Promises for the Battle
Doug Knighton
Holiness #2—Instrumental Holiness
If you cleanse yourself from wickedness, you will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work. 2 Timothy 2:21 Cleanliness is a means to holiness. When the surgical staff sterilizes all the equipment in the operating suite, they make it holy. Insufficiently cleaned equipment is not useful to … Continue reading
Holiness #1—Holy Possibilities
When biblical authors label someone or something as “holy,” they are giving us a clue to the high value associated with that person or object. So we see, for example, holy men, holy husbands, holy people, holy prophets; and holy land, holy garments, holy water, and holy temple. God is called “the Holy One of … Continue reading
I Was Just Thinking … About Being Weak in Faith
Those whose faith is weak need the help of those whose faith is strong. When our faith is weak, we are vulnerable to threats to our bodies and to our souls. Even though we once understood the crucified and risen Jesus to be God’s anointed king, his absence from our earthly realm sometimes makes it … Continue reading
I Was Just Thinking … About Necessary Suffering
The other day, while I was memorizing and meditating on Chapter 1 of 1 Peter, the Lord gave me something that I believe will strengthen me whenever tribulations strike. In the hope that some of you might also find this thought helpful, I will share it with you: 1 Peter 1:6–7 says, “In this [salvation … Continue reading
Help #8—Praise for the Helper
“Ah, Faithful God! Behold, you made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too difficult for you.” … “Behold, I am Yahweh, humanity’s creator; is anything too difficult for me?” Jeremiah 32:17, 27 “Here I raise my ‘Ebenezer,’ hither by your help I’ve come.” From Egypt … Continue reading
Help #7—Unusual Help
Jesus said to his disciples, “I have food to eat that you do not know about. … My food is to do the will of him who sent me, and to accomplish his work.” John 4:32–34 At the end of a long day, when we are bone-weary, frustrated, discouraged, and beat, God’s deliverance often comes … Continue reading
Help #6—Glorious Help
Yahweh, warrior deity, has established that people toil for fire, and nations grow weary for nothing; for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of Yahweh’s glory as the waters cover the sea. Habakkuk 2:13–14 God’s commitment to maintain and display his glory drives his providential supervision of his entire creation. Because he is … Continue reading
Help #5—Teaching Help
Abraham said, “God will see to the lamb for the burnt offering.” … Then Abraham saw behind him a ram caught in the thicket. Abraham took the ram and offered it up in the place of his son. And Abraham called the name of that place “Yahweh Will Provide.” Genesis 22:8, 13–14 Abraham was not … Continue reading
Help #4—Hope-based Help
We were so afflicted in Asia, that we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life; indeed, we had the sentence of death within ourselves so that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead. … He on whom we have set our hope will … Continue reading
Help #3—Overwhelming Help
Yahweh’s Spirit moved Jehaziel to say, “Listen, all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat, Yahweh says this to you, ‘Do not fear or be dismayed because of this great multitude, for success in the battle is not up to you; it is up to God.’” 2 Chronicles 20:14–15 God is more than … Continue reading
Promises for the Battle 