(1986 Prairie Series) 8 - Biggest Thing God Ever Said — Major Ian Thomas

Jehoshaphat Rediscovers the God Who Is

He was now preoccupied only with who God was. He'd learned from Abraham God's friend that the blesser is greater than his blessings and the giver greater than his gifts. He'd rediscovered God and Who God is.

And as I indicated yesterday that nearly always can be recognized in the way the way a man prays Oh Lord God of our fathers up now our God. I'm citing from the chapter where we concluded yesterday. It's the 20th chapter of the second book of Chronicles.

We're only going to glance at it just for a brief few moments just to recapitulate and Recapture the main flow of God's revelation to us of a perfect heart. Art not thou said he God in heaven in the sixth verse.

Rulest not thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen. In thine hand is there not power and might so that none is able To withstand thee rediscovered God. The God who is art not thou our God. Present tense.

And he had discovered that the God who is is the God who was and the God who was is the God who will be. Unchanging in whom there's no shadow of turning neither any variableness. No bravado now in the heart of Jehoshaphat that false dedication that says I will and I can and you can't you don't.

True dedication says I can't but God can and he will and he does. That was the substance of his prayer. Behold said he verse 11. How they reward is to come to cast us out of thy possession which thou has given to us to inherit anything that is Legitimately ours is yours that you have made available to us all that a man is.

Available to all that God is. Knowing that all that God is is available to the man who is available to all that God is. That's mutual inter availability. That was the life of our Lord Jesus as he demonstrated that true humanity on earth.

For which he is our creator made man the creature. How available was the Lord Jesus to the father. Totally I do only those things that please him. How available was the father to the son? Totally. He knew that the father had given all things into his hands.

So there was mutual inter availability. And that's why there was no margin of difference between what the Lord Jesus did as man and the father did as God. What he said as man and the father said as God what he was as man and the father was as God when Philip came.

And said show us the father said he take a big look. Don't you realize Philip that I'm enjoying that relationship which I made man. I am in my father and my father is in me. He that has seen me has seen my father.

You see even the words that I speak unto you Philip. I speak not of myself. They don't have their origin in me my father who dwells in me. He does the work. He's the origin of everything. I do and say and am what I do.

He does what I say. He says what I am he is. He that has seen me has seen him that sent me now because I'm God Philip the God I am. But because though God I humbled myself was born a human being emptied myself made myself.

Nothing deliberately chose to be all that. I as God made man to be without God nothing and you see Jehoshaphat is rediscovering the principle that must govern man's relationship to God and God's relationship to man.

Jehoshaphat Trusts God With the Battle

Oh our God said he in his prayer verse 12. Wilt thou not judge them? We have no might against this great company that cometh against us. Neither know we what to do, but our eyes are upon thee. We recognize now you God to be the only legitimate source of those resources.

That you so gladly make available to the man who's got a perfect heart. Conscious of his own sin in his own bankruptcy is prepared to recognize that he cannot but you. God can and You're on tiptoe to demonstrate the fact your eyes run to and fro throughout the whole earth looking for any boy girl man or woman.

Anywhere out of any nation kindred tribe tongue race creed class or color who's prepared to let you God show yourself strong. On their behalf you're not waiting for a man to be man-sized for God. Because man is too small.

You're simply waiting for any man to let God be God sized in the man. Because he's the only one who's big enough for the job. This is a perfect heart and upon J. Hazeel verse 14 Came the spirit of the Lord in the midst of the congregation.

He said verse 15 harken ye all Judah ye inhabitants of Jerusalem and thou King Jehoshaphat. Thus saith the Lord until you be not afraid Nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude. The battle is not yours.

It's God's in response in God's faithfulness Jehoshaphat's faith. He's drawn upon his resources and invoked the activity of a mighty God. In other words, he had learned that if you fear God nothing else can frighten you.

Because the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. You will not need to fight in this battle verse 17 set yourself stand you still and see the salvation of the Lord with you. Fear not nor be dismayed tomorrow guard against the march.

But in the confidence that you are not fighting a victory but not fighting a battle already lost as You did when you entered into that unholy alliance with that wicked man God's enemy Ahab. You're now celebrating a victory.

Already won and The Levites verse 19 stood up to praise the Lord God of Israel with a loud voice on high Jehoshaphat middle of verse 20 said hear me. Oh, Judy inhabitants of Jerusalem believe in the Lord your God.

So shall you be established? It's the only solid foundation upon you which you can safely build. Believe his prophets. Listen to what God has to say And do what he says. And you will prosper. And when he had consulted with the people he appointed singers unto the Lord and that should praise The beauty of holiness he had discovered how beautiful holiness is as They went out before the army to say praise the Lord his mercy endured forever.

And when they began to sing and to praise in anticipation of a victory that was no longer To be settled by their prowess on the battlefield. But by a divine intervention that would allow God to demonstrate that as God he's big enough for the job.

When they began to sing and to praise God said ambushments against the children of Ammon Moab Mount Seir which came against Judah and they were smitten. And in verse 27 We're told they returned every man of Judah and Jerusalem and Jehoshaphat in the forefront of them to go again to Jerusalem with joy not congratulating themselves on their achievement.

But recognizing that it was the Lord that had made them to rejoice over their enemies. He was the only person to be congratulated a perfect heart. That allows God to show himself strong on your behalf.

If only in childlike simplicity in a recognition of our own inherent bankruptcy. We'll lay the table with our needs stand back bow ourselves out and bow him in and with a joyful heart. Give thanks to God for all his illimitable resources.

The God who no matter what the circumstances never ever less than beginner perfect heart. You know since God created man billions of babies have been born. But when nearly 2 ,000 years ago the world heard a baby cry.

Christ Is the Biggest Thing God Ever Said

It was the biggest thing God ever said. This is how it's recorded as well. You know in the first chapter of the epistle to the Hebrews in many separate revelations each of which set forth a portion of the truth.

In different ways God spake of old time to forefathers by the prophets. I'm reading from the second verse now the first chapter of the epistle to the Hebrews and the amplified New Testament. In the last of these days God has spoken to us in the person of his son Whom he appointed heir lawful owner of all things by and through whom he created the world's the reaches of space and the ages of time.

He made them produced them built them operated arranged them in order. He is the God who is and This Lord Jesus the one who was in the beginning with God was God and by whom all things were made and without whom was not.

Anything made that was made in him exclusively to be found that life. That is the light of men that which switches a man on and gives him the moral Competence to discharge the office for which he was created to reflect the glory because Christ himself living in your heart is your only hope Of glory.

Because he must as God within the man the creator within the creature be the origin of his own image source of his own activity. Dynamic of his own demands remember and the cause of his own effect. That word was made flesh.

He's the sole expression of the glory of God. He is the light being the outreach of the divine. He is the perfect imprint and the very image of God's nature. And when he had by offering himself accomplished our cleansing from sin, he sat down at the right hand of the divine majesty on high God who at sundry times and in divers man has spake in times past and of the fathers by the prophets hath in these last days Spoken unto us at the end of the age.

Psalm 107 and the Redeeming Word of God

By his son biggest thing God ever said. In anticipation of that event as elsewhere throughout the pages of the Old Testament that Foreshadowed the coming of the one who would be the substance of the shadow in the 107th Psalm.

Oh give thanks unto the Lord. He is good his mercy endureth forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so. For a very good reason they've got something to say. Whom he hath redeemed. From the hand of the enemy he satisfies the longing soul.

He filleth the hungry soul with goodness in the 14th verse Psalm 107. He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death. He break their bands in sunder. And the 20th verse he God sent his word. It was the biggest thing God ever said.

He healed them and delivered them from their destructions. Who so is wise? Verse 43 of that 107th Psalm. And will observe these things. Even they shall understand the loving kindness of the Lord at the end of the age.

The biggest thing God ever said when God wants to say the biggest thing he ever said, what do you think he's looking for? Human prowess ingenuity. Business acumen. Five and a half inch chin. All he's looking for is a perfect heart for the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth looking for any boy Girl man or anywhere through whom he can accomplish his timeless ends who knows the end from the beginning.

Perfect heart faithful is he that calleth you who will also Do it. Who's going to do that to which he calls you the one who calls you to it? And if you don't let him you blew it. That's in that's carnal sweat instead of divine ocean.

Faithful is he that calleth you who will also do it first Thessalonians chapter 5 and verse 24 and then in the Philippian epistle. Remember the second chapter says the Apostle Paul delighting to preach himself out of business.

God Works in the Believer

He says more more in my absence than in my presence work out your own salvation. Live it up because everything that God ever gave me in the day that Jesus Christ Invaded my humanity to share with me his resurrection God gave you in the day that you received him as your Redeemer and he came to take up residence within your humanity.

So live it up work out your own salvation. Discover how wealthy you've become by virtue of who he is. Living where he does the Creator God restored to the creature man. God Himself, it's God who works in you.

He says both to will and Do of his good pleasure. Now if it's God who works in you both to will and do of his good pleasure. What would be illogical about anything that God wills for your life or mine if he is the God who willed it is prepared to?

Be the God who does it what would be illogical? Nothing, whatever nothing. Faithful as he that calleth you who will also do it. So what would be illogical about anything to which God calls you if he is the God who calls you to it is prepared to do it nothing.

And Yet the Lord Jesus said Many are called But few are chosen. And he's not just there talking only of the unredeemed will be lost because they won't Embrace the grace of God and claim redemption through the shed blood of our once Crucified but now risen Lord.

He's talking about every one of you and me right here now I doubt whether there's one boy girl man or woman in this building at this moment whom he hasn't called and Yet so few are chosen. Why have the many do you think that he calls are so few chosen?

Among the redeemed. Because faithful is he that calleth you who will also do it. And so so so very many of those whom he calls refuse to let him Do it and it isn't even that they don't want it done. But they insist on doing it for him Instead of letting him do it through them.

And we talked about that yesterday for Abraham had two sons. And one was the byproduct of his misguided dedication trying to do it for God born of the flesh Ishmael but Isaac born of promise. So when God Wants to say the biggest thing he ever said Looks for a perfect heart.

Mary’s Availability to God

As somebody who's prepared to let him do it remember the story. Of course you do Luke's gospel in chapter 1. Let's glance at it just for a few moments. So familiar we need only glance at it the 26th verse of the first chapter of Luke in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was Sent from God under a city of Galilee named Nazareth, and he wasn't Jen sent on a general assignment.

Look around and see whom you can find and write make a recommendation. Is that what God said? Take a few angels with you and sit in committee and come up with some suitable candidates. When God sent his angel Gabriel he gave him the exact address.

He sent him to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph verse 27. Engaged to be married, but not yet Consummated and said hail thou that art highly favored the Lord is with thee blessed. Up there among women and the girl's name probably no more than a late teenager was Mary.

But when she saw him an angel she was troubled. You don't see an angel every morning of the week. But angels are very kind from all we read of them in the Bible. He seeing that she was troubled Said don't be frightened Mary verse 30 thou has found favor with God and.

And behold thou shall conceive in thy womb made this fantastic proposition. For conception in the womb in itself is a miracle because that isn't where conception takes place that demanded a divine intervention.

Thou shall conceive in thy womb and bring forth a son. Thou shall call his name. Jesus named a boy before he was born. Are you named before you were born? I? Friends and relatives and say that on the 14th of May Horace will be born or on the 23rd of June Agatha.

No, because they wouldn't have stuck their necks out that far because on the day you see Horace might have turned out to be Agatha. And Agatha might have turned out to be Horace. You probably don't have the peculiar mind that I have but can you imagine just how?

Embarrassing it would have been for the angel Gabriel for Mary and Joseph and God himself if on that first Christmas morning It had turned out to be a girl. But you see God doesn't make that kind of a mistake.

He Whom thou shall call Jesus should be great. He shall be called the son of the highest the Lord. God shall give unto him the throne of his father David and he shall reign. He'll reign over the house of Jacob forever and Of his kingdom of which there will be no end he shall be king.

Well, that was a pretty fantastic proposition. Now has found favor with God say what do you know about Mary before this? Where did she go to school? What do you know about her mom and dad? What trade did he play?

What honors did she? earn. What grades with which he graduated. Well, you don't know a thing nothing. Save what is foreshadowed of her unnamed in the Old Testament. When God first made public proclamation of the redemptive and regenerative purpose that have been fashioned in the heart of God.

When man fell into sin rebuking Satan He said I'll put enmity between you and the woman between her seed and your seed and it the seed of that woman. Jesus To be born of Mary will bruise your head. He'll destroy you.

Strike you a mortal blow. But in the process you'll bruise his heel. He'll hang on a Roman gallows the seed of the woman. We're told Isaiah chapter 7 I'll give you a sign. God said. A virgin shall conceive and bear a son.

You will call his name Emmanuel. God with us the word incarnate made flesh and. In the ninth chapter to us eyes a child is given a son is born. His name is going to be called mighty God everlasting father.

Wonderful counselor prince of peace and God added the zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this. It won't be of any human explanation. It'll divide it'll demand a divine intervention. And furthermore, I'll tell you exactly where he's going to be born of that virgin girl.

Micah chapter 5 verse 2 out of the Bethlehem Ephrata shall he come forth. Whose days have been from eternity to eternity. Because that's where God lives. Now that's what we know about Mary foreshadowed in the Old Testament in our office, but still remaining unidentified and unnamed.

So when did she find favor? Well as a little girl growing up for the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth looking looking looking. But all those little events in a book in a girl's life.

That to us would have no significance whatever but God was watching a state of heart. Not a human circumstance not a whether her mom or dad were wealthy or not. Not whether they were brilliant genius in their own right so that she might be brought up to be unusually smart and successful.

No, God wasn't looking at that. He was looking at her heart and again and again in all kinds of little ways. God was sort of writing in his notebook. Here's a little girl who knows who I am and is prepared to reckon with the fact.

She's got a perfect heart. She's lunging again and again that she cannot but there's a God in heaven who can and nobody's Noticed it, but I have God says I've been looking looking looking. That's how God chooses Those who to be part of his history his friends like Abraham and.

Finally God said to the angel Gabriel this year's knock on that door. Her name is Mary. She's got a perfect heart not sinless but a disposition toward God that is prepared to let God be God and nothing.

Nothing will surprise her. Mary said to the angel how shall this be seeing? I know not a man not incredulity not cynicism. She didn't try to laugh it off. Otherwise. God never would have sent Gabriel to that girl's home.

This was wide-eyed wonder. Yet you mean really what you say? Well, yes, but how? Oh Said the angel if you want to know how it's very simple a simple principle that you've learned as a little kid already to apply.

That's why God sent me to you. You have found favor. The Holy Spirit shall come upon you the power of the highest shall overshadow you and therefore also that holy thing Which shall be born of you will be called God's Son.

That's how Mary God Himself oh. By the way, just for your encouragement me interest you to know that Elizabeth your cousin Who all her days has been barren physically incapable of bearing and who now is far far too old to bear.

She's in the sixth month and she too is going to have a little boy. And we know who that was going to be John the Baptist. So said the angel for the encouragement of this teenage girl with Elizabeth. It's too late and with you it's going to be too soon.

Because you see with God nothing nothing Nothing. Mary is impossible and God's chosen you because you've already settled in your heart that you can't but God can if only you're prepared To let him and God knows that you will and she did.

Mary said behold the handmaid of the Lord, which simply means I'm available. I Don't understand it. I couldn't explain it to myself and least of all could I explain it to anybody? Also, and she didn't even try because once having settled for the issue she hid these things in our heart.

She didn't blather all over the place and tell everybody that she was going to be the mother of God. She kept her mouth shut. The hardest thing in all the world for most of us to do. That in itself needs God it's almost the impossible if she had been Exhorted today in the popular, you know trend of the age.

She had said God I get the message I'll do it. You leave it to me. You couldn't have chosen a person more qualified for the job and Flexing her muscles and gritting her teeth. She would demonstrate she could and couldn't.

And wouldn't behold the handmaid of the Lord be it unto me from your direction to my direction having its initiation in the God of eternity. Be it unto me according to your word. In other words said she you said it.

You do it. Today we're told that we're the ones who say it and God does it now. God said it and God did it. But you know that that little boy might be born at Bethlehem. The biggest thing God ever said when the world heard that baby cry that he might come dead on schedule.

You see the God of eternity had already been laying the stage as he always does as for those events in your life into which you're going to be caught out and the timeless purpose of God in the measure of your availability to him as was hers to God in that day.

He's already laying the foundations all kinds of things are happening that you know, nothing of conversations taking place telephone calls are being made letters are being written people are being born and others are dying so that at the precise moment dead on schedule he may accomplish those things through your life on mine for which we have been first created now redeemed and indwelt by a risen Lord because We have been recreated in Christ unto future good works a program that God has before ordained.

That we should walk in them. That isn't sort of pagan Fatalism because the story can and will only be told in the measure of your availability in mine. I've come said the Lord Jesus to do your will. Oh God Hebrews 10 and verse 7 all that has been written of me in the volume of the book what book the Old Testament scriptures that foreshadowed his birth life death and Resurrection, but in his total availability to the father he could at the end of his days cry and triumph finished.

Mission accomplished the story father has been told. And your ambition and mine is that at the end of our days? We will have hindered him as little as possible in the story. He wrote for you and wrote for me.

No issues for him to face no decisions for him to make. That's why all he demands of us is a disposition a state of heart. That lets God do it. All right turn back now to the first book of Samuel and chapter 16.

God Chooses David by the Heart

Remember the Bible is a total revelation of an eternal plan that was fashioned in the heart of God. 16th chapter first book of Samuel. The Lord said to Samuel how long would thou mourn for Saul seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel said God to Samuel wipe away your tears and don't waste your pity.

He's a dead loss. I With oil go I'll send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite for I have provided me a king among his sons. Got it. Go to Bethlehem there. There's a man called Jesse. He's got all a whole bunch of kids and amongst his sons God said I've got a king.

I've got a king. Well Samuel didn't take too kindly to the instructions. He says how can I go verse 2 if Saul hear it? He's still on the throne. He reigns. He calls the shots. If he hears this he'll kill me and God said tell him you're going to church and take a heifer with you.

Aren't you glad you don't have to take a heifer with you when you go to church. I mean think of the spring conference at Prairie Bible Institute. You wouldn't just need a parking lot. You need a feedlot.

You wouldn't hear the speaker for the mooing. Sometimes that might be an improvement. But the Lord said take it heifer with thee I'm and tell him I'm come to sacrifice to the Lord and thou shalt anoint unto me verse 3 notice that him whom I name I Name.

I'm not asking for your advice. I Name and Samuel did a very smart thing. He did that which the Lord spake. That's over the smartest thing you can do. Because when you're told what to do and do as you're told something's going to happen of timeless worth.

Mind you the elders went to enthusiastic either they trembled at his coming. Most folks are a little nervous when the pastor calls. And they said have you come peaceably? He said yes peaceably. I'm going to church and I want to take Jesse and his kids with me and so they're all prepared and off they went.

Came to pass when they were come verse 6. He said surely the Lord's anointed is before him because he was a he-man. He was an all-american. He had hairs in his chest like barbed wire you know his Muscles were like elephants kneecaps.

He had a chin like the bat. Brower battleship. Samuel Understandably thought man, if ever there was a king there he is head and shoulders above the rest. Fantastic and God said forget it. Uh-uh. Look not on his countenance or on the height of his stature.

I'm not impressed isn't a fat stock show. I have refused him for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looking on The heart. I'm not evaluating how impressive he is, you know. He enters a room and everybody stops talking and looks in his direction.

And the girls of course, they all flutter around like little bits of fluff. God says I'm not impressed whoever may be I have refused him. Because I'm looking on the heart so Jesse called a binnadab and God said.

And then he called Shama the third and God said seven times. God Said uh-uh. It was the sevenfold and that was a little embarrassing for several you see because there were no more and Samuel said here all your children and Jesse said no there remaineth yet the youngest but he's he's only just a little kid.

We left him behind on the hill to keep the sheep. We didn't think it was worthwhile bringing him and Samuel said send and fetch him for we will not sit down till he cometh hither. Now you might imagine that because God said no to alive that fine Specimen of humanity that the you know, the uglier you are the bigger chance you have you're right in the front line.

You know the more nauseatingly Unpleasant the chances are you'll be God's first choice you know like the Young man who took his mother-in-law with him on his honeymoon because she was so ugly. He didn't want to kiss her.

Goodbye. You know. They went to the seashore and she sat in the sand and watched out over the ocean sat there several hours and finally the beach Attendant came said excuse me madam. Would you go home?

The tide wants to come in. He took her to the shopping center and dropped her then was arrested by the police 50 yards down the road for leaving the scene. Now, you know. You know just how ugly she must have been and you might have thought boys.

She's the one God's gonna choose. But that isn't true for David came verse 12 and he was ruddy With all of the beautiful countenance and goodly to look to and God said I got a king. I've got a king. Arise arise anointing.

This is he what do you know about David before this? Nothing this is your first introduction to a small shepherd boy Brought somewhat reluctantly by his dad. And God said I've got a king because you see the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth.

That he God might show himself strong on the behalf of them whose hearts are perfect toward him. So when did God choose him? For the perfect heart. Let's look over the page. We only have just a few moments the Philistines verse 3 of chapter 17 stood on a mountain on the one side and Israel stood on a mountain on the other side and there was A valley between them when the went out a champion Goliath the giant Nine foot six tall and the Philistine said verse 10 I defy the armies of Israel this day give me a man that we may fight together, but in all the armies of Israel There was no man just a bunch of frightened sheep.

Because it says in verse 24 all the quotes men end of quotes of Israel. When they saw the man Fled from him Was so afraid and they said the one to the other view seen this man that is come up surely to defy Israel.

Has he come up it shall be that the man who kills him the king will enrich him with great riches. He'll give him his daughter and make his father's house free in Israel. Why don't you go? Well, why don't you go?

And they were amazed that nobody else would go because none of them had the guts. But just about that time David's dad sent him with some cookies for his three older brothers who'd been drafted and Some cheeses for their captain and when he was there he heard these men of war discussing the John.

So grabbing the leg of one of them. He said verse 26 what shall be done to the man that killeth this Philistine and taketh away the reproach from Israel. Who is this uncircumcised Philistine anyway that he should defy the armies of the Living God.

I'll take care of him. And if you were to read on the next few verses, you'd see what there was the natural reaction of his three older brothers. They said go home big mouth. Get back to your sheep. That's what big brothers are for.

Just to persecute little brothers. And keep their feet on them. But news spread when the words were heard first 31 which David spake they rehearsed them before Saul and he sent for him and David Said to King Saul let no man's heart fail because of him thy servant will go and fight with the Philistine.

And Saul said to David thou are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him that buddy youth. He was a man of war from his youth. You don't have what it takes and David said to the king. I got news for you.

Thy servant David kept his father's sheep and there came a lion and a bear and They took a lamb out of the flock. Mind you imagine King Saul when I saw that line man. He looked big. Did he look big. And when he opened his mouth and wrought those teeth.

But you know King Saul after I'd looked at the lion I Looked at God and then the lions that look so small. So I killed him and you know, then came the bear King Saul and you know that bear learned nothing from the lion.

Mind you I'm not saying he didn't look big man. Did he look me? Then I looked at God. And then that bear looks so small. So I went out to half to him verse 35 He says and I smote him. I delivered it out of his mouth.

And when he rose against me, I caught him by his beard and smote him and slew him. By servants slew both the lion and the bear and I'll tell you something King Saul as for this uncircumcised Philistine.

He shall be one of them seeing he have defied the armies of the Living God but Said David to King Saul. I don't want you to misunderstand me. It's the Lord that delivered me out of the port of the land.

It's that mighty God who delivered me out of the poor of the bear and it's that same mighty God who will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. I Want you to understand King Saul. I don't have what it takes.