2 Chronicles 32:20-23 "Then King Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz cried out in prayer to God in heaven. 21 And the Lord sent an angel who destroyed the Assyrian army with all its commanders and officers. So Sennacherib was forced to return home in disgrace to his own land. And when he entered the temple of his god, some of his own sons killed him there with a sword. 22 That is how the Lord rescued Hezekiah and the people of Jerusalem from King Sennacherib of Assyria and from all the others who threatened them. So there was peace throughout the land. 23 From then on King Hezekiah became highly respected among all the surrounding nations, and many gifts for the Lord arrived at Jerusalem, with valuable presents for King Hezekiah, too."
Hezekiah's cried out to the Lord for help and God sent an angel to destroy the enemy. The Bible then tells us that from that moment on Hezekiah became highly respected through the surrounding nations and they would send him gifts. The prayer of promotion is a prayer of desperation. When we humble ourselves before the Lord and cry out of a desperate heart, acknowledging that God is our only hope then things will change. Daniel had a desperate prayer and it also produced a promotion in his life. I wonder if the problems you have been running from is actually the promotion you have been seeking. Stop running and start praying, acknowledging God as your only hope, you may be surprised to see your problem become the pathway to your promotion.
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Monday, August 1, 2011
Remember the Turtle
Verse 16 "But when he had become powerful, he also became proud, which led to his downfall. He sinned against the Lord his God by entering the sanctuary of the Lord’s Temple and personally burning incense on the incense altar."
Pride causes us to assume positions and power that doesn't belong to us. King Uzziah had become very powerful but the Bible says he also became proud. There is a old saying that says don't be a sore loser, but I think the greatest challenge is to not be a prideful winner. History is filled with people who obtained great success, but it is also filled with successful people who because of pride lost that success. Pride make a person think that the rules don't apply to them, that because of their power they can do what they want to do. Pride however always leads to destruction, it brings down those who have been lifted up.
One of the most important ingredients for long term success is humility. Humility does not mean that I think less of myself, it means that I don't think less of you. Humility recognizes that all success is a joint effort and that no one gets to the top without a lot of help from others, especially God. A very successful man had a picture in his office of a turtle sitting on top of a fence post, when asked by a reporter about the picture he replied; anytime you see a turtle on the top of a fence post you know that he did not get there by himself.
Pride causes us to assume positions and power that doesn't belong to us. King Uzziah had become very powerful but the Bible says he also became proud. There is a old saying that says don't be a sore loser, but I think the greatest challenge is to not be a prideful winner. History is filled with people who obtained great success, but it is also filled with successful people who because of pride lost that success. Pride make a person think that the rules don't apply to them, that because of their power they can do what they want to do. Pride however always leads to destruction, it brings down those who have been lifted up.
One of the most important ingredients for long term success is humility. Humility does not mean that I think less of myself, it means that I don't think less of you. Humility recognizes that all success is a joint effort and that no one gets to the top without a lot of help from others, especially God. A very successful man had a picture in his office of a turtle sitting on top of a fence post, when asked by a reporter about the picture he replied; anytime you see a turtle on the top of a fence post you know that he did not get there by himself.
Friday, July 29, 2011
Opposite
Romans 12:21 "Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good"
Paul said do not let evil conquer you, that one statement should en-courage us to keep on keeping on. Paul under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit teaches us that evil can not conquer us without our permission. We have to let evil conquer us and the flip side of that coin is that if we refuse to give in to the evil then the evil can never conquer us.
The key to our victory is learning to do exactly the opposite of what our flesh wants to do. We overcome evil with good, hate with love and anger with peace. Our flesh wants to fight fire with fire, but when we yield to our flesh we yield to the evil one and we become victims instead of victors. Personally I have learned that the secret to a correct response is not to make an immediate response. If I will wait just a moment the fire of my flesh will begin to subside and the fire of the Spirit will begin to rise, the Holy Spirit will guide me with the correct response and I will overcome evil with good and walk away Victorious!
Paul said do not let evil conquer you, that one statement should en-courage us to keep on keeping on. Paul under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit teaches us that evil can not conquer us without our permission. We have to let evil conquer us and the flip side of that coin is that if we refuse to give in to the evil then the evil can never conquer us.
The key to our victory is learning to do exactly the opposite of what our flesh wants to do. We overcome evil with good, hate with love and anger with peace. Our flesh wants to fight fire with fire, but when we yield to our flesh we yield to the evil one and we become victims instead of victors. Personally I have learned that the secret to a correct response is not to make an immediate response. If I will wait just a moment the fire of my flesh will begin to subside and the fire of the Spirit will begin to rise, the Holy Spirit will guide me with the correct response and I will overcome evil with good and walk away Victorious!
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
First
2 Chronicles 183-4 “Will you go with me to Ramoth-gilead?” King Ahab of Israel asked King Jehoshaphat of Judah. Jehoshaphat replied, “Why, of course! You and I are as one, and my troops are your troops. We will certainly join you in battle.” 4 Then Jehoshaphat added, “But first let’s find out what the Lord says.”
Jehoshaphat's response to King Ahab should be our response to every invitation that we receive. Before we accept a business offer, start a new job, make a major purchase or enter into a new relationship, we need to first find out what the Lord says.
We need a solid word from God, because every decision we make today determines our tomorrow. Our futures are being framed today by the decisions we make and God is the author and finisher of our faith, he knows the end as well as the beginning. Not only is it foolish to make decisions without first finding out what the Lord says, but it is rebellious. Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior, as our savior we rejoice in what he has done for us, but as our Lord we submit to what he wants to do through us.
Jehoshaphat's response to King Ahab should be our response to every invitation that we receive. Before we accept a business offer, start a new job, make a major purchase or enter into a new relationship, we need to first find out what the Lord says.
We need a solid word from God, because every decision we make today determines our tomorrow. Our futures are being framed today by the decisions we make and God is the author and finisher of our faith, he knows the end as well as the beginning. Not only is it foolish to make decisions without first finding out what the Lord says, but it is rebellious. Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior, as our savior we rejoice in what he has done for us, but as our Lord we submit to what he wants to do through us.
Monday, July 25, 2011
Position and Purpose
2 Chronicles 16:7-10 "At that time Hanani the seer came to King Asa and told him, “Because you have put your trust in the king of Aram instead of in the Lord your God, you missed your chance to destroy the army of the king of Aram. 8 Don’t you remember what happened to the Ethiopians and Libyans and their vast army, with all of their chariots and charioteers? At that time you relied on the Lord, and he handed them over to you. 9 The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. What a fool you have been! From now on you will be at war.” 10 Asa became so angry with Hanani for saying this that he threw him into prison and put him in stocks. At that time Asa also began to oppress some of his people."
When a leader becomes unable to receive instruction, then that leader becomes unfit to lead. King Asa was confronted with truth, he should have repented, ask God to forgive him and restore to him the opportunity that he had missed because of his sin. But instead he got angry and punished the messenger and began to oppress his people.
This action shows the condition of his heart. He was filled with pride, he allowed his position to take priority over his purpose, he had forgotten why God had made him king. May we never forget that God promotes a leader for the sake of the people, our purpose as leaders is equip, empower and enable those we lead to fulfill the purpose of God for their lives individually and for the body of Christ.
When a leader becomes unable to receive instruction, then that leader becomes unfit to lead. King Asa was confronted with truth, he should have repented, ask God to forgive him and restore to him the opportunity that he had missed because of his sin. But instead he got angry and punished the messenger and began to oppress his people.
This action shows the condition of his heart. He was filled with pride, he allowed his position to take priority over his purpose, he had forgotten why God had made him king. May we never forget that God promotes a leader for the sake of the people, our purpose as leaders is equip, empower and enable those we lead to fulfill the purpose of God for their lives individually and for the body of Christ.
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Parenting 101
Proverbs 19:18 "Discipline your children while there is hope. Otherwise you will ruin their lives."
How important is discipline for a child; well the wisest man on the planet said that it was so important that without disciple our children's lives will be ruined. There is no doubt that one of the most joyless task that we have as parents is discipline, but at the same time we must realize it is also one of the most important task given to us by God. Our role as parents is to train up our children in the ways of the Lord and produce a generation that will carry on the message and ministry of Jesus Christ, without disciple this is impossible.
There are many things that breed rebellion in the heart of a child, below are two that relate to our scripture for today. The first thing is rules without relationship. When a child grows up in a home that is full of discipline but short on love and genuine relationship many times those children rebel. We must remember that Christianity is build on a relationship with God and out of that relationship comes discipline because God loves us. The second thing that breeds rebellion is no discipline. When a child grows up in a home where the parents give the child everything it wants and caters to it every need, then when that child becomes a teenager many times rebellion will begin to flow. Why, because when that child was little they were under your care and safe, but now as a teenager they are out in the world no longer under your constant care. At this season in their lives, parents begin to try to establish rules and guidelines and this seldom works. Rebellion comes because for the first 15 years of their life there were no rules and ultimately the child's wish was the law of the family.
The Bible teaches us that if we as parents don't discipline our children while they are still young, when there is hope for change, then we ruin their lives. That doesn't mean that they are not responsible for their decisions but it does mean that we are responsible for their raising. The flip side of this scripture promises us that if we discipline our children we empower then to succeed. We have all made mistakes as parents and this message is not to condemn us, but to challenge us to step into the heavenly call of God to raise a godly generation of young people that will carry the mantle of God further than we ever imagined.
How important is discipline for a child; well the wisest man on the planet said that it was so important that without disciple our children's lives will be ruined. There is no doubt that one of the most joyless task that we have as parents is discipline, but at the same time we must realize it is also one of the most important task given to us by God. Our role as parents is to train up our children in the ways of the Lord and produce a generation that will carry on the message and ministry of Jesus Christ, without disciple this is impossible.
There are many things that breed rebellion in the heart of a child, below are two that relate to our scripture for today. The first thing is rules without relationship. When a child grows up in a home that is full of discipline but short on love and genuine relationship many times those children rebel. We must remember that Christianity is build on a relationship with God and out of that relationship comes discipline because God loves us. The second thing that breeds rebellion is no discipline. When a child grows up in a home where the parents give the child everything it wants and caters to it every need, then when that child becomes a teenager many times rebellion will begin to flow. Why, because when that child was little they were under your care and safe, but now as a teenager they are out in the world no longer under your constant care. At this season in their lives, parents begin to try to establish rules and guidelines and this seldom works. Rebellion comes because for the first 15 years of their life there were no rules and ultimately the child's wish was the law of the family.
The Bible teaches us that if we as parents don't discipline our children while they are still young, when there is hope for change, then we ruin their lives. That doesn't mean that they are not responsible for their decisions but it does mean that we are responsible for their raising. The flip side of this scripture promises us that if we discipline our children we empower then to succeed. We have all made mistakes as parents and this message is not to condemn us, but to challenge us to step into the heavenly call of God to raise a godly generation of young people that will carry the mantle of God further than we ever imagined.
Friday, July 15, 2011
Blessed and Highly Favored
Isaiah 51:2 "Yes, think about Abraham, your ancestor, and Sarah, who gave birth to your nation. Abraham was only one man when I called him. But when I blessed him, he became a great nation."
What causes one man to become a nation, what causes one decision to turn a city, what causes one pray to change a destiny and what causes one word to produce a miracle? The answer, the blessing of God. The blessing of God changes everything it touches, it turn the natural into the supernatural, it causes the ordinary to become extraordinary.
God's blessing supersedes our efforts, it causes our weakness to become strength, it gives vision to our eyes and puts power in every step. Our voice becomes the voice of heaven and our hands become an extension of his grace. Mountains are moved and valleys are filled, cities are conquered and principalities are over thrown. The heavens shift and the earth shakes under the blessing of God.
The glory of the spiritual is manifest through the natural because of the blessing of God. We can run faster, jump higher, shout loader, sing better, reach further and worship deeper because of the blessing of God.
Some one says I want it, but God says you already have it through Jesus Christ. Ephesians 1:3 "All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ." so go ahead and declare it, "I am blessed and highly favored, goodness and mercy follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." but don't stop with a declaration choose the daily manifestation of walking in the reality of the blessing of God.
What causes one man to become a nation, what causes one decision to turn a city, what causes one pray to change a destiny and what causes one word to produce a miracle? The answer, the blessing of God. The blessing of God changes everything it touches, it turn the natural into the supernatural, it causes the ordinary to become extraordinary.
God's blessing supersedes our efforts, it causes our weakness to become strength, it gives vision to our eyes and puts power in every step. Our voice becomes the voice of heaven and our hands become an extension of his grace. Mountains are moved and valleys are filled, cities are conquered and principalities are over thrown. The heavens shift and the earth shakes under the blessing of God.
The glory of the spiritual is manifest through the natural because of the blessing of God. We can run faster, jump higher, shout loader, sing better, reach further and worship deeper because of the blessing of God.
Some one says I want it, but God says you already have it through Jesus Christ. Ephesians 1:3 "All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ." so go ahead and declare it, "I am blessed and highly favored, goodness and mercy follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." but don't stop with a declaration choose the daily manifestation of walking in the reality of the blessing of God.
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