"Have the Faith of God: When You Pray!" Parts 3-2c & 3-2d August 24, 2014

[Rev. Dr. Dorothy E. Hooks, PsyD]

3.   King Jehoshaphat – 2 Chronicles 20:15-18 – Part 3-2c: The next person in the Bible who operated in the faith of God was King Jehoshaphat. King Jehoshaphat boasted not in his own ability but God's and obtained God's victory! God let King Jehoshaphat know that the battle belonged to Him and King Jehoshaphat did not have to fight in the battle he sought God about; God told him to stand still and see His salvation!

 

King Jehoshaphat believed God as Abraham did; he trusted God - where did he get that trust? The Holy Spirit revealed to King Jehoshaphat who God was so he could obtain God's faith in the matter!

 

Therefore, King Jehoshaphat had no doubt believing God would do what He said He would. King Jehoshaphat prayed, asked, and believed God would do what he asked Him to do according to His will - King Jehoshaphat believed God and He granted his petition. King Jehoshaphat worshipped God after God told him to stand still and see His salvation. We should do the same once God give us the answer to our petition - whether the answer is what we want to hear or not.

 

4.  King Saul – 1 Samuel 13:5-14 – Part 3-2d: The last person we will talk about from the Bible in reference to faith is King Saul; King Saul did not have God's faith. The Prophet Samuel told Saul to wait for him at Gilgal so he (Samuel) could perform the sacrifice for the burnt offering (1 Samuel 13:5-14). God had given King Saul specific instructions through His Prophet but Saul did not wait for God's perfect timing! Isn't that how we do sometimes?

 

God gives us instructions and tell us He is going to do it but if he does not do it in the time frame we think it needs to be done, we go and do it ourselves by any means necessary; then we make a mess and go crying to God for help - and sometimes the cycle keeps repeating! We need to STOP! If we wait for God's perfect timing and allow Him to do what He wants to do about the situation, we will save ourselves a lot of stressed out moments. We should learn a lesson from Saul; Saul did not wait on God (disobeyed Him), lost his kingdom to David and later lost his life.

 

The example of King Saul shows us the dangers of NOT inquiring of the Lord (asking God for His will to be done in the situation - what He want). Saul thought Samuel was taking too long in coming (he was not willing to wait for God's timing) so he decided, after the people put pressure on him, to perform the sacrifice himself. Instead of Saul asking God what he should do, Saul caved in to the will of the people because that is what he wanted to do; people or no one else can make you do what you really don't want to do. Remember what James said about how we are tempted in James 1:13-18says (the devil cannot tempt us with something we have no interest in; God delivered me from alcohol and drugs and I know I am delivered because I have NO desire for them so the devil CAN NEVER tempt me with those things):

 

13 Let no one say when he is tempted, I am tempted from God; for God is incapable of being tempted by [what is] evil and He Himself tempts no one.

 

14 But every person is tempted when  he  is  drawn  away, enticed and baited by his own evil desire (lust, passions).

 

15 Then the evil desire, when it has conceived, gives birth to sin, and sin, when it is fully matured, brings forth death.

 

16 Do not be misled, my beloved brethren.

17 Every good gift and every perfect (free, large, full) gift is from above; it comes down from the Father of all [that gives] light, in [the shining of] Whom there can be no variation [rising or setting] or shadow cast by His turning [as in an eclipse].

 

18 And it was of His own [free] will that He gave us birth [as sons] by [His] Word of Truth, so that we should be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures [a sample of what He created to be consecrated to Himself].

 

I am sure if Saul would have asked God what to do, God would have told him to wait for Samuel; God had already told Saul to wait so He was not going to change His mind. This is another lesson we should learn; once God give us an answer, let's do what He says - if He says "Wait" then let's wait!! We should not be anxious (Philippians 4:6-7) for an answer when we petition God and know that things happen in God's timing and according to His will not ours!! God knows best for us and He sees the BIG picture, not just for the moment and to satisfy what we need for the moment!! Trust Him and your life will never be the same!!

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God bless,

Dr. Dorothy E. Hooks

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