Oh No! What Are We Going To Do Now?

Reacting To The News

The New King James Version Chapter 20

3 And Jehoshaphat feared

A reaction is typically quick, without much thought, tense and aggressive.

A response is thought out, calm and non-threatening.

Natural reaction “Fear”- a car coming at you or “symptoms” of some virus among us.

Fear- unpleasant emotion caused by the awareness of danger-

Anxiety-unpleasant, vague sense of apprehension.

Fear-is attached to a specific something- event or threat

Anxiety- is attached to nothing specific, can’t figure out what is wrong

Illustration:

Fear is like a thunder storm- lightening/thunder/wind/rain- when it’s over- sunshine- green grass!

Anxiety is the always raining/drizzling- always cold/damp- never ends mold/mildew

Fear does not disqualify us from faith, as Jehoshaphat “Responds To The News”

Responding to the news!

What is the appropriate way to respond, even if we have already reacted?

The New King James Version Chapter 20

And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD

“Set himself”- lit. “set his face”- = face is like flint- hard rock that when struck by iron it would create sparks.

Face is like the “billboard” of the soul-

There was a focus- the eyes, chin set, the direction, the determination

Jesus

Luke 9:51 NKJV

Now it came to pass, when the time had come for Him to be received up, that He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem,

Resolute, unshakable, facing opposition

Nothing was going to stop Jehosaphat for he knew the “source” that would have the resources!

Seeking: Turn our hearts/ preparing our hearts

The New King James Version Chapter 19

3 Nevertheless good things are found in you, in that you have removed the wooden images from the land, and have prepared your heart to seek God.”

The New King James Version Chapter 4

But from there you will seek the LORD your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul. 30 When you are in distress, and all these things come upon you in the latter days, when you turn to the LORD your God and obey His voice 31 (for the LORD your God is a merciful God), He will not forsake you nor destroy you, nor forget the covenant of your fathers which He swore to them.

The Message of Obadiah, Nahum and Zephaniah: The Kindness and Severity of God b. The Believers: There’s a Need for Personal Repentance

Seek the LORD, all you humble of the land,

you who do what he commands.

Seek righteousness, seek humility;

perhaps you will be sheltered

on the day of the LORD’s anger. (3)

Dt 4:29 But from there you will seek the LORD your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul.

What are we going to do now?

In a world of opportunity to be over taken by fear, to feel the squeeze of anxiety, there is only one answer for us

Set ourselves to seek the LORD= prayer and fasting.

We begin today with humbling ourselves, repenting of our sins and surrendering to our Lord.