2 Chronicles 20:16-18 (NLT)
Tomorrow, march out against them. You will find them coming up through the ascent of Ziz at the end of the valley that opens into the wilderness of Jeruel. But you will not even need to fight. Take your positions; then stand still and watch the LORD’s victory. He is with you, O people of Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid or discouraged. Go out against them tomorrow, for the LORD is with you!” Then King Jehoshaphat bowed low with his face to the ground. And all the people of Judah and Jerusalem did the same, worshiping the LORD.
People fight through life every single day in the dog-eat-dog world in which we live. Survival of the fittest requires taking what is yours because no one is going to give it to you. So we live in a defensive mode holding tightly to what we have while desperately reaching for something more with one eye on where we are going and one on those who surround us. We live in a hula hoop known as our personal zone daring anyone to cross up with a heart that is jaded and hard living in constant fear of losing what we have and never living up to our full potential. Worry and anxiety keep our mind racing with fear constantly building a stronghold around our faith. Where is God? How can I find the Lord’s help? I am fighting for my life and one’s I love dearly. Where will my help come from? I want to do what is right but am afraid to let it all go. What if God won’t take it? What if the grace of Jesus isn’t enough? How can anyone believe the words relayed through King Jehoshaphat that day, “Take your positions; then stand still and watch the Lord’s victory. He is with you…do not be afraid or discouraged. Go out against them tomorrow for the Lord is with you! What if for just one day believers dropped all the pretenses and stopped separating religion from life and decided to live in a faithful relationship with the Lord choosing righteousness over rightness and wisdom over wealth? What if those who call themselves Christians would simultaneously become humble according to God’s Word and WAIT standing still and WATCH for the Lord’s Victory? Would it come?
Philippians 2:5-11 (NLT)
You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
It comes down to deciding just who we think we are in Jesus Christ. Believers are called to have the same attitude that Jesus Christ. Even though He was God, Jesus did not think it necessary to cling to His Position but freely gave up His Divine Privileges to take a humble position as servant of all mankind. He came in human form and lived in obedience to God even to the Cross. Then God elevated Jesus to the Highest Honor giving Him the Name above all other names. One day every man and woman will confess Jesus Christ is Lord. Everybody includes those who do not believe, caught unaware and those who profess to be Christians at the expense of others. Believers must have the same attitude of Jesus Christ. They must follow the Lord and take the position of servant in this life including giving up some divine privileges. But many times we do not come to the Lord with pure intentions. We are not after salvation but the wealth and treasure stored in Heaven when compared to the things of this world. We are not after wisdom that leads to true godliness, obedience and love. We just want the inheritance and want it now. You can keep the suffering, humiliation and persecution. Jesus took care of that, right? Salvation is no good unless it results in faith that enables us to cross from life to death. True repentance breaks the human heart and releases one’s attachment to things of this world to take hold of all that God has promised which is not about stuff. God will bless you with things but not until things have their proper place. They must not mean more than Jesus does. If you spend all your time working for things and praying for more, you will never take the position necessary to receive all the Promises of God. God’s Promise is that when we face judgment our penalty will be paid and we can live forever with Jesus. Our position in live indicates success or failure on that day. To live for earthly success will lead to eternal failure. Jesus Christ gave His Life away. Will you take His Position?
Zephaniah 2:2-3 (NLT)
Gather before judgment begins, before your time to repent is blown away like chaff. Act now, before the fierce fury of the LORD falls and the terrible day of the LORD’s anger begins. Seek the LORD, all who are humble, and follow his commands. Seek to do what is right and to live humbly. Perhaps even yet the LORD will protect you—protect you from his anger on that day of destruction.
It is time to take a position of righteousness and humility more seriously among believers. Somehow the church has forgotten the intensity of God’s Judgment in the midst of convoluted grace. We think that grace may have somehow toned down the rage of our God against sin yet His Anger still blazes against it. The “fiery fury of the Lord” will fall on that terrible day and the carefully constructed gray area of compromise leaving only good and evil. The middle-of-the-road that was built by the church to connect with the world will result in countless souls being lost who thought they were saved by grace. False teaching and watered-down gospels will be revealed in the screams of lost souls descending to hell. It is time to seek to do what is right and to live humbly. (Matthew 23:11) The sense of entitlement overwhelming society and the church must be exposed and dealt with in a timely fashion. Jesus is coming back. Hell is real and hot. Judgment is still a reality in the midst of His Unfailing Love and Grace. Society wants what they have coming to them. They have no idea. The church wants His Kingdom to come quickly, but are we really ready to encounter God like that? I think not or His Glory would fill His Temples already! What is your position? Are you ready to meet the Lord? Humility is a requirement. Are we there yet?
Deuteronomy 8:2-3 (NLT)
Remember how the LORD your God led you through the wilderness for these forty years, humbling you and testing you to prove your character, and to find out whether or not you would obey his commands. Yes, he humbled you by letting you go hungry and then feeding you with manna, a food previously unknown to you and your ancestors. He did it to teach you that people do not live by bread alone; rather, we live by every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.
God will lead you through a wilderness or two to show you just how much you need him. He will allow storms to come so the wind and rain can wash away those things keep you from being ready for His Return. God is not punishing you and He is certainly not ignoring you. He is preparing you for Judgment day so you will receive His Inheritance. The Lord has provided everything you need to make it to that day complete lacking nothing. But if you keep fighting for the things of this world both tangible and intangible, you will miss God’s Very Best which is to come. Those who humble their lives to serve Jesus Christ today will have many blessings between here and Eternity. God rescues the humble. (Psalm 18:27) God leads the humble in always doing what is right. (Psalm 25:8-9) So the humble will not lose their way trying to do things their way which always results in the wrong direction. God works it all out and releases His Joy for the humble servant. (Psalm 69:32) Joy will be endless and limitless for those who surrender their life to Jesus. (Isaiah 29:19) God’s Presence accompanies the humble and He is with you wherever you go. (Psalm 138:6) The humble servant of the Lord is ALWAYS victorious! (Psalm 149:4) With Jesus, you will win every time and right on time! Humility has an inheritance. (Matthew 5:5) If you want it, you must take your position, stand still and watch for it just like King Jehoshaphat and his people.
I Corinthians 15:24-26 (NLT)
After that the end will come, when he will turn the Kingdom over to God the Father, having destroyed every ruler and authority and power. For Christ must reign until he humbles all his enemies beneath his feet. And the last enemy to be destroyed is death.
Faith demands a forever decision today. We cannot live any way that we choose all the days of our life and choose Jesus on the Day of Judgment. Those who live for this world and the things in it will be considered an enemy of the Cross. Only those who live in humility with a broken and repentant heart will survive coming face-to-face with God. Are you ready?
Ephesians 4:1-6 (NLT)
Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father, who is over all and in all and living through all.
It is time for believers to take the position they have been called to in Jesus Christ. The church should no longer be a tongue-in-cheek organization of people who come together singing praises to God and tearing one another apart as fair game in the world. Only true repentance with a broken heart and contrite spirit will produce a faithful servant willing to take a position of humility because only such a person really understands who they are in Jesus Christ. We have nothing to lose and everything to gain by giving our life away. This world has nothing for us. Now is the time to call on the Name of the Lord in real repentance. (Joel 2:12) A truly repentant heart fasts, weeps and mourns its addiction to sin. It does not simply smear it with “grace” and jump right back into it. God desires the sacrificial life of a person granted freedom and chooses to serve the Lord with their life. (Psalm 51:16-17) It would take most of us our entire life to live each day in accordance with the first six verses of Ephesians let along every other Word from the Mouth of God! God is looking for those who will repent and take their position of humility in the Body of Christ remaining steadfast until victory comes! Humble is derived from a word that means “on the ground”. There is definitely no room for pride and arrogance when you are face down in a pit. Just ask Joseph. However, the days after he was rescued from the pit would allow Joseph to save his entire family! Jesus is doing the same work in you if you will only take the position of repentance and live in humility as exampled by Christ and ordained by God while you are empowered by His Spirit!
I Peter 3:8-9 (NLT)
Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude. Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will bless you for it.
If all of the Body of Christ would humble themselves before the Lord and prepare to meet Him face-to-face, the church would come to life again as the Resurrection Power of God moved through it once again. Revival would break out. Restoration would happen again! Repentance would be real! It all begins with you. Will you take your position in the Body of Christ? Are you willing to forfeit being right for righteousness? Are you willing to give your life away to live forever? You have an inheritance reserved just for you. Your life is not big enough to contain it until you let faith enlarge the borders of your heart and widen the territory of your understanding to be like Jesus Christ! Those who do will have God’s Very Best! You will live forever! Humble your life before the Lord and HE will lift you up!
I Peter 5:6-7 (NLT)
So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.
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