Consecrated Leadership

 Scripture:

“Josiah removed all the detestable idols from all the areas belonging to the Israelites and encouraged all who were in Israel to worship the Lord their God. Throughout the rest of his reign they did not turn aside from following the Lord God of their ancestors.” ‭‭2 Chronicles‬ ‭34‬:‭33‬ ‭NET‬‬

Observation:

Josiah was a great king, who started at a very early age. He followed the Lord God with all his heart and soul. He removed all the idols that other kings had set up. He tore down the worship areas of Gods other than God Almighty. He set his nation apart and brought the blessing of God. He turned them to God and the remainder of his reign, they followed him.

Application:

Sometimes walking in righteousness doesn’t make you popular immediately, but if you remain faithful to the Lord, people will be glad. When a leader wholly follows the Lord, those under his rule will experience the blessing of God and will follow after him. So much depends on the leader. As a leader, I want to lead people to follow God fully and completely. I want my life to be used to bring people into covenant with God so they can be blessed.

Prayer:

Father, use my life for Your glory. Help me to live in such a way that Your name will be glorified. Let Your kingdom come and Your will be done in my life. Help me to hate what You hate and love what You love.

Yours,

Jeff

Man of God

 Scripture:

“They stood at their posts according to the regulations outlined in the law of Moses, the man of God. The priests were splashing the blood as the Levites handed it to them.” ‭‭2 Chronicles‬ ‭30‬:‭16‬ ‭NET‬‬

Observation:

In this passage, Hezekiah had been doing right things before the Lord. He restored everything concerning God’s worship among God’s people. There is a simple description of Moses in the passage because they were re-implementing everything Moses started. It refers to Moses as “the man of God.” 

Application:

I am not into titles, but if I ever wanted a title to be attached to my life, it would be “man of God.” People in the Scripture who followed God wholeheartedly may have been called a prophet, a king, or a priest, but one of the greatest titles I see in the word of God is ‘man of God.” Above every other thing I can be called, I have always desired that one day people would call me a “man of God.” I want to be a man of God in every aspect of the term. 

Prayer:

Father, make me a man of God. Help me to follow You wholeheartedly and let my life shine and represent You well. Teach me to walk with You closely as friend with friend. Let my life bring Your honor and praise. Let my ways be uplifting to You and Your kingdom. I want to be a man of God.

Yours,

Jeff

Taught to Honor God

 Scripture:

“He followed God during the lifetime of Zechariah, who taught him how to honor God. As long as he followed the Lord, God caused him to succeed.” ‭‭2 Chronicles‬ ‭26‬:‭5‬ ‭NET‬‬

Observation:

King Uzziah did his best to follow the Lord completely. He messed up in the end, but most of his reign, he was a very godly king. This passage tells how he followed God during Zechariah’s life because Zechariah taught him how to honor God. This passage makes one other important statement. “As long as he followed the Lord, God caused him to succeed.”

Application:

First, I need to be a Zechariah to some Uzziahs. I need to teach others how to honor God. I want to invest my life into those who are willing to follow God closely. I also want to see them succeed in everything they do because the Lord is with them. I want to see those I invest in become mighty in God.

Prayer:

Father, You are worthy of my very best. Help me to honor You well all the days of my life. Help me to be a blessing to the next generation, that they may exalt Your name and live powerful lives in You. Help me to be a Zechariah to some Uzziahs.

Yours,

Jeff

God Can Help or Defeat

 Scripture:

“Even if you go and fight bravely in battle, God will defeat you before the enemy. God is capable of helping or defeating.”” ‭‭2 Chronicles‬ ‭25‬:‭8‬ ‭NET‬‬

Observation:

In this passage, Amaziah was hiring warriors and preparing for battle, but a prophet spoke to him about what he was doing. He was operating in his own wisdom and thoughts instead of seeking God. The prophet told him, “even if you go and fight bravely in battle, God will defeat you before the enemy. God is capable of helping or defeating.” We always think of God helping us accomplish what we want, but He is also able to defeat us when we get off of His plan.

Application:

Sometimes, as people of God, we can charge in and try to accomplish what God doesn’t want us to accomplish. Sometimes we lean on the arm of the flesh to do what the Spirit needs to do. We need to remember that God is capable of helping or defeating. God can make us win or lose in battle. We always believe He will make us win only, but God can also shut doors in your face and cause you to be defeated when you don’t ask His guidance and do what He desires.

Prayer:

Father, help me to remember that You can make us win or lose. You are all powerful and I love You with all my heart. Help me to follow Your voice and not just the wisdom of my flesh. Teach me how to lead well. Help me to stay aligned with You and Your will at all times. Show me how to walk in Your favor and blessing.

Yours,

Jeff

The God Who Never Fails

 Scripture:

“Early the next morning they marched out to the Desert of Tekoa. When they were ready to march, Jehoshaphat stood up and said: “Listen to me, you people of Judah and residents of Jerusalem! Trust in the Lord your God and you will be safe! Trust in the message of his prophets and you will win.”” ‭‭2 Chronicles‬ ‭20‬:‭20‬ ‭NET‬‬

Observation:

Jehoshaphat was nervous about a huge army coming from Edom toward God’s people. He decided to turn towards God with all his heart. He called the nation together to fast and seek God. Once God answered, Jehoshaphat was confident and told the people to trust in the Lord and they would be safe. He told them to listen to God’s prophets and they would win. They saw the Lord destroy the enemy armies and they had to do nothing. 

Application:

When we are in a covenant with God, He will fight our battles. He takes care of His own. He can deliver us from whatever comes against us. Just as Jehoshaphat told his people, we must trust in the Lord and trust the message of His prophets. Then we will win. We need to trust God and what He is speaking above our own wisdom and understanding. We should ask, “What is God saying about this?” 

Prayer:

Lord, I want to know Your voice and do what You speak to me. Open my ears so I can hear clearly. Open my eyes to see what You are doing. Help me to follow Your word and Your Spirit with all my heart. Fight my battles as I look to You. You are my rock and my fortress. You are my defender. Help me to win every battle. You are the God who never fails.

Forever Yours,

Jeff

The Blessings of Following the Lord

 Scripture:

“He said to the people of Judah: “Let’s build these cities and fortify them with walls, towers, and barred gates. The land remains ours because we have followed the Lord our God and he has made us secure on all sides.” So they built the cities and prospered.” ‭‭2 Chronicles‬ ‭14‬:‭7‬ ‭NET‬‬

Observation:

King Asa of Judah followed the Lord with all his heart. He told the people, “The land remains ours because we have followed the Lord our God and he has made us secure on all sides.” He understood that obedience to the Lord and serving Him in the way He wants to be served, is the best thing any people can do. He realized that it was the Lord who made them secure and not their own abilities. This verse closes saying “so they built the cities and prospered.”

Application:

When we wholly follow the Lord, we can expect His blessing on our lives. When we do things His way, instead of our own, we will prosper. There is great joy and peace in knowing that God is with us and fighting on our behalf. When we follow the Lord, we can expect wins because He will fight on our behalf. I want to fully follow the Lord in every area of my life. I want everything I touch to prosper because the Lord is with me.

Prayer:

Lots God, You are awesome and I love You with all my heart. You have been so good to me. Help me to walk out my days filled with Your Spirit and following Your voice. Help me to live a life that pleases You and that You can bless. Let my answer always be yes and my feet be quick to walk through open doors. Let my life be used for Your glory.

Yours,

Jeff

Decisions Determine Destiny

 Scripture:

“May the Lord your God be praised because he favored you by placing you on his throne as the one ruling on his behalf! Because of your God’s love for Israel and his lasting commitment to them, he made you king over them so you could make just and right decisions.”” ‭‭2 Chronicles‬ ‭9‬:‭8‬ ‭NET‬‬

Observation:

The Queen of Sheeba came to see if everything she heard about Solomon was true. She found out it was more and better than what had been described to her. When she saw the wisdom and reign of Solomon, she declared that God should be praised because He favored Solomon an hour him on the throne to rule on His behalf. She gave glory to God because of Solomon’s leadership. She even said that God put him in charge because of God’s love and commitment to Israel. Lastly, Solomon was put there to make right decisions for God and His people.

Application:

Your decisions determine your future. God put Solomon as king of Israel because he knew he would make right decisions. Those right decisions caused people around the world to be in awe of God’s kingdom that operated through Solomon. God puts people in positions to make decisions because decisions determine destiny. We must be people who learn to make right decisions. We must seek God and make decisions from His perspective. 

Prayer:

Lots God Almighty, help me to make right decisions for my family, my church, and for those I serve. Help me make decisions that will bring about Your destiny in the earth. I want to live a life that is surrendered fully to You. Show me the way forward and help me to make right and godly decisions.

Yours,

Jeff