Sermon Central
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Nothing Left But God
Contributed by Howard Strickland on Mar 17, 2024 (message contributor)
Summary: A wise Bible teacher once said, sooner or later, God will bring self-sufficient people to the place where they have no resource, but him- No strength, No answers, nothing but him. Without God’s help, they’re sunk.
Nothing Left But God.
A wise Bible teacher once said, sooner or later, God will bring self-sufficient people to the place where they have no resource, but him- No strength, No answers, nothing but him. Without God’s help, they’re sunk.
He then told of a despairing man who confessed to his pastor, “My life is in really bad shape. How bad? The Pastor inquired. Burying his head in his hands he moaned, I’ll tell you how bad– all I’ve got left is God.
The pastors face lit up. “I’m happy to assure you that a person with nothing left, but God has more than enough for great victory.”
The people of Judah were also in trouble. They admitted their lack of power and wisdom, to conquer their foes.
-All they had left was God.
2 Chronicles 20:12AMP ”O our God, will You not judge them? For we are powerless against this great multitude which is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on You.”“
“Lord, I can’t do a thing, I’m powerless, but my eyes are on You!” P.H
The people of Judah were in trouble. It all begun as enemies of Judah teamed together to destroy Judah.
2 Chronicles 20:1NIV ”Now it happened after this that the Moabites and the Ammonites, together with some of the Meunites, came to make war against Jehoshaphat.“
The Enemies of God had teamed up to destroy Gods people!
In the beginning of this conflict Judah admitted their lack of power and wisdom to conquer their foes.
God loves to hear you admit, “I can’t, but God can!”
The apostle Paul states in, 2 Corinthians 12:10cMSG I just let Christ take over! And so the weaker I get the stronger I become.
All the apostle Paul and the people of Judah- had left was God!
Say this, “Its all about perspective.”
When you read the entire account in, 2 Chron. 20, King Jehoshaphat, and the people saw this as reason, for Hope, not despair.
Again the text, 2 Chronicles 20:12MSG ”“And now it’s happened: men from Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir have shown up. You didn’t let Israel touch them when we got here at first—we detoured around them and didn’t lay a hand on them. And now they’ve come to kick us out of the country you gave us. O dear God, won’t you take care of them? We’re helpless before this vandal horde ready to attack us. We don’t know what to do; we’re looking to you.””
The final phrase, Again, verse 12, We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you, is one of the most touching expressions of trust in God to be found anywhere in the Bible.”
When you set your eyes, or fix your mind upon Jesus’ finished work it changes everything. P.H
A song of David. Psalm 63:1-2 Let God arise, and His enemies be scattered; Let those who hate Him flee before Him. 2 As smoke is driven away, so drive them away; As wax melts before the fire, So let the wicked and guilty perish before [the presence of] God.
When I praise God, -God arises!
The Israelites had just escaped slavery in Egypt and now they’re being pursued by Pharaoh. They were discouraged and afraid.
Exodus 14:14NIV the Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.
Exodus 14:14NKJV The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.”
Exodus 14:14MSG God will fight the battle for you. And you? You keep your mouths shut!
God’s command, Remain still, fix your eyes, and thoughts on God’s promises.
Remaining still and calm while trusting God in the midst of stress laden situations has been a constant proof of God’s strength and power.
Psalm 46:10-11TPT ”Surrender your anxiety. Be still and realize that I am God. I am God above all the nations, and I am exalted throughout the whole earth. 11 Here he stands! The Commander! The mighty Lord of Angel Armies is on our side! The God of Jacob fights for us! Pause in his presence“
Remember this, “When you remain still, you get to know God.” P.H
Isaiah 30:15TPT ”Lord Yahweh, the Holy One of Israel, says: “Come back to me! By returning and resting in me you will be saved. In quietness and trust you will be made strong. -But you refused.“
You need to make this part of your confession (shout it out loud). -“Because I belong to the Lord, the battle is not mine, but Gods.”
The question begs to be answered, “Will you trust Me?”
The days seem to be dark and cold, the enemy lurking around every corner, walls are closing in, doors that need to be opened or not, doors that need to be closed are opened.
