And he said, "Listen, all you of Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you, King Jehoshaphat! Thus says the LORD to you: 'Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God's ... 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." - 2 Chronicles 20: 15 & 17 (NKJV)
This scripture here is a promise we can hold on to when going through difficult circumstances that seem out of our control and overwhelming. There are some battles that we simply can't fight - and shouldn't fight in our own strength. Sometimes God tells us to take our positions, stand still and see His deliverance. Sometimes we need to take our hands off, stand back and let God fight for us.
We needn't fear what comes against us, but to stand firm in our faith. God knows the whole situation. Though we feel overwhelmed when we look at our circumstances, the Lord sees the whole picture and sees the way out for us. We need to let God have control and fight the battle we're facing. He has promised that He is with us and that He will bring us through.
If you are facing a battle today that seems overwhelming, give it over to God and let Him fight for you. He will work it all out, and make a way where it seems there is no way.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you.
- Isaiah 43:2 (NKJV)
The Gift of Giving Our Daily Bread | Friday, April 21, 2017 By Tim Gustafson
Read: Luke 3:7–14 | Bible in a Year: 2 Samuel 12–13; Luke 16
Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion. 2 Corinthians 9:7
A pastor breathed life into the phrase “He’d give you the shirt off his back” when he gave this unsettling challenge to his church: “What would happen if we took the coats off our backs and gave them to the needy?” Then he took his own coat and laid it at the front of the church. Dozens of others followed his example. This was during the winter, so the trip home was less comfortable that day. But for dozens of people in need, the season warmed up just a bit.
When John the Baptist roamed the Judean wilderness, he had a stern warning for the crowd that came to hear him. “You brood of vipers!” he said. “Produce fruit in keeping with repentance” (Luke 3:7–8). Startled, they asked him, “What should we do then?” He responded with this advice: “Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same” (vv. 10–11). True repentance produces a generous heart.
Lord, show us what we have that we might use to bless someone else today.
Because “God loves a person who gives cheerfully” (nlt), giving should never be guilt-based or pressured (2 Cor. 9:7). But when we give freely and generously, we find that it truly is more blessed to give than to receive.
Lord, thank You for the many ways You bless us. Forgive us for so often taking Your goodness for granted. Show us what we have that we might use to bless someone else today.
Whoever refreshes others will be refreshed. Proverbs 11:25
INSIGHT:
God reveals His compassion for the poor throughout the Scriptures. In Psalm 72:13, we read, “He will take pity on the weak and the needy and save the needy from death.” The people were to join with God in bringing His compassion to the poor. In the New Testament, Jesus repeatedly expresses the Father’s concern for the poor by portraying them as accepted by the Father (Mark 12:42; Luke 16:20) and stating that His messianic mission, in part, was confirmed by His ministry to the poor (Matt. 11:4–5). Paul picks up the baton of this challenge by commending the churches of Macedonia and Achaia for their financial support of the poor in Jerusalem (Rom. 15:26), while James warns that the poor must not be disregarded because of their socioeconomic status (James 2:2–6).
If our God and His Son are this concerned for the poor, how can we represent that love by caring for those in need?
Evidence of Jesus Billy Graham Evangelistic Association | Saturday, April 15, 2017 By Billy Graham
I am he that liveth, and was dead; and behold, I am alive for evermore . . . — Revelation 1:18
Certain laws of evidence hold in the establishment of any historic event. Documentation of the event in question must be made by reliable contemporary witnesses. There is more evidence that Jesus rose from the dead than there is that Julius Caesar ever lived, or that Alexander the Great died at the age of 33. It is strange that historians will accept thousands of facts for which they can produce only shreds of evidence.
But in the face of the overwhelming evidence of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, they cast a skeptical eye and hold intellectual doubts. The trouble with many people is that they do not want to believe. They are so completely prejudiced that they cannot accept the glorious fact of the resurrection of Christ on Bible testimony alone.
Prayer for the day
Lord Jesus, I know You are alive—for You live in the hearts of all those who love You!
Power Of Influence dailymanna.dclm.org/ | Monday, April 03, 2017 By Deeper Chtistian Life Ministry
2 CHRONICLES 24:1-14
Key Verse: "And Joash did that which was right in the sight of the LORD all the days of Jehoiada the priest. And he gathered together the priests and the Levites, and said to them, Go out unto the cities of Judah, and gather of all Israel money to repair the house of .......
Someone said: "Whenever you hear of a man doing a great thing, you may be sure that behind it somewhere is a great background. It may be a mother’s training, a father’s example, a teacher’s influence, or an intense experience of his own. But it has to be there or else the great achievement does not come, no matter how favourable the opportunity." How true this is especially for spiritual leaders! They must influence worshippers and people who have had personal encounters with God.
Jehoiada, the priest, had great positive influence on the young king Joash, in doing that which was right in the sight of the Lord. The single-mindedness and dogged determination of king Joash in ensuring that the task of repairing the temple was accomplished, must be the outcome of the impact of Jehoiada on his life. He encouraged him in the act of teamwork. The church today needs visionary and committed leaders like this priest who would painstakingly lead members to fulfill their necessary responsibilities. As good as delegation of duty is in secular and in spiritual administration, leaders must still remember not to abdicate their responsibilities, but to impact others by exemplary lifestyle.
The overwhelming response of all families in Judah is a proof that God’s work will never lack God’s resources. It is unscriptural to solicit financial assistance for the execution of God’s project from the ungodly. If Christians will be faithful in paying their tithes, the church would be richer. Moreso, givers never lack. However, members in the local assemblies should be motivated to faithfully, cheerfully and bountifully give their offerings to raising befitting church buildings and other needful gospel-related physical projects. He who "soweth bountifully shall also reap bountifully".
Thought for the day: Physical temple dignifies God; but spiritual ones please Him more.
ASK AND RECEIVE (kayannan@gmail.com/024 642 5541) | Friday, March 10, 2017 By Rev. K. Essibrey-Annan
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened...So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets"(Mat 7:7-12).
Take notice that, Jesus started a discourse on asking and receiving, and made a categorical statement that, evil fathers know how to give good gifts to their children. How much more will our Heavenly Father give good things to those who ask Him. Then He concluded, thus "therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them..." This means that, Whatever we want God to do for us, we must first of all, do the same for those we come into contact with.
As we cultivate the habit of meeting others' needs, we are positioning ourselves to receive from God. John 15:7 says "if you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you." This means, knowing the word and praying according to the will of God (1 John 5:14-15). Beloved, before we bring any request before God, let's first search the scripture and be sure it is in line with the will of God.
Scripture makes it clear, thus "delight yourself in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart (Psalms 37:4). What then is the desire of your heart? A sport car, a house by the sea, a company, a PhD qualification? The key is to delight in the work of God and He will surprise you by granting your heart desire.
While in Lent, let us take time off to study the Word of God, pray in line with the Word, delight ourselves in the work of God and our requests will be granted.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, I thank you for your word and the assurance that my needs and wants will be answered if I pray according to your will and show love to others. I pray to avail myself for your help, Holy Spirit, to play my part; in Jesus' name I have prayed. Amen.
Further Studies
"This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him" (1 John 5:14-15)
Learn From Mistakes dailymanna.dclm.org | Friday, March 03, 2017 By Deper Christian Life Ministry
EZEKIEL 23:22-36
Key Verse: "Therefore, O Aholibah, thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will raise up thy lovers against thee, from whom thy mind is alienated, and I will bring them against thee on every side" (Ezekiel 23:22).
Many times, what get people into trouble are not big, but little things. They omit to do what is right. They indulge in little careless or reckless acts, including those they knew spelt disaster for other people. With the passage of time, they become self-confident in their ability to tackle issues their own way.
They dismiss pointers in their own lives, to things that caused misfortune for others, on the hollow belief that, ‘it cannot happen to me’. In the process, they seal their own misfortune. Aholibah or Judah in Israel, had witnessed judgment that came on Samaria (or Aholah) for turning away from God and embracing the nations that did not know the Lord.
They were shipped into exile. Instead of learning from God’s retribution on evil nation, Judah became more sinful before God. They connived, formed alliance with heathen nations, exposed their treasure to them and served their idols. God paid them in their coins: He turned their new friends against them who plundered their wealth and exposed them to shame, humiliation and disgrace. It is only reasonable to learn from the mistakes of other people and avoid things that brought them down.
Where we find that the pursuit of power, wealth and pleasure took them away from God, we must flee from such. The lives of those around us who fell out with God should be a lesson to us to shun their ways. Anything that will lull our minds in sinful enjoyment must be avoided. We must not wait to taste the judgment of God. Anything we must do to live right before God and avoid His rod of punishment, must be done now.
Thought for the day: Sin is deceptive and deadly, and those that toy with it have bitter tales to tell.
