Holding a Trowel and a Sword...

When Nehemiah and the the Israelites were rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem, after they had returned from exile in Babylon, they worked hard and non-stop to finish the repairs. They had people living there oppose them, to the point of violence. We read how Nehemiah instructed his fellow Jews to arm themselves, and keep working. If you could’ve been there you would’ve seen each worker with a trowel in one hand and a sword in the other. While one man worked, his partner guarded that portion of the wall. Does this sound familiar? Aren’t we, as believers, to put on the armor of God? Aren’t we under constant attack of the Devil? Just like Nehemiah, we are to continue to work, spreading the Good News of the Gospel, while putting on the armor of God. God will see to it that we honor Him and bring Him glory. And He will fight for us, when the enemy attacks. His armor is for our protection. As long as we wear it, and have it in our hand, He will fight for us to further His Kingdom. Such a comforting thought, isn’t it?

Sanballat was very angry when he learned that we were rebuilding the wall. He flew into a rage and mocked the Jews, 2 saying in front of his friends and the Samarian army officers, “What does this bunch of poor, feeble Jews think they’re doing? Do they think they can build the wall in a single day by just offering a few sacrifices? Do they actually think they can make something of stones from a rubbish heap–and charred ones at that?”3 Tobiah the Ammonite, who was standing beside him, remarked, “That stone wall would collapse if even a fox walked along the top of it!”4 Then I prayed, “Hear us, our God, for we are being mocked. May their scoffing fall back on their own heads, and may they themselves become captives in a foreign land! 5 Do not ignore their guilt. Do not blot out their sins, for they have provoked You to anger here in front of the builders.”6 At last the wall was completed to half its height around the entire city, for the people had worked with enthusiasm.7 But when Sanballat and Tobiah and the Arabs, Ammonites, and Ashdodites heard that the work was going ahead and that the gaps in the wall of Jerusalem were being repaired, they were furious. 8 They all made plans to come and fight against Jerusalem and throw us into confusion. 9 But we prayed to our God and guarded the city day and night to protect ourselves.10 Then the people of Judah began to complain, “The workers are getting tired, and there is so much rubble to be moved. We will never be able to build the wall by ourselves.”11 Meanwhile, our enemies were saying, “Before they know what’s happening, we will swoop down on them and kill them and end their work.”12 The Jews who lived near the enemy came and told us again and again, “They will come from all directions and attack us!” 13 So I placed armed guards behind the lowest parts of the wall in the exposed areas. I stationed the people to stand guard by families, armed with swords, spears, and bows.14 Then as I looked over the situation, I called together the nobles and the rest of the people and said to them, “Don’t be afraid of the enemy! Remember the Lord, who is great and glorious, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes!”15 When our enemies heard that we knew of their plans and that God had frustrated them, we all returned to our work on the wall. 16 But from then on, only half my men worked while the other half stood guard with spears, shields, bows, and coats of mail. The leaders stationed themselves behind the people of Judah 17 who were building the wall. The laborers carried on their work with one hand supporting their load and one hand holding a weapon. 18 All the builders had a sword belted to their side. The trumpeter stayed with me to sound the alarm.19 Then I explained to the nobles and officials and all the people, “The work is very spread out, and we are widely separated from each other along the wall. 20 When you hear the blast of the trumpet, rush to wherever it is sounding. Then our God will fight for us!”21 We worked early and late, from sunrise to sunset. And half the men were always on guard. 22 I also told everyone living outside the walls to stay in Jerusalem. That way they and their servants could help with guard duty at night and work during the day. 23 During this time, none of us–not I, nor my relatives, nor my servants, nor the guards who were with me–ever took off our clothes. We carried our weapons with us at all times, even when we went for water. Nehemiah 4

Giving and Loving Go Together...

The only way people can truly view the role of money is through a Biblical perspective. Having riches only breeds the desire for more giving us a sense of false security. Having stuff leads the focus of your life onto self. Jesus said, “you can’t serve both God and money”. That’s pretty clear on this topic, as is this proverb. Giving from the heart brings more joy and satisfaction than possessing a great amount of riches. Think about that for a minute. Selfishness is the opposite of love, right? “Having” shifts the focus on self. “Giving” gets the focus off self, and on to others for their benefit. “Giving” and “loving” go together, as does “taking” and “selfishness”.

26 Some people are always greedy for more, but the godly love to give! Proverbs 21:26

Just Imagine If....

Just imagine what our day would look like if we made a commitment to the Lord and prayed like Nehemiah prayed in chapter one of the book titled after him? Just imagine what could be accomplished? Just imagine the significance and confidence in God we would experience? Just imagine the closeness we would have with God? It would be life-altering, knowing that your day is God-ordained, that His will is being carried out, that His glory is being rightfully placed because of your faithfulness in putting it into action. It all begins with God, and is escorted in with prayer.

O Lord, please hear my prayer! Listen to the prayers of those of us who delight in honoring You. Please grant me success today by making the king favorable to me. Put it into his heart to be kind to me.” Nehemiah 1:11a

Maintaining a Clear Conscience....

I wonder how many people live their lives like Paul did? Trying to maintain a clear conscience before God and all people? I’ll admit, I strive for this with God, but not all people. Do you?

14 “But I admit that I follow the Way, which they call a cult. I worship the God of our ancestors, and I firmly believe the Jewish law and everything written in the prophets. 15 I have the same hope in God that these men have, that He will raise both the righteous and the unrighteous. 16 Because of this, I always try to maintain a clear conscience before God and all people. Acts 24:14-16

Watch Your Tongue....

When you’re not sure what to say, the best option is to stay quiet or acknowledge you don’t have an answer. In all situations, speak truth. If you’re still unsure, remain quiet. God will give you the words to say if it’s His will to communicate truth to others. It just might not be at that moment; another might be just around the corner. In the mean time, go to Him with it, and He will give you the words to say. God should be the regulator of our tongues, when we follow Him, the right words come. When we don’t, trouble usually follows.

23 Watch your tongue and keep your mouth shut, and you will stay out of trouble. Proverbs 21:23

Making the Most of Your Time.....

We are put on this earth for a reason. Some to honor God with their lives. Some to oppose God with their lives. And some to carry out God’s will by living a “sit on the fence” mentality. No matter how you look at it, God will get the glory. But we, only as we are alive, can praise or curse Him. When we die that opportunity runs out. For those who were faithful by believing in Jesus will live on to praise God. For those rebellious, unfaithful ones, they will never have the opportunity again. What we do in this life matters. If we praise God for all He has done in this life, we will reap the rewards now and in the life to come. If we refuse, we lose the opportunities and blessings now, and guarantee ourselves never to have the privilege of doing it in the future for all eternity. Make the most of what you are given, it will make a difference. You have the privilege of telling the world about God. Do you do it?

10 Are Your wonderful deeds of any use to the dead? Do the dead rise up and praise You? 11 Can those in the grave declare Your unfailing love? Can they proclaim Your faithfulness in the place of destruction? 12 Can the darkness speak of Your wonderful deeds? Can anyone in the land of forgetfulness talk about Your righteousness? Psalms 88:10-12

Brief Moments of Grace....

Opportunities come along every so often in life. It’s easy to recognize some, and sometimes difficult with others. The key is to act on those opportunities when they come. Sometimes they only come once in a lifetime. The same is true with God’s grace. He blesses all people with life, but He goes far beyond just the basics. The most important response we can have, when He extends more grace to us, is to seize the opportunity and respond with the appropriate action: repentance or gratitude. We are not in control of when these “brief moments of grace” come, but we are in control how we react to them when they do come. Repentance is simply siding with God on the issue. It’s agreeing with Him, and doing whatever it takes to make it right. Gratitude is the same thing, it just comes from a different perspective. Repentance involves shame, regret, and guilt. Gratitude incorporates joy, contentment, security, and the feeling of significance seasoned with the salt of unworthiness (undeserved mercy). Both can have positive outcomes. It all depends on how we respond to these “brief moments of grace”. Have you had any of these lately? How did you respond?

8 “But now we have been given a brief moment of grace, for the Lord our God has allowed a few of us to survive as a remnant. He has given us security in this holy place. Our God has brightened our eyes and granted us some relief from our slavery. Ezra 9:8

You Will Find Life....

When you whole-heartedly pursue God, you find righteousness, honor, and unfailing love. Why? Because He is the Source of them. Jesus said “in order to find life, you have to lose it”. When you lose yourself in the pursuit of knowing God, you will find life. The only way to find life is to go to its Source. God is the Author of life. That’s why it’s called HIStory.

21 Whoever pursues righteousness and unfailing lovewill find life, righteousness, and honor. Proverbs 21:21

Surrounded by Other Believers....

Believers in government should surround themselves with other believers. God governs those that follow Him. It guarantees civility. They should appoint fellow believers to work with, and do whatever it takes to abolish affirmative action. The color of one’s skin does not reveal what’s in one’s heart. The only affirmative action believers should pursue is the eradication of evil behavior. And employing other believers is a start.

25 “And you, Ezra, are to use the wisdom your God has given you to appoint magistrates and judges who know your God’s laws to govern all the people in the province west of the Euphrates River. Teach the law to anyone who does not know it. 26 Anyone who refuses to obey the law of your God and the law of the king will be punished immediately, either by death, banishment, confiscation of goods, or imprisonment.” Ezra 7:25-26

So Much for Being Religious...

We all must be careful when we become believing followers of Jesus. It’s easy to become “RELIGIOUS”. When that happens our thinking gets distorted, and we start to believe by doing things that will please God is actually doing Him a favor. First of all, we can never earn our salvation, only Jesus can do that for us. Secondly, living to please God by determining what pleases God in our own heads won’t accomplish it either. Only God determines that criteria. And lastly, if it goes against God’s word, it won’t please Him. How is it pleasing to God to kill someone without a fair trial? How does that please God? How is that godly behavior? These certain Jews who took an oath to murder Paul thought they were doing God a favor, but in reality they were just being “RELIGIOUS”. And how, by approving the act of murder (by the religious leaders), is it considered righteous behavior? That is one of the reasons Jesus came to earth, to put an end to empty, half-hearted, religious behavior. And so should we. The irony of all of this is those that plotted to murder Paul, took an oath not to eat or drink until he was dead. They didn’t die of malnutrition or dehydration. Paul lived for several more years. I guess their oath wasn’t very binding, was it? So much for being RELIGIOUS.

12 The next morning a group of Jews got together and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul. 13 There were more than forty of them in the conspiracy. 14 They went to the leading priests and elders and told them, “We have bound ourselves with an oath to eat nothing until we have killed Paul. 15 So you and the high council should ask the commander to bring Paul back to the council again. Pretend you want to examine his case more fully. We will kill him on the way.” Acts 23:12-15

Extending His Grace....

In this Psalm we see God’s grace prophesied to be extended to the Gentiles. A Jew reading this would say these Gentiles converted to Judaism. But if you read scripture, we know this isn’t accurate. This is God extending His Grace to all people, Jew and Gentiles alike. Those who wrote about it probably didn’t fully understand what they were writing, but they did understand that God is just, merciful, and loving. And that was enough.

1 On the holy mountain stands the city founded by the Lord.2 He loves the city of Jerusalem more than any other city in Israel.3 O city of God,what glorious things are said of you!Interlude 4 I will count Egypt and Babylon among those who know Me–also Philistia and Tyre, and even distant Ethiopia.They have all become citizens of Jerusalem!5 Regarding Jerusalem it will be said,“Everyone enjoys the rights of citizenship there.”And the Most High will personally bless this city.6 When the Lord registers the nations, He will say,“They have all become citizens of Jerusalem.”Interlude 7 The people will play flutes and sing,“The source of my life springs from Jerusalem!” Psalms 87

God’s Sovereignty Surpasses....

God’s sovereignty surpasses all possible thoughts of man. God used an enemy to discipline Israel, then the same enemy to help them. It pays to honor the One and Only Living God.

1 At that time the prophets Haggai and Zechariah son of Iddo prophesied to the Jews in Judah and Jerusalem. They prophesied in the name of the God of Israel who was over them. 2 Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and Jeshua son of Jehozadak responded by starting again to rebuild the Temple of God in Jerusalem. And the prophets of God were with them and helped them.3 But Tattenai, governor of the province west of the Euphrates River, and Shethar-bozenai and their colleagues soon arrived in Jerusalem and asked, “Who gave you permission to rebuild this Temple and restore this structure?” 4 They also asked for the names of all the men working on the Temple. 5 But because their God was watching over them, the leaders of the Jews were not prevented from building until a report was sent to Darius and he returned his decision. Ezra 5:1-5

12 But because our ancestors angered the God of heaven, He abandoned them to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, who destroyed this Temple and exiled the people to Babylonia. 13 However, King Cyrus of Babylon, during the first year of his reign, issued a decree that the Temple of God should be rebuilt. Ezra 5:12-13

8 “Moreover, I hereby decree that you are to help these elders of the Jews as they rebuild this Temple of God. You must pay the full construction costs, without delay, from my taxes collected in the province west of the Euphrates River so that the work will not be interrupted. Ezra 6:8

11 “Those who violate this decree in any way will have a beam pulled from their house. Then they will be tied to it and flogged, and their house will be reduced to a pile of rubble. 12 May the God who has chosen the city of Jerusalem as the place to honor His name destroy any king or nation that violates this command and destroys this Temple.“I, Darius, have issued this decree. Let it be obeyed with all diligence.” Ezra 6:11-12

There was great joy throughout the land because the Lord had caused the king of Assyria to be favorable to them, so that he helped them to rebuild the Temple of God, the God of Israel. Ezra 6:22c

Truth Always Overrides Pride....

Truth will always override pride. When pride is confronted with truth, you have a choice: humble yourself, examine it to see if it’s true, or deny it, oppose it, and fight it with all you can muster. Unfortunately, the Jews listening to Paul speak chose the latter of the two choices. They listened intently, until a Paul mentioned the word “gentiles”. Their pride rose up and resistance was the outcome. How do you handle pride when it’s confronted with truth? You have a choice. Choose wisely.

21 “But the Lord said to me, ‘Go, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles!’”22 The crowd listened until Paul said that word. Then they all began to shout, “Away with such a fellow! He isn’t fit to live!” 23 They yelled, threw off their coats, and tossed handfuls of dust into the air. Acts 22:21-23

Two Views of God...

There are two views of God. I’m not including the one in which people pretend to not believe He exists, because that’s not a viewpoint, it’s denial. There are those that view God as a tyrant; controlling everything, doing as He pleases. They view Him as a monster, causing pain, taking the lives of children with sickness and disease. They see God as evil. Then there are those that view God as a Good Father. One Who gives lavish gifts, looks out for our good, and loves us unconditionally. One Who is full of compassion and mercy, and is slow to get angry. One Who is faithful and is trustworthy with His promises. They see God as Good. Which do you see when you look at God? I bet whichever viewpoint you choose, it will reveal a lot about your character.

15 But You, O Lord,are a God of compassion and mercy,slow to get angryand filled with unfailing love and faithfulness. Psalms 86:15

A Defeated Foe....

Opposition will always exist when people want to exalt God. Satan knows he has lost the battle. He knows he can’t win. But even knowing this, he won’t stop. His goal is to get as many people as possible to either rebel against God, or discourage them enough to paralyze then into doing nothing. As far as those that continually serve God, Satan wants to destroy them as fast as possible. Here we see an example of opposition to God in Ezra chapter 4. The local people (none Jews) offered to help build the Temple. The Israelites refused their help because they were not Jews. The people were offended and thus set out to stop the rebuilding of the Temple by concocting a letter to deceive the Persian king. They succeeded, but it was only for a short while. When you oppose God, you can’t win. You may make progress, but it will be short-lived. You can’t stop God in accomplishing His will. If you think you can, you have a lot in common with the Devil, a defeated foe.

The enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the exiles were rebuilding a Temple to the Lord, the God of Israel. 2 So they approached Zerubbabel and the other leaders and said, “Let us build with you, for we worship your God just as you do. We have sacrificed to Him ever since King Esarhaddon of Assyria brought us here.”3 But Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the other leaders of Israel replied, “You may have no part in this work. We alone will build the Temple for the Lord, the God of Israel, just as King Cyrus of Persia commanded us.”4 Then the local residents tried to discourage and frighten the people of Judah to keep them from their work. 5 They bribed agents to work against them and to frustrate their plans. This went on during the entire reign of King Cyrus of Persia and lasted until King Darius of Persia took the throne. Ezra 4:1-5

Half Empty or Half Full....

Isn’t it funny about human beings? Some see the glass half empty, while others see it half full. Here in Ezra chapter three we see this example being played out. The foundation of the Temple of the Lord is being laid out (rebuilt), and we see two very different reactions. The younger people, who probably never saw the original Temple built by Solomon that was destroyed, were cheering with excitement. They were enthusiastic because of the rebuilding of the Temple. The older people, who saw the original Temple, began to weep and wail, probably because this new structure didn’t even come close to the grandeur of Solomon’s Temple. Or maybe they were just saddened because they hadn’t worshipped in over 70+ years. So here you have a scene with people shouting with joy and others weeping and wailing. Can you imagine what some one near the city traveling by would think? I’d probably not go near it, because I couldn’t figure out what was happening. I’d probably keep moving on, thinking the people there are crazy. What kind of person are you? Half empty or half full?

12 But many of the older priests, Levites, and other leaders who had seen the first Temple wept aloud when they saw the new Temple’s foundation. The others, however, were shouting for joy. 13 The joyful shouting and weeping mingled together in a loud noise that could be heard far in the distance. Ezra 3:12-13

Irrelevant Manuscripts....

In today’s society, at least here in America, these two proverbs couldn’t be more telling of where our society has ventured. We are so far from God, most people would read these and laugh at it. They would call them ancient, irrelevant manuscripts. They would say “the Bible is outdated”. They would tell believers, “get with the times”. Regardless of society’s changing view of things, truth never changes, goes out of style, or irrelevant. Truth is always relevant. WORD!!!

15 Justice is a joy to the godly, but it terrifies evildoers. 16 The person who strays from common sense will end up in the company of the dead. Proverbs 21:15-16

God Is The Giver...

I have often written about God’s provision. We, as inhabitants on this earth, have been given everything we need for life. We have all the elements to survive, air, water, food, clothing, etc... we have money, family, love, and every kind of provision necessary to live. For those that have more and for those who have less, God provides by taking from one and giving to another. It’s all a matter of redistribution. It all belongs to God. So the moral to this lesson is to never hold onto to anything too tightly, if you do, it will hurt when God has to pry it out of your hand in order to give it to someone in more need than you. Adopt the attitude of God is the Giver, so we worship Him and not the gift.

1 In the first year of King Cyrus of Persia, the Lord fulfilled the prophecy He had given through Jeremiah. He stirred the heart of Cyrus to put this proclamation in writing and to send it throughout his kingdom: 2 “This is what King Cyrus of Persia says:“The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth. He has appointed me to build Him a Temple at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. 3 Any of you who are His people may go to Jerusalem in Judah to rebuild this Temple of the Lord, the God of Israel, who lives in Jerusalem. And may your God be with you! 4 Wherever this Jewish remnant is found, let their neighbors contribute toward their expenses by giving them silver and gold, supplies for the journey, and livestock, as well as a voluntary offering for the Temple of God in Jerusalem.” 5 Then God stirred the hearts of the priests and Levites and the leaders of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin to go to Jerusalem to rebuild the Temple of the Lord. 6 And all their neighbors assisted by giving them articles of silver and gold, supplies for the journey, and livestock. They gave them many valuable gifts in addition to all the voluntary offerings.7 King Cyrus himself brought out the articles that King Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the Lord’s Temple in Jerusalem and had placed in the temple of his own gods. 8 Cyrus directed Mithredath, the treasurer of Persia, to count these items and present them to Sheshbazzar, the leader of the exiles returning to Judah. 9 This is a list of the items that were returned:  gold basins30 silver basins1 ,000 silver incense burners2910 gold bowls30 silver bowls410 other items1 ,000  11 In all, there were 5 ,400 articles of gold and silver. Sheshbazzar brought all of these along when the exiles went from Babylon to Jerusalem. Ezra 1:1-11

3 By His divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know Him, the One who called us to Himself by means of His marvelous glory and excellence. 4 And because of His glory and excellence, He has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share His divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires. 2 Peter 1:3-4

Paul’s Example...

Paul’s example (his steadfast commitment to preach the Good News), must never be forgotten. In Acts chapter 20, he spells out what we are to always do, no matter what opposition we face. 1) never stop telling the truth. 2) always emphasize the necessity of repentance from sin and turning to God. 3) have faith in Jesus. The Gospel will never change, even if people do. Our job isn’t to save people, that’s up to God. Our job is to present the truth of the Gospel, and live a life that doesn’t tarnish its effectiveness. Not by being religious, rather being honest with ourselves enough to accept the truth.

18 When they arrived he declared, “You know that from the day I set foot in the province of Asia until now 19 I have done the Lord’s work humbly and with many tears. I have endured the trials that came to me from the plots of the Jews. 20 I never shrank back from telling you what you needed to hear, either publicly or in your homes. 21 I have had one message for Jews and Greeks alike–the necessity of repenting from sin and turning to God, and of having faith in our Lord Jesus.22 “And now I am bound by the Spirit to go to Jerusalem. I don’t know what awaits me, 23 except that the Holy Spirit tells me in city after city that jail and suffering lie ahead. 24 But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus–the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God. Acts 20:18-24

26 I declare today that I have been faithful. If anyone suffers eternal death, it’s not my fault, 27 for I didn’t shrink from declaring all that God wants you to know. Acts 20:26-27

Punishment Has Its Place....

Punishment has its place in society. That includes the death penalty. You can listen to all the protestors, but you will all agree, it purifies the land of evil. Putting a voice inside someone’s head to warn them of the consequences of their actions, by carrying out rightful punishment, is healthy and necessary. There will always be those who do evil (here on this earth), but having a healthy dose of justice, in the form of proper punishment, certainly reduces a large number of them. Look where the educational system has gone over the past 30 or so years? Take away discipline and what do you get? A broken system. Josiah sought the Lord all of his life. He did right in ridding the nation from its idolatrous practices. When he killed the pagan priests, he burned their bones upon their own altars, giving a clear warning to all who worship anything other than God. Yes, it’s a little disturbing, but it certainly accomplished God’s will. It purified the land of evil. And everyone benefited from it. Punishment has its place, we just need to make sure it’s consistent, appropriate, and God ordained.

3 During the eighth year of his reign, while he was still young, Josiah began to seek the God of his ancestor David. Then in the twelfth year he began to purify Judah and Jerusalem, destroying all the pagan shrines, the Asherah poles, and the carved idols and cast images. 4 He ordered that the altars of Baal be demolished and that the incense altars which stood above them be broken down. He also made sure that the Asherah poles, the carved idols, and the cast images were smashed and scattered over the graves of those who had sacrificed to them. 5 He burned the bones of the pagan priests on their own altars, and so he purified Judah and Jerusalem. 2 Chronicles 34:3-5

Never Forget....

Never forget where you came from. Most of us from humble beginnings. Only to forget the adversity we went through that shaped our character when prosperity comes knocking.

13 Those who shut their ears to the cries of the poor will be ignored in their own time of need. Proverbs 21:13

No Greater Witness Than....

There is no greater/effective witness than a changed life. Humility is always part of the process.

6 Manasseh also sacrificed his own sons in the fire in the valley of Ben-Hinnom. He practiced sorcery, divination, and witchcraft, and he consulted with mediums and psychics. He did much that was evil in the Lord’s sight, arousing His anger. 2 Chronicles 33:6

10 The Lord spoke to Manasseh and his people, but they ignored all His warnings. 11 So the Lord sent the commanders of the Assyrian armies, and they took Manasseh prisoner. They put a ring through his nose, bound him in bronze chains, and led him away to Babylon. 12 But while in deep distress, Manasseh sought the Lord his God and sincerely humbled himself before the God of his ancestors. 13 And when he prayed, the Lord listened to him and was moved by his request. So the Lord brought Manasseh back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. Then Manasseh finally realized that the Lord alone is God! 14 After this Manasseh rebuilt the outer wall of the City of David, from west of the Gihon Spring in the Kidron Valley to the Fish Gate, and continuing around the hill of Ophel. He built the wall very high. And he stationed his military officers in all of the fortified towns of Judah. 15 Manasseh also removed the foreign gods and the idol from the Lord’s Temple. He tore down all the altars he had built on the hill where the Temple stood and all the altars that were in Jerusalem, and he dumped them outside the city. 16 Then he restored the altar of the Lord and sacrificed peace offerings and thanksgiving offerings on it. He also encouraged the people of Judah to worship the Lord, the God of Israel. 2 Chronicles 33:10-16

Taking an Idol into the Temple...

How often do we take an idol into the Temple of God and expect Him to answer our prayers? When we place things in inappropriate places (where only God should be), how long does it take to realize the outcome is solely our own fault? We need to keep the altar of God idol free. It starts with an honest commitment. Not one that will lead to prideful religious practices, but one of accepting truth, and siding with God when we come to our senses.

7 Manasseh even took a carved idol he had made and set it up in God’s Temple, the very place where God had told David and his son Solomon: “My name will be honored forever in this Temple and in Jerusalem–the city I have chosen from among all the tribes of Israel. 8 If the Israelites will be careful to obey My commands–all the laws, decrees, and regulations given through Moses–I will not send them into exile from this land that I set aside for your ancestors.” 9 But Manasseh led the people of Judah and Jerusalem to do even more evil than the pagan nations that the Lord had destroyed when the people of Israel entered the land. 2 Chronicles 33:7-9

Swallowing My Pride....

One of the hardest things to do in life, is swallowing your pride. Repentance isn’t easy, especially if it involves humbling yourself. If we constantly seek God out, and stay faithful to His ways, saying “sorry”, or making right a wrong won’t be so difficult. It only becomes difficult when we stray away from God and get “full” of ourselves. It can be a painful process having to empty an over-flowing cup of “too much me” in order to make room for “a little bit of Him”. Humility is the key. And it something that takes daily monitoring in order to make sure the balance of “me to Him” is adequate.

24 About that time Hezekiah became deathly ill. He prayed to the Lord, who healed him and gave him a miraculous sign. 25 But Hezekiah did not respond appropriately to the kindness shown him, and he became proud. So the Lord’s anger came against him and against Judah and Jerusalem. 26 Then Hezekiah humbled himself and repented of his pride, as did the people of Jerusalem. So the Lord’s anger did not fall on them during Hezekiah’s lifetime. 2 Chronicles 32:24-26

Staying Faithful....

When I read about Assyria invading Judah, and King Sennacherib mocking God, I can’t help but see Satan at work in the King’s heart. It’s as if Satan Himself was taunting Israel and trying to use fear to make them surrender (to turn their backs on God). How often does Satan today still use this tactic? He is powerless in comparison to God. He can only do things to tempt us into believing a lie. Once that happens, and we take it in, he can manipulate it until we allow it to drive us away from God in fear and despair. Satan’s ploy is to alter our mindset by deception. Think about all the ways he has deceived people over the centuries. “Eat the fruit, Eve, you won’t die”, “did God really say that?”, “take the money, Bill, no one will know”, or “do it, Jan, it’s not hurting anyone”. Hezekiah knows God, He knows Him well enough to trust Him, even though his army is outnumbered 20 to 1. He knows with God on his side “there is a power far greater” there to help him. The army surrounding him is “merely men”. And even in the midst of hearing King Sennacherib’s speech in front of his own people, and seeing the fear grip them, Hezekiah stood on his Rock of Faith (God). This knowledge and relationship he had with God, gave him security in times of despair, and strength in times of utter desperation. If you read the more detailed account of this (2 Kings 18-19), the Israelites stayed silent during King Sennacherib’s blasphemous speech, even though many were trembling in fear. This showed that they respected Hezekiah, and more importantly, trusted God to fight for them. It showed that they acted on what they knew to be true (God’s word) instead of on their feelings of fear and desperation. Do you have this kind of trust with God. Is it something you strive to develop? Ask Him, and don’t be surprised if He answers your prayer. You might just have to push through a little dirt first. Go with what you know to be true in times of worry, fear, or despair. Your feelings will come and go, God’s word and His promises will last forever. And they will support you through the storms of life. Stay faithful.

1 After Hezekiah had faithfully carried out this work, King Sennacherib of Assyria invaded Judah. He laid siege to the fortified towns, giving orders for his army to break through their walls. 2 When Hezekiah realized that Sennacherib also intended to attack Jerusalem, 3 he consulted with his officials and military advisers, and they decided to stop the flow of the springs outside the city. 4 They organized a huge work crew to stop the flow of the springs, cutting off the brook that ran through the fields. For they said, “Why should the kings of Assyria come here and find plenty of water?”5 Then Hezekiah worked hard at repairing all the broken sections of the wall, erecting towers, and constructing a second wall outside the first. He also reinforced the supporting terraces in the City of David and manufactured large numbers of weapons and shields. 6 He appointed military officers over the people and assembled them before him in the square at the city gate. Then Hezekiah encouraged them by saying: 7 “Be strong and courageous! Don’t be afraid or discouraged because of the king of Assyria or his mighty army, for there is a power far greater on our side! 8 He may have a great army, but they are merely men. We have the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles for us!” Hezekiah’s words greatly encouraged the people. Sennacherib Threatens Jerusalem 9 While King Sennacherib of Assyria was still besieging the town of Lachish, he sent his officers to Jerusalem with this message for Hezekiah and all the people in the city: 10 “This is what King Sennacherib of Assyria says: What are you trusting in that makes you think you can survive my siege of Jerusalem? 11 Hezekiah has said, ‘The Lord our God will rescue us from the king of Assyria.’ Surely Hezekiah is misleading you, sentencing you to death by famine and thirst! 12 Don’t you realize that Hezekiah is the very person who destroyed all the Lord’s shrines and altars? He commanded Judah and Jerusalem to worship only at the altar at the Temple and to offer sacrifices on it alone.13 “Surely you must realize what I and the other kings of Assyria before me have done to all the people of the earth! Were any of the gods of those nations able to rescue their people from my power? 14 Which of their gods was able to rescue its people from the destructive power of my predecessors? What makes you think your God can rescue you from me? 15 Don’t let Hezekiah deceive you! Don’t let him fool you like this! I say it again–no god of any nation or kingdom has ever yet been able to rescue his people from me or my ancestors. How much less will your God rescue you from my power!” 16 And Sennacherib’s officers further mocked the Lord God and His servant Hezekiah, heaping insult upon insult. 17 The king also sent letters scorning the Lord, the God of Israel. He wrote, “Just as the gods of all the other nations failed to rescue their people from my power, so the God of Hezekiah will also fail.” 18 The Assyrian officials who brought the letters shouted this in Hebrew to the people gathered on the walls of the city, trying to terrify them so it would be easier to capture the city. 19 These officers talked about the God of Jerusalem as though He were one of the pagan gods, made by human hands.20 Then King Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz cried out in prayer to God in heaven. 21 And the Lord sent an angel who destroyed the Assyrian army with all its commanders and officers. So Sennacherib was forced to return home in disgrace to his own land. And when he entered the temple of his god, some of his own sons killed him there with a sword.22 That is how the Lord rescued Hezekiah and the people of Jerusalem from King Sennacherib of Assyria and from all the others who threatened them. So there was peace throughout the land. 23 From then on King Hezekiah became highly respected among all the surrounding nations, and many gifts for the Lord arrived at Jerusalem, with valuable presents for King Hezekiah, too. 2 Chronicles 32:1-23

Success Isn’t Always Measured....

Success isn’t always measured in dollar bills, or the number of likes or friends you have on your Facebook page, or even how many followers you have in social media. It doesn’t necessarily mean you’re at the top of your company’s structure. It doesn’t even translate if you’ve won a championship in any league. Success happens when God sees it necessary for you to accomplish His will. Sure, He grants success to people who don’t follow Him, but it’s in some way or another eventually going to benefit those that do follow Him, which will bring Him glory. Hezekiah sought God with his entire heart. It’s the reason he was so successful as king. When we seek God whole-heartedly, success will follow. It just might not be the type of success the world tries to define. This success lasts forever, and it only comes from the One Who granted it. Train your mind and heart to seek God fully, and enjoy the success that follows. It may not look like the world’s definition of it, but it surely satisfies the soul.

21 In all that he did in the service of the Temple of God and in his efforts to follow God’s laws and commands, Hezekiah sought his God wholeheartedly. As a result, he was very successful. 2 Chronicles 31:21

Disrupting Our Selfishness....

When people say they have a cause and it eventually leads to violence, it usually stems from a money issue not the stated cause. See if it’s true. Research it for yourself. The Bible says, “money is a root of all evil”, which means selfishness is the cause of all evil. Money issues just help bring it out more easily. People fight because of selfishness, money is only the instigator. Violence stems from running out of defending statements. When you realize the truth has defeated you, violence and name-calling are your last resort in the battle. Demetrius was a silversmith, but a professional spin-doctor as well. He presented the case to the people playing on Artemis’ greatness, when in reality it was all about the loss of money. It was proven to be true in the end. Some of the people didn’t even know why they were there or chanting with the masses. In a recent WOMEN’S MOVEMENT RALLY, a muslim speaker had the entire crowd of supporters chanting “Sharia, Sharia, Sharia”. These women were so caught up in the moment, they didn’t realize what they were saying. Here you have women promoting women’s rights, and they are chanting a word that represents a culture that has been suppressing women’s rights for centuries. Talk about confusion? We live in a society driven by selfishness, money being the main driver, and we are confused as to what it is we really want. But when truth is spoken, most of the time it isn’t welcomed because it disrupts our selfishness. Make sense?

About that time, serious trouble developed in Ephesus concerning the Way. 24 It began with Demetrius, a silversmith who had a large business manufacturing silver shrines of the Greek goddess Artemis. He kept many craftsmen busy. 25 He called them together, along with others employed in similar trades, and addressed them as follows:“Gentlemen, you know that our wealth comes from this business. 26 But as you have seen and heard, this man Paul has persuaded many people that handmade gods aren’t really gods at all. And he’s done this not only here in Ephesus but throughout the entire province! 27 Of course, I’m not just talking about the loss of public respect for our business. I’m also concerned that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will lose its influence and that Artemis–this magnificent goddess worshiped throughout the province of Asia and all around the world–will be robbed of her great prestige!”28 At this their anger boiled, and they began shouting, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” 29 Soon the whole city was filled with confusion. Everyone rushed to the amphitheater, dragging along Gaius and Aristarchus, who were Paul’s traveling companions from Macedonia. 30 Paul wanted to go in, too, but the believers wouldn’t let him. 31 Some of the officials of the province, friends of Paul, also sent a message to him, begging him not to risk his life by entering the amphitheater.32 Inside, the people were all shouting, some one thing and some another. Everything was in confusion. In fact, most of them didn’t even know why they were there. 33 The Jews in the crowd pushed Alexander forward and told him to explain the situation. He motioned for silence and tried to speak. 34 But when the crowd realized he was a Jew, they started shouting again and kept it up for two hours: “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians! Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”35 At last the mayor was able to quiet them down enough to speak. “Citizens of Ephesus,” he said. “Everyone knows that Ephesus is the official guardian of the temple of the great Artemis, whose image fell down to us from heaven. 36 Since this is an undeniable fact, you should stay calm and not do anything rash. 37 You have brought these men here, but they have stolen nothing from the temple and have not spoken against our goddess.38 “If Demetrius and the craftsmen have a case against them, the courts are in session and the officials can hear the case at once. Let them make formal charges. 39 And if there are complaints about other matters, they can be settled in a legal assembly. 40 I am afraid we are in danger of being charged with rioting by the Roman government, since there is no cause for all this commotion. And if Rome demands an explanation, we won’t know what to say.” 41 Then he dismissed them, and they dispersed. Acts 19:23-41

Truth and a Straight Path...

When you walk in truth, your path is straight. I didn’t say easy, just straight. For those that walk in guilt and shame, their path is crooked. Think about it, the shortest distance between two points is a straight line. Wise words from a wise person.

6 Wealth created by a lying tongue is a vanishing mist and a deadly trap. 7 The violence of the wicked sweeps them away, because they refuse to do what is just. 8 The guilty walk a crooked path; the innocent travel a straight road. Proverbs 21:6-8

He Withholds No Good Thing....

God is for us. When we do right, He withholds no good thing from us. If our heart is aligned with His, and our will is to do His will, success follows. Guaranteed.

10 A single day in Your courts is better than a thousand anywhere else!I would rather be a gatekeeper in the house of my Godthan live the good life in the homes of the wicked.11 For the Lord God is our sun and our shield.He gives us grace and glory.The Lord will withhold no good thingfrom those who do what is right.12 O Lord of Heaven’s Armies,what joy for those who trust in You. Psalms 84:10-12

Planting Injustice....

It doesn’t matter what skin color you have. It doesn’t matter if you’re male or female. It doesn’t matter how young or old you are. And it doesn’t matter what your socioeconomic status is. when you promote violence and destruction, it’s a heart issue. It’s a sin issue. You can call it protesting, fighting for your rights, or even making a wrong into a right, but when your actions turn violent, it is no longer justified. If your heart is full of hatred, violence, and selfishness, you will act it out. When your heart chases after evil you will be punished. Your reign of violence will end. It may seem good and right at the moment, but in the end, it won’t equal the destruction and the torment you will face. it won’t be worth it. You will be held accountable for all that you have done. In these uncertain times we currently live in, take heart, reset your eyes on the prize. God is just. And he will not let evil reign for long. We are to overcome evil with good. It’s how it’s done, it’s the only way it’s done. Pray today that God will give you the strength, and empower you with his spirit to overcome evil with good.. It starts with a transforming of the heart. Address yours today.

Those who plant injustice will harvest disaster, and their reign of terror will come to an end. Proverbs 22:8a

Where Real Revival Starts....

A revival of the heart can happen quickly. If enough people get together, a national revival can happen quickly too. There is Hope, but it starts with you. A whole-hearted commitment is the key ingredient of a real and effective change.

So the Temple of the Lord was restored to service. 36 And Hezekiah and all the people rejoiced because of what God had done for the people, for everything had been accomplished so quickly. 2 Chronicles 29:35c-36