“There is still one prophet through whom we can inquire of the LORD, but I hate him because he never prophesies anything good about me” (2 Chronicles 18:7).

Lol.

Have you ever felt that way? What do you do when you don’t like what the Bible has to say?

I encourage you to read the entire chapter to read this verse in context. King Ahab, the king of the northern kingdom of Israel, and king Jehoshaphat, the king of the southern kingdom of Judah, were preparing to go to war with their common enemy. Before going to war king Jehoshaphat wanted to check with a prophet of God to see whether they should go to war or not.

First, they call together four hundred “prophets” who give them a favorable word. But Jehoshaphat isn’t confident about what these so-called “prophets” are saying. To Jehoshaphat it sounded like these “prophets” were just brown-nosing and saying whatever the king wanted to hear. So Jehoshaphat asks, “Is there no longer a prophet of the LORD here whom we can inquire of?” (2 Chronicles 18:6).

Jehoshaphat knows the deal. He calls it right out. These four hundred aren’t prophets. They don’t speak for the LORD.

This is when Ahab responds, “There is still one prophet through whom we can inquire of the LORD, but I hate him because he never prophesies anything good about me.”

Perhaps, Ahab, this might have something to do with the fact that you are one of the most wicked kings in the history of Israel.

But, no. The problem is with the prophet of the LORD. The problem is what God has to say.

Here’s a clue: if you have a problem with God’s word, the problem is not God’s word. The problem is you. The problem is me. When we come across God’s word we do not like we are the ones who need to change and conform to God’s word, never the other way around.

Got it?

“Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in his mighty power” (Ephesians 6:1).

The verse of the day is the opening to the passage describing the armor of God. The Apostle Paul instructs the church how to fight against the devil.

There is a problem. The problem has to do with how many of us think of victory. Let me explain.

Victory has already been won by Jesus on the cross and the empty tomb. And the fullness of this victory will be manifest when Christ returns.

The problem with how I think about victory is that I think that I should experience this fullness of victory right now. That’s why I get frustrated when I have to confess for the same sins over and over and over and over and over and over.

The reason why this thinking is wrong is because this is a victory that Christ has already won, and a victory that will come to its full manifestation when Christ returns.

In the meantime, in my lifetime and your’s, until Jesus returns again, what victory looks like is never quitting. You see, if you are struggling with sin, that’s great news! That means that the Holy Spirit is working in you. You are supposed to struggle with sin. It would be a travesty if you were okay with the presence of sin in your life. So, in the meantime, until Christ returns, God isn’t disappointed with us because we are struggling and battling sin. God is absolutely delighted that sin makes us uncomfortable.

It’s when we give into sin, it’s when we accept sin, it’s quit fighting and struggling against sin that breaks God’s heart.

So, repeat sinners, hear the good news: you are supposed to be battling and struggling against sin. Keep at it. Never give up. Keep struggling. Keep battling. That is the proof that the Holy Spirit is working in you.

“Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have” (1 Peter 3:15).

There are few gifts more important and life changing than the gift of faith in Jesus Christ. And the most wonderful thing is that we all have this gift to share! We already possess this gift.

A recent survey asked people how they started attending church. Here are the results.

• 86% – A friend invited me
• 6% – Organized visitation
• 6% – Pastor invite
• 2% – Advertising

A whopping 86% of the people attending church in the United States find a church to call home because a friend invited them to attend.

God’s doing some great things here at the Little Church and Lakewood Grace. I challenge you to invite someone to discover what God is up to. Help folks find their church home at the Little Church and Lakewood Grace.

Finally, look at the verse again. The verse assumes that because we have Jesus living in us that there would be hope and joy oozing out of us that the people around us can’t help but ask us for the reason for the hope that we have. So, the million dollar question is, “Has anyone ever asked you? Has anyone ever asked you to give the reason for the hope that is in you?”

Jesus is our hope. And when you have Jesus others will long for the Jesus who lives in you.