How can we ensure our reliance is on God, not worldly powers? A Cautionary Snapshot “At that time King Ahaz sent for help from the king of Assyria.” (2 Chronicles 28:16) • Facing invasion, Ahaz bypassed the LORD and bought Assyrian protection with temple treasures (vv. 21–22). • The alliance backfired; Assyria “oppressed him instead of strengthening him” (v. 20). • Ahaz’s story warns that worldly props invite deeper bondage, not lasting security. Warning Lights of Misplaced Trust • We look horizontally first, vertically last. • We mortgage what is sacred (time, money, convictions) to secure human favor. • We adopt the world’s idols (v. 25) and dull our appetite for worship. • We end up poorer in every way—financially, spiritually, relationally. Why God Alone Is Dependable • He is sovereign: “The earth is the LORD’s, and the fullness thereof” (Psalm 24:1). • He is faithful: “For the word of the LORD is upright, and all His work is done in faithfulness” (Psalm 33:4). • He is unchanging: “I, the LORD, do not change” (Malachi 3:6). • He is victorious: “The battle is not ours, but God’s” (2 Chronicles 20:15). Scriptural Contrasts: Worldly Reliance vs. Godly Reliance • Ahaz (2 Chron 28): Help sought from Assyria → oppression. • Hezekiah (2 Chron 32:7-8): Help sought from the LORD → Assyria routed. • Jehoshaphat (2 Chron 20:12-22): “We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on You” → enemies self-destructed. • David (1 Samuel 17:45): “I come against you in the name of the LORD” → Goliath felled. • Summary verse: “Some trust in chariots and others in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.” (Psalm 20:7) Practices That Keep Our Dependence on God • Prayer reflex: turn first impulse toward the throne (Philippians 4:6-7). • Word saturation: daily absorb Scripture; it recalibrates our instincts (Joshua 1:8). • Remembrance: rehearse past deliverances; gratitude fuels faith (Psalm 77:11-12). • Prompt obedience: act on God’s directives before seeking alternate plans (Proverbs 3:5-6). • Fasting: voluntarily weaken flesh-confidence to heighten God-confidence (Matthew 6:16-18). • Fellowship: invite believers to speak truth and share burdens (Hebrews 10:24-25). Replacing Worldly Supports with Godly Strategies • Trade manipulation for petition—ask God rather than twist arms. • Trade bribes for offerings—invest in His kingdom, not in buying favor. • Trade panic for patience—wait expectantly; “those who wait for the LORD will renew their strength” (Isaiah 40:31). • Trade compromise for conviction—hold the line even when resources seem slim. A Heart Check for Today • Where pressures rage, pause: Is my first instinct to network or to kneel? • Take every looming threat and, like Hezekiah, spread it out before the LORD (2 Kings 19:14-19). • Confidence shifts when we remember that “our help is in the name of the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth” (Psalm 124:8). |
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