"Gone Nuts!"

September 13, 2015     NOTES NOT EDITED

A World Gone Nuts!

2Chronicles 20:13-30

SIS: Christians should not run from the cultural chaos, but run headlong into it armed with the gospel of Jesus Christ.

This past Friday (9-11) our nation solemnly marked “Another Day That Will Live in Infamy,” to borrow from a speech of bygone era.  On September 11, 2001, we watched in horror as two planes struck the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center causing them to collapse into heap amidst a choking cloud of dust and debris.  2996 people perished that day.  Many more have died since then of related diseases.  It was a day of catastrophic chaos.

There were many heroes that day.  Heroes are forged in the furnace of chaos, catastrophe, and danger.  The reward is often a life haunted by hard memories.  Some of the most significant heroes were the “First Responders—Fire, Police, and Rescue personnel.  Such men and women are easy to spot in a time of catastrophic chaos—they are the ones running into burning buildings when others are running out!

As I reflect upon the pilgrimage of our nation since that fateful day I can come to only one conclusion:  our world has gone nuts!  Right has become wrong.  Good has become bad.  Bruce has become Caitlyn.  And, Trump may become president!  It’s just nuts!  During these days of catastrophic collapse in our nation, we need some “holy heroes—men and women who run into the cultural chaos, and not from it, armed with only the gospel of Jesus Christ.  We don’t need riches, power, or a “moral majority” to have a massive influence on culture—we only need Jesus, and the Gospel of His Grace.

The Word of God gives us a four-fold plan for engaging in such a cultural battle for the heart and soul of our nation.  The Book of Chronicles tells of an ancient battle strategy lead by the godly Israeli King, Jehoshaphat.  LET’S READ TOGETER 2Chron. 20:1; 13-19.

Here we find Israel in the midst of a cultural crisis not much different from what we find ourselves today.  The enemies we face today may have different names and the particulars of the circumstances may be different, but the crisis is much the same.  Our text gives us a great battle plan for how we can “engage the cultural chaotic crisis armed only with the gospel of Jesus Christ.

1.  First, we must GATHER (13)

We must gather all our resources: personal, material, and spiritual. 

(2 Chr 20:13)   All Judah was standing before the Lord with their infants, their wives, and their children. (see also v14, congregation)

We gather our resources by gathering together each week with God’s people.  This is where we get our “marching orders” as soldiers in God’s Army.  Last week I shared one of the most powerful prayer gatherings recorded in history.  I’ll share it again (Acts 2:1-4):

When the day of Pentecost had arrived, they were all together in one place.  ² Suddenly a sound like that of a violent rushing wind came from heaven, and it filled the whole house where they were staying.  ³ And tongues, like flames of fire that were divided, appeared to them and rested on each one of them. ⁴ Then they were all filled  with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different languages, as the Spirit gave them ability for speech.

Make special note of two aspects of this text.  First, the were “all together in one place.”  Isn’t that redundant?  How could you be “all together” if not in the same place?  Suppose we read it in two parts:  “they were all together,” and “in one place.”  Not only were they together spiritually, but they were together geographically.  Sometimes people gather in the same place but not in the same spirit.  Spiritual togetherness is both social and geographical.  This is why Paul says, (Heb 10:24-25)  

And let us be concerned about one another in order to promote love and good works, ²⁵ not staying away from our worship meetings, as some habitually do, but encouraging each other,  and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

I mention this verse often because church attendance is an absolutely essential part of Christian devotion.  Too many Christians give too little attention to the discipline of meeting together with other believers—AND . . . participating enthusiastically in encouraging those they are worshipping with.  This is the significance of our regular practice of a “fellowship time” as part of our worship service.

Second, notice “why” meeting together is so important to “gathering” our physical, emotional and spiritual resources:  “they were all filled with the Holy Spirit.”  God’s Spirit manifests Himself in a powerful way when Christians are together “spiritually” and “geographically.”  Can a Christian commune with God alone?  Certainly.  Can a Christian “crusade against the chaos of the world alone?”  NOT A CHANCE!

ll Judah was standing before the Lord with their infants,

their wives, and their children.

2.  Second, GIVE IN (15, 17)

Notice: I did not say “qive up.” To give up means to “quit.” To give in means “to surrender.”  We must surrender to God if hope to be victorious in the battle for the soul of our world.  Verses 15 and 17:

¹⁵and he said, “Listen carefully, all Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and King Jehoshaphat. This is what the Lord says: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast number,  for the battle is not yours, but God’s..........¹⁷You do not have to fight this battle. Position yourselves, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord.  He is with you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid or discouraged.  Tomorrow, go out to face them, for Yahweh is with you.’ ”

This passage troubles some scholars. They think it can be used to teach that we have no responsibility to participate with God in the victories of our lives.  This passage DOES NOT teach us to “sit back and wait for God to do everything for us.”   It is simply a passage that demonstrates that, in reality, there is nothing we can do for ourselves, that God cannot do much better.  There are plenty of passages that teach us our responsibilities before God.  The text here teaches us to trust in the Lord for the ultimate victory of our lives.

I like to tell the story about the mouse and the elephant to illustrate what it means to be a partner with God in the victories of life.  One day, a mouse and a elephant were crossing a swinging bridge.  The mouse started over first with the elephant right behind.  The rickety old bridge began to sway and bounce, dancing beneath the elephant’s weight.  Finally, they reached the other side.  The somewhat boastful mouse looked up at his partner and said, “We sure shook that bridge, didn’t we?” The humble, gracious elephant smiled and replied, “Yea!  I guess we did.”

That’s how it is when we partner with God to fight the enemies of life–be they despair, disease, or death–we can shake the bridge because God is on it with us.   In reality, we contribute little to the process but gain a great deal from participating.  The lesson here is: trust in God.  As the Proverb says:  (Prov 3:5-6)  

⁵ Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; ⁶ think about Him in all your ways, and He will guide you on the right paths.

2Chron. 20:20 reinforces the point of “trusting God:”  ²⁰ In the morning they got up early and went out to the wilderness of Tekoa. As they were about to go out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Hear me, Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem. Believe in Yahweh your God, and you will be established; believe in His prophets, and you will succeed.”

Begin the new year by giving up control of your life. If we will surrender the authority of our lives, God will accept the responsibility for our lives.

3.  Third, GET DRESSED (21)

(2 Chr 20:21)   ²¹ Then he consulted with the people and appointed some to sing for the Lord and some to praise the splendor of His holiness.  When they went out in front of the armed forces, they kept singing: Give thanks to the Lord,  for His faithful love endures forever

The words, to praise him for the splendor of his holiness , can also

be translated, praised Him in holy attire (NASB), or, give praise in sacred vestments (Modern Language).   The Hebrew language is unique in that sometimes, the same letters can carry quite different meanings.  Most scholars (eg Keil) would prefer the latter as referring to holy clothing that identified the spiritual leaders of Israel.

The idea is that to be victorious in the battles of life, our lives must appear distinctly different from the world—as if we are wearing a distinctive uniform.  This is the idea conveyed in the New Testament:

(Col 3:8-10)   But now you must also put away all the following: anger,  wrath,  malice,  slander,  and filthy language from your mouth.  ⁹ Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old self with its practices ¹⁰ and have put on  the new self. You are being renewed in knowledge according to the image of your Creator.

As a “holy hero running into the cultural chaos of our world,” you must be properly dressed.  You must put on a lifestyle that is distinct and different from the world.  If you try to march forward praising God while wearing the stained garments of sin and worldliness, YOU WILL be defeated!

A few years ago, I was meditating on being “dressed in righteousness” as we see here in this text as I lay down to sleep.  I had a dream.  I seldom tell my dreams, and I hate to listen to people’s dreams, but I think this one was “sort of” prophetic.  I dreamed I was invited somewhere to speak.  In the middle of what I’m sure was a very good sermon, I realized I had forgotten to get dressed!  The realization was so startling I woke up in a state of terror.

It is important to be properly dressed.  Without the robe of righteousness we receive from Christ, we are naked before our enemies–and, unless they laugh to death–we will be defeated. The old familiar hymn reminds us:

“When He shall come with trumpet sound

O may I then in Him be found

Dressed in His righteousness alone,

Faultless to stand before the throne.

Let’s be clear:  our world has “Gone Nuts.”  Sin always makes you stupid and we see this time and time again in our country.  As I said earlier, “Wrong has become right; evil has become good; Bruce has become Caitlyn; and Trump may become president.”  In this nutty world, Christians must engage the chaotic culture by gathering, giving up; getting dressed and I think most importantly:

4.  Fourth, GETting EXCITED (25-28)

²⁵ Then Jehoshaphat and his people went to gather the plunder. They found among them an abundance of goods on the bodies  and valuable items. So they stripped them until nobody could carry any more. They were gathering the plunder for three days because there was so much. ²⁶ They assembled in the Valley of Beracah on the fourth day, for there they praised the Lord. Therefore, that place is still called the Valley of Beracah today. ²⁷ Then all the men of Judah and Jerusalem turned back with Jehoshaphat their leader, returning joyfully to Jerusalem, for the Lord enabled them to rejoice over their enemies. ²⁸ So they came into Jerusalem to the Lord’s temple with harps, lyres, and trumpets.

I’ve often wondered over the years why there is less excitement in church than at other gatherings.  The reason is probably a mixed bag of issues, but one reason may lie at the bottom of the others in regard to the apathy in so many church gatherings:  the lack of expectation.  People just don’t anticipate anything exciting—much less supernatural—happening.  Someone made a comparison between a football fan and a typical church member.  The analysis is helpful.

1.  Football fans often pay a large sum of money to park their cars and walk long distances to the stadium.  Some people won’t come to church if they can’t get free parking by the door.

2.  Football games are noisy with loud cheering by very enthusiastic fans.  It is often hard even to get some church-goers to sing.

3.  Football stadiums have seats that are narrow, hard and backless.  Some church-goers complain because pews or chairs are not comfortable.

4.  Football games often last over 3 hours, and if the game goes into overtime, fans consider it a bonus.  Some churchgoers begin looking at their watch starting at about 11:30 painstakingly counting down until 12 noon.

5.  Football fans support their teams in all kinds of weather.  For some churchgoers, it is either too hot or too cold to attend regularly.

6.  Football fans think nothing of paying a high price for tickets.  Some churchgoers resent even hearing the pastor mention money or giving.

If this comparison is even partly true—and I believe it is—what has the average football fan got that the average churchgoer doesn’t?  It is fanatic enthusiasm for the sport–hence, the word fan.

Now, I’m not suggesting that we stripe off the auditorium in five yard segments.  I’m not suggesting that we shout and carry-on like drunks at a football game.  I am suggesting that if you want to experience a victorious Christian life, you need to be excited at the possibilities.  I’ve already mentioned the importance of “gathering regularly” in church—but, mere attendance alone is simply the starting place.  It is not the entire race.  Let’s go back to a text I quoted earlier from Acts:

^{Acts 2:  1}When the day of Pentecost had arrived, they were all together in one place.  ² Suddenly a sound like that of a violent rushing wind  came from heaven, and it filled the whole house where they were staying.  ³ And tongues, like flames of fire that were divided, appeared to them and rested on each one of them. ⁴ Then they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different languages, as the Spirit gave them ability for speech.

I expect something like this to happen every time I come to church.  I have been disappointed more times than I can count.  I simply believe that if “God’s people get together on God’s Day, singing God’s songs, and studying God’s Book” God will show up in great power and things will happen that will change lives! 

The fact that nothing much happens of a supernatural nature in most church services accounts for why so few Christians don’t share their faith.  What is there to share? If we don’t expect that loving Jesus and attending church is exciting, why would we try to convince someone else to attend?  We would not.  If what we have makes us look like we’ve been sucking lemons through a straw, nobody’s going to want to try it for themselves.  Too often we in the church look more like the “Frozen Chosen” than the “Excited Elect.”

I recall a man waiting for his doctor to come back into the exam room to go over the results of his annual physical exam.  The doctor looked at the man’s charts and shook his head.  The man said, “What’s wrong, Doc, is it bad?”  The doctor, who was known for his optimistic outlook replied, “Well, Fred, I don’t see any reason you cannot live a completely normal life . . . as long as you don’t plan on enjoying it!”

Too often people have that same attitude about church and serving Jesus—“I’ll do all that Christian stuff as long as nobody expects me to enjoy it.”  Sometimes, I’m not sure whether I’m preaching at First Baptist or Folsom Prison—though, there have been Sundays I’d preferred the latter.  At least they are a “captive” audience.

An apathetic faith will never spur you to become a “holy hero willing to engage the cultural chaos of this world armed only with the gospel.”  Even the most powerful race car is useless in a race if it remains parked in the garage.

Look at verse 25 again,  Then Jehoshaphat and his people went to gather the plunder. They found among them an abundance of goods on the bodies and valuable items. So they stripped them until nobody could carry any more.

The NET Bible gives a more literal description of the plunder:  There was so much plunder, it took them three days to haul it off.

How can you NOT GET EXCITED about what God has in store for those—as the song goes—“March into hell for a heavenly cause.”

As I said in the beginning, we live in a world, “Gone Nuts!”  Wrong has become right.  Evil has become good.  Bruce has become Caitlyn; and, Trump may become president.  Though I say that with tongue in cheek, our world has indeed “Gone Nuts!”   We need an army of “holy heroes” who will not run from the cultural chaos, but run headlong into it armed only with the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Be that hero.

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