When you dont know what to do next
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Good morning, well it is truly a blessing to be in the house of the Lord this morning. Please turn with me in your Bibles to the book of 2 Chronicles.
, want to talk to you today on this subject when you dont know what to do next. When you don’t know what to do next,.,
There is a woman that I know of that was about to welcome her second child into the world, both she and her husband were escited but in the midst of finding out that she was pregant she also found out that she had a very agressive cancer… what do you do?
I have a good friend named Troy he loved his wife served his family, and loved the Lord and he found out, one day out of the blue that his wife had filed for a divorce. He never saw it coming, things were great no signs of trouble, then his world changed. What do you do?
There is another dear friend who has now been 18 months now with no job, 18 months with no income with no paycheck. What do you do?
There was a little boy who loved his life everything was great but then one day he found out his parents wedre getting a divorce and it crushed him.... what do you?
WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU DONT KNOW WHAT TO DO NEXT? Listen to this story of a guy named Jehoshaphat calling on God in prayer and confessing there IS and answeras long as God is on the throne.
After this, the Moabites and Ammonites, together with some of the Meunites, came to fight against Jehoshaphat.
People came and told Jehoshaphat, “A vast number from beyond the Dead Sea and from Edom has come to fight against you; they are already in Hazazon-tamar” (that is, En-gedi). Jehoshaphat was afraid, and he resolved to seek the Lord. Then he proclaimed a fast for all Judah, who gathered to seek the Lord. They even came from all the cities of Judah to seek Him.
Then Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem in the Lord’s temple before the new courtyard. He said:
Yahweh, the God of our ancestors, are You not the God who is in heaven, and do You not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations? Power and might are in Your hand, and no one can stand against You. Are You not our God who drove out the inhabitants of this land before Your people Israel and who gave it forever to the descendants of Abraham Your friend? They have lived in the land and have built You a sanctuary in it for Your name and have said, “If disaster comes on us—sword or judgment, pestilence or famine —we will stand before this temple and before You, for Your name is in this temple. We will cry out to You because of our distress, and You will hear and deliver.”
Now here are the Ammonites, Moabites, and the inhabitants of Mount Seir. You did not let Israel invade them when Israel came out of the land of Egypt, but Israel turned away from them and did not destroy them. Look how they repay us by coming to drive us out of Your possession that You gave us as an inheritance. Our God, will You not judge them? For we are powerless before this vast number that comes to fight against us. We do not know what to do, but we look to You.
2 Chronicles 20:2-
(let’s pray)
When you face a fear, you pray and fast and worship your way through it.
In 2 chronicles 14 Jehoshaphats father King Asa comes becomes king, he reigns forty years in Judah Asa removes the idols. Asa removes the pagan alters, he even has the courage to demote his grandmother because she would not repent and trust the Lord. He takes his grandmothers pagan idols and trashes them in fire for all the people to see, and he says we will worship the Lord God almighty.
He called the people of the nation to turn back to God, the god of Abraham and Jacob and Isaac and under Asa’s reign Israel began to flourish. they flourished spiritually and economically. Asa fills up the fortified cities, his army is so strong no enemy would attack them. This is a pattern thats set in 2 Chronicles under the reign of asa the Lord is blessing all the land with peace and rest.
The land gets peace and rest because the Lords blessing has been poured out on Asa. Its a time of revival and awakening. For 36 years this happens, for 36 years the favor God is on Asa’s reign. Blessing success peace.....
But in in asa’s 36th year another king, King Bashaa threatens Asa with war, Asa is afraid, he turns and forms a forbidden and unholy alliance with a pagan king. Previously when he went to war he trusted in God, and God gave him success.
But because now he feels overwhelmed by the odds he reached out to another King and he says I’ll bribe you, I’ll pay you will you ride with me as we go out to fight King Bashaa?
This other king the King of arram demands payment and so Asa goes into the Temple treasury and he takes silver and gold that belongs to God and he pays off King arram. for awhile this seems wise, temporarily they are winning the war. But the Chronicler foreshadows judgment with this phrase “this thing Asa did displeased the Lord” he took His eyes off God, he gave money that belonged to God to bribe a pagan King and he said WILL YOU HELP ME?
He is not crying out to God for help, He is trusting in his self. The Lord sends a prophet Hananni to go and speak to Asa with a stern word of rebuke. ASA YOU’VE DEPENDED ON YOUR FLESH AND NOT THE LORD, WHY HAVE YOU DONE THIS ASA? FOR 36 YEARS YOU HAVE HAD A HEART FOR GOD WHY AT THE END OF YOUR CAREER WOULD YOU BEGIN TO QUESTION GOD?
WHY WOULD YOU BE TEMPTED TO TURN YOUR BACK ON GOD?
The Lord is angry the Lord will punish you Asa!
In the past Asa when you trusted in God God gave the land peace and rest, but because you turned your eyes off God and god wanted to find you and give you favor but now you and your children will know wars and conflicts because of your disobedience.
Asa emphatic response to this rebukeis to throwthe prophet in jail, he begins mistreating and abusing people. Asa gets sick, he gets a nasty foot condition it is rising in his body as he slips towards death, he wont even consult with God or turn to prayer, he calls the pagan doctors and says will you help me?
They are unable to and Asa dies.
Asa according to Chronicles is the tragic story of a man who didn’t finish well. It is the tragic story of a man who started with his eye on the ball, he was so strong and so young, and so vibrant and so full of faith and energy. But he took his eye off God and as a result everyone suffered.
But then Asa’s son becomes king…
The Bible says God is with Jehoshaphat He chooses to walk in the ways of their great great grandfather David NO IDOLS , NO PAGAN ALTERS WE WILL WORSHIP THE ONE TRUE GOD. Jehoshaphat had a real heart for God. In fact the writer
So the Lord established the kingdom in his hand. Then all Judah brought him tribute, and he had riches and honor in abundance.
It said that his mind was steadily though rejoicing in the Lord. The favor of God was poured out on Jehoshaphats life. Until we come to todays text. Those enemies that his dad let linger are now coming back to haunt his son. Those demons that the Dad would not put away because of his lack of faith and his sin they rise up in Jehoshaphats day, everyone had hoped that the enemies would go away, but instead they would band together.
The text tells us they are the Moabites they are the Ammonites, they are the Meunites and they join together to fight against Judah. Jehoshaphat’s men are outnumbered 3-1 these foes of Jehoshaphat’s army are bigger and stronger and more superior. For human vantage point Jehoshaphat has no chance.
Jehoshaphat was afraid, and he resolved to seek the Lord. Then he proclaimed a fast for all Judah,
2 Chronicles
verse 3 says that he is very, very afraid. So the writer is forming it like this:
WILL HE RESPOND LIKE HIS DADDY OR WILL HE TURN AND BELIEVE IN GOD?
WILL HE SEEK TO FORM AN ALLIANCE LIKE ASA OR WILL HE SAY, GOD HAS BEEN ON THE THRONE SINCE I STARTED GOD WILL BE ON THE THROINE WHEN I FINISH MY HOPE AND MY FAITH IS IN THE LORD!
The Bible tells us this is what Jehoshapat does:
He calls for a solemn assembly, he says let all the people from all the villages and towns come and lets worship the Lord. In a moment of absolute sobriety this is what he says WERE OUTNUMBERED 3-1 THEY ARE MARCHING TOWARDS US THERE ISNT MUCH HOPE FOR US, NEVERTHELESS LET US FAST, LET US PRAY, LETS SING, AND EVEN IF WE DIE LET US REALIZE THAT WE ARE DYING IN THE LORDS HANDS.
I love this statement:
Our God, will You not judge them? For we are powerless before this vast number that comes to fight against us. We do not know what to do, but we look to You.
WE DONT KNOW WHAT TO DO BUT WE LOOK TO YOU!
WE DONT KNOW WHERE TO TURN BUT OUR EYES ARE ON YOU!
A prophet stands up and says:
I think we ought to face the enemy head on, put our worship leaders out front, he said I think we ought to send the cymbals, brass strings, and all these people out front, we ought not even take our weapons and I think we ought to march onto that plain repeating this anthem:
FOR THE LORD IS GOOD, HIS LOVE AND MERCY ENDURETH FOREVER, I mean they are just gonna repeat the chorus
FOR THE LORD IS GOOD HIS LOVE AND MERCY ENDURES FOREVER
He says Im telling you this is what the Lord is telling me we ought to do. Well we have been fasting and praying if this is what the man of God has recieved on his heart let’s try it. The next morning they rise early they are outnumbered 3-1 heres the Moabites and the Meunites and they are ABBBBBA
I mean they are screaming the battle cry and here comes the army of Judah significantly outnumbered the soldiers are in the back, Jehoshaphat is in the middle, he had lead em in prayer from his knees and from his face at daylight that morning, and here go the singers and the musicians FOR THE LORD IS GOOD AND HIS MERCY ENDURETH FOREVER, FOR THE LORD IS GOOD AND HIS MERCY ENDRUETH FOREVER.
But you mean we might die we got cancer, we got abnesia, we got dementia, Theres people trying to hurt me and my family, FOT THE LORD IS GOOD AND HIS MERCY ENDURETH FOREVER!
As they marched toward the people of the Ammonites, the Meunites, the Bible says that in a spirit of of confusion, the Lord poured out His grace upon Judah and all these enemies killed one another and it took three days for Judah to go and pick up all their gold and silver.
When King Jehoshaphat did not know what to do, heres what he did:
JEHOSHAPHAT PRAYED
Listen when he did not know what to do next this is what he did. HE PRAYED and they are simple words read his prayer they are simple words:
I’m AFRAID dear Lord I am weak, dear Lord I can’t do this, dear Lord help me, dear Lord I need you, dear Lord I trust you. I am not a man of prayer are you telling me you cant say two or three words from your heart to God?
When he did not know what to do next he prayed.
God your big, God you have gotten us from where we were to where we are God your history is faithfulness, God your inviting me to pour out my sorrow on you. Jehoshaphat prayed.,
2. Jehoshaphat Worshipped
I LOVE THIS
He worshipped with singing FOR THE LORD IS GOOD HIS LOVE AND MERCY ENDURETH FOREVER.
The text indicates that he meant EVERYTHING I HAVE I HAVE BEEN GIVEN IT FROM YOU! SO ILL PRAISE YOU FOR LOVING ME AND FOR ALWAYS BEING WITH ME.
Are you in a crisis are you afraid?
Why dont you turn on your praise and worship and get alone in your prayer closet and sing with all your heart because there is something about singing this anthem LORD MY YOUR KINGDOM COME, LORD MAY YOUR WILL BE DONE NOT WHAT I WANT BUT WHAT YOU WANT, it privdes an atmosphere where the Spirit of God loves to be hosted and loves to be prepared and loves to be worshipped and it moves our heart to accept whatever He wants to send.
He prayed and then he worshipped and then He
3. Jehoshaphat Obeyed
I love this, when it doesnt make sense this joker has got an army crying out a battle cry and he is going to walk right out, not with the navy seals, not with the spec ops, Not with some elite fighting force but with hillsong, and the gaither vocal band out front this dont make no sense! BUT OFTEN TIMES WHEN GOD TELLS YOU WHAT TO DO IT DOESNT MAKE MUCH EARTHLY SENSE!
after his radical obedience his enemies killed one another because god confused them. When God has spoken YOU OBEY!
Heres the Bibles logic over human philosophy I read it this morning
Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.
Obedience
Heres the big idea
When you dont know what to do next, you pray, you worship, and you obey until God he speaks. When you are in a trial or circumstance and you dont know where the relief is coming from, you dont know what is going to happen next, you dont know what the answer is. You pray you worship and you look to God until god SPEAKS.
HE IS A FATHER THAT WE CAN COUNT ON, THAT WE CANT TRUST
(Chandler and the pool)
JUMP TO ME CHANDLER IM YOUR DADDY IM NOT GONNA LET YOU DROWN!
JUMP TO ME IM YOUR FATHER I’m NOT GONNA LET YOU DROWN!!
God is saying to someone this morning, JUMP TO ME IM YOUR GOD IM NOT GONNA LET YOU DROWN! IM YOUR FATHER JUMP TO ME, DONT STAY ON THE STEPS AND TRY TO FIGURE IT OUT ON HUMAN LOGIC JUMP INTO THE POOL AND KNOW THAT IM GOOD, MY MERCY AND LOVE ENDURE FOREVER!
JUMP IN THE POOL I WONT LET YOU DROWN!
YOU CAN TRUST ME!
THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE YOU CANT TRUST, BUT YOU CAN ALWAYS TRUST ME!
When is the last time you committed yourself to a season of prayer and fasting and waited to hear from the Lord?
When is the last time you heard GOD SPEAK?
When is the last time your urgency drove you to press in and give something up for the glory of God?
when is the last time when you were hungry for God?
(Rocky 3)
Are you willing to worship god in the middle of your crisis? Are you willing to turn the worry down and turn the praise up?
are you ready to praise Him regardless of what the job outcome might be? regardless of what the tests say?
are we willing to worship Him even if we look foolish?
Am I willing to look like a silly fool for God?
Is it poissible that God wants to do something in my life for His glory, that He has never done before, am I ok with that?
Am I ok with God stepping outside of the realms of the way I understand its normally supposed to be and doing something fresh and real?
When you dont know what to do next, you pray and you worship and wait for God to speak.
Men will you display courage and a willingness to display Christlikeness to your children, even when it is not what you have always been taught about being a man?
BE A MAN AND SING IN CHURCH, WELL I AINT A MAN WHO LIKES TO SING, OK BE A MAN AND SING ANYWAY, JESUS IS WORTH IT ISNT HE?
OUR SONS NEED TO SEE US POUR OUR HEARTS OUT IN PRAISE NOT STAND THERE LIKE IT IS UNMANLY TO SIN OUT TO JESUS
PARTICIPATE SHOW NOT JUST HERE BUT IN THE TRUCK, ARE OUR KIDS GONNA SEE DADDY SINGING HANK AND GARTH or SINGING ABOUT THE GOD WHO SAVED THEM FROM THEIR SINS!?
May we be aware of the story of asa in the text 36 great years it was the last 5 years that undid all of his faithfulness of the previous 36 years.
Listen to me older adults DONT WRECK THE SHIP WITH THE HARBOR IN VIEW!
FINISH STRONG
ALL OF US
FINISH
The new goal should be to finish well.
Even when I am old and gray,
God, do not abandon me.
Then I will proclaim Your power
to another generation,
Your strength to all who are to come.
I close with this
It is easy to focus on the things that are easily seen, and forget the only ONE who can actually help you in your time of need.
Well I hear ya preacher but God gave us to feet and strength to use as well, but can I tell you something this morning, often times even though that makes good sense we tend to only use our good sense and never rest in or trust or wroship or pray because we are so accustomed to figuring out things on our own.
WILL YOU DO WHAT YOU HAVE ALWAYS DONE?
WILL YOU WORRY, FRET, WRING YOUR HANDS, BECOME DEPRESSED, TALK TO FRIENDS, GET ADVICE, AND THEN MAYBE UTTER A SMALL PRAYER BEFORE THE END OF EACH DAY?
OR WILL YOU BE A JEHOSHAPHAT?
WILL YOU PRAY FIRST, WORSHIP SECOND, AND DO NOTHING UNTIL YOU HAVE HEARD A WORD FROM GOD?
2 fold challenge this morning as a I close and I want you to take this seriously
Starting tomorrow I will begin a 40 day fast a designated time where I will abstain from food at lunch and instead I will take that period of time to cry out to God on behalf of you and our church, as well as the needs in my own life.
Why am I telling you this?
Because I want anyone who is dedicated and committed to honoring this fast and coming along side of me in this dedicated time of fasting and prayer for our church and the families represented here, to be able to commit to this.
Now you dont have to fast from lunch, you might fast from television, you might fast from social media, you might fast from a certain thing that normally takes up too much of your time, but instead of doing that thing your going to take the time you used to use for that and instead dedicate it to the Lord. Dedicate it to praying for revival in our church, take that time to cry out for your family, to cry out to God to change your own heart, to pray that I might lead better and hear clearly from the Lord, to pray for those who are sick within our church and hurting.
You may have never done this before and thats ok, there is a first time for everything.
Every head bowed please and every eye closed.
Dont do this if there is a shred of doubt that you might stop.
If you feel in your heart like this is something you feel lead by God to do. Would you please stand up right now with no one looking around.
Next week I will have some specific things laid out for each of you, to pray for.
Secondly you might be in here right now and you dont know what to do next and you are hurting, I just want you to look up at me.
YOU HAVE MY WORD I WILL BE PRAYING FOR EACH OF YOU
Can you commit today to bathing whatever your going through in prayer?
Can you committ to worshipping God no matter the outcome?
are you willing to wait for God to speak to you before you do anything, and will you be obedient if He does?
GOD IS ABLE TO MAKE AWAY WHERE THERE IS NO WAY.
I HOPE YOU BELIEVE THAT
(Let’s pray)