 12 So you see, God is with us. He is our leader. His priests blow their trumpets and lead us into battle against you. O people of Israel, do not fight against the Lord, the God of your ancestors, for you will not succeed!” 2 Chronicles 13:8-12 16 The Israelite army fled from Judah, and God handed them over to Judah in defeat. 17 Abijah and his army inflicted heavy losses on them; 500 ,000 of Israel’s select troops were killed that day. 18 So Judah defeated Israel on that occasion because they trusted in the Lord, the God of their ancestors. 2 Chronicles 13:16-18

The Urge to Become Religious....

In case any one gets the urge to become religious, here’s a truth that should put an end to that inclination. We are all saved the same way, undeserved Grace of God. God knows the condition of every man’s heart. It’s not our job to figure it out.

6 So the apostles and elders met together to resolve this issue. 7 At the meeting, after a long discussion, Peter stood and addressed them as follows: “Brothers, you all know that God chose me from among you some time ago to preach to the Gentiles so that they could hear the Good News and believe. 8 God knows people’s hearts, and He confirmed that He accepts Gentiles by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us. 9 He made no distinction between us and them, for He cleansed their hearts through faith. 10 So why are you now challenging God by burdening the Gentile believers with a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors were able to bear? 11 We believe that we are all saved the same way, by the undeserved grace of the Lord Jesus.” Acts 15:6-11

Humble Yourself....

I’ve always told myself, “humble yourself, so others won’t have to”. There’s not enough room on the planet for people with big heads. They would have to expand the size of doorways for them to enter the room.

12 Because Rehoboam humbled himself, the Lord’s anger was turned away, and He did not destroy him completely. There were still some good things in the land of Judah. 2 Chronicles 12:12

Sometimes It Takes Serving “Bad” People....

Sometimes it takes serving other people (particularly bad people) to understand how Good God is to serve. As Joshua said, “Choose whom you will serve, as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord”.

1 But when Rehoboam was firmly established and strong, he abandoned the Law of the Lord, and all Israel followed him in this sin. 2 Because they were unfaithful to the Lord, King Shishak of Egypt came up and attacked Jerusalem in the fifth year of King Rehoboam’s reign. 3 He came with 1 ,200 chariots, 60 ,000 horses, and a countless army of foot soldiers, including Libyans, Sukkites, and Ethiopians. 4 Shishak conquered Judah’s fortified towns and then advanced to attack Jerusalem.5 The prophet Shemaiah then met with Rehoboam and Judah’s leaders, who had all fled to Jerusalem because of Shishak. Shemaiah told them, “This is what the Lord says: You have abandoned Me, so I am abandoning you to Shishak.”6 Then the leaders of Israel and the king humbled themselves and said, “The Lord is right in doing this to us!”7 When the Lord saw their change of heart, he gave this message to Shemaiah: “Since the people have humbled themselves, I will not completely destroy them and will soon give them some relief. I will not use Shishak to pour out My anger on Jerusalem. 8 But they will become his subjects, so they will know the difference between serving Me and serving earthly rulers.” 2 Chronicles 12:1-8

Living in a Post-Christian Nation.....

We may live in a post-Christian nation, but the true followers of Christ know Who we serve, and where to go for help. Stay calm, we are still in Good Hands. He will protect us from the evil one.

5 Rehoboam remained in Jerusalem and fortified various towns for the defense of Judah. 6 He built up Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa, 7 Beth-zur, Soco, Adullam, 8 Gath, Mareshah, Ziph, 9 Adoraim, Lachish, Azekah, 10 Zorah, Aijalon, and Hebron. These became the fortified towns of Judah and Benjamin. 11 Rehoboam strengthened their defenses and stationed commanders in them, and he stored supplies of food, olive oil, and wine. 12 He also put shields and spears in these towns as a further safety measure. So only Judah and Benjamin remained under his control.13 But all the priests and Levites living among the northern tribes of Israel sided with Rehoboam. 14 The Levites even abandoned their pasturelands and property and moved to Judah and Jerusalem, because Jeroboam and his sons would not allow them to serve the Lord as priests. 15 Jeroboam appointed his own priests to serve at the pagan shrines, where they worshiped the goat and calf idols he had made. 16 From all the tribes of Israel, those who sincerely wanted to worship the Lord, the God of Israel, followed the Levites to Jerusalem, where they could offer sacrifices to the Lord, the God of their ancestors. 17 This strengthened the kingdom of Judah, and for three years they supported Rehoboam son of Solomon, for during those years they faithfully followed in the footsteps of David and Solomon. 2 Chronicles 11:5-17

Being In-Tune.....

Being “in-tune” with God helps us see things more clearly. When taken in and interpreted in an earthly sense, thing are muncher harder to comprehend; usually, things don’t make sense. And even when the things of God don’t make sense, it’s easier to deal with because we trust the One in charge.

4 ‘This is what the Lord says: Do not fight against your relatives. Go back home, for what has happened is My doing!’ ” So they obeyed the message of the Lord and did not fight against Jeroboam. 2 Chronicles 11:4