CHOICE

Here we are…another day…and more choices to be made. Will we choose God’s way or our own?

When Gideon went to battle against Midian, he took 32,000 men to fight. God wanted to receive the glory, so he had Gideon cut the forces down to 300 men to make it obvious Who had won the battle. (Judges 7)

When Joshua led the people against the city of Jericho, he chose God’s plan which sounded rather bizarre (a bunch of people marching around the walls of the city for several days and then shouting!) but God was glorified through their obedience and the victory over the fortified city. (Joshua 6)

When God led the Israelites out of Egypt, he led them right up to the edge of the Red Sea. How were they going to get out of that one! God said, “Watch” and he parted the waters to allow the millions of people to cross safely. Even if you want to believe it was the “Reed” Sea, God still caused the entire army of Pharaoh that was chasing the Israelites to perish. (Exodus 14)

Which way will you choose today, God’s way or your own? God will be glorified. Make sure you’re part of the bunch giving Him the glory and diligently seek to do His will. He has promised:

• That if we diligently seek Him, we will find Him. (Proverbs 8:17)
• We are more than conquerors through Christ (Romans 8:37)
• He will never leave us (Matthew 28:20)

SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD

SEEK

I may visit Second Chronicles chapter twenty more than a few times this month. The day that I figured out that was the passage I was supposed to preach on last week, I had read it two times in different versions. Later that day, I was told that some friends had discussed the passage on their way back to Willcox and another friend brought up the fact that they had read it.

I believe there may be special significance and relevance to the time we live in AND the town we live in. Last night, two women came into the SPRING wanting to know how they could volunteer to help. During our conversation it came up how they had never lived in a town (or a time) that spiritual warfare was so elevated. At the same time, we discovered that we all felt God was working among His people and that revival was just around the corner.

When King Jehoshaphat and his people faced a problem with an attacking army they came from all over the country…they united to find out what God wanted them to do…

⁴So people from all the towns of Judah came to Jerusalem to seek the LORD’s help. 2 Chronicles 20:4 NLT

In our day, in our town, I believe the Lord is calling His people from all the different churches to come together to seek Him, to seek His will and to seek His help. He tells us of a similar situation earlier in Second Chronicles and confirms that He will respond positively when certain conditions are met…

¹⁴Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14 NLT

WHO

My people – The people who belong to God…the people that God created.

Called by my name – Those who are called, or call themselves, Christians (John 14:6)

WHAT

Humble – to be out of the limelight so that God may shine…to give Him all the glory, honor and praise.

Pray – talk to God…acknowledging His greatness and our weakness

Seek my face – when you are so close that you look into each other’s eyes…nothing withheld…complete honesty.

Turn from wicked ways – anything that is displeasing to God…anything that takes a priority over the things of God…anything that gets between you and God

THEN

God will hear our cries for help

God will forgive our sin

God will restore our land (to peace, to God’s control rather than being dominated by evil)

SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD

FRUSTRATING

Yesterday I brought the message at a local church and spoke from Second Chronicles, chapter 20. King Jehoshaphat had a big army coming toward him and he asked God what to do, rather than taking matters into his own hands. God brought victory because the King and his people sought his help.

Immediately after service, someone who liked the worship music that we used came up and said they wanted to reach the twenty-something crowd and would like to have that kind of music on a Sunday night to “draw” them.

Jesus said, I will draw all men unto myself (John 12:32). He has power. We do not. Apart from Him, we can do nothing.

What then is our responsibility? As we see the need, we MUST seek God’s way to fulfill the need. Reaching younger folks is probably going to take involving younger folks in the PLANNING phase, not just hoping they are mysteriously “drawn” by sounds of drums and guitars.

As with anything, if we don’t feel a part of something, we feel outside of it and consequently do not participate. Young people must be involved in important roles in the church during their twenties and thirties if the church is to survive after the older generations are gone.

Oh yeah, so why did I call this Word “Frustrating”? Because it was brought out in God’s Word yesterday that King Jehoshaphat turned to God for deliverance. He had the people fast and then he led them in prayer. We all need to understand that the bible isn’t just a collection of cute little stories for encouragement, but that they are living words that are just as applicable today as they were thousands of years ago.

How are we going to reach the twenty-something’s?

1. Seek God.
2. Pray for His answer
3. WAIT for His reply.

Once it is clear what God wants and how He wants to accomplish something, then and only then should we move forward.

SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD