WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:10.439 As we begin this morning, I've been reflecting on an experience I had this spring of being the lacrosse coach, one of the lacrosse coaches for my son's lacrosse team. 00:00:10.439 --> 00:00:24.839 It was a learning experience for all of us, me included, maybe more so. It was the first year of our school being a varsity program, and sometimes we didn't know what we knew, what we didn't know. 00:00:24.839 --> 00:00:32.780 I certainly didn't know what I didn't know as a coach until I started, and I saw it in the players as well. 00:00:33.000 --> 00:00:40.980 There would be times when they would go out and run around but didn't know what they were doing because they had had no instruction. 00:00:42.260 --> 00:00:49.620 Sometimes they would run to the wrong end of the field. Sometimes they didn't know where they were supposed to be positioned because we hadn't taught them. 00:00:49.619 --> 00:00:57.039 Sometimes they would go out there and think they were doing what we had told them, but in fact do something totally different. 00:00:57.819 --> 00:01:08.400 And that created its own level of chaos. And sometimes they heard what we had taught them to do, and then they decided that they were just going to do their own thing anyway. 00:01:08.400 --> 00:01:20.180 And all of these things happened. What was encouraging to me, though, was to see how many of them would come and say, 00:01:20.440 --> 00:01:32.160 Coach, what did I do wrong? Coach, how can I do this better? They had a hunger to learn and grow, and they were seeking out more instruction and learning and knowledge 00:01:32.159 --> 00:01:37.399 so that they could improve, so that they could be better lacrosse players. 00:01:40.079 --> 00:01:46.280 I wonder if this dynamic is also true, even more so in our spiritual lives. 00:01:46.780 --> 00:01:49.799 The same dynamics that I saw in these boys. 00:01:50.799 --> 00:01:59.219 At times we are running around, not sure what to do, and mucking things up. 00:01:59.219 --> 00:02:08.500 Sometimes we think we know what we should be doing, and we're doing those really hard, but in fact we're not doing the right thing. 00:02:09.680 --> 00:02:16.199 Sometimes we know what we ought to be doing, and we just don't want to do it. 00:02:16.520 --> 00:02:19.579 We think we know better, and so we do our own thing. 00:02:19.580 --> 00:02:34.160 But I got a little taste of what I think God must be like, because God delights when we are hungry to learn from, to hear and obey His words. 00:02:34.500 --> 00:02:39.200 When His people seek Him out, then we see His kingdom expressed. 00:02:40.200 --> 00:02:46.300 And this is what we're going to talk about a little bit today as we continue our series in the book of 2 Chronicles. 00:02:46.300 --> 00:02:50.400 We will be in 2 Chronicles chapter 17 and 18. 00:02:50.840 --> 00:02:55.500 That is page 344 in your pew Bible if you want to pull that out. 00:02:56.460 --> 00:03:03.800 2 Chronicles 17 and 18, and the importance of God's people seeking God's Word for them. 00:03:04.720 --> 00:03:12.520 Now, I know we have some family visiting, and some of you may not be as familiar with the context of 2 Chronicles. 00:03:12.520 --> 00:03:24.439 So remember, this is a book written about the history of the kings of Israel after the kingdom had ended and gone into exile and then been restored. 00:03:25.379 --> 00:03:25.660 Okay? 00:03:25.900 --> 00:03:32.460 So there was a lot there that I just summarized, but this is the big picture of the history of Israel. 00:03:32.460 --> 00:03:43.180 And Chronicles was written as the people of God were returning to the land that God had given them and trying to figure out where do we go from here. 00:03:44.000 --> 00:03:47.840 I don't know if this is helpful, but Pastor Nick said this this week in staff meeting. 00:03:48.260 --> 00:03:57.240 He said kings was written earlier, the same history, but it was written earlier during the exile to explain to the people of Israel, 00:03:57.439 --> 00:03:58.420 how did we get here? 00:03:58.500 --> 00:03:59.700 How did we get to exile? 00:03:59.699 --> 00:04:08.659 Chronicles is written after the exile to try to teach God's people, how do we go forward from here? 00:04:08.759 --> 00:04:12.099 How do we live as God's people after the exile? 00:04:12.259 --> 00:04:13.399 What does that look like? 00:04:13.699 --> 00:04:23.480 And the book is looking back to say, what do we have to learn from what happened before so that we can know what it means to pursue God? 00:04:23.480 --> 00:04:32.300 Now, we're looking today at the story of Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah, and we're not going to look at everything in his. 00:04:32.480 --> 00:04:34.720 In fact, there are four chapters of Jehoshaphat. 00:04:34.800 --> 00:04:38.020 We're not going to try to cover all of that today. 00:04:38.280 --> 00:04:39.480 You might be glad. 00:04:39.560 --> 00:04:40.720 It's already 5 of 11. 00:04:40.720 --> 00:04:46.060 So, we're only going to…we're going to look at two chapters, and we're actually going to pull one theme, 00:04:46.140 --> 00:04:50.380 because one of the things that we've seen as we're looking through the book of 2 Chronicles, 00:04:50.500 --> 00:04:52.820 there are themes that are repeated over and over again. 00:04:53.180 --> 00:04:59.680 Things like, seek the Lord, that God blesses His people when they seek the Lord. 00:04:59.680 --> 00:05:06.199 The importance of right worship, of putting away false gods and worshiping other idols, 00:05:06.319 --> 00:05:09.400 and worshiping in the temple God's one true. 00:05:10.240 --> 00:05:13.340 The way that God is rewarding those who obey, 00:05:13.680 --> 00:05:19.340 and when He judges and brings consequences to those who disobey His instructions and words. 00:05:20.379 --> 00:05:21.980 So, these are some of the big themes. 00:05:22.399 --> 00:05:24.579 Today, we're going to pull out one more theme, 00:05:24.579 --> 00:05:30.279 and that is the importance of seeking and heeding God's words. 00:05:32.620 --> 00:05:34.859 So, that's our introduction. 00:05:35.319 --> 00:05:39.959 We're going to look…we're going to begin by reading the beginning of chapter 17 together. 00:05:40.159 --> 00:05:43.719 So, I'm going to read that, and then we're going to pray, and then we'll look at it together. 00:05:44.319 --> 00:05:48.799 So, 2 Chronicles chapter 17, verse 1. 00:05:48.800 --> 00:06:18.780 1 Chronicles 1. 00:06:18.800 --> 00:06:47.879 And then, there's a lot more in the chapter that we're going to just stop in there. 00:06:47.879 --> 00:06:53.079 So, this is the beginning of Jehoshaphat's reign. 00:06:53.199 --> 00:06:56.100 Let me pray and ask for God's help as we look at it this morning. 00:06:56.839 --> 00:06:59.939 Lord, thank You for Your Word and that it speaks to us. 00:07:00.300 --> 00:07:06.500 Lord, even as we have just sung, we pray that Your Word would shape our minds and our hearts 00:07:06.500 --> 00:07:11.740 and our hands and our wills so that we might know You and do Your will. 00:07:11.740 --> 00:07:16.460 Lord, we thank You for Your Spirit that helps us to do this. 00:07:16.939 --> 00:07:22.540 Lord, I pray for Your help this morning that I might speak the words that You would have me speak, 00:07:23.079 --> 00:07:25.420 that I would faithfully proclaim Your Word, 00:07:25.579 --> 00:07:30.579 and that we together would sit under and receive Your Word this morning. 00:07:30.579 --> 00:07:34.579 Be with us, we pray, in Jesus' name. Amen. 00:07:34.579 --> 00:07:34.699 Amen. 00:07:35.899 --> 00:07:43.680 So, the big idea this morning is that God's people are to love the teaching and hearing of God's Word to us. 00:07:44.300 --> 00:07:45.859 We're going to look at it in three steps. 00:07:45.959 --> 00:07:46.659 Here's your outline. 00:07:46.759 --> 00:07:51.979 If you're looking for it, we want to be people who are loving the teaching of God's Word, 00:07:52.659 --> 00:07:54.819 loving the hearing of God's Word, 00:07:54.819 --> 00:07:57.579 and loving God's final Word. 00:07:58.079 --> 00:08:00.439 So, that's what we will look at this morning, 00:08:00.800 --> 00:08:02.719 loving the teaching of God's Word. 00:08:03.860 --> 00:08:08.339 Just starting in chapter 17, when Jehoshaphat started out, 00:08:08.680 --> 00:08:10.939 he did really well, right? 00:08:11.100 --> 00:08:12.519 He did well in lots of areas. 00:08:12.699 --> 00:08:16.279 He did put in military fortifications. 00:08:16.659 --> 00:08:18.439 He purified the worship of Israel. 00:08:18.600 --> 00:08:22.379 Again, those are other themes that we'll cover more strongly at other times. 00:08:22.379 --> 00:08:29.519 But one of the interesting things that he did is in verses 7 through 10 that I want to read now, 00:08:30.060 --> 00:08:35.000 he created a system of teaching in Israel. 00:08:35.340 --> 00:08:38.500 So, chapter 17, verse 7, he says, 00:08:39.000 --> 00:08:43.320 in the third year of his reign, he sent out his officials, 00:08:43.879 --> 00:08:47.700 and they list all the officials, and I'm going to skip through them for time, 00:08:47.700 --> 00:08:50.100 to teach in the cities of Judah. 00:08:50.100 --> 00:08:54.240 And with them, the Levites, and then another bunch of names. 00:08:54.680 --> 00:08:58.320 And with these Levites, the priests, and two more names. 00:08:59.120 --> 00:09:03.940 And they taught in Judah, having the book of the law with… 00:09:03.940 --> 00:09:06.460 the book of the law of the Lord with them. 00:09:06.720 --> 00:09:11.840 And they went about throughout all the cities of Judah and taught among the people. 00:09:11.840 --> 00:09:21.379 One of the things that Jehoshaphat did explicitly was to send his officials, 00:09:21.560 --> 00:09:22.960 the Levites, the priests. 00:09:23.200 --> 00:09:27.519 It was everyone at all levels of government, all the different branches, 00:09:27.740 --> 00:09:30.139 were united in this task, 00:09:30.740 --> 00:09:34.300 playing the roles that God had given them more broadly. 00:09:34.560 --> 00:09:38.340 If you look back into Exodus, you can see how all these people were set up. 00:09:38.340 --> 00:09:43.500 But their roles were to teach the people about who God was, 00:09:43.860 --> 00:09:46.600 and specifically God's Word, right? 00:09:46.759 --> 00:09:50.960 It says specifically that they were teaching from the law of God, 00:09:51.259 --> 00:09:53.560 the book that God had given them. 00:09:53.680 --> 00:09:56.160 And this refers to the Scriptures, 00:09:56.360 --> 00:09:59.379 the revelation that God gave to Moses on Mount Sinai, 00:09:59.680 --> 00:10:02.600 the law and the writings that come after that. 00:10:02.600 --> 00:10:08.580 And so they had all of these things to teach and remind the people of who God is, 00:10:08.700 --> 00:10:10.259 of what God has done, 00:10:10.340 --> 00:10:12.680 and what it meant to be God's people, 00:10:12.899 --> 00:10:14.480 and how they are to live. 00:10:15.200 --> 00:10:19.440 And it emphasizes that this was not just for the officials, 00:10:19.560 --> 00:10:20.860 but this was for all people. 00:10:20.980 --> 00:10:25.860 So he sent these men out to the whole country 00:10:25.860 --> 00:10:29.600 so that all the people, each one, individual Jews… 00:10:29.600 --> 00:10:31.960 This is so helpful to see. 00:10:32.060 --> 00:10:36.740 It wasn't just that the religious leaders were supposed to know God's Word, 00:10:36.920 --> 00:10:40.080 but that every single citizen of the community 00:10:40.080 --> 00:10:43.519 was meant to know God's Word. 00:10:44.639 --> 00:10:48.920 And this was important because they were having to think about 00:10:48.920 --> 00:10:51.820 how to live distinctly in this time period 00:10:51.820 --> 00:10:55.279 when those around them were not doing so. 00:10:55.279 --> 00:10:57.860 Did you notice when I read the beginning of chapter 17, 00:10:58.439 --> 00:11:02.259 it said specifically in verse 4, right? 00:11:02.740 --> 00:11:05.339 He sought the God of his Father and walked in his commandments 00:11:05.339 --> 00:11:08.019 and not according to the practices of Israel. 00:11:08.399 --> 00:11:10.000 Now, if you were here last week, 00:11:10.059 --> 00:11:11.439 you remember there's a distinction. 00:11:11.879 --> 00:11:16.360 In this verse, Israel is being used to describe the northern kingdom. 00:11:16.480 --> 00:11:19.179 The people of God at this point in history had been divided, 00:11:19.559 --> 00:11:21.879 and this is describing the northern kingdom 00:11:21.879 --> 00:11:24.220 under a king named Ahab. 00:11:25.220 --> 00:11:27.419 And it was not a great… 00:11:27.419 --> 00:11:30.580 It was still ten tribes of the people of Israel, 00:11:30.740 --> 00:11:33.340 but they were not following the Lord properly. 00:11:33.779 --> 00:11:36.159 And Jehoshaphat was distinguishing himself 00:11:36.159 --> 00:11:39.480 from the northern kingdom by teaching the law of the Lord. 00:11:39.820 --> 00:11:43.919 And let me show you how difficult or how distinct this was. 00:11:44.220 --> 00:11:46.580 I'm going to read from 1 Kings 16, 00:11:46.580 --> 00:11:49.400 chapter 16, verse 30 to 33, 00:11:49.400 --> 00:11:52.820 a little bit about what Ahab and his rule was like. 00:11:54.740 --> 00:11:56.280 And Ahab, the son of Omri, 00:11:56.400 --> 00:11:58.060 did evil in the sight of the Lord, 00:11:58.180 --> 00:12:00.660 more than all who were before him. 00:12:01.180 --> 00:12:04.100 And as if it had been a light thing 00:12:04.100 --> 00:12:06.840 for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam, 00:12:06.960 --> 00:12:07.680 son of Nebat, 00:12:07.960 --> 00:12:10.480 he took for his wife Jezebel, 00:12:10.920 --> 00:12:12.500 the daughter of Ephbaal, 00:12:12.840 --> 00:12:14.320 the king of Sidonians, 00:12:14.320 --> 00:12:16.360 and went and served Baal 00:12:16.360 --> 00:12:18.180 and worshipped him. 00:12:18.400 --> 00:12:20.660 He erected an altar for Baal 00:12:20.660 --> 00:12:21.960 in the house of Baal, 00:12:22.060 --> 00:12:23.620 which he built in Samaria. 00:12:24.180 --> 00:12:26.040 And Ahab made an Asherah. 00:12:26.620 --> 00:12:29.060 Ahab did more to provoke the Lord, 00:12:29.240 --> 00:12:30.060 the God of Israel, 00:12:30.140 --> 00:12:32.780 to anger than all the kings of Israel 00:12:32.780 --> 00:12:34.540 who were before him. 00:12:35.860 --> 00:12:37.800 So this was, up to this point, 00:12:37.879 --> 00:12:39.480 the worst king ever. 00:12:39.480 --> 00:12:42.820 He was doing everything wrong 00:12:42.820 --> 00:12:45.800 with regard to how to be God's people 00:12:45.800 --> 00:12:46.980 living in God's land. 00:12:47.139 --> 00:12:49.200 He was worshipping other gods. 00:12:49.320 --> 00:12:50.820 He was bringing in foreign treaties. 00:12:50.940 --> 00:12:53.860 He was building false idols to worship. 00:12:53.980 --> 00:12:55.440 He was doing everything wrong. 00:12:55.759 --> 00:12:58.700 So Jehoshaphat in the southern kingdom 00:12:58.700 --> 00:12:59.180 was saying, 00:12:59.620 --> 00:13:01.340 we are going to be distinct from that. 00:13:01.460 --> 00:13:02.720 We are going to be different 00:13:02.720 --> 00:13:04.779 by actually following 00:13:04.779 --> 00:13:08.580 and teaching God's Word to us. 00:13:11.259 --> 00:13:15.420 This was a high value for Jehoshaphat, 00:13:15.519 --> 00:13:17.800 and he loved the teaching of God's Word. 00:13:19.460 --> 00:13:20.960 Now what about us? 00:13:21.680 --> 00:13:23.740 What does it look like for us 00:13:23.740 --> 00:13:27.120 to love the teaching of God's Word? 00:13:27.120 --> 00:13:29.120 Well, the first thing is that 00:13:29.120 --> 00:13:31.740 it has to come with conviction 00:13:31.740 --> 00:13:33.960 that God's Word is good. 00:13:35.379 --> 00:13:40.220 2 Timothy 3, verses 16 and 17, 00:13:40.700 --> 00:13:42.659 Paul reminds the church of this. 00:13:43.220 --> 00:13:45.820 All Scripture is breathed out by God 00:13:45.820 --> 00:13:47.740 and is profitable for teaching, 00:13:48.340 --> 00:13:51.100 for reproof, for correction, 00:13:51.539 --> 00:13:53.200 and for training in righteousness 00:13:53.200 --> 00:13:55.779 that the man of God may be complete, 00:13:55.779 --> 00:13:58.360 equipped for every good work. 00:14:00.220 --> 00:14:01.639 We need to be convinced 00:14:01.639 --> 00:14:05.459 that this is good for us 00:14:05.459 --> 00:14:08.360 and that we need to believe 00:14:08.360 --> 00:14:11.659 that it is true, right? 00:14:11.839 --> 00:14:13.860 Just like those lacrosse boys 00:14:13.860 --> 00:14:15.240 who are running around the field, 00:14:15.699 --> 00:14:17.100 they had to believe 00:14:17.100 --> 00:14:20.419 that my instruction was good 00:14:20.419 --> 00:14:22.139 for them to want to follow it. 00:14:22.500 --> 00:14:24.399 Now, my instruction sometimes wasn't good, 00:14:24.399 --> 00:14:25.860 and we had to work through that, 00:14:26.000 --> 00:14:28.139 but I'm not infallible. 00:14:28.579 --> 00:14:29.740 But God is, 00:14:30.459 --> 00:14:31.860 and God's Word is. 00:14:32.459 --> 00:14:33.840 And so to follow it 00:14:33.840 --> 00:14:35.439 is a good thing. 00:14:36.139 --> 00:14:37.340 And we need to recognize 00:14:37.340 --> 00:14:39.059 that this will come in a context, 00:14:39.120 --> 00:14:40.519 and we know this already, 00:14:40.879 --> 00:14:41.980 but in a context 00:14:41.980 --> 00:14:43.439 where there are many voices 00:14:43.439 --> 00:14:46.340 that are saying other things 00:14:46.340 --> 00:14:47.759 other than God's Word. 00:14:47.759 --> 00:14:50.500 So in 2 Timothy chapter 4, 00:14:50.659 --> 00:14:51.960 verses 3 and 4, 00:14:52.659 --> 00:14:54.580 Paul warns Timothy this, 00:14:55.120 --> 00:14:56.179 for the time is coming 00:14:56.179 --> 00:14:58.519 when people will not endure sound teaching, 00:14:58.919 --> 00:15:00.519 but having itching ears, 00:15:00.659 --> 00:15:02.220 they will accumulate for themselves 00:15:02.220 --> 00:15:04.939 teachers to suit their own passions 00:15:04.939 --> 00:15:06.120 and will turn away 00:15:06.120 --> 00:15:08.399 from listening to the truth 00:15:08.399 --> 00:15:11.139 and wander off into myths. 00:15:11.139 --> 00:15:13.860 So God's Word warns us 00:15:13.860 --> 00:15:14.699 that we live, 00:15:15.059 --> 00:15:16.360 that every Christian 00:15:16.360 --> 00:15:18.039 has always lived 00:15:18.039 --> 00:15:18.860 in a context 00:15:18.860 --> 00:15:20.620 where there is a tidal pull, 00:15:20.960 --> 00:15:22.740 a current that pulls away 00:15:22.740 --> 00:15:24.439 from actually here 00:15:24.439 --> 00:15:25.799 listening to the teaching 00:15:25.799 --> 00:15:26.740 of God's Word, 00:15:27.179 --> 00:15:27.980 that we will, 00:15:28.220 --> 00:15:28.899 in our hearts, 00:15:29.159 --> 00:15:30.460 want to pursue 00:15:30.460 --> 00:15:32.199 teachers that say things 00:15:32.199 --> 00:15:33.519 that we want them to say, 00:15:35.259 --> 00:15:36.679 things that will suit 00:15:36.679 --> 00:15:37.659 our own passions, 00:15:37.980 --> 00:15:39.120 that will fulfill 00:15:39.120 --> 00:15:40.539 our own desires. 00:15:41.139 --> 00:15:43.399 that will conform 00:15:43.399 --> 00:15:44.600 to the values 00:15:44.600 --> 00:15:46.179 of the world around us 00:15:46.179 --> 00:15:47.759 and not be distinctive 00:15:47.759 --> 00:15:49.259 in the way 00:15:49.259 --> 00:15:51.500 that Jehoshaphat wanted 00:15:51.500 --> 00:15:54.080 and the way that God calls us 00:15:54.080 --> 00:15:55.279 to be distinctive 00:15:55.279 --> 00:15:57.659 from the world around us. 00:15:58.840 --> 00:16:00.460 And we need to recognize 00:16:00.460 --> 00:16:01.460 that there's a danger 00:16:01.460 --> 00:16:03.299 and that we may easily 00:16:03.299 --> 00:16:04.240 get caught up 00:16:04.240 --> 00:16:05.159 in these currents. 00:16:06.319 --> 00:16:06.779 And look, 00:16:06.879 --> 00:16:08.019 I could sit here 00:16:08.019 --> 00:16:09.379 and pick on a few 00:16:09.379 --> 00:16:10.740 cultural things, 00:16:10.740 --> 00:16:12.000 sexual morality 00:16:12.000 --> 00:16:16.080 or end-of-life morality 00:16:16.080 --> 00:16:16.779 or ethics 00:16:16.779 --> 00:16:17.759 or those sorts of things 00:16:17.759 --> 00:16:18.060 to say, 00:16:18.360 --> 00:16:18.700 golly, 00:16:18.840 --> 00:16:19.820 God's Word says something 00:16:19.820 --> 00:16:20.700 really important 00:16:20.700 --> 00:16:21.680 in how distinct 00:16:21.680 --> 00:16:22.539 we're meant to be 00:16:22.539 --> 00:16:24.180 from the world around us. 00:16:24.539 --> 00:16:25.500 But let me instead 00:16:25.500 --> 00:16:26.440 pick on some more 00:16:26.440 --> 00:16:27.620 core values 00:16:27.620 --> 00:16:28.159 that I think 00:16:28.159 --> 00:16:29.840 where we love things 00:16:29.840 --> 00:16:30.700 that the world loves 00:16:30.700 --> 00:16:31.639 sometimes more 00:16:31.639 --> 00:16:32.500 than God's Word, 00:16:32.919 --> 00:16:34.200 where we would prefer 00:16:34.200 --> 00:16:34.980 to have a God 00:16:34.980 --> 00:16:36.360 who doesn't judge us 00:16:36.360 --> 00:16:37.840 rather than having 00:16:37.840 --> 00:16:38.980 a God who loves 00:16:38.980 --> 00:16:39.620 righteousness 00:16:39.620 --> 00:16:40.820 and goodness. 00:16:41.620 --> 00:16:42.840 We prefer to have 00:16:42.840 --> 00:16:43.340 a God 00:16:43.340 --> 00:16:44.620 who serves 00:16:44.620 --> 00:16:45.759 our needs 00:16:45.759 --> 00:16:46.879 rather than 00:16:46.879 --> 00:16:48.000 a sovereign God 00:16:48.000 --> 00:16:48.639 who knows 00:16:48.639 --> 00:16:49.879 what is best for us. 00:16:50.620 --> 00:16:51.620 We prefer 00:16:51.620 --> 00:16:52.620 a gospel, 00:16:53.080 --> 00:16:54.480 a message of good news 00:16:54.480 --> 00:16:55.180 that tells us 00:16:55.180 --> 00:16:56.060 our life is going 00:16:56.060 --> 00:16:57.980 to be the best life ever 00:16:57.980 --> 00:16:59.019 with prosperity 00:16:59.019 --> 00:16:59.940 at every turn 00:16:59.940 --> 00:17:01.019 rather than 00:17:01.019 --> 00:17:02.360 a gospel of the cross. 00:17:02.360 --> 00:17:04.460 And we prefer 00:17:04.460 --> 00:17:05.759 a gospel of works 00:17:05.759 --> 00:17:06.599 that says 00:17:06.599 --> 00:17:07.480 if we can just 00:17:07.480 --> 00:17:08.740 do the right things, 00:17:09.160 --> 00:17:10.420 check the right boxes 00:17:10.420 --> 00:17:11.860 religiously 00:17:11.860 --> 00:17:12.660 or in the world 00:17:12.660 --> 00:17:13.319 that somehow 00:17:13.319 --> 00:17:14.519 we will be okay 00:17:14.519 --> 00:17:15.279 with God. 00:17:17.279 --> 00:17:18.220 These are some 00:17:18.220 --> 00:17:18.839 of the currents, 00:17:19.039 --> 00:17:20.279 the deeper currents 00:17:20.279 --> 00:17:21.059 that I see 00:17:21.059 --> 00:17:22.519 where we prefer 00:17:22.519 --> 00:17:24.759 to choose 00:17:24.759 --> 00:17:25.680 to see God 00:17:25.680 --> 00:17:26.839 through our own lenses 00:17:26.839 --> 00:17:27.799 rather than letting 00:17:27.799 --> 00:17:28.819 the God of the Bible 00:17:28.819 --> 00:17:29.799 reveal Himself 00:17:29.799 --> 00:17:31.579 as He is. 00:17:32.359 --> 00:17:36.419 So friends, 00:17:36.599 --> 00:17:37.639 how do we at Trinity 00:17:37.639 --> 00:17:38.599 love the teaching 00:17:38.599 --> 00:17:39.359 of God's Word? 00:17:39.959 --> 00:17:40.379 Well, 00:17:41.219 --> 00:17:41.799 hopefully, 00:17:42.219 --> 00:17:43.059 our small groups 00:17:43.059 --> 00:17:43.979 are defined 00:17:43.979 --> 00:17:45.119 as people 00:17:45.119 --> 00:17:45.819 who gather 00:17:45.819 --> 00:17:47.319 around God's Word. 00:17:47.919 --> 00:17:48.219 So, 00:17:48.379 --> 00:17:49.000 if you're not 00:17:49.000 --> 00:17:49.839 in a small group 00:17:49.839 --> 00:17:51.059 and you may not 00:17:51.059 --> 00:17:52.000 fit into one of our 00:17:52.000 --> 00:17:52.859 formal small groups 00:17:52.859 --> 00:17:53.679 but are you 00:17:53.679 --> 00:17:54.839 meeting with other people 00:17:54.839 --> 00:17:55.479 to talk about 00:17:55.479 --> 00:17:56.019 God's Word 00:17:56.019 --> 00:17:56.879 regularly 00:17:56.879 --> 00:17:57.699 so that you can 00:17:57.699 --> 00:17:58.599 look at it together 00:17:58.599 --> 00:17:59.719 and encourage 00:17:59.719 --> 00:18:00.299 one another? 00:18:01.500 --> 00:18:02.039 I don't know 00:18:02.039 --> 00:18:02.539 if you've ever 00:18:02.539 --> 00:18:03.379 thought about this 00:18:03.379 --> 00:18:05.000 but when we preach 00:18:05.000 --> 00:18:05.920 on Sunday morning 00:18:05.920 --> 00:18:07.000 we don't preach 00:18:07.000 --> 00:18:07.700 topically 00:18:07.700 --> 00:18:08.839 for a very 00:18:08.839 --> 00:18:10.579 explicit reason 00:18:10.579 --> 00:18:11.940 because we want 00:18:11.940 --> 00:18:12.859 God's Word 00:18:12.859 --> 00:18:14.000 to define 00:18:14.000 --> 00:18:15.359 the agenda 00:18:15.359 --> 00:18:16.980 for what we preach 00:18:16.980 --> 00:18:17.859 on week to week. 00:18:18.000 --> 00:18:18.119 So, 00:18:18.240 --> 00:18:19.039 we choose 00:18:19.039 --> 00:18:20.599 a chunk of Scripture 00:18:20.599 --> 00:18:22.139 and then we preach 00:18:22.139 --> 00:18:22.619 through it 00:18:22.619 --> 00:18:23.259 sequentially 00:18:23.259 --> 00:18:24.879 and we do that 00:18:24.879 --> 00:18:25.460 intentionally 00:18:25.460 --> 00:18:26.960 because as much 00:18:26.960 --> 00:18:27.700 as the elders 00:18:27.700 --> 00:18:28.740 would love to preach 00:18:28.740 --> 00:18:29.740 to you on this topic 00:18:29.740 --> 00:18:30.279 and this topic 00:18:30.279 --> 00:18:30.779 and this topic 00:18:30.779 --> 00:18:31.379 and this topic 00:18:31.379 --> 00:18:32.660 we send that off 00:18:32.660 --> 00:18:33.480 to Sunday school 00:18:33.480 --> 00:18:34.839 because we want 00:18:34.839 --> 00:18:36.200 God to define 00:18:36.200 --> 00:18:36.839 the agenda 00:18:36.839 --> 00:18:37.920 of what we say 00:18:37.920 --> 00:18:39.180 from the pulpit 00:18:39.180 --> 00:18:40.899 every Sunday. 00:18:41.200 --> 00:18:42.440 We want God's Word 00:18:42.440 --> 00:18:42.879 to say 00:18:42.879 --> 00:18:43.920 this is what 00:18:43.920 --> 00:18:44.960 needs to be said 00:18:44.960 --> 00:18:47.779 to my people today 00:18:47.779 --> 00:18:49.119 and as Nick 00:18:49.119 --> 00:18:49.480 and I 00:18:49.480 --> 00:18:49.980 and the elders 00:18:49.980 --> 00:18:51.240 prepare to preach 00:18:51.240 --> 00:18:52.579 we always want 00:18:52.579 --> 00:18:52.859 to say 00:18:52.859 --> 00:18:53.160 God 00:18:53.160 --> 00:18:53.899 let this be 00:18:53.899 --> 00:18:54.720 your Word 00:18:54.720 --> 00:18:55.180 speaking 00:18:55.180 --> 00:18:56.059 not ours. 00:18:56.059 --> 00:18:58.799 and of course 00:18:58.799 --> 00:18:59.619 we always want 00:18:59.619 --> 00:19:00.480 to encourage you 00:19:00.480 --> 00:19:02.619 to be engaged 00:19:02.619 --> 00:19:03.659 in regular 00:19:03.659 --> 00:19:04.519 personal 00:19:04.519 --> 00:19:05.919 Bible intake. 00:19:06.980 --> 00:19:08.079 Love the teaching 00:19:08.079 --> 00:19:08.919 of God's Word 00:19:08.919 --> 00:19:10.079 by 00:19:10.079 --> 00:19:11.539 having an app 00:19:11.539 --> 00:19:12.240 on your phone 00:19:12.240 --> 00:19:14.039 listening to God's Word 00:19:14.039 --> 00:19:14.919 if you have a hard time 00:19:14.919 --> 00:19:15.460 sitting down 00:19:15.460 --> 00:19:16.000 and reading 00:19:16.000 --> 00:19:18.419 getting a good 00:19:18.419 --> 00:19:19.279 study Bible 00:19:19.279 --> 00:19:20.279 so you can not only 00:19:20.279 --> 00:19:20.899 read it 00:19:20.899 --> 00:19:21.599 but actually 00:19:21.599 --> 00:19:22.700 study it 00:19:22.700 --> 00:19:23.679 and get into it 00:19:23.679 --> 00:19:24.819 and understand it 00:19:24.819 --> 00:19:26.220 memorizing Scripture 00:19:26.220 --> 00:19:27.159 I'm always encouraged 00:19:27.159 --> 00:19:28.059 when I visit homes 00:19:28.059 --> 00:19:29.139 and in the bathroom 00:19:29.139 --> 00:19:29.779 there's like a 00:19:29.779 --> 00:19:31.039 there's a Bible verse 00:19:31.039 --> 00:19:32.059 you know 00:19:32.059 --> 00:19:33.139 taped to the mirror 00:19:33.139 --> 00:19:34.319 so that when we wake up 00:19:34.319 --> 00:19:34.740 in the morning 00:19:34.740 --> 00:19:35.619 there's God's Word 00:19:35.619 --> 00:19:36.759 just in the warp 00:19:36.759 --> 00:19:37.259 and woof 00:19:37.259 --> 00:19:38.179 of the life 00:19:38.179 --> 00:19:38.939 of this family. 00:19:40.279 --> 00:19:41.359 These are some ways 00:19:41.359 --> 00:19:42.639 that we can love 00:19:42.639 --> 00:19:43.879 God's Word. 00:19:46.000 --> 00:19:46.480 Jehoshaphat 00:19:46.480 --> 00:19:47.700 didn't just prioritize 00:19:47.700 --> 00:19:48.480 the teaching 00:19:48.480 --> 00:19:49.179 of God's Word 00:19:49.179 --> 00:19:49.919 though he also 00:19:49.919 --> 00:19:51.279 sought to hear 00:19:51.279 --> 00:19:52.139 God's Word 00:19:52.139 --> 00:19:54.279 and so in chapter 18 00:19:54.279 --> 00:19:55.559 we see Jehoshaphat 00:19:55.559 --> 00:19:56.440 seeking to hear 00:19:56.440 --> 00:19:57.000 from God 00:19:57.000 --> 00:19:57.960 in the midst of 00:19:57.960 --> 00:19:59.399 quite a challenging 00:19:59.399 --> 00:20:00.259 situation. 00:20:00.440 --> 00:20:01.279 Now prophets 00:20:01.279 --> 00:20:02.399 are one of the ways 00:20:02.399 --> 00:20:03.099 in the Old Testament 00:20:03.099 --> 00:20:03.940 that God speaks 00:20:03.940 --> 00:20:04.599 to his people 00:20:04.599 --> 00:20:06.019 and we see a prophet 00:20:06.019 --> 00:20:06.859 coming into this. 00:20:07.299 --> 00:20:07.819 I'm going to try 00:20:07.819 --> 00:20:08.440 to go through this 00:20:08.440 --> 00:20:09.079 really quickly. 00:20:09.339 --> 00:20:10.500 In chapter 18 00:20:10.500 --> 00:20:11.460 Jehoshaphat 00:20:11.460 --> 00:20:12.940 against wisdom 00:20:12.940 --> 00:20:15.139 made an alliance 00:20:15.139 --> 00:20:16.240 with Ahab 00:20:16.240 --> 00:20:17.200 and we think 00:20:17.200 --> 00:20:18.079 this was probably 00:20:18.079 --> 00:20:19.379 a good-hearted attempt 00:20:19.379 --> 00:20:21.299 to unify Israel 00:20:21.299 --> 00:20:22.759 but it was unwise 00:20:22.759 --> 00:20:24.399 because as we've seen 00:20:24.399 --> 00:20:25.220 earlier Ahab 00:20:25.220 --> 00:20:27.139 was not a good king 00:20:27.139 --> 00:20:28.099 and so 00:20:28.099 --> 00:20:29.720 and Ahab says 00:20:29.720 --> 00:20:30.919 hey since we're 00:20:30.919 --> 00:20:31.500 in this alliance 00:20:31.500 --> 00:20:32.559 let's go up 00:20:32.559 --> 00:20:34.139 and recapture 00:20:34.139 --> 00:20:34.940 this town 00:20:34.940 --> 00:20:36.379 that we had lost 00:20:36.379 --> 00:20:37.039 this town of 00:20:37.039 --> 00:20:38.079 Ramoth Gilead 00:20:38.079 --> 00:20:39.059 and so 00:20:39.059 --> 00:20:41.639 so in verses 00:20:41.639 --> 00:20:42.379 one through four 00:20:42.379 --> 00:20:43.680 of chapter 18 00:20:43.680 --> 00:20:45.500 this is the setup 00:20:45.500 --> 00:20:47.059 for what happens next. 00:20:47.059 --> 00:20:48.079 So now if you want 00:20:48.079 --> 00:20:48.759 to turn with me 00:20:48.759 --> 00:20:49.639 chapter 18 00:20:49.639 --> 00:20:50.460 verse 4 00:20:50.460 --> 00:20:53.519 they're about to go up 00:20:53.519 --> 00:20:54.839 and this is what 00:20:54.839 --> 00:20:55.700 God's word says 00:20:55.700 --> 00:20:57.200 and Jehoshaphat 00:20:57.200 --> 00:20:58.339 said to the king 00:20:58.339 --> 00:20:58.899 of Israel 00:20:58.899 --> 00:21:00.579 inquire first 00:21:00.579 --> 00:21:01.839 for the word 00:21:01.839 --> 00:21:02.619 of the Lord 00:21:02.619 --> 00:21:04.019 and then the king 00:21:04.019 --> 00:21:04.419 of Israel 00:21:04.419 --> 00:21:05.379 gathered the prophets 00:21:05.379 --> 00:21:05.899 together 00:21:05.899 --> 00:21:06.879 four hundred men 00:21:06.879 --> 00:21:07.740 and said to them 00:21:07.740 --> 00:21:08.819 shall we go up 00:21:08.819 --> 00:21:09.980 against Ramoth Gilead 00:21:09.980 --> 00:21:10.960 or shall I refrain 00:21:10.960 --> 00:21:12.099 and they said 00:21:12.099 --> 00:21:13.159 go up for God 00:21:13.159 --> 00:21:13.659 will give it 00:21:13.659 --> 00:21:14.379 into the hands 00:21:14.379 --> 00:21:14.899 of the king 00:21:14.899 --> 00:21:16.500 but Jehoshaphat 00:21:16.500 --> 00:21:16.899 said 00:21:16.900 --> 00:21:19.140 is there not 00:21:19.140 --> 00:21:20.660 here another prophet 00:21:20.660 --> 00:21:22.019 of the Lord 00:21:22.019 --> 00:21:24.420 of whom we may inquire 00:21:24.420 --> 00:21:26.360 and the king of Israel 00:21:26.360 --> 00:21:27.440 said to Jehoshaphat 00:21:27.440 --> 00:21:28.440 there is yet 00:21:28.440 --> 00:21:29.380 one man 00:21:29.380 --> 00:21:30.480 by whom we may 00:21:30.480 --> 00:21:31.800 inquire of the Lord 00:21:31.800 --> 00:21:32.680 Micah 00:21:32.680 --> 00:21:33.360 the son of 00:21:33.360 --> 00:21:34.240 Micaiah 00:21:34.240 --> 00:21:35.360 the son of Imlah 00:21:35.360 --> 00:21:36.740 but I hate him 00:21:36.740 --> 00:21:38.320 for he never prophesied 00:21:38.320 --> 00:21:40.180 good concerning me 00:21:40.180 --> 00:21:41.120 but always evil 00:21:41.120 --> 00:21:42.380 and Jehoshaphat 00:21:42.380 --> 00:21:43.120 said let not 00:21:43.120 --> 00:21:44.040 the king say so 00:21:44.040 --> 00:21:45.280 and then the king 00:21:45.280 --> 00:21:45.880 of Israel 00:21:45.880 --> 00:21:46.880 summoned an officer 00:21:46.880 --> 00:21:47.640 and said bring 00:21:47.640 --> 00:21:48.520 quickly Micaiah 00:21:48.520 --> 00:21:49.300 son of Imlah 00:21:49.300 --> 00:21:50.360 now the king 00:21:50.360 --> 00:21:50.840 of Israel 00:21:50.840 --> 00:21:51.720 and Jehoshaphat 00:21:51.720 --> 00:21:52.220 the king 00:21:52.220 --> 00:21:52.820 of Judah 00:21:52.820 --> 00:21:53.680 were sitting 00:21:53.680 --> 00:21:54.640 on their thrones 00:21:54.640 --> 00:21:56.060 arrayed in their robes 00:21:56.060 --> 00:21:56.860 and they were sitting 00:21:56.860 --> 00:21:58.060 at the threshing floor 00:21:58.060 --> 00:21:59.120 at the entrance 00:21:59.120 --> 00:21:59.860 of the gate 00:21:59.860 --> 00:22:01.120 of Samaria 00:22:01.120 --> 00:22:02.600 and all the prophets 00:22:02.600 --> 00:22:03.460 were prophesying 00:22:03.460 --> 00:22:04.220 before them 00:22:04.220 --> 00:22:05.300 and Zedekiah 00:22:05.300 --> 00:22:06.000 the son 00:22:06.000 --> 00:22:06.780 of Chenanah 00:22:06.780 --> 00:22:10.220 made for himself 00:22:10.220 --> 00:22:11.360 horns of iron 00:22:11.360 --> 00:22:11.880 and said 00:22:11.880 --> 00:22:13.220 thus says the Lord 00:22:13.220 --> 00:22:14.400 with these 00:22:14.400 --> 00:22:15.559 you shall push 00:22:15.559 --> 00:22:16.259 the Syrians 00:22:16.259 --> 00:22:17.360 until they are 00:22:17.360 --> 00:22:18.140 destroyed 00:22:18.140 --> 00:22:19.660 and all the prophets 00:22:19.660 --> 00:22:20.860 prophesied and said 00:22:20.860 --> 00:22:22.180 go up to Ramoth 00:22:22.180 --> 00:22:22.660 Gilead 00:22:22.660 --> 00:22:23.319 and triumph 00:22:23.319 --> 00:22:24.380 the Lord will give it 00:22:24.380 --> 00:22:25.740 into the hands 00:22:25.740 --> 00:22:26.420 of the king 00:22:26.420 --> 00:22:28.180 okay 00:22:28.180 --> 00:22:29.360 did you get all that 00:22:29.360 --> 00:22:30.660 in summary 00:22:30.660 --> 00:22:32.319 they're going up 00:22:32.319 --> 00:22:33.279 and Jehoshaphat 00:22:33.279 --> 00:22:33.720 says wait 00:22:33.720 --> 00:22:34.200 wait wait 00:22:34.200 --> 00:22:35.420 we don't want to go 00:22:35.420 --> 00:22:36.120 without hearing 00:22:36.120 --> 00:22:36.880 from the Lord 00:22:36.880 --> 00:22:38.100 don't you have any 00:22:38.100 --> 00:22:39.160 prophets of the Lord 00:22:39.160 --> 00:22:40.580 and Ahab says 00:22:40.580 --> 00:22:41.259 sure 00:22:41.259 --> 00:22:43.200 I've got 400 guys 00:22:43.200 --> 00:22:44.160 in my pocket 00:22:44.160 --> 00:22:45.160 and they're here 00:22:45.160 --> 00:22:45.640 to say 00:22:45.640 --> 00:22:46.360 go do whatever 00:22:46.360 --> 00:22:47.100 the king wants 00:22:47.100 --> 00:22:48.420 and so they show up 00:22:48.420 --> 00:22:48.820 and you know what 00:22:48.820 --> 00:22:49.259 they say 00:22:49.259 --> 00:22:50.259 let's go do 00:22:50.259 --> 00:22:51.200 what the king wants 00:22:51.200 --> 00:22:53.120 and Jehoshaphat 00:22:53.120 --> 00:22:54.000 smells a rat 00:22:54.000 --> 00:22:55.120 and so he's like 00:22:55.120 --> 00:22:55.400 wait 00:22:55.400 --> 00:22:56.940 but is there anyone 00:22:56.940 --> 00:22:58.320 who actually inquires 00:22:58.320 --> 00:22:59.040 of the Lord 00:22:59.040 --> 00:22:59.519 and when 00:22:59.519 --> 00:23:00.160 again 00:23:00.160 --> 00:23:01.220 when you see the Lord 00:23:01.220 --> 00:23:02.300 the way it's written 00:23:02.300 --> 00:23:03.680 with all capitals 00:23:03.680 --> 00:23:04.560 that's Yahweh 00:23:04.560 --> 00:23:05.500 that's the God 00:23:05.500 --> 00:23:06.160 of Israel 00:23:06.160 --> 00:23:07.480 the way he revealed 00:23:07.480 --> 00:23:08.560 himself to Moses 00:23:08.559 --> 00:23:09.779 way back when 00:23:09.779 --> 00:23:10.359 and so 00:23:10.359 --> 00:23:11.039 so 00:23:11.039 --> 00:23:12.319 so he says 00:23:12.319 --> 00:23:13.279 isn't there anyone 00:23:13.279 --> 00:23:13.940 and Ahab says 00:23:13.940 --> 00:23:14.379 oh yeah 00:23:14.379 --> 00:23:15.159 there's this one guy 00:23:15.159 --> 00:23:16.139 but he's so annoying 00:23:16.139 --> 00:23:17.480 because he never says 00:23:17.480 --> 00:23:18.799 anything good about me 00:23:18.799 --> 00:23:19.799 and 00:23:19.799 --> 00:23:21.159 and Jehoshaphat says 00:23:21.159 --> 00:23:23.639 if he seeks the Lord 00:23:23.639 --> 00:23:24.899 let's bring him in 00:23:24.899 --> 00:23:25.819 and so 00:23:25.819 --> 00:23:27.119 they send for this 00:23:27.119 --> 00:23:28.079 prophet of the Lord 00:23:28.079 --> 00:23:29.059 but in the meantime 00:23:29.059 --> 00:23:30.319 the end of this section 00:23:30.319 --> 00:23:32.460 imagine this circus 00:23:32.460 --> 00:23:33.059 right 00:23:33.059 --> 00:23:34.139 these two kings 00:23:34.139 --> 00:23:35.019 are sitting on a throne 00:23:35.019 --> 00:23:35.980 and there are 400 00:23:35.980 --> 00:23:37.480 prophets 00:23:37.480 --> 00:23:37.680 prophets 00:23:37.680 --> 00:23:38.860 and it feels like 00:23:38.860 --> 00:23:39.500 it's this 00:23:39.500 --> 00:23:41.599 just big pomp and show 00:23:41.599 --> 00:23:43.740 of supporting the king 00:23:43.740 --> 00:23:44.099 and this 00:23:44.099 --> 00:23:45.099 this one priest 00:23:45.099 --> 00:23:45.660 Zedekiah 00:23:45.660 --> 00:23:47.319 makes a crown 00:23:47.319 --> 00:23:48.220 of horns 00:23:48.220 --> 00:23:48.759 and says 00:23:48.759 --> 00:23:49.519 with this horn 00:23:49.519 --> 00:23:50.140 you will go 00:23:50.140 --> 00:23:51.360 and have great victory 00:23:51.360 --> 00:23:52.380 and 00:23:52.380 --> 00:23:53.759 and you just think 00:23:53.759 --> 00:23:54.140 what 00:23:54.140 --> 00:23:56.120 in this context 00:23:56.120 --> 00:23:57.819 how strong 00:23:57.819 --> 00:23:58.740 Jehoshaphat is 00:23:58.740 --> 00:23:59.200 to say 00:23:59.200 --> 00:24:00.539 but don't we need 00:24:00.539 --> 00:24:01.720 to hear from the Lord 00:24:01.720 --> 00:24:03.200 where there's 00:24:03.200 --> 00:24:04.819 all this cultural pressure 00:24:04.819 --> 00:24:05.980 to just 00:24:05.980 --> 00:24:07.439 go with the flow 00:24:07.439 --> 00:24:10.200 but he doesn't do it 00:24:10.200 --> 00:24:12.519 he doesn't do it 00:24:12.519 --> 00:24:16.079 the story goes on 00:24:16.079 --> 00:24:16.839 it continues 00:24:16.839 --> 00:24:17.779 in verse 12 00:24:17.779 --> 00:24:19.960 and the messenger 00:24:19.960 --> 00:24:21.259 who went to summon 00:24:21.259 --> 00:24:21.779 Micaiah 00:24:21.779 --> 00:24:22.720 said to him 00:24:22.720 --> 00:24:23.579 behold 00:24:23.579 --> 00:24:24.799 the words of the prophet 00:24:24.799 --> 00:24:25.179 with 00:24:25.179 --> 00:24:27.200 the words of the prophet 00:24:27.200 --> 00:24:28.220 with one accord 00:24:28.220 --> 00:24:29.059 are favorable 00:24:29.059 --> 00:24:29.879 to the king 00:24:29.880 --> 00:24:31.460 let your word 00:24:31.460 --> 00:24:32.440 be like the word 00:24:32.440 --> 00:24:33.260 of one of them 00:24:33.260 --> 00:24:34.540 and speak favorably 00:24:34.540 --> 00:24:36.440 but Micaiah said 00:24:36.440 --> 00:24:38.040 as the Lord lives 00:24:38.040 --> 00:24:39.640 what my God says 00:24:39.640 --> 00:24:41.180 that I will speak 00:24:41.180 --> 00:24:43.240 and when he had come 00:24:43.240 --> 00:24:43.900 to the king 00:24:43.900 --> 00:24:45.180 the king said to him 00:24:45.180 --> 00:24:45.700 Micaiah 00:24:45.700 --> 00:24:46.860 shall we go 00:24:46.860 --> 00:24:47.980 to Ramoth Gilead 00:24:47.980 --> 00:24:48.640 to battle 00:24:48.640 --> 00:24:49.720 or shall I refrain 00:24:49.720 --> 00:24:51.600 and he answered them 00:24:51.600 --> 00:24:53.480 go up in triumph 00:24:53.480 --> 00:24:54.680 they will be given 00:24:54.680 --> 00:24:55.720 into your hand 00:24:55.720 --> 00:24:58.180 but the king said to him 00:24:58.180 --> 00:24:59.140 how many times 00:24:59.140 --> 00:25:00.279 shall I make you swear 00:25:00.279 --> 00:25:01.320 that you speak to me 00:25:01.320 --> 00:25:02.600 nothing but the truth 00:25:02.600 --> 00:25:04.019 in the name of the Lord 00:25:04.019 --> 00:25:06.340 and he said 00:25:06.340 --> 00:25:07.259 this is now Micaiah 00:25:07.259 --> 00:25:07.940 responding 00:25:07.940 --> 00:25:09.759 and he said 00:25:09.759 --> 00:25:11.720 I saw all Israel 00:25:11.720 --> 00:25:12.980 scattered on the mountains 00:25:12.980 --> 00:25:13.720 as sheep 00:25:13.720 --> 00:25:15.100 that have no shepherd 00:25:15.100 --> 00:25:17.000 and the Lord said 00:25:17.000 --> 00:25:18.420 these have no master 00:25:18.420 --> 00:25:19.920 let each return 00:25:19.920 --> 00:25:20.660 to his home 00:25:20.660 --> 00:25:21.420 in peace 00:25:21.420 --> 00:25:23.500 and the king of Israel 00:25:23.500 --> 00:25:24.519 said to Jehoshaphat 00:25:24.519 --> 00:25:26.039 did I not tell you 00:25:26.039 --> 00:25:27.360 that he would not 00:25:27.359 --> 00:25:28.579 prophesy good 00:25:28.579 --> 00:25:29.579 concerning me 00:25:29.579 --> 00:25:30.199 but evil 00:25:30.199 --> 00:25:33.259 and Micaiah said 00:25:33.259 --> 00:25:35.000 therefore hear 00:25:35.000 --> 00:25:36.079 the word of the Lord 00:25:36.079 --> 00:25:37.339 I saw the Lord 00:25:37.339 --> 00:25:38.339 sitting on his throne 00:25:38.339 --> 00:25:39.339 and all the host 00:25:39.339 --> 00:25:39.759 of heaven 00:25:39.759 --> 00:25:41.099 standing at his right hand 00:25:41.099 --> 00:25:41.879 and on his left 00:25:41.879 --> 00:25:43.059 and the Lord said 00:25:43.059 --> 00:25:44.819 who will entice Ahab 00:25:44.819 --> 00:25:45.979 the king of Israel 00:25:45.979 --> 00:25:46.979 that he may go up 00:25:46.979 --> 00:25:47.899 and fall 00:25:47.899 --> 00:25:49.199 at Ramoth Gilead 00:25:49.199 --> 00:25:50.519 and one 00:25:50.519 --> 00:25:51.740 and one said 00:25:51.740 --> 00:25:52.199 one thing 00:25:52.199 --> 00:25:53.240 and another said another 00:25:53.240 --> 00:25:53.859 then a spirit 00:25:53.859 --> 00:25:54.459 came forward 00:25:54.459 --> 00:25:55.639 and said before the Lord 00:25:55.639 --> 00:25:55.959 saying 00:25:55.960 --> 00:25:57.299 I will entice him 00:25:57.299 --> 00:25:57.799 and the Lord 00:25:57.799 --> 00:25:58.380 said to him 00:25:58.380 --> 00:25:59.559 by what means 00:25:59.559 --> 00:26:00.559 and he said 00:26:00.559 --> 00:26:01.460 I will go out 00:26:01.460 --> 00:26:03.740 and will be a lying spirit 00:26:03.740 --> 00:26:04.360 in the mouth 00:26:04.360 --> 00:26:05.559 of all his prophets 00:26:05.559 --> 00:26:06.819 and he said 00:26:06.819 --> 00:26:08.079 you are to entice him 00:26:08.079 --> 00:26:09.420 and you shall succeed 00:26:09.420 --> 00:26:10.100 go out 00:26:10.100 --> 00:26:10.900 and do so 00:26:10.900 --> 00:26:12.279 now therefore 00:26:12.279 --> 00:26:12.799 behold 00:26:12.799 --> 00:26:13.440 the Lord 00:26:13.440 --> 00:26:14.759 has put a lying spirit 00:26:14.759 --> 00:26:15.400 in the mouth 00:26:15.400 --> 00:26:16.799 of these your prophets 00:26:16.799 --> 00:26:17.680 the Lord 00:26:17.680 --> 00:26:18.340 has declared 00:26:18.340 --> 00:26:19.079 disaster 00:26:19.079 --> 00:26:20.680 concerning you 00:26:20.680 --> 00:26:23.480 okay 00:26:23.480 --> 00:26:24.340 did you get all that 00:26:24.340 --> 00:26:25.560 this is great drama 00:26:25.560 --> 00:26:27.560 this would be a great TV show 00:26:27.560 --> 00:26:28.980 can you imagine this scene 00:26:28.980 --> 00:26:30.019 so Micaiah 00:26:30.019 --> 00:26:31.240 comes in 00:26:31.240 --> 00:26:32.360 and the guy who's bringing him 00:26:32.360 --> 00:26:33.140 says hey Micaiah 00:26:33.140 --> 00:26:35.060 like everyone's saying 00:26:35.060 --> 00:26:35.940 they should go up 00:26:35.940 --> 00:26:37.440 can you just like agree 00:26:37.440 --> 00:26:39.220 can you say the same thing too 00:26:39.220 --> 00:26:40.640 so that everyone will be happy 00:26:40.640 --> 00:26:41.779 and 00:26:41.779 --> 00:26:43.600 and Micaiah's like 00:26:43.600 --> 00:26:44.360 no 00:26:44.360 --> 00:26:46.279 I'm a prophet of the Lord 00:26:46.279 --> 00:26:48.259 I'm called to speak God's word 00:26:48.259 --> 00:26:49.079 so I'm going to do 00:26:49.079 --> 00:26:50.160 whatever God says 00:26:50.160 --> 00:26:51.000 now then 00:26:51.000 --> 00:26:51.839 confusingly 00:26:51.839 --> 00:26:52.660 when he gets there 00:26:52.660 --> 00:26:53.640 and the king asks him 00:26:53.640 --> 00:26:55.220 the first thing he does 00:26:55.220 --> 00:26:55.960 is seemingly 00:26:55.960 --> 00:26:56.519 parrot 00:26:56.519 --> 00:26:58.039 what all the other prophets 00:26:58.039 --> 00:26:58.700 are saying 00:26:58.700 --> 00:27:01.599 which raises a question 00:27:01.599 --> 00:27:02.539 why is he doing this 00:27:02.539 --> 00:27:03.839 is this really what he's saying 00:27:03.839 --> 00:27:05.500 and 00:27:05.500 --> 00:27:06.059 and it 00:27:06.059 --> 00:27:07.279 it makes 00:27:07.279 --> 00:27:08.660 lots of commentators 00:27:08.660 --> 00:27:10.019 think he's being ironic here 00:27:10.019 --> 00:27:10.920 he's saying 00:27:10.920 --> 00:27:11.920 yeah okay here 00:27:11.920 --> 00:27:13.079 this is what it sounds like 00:27:13.079 --> 00:27:13.660 if I'm going to say 00:27:13.660 --> 00:27:14.680 what everyone else says 00:27:14.680 --> 00:27:16.839 it's also possible 00:27:16.839 --> 00:27:18.240 given what we see later 00:27:18.240 --> 00:27:19.019 that 00:27:19.019 --> 00:27:21.400 the Lord is 00:27:21.400 --> 00:27:22.980 wanting to use his prophets 00:27:22.980 --> 00:27:23.700 to give 00:27:23.700 --> 00:27:24.779 a lying spirit 00:27:24.779 --> 00:27:25.440 so that 00:27:25.440 --> 00:27:27.460 it will entice Micaiah 00:27:27.460 --> 00:27:27.920 to go 00:27:27.920 --> 00:27:28.279 or 00:27:28.279 --> 00:27:29.559 entice Ahab 00:27:29.559 --> 00:27:30.599 to go up 00:27:30.599 --> 00:27:31.299 so 00:27:31.299 --> 00:27:33.460 so it's a little unclear 00:27:33.460 --> 00:27:34.660 exactly what Micaiah 00:27:34.660 --> 00:27:35.519 is doing there 00:27:35.519 --> 00:27:36.880 but fascinatingly 00:27:36.880 --> 00:27:37.839 even Ahab 00:27:37.839 --> 00:27:38.859 the evil king 00:27:38.859 --> 00:27:40.279 who isn't seeking the Lord 00:27:40.279 --> 00:27:41.480 this isn't Jehoshaphat 00:27:41.480 --> 00:27:42.880 this is Ahab saying 00:27:42.880 --> 00:27:44.500 oh come on Micaiah 00:27:44.500 --> 00:27:45.680 I know that's not 00:27:45.680 --> 00:27:46.920 what you have to say to me 00:27:46.920 --> 00:27:47.840 it's got to be 00:27:47.840 --> 00:27:49.120 something worse than that 00:27:49.120 --> 00:27:50.320 you're just telling me 00:27:50.320 --> 00:27:51.500 to go up and do what I want 00:27:51.500 --> 00:27:52.800 that can't be really 00:27:52.800 --> 00:27:53.779 what God is saying 00:27:53.779 --> 00:27:55.279 it's fascinating right 00:27:55.279 --> 00:27:56.700 Ahab is the one 00:27:56.700 --> 00:27:57.580 who calls him out 00:27:57.580 --> 00:27:58.600 and Micaiah says 00:27:58.600 --> 00:27:59.259 yeah you're right 00:27:59.259 --> 00:28:00.480 that's not actually 00:28:00.480 --> 00:28:01.600 all that I have to say 00:28:01.600 --> 00:28:02.440 in fact 00:28:02.440 --> 00:28:03.680 what I see 00:28:03.680 --> 00:28:04.539 is Israel 00:28:04.539 --> 00:28:05.259 without 00:28:05.259 --> 00:28:06.320 a shepherd 00:28:06.320 --> 00:28:08.340 and in fact 00:28:08.340 --> 00:28:09.240 you should not 00:28:09.240 --> 00:28:09.820 go up 00:28:09.820 --> 00:28:10.860 but you should 00:28:10.860 --> 00:28:11.740 go home 00:28:11.740 --> 00:28:12.940 in peace 00:28:12.940 --> 00:28:13.980 go back 00:28:13.980 --> 00:28:14.900 to your towns 00:28:14.900 --> 00:28:16.259 and be at rest 00:28:16.259 --> 00:28:18.080 this is actually 00:28:18.080 --> 00:28:18.960 what God is saying 00:28:18.960 --> 00:28:19.420 to you 00:28:19.420 --> 00:28:21.039 if you were to listen 00:28:21.039 --> 00:28:23.539 and Ahab says 00:28:23.539 --> 00:28:23.900 see 00:28:23.900 --> 00:28:24.700 I told you 00:28:24.700 --> 00:28:27.759 and Micaiah continues 00:28:27.759 --> 00:28:28.840 and he tells 00:28:28.840 --> 00:28:29.660 the story 00:28:29.660 --> 00:28:30.960 of what's going on 00:28:30.960 --> 00:28:32.500 in this heavenly throne room 00:28:32.500 --> 00:28:33.920 where there's this discussion 00:28:33.920 --> 00:28:34.779 between God 00:28:34.779 --> 00:28:35.960 and his angels 00:28:35.960 --> 00:28:36.640 the spirits 00:28:36.640 --> 00:28:37.380 saying 00:28:37.380 --> 00:28:39.700 how can I get 00:28:39.700 --> 00:28:40.840 to my plan 00:28:40.839 --> 00:28:41.740 because my plan 00:28:41.740 --> 00:28:42.339 is for Ahab 00:28:42.339 --> 00:28:43.299 to go up 00:28:43.299 --> 00:28:45.599 and to do this thing 00:28:45.599 --> 00:28:46.359 and he's going 00:28:46.359 --> 00:28:46.919 to be killed 00:28:46.919 --> 00:28:48.799 and so they have 00:28:48.799 --> 00:28:49.679 this back and forth 00:28:49.679 --> 00:28:50.619 and then I will put 00:28:50.619 --> 00:28:51.639 a lying spirit 00:28:51.639 --> 00:28:52.339 in the prophets 00:28:52.339 --> 00:28:53.639 and they will speak 00:28:53.639 --> 00:28:54.259 these words 00:28:54.259 --> 00:28:55.879 and then Ahab 00:28:55.879 --> 00:28:56.559 will go up 00:28:56.559 --> 00:28:57.359 and do this thing 00:28:57.359 --> 00:28:58.139 and then he will 00:28:58.139 --> 00:28:58.839 be destroyed 00:28:58.839 --> 00:29:00.379 and so Micaiah 00:29:00.379 --> 00:29:01.359 lays bare 00:29:01.359 --> 00:29:02.480 the inner workings 00:29:02.480 --> 00:29:03.399 of what God 00:29:03.399 --> 00:29:03.799 is doing 00:29:03.799 --> 00:29:04.319 how God 00:29:04.319 --> 00:29:05.179 sovereignly 00:29:05.179 --> 00:29:05.799 is using 00:29:05.799 --> 00:29:07.259 lying prophets 00:29:07.259 --> 00:29:10.220 to carry out 00:29:10.220 --> 00:29:11.400 his sovereign will 00:29:11.400 --> 00:29:15.440 now 00:29:15.440 --> 00:29:16.539 it's fascinating 00:29:16.539 --> 00:29:17.420 to see what happens 00:29:17.420 --> 00:29:17.700 then 00:29:17.700 --> 00:29:18.160 right 00:29:18.160 --> 00:29:19.200 because Ahab 00:29:19.200 --> 00:29:20.579 who got 00:29:20.579 --> 00:29:21.440 the first one 00:29:21.440 --> 00:29:21.740 and said 00:29:21.740 --> 00:29:22.680 no that can't be it 00:29:22.680 --> 00:29:24.319 now here's these things 00:29:24.319 --> 00:29:26.220 and if you read 00:29:26.220 --> 00:29:27.160 the rest of the chapter 00:29:27.160 --> 00:29:27.819 what he does 00:29:27.819 --> 00:29:28.379 is he says 00:29:28.379 --> 00:29:29.400 well 00:29:29.400 --> 00:29:30.539 that doesn't matter 00:29:30.539 --> 00:29:31.619 everyone else is saying 00:29:31.619 --> 00:29:32.180 we should go up 00:29:32.180 --> 00:29:33.500 so let's go up together 00:29:33.500 --> 00:29:34.920 but I've got a great idea 00:29:34.920 --> 00:29:36.539 I'm going to disguise myself 00:29:36.539 --> 00:29:37.980 so I don't look like the king 00:29:37.980 --> 00:29:39.279 and I'm going to let you 00:29:39.279 --> 00:29:40.099 Jehoshaphat 00:29:40.099 --> 00:29:41.339 look like the king 00:29:41.339 --> 00:29:42.680 so that when we go together 00:29:42.680 --> 00:29:44.200 you'll be leading us 00:29:44.200 --> 00:29:45.119 and no one will know 00:29:45.119 --> 00:29:45.819 that I'm the king 00:29:45.819 --> 00:29:46.859 so who's ever going to 00:29:46.859 --> 00:29:47.599 want to kill me 00:29:47.599 --> 00:29:49.180 and so that's the idea 00:29:49.180 --> 00:29:50.420 he tries to hide 00:29:50.420 --> 00:29:51.700 by disguising himself 00:29:51.700 --> 00:29:52.940 they go up 00:29:52.940 --> 00:29:55.259 the enemies recognize 00:29:55.259 --> 00:29:56.420 that Jehoshaphat 00:29:56.420 --> 00:29:58.000 isn't Ahab 00:29:58.000 --> 00:30:01.039 God delivers Jehoshaphat 00:30:01.039 --> 00:30:01.859 miraculously 00:30:01.859 --> 00:30:03.039 when he's the target 00:30:03.039 --> 00:30:04.339 of their initial attack 00:30:04.339 --> 00:30:05.899 they then break off 00:30:05.900 --> 00:30:06.620 their attack 00:30:06.620 --> 00:30:08.860 and in a fascinating 00:30:08.860 --> 00:30:09.620 turn of events 00:30:09.620 --> 00:30:10.460 it says a man 00:30:10.460 --> 00:30:11.460 in his innocence 00:30:11.460 --> 00:30:12.280 that's the better 00:30:12.280 --> 00:30:13.140 translation of the word 00:30:13.140 --> 00:30:14.460 in his ignorance 00:30:14.460 --> 00:30:15.040 innocence 00:30:15.040 --> 00:30:16.860 just shoots an arrow 00:30:16.860 --> 00:30:19.120 and in God's sovereignty 00:30:19.120 --> 00:30:20.019 it flies through 00:30:20.019 --> 00:30:21.160 and it pierces through 00:30:21.160 --> 00:30:22.060 Ahab's armor 00:30:22.060 --> 00:30:23.460 and he dies 00:30:23.460 --> 00:30:25.100 by the end of that day 00:30:25.100 --> 00:30:26.580 and so God's word 00:30:26.580 --> 00:30:27.300 is fulfilled 00:30:27.300 --> 00:30:30.640 and the plant 00:30:30.640 --> 00:30:31.960 and the armies 00:30:31.960 --> 00:30:32.840 are defeated 00:30:32.840 --> 00:30:34.100 they don't win the battle 00:30:34.099 --> 00:30:35.079 they don't win the day 00:30:35.079 --> 00:30:36.219 but they do go home 00:30:36.219 --> 00:30:37.679 in peace 00:30:37.679 --> 00:30:41.759 now what are we to make 00:30:41.759 --> 00:30:42.459 of this story 00:30:42.459 --> 00:30:43.279 this is true 00:30:43.279 --> 00:30:44.399 of lots of chronicles 00:30:44.399 --> 00:30:45.019 where we're like 00:30:45.019 --> 00:30:46.319 okay what is the point 00:30:46.319 --> 00:30:46.919 of all this 00:30:46.919 --> 00:30:48.179 because one of the big 00:30:48.179 --> 00:30:49.379 questions that I have 00:30:49.379 --> 00:30:51.159 is Jehoshaphat 00:30:51.159 --> 00:30:53.579 was he obeying 00:30:53.579 --> 00:30:54.839 or disobeying 00:30:54.839 --> 00:30:55.879 the word that he heard 00:30:55.879 --> 00:30:56.519 from God 00:30:56.519 --> 00:30:57.740 about this 00:30:57.740 --> 00:30:59.019 because God's plan 00:30:59.019 --> 00:30:59.799 was for them 00:30:59.799 --> 00:31:00.599 to go up 00:31:00.599 --> 00:31:02.039 so that Ahab 00:31:02.039 --> 00:31:02.819 would be killed 00:31:02.819 --> 00:31:04.899 and Jehoshaphat 00:31:04.899 --> 00:31:05.639 knew that 00:31:05.639 --> 00:31:07.519 I think that's 00:31:07.519 --> 00:31:08.039 giving him way 00:31:08.039 --> 00:31:08.679 too much credit 00:31:08.679 --> 00:31:09.419 to be honest 00:31:09.419 --> 00:31:10.759 I think Jehoshaphat 00:31:10.759 --> 00:31:11.379 was the 00:31:11.379 --> 00:31:13.000 little brother 00:31:13.000 --> 00:31:13.819 was the weaker 00:31:13.819 --> 00:31:15.039 of the two kings 00:31:15.039 --> 00:31:15.879 and Ahab said 00:31:15.879 --> 00:31:16.839 we're gonna do this 00:31:16.839 --> 00:31:17.740 let's go do this 00:31:17.740 --> 00:31:18.579 and Jehoshaphat said 00:31:18.579 --> 00:31:19.439 well I guess 00:31:19.439 --> 00:31:20.539 maybe we can try 00:31:20.539 --> 00:31:21.119 and do that 00:31:21.119 --> 00:31:22.139 because I don't know 00:31:22.139 --> 00:31:22.799 what else to do 00:31:22.799 --> 00:31:23.299 because I want 00:31:23.299 --> 00:31:24.240 to unify Israel 00:31:24.240 --> 00:31:25.899 that's my read on it 00:31:25.899 --> 00:31:27.019 you know 00:31:27.019 --> 00:31:27.839 here's the question 00:31:27.839 --> 00:31:28.279 for you 00:31:28.279 --> 00:31:29.119 for coffee hour 00:31:29.119 --> 00:31:30.119 was he wise enough 00:31:30.119 --> 00:31:31.259 to see God's hand 00:31:31.259 --> 00:31:32.279 and to follow along 00:31:32.279 --> 00:31:33.419 or was he foolish enough 00:31:33.419 --> 00:31:36.639 to really believe 00:31:36.639 --> 00:31:37.379 that by being 00:31:37.379 --> 00:31:38.379 Ahab's ally 00:31:38.379 --> 00:31:39.659 this would be a good thing 00:31:39.659 --> 00:31:41.559 it doesn't say 00:31:41.559 --> 00:31:42.859 what his motivations were 00:31:42.859 --> 00:31:43.839 we do know 00:31:43.839 --> 00:31:44.259 at the beginning 00:31:44.259 --> 00:31:45.239 of chapter 19 00:31:45.239 --> 00:31:46.679 another prophet comes 00:31:46.679 --> 00:31:47.739 and he rebukes 00:31:47.739 --> 00:31:48.539 Jehoshaphat 00:31:48.539 --> 00:31:49.819 for his alliance 00:31:49.819 --> 00:31:50.579 with Ahab 00:31:50.579 --> 00:31:51.439 he says 00:31:51.439 --> 00:31:52.379 you should not 00:31:52.379 --> 00:31:53.539 ally with this 00:31:53.539 --> 00:31:54.219 wicked man 00:31:54.219 --> 00:31:54.919 who does not 00:31:54.919 --> 00:31:55.819 follow the Lord 00:31:55.819 --> 00:31:59.359 what we do see 00:31:59.359 --> 00:32:00.139 in all this story 00:32:00.139 --> 00:32:01.240 is that Jehoshaphat 00:32:01.240 --> 00:32:02.319 longed to hear 00:32:02.319 --> 00:32:02.980 God's word 00:32:02.980 --> 00:32:05.779 and there's a little 00:32:05.779 --> 00:32:06.519 question at the end 00:32:06.519 --> 00:32:07.059 about whether he 00:32:07.059 --> 00:32:08.259 actually obeyed it 00:32:08.259 --> 00:32:09.240 so 00:32:09.240 --> 00:32:11.759 but he did long 00:32:11.759 --> 00:32:12.799 to hear God's word 00:32:12.799 --> 00:32:13.419 and friends 00:32:13.419 --> 00:32:14.220 this is what God 00:32:14.220 --> 00:32:15.220 would want for us 00:32:15.220 --> 00:32:15.899 as well 00:32:15.899 --> 00:32:17.740 now we might ask 00:32:17.740 --> 00:32:18.000 ourselves 00:32:18.000 --> 00:32:18.639 but does God 00:32:18.639 --> 00:32:19.399 still speak 00:32:19.399 --> 00:32:21.339 are there still 00:32:21.339 --> 00:32:21.759 prophets 00:32:21.759 --> 00:32:22.480 that we should be 00:32:22.480 --> 00:32:23.019 seeking out 00:32:23.019 --> 00:32:23.539 who can come 00:32:23.539 --> 00:32:23.879 and say 00:32:23.879 --> 00:32:25.019 thus saith the Lord 00:32:25.019 --> 00:32:26.639 well 00:32:26.639 --> 00:32:28.019 Jesus has given us 00:32:28.019 --> 00:32:28.500 a better 00:32:28.500 --> 00:32:30.119 a better fulfillment 00:32:30.119 --> 00:32:31.000 than that 00:32:31.000 --> 00:32:32.579 if you remember 00:32:32.579 --> 00:32:33.500 in John 16 00:32:33.500 --> 00:32:35.759 in the Garden of Gethsemane 00:32:35.759 --> 00:32:37.059 or not in the Garden of Gethsemane 00:32:37.059 --> 00:32:38.000 in the Last Supper 00:32:38.000 --> 00:32:39.599 as Jesus is teaching 00:32:39.599 --> 00:32:40.859 he says this 00:32:40.859 --> 00:32:42.259 in John chapter 16 00:32:42.259 --> 00:32:43.000 verses 12 00:32:43.000 --> 00:32:43.639 through 14 00:32:43.639 --> 00:32:44.559 he says 00:32:44.559 --> 00:32:45.599 I still have 00:32:45.599 --> 00:32:46.240 many things 00:32:46.240 --> 00:32:47.000 to say to you 00:32:47.000 --> 00:32:47.639 but you cannot 00:32:47.639 --> 00:32:48.559 bear them now 00:32:48.559 --> 00:32:49.599 when the spirit 00:32:49.599 --> 00:32:50.559 of truth comes 00:32:50.559 --> 00:32:51.579 he will guide you 00:32:51.579 --> 00:32:52.619 into all truth 00:32:52.619 --> 00:32:53.799 for he will not 00:32:53.799 --> 00:32:54.619 speak on his own 00:32:54.619 --> 00:32:55.059 authority 00:32:55.059 --> 00:32:56.500 but whatever he hears 00:32:56.500 --> 00:32:57.779 he will speak 00:32:57.779 --> 00:32:58.619 and he will declare 00:32:58.619 --> 00:32:59.139 to you 00:32:59.139 --> 00:32:59.659 the things 00:32:59.659 --> 00:33:00.539 that are to come 00:33:00.539 --> 00:33:02.379 he will glorify me 00:33:02.379 --> 00:33:03.479 for he will take 00:33:03.479 --> 00:33:04.179 what is mine 00:33:04.179 --> 00:33:05.579 and declare it to you 00:33:05.579 --> 00:33:07.539 and friends 00:33:07.539 --> 00:33:08.439 what God did 00:33:08.439 --> 00:33:09.279 is he filled 00:33:09.279 --> 00:33:10.219 his initial 00:33:10.219 --> 00:33:11.519 followers 00:33:11.519 --> 00:33:12.799 with the Holy Spirit 00:33:12.799 --> 00:33:13.699 and he's continued 00:33:13.699 --> 00:33:14.859 to fill his church 00:33:14.859 --> 00:33:16.199 with the Holy Spirit 00:33:16.199 --> 00:33:17.559 through the apostles 00:33:17.559 --> 00:33:18.039 writing 00:33:18.039 --> 00:33:19.859 we have this book 00:33:19.859 --> 00:33:21.319 that is the writings 00:33:21.319 --> 00:33:21.939 of those 00:33:21.939 --> 00:33:23.019 inspired by 00:33:23.019 --> 00:33:24.259 the Holy Spirit 00:33:24.259 --> 00:33:25.539 to write scripture 00:33:25.539 --> 00:33:26.720 and we 00:33:26.720 --> 00:33:27.680 as believers 00:33:27.680 --> 00:33:28.299 in Christ 00:33:28.299 --> 00:33:29.240 have the Holy Spirit 00:33:29.240 --> 00:33:29.920 in us 00:33:29.920 --> 00:33:31.099 allowing us 00:33:31.099 --> 00:33:32.400 to understand 00:33:32.400 --> 00:33:33.859 God's word 00:33:33.859 --> 00:33:37.000 the Bible says 00:33:37.000 --> 00:33:37.700 that without 00:33:37.700 --> 00:33:38.639 God's help 00:33:38.639 --> 00:33:39.779 we are unable 00:33:39.779 --> 00:33:41.579 we are blind 00:33:41.579 --> 00:33:42.379 to seeing 00:33:42.379 --> 00:33:43.200 the truth of God 00:33:43.200 --> 00:33:43.960 but that when 00:33:43.960 --> 00:33:44.700 God's spirit 00:33:44.700 --> 00:33:45.480 is at work in us 00:33:45.480 --> 00:33:46.139 we are able 00:33:46.139 --> 00:33:46.839 to see 00:33:46.839 --> 00:33:47.680 the truth 00:33:47.680 --> 00:33:48.619 of God's word 00:33:48.619 --> 00:33:50.159 and this is 00:33:50.159 --> 00:33:50.739 a glorious 00:33:50.739 --> 00:33:51.359 thing 00:33:51.359 --> 00:33:54.079 and we will 00:33:54.079 --> 00:33:54.899 have to have 00:33:54.899 --> 00:33:55.719 this discernment 00:33:55.719 --> 00:33:56.919 because as we've 00:33:56.919 --> 00:33:57.779 talked about before 00:33:57.779 --> 00:33:58.779 there will be 00:33:58.779 --> 00:33:59.539 false teachers 00:33:59.539 --> 00:34:00.619 there will be 00:34:00.619 --> 00:34:01.199 those who will 00:34:01.199 --> 00:34:01.919 come and say 00:34:01.919 --> 00:34:02.959 I'm not going 00:34:02.959 --> 00:34:03.339 to read it 00:34:03.339 --> 00:34:04.459 but 2 Peter 2 00:34:04.459 --> 00:34:05.099 talks about 00:34:05.099 --> 00:34:05.899 false prophets 00:34:05.899 --> 00:34:06.699 coming along 00:34:06.699 --> 00:34:07.659 who will teach 00:34:07.659 --> 00:34:08.980 destructive heresies 00:34:08.980 --> 00:34:09.940 and will live 00:34:09.940 --> 00:34:11.079 destructive lives 00:34:11.079 --> 00:34:11.799 to hurt those 00:34:11.799 --> 00:34:12.380 who come 00:34:12.380 --> 00:34:15.400 how do we 00:34:15.400 --> 00:34:16.359 discern false 00:34:16.359 --> 00:34:17.059 teaching from 00:34:17.059 --> 00:34:17.539 true 00:34:17.539 --> 00:34:18.719 well here are 00:34:18.719 --> 00:34:19.400 a couple of 00:34:19.400 --> 00:34:19.800 thoughts 00:34:19.800 --> 00:34:20.480 this probably 00:34:20.480 --> 00:34:21.360 isn't comprehensive 00:34:21.360 --> 00:34:22.340 one 00:34:22.340 --> 00:34:24.380 whatever we teach 00:34:24.380 --> 00:34:25.320 should be consistent 00:34:25.320 --> 00:34:26.559 with all of 00:34:26.559 --> 00:34:27.360 what the Bible 00:34:27.360 --> 00:34:27.980 says 00:34:27.980 --> 00:34:29.139 it's easy 00:34:29.139 --> 00:34:29.719 to pick and 00:34:29.719 --> 00:34:30.119 choose 00:34:30.119 --> 00:34:31.000 this is my 00:34:31.000 --> 00:34:31.619 favorite verse 00:34:31.619 --> 00:34:32.820 I like this one 00:34:32.820 --> 00:34:34.259 God so loved 00:34:34.259 --> 00:34:34.699 the world 00:34:34.699 --> 00:34:35.320 great 00:34:35.320 --> 00:34:36.099 yes God 00:34:36.099 --> 00:34:36.719 loved the world 00:34:36.719 --> 00:34:37.759 but God's 00:34:37.759 --> 00:34:38.679 love is shaped 00:34:38.679 --> 00:34:39.639 in all sorts 00:34:39.639 --> 00:34:40.139 of nuances 00:34:40.139 --> 00:34:40.860 by the rest 00:34:40.860 --> 00:34:41.440 of the Bible 00:34:41.440 --> 00:34:42.500 so let's make 00:34:42.500 --> 00:34:43.440 sure we understand 00:34:43.440 --> 00:34:44.699 that what we're 00:34:44.699 --> 00:34:45.460 teaching is in 00:34:45.460 --> 00:34:47.259 is in with 00:34:47.260 --> 00:34:48.540 the whole Bible 00:34:48.540 --> 00:34:49.580 the second thing 00:34:49.580 --> 00:34:50.100 I would say 00:34:50.100 --> 00:34:51.040 is that all 00:34:51.040 --> 00:34:51.740 teaching needs 00:34:51.740 --> 00:34:52.600 to be consistent 00:34:52.600 --> 00:34:53.460 with the gospel 00:34:53.460 --> 00:34:54.360 of the cross 00:34:54.360 --> 00:34:55.380 and resurrection 00:34:55.380 --> 00:34:56.240 of Jesus 00:34:56.240 --> 00:34:58.820 it must be infused 00:34:58.820 --> 00:34:59.660 with humility 00:34:59.660 --> 00:35:00.580 and triumph 00:35:00.580 --> 00:35:01.460 it must so 00:35:01.460 --> 00:35:02.420 patterns of both 00:35:02.420 --> 00:35:03.940 death and life 00:35:03.940 --> 00:35:04.760 of suffering 00:35:04.760 --> 00:35:06.000 and sanctification 00:35:06.000 --> 00:35:07.900 so much false 00:35:07.900 --> 00:35:09.060 teaching goes to 00:35:09.060 --> 00:35:09.980 one or the other 00:35:09.980 --> 00:35:11.020 sides of those 00:35:11.020 --> 00:35:11.600 equations 00:35:11.600 --> 00:35:12.880 and it's either 00:35:12.880 --> 00:35:13.840 all triumph 00:35:13.840 --> 00:35:14.760 with no suffering 00:35:14.760 --> 00:35:15.720 or it's all 00:35:15.720 --> 00:35:16.220 suffering 00:35:16.220 --> 00:35:17.240 and no triumph 00:35:17.240 --> 00:35:20.220 finally 00:35:20.220 --> 00:35:21.440 whatever the 00:35:21.440 --> 00:35:22.260 teaching is 00:35:22.260 --> 00:35:23.640 it should exalt 00:35:23.640 --> 00:35:24.700 Jesus Christ 00:35:24.700 --> 00:35:26.260 it should point 00:35:26.260 --> 00:35:26.700 to him 00:35:26.700 --> 00:35:27.420 because John 00:35:27.420 --> 00:35:28.980 14 tells us 00:35:28.980 --> 00:35:29.740 that the spirit 00:35:29.740 --> 00:35:30.240 will come 00:35:30.240 --> 00:35:31.360 to teach us 00:35:31.360 --> 00:35:32.360 about Christ 00:35:32.360 --> 00:35:34.500 and it's so 00:35:34.500 --> 00:35:35.540 easy for our 00:35:35.540 --> 00:35:36.300 teaching to fall 00:35:36.300 --> 00:35:36.740 into 00:35:36.740 --> 00:35:38.520 exaltation 00:35:38.520 --> 00:35:39.500 of human reason 00:35:39.500 --> 00:35:40.580 or human wisdom 00:35:40.580 --> 00:35:42.180 God forbid 00:35:42.180 --> 00:35:42.880 that you would 00:35:42.880 --> 00:35:43.820 come and want 00:35:43.820 --> 00:35:44.599 my wisdom 00:35:44.599 --> 00:35:45.579 when you come 00:35:45.579 --> 00:35:46.440 on Sunday morning 00:35:46.440 --> 00:35:48.000 what you need 00:35:48.000 --> 00:35:49.260 is God's wisdom 00:35:49.260 --> 00:35:51.800 and my role 00:35:51.800 --> 00:35:53.740 by God's grace 00:35:53.740 --> 00:35:54.340 is to teach 00:35:54.340 --> 00:35:54.880 that to you 00:35:54.880 --> 00:35:56.079 and when I'm wrong 00:35:56.079 --> 00:35:56.860 because I'm not 00:35:56.860 --> 00:35:57.440 infallible 00:35:57.440 --> 00:35:59.160 you can rebuke me 00:35:59.160 --> 00:36:00.440 you can challenge 00:36:00.440 --> 00:36:01.140 me and we can 00:36:01.140 --> 00:36:01.960 talk about it 00:36:01.960 --> 00:36:03.119 but recognize 00:36:03.119 --> 00:36:04.400 that it's not 00:36:04.400 --> 00:36:05.320 about exalting 00:36:05.320 --> 00:36:07.000 a human wisdom 00:36:07.000 --> 00:36:08.059 or a human reason 00:36:08.059 --> 00:36:08.700 and it's not 00:36:08.700 --> 00:36:09.180 exalting 00:36:09.180 --> 00:36:10.940 of an alternative 00:36:10.940 --> 00:36:11.980 way for us 00:36:11.980 --> 00:36:14.360 to find salvation 00:36:14.360 --> 00:36:15.240 and be acceptable 00:36:15.240 --> 00:36:16.019 to God 00:36:16.019 --> 00:36:16.720 right 00:36:16.720 --> 00:36:18.380 there is only 00:36:18.380 --> 00:36:19.320 one gospel 00:36:19.320 --> 00:36:19.940 and it is the 00:36:19.940 --> 00:36:20.980 gospel of grace 00:36:20.980 --> 00:36:22.300 by grace 00:36:22.300 --> 00:36:22.800 you have been 00:36:22.800 --> 00:36:23.740 saved through faith 00:36:23.740 --> 00:36:24.280 and this 00:36:24.280 --> 00:36:25.079 not of yourselves 00:36:25.079 --> 00:36:26.340 is the gift 00:36:26.340 --> 00:36:26.800 of God 00:36:26.800 --> 00:36:27.619 so that no one 00:36:27.619 --> 00:36:28.220 may boast 00:36:28.220 --> 00:36:29.740 not of works 00:36:29.740 --> 00:36:33.200 so those are 00:36:33.200 --> 00:36:33.880 a couple of 00:36:33.880 --> 00:36:34.619 litmus tests 00:36:34.619 --> 00:36:35.740 as you think 00:36:35.740 --> 00:36:36.400 about false 00:36:36.400 --> 00:36:36.740 teaching 00:36:36.740 --> 00:36:38.139 look for these 00:36:38.139 --> 00:36:38.440 things 00:36:38.440 --> 00:36:39.079 when these 00:36:39.079 --> 00:36:39.920 things are true 00:36:39.920 --> 00:36:40.880 these will be 00:36:40.880 --> 00:36:41.220 helpful 00:36:41.220 --> 00:36:41.760 when they are 00:36:41.760 --> 00:36:42.200 missing 00:36:42.200 --> 00:36:43.220 then we need 00:36:43.220 --> 00:36:44.079 to be aware 00:36:44.079 --> 00:36:45.300 and be wise 00:36:45.300 --> 00:36:47.039 I've gone 00:36:47.039 --> 00:36:47.860 way long 00:36:47.860 --> 00:36:49.099 I'm going to 00:36:49.099 --> 00:36:49.860 close this 00:36:49.860 --> 00:36:50.280 quickly 00:36:50.280 --> 00:36:50.800 but 00:36:50.800 --> 00:36:52.300 God's people 00:36:52.300 --> 00:36:52.740 are to love 00:36:52.740 --> 00:36:53.260 the teaching 00:36:53.260 --> 00:36:54.099 and the hearing 00:36:54.099 --> 00:36:54.700 of God's word 00:36:54.700 --> 00:36:55.320 but finally 00:36:55.320 --> 00:36:55.880 we need to 00:36:55.880 --> 00:36:56.240 recognize 00:36:56.240 --> 00:36:56.960 that we need 00:36:56.960 --> 00:36:57.480 to love 00:36:57.480 --> 00:36:58.920 God's final word 00:36:58.920 --> 00:36:59.380 more than 00:36:59.380 --> 00:37:00.180 anything else 00:37:00.180 --> 00:37:01.340 Hebrews 1 00:37:01.340 --> 00:37:02.139 says this 00:37:02.139 --> 00:37:03.000 long ago 00:37:03.000 --> 00:37:03.680 at many times 00:37:03.680 --> 00:37:04.300 in many ways 00:37:04.300 --> 00:37:04.880 God spoke 00:37:04.880 --> 00:37:05.599 to our fathers 00:37:05.599 --> 00:37:06.380 by the prophets 00:37:06.380 --> 00:37:07.420 but in these 00:37:07.420 --> 00:37:08.180 last days 00:37:08.180 --> 00:37:08.840 he has spoken 00:37:08.840 --> 00:37:09.320 to us 00:37:09.320 --> 00:37:10.240 by his son 00:37:10.240 --> 00:37:10.980 whom he 00:37:10.980 --> 00:37:11.460 appointed 00:37:11.460 --> 00:37:12.039 the heir 00:37:12.039 --> 00:37:12.740 of all things 00:37:12.740 --> 00:37:13.240 and through 00:37:13.240 --> 00:37:14.300 whom also 00:37:14.300 --> 00:37:15.039 he created 00:37:15.039 --> 00:37:15.579 the world 00:37:15.579 --> 00:37:16.600 he is the 00:37:16.600 --> 00:37:17.039 radiance 00:37:17.039 --> 00:37:17.640 of the glory 00:37:17.640 --> 00:37:18.180 of God 00:37:18.180 --> 00:37:19.019 and the exact 00:37:19.019 --> 00:37:19.480 imprint 00:37:19.480 --> 00:37:20.220 of his nature 00:37:20.220 --> 00:37:21.460 and he upholds 00:37:21.460 --> 00:37:22.180 the universe 00:37:22.180 --> 00:37:23.200 by the word 00:37:23.200 --> 00:37:24.120 of his power 00:37:24.120 --> 00:37:25.240 after making 00:37:25.240 --> 00:37:26.039 purification 00:37:26.039 --> 00:37:26.740 for sin 00:37:26.740 --> 00:37:28.220 he sat down 00:37:28.220 --> 00:37:28.800 at the right 00:37:28.800 --> 00:37:29.460 hand of the 00:37:29.460 --> 00:37:29.980 majesty 00:37:29.980 --> 00:37:30.980 on high 00:37:30.980 --> 00:37:32.620 friends 00:37:32.620 --> 00:37:33.920 this 00:37:33.920 --> 00:37:35.159 is God's 00:37:35.159 --> 00:37:35.400 word 00:37:35.400 --> 00:37:36.000 to us 00:37:36.000 --> 00:37:36.539 so that 00:37:36.539 --> 00:37:37.059 we might 00:37:37.059 --> 00:37:37.480 know 00:37:37.480 --> 00:37:38.420 him 00:37:38.420 --> 00:37:39.579 the word 00:37:39.579 --> 00:37:40.200 of God 00:37:40.200 --> 00:37:41.460 made flesh 00:37:41.460 --> 00:37:42.139 that dwelt 00:37:42.139 --> 00:37:42.700 among us 00:37:42.700 --> 00:37:43.200 and we have 00:37:43.200 --> 00:37:43.680 beheld 00:37:43.680 --> 00:37:44.980 his glory 00:37:44.980 --> 00:37:47.240 it is about 00:37:47.240 --> 00:37:47.760 Jesus 00:37:47.760 --> 00:37:48.579 at the end 00:37:48.579 --> 00:37:49.139 of the day 00:37:49.139 --> 00:37:50.300 this is how 00:37:50.300 --> 00:37:51.340 God has revealed 00:37:51.340 --> 00:37:52.340 himself to us 00:37:52.340 --> 00:37:53.039 and when we 00:37:53.039 --> 00:37:53.960 want to know 00:37:53.960 --> 00:37:54.960 how to be 00:37:54.960 --> 00:37:55.559 God's people 00:37:55.559 --> 00:37:56.340 we look 00:37:56.340 --> 00:37:57.260 to Jesus 00:37:57.260 --> 00:37:58.240 when we want 00:37:58.240 --> 00:37:58.500 to know 00:37:58.500 --> 00:37:59.400 how we become 00:37:59.400 --> 00:38:00.000 a part of 00:38:00.000 --> 00:38:00.599 God's people 00:38:00.599 --> 00:38:01.659 we trust 00:38:01.659 --> 00:38:02.519 and believe 00:38:02.519 --> 00:38:03.219 in Jesus 00:38:03.219 --> 00:38:04.420 that his life 00:38:04.420 --> 00:38:05.000 and death 00:38:05.000 --> 00:38:05.759 and resurrection 00:38:05.759 --> 00:38:07.460 for us 00:38:07.460 --> 00:38:09.519 is our salvation 00:38:09.519 --> 00:38:10.759 and by faith 00:38:10.759 --> 00:38:11.139 in him 00:38:11.139 --> 00:38:12.480 we have life 00:38:12.480 --> 00:38:13.420 with him 00:38:13.420 --> 00:38:15.480 Jesus himself 00:38:15.480 --> 00:38:16.480 rebuked 00:38:16.480 --> 00:38:17.119 the teachers 00:38:17.119 --> 00:38:17.739 of the law 00:38:17.739 --> 00:38:18.699 in his day 00:38:18.699 --> 00:38:19.759 saying you 00:38:19.759 --> 00:38:20.759 search the scriptures 00:38:20.759 --> 00:38:21.799 because you think 00:38:21.799 --> 00:38:22.699 in them you have 00:38:22.699 --> 00:38:23.559 eternal life 00:38:23.559 --> 00:38:24.860 and it is they 00:38:24.860 --> 00:38:27.440 that bear witness 00:38:27.440 --> 00:38:28.519 about me 00:38:28.519 --> 00:38:29.739 yet you refuse 00:38:29.739 --> 00:38:30.579 to come to me 00:38:30.579 --> 00:38:31.360 that you may 00:38:31.360 --> 00:38:31.980 have life 00:38:31.980 --> 00:38:33.340 so if you're ever 00:38:33.340 --> 00:38:34.179 worried that we 00:38:34.179 --> 00:38:35.159 worship the Bible 00:38:35.159 --> 00:38:36.659 more than Jesus 00:38:36.659 --> 00:38:39.219 recognize that 00:38:39.219 --> 00:38:40.059 Jesus himself 00:38:40.059 --> 00:38:40.599 said no 00:38:40.599 --> 00:38:41.219 the Bible 00:38:41.219 --> 00:38:42.119 is given to us 00:38:42.119 --> 00:38:42.920 so that we 00:38:42.920 --> 00:38:43.739 know him better 00:38:43.739 --> 00:38:44.819 so that we 00:38:44.819 --> 00:38:45.380 know him 00:38:45.380 --> 00:38:46.380 in his fullness 00:38:46.380 --> 00:38:47.659 and so that we 00:38:47.659 --> 00:38:48.940 can understand him 00:38:48.940 --> 00:38:50.799 and this is how 00:38:50.799 --> 00:38:51.799 we know him 00:38:51.799 --> 00:38:54.319 and this is what 00:38:54.319 --> 00:38:55.199 2nd Chronicles 00:38:55.199 --> 00:38:55.860 in the story 00:38:55.860 --> 00:38:57.099 of Jehoshaphat 00:38:57.099 --> 00:38:58.139 at least one 00:38:58.139 --> 00:38:59.000 slice of it 00:38:59.000 --> 00:39:00.279 is teaching us 00:39:00.280 --> 00:39:01.460 that God's 00:39:01.460 --> 00:39:01.940 people are 00:39:01.940 --> 00:39:02.500 to love 00:39:02.500 --> 00:39:03.100 the teaching 00:39:03.100 --> 00:39:04.200 and the hearing 00:39:04.200 --> 00:39:05.200 of God's 00:39:05.200 --> 00:39:05.519 word 00:39:05.519 --> 00:39:06.580 and to worship 00:39:06.580 --> 00:39:07.600 his final word 00:39:07.600 --> 00:39:08.440 to us 00:39:08.440 --> 00:39:09.600 let's pray 00:39:09.600 --> 00:39:10.000 together 00:39:10.000 --> 00:39:13.180 Lord thank you 00:39:13.180 --> 00:39:13.860 for your word 00:39:13.860 --> 00:39:14.640 and thank you 00:39:14.640 --> 00:39:16.320 for the teaching 00:39:16.320 --> 00:39:17.160 that you give us 00:39:17.160 --> 00:39:17.680 in it 00:39:17.680 --> 00:39:19.280 Lord thank you 00:39:19.280 --> 00:39:19.720 that you are 00:39:19.720 --> 00:39:20.200 not a God 00:39:20.200 --> 00:39:20.800 that we have 00:39:20.800 --> 00:39:21.400 to guess 00:39:21.400 --> 00:39:22.960 or have 00:39:22.960 --> 00:39:23.940 some spiritual 00:39:23.940 --> 00:39:24.680 experience 00:39:24.680 --> 00:39:25.540 in order to 00:39:25.540 --> 00:39:25.860 know 00:39:25.860 --> 00:39:26.800 but Lord 00:39:26.800 --> 00:39:27.260 thank you 00:39:27.260 --> 00:39:27.800 that you 00:39:27.800 --> 00:39:28.360 have made 00:39:28.360 --> 00:39:29.280 yourself known 00:39:29.280 --> 00:39:30.360 through your 00:39:30.360 --> 00:39:30.660 word 00:39:30.660 --> 00:39:31.380 and finally 00:39:31.380 --> 00:39:32.180 through Jesus 00:39:32.180 --> 00:39:33.460 oh Lord 00:39:33.460 --> 00:39:34.019 we pray 00:39:34.019 --> 00:39:34.599 that we would 00:39:34.599 --> 00:39:35.079 be those 00:39:35.079 --> 00:39:35.720 who love 00:39:35.720 --> 00:39:36.860 you 00:39:36.860 --> 00:39:37.519 and love 00:39:37.519 --> 00:39:38.059 your word 00:39:38.059 --> 00:39:40.280 we pray 00:39:40.280 --> 00:39:40.700 this in 00:39:40.700 --> 00:39:41.340 Jesus name 00:39:41.340 --> 00:39:42.320 amen 00:39:42.320 --> 00:39:43.500 amen 00:39:43.500 --> 00:39:44.320 to 00:39:44.320 --> 00:39:44.320 00:39:44.320 --> 00:39:44.640 amen 00:39:44.640 --> 00:39:45.320 to 00:39:45.320 --> 00:39:45.500 amen 00:39:45.500 --> 00:39:45.780 to 00:39:45.780 --> 00:39:45.780