II CHRONICLES 17:7, 9-12: “Also in the third year of his reign he sent his leaders, Ben-Hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Michaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah.

“So they taught in Judah, and had the Book of the Law of the LORD with them; they went throughout all the cities of Judah and taught the people. And the fear of the LORD fell on all the kingdoms of the lands that were around Judah so that they did not make war against Jehoshaphat. Also, some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat presents and silver as tribute; and the Arabians brought him flocks, seven thousand seven hundred rams and seven thousand seven hundred male goats. So Jehoshaphat became increasingly powerful, and he built fortresses and storage cities in Judah.” NKJV‬‬

OBSERVATION: It’s time to get back to the Word of God! If there is anything we can learn during these trying times, it is the need to make the Word of God the foundation of our life. As threats and difficulty change by the hour, we need a constant that never changes. And, that constant is the Word of God!

• “The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever.” ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭40:8‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

One thing that we will take away from the 2020 pandemic is an understanding of what is truly important in life. As our lives have been turned upside down, we realize that as long as we have our families we really have everything we need. And, as the church had to close its doors, then opened its doors, and then had to close them once again, we realized that there is more to church than the programs we are missing.

Perhaps, it is time to reorganize our priorities in our personal lives, the lives of our families, and the life of our churches. Perhaps, it is God calling us back to the foundation of God’s Word in everything we do. Whenever God’s people returned to His Word, powerful things followed!

IT IS TIME TO GET BACK TO THE WORD OF GOD!

Jehoshaphat followed his father Asa as King of Judah. Asa was a godly king. He started off by seeking the Lord with sincerity. However, at the end of his life, he no longer pursued the Lord or His Word with passion. We read this sad epitaph of his final days.

• “And in the thirty-ninth year of his reign, Asa became diseased in his feet, and his malady was severe; yet in his disease he did not seek the LORD, but the physicians. So Asa rested with his fathers; he died in the forty-first year of his reign.” II Chronicles‬ ‭16:12-13‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Asa had stopped seeking the Lord. Asa had stopped seeking God’s Word. What a sad ending to a life with such great potential. Yet, Asa’s son did not follow suit. Jehoshaphat sought the Lord and he recognized the importance of the Word of God. He valued it so much that he assigned many of his leaders to go throughout the territory of Judah and teach them the Book of the Law. When they returned to God’s Word, powerful things began to happen.

• “And the fear of the LORD fell on all the kingdoms of the lands that were around Judah, so that they did not make war against Jehoshaphat. Also, some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat presents and silver as tribute; and the Arabians brought him flocks, seven thousand seven hundred rams and seven thousand seven hundred male goats. So Jehoshaphat became increasingly powerful, and he built fortresses and storage cities in Judah.”

The enemy of our souls knows the power of God’s Word. This is why he will try to preoccupy our lives with everything but the study and meditation of the Bible. When the enemy cannot dissuade a church from following Christ, he will try to get them focused on peripheral matters, so that they neglect the Word of God, and thereby forfeit the power of God in their life.

IT IS TIME TO GET BACK TO THE WORD OF GOD!

This is exactly what was taking place in Acts 6. The enemy does not have to use bad things to redirect our priorities. He will also use good things and legitimate needs. As the new young church continued to grow there was an increasing need to minister to the widows. This responsibility naturally began to fall upon the apostles. After all, they were the church’s leaders. However, giving their time and attention to this legitimate need began to take time and attention away from the Word of God and prayer.

The disciples were prompted to take quick action to rearrange the church’s priorities so that the needs would be met, and the ministry of the Word and prayer would continue to take first place.

• “Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables. Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business; but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” Acts‬ ‭6:2-4‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Can I say something to every church right now? If you are not freeing up your pastor to focus on the ministry of the Word and prayer to your congregation your priorities are misaligned! And, pastors, if you are not heeding the call of the Holy Spirit to rearrange your church’s priorities so that you are free to give yourself to the ministry of the Word and prayer, you are missing the voice of God!

IT IS TIME TO GET BACK TO THE WORD OF GOD!

Just like in Jehoshaphat’s day, when this new young church called and commissioned the deacons, and when the apostles returned to the ministry of the Word and prayer, God’s power was released!

• “And the saying pleased the whole multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch, whom they set before the apostles; and when they had prayed, they laid hands on them. Then the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith.” Acts‬ ‭6:5-7‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Notice the similarities between the accounts in II Chronicles 17 and Acts 6. In both, as they returned to the Word of God, they received God’s blessings of provision, power, and influence. What would happen in our communities, cities, states, and our nation if our churches would spend more time focusing on the Word and prayer – than on bake sales or potluck dinners?

Pastor, leader, worker, and worshipper – is the Word of God the center of your life and ministry? One might object and say – “Jesus needs to be the center!” Yet, the Word is Jesus, and Jesus is the Word. You cannot focus on one if you aren’t focusing on the other. You cannot focus on Jesus without focusing on the Word of God!

• “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.” John‬ ‭15:7-8‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Abiding in Jesus is abiding in His Word. Abiding in the Word is abiding in Jesus. And, when we abide in Him – God releases His power in and through our lives! We need a revival today. It is a revival back to the vine. A revival of God’s Word. A revival of prayer. A Jesus centered revival.

IT IS TIME TO GET BACK TO THE WORD OF GOD!

Lord, may I hear the still small voice of the Spirit calling me to Your Word, calling me to my knees, calling me to abide in Jesus!

In Jesus Name!