Lessons from the battlefield, part 20:

From 2 Chronicles 36:22-23

In the first year of Cyrus’ reign in Persia, God told him to build a temple in

Jerusalem and send the Jews home. This was the most unlikely thing in the world. A new king has more to worry about than building a religious temple in another country, and he certainly wants to preserve his skilled labor force. If our new president started his term by building a temple in the Middle East, we’d be more than a little upset. God, however, delights in doing the MOST unlikely. He delights in the unpredictable and unexpected. 

Years before, God had said He would use his servant Cyrus, but who could believe His “servant Cyrus” would turn out to be the king of an enemy nation? God had also told them that their captivity would last seventy years, but many were surprised when the end of captivity finally came. Right on time, God’s unexpected servant King Cyrus sent the children of Israel back to their homeland and financed their temple’s reconstruction. God did what He said He would do, exactly when He said He would do it. He was faithful to His Word.

Our wonderful, amazing Lord, delights in doing things in an unpredictable, unexpected way so that we will know without a doubt that every blessing came only from Him. Is there something about which you have been praying? Why not ask God to intervene in such an unexpected way that it will be clear the blessing came straight from Him. Pray that He will move in a way that only He could do. There is no greater fun than seeing God do something extraordinary! 

Lessons from the battlefield, part 19: fighting on our knees

2 Chronicles 32

 

Senacherib arrived outside Jerusalem with a challenge for the people.  “Look at my big bad self and tremble!” he told them.  He actually expected to take the town with bold words, terrifying threats, and empty claims.  In other cities, this technique had, amazingly, worked.  In Jerusalem, however, it failed miserably.  

Senacherib failed not because Hezekiah and his army were bigger or tougher but because Hezekiah used his most powerful weapon right from the start – PRAYER.  The king and the prophet Isaiah “prayed and cried out to heaven,” abandoning themselves to the mercy of the God who never fails.  Before the attack could begin, God sent a warring angel to annihilate the army of Senacherib.

Hezekiah had prepared as much as he could, but he fought his battle on his knees.  We too, will need much preparation, but just like King Hezekiah, the battle for the hearts and lives of those we love, as well as the great trials of our lives, will be fought on our knees.  

Lessons from the battlefield, part 18: working together

After these acts of faithfulness Sennacherib king of Assyria came and invaded Judah and besieged the fortified cities, and thought to break into them for himself. Now when Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib had come and that he intended to make war on Jerusalem, he decided with his officers and his warriors to cut off the supply of water from the springs which were outside the city, and they helped him. (2 Chronicles 32:1-3 NASB)

 

Hezekiah was king.  He could do whatever he wanted because, ultimately, he was responsible for any decision that was made.  The buck stopped with Hezekiah.  When Sennacherib decided to make war on Jerusalem, Hezekiah could have made a plan and demanded that it be implemented.  He could have issued orders and insisted on obedience.  

Instead, Hezekiah met with his officers and his warriors (the leaders and the workers) to formulate a plan.  They worked as a team and Scripture tells us “they helped him.”  His officers and warriors not only helped Hezekiah implement the plan, they helped him make the plan, and it was a better plan because of their input.  King Solomon wrote of this truth in Proverbs 11:14

“Where there is no guidance, the people fall, but in abundance of counselors there is victory (deliverance)”

The work of the local church is also dependent upon teamwork.  When we work together to be the Body of Christ in action, the work of reaching the lost for Christ and making disciples will be accomplished quicker and more creatively.  When we work together, we can do more and do it better than when we try to be a "lone ranger".  

This is true for the local church, but it is also true for the greater body of Christ. This may surprise you, but there is nothing at all in Scripture about separation by denomination. Jesus meant for all His people to work together, regardless of what kind of sign was on the building where they worshipped.  Wouldn't it be wonderful if all the denominations had such unity of spirit between them?  Perhaps when we do, we will finally accomplish the job of going to all the world (every single "people group") making disciples and teaching them to be obedient.  

Jesus expressed it another way:

“I in them and Thou in me,

that they may be perfected in unity

that the world may know

that Thou didst send Me.

John 17:23

Lessons from the battlefield, part 16 : Delayed Revival

2 Chronicles 30:15 b “The priests and Levites were ashamed of themselves and consecrated themselves, and brought burnt offerings…”

 

Verses 2 and 3 in this same chapter tell us that Passover had to be delayed because not enough priests were consecrated.  Revival was delayed because the God-appointed leaders were not faithful to keep the sin out of their own lives.  Once they saw the people racing to repentance, the priests were convicted about their delay and they, too, repented.  

It is not easy to stay faithful in the midst of our busy, over-extended lives.  The priests probably thought they were fine in comparison to the nation that had given itself over to idolatry.  Their standard of comparison, however, was not the world around them.  Their standard of comparison was the law, and they were sadly lacking.  

The standard by which we live is grace and our model is Jesus Christ.  Compared to the world in general our lives may look pretty good, but compared to Jesus we are all miserably failing.  Is there anything in your life that might delay revival?  Are you so faithful and clean before the Lord that your heart is prepared to serve at a moment’s notice?  

Revival is coming, dear ones, and God is going to move.  Don’t let your heart be the cause for delay.  You don’t want to miss a thing He has planned.  Let Him make your heart like His today.

Lessons from the Battlefield, part 15: struggle spots

The hand of God was also on Judah to give them one heart to do what the king and the princes commanded by the word of the LORD. Now many people were gathered at Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread in the second month, a very large assembly. They arose and removed the altars which were in Jerusalem; they also removed all the incense altars and cast them into the brook Kidron. (2 Chronicles 30:12-14 NASB)

 

The hand of God was on the people to obey.  As they gathered for the Passover, even before the feast began, they collectively began to cast away the altars on which they had worshipped idols.  Don’t misunderstand this principle.  Cleansing requires more than just confession.  They did not just confess that they had idols; they removed them from their land and destroyed them.

What are the places of idolatry in your life?  What are the things with which you struggle over and over again?  What are the areas in which true, lasting victory seems elusive?  Are you tired of dealing with the mess in your heart?  Are you sick of the distraction of sin (either wrong attitudes or wrong actions) that prevents you from truly worshipping with a whole heart?If so, today is a perfect day to do more than repent.  Ask our Lord to help you cast away that sin that has beset you so long and remove it completely from your life.  ​

Every Christian has some area or “struggle spot” that is a difficult one for them.  None of us are spared.  Even our Lord was tempted.  Victory comes only when we willingly allow our Lord to work in us to bring cleansing and lasting victory to our "struggle spots".  

Lessons from the Battlefield, part 13: faithfulness

2 Chronicles 30:9 “If you return to the Lord, your brothers and your sons will find compassion before those who led them captive, and will return to this land.  For the Lord your God is gracious and compassionate, and will not turn His face away from you if you return to Him.”  

 

The temple doors were closed.  The utensils had been offered to idols.  There were no sacrifices and no worship.  The result was that the wrath of God had come against them.  The fathers had fallen by the sword, and the sons, daughters, and wives had been taken into captivity.  

God’s prescription for this mess was that the ones who were still in the land should repent and restore their own fellowship with the Lord.  The result would be that God’s Face of blessings would be turned toward them, and their loved ones in captivity would not only find compassion but be brought home.

​It’s hard to believe that our faithfulness can impact captives who are miles away, but it can.  Not only can it lighten their burden, but also our faithfulness can be instrumental in their deliverance.  Simply doing what we are supposed to do can change the world.  Nothing special or unusual is required, just faithful obedience.

We will have ample opportunity this week to draw close the Lord and we must choose whether to increase our faithfulness or continue in the status quo.  Some of the people we will encounter are struggling with their hurts, their sin, their pasts, and the grief of their hearts.  They are desperate for deliverance. Your faithful obedience and close relationship to Jesus can impact and help to bring about their deliverance. Your obedience may be a vital part of their deliverance.  How willing are you to sacrifice for the welfare of those people God brings your way?  

Lessons from the battlefield, part 12: tearing down the idols

2 Chronicles 31:1 “Now, when all this was finished, all Israel who were present went out to the cities of Judah, broke the pillars in pieces, cut down the Asherim, and pulled down the high places of the altars throughout all Judah and Benjamin, as well as in Ephraim, Manasseh, until they had destroyed them all.”  

When they had completed reopening the temple, giving their sin offerings, celebrating the Passover, sacrificing peace offerings, and giving thanks for twice the prescribed time, they were ready to do something about the idols in their lives.  This is an important principle that we need to understand clearly.  They had a renewed relationship with the Father FIRST.  The actions that followed were an outgrowth of relationship.  

Picture this if you can.  Idols filled the land.  There were altars to false gods throughout Judah at the same time that the Passover was ongoing. God did not require them to get “cleaned up and holy” before they came before Him.  God allowed them to come back to Him just as they were, with all the idols still standing.  The problem, you see, was not with the pile of stones in the altar.  The problem was with the stony hearts that worshipped at the altars of stone.  He knew that, when their hearts were right with Him, they would willingly remove the idols in their lives.  

Perhaps you feel unworthy to serve the Lord or even to be in His presence.  Maybe there are idols in your life that need to go.  Please don’t hold back in service because of the junk in your life.  Remember that our Lord Jesus came because He knew that we could not clean our hearts up on our own.  He came to pay for the sin in our lives and to set us free from its hold on our lives.  

Come to our Lord in the same way Judah did.  Repent, allow Him to deal with the consequences of your sin, renew your relationship with Him, then allow Him to empower you to remove those sources of sin altogether.  When He removes your stony heart and replaces it with a heart like His, the altars of stone will be quickly demolished.  

Lessons from the Battlefield, part 11: the Grateful Heart

2 Chronicles 30: 22-23

Hezekiah and his people celebrated the Passover for seven days.  Scripture tells us they were “sacrificing peace offerings and giving thanks to the Lord.”  It doesn’t sound all that remarkable until you try to spend a week giving thanks.  It’s sometimes difficult for us to spend ten minutes thanking God for all the gifts He has given us without letting our “requests” creep into our prayers, but Judah didn’t stop at ten minutes.  They had endured years of a dreadful ruler during which all worship in the temple was banned.  They had finally been set free from his tyranny and they were truly grateful.  Having lived the consequences of their sin, they rejoiced at yet another second chance.  For a full week, they gave back to God and said thank you.  

What’s really remarkable about this story is that there was such joy in celebrating the Passover that the entire nation of Judah decided to celebrate the Passover for another week – sacrificing and giving thanks.  Two weeks of celebration may sound like just a great big party, but it is harder than you think.  Today, try to spend the rest of the day thanking God for all He has done for you.  Tomorrow, try to spend the entire day giving thanks to God. Try to spend just one day using all your prayer time to give thanks.  Don’t ask for anything.  Simply spend time loving, thanking, and praising our Mighty God.  Our society is so focused on pursuing whatever our heart desires that it may be harder than you think.

 

Here are a few suggestions to get you started:.

- Thank Him for Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, victory over the tomb, and the intercession He ever makes at the right hand of the Father.

- Thank Him for the breath of life, the blood circulating through your body, and all the body parts that work so well. (Nothing about those parts that don't work so well)

- Thank Him for His presence today and His promises for tomorrow. 

Keep going. You might be surprised to find how richly you've been blessed! 

Lessons from the Battlefield, part 10: Law Versus Grace

2 Chronicles 30:1-4, 34-46         

Passover was to be celebrated in the first month.  Numbers 9 outlined the consequences of failure to obey.  If a person was unclean because of contact with a dead person or was on a distant journey at the time of Passover, he could celebrate Passover in the second month, 14th day.  According to the law, if the man simply neglected to observe the Passover, that person was to be cut off from his people and bear his own sin.  

The law was abundantly clear, and there was to be no exception.  

For sixteen years, Hezekiah’s father had been king and for much, if not all, of that time, the temple doors had been closed.  None of the holy days, including Passover, were observed.  Hezekiah, however, opened the temple and instructed the priests to cleanse the temple and consecrate themselves.  He was committed to reinstitutingthe Passover observance.  

As diligent as the workers were, they still could not be ready by the appointed time, so Hezekiah scheduled Passover for a later date.  Hezekiah understood that what God desired most of all was obedience and relationship.  Because the people were both repentant and eagerly desiring to obey, God provided ample grace to cover the fact that their actions were not quite on time.  

Aren’t we glad that we serve a God of second chances and abundant grace?  Is there something God has put on your heart to do?  Have you delayed?  Our God of grace and love is still offering yet another chance to obey.

Lessons from the Battlefield, part 9: cooperation

2 Chronicles 29:31-35

 

The number of the burnt offerings:  70 bulls, 100 rams, 200 lambs, 600 bulls, 3,000 sheep.  But the priests were too few, so that they were unable to skin all the burnt offerings, therefore their brothers the Levites helped them until the work was completed and until the other priests….

 

There were not enough priests to get the job done, not for lack of priests but lack of preparation, and the work was not completed.  Perhaps you have never skinned an animal before, but it is a terrible job.  It is nasty, smelly, and a bloody mess.  There’s no way to do it and remain clean.  Skinning 3,970 animals of any size would have been an unbelievable operation, but skinning that many animals the size of bulls, goats, and sheep would be impossible to accomplish in just one day.

The Levites were competent to do the job, but it was not their usual work.  Amazingly, however, when it came time to skin the sacrifices, there was no arguing or casting blame.  There is no indication that the Levites begrudged the work.  They simply saw a job that needed doing, recognized that their brothers were unable to complete their assigned jobs, rolled up their sleeves, and went to work.  

There was such a spirit of cooperation and charity that everyone worked side by side until the entire job was done.  They had servant hearts. We too need to approach the work of God with the attitude of a servant, whether in our churches, our families, or our daily lives. In fact, we need to work together, across denominational lines, in such a way that the world stands in awe of what Christians get accomplished because of the loving way they work together to get the job done 

Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might...  (Ecclesiastes 9:10 NASB)

Lessons from the Battlefield, part 8: Young Hezekiah, part 2

 “Then Hezekiah and all the people rejoiced over what God had prepared for the people, because the thing came about suddenly.”  

2 Chronicles 29:36

 

The priests and Levites had worked hard cleansing and preparing the temple and they worked even harder sacrificing all the animals for the sin offering.  The musicians had prepared and played special music.  It had been a magnificent day as they re-opened the temple. 

It would have been tempting to rejoice about what THEY had done or give Hezekiah credit for the re-opening of the temple.  After sixteen years of King Ahaz and his ungodly reign, however, they were more than willing to give Jehovah credit. 

​God had prepared a wonderful blessing, but a tremendous amount of work was required to receive it.  When the “gift” God prepared finally arrived, they recognized that, unless God had paved the way, their efforts would have been nothing.

 

 It is important that we, too, understand that all our plans, hard work, and expended energy are of no eternal value unless the plan and the path are designed and paved by God Himself. Equally important is giving credit for our victories and successes where credit is due - to Almighty God, and kit ourselves. 

Unless the LORD builds the house, They labor in vain who build it; Unless the LORD guards the city, The watchman keeps awake in vain. (Psalms 127:1 NASB)

Lessons from the battlefield, part 7: Young Hezekiah

2 Chronicles 29:1 - 28

 

Hezekiah became king when he was twenty-five years old.  His father Ahaz had been king for sixteen years.  His was an ungodly rule, during which he burned his sons (Hezekiah’s brothers) as sacrifices to idols.  Almost certainly, the ungodly rule of his father affected Hezekiah’s choices as leader, but perhaps Hezekiah also remembered his grandfather King Jotham, who was a godly king.  Although Jotham died when Hezekiah was only a boy, his grandfather Jotham had become mighty because he ordered his way before the Lord.  (1 Chr. 27:6)

Hezekiah must have remembered the more peaceful, prosperous time when his grandfather was king, and perhaps he longed to restore peace to his homeland.  During the first month of his reign, Hezekiah reopened the doors to the temple which his father had shut, began the repairs, and called the priests and Levites to consecrate themselves and cleanse the temple.  He set the tone and direction for his administration.  He began his reign by making his first alliance, not with the Arameans or the Philistines, but with Jehovah.

At last, the temple was ready and the time of sacrifice could begin.  Hezekiah provided the animals for sin offering for all of Israel, perhaps as a way of acknowledging the responsibility of his family in leading the people astray.  When the offering was completed, he filled the temple with music.  Praise!​Can you imagine how relieved the people must have been for evil to be replaced by righteousness, turmoil to give way to peace, chaos to flee before order?  

What characterizes your life?  As you begin each day, you have the opportunity for a fresh start.  Each day, you can choose how you will order the rest of your life. Choose well. 

Lessons from the Battlefield, part 6: Jotham - not just his daddy's boy

2 Chronicles 27:1-6

 

Jotham, Uzziah’s son, became king after the death of Uzziah and reigned for sixteen years.  He did right in the sight of the Lord according to all that his father Uzziah had done.  He was faithful all the days of his life.  Jotham, however, did not become so prideful that he became presumptuous, as his father had done.

 

What was it that Uzziah had done?

S.

Sought the Lord

F.

Fought with God’s help

B.

Built towers in the wilderness and kept a sharp lookout for danger

K.

Kept the army equipped and ready for danger

D.

Delegated authority to capable people

Made engines of war invented by skillful men

 

In addition, to what Uzziah did, Jotham built the upper gate of the house of the Lord, built extensively the wall of Ophel, built cities in the hill country, built fortresses and towers, fought with the Ammonites and prevailed.

 

The summary of Jotham’s life is this:

 

He became mighty because he ordered his ways before the Lord.

 

What does it mean to "order your ways before the Lord"? Jotham looked at his father's life, saw his successes and his failure, and recognized the source of both. He chose, every day for his entire reign as king, to do things God's way, every time. He did more great deeds than his father had done. Pride was likely a temptation, but he knew firsthand what the price would be, and he chose humility. He chose obedience. He chose discipleship. 

If we want the kind of life Jotham had, one that pleases God, we need to do what he did. 

Choose humility

Choose obedience. 

Choose discipleship. 

Every single time. 

Lessons from the Battlefield, part 5: Uzziah

2 Chronicles 26:1-23

 

Uzziah was a good and much loved king.  He was careful to follow the Lord and, Scripture tells us, “Uzziah was marvelously helped by God until he was strong.”  (2 Chronicles 26:15c)  He made many improvements in the land and innovations in infrastructure.  In addition, he built a huge army and equipped them with the best weapons of war.  In fact, he became famous for the war machines he made.  

God blessed him with wealth, success, and fame, however, when he became strong, he also became proud and acted unfaithfully.  He wanted the power of the priests, and he took it upon himself to burn incense in the temple.  Although it sounds as if Uzziah was simply serving God by offering a sacrifice, this act was off limits for the king.  Uzziah was acting in direct opposition to God.  He thought he could get away with it because he was king, but he found out differently.  

God had called someone else to be the priest; Uzziah’s job was simply to be king.  From that moment of defiance and disobedience, he was a leper.  

​It is amazing that a king as beloved as Uzziah could do such a dumb thing, but aren’t we just like him?  Don’t we seek God’s face diligently when we encounter battles that are too much for us, then try to handle things on our own when we are strong?  It is easy to venture into territory God never intended for us.

It is vitally important that we choose to be content with the tasks God has given to us.  He has not called us to be a one-man (or woman) show.  He has called us to work in the body of Christ as a team with each one having specific tasks.  We need to be careful to follow His plan for us, and careful to remain humble even when He strengthens us. 

  

For the rest of Uzziah’s life, when people looked at him, they saw his leprosy.  The mark of his disobedience became the most striking part of his appearance.  Let's be sure that, when people look at us, they do not see the scars of disobedience and rebellion, but the peacefulness of a life filled with obedience and faithfulness.