Do your words encourage people to trust in the power of the Lord?

 10 Jun 26

Today's devotional: taken from YouVersion, Devotions on F.I.R.E. Year One

Readings:

2 Chronicles 32

2 Chronicles 33

John 18:24-40

Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid nor dismayed before the king of Assyria, nor before all the multitude that is with him; for there are more with us than with him (2 Chronicles 32:7). 

Do your words encourage people to trust in the power of the Lord?

Sennacherib is a mighty king with a vast army. He has conquered other nations and now threatens Hezekiah. Godly Hezekiah exhorts his people facing impending danger from Sennacherib with the following words: “With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the LORD our God, to help us and to fight our battles” (2 Chronicles 32:8). Directing the saints to the Almighty imparts courage. The response to Hezekiah’s words is given. Second Chronicles 32:8 concludes, “And the people were strengthened by the words of Hezekiah, king of Judah.” Let’s consider how we use our tongues because “death and life are in the power of the tongue” (Proverbs 18:21). 

Employment Point: Strengthen believers by speaking about God’s unlimited power.

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Reflections

Indeed by our mouths we speak both evil and also praises. And sometimes it was all because we spoke too fast, without thinking, that causes us to regret what was being said. Self-control is one of the fruit of the spirit and it is one of the hardest and definitely not the easiest. We need to first find peace in order to exercise self control. This cannot be done if we are feeling rushed or even anxious.

““Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged because of the king of Assyria and the vast army with him, for there is a greater power with us than with him. With him is only the arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles.” And the people gained confidence from what Hezekiah the king of Judah said.”2 Chronicles‬ ‭32‬:‭7‬-‭8‬ ‭NIV‬‬

• in times of challenges, what would we be focusing our strengths on? Would it be on our own organisation, our people, our leader, or even our skills? Nope. That should be none of it. Our strength should only come from one place, that is from the Lord our God, who is our rock and our Saviour

““Do you not know what I and my predecessors have done to all the peoples of the other lands? Were the gods of those nations ever able to deliver their land from my hand? Who of all the gods of these nations that my predecessors destroyed has been able to save his people from me? How then can your god deliver you from my hand?”2 Chronicles‬ ‭32‬:‭13‬-‭14‬ ‭NIV‬‬

• a man who speaks with such arrogance is bound for failure. For out of his mouth comes nothing that is worthy of praise. Only his own ego and successes. Who gives him the right to mock the Lord God Almighty and it is his own ignorance in thinking all gods are the same that give rise to him thinking that he is invincible.
• This is an important reminder to us all that we are not God and therefore do not know who or what is out there. To also remind ourselves that pride comes before a fall. The only thing we can boast is about the Lord.

“King Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz cried out in prayer to heaven about this. And the Lord sent an angel, who annihilated all the fighting men and the commanders and officers in the camp of the Assyrian king. So he withdrew to his own land in disgrace. And when he went into the temple of his god, some of his sons, his own flesh and blood, cut him down with the sword.”2 Chronicles‬ ‭32‬:‭20‬-‭21‬ ‭NIV‬‬

• Be wary of anyone who thinks that he is greater than gods or even boasts about it. Stay far away… they are too full of themselves and sees nothing of other people. These people would not be too bothered about others’ pains and sufferings as they may only be concerned of their own achievements and power. But if this someone is a fellow brother and sister, stay close and remind them for God love all His children. 

“In his distress he sought the favor of the Lord his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his ancestors. And when he prayed to him, the Lord was moved by his entreaty and listened to his plea; so he brought him back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord is God.”2 Chronicles‬ ‭33‬:‭12‬-‭13‬ ‭NIV‬‬

• Pride will only bring us so far and only humility and repentance can bring us back to our Father’s arms. And at times, only tribulations can make us realise how much we needed Him because we reached an end of what we can do. It didn’t have to be this way. We ought to realise all things are such and that we as humans, have no ability or capability to do all things. Even if we are in a position of power, only if the Lord’s hand is with us, there is no way we can succeed in anything. Remember from dust we come and from dust we return.

“Meanwhile, Simon Peter was still standing there warming himself. So they asked him, “You aren’t one of his disciples too, are you?” He denied it, saying, “I am not.””John‬ ‭18‬:‭25‬ ‭NIV‬‬

• In the beginning, this devotional reminds us to be strong and courageous. However that is not what Simon Peter had done. He did a very human thing. To deny any relationship with Jesus or that he even knows Him.
• There may be times in our life where we too, may be challenged like that. Would we have the courage to say yes or would be too, deny having known Him?

“But it is your custom for me to release to you one prisoner at the time of the Passover. Do you want me to release ‘the king of the Jews’?” They shouted back, “No, not him! Give us Barabbas!” Now Barabbas had taken part in an uprising.”

‭‭John‬ ‭18‬:‭39‬-‭40‬ ‭NIV‬‬

• This seems to look like irony. Pilate asked the Jews a kind of direct question, whether they want him to release the king of the Jews. They however also denied Jesus.. 
• we see the last part of Jesus’s life that is filled with pain. Both physical and emotional. Being forsaken and denied by his close friends.

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And After That What’s Next To Do?

BY OSWALD CHAMBERS

June 10

…seek, and you will find… —Luke 11:9

Seek if you have not found. “You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss…” (James 4:3). If you ask for things from life instead of from God, “you ask amiss”; that is, you ask out of your desire for self-fulfillment. The more you fulfill yourself the less you will seek God. “…seek, and you will find….” Get to work— narrow your focus and interests to this one thing. Have you ever sought God with your whole heart, or have you simply given Him a feeble cry after some emotionally painful experience? “…seek, [focus,] and you will find….”

“Ho! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters…” (Isaiah 55:1). Are you thirsty, or complacent and indifferent— so satisfied with your own experience that you want nothing more of God? Experience is a doorway, not a final goal. Beware of building your faith on experience, or your life will not ring true and will only sound the note of a critical spirit. Remember that you can never give another person what you have found, but you can cause him to have a desire for it.

“…knock, and it will be opened to you” (Luke 11:9). “Draw near to God…” (James 4:8). Knock— the door is closed, and your heartbeat races as you knock. “Cleanse your hands…” (James 4:8). Knock a bit louder— you begin to find that you are dirty. “…purify your hearts…” (James 4:8). It is becoming even more personal— you are desperate and serious now— you will do anything. “Lament…” (James 4:9). Have you ever lamented, expressing your sorrow before God for the condition of your inner life? There is no thread of self-pity left, only the heart-rending difficulty and amazement which comes from seeing what kind of person you really are. “Humble yourselves…” (James 4:10). It is a humbling experience to knock at God’s door— you have to knock with the crucified thief. “…to him who knocks it will be opened” (Luke 11:10).

2 Chronicles 34-36; John 19:1-22

WISDOM FROM OSWALD

If there is only one strand of faith amongst all the corruption within us, God will take hold of that one strand. 

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Reflections

From what I gathered, Oswald seems to be pointing to the same point but presented in different ways. Somehow it feels like Jesus telling us parables.

We need to come to the Lord as is. In other words, in our raw form. We may be hurt, bitter, feeling unworthy, incomplete, broken, etc. whatever state we are in, He is willing to embrace us with His open arms. He don’t need a perfect a human being. He just needs someone who truly wants to open up their hearts to Him and inviting Him to come in.

How are we supposed to align ourselves to Him? It is a matter of full surrender. Of allowing Him to take charge, to let the rest be and not fight over it. To trust in the Lord to deliver us from all things with no need for worries. We need to recognise that there is nothing in God’s heaven. There is no such thing as KPI. It doesn’t work that way. 

The way things work in heaven is by asking, seeking and knowing. Involving us to take action towards the goal set before us. We cannot move if we are only NATO (No Action Talk Only). Only when our hearts are convinced, are we then be able to make our moves. It may or may not be a calculated move from our point of view but it is definitely what is within His full control.

Let’s pray:

Father help us to come before You, with the genuine heart to want to know You and also serve You, bringing glory to Your name. Help us Father, to be willing to step into the unknown. To have no fear and be courageous, not because we can but because we have a higher God who can deal with all things. All praises and thanks be to You O Lord.  🙏🏻