ASA and JEHOSHAPHAT
Suggested Reading: 2 Chronicles 16-17
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).
Here is view from half way up the south end of the Golan Heights in Northern Israel. Looking East you can see into the north of Jordan and to the far left you can see the south end of Syria.
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verses: 2 Chronicles 16:12, 17:9
And in the thirty-ninth year of his reign, Asa became diseased in his feet, and his malady was severe; yet in his disease he did not seek the Lord, but the physicians…So they taught in Judah, and had the Book of the Law of the Lord with them; they went throughout all the cities of Judah and taught the people.
Asa started out so well, but in the last 5 years of his 40-year-long reign he changed. Because his reliance was no longer on God, God backed off and Asa made bad decisions. When we stop seeking the Lord (honouring Him, praying consistently, watching carefully for His guidance) we invariably mess up.
Asa’s son, Jehoshaphat, was watching his father make mistakes. At some point he must have decided to be different than his Dad. The key to his success may be in 17:6, “His heart took delight in the ways of the Lord.” His great-great-great-grandfather (King David) had left his writings for future generations, and I think that Jehoshaphat had access to the Psalms. He probably read them daily. There in Psalm 37:1-8, it says in verse 4, “Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.” Of course, when we delight in the Lord, we want what He wants before anything else. Therefore, we will avoid the bad decisions represented by Asa. We will pray fervently for God’s will to be done in all things and we will, as Psalm 37 goes on the say, “Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him.” Amen and amen!!!
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Dear Lord God, Give me grace, I pray, according to Your promises. I trust in You! I delight in You! I commit my way to You! I rest in You! Therefore, I thank You for Your faithfulness! I receive the desires of my heart! You bring to pass Your will! I do not fret! In Jesus’ Name, Amen!!!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
On yesterday’s 100 Huntley Street telecast, I had the opportunity to host Billy Graham’s grandson, Franklin’s son, Will. He quoted the words of John the Baptist about Jesus, “He must increase and I must decrease.” He said that this was the way that George Beverly Shea, whom we were honouring, lived his life. Chief Superintendent Ronald Mostrey of the RCMP told of his decision to travel to North Carolina to honour the great Canadian. George Beverly Shea had gone to be with his Lord and Saviour at 104 years old, filled with honours and great contentment. George’s last e-mail to me was when he was 102. He said that he continued to watch 100 Huntley Street online every day and that the telecast was a great source of strength to him. I encourage everyone who reads this to do the same. You can find yesterday’s telecast by clicking here.
The pictures Reynold has taken of the Syrian bunkers (below) remind me to pray fervently for the Syrian followers of Jesus. Yesterday, I visited with two businessmen whose roots are in the Middle East. They were so very solemn as they had just viewed, on an iPhone, the scene of two Christians brutally beheaded by a Syrian mob. They refused to show it to me as they said it was too gruesome. People need Jesus as never before.
Yours for the desires of the heart of God to be fulfilled,
David
This photo and the one below are of Syrian bunkers that were built during 1948-67, when Syria controlled this area known as the Golan Heights. They used the area as a military stronghold from which its troops randomly sniped at Israeli civilians in the Hula Valley below, forcing children living on Kibbutzim to sleep in bomb shelters. Israel now controls this territory.
Dear Lord God, how we have sinned and have gone our own way, how we have forsaken You and Your Word and have instead chased after false promises of idols we have set on high. Lord God hear our cry, help us in our lost condition, be with us, guide us, but most of all forgive us for our weaknesses and our stubborn ways. Create within us a new heart that desires to seek only You and Your love Lord. We thank You for Your Word, sink it deep within our heart and our thought processes that we might not sin against You or ever be tempted to fall from Your grace. Jesus we can never thank-you enough or repay you enough for the redemption that You bought for us as you suffered and died at Calvary’s Cross. But you tell us in Your Word that Your grace is sufficient and that we need not strive to attain anything or strive to work for our redemption, for you alone paid the price and took upon Yourself our sin-dept so that we no longer have to be weighed down by sin. Lord we praise You and worship You only, we give thanks to You this day for the great plan of salvation by grace by which you have saved those who believe by faith in You alone. Praise You Jesus, Praise You Jesus! Thank You Lord, Hallelujah and Amen!
Ephesians 2:8-9
For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is a gift from God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.
Amen !
Blessings to all and may all have a wonderful Canada Day long weekend !
Diane 🙂
Still enjoying your blog Mr. Mainse 🙂
AMEN Scott
WOW, beautiful prayer Scott, you said it all and I pray this prayer along with you.
Blessings to all!!
Well said, Scott. Amen.
yes we agree with Scott, power as we yield to His will and His desires become our flagstaff goals! His love is greater than ___ … as I looked at the bunker today, although safe and away from danger, it is not a place of strength but rather simply holding ground. My prayer.. Lord help us move out of the bunkers of safety as Christians, and move into the front line of forward progress in Christ. In Him we live and MOVE and have our being. You are our shield in the battle, we pray and move forward like David who ran towards the Giant, so we run towards the giants in our lives. Not shaken, not veering off course, not distracted by sniper fire.. You go ahead of us in the Battle and we rejoice for the enemy has to disperse before the Arm of the Lord. This is the word for today, God’s arm will surround us and supernaturally shield us – as we MOVE forward. thank you Jesus.. amen ps and as we celebrate Canada Day all across this Land… we are so thankful for the continued trustworthy and fruitful ministry of 100 Huntley Street in our nation. blessings from Carolyn in BC
Thank you Carolyn!!!!
Amen Amen!
Lianne
Well said Scott and Carolyn, I lift up my praises with yours , unhigh unto the Lord from were cmes our help , our help comes from the Lord, Amen Amen, Amen…God bless you all on this Canada day week end….R…
Thank you each one for your prayers and praises to our Lord Jesus Christ. God Bless each one!!!!!
After watching the program which i missed yesterday, and when looking at the whole world , as a whole, all i can say is thank you Lord for placing me in such a wonderful place in the world as in my beloved Nova Scotia. What a time to be a Canadian, and what a time to be a Christian. Thank you David, and all of 100 Huntley Street. May God continually bless all your efforts. In Jesus’ name; Amen.
The story of the seeking a human doctor instead of asking the Lord, Who had been so faithful,during the kings long reign make me think, that I have been doing the right thing by thanking the Lord all day for healing me. The book, God’s Word Heals says to constantly be thanking the Lord even when my human d0ctor said I needed a complete knee replacement. I am going to keep thanking the Lord. My knee is feeling better all day. Elaine
Great picture of you football fans yea TORONTO
I agree with my fellow bloggers. Canadais a wonderful country. When I was 16 years old I merried a US marine. We were merried four years before our doughter Jowee was born. I had a green card. A privilage for sure. I could have changed my citizen ship and had considered it.
I know that many Canadians who have found finacial success in the USA have changed their citizin ship fromCanadian to American but for me I could never do that. I love the US but ……
I’m thankful I was born a Canadian. The Hart and Soul documentary will make a wonderful Canadian keep sake.
As we read the word of God we take from it the lessons learned .Yours for Keeping Jesus in all that we do.
M. 🙂