TWO IMPORTANT THINGS. By Pastor Fernando

SCRIPTURE - 2 Chronicles 24:17-19

¹⁷ After the death of Jehoiada, the officials of Judah came and paid homage to the king, and he listened to them. ¹⁸ They abandoned the temple of the LORD, the God of their fathers, and worshiped Asherah poles and idols. Because of their guilt, God's anger came upon Judah and Jerusalem. ¹⁹ Although the LORD sent prophets to the people to bring them back to him, and though they testified against them, they would not listen.

OBSERVATION

King Joash had a great start as a leader because he was surrounded by great advisors like Jehoiada the priest. He made great decisions and his relationship with God was thriving. But once Jehoiada was dead, there was a vacuum around the king that was filled by new and ungodly officials. They used flatter and started to feed the pride of the king. As a result, they neglected their relationship with God and engaged in idolatry. But what made things really bad, is that when confronted by godly prophets about their sin, they ignored it, did not listen, and even killed them to silence them. The gravity of this incident was so deep that even Jesus brought this matter up when confronting the Pharisees.

APPLICATION

When we neglect our relationship with God and fall away from his ways, God's mercy always calls us back and the doors for repentance and restoration are wide open. But when we continue in stubbornness, we are setting our lives for major disaster and for extremely painful consequences. Because of my human nature there will be times when I will sin, and even neglect my relationship with God. If I reuse to listen and keep distancing myself from the Lord, I will end up surrounded with the wrong people, doing the wrong things, heading straight to the wrong place.

I believe that what has kept me under God's hand of favor all these years are two things: godly people around me and the willingness to repent when I fall. I cannot let these two important things disappear from my life. With everything in me I need to continue building relationships with godly people and I cannot compromise in confession and repentance from my sins. I need to keep fighting the good fight, even when I receive the blows from the enemy and my own flesh. I need to endure by pursuing godliness. I cannot give up! I may have a good start, like Joash. But just like him, I could end up in a mess if i don't focus on the finish line.

PRAYER

Dear Jesus, please help me to endure the blows, to get up each time I fall, and to continue fighting the good fight. Please help me to keep always godly people around me, really close to me, and give me discernment to stay away from the wicked, from those who flatter and feed my pride. Let me walk in integrity, always seeking honesty, humility, and holiness. I love you Lord. Amen!

PUT ON THE ARMOR. By Pastor Fernando

SCRIPTURE - Ephesians 6:13

Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.

OBSERVATION

Paul recognizes that the journey of Christianity will bring battles against the forces of darkness that oppose everything God wants to do in our lives. The enemy will use whatever possible to discourage us, to steal, to kill, and destroy. So Paul echoes the Scriptures' plea to be constantly on the alert. This time, he illustrates our readiness with an armor. The advantages that armor brings into a fight are too great to ignore. However, many people go through life neglecting using their spiritual armor. As a result, there are many Christians frustrated with constant defeat, disappointed at their vulnerability, ashamed of their weakness, and even hopeless about their condition. Nobody likes to be wounded regularly. That's why Paul urges us to wear the armor with diligence.

APPLICATION

I can clearly identify the main reason for all my struggles and defeats against the enemy - It's my negligent use of the spiritual armor. Even though the enemy is crafty and has a way to get to me, the damage could have been minimal if I was ready and on the alert wearing my armor. When I was in the army wearing our modern armor was uncomfortable, and sometimes meaningless. Many of us will try to gain some comfort by not wearing part of it. But our superiors were extremely emphatic about always wearing our armor. The enemy will always look for our weakest point and constantly shoot his darts of fire in those areas. Our enemy is patient and smart, and we should be smarter. Our spiritual lives are on the line. We need to be more diligent in keeping our armor up all the times and never give one inch to the enemy.

PRAYER

Dear heavenly Father, please forgive me for the many times where the enemy had easy access to my life because I neglected wearing the armor you graciously gave me. Forgive me for thinking that I could resist the enemy on my own strength, or that you somehow will always cover up my negligence and protect me from attacks. It's not fair with you when I think this way. You have given me everything I need, but I need to use it. You are the provider, but I am responsible for using diligently your spiritual weapons. Help me Lord to keep my journey always aware of the enemy schemes and on the alert. Amen!

DESIRES. By Pastor Jan Tomai

SCRIPTURE - Ecclesiastes 9:18

“Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good.”

OBSERVATION

More then once in the old testament, we read about God dealing a heavy blow to “one sinner”, and how, the consequences of their sin affected many around them for generations. God’s actions were quick and decisive. God knows our human nature to destroy good with evil no matter how much wisdom we have or “think” we have.

APPLICATION

Because of God’s generous heart, it is almost too easy to have wisdom. And “yet” sin. I think about Solomon or David...both men after God’s own heart. Solomon gave into pride, David lust and disobedience in not raising up his own household to follow God. Instead of feeling hopeless in the inability to be sinless, I must reach out over and over again to God to make sure that I stay connected to Him. It is a constant discipline to follow God before everything else. For whatever reasons, David and Solomon forgot about God, maybe only for a moment, but that moment or moments of planning and scheming for their own desires ended up destroying generations. I never want to think that it can not happen as easily to me if I do not stay connected to God.

PRAYER

Lord, thank you for the message this weekend that brings home the need for the surrender of my time spent with God first. Help me to be faithful to you and not pulled in by my own desires.