When God fights your battles. There are many stories in scripture where God fights for his people. A lesser known story is recorded in 2 Chronicles 30-32 when Hezekiah is king of Judah. Here are some thoughts about it.
When God fights your battles. Consecrate yourself to God
And the priests and the Levites were ashamed, so that they consecrated themselves and brought burnt offerings into the house of the LORD. (ESV, 2 Chronicles 30:15)
King Hezekiah was 25 when he began to rule the kingdom of Judah. Unlike his father, King Ahaz, he was faithful to God and sought to restore Israel’s covenant relationship with God. He purged the land of pagan idols and cleansed the temple. And now, after years of idol worship, the priests and Levites suddenly reappear. What were they doing all the time the Jewish people were worshipping pagan idols? We don’t know. But a good guess, is probably not much in the way of spiritual leadership because they were ashamed.
Therefore, the priests and Levites consecrated themselves before God. The Hebrew word for “consecrate” is qâdâsh, which means to ceremonially or morally purify or sanctify. In other words, they rededicated themselves to God before spiritually leading the people. So before you take on a spiritual battle, first, make sure you are right with God.
It reminds us that for Christ-followers, every battle includes a spiritual component. And spiritual readiness includes mindful attention to personal holiness. No, we won’t reach moral perfection. And God does not expect it. But we should regularly examine our hearts and confess our sins to God. Because as we present ourselves faithful to God, He is faithful to us.
When God fights your battles. Prepare for the fight
He set to work resolutely and built up all the wall that was broken down and raised towers upon it,and outside it he built another wall, and he strengthened the Millo in the city of David. He also made weapons and shields in abundance. (ESV, 2 Chronicles 32:5)
Knowing God wins every fight can encourage complacency. Pull up a chair, relax with popcorn, and watch God do His thing. But God expects us to do our part too. As James 2:26 says, “As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead..”
Christ-followers are not to be spectators, but active participants in God’s work. That’s why God ordered Joshua and his army to march around Jericho for seven straight days and then seven times on the last day. And He instructed Gideon to surround the encamped Midian army with 300 men armed with torches and trumpets. Ridiculous military strategies that made Joshua and Gideon look and probably feel silly. And yet, God delivered victory both times.
Hezekiah also took nothing for granted, and did his part to prepare for battle. He diverted a water source, fortified the city walls, made extra weapons, and lifted the spirits of his people by assuring them God had their back.
When God fights your battles. Prayer is the mightiest weapon
Then Hezekiah the king and Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, prayed because of this and cried to heaven. (ESV, 2 Chronicles 32:20)
However, as Sennacherib, the king of Assyria beseiged the city with a massive army, he used scare tactics to demoralize the people. He shouted to them from outside the city walls. Who were they to think their God could protect them from his powerful army? None of the gods of the other people he conquered had stopped him. He mocked them and their God.
So Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah cried out to God in prayer. It should be the first item on our battle preparation list. And involve a regular encounter with God rather than a last minute plea. Because it is the most powerful, spiritual weapon of all. But like previous enemies of God’s people, Sennacherib made a fatal mistake. He proudly over estimated his power against the power of an Amighty God.
Therefore, God sent an angel who destroyed the mighty warriors in Sennacherib’s army and he returned home in shame where his own sons killed him. And the Apostle Paul’s words affirm the truth of God’s word.
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? (ESV, Romans 8:31)
About Chip Tudor:
Chip Tudor is an author, blogger and professional writer. He publishes books, humorous Christian drama, and thought provoking blogs from a Christian worldview.This blog is originally published here.
Why is there good and evil? It’s an age old question. And the Bible answers it. Here are some thoughts on what it says.
Why is there good and evil? It starts with a choice
The book of Gensis records that God created Adam and Eve and placed them in a lush, Garden of Eden. A paradise that provided all they needed. But with one caveat. There was a tree in the middle of the garden that was off limits. Why?
Because God gave Adam and Eve free will, which requires a choice. And that’s what the tree represented. Obey God and leave the tree alone. Disobey God and eat from the tree. God could have prevented evil by simply removing the tree from the garden. Obedience is the only choice. Everyone is happy and agreeable because that’s all anyone knows. Kinda like the Stepford wives. Boring maybe, but we wouldn’t know that either.
Instead, God lets us choose our own actions.
Why is there good and evil? Evil results from the presence of sin in the human heart
Evil is not a separate entity. A cosmic force of evil consciousness that sweeps across the human landscape like the Borg and assimilates us into its collective. Evil is the result of humans making wrong choices. Specifically, decisions that disobey God. Like the choice to eat forbidden fruit.
That one act of disobedience let sin enter the world. And since then, sin has infected every human heart and mutated into the most heinous acts of evil with devasting consequences. It is firmly rooted and resident in every human heart. And remains, at its core, the choice to disobey God.
Of course, Adam and Eve didn’t act completely on their own. Satan, disguised as a serpent, slithered into the picture and tempted Eve with the fruit’s delicious appeal. But Adam and Eve were still personally responsible for their decision. And the same is true today. To defeat evil we must each take personal responsibility for our sin. Confess it and ask forgiveness from God. Then our sinful heart becomes a redeemed heart that God transforms into a new creation.
How do you explain good?
God is good and God is love. He is full of compassion, mercy, and grace. And we are all created in His imgage. Therefore, we all posess an inherent, moral sense of right and wrong. And we all can experience and express love, compassion, mercy, and grace in our relationships with others.
So while sin is present in the human heart and makes us capable of unspeakable evil, it doesn’t preclude the capacity for good. For us to consider the needs of others and help our fellow man. However, there is a constant tug of war between what we know is right and the evil desires in our hearts. Even the Apostle Paul shared about this battle in his heart.
So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin. (ESV, Romans 7:21-25)
So how do you explain why some people are consumed by evil while others focus on good? It’s like a dog fight. The winner is the one you feed.
The final solution to evil is Jesus Christ
God demonstrated the ultimate act of love by sending his Son, Jesus Christ to sacrifice his life for our sins. He lived a sin free life. Died as a perfect sacrifice and rose from the dead three days later. By confessing our sins to him, accepting his forgiveness, and following him as Savior and Lord, our sins are forgiven and we’re set free from the power of sin.
Evil exists because of sin. And sin is a choice to disobey God. However, we can achieve victory over sin through Jesus Christ. And that brings us back to where we started. With a choice. To follow Jesus…or not.
About Chip Tudor:
Chip Tudor is an author, blogger and professional writer. He publishes books, humorous Christian drama, and thought provoking blogs from a Christian worldview.This blog is originally published here.
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The sneaky sin of pride. Pride is one of the sneakiest sins in the Bible. It stealthily slips in and fills your heart when you’re unaware. Here are thoughts on how to guard against it.
The sneaky sin of pride. It turns something good into bad.
Then He came to Capernaum. And when He was in the house He asked them, “What was it you disputed among yourselves on the road?” But they kept silent, for on the road they had disputed among themselves who would be the greatest. (ESV, Mark 9:33-34)
Pride stealthily sneaks up on you. After a remarkable achievement. You make a profound statement. Help the helpless. And are all good things. Theyre admirable. Often benefit humanity. And are worthy of recognition. But while you bask in that glory, pride lurks in the shadows. Waiting to quietly ease it’s way in.
Take the disciples for example.
They were hitting their stride in ministry. Supporting Jesus as his ministry grew in fame. Learning about the spiritual kingdom he was building. And the important principles that supported it.
They were pastors and evangelists in training. Learning how to sacrifice, pray, preach, and heal. In other words, they were preparing to advance the kingdom of God. A worthy spiritual ambition. And they had done some remarkable things themselves. But it was going to their heads. And it reached the point they argued about who among them was the greatest.
Pride often begins with something admirable. But the more attention and praise it gets, the greater the temptation to think of ourselves more highly than we ought.
And the irony? The disciples were caught up in their humility, but infected by pride.
The sneaky sin of pride. You’re the last to see it.
Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector (ESV, Luke 18:10-11)
Sinful pride builds up slowly–one degree at a time. Beginning with self congratulation.
First, a tiny step. Hey, you’re not so bad. Then it grabs a toe hold. You know, you’re actually pretty cool. And finally it reaches cruising speed in long strides. Wow, Dude. You’re totally awesome!
Don’t get me wrong. It’s normal to feel good after accomplishing something noteworthy. And it’s okay to receive recognition for it. But that is exactly the danger. Because it plays right into our sin nature. Especially the desire to be a little bit better, more excellent, and slightly superior to everyone else.
So we relive that moment over and over like a “feel good” junky. Convince ourselves that we are maybe, no, definitely more virtuous than others. Until we finally reach the pride pinnacle of a legend in our own mind. And completely blind to it.
The sneaky sin of pride. Resist it by giving God the glory.
I will praise You, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will tell of all Your marvelous works. (ESV, Psalm 9:1)
There are ways to guard against pride. And the first is to give God the glory in all you do. However, it doesn’t mean pretending an amazing accomplishment wasn’t amazing. Digging your toe in the ground with head down and saying, “Aw shucks. It was nothing.” That’s actually false humility. Pride in disguise.
It’s okay to acknowledge an extraordinary accomplishment or talent. But also acknowledge your abilities are God given to use for His glory. Because they are on loan for a given time and will eventually fade. However, God’s glory will shine forever. By taking the spotlight off yourself and focusing it on God you’ll keep things in proper perspective.
God is the creator. We are the created. Made and sustained by Him. Our purpose is established by God and best demonstrated by glorifying Him.
Become childlike and remember your sinfulness.
Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them,and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven (ESV, Matthew 18:2-4)
Children are innocent and unpretentious. They see a world full of wonder, assume the best in others, ask honest questions, and naturally trust adult answers. Of course, we know adults are not automatically trustworthy and may consider children naive. Still, Jesus presents them as the model Christ followers should imitate.
Why?
Because God is completely trustworthy and His word absolute truth. Therefore, we can and should follow its teachings faithfully. Not just because God commands it. But because they are for our good and promote human flourishing.
Furthermore, we should remain mindful of our sinfulness. Acknowledge that it’s God’s goodness, not our own, that saves us. And that a life, saved by grace, should offer it in kind. This in turn, fosters an attitude of gratitude that helps us see beyond oursleves.
About Chip Tudor:
Chip Tudor is an author, blogger and professional writer. He publishes books, humorous Christian drama, and thought provoking blogs from a Christian worldview.This blog is originally published here.
Looking for a Bible Study for yourself or small group??
Funny persuasion through comedy copywriting. Humor is an effective tool for delivering a persuasive message and creating a memorable advertising campaigns. And here are three things to keep in mind as you do.
When I first started freelance copywriting I used humor all the time. I’ve backed off since then. The most important goal in copywriting is to present your message clearly and persuasively. If humor helps, great. If not, forget it. So let’s consider a few questions to guide you in humor writing.
Funny persuasion through comedy copywriting. Do you think it’s funny?
Granted. We all have a different sense of humor. What you consider funny, I don’t and vice versa. My kids like to remind me that laughing at my own jokes doesn’t mean I’m actually funny. I agree with them in principle, but still consider myself hilarious. Because self-denial is much more satisfying. But the point remains. You should be your greatest fan and your greatest critic.
It stands to reason that if you don’t think something is funny then probably no one else will either. And to a certain degree, humor writing is a form of self-entertainment. There’s a motivating sense of satisfaction in writing a joke that you enjoy. But if you’re the only one laughing at the punch line then everyone else may be laughing at you rather than with you. However, in writing humor, it’s a risk you have to take.
Funny persuasion through comedy copywriting. Does it support the message?
Here’s where I strayed early on. I was so determined to be funny that the humor sometimes overshadowed the message. Okay if you’re just going for a laugh. But the goal in copywriting is to make a point…to persuade your audience somehow. If their attention is focused on the humor and misses the point, then what have you accomplished?
I still see this frequently today and I’m sure you do too. What about those Super Bowl ads? One year, not one of them even produced a chuckle from me. My family was aghast. And some of the ads tried so hard to be funny the message was completely lost. A tragedy considering the millions it costs to air them. The reason? Humor needs to be naturally woven into the story line. Otherwise it is forced. And forced humor just isn’t funny. For someone who so thoroughly enjoys comedy, this is hard for me to admit. But sometimes, straight to the point is better.
Funny persuasion through comedy copywriting. Is it right for your audience?
This too seems like common sense. The humor for a plumber’s convention will be different than for physicians, for educators and so on. The more specific the audience, the more customized the humor. The wider the audience, the more general the humor. This presents the greatest challenge. The most effective approach is to find the humor in universal life experiences. We identify with the frustrated woman who declares, “Where’s the beef?” And we attempt to create our own versions of the exceptionally clever, “Got milk?” Because we’ve been there. We relate. And we laugh together at the shared experience. As you consider your audience, ask yourself: “What are they dealing with?” Look for a common pain or problem. Then present it in a humorous manner and offer a solution.
Humor is an entertaining way to make a point. Copywriting that uses it successfully will increase sales. And you’ll laugh all the way to the bank.
About Chip Tudor:
Chip Tudor is an author, blogger and professional writer. He publishes books, humorous Christian drama, and thought provoking blogs from a Christian worldview.This blog is originally published here.
Entering God’s rest is a Biblical teaching found in Hebrews 4:9-14. Here are some thoughts on what it means.
Entering God’s rest. Faith is active rather than passive
Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience (ESV, Hebrews 4:11)
It appears contradictory. Strive to enter rest? Like get busy so you can relax? But wait. First, let’s dig a little deeper. What does the writer mean by “rest?” Curl up for a nap? Take a vacation? Don’t worry be happy?
In this context “rest” means eternity. More specifically heaven. But why call it rest?
Because heaven leaves the stressful chaos of this world and steps into the safe presence of God. Of peace, joy, and harmony. Where fear, worry, and suffering are gone. Well, that’s certainly worth striving for. But the writer doesn’t mean striving as a qualification for entrance. In other words, work hard enough to earn your way. Because sin prevents us from entering heaven on our own merit. Fortunately, sin is defeated by the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Still, the writer urges readers to engage in some kind of activity. But what?
Active faith produces Godly living.
The Christian faith is often misperceived as a passive experience. Simply believe in your head and you’re there. However, James challenges believers to make their faith active. To demonstrate it by righteous living.
Perhaps that why Christ-followers are sometimes disparagingly called “Do gooders.” It’s for good reason. (Pun intended)
We demonstrate our faith through good works to express our love for God. A sign of gratitude for His saving grace. And then actively strive to obey God’s word because we want to, not have to.
Entering God’s rest holds on to our confession
Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. (ESV, Hebrews 4:14)
Christian faith starts with a confession like Thomas the disciple made. He was absent when Jesus first appeared to the disciples after his resurrection, And Thomas insisted he wouldn’t believe unless he saw Jesus and touched his scars. So when Jesus appeared next and Thomas was present, Jesus presented his scars and let Thomas touch them. And Thomas declared, “My Lord and my God!”
Every disciple of Jesus makes this declaration. Recognizing Jesus Christ as the Son of God. Acknowledging his sacrifice for our sins. Confessing him as Lord.
But it’s not one and done. Heaven is locked in and the rest is smooth sailing. Because we must still navigate the struggles of life. The doubts, Uncertainties. Questions. So we cling to that confession. Cherish it. Return to it as a reminder of what Jesus suffered for us. And endure suffering for him too. But it ends at the threshold of heaven. On the other side awaits rest.
Entering God’s rest. God’s grace is an ongoing support.
Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (ESV, Hebrews 4:15)
Grace is the message of hope that fuels the Christian faith. And God offers it through the redemptive work of Jesus on the cross. It too, is not one and done. But dispensed in daily doses to strengthen and sustain us through life’s struggle. In the daily grind of living out our faith and striving to honor God. His grace is abundant. Strength constant. Love unyielding.
And hope is not wishful thinking, but an unshakeable confidence. For as we lean on faith, God supplies our needs to endure. His grace upholds and His path is sure. His yoke is easy and burden light.
About Chip Tudor:
Chip Tudor is an author, blogger and professional writer. He publishes books, humorous Christian drama, and thought provoking blogs from a Christian worldview.This blog is originally published here.
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