The Devil’s Future is in the Lake of Fire

 “And it came to pass, that, when Jehu was executing judgment upon the house of Ahab, and found the princes of Judah, and the sons of the brethren of Ahaziah, that ministered to Ahaziah, he slew them.”

‭‭2 Chronicles‬ ‭22‬:‭8‬ ‭KJV‬

Jehu, already at work, executing doom on the dynasty of Ahab, came upon the captains of Judah and Ahaziah’s nephews, part of the Ahaziah delegation, and killed them outright.  Jehu was Ahab’s army captain, an unlikely candidate whom God would choose to anoint through a prophet to fulfil God’s plan and destroy satan’s schemes.  God raised Jehu to restore order and execute vengeance on Ahab's house, even though Jehu came from within a corrupt system.  God is sovereign and omnipotent, provident in His Kingship, to reveal His freedom, goodness, righteousness, holiness, and impeccability, when He exercises His ruling power over creation.  The devil tries to stop God’s will to be done.  It was for this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.  Jesus destroyed the works of the devil and then gave the authority to the Church to continue to proclaim the victory of the Cross through the preaching of the Gospel which is the power of God to salvation.  The devil is a defeated enemy whose end is in the lake of fire.  Amen!

Putting Jesus Above All

 “If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭14‬:‭26‬ ‭KJV‬

Jesus taught, “When you follow Me as My disciple, you must put aside your father, your mother, your wife, your sisters, your brothers; it will even seem as though you hate your own life. This is the price you’ll pay to be considered one of My followers.”    Many are offended by this, but this is an Aramaic and Hebrew metaphor for putting Jesus above every other relationship.  Can the God of love, Who is love, ever ask to hate?  Jesus, the King of Love, here is not saying to hate, but to put aside every other relationship into second place. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and they who abide in love abide in God, and God in them.  Let’s know and believe the love that God has for us.  Amen!

Light & Darkness Are Never Together

 “Now Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David. And Jehoram his son reigned in his stead.”

‭‭2 Chronicles‬ ‭21‬:‭1‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Jehoshaphat died and was buried in the family cemetery in the City of David. Jehoram his son was the next king.  After Jehoshaphat, his son Jehoram became king with his sad life of turning away from God and worshipping other gods.  Jehoram was the king of Israel, Ahab’s son-in-law.  Jehoram’s wife turned his heart away from God.  In the new covenant, Scripture says, “Don’t become partners with those who reject God. How can you make a partnership out of right and wrong? That’s not partnership; that’s war. Is light best friends with dark? Does Christ go strolling with the Devil? Do trust and mistrust hold hands? Who would think of setting up pagan idols in God’s holy Temple? But that is exactly what we are, each of us a temple in whom God lives... Don’t link up with those who will pollute you. I want you all for Myself.” That’s the Word of God.  Incase you married when you were not a believer, and then came to know Christ, God says, “..the unbelieving husband has been made holy by his believing wife. And the unbelieving wife has been made holy by her believing husband by virtue of his or her sacred union to a believer.”   Let’s take the guidance of the Holy Spirit in all these matters.  Amen!

Influencing Society & Culture for Christ

 “It is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and cast into his garden; and it grew, and waxed a great tree; and the fowls of the air lodged in the branches of it. And again he said, Whereunto shall I liken the kingdom of God? It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭13‬:‭19‬-‭21‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Jesus taught the parable, “God’s kingdom is like the smallest seed that one might plant in a garden. When it grows to a huge tree, with so many spreading branches that various birds make nests there.  To describe God’s kingdom, it is like something as small as yeast that a woman kneads into a large amount of dough. It works unseen until it permeates the entire batch and the loaf rises high.”  Jesus explains that God’s Kingdom begins small but it will expand, grow and mature.  People from every nation will come and “nest” in God’s Kingdom.  The prophet Ezekiel had already prophesied that God will plant the seed which will grow and put out branches and bear fruit and become a stately cedar tree. Every kind of bird will find a home in its branches and will make their nests.”  Something that is so small can impact and penetrate something great.  God’s Kingdom influence of virtue and truth brings transformation and impacts every culture and society around us. Amen!

The Battle Was Won at the Cross

 “and he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not your's, but God's.”

‭‭2 Chronicles‬ ‭20‬:‭15‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Then Jahaziel, the Levite of the Asaph clan, was moved by the Spirit of God to speak from the midst of the congregation. He said, “Attention everyone—all of you from out of town, all you from Jerusalem, and you king Jehoshaphat—God’s word: Don’t be afraid; don’t pay any mind to this vandal horde. This is God’s war, not yours”.  This happened in the old covenant, when the Spirit of God moved a person to prophesy.  Jehoshaphat believed God as spoken through Jahaziel, and led his army to victory.  In the new covenant, Jesus Christ has already defeated evil through the Cross. The battle has already been won.  For those who believe and have faith in Jesus Christ and His finished work, we are called to overcome evil with good and declare the victory of the Cross every time. For whatsoever is born of God overcomes the world: and this is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith.  Amen!

You Are Valuable to the Almighty God

 “Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭12‬:‭6‬-‭7‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Jesus was teaching to the multitudes, ‘What is the value of your soul to God? Could your worth be defined by any amount of money? God doesn’t abandon or forget even the small sparrow He has made. How then could He forget or abandon you? What about the seemingly minor issues of your life? Do they matter to God? Of course they do! So you never need to worry, for you are more valuable to God than anything else in this world.  The value that God places on each human is the Blood sacrifice of His Son by which we are redeemed.  God knows everything about every human being and yet He loves us.  All He wants is for us to believe in what Jesus did on the Cross.  Through His Blood, Christ redeemed us from the hands of satan; our sins are forgiven; He cleanses us now & continually from all sin; we have been justified before God; we have been made sanctified, holy & set apart for God; the devil is overcome and we are delivered from the power of darkness.  Amen!

Salvation is a Free Gift for All Mankind

 “Wherefore now let the fear of the LORD be upon you; take heed and do it: for there is no iniquity with the LORD our God, nor respect of persons, nor taking of gifts.”

‭‭2 Chronicles‬ ‭19‬:‭7‬ ‭KJV‬‬

After the seer Jehu told king Jehoshaphat not to side with the ungodly, but to do what God says, “Live in the fear of God—be most careful, for God hates dishonesty, partiality, and bribery”, he heeded Jehu’s prophecy and did wisely by treating all his people justly and God blessed him.  The blessing of salvation and righteousness towards God is now given to all mankind, through Jesus Christ, and not just for the Jews.  God offers the opportunity to receive blessings through salvation to all people, regardless of social status or nationality.  Let’s give this awesome good news to all, for God sees us all without partiality.  Let’s not keep it only to ourselves.  All spiritual blessings in heavenly places are for everybody.  Amen!

Unconditional Love Changes Hard Hearts

 “The men of Nineve shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭11‬:‭32‬ ‭KJV‬

Jesus spoke to the crowd, “Yes, the people of Nineveh will also rise up on the day of judgment to accuse and condemn this generation. For they all repented when they heard the preaching of Jonah, but you refuse to repent. Yet there is one greater than Jonah who is preaching to you today.”  Jonah was reluctant to speak to Israel’s enemies but just one sentence from him - to repent for in forty days they would all die - was enough to cause them to repent.  From the king to the least of them, even their animals, repented and were not destroyed!  The Ninevites were of Semitic origin, and though they were pagans, after the preaching of one prophet they converted.  The people of Israel had many prophets throughout their history, and the greatest Prophet of all was now preaching to them, yet they refused to listen.  Jesus says to love our enemies and pray for those who despitefully treat us.  It is the power of unconditional love that changes hearts and not vengeance.  Let’s practice the teachings of Jesus for in His words there is life.  Amen!

Building Others Up

 “Now Jehoshaphat had riches and honour in abundance, and joined affinity with Ahab. And after certain years he went down to Ahab to Samaria. And Ahab killed sheep and oxen for him in abundance, and for the people that he had with him, and persuaded him to go up with him to Ramoth-gilead.”

‭‭2 Chronicles‬ ‭18‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭KJV‬‬

But even though Jehoshaphat was very rich and much honoured, he made a marriage alliance with Ahab of Israel. Some time later he paid a visit to Ahab at Samaria. Ahab celebrated his visit with a feast—a huge barbecue with all the lamb and beef you could eat. But Ahab had a hidden agenda; he wanted Jehoshaphat’s support in attacking Ramoth Gilead.  The trouble with riches and honour is that pride and selfishness are not far behind.  Jehoshaphat aligned himself with rebellious Ahab and that war ended with Ahab’s death and Jehoshaphat retreating.  In the new covenant agreeing with the Word of God and doing it, is true humility.  In the Body of Christ, Paul exhorts that nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.  Jesus showed this by His Life.  Amen!

Christ Stooped Down to Lift Us Up

 “But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, and went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭10‬:‭33‬-‭35‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Finally, another man, a Samaritan, came upon the bleeding man and was moved with tender compassion for him. He stooped down and gave him first aid, pouring olive oil on his wounds, disinfecting them with wine, and bandaging them to stop the bleeding. Lifting him up, he placed him on his own donkey and brought him to an inn. Then he took him from his donkey and carried him to a room for the night. The next morning he took his own money and gave it to the innkeeper with these words: ‘Take care of him until I come back from my journey. If it costs more than this, I will repay you when I return.’  Jews looked down on Samaritans as mixed racially.  So it was unlikely that a Samaritan would stop to help a Jew.  Jesus is our Good Samaritan Who stoops down to touch, heal, lift us up, carry us on our journey, and pay our debts.  He promises to return and reward those who do His will.  Amen!