R1360 Jehoshaphat Made Difference

We all could use some encouragement and will find it together today to the Bible-based preaching up Dr. Don Wilton on The Encouraging Word. Jehoshaphat made a difference that I don't say the words I was about to often. It's a wonderful story in Scripture, though, about a man whom God has changed in a powerful way and we can learn from Jehoshaphat today. Again, today's message from Dr. Wilton is called Jehoshaphat made a difference.

As we pray for each other in the desire we all have to make a difference in the world in which we live. To make a difference in our jobs, our schools are sports where we are connected with other human beings. Let us make a difference for you, Jesus. That's our prayer that's what we'll discover today as we do so. Another were available for our prayer line is 866-899-WORD and we connect online as well.

In TW online.org canal it's open our hearts and our scriptures together with Dr. Don Wilton. I believe that God has a very special word for us. I just want you to know that over these days that we been doing a mini series entitled making a difference. I love that I love it because I want to make a difference for the Lord Jesus, don't you and I have told our people and I want to just simply say this again because I am praying that the Lord would bless you greatly today as we worship him to fall away that he would give you a warm embrace.

I recognize that there are so many who worship the Lord today who are making an indelible mark for Christ in so many different ways but also pray that the Lord would spur something in your heart will living in a very precarious day and age will lose not happy we might find individual happiness and we certainly do. And of course the greatest privilege that we have living in our beautiful land where when compared to many other places in the world. We enjoy so many blessings it's easy for us sometimes to recoil in the comfort zones of our lives in and it's good to enjoy the blessings of life we are facing some uncommon challenges world is angry, people are restless some things going wrong, you know it and I know it I get it understand these things. I'm not sure that I perfectly understand some of the deeper things that are going on but I'm asking a lot of questions some things going on and in the middle of all this, there are people who making a real difference and I love you for that and if you haven't given your heart and life to the Lord Jesus, I want to invite you today to trust him as your Savior, because if you don't, you're on your own.

All of us have sinned and come short of the glory of God.

God loves you and what happens when Jesus comes into your life. He gives you a fresh perspective because he forgives you and he spirit comes in lives in your heart. He's made all the difference in my life. I'm just a Christian man I got enough battles as it is, but I'm so grateful that the battle is not mine, but God's greater is he that is in you than he's that's in the world and so is as we try to study what it is that God would teach us about making a difference. It has a good to me that there are many people in our world today and you are no exception.

Who really make a difference for Christ despite the fact that you have journeyed through some extremely difficult times. In fact, I'm going to take that one step further because there are many today who are facing major issues in your life.

I wanted is that you facing but you're under attack. You're going through deep water. You know when I study the word of God. I've I've come to discover that there are so many people who come through the most arduous circumstances. And despite those circumstances, God raises them up to become powerhouses for him. People who make a huge difference. We were so delighted that Iran released some of the man that they have been holding torturing in prison for all these years, horrific one of those men is pasta sayyid Abbott Dini.

I have Manton spend time with these wife not for three years. Pasta sayyid has languished in an Iranian prison for one reason his Christian faith just because he loves the Lord Jesus Christ and I think many of us who have prayed and thousands have across our nation was so overjoyed, together with the others you were released even to see some of those pictures of meeting with Franklin Graham in the time when sayyid stepped off that plane into the arms of his family and who will ever be able to erase the sounds of his mother just so delighted that mama for years and it bless you mama, you know, I don't know that we know all the story all that we ever will.

But we do know that at least at an initial stage the pasta Abbott Dini Bay is no malice. In fact, within the context of this great difficulty.

This hurt and pain they has risen up something within him that speaks so eloquently to the power and presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. I look at better not say how can a man speak so kindly been no resentment off to having gone through what he has been on Iranian prison. Just because he loves the Lord Jesus Christ. I want you to open your Bibles to second Chronicles and chapter 17 Jehoshaphat made a difference that is so much that I want to say to you about Jehoshaphat because God has got a special word for each one of us is one thing that I'm I'm going to show you today is that Jehoshaphat made a difference.

But not before he had faced an insurmountable, seemingly insurmountable enemy. You know it's very difficult to see the sunshine when the snow is falling.

It's very difficult sometimes to rise above the clouds read to you, just very briefly to passages here today concerning the life of Jehoshaphat not remember Jehoshaphat's father. His name was Asa a is and when Lisa died off to write very good rulership Jehoshaphat he son took the throne of Judah and actually Jehoshaphat ended up living, of all places) Jerusalem fact just write off the Kidron Valley was the seat of his throne. I want to read to you just just to set the scene today just to lay the groundwork about the significance of Jehoshaphat who made such a difference in his world.

Chapter 17 of second Chronicles the Bible says Jehoshaphat. He son reigned in his place and strengthened himself against Israel, he placed forces in all the fortified cities of Judah, and he said garrisons in the land of Judah and in the cities of air from that I say. His father had captured the Lord was with Jehoshaphat because he walked in the earlier ways of his father David. He did not seek the bail's the pagan gods but sort raw. The God of his father and his commandments, and not according to the pagan practices of Israel, therefore I want to pronounce their full on somebody in the name of the Lord, if I could come in just touch you and I love you so much.

I'd love to just put my hand on you and say in the name of the Lord. Therefore, that a pretty neat kind of blessing we should all walk around instead of saying how your we should walk around saying therefore go to want your children. Put your hand on them and say therefore I guess the reason why what happened in verse five.

Therefore, the Lord established the kingdom in his hand in the beautiful metaphoric expression. By the way, when you get to the book of Revelation and you get a new chapter 5 of the book of Revelation we got a picture of God himself seated upon the world God created the heavens and the Bible says that the picture that we have of him God, our heavenly father seated, holding in his hand. The powerful visual image of our heavenly father's throne. Please forgive the eruption will be back in just a moment with completion of today's message from Dr. but is not effective just to never miss part of this you can hear entire broadcast online on podcasts and more just by connecting through our website. It's TW online.org that's TEW online.org is also placed discover great resources like the daily Encouraging Word Bible guide.

If you like it electronically. We send it out every day about 6 AM. All you need to do is sign up on our website TW online.org for the daily Encouraging Word email or you can have a physical copy since he would be glad to do that as well. If you really have little quarterly version gives you a page a day. It's available through the website TW online.org or you can call if you copy right now that 866-899-WORD 866-899-9673, not just for that resource. But for prayer and opportunity come to connect with us anytime day or night. Would love to be on the phone with you right now 866-899-WORD 9673 is the number or me this online. It online ballots dive back into today's message.

Jehoshaphat made a difference with Dr. Don Wilton right see so much very one that he had designated to make a difference over it. The Bible says in verse five. Therefore, the Lord established the kingdom he needs hand in all Judah rolled tribute to Jehoshaphat and yet great riches and great honor. Great esteem. Now before I turn to chapter 20. I want to say something about this Jehoshaphat when he took office did for things. Number one, he rallied the troops met amazing the word that is used in the Hebrew text is that Jehoshaphat took a hard look at he's circumstances and he placed in position garrisons, not because he thought they might be afraid, but because he understood the insurmountable object that lay before him were he knocked to properly prepare for what was coming down.

He rallied the troops. He not only rallied the troops, but he rejected pagan advice. That's what the Bible says in verse two there Bible tells us.

I beg your pardon. In verse four the Bible said he sold God of his father and Walt Denise Kaman and what he did was he turned his back on ungodly advice. What is the matter with us. America who are we listening to Chris pulling the strings who who are you consulting with does your psychiatrist even know the Lord Jesus, or does it not matter how do you think you can get a fresh cup of water from the polluted river. He rejected pagan advice.

Some of you might say to me as a pasta will pasta you don't need to go there but I can tell you when a person a man or a woman comes and speaks to me to give me advice which many people do, because we've all got something to say.

I very quickly awesome God that my spirit would bear witness with the person who's coming with that complaint though that advice so that negotiation know that suggestion and if my spirit does not bear witness with that person. Not going to listen to somebody who doesn't speak from the heart of God. That's why so many churches are in trouble today. They just called business meetings and I called you all, everybody come. Do we suppose that everybody who comes to a church business meeting is filled with the spirit and walking with God whereon asking some people who are not five concerning the things of God to make decisions concerning the things of God, not Jehoshaphat, and he made a difference. Perhaps you need to stop running to the wrong source if I may say a word love our young people. Young people, teenagers, be very careful about who's got a hold of your left ear on that campus. Be very careful not to become a crowdpleaser. Be very careful not to listen to the wrong people. When you begin to listen to the wrong people or lack of locked you make up your mind that you going to pitch your tent on the outskirts of Sodom and Gomorrah before you know it you will be living inside Sargon, and more. What about Jehoshaphat rallied the troops rejected pagan advice, but he remained true to his convictions in verse nine the Bible to a big part in verse six the Bible says that his heart was courageous concerning the ways of the Lord, and not before he removed old idol worship so Kim is a man who he arrives in and he's got a whole list going on. Something was happening in everything was unsettled and people were looking for hope in and the land was was struggling and and and the board is were being threatened, but this man you know I summarize it this way. Number one he recognized the threat number two. He listened to the right people. Number three. He never compromised his beliefs, number four, he eliminated the junk you and I never got a make a difference.

So long as the junk stays in place now lives to become so filled with guidance and idolatry is the worship of anyone or anything other than God what you need to eliminate. And so we getting the chapter 20 just read to your few verses in chapter 20. Because all of a sudden he has this man God is giving to him the land and placing that land in his hand sinking Jehoshaphat I'm late you make a difference which we know according to history.

He did, but before that happened he faced her noncommon enemy, a huge obstacle.

The Bible says often this the Moabites, the ammonites, and with some of the new Knights came against Jehoshaphat and some men came and told Jehoshaphat. This is what they said to him by said the great multitude is coming against you from Edom that's on the other side of the Dead Sea member.

Now he's in Jerusalem and he even see steam look these troops. This enemy is crossing over what you and I knows the didn't see that coming up against the fortress of the Judean wilderness that can climb up the same place where David encountered sold but did not kill him because he was the Lord's anointed, but removed the covering of his spiritual father by the cutting of his taxable from him at a place called in getting this and what they said that coming but coming from the mountains of Edom's all this in fact that coming from beyond the sea already going through and climbing up the cliffs of the fact is an enemy out there and they are out to destroy us. Verse three then Jehoshaphat was afraid and he said he space to seek the Lord and he proclaimed the forest throughout all Judah and Judas assembled to seek the help from the Lord from all the cities of Judah, they came to seek the Lord and Jehoshaphat stood up in the assembly of Judah and in Jerusalem in the house of the Lord, and he began to speak the truth of God to hungry people and what a difference he made.

Why do you suppose Jehoshaphat made a difference will number one he made a difference because he listened to his field. Kaman's you gonna find this theme repeats itself not want you for just a moment to think about your own circumstance or memo Jehoshaphat. This was one serious enemy. I wish we had time to unpack the might of this group of Moabites and ammonites.

You know, when you stand that in daddy, looking across today's date and see the mountains of Moab, and I am on they rise up like a mighty Fortress is in what today is the land of Jordan Moses knew all about that. In fact, he led the children of Israel ride along that until he got to Mount Lebo and he went up onto the top of Mount Lebo because it was such a strategic spot look down on the cross what you are not cross the Jordan River where Jesus was baptized to the heart of the city of Jericho down in the deep valley of Jericho on the shoulders of the great mountains that rise up through the Judean would Jerusalem like a strawberry was Moses look down and he knew that the enemy was formidable what Jehoshaphat did he listen to his field commanders.

Those men came to him and said to him, okay, and he listened because they were in the field and I knew what was going on but with the military strategists.

They understood the demographics they had sent out one patrol after another. The plans that you have repopulated. It was their responsibility. Giftedness. So who are you talking to and who are you listening to.

He made a difference because he listened to the right people. Number two. He made difference because he called the enemy.

The enemy wipes a staggering point is not. He called the enemy. The enemy he didn't call them a suggestion he didn't water down the threat he didn't come up with some other name just to be politically correct. He wasn't afraid of what somebody else might have to say about it.

He saw the enemy and he called the enemy. The enemy said this is the enemy and the enemies coming across the mountain and the enemy is going to destroy us. He recognized them.

Emailing them he called them.

So what are you facing you might say to me pasta about this huge thing going on, how will I overcome what is what you face.

He called the enemy. The enemy number three.

He made a difference because he knew that God had the onset. I love this. I love this. I wish I could have just spoken about this one. He knew God had the onset from verse four on what he calls the people together, he stands up and takes the lead and he puts God, our heavenly father God Jehovah around them and that's what I want to do today if you heard nothing else that I've seen today I want to put Jesus on I want to tell you look into his face. When the things of earth grow strangely dim in the light of God's glory and grace. He's the one who makes the difference you can make a difference today. God has the audiences love Dr. Billy Graham's quote that you heard me say that he seemed to me many many times that people of quote or go around with the future is as bright as the promises of God. Would you give your life to Christ. Would you do that, would you trust him.

Would you turn your life over to him. Would you be willing would you be willing to recognize the threat. Would you would you be willing to listen to the right people.

Would you be willing to not compromise what you know to be true.

Would you be willing to eliminate the junk. The idols obstacles from your life would you be willing to say Lord I know I'm going would you be willing to say you know God is working all things together for the good of those that love to those who are the called according just want you to know that I love you, house you can do it because of Christ realize God wants you to be that powerhouse. The doctor done to encourage right now.

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I'd love to help you write pray this prayer with me and escape Jesus into your heart and life have gone. I know that on this. I know that Jesus loves me and I'm from you right now my second and I can face my son Jesus Christ to save. Pray that Craig we love to get alongside literature help you as you grow and I want you to know that I love you very very much. Today is a life-changing day for you if you said yes to Jesus Christ. Dr. Don has some wonderful resources we want to put in your hands right now. Give us a call 866-899-WORD welcome to the family of God. I never again is 86689673 or email us at online@tewonline.org. He would love to put resources in your hands that will help you grow up you get stronger and speaking of resources. One of those is an exciting thing that Lizzie could tell you about it were making available all month long miracle. Are you personally praying for today. You mean even miracle of healing your body's healing of the relationship your finances or to overcoming addiction perhaps you need a miracle for your him · her to return home. Whatever you need whatever circumstances life has thrown your way today be encouraged. God loves you this in mind for your gift of $25 or more to The Encouraging Word Dr. Wilton to send you to inspiring industry resources praying for a miracle. The only message, and when I prayed both of these resources will stir your soul your heart to a fresh realize a sense of what God did for us to be trusted for your call 86689996 sending three love to pray with you and seem to these resources The Encouraging Word listener supported ministry trust God to supply our listening personal note that when God Dr. Don which is one of many resources you'll find online W online braille considerations and time is online between now and tomorrow. Today were talking about Joseph Jehoshaphat making a difference tomorrow, a young mother in between these broad eggs to have this connection, 866-899-9673 and it will always connect you with resources same is true online@gwonline.org