Archive for the ‘Jerusalem’ tag
It’s not my battle.
Whose Battle Is It?
by Rick Warren
?But you will not even need to fight. Take your positions; then stand still and watch the Lord?s victory. He is with you, O people of Judah and Jerusalem . Do not be afraid or discouraged. Go out there tomorrow, for the Lord is with you!? 2 Chronicles 20:17 (NLT)
*** *** *** ***
In today?s passage, God is talking to King Jehoshaphat and the Israelites. They?re about to be attacked by three enemies: the Moabites, the Ammonites, and the Meunites.
Jehoshaphat had to be worried about how his people could defend themselves in such a battle, but God knew exactly what Jehoshaphat was thinking. He said, ?You will not have to fight in this battle.? Now, that?s the kind of battle I like!
What God tells Jehoshaphat in this passage, and what he would remind us today, is this: ?The battle is not yours; it?s mine. You don?t have to fight in it.?
In other words, it?s God?s problem. Let him solve it.
The fact is if you are God?s child, then your problems are his problems. And he?s much better at fighting your battles and solving your problems than you will ever be. Your job is to trust him to work it all out. Perhaps the reason we have so many tired, fatigued, and discouraged Christians is because we think, ?It all depends on me.?
The day you resign as General Manager of the Universe, you?re going to find that it doesn?t fall apart. You can relax in faith, trusting that God is able to run things without your help.
Twice in this passage it says, ?Don?t be afraid,? and ?Don?t be discouraged.? When you face a seemingly impossible situation, don?t be afraid and don?t be discouraged. Has God ever lost a battle? No. He doesn?t lose battles.
There?s an important phrase in verse 17. God tells Jehoshaphat, ?Take your positions and stand firm.? What does it mean to stand firm? It means to have a mental attitude of quiet confidence. It is never God?s will for you to run from a difficult situation. I?ve discovered that when I run from a difficult situation, inevitably God always brings it back around and gives me another chance. Why?
Because God wants us to learn ? and he wants to teach us through experience ? that in every situation he is sufficient. He is competent and capable and he will meet our needs in that situation. Don?t be afraid; fear is the opposite of faith.
You stand firm on two things:
The character of God ? He?s faithful. He does not bring us this far just to let us down. He doesn?t bring you out on a limb and then cut off the limb. Have faith in the nature andcharacter of God.
The truth of his Word ? God?s Word is faithful. You can count on the promises found in the Bible.
Stand still. Remember Who the battle belongs to. Trust that he is able to deliver you. And then watch him do it!
© 2008 Purpose Driven Life. All rights reserved.
I just love the part about not being the general manager of the universe...so true!
by Rick Warren
?But you will not even need to fight. Take your positions; then stand still and watch the Lord?s victory. He is with you, O people of Judah and Jerusalem . Do not be afraid or discouraged. Go out there tomorrow, for the Lord is with you!? 2 Chronicles 20:17 (NLT)
*** *** *** ***
In today?s passage, God is talking to King Jehoshaphat and the Israelites. They?re about to be attacked by three enemies: the Moabites, the Ammonites, and the Meunites.
Jehoshaphat had to be worried about how his people could defend themselves in such a battle, but God knew exactly what Jehoshaphat was thinking. He said, ?You will not have to fight in this battle.? Now, that?s the kind of battle I like!
What God tells Jehoshaphat in this passage, and what he would remind us today, is this: ?The battle is not yours; it?s mine. You don?t have to fight in it.?
In other words, it?s God?s problem. Let him solve it.
The fact is if you are God?s child, then your problems are his problems. And he?s much better at fighting your battles and solving your problems than you will ever be. Your job is to trust him to work it all out. Perhaps the reason we have so many tired, fatigued, and discouraged Christians is because we think, ?It all depends on me.?
The day you resign as General Manager of the Universe, you?re going to find that it doesn?t fall apart. You can relax in faith, trusting that God is able to run things without your help.
Twice in this passage it says, ?Don?t be afraid,? and ?Don?t be discouraged.? When you face a seemingly impossible situation, don?t be afraid and don?t be discouraged. Has God ever lost a battle? No. He doesn?t lose battles.
There?s an important phrase in verse 17. God tells Jehoshaphat, ?Take your positions and stand firm.? What does it mean to stand firm? It means to have a mental attitude of quiet confidence. It is never God?s will for you to run from a difficult situation. I?ve discovered that when I run from a difficult situation, inevitably God always brings it back around and gives me another chance. Why?
Because God wants us to learn ? and he wants to teach us through experience ? that in every situation he is sufficient. He is competent and capable and he will meet our needs in that situation. Don?t be afraid; fear is the opposite of faith.
You stand firm on two things:
The character of God ? He?s faithful. He does not bring us this far just to let us down. He doesn?t bring you out on a limb and then cut off the limb. Have faith in the nature andcharacter of God.
The truth of his Word ? God?s Word is faithful. You can count on the promises found in the Bible.
Stand still. Remember Who the battle belongs to. Trust that he is able to deliver you. And then watch him do it!
© 2008 Purpose Driven Life. All rights reserved.
I just love the part about not being the general manager of the universe...so true!
Reach Out
You are reading the daily devotion from NotReligion.
November 17, 2008
Key Passage: Acts 9:19-31
Topic: Christian Living
And when he had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples. And they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple (Acts 9:26, ESV).
If you only read this verse by itself, you might wonder who the disciples were afraid of? And what would cause these Christ-followers to be fearful?
At that time, persecution had begun against the Church. And believers were being scattered across the world. Jesus' disciples, however, remained in Jerusalem.
Then a man showed up claiming to have become a believer. Not an ordinary man. This guy was well-known for persecuting Christians.
The disciples' fear was understandable. They didn't believe him; they thought he'd come to trap them. To say he'd become a believer, gain their trust, learn the names of other Christians and arrest them all.
The man's name was Saul--later he was known as Paul. He wrote much of the New Testament. But fear almost caused the disciples to turn away one of the men most used by God in the Church. Imagine the blessing and insight we'd lack today if Paul hadn't been allowed to be part of the early church!
If we allow fear to be our guide instead of the Holy Spirit, we could turn away from someone God wants to use mightily.
That rough-living teen who attends our church, the ex-convict who's allowed Christ to begin changing him, that young mother who's made a multitude of mistakes--we might hesitate, a little fearful of believing a lie. Or of embracing someone we can't identify with. But we might miss a blessing if we do.
Has fear been keeping you from accepting someone?
NotReligion - Home
November 17, 2008
Key Passage: Acts 9:19-31
Topic: Christian Living
And when he had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples. And they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple (Acts 9:26, ESV).
If you only read this verse by itself, you might wonder who the disciples were afraid of? And what would cause these Christ-followers to be fearful?
At that time, persecution had begun against the Church. And believers were being scattered across the world. Jesus' disciples, however, remained in Jerusalem.
Then a man showed up claiming to have become a believer. Not an ordinary man. This guy was well-known for persecuting Christians.
The disciples' fear was understandable. They didn't believe him; they thought he'd come to trap them. To say he'd become a believer, gain their trust, learn the names of other Christians and arrest them all.
The man's name was Saul--later he was known as Paul. He wrote much of the New Testament. But fear almost caused the disciples to turn away one of the men most used by God in the Church. Imagine the blessing and insight we'd lack today if Paul hadn't been allowed to be part of the early church!
If we allow fear to be our guide instead of the Holy Spirit, we could turn away from someone God wants to use mightily.
That rough-living teen who attends our church, the ex-convict who's allowed Christ to begin changing him, that young mother who's made a multitude of mistakes--we might hesitate, a little fearful of believing a lie. Or of embracing someone we can't identify with. But we might miss a blessing if we do.
Has fear been keeping you from accepting someone?
NotReligion - Home
