June 23 - 2 Kings 15:32-38 | 2 Chronicles 27:1-9 | Micah 1:1-16 | 2 Kings 16:1-9 | 2 Chronicles 28:1-15 | Isaiah 7:1-25

Good morning everyone,

Wow! There is a lot going on this morning. We started off with Jotham, who reined for twenty five years and we’re told became powerful because he was careful to live in obedience to the Lord his God. His son Ahaz succeeded him as king, not such a nice guy, in fact pretty wicked. He set up pagan idols in the temple and then finally nailed the temple doors shut. He even went so far as to offer up his own children to the god Molek. Nice guy … not! This did not bode well with Yahweh. 

Micah the prophet comes on the scene today. His ministry lasted for about forty years, he is unique in as much as he is the only prophet sent to the northern and southern kingdoms, his message, predicting their fall. 

Then in Isaiah seven we read where God sends Isaiah to have a chit chat with the wicked king Ahaz. The ten northern tribes had formed an alliance with Syria and were going to stage an attack against Judah, however God, in all his mercy, always wanting to give us that one last chance, has something different in mind and so it was that Isaiah was sent to tell Ahaz not to be frightened that the invasion will never happen. I am sure Ahaz was thinking, “Yea … right!” so Isaiah told him to ask God for a sign. Ahaz says, “I will not ask; I will not put the Lord to the test.” Not that he was holy, mind you, because he wasn’t, but because as we read he had already sought out the king of Assyria and felt it was in control. Isaiah, probably shaking his head, thinking, “Ahhh, if you only knew …” tells Ahaz, verse 13 “Hear now, you house of David! Is it not enough to try the patience of humans? Will you try the patience of my God also? Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” Personally speaking, though not perfect, I purpose never to try the patience of God.

Moving on verse 9 says, “If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.” Friends, I have said this before and I will probably say it again and again, take heed to 1 Peter 5:8-9 where he warns us “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith.” Do not think for one minute that you are safe because you are not! The enemy is out to get you, to get me to take out as many of us, that is to say Christians, as he possibly can and he will use every trick in the book to do it. It is imperative that you understand that when you became a Christian that you were drafted into God’s army and every day you are engaged in a battle with an unseen spiritual enemy who wants nothing more than to see you act sinfully and turn your back on God. Seriously!  Ughh, the enemy makes me stupid crazy as I can literally hear his hideous, cackling laugh towards me when he gets me to act ugly, or say something that’s not uplifting or … well, you know what I’m saying, out of God’s will for us. Jesus assured us of His love and promised us peace, but He also told us that in this world we would have tribulation and that we would be hated and persecuted. Believe it.

The good news, God promises us we are not in this alone, like Ahaz, God is right there to fight for us. Our job? Exodus 14:13, “Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today,” 2 Chronicles 20:17, “stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you,” Job 11:15 “stand firm without fear,” Psalm 20, 30, 33, 93, Proverbs, Isaiah, Ezekiel, the list goes on and on with the same message, “Stand Firm.” 

You may be discouraged or struggling with some pretty heavy life problems right now, we all do. Right? Nahum 1:7 says, "The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and He knows them that trust in Him” and 2 Timothy 4:18 says,  “The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom.” Are you hearing that? Rescue me, rescue you, He will rescue all of us who call on Him, who stand firm, from every evil attack and will bring us safely to his heavenly kingdom. I would earnestly, sincerely, resolutely, firmly, ardently, fervently, eagerly, encourage you to learn to lean on Him with complete trust and acceptance of what He is allowing in our lives. He loves you! He loves, loves, loves you and always only wants what is best for you. Amen?

Have a great day and to God be the glory!

God bless you all …