by Suellen | Project 2013: Read The Bible
II Chronicles 23-24
God always has a remnant.
For Athaliah, the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel, to be queen of Judah was like Satan himself taking over God’s country. The temple was trampled, many of the holy things of the house were transferred for use by the priests of the Baals.( Baal was her God, just as he was her parents’). Hard times in Israel.
Yet God’s righteous man arose with a plan. Jehoiada, the priest, rallied some faithful leaders and they surrounded Joash, took him out of hiding, and crowned him king. Then they seized Athaliah and put her to death.
Joash was only seven years old when he was crowned king, but he had a wonderful mentor in Jehoiada. The priest led some people to destroy all of the altars and items of Baal, and they set out to restore the temple. Joash followed his lead and began raising money to restore the temple.
“Joash did what was right in the sight of the Lord all the days of Jehoiada the priest.”(24:2)
It’s interesting to note here that as soon as a leader arose, there were many who followed. That’s something for us to consider today. When we look at our nation and see the immorality, the seeming apathy of believers, and the general trends of thought, we might think that there is no hope for us. But that’s not true.
There are many who want God’s purposes to be done, but they don’t have the drive or the gift to take charge. God is looking for some who will step up to the challenge.
When leaders step forth, there are those who will follow. You can see that in some of the grass-roots movements which are rising up in our nation today. There are many – looking for a leader to challenge them.
People with vision and determination to affect change will always be in high demand. By God and by men.
Leaders, however, can take people in either direction – up or down. So it’s important to take care just whom you are aligned with.
After Jehoiada’s death, Joash listened to others and forsook the true God, going after the Asherim and other idols. When Zechariah, Jehoiada’s son, tried to bring them back to the Lord, Joash had him killed.
The child king, who had helped lead his people back to the Lord, forsook his God at the end of his life. (Reminds you of Solomon, doesn’t it)?
I never want to turn away from my God , or to get lukewarm. I want to bear fruit all the days of my life.
John 15
This chapter is the key to a true life in Christ. Jesus gives us the imagery of a vine with many branches. He’s the vine and we are the branches.
So how are we connected? We are connected by the life flow of the Holy Spirit. We don’t each have our own root systems; our roots are in Jesus. As the sap flows from the roots of the vine and gives life to the branches, so does God’s anointing – His Holy Spirit – flow from Jesus and give us life.
When a vine grows, every healthy branch will bear fruit. Every branch which has the flow of sap coming in fullness will produce the purpose. In the same way, if there is a steady flow of God’s anointing, the Holy Spirit through us from Jesus, we will be producing fruit. The only way we don’t produce the fruit is if we disconnect ourselves from the vine.
Branches which don’t produce fruit are not connected – they are fake branches. Those branches will be cut off and thrown away. And if we, as a branch do produce fruit, we will be pruned so that we will be more fruitful. Through His Word and correction He will keep us vital.
I love this image. This shows how Christianity is so different from all other religions. Every other religion has a list of rules which people are to follow. These rules are to make one holy, with sometimes promises of a hereafter.
Christianity is totally different. It’s not a set of rules; it’s a life. It’s God’s life within us.
We have literally a new birth within our spirits so that we have God’s very life – the sap of the vine – leading us, guiding us, giving us wisdom, and even empowering us to live this new life.
For those who have never tasted of this life, it sounds like science fiction, but for those who have tasted of it, this is very real. As we read these passages we begin to understand why we feel so different and look at life so differently after we become born again. We are changed; we are different.
This reminds me of the story about Augustine, who wrote the City of God, and other works in the early centuries of Christianity. Augustine had been an atheist, living an extremely worldly lifestyle up until the time he met his Savior. During that time, he lived with a mistress for many years.
About ten years after his salvation, Augustine happened to meet his old lover on the street. She ran up to speak to him, but he walked by her, seeming not to notice her. She said, “Augustine, look at me. It is I!” He turned and looked at her and said, “But it is not I.”
Augustine was referring to the fact that he had been totally changed. He was not the old man, Augustine, but a new man, God’s man. A new creature in Christ.
Augustine was now living – not a life of the flesh, but a life of the spirit – with the source of his life being from his Savior.
This is so important. As children of God, we are no longer who we were before we got saved, but now we are His people. Our sins have been forgiven and we have the privilege of walking in the newness of life He has given us.
Oh, I hope we can get this!
by Suellen | Project 2013: Read The Bible
II Chronicles 21-22
These kings just can’t seem to stay on track. Jehoshaphat has seen some terrific moments with God, yet in his last years, he allies with the king of Israel. The Word says, “He acted wickedly in so doing.”(20:35)
The high places had not been torn down, and when Jehoram, Jehoshaphat’s son takes the reigns, he reverts back to doing evil in God’s sight. He wants to be like the kings of Israel. (They must seem more sophisticated to him). The greatest abomination is that he marries the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel, two of the most evil people in the Bible.
Jehoram slays all of his brothers so that he won’t have any competition. His days are numbered. He dies after eight years as king , departing “with no one’s regret.”(21:20)
Ahaziah, his son, rules in Jehoram’s place, but for only one year. He also walks in the counsel of Ahab and Jezebel, and is killed by Jehu.
So Athaliah, his mother takes over the kingdom. The daughter of Ahab and Jezebel, she is an incredibly wicked person. Athaliah kills every member of the royal family (including her own grandchildren).
Only one grandchild, Joash, is hidden from her sight so that he is safe during Athaliah’s reign.
When we look at Ahab and Jezebel we see the epitome of evil, and it’s hard to imagine anyone wanting to be like them. Yet the arrogance that goes with such evil, causes some to be swayed in that direction. Especially the young and foolish.
Today there are some incredibly evil people who project such confidence and sophistication, that they tend to lure others into their camp. There are those who want to look good to men, and they can be fooled.
When I look at Ahab and Jezebel, I see some of those influential people.
I pray that you and I won’t be fooled by such behavior. We will be those who are willing not to look so good to men, if that’s what it takes.
When my son was little, he had a Tee shirt that said: Any dead fish can float down stream. Go against the flow. I’ve always liked that concept, because unless we are willing to go against the flow, we will never be who God wants us to be.
It takes courage and determination to be willing to sometimes look foolish to the arrogant. But that’s our call. We are to please God rather than man.
As we are doing this, we are not alone. Of course, we have the Lord always with us. But also, there are many others just like you and me. Those who truly want their lives to be lived for Him.
John 14
There have been seasons in my life when I would read the next four chapters of John everyday. If you want to understand what it means to be a christian, this is a good place to start.
Jesus is preparing His disciples befroe he leaves. The dispensation is about to change, and He is giving them an introduction into the new life they are about to receive. It’s easier to understand when you have the Holy Spirit teaching you. (There must have been a lot of “huh’s?” that day).
There are so many powerful nuggets here.
- I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father but through Me. (V. 6)
- He who has seen me has seen the Father. (V. 9)
- He who believes in Me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works shall he do; because I go to the Father. (V. 12)
- If you ask anything in My name, I will do it. (V. 14)
- In that day, you will know that I am in you and you in Me, and I in you. (V.20)
- If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make our abode with him. (V. 23)
- The Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things.( V. 26)
It’s clear that Jesus is introducing something new to these people. They are about to enter into a new life of relationship with the Father, which mankind has not known up until now.
He will be living in them, teaching them. They will be the representatives of God Himself on the earth. They will pray and have their prayers answered.
These new people will even do the works of Jesus.
Christianity has been so watered down over the years that it’s hard for some to see what this is saying. I pray that you and I see it.
To be a true, believing Christian is the most powerful position on earth. Men may never even see the power or know what you are doing. But you know and God knows.
In your secret place, as you pray and speak the Words God gives you to speak, you are representing Him on the earth. As you speak with boldness, the heavens and the earth will shake. The demonic forces will have to flee, and angels will come upon the scene.
Our prayers and declarations will make things happen in the earth!
by Suellen | Project 2013: Read The Bible
II Chronicles 19-20
We could use a little Jehoshaphat-speech today, couldn’t we? He establishes judges throughout the land, and reminds them of their responsibilities.
“Now then let the fear of the Lord be upon you; be careful what you do, for the Lord your God will have no part in unrighteousness or partiality or a taking of a bribe.”(19:7)
Don’t you wish that all of our judges today would heed that advice? If they would, our world wouldn’t be in such a mess.
Now we come to a story which is a pillar of faith for us…and very instructional, if we take note.
Jehoshaphat suddenly comes under attack. Several armies have aligned and they are marching to battle against Judah. Jehoshaphat is afraid, but he knows what to do. He turns to the Lord, and proclaims a fast throughout Judah. Then he asks for a word from God as to the necessary of action.
“O our God, wilt thou not judge them? For we are powerless before this great multitude who are coming against us; nor do we know what to do, for our eyes are upon you.”(20:12)
So the spirit of the Lord comes upon a prophet and gives direction.
“Do not fear or be dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours but God’s”(20:15).
Jehoshaphat and his assembly kneel and worship the Lord, and stand up to praise Him.
So early in the morning, they go out to meet the armies in battle, but the warriors don’t go first; the singers and praisers go first, proclaiming the mercy of the Lord.
As the praisers go forward, the Lord sends ambushments against the armies and they are routed. What a day! It doesn’t say what the “ambushments” are. They may be hallucinations, or angels, or confusion. When God shows up, He can get the job done.
After the aggressive armies leave, the army of Judah spends three days gathering all of the treasure left by the fleeing ones. What a rout!
Now we can use these principles in our daily battles. We don’t have foreign armies invading our territory, but we do have our enemy, the devil trying to do it. He comes after us through our minds, attempting to bring temptation or fear. Or through others at work, or sometimes even our families.
If we turn to the Lord and ask for His wisdom on the issue, He will show us the way out of the battle. In fact, He will turn the battle on the enemy, and we will be left in a better state than before.
The keys are to praise Him, listen to Him, and do what He says. If we lead every battle with praise and obedience, we will win!
John 13:21-38
A new commandment comes as Jesus prepares His disciples for His departure.
“Love one another, even as I have loved you…By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”(V. 34-35)
There are several words for “love” in the Greek and used in the New Testament. One means brotherly love, another means romantic love, but this one is different. This word is “agapeo,” which means “love like God loves.”
God loves in a different way. His love is full of mercy and compassion. It is also full of honesty.
If we love only with the “brotherly love,” we don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings. If we see grave error in their lives, we overlook it, thinking they have a right to their own opinion.
God’s type of love is more like a parent’s love. As parents, we always are looking for the best in our children, but if they are playing in the street, we get them out. We love them – and we want their safety. God’s love wants our safety.
There are times when humanistic ideology mixes up these types of love. The adherents to this ideology think if you ever speak the “truth” to someone, you are judging them. I say, if you are really a friend – the way God is your friend – you will speak the truth.
Now don’t get me wrong. I don’t mean we go around bossing and correcting everyone. But occasionally we will encounter a friend about to get themselves into real trouble. God’s love will confront – in a compassionate way, and offer prayer. Definitely, there needs to be God’s leading as we do it.
When we are moving along a path of error, our Father God’s love is right there, wanting so much to help us to get on the right path. When we repent and turn, His love then empowers us to continue our righteous walk with mercy and truth.
God’s love is real, honest, and empowering. That’s the love we are to represent to the world. It’s something to think about, isn’t it?
