2021-09-19
Judges 6:23 NIV
The name Jehovah-Shalom: the Lord my peace, was discovered by Gideon when God assigned him the job of leading Israel against the Midianites – a position Gideon saw as far beyond his abilities. “How can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family” (v. 15 NIV). The Lord responded, “I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites…Peace! Do not be afraid. You are not going to die” (vv. 16, 23 NIV). A frightened Gideon believed God before the battle was even fought and the victory secured. Through the eyes of faith, he envisioned peace already secured, and built an altar to Jehovah-Shalom: the Lord our peace.
We assume that we can only have inner peace when our outer circumstances are favourable. Let’s learn, like Gideon, that inward peace doesn’t depend on altering outward circumstances. It depends on believing that Jehovah-Shalom is with you, and that will bring you through the battle with inner peace. Jesus said: “Peace I leave with you; my peace [inner, faith-based] I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives [outward, circumstantial]. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (John 14:27 NIV).
No matter how inadequate you feel today, remember these words: “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace…take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33 NIV). Your job is to “take heart” because Jehovah-Shalom is with you, and to trust Christ the “overcomer” to handle the circumstances for you!
Soul food: Gen 2:7-25; 1 Cor 15:39-55
2021-09-18
Exodus 14:13 NIV
Let’s look again at Jehovah-Nissi: the Lord my banner. It isn’t easy to hand our battles over and let God fight for us. We feel like we’re copping out or being irresponsible. Popular thinking says, “Don’t just sit there, do something!” We’re like the drowning man who can’t stop grasping at his rescuer. We imagine they need our help, and as a result we end up making their job almost impossible. The truth is – we become their worst nightmare!
But just because God fights for us doesn’t mean we’re not involved. The hardest part about the order – “stand still and watch the deliverance of the Lord” – is we mistake standing still for doing nothing, or being derelict in our duty. Fear says, “Just do something!” Faith says, “Stand in faith. Let God do it!” That’s about as far from doing nothing as you can get. It’s faith at its highest.
So how come we need spiritual armor if we don’t do the fighting? Good question! Paul said, “Put on the full armor of God, so…you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes” (Ephesians 6:11 NIV). Notice: you wear his armor – not yours. You’re to stand – not fight. “The weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh” (2 Corinthians 10:4 NAS).
Human methods get in God’s way; natural abilities are useless against spiritual forces. The grub of the dragonfly at the bottom of the pond may be a well-developed, vigorous grub. But once it becomes a dragonfly, the strengths of its grub-life won’t help it to live an airborne life. Whereas we once trusted in our own human effort, now we trust only in Jehovah-Nissi.
Soul food: 2 Cor 9:1-11:15; Luke 22:24-38; Ps 24; Prov 21:1-2
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
2021-09-16
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
2021-09-15
Romans 6:12 NLT
Paul writes: “Consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ…Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires…[or] let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God” (vv. 11-13 NLT).
If you let it, your body will lead you astray. It’s not that it’s evil, but it has certain appetites which are always ready to respond to surrounding stimuli, all of which are terribly appealing and temporarily satisfying.
Chuck Swindoll writes: “Life on earth is really nothing more than a string of moments…And I don’t want my testimony for Jesus Christ to be shattered by a single moment of indulging my flesh. I don’t want one moment of rage or pride or lust to cast a shadow over a lifetime of walking with my Lord. Frankly, I fear that possibility. And do you know what? I want to fear that possibility. When I stop fearing it – I’m in grave danger.”
So how do you deal with your carnal appetites? The only way is to make God’s Word your code of conduct and refuse to compromise. And if you need a role model you won’t find a better one than Jesus. He said, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves” (Matthew 16:24 NIV). Each day, look for an opportunity to deny yourself in some small area. You’ll be surprised how hard it is! But the payoff comes later when you need to deny yourself in a big area of life that has much more riding on it.
Soul food: 2 Cor 1-4; Luke 22:1-13; Ps 78:56-64; Prov 20:25
2021-09-14
Psalm 122:1 NKJV
The psalmist said, “I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go into the house of the Lord.'” Do you feel that way about God’s house too? And if not, why not?
Paul writes: “God is building a home. He’s using us all – irrespective of how we got here – in what he is building. He used the apostles and prophets for the foundation. Now he’s using you, fitting you in brick by brick, stone by stone, with Christ Jesus as the cornerstone that holds all the parts together. We see it taking shape day after day – a holy temple built by God, all of us built into it, a temple in which God is quite at home” (Ephesians 2:19-22 MSG).
There are times when you need to be alone with God in prayer; there are times you’ll only find the answer you seek when you’re with God’s people. When those who are indwelt by God’s Spirit meet for worship, teaching, encouragement and service, God shows up in a powerful way. You grow spiritually as you experience His presence, hear His Word, and fellowship with your brothers and sisters in Christ. Every time you gather with other members of Christ’s body, it reminds you again that you’re on the winning side.
It’s hard to celebrate by yourself. When you’ve something worth celebrating you generally call folks together so you can share the joy, right? Jesus is so excited about His victory at the cross, that He calls us together every week to celebrate what He accomplished for us. And celebration, like spiritual growth, is a group project.
Soul food: Eze 46-48; Luke 21:25-38; Ps 78:40-55; Prov 20:22-24
