For the Battle is Not Yours, but God's Pt.8

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2 CHRONICLES 20

THIS BATTLE series, that began a few weeks ago, started with a passage God showed me in 2 Chronicles 20.  

This journey has brought me to a new understanding about the concept of the battles in life.  Battles are not about us “having it out” with the situations in life.  Battles are not about us and what we can muster using our intellectual faith.

They aren't about us wrestling God.

They aren't about us wrestling Satan. 

Battles are to show us where our focus is and where it needs to be.   Battles are to show us, even though a lot can be said and done, God is still in control.

   God uses the battles in life to show us his love and faithfulness.  Battles are about Him coming to our rescue. 

Battles help us discover a greater love in God then we had previously, a love that humbles us to the core and brings thanksgiving in the form of tears. 

 Battles are not to harden us but soften us so we absorb more of who God wants to be in our life.  And this love of God makes it so we can touch other people’s life.

I tried to imagine what might have happened that day in 2 Chronicles 20 when the dark news arrived.

Like a scene from the opening of a movie… The orange sun slowly paints the sky as it ascends an old Middle East landscape.   All is peaceful until the camera bears down on something in the distance.   The score turns heavy and dark in tone as we see a rider riding a white horse at breakneck speed.   The horse heavily drinks the morning air with its flared nostrils as its hooves thunder upon the white ground in great stride.   Its robed rider has the expression of trepidation yet determination.   Perspiration soaks the animal’s fur.   Through outlaying villages and into city streets there is no shouting as if he, the rider, is some Paul Revere but the pair’s speed and silence alone are deafening to everyone they pass. 

Husbands look at their wives and wives seeing the concerned expression of their husbands, have the urge to suddenly bring their children close.

The dust of the man’s horse can be seen trailing a line to the great palace of the King of Judah.   

We aren’t told in the bible how King Jehoshaphat receives the alarming news… but we do know his reaction. 

When King Jehoshaphat hears that a mighty army of Moabites, Ammonites and Meunites have declared war on him and are marching toward Judah and Jerusalem, King Jehoshaphat does NOT:

Call his men to arms….

Or fortify his defenses….

or come up with military strategies….

or make military alliances….

or gather the people up to take refuge in the hills….

BUT instead the king sought the LORD for guidance.  2 Chronicles 20:3

When we hear alarming or difficult news what do we tend to do first?

Do we seek the LORD first?  Do we seek the LORD knowing we are God’s responsibility? Do we seek the LORD,  knowing he knows how to address the situation?  Do we seek the LORD for comfort, peace, assurance not just for answers?

I find when we don’t seek the LORD in the battles of life we:

We become “self” centered instead of “God” centered.

We start to fret, we become overwhelmed, apprehensive, dispassionate about life, we let emotions get the best of us, we easily get irritated with others, our imaginations get ahead or the best of us, we become discouraged, have anxiety, and become fearful.

We tend to come up with our own ways to solve the problem.   We make poor decisions because of internal or external pressures.

We forget to be thankful for all God is and does for us.  We don’t remember what God’s word says and speaks to our heart.  

We start to blame God for our circumstances instead of seeing God as THE WAY out of the entanglements of our circumstances.  We forget God wants the best of us.   We forget he is there just ahead of us, behind us, standing with us, in us and even carrying us. We forget the enemy uses such circumstances to try to separate us from God.   The enemy uses what we see, hear, think, to manipulate us.   

We tend to focus more on the solution then on God and when the solution doesn’t come right away we become discouraged because we aren’t living in God’s peace and love but our own understanding.  Our requests become greater then the knowing assurance of God's love. 

We forget to “Rejoice IN the Lord always.”  We need to remember to be surrendered IN the Lord’s love. 

His love enables us to never give up, never lose faith, always stay hopeful and endure through every circumstance. (Note: 1 Corinthians 13:7)      

NEXT the bible stays King Jehoshaphat orders everyone to fast and pray and they all (men, women and children) came together to Jerusalem to the new courtyard of the Temple of the LORD. 2 Chronicles 20:3-4

Do we call others for prayer when it comes to guidance, assurance, peace, grace, healing from the Lord? Do we call on the members of our household in prayer?  Do we petition our brothers and sisters in Christ for prayer?

Think what happens when we settle down into prayer, does it not have a calming effect in our lives as we focus, submit, turn, relinquish and wait upon the Lord for his leading?

It is assuring, when we don’t know what is to come -to know we have God to not just guide us but be with us every step of the way.  

Can you imagine how prayer quieted the fears of people as they too focused on the LORD?

Listen to how Jehoshaphat prayed out loud in courtyard of the temple.  Think about the state of his mind and why he prayed such a prayer out loud.  First he started with the attributes of God.  

“O LORD, God of our ancestors, you alone are the God who is in heaven.  You are the ruler of all the kingdoms of the earth.  You are powerful and mighty; no one can stand against you!”  2 Chronicles 20:6

Do we remember… do we think on… the magnificence of God, especially in the times of uncertainty?  He is our certainty. 

He then followed with the things God had done.

“O our God, did you not drive out those who lived in this land when your people arrived?   And did you not give this land forever to the descendants of your friend Abraham?  Your people settled here and built this Temple for you.  They said, ‘Whenever we are faced with any calamity such as war, disease, 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.’” 2 Chronicles 20:7-9

What was he trying to do for his people and himself as he prayed?

Do we remember and reflect on what God has done in our life, our family members lives and those we know?  Do we share what God has done and speak out those things in our prayers.

It is not profitable for the soul to remember the greatness of God and His love and faithfulness for us?  Is it not beneficial to remember God’s promises?

Let’s exercise this for a moment:  Write down or think the things God is to you.  (These things should be genuine felt in our heart not just recited from some intellectual recall.  You know this because God has shown you it is true.)   God is my caretaker.  God is my Father. God is my faithful friend.  God is my comforter.  God is my peace.  God is my transformer- He transforms me.  God prepares the day for me.  God gave me a way when there was no way.

The King Jehoshaphat then relinquished his concerns to God.  

 “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.  Now see how they reward us!  For they have come to throw us out of your land, which you gave us as an inheritance.  O our God, won’t you stop them?...” 2 Chronicles 20:10-12

Ever in the midst of the battles of life compare your present troubles next to God’s promises and they don’t seem to line up.  That is what is happening to King Jehoshaphat.  What is happening isn’t matching up with what God has said.  He can’t understand why this seems to be allowed to happen.  So he speaks it out.

King Jehoshaphat then ends his prayer with this….

“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.”

I am continually reminded that there are times when I don’t know what is going to happen.  I don’t know what to do.  But by God’s grace and his provisional care and his assurance not in myself but in him, I can do all things set before me. Christ is with me.  

How good it is to relinquishing our concerns to God…

How good it is to relinquish our weaknesses and shortcomings to God…

How good it is to admit our dependence and trust in God…

CONT. Pt 9

Sunday is Coming by IgniterMedia

For the Battle is Not Yours But God's Pt. 7

^“Yet amid all these things we are more than conquerors and gain a surpassing victory through Him Who loved us. ³⁸ For I am persuaded beyond doubt (am sure) that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities, nor things impending and threatening nor things to come, nor powers,³⁹ Nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:37-39 (AMP)

Yet amidst all the things life can and seems to throw at us, we are more conquerors and have gained a surpassing victory through God, who loves us.

 What a thought! Have you thought about such words?

We are more then conquerors….

Ever study history…?

I was thinking about conquerors.  The warrior sultans of the once large Ottoman Empire, Julius Caesar of the Roman Empire, Alexander the Great of Greece, those who carved up Africa in the age of Imperialism, to Hitler… to name a few. 

To these conquerors a little more was never enough to them.   They wanted MORE!  They were unsatisfied no matter how much they had or possessed - their life was still an “empty life”.  Their victories were fleeting along with their empty pleasures that melted like snow in the spring leaving them with nothing.

They never seemed to figure out that the things of this world never satisfied them. 

They tried to find contentment in these things but only unrest followed.

God says we as Christians are more then conquerors… whatever was meant for us to meaningful gain, God has already won and given it to us.   

The war, the battle that mattered most has already been won by Jesus Christ.  Now we stand more then conquerors –we stand as children of the Most High God.

God has given us Jesus Christ and through Christ, he has given us the Holy Spirit, and through the Holy Spirit we have been given everlasting life in heaven and a profound wisdom not just for the mind to fathom but the heart to experience.  We have been given the opportunity to live in the riches beyond the human understanding where peace, love, grace, mercy, faith, joy grow and live.

“I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will give you mighty inner strength through his Holy Spirit.  And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts as you trust in him.  May your roots go down deep into the soil of God’s marvelous love.  And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love really is.  May you experience the love of Christ, though it is so great you will never fully understand it.  Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from God.”  Ephesians 3:16-19

Is this not what all humanity is clutching for in some manner, shape or form but they look in all the wrong places?  Are they not looking for God’s love to fulfill and satisfy them?  Not realizing what they seek, they entirely dismiss and continually have walked away from- God’s love and assurance.

In Christ we are more then conquerors...  

We told we have gained such a surpassing victory by trusting and accepting Christ.  We have not done anything to conqueror this victory ourselves but it is through Christ.  Christ has won the victory for us and without him; there would be no victory.

It is as if our older brother Christ has shared his victory crown with us.  He has placed it on our head and like children we walk around not truly understanding what has been placed on our head.      

Think about that for a moment…. 1 Peter 2:9

Unlike victories we win on earth that soon become dusty, get put away, are forgotten, our victory is everlasting life in heaven.  It is a treasure where moth and rust and thieves cannot break in and steal.  (Note: Matthew 6:19-20)  
   

Does this mean we will never have to go through any circumstances and trials in this life?    

The answer is "No".   

Life is about trusting God to overcome all the difficulties and struggles in life.  God has made a promise to take care of us through all the ranges of circumstances in life.  A person who isn’t a Christian can’t understand this, they can’t understand if God is a loving God why would a person go through difficult and painful trials in life?  They only see the circumstances; they don’t see the relationship that is being strengthened through the circumstances.   They don’t realize what was meant to for evil (to steal, kill and destroy) God is using as an opportunity to minister mightily to that soul -in ways that he could not have if a person never found or faced circumstances that were out of their control.

Ever watch a person make bread dough? To get the yeast to mix through the entire piece of dough it is continually being pressed and knocked down and kneaded.  

Jesus used this illustration, "The Kingdom of Heaven is like yeast used by a woman making bread.  Even though she used a large amount of flour, the yeast permeated every part of the dough." Matthew 13:33

Yes this scripture deals with Christian individuals showing the love of Christ in this world but he also showed me something else with this scripture... He showed me how the battles we experience in this life help permeated God's love and faithfulness in our life.  We are not just permeated a little here and little there but God can use battles to permeate his assuring love in all our heart, mind and soul.   Where the kingdom of Heaven rules over everything  else.  

"We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed.  We are perplexed, but not driven to despair.  We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God.  We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed.   Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies." 2 Corinthians 4:8-10

Do you see your life as dough and God using the circumstances of life to mix the yeast (God's love and faithfulness) into your life?  Is he RISING you up in HIS LOVE? 

“God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation.  Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. James 1:12

This experience of life is about building a relationship with God, seeing where our true strength comes from and waiting with anticipation to see what God is going to do.

I understand life can be a bit daunting and intimidating and even terrifying because of all the “unknowns” and our own imaginations and “what if’s” but what does God's word say?

^“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. ⁷ Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. ⁸ And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” Philippians 4:6-8

Praying to God is surrendering all our needs, worries and anxieties to God.  We must ask God to help us redirect on our mind on his promises.  We must fight and resist the urges to make the battles of life our burden.  We must cast down imaginations and every thought that exalts itself above the truths of God.  We must with God's help bring every thought under the obedience of Christ.

^“Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;” 2 Corinthians 10:5 (KJV)

God is not just the God of Abraham and Jacob but he is the God of you and me.   We forget what God sees in us.  He sees what we many times can’t see in ourselves.  God identifies Himself, as our God, our Heavenly Father, our Savior, our King, our friend, our helper, our provider, our Shepherd, our refuge and we are His children…. HIS CHILDREN. 

1 Peter 5:6 says "Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:" (KJV) 

Prayer: Heavenly Father we are calling on you as your children, to instill in us the realities of your love- in such a profound way in our heart and mind and soul -that we may walk graciously and be empowered by you in our everyday walk with you, that we may not stumble or be intimidated but glorify you as we walk in this life.  That we may understand the victory that has been placed upon us and in us. And we thank you for this in Jesus name Amen.

Let's remember we are more then conquerors, and we have been given surpassing victory in Christ Jesus.

  

For the Battle is Not Yours, But God's Pt.6

FOCUS, LOVE & THE HEART

To overcome any obstacle is to have focus. We are told, “Stand your ground” (Ephesians 6:4) but it’s difficult to stand our ground in battle if we can’t hear God over the noise- external or internal.  It’s hard to stand our ground when we aren’t in the line of sight to see God.

Thank God he has given us as Christians his Spirit so when we focus on Him, we can partake in His wondrous reinforcements to inspire and encourage our soul.

“Your eye is a lamp that provides light for your body.  When your eye is good, your whole body is filled with light.”  Matthew 6:22

To live in contentment in any situation is to accept the supreme authority of God over our life… To find contentment is not dwelling on the dark side of the battlefields of life but remembering to look for the light of God’s faithfulness in the darkness.

 “And I will give you treasures hidden in the darkness--secret riches. I will do this so you may know that I am the LORD, the God of Israel, the one who calls you by name.”  Isaiah 45:3


  It’s unanticipated in the human understanding, how in the challenges and trials of the Christian life- the hidden treasures of God’s love and faithfulness are given and revealed to us in a supernatural way or manner.    Fear is whittled away; the firm grasp on this life is lessened, the burdening baggage is abandoned, and the playground swings higher and higher as we are intimately shrouded in God’s love.  We are hidden in Christ (Colossians 3:3).

What the world considers absurdity becomes reality standing before them, as we trust God.   We may not even be aware of our testimony to world because we are so focused on God’s assuring love. What does this mean?  It will mean the crowing assurances in our selves and in this world have been shooed out of the canopy of our branches by a song, beautifully written and composed by God.   In these songs, our branches bear good fruit because of God’s assuring love.   The fruit will not be eaten or ruined by the crowing flocks but preserved and kept safe by God himself.

“For the LORD your God is living among you.  He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness.  With his love, he will calm all your fears.  He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.” Zephaniah 3:17 


 Ever wake up singing a song or during the day a song comes to mind to remind you of God’s love?  Who do you think put that song in your head?

We all need to meditate and sing those songs in all the different circumstances that life brings.

“At the moment they began to sing and give praise, the Lord caused the armies of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir to start fighting among themselves.  The armies of Moab and Ammon turned against their allies from Mount Seir and killed every one of them.  After they had finished off the army of Seir, they turned on each other. So when the army of Judah arrived at the outlook point in the wilderness, there were dead bodies lying on the ground for as far as they could see.  Not a single one of the enemy had escaped.  King Jehoshaphat and his men went out to gather the plunder. They found vast amounts of equipment, clothing and other valuables- more then they could carry.  There was so much plunder that it took them three days just to collect it all!”  2 Chronicles 20:22-23


Sometimes it takes us days to see all the good things God had done for us, after the battle has been won and we are humbled by all God’s goodness.

 Ever see a little child being steadied by their parent’s hands as they begin to learn how to walk?  God, as our Heavenly Father, is also there to steady us as we walk in the uncertainty of battle.

David writes, “He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along.”  Psalm 40:2

Do you see the little excited child in yourself, being led and held up by our Heavenly Father?

In the complexities of life we actually observe the great truth of the rod and staff of our shepherd that protects us and comforts us. (Note Psalm 23:4) They become as visible as the shadow of the tree trunks in the sun.

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


At times in life, we all want to know what is going to happen as we walk this path of life… and I don’t think that is bad.   We should always seek the Lord for guidance.  Conflicted or not, we should ask.   But more importantly God wants us to be abundantly aware of His watchful and provisional care of us.  He wants us to be surrendered to this empowering freeing truth as we are also surrendered to his will for our lives.

I find we as Christians know many truths in God’s word, the Bible, but they are no use to us if they are just words on the page that we have memorized and recalled having read them or hearing them many times before.   We are not to be just theologians.  The words of God are to have meaning and life in them. They are of have great value to us because God has shown them to be true and we sincerely mean them when we say and sing them back to the Lord.  The words of God are love letters to us – with so much depth we will probably not completely comprehend their entire meaning.

The words of God are to build a bond been our Heavenly Father and us as his children.    God not only gives us his word but provides proof to his word by his actions just as a father and mother are suppose to build a loving bond with their children.   But unlike our earthly parents, God knows us intimately and knows the story of our life- every detail, from beginning to beginning (from earth to heaven).

For God’s word to be active and of any powerful use to us we have to continually seek to have and live in our relationship with our Heavenly Father and Lord Jesus Christ.

Not a relationship with words on a page but a relationship that transcends the words on the page to a relationship with God and where the word of God comes to life.

A person is not in love with the love letters but the sweetheart who wrote the love letters.

The cry of my heart is to love God more - knowing the more I love God the more I will be able to experience the freedom of his love.  We won’t have to fear.  We won’t have to be afraid.  We won’t have to have anxiety.  We won’t feel less of a person.  We won’t have the circumstances of life manipulate and trip us up. We can be the person God wants us to be regardless of circumstances.  God can’t love you or me anymore then he loves us now it’s us that has to chose to live in his love more.

 Hillsong wrote a song years ago called “Show me your ways”.  I believe its was inspired by Psalm 25.   Here are some of the lyrics.

Show me Your ways
That I may walk with You
Show me Your ways
I put my hope in You

The cry of my heart
Is to love You more
To live with the
Touch of Your hand
Stronger each day
Show me Your ways

It is that the cry of your heart?  We all need God’s love to show us the way through this life.  We need God’s up close and personal presence, instruction and assurance in our life.   We all need to love God more so we can be stronger in his love. Jesus replied, “You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind” Matthew 22:37


God’s love doesn’t take affect because in our anxious we forget God is with us. We forget God is omnipresent.  He is always present.  God is the Jello/gelatin and we are the piece of fruit in the Jello/gelatin.   Plus in the believer, the Christian, God doesn’t just surround us but is inside of us- the Holy Spirit,

 “for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”  (Note Joshua 1:9, Deuteronomy 31:8)

That is why David wrote, “I shall not want.” in Psalm 23

That is why Jesus said, “Why be like the pagans who are so deeply concerned about these things? Your heavenly Father already knows all your needs, and he will give you all you need from day to day if you live for him and make the Kingdom of God your primary concern.” Matthew 6:32

I guess the question is, are we living for ourselves or for the Father? Are we living to glorify God in our life?  Do our thoughts to our actions glorify God?

Thoughts we should be having in our heart,  “I do not need to fret about tomorrow because I know the Lord has prepared everything I need for tomorrow.  LORD thank you for preparing and providing provision for me this day and for tomorrow.  Thank you Lord that you will be with me.  Thank you Lord you will be touching and guiding me every step of the way. Thank you Lord it is not my battle, but yours.  I shall not want.”

    Thank you Lord that by thinking and meditating on these things in our hearts we may live in your love, in the moment and glorify you, in Jesus name Amen.

For the Battle is Not Yours, But God's Pt. 5

FOCUS, TRUST & STAND

^“Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm.” Ephesians 6:13

In my Christian faith I have found that 99 percent of the battle is keeping our focus and trust in God, the other 1 percent is standing.

ARMoR of GOD

Before we tune out, thinking we have heard about the Armor of God all before, let’s take a fresh look at these scriptures.  Their purposes are to edify and encourage our focus so we don’t lose heart, become weary, anxious.   They are written for us so we don’t become overcome by what we see, experience, or get entrapped in a destructive or paralyzing thought.  And they are recorded to remind us how important it is to have a relationship with God  

We know the armor of God is NOT worn in pride and arrogance but grace and humility and all godly conviction and sincerity.   

 For the word of God says:

  “Pride goes before destruction,
    and haughtiness before a fall.”  Proverbs 16:18 (NLT)

It also says:

“But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.” Romans 13:14 NKJV

No provision for doubt, fear, dread and no provision for pride and self-conceit.  Two very different faces but just as caustic.  Sometimes one even comes right after the other.   

The armor of God scriptures, as all scriptures in the bible, are to enable us to STAND in battle. 

The Armor of God is all about GOD the man/woman believes in.  IT is NOT about a level of trust one has in his or herself. 

We read: Jesus: “On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name. ‘But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s law.’” Matthew 7:22

We read about the seven sons of Sceva trying to cast out a demon from a man and the evil spirit residing in the man says to them, “I know Jesus and I know Paul but who are you?”  Then they are overpowered and brutally attacked by the man with the evil spirit and flee the house naked.  (Note Acts 19:13-16)

What was the state of their mind and heart?  Was it in themselves or God?

^“So he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.”  Zechariah 4:6

The Armor of God is the Holy Spirit in control not us.  It is God in control.

“But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  Here there is no conflict with the law.” Galatians 5:22-23

What causes a person who is persecuted, disowned, beaten, raped, tortured, and facing death to continue in the faith of Jesus Christ?  It is certainly not the will of the flesh but the Armor of God protecting the soul.

 

In the movie called “For Greater Glory” which depicts the Cristero War in Mexico in the 1920’s, were thousands were brutally killed for their faith - causing many to take up arms against their own government, a boy named Jose Sanchez Del Rio is captured, tortured and killed for his faith in Jesus Christ.  Jose could had saved his life several times by just renouncing his faith in Jesus Christ but he did not instead he is quoted as saying, “I will never give in.  Viva Cristo Rey!”  Which means “Long live Christ the King!”  To this day, in Mexico, Jose Sanchez Del Rio is known as one of the martyred in Christ.

 

Even when severely beaten and forced to walk on bleeding tortured cut open feet through the streets to his own grave, Jose did not renounce Christ but found strength in Christ instead.

 

 Strength comes when we realize we are not our own.  We are not keepers of our life.  The body is temporary the soul is forever.  God’s armor protects the soul while as it abides here on earth.  These pieces of armor that cloth the Christian soul; speak not of us, but of our God. (We are not our own.)

“Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness.”  Ephesians 6:14

God wants us to remember the certainty of Himself.  What are MY ATTRIBUTES God asks? God is our Father, He is our Savior, and He is our Comforter and Counselor.  He is our friend.  He is abounding in faithfulness and love for us.  He is merciful and gracious.  He is goodness without measure.  He is life, truth, and righteousness.   He saves those who cry out to Him.  He carries out justice to those who trust in him.  He is trustworthy.   He is unchanging.   He cannot lie.  These truths allow us to grow and flourish in our God.

For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. Ephesians 6:15

God wants to remind us that he has given us his peace.  Jesus said he gives us his peace so our heart will not be troubled nor will it be afraid. (John 14:27)  Jesus’ peace is a lasting peace because we know to whom we belong and where our citizenship resides.   When people ask where do we get such peace we can tell them it through God and our LORD Jesus Christ.

In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Ephesians 6:16

Faith is the confidence we have in God even when we cannot see what is going to happen.  Satan and his army shoot their fiery arrows of lies and deceit hoping to burn and destroy our confidence we have in God.   A shield that stops such arrows of lies and deceit is the knowing God has made provision.  He is with us.  He already knows our needs and what is going to happen.  He is all-powerful; nothing stops the will of God and his promises in our life.

Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Ephesians 6:17

God always want us to be mindful of our salvation.  He is the one who saved us and continues to save us.  He is with us continually.  He does not retreat nor does he leave anyone in the battlefields of life behind.  (2 Corinthians 4:9) He does not forsake us. (Deuteronomy 31:8).  As we turn to God, He gives us and reminds us of his words to counter the enemy’s strikes and discern truth from fiction.  None of this armor will work for us unless we have a relationship and trust in God.

Remember the Armor of God is not about us but all about HIM.  Knowing this we are able to focus, trust and stand.

For the Battle is Not Yours, But God's Pt. 4

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WE ARE NOT OUR OWN

In times of peace and times of battle it is profitable to remember:

 God’s liberating love,

 Relinquishing our troubles or assumptions to God

 And…

Remembering we are not our own.

This morning I started to think of two groups of people.  The first group was made up of people like Alexander the Great to King Herod to Medieval Kings to Hitler. 

The second group was made up of people of great faith in God.  They were people like Noah, Abraham, Joseph, King Jehoshaphat, David, Elijah, Elisha, Samuel, Moses, Joshua, Gideon, Job, Daniel, Jeremiah, Isaiah, Esther, Mordecai … to name a few.

The first group believed in themselves.  They believed they were in control.  They believed they didn’t have to answer to anyone.  They believed they were gods.  But still thinking these things, they felt compelled to prove and compare themselves to others.  They seemed to be at continual unrest for they had only themselves to turn to.

The second group believed in God.  They trusted in God not themselves.  They believed they were not their own.

  The ones who believed they were their own- death and evil ensued.

The ones who believed and put their trust in God not themselves – life, peace, and blessing ensued.    

We as Christians are told:

“Don't you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself,” 1 Corinthians 6:19

We are also told we are God's very own possession.

Probably the most reassuring thing to me is coming to the great and humbling reality that I am not my own.  I am God’s.  Knowing that, I can lift up my soul to God and he overshadows me.

“Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty” Psalm 91:1

“The Lord says, ‘I will rescue those who love me.  I will protect those who trust in my name.  When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble.  I will rescue them and honor them.  I will satisfy them with a long life and give them my salvation.’” Psalm 91:14-16

Amen…

“For the LORD your God has arrived to live among you.  He is a mighty savior.  He will rejoice over you with great gladness.  With his love, he will calm all your fears.   He will exult over you by singing a happy song.” Zephaniah 3:17

Does this sound like some distant God?  Does this sound like a removed God? Does God sound like a God that doesn’t care about of his creation? Yet more amazing he claims us as his own and takes great care to show his faithfulness.

God’s love goes far beyond our understanding.  Our meaning to Him is beyond our understanding as well.

On the dawning of my faith in Jesus Christ, before the dark shroud was lifted and scales had fallen from my eyes, I saw very little value in my life and didn’t feel as if I measured up to anything worthy - all I felt was brokenness, hurt, and resentful.  I was tired and saw no real point to life so I offered my life to God knowing all his monuments of goodness and faithfulness he had built in my life.  Like a dream they stood in the barren landscape waiting for me to look back.  They were monuments; I really don’t think I even thanked him for.  I don’t even think it occurred to me that God pursued me into this barren wasteland away from more pleasant accommodations.   And not only did he take my life, a life I saw very little value in but told me he loved me despite all my failings and faults and he transformed me by giving me his Spirit (reborn).

Our value has always been in God not our self.     Our life was created by and for Him.

“But we know that there is only one God, the Father, who created everything, and we live for him. And there is only one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom God made everything and through whom we have been given life.” 1 Corinthians 8:6 (NLT)

“He created everything there is.  Nothing exists that he didn’t make.  Life itself was in him, and this life gives light to everyone.  The light shines through the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.” John 1:3-5 (NLT)

“But although the world was made through him, the world didn’t recognize him when he came.  Even his own land and among his own people, he was not accepted.  But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.  They are reborn!  This is not a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan- this rebirth comes from God.” John 1:10-13 (NLT)

“Christ is the one through whom God created everything in heaven and earth.  He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see-kings, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities.  Everything has been created through him and for him.  He existed before everything else began, and he holds all creation together.”  Colossians 1:16-17 (NLT)

If a person never turns to God as their Heavenly Father they will only value themselves, based on how they see themselves and the world values them and they will act and behave accordingly to those influences.  And instead of inheriting eternal life in Heaven, made possible by Jesus Christ, they will inherit suffering and death.

 That’s why the Holy Spirit had Peter remind Christians that their value in not in what they perceive and receive from the world but in the value God’s see them in.

 “And the Scriptures also say, ‘He is the stone that makes people stumble, the rock that will make them fall.’  They stumble because they do not obey God’s word, and so they meet the fate that was planned for them.” 1 Peter 2:8

People stumble because they doubt, don’t believe or chose to ignore God’s word.  They do not seek to love God with all their heart, mind, soul and all their strength nor do they seek the liberating love God has for them.  They stumble over Jesus Christ because they don’t realize they were made for Him and not realizing THIS they remain unsatisfied.  They value the world’s perception of them over what God knows of them and desires for them.  Hence making the things of this world their god instead of God himself.

Peter continues with “But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people.  You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession.  As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. ‘Once you were not a people; now you are the people of God.  Once you received none of God’s mercy; now you have received mercy.’”  1 Peter 2:9

God continues to show me that the battles that want to entice us, bait us, entrap us, drown us, taunt us, paralyze us- are not our fights.  What we see, perceive or imagine are not our battles.  What wants to make us justify and prove ourselves to others are battles not our own.  What people think of us are battles not our own.  Even the persecution and illnesses we suffer are battles not our own.

When Jesus confronted Saul who later become known as the Apostle Paul.  Jesus did NOT say why are you persecuting my people or my brothers and sisters but said “Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?” Note: Acts 9:1-5 (NLT)

When battles come against you, they are coming against God himself.  As I had mentioned before: God does not need protecting from us so let Him fight the battles for you as you turn to him in prayer and trust.

Our lives, that we tend to hold so tightly to, and that we foolishly think we have some control over are not our own.  We don’t know what tomorrow brings or what will come a couple hours from now but God does.  Knowing that, I glad I am God’s. I am not my own.  My life is in his care.  No matter what happens, he will see me through it - not in some prepackage way but in HIS personal intimate LOVE.

May we live in thankfulness to God.  May we turn our eyes on Jesus and may the things of earth go strangely dim.