Though present-day society has changed much from Bible times, the human soul has not. Fear is still fear, strife and anxiety still wreak havoc on the soul, and a strong faith in Christ is still the antidote that calms the storm. No emotion from the human venture has really changed. Sin or rebellion from God’s ways are still paths that trap and betray people, leaving them broken and hurt. Those that can maintain faith in God in the chaos of life will excel and reign. So the question is, will that be you?
Psalms 1:1-3
Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither (in times of trial); and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.”
A person who cannot be controlled, manipulated, or bought by what life throws at him and maintains allegiance to Christ is a threat to the forces of evil.
To make sure there is no confusion of what evil is, let’s define it. There is the obvious “evil,” but there are other evils that go undetected. We need to be able to recognize it, know its intention, and then defeat it. Important note: For evil to be evil, it does not have to look the part. It can be kind, considerate, play its role well. Still, ultimately it seeks to dilute our faith and pull us away from a life that is 100% devoted and dependent upon the life of faith, prayer, bible study, and seeking Christ in church. Therefore, if the good we do prevents, interferes, or hinders us from growing in and serving our first love, then it’s evil and immediate action must be taken.
What did Jesus tell the Ephesian church in
Revelations 2:4-5?
Nevertheless, I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.
Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of its place, except thou repent.
Thy “first love” responds to “first works.” What were they? What did we do before life got complicated and busy? Before we became “professional Christians.” For me, it was Bible study and prayer every chance I had. Nothing else mattered. Jesus saved me, and I knew it, and I wanted to know this Savior that filled my heart with His love. As life goes on, we become busy, get married, and have families. Work becomes challenging, and there becomes “competition” for our time. Should I work, or do I sit down and spend time with the Lord? Do we go out to lunch with our coworkers or stay and have our Bible study?
I can’t tell you how many lunch invitations I turned down. After a while, you stop getting asked. It’s sad, but the joy I receive from spending time with the Lord far exceeded the shallow laughter over lunch. As we learn and grow, we can become so filled with “Christian knowledge” that we forget the simplicity and the child-like approach of our early years. Remember, it’s not head knowledge that saves us, but a tender relationship with Jesus. Jesus teaches this through the example of a child.
Matthew 18:1-5
At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?
And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,
And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me (that’s a huge statement from Jesus. We think we are just babysitting or, in my case, grandpa and grandma sitting but in reality through our actions and love, we are sowing seeds for the Kingdom; that someday Christ will take the throne in their heart because of our action).
In Matthew, Jesus also speaks against any interference that hinders our walk with Him. I warn you; His words are tough love.
Matthew 18:8-9
Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee (get in the way of seeking Me), cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life (Eternity) halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire.
And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.
These words of our Lord may seem somewhat radical, but we must learn to hate sin as He hates it. Wouldnt you hate an action that’s sole purpose is to lie to your children or spouse to separate them from you? Of course, you would! We would tell them, “cut it off, do it now before more damage is done. Before it hurts you or comes between us (which is always the end goal of the enemy, to divide and then conquer.).”
“Cut off your hand or foot,” and “pluck out your eye” are very extreme statements, but He’s fighting for us!! To the degree He is radical in His approach to sin is to the degree HE LOVES US. If we could understand life from His perspective and see that our decisions affect Eternity, we would be 110% percent in agreement with Him. We must use our heart and mind to make sure our eyes and hands don’t cause us to stumble. They are gateways to righteousness or to sin, we decide.
We have been offered the Keys to Life: Faith, Love, Joy, Hope, and Peace; these are part of our Christian life. However, for them to be contagious to others and inviting to a world increasingly filled with fear and uncertainty, they need to be lived out. There is no such thing as an undercover Christian. Jesus said we are to be the light of the world; it’s hard to be undercover if we are to be the light of the world (Matt. 5:14-17).
The divide between faith and fear, peace and anxiety, needs to be seen in us. Will we be ready to share the hope that the Gospel gives us? We cannot share it if we are first not experiencing it. Also, we can only give what we ourselves are receiving. We cannot manufacture Faith.
Next question, do you know how God shows off his kids? I was once told that when a non-believer dies or suffers, a believer dies or suffers so that the world can see the difference. One dies with peace and hope, and one dies without peace or hope. One suffers without hope; the other suffers with hope. He does not give us a cozy, comfortable path, but one filled with thorns, boulders, steep climbs, and jagged edges so that the world can see the difference between a life that trust’s the Lord versus a life without His presence.
What do people see when they look at you or me; do they see us navigating life’s hardships with strength and confidence because of our faith in Christ, or when the hardships come, are we just like everyone else? Also, do we think that being nice is all we have to be, or do we go deeper than that? We are not called to be nice; we are called to love people, which should cause us to be much more than just nice. We need to be able to engage people, put a mark on them that far exceeds being nice, which in my opinion is just playing it safe, kind of a cop-out from Christ’s words “to love your neighbor as yourself.” Living out your convictions of faith and trust on “your sleeve” is what calls people to take notice. It’s what “marks them” and engages them causing them to wrestle with the Truth of Christ, especially when life is tough.
King Jehoshaphat, a King in Old Testament times, had such difficulty. Let’s see how he deals with this bigger than COVID situation.
2 Chronicles 20:1
“It came to pass after this also, that the children of Moab, and the children of Ammon, and with them other beside the Ammonites, came against Jehoshaphat to battle ( substitute “ children” for nation – its King James language)
Then there came some that told Jehoshaphat, saying, There cometh a great multitude against thee from beyond the sea on this side Syria; and, behold, they be in Hazazon-Tamar, which is En-Gedi.
And Jehoshaphat feared, and set — himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah( he didn’t seek his advisors, or sought to make alliances with other Kings like his father did, but he “set” or determined in himself to seek the Lord). “
Our first response to any crisis often sets the stage for what will follow. Will the problem become worse because we rely on the arm of man? Will we begin to sow seeds of victory by first coming to the Lord? To “stop life” and to seek the Lord is the right decision. A far better decision is to always maintain fellowship with the Lord so when the crisis comes, you are armored up and ready to fight; no time is lost. With a walk of faith, you are already in communication/fellowship with the Lord; you don’t have to “close the gap.” King David drifted from the Lord and hence committed his sin with Bathsheba. Jehoshaphat also made some serious mistakes. By allying with King Ahab, an idol-worshipping King, he almost got himself killed in battle save for God delivering him. Both Kings were rebuked by God’s prophets for their actions. And now Jehoshaphat has this coming at him, but this time he responds correctly.
2 Chronicles 20:5-6o
And Jehoshaphat stood in the congregation of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the LORD, before the new court, And said, O LORD God of our fathers, — art not thou God in heaven? And rulest not thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen? and in thine hand is there not power and might, so that none is able to withstand thee (Jehoshaphat was repeating the Truth of God to God, as we should repeat His promises back to Him)
2 Chronicles 20:13-15
And all Judah stood before the LORD, with their little ones, their wives, and their children.
Then upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite (priest) of the sons of Asaph, came the Spirit of the LORD in the midst of the congregation;
And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s (this is also true of us if we would remember that the care of the sheep is the responsibility of the Shepherd, AND INSTEAD OF FEAR, TRUST HIM FOR HE IS OUR GOOD SHEPHERD.
Life feels like this, everything is coming against us, and we are outnumbered, not by a little bit by a lot.
King Jehoshaphat’s battle is an excellent example of how we are to face ours. Fear is fear, hopelessness is hopelessness regardless of the century or circumstances, and faith in God’s ability to deliver is what being a Christian is all about. I’m His son, and He’s my Dad, and I need His help.
What happens next is incredible. As believers, all the battles we fight (fear, anxiety, depression, our boss, neighbor, issues in our marriage or our kids, etc.) initiate in the spiritual world first. Recall Ephesians 6:12 “ our fight is not against flesh and blood,” it’s not against your boss, or your neighbor, or your spouse or children, etc. They are not the problem, and God can use them to show us our areas of weakness, areas where we need to grow. They may be doing wrong things or just different from how we would do them. However, our response to them is what is critical. It is in the problems that we are to sow seeds of righteousness.
God uses our response in these difficult times to bring them to an awareness of God’s love and grace for them. We need to show much wisdom, patience, and kindness, asking the Lord for help.
If we become exhausted and frustrated with them, we need to step away and spend more time in prayer and God’s Word. Their behavior would not rattle Christ, and we are tasked with being Christ to them. Also, depending upon how out of sorts we get, if this situation or person causes us to break our fellowship with the Lord, it says that I want my way more than serving Christ. Is this the price you are willing to pay? Because nothing good will come from it. Actions sown in the flesh do not reap peace, harmony, or understanding. This is quite a price tag to pay to get my way. Instead, let’s back away and commit it to prayer and seek prayer or help from other believers or a pastor.
John 15:7-8
If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you ( what a promise! yes Lord make my will your will)
Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit (especially in the difficult situations mentioned where our testimony counts); so shall ye be my disciples (Lord glorify yourself through our lives. Let us be as a sign pointing to Heaven saying this is the way).
Will we be His disciples? This is our calling. This is what we are to look like and the direction the Spirit wants to grow us into.
Ephesians 4:20-27
But ye have not so learned Christ; If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: That ye put off ( as in taking off a garment) concerning the former conversation the old man (or old woman, denoting our former life) which is corrupt (ruined) according to the deceitful lusts (there is nothing redeemable in us); And be renewed (made new) in the spirit of your mind(Born Again, we are now to be governed by a mind indwelt and controlled by the Spirit)
that ye put on the new man, which after God is “being” created in righteousness and true holiness. Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbor: for we are members one of another (these verses have so much, spend time, prayerfully meditate upon them).
Be ye angry, and sin not ( don’t lose control): let not the sun go down upon your wrath:
Neither give place to the devil.
There are two kinds of anger, there’s my anger, I’m not getting what I want, and then there’s righteous anger that as His son or daughter His ways are being violated and righteousness is being thwarted, and people are getting hurt because of it. It’s not about me now, but about Him and about the people He died for. God has promised to take care of me (us), so if I trust His Word, that frees me from worrying about myself and my future. So we can replace anger with trust.
Our highest honor is to bring Him Praise. Do you think that happens when I want my way, or I am easily angered? We are telling the Lord we want our rights, while Jesus gave up His rights to save us. The battles we fight are with the carnal man. These carnal attitudes are brought to the surface via our interactions with others. Also, unpleasant situations, the car breaks down, we get fired, or we become injured, end up owing more taxes, etc.; these are all unpleasant circumstances that we must learn to navigate through via trusting the Lord. Hence the need to know His Word so we can more readily respond in a manner that honors Him. We also need to realize that we are fighting “against principalities in spiritual places,” which may sound “hyper spiritual,” but it is only because we have a great need to mature in the ways of the Spirit. Therefore there is a SPECIFIC WAY to overcome difficulties.
Ephesians 6:11-13
Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand ( continue to read in Eph. 6 for more important instruction).
Another critically important weapon in the Christian’s fight for righteousness is Praise, and we will discuss that with our next Vida; in the meantime read 2 Chronicles 20:21-22
2 Chronicles 20:21-22
And when he (King Jehoshaphat) had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the LORD, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the LORD; for his mercy endureth forever. And when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten. Can we apply this principle of praise and immediately start sowing seeds of victory as we enter our storm? Let’s see.
Father God,
Thank you for this study. Please give us your grace to apply it into our life. You seek only to benefit us, to enrich us in all our ways, and hence be your representative to a culture that does not understand your principles or know your ways.
Jonah 4:10-11
Then said the LORD, Thou hast had pity on the gourd, for them which thou hast not labored, neither madest it grow; which came up in a night, and perished in a night:
And should not I spare Nineveh (Roseville, Rocklin, Folsom etc.) that great city, wherein are more than six score thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand; and also much cattle?
This is our world today; morality has been mocked and thrown out, sexual roles challenged and redefined, gender identity downplayed, so now the freeway of life that use to direct traffic safely has had all dividers removed, and one no longer knows what side of the road to drive on, especially the youth. Casualties will be numerous, and people will become “damaged souls,” making them harder to reach for Christ if the church does not step in, you and I are the church. “Where two or more are gathered I AM in the midst.” Matt. 18:30
Grow in Grace (fast) – Arthur