2 Kings 6:16-17 (New International Version)

“‘Don’t be afraid,’ the prophet answered. ‘Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.’ And Elisha prayed, “O LORD, open his eyes so he may see.” Then the LORD opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.”

The king of Aram was at war with Israel; but every time he moved his army, the prophet Elisha would inform the Israelites. The king concluded the only way to win the war was to first eliminate Elisha. When the king found where Elisha was staying, he sent his army to surround the city. When Elisha’s servant woke and saw the army, he became very frightened but Elisha comforted him by saying that God is on their side and then he prayed.

Our false perception is the biggest cause of fear and frustration; in fact, I might boldly say it’s the only cause! If we live without faith, our perception is restricted to what we see with our eyes and hear with our ears. With this limited input, it’s no wonder so many live in fear – it’s no wonder so many become frustrated and discouraged with their day to day life. But as our faith and understanding of God increase, we are able to trust in what we cannot physically see and hear. Battles occur in and around us every day – battles which cause us to become heavily burdened. We desire to walk down God’s path, but the pulls and attacks of the world seem relentless. We need to remember that His plan and provision is always perfect – always working toward the good. Somehow we must understand that the battle we see with our physical eyes and analyze with our mind is never the real battle.

People around us are not the enemy – neither is our church, the government, the economy, or our health. These temporal things are not the true cause of our pain nor should they ever become the source of our joy. The real battles are always spiritual… and we’re NEVER alone! Let’s draw ever nearer to God until we gain a true understanding of how much He loves us – and how much He is fighting for us. Jesus Christ has already won the ultimate battle! We must now trust Him and give Him more of our heart.

2 Kings 4:3-4 (New International Version)

“Elisha said, ‘Go around and ask all your neighbors for empty jars. Don’t ask for just a few. Then go inside and shut the door behind you and your sons. Pour oil into all the jars, and as each is filled, put it to one side.’”

During the ministry of Elisha, a widow came to him for financial help. Creditors had come and threatened to take her two boys as slaves in exchange for payment of debt. The woman reported that all she had left was a little oil, but Elisha told her how to miraculously multiply her oil and pay her bills. The woman gathered empty jars and began to fill them from her one small jar of oil. She continued to fill the jars until each one she collected was full. The woman was able to sell the oil and pay her debt.

Notice that the oil stopped flowing as soon as the last jar was full. If the woman would have collected half as many jars, the oil would have stopped flowing when the collected jars were filled. And if she would have collected twice as many jars, the oil would have continued until every last one was full. God’s provision was equal to the number of jars she collected – equal to the number of jars she believed God would fill.

In our limited understanding of God, we often place artificial restrictions on what we think He can accomplish; our prayers become reduced to what we believe is actually possible. We may rejoice when our small prayers are answered, but our level of faith has limited what God provides. Peter never would have stepped out of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus if confined to the realm of his own understanding. God desires for each of us to trust Him beyond the bounds of our best analysis, and to draw closer than what we believe is ever possible. Peter didn’t need to understand how the atomic structure of water might be altered to provide stability, he simply needed to know with certainty that Jesus was calling. We serve an Awesome God – more awesome than we will ever comprehend.

1 Kings 17:9 (New International Version)

“Go at once to Zarephath of Sidon and stay there. I have commanded a widow in that place to supply you with food.”

Back in the days of Elijah, the prophet of God, there was a widow who lived with her son in a town called Zarephath, which was located in the region of Sidon. Drought and famine were upon the land for three and a half years. It was during this time that Elijah was sent by God to the Zarephath widow. Upon arriving at Zarephath, Elijah asked the widow woman to give him a drink of water and to make him a cake of bread. The widow was preparing to fix her last meal and then die. Or was she? God had already spoken to the widow’s heart and He had control of the situation.

Elijah instructed the Zarephath widow to make and bring him a small cake of bread before she made any food for herself or her son. I can imagine the woman thinking and possibly saying, “Oh no, another mouth to feed.” I doubt many of us, being human and made of flesh with hunger pains and all, would be willing to share what we viewed would be our last meal. I believe the widow was able to respond to the prophet’s request for she knew she had heard the voice of God prior to Elijah asking for food. She probably was unsure of her future, but was obedient to God and fulfilled Elijah’s request.

We must not overlook the fact that God provided food for Elijah, the widow woman, and her family for three and a half years. This was not a one time miracle, but rather was one which God repeated daily for over 1,270 days. God is still one who provides for our needs. When we are experiencing spiritual drought in your life, when we are hungry for the things of God? God is still here, He still cares. As with the widow, He will not ask you to give more than He has given you. We must listen and obey God’s voice.

 

2 Samuel 12:13-14 (New International Version)

Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.” Nathan replied, “The LORD has taken away your sin. You are not going to die. But because by doing this you have made the enemies of the LORD show utter contempt, the son born to you will die.”

David thought he had successfully covered up his sins, and had “gotten away with it” but when he was confronted by the prophet Nathan, he immediately confessed his sin. As a result, we see God’s plan and purpose of restoration at work and David was comforted in the assurance that his great sins were forgiven. Because David’s sins had reflected disreputably on the Lord, God’s plan included severe discipline. Discipline is always part of God’s work of restoring a sinner to fellowship with Himself. But even in the death of David and Bathsheba’s child, we find that David was comforted.

We see David moving on in life—in his marriage with Bathsheba, in his job as king of Israel, and in his defeat of Israel’s enemies. He didn’t do anything drastic or dramatic, like committing suicide or leaving the throne. He worshiped the Lord. He moved on in life with the responsibilities God had given him. David received the comfort that only God can give in the midst of guilt and grief. God was picking up the pieces in David’s life in a wonderful way—including the birth of a son, Solomon, by his wife Bathsheba—even though David would continue to face the consequences of his forgiven sin.

If we have sinned, we shouldn’t live the rest of our lives in depression or despair. We shouldn’t feel that we can never be useful to God again. Let us confess our sin. Acknowledge our guilt before God and ask for forgiveness. Get restored to fellowship with the Lord. We don’t need to live in the rehashed scenarios and the guilt and grief of our past. Yes, there will be scars, but we must get on with the responsibilities God has given us. We can do it because God’s comfort is available in the midst of guilt and grief.

1 Samuel 15:22 (New International Version)

“But Samuel replied: ‘Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.”

We’ve read so much about a sinful nation the people of Israel are, how they are loaded with guilt, how they do evil and how their children are prone to corruption. The Bible speaks of how the Israelites have forsaken God and turned away from their God, their Lord. They are continually challenged to hear God’s words, to listen closely. God is telling the people what good are their sacrifices of burnt offerings and fat animals. What good is a sacrifice if you do not obey the word of God?

Often, we like the Israelites, turn our back on God in the most crucial moments. From day one of biblical history, we see how people have turned their backs on God. Time after time we see that right after God has blessed us that we take that blessing, say thank you, and then go right on our own merry way. We think that just because one particular blessing is over that we can do whatever we wish. But we think we are justified in our actions because we give up certain things for God. Just because we make one or two sacrifices for God, we somehow think that those sacrifices atone for our other sins. Granted, the sacrifices that we make signify a commitment to the word of God and represent our appreciation for what He has done for us, but that is not a sure way to gain favor in the sight of God.

To sacrifice means to give up, we are just returning to Him what was His in the first place. And not to say that sacrifices are not important, because they are. However, sacrifices only represent that you acknowledge God, not that you are necessarily following what God is telling you to do.

1 Samuel 2: 2-3 (New International Version)

            “There is no one holy like the LORD; there is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God. Do not keep talking so proudly or let your mouth speak such arrogance, for the LORD is a God who knows, and by him deeds are weighed.”

 

I know the story of Samuel since childhood because it’s one of the Sunday school favorites and basically it concentrated more on Samuel. Hannah, Samuel’s mom, was not much the focus of the story. But when I read the part wherein Hannah praised God so much because of her answered prayer. The passion that she has in exalting God was so immense that never have I heard of such. What great things she says of God. She takes little notice of the particular mercy she was now rejoicing in, does not commend Samuel for the prettiest child, the most toward and sensible for his age that she ever saw, as fond parents are too apt to do. No, she overlooks the gift, and praises the giver; whereas most forget the giver and fasten only on the gift. Shouldn’t we be more like Hannah who concentrated more on praising God after the gift given to her rather than concentrating on Samuel? We ask God for blessings yet when it comes, we forget the giver and we thank the blessings instead. Wouldn’t that be insulting?

 At times, when we receive the blessings that we asked from God, we have the tendency to boast that it was of our own strength and power that we were able to gain such privilege. We should walk our talk but we need to remember that in belittling people as well as showing them that we think highly of ourselves by priding ourselves with the gifts God has given us then we don’t know God that well. We have the tendency to say that we have more in life even if we don’t just for us to brag to other people and at times we do this in the most humble way possible. We are good at doing that! God knows… He checks our hearts everyday and wouldn’t it be sad for Him too see His children full of lies and deceit and being so pompous? Shame on us!

Joshua 23: 6 – 9 (New International Version)

“Be very strong; be careful to obey all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, without turning aside to the right or to the left. Do not associate with these nations that remain among you; do not invoke the names of their gods or swear by them. You must not serve them or bow down to them. But you are to hold fast to the LORD your God, as you have until now. The LORD has driven out before you great and powerful nations; to this day no one has been able to withstand you. One of you routs a thousand, because the LORD your God fights for you, just as he promised. So be very careful to love the LORD your God.”

As we come to the close of this action-packed, book the best summary is likely given by Joshua himself. It must have been moving to hear the farewell sermon of this mighty man of God. Who could have imagined that this ex-slave, this young aide to Moses who would not leave the Tabernacle, could come this far? If we decide to take God seriously from this time on, who can imagine how far we can go in achieving great victories for God? Everyone has different ideas of what is important but as we can see Joshua emphasized that God is the most important being in our lives. Unless the rapture comes first, someday we too will go the way of all the earth. When that time comes, if someone in heaven asks us, what would we like to be able to say about our life? All Christians today are either set up for victory, set up for defeat and failure, or else at least not set up for the triumph they could be having. We need to know that for us to bear defeat and be triumphant; we need to remove all the idols in our heart that is taking our Lord Jesus Christ’s place. God dealt with the Israelites differently when they made treaties with the Canaanites so what do you think on how might God deal with us if we ally ourselves with evil? We are not much different with people at that time.

In conclusion, we need to decide uncompromisingly to serve God all the days of our lives. We must be faithful to our decision, and even though we need to wait without being able to do much, in the end look what we can accomplished. Are we on the road to accomplishing great things for God, or have we sort of given up? When weeds are pulled, they grow right back if the roots are not pulled too. If these problems are corrected, they will grow right back if the root causes are not solved.

Joshua 1:6-9 (New International Version)

“Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”

 

What is faith? When we understand that, we understand the key principle that underlies the book of Joshua and the whole of the Christian life. Very simply, believing that God will do what he says he will do. Is faith just the believing the promise? Yes. But will believing enough that we are strong and courageous when problems come and the obstacles appear which we know that they always do.

Faith requires courage and strength, because only when we exercise courage and strength do we maintain our belief in any real way. If, at the first problem, we cave in and give up, we don’t have faith, we have unbelief. We all struggle with this. None of us is immune. Joshua was filled with God’s Spirit, had worked alongside Moses, and had been on the mountain with God, and still needed this kind of encouragement.

One of the reasons you haven’t grown more in your walk with God is because of your fear. Fear of people, fear that people won’t approve, fear that you’ll fail, fear that you’ll make a fool out of yourself, fear that you aren’t strong enough, fear that God will let you down. Fear. We should always remember this promise and command: “I will never leave you or forsake you. Therefore be strong and very courageous!”

Thankfully, God doesn’t leave us to fend for ourselves as we try to take courage. He helps us. His instructions are that we should be careful to obey all the law… We should not turn from it to the right or to the left. We should not let this Book of the Law depart out of our mouth. It is required for us to meditate it on day and night, so that we may be careful to do everything written in it.

This is what will strengthen our faith and courage: attention to God’s word.

Deuteronomy 6:5

“Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.”

 

Here is a brief summary of religion, containing the first principles of faith and obedience. Jehovah our God is the only living and true God; he only is God, and he is but One God. Let us not desire to have any other. The three-fold mention of the Divine names, and the plural number of the word translated God, seem plainly to intimate a Trinity of persons, even in this express declaration of the unity of the Godhead. Happy those who have this one Lord for their God. It is better to have one fountain than a thousand cisterns; one all-sufficient God than a thousand insufficient friends. This is the first and great commandment of God’s law, that we love him; and that we do all parts of our duty to him from a principle of love; My son, give me thine heart. We are to love God with all our heart, and soul, and might. That is, 1. With a sincere love; not in word and tongue only, but inwardly in truth. 2. With a strong love. He that is our All, must have our all, and none but he. 3. With a superlative love; we must love God above any creature whatever, and love nothing but what we love for him. 4. With an intelligent love. To love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, we must see good cause to love him. 5. With an entire love; he is ONE, our hearts must be united in his love. Oh that this love of God may be shed abroad in our hearts!

To love the Lord our God with “all our heart” is NOT enough to fully please Him in our daily walk. It takes much more than that. It actually takes loving God different ways to fully please Him and to fulfill His calling upon our life.

Numbers 30:2 (New International Version)

“When a man makes a vow to the LORD or takes an oath to obligate himself by a pledge, he must not break his word but must do everything he said.”

 

How many times have we made a promise to God on doing or maybe not doing something? I think we did it a lot of times; we call it our word but may before it was vows. In this verse, the command given is that these vows be conscientiously performed: We shall not break our word, though afterwards we may change his mind, but we shall do according to what we have said. Vowing is an ordinance of God; if we vow in hypocrisy we blaspheme that ordinance: it is plainly determined; it is better not vow than vow and not pay.

According to one author, when a person vows a vow unto the Lord, making God a party to the promise and designing his honor and glory in it. The matter of the vow is supposed to be something lawful: no one can be by his own promise bound to do that which he is already by the divine instruction prohibited from doing. Many similar vows might be made in an extraordinary heat of holy zeal, in humiliation for some sin committed or for the prevention of sin, in the pursuit of some mercy desired or in gratitude for some mercy received. It is of great use to make such vows as these, provided they be made in sincerity with due caution. Vows as they say are the hedge of separation, that is, a fence to religion. He that vows is here said to bind his soul with a bond. It is a vow to God, who is a spirit, and to him the soul, with all its powers, must be bound. A promise to man is a bond upon the estate, but a promise to God is a bond upon the soul. Our vows concerning that which before was in our own power, when they are made, are bonds upon the soul likewise.