The Battle is God's

“...Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours but God’s.” - 2 Chronicles 20:15b

Who is fighting your battles?

Battles seem to be a constant part of life, don’t they? It seems just when we get through the storm and have a glimpse of calm the clouds come rolling in again. This life is not easy, Peter urges us in 1 Peter 2:11 to “abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.” There is a spiritual war going on that we cannot see with our eyes but it is very real. Many of the battles we are fighting are much deeper and more unseen than we realize. The enemy is real, he hates that Jesus is saving people, and wants to steal, kill, and destroy. One of his greatest tactics is to make us try to fight the battles in our own strength.

As a child of God, a new creation, bought with the precious blood of Jesus Christ you have ammo. In fact you have the creator of the ammo. You even have the God who holds the universe in his hands on your side. In fact, your father is that God who holds the universe in his hand. He created, he is the beginning and the end and if you need reassurance of that read Revelation 21.

Jehoshaphat found himself faced with opposition, an intense battle that seemed to have no hope was coming his way. He sought the LORD and chose to exercise faith. He didn’t try to fight the battle in his own strength but trusted wholly on the LORD. He understood that his God, our God is greater than the battles we face. He understood what total dependence on God was and he went to battle with his faith and the land of Judah’s faith fully in the LORD his God.

Today I want to encourage you to know and hold your position in Christ.

“...Stand firm, hold your position, and see the salvation of the LORD on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed. Tomorrow go out against them, and the LORD will be with you.” - 2 Chronicles 20:17b

Further Reading: 2 Chronicles 19 & 20

30 Days of Devotion

One of my passions is to share what God is doing and speaking to me through writing. Devotional writing and encouragement is a favorite of mine and I have really lacked recently due to just the busyness of life and ministry. I feel that God has given me a desire to write and it is amazing to hear random people I have never met send me messages about what they read of my blog.

This has led me to realize that I need to be more committed to writing and place a higher priority on it. Over the next 30 days beginning on March 1st I am setting myself the goal to write 1 devotional a day on this blog. I pray that these devotionals will be an encouragement to you and draw you closer to Jesus Christ. I hope you join me on these 30 days of devotion. See you tomorrow :)

Paradise

And he said to him, "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise." - Luke 23:43

As I am studying for the upcoming Labels Retreat I am find myself having a deeper understanding of the grace of God. Try to picture yourself on the cross as Jesus would have been. There are robbers on each side of you. The crowd is mocking you, your body is broken, and your limbs are pierced. You know you must die for the sins of the world but the pain and agony is intense. Then one of the robbers gets it. He repents and puts his faith in a man almost dead on a cross. Can you imagine what joy that must have brought Jesus right before his death? He was able to restore life to a dead person right before he himself would die. Jesus took a man who was labeled a robber and a criminal and labeled him forgiven and free.

John Calvin says, "We ought not to enter into curious and subtle arguments about the place of paradise. Let us rest satisfied with knowing that those who are engrafted by faith into the body of Christ are partakers of that life, and thus enjoy after death a blessed and joyful rest, until the perfect glory of the heavenly life is fully manifested by the coming of Christ."

Today reflect on that Paradise. If you have put your faith and trust in Christ, if you have accepted his grace and forgiveness in your life know that you will be with him in Paradise. Just like the thief on the cross, no matter what we have done Christ has died to set us free.

Spiritual Inventory

"And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, yet not with a whole heart." - 2 Chronicles 25:2

Have you ever taken a "Spiritual Inventory?" Often times in life we get caught in the motions. We often times do things but don't even know why we do them. Have you ever taken a moment to think about your motives? You see, there is a difference between a right heart and a whole heart. God desires a whole heart. He wants all of us. He expects nothing less than wholehearted devotion. In 2 Chronicles 25 we find the story of King Amaziah who does what was right in the eyes of the LORD yet was halfhearted which led to steady degeneration rather than radical reversal.

A few chapters later you see King Hezekiah, a man serving the LORD with a whole heart. My prayer for you is that you will take time for a "spiritual inventory." Change begins when we are honest with ourselves so the question is, "will you be honest with yourself?" Allow God to give you a heart fully devoted to him.

"Thus Hezekiah did throughout all Judah, and he did what was good and right and faithful before the LORD his God. And every work that he undertook in the service of the house of God and in accordance with the law and the commandments, seeking his God, he did with all his heart, and prospered."
- 2 Chronicles 31:20-21

Where is God?

"Look among the nations, and see; wonder and be astounded. For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told." - Habakkuk 1:5

When the LORD spoke this to Habakkuk it wasn't good news. If you are like me I guarantee you have been in Habakkuk's shoes. When the circumstances looked hopeless, when violence and destruction was running rampant and God seemed to be nowhere in sight he cried out with the words,

"O LORD, how long shall I cry for help, and you will not hear?
Or cry to you Violence! and you will not save?" - Habakkuk 1:2

Have you ever been disappointed when God doesn't seem to be answering prayers? Are you ever frustrated at God when it seems that sin is going unpunished and there is no justice for the oppressed? This is how Habakkuk felt and in the verses 2-4 of chapter 1 he lets God know how he feels. God's response comes in verse 5.

The LORD responds by saying I am working, actually I am going to use a more wicked nation to punish a less wicked one. Habakkuk cannot understand why God would do this and often times we can't understand why God works the way he does. In our lives circumstances and situations often leave us questioning God which is ok as long as we are ok with God's response to us. Habakkuk learned some very important lessons and truths that changed him and strengthened his faith. God is just and merciful and will punish all the wicked at the right time. His timing is perfect and no matter what the circumstances are he is working everything out for His glory and our betterment.

At the end of the book we see a radically changed Habakkuk. He began by informing God how to run his world and ended by trusting that God knows best and will bring about justice. Amid suffering and loss, Habakkuk has learned that he can trust God, and with that trust comes great joy, not in circumstances but in God himself.

"God, the Lord, is my strength;
he makes my feet like the deer's;
he makes me tread on high places."
Habakkuk 3:19

What To Do With Death

There are only three things we can do about death: we can desire it, fear it, or ignore it. When you think about people in general often times the typical response to death is to ignore it. We don’t want to think about it and we feel if we just push it under the rug it makes our conscious feel better.

Proverbs 1:7 says, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.” The cold hard facts are that we all are going to die one day. Many people were brought to Christ because they didn’t want to go to hell. They had to take a serious look at death and decide for themselves what they believed was after that. In this world a large percentage of the population are without a Savior and find themselves trying to figure out that question. God determines our days, he decides when we begin and when we end. When we understand this fundamental truth it seems preposterous not to put our faith in trust in him.

I love what Paul says in Philippians 1:21-23, “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better.”

That is the confidence and hope we have in Christ Jesus. Once we understand that truth as odd is it may seem we can actually embrace the fact that we one day will die. This is not a sad or morbid thing but a glorious transformation as we enter into the presence of the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. Does the thought of death freak you out? Do know anyone that is fearful of death or choosing to ignore the thought of it? I would encourage you to dive into the Scriptures, to know the God who is in control, and to live in the peace and security that comes in Christ Jesus. My prayer today is that your desire would be to live in fruitful labor for Christ and that you would have a deep longing to be with Jesus.

At The Cross

This is a devotional I wrote awhile back on the song "At The Cross" by Polen www.polenband.com and I wanted to share it with you.

AT THE CROSS
(words and music by Jeff Polen ©2005 Jeff Polen Music / ending words written by Eric Kaufman, Jeff Kaufman, and Maynard Miller ©2009)

You have asked me for everything
But You have given me more than I gave You
And I have found that when I’m nothing
I am everything in You

When I’m weak You make me strong
When I’m down You give me words to a song
And it picks me up again
And I lay my burdens down
At the cross again
And then it’s only You and me

I am a stranger in a strange land
You are still the same
And You are always right beside me
Every time I call Your name, Jesus

When I’m weak You make me strong
When I’m down You give me words to a song
And it picks me up again
And I lay my burdens down
At the cross again
And then it’s only You and me


Has music ever brought you to tears? What about the realty of truth? I was able to get a pre-release copy of the cd and I remember the first time I heard this song. It was one of those days when things aren’t going well and you just want to get in your car and drive. As I was driving along listening to “At The Cross” tears started to stream down my face. In that moment the reality of the cross hit me. The truth of scripture meant something to me. The sacrifice the Jesus made for me, the grace that I do not deserve, and the eternal life in Him that I have received brought tears of joy to my eyes. In this moment of weakness in my life the cross made me strong, it picked me up again, and I was able to lay my burdens down. What does the cross mean to you?

I love the term “weight of truth.” Have you ever felt the “weight of truth?” That’s what happened to me in that car ride. In the story of the crucifixion I love how the centurion finally felt the weight of truth.

“When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, “Truly this was the Son of God.”” – Matthew 27:54

He got it. The fact that Jesus was really the Son of God, that he was the Messiah resonated. The weight of that truth came crashing down. In fact in Luke’s account it says they were said to have “beaten their breasts” which refers to grief and repentance. What does the cross mean to you? When was the last time you ask God to help you believe? He desires to give you faith, he desires to help you believe, but he is looking to you to ask.

Someone once told me “you can’t out give God.” I constantly think about that truth. Not only do I think about that in terms of my finances but to get more to the core my selfishness. There are many times I have made excuses to God. Many times I have let God know just how much I have given up for him. Things like friends I love, a business career in professional sports, money, girls, lifestyle, etc. Usually right away God lets me know that he has given me more than I gave him. He lets me know that he has asked me for everything and rightfully deserves everything.

This begs the question, “why would God ask me for everything? Couldn’t he just ask for most of me and that way I can still enjoy some guilty pleasures?” The answer lies in the third and fourth line, “I have found that when I’m nothing I am everything in You.” How much do you rely on God? One of the reasons God asks us for everything is that it removes barriers that keep us from him. It reminds me of the passage in 2 Corinthians 8:9-10.

“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

God gave us more than we could ever give him at the cross. At the cross Jesus was crucified. At the cross our sins were paid for. The cross is where we need to be. We need to remember the sacrifice, the love, the pain, and the humility of Jesus coming to earth and taking on flesh to become a ransom for many. What emotions, feelings, and thoughts does the cross of Christ create in you? What goes through your head when you think about Jesus Christ as a spotless, blameless, perfect Lamb of God, who died for you. Think about it, we were broken, fallen, and worthless, yet he died, he died for us. I hope today that you remember the cross. That you would remember he has asked you for everything but has given you so much more. That you would let go of the temporal and hold on to the eternal.

“I was spotless, I was blameless, and I was the perfect Lamb of God. You were broken, fallen, worthless, yet I died. I DIED FOR YOU!”

WHAT DOES THE CROSS MEAN TO YOU?

Offense

This week I started lifting more weights than normal and can real feel a difference. I am becoming more sore but feel stronger. My times at the gym this week were purposeful and I had others working out with me. I didn't just go through the motions but worked hard and I feel better and stronger because of it. I often wonder if this example transfers over to my spiritual life. Ephesians 6:10 says,

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might."

Paul continues to go to write about putting on the armor of God and reminded us that we are in a spiritual battle and we need to be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Just think about an actual battle for a second. If you had to go fight a massive army who would you pick to go with you? Wouldn't you want the biggest, strongest, mightiest person you could find? If this is the case then why so often do we go into the spiritual battle without the biggest, strongest, mightiest person we know? We give up too quickly, we try to do it ourselves, and we often time end up defeated and weak.

I would encourage you to read Ephesians 6:10-20. Take a look at your spiritual walk and see if you are strong in the Lord. As children of God, co-heirs with Christ we have the Holy Spirit to help us. We have a God who has given us weapons and strength to fight this fight of faith. My prayer is that today you would understand that it is a spiritual battle, that you wouldn't just try to play defense but that you would fasten the belt of truth, that you would put on the breastplate of righteousness, take of the shield of faith, put on the helmet of salvation and play offense with the sword of the Spirit. Remember that the weapons for warfare are spiritual and should be rooted in prayer.

Believing Lies

He(The Devil) was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. - John 8:44b

Were you the gullible little kid? Maybe you are that person that falls for every sales gimmick. If we all take an honest look at our lives we will find at some points in our everyday life we believe lies. The world and the prince of this world are experts at feeding us lies and we so often believe them as truth. Right now I want you to think about how you feel about yourself. What are you believing? Are you living defeated? depressed? constantly in despair? Are you believing lies or the truth of the Bible? Are you believing human words or God's Words?

When we are living defeated 9 times out of 10 we are believing lies.

So the question you may be asking is "how do I stop believing lies?" Well I don't claim to have all the answers but the key is knowing and believing the Word of God. Here are some suggestions or steps that can help.

• Identify the lies you are believing
• Find Scripture verses that deal with those lies
• Know your identity in Christ (visit www.ficm.org/whoiam.htm)
• Become a prayer warrior

I want to encourage you to check out the Off The Wall website (www.offthewallministry.com). We are having a retreat in February with the theme "Labels." The reason for the theme is this very idea of believing lies and then in turn labeling ourselves. These labels then in turn tend to run our lives. I hope you can make it out, we pray that it would be a powerful two days where God will reveal the lies you are believing and replace them with the truth of Scripture. I want to encourage you today to check out the Freedom in Christ Ministry link above and take some time to see what your Biblical identity is "In Christ."

Overwhelmed by Grace

As I was working out this morning it hit me. I can't even come to fathom the grace of God. Really, think about it for a second. Do we realize how blessed we are? Do we understand that we were destined for eternal condemnation? We were objects of God's wrath (Ephesians 2:3).

"But God being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ - by grace you have been saved." - Ephesians 2:4-5

If you are like me then often times you forget the "great love with which he loved us." Our circumstances and situations in life leave us often times feeling unloved. The sense of loneliness may surround us when we take our eyes of the cross of Jesus Christ and forget about his love and grace.

Hillsong sings a song called "To Know Your Name" and the lyrics go like this:

The precious blood of Jesus Christ redeems
Forgiven I'm alive restored set free
Your majesty resides inside of me
Forever I believe
Forever I believe
Arrested by Your truth and righteousness
Your grace has overwhelmed my brokenness
Convicted by Your spirit led by Your word
Your love will never fail
Your love will never fail

The line that sticks out to me is "your grace has overwhelmed my brokenness." So my question is has it? Has the grace of God overwhelmed your brokenness? I want to encourage you today to reflect on the Scripture from Ephesians and the lyrics from the song. My prayer for you today is that the grace of God will overwhelm your brokenness.