If God Is For You.....
March 2013
"........If God is for us, who can be against us?" Romans 8:31 NIV
"Don't be afraid," the prophet answered. "Those who are with us are more than those who are with them." 2 Kings 6:16 NIV
Reading the Word one day during my quiet time with the Lord, He led me to 2 Kings 6:8-20 and let's just say for me it was a "rhema word." A rhema word is whenever the Lord uses a divine highlighter in His Word; speaking directly and specifically to your circumstance/situation-----even though you have read or heard it time and time again. It's whenever you are sitting in church on a Sunday morning or Wednesday evening and God uses the minister to say exactly what you need to hear; it's almost like he/she has read your mail! Well, this particular morning after reading this and allowing the Lord to pour into me, I had to get up and give God a dance of praise! The William Murphy's song starts with the bold declaration of, "Nothing can take my praise. I have the victory. My praise has set me free. Never will I be bound….because I'll make my praise resound! I'm going to give it to You…..I'm going to give You all the praise!" But friend, my dance started during the praise break. lol! When William Murphy said, "What used to be on my back, is now under my feet! It's under my feet!" Whew…..I had to give God some foot work! I get excited when I think about it! What God showed me that morning encouraged me greatly and now I feel led to share it with you. Before you read on….press play on the video and give God an in advance praise!
"Don't be afraid," the prophet answered. "Those who are with us are more than those who are with them." 2 Kings 6:16 NIV
Reading the Word one day during my quiet time with the Lord, He led me to 2 Kings 6:8-20 and let's just say for me it was a "rhema word." A rhema word is whenever the Lord uses a divine highlighter in His Word; speaking directly and specifically to your circumstance/situation-----even though you have read or heard it time and time again. It's whenever you are sitting in church on a Sunday morning or Wednesday evening and God uses the minister to say exactly what you need to hear; it's almost like he/she has read your mail! Well, this particular morning after reading this and allowing the Lord to pour into me, I had to get up and give God a dance of praise! The William Murphy's song starts with the bold declaration of, "Nothing can take my praise. I have the victory. My praise has set me free. Never will I be bound….because I'll make my praise resound! I'm going to give it to You…..I'm going to give You all the praise!" But friend, my dance started during the praise break. lol! When William Murphy said, "What used to be on my back, is now under my feet! It's under my feet!" Whew…..I had to give God some foot work! I get excited when I think about it! What God showed me that morning encouraged me greatly and now I feel led to share it with you. Before you read on….press play on the video and give God an in advance praise!
Please read 2 Kings 6:8-20. John 16:33 says, “I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” In my own life, all too often I have let my eyes drift from the Lord to the trouble I’m facing. I’m guessing you might have the same struggle at times! But an amazing thing happens when we choose to fix our eyes on Christ rather than fixate on our circumstances. Our perspective is radically transformed, and our vision becomes clearer. We are able to reach out and take hold of the peace Jesus extends to us as we walk through the trouble. The fact is, our troubles on this earth DO NOT have the last say---- JESUS DOES! Believing that truth will bring such freedom! And so my prayer for you today is that, no matter what you’re facing on your journey right now, that you would just lift your eyes to Him and take heart! He has already overcome it and we are victorious in Him!
In our text today, we are introduced to Elisha the prophet. God used Elisha to give the King of Israel words of wisdom that would protect him. The King of Aram was at war with the King of Israel. He tried to set up a plan to have the King of Israel utterly destroyed. But every time he would plot….God would use Elisha to tell the King of Israel the King of Aram's plans. Let's stop here; wisdom is higher than any other degree. Pray and ask God to give you wisdom when it comes to your day-to-day life!
Time and time again the King of Aram would plot….does that sound familiar to you? It's just like when the devil plots, schemes, and plots, and plans…over and over again. Well, the King of Aram became frustrated and thought that surely one of his men had to be working secretly for the King of Israel, but he found out quickly that none of his men were "spilling the beans" to the King of Israel. But the King of Aram's men knew how the King of Israel was receiving inside information…..one name…..ELISHA! So the King of Aram ordered his men to go get Elisha. "Then he sent horses and chariots and a strong force there. They went by night and surrounded the city." (vs. 14) King Aram's men arrived and surrounded the city. Let's stop here: at times the enemy will have you thinking that you are surrounded….surrounded by negative circumstances, surrounded by defeat……BUT GOD!
Elisha's servant got up and saw the King's men surrounding the city and said, ""Oh no, my lord! What shall we do?" (vs. 15) Whew, many times in my life I have said, "Lawd…..what am I going to do? I am utterly surrounded……" Oh, but in Vs. 16, Elisha had a revelation from God. When I read this verse I was reminded of the many times that God answered me in this way, "Don't be afraid," the prophet answered. "Those who are with us are more than those who are with them." And then Elisha prayed and said, "Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see......" (Vs. 17) Whew…..Elisha saw through eyes of faith…..and He prayed and asked God to open his servant's eyes so that he may see through eyes of faith. Let's stop here: sometimes so much can be going on that we allow doubt, fear, and unbelief to infiltrate us so much so that our eyes our blinded with debris! Stop here and ask God to restore your vision….ask Him to help you see through eyes of faith! Friend, God will answer you. He did it for the servant: "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." (Vs. 17) God is no respecter of persons….if He did it for the servant, if He did it for me; He can and will do it for YOU! Now, look at what the servant saw…..He saw "hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha!" That was the army of the Lord encamping around about them! (Psalm 34:7 NIV) Now we understand what Elisha meant when he said that there was more with them than there was with King's Arman's army! Of course, you know how the story ends….Elisha and his servant were not only protected, but victorious! Friend, I just want to encourage you! I want you to know that there is an army rising up ready to fight on your behalf. YOU ARE NOT IN THIS ONE ALONE! Isaiah 50:9 says, "It is the sovereign Lord who helps me. Who is he that will condemn me?" Romans 8:31 says, "If God is for us, WHO can be against us?" I am reminded of Chris Tomlin's song "Our God is Greater!"
"Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome and power
Our God, Our God……
And if Our God is for us, then who could ever stop us
And if our God is with us, then what can stand against?
And if Our God is for us, then who could ever stop us
And if our God is with us, then what can stand against?
What can stand against?"
What can stand against? What can stand against? Friend, we have nothing to fear. The pitiful powers of this world are nothing compared to the armies of the living God fighting on our behalf. Fear cripples faith, BUT NEVER FORGET----just as quickly, FAITH CRIPPLES FEAR! Whether fear or faith prevails depends on the commander we're saluting. Are you saluting the problem or the promise? Are you saluting fear or faith? Are you saluting your blindness or your vision of faith? Are you saluting the devil by being fearful and anxious, and by worrying and doubting. Or are you saluting Christ by holding up your shield of faith, by living by faith, by trusting Him to meet all your needs, and to protect you no matter what? Who are you saluting? Friend, I am also reminded of Chris Tomlin's song ," Whom Shall I Fear?"
"I know Who goes before me.
I know Who stands behind.
The God of angel armies, is always by my side!
The One who reigns forever, He is a Friend of mine!
The God of angel armies, is always by my side!"
Those who are with you are more than those that are with them. Take heart. Take courage. You serve a God that death could not defeat and that no devil can prevail! And guess what? Your circumstance cannot and will not defeat or baffle God! Your life is in good hands. So friend, whenever you feel surrounded……remember Romans 8:31……..NOTHING CAN STAND AGAINST YOU WHEN GOD IS FOR YOU! And friend…..GOD IS FOR YOU! Trust, believe, walk, live, and rest in that! Love you all! Be encouraged!
In our text today, we are introduced to Elisha the prophet. God used Elisha to give the King of Israel words of wisdom that would protect him. The King of Aram was at war with the King of Israel. He tried to set up a plan to have the King of Israel utterly destroyed. But every time he would plot….God would use Elisha to tell the King of Israel the King of Aram's plans. Let's stop here; wisdom is higher than any other degree. Pray and ask God to give you wisdom when it comes to your day-to-day life!
Time and time again the King of Aram would plot….does that sound familiar to you? It's just like when the devil plots, schemes, and plots, and plans…over and over again. Well, the King of Aram became frustrated and thought that surely one of his men had to be working secretly for the King of Israel, but he found out quickly that none of his men were "spilling the beans" to the King of Israel. But the King of Aram's men knew how the King of Israel was receiving inside information…..one name…..ELISHA! So the King of Aram ordered his men to go get Elisha. "Then he sent horses and chariots and a strong force there. They went by night and surrounded the city." (vs. 14) King Aram's men arrived and surrounded the city. Let's stop here: at times the enemy will have you thinking that you are surrounded….surrounded by negative circumstances, surrounded by defeat……BUT GOD!
Elisha's servant got up and saw the King's men surrounding the city and said, ""Oh no, my lord! What shall we do?" (vs. 15) Whew, many times in my life I have said, "Lawd…..what am I going to do? I am utterly surrounded……" Oh, but in Vs. 16, Elisha had a revelation from God. When I read this verse I was reminded of the many times that God answered me in this way, "Don't be afraid," the prophet answered. "Those who are with us are more than those who are with them." And then Elisha prayed and said, "Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see......" (Vs. 17) Whew…..Elisha saw through eyes of faith…..and He prayed and asked God to open his servant's eyes so that he may see through eyes of faith. Let's stop here: sometimes so much can be going on that we allow doubt, fear, and unbelief to infiltrate us so much so that our eyes our blinded with debris! Stop here and ask God to restore your vision….ask Him to help you see through eyes of faith! Friend, God will answer you. He did it for the servant: "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." (Vs. 17) God is no respecter of persons….if He did it for the servant, if He did it for me; He can and will do it for YOU! Now, look at what the servant saw…..He saw "hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha!" That was the army of the Lord encamping around about them! (Psalm 34:7 NIV) Now we understand what Elisha meant when he said that there was more with them than there was with King's Arman's army! Of course, you know how the story ends….Elisha and his servant were not only protected, but victorious! Friend, I just want to encourage you! I want you to know that there is an army rising up ready to fight on your behalf. YOU ARE NOT IN THIS ONE ALONE! Isaiah 50:9 says, "It is the sovereign Lord who helps me. Who is he that will condemn me?" Romans 8:31 says, "If God is for us, WHO can be against us?" I am reminded of Chris Tomlin's song "Our God is Greater!"
"Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome and power
Our God, Our God……
And if Our God is for us, then who could ever stop us
And if our God is with us, then what can stand against?
And if Our God is for us, then who could ever stop us
And if our God is with us, then what can stand against?
What can stand against?"
What can stand against? What can stand against? Friend, we have nothing to fear. The pitiful powers of this world are nothing compared to the armies of the living God fighting on our behalf. Fear cripples faith, BUT NEVER FORGET----just as quickly, FAITH CRIPPLES FEAR! Whether fear or faith prevails depends on the commander we're saluting. Are you saluting the problem or the promise? Are you saluting fear or faith? Are you saluting your blindness or your vision of faith? Are you saluting the devil by being fearful and anxious, and by worrying and doubting. Or are you saluting Christ by holding up your shield of faith, by living by faith, by trusting Him to meet all your needs, and to protect you no matter what? Who are you saluting? Friend, I am also reminded of Chris Tomlin's song ," Whom Shall I Fear?"
"I know Who goes before me.
I know Who stands behind.
The God of angel armies, is always by my side!
The One who reigns forever, He is a Friend of mine!
The God of angel armies, is always by my side!"
Those who are with you are more than those that are with them. Take heart. Take courage. You serve a God that death could not defeat and that no devil can prevail! And guess what? Your circumstance cannot and will not defeat or baffle God! Your life is in good hands. So friend, whenever you feel surrounded……remember Romans 8:31……..NOTHING CAN STAND AGAINST YOU WHEN GOD IS FOR YOU! And friend…..GOD IS FOR YOU! Trust, believe, walk, live, and rest in that! Love you all! Be encouraged!
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