And the Lord was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the first ways of his father David, and sought not unto Baalim; But sought to the Lord God of his father, and walked in his commandments, and not after the doings of Israel. Therefore the Lord stablished the kingdom in his hand; and all Judah brought to Jehoshaphat presents; and he had riches and honour in abundance. And his heart was lifted up in the ways of the Lord: moreover he took away the high places and groves out of Judah. Also in the third year of his reign he sent to his princes, even to Benhail, and to Obadiah, and to Zechariah, and to Nethaneel, and to Michaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah. And with them he sent Levites, even Shemaiah, and Nethaniah, and Zebadiah, and Asahel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehonathan, and Adonijah, and Tobijah, and Tobadonijah, Levites; and with them Elishama and Jehoram, priests. And they taught in Judah, and had the book of the law of the Lord with them, and went about throughout all the cities of Judah, and taught the people. And the fear of the Lord fell upon all the kingdoms of the lands that were round about Judah, so that they made no war against Jehoshaphat. 2 Chronicles 17:3-10

Neal Vincent Frisby wrote and I quote ‘Satan and his subordinate demon powers is now beginning in every way to prevent, harm or destroy every elect and will do away with them first if possible, BUT GOD IS PREVENTING IT. The devil is working through various types of:

1. Science
2. Medics and
3. Many levels of the governments

And (2) is and will bring railing accusations against the true. I have definite proof, evidence and witnesses that Satan is cleverly trying to harm in anyway he can, those who will be translated and believe in the Lord.’

Chuck Swindoll prayed, and I quote “Father we have a very real enemy who watches for our weakness and is eager to harm Your church, Your body. He is greedy to destroy human lives and lost souls. We ask you to firm us up in the armor of God, and cause us to walk in that equipment, so that we will be able to handle the impact of the enemy when it comes. Make us constant in prayer and bold in reaching out to claim souls for you. We are grateful to be Your sheep, Your children; without Your power we have no possible hope of victory. But in Christ, we are rich, equipped and fulfilled.”

With divine insight, you can see the unity of the Spirit expressed in these two utterances spoken twenty years apart! Yet there is a gap regarding our individual responsibility for these sure words of comfort to be fulfilled in each of us. This is where out text of today serves as a pointer of direction of walk for each of us. May I draw your attention to the points of instruction:

1. Verses 3 and 4 – the first ways of David? Did you notice that? What could he be referring to? (1 Chronicles 14:9-12; 13-16) David followed and obeyed God’s direction;
2. Verse 5 – by obedience unto the Lord favor, honor and riches;
3. Verses 6 and 7 – Jehoshaphat’s passion for the Lord, he never kept to himself but sought to influence, by teaching and grounding others in the liberating truth he found walking with God; this he did sending teaching priests across all the villages of Judah; and
4. Verse 10 –  the obvious results as stated in Proverbs 16:7.

This is the path to being beneficiaries of all these servants of God have bequeathed upon every believer in these challenging times. Will you go the first ways of David? Shalom.

Pastor Afolabi Oladele