January 19th, 2023
Day 18 – January 19, 2023
“Packing Heat”
2 Chronicles 20:1,3 –4,15,17 - The people of Moab with the people of Ammon, and others with them besides the Ammonites, came to battle against Jehoshaphat. And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. So Judah gathered together to ask help from the Lord…Thus says the Lord to you: ‘Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s. You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, who is with you’…
OK, I admit it – I like Westerns, action movies and just about any show which has bad guys versus good guys! The most exciting part is usually that big fight in the end. With courage and effective artillery, the heroes of the story finally defeat the villains.
Maybe that’s why I like reading the Old Testament...and the New Testament. Time and time again, we see people just like us, who are not perfect and often have fear, but with the Lord on their side, great victories are won!
King Jehoshaphat was informed that the Moabites, Ammonites and Meunites were coming to fight him and his monarchy. He was understandably scared, so he prayed to God and ordered a nationwide fast. “The country of Judah united in seeking God’s help—they came from all the cities of Judah to pray to God.” And what did our God do? He took care of it even while His people were praising Him! The bad guys killed each other in confusion. Not even one remained alive. God’s peoples’ fasting with prayer became a spiritual weapon.
There’s an expression that says “Don’t bring a knife to a gun fight” because that knife can be virtually useless against a gun. Well, I’d like to change that to “Don’t bring a worry or fear to a fasting and praying fight” because your distress will fall virtually useless. Whatever hardship or trial you are facing right now, anxiety doesn’t have to win. Our time of Fasting can remind us of God's protection, provision, and help.
With the fire of the Holy Spirit filled inside us believers, we truly are PACKING HEAT against Satan. “Fasting is a weapon used to respond to the present and future attacks of the evil one.” (Today’s reading from the fasting guide, p. 52) Be encouraged – our spiritual weapon of fasting and praying is not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ - 2 Corinthians 10:4-5.
No, every battle may not be as easy as Jehoshaphat’s ended up being, but with the Holy Spirit living in us, Jesus Christ interceding for us, and our Father God listening to us, that foul villain will be defeated.
Fight the good fight,
Pastor Brian Rabon
“Packing Heat”
2 Chronicles 20:1,3 –4,15,17 - The people of Moab with the people of Ammon, and others with them besides the Ammonites, came to battle against Jehoshaphat. And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. So Judah gathered together to ask help from the Lord…Thus says the Lord to you: ‘Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s. You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, who is with you’…
OK, I admit it – I like Westerns, action movies and just about any show which has bad guys versus good guys! The most exciting part is usually that big fight in the end. With courage and effective artillery, the heroes of the story finally defeat the villains.
Maybe that’s why I like reading the Old Testament...and the New Testament. Time and time again, we see people just like us, who are not perfect and often have fear, but with the Lord on their side, great victories are won!
King Jehoshaphat was informed that the Moabites, Ammonites and Meunites were coming to fight him and his monarchy. He was understandably scared, so he prayed to God and ordered a nationwide fast. “The country of Judah united in seeking God’s help—they came from all the cities of Judah to pray to God.” And what did our God do? He took care of it even while His people were praising Him! The bad guys killed each other in confusion. Not even one remained alive. God’s peoples’ fasting with prayer became a spiritual weapon.
There’s an expression that says “Don’t bring a knife to a gun fight” because that knife can be virtually useless against a gun. Well, I’d like to change that to “Don’t bring a worry or fear to a fasting and praying fight” because your distress will fall virtually useless. Whatever hardship or trial you are facing right now, anxiety doesn’t have to win. Our time of Fasting can remind us of God's protection, provision, and help.
With the fire of the Holy Spirit filled inside us believers, we truly are PACKING HEAT against Satan. “Fasting is a weapon used to respond to the present and future attacks of the evil one.” (Today’s reading from the fasting guide, p. 52) Be encouraged – our spiritual weapon of fasting and praying is not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ - 2 Corinthians 10:4-5.
No, every battle may not be as easy as Jehoshaphat’s ended up being, but with the Holy Spirit living in us, Jesus Christ interceding for us, and our Father God listening to us, that foul villain will be defeated.
Fight the good fight,
Pastor Brian Rabon
1 Comment
Amen pastor!