Revival Conference 2007 - Dean Taylor - Part 3

In 2 Chronicles 16, verse 9, it says to him, and the prophet rebuked him and said, For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth. That means God's like looking all around the earth to show Himself strong in behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward Him. Remember that Asa wasn't perfect, but his heart was perfect toward Him. And God wants to show Himself strong there. To show Himself strong to His heart who's perfect toward Him. Herein thou hast done foolishly, therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars. Well, you know what happened to that prophet? He was thrown in jail. Asa started then trusting in God, I mean, trusting in the physicians to heal himself and these different things that happened. And the Bible still gives a favorable account of Asa's revival and Asa's life. But there it went on in this little disclaimer. So where are we in this thing? It's a very clear message. When God had us trusting in only Him, in only Him, He brought the revival within trusting in our own strength. Moving on to His Son. Nothing would be more of a joy to a revival teen, a revival preacher, than having a revival son. And as Jehoshaphat came on to the scene, soon as he was in, in Chronicles chapter 17, as soon as he was there, he also started to bring reform and to bring revival in the land of Judah there. He started to make some beautiful things happen. In verse 3, And the Lord was with Jehoshaphat because he walked in the first ways of his father David and sought not unto Balaam. So he sought to do the things of God. He set up a teaching ministry where people would go and hear the Word of God and stand on God's Word. In verse 9 it says, And they taught in Judah and had the book of the law of the Lord with them and went about throughout all the cities of Judah and taught the people. And it says in verse 12, And Jehoshaphat waxed great exceedingly and he built in Judah castles and cities and stores. God's blessing was on him while he was with them. But now look what happened. In chapter 18, the same thing that happened to his father, the same thing that happens to us today. Now Jehoshaphat had riches and honor in abundance and joined affinity with Ahab. Do you know who Ahab's wife was? Who was it? Jezebel. That's who he formed an allegiance with. That's who he gave his own son to marry their daughter. That's what happened to Jehoshaphat. So he went out and they did the same thing. They were going to go out to battle together to fight another war and God had to send another prophet. And while he was there at this time, the king of Israel was going to disguise himself and they were going to do this fool trick and try to go out to battle with this thing. But now God sent them a test. And my heart comes to this point. Look here in 2 Chronicles 18, looking at verse 31. And it came to pass when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, that they said, it is the king of Israel. Therefore, it came to pass when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, that they said, it is the king of Israel. Therefore, they compassed about him to fight. And there it is. They were about to kill him. There is the imminent judgment. But look at what he did. But Jehoshaphat cried out and the Lord helped him. Our God is so merciful. But you know what? That day another one didn't come home. An arrow went up into the air and killed the king of Israel that day. You know, we come to meetings like this. We come to meetings and many times we walk out one or two ways. Either improved or shot. One man walked out revived that day. The other walked out shot. Well, it changed his life. And it changed Judah, hallelujah. He went on and started to come. He went on in 2 Chronicles chapter 19. God sent another prophet to him. And Jehoshaphat actually became a missionary. And actually went out into all of the lands and tried to bring them back from their gods, and from their idols, and from their Asherahs, and all these different things that they were experiencing. And to bring them back into trusting after God. He was crying to them and preaching to them. And in chapter 19, 9. And he charged them saying, Thus shall you do in the fear of the Lord faithfully and with a perfect heart. And what cause soever shall come to you of your brethren that dwell in the cities between blood and blood, between law and commandment, statutes and judgments? Ye shall even warn them that they trespass not against the Lord. And so wrath came upon you and upon your brethren. This do and ye shall not trespass. He's going to them and he's telling them these things. Well, again God sent a test. Again, God sent a test. And it came, and this time the Bible just... Last time it says there was a million man army. This time the Bible just says a great multitude came. And look what Jehoshaphat did. You know he heard those stories of his father. You know he did. And so as he's there, he's looking at these things. And Jehoshaphat, this is chapter 20, verse 3. And Jehoshaphat feared and set himself to seek the Lord and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. Fasted and prayed. Now he feared. God put a fear in his heart. The Holy Spirit put a fear in his heart. And there he did to call the people together to fast and pray. And Judah gathered themselves together to ask help of the Lord. Even out of all the cities of Judah, they came to seek the Lord. Now, we're not going to have time to get into Acts here, but let me just focus on this last revival here with Jehoshaphat and finish this. There's something here that Jehoshaphat does that I see when I read revival histories over and over again. And I'll be honest with you, I don't understand it. I don't. I read about it, I have to confess, it almost makes me cringe a little bit. They remind God of His promises. I don't understand that. But here it is. Somehow, you know, I wonder sometimes that we have upon our heart idols. You know, we have within our heart an image of God, how we worship God. And as A.W. Tozer said, the way we behave is very much reflection on how we view God. And our view of God, I think, sometimes needs to be arranged. And we need to get those gods that we have now placed upon our hearts out. And when we remind ourselves of God's promises, when we remind ourselves of God's law and His way, it's like taking all those false images of God out of our heart and putting the real Jehovah God in. And then we can worship God in spirit and in truth. And I don't know, that's the only way I come up with explaining this thing about reminding God and a fear of God, reminding God. But look what Jehoshaphat did. Moses did the same thing in Exodus 32. But look at this. The army is there and they gather themselves together. And Jehoshaphat stood in the congregation of Judah and Jerusalem in the house of the Lord before the new court and said, O Lord God of our fathers, listen to this, Art not thou God in heaven? And ruleth not thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen? And in thy hand is there not power and might, so that none is able to withstand thee? God's name is glorified there. And art, verse 7, Art not thou, O God, who didst drive out the inhabitants of this land before thy people Israel, and givest it to the seed of Abraham thy friend for ever? Was it you, O God, who made those covenants of promise? It was your word that promised those things? That was you. And they dwelt therein and have built thee a sanctuary therein for, notice this, for thy name, and here's the promise, Lord, saying?