2 Kings 18:1-8 – “In the third year of the reign of Israel’s King Hoshea son of Elah, Ahaz’s son Hezekiah became king over Judah. ² He was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem.  His mother was Abi, the daughter of Zechariah. ³ He did what the Lord approved, just as his ancestor David had done. ⁴ He eliminated the high places, smashed the sacred pillars to bits, and cut down the Asherah pole. He also demolished the bronze serpent that Moses had made, for up to that time the Israelites had been offering incense to it; it was called Nehushtan. ⁵ He trusted in the Lord God of Israel; in this regard there was none like him among the kings of Judah either before or after. ⁶ He was loyal to the Lord and did not abandon him. He obeyed the commandments that the Lord had given to Moses. ⁷ The Lord was with him; he succeeded in all his endeavors. He rebelled against the king of Assyria and refused to submit to him. ⁸ He defeated the Philistines as far as Gaza and its territory, from watchtower to fortified city.”

Sometimes, reading with an open heart and uncluttered mind brings a much-needed reminder.   Such was the case today as I read, prayed, and pondered the Word of God.

2 Kings 18:1-8 is a brief introduction to the reign of Hezekiah.  Something in this brief introduction grabbed my attention and stopped me in my tracks.   

In verse 3, “He did what the LORD approved…”   That should be our daily ambition.   In verse 4, he began to clean the house, clearing the land of all the idols and high places where false gods were worshipped.  Then, this stopped me in my tracks, “He ALSO demolished the bronze serpent that Moses had made, FOR UP TO THAT TIME the Israelites had been offering incense to it; it was called Nehushtan.”

Immediately, the Holy Spirit brought to my consciousness a shocking reality.   It is possible that there is the danger of taking something God has done and making an idol out of it.

They had made the object the source rather than simply a contact point.  They had made the symbol their reality.  We create formulas and rituals out of experiences and elevate the ritual or item to the level of God or above God.

We must never relegate God to a formula, a ritual, a practice, or even a mode of prayer.   He is God!   The visible symbols only point us to Him; they do not possess the magic quality to bring about His purposes or promises.

We are creatures of habit and creatures of the visible.  God is the God of the invisible.  We see Him through the symbols, but the symbols are not Him; they only point to Him and are often temporary reminders, not rigid additions to our practice.

That subject needs our full attention.   But since there is neither space nor time here, suffice it to say – NEVER allow any symbol, experience, practice, or place to become an idol.   Focus solely and only on God.  Matthew 6:33 – God first, God second, God third, God is to be our ALL.

If we focus on God and keep the symbols in their place (reminders that point to Him), we will not get sidetracked by the devil and crippled by idolatry.   Only God!   God only!

Beware of allowing the enemy to shift our focus from God to the object, event, or pattern.  That act of burning incense opened the door to other demonic invasions and created their problems.  It’s time to cleanse the heart and clear the land!

We are to be free and victorious through Jesus.  His blessings are NEW every morning.  Welcome today’s blessings, and tomorrow, NEW blessings will come.

I pray for you to discover that which God approves and do it today!

2 Kings 13:14-19 – “Now Elisha had a terminal illness. King Jehoash of Israel went down to visit him. He wept before him and said, “My father, my father!  The chariot and horsemen of Israel!” ¹⁵ Elisha told him, “Take a bow and some arrows,” and he did so. ¹⁶ Then Elisha told the king of Israel, “Aim the bow.” He did so, and Elisha placed his hands on the king’s hands. ¹⁷ Elisha said, “Open the east window,” and he did so. Elisha said, “Shoot!” and he did so. Elisha said, “This arrow symbolizes the victory the Lord will give you over Syria. You will annihilate Syria in Aphek!” ¹⁸ Then Elisha said, “Take the arrows,” and he did so. He told the king of Israel, “Strike the ground!” He struck the ground three times and stopped. ¹⁹ The prophet got angry at him and said, “If you had struck the ground five or six times, you would have annihilated Syria! But now, you will defeat Syria only three times.”

Hear this!  Today is a day without compare!   What is unique about today?  It is a day of opportunity and marks the beginning of a new outpouring of God we have longed for.   It will be viewed as just another day by all but those whose hearts are not attuned to the quiet whispers of the Holy Spirit.   Today, God is reassuring His timeless call to Himself in full surrender and complete obedience.   No more mixed worship and divided hearts.

As I read in 2 Kings, a repeated theme surfaced.  Those Kings who did what was pleasing to God all had a similar flaw – they failed to fully rid the land of the high places and mixed worship.

The same situation exists today in many churches and lives.  There is a burning hunger for God, but there is evidence of allowing things of the flesh and world to be mixed into the church and life.  We call it tolerance and inclusiveness; God calls it an abomination.

In 2 Kings 13, when Elisha was terminally ill, he called King Jehoash to him for a prophetic revelation.  He had the king shoot an arrow to the East to symbolize victory over Syria.  In order to complete the victory, he instructed the king to take the arrows and “strike the ground.”

The king was clearly not enthusiastic, nor did he grasp the power of symbolism, so he nonchalantly hit the ground three meek times.  Elisha became irate!  He said, “If you had struck the ground 5 or 6 times, you would have annihilated Syria!  Complete victory was yours, BUT not only partial victory is coming because you did not give God your whole heart.”

In 2 Corinthians 6, Paul speaks to this attitude, condition, and requirement for Victory.  In verses 16-17, he says, “For we are the temple of the Living God, JUST AS GOD SAID, I will live IN them, and walk AMONG them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.  THEREFORE, come out from their midst, and be separate, says the Lord.  AND touch no unclean thing…”

God not only expects but demands complete commitment and obedience.

If we want complete victory and desire to be an integral part of God’s Last Days Harvest, there must be a coming out from the world and a coming into God.  Nothing of the flesh can be allowed to be mixed in.

Of course, this is only possible through the work of the Holy Spirit, not by willpower.  It is not performance but a surrendered heart that God seeks.

We are to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness!   That is where victory comes, spilling over into everyday life.  We become flames to moths and honey to flies as we are totally invested in Him. Power flows unhindered by pride, or the impurity of mixed worship mingled with divided hearts.

So, today is the beginning of renewal, revival, and restoration.   The door is open, so let’s walk through it and into the glory of God!

It is time for us to Strike the Ground in a declaration of Victory!

1 Kings 19:1-4 – “Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, including a detailed account of how he killed all the prophets with the sword. 2 Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah with this warning, “May the gods judge me severely if by this time tomorrow I do not take your life as you did theirs!”  3 Elijah was afraid, so he got up and fled for his life to Beer Sheba in Judah.  He left his servant there, 4 while he went a day’s journey into the wilderness.  He went and sat down under a shrub and asked the Lord to take his life: “I’ve had enough!  Now, O Lord, take my life.  After all, I’m no better than my ancestors.”

Elijah had just participated in a mighty miracle and had killed the prophets of Baal.   Jezebel sent him a threat.    He became afraid.    That captured my thoughts.   How did the Fear get in?

He had just seen the demonstration of God’s Almightiness, and yet became fearful when the queen of Baal threatened him.  Why?   We are often the most vulnerable after a victory. 

Before the battle and during the battle, we are focused, and faith flows.  After the victory, we are often physically, mentally, and emotionally drained.  We shift from supernatural strength and adrenaline to our humanity.

Elijah ran!   Exhausted, he lay down to sleep.   The angel came and gave him food.   He slept more, and a second time, the angel fed him.  The food of heaven and divine, as well as physical rest, is required to reach the place God has purposed.

He traveled 40 days and nights away from where he was, the victory and the threat.  In the cave, God asked a probing question, “Why are you here, Elijah?”   It was not rhetorical but literal.   “Elijah, why have you run from Jezebel?”

Elijah gave his human justification.   God responded by manifesting Himself to the prophet.   There was a powerful wind, earthquake, and fire (demonstrations and manifestations we call a move of God), but God was not in them.  

The real move of God was in the soft whisper of God.   Then God asked again, “Why are you here, Elijah?”  He got the same response.  The presence of God should have transformed him, but he was still focused on himself and his problem.

God then said in verse 15, “Go back the way you came and then go into the wilderness…”   Do you see that?  It is first, go back to the place of victory and where fear gripped your heart, then pursue My purposes.   He had three specific tasks.

God shifted Elijah’s focus from self and fear with the assurance and reminder Elijah, you are not alone!  There are 7,000 others who are standing for Me!

Think about this: if one can put a multitude to flight, think about what 7,000 can do.   That revelation was a source of hope and courage.  It should be to us as well.  We are not God’s only ones.   There are many others.   We are the Body of Christ, the Army of God on the earth.

Don’t look for the visible manifestations (they are wonderful).  Listen for the Voice of His presence; therein is the strength. 

• The Word of God is our sustenance for life. 
• The Spirit of God is our power.
• The Purpose of God is our mission.

If we have been sidetracked by fear, let’s retrace our steps so we can fulfill His call and purpose.  In the strength of His Word, the rest of His Spirit, and the assurance of being linked in the Body, we are more than conquerors.
Don’t focus on the problem.  Focus on the promise.  God is whispering, but if we focus on the threat, the wind, the earthquake, or the fire, we will miss the whisper where the strength lies.

May faith crowd out all fear from your heart, and may you see the demonstration of the Almightiness of God today!

1 Kings 17:1 – “Elijah the Tishbite, from Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, “As certainly as the Lord God of Israel lives (whom I serve), there will be no dew or rain in the years ahead unless I give the command.”

Last Sunday morning, as I prayed, I sensed in my spirit that the LORD was calling His church to soar like an eagle and roar like a lion.   Victory is ours for the taking!   I pray for everyone to prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospers.

During my devotional time, I heard in my spirit, “The reason many prayers are not answered is they are prayed in human hope, not divine expectation.”

I have mused on that since it came.    It was prevalent in my heart before my 7 AM Sunday broadcast.   It resurfaced during the praise and worship in church and has resurfaced multiple times.   Therefore, I know I need to reexamine my prayers, heart, and condition.  It has been with me for days!

Human hope is whimsical and fickle.   Human hope is not doggedly persistent.  Human hope is swayed by circumstances and is easily distracted.  In contrast, divine expectation is fixed, unshakeable, and filled with the anticipation of assurance.  It is the heart of faith.

Elijah, in 1 Kings, demonstrated divine expectation.  He prophesied no rain and then explicitly obeyed with a sense of knowing that drought and famine were not only imminent but present regardless of how things looked.

When he challenged the prophets of Baal, he did so with divine expectation and placed his life on the line.  When he prayed for rain, he exhibited divine expectation.  He persistently sent his servant to look for a visible manifestation.  When a cloud as tiny as the palm of the hand appeared, he instructed Ahab to rush to the city because torrential rain was coming.  His only real evidence was his divine expectation based on God’s promise!

Human hope would not have pressed in and obtained, but divine expectation would not let him stop.  How are we praying?   The evidence is in our persistence and actions.

Human hope wishes for a time almost fatalistically.  Divine expectation is so confident in the answer that it has corresponding actions as if it were already a reality.

How are we praying?   Do we pray and allow our words and minds to provide room for doubt?   Do we pray with a lack of confidence or with divine expectancy?   The bottom line is, “Do we believe God’s Word, and do we trust His character?”    If we add, “He’s sovereign and knows best,” That may indicate that our prayers are founded on human hope, not divine expectation.   He is sovereign, but He has declared He wants to give us the kingdom and has given us authority and the privilege of tapping into His limitlessness.

Challenge yourself to expect.  Open your heart to the Holy Spirit, pray God’s promises, and watch divine expectancy develop.   You can be victorious!  Why not today?  Why not soar like an eagle and roar like a lion through God’s promises and provisions?

I pray that today will be a day of soaring and roaring for you!

2 Samuel 22:17 – “He reached down from above and grabbed me; He pulled me from the surging water.”

As I read, prayed, and meditated on the Word of God today, I was drawn to 2 Samuel 22 and David’s song of deliverance.   God had delivered David from peril and powerful enemies, and he wrote and sang his song of Thanksgiving!    This reveals another dimension of why God called him a man after His own heart.  His humility and dependence were ever-present.

David’s description of God is incredible.   I was captivated by the thought of God reaching down and grabbing us in verse 17.  The imagery is inspiring!  God’s hand reached down from heaven, grabbed him, and lifted him from the surging water.  (Symbolizing the plight David faced from people and potential death.)  Nothing can stop God’s mighty hand!

In verse 29, David declares, “Indeed, You are my lamp, LORD.  The LORD illuminates the darkness around me.”  There is no night in God!  In verse 30, he shouts, “Indeed, with Your help, I can charge against an army; by my God’s power, I can jump over a wall.”   Nothing is daunting when God is present.

In verses 35-37, David proclaimed, “He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend even the strongest bow.  You give me Your protective shield; Your willingness to help enables me to prevail.   You widen my path; my feet do not slip.”

What a picture of the relationship between God and David.  A relationship that gave total confidence and enabled total victory.   A relationship that is available to us today!   It was complete trust with humble obedience.  That opens doors otherwise unopenable.    Remember that nothing can stop you if you live out of that relationship!

May the Spirit of God reach down from Heaven and grab you today and lift you into the presence of the Almighty!

1 Samuel 13:11-12 – “ But Samuel said, “What have you done?” Saul replied, “When I saw that the army had started to abandon me, and that you didn’t come at the appointed time, and that the Philistines had assembled at Micmash, ¹² I thought, ‘Now the Philistines will come down on me at Gilgal and I have not sought the Lord’s favor.’ So I felt obligated to offer the burnt offering.”

As I read, prayed, and meditated on the Word of God today, I was challenged on several fronts.  The stories of Saul and David depict human reason vs. obedience.   Paul’s words in Romans reflect the power of the flesh and the evidence of true total transformation.

Samuel came to Saul in 1 Samuel 13:11-12 and challenged him over his presumptuous act of disobedience.  Saul did what we tend to do; he justified himself.

Saul said, “But, I saw the desertion of the army.  You, Samuel, were late (it’s your fault).  I didn’t have a clear word from God.  The enemy had gathered against me, so I THOUGHT I was obligated to do something.”  Human reason vs. Obedience brought about his destruction.   God is on time even if it’s not on our timetable.   Trust is to be maintained even in delay.   Saul’s reason opened the door to greed and self-serving, which resulted in his rejection by God.

David’s simplistic faith, developed through the events of his life, enabled him to look beyond Goliath, reject fear, and rely on God’s promises.  He was a covenant person.

His view was that the giant had defied God.   If God could enable him to overcome stronger and faster enemies in the form of hungry lions and bears, Goliath would be just another problem God would dispose of.   His confidence was in God.   David rejected everything but what God had equipped him with.   

His confidence was in God, his sling, and a few selected stones.  David demonstrated life in calm confidence, the confidence expressed by the three Hebrew children.   God can; that’s not up for debate.   We believe God will, and that is confidence.  But regardless, we are still totally committed to Him.

In Romans, Paul addresses this faith and life, revealing that the transformed are transformed.  In Romans 6:8 – “Now IF we died with Christ, we believe we will live with Him.” That’s not just someday in heaven but here!

In Romans 6:12, he instructs us to do something rather than have it done for us.   Too many backhandedly blame God for their weaknesses of the flesh.   We say, “I’ve asked God to help me (whatever it is that we want to be free from).”   Verse 12 declares, “THEREFORE, do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its desires, and do not present your members to sin as instruments to be used for unrighteousness.”

If we are in Christ, we are made new on the inside.   Springs do not issue forth sweet and bitter water.   What comes out is what is inside.  What manifests in us is what we yield to.   Dying to self is not a forced thing by God but a willing cooperation with Him.   

God presents the way of transformation, but we have to go through that door and practice righteousness.   Righteousness is not an arbitrary act of God forcing a change in us.   We are gifted with the grace and strength to resist, but we have to resist.   Yielding to the flesh is easy, and resisting requires trust and determination.

When I got saved, God removed some desires, but for me to enjoy that freedom, I had to resist any temptation or opportunity to revert to them.   Giving it to Jesus means rejecting it when it tries to come back.   If we dabble in sin, sin will rule us.   If we resist sin, grace will empower us.

Let’s be the people Paul speaks of as dead to sin and a person like David who is totally confident in God.   Victory or defeat is before us, awaiting our decision.

May your day be filled with awareness of God’s person, power, and provision!

Acts 26:19-20 – “Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, ²⁰ but I declared to those in Damascus first, and then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds consistent with repentance.” 

What a day that will be when my Jesus we shall see.   When we look upon His face, the one who saved us by His Grace.  A glorious day is just around the corner. Know this, God loves you forever!

As I read in Acts 26, Paul’s testimony before King Agrippa, one statement in verse 20 refused to allow me to move on.   I heard, “Not fluff, but proof by change.”   Paul said, “I declared to those in Damascus first, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds consistent with repentance.”

Repentance means changing your mind and changing directions.  It means making a 180-degree turn.  You were going south now, and you turned and went north.  You were serving yourself; now, you serve God.

Two factors or dimensions of this transformation are Repentance and turning to God, not just feeling guilty, weeping, and saying the sinner’s prayer.  We have erroneously been taught that’s all that is required.

You may turn in the other direction by your willpower, but not be changed on the inside.   If we repent and turn to God, we produce fruit in our lives that reveals that character change.  We begin to live redeemed.  Voltaire said, “If you want me to believe in your redeemer, you need to appear redeemed.”

What is the evidence that we are redeemed?   Our lives, flowing out of a changed character, produce evidence of change.   When I got saved, I was changed.   I repented and surrendered my entire being to God.  It was an inside job, not simply praying a rote prayer.  My attitude changed.  My manner of speaking changed.  My habits changed.  My desires changed.  My purpose and focus changed.

Nothing was as important as God’s presence and purpose.  My hunger for Him was insatiable, and I devoured the Word.  That Word became alive and chipped away the rough edges of my life and still does.

Just saying, “I’m a Christian, and going to church doesn’t make you one.”   The external is inconsequential if the internal is not transformed. You must be born again. Being born again means becoming a different person.

It is instantaneous and progressive. Inside, we are immediately changed; then, through diligence, we are transformed. Our hearts are changed, and we then begin to manifest the deeds consistent with repentance and redemption.

Not fluff but proof, though change!   If the tree is good, the fruit will be good.  If the fruit is mixed or bad, we need to go back to the beginning. Repent (do an about-face) AND turn to God. Recommit our entire being to God. Bring every thought captive and give God our whole heart.

Out of our instantaneous change, we grow in grace and become transformed from glory to glory.   The Spirit of God challenged me to examine my fruit and deeds, measure them against the Word, and compare them to Jesus without excuse.   Repent where repentance is needed, and after doing an about-face to set my heart on the pursuit of God!

Have a great day, reject fluff, and seek the real stuff in your life!