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<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER">“<b>TWO
ARE BETTER THAN ONE” MINISTRIES</b></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"><b>Jim
& Marie Watt</b></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"><b>Tel:
<a href="tel:253-517-9195" target="_blank">253-517-9195</a> - Email:
<a href="mailto:jmbetter@gmail.com" target="_blank">jmbetter@gmail.com</a></b></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"><b>Web:
<a href="http://www.2rbetter.org/" target="_blank">www.2rbetter.org</a></b></p><p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER">November 3, 2012<br></p><p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER">
</p><p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"><br></p><p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER">
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</p><p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"><font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><b>JUN
21 - 2 KINGS 11-17 - JUDAH’S ALTERNATING KINGS WITH ISRAEL</b></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><b>1.
11:20-21 (11, ESV) ATHALIAH: FIRST AND ONLY WOMAN RULER. <font size="3">“So
all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was quiet after
Athaliah had been put to death with the sword at the king’s house.
</font><font style="font-size:8pt" size="1">21 </font><font size="3">Jehoash
was seven years old when he began to reign.” </font></b><span style="font-weight:normal">As
Jezebel moved in Israel, so Athaliah with the spirit of Jezebel moved
in Judah. Only one of the seed of David escaped Athaliah to fulfill
the Messianic promises. But Your Kingdom prevailed, Father! </span><b><i>Hallowed
be your :name!</i></b></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><b>2.
12:2-3 (12) JOASH: EIGHTH KING OF JUDAH (THIRD GOOD). <font size="3">“And
Jehoash did what was right in the eyes of the LORD all his days,
because Jehoiada the priest instructed him. </font><font style="font-size:8pt" size="1">3
</font><font size="3">Nevertheless, the high places were not taken
away; the people continued to sacrifice and make offerings on the
high places.” </font></b><span style="font-weight:normal">Athaliah
was the sister-in-law of Jezebel, and though dead, her spirit
corrupted Joash, who murdered the son of Jehoiada; then he himself
was assassinated. Yet there had been some good in him. </span><b><i>Your
:kingdom come.</i></b></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"><br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><b>3.
14:3-4 (14:1-22) AMAZIAH: NINTH KING OF JUDAH (FOURTH GOOD). <font size="3">“And
he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, yet not like David his
father. He did in all things as Joash his father had done. </font><font style="font-size:8pt" size="1">4
</font><font size="3">But the high places were not removed; the people
still sacrificed and made offerings on the high places.” </font></b><u><span style="font-weight:normal">This</span></u><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">
was the king who worried about his 100 talents of silver! A </span></span><u><span style="font-weight:normal">great</span></u><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">
mixture in this king! Father, make us like David, who removed the
high places!</span></span><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">
</span></span></font><b><i><span style="text-decoration:none">Your
:will be done, As in heaven, so on earth.</span></i></b></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><b><span style="text-decoration:none">4.
15:3-4 (15:1-7) AZARIAH (UZZIAH): TENTH KING OF JUDAH (FIFTH GOOD).
</span><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">“And he
did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, according to all that his
father Amaziah had done. </span></font><font style="font-size:8pt" size="1"><span style="text-decoration:none">4
</span></font><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">Nevertheless,
the high places were not taken away. The people still sacrificed and
made offerings on the high places.” </span></font></b><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">See
2 Chronicles 26 for a fuller word on Uzziah. O forgive us Father,
that we so often fail to seek You fully, as did David, and remove </span></span><u><span style="font-weight:normal">all</span></u><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">
the high places (Romans 12:1-2; 2 Corinthians 10:3-5). </span></span><b><i><span style="text-decoration:none">Our
:daily :bread Give us this day.</span></i></b></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><b><span style="text-decoration:none">5.
2 Chronicles 27:6 (27) JOTHAM: TENTH; CO-REGENT WITH UZZIAH. </span><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">“So
Jotham became mighty, because he ordered his ways before the LORD his
God.” </span></font></b><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">This
son had his opportunity because of the pride and leprosy of his
father. He followed the good of his father Uzziah, but not the </span></span><u><span style="font-weight:normal">best</span></u><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">
of his father David! </span></span><b><i><span style="text-decoration:none">And
forgive us our :debts, As we also have forgiven our :debtors.</span></i></b></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><b><span style="text-decoration:none">6.
15:35 (15:32-38) JOTHAM: ELEVENTH KING OF JUDAH (SIXTH GOOD).
</span><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">“Nevertheless,
the high places were not removed. The people still sacrificed and
made offerings on the high places. He built the upper gate of the
house of the LORD.” </span></font></b><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">No
longer is Jotham Co-regent, but now full king. Yet he kept out </span></span><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">of
</span></span><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">the
Temple; perhaps out of fear of the judgment that fell upon his father
there! </span></span><b><i><span style="text-decoration:none">And
bring us not into temptation.</span></i></b></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><b><span style="text-decoration:none">7.
16:17 (16) AHAZ: TWELFTH KING OF JUDAH. </span><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">“</span></font><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">And
King Ahaz cut off the frames of the stands and removed the basin from
them, and he took down the sea from off the bronze oxen that were
under it and put it on a stone pedestal.” Jotham</span></font></b><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">
</span></span><u><span style="font-weight:normal">neglected</span></u><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">
Your Temple, Father; Ahaz </span></span><u><span style="font-weight:normal">desecrated</span></u><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">
it! How do we explain his wonderful son Hezekiah? All we can do is
commit our ways to You, and acknowledge Your right </span></span><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">and
Y</span></span><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">our
sometimes inscrutable ways to us! </span></span><b><i><span style="text-decoration:none">But
deliver us from the evil </span></i><span style="text-decoration:none">one!</span></b></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><u><b>NOTE</b></u><span style="text-decoration:none"><b>:
15:5 (15:1-7) UZZIAH: GOD’S JUDGMENT UPON HIM! </b></span><b><font size="3"><span style="text-decoration:none">“And
the LORD touched the king, so that he was a leper to the day of his
death, and he lived in a separate house.” </span></font></b><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">Uzziah
made a breach against the priesthood - even as Uzzah against the
Levites. Father, teach us that we </span></span><u><span style="font-weight:normal">must</span></u><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">
conduct all our worship according to </span></span><u><span style="font-weight:normal">Your
pattern</span></u><span style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-weight:normal">!</span></span></font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt">It
is very easy to read about “High Places” not being removed by
various kings of Judah - but not being aware of the significance of
this note from God’s point of view.</font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
“<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt">High
Places” are a term of “Types and Shadows” in the Old Covenant.
They are not literally for us to consider as New Covenant saints.</font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt">But
how would the apostles of the early church deal with this concept? Do
they? Yes - and we can profit from the references they make to this.</font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt">2
Corinthians 10:3-5 is a very clear reference by the apostle Paul that
alludes to this concept. <b>“For though we walk in </b><i><b>the</b></i><b>
flesh, we do not war according to </b><i><b>the</b></i><b> flesh </b><font style="font-size:8pt" size="1"><b>4
</b></font><b>(for the weapons of our :warfare are not of flesh, but
mighty before :God unto casting down of strongholds); </b><font style="font-size:8pt" size="1"><b>5
</b></font><b>casting down </b><u><b>reasoning</b></u><u><b>s</b></u><b>,
and </b><i><u><b>every high </b></u></i><u><b>thing</b></u><b> that
is exalted against the knowledge of :God, and bringing </b><u><b>every
thought into captivity</b></u><b> to the obedience of the Christ.”
</b>Our “thought life” that has not been subjected to the
obedience of Christ - are “High Places”. David would not allow
these to exist either in Type <u>or</u> Reality. Neither would
Hezekiah or Josiah. <u>But</u> - other good Kings of Judah put up
with these places in Old Covenant times - and many New Covenant
believers have not followed the pattern of David, Hezekiah and
Josiah. We are <u>only perfect</u> in our ways when we follow <u>their</u>
example.</font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt">See
also Romans 12:1-2 - <b>“</b><b>I beseech you </b><u><b>therefore</b></u><b>,
brethren, by the mercies of :God, to present your :bodies a living
sacrifice (holocaust), holy, well-pleasing to God, your </b><u><b>spiritual
service</b></u><b>. </b><font style="font-size:8pt" size="1"><b>2</b></font><b>
And be </b><u><b>not</b></u><b> fashioned according to this :age: but
be </b><u><b>transformed</b></u><b> by the </b><u><b>renewing of the
mind</b></u><b>, that you may prove what </b><i><b>is</b></i><b> the
good and well-pleasing and perfect will of :God.”</b> Here again
the apostle Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit, is crystal clear
concerning this concept.</font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt">If
we like Hudson Taylor are to walk in the God-pleasing way of the
“Exchanged Life” - then we too are to be <u>transformed</u> by
the <u>renewing of our mind</u>. The human mind - <u>not</u>
transformed - are New Covenant <u>High Places</u> - and not pleasing
to God.</font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt">And
note the unusual process to bring New Covenant saints into this
God-pleasing concept: it is a <u>transformation</u> of the mind - a
<u>metamorphosis</u> of our mind! That is - we are to allow God to
put our mind, which here is likened to a “caterpillar” - to be
brought into a “chrysalis” stage. When that stage is complete -
our mind then emerges as a beautiful butterfly in the sight of God!
How many believers appear in their mind to God - as a creeping,
crawling caterpillar?</font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt">So
- will we profit from an understanding of High Places under the Old
Covenant - and <u>present</u> our total being: <u>body</u>, soul
(including mind) and spirit as a living sacrifice - a “Holocaust”
if you please - and let God have us where we think <u>His</u>
thoughts after Him in our mind - instead of being ruled by our own
unsurrendered thought-life?</font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt">You
say - “God is asking for my death!” You’ve got it! Exactly!
Without any doubt! And are you willing? It cost a great deal for
Oswald Chambers, Rees Howells and George Muller to come to this
“death” decision! but they did! And many others have followed
their example like David, Hezekiah and Josiah. They <u>all</u> put
the <u>Word of God</u> above their own thought-life! Jesus came as
Son of Man and servant of His Father as a Holocaust - a whole
burnt-offering! Not <u>one</u> word He spoke, nor one miracle He
performed - but <u>all</u> originated from His Father out of His
prayer life!</font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt">Early
in 1944, after joining the Navy to find God - when I in my search
read the Book of Romans - I said - “God - if you <u>are</u> a God -
I joined the Navy to find You - but I think the price may be too
high. <u>You</u> not only want to rule my outer life - You - even
want to rule my <u>thought-life</u>!”</font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt">His
reply - “You are right, son! You have rightly perceived the way!
For over 3 hours in a room where I could see my breath, I wrestled
before God. Finally I said - “Alright God - If You’ll reveal
Yourself to me, I submit - and I’ll serve you according to Your
complete Bible!”</font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt">I
haven’t taken back that decision to this day - 68 years later. I
hate “High Places”, because <u>God</u> hates them. I<i> </i>hate
any thought that comes into my mind that is <u>not</u> according to
the Bible, the Word of God. Like David, Hezekiah, Josiah and Paul - I
refute all “High Places” in my mind - tear them down - and
replace them by “Thinking <u>God’s</u> thoughts” in their
place.</font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt">Billy
Graham came to this decision early in his ministry. He was confused
about some things in the Bible. But early one morning in the high
Sierras - after a sleepless night - he prayed, “Father, there are
things in Your Bible I do not understand - but from this time
forward, by faith I will refer to any part of Your Bible and say -
‘God says in His Bible’ - or - ‘The Bible says!’”</font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt">Will
you join me - not by just being a good King of Judah - but not
removing the “High Places” - but by being a King like Hezekiah
and Josiah after the heart of their father <u>David</u>? - all who
refused to allow the High Places of their mind to remain! Jim
Watt</font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<br>
</p>
<p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT">
<font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt">Our
chapter from Proverbs for the day: <b>21:13 (21) PROVERBS OF
SOLOMON. </b><font size="3"><b>“</b></font><font size="3"><b>Whoever
closes his ear to the cry of the poor will himself call out and not
be answered.” </b></font>Is this fair? Of <u>course</u> it’s
fair! You have set Your Kingdom principles in our heart Father, and
<u>part</u> of this is the Golden Rule. And, Blessed are the
merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. We bless You for this;
<i><b>Hallowed be your :name!</b></i></font></font></p><p style="margin-top:0.01in;margin-bottom:0in;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none" align="LEFT"><font face="Palatino Linotype, serif"><font style="font-size:11pt"><i><b><br>
</b></i></font></font></p>
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</p>
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</p>
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