revmattil.org

The setting is the Kingdom of Judah, the southern half of the Promised Land that God gave to the descendants of Abraham. Hundreds of years have passed since then. This was after David, after Solomon. A king named Jehoshaphat sits on the throne of Judah. All of his life, this guy has depended on God. He wasn’t perfect, but He was one of the few kings that was good in God’s eyes. He tried to rule according to God’s will. One day Jehoshaphat gets the message that a vast army was marching against them, and it was coming quickly. This news shook him up. But he didn’t panic and start thinking, “What do I do?” The first thing he did was announce that all the people of Judah should fast and pray to God. People from all across the nation came to Jerusalem to pray with him. (2 Chronicles 20:1-5) When a large crowd had gathered outside the Temple, Jehoshaphat stood up and offered this prayer:

2 Chronicles 20:6-9 “O LORD, God of our fathers, 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. O 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?  They have lived in it and have built in it a sanctuary for your Name, saying, ‘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.’

1.         Recognize God’s Power

Jehoshaphat had a pretty good grasp of the situation. He understood an enemy army was about to invade his territory, but he also knew that God had given him that territory and that God was strong enough to protect it. “Who can stand against you?” he prayed. He recognized God’s power. Recognizing God’s power means that you take Him more seriously than you do yourselves. When you get up in the morning and think of all the things you’ve got to do and you start to worry “how am I going to get it all done” … do you completely overlook the fact that you got up this morning? It was God’s power working in your lives that let you do so. If you are going to receive God’s help you’ve got to take your eyes off of what you can and can’t do and focus on what God can do and is doing. You need to remember the awesome power of God is at your disposal.

2 Chronicles 20:10-12 “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. See how they are repaying us by coming to drive us out of the possession you gave us as an inheritance. O 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 upon you.” 

2.         Depending on God means that you ask for God’s help.

Jehoshaphat asked God to help him. He recognized his own helplessness, and asked the One who was able to help him. That sounds pretty obvious. But think about it – when you come up against a difficult situation, what’s the first thought that goes through your head? If you’re like me, it’s usually “what am I going to do?” That’s a self-reliant thought. A God-dependent thought would be “Hey God, what do you want to do?” You know that you are depending on God when that thought comes first. “God, what do you want to do?”  Jehoshaphat didn’t say: “Oh, no, I’m the king! It’s all up to me! What am I going to do?” The first thing he did was say, “Let’s ask God.” And when you ask God, be ready for an answer.

2 Chronicles 20:13-17 All the men of Judah, with their wives and children and little ones, stood there before the LORD. Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jahaziel son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite and descendant of Asaph, as he stood in the assembly. 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. 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. You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the LORD will give you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the LORD will be with you.’”

3.         Depending on God means that you listen for His guidance.

You recognize His power, you ask for His help and then you wait until He answers you. This is where it gets hard – waiting for an answer from God. The tendency is to say, “Ok, I’ve asked God to help, now I’m going to get out there and fight” which usually means, “I’ll pray and then I’ll go ahead and do what I had planned. I’ll listen, but only for the answer that I want to hear.” Sometimes God may actually tell you what you want to hear. But His answer may be something far different from what you expect. God’s guidance may be “you will not need to fight. Just wait.” It is waiting for the Lord.

The people of the Old Testament understood about waiting. God had promised a Savior. Those who believed that promise waited in faith until God fulfilled it by sending His Son. He was in control. You have to believe God is in control and then let Him be in control. Don’t try to snatch the reins away from him. Things don’t work well that way. Sometimes God’s guidance comes in ways you don’t expect. But the point is that depending on God means that you wait for His guidance before you act. God told Jehoshaphat, “Don’t worry. It’s not your battle. It belongs to Me and I will take care of it. All you have to do is show up. I’ll take care of the rest.”

2 Chronicles 20:18-19 Jehoshaphat bowed with his face to the ground, and all the people of Judah and Jerusalem fell down in worship before the LORD. Then some Levites from the Kohathites and Korahites stood up and praised the LORD, the God of Israel, with very loud voice.

4.         Humble yourself and worship in God’s presence.

Jehoshaphat was so moved that God had answered that he was literally awestruck. How great was this God who would come to help! How often do you do that? How often are you so overwhelmed by God’s goodness that you get down on your knees and thank Him? When you are amazed at what God has done in your family, in your marriage, in your church, in your life, it’s a pretty good indication that you’re depending on Him. When you recognize His goodness, don’t forget to do what Jehoshaphat did: Give thanks and praise to God.

2 Chronicles 20:20-21 Early in the morning they left for the Desert of Tekoa. As they set out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Listen to me, Judah and people of Jerusalem! Have faith in the LORD your God and you will be upheld; have faith in his prophets and you will be successful.” After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the LORD and to praise him for the splendor of his holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying: “Give thanks to the LORD, for his love endures forever.”

5.         Follow God’s Guiding

“Have faith in the Lord your God.” Jehoshaphat was telling the people, “We recognize God’s power and He’s on our side! We’ve asked Him to help. He’s given us guidance. We humbled ourselves and worshiped Him. Now it’s time for us to trust in God’s plan. He set the stage. All we’ve got to do is what He told us to do …” … which, in their case, was to go to the battlefield and simply watch.  Watch what God was going to do. Except that it wasn’t that simple. It was pretty risky. It required them to walk into a battle, a deadly conflict, completely vulnerable. If God didn’t come through, they were dead. Literally. That’s what it means to depend on God.

Now, you and I will probably never be told by God to do something that risky or dramatic. But there are areas of your life and mine where God is saying to us in a very specific way “trust my plan and I’ll help you.” That’s the issue. Everyone of us has to make a commitment to our way or a commitment to His way. You can recognize God’s power, ask for his help, listen for his guidance, humble yourself and worship, but in the end you’ve still got to do what he says. Anything less is self-reliance. And we’ve already said that God is not interested helping self-reliant people. Fortunately, for Jehoshaphat and company, they did the risky thing – marched right out on the battlefield, not with swords, but with songs.

2 Chronicles 20:22-24 As they began to sing and praise, the LORD set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated. The men of Ammon and Moab rose up against the men from Mount Seir to destroy and annihilate them. After they finished slaughtering the men from Seir, they helped to destroy one another. When the men of Judah came to the place that overlooks the desert and looked toward the vast army, they saw only dead bodies lying on the ground; no one had escaped.

That’s hard to believe, isn’t it? But God was in control. The invading armies turned on each other, and God’s people were spared. It is hard for us to receive God’s help because we often don’t believe it can happen. But it does. God comes through in the most unbelievable ways. Like He did at Calvary. Letting His Son take your place, die your death, and earn your forgiveness. God had a plan, and He carried it out for the helpless.

6.         Give God the Glory

The story of Jehoshaphat ends with a victory. The Bible says that for three days the people of Judah gathered up the spoils of the battle. Then on the fourth day, They had a great assembly for the purpose of praising God. And they returned to Jerusalem still rejoicing. It was pretty obvious to Jehoshaphat and his army that they didn’t do anything. God did it. So they gave the Glory to God. Giving God the glory means that you just say so – to Him and to everybody else. God did it. He deserves the credit. He deserves the praise.

That is true in our lives as well, especially when it comes to our salvation. God did it. He did what we could not do. He had a plan, carried it out, and told us to just show up and collect the spoils, which are forgiveness of sins and eternal life for Jesus’ sake. Don’t we owe Him unending praise for what He has done for us through Jesus? And what about all the ways He continues to help us in our lives as His disciples? Give God the glory.

The help you need been provided through Jesus.

Over the years I have received a phone call that goes something like this: “Pastor, I’m having trouble finding a passage in the Bible. I know it is in there, but I just can’t find it. Can you tell me where in the Bible it says, ‘God helps those who help themselves’”?

Do any of you know the answer? People are usually shocked when I tell them it is not in there. A nationwide poll by Barna Research Institute found that 82% of Americans believed that phrase “God helps those who help themselves” is a direct quote from the Bible. (George Barna, 1996) It is not. It has been attributed to many sources, one of which is Aesop’s Fables. The story goes something like this:

“A man is driving a wagon with a heavy load along a very muddy road. He came to a part of the road where the wheels sank half-way into the mire, and the more the horses pulled, the deeper the wheels sank. So the man threw down his whip, and knelt down and prayed to Hercules: ‘O Hercules, help me in this my hour of distress.” But Hercules appeared to him, and said: ‘Man, don’t just sit there praying. Get up and put your shoulder to the wheel. The gods help them that help themselves.'”   

Now, there is an element of truth in that. You can’t just sit around and expect God to miraculously do everything for you. That is kind of what the Apostle Paul once wrote to a group of people with a lay-back-and-let-God-do-it-all attitude.

2 Thessalonians 3:10-12  For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “If a man will not work, he shall not eat.” We hear that some among you are idle. They are not busy; they are busybodies. Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the bread they eat.

In other words, “Put your shoulder to the wheel. God isn’t pleased with laziness.” In that sense, Paul is saying, “God helps those who help themselves.” But that’s different from what most of us mean by that phrase. What most people mean when they say “God helps those who help themselves” is that God expects us to be self-reliant: do your best, be your own person, pull yourself up by your bootstraps, only call upon God when you absolutely need him.

Is that how you live your life? Lots of people do. More importantly, is that what you believe God really wants you to do? If you answered yes to either of those questions, then you need to know something. God says again and again in the Bible that He’s not interested in helping those who are self-reliant. God wants to help those who rely on Him instead of themselves.

Isaiah 40:29-31   He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. 

Proverbs 3:5-6  Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. 

Psalm 27:14 Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD. 

The ones who wait on the Lord, the ones who trust in His power, the ones who hope in Him – they are the ones who receive God’s help. A very important lesson that God wants all of you to learn is to rely on His power instead of our own. That’s a hard lesson to learn. I struggle with it everyday. It’s so easy to convince myself that “It’s all up to me – family, church, personal life. Everything depends on my ability to get it done.” When I fall into that trap, when I get into that mode, do you know what God does? He says, “Go ahead. Try it on your own. See how far you get.”

Let me make something clear: As far as your forgiveness is concerned, you have nothing to offer, nothing to contribute. You cannot help God; you do not assist Him in even the smallest way. Jesus took care of all that for you. God is the one who accomplished your forgiveness and salvation all by Himself. After you come to faith, as you strive to live the new life, you do have a responsibility to live a certain way. Yet even that is not your own doing. It is dependent on God’s power. God doesn’t help those who help themselves. He helps those who are helpless. He helps those who come to Him for mercy. He helps those who depend on Him. He helps those who cannot do it on their own, which is all of us.

Five years ago, over Spring break, Cheryl and I were able to go to Belize for a relaxing vacation getaway. When we started traveling more internationally, my brother, who has traveled extensively, suggested that we get something called “Global Entry.” You make an appointment with the TSA and go through a background check and pay $100 and you get cleared for “Global Entry.” When you fly domestically, you get to go in the TSA Precheck security line, which means you don’t have to take off your shoes and you can leave your computer in your bag. That is usually a pretty good thing. But the real advantage of Global Entry is when you come back into the US after having been abroad. Instead of waiting in the long customs line, you go to a little computer kiosk, scan your passport, answer a few questions, then go to a separate line reserved only for people who have global entry. It is like a fast pass at Six Flags or Disneyworld. You go right to the front of the line. And it has saved us a lot of time and frustration in our travels.

When we came back from Belize, we landed in Houston, got off the plane and waited for our bags. We had already scanned our passports and were ready to go. We got our bags and headed for the line marked “Global Entry.” The regular customs line had about 40-50 people in it. There was no one in the line marked “Global Entry.”

Cheryl was a few steps ahead of me, and just before we entered the “Global Entry” line, the pilot from our flight rushed in front of me and cut me off. He was now walking between Cheryl and myself. Cheryl didn’t see him, so I called out to her and said to let him go ahead, which she did. He was obviously in a hurry and did not even acknowledge that she let him go in front of her. When this pilot got to the front of the line, the customs officer, who was this large, sturdy, fierce looking gentleman, asked the pilot, “Do you have global entry?” The pilot said he did not. The officer instructed him to go to the end of the other line. The pilot was incredulous. He said, “really?” The officer did not budge. He said, “Go to the end of the other line.” The Pilot was visibly upset, but he did step aside so that we could get past him. At this point, the customs officer looked at Cheryl and I and asked, “Do you have global entry?” To which I respectfully replied, “Yes sir, we do.”  He called us forward, looked at our credentials, and quickly motioned us through. As we started to walk away, I heard the officer say, “I told you to go to the back of the line.”  I turned around to see the pilot standing in the front of the other line. He had simply stepped in front of about 40 people who were following the rules. And I remember thinking about the officer: I like this guy. He has a strong sense of justice and fairness. But the conversation was not yet over. Again, the pilot stood his ground and said, “No, I’m not going to the end of the line.” The officer said, “Oh yes you are.”  “No, I’m not.”  The last thing I heard as the officer was walking toward the pilot was, “Why don’t you step into my office so I can explain the situation to you.” Cheryl and I both wished we could have heard the rest of the conversation.

My initial reaction was a bit of satisfaction that this arrogant, entitled-feeling little pilot was going to get what was coming to him. But almost immediately after that, I thought of how that is what it will be like for many when Christ returns to be our judge. They will arrogantly stand before the judge thinking they deserve something because of who they are or what they have done. They will be standing there with the wrong credentials, and in fairness a righteous judge will condemn them.

“Surely the day is coming; it will burn like a furnace. All the arrogant and every evildoer will be stubble, and that day that is coming will set them on fire,” says the Lord Almighty. “Not a root or a branch will be left to them. But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings.” (Malachi 4:1–2, NIV84)

For those who stand before the judge on their own, judgment day will not be a good thing. It will result in tragic consequences for all eternity. However, there is an escape clause. It is not about us or who we are or what we have done. It is about what Jesus has done for us. He paid for sin. He conquered death. He won the victory. And He gives that victory freely to any and all who put their faith in Him. He gives us the credentials we need to stand before Him and be welcomed into heaven.

We have that certainty not just because Jesus died, but because He rose from the dead as well. Easter is a glorious day and a wonderful celebration. However, Easter does not negate the reality that Jesus is coming again to judge the world. He is coming again and He will judge all people. But the Resurrection of Jesus assures us that the judgment that stood against us has been removed for those who have put their faith in Jesus.

God’s grace makes a difference in your lives. It makes all the difference in the world. It is the difference between standing before God to be condemned and being declared “not guilty” for Jesus’ sake. Grace makes that difference.

This is our last day to work on the house in Acuna. The family has been working alongside of us. There will be some finishing items that they will take care of themselves after we are gone, but the major construction will be finished today, Lord willing.

Our crew of 12 and the Director of Casas por Cristo have worked hard. I don’t mind telling you I am tired. But it is a good kind of tired, knowing that you have been doing something for someone else and thereby serving Jesus. I do not ever want to become weary of doing good, knowing what Jesus already did for me.

Here is the passage I am taking with me into the work day.

Galatians 6:2–10 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, for each one should carry his own load. Anyone who receives instruction in the word must share all good things with his instructor.  Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.  The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.  Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

We are about to go work on the house in Acuna, Mexico for a second day. We will put on rafters, decking, and shingles. The exterior walls will be covered with chicken wire and stucco. We will also run the electrical inside the walls and then start putting up the sheetrock.

Yesterday we interacted with the family for whom we are building the home. It is a husband and wife pastor team. We are building the home next to the church they serve. We heard a lot of praising and singing and “Hallelujahs” inside the church building while we were framing walls outside. After the worship service, they and many of their congregation came out to watch and help and interact. They also served us a wonderful meal for lunch, something we were not expecting, but much better than the sandwiches and salads we brought with us. Though there was a language barrier, we could see them expressing God’s love to us and we were trying to do the same for them.

Part of my reading this morning again reminded me why we are here.

2 John 4–6 ⁴ It has given me great joy to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father commanded us. ⁵ And now, dear lady, I am not writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning. I ask that we love one another. ⁶ And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.

May you walk in love today, serving your Savior wherever you are.

Yesterday was a travel day. Cheryl and I joined our son-in-law and 9 others from his congregation in Colleyville, Texas and travelled to Del Rio, a part of Texas I have never visited before. For the next three days we will help build a house just outside Acuna, Mexico for a needy family. I am not sure how much time I will have to write devotions for the next couple of days, but I will try.

In the early hours of this morning – with that extra hour from “falling back” – I took some time to read God’s Word. I read through 1 John. The following passage reminds me why I am here right now.

1 John 3:16–20 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.

We are making a concerted effort to share Jesus with actions and in truth. It just so happens that we are building a house for fellow believers in Christ, but we hope our actions will also speak loudly to those who have not yet come to know Jesus as Lord and Savior. I am bold enough to ask my readers to pray for the twelve of us down here. Pray for our safety and that we would let the light of Christ shine through us. Please pray for Terry, Bob, Martin, Jack, Richard, Dave, Ann, Abby, Melody, Renee, Cheryl and Mike.

God bless you as you live for Him today.

The congregation in Denison that I served for most of my ministry is still searching for the next pastor God has chosen for them. The congregation I have helped a bit in Port Isabel since my retirement is also searching for a full-time pastor. I have prayed for them and all congregations that find themselves in this position. I know that God is at work in these situations.

While going through some boxes stashed in a closet, I came across a clipping from a church newsletter years ago. The author of this letter to Dear Abby was not identified.

Dear Abby:

One of the toughest tasks a church faces is choosing a good minister. A member of an official board undergoing this painful process finally lost patience. He’d watched the Pastoral Relations Committee reject applicant after applicant for some fault, alleged or otherwise. It was time for a bit of soul-searching on the part of the committee. So he stood up and read a letter purporting to be from another applicant.

“Gentlemen:  Understanding your pulpit is vacant, I should like to apply for the position. I have many qualifications … I’ve been a preacher with much success and also some success as a writer. Some say I’m a good organizer. I’ve been a leader most places I’ve been.

I’m over 50 years of age. I have never preached in one place for more than three years. In some places I have left town after my work has caused some riots and disturbances. I must admit I have been in jail three or four times, but not because of any real wrongdoing. My health is not too good, though I still get a great deal done. The churches I have preached in have been small, though located in several large cities. I’ve not gotten along well with religious leaders in towns where I have preached. In fact, some have threatened me and even attacked me physically. I am not too good at keeping records. I have been known to forget whom I have baptized.

However, if you can use me, I shall do my best for you.”

The board member looked over the committee. “Well, what do you think? Should we call him?”

The good church folks were aghast. Call an unhealthy, trouble-making, absent-minded ex-jailbird?  Was the board member crazy? Who has such colossal nerve?

The board member eyed them all keenly before he answered. “It’s signed, ‘The Apostle Paul.’”

We would do well to remember that each of us, lay and clergy, are sinners who make mistakes but have been covered by the blood of Jesus to make us righteous in God’s sight. And God uses us all as His instruments in this world. He does great things through failed and faulty sinners like us.

I will continue to pray for those congregations in the process of finding a new pastor.