2021-09-17
2 Chronicles 20:15 KJV
When Israel was threatened by the armies of Amalek God gave them a glorious victory. Realizing that God was fighting the battle for them, Moses built an altar to Jehovah-Nissi: the Lord my banner. Fighting our own battles was never God’s idea. The Bible says, “The Lord is a man of war” (Exodus 15:3 KJV). “The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace” (Exodus 14:14 KJV). “Be not afraid nor dismayed…for the battle is not yours, but God’s.”
As human beings we get exhausted and discouraged because we keep trying to fight in our own strength. We engage in fruitless cycles of repentance, resolution, struggle, defeat, discouragement, and repenting all over again. The only spiritual conflict that’s ever successfully won, is the one God fights for us. He doesn’t expect us to win the battle but to let Him win it on our behalf. “But aren’t we supposed to fight too?” you ask. Yes, we’re to “fight the good fight of faith” (1 Timothy 6:12 KJV).
Ours isn’t a battle of exhausting effort, it’s the battle of believing. “But aren’t we supposed to wrestle like Jacob did?” First of all, Jacob didn’t win by wrestling, he won by being rendered too weak to keep wrestling. Secondly, his victory lay in surrender to God.
Are you worn out from the battle? Are you at the end of your rope? Then you’re just where God wants you! Let go and trust Jehovah-Nissi to prevail for you, because “the battle is not yours, but God’s!” Stand up and declare with Paul, “When I am weak, then am I strong” (2 Corinthians 12:10 KJV).
Soul food: 2 Cor 5-8; Luke 22:14-23; Ps 78:65-72; Prov 20:26-30
2 Chronicles 20:15 NKJV
When Israel was threatened by the armies of Amalek, God gave them a glorious victory. Moses realised that God was fighting the battle for them, so he built an altar to Jehovah-Nissi: the Lord my banner. Fighting our own battles was never God’s idea. The Bible says, ‘The LORD is a warrior (Exodus 15:3 NCV). ‘You only need to remain calm; the LORD will fight for you’ (Exodus 14:14 NCV). ‘Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s.’
As human beings we get exhausted and discouraged because we keep trying to fight in our own strength. We go through fruitless cycles of repentance, resolution, struggle, defeat, discouragement, and repenting all over again. The only spiritual conflict that’s ever successfully won is the one God fights for us. He doesn’t expect us to win the battle, but to let Him win it on our behalf. We need to ‘fight the good fight of faith’ (1 Timothy 6:12 KJV).
Our battle isn’t one of exhausting effort, it’s the battle of believing and trusting in God. When Jacob wrestled with an angel, his victory came in surrendering to God. He didn’t win by wrestling, he won by acknowledging he was too weak to carry on wrestling and needed God. When we’re at that point – when we’re worn out by struggles and battles in life – we need to let go and trust Jehovah-Nissi to fight for us, because ‘the battle is not yours, but God’s’! Then we can declare with Paul, ‘When I am weak, then am I strong’ (2 Corinthians 12:10 KJV).
2 Cor 5-8; Luke 22:14-23; Ps 78:65-72; Prov 20:26-30
2021-09-16
Psalm 65:3 NLV
Markus skryf: ‘Nog voor dagbreek die volgende oggend het Jesus opgestaan en alleen op ‘n stil plek gaan bid’ (Markus 1:35 NLV). Jesus het elke oggend deposito’s gemaak sodat Hy deur die dag onttrekkings daaruit kon maak. Baie van ons doen dit egter nie en ‘n mens kan dit sien! R.A. Torrey het gesê: ‘Ons is te besig om te bid en so is ons te besig om krag te ontvang. Ons het baie aktiwiteite, maar ons bereik min daardeur.’
Die pastoor van ‘n mega-kerk het erken dat hy vir jare meer van gebed geweet het as wat hy gebed beoefen het. Een dag het God sy skedule onderbreek en hom aangesê om gebed te ondersoek, te bestudeer en dit te beoefen totdat hy dit ten volle verstaan. Die resultate was lewensveranderend.
Hy skryf: ‘Dit is twintig jaar sedert ek die tyd begin neem het om te bid. My lewe is getransformeer. Die grootste vervulling wat ek daaruit ontvang het, is nie die lys van wonderbaarlike antwoorde wat ek op gebed ontvang het nie – alhoewel dit wonderlik is – die grootste opwinding daarvan is die verskil in kwaliteit in my verhouding met God. Toe ek begin bid het, het ek nie geweet wat gaan gebeur nie. God en ek was vroeër slegs terloops aan mekaar bekend. Ons het nie gereeld bymekaar gekom nie en nie baie gesels nie. Nou, kom ons egter baie bymekaar en het elke oggend wesenlike, siels-ondersoekende gesprekke met mekaar. Ek voel asof ek God baie beter leer ken het sedert ek begin bid het.’
Martin Luther het gesê: ‘Ek het dikwels al meer in een gebed geleer as wat ek deur baie studie en nadenke kon verkry.’ Wil jy God beter leer ken? Begin bid!
Sielskos: Lev 16; Lev 23:26-32; Heb 9:1-14; Heb 13:11-16
Psalm 83:18 NCV
The Israelites called God Jehovah, a name they thought of as inexpressible and inexplicable. The name means the ‘self-existing one’; the ‘I am’. He existed before all things, He is the creator of all things. He was perceived as an awesome but seemingly impersonal, unknowable being. But God wanted us to know Him in a personal way, so in Scripture He added five revealing titles to the name Jehovah, five word-portraits to help us understand and relate to Him. The Israelites usually discovered the truth of these word-portraits during times of crisis and distress. And they can encourage us too.
The first one we’re going to look at is Jehovah-Jireh: the Lord will see, the Lord will provide. Abraham was about to sacrifice his son when God provided a lamb as an offering in Isaac’s place. And in response Abraham called God Jehovah-Jireh, the Lord who sees and provides. But it doesn’t just apply to Abraham. Jesus said, ‘Your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things’ (Matthew 6:32 NKJV). Like a caring, responsive parent, God sees His children’s needs before they do, and provides the solution. We don’t have to beg, bargain and plead to get what we need.
That might make us wonder why we don’t always get what we ask for. It’s because God knows what we really need, and He’ll provide it at exactly the right time. Often the things we think we need turn out to be things we want. God knows the difference. Remember Jehovah-Jireh sees our needs, and because He sees them He will provide for them!
Lev 16; Lev 23:26-32; Heb 9:1-14; Heb 13:11-16
Psalm 83:18 NLT
The Israelites called God Jehovah, a name they thought of as incommunicable and inexplicable. The name means the “self-existing one;” the “I am.” He was before all things, the creator of all things; an awesome but seemingly impersonal, unknowable being.
However, God wanted us to know Him in a personal way, so in Scripture He added five revealing titles to the name Jehovah, five word-portraits to help us understand and relate to Him. The Israelites usually discovered the truth of these word-portraits during times of crisis and distress. And they’ll encourage you, too, during your time of need.
Jehovah-Jireh: the Lord will see, the Lord will provide. Abraham was about to sacrifice his son when God provided a lamb as an offering in Isaac’s place. And in response Abraham called God Jehovah-jireh, the Lord who sees and provides. But it doesn’t just apply to Abraham. The New Testament references many counterparts to the Lord who sees our needs and provides answers. Jesus said, “Your heavenly Father knoweth…ye have need of all these things” (Matthew 6:32 KJV).
Like a caring responsive parent, God sees His children’s needs before they do, and provides the solution. Before their shoes wear out, their father provides new ones. They don’t have to beg, bargain and plead. Maybe you’re wondering how come you don’t always get what you ask for. Because God knows what you really need – you don’t! Think about it: it’s possible for your wants to be gratified and your real needs go unmet. Remember Jehovah-Jireh sees your needs, and because He sees them He will provide for them! It’s that simple!
Soul food: Lev 16; Lev 23:26-32; Heb 9:1-14; Heb 13:11-16
