Sunday July 10, 2016

“town of mosquitos” Punxsatuwney Willow Street

Punxsutawney Phil

Punxsutawney Phil

Isaiah 55:11 So shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.

In Pursuit of Glory The Stories of Eight Ancient Kings Who Sought God’s Glory above Their Own! In Pursuit of Glory Sunday Mornings through September 4th

King Jehoshaphat (“YAHWEH has judged”) 1 Kings 22; 2 Kings 3 2 Chronicles 17 – 21:3

King Jehoshaphat (“YAHWEH has judged”) 1 Kings 22; 2 Kings 3 2 Chronicles 17 – 21:3

King Jehoshaphat – Highlights of His Reign • He began his reign at age 35 and ruled over Judah for 25 years (873-849 BC) • He eradicated the pagan cults. • He sent officials, priests and Levites all over the country to teach the Law of God (according to the biblical record the only king to do this).

King Jehoshaphat – Highlights of His Reign • Jehoshaphat became strong, wealthy and popular, and built fortresses and supply centers throughout Judah. • He promoted justice throughout his kingdom by setting up courts in the larger cities, with the Levites, priests, and clan leaders as judges.

King Jehoshaphat – Highlights of His Reign • Toward the end of his reign, when the armies of Moab, Ammon and the Meunites declared war on Jehoshaphat, he prayed to the Lord for help. In response, the Lord caused these enemy armies to fight among themselves which lead to their total destruction and a decisive victory for Judah (for which the king and people joyfully thanked God … giving him the credit he was due).

King Jehoshaphat – Lowlights of His Reign 2 Chronicles 18:1 Now Jehoshaphat had great riches and honor, and he made a marriage alliance with Ahab. King Ahab offered his daughter Athalia to King Jehoshaphat’s son Jehoram, Jehoshaphat’s eldest son and who would one day succeed Jehoshaphat as king of Judah.

King Jehoshaphat – Lowlights of His Reign Athalia was the daughter of Jezebel, one of the most wicked women of the Old Testament. Jezebel was a pagan Phonecian who brought the worship of her Baal god to Israel. And Athalia became more evil than her mother!

King Jehoshaphat – Lowlights of His Reign This evil woman would go on to reign over the southern kingdom of Judah for 6 years (the only queen to do so), but she was only able to take the throne after. . . she executed all of her own grandsons!

King Jehoshaphat – Lowlights of His Reign 2 Chronicles 18:1 Now Jehoshaphat had great riches and honor, and he made a marriage alliance with Ahab. King Ahab offered his daughter Athalia to King Jehoshaphat’s son Jehoram, his eldest son and who would one day succeed Jehoshaphat as king of Judah. A BIG mistake!

King Jehoshaphat – Lowlights of His Reign This BIG mistake (marriage alliance) led to . . . A joint battle with the Syrians. Ahab died and Jehoshaphat almost died in decisive defeat of Israel. A joint commercial venture to import gold with Ahab’s son, Jehoram. God, in judgment, destroyed their fleet. - Another joint battle with Jehoram. Jehoshaphat and his army almost died of thirst. Saved only through miracle of God announced by the prophet Elisha.

King Jehoshaphat – Highlights of His Reign What was it about this king that led to this list of highlights?

King Jehoshaphat 2 Chronicles 17:3a The Lord was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the earlier ways of his father David. Acts 13:22 He (God) raised up David to be their (Israel’s) king, of whom he testified and said, ‘I have found in David the son of Jesse a man after my heart, who will do all my will.’

King Jehoshaphat 2 Chronicles 17:3b-4 He did not seek the Baals, 4 but sought the God of his father and walked in his commandments, and not according to the practices of Israel. 

“Destroy the inhabitants of the land!” The Promised Land

King Jehoshaphat Deuteronomy 20:18 That they (the Canaanites and other pagan peoples) may not teach you to do according to all their abominable practices that they have done for their gods, and so you sin against the Lord your God.

King Jehoshaphat 2 Chronicles 17:3b-4 He did not seek the Baals, 4 but sought the God of his father and walked in his commandments, and not according to the practices of Israel. 

King Jehoshaphat 2 Chronicles 17:5 Therefore the Lord established the kingdom in his hand. And all Judah brought tribute to Jehoshaphat, and he had great riches and honor.

King Jehoshaphat 1 Samuel 12:14-15  If you will fear the Lord and serve him and obey his voice and not rebel against the commandment of the Lord, and if both you and the king who reigns over you will follow the Lord your God, it will be well. 15 But if you will not obey the voice of the Lord, but rebel against the commandment of the Lord, then the hand of the Lord will be against you and your king.

King Jehoshaphat 2 Chronicles 17:7-9 In the third year of his reign he sent his officials . . . to teach in the cities of Judah; 8 and with them the Levites . . . and with these Levites, the priests . . .9 And they taught in Judah, having the Book of the Law of the Lord with them. They went about through all the cities of Judah and taught among the people.

King Jehoshaphat 2 Chronicles 17:6a His heart was courageous in the ways of the Lord.

“His heart was courageous in the ways of the Lord.” King Jehoshaphat “His heart was courageous in the ways of the Lord.” NIV- “His heart was devoted to the ways of the Lord” NASB- “He was deeply committed to the ways of the Lord” KJV- “His heart was lifted up in the ways of the Lord” NKJV- “His heart took delight in the ways of the LORD” The Message- “He was single-minded in following God.”

“His heart was courageous in the ways of the Lord.” King Jehoshaphat “His heart was courageous in the ways of the Lord.” NIV- “His heart was devoted to the ways of the Lord” NASB- “He was deeply committed to the ways of the Lord” KJV- “His heart was lifted up in the ways of the Lord” NKJV- “His heart took delight in the ways of the LORD” The Message- “He was single-minded in following God.”

King Jehoshaphat – Highlights of His Reign When one is lifted up with pride…such a person is all wrapped up in who? Themselves! It’s all about them! A proud person is one who is full of … themselves!

King Jehoshaphat 2 Chronicles 17:6a His heart was lifted up in the ways of the Lord. (KJV) King Jehoshophat was all wrapped up in the ways of the Lord. He was full of God and his ways! “He was single-minded in following God.” (The Message)

In Pursuit of Glory King Jehoshaphat Sought God’s Glory above His Own! 2 Chronicles 17:1-21:3

Today’s Takeaways 2 Chronicles 19:1-3 Jehoshaphat the king of Judah returned in safety to his house in Jerusalem. 2 But Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him and said to King Jehoshaphat, “Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the Lord? Because of this, wrath has gone out against you from the Lord. 3 Nevertheless, some good is found in you, for you destroyed the Asheroth out of the land, and have set your heart to seek God.”

Today’s Takeaways Every decision we make will be followed by consequences, whether bad or good!

Today’s Takeaways Every decision we make will be followed by consequences, whether bad or good! The most grievous was the eventual power grab of Ahab and Jezebel’s daughter, Athalia and the blood she spilt to do it! As queen, she was in position to inject Baal worship into the very bloodstream of the kingdom of Judah!

Today’s Takeaways Every decision we make will be followed by consequences, whether bad or good! Jehoshaphat’s good decisions to obey God’s law and to teach his people to do likewise resulted in God’s blessing upon him and his kingdom!

Today’s Takeaways Every decision we make will be followed by consequences, whether bad or good! Galatians 6:7 Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.  What are you sowing in your life? Because whatever you are sowing - you will one day reap!

“His heart was courageous in the ways of the Lord.” Today’s Takeaways “His heart was courageous in the ways of the Lord.” NIV- “His heart was devoted to the ways of the Lord” NASB- “He was deeply committed to the ways of the Lord” KJV- “His heart was lifted up in the ways of the Lord” NKJV- “His heart took delight in the ways of the LORD” The Message- “He was single-minded in following God.”

For Jehoshaphat the answer was: the ways of the Lord. Today’s Takeaways So what are you wrapped up in? What in life are you deeply committed to? Devoted to? Delighting in? For Jehoshaphat the answer was: the ways of the Lord. What about YOU?

“His heart was courageous in the ways of the Lord.” Today’s Takeaways “His heart was courageous in the ways of the Lord.” NIV- “His heart was devoted to the ways of the Lord” NASB- “He was deeply committed to the ways of the Lord” KJV- “His heart was lifted up in the ways of the Lord” NKJV- “His heart took delight in the ways of the LORD” The Message- “He was single-minded in following God.”