Sun.’s Devo - Kingdoms Shaken

Read: 2 Kings 15:1-16:20, Acts 19:13-41, Ps. 147:1-20, Pr. 18:4-5 Reading about the kings seems like a long list of bad kings who did evil in the sight of the Lord and good kings who didn’t remove the high places. Because of their rebellion toward God, they were in constant fear of other kingdoms more powerful than they were and had to pay them off just to let them stay in their own land. If only these kings would have been leaders who stood up to the evil in their own land. Because they were afraid of their own people, God made them afraid of their enemies also. When Jesus is lifted up, kingdoms are shaken. In Acts we see the kingdom of the devil’s being shaken. When unbelieving Jews tried to use the name of Jesus to cast out demons, the demons attacked them and sent them out naked and humiliated. This happened in Ephesus which was the center of worship to Diana, this goddess who supposedly dropped to earth from Jupiter. Paul preached that gods were not made by hand and that God was the only god. The silver smiths were more concerned about their dying business than the truth so they instigated a riot in the theater. Most of the people didn’t even know why they were there. (The devil is the author of confusion.) Paul’s disciples forbid him to go in because they feared for his life. Finally, the town clerk stood up and calmed the people down and advised them to take up their arguments in court. Then he broke them up and told them to go back home. When we start lifting Jesus’ name, we can expect to have opposition in the spirit. It will come through men and look like rejection, failure, confusion, defeat, etc. but if we will continue to stand firm, we will see the victory. Lord, you take pleasure in those who fear You and hope in Your mercy. May we be that people.