“Journey of Faith” (Jehoshaphat’s Growth)

Week 7
Main Point and Overview:   

There is not an example of Israel’s kings that embodies you and me more than King Jehoshaphat. He loved God. He wanted to honor God. At times, he did honor God. At other times, he made bad decisions. Does that seem relatable to you? Of course it does. As disciples of Jesus, we all want to honor God. At times, we succeed; at times we fail. The Bible described the king as a man who “did what was right in the eyes of the Lord,” yet he was far from perfect. One of his greatest struggles revolved around evil alliances. He partnered with the evil King Ahab of the Northern Kingdom in war. He partnered with the evil King Ahaziah also of the Northern Kingdom in the development of “trading ships.” God was not pleased with either alliance. Maybe he was trying to reunite the kingdom, or he was swayed by peer pressure. Whatever the reason, he partnered with leaders who were openly dishonoring God. See your journey of faith as an “up and down” experience. Some days you are close to Jesus, and every word, thought, or action is aligned with holy living and Gospel mission. Other days you don’t feel or act like a Christian, or sometimes, even want to be one. You struggle with pride, sensuality, anger, or any one of a thousand sinful issues. You are making bad decisions. Then, the Holy Spirit brings conviction to your heart. What will you do with it? For King Jehoshaphat, he responded in humility instead of reacting in denial or opposition. This is the key to life. It’s not a question of IF you are going to “mess up,” it’s a matter of WHEN you are going to “mess up.” In these life-altering moments, you have the opportunity to learn, grow, and impact through heart-led repentance. Instead of making matters worse when God convicted the king, Jehoshaphat quickly reversed course and honored God. What’s interesting about the king’s life is that it wasn’t like his blind spots went away after one mistake. They reared their “ugly little heads” again later on in life when he once again made a poor alliance. Here’s the lesson: it’s likely that you’re going to “repeat” the same sinful struggles. What should you do? Repent again. Then, repent again. Keep moving forward on your journey of faith knowing that until you reach heaven, it will be filled with “ups and downs.”