2 Chron. 31, 32

Hezekiah was a great king for most of his life. When challenged by the King of Assyria, he sought the protection of the Lord. God’s angel slew a great amount of Assyrians in one night and frightened them so that they fled to their homeland. That evil king was assassinated by his own sons for bringing such a defeat upon his people. God’s greatness overwhelmed his aggression with defeat.

God is SO MUCH GREATER than any challenge we face. As we praise the Lord, we release His greatness into our challenge. No foe is a match for God. Call upon Him in your distress and watch His angel demolish your enemy.

2 Chron. 28-30

King Hezekiah instituted a massive process of restoring God’s temple and worship according to the law and the way that David had served the Lord. This was greatly pleasing to the Lord. A tall order in this process was the ceremonial cleansing of the priests and Levites. They couldn’t just walk in and begin their service without becoming clean in their life and practices. God was picky about who stood before Him to minister. Remember, King Uzziah was stricken with leprosy as he presumptuously ministered to the Lord in his uncleanness.

The application to us is that God does desire us to live clean lives. A quest for purity of heart was commended by Christ Jesus … He said the pure in heart would SEE the Lord.

2 Chron. 25-27

The Jews have always been able warriors. The stories of their clashes with all neighboring cultures are frequent. Even Judah and Israel fought vicious wars against each other. On one occasion, Judah marched 10,000 enemy soldiers to the top of a cliff and pushed them off to their deaths. Even today, Israeli soldiers are some of the fiercest and most cunning in the world.

Actually, Christians are to be great warriors … in the spirit realm that is. We don’t war in the flesh – we war in the spirit. We are in a great clash/struggle against spiritual wickedness, both within our own heart and in the world around us. Jesus Himself is the Mighty Warrior of God and the Captain of the Hosts of Heaven. He leads us into battle and has NEVER LOST!

For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds; [2 Cor. 10:4]

MERRY CHRISTMAS! Have a great day and war against the Powers of Gluttony.

2 Chron. 22-24

King Joash took the throne of Judah at age 7. Under the tutelage of Jehoiada, the Godly priest, Judah saw a period of prosperity. Admirably, Joash had the temple repaired and restored to it former glory. However, when Jehoiada passed, the king accepted the bad advice of young princes who wanted to see the nation move away from serving God. This led to his downfall. His army was defeated by the much smaller Syrian army and he succumbed to his wounds from battle. He also murdered a Godly prophet who challenged his apostate position.

Leaders who resist God’s ways will eventually incur God’s punishment. We need to pray for government leaders who steer our nation away from God that they repent and turn.

2 Chron. 21

King Jehoram slaughtered all his siblings to prevent anyone from usurping him as king. To me, this is the ultimate of ambition … you are willing to do anything to get ahead. This sick kind of ambition leads to misery. God gave him a disease of the bowels and he only lasted until he was 40 years old. He paid a painful price for his murderous ambition.

Nobody likes this kind of person. He was not mourned when he died, and very little respect was paid to him at his passing.

On the contrary, when a leader puts others first, he endears people to him. His goal is that others succeed. This is the true heart of every caring parent. They want their offspring to succeed. These qualities are found in good leaders.

2 Chron. 19, 20

God gave a great victory to King Jehoshaphat and Judah, as recorded in a passage that has applications to the spiritual warfare we face today. He consulted the Lord when faced with an overpowering enemy. He appointed the Levites to praise the Lord with voices and instruments. God told him that it was God’s battle, not just his. This formula still works today.

Regardless of the obstacle placed in your way, when you call upon the Lord for help and focus on His greatness through your praise, He will fight your battle. Physical affliction, financial stress, tense human relationship struggles, geo-political emergencies … every battle can be brought under Christ’s victorious lordship. There may even be some plunder to absorb.

2 Chron. 18

King Ahab had formed an alliance with King Jehoshaphat to battle their mutual Syrian enemies. Having sought the Lord’s counsel at Jehoshaphat’s request, he received false counsel that he would be victorious. However, the true prophet Micaiah predicted a loss.

King Ahab became the victim of a random archer’s arrow, although he was disguised as a common soldier. God caused him to be the target of an unguided arrow, thus fulfilling Micaiah’s prophecy.

Our lives are in God’s hands. Actually, nothing is random because God has control over everything that happens to us. We are wise to abide under His Protective Hand.

Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. [Ps. 91:9-11]

Testimonial note: Patty and I memorized Psalm 91 when I was drafted into the Army during the Vietnam War. God graciously kept me out of the war. I had Christian buddies whom God preserved without a scratch even though they lived in combat.

2 Chron. 14-17

Asa had a great reign, for the most part following with ways of King David and honoring the Lord with his decisions. However, in the later days of his life he was diseased in his feet. His condition got progressively worse. He sought the help of physicians, but didn’t trust God for his health.

This strikes close to home for me. I have peripheral neuropathy in my feet. It is a result of the medications I took early in my Multiple Myeloma diagnosis. I am hereby resolved to begin seeking the Lord’s healing in my feet, and the other areas of my affliction. I want my life to be a testimony to God’s faithfulness.

2 Chron. 11-13

Today we bring you a special announcement!

JESUS IS THE ANSWER!

You may ask, “What’s the question?” It makes no difference. Christ Jesus is always the answer to every question. Go ahead and try it. Ask a question. Christ is and has the answer. Need healing? Need money? Need wisdom? Need strength? Whatever you need, He has it.

1. For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. [Col. 2:9]
2. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: [1 Cor 1:30]
3. That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; [Eph. 3:16]

My parents were raised in a movement called “Jesus Only.” The truth is, if you have Christ Jesus, you have all of God.

Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father? [John 14:9]

2 Chron. 8-10

Solomon put a “heavy yoke” of taxation upon the inhabitants of Israel. His standard of life was very high … gold was always his choice … silver was considered of little value. Leaders came from around the world to learn how he had created such a glorious kingdom. It seems that he got more credit than God did.

Taxes are necessary to operate a government. When the people observe that taxes are used for the personal success of a few at the top, people become disgruntled. Solomon’s son Rehoboam imposed an even greater burden upon the people. They promptly rebelled.

The people can only take so much hypocrisy.