"The People Had Not Yet...."

"The high places, however, were not removed; the people had not yet directed their hearts to the God of their fathers."  (2 Chronicles 20:33)

I call this obeying what we want to obey, and not obeying what we do not want to obey.

The Covenant People have been engaging is such behavior from the beginning.

The Hebrew Word in our text for, "directed," means, "to be firm, fixed."  The Letter to the Hebrews commands us to, "Consider Jesus...," and, "....let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus...."  These are other ways to say, "Direct[] [your] hearts to the God of [your] fathers."

Today's text is in the chapter which contains the oft quoted, "You need not fight in this battle; station yourselves, stand and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf...."  There was, indeed, a great victory that day.  There was only one problem, however, which affected their future.  We read later that, "The people had not yet directed their hearts to the God of their fathers."  Pray; read the Bible; declare; march.  Our text overrides all.

Church-- America-- Nations of the world:  Hear the Words of, "The Word of God," Jesus, the Christ.  "Direct your hearts to Me."  And I ask, Where is my heart today?  No nation, no individual will ever overcome the enemy if, "The people had not yet directed their hearts to the God of their fathers."  May, whatever this means in fulness, our Lord Jesus Christ in the Holy Spirit write in our hearts and minds.

Father, in Jesus' Name, I have no greater prayer than my heart be, "directed to the God of [my] fathers."  Amen.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2

“God Our Own God”

Isn't this glorious?!?  "....our Own God."  I'll let you work on this.

Father, in Jesus' Name, not quite sure, but These, Your Words, sure bless me today.  Amen.

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Woody’s Video: November 12, 2020

https://youtu.be/dP6AkWsUQgk

"No"

"And Joshua went to him and said, 'Are You for us or for our adversaries?'  So He said, 'No, but as Commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.'"  (Joshua 5)

The, "No," response of The, "Commander of the army of the Lord..," gives us more understanding of Daniel 10.  This battle is not between humans, nations, political parties, etc.  It is against, "the prince of Persia," and, "the prince of Greece," and every prior and succeeding governments.

Enter, "The Kingdom of God/Heaven."  We can translate the opening Words of John the Baptist, and the first public Words of our, Commander of the Army of the Lord," our Lord Jesus Christ, "Repent, for the Government of God is at hand."  

What we are witnessing in America and the rest of the earth, and, I might add, participating in, is the warfare between the Government (Kingdom) of Heaven and, "the kingdoms of this world."  I urge the Global Church to put aside for a moment, "God has a wonderful plan for your life," and the jargon of many mega-churches and mega ministries, and consider/obey the command of Jesus, "And as you go, preach, saying, 'The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand."  Does anyone ever use these Words of Jesus in "sharing the Gospel"?!?

Colossians 1 tells us, "He has delivered us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins (the Words for, 'power' and 'kingdom' are both governmental Words)."  We might as well admit it; for too much of Church History, the message has been, "a different gospel," an intensely "personal," and in recent generations, christianized-self help, rather than what Jesus tells us to proclaim.  

Let me simply say again: The battle, from the Garden to this present day, is a cosmic battle between the Kingdom of Darkness and the Kingdom of Light.  If an individual or group of individuals attempt to make sense out of the global scene apart from this cosmic battle, their confusion will only go deeper. "Put on the whole armor of God...," which translated is, "Put on the Lord Jesus Christ,"-------------- "The Commander...."

Father, in Jesus' Name, help me to proclaim and emphasize in life Your Words.  Amen.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2