Today’s Devotion - 1/23/12

The Power of Praise
2 Chronicles 19:1-20:37 

King Jehoshaphat is really coming along as a hero.  He might be the King, but that doesn’t keep him from traveling throughout the land, trying to see men abandon their idols and turn toward the Lord.  God honors what the King is up to.

Trouble in paradise:  rumors begin to spread…the kingdom is about to be attacked.  Imagine the moment that you realize everything you hold dear is likely to be destroyed.  All of your possessions are going to be taken.  You will probably lose your family.  You will probably lose your life.

Judah’s army wasn’t prepared to face the war that was on its way.  Jehoshaphat had an admirable 1st reaction:  he turned to the Lord in prayer.  The Bible says he began seeking after the Lord.  He lead the nation to pray and seek God.  The Lord sent His Spirit with a message:  Don’t Worry.  The Battle is the Lord’s.  You will prepare, but you will never fight.  You will discover a Victory that has already been won.

This is an audacious promise.  Would you believe it?  I’m not sure if I would or wouldn’t, but Jehoshaphat surely did.  With courage, the armies of Judah began walking into battle.  They were outmatched and by an earthly standards, they were about to die.  However, they were just bold enough to believe in a promise.

The Bible says that as they marched, they began to PRAISE THE LORD.  You’ve gotta see this next verse!

2 Chronicles 20:22 - “At the very moment they began to sing and give praise, the LORD caused the armies of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir to start fighting among themselves. 23 The armies of Moab and Ammon turned against their allies from Mount Seir and killed every one of them. After they had destroyed the army of Seir, they began attacking each other. 24 So when the army of Judah arrived at the lookout point in the wilderness, all they saw were dead bodies lying on the ground as far as they could see. Not a single one of the enemy had escaped.”

God used the praise of His people to usher in the victory.  I think there is a take-away here!!!!  The people of God believed the promise of God and they began thanking God before it even happened.  After they arrived to the battle scene, the only work they had to do was to haul away all the plunder.  It took 3 days.  God is so amazing.

Let’s get out there and began claiming some victory.

A Beautiful Tension
Romans 10-11

- Verse 14:  The compulsion to GO TELL
- It’s interesting that this verse follows the most definitive passage on election.

On one hand, we see that salvation is solely the work of the Lord.  On the other, we see that He has ordained for us to play a significant role.  Can we in good faith deny two things in the scriptures:  
1.  God is soverign and in control.  He seeks His glory above all
2.  god allows/seeks/demands a dynamic relationship with men and women.

Romans 11:7 presents another interesting mystery.   God had hardened the hearts of some Jews.  HOWEVER, he granted salvation to the gentiles so that the Jews would desire salvation.

I met a Jew in Israel who said this was his testimony.  He said that the Jewish people are truly hardened to the Gospel.  He said that one day, as an unsaved Jewish tour guide, he saw a Christian woman leading a team.  He said the remarkable joy in her life had an effect on him.  He saw something so real that he simply had to have it.  They are married now, and he is a born-again Christian.

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Today’s Devotion - 1/22/12

King Jehoshaphat & The Trouble with Friends 
2 Chronicles 17:1 - 18:34 

King Jehoshaphat was a really interesting character.  On one hand, he loved God.  Scriptures tells us that he chose to follow the example of his dad’s early, godly years.  This is a powerful principle:  You have to choose your influences, because they determine your destiny.  Who are you following?  Where will it lead you?

The King was a big naive and he trusted easily.  Seeking the approval of the ruler of the northern kingdom, Jehoshaphat found himself in a crazy situation.  On a journey to Israel, Jehoshaphat was asked by King Ahab to join him in an unholy battle.  King Ahab asks the dangerous question that con artists usually begin with, “will you go with me?”  To his credit, Jehoshaphat has a check in his spirit.

All of Ahab’s false prophets influence Jehoshaphat to go to battle, promising God’s favor.  (just because someone says they speak for the Lord, it doesn’t mean they do).   Jehoshaphat seeks out a prophet of the Lord, Michaiah.  This dude is a hero!  He is kept in shame because he brazenly speaks the truth of the Lord, and yet, he cannot be suppressed.  He tells Jehoshaphat that he would be crazy to go to battle with King Ahab…

However, the deception has already run its course.  (see the power of friends). We see that all along, Ahab’s intention was to let Jehoshaphat find his death.  Ahab dressed in plain clothes while encouraging Jehoshaphat to remain in his royal outfit.  It turns out, the other guys just wanted to kill the king.  What a jerk!   Because God saw Jehoshaphat’s heart, he spared his life in the ill-fated war.  Ahab the trickster wasn’t so lucky.  A random arrow shot him dead.  

You would think that  Jehoshaphat would have learned his lesson.  Old habits die hard.  He had to be reminded of the “trouble with friends” in 2 Chronicles 20:35-37

The Scandalous Simplicity of Faith
Romans 9:25-10:13

 In Romans 9:25, Paul explains my story…and the story of everyone who now believes.  “I will call them My people, who were not My people, And her beloved, who was not beloved.”This love was prophesied in Hosea…that means it was planned!  Jesus always intended for me to be part of the plan.  What an amazing God we serve.  He sought us, and He saved us.

Some beautiful stuff in this passage.
- Paul longs for the children of Israel to come to repentance
- He acknowledges  their zeal for the Lord, but states that it is mis-directed toward works
- Romans 10:3-4…whew!  Christ is the righteousness for those who believe

Romans 10:10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.”[v] 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. 13 For “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.”[w]

In context:  
- Not your way of salvation
- Not your way of God
- Calling on Him and His way, the way HE offers, by His drawing and because of His grace. 


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