Stand Firm In Him

Introduction:

Ushers please come forward:

Last Thursday sounds like the Radiant woman had a fantastic time.

Men listen this monday tommorow we have a mens meeting please come out.

Men we need to build united the kingdom of God. And GOd has placed you and provided for you to be in this house today. Because you are building blocks upon this fellowship. Its nothing without God. But it goes nowhere without the vessels. Come together for a time of fellowhsip okay

This wed. we have Bible Study at FLight Deck @7pm come out hang out and help us dive into the word with a little teaching bible study amen.

Anything else im missing out on?

Members please stay with us for a few minutes after church as we invite The Pastor of Pastor Bob Sandler to help lead us for a few minutes into the next step we have to take as a congregation to joining the Assemblies.

Here’s a list of warning labels on actual consumer products:

On a cardboard sun shield for a car: “Do not drive with sun shield in place.”

On a Batman costume: “Warning: Cape does not enable user to fly.”

On a portable stroller: “Caution: Remove infant before folding for storage.”

On a bottle of hair coloring: “Do not use as an ice cream topping.”

You think these would be obvious. Perhaps we need a warning label on other things that ought to be obvious. Like a warning label on our jobs. “Warning: do not try to build your life on this profession.” Or on our kids “Caution: not able to hold the weight of your life.” Or a warning label financial or moral strength “Do not attempt to stand firm on this, will not support.”

we simply put time into stuff that simply shouldnt be…We ask much of people we shouldnt ask.

Some things are just obvious in life....somethings are just obvious in relationship....But before we met God most of us hadnt served a live king seated on the throne. Most of us are use to the world letting us down from perfect picture movie idealogy to selfish ambisions.

So some things that are obvious arent really obvious.

Like to know and understand that what God says is True. To know and understand The promises are for us all.

We question these things we doubt they will ever happen.

Until they do.

Today were going to open up our bibles and i pray that God gives you a new assurance. An assurance like he gave me this weekend. Before we get to that place lets open uop our bibles to 2 Chronicles 20 this is where we will start.

while you are flipping there

Have you read the whole bible? IF you made it through leviticus and the book of numbers then youve read the samuels and kings then you happen upon chronicles....and almost start to day dream. Its easy for you to say didnt i just read that becausee the book is full of a number of similar stories between the passages.

So whats that all about. As much as we have all the time in the world we dont have it today so main details we will keep with.

The book Chronicles was written by what most scholars refer to as the Chronicler…but we know as Ezra.

Some details that matter in the long run.

Ezra is a huge part of the rebuilding of Jerusalem.

First Zerrebel came and brought a large group of people to begin to build

Ezra was a priest and skilled in the law, so he educated people of God and the Torah....

Nehemiah enters and rebuilds the walls.

So when Ezra steps in and begins to educate about the torah he begins to see the same type of behavior that caused Hebrews to receive the exile in the first place so he put together this chronicle this historical set of events in order to make known to the people their past.

Ezra covers three main themes.

Worship

Godly Leadership

Prayer and Intercession

Now today we aren't going to go over these three things at all.

were going to talk about the story of King Jehoshaphat.

See again this king has been mentioned in some other books. 1 Kings mentions him a few times and touches on the events of his life. But none go into detail like Ezra Does in Chronicles.

Remember Ezra is writting the historical Account for one reason. That people may remember where they came from.....

May we today learn from King Jehoshaphat......

Godly Leadership

Today ima go ahead and let you know my plan. I plan on getting us back to worship as soon as possible. Its not about my message, Today i wanna get out of the way because im ready to press into God..

2 Chronicles 20:1–4 NIV

1 After this, the Moabites and Ammonites with some of the Meunites came to wage war against Jehoshaphat. 2 Some people came and told Jehoshaphat, “A vast army is coming against you from Edom, from the other side of the Dead Sea. It is already in Hazezon Tamar” (that is, En Gedi). 3 Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the Lord, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah. 4 The people of Judah came together to seek help from the Lord; indeed, they came from every town in Judah to seek him.

King J Was a successful and good king.

Isnt it easy for us to put trust in the way we recieve the reward rather than the one who rewarded us?

Fathers listen to me stop paying closer attention to the way you recieved your reward and pay more attention to the one who has given you the Reward.

Listen this is a great force coming against judah right now. This is three neighboring enemies coming at you at once. When youre enemies have joined forces its something to be concered about. you know i can deal with this problem its something i expected anyways.

Okay now this one stinks but its not impossible to handle it.

Now this enemy is myself i gotta know i had this one coming. However

when you have joining forces coming against you....you begin to worry alittle bit.

See King Jehosphphat didnt want to put all his faith in the armies he has used to strenghten Judah. He didnt want to rely on himself and his leadership to get them where they needed to be. He was alarmed and Decided to run to the father for guidance.

But he didnt go alone. He was a good king…he sent out a memo to the whole kingdom and said

The King calls out doenst choose to bear arms, or find others to join him in battle. He isnt asking for assistance from anyman or trying to figure things out. He is calling his community to Pray and Fast.

Prayer and Fasting

You want spiritual growth these are the two most important things you can do . Judah is in a desperate situation and they need to hear from God immediately. They sacrafice in the physical to be lead spiritually!

Fasting and Prayer represent the determination to hear from God!

Joel 2:12–14 NIV

12 “Even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.” 13 Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity. 14 Who knows? He may turn and relent and leave behind a blessing— grain offerings and drink offerings for the Lord your God.

So The King became undone before the Lord.

2 Chronicles 20:5–12 NIV

5 Then Jehoshaphat stood up in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem at the temple of the Lord in the front of the new courtyard 6 and said: “Lord, the God of our ancestors, are you not the God who is in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. Power and might are in your hand, and no one can withstand you. 7 Our God, did you not drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend? 8 They have lived in it and have built in it a sanctuary for your Name, saying, 9 ‘If calamity comes upon us, whether the sword of judgment, or plague or famine, we will stand in your presence before this temple that bears your Name and will cry out to you in our distress, and you will hear us and save us.’ 10 “But now here are men from Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir, whose territory you would not allow Israel to invade when they came from Egypt; so they turned away from them and did not destroy them. 11 See how they are repaying us by coming to drive us out of the possession you gave us as an inheritance. 12 Our God, will you not judge them? For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.”

Here Jehoshaphat is listing a series of Rhetorical statements, He is not only inquiring about God, but he is also reminding himself of who He is really dealing with.

See when we call out ABBA father, when we call out king of kings. When we yell Hallelujah Thank you Jesus....we are solidifying scripture. We are proclaiming His names. But we are also affirming who HE IS!!!

Try it when we begin to sing here in a few minutes. Yell out Jesus the name above every other name! Say it with some tone behind it! Set yourself free by Acknowledging the Sovereignty of God. By Giving God Glory you are able to take comfort in knowing that God is in control of your life!

Worship

Listen here because of the Confidence and surrender of not just the Leader in Judah…but the obedience of leadership for the people…something happens after this prayer. Because the sacrifice of the families all around

Fasting and praying for Spiritual guidance which reflects the Physical decisions …come on....God’s Spiritual Guidance affects our Physical Actions and Decisions we make.

Because of this very fact after KING J prayer the Holy Spirit fell…Jahaziel recieved the spirit of the lord and he spoke over the kingdom.

2 Chronicles 20:15–17 NIV

15 He said: “Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s. 16 Tomorrow march down against them. They will be climbing up by the Pass of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the gorge in the Desert of Jeruel. 17 You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.’ ”

Listen its time for us to claim the promises of God.

God promises to work out that issue.

“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” (Romans 8:28 NLT)

God Promises to be with you

“I will not fail you or abandon you. This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:5, 9NLT)

God promises to protect you.

“This I declare about the LORD: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him.” (Psalm 91:2 NLT)

Ezekiel 37:14 NIV

14 I will put my Spirit in you and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land. Then you will know that I the Lord have spoken, and I have done it, declares the Lord.’ ”

When it comes to worship its not just about who dances the most, its not about who has the best voice for singing. Its about making Him our priority!

If we can learn and establish the higest priority in our lives on who God is and live out that dedication in our everyday lives, each action we take will be authentic worship!

Its more than the music we play, more than tithing, its more than witnessing,

Worship is us submitting to God’s will and placing all our burdens on Him.

Trusting even when it feels small or foolish, loving him even when we are doubtful or when it hurts.

That is heart!

This transfers into our actions. Series of actions makes up our lives. We create a lifestyle of worship.

So when the times get tough or when the times are joyful.

We are worshiping casting everything His way!

When we recieve this level of worship in our lives.

The obvious statment we make to the world is

Caution: this is what real life looks like.

"One day, I was sitting with Rodleigh, the leader of the troupe, in his caravan, talking about flying. He said, 'As a flyer, I must have complete trust in my catcher. The public might think that I am the great star of the trapeze, but the real star is Joe, my catcher. He has to be there for me with split-second precision and grab me out of the air as I come to him in the long jump.' 'How does it work?' I asked. 'The secret,' Rodleigh said, 'is that the flyer does nothing and the catcher does everything. When I fly to Joe, I have simply to stretch out my arms and hands and wait for him to catch me and pull me safely over the apron behind the catchbar.'

" 'You do nothing!' I said, surprised. 'Nothing,' Rodleigh repeated. 'The worst thing the flyer can do is to try to catch the catcher. I am not supposed to catch Joe. It's Joe's task to catch me. If I grabbed Joe's wrists, I might break them, or he might break mine, and that would be the end for both of us. A flyer must fly, and a catcher must catch, and the flyer must trust, with outstretched arms, that his catcher will be there for him.'

"When Rodleigh said this with so much conviction, the words of Jesus flashed through my mind: 'Father into your hands I commend my Spirit.' Dying is trusting in the catcher. To care for the dying is to say, 'Don't be afraid. Remember that you are the beloved child of God. He will be there when you make your long jump. Don't try to grab him; he will grab you. Just stretch out your arms and hands and trust, trust, trust.' "