Episodes
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by David Chadwick
The only thing worse than a bad guy is a bad guy married to a bad gal. Yesterday, we learned about Jezebel. She was one evil woman. What made her extra dangerous was the fact that she was married to a really passive bad guy. Meet her husband Ahab. You’ll find his story right alongside Jezebel’s story in 1 Kings 16 to 2 Kings 9.
Ahab was a man known for his weakness and godlessness. He allowed Jezebel to control the religious worship in the northern kingdom unabated. Their marriage seemed to be what led him to his downfall. Ahab eventually devoted himself to the worship of the false gods of Baal and Asherah. These gods were the sexual deities of the larger Baal pantheon.
As a side note, if you’re a man, you need to vigilantly guard yourself against sexual perversion. Evil, lustful desires will destroy you and everyone around you!
Elijah confronted Ahab regularly for his passivity and compromise, which led to the famous Super Bowl of faith on Mount Carmel in 1 Kings 18 between Elijah and the 400 prophets of Baal. Ahab was the primary sponsor of these godless prophets. Elijah won a dramatic and decisive victory.
Eventually, Ahab was killed in battle in 1 Kings 20. He was warned not to go, but his pride didn’t allow him to listen. Ahab is remembered and renowned for his weakness of character and faith. What a terrible legacy he left!
Ahab didn’t know how to handle his problems in a clear, decisive, strong way. Instead, he pouted, which only furthered Jezebel’s controlling nature. She would overcompensate for his weakness by doubling down on her control and manipulation.
In one situation that I mentioned yesterday, Ahab wanted a vineyard that Naboth owned but couldn’t convince him to sell it. Jezebel stepped in and killed Naboth to accommodate her weak husband’s desires. Ahab never stood up against her and always gave in to Jezebel’s wiles. The ultimate passivity. He followed her, not God. Do you now see why Jesus corrects the church of Thyatira for tolerating Jezebel in Revelation 2:20? This type of woman, if unwilling to repent, should be avoided at all costs, especially inside the church!
May we, as Christian men, never model our lives after Ahab. He is not to be emulated, but someone to watch in order to learn what not to do. So often, life’s best lessons are taught by knowing who you don’t want to become!
Follow Jesus, not Ahab!
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by David Chadwick
Today’s bad guy of the Bible is actually a bad gal. She was a really evil woman. Her tentacles are still in the world today. Jezebel. A queen on a mission to manipulate and destroy. This story is found from 1 Kings 16 through 2 Kings 9.
Jezebel was married to Ahab. He was the 7th king in the northern kingdom of Israel. If you know your biblical history, this was the kingdom that was ultimately taken over by the Assyrians in 722 BC. Ten tribes of Israel were dispersed all over the world.
Jezebel’s marriage to Ahab was largely for political purposes. It was a strategic partnership to achieve more power. She brought all of her pagan practices into the marriage and nation, including the worship of Phoenician gods and goddesses, commonly called the Baal gods. She found the worship of the one true God to be intolerable. An abomination to her practices. Therefore, she he instituted Baal worship.
Jezebel was a controlling, dominant woman who ran the home over her weak-willed, passive husband Ahab. She was full of flattery with an illusion of beauty and charm. But under the surface she was calculated, malicious and full of plots and agendas to steal, kill, and destroy. In fact, one time, Jezebel framed and executed Naboth to get his vineyard when her pouting husband couldn’t acquire it and get his way.
She was vile to the core. A symbol of gross sexuality and paganism at every level. She introduced intermarriage between the Jews and Gentiles, which was something God expressly forbade. Everything she stood for walked in direct contradiction to God’s holy worship. Known for persecuting the prophets, Jezebel had an intense disgust and special hatred for the prophet Elijah.
Eventually, Jezebel was killed by Jehu, a fervent man who desired God’s holiness more than anything else. He carried the anointing and the courage to put an end to her ways.
The demonic spirit that drove Jezebel back then is still running rampant in the earth today. Strong men like Jehu are needed now more than ever to remain firmly planted in the truth of God’s Word and the power of the Holy Spirit. The world also needs to resist the seductive, compromising, and deceptive agenda of the enemy that works through both men and women to wreak havoc just as Jezebel did.
Jezebel has come to be known through the ages as a symbol of rebellion against God. She emphasized control and arrogance–everything God doesn’t want a woman to be! Make someone like Esther, Ruth, Mary, or another godly woman in the Bible your example for how to live! And resist the spirit of Jezebel from ever entering your heart.
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Episodes manquant?
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by David Chadwick
The Bible is full of good guys and bad guys. Every great story has both heroes and villains in the plot line. God’s story is the greatest story ever told. Full of ups and downs, twists and turns where Jesus is the ultimate hero!
The story of Cain is found in Genesis 4. He is our next bad guy.
Cain was the firstborn son of Adam and Eve. Their other son’s name was Abel. I like to think of Cain as the first rotten fruit of Adam and Eve’s rebellion. His sin ushered in the world’s first murder.
Cain was a farmer and his brother Abel was a shepherd. Cain absolutely hated Abel. Why? Because his brother was making pure offerings to God that were acceptable before the Lord. Cain’s were not. Jealousy took root and began to brew inside Cain’s heart toward his brother. This root of jealousy and bitterness proved to be deadly.
Evidently, Abel’s offerings to God were done by faith. Cloaked in humility. Pure. Abel had a love for God and a knowledge that God was first in every single way. Cain’s offering was done in the flesh. By his works. With a begrudging attitude and a heart of resentment.
The story of Cain and Abel is a great example of how much God cares about the human heart. As I often like to say, the heart of a matter is a matter of the heart.
Here’s the bottom line. Cain was deeply jealous of his brother and of the favor of God in his life. So, he killed Abel. The first murder of the Bible was motivated by the evil one. Jesus referred to Satan as a murderer from the beginning (John 8:44). Clearly Cain was emulating the father of lies more than his heavenly Father!
Where there is envy and jealousy, there is every evil thing (James 3:13). The antidote of envy and jealousy is contentment with what you have. God loves you for who you are, not what you have.
This life is full of people who will prosper on different levels. We must celebrate other people’s victories and maintain a pure heart before the Lord. If not, we, too, are vulnerable to a root of bitterness driving us to hurt others.
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by David Chadwick
God has written the greatest story ever told. Jesus Christ is the ultimate hero and Satan is the ultimate villain in God’s story. Within the Bible, there are countless other heroes, big and small, who help advance God’s mission in the earth. There are also villains.
Judas is today’s bad guy. With a significant role in the crucifixion of Jesus, he is a well-known villain in God’s story.
One of the original 12 disciples, chosen by Jesus, Judas could have been from the Judean city of Kerioth near Jerusalem. “Ish” means “son” in Hebrew. It could very well be that he was a “son” from the city of Kerioth. If so, that would mean that he was the only disciple who was not from Galilee. Perhaps he felt like an outsider from the beginning.
Judas oversaw the money bag. But we know from John’s witness in John 12:6 that he also had a greedy love of money. John refers to him as a thief who pilfered money from the purse. This man, who had an unhealthy love of money, ended up being the one who sold Jesus for 30 pieces of silver–the price one would pay for a slave.
Before Judas’s betrayal, Jesus continued to love and serve him. He washed his feet in John 13. He placed Judas on his left side, a seat of honor, in the Last Supper. Until the very last moment, Jesus was reaching out to Judas, giving him every opportunity to repent. But it appears Judas opened his heart to Satan before the meal (Luke 22:1-17) and eventually fully gave himself over to Satan during the meal, in the ultimate fulfillment of his betrayal (John 13:27).
Judas probably wanted to force Jesus to declare his Messiahship when he turned him over to the authorities, but in the face of betrayal, Jesus continued to walk with self-control and patience. Judas was the ultimate instigator to the perfect plans and timing of God. And Jesus stewarded every step with precision and perfection.
As we reflect on the story of this bad guy named Judas, remember that no one suddenly becomes godless overnight. It’s a journey of one decision after another that leads to the final condition of rebellion against Jesus. It’s a slow fade. It’s a series of decisions that blaspheme the Holy Spirit.
Make sure to keep your heart close to Jesus every second, every minute. For the devil is like a roaring lion, watching each and every moment for a chance to pounce on you. Judas was careless. It’s why he is called a “son of perdition” by Jesus in John 17:12 (KJV). Because of this, he was vulnerable to being used by Satan.
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by David Chadwick
Simon Magus. Have you ever heard of him? His story is found in Acts 8:9-24 and he is today’s bad guy of the Bible.
Simon was a magician in the area of Samaria. He attracted large throngs of people with his magic arts. Could these have been demonic antics? Absolutely. Whatever it was, it caused him to be a man full of pride who boasted in his own greatness and motivated large crowds to follow him.
When Peter and John came to Samaria, having heard that great things were happening under Phillip’s teaching, they were expecting another mighty move of God. As they preached, the power of the Holy Spirit came upon people and many were healed and made well. Lives were being changed everywhere.
Simon, so impressed and amazed by these miracles, began to ask Peter how he could purchase this power. Simon said, “Give me this power also, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit” (Acts 8:19).
Peter was offended and enraged. He basically told Simon that he was wicked and evil. That his heart was not right before God. He was horrified that Simon thought that he could acquire a gift from God with money and called him to repent, although there is no indication that he ever did!
He did, however, ask Peter to pray for him so that nothing bad from God would happen to him. I find this troubling. A heart that wants to avoid the discipline for a bad decision is very different from a heart that is contrite and desirous of holiness. There are plenty of people who want to throw up a prayer so they can dodge the consequences of God. But few who long to live holy and righteous lives, turning from their sin and choosing the hard and narrow path of Jesus.
Much like Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1-11), Simon wrongly believed that money could buy anything. How wrong was he! He wanted to use God’s power for his magic tricks. A dangerous quality of another one of the bad guys in the Bible. You may not be a magician, but you may desire to adulterate the power of the Holy Spirit for your own gain.
Be careful. Only the pure in heart will see God (Matthew 5:8).
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by David Chadwick
Alexander the Coppersmith is our next bad guy. Let’s look at his story in 2 Timothy 4:14-18 and see why he’s another one of my bad guys of the Bible.
We don’t know much about Alexander except his name and profession. But it could be that at one time he co-labored with Paul in planting churches and teaching the gospel. In the least, he and Paul knew each other on some level.
Something went wrong because Paul says that he did him great harm (2 Timothy 4:14). There was clearly some evil plot that really hurt Paul. Not that Paul doesn’t just say harm, but GREAT harm. Some other translations refer to it as “much evil.”
Not only did Alexander participate in something evil, but he also must not have accepted any correction because Paul warns other people to beware of him. Did he slander Paul? Do you think he tried to overtake his authority much like Absalom did with David? (2 Samuel 13-19)
Again, we don’t know, but it is very clear that Alexander was a bad guy.
As followers of Jesus, we must flee from behaviors that produce bad fruit. It sounds like Alexander was a man who was full of pride with an intent to harm. He must have also had an intimidating personality that swept others into his attack because Paul says everyone around him deserted him. They must have been swayed and influenced either by Alexander’s charismatic personality or by his intimidation. Either way, he was a bad guy with bad qualities.
In spite of Alexander’s behavior, Paul did not retaliate. He did not take vengeance into his own hands. He simply stood in faith, saying that the Lord stood by him, strengthened him, and rescued him (2 Timothy 4:17-18). He left it up to the Lord for how to deal with Alexander. Paul knew God was good and just and that one day, he would enact justice on his behalf! This is true surrender!
Here’s an unfortunate truth: people will hurt you. They will turn their backs on you. They will lie to you. They will seek to do great harm to you and your household. Even the great apostle Paul knew this truth all too well. He experienced betrayal and wounds from people like Demas and Alexander. But he continued to leave vengeance to the One who does the best job executing vengeance and justice.
It is the only way to treat those who deeply hurt you.
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by David Chadwick
The story of Demas is found in 2 Timothy 4:9-10. He is someone else who I would consider to be one of the bad guys of the Bible. It takes good guys and bad guys in order to have a great story. God never shied away from highlighting just how bad things really were in Scripture. For all of time, he has been able to use bad situations and work them out for good (Romans 8:28).
The first mention of Demas is by Paul in Colossians 4:14 when Paul said that Demas wanted to extend his greetings to the Christians in the church of Collosae.
Next, in Philemon, he is referred to as a “fellow worker” of Paul in the gospel.
Finally, in 2 Timothy 4:9-10, Paul writes to Timothy and says, “Make every effort to come to me soon for Demas, having loved this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica.”
We don’t know exactly what happened to Demas after he returned to Thessalonica, but Paul’s description here insinuates Demas had walked away from his faith. He went from a companion and fellow worker of Paul to deserting Paul for the love of the world.
Have you ever heard the phrase, “I don’t want to gain the whole world and lose my soul.” Well, it certainly seems that Demas quested after the world and lost his soul.
What was his love for this world? Acclaim? Power? Money? Comfort? Reputation? Could he have become jealous of Paul along the way and chosen to chase after his own success? We don’t really know. But what we do know is this: the world constantly tries to tempt Christians to love it more than Jesus. It has happened since the beginning of time.
Friendship with the world means enmity with God (James 4:4). Check your own heart for a second. Are you a friend of God or of this world? The Bible is very clear that if you are a friend of this world, you are a bad guy in his story. We are to love God with ALL of our heart, soul, mind, and strength (Mark 12:30). There is no other love greater than Jesus.
Demas reminds us of how easy it can be to fall away or to stray from the narrow road. Stay vigilant. Repent often. Choose the love of God above all else!
This is the quality of a true hero of God!
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by David Chadwick
This next story speaks of two bad guys whose bad behavior was full of deceit. Ananias and Sapphira are our next two characters – whose story is found in Acts 5:1-11.
In this part of God’s story, the early church was growing. Booming even. There were miracles happening everywhere. God’s Word was being proclaimed with power and might. New believers were coming to faith everywhere.
A donation was given to the growing church by Barnabas. True to his name, as the consummate encourager, his gift was evidently quite large and generous. He received a great deal of thanks and acclaim from those around him. Two people in the church, Ananias and his wife Sapphira, must have been jealous of Barnabas and all the recognition he was given. So they, too, pretended to give a large gift. They lied. They postured as something they weren’t in order to gain something they didn’t have. I like to refer to this as rank hypocrisy.
Peter called them out individually. When they were confronted with their sins, they both died. Immediately. Do you think it was a heart attack? A stroke? Could they have been overcome by the reality of their sins? We don’t know what caused it. But they died on the spot.
God hates duplicity. He despises hypocrisy. There is no place for these things in his church. Let your yes be yes and your no be no (Matthew 5:37). Choose to be people of conviction. Stand for what’s true and honorable, excellent and praiseworthy (Philippians 4:8). To put it bluntly, be real. Check your heart on a regular basis to see if there is anything grievous in you (Psalm 139:23-24).
With Ananias and Sapphira, God would not have been concerned if they gave a small gift because that was all that they had. It was the lying that was the problem. The twisting, the manipulation, the discrepancy between who they were in public and private lacked the integrity God calls his people to walk in. The desire for acclaim. The Holy Spirit of truth, who was moving so powerfully in the church, would not put up with these sinful ways. It may feel harsh to say, but the God of the Bible will also not put up with our sinful ways!
We must live in a continual posture of repentance so that the God of all truth can cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:8-9). Confessing our need for Jesus at the moment of salvation is just the first step in a lifetime of continual confession as we become refined more and more into the image and likeness of Jesus (2 Corinthians 3:18).
Seek truth above all else! Jesus is THE way, THE truth, THE life (John 14:6). If he lives in us, then his truth should ooze from our innermost being. And hypocrisy melts away.
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by David Chadwick
Good guys and bad guys are in every good story. A compelling plot has twists and turns and God’s story is full of both! God never shies away from showing us the good, bad and ugly of characters in his story. I believe the authenticity of Scripture is part of how he teaches us his best lessons!
The 10 spies of Numbers 13:25-14:10 are today’s bad guys. Let me tell you their story.
The Israelites had been moving from Egypt to the edge of the land God wanted them to possess as their own. His promised land. So, Moses sent out 12 spies to scout out the land and report what they saw.
Two of the spies, Joshua and Caleb, returned with excitement. They saw the land and the abundance God had promised them. Their response was full of faith as they said, “Let’s go!”
But 10 of the spies returned with a negative report. They saw walled cities. Giants. Hurdles. Obstacles. Unlike Joshua and Caleb, they looked at the size of their problems instead of the size of their God who easily tears down walls and slay giants!
These 10 men infected the rest of the 3 million Israelites. Like an infectious disease, their unbelief and doubt spread like wildfire. Unbelief consumed them all.
As a result, God’s people had to spend another 40 years wandering in the wilderness until that generation of unbelievers were replaced with a different generation of people who believed in God’s promises and were willing to confidently face giants and walled cities!
Fear and unbelief are enemies of God’s story. They are “bad guys” in and of themselves. Because the 10 spies were so controlled by these qualities, I label them as some of the bad guys in God’s story.
On the other hand, faith moves mountains (Mark 11:22-24) because nothing is impossible with God (Matthew 19:26)! Faith is a quality of heroes and a sign that you trust God above all else.
Dear friends, choose to have faith! Fight unbelief! If there is any unbelief inside of you, then repent just like the father in Mark 9 and say to God, “I believe. Now help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:23-25).
Then watch as your Promised Land begins to unfold before you.
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by David Chadwick
Did you know that every great story has heroes and villains? Good guys and bad guys. Those who are in the story to accomplish the goals of the story line and those who are there to resist them.
Well, Absalom is definitely another one of the bad guys of the Bible. You will find his story in 2 Samuel 13-19. One of David’s sons, Absalom was described as the best-looking man in all the land (2 Samuel 14:25). He had looks, charm, and leadership abilities. His long-flowing, golden hair especially stood out. He had the full package.
For a season, David banished him from the land because of an aggressive act against his half-sister who had been abused. Eventually, David allowed him to return to the land, but would not even speak to him. Absalom was incensed by this relational abandonment.
With a deep-seeded bitterness in his heart toward his dad, Absalom set up a conspiracy to overtake his dad’s kingdom. He went to the gates daily and sucked up to the judges and leaders of the city. He planted seeds that he could do a better job than his dad if he were king.
Absalom laid out a plot for his day of rebellion, but thankfully David caught wind of it. One of the major indicators of the coming coup came when he heard that one of his main advisors named Ahithophel, who was Bathsheba’s uncle, had gone to Absalom’s side. One could speculate that he was still enraged by the abuse of his niece and blamed David for it ever happening, so he sided with Absalom to hurt David.
David fled Jerusalem and Psalm 3 was written in this context. In that time, David finally realized he had to go to war and defeat his own son. This fight became especially brutal for King David when Absalom died in the battle. David mourned his death, but finally got back up to continue his rule.
Let me start by warning you that sitting in bitterness toward someone can make people do some crazy things! We see that in the story of Absalom. Know that there are always going to be Absaloms in our world. People who operate by personal ambition. People who are jealous and scheme plots to overtake. Strong, Godly leaders must watch out for Absaloms and pray for God to reveal them. They are enemies in the camp, designed to wreak havoc on God’s story line. James 3:16 says that where there is self ambition and strife, there is every evil thing!
Beware and watch out!
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by David Chadwick
One of my favorite things about the Bible is the authenticity of the story. God doesn’t hide the broken parts of humanity in the story line. He doesn’t fabricate evil to make it look better than it actually was. He tells the real, hard truths, which makes his redeeming love and sanctifying grace all the more powerful.
2 Kings 2:23-25 is one of those stories. It tells us about 42 young thugs. They are today’s villains. Boy, were these some bad guys! Their sin was total disrespect for God’s chosen.
Elisha, the prophet, was preaching God’s truth with power and authority. People’s lives were being changed.
One day, when preaching, 42 young boys came on the scene and began to derisively mock Elisha. They scorned him and called him “Baldy” and insinuated that he had no value. Historically, “baldhead” was a term used with malicious intent to describe someone who was full of disgrace. These young boys were forcefully coming at Elisha and deeming him and his message as worthless!
Can you imagine this scene in your mind? A teenage gang accosting an older man of God. Threatening him! Intimidating him! Shaming him! What horror!
Elisha boldly responded to their threats. He faced these 42 young bad guys and “cursed them in the name of the Lord” (2 Kings 2:24). Like any good father would, who witnessed bullies attacking an older man, God would have none of it and responded on behalf of Elijah! God called out two female bears from the woods to attack the boys.
Here’s the truth. God hates the disrespect of his chosen vessels. God also values the proclamation of his Word through those he appoints and equips. Remember 2 Timothy 3:12: “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”
Satan will use whatever instrument he can to prevent God’s Word from going out into all the world. But God responds as the ultimate hero by removing obstacles that Satan creates so that his Word can move forward!
No bad guy can win over our great and powerful God!
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by David Chadwick
Hidden heroes and blatant villains! The Bible is full of both. Over the next two weeks we are taking a look at some of my top biblical bad guys.
Nadab and Abihu. You’ll find their story in Leviticus 10. They were the sons of Aaron.
As you read their story, you’ll learn that Nadab and Abihu had consumed too much alcohol and it appeared they were drunk when they did something horrible. What was it?
They decided to bring “strange fire” to create incense in worship in the Tabernacle. The Bible describes it as “unauthorized” (Leviticus 10:1). This fire was not taken from the brazen altar that God had instructed to be used for the incense to be lit. Rather, it was taken illegitimately.
Because of their disobedience, they were immediately killed by God.
God’s plans for all the tabernacle worship were designated in Exodus 26. These two men were totally irresponsible in their actions. I see two major errors. First, they were drunk, and second, they were disobedient and used the wrong fire. The Bible clearly warns in passages like Romans 13:13 and Ephesians 5:18 that drunkenness is a sin. And disobedience is another way of living out blatant rebellion. So Nadab and Abihu failed in two significant areas.
Here’s the truth. God wants us to be a holy people who are under HIS influence. He does not want people under the influence of alcohol, drugs, entertainment, sex, or anything else other than him. This is especially true for ministers, priests, and spiritual leaders who oversee worship of the one true God (James 3:1). God’s teachers have a stricter wrath! A call to live above reproach (1 Timothy 3:1-3). It’s a sober awareness I have daily strived for since the moment I accepted God’s call to lead his people.
Nadab and Abihu failed miserably in some major areas and God held them accountable for their sin. They are no heroes of mine and in my humble opinion, were enemies of God’s heart for holiness and purity.
Therefore, use their negative actions -being irresponsible and disobedient- as an example of how not to make Jesus and his kingdom the master passion of your life.
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by David Chadwick
Every good story has a hero and a villain. We have already looked at many hidden heroes in the Bible as well as some unlikely heroes. Over the next couple of weeks, we are going to look at some of the bad guys of the Bible and the chaos that ensued in God's story. These are people who lacked integrity and brought trouble to anyone and anything in their paths.
Let’s start with Korah. His story is found in Number 16:1-40. You might remember that I chose the sons of Korah as some of my hidden heroes. Korah, on the other hand, was a blatant villain. A calculated and evil leader with intent to harm. Pride and selfish ambition motivated him. He had a great desire for power and influence.
Korah led a group of 250 co-conspirators against Moses and his leadership. Have you ever known anyone like this? Over the years, I have seen my share of people who seem to think they can do a job better than their leader. Whether it’s children with their parents or employees with a boss, these are people who are often full of criticism. Much like Korah felt about Moses, these people think they should be the leader and could do the job better.
Let’s get back to Korah’s story. He set out a coup, but God intervened. The next morning, Moses and his brother Aaron called all of Korah’s people to step forward from their tents so that God could decide whether Korah or Moses should lead. The Bible says that God closed the earth over them and they perished (Numbers 16:31-33).
Immediately thereafter, the Lord’s anger burned against Korah’s calculated rebellion against his chosen leadership and a plague struck killing another 14,700 people!
Here’s the truth. Rebellion is the sin of witchcraft. It’s demonic to rebel against God’s chosen leaders. Learn to follow your leader or go find a place where you can lead!
I have seen so many examples, both inside and outside of the Bible, where blessings come when God gives his vision to an appointed leader and the people gladly follow. Korah’s rebellion caused confusion and hindered God’s work. It also eventually brought God’s judgment.
Be very careful before you lift your hand against God’s anointed. It’s a characteristic of many bad guys in the Bible. Korah being one of them.
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by Marilynn Chadwick
Jesus is kind to all people—especially women. Just ask my friend Anya. Raised as a member of the “untouchable” caste in India, Anya knows what it means to be treated as “less than.” For centuries in India’s cruel caste system, untouchables were regarded as less than human. Women were treated even worse. People of higher castes would cross the street to avoid walking on the sidewalk with an untouchable, not even wanting to be touched by their shadow.
But Anya heard the gospel of Jesus Christ. She realized only Jesus could pay the penalty for her sins—not endless sacrifices to the 300 million gods in India. She believed the good news that all people were created equal—to be known and loved by God. Through a series of miracles, Anya went on to attend college and graduate school, finally earning her PhD! She is married, has a family of her own, and now works with an organization that gives hope to other women caught in poverty and oppression. The life-changing message of Jesus liberates their hearts. Then education opens the door to worthwhile work and reasonable wages—transforming entire families and villages throughout India.
It’s the same story wherever we go. Jesus can set people free, whether in India with its harsh conditions, or surrounded by the comforts of America. My friend Heather experienced the freedom only Christ can bring when she stepped out of her comfort zone to obey God. “I used to struggle with anxiety and times of depression,” confessed Heather. “At times, fear paralyzed me and held me captive. I remember crying out to God, begging him to heal me and rescue me from this mental prison.” But it wasn’t until Heather put her faith into action that she started to be free of the anxiety and fear.
Heather’s story happened years ago when she was teaching the little kids one Sunday morning. She was talking to them about Joshua 1:9: “Be strong and courageous for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
“I was really passionate and encouraged the children to have no fear, because God was always with them. As the words were coming out of my mouth, the Holy Spirit spoke to me and said, 'Heather! Do you believe what you are telling them? You have these irrational fears about so many things.'” One fear in particular, she shared, was going on a mission trip. “Don’t you believe that I will be with you wherever you go!?” “I was floored,” she exclaimed. “I immediately sensed God was calling me to go on a mission trip. I knew I had to go!”
Heather trusted God would be bigger than her fears. She tells of her very first mission trip to the Dominican Republic. “God gave me a peace beyond all understanding. While on the trip, I experienced such joy because I was in the will of God! Now I go on a mission trip almost every year. Choosing to trust God when he calls you to do something crazy and scary allows you to experience blessings you could never dream up on your own!” True freedom comes as we step out and obey. Another heroic character trait!
Today's Moment of Hope is adapted from Woman of Valor by Marilynn Chadwick. To receive a free PDF copy of this book, please visit www.momentsofhopechurch.org/books.
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by Marilynn Chadwick
One of the most inspiring “real life” women of valor I have ever known was Barbara Brewton Cameron. This vibrant and joyful woman with an easy laugh and a giant heart was a powerful leader in her community. She became a dear friend, mentor, and role model. During our fifteen-year friendship, Barbara opened my eyes to the powerful impact that one ordinary woman can have on her family, her community, and an entire city.
Years before I met Barbara, her husband had been gunned down in a drive-by shooting while walking home from work, leaving her with three small children to raise on her own. “He was a wonderful man—a good husband and father—and I was devastated,” she said. “I didn’t even want to go on living.” The community in Charlotte where Barbara lived was described by The New York Times as one of the most violent neighborhoods in America. In “an open-air drug market of heroin and cocaine,” gunfire was common around the small, graffiti-marked houses. It had one of the highest murder rates in the country.
After her husband’s murder, Barbara fled to a safer neighborhood to raise her three children. But God began to pursue her, and several years later, she accepted Christ into her life. “I began to hear his voice,” she said. “I knew there was a far greater plan that God had for me.”
“God told me to go back to the old neighborhood and rescue the children. And so, I did.” Barbara said the Lord spoke to her through Matthew 25:35-36: “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me”. She sensed God’s unmistakable call through the words of Scripture: “If you've done it to the least of these, you've done it to me” (v. 41).
Barbara was affectionately known throughout her community as “Pastor Cameron.” She understood firsthand the hopeless despair faced by her community. “I thought of the single moms who were being used and abused by drug dealers...and I thought about the babies.” To Barbara, all children were “babies.” It was those children that Barbara was going back to rescue. She found a small, dilapidated house to rent in the neighborhood and turned it into a mission home to care for children each afternoon. “I gave the little ones baths and helped the older ones with homework. I fed them, too, since they were always hungry.
In time, Barbara’s ministry grew, and she became known as the woman who defied drugs and gangs. The drug dealers who controlled the neighborhood began issuing threats. Years later, a former hit man told Barbara that he had been hired by a drug dealer to kill her because she was hurting business. He would sit outside the open window listening to her preach the gospel. He told her that something inside would not let him carry out the hit. Later, the man accepted Jesus.
Barbara opened Community Outreach, a church that continued to expand the impact of the gospel. She received national acclaim for the work she did fighting crime. City officials renamed the area Genesis Park, symbolic of its new beginning. When Barbara died in 2008, the church was filled to overflowing. Pastor Cameron is remembered as the Mother Teresa of Genesis Park. The once forgotten community is an example of how God can do mighty things through one ordinary woman of valor.
Today's Moment of Hope is adapted from Woman of Valor by Marilynn Chadwick. To receive a free PDF copy of this book, please visit www.momentsofhopechurch.org/books. -
by Marilynn Chadwick
Men, women, and children of all ages squeezed into the patchwork tent that was both home and church for Pastor Raju and his family. David and I were traveling through this remote slum village in India to see the work of church planters like Raju.
Raju was a ragpicker by trade. Daily, he sifted through the nearby garbage dump to find rags, plastic, bits of this-and-that to sell. It looked as if Raju had used some of “this-and-that” to construct his tent which, though humble, was very clean and well organized inside.
Raju was also a Dalit, a member of the “untouchable” caste, as were most of his neighbors. Courageous pastors like Raju were why the gospel was spreading rapidly in this region that was hostile to Christians.
Raju was small and wiry with a firm grip and a wide grin. He was fiery and passionate that morning as he reminded his people that they were the “head and not the tail” in God’s eyes. No longer did they have to be terrified of displeasing the cruel gods or being rejected by higher castes. For now, their identity was secure as dearly loved children of their heavenly Father, adopted into Christ’s church.
Warmth and singing filled the tent. Traditional orange marigold leis had been draped over our shoulders. Plastic chairs were brought in for the “honored guests.” David was asked to preach the message to Raju’s church of about fifty congregants.
Raju had endured much persecution. But this gaunt little warrior deeply loved his people and continued to boldly preach the gospel. Once, he went on a hunger strike until village authorities finally brought electricity into his slum neighborhood. I noticed the haphazard electrical rigging outside his tent.
But it was Raju’s wife who captured my heart. Somehow, she had worked her magic and turned the patchwork tent into an inviting home. Her kitchen was just one shelf, a few staples, and a one-burner hot plate in a corner of the room that was also bedroom, living room, and church.
After the service, she prepared tea along with a single roll of Ritz crackers, served to us by their children. Raju beamed as he introduced his family. A handful of boys and girls, from around eight to sixteen years of age, greeted us with shining faces and firm handshakes. They had been well-nurtured there in that little one-room tent beside the garbage dump. How was this possible?
I noticed Raju’s wife, though lovely in her colorful sari, looked very thin and worn. I was told that Indian mothers and fathers sometimes go without food to make sure their children have enough to eat. This tiny woman had found a way to nurture these smiling children who were adored by their dad. She and her husband had given them physical, emotional, and spiritual nourishment. Looking into their faces, I sensed they would somehow find their way in this harsh and difficult environment.
Raju’s wife was both nurturer and warrior for her little family. She’s living proof that a woman of valor doesn’t just live in a palace, but could just as well be found in a tent. Her children were a testimony that it doesn’t take money or education to nurture a child—just love, self-sacrifice and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This was the legacy of the ragpicker’s wife. This was her kingdom. Her husband and children were her crown.
Today's Moment of Hope is adapted from Woman of Valor by Marilynn Chadwick. To receive a free PDF copy of this book, please visit www.momentsofhopechurch.org/books. -
by Marilynn Chadwick
I believe every woman has a little bit of princess in her. And deep down inside, she believes she can change the world. A long time ago there lived a real princess who actually did change the world. Her name was Margaret. She married a Scottish King and thus became Queen Margaret, one of the most beloved nobles in the history of Scotland.
I became captivated by her story years ago when traveling with our family through the Scottish Highlands. I was mesmerized by the land of castles, kings, kilts, and battlefields. Margaret embodied much of what we have been learning about the biblical woman of valor. Her story takes us back to the Middle Ages.
Margaret was an English princess born in 1045. Her parents fled to Hungary after the Danes took over England. When Margaret was ten years old, she and her family returned to England, where her father suddenly died before he could assume the throne. A few years later, Margaret and her mother, along with her two siblings, were forced to flee for their lives, once again, when William the Conqueror stormed his way through England. While sailing north, Margaret and her family were caught in a storm and shipwrecked on the coast of Scotland. They were aided by King Malcolm and put under his protection. Before long, Malcolm fell deeply in love with the beautiful and kind princess. Margaret and Malcolm married in 1070 at the castle in Edinburgh.
Margaret was a deeply committed Christian whose faith influenced the rather uncouth Malcolm. He turned his heart to God, largely because of his wife. The couple had six sons and two daughters and raised all to become strong followers of Christ. So respected was Margaret for her wisdom that Malcolm placed her in charge of all of Scotland’s domestic affairs. She was often consulted on other state matters as well. Malcolm couldn’t read or write, so Margaret often read him stories from the Bible. Her example also had an impact on the quality of Malcolm's reign, helping him become what was known as the “just ruler.” Together they prayed, fed the hungry, and served the needy.
Margaret had a heart for Scotland’s poor, showing special kindness to orphans. She fed the hungry every morning in the castle, even before she had her own breakfast. She was also known for her deep life of prayer, rising early for prayer and reading the Bible. She even encouraged the ordinary Scottish people to live as faithful Christians, emphasizing prayer and a holy lifestyle.
When learning about Margaret’s vast areas of service to Scotland, I couldn’t help but notice the quieter, but even more important impact she had on her eight children. Besides educating them at home, she instilled a strength of faith and character that set the foundation for three of her six sons to become Scottish kings during what was known as Scotland’s “Golden Era.” As she had done with King Malcolm, she is said to have influenced her sons to become just and holy rulers.
Margaret was born into royalty—not what you would call an ordinary woman. But she shows what can happen when a woman of great influence chooses to use her position to accomplish God’s purposes. No wonder she has been called, “The Pearl of Scotland.” Who can measure the full impact, not just on Scottish history, but on the history of Christendom, because of this one life?
Today's Moment of Hope is adapted from Woman of Valor by Marilynn Chadwick. To receive a free PDF copy of this book, please visit www.momentsofhopechurch.org/books. -
by Marilynn Chadwick
There are many heroines found in the pages of the Bible. The Hebrew term used in Proverbs 31:10 for the famed “virtuous woman,” eshet chayil, can be better translated as “woman of valor” (Proverbs 31:10 JPS Tanakh 1917). I’ve come to believe women are at our best when engaged in a courageous fight for someone outside ourselves. While I love biblical heroines, I equally love stories of ordinary women who changed their world. This week we will look at real life women—ordinary heroes.
I’ve been privileged throughout my life to be influenced by many strong and courageous women. From my own mother and grandmothers to teachers and coaches, church and community leaders, and extended family members. Most of us can point to women who shaped our life somewhere along the way. They left their imprint on our character, our hopes, and our dreams. At times, they sacrificed their own dreams so we could reach ours.
Africans have a beautiful way of referring to all women as “mothers” whether they have children or not. They believe all women give life to their families and communities. Africans know that mothers can change the world. Thus, they have this saying: “To educate a girl is to educate a nation.” By their very nature, women are life-givers. Throughout history, courageous and noble women have discovered a mysterious truth: They found life when they gave their lives away—pouring themselves out in service to their families, to their communities, and to the hurting and broken of this world.
Most women I know are both nurturers and warriors. I’m reminded of my friend Jacqui, who waged a long and agonizing fight to gain custody of the daughter she lovingly fostered. Jacqui vowed, “I will not give up. After all, I’m a ‘Mama Bear’ fighting for her cub.” Or our daughter Bethany, a young mother of five who educates her children at home and juggles the busy and often unpredictable life of a pastor’s wife, along with her own writing and teaching. Most women know what I’m talking about when I speak of their fierce, fighter side. God designed women to be both nurturers and warriors.
The great evangelist D. L. Moody is said to have issued this powerful challenge to his sons from his deathbed: “If God be your partner, make your plans large.” Courageous men and women say to God, “Use me. Send me to the broken of this world!”
Mother Teresa dared to leave her comfortable and affluent life to serve the destitute in India. Her work has been celebrated the world over. Some have wondered about what were reported to be her “dark nights of the soul.” She was not a depressed woman, and those who knew her best said she would simply see those dry spells as nudges from God, telling her that it was time to go back out among the poor. She would see Jesus, once again, in the faces of those she served, and the joy of the Lord would always return.
Mother Teresa’s life of service was so compelling that the hard-boiled atheistic journalist, Malcolm Muggeridge, turned to Christ after extensive interviews with her. These interviews resulted in him writing a biography of her life, Something Beautiful for God. The apostle Paul similarly encouraged women to adorn themselves with good deeds, which would make them—like Mother Teresa—beautiful. Or as the Message paraphrases it: We should be “doing something beautiful for God and becoming beautiful doing it” (1 Timothy 2:8-10 MSG).
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Today's Moment of Hope is adapted from Woman of Valor by Marilynn Chadwick. To receive a free PDF copy of this book, please visit www.momentsofhopechurch.org/books.
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by David Chadwick
Naomi. Today’s hidden hero and a woman of tremendous significance. Most people know the story of Ruth, but sometimes Naomi’s heroic attributes can be overlooked.
Her story is found in the book of Ruth.
Naomi was a Jew who married Elimelech. During a great famine in Israel, she and her family went to Moab. While there, their two sons married two Moabite women: Ruth and Orpah. And remember: Israel and Moab were enemies.
Elimelech and the two sons ended up dying in Moab because of the harsh conditions. Naomi, uncertain of what to do, finally decided to return to her homeland. She told her two daughters-in-law that they should leave and return to their families. Orpah decided to remain in Moab. But Ruth, in a moving scene of utter devotion, said that wherever Naomi went, she would go!
The two women returned to Israel, destitute and poor. Helpless and hopeless. Naomi devised a plan for Ruth to go work for a relative of Elimelech named Boaz. In a beautiful love story, Boaz ends up falling in love with Ruth and they have a son.
Why is this so significant to me? Why call Naomi a hero? Because she had a very hard life. The odds were against her and she had every reason to give up and not contend for a breakthrough for her and her future lineage.
But she didn’t give up!
She trusted God with the faith of a mustard seed and chose to take one baby step of faith by returning to Israel. I’m sure she couldn’t see past that one courageous decision. One step of faith turned into another. She mustered up more strength to care for Ruth. And then to believe there was still a future and a hope for her and her family.
By the end of this story, Naomi is bouncing a baby on her knee who will end up carrying a lineage of people through whom King David and Jesus are born!
Friends, be faithful in the small decisions. Don’t give up when trouble hits! Eventually, your series of faithful decisions will lead to God’s perfect plan and providence taking place–yes, even amidst the brokenness of this world!
Your simple “yes” to God may be the heroic action that God uses to change history!
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by David Chadwick
Our next hidden heroes are a group of people named the Bereans. Their story is found in Acts 17.
Paul went to the city of Berea in Asia Minor to preach the Gospel to a group of people called the Bereans. Amazingly, the Bereans did not become angry or aggressively defensive towards Paul’s proclamation of Jesus. In fact, the Bible says “they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily” (Act 17:11b).
The Bereans went to the Scripture (the Old Testament of that day) and studied it intently to see if what Paul was saying was true and accurate. They were people of precision. They were focused and intentional, desiring to really know why they would take on certain beliefs as their own.
When the Bereans found Paul’s message to be accurate, it says, “many of them therefore believed” (Acts 17:12).
What is the point of this story? Why are the Bereans some of my hidden heroes?
Whenever you are given a “word from the Lord” from someone, be a Berean! If someone is teaching a message that you are not sure is accurate, be a Berean! If you find yourself in a conversation with someone about faith and you sense something is off in the messaging, be a Berean! If you are sitting at your job and being asked to do something that seems unbiblical, be a Berean! Just like the Bereans did, go to God’s Word and hold that up as the standard against someone’s word.
If an individual’s “word” or “message” or “advice” or “insight” lines up with the Word of God and does not contradict it, you can rest assured that it is accurate and from the Lord. You should then consider what the implications are of that word or message for your life.
On the other hand, if it contradicts Scripture, flush it down the toilet and move on. Trust the Holy Spirit inside of you to lead to you the Word of God for verification and accuracy. He loves to guide his children in all truth (John 16:13-15)! And his Word is true (John 17:17).
Keep God’s Word as your standard for truth in every area of your life! It must be the foundation for all areas of our faith, behaviors, decisions and practices!
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