“Unto Him that is able to keep you from falling” (Jude 1:24 KJV). Far from trivializing God, we personalize God with an infinite number of names to express His relationship to us. It may mean little to another, but arriving safely home without harming anyone meant a lot to me. Faith looks for ways to exalt God. David called his God Jehovah Rohi or “The LORD is my shepherd” (Psalm 23:1). Gideon identified God as Jehovah Shalom for the angel of the LORD had just granted him peace and promised success in delivering Israel. So “Gideon built an altar there unto the LORD, and called it Jehovahshalom [Jehovah is peace]” (Judges 6:24 KJV). What is your name for God? Or, perhaps as an elderly person, God Who Keeps Me From Losing My Balance And Falling.
Author: Ken
How Any Nation Can Win Their War
During the American Civil War (1861-1865) fought over the issue of slavery, President Abraham Lincoln declared a National Day of Humiliation, Fasting and Prayer for April 30, 1863. “Nations like individuals are subject to punishments and chastisements in this world… We have forgotten God… too proud to pray to the God that made us.” On July 4, 1863, the Confederate forces surrendered to General Ulysses S. Grant, ending the Siege and Battle of Vicksburg and giving control of the Mississippi River and the West to the Union. Likewise, the Confederate invasion of the North was halted at the Battle of Gettysburg, where General Robert E. Lee was forced to withdraw on July 4, 1863. Understandably, military historians view this as the turning point of the war. “If My people, which are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land” (2Chronicles 7:14 KJV).
Our Heavenly Citizenship
2024 is a year that can divide a nation, churches, and families, when Americans elect a President of the United States (POTUS), unless we remember our Heavenly Citizenship. True followers of Jesus Christ rally around the name of the KING of Kings and LORD of Lords, realizing man’s political distinctions may inadequately characterize the truth. “But our citizenship is in heaven – and we also eagerly await a savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Philippians 3:20 NET). As fervently as we may feel and vote for issues and candidates, let us be charitable with those on the other side of the aisle. “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal” (2Corinthians 4:18 NIV). LORD, all the results of the upcoming election are in Your hands. May those results only confirm our gaze upon the eternal. Amen.
Behavior: How to Become a Better You
Malcolm Gladwell told us it would take 10,000 hours of practice to become an expert at anything, while Josh Kaufman countered that it takes only 20 hours to learn anything fast. But, how can I just develop a taste for broccoli and become a healthier me? “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13 KJV). According to God’s Heavenly Word, He is able to change my heart and longings to agree with His purpose for me. First things first. Does God want me to develop a taste for broccoli? “For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with gratitude” (1Timothy 4:4 NASB). Gladwell says I’ll be an expert at eating broccoli after 10,000 hours. Kaufman says I’ll get the hang of eating broccoli after 20 hours. And, my Father assures me I’ll like broccoli, if I eat it with gratitude. LORD, thank you for the broccoli!
Adversarial System of Justice
In the western world, an adversarial system of justice is in place, where the legal framework places two advocates against one another before an impartial judge or jury, seeking a judgment or redress. Christians may see themselves as immune to taking someone to court, but they may become the defendant from an adversarial state or an aggrieved party. Jesus gave advice about this system of justice. “Agree with thine adversary [Greek, antidikos, opponent in a lawsuit] quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison” (Matthew 5:25 KJV). Man’s courts imperfectly mirror God’s courts. Consequently, we need to know how to transact business before the Courts of Heaven. Why? Because the Judge of All the Earth hears cases brought before Him against us by our Supernatural Adversary — and, the Ancient of Days invites it. “And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered My servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth [turns away from] evil” (Job 1:8). We need to familiarize ourselves with God’s courts, for He dispenses justice.
Winning in the Courts of Heaven (Part 1)
Many worthy cases submitted to the courts of man will not render justice. Then, why are not all prayers answered in the highest of the Courts of Heaven, when their legal groundwork appears to be consistent with the revealed promises of the Word of God? For example, “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God” (Philippians 4:6 KJV). Before consigning unanswered prayer requests to “It’s not the will of God,” shouldn’t we investigate? If the Ancient of Days (Daniel 7:9) really conducts court, sitting upon a throne, and making judgments, must petitioners and intercessors make a case for their requests? Yes, or He would simply grant all requests without the Courts of Heaven. God allows the “accuser [Greek, katēgoros, complainant at law] of our brothers and sisters” (Revelation 12:10 NET) to place prosecutory objections against us to which God has bound Himself to answer, as an impartial judge (Genesis 18:25). Our Paraklete or defense attorney advocates for us (1John 2:1), not against our will, and more specifically, requiring our cooperation to overcome those objections.
The Courts of Heaven
God rules sovereignly from Heaven but not arbitrarily. In the Unseen Realm, “God [Hebrew, ělôhîym, ruler, judge, divine one, angel] has taken His place in the divine council; in the midst of the gods [Hebrew, ělôhîym] He holds judgment” (Psalms 82:1 ESV). With the Supreme Judge of All the Earth (Genesis 18:25), both Abraham and Moses pleaded cases before His court and won (Genesis 18:25; Numbers 14:13-20). Why should Yahweh allow Himself to be persuaded by a mere mortal in prayer? “Remind Me of what happened! Let’s debate! You, prove to Me that you are right [Hebrew, tsadeq, acquitted, justified, vindicated, declared right]!” (Isaiah 43:26 NET). God desires us to enter into intimate relation with Him to form a more perfect union, when we argue our case in the Courts of Heaven using all our intellect, understanding, experience, emotion, and feeling, thus bonding to Him with all our strength for eternity.
God Has Got Your Back
“I’ve got your back” is what we would hear from a trusted friend, who is looking out for our best interests, like ‘eyes in the back of our head.’ When a military formation advances or especially retreats, a rear guard must protect its interests from behind. David had his Jonathan looking out for him, where he wasn’t looking. Most importantly, Jehovah looks out for those who put their confidence in Him. “For ye shall not go out with haste, nor go by flight: for the LORD will go before you; and the God of Israel will be your rereward [Hebrew, ‘âsaph, rearguard]” (Isaiah 52:12 KJV). God has got your back is the assurance of all those who put their trust in Him.
Thou Maintainest My Lot
“The LORD is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: Thou maintainest my lot [Hebrew, gôrâl, pebble used for systematically making decisions, e.g., die (singular) or dice, as in casting lots]” (Psalms 16:5 KJV). Yahweh takes all chance out of maintaining the life and circumstances of those who are trusting Him. We make a great mistake, when we do not teach this as a foundational principle to all those who receive the religion of Jesus Christ. The Good Shepherd alone is capable of maintaining us to perfection and to the end — even those with failing health, diminishing mental capacities, feeble social circumstances, a difficult physical situation, frail financial means, or dire political position. Pray for all those the Holy Spirit brings to your mind.
Asking God As Friend
We come to God in the first place because He is our Father, but we are emboldened to pray because He is our Friend. Friends help friends. “And He said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves” (Luke 11:5 KJV). We know that our Friend is well able to give us what we need because He is God Almighty. Even Jesus made it clear we are His friends. “Ye are My friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you” (John 15:14). Here, prayer graduates to intercession for others.
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