FACING UNCERTAIN TIMES

What to do when you don’t know what to do!

Sunday, March 22, 2020

               

TEXT                      2 Chronicles 20: 3-4, 9, 12, 15

INTRODUCTION

                                Good morning dear church family and all who might be reading this. Today is Sunday, March 22 and I want to share a few moments of encouragement.  Like most Sunday's I am usually behind the pulpit of the Talbotville Church.  But of course I can only look out upon an empty church.  In my mind’s eye I see each one of you sitting before me.  As your Pastor, you are in my thoughts, in my heart and in my prayers.  I expect that you are keeping yourself and your family in isolation as a response to stopping the spread of the coronavirus.  Like you, I am alarmed and deeply concerned. 

I encourage you to keep in contact with family and friends through our technology and even though you need to “social distance” yourself, consider how you can give comfort and support to others in need as I know this church family has been in the practice of.  Look after yourselves, and look for ways to love your neighbour.

                Today, I want to encourage you to do one more thing.  Look toward God and pray.  

As your minister I have been searching for ways that I can bring comfort and encouragement to you.  As God often does when I seek Him, He inspires me with a scripture passage, so please give your attention to a story found in 2 Chronicles, chapter 20. 

                               

BACKGROUND

In these verses, we find Israel under the leadership of King Jehosaphat in a state of fear.

They are under the threat of a vast army who are approaching to attack them. What was the Kings immediate strategy? He sought help.  And the people came to seek help.

In verses 3-4, we hear what the King immediately did, 

"Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the Lord, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah. 4 The people of Judah came together to seek help from the Lord; indeed, they came from every town in Judah to seek him.

So let us learn from Jehosaphat what to do when we don’t know what to do!  

In verse. 9, the King begins with this prayer  ‘If calamity comes upon us, whether the sword of judgment, or plague or famine, we will stand in your presence before this temple that bears your Name and will cry out to you in our distress, and you will hear us and save us.

Our Lesson

       We cry out to the Lord knowing He will hear us.  This King of Israel placed the situation and His people into the hands of God.  And as we pray for each other and our world, we place ourselves and each other into the hands of God.   

In verse 12, these next words from the King could easily be words for us today.  “For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.” 

Our Lesson

        What to do when we don’t know what to do…. We look to God.

God responds through a priest to the congregation.  His words give great encouragement to us today as they did for the people of Judah facing uncertainty and fear.

Listen to what God Himself is saying to us in this verse 15 

"This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s."

Our Lesson 

God is bigger than this enemy.  Do not fear and do not be discouraged for the battle belongs to the Lord.

CONCLUSION:   So here’s what to do when you don’t know what to do.  PRAY!

The prayer Jesus taught his followers seems to me to be so perfect for us today. Join with me and pray.  

Our Father who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the Kingdom, the power and the glory, forever and ever, amen.

BLESSING

May God the Father speak softly his words of love, grace and comfort, May God the Son remind you how precious you are to Him that He gave His life for you, and may God the Holy Spirit indwell your being knowing He walks with you on this journey.  Amen!