The Battle Belongs to God

Wednesday, July 10, 2019

by Dr. Paul Chappell

“And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s. To morrow go ye down against them: behold, they come up by the cliff of Ziz; and ye shall find them at the end of the brook, before the wilderness of Jeruel. Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against them: for the LORD will be with you.”

2 Chronicles 20:15-17

When three of Judah’s neighbors allied together to fight against the Jewish people, there was no military hope for victory. Outnumbered by the enemy armies, Jehoshaphat did the most important thing—he turned to God. God sent word through a prophet that not only would He give a victory, but it would be a victory that did not require any effort on their part. As always, God did exactly as He promised, and all the enemies perished without the Israelite army doing anything. When news of this divine victory spread, the nation of Judah had peace for years afterward.

This was not the normal way God gave victory to the Israelites. Most of their battles required them to fight. But this story reminds us that all of our battles—whether we must fight or whether God defeats our enemies—can only be won in God’s power. We are called to overcome the world, mortify the flesh, and resist the devil. We cannot do this on our own. If the battle is not God’s, there is no hope of victory. When we fight it is not in our strength. The end result does not depend on our power. There are battles we must face, but God must win them.

Today's Growth Principle: 

God does not need any help to win our battles, but we must trust in Him for that victory.

CURRENT RADIO SERIES Living in Hope   CURRENT TV SERIES Straight Up

Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.  --Ecclesiastes 12:13 We live in a world today that’s been captured by the theory of relativism, the theory or idea that says you can’t firmly or finally say what is right or wrong. So the very idea of a rule or a “commandment” flies in the face of what most people in our world today believe. But God gave us his commandments not to restrict us, but to protect us. Why? So that we will live well upon the earth. You and I have a loving heavenly Father who wants to protect us from the very things that will harm us and ultimately destroy us. Think about Solomon. God says he was the wisest man who ever lived. Yet he had to learn the importance of this truth the hard way.  If you look at Solomon’s life, you find that he was a great king. He had everything going for him, including enormous wealth and power. Yet he took what God gave him and he abused it. As Solomon shares in the book of Ecclesiastes, he threw away his money buying everything he wanted. He had numerous wives so he could have sex any time he desired. Solomon did anything and everything he wanted to do. He didn’t let himself be limited by the commandments of God! Yet where did it get him? When Solomon looked back on his life, he said, “I’m a loser. My life has added up to a big fat zero!” That’s why his parting words at the end of Ecclesiastes are, “Fear God and keep his commandments….” Solomon learned life’s lesson that if you break God’s commands, you will be broken on them. This is a lesson I pray you and I will keep at the front of our minds so we don’t have to learn it the hard way like Solomon did.   YOU HAVE A LOVING HEAVENLY FATHER WHO WANTS TO PROTECT YOU FROM THE VERY THINGS THAT WILL HARM YOU Jesus Is Worthy Tuesday, July 09, 2019 by Dr. Paul Chappell “And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals. And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof? And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.” Revelation 5:1-3 It took Stephen Mills thirty seconds to open the safe in the basement of the Vermillion Heritage Museum in the small Canadian town some 300 miles northeast of Calgary. The safe had belonged to the Brunswick Hotel, which closed in the 1970s. It was donated to the historical museum, but no one knew the combination. For forty years, various locksmiths and safe experts attempted to open it without success. Even the safe manufacturer was unable to provide a working combination. Mills took his family on a visit to the museum in May of 2019. When the tour guide showed him the safe and shared the story, Mills looked at it for a few moments, and then tried a simple combination. He later said, “I gotta get down and try this for a laugh. I was doing it as a joke for the kids.” Everyone was shocked when the safe opened. All those who had come before had failed, but Mills succeeded. When John saw his vision of Heaven, he wept when he realized no one was worthy to open the seals. The angel told John that Jesus, having prevailed over death and the grave was worthy. We have a precious loving Saviour who is our friend and comfort. But we must never forget that He is also the King of Heaven, the omnipotent and almighty Lord. He has no equal, and nothing can be allowed to rival His rightful place on the throne of our hearts. Today's Growth Principle:  Jesus is high and lifted up above all others, and He alone is worthy of our praise.

Taking a step of faith

CURRENT RADIO SERIES Living in Hope   CURRENT TV SERIES Straight Up

He [Jesus] said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus.  --Matthew 14:29 There’s nothing quite as scary as taking that first step of faith. Yet at the same time, there’s nothing quite as exhilarating as actually taking that first step of faith! So often in life, we’re averse to any kind of risk… anything that might take us out of our comfort zone. But that’s the great part about the Christian life. It’s risky sometimes! Yet we know that with any step of faith, our hope is in the Lord Jesus Christ, who as the Scripture says, will not let your foot slip. Remember Moses? There he was, minding his business as a shepherd when God spoke to him from the burning bush, and called him to deliver the children of Israel. What was Moses’ response?  “I can’t do it, Lord. I don’t speak very well, and no one will believe me.” Then God asked Moses, “What’s in your hand?” Moses looked down at his shepherd’s rod and said, “A stick.” God eventually used that stick… that ordinary shepherd’s crook… to bring water from a rock, to split the Red Sea, and to deliver an entire nation from the hands of Pharaoh! God used what Moses was already doing… something he was already good at… to do what only God could do. So what about you? What’s in your hand today? Could it be that, like Moses, God could use something you’re already doing, something you’re already good at, to accomplish his purpose? If you sense that God is urging you to take that first step of faith today, I urge you… once and for all… just do it! It may feel risky, but through Christ Jesus, your future is secure. Your course is set. God may be just waiting on you so you can start the rest of your life! So look at what’s in your hand, trust in God’s care and provision for you, and take that first step of faith. Will it be scary? Yeah, maybe. Will it be exhilarating? Absolutely! Jesus said all it takes is the faith of a mustard seed to move a mountain. It’s my prayer that God will give you the courage to take that first step to see the mountains move in your life today.   WITH ANY STEP OF FAITH, YOUR HOPE IS IN THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, WHO WILL NOT LET YOUR FOOT SLIP. Why They Stoned Stephen Monday, July 08, 2019 by Dr. Paul Chappell “And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul. And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Acts 7:56-59 Stephen started out by caring for the needs of widows in the church at Jerusalem, but he quickly also became a powerful and effective preacher. His preaching created such an uproar that the Sanhedrin brought him in to stand trial. Stephen preached with such power that his listeners literally put their fingers in their ears and screamed to make sure they wouldn’t hear his voice. The source of Stephen’s powerful preaching was the Word of God. Over and over he cited what Abraham, Moses, Solomon, and the prophets had done and said. Our thoughts and opinions and philosophies and methods may have a place, but no human ability or plan can change the heart of people. Only the Word of God has the strength to do that. “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12). The living Word of God proclaimed faithfully in the power of the Spirit of God will produce an effect. It may be people coming to Christ as Peter saw at Pentecost. It may be such hatred that the speaker is killed as happened to Stephen. But there will not be indifference. Today's Growth Principle:  If we want to make a powerful impact on the world, we must be people of the Word.

Fond thoughts

I want to record the event yesterday as one of my most memorable day at Kids Church. I want also to thank the two moms who voluntarily helped to oversee other kids knowing that my two co-teachers were not around.

I appreciate that kids were so behave yet so engaging during the Bible study. Most of them got “very good” stamp and listened very well. So attentive. My happiness and enjoyment at that moment made me realized --- I did almost forget, parents were waiting and it’s about time to pick-up their kids. Time flies. 😉

What the Holy Spirit Does

Saturday, July 06, 2019

by Dr. Paul Chappell

“And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus. And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.”

Acts 4:29–31

Only a few weeks passed—fifty days—between the crucifixion and Pentecost. On that day, the disciples walked out onto the streets of the city where the Lord had been crucified, preaching that Jesus was the only way of salvation. These were the same men who had fled in terror when Jesus was arrested. These were the same men who Jesus found huddled in a locked room on Easter Sunday. This was the same Peter who three times denied knowing Jesus or being His follower.

Yet on Pentecost, everything was different. These men who had been terrified became bold witnesses of the gospel. Thousands were saved in those first few days of the early church. What made the difference? The disciples were transformed when the power of the Holy Spirit took control of their lives. They had not suddenly become more courageous in their own strength, but they were were empowered by the Holy Spirit. “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7).

All of our efforts, abilities, methods, and programs will come to nothing if we work in our own strength. It is only in the power of the Holy Spirit that we become effective witnesses to the lost. As the old hymn puts it: “All is vain unless the Spirit of the Holy One comes down.” The Holy Spirit plays many roles in the life of the believer, but one of the most vital is His empowering us to witness.

Today's Growth Principle: 

When we are fearful to witness, we need to turn to God for the power to do so boldly.

CURRENT RADIO SERIES Living in Hope   CURRENT TV SERIES Straight Up

“Who then will offer willingly, consecrating himself today to the LORD?”  --1 Chronicles 29:5b Today’s verse is a question King David asked his people and it’s a question I want to ask you today. Will you consecrate, will you dedicate yourself, to the Lord when it comes to giving to God’s Kingdom work? “Now, Pastor,” you may say, “I just can’t afford to give to my church. I just can’t afford to support a missionary or Christian organization right now.” Well, you know, I know it may feel this way. It may feel like you’re too strapped to give to God’s work. And I know that there are people who find themselves in an emergency situation financially right now. But if I could, I’d like to make a case as to why now is the time… perhaps more than in recent memory… for you and me to dig deep to contribute towards Kingdom work in our world. Because of the state of our economy, almost every person in this nation and in hundreds of nations around the world has been impacted financially. Some have lost jobs. Some have seen pay cuts. Some have seen their retirement account plummet. Every person I talk to these days seems to be affected in some way by the economy! People are experiencing fear and uncertainty on a level that perhaps they never have before. And as a result, people are more open than ever to the gospel. They realized they’ve based their hope on something that’s fleeting… like a job, a stock portfolio, whatever. And they’re looking for something more, something that really lasts! That’s why you and I must be more determined than ever to make sure these people can hear the Good News of the gospel. We can’t cut back now. We can’t scale back, not when there’s a hunger for truth like there is now. So I’ll ask the question again that King David posed to the people of Israel: “Who then will offer willingly, consecrating himself today to the LORD?” Will you? It’s my prayer that you will see the need in our world today, and willingly say, “Yes!”   WE MUST BE MORE DETERMINED THAN EVER TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE CAN HEAR THE GOOD NEWS OF THE GOSPEL. “The Accepted Time” Friday, July 05, 2019 by Dr. Paul Chappell “We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)” 2 Corinthians 6:1–2 We live in a world that often devalues people. There is hatred and bigotry in abundance. And among those messages of worthlessness, it can sometimes be hard for us to really believe that God actually loves and values us. The offer of salvation by grace through faith, however, is a powerful measure of how God views our value. The great evangelist J. Wilbur Chapman said, “I was standing the other day in Tiffany’s, in New York, and I overheard a woman asking to see some pearls. The salesman placed on the counter some wonderful pearls. I heard him say that the price was $17,000. When I looked at them, they seemed overwhelmingly splendid. This sum represented Tiffany’s estimate of the value of the pearls. You may say that your life is not worth very much, but I tell you that you are redeemed by the precious blood of Christ. I tell you that in the sight of God you are worth more than all the gold in the hills, all the diamonds in the fields.” As great as the offer of salvation is, it must be personally accepted. And the time to make that decision is not at some unknown point in the future—it is today. There is no guarantee of tomorrow given to any of us. “Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away” (James 4:14). The accepted time God offers for salvation is right now. Today's Growth Principle:  Because we do not know the future, it is the worst folly to put off receiving God’s gift of salvation until later.

CURRENT RADIO SERIES Living in Hope   CURRENT TV SERIES Straight Up

“… proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants.” --Leviticus 25:10 A couple years ago I had a speaking engagement in Philadelphia and made a point of slipping downtown to Independence Hall to reflect on the founding of our nation. It’s an amazing experience and I recommend it. As you move around the historical sites of that city you see the Word of God everywhere. It’s etched on buildings and even on the Liberty Bell itself, which says, “Proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof,” (Leviticus 25:10). Scriptures are forever written into the history, the heart, and fabric of America. You see, the early Americans were patriots, but they were also believers. Those who settled this nation came here to advance the Christian faith and to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ. But we have to admit that America has strayed far from those years of patriotism and spiritual revolution. In fact, it’s time for a spiritual revolution, a new American revolution that would help transform our culture and our country. And let me tell you something, when God sends this spiritual revolution, he won’t need armies of people. It’s true. It only takes one person answering God’s call to start a national revival! Will you be that person? He may be knocking at the heart of your door even now. Say yes to his call!   IT ONLY TAKES ONE PERSON ANSWERING GOD’S CALL TO START A NATIONAL REVIVAL! A Nation God Blesses Thursday, July 04, 2019 by Dr. Paul Chappell “The LORD bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought: he maketh the devices of the people of none effect. The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations. Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance. The LORD looketh from heaven; he beholdeth all the sons of men.” Psalm 33:10–13 While America has never been a Christian nation in the sense that all citizens were believers, it was unquestionably founded on principles that owed much to the teachings of the Word of God. Even men who were not born again Christian,s such as Thomas Jefferson or Benjamin Franklin, quoted Scripture and drew ideas from the Bible. In spite of the efforts of revisionist historians, the role of Christianity in the founding and shaping of America cannot be denied. In our day, it is becoming common for our faith to be labeled as bigoted or prejudiced. Anyone holding to what the Bible teaches is subject to attack—some have lost jobs or businesses for trying to practice their faith in daily life. We are not promised religious freedom, but we are promised blessings for obedience. We must not listen to the voices that are trying to drive faith out of our nation. Charles Spurgeon in England said, “I long for the day when the precepts of the Christian religion shall be the rule among all classes of men, in all transactions. I often hear it said, ‘Do not bring religion into politics.’ This is precisely where it ought to be brought, and set there in the face of all men as on a candlestick. I would have the Cabinet and the members of Parliament do the work of the nation as before the Lord, and I would have the nation, either in making war or peace, consider the matter by the light of righteousness.” Today's Growth Principle:  The most important thing Christians can do for their country is to live as Christians in every part of life.