Category: Spiritual

2 Chronicles 20:10-17

Before King Jehoshaphat ended his prayer, in verses 10-12 he reminded God of some things. He said that You would not let Israel invade Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir when they came out of the land of Egypt; they were spared. Now these enemies are coming to take Your possession which You gave us as an inheritance. We are powerless against this great multitude, but we trust God. Believers will have obstacles, but our determination must be to trust and depend on Him. Jehoshaphat refused to allow the enemy’s threat to distract them from depending on God’s deliverance.

While all Judah stood unified before the Lord – their little ones, their wives, and their children (v.13), the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel, the son of Zechariah and gave him a prophetic answer to the King’s prayer (v.14). In verse 15 he called for all of Judah, Jerusalem, and Jehoshaphat to listen! Jahaziel told them that the Lord said: “Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s.^” Jahaziel told them from where the enemy would be coming and where to position themselves tomorrow when they go down against them (v.16). 

“You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem!’ Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the Lord is with you” (v.17). The enemy comes to destroy; the Lord comes to deliver. Today, will you trust His love and power in your lives?

Lift your voice and shout, “Glory!”

2 Chronicles 20:1-13

In verses 1-4 Judah was bullied by the invasion of invasion  neighboring nations – Moab, Ammon, and Edom. When King Jehoshaphat got the message that a great army was coming to battle against him, his first response was that of fear. Yet, in spite of Jehoshaphat’s fear he had faith to trust God. He believed that God had the power to save him and his people from their enemies. Therefore, he set his face to diligently seek the presence of the Lord and proclaimed a fast for all of Judah. They came from all the cities of Judah to ask help from the Lord.

In face of life-threatening danger, Jehoshaphat stood in the house of the Lord before that huge congregation and prayed to God (vv.5-13). Jehoshaphat ended his prayer in v.12, declaring that they were totally dependent on God for their deliverance. He prayed: “O our God, will You not judge them? For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You.”

King Jehoshaphat wanted God to judge their neighboring enemies for invading Judah. He wanted God to stand up for him and give the bullies what they deserved. He confessed that they were weak and powerless against their enemies. He prayed that they didn’t know what to do. And Jehoshaphat continued praying that their eyes were on Him. Jehoshaphat was saying that Judah will keep their spiritual eyes set on the Lord. They will not allow fear of the enemy to distract them from believing and obeying the Lord. Jehoshaphat knew that the battle was the Lord’s.

Lift your voice and give God glory!

                                               1 Timothy 6:17-21

Paul now gives Timothy the last charge to instruct those who are rich in this present age. His teaching is not to condemn wealth or those who possess wealth. What God demands is that His children have no other gods before Him (Ex. 20:3). Jesus commands that we seek first God’s kingdom and His righteousness. As a result, we can trust that He will meet our needs.

Here Paul encourages his young son in the Gospel, to guard the faith, and live out his calling entrusted to him “by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.” O Timothy! Guard what was committed to your trust, avoiding the profane and idle babblings, this empty chatter, and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge” (v.20) — ^“by professing it some have strayed concerning the faith. Grace be with you. Amen” (v. 21).

So, Paul was stressing how important it was for Timothy to stand firm; be loyal to the faith and uphold the gospel truth with which he had been entrusted. “Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus” (2 Tim. 1:13). 

Yes, there were those who opposed Timothy with their so-called knowledge, but Paul encouraged him to not engage with them in godless, foolish discussions. Some have believed the false teachings. By doing so they   missed the mark. Paul closed by giving a benediction – “Grace be with you” – expressing the unmerited favor of God for Timothy. “Amen!”

Give God glory!

1 Timothy 6:18-19

Here Paul continued charging Timothy in how to instruct the “rich men in this world” to use their wealth. He did not command them to not have wealth; he instructed them in how to use their wealth wisely and generously. Remember, this teaching is to the church; he was giving instruction to the Ephesian church that has been influenced by false teachers. So, Paul charged Timothy to instruct them to use their riches to give God glory. “Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share” (v.18), “storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life” (v.19). 

Paul wanted the rich to understand that they should not store up for themselves treasure on earth but treasure in heaven (Matt. 6:19-20). “If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly” (Rom. 12:8 NLT). Believers have social responsibility to all people but especially contributing to the needs of God’s people, pursuing hospitality (Rom. 12:13). 

When the rich use their wealth to do good, that they be rich in good works, they glorify God. In doing this, they are storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future so that they may lay hold on eternal life (v.19). Today, may the rich accept the admonition of God’s Word and not fall prey to the superficial pleasures and delight of riches.

Lift your voice and give God praise!

(1Timothy 6:17)

Previously Paul taught that godliness with contentment is great gain (v.6). In other words, blessings from the Lord bring contentment. He went on to say that we came into this world with nothing, and for sure when we die, we will take nothing with us (v.7). He also warned that there is danger in coveting riches. They are not permanent and can tempt those who have a love of them to fall in a snare, setting their affections on them rather than on God. Riches do not save our souls; we are saved by the Word through the blood of Jesus Christ.

Apostle Paul had been addressing the various groups in the church in order to ward off any problems that some might cause, especially those who were teaching false doctrine, refusing to accept the words of our Lord Jesus Christ.

So, he instructed Timothy to “charge those who are rich in this world not to be haughty, nor trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy” (v.17). 

Paul admonished the rich of this world to not be high and mighty, acting as though they are better than others; they should reflect a humble, Christlike attitude. Because he described riches as being “uncertain,” that means you cannot rely on them. “The deceitfulness [superficial pleasures and delight] of riches choke the word, and it yields no fruit” (Matt. 13:22 AMP). That’s why Paul said to put trust in the living God, who has generously given them all things to enjoy. 

Lift your voice and shout, “Glory!”