Our text for this foxhole prayer was 2 Chronicles 18:31.  King Jehoshaphat was not to align himself with King Ahab, and he did anyway.  God was not obligated to hear Jehoshaphat’s prayer since he was in direct disobedience to the LORD.  However, when Jehoshaphat  cried out(shriek out in anguish), the LORD surrounded him with a Rock, the stone of help as illustrated in 2 Samuel 22: 2-3, 47, 1Samuel 7:12.  The word stone in those verses is the same word help in 2 Chronicles  18:31.  When Jehoshaphat shrieked in anguish, God came himself.  He didn’t deliver him from a distance, but was there with Jehoshaphat in the battle surrounding him as a Rock.  God is our Rock, Shield, Refuge and Savior.

Later in the service we offered up prayers for our soldiers, past and present who have given their lives as the utimate sacrifice for the freedoms we gratefully enjoy.  Those freedoms include the freedom of speech and freedom of religion, to worship as we choose. We prayed for the soldiers who serve now and all families who have lost someone for freedom’s sake.  May the God of comfort give the families peace and heal their broken hearts.  May God encourage those soldiers who endure extreme pain and disability.  May he heal their bodies, minds and families. We the people of Grace Baptist Church are deeply thankful for you and pray for you.  May God be your refuge, strength and Savior.

The title of today’s sermon in the worship service was “Honeymoon to Honeymoan.”  It was a description of the relationship with God and Israel and then carried through to a description of Christ and the Church.  I want to focus on the relationship with Christ and modern day Christianity.  The “Honeymoan” aspect of the relationship is a picture of our own culture.  Pastor Kaminski stated that one of the reasons for the “Honeymoan” stage is because Christianity is obsessed with being culturally relevant.  It seems we as Christians are more concerned with fitting into society than with being committed to the covenant we have with Christ.  As Christians we are to be separate from the world because we are strangers here, we are not of this world.  When there is no obvious difference between our behavior and that of the world, then communication has broken down between the groom, Christ, and the bride, the Church or believers.  Pastor asked this question, ” Does the Lord seem to be somewhere else?”  “If God does not seem close, then who moved?”  In Re 2:4 Christ says to the church at Ephesus, “Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.”  And then to the church at Laodicea in Re 3:20 Christ says, “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.”  It is apparent that the one who has moved out of the relationship is the church or believer.  God didn’t move, He is always the same as stated in Heb 13:8,” Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.” 

Does Christ seem aloof ?  Do other things take priority over prayer, Bible study and worship? Is God just along for the ride or is He the driving force in your life?  Have you been walking in the flesh more than in the spirit?  If so, examine your heart and mind.  If Christ is knocking at the door, open the door and renew your relationship with Him.

What you worship makes a difference.

You cannot worship God your Creator if you do not know Him. One gains that knowledge by reading the Bible. All other sources of information must conform to that source.

Many people will read dozens of books, listen to hours of sermons on the radio, fawn over newspaper articles, be amazed at special programming on the History Channel. The only source for reliable information still goes back to the Bible. If they just read and studied the Bible, there would be a lot less confusion about who God is.

When one goes to church to hear a sermon and attends Sunday school and Bible classes, ALWAYS check the truth of their presentations by searching the Scriptures.

A key to knowing your are attending a Bible believing church is look around. Do all or most of the people come with a Bible? Does the preaching or lesson encourage people to open their own Bible and read along? Is there “proof texting” of the assertions being made. Does the teaching of the text being used make sense in the context of that passage. (A key concern)

By using due diligence you will be protected from the ravages of false teachers, false sects, and idolatry. Use your mind and reason anchored in Bible truths. The order of dependence should be Bible truths (fact), trust in the faithfulness of God (faith), and then your own inclinations (feeling). Never get things out of order. If you do, sorrow will dog your footsteps.

Exodus 20; Ecclesiastes 12:20; Acts 17:11; 2 Timothy 2:15; Romans 10:17