 Real choice: panic or lean on God New Song Notes, Pastor Herb Shaffer  Seek the Lord Himself 3b and set his face to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all . Real Life Leaning on God March 29, 2020 God-Confidence in Difficult Times, part 3  Seek the Lord for help together 4And Judah assembled to seek help from the Lord; from all the cities of Judah they came to seek the Lord. When things are at their worst, God is working most. This is a time of opportunity!! Practical actions to lean on God, especially in hard times March Memory Scripture 1. Recognize WHO God is. 5And Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and , in the house of the Zechariah 4:6b Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of 6 hosts. Zechariah 4:6b (ESV) Lord, before the new court, and said, “O Lord, God of our fathers, are you not God in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. In your hand are power and The background – King Jehoshaphat and people of Judah: might, so that none is able to withstand you.  Jehoshaphat was king of Judah who “walked with God,” turned people to God Who gave peace traditional enemies as a result 2. Remember WHAT God has done. :3, 9 (ESV) 3The Lord was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in 7Did you not, our God, drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people , the earlier ways of his father . He did not seek the Baals, and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend? 8And they have lived 9And they taught in Judah, having the Book of the Law of the Lord with them. in it and have built for you in it a sanctuary for your name, saying, They went about through all the cities of Judah and taught among the people. 3. Recount the REALITY of the situation.  He was led into disobedience by Ahab’s strong personality and manipulation 9‘If disaster comes upon us, the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we will 2 Chronicles 18:1 (ESV) 1Now Jehoshaphat had great riches and honor, and he made stand before this house and before you—for your name is in this house—and cry out a marriage alliance with Ahab. to you in our affliction, and you will hear and save.’ 10And now behold, the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir, whom you would not let Israel invade when they  God protected him because he was stupid, not defiant came from the land of Egypt, and whom they avoided and did not destroy— 11behold, 2 Chronicles 18:31b, 19:1 (ESV) 31bAnd Jehoshaphat cried out, and the Lord helped they reward us by coming to drive us out of your possession, which you have given us him; God drew them away from him. to inherit. 12O our God, will you not execute judgment on them? For we are powerless 1Jehoshaphat the king of Judah returned in safety to his house in Jerusalem. against this great horde that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.”  He returned to reformation program of turning people to God 2 Chronicles 19:4 (ESV) 4Jehoshaphat lived at Jerusalem. And he went out again 4. Receive God’s WORDS of assurance and instruction. among the people, from Beersheba to the hill country of Ephraim, and brought them 13Meanwhile all Judah stood before the Lord, with their little ones, their wives, and back to the Lord, the God of their fathers. their children. 14And the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, son of Benaiah, son of Jeiel, son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, in the  Attacked and miraculous deliverance in 2 Chronicles 20 midst of the assembly. 15And he said, “Listen, all Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat: Thus says the Lord to you, The situation: ‘Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not  Real danger yours but God’s. 2 Chronicles 20:1–30 (ESV) 1After this the Moabites and Ammonites, and with them 16Tomorrow go down against them. Behold, they will come up by the ascent of Ziz. some of the Meunites, came against Jehoshaphat for battle. 2Some men came and told You will find them at the end of the valley, east of the wilderness of Jeruel. Jehoshaphat, “A great multitude is coming against you from Edom, from beyond the 17You will not need to fight in this battle. Stand firm, hold your position, and see the sea; and, behold, they are in Hazazon-tamar” (that is, Engedi). salvation of the Lord on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.’ Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed. Tomorrow go out against them, and the Lord will be with you.”  Real fear 3Then Jehoshaphat was afraid

5. Respond with GOD-FOCUSED OBEDIENCE. 18Then Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the Living Right-Side Up in 2020 inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before the Lord, worshiping the Lord. 19And the  S.L.O. Lifestyle with God Together Levites, of the Kohathites and the Korahites, stood up to praise the Lord, the God of Surrender  Listen  Obey ...together Israel, with a very loud voice.  Soldier-like Friendships

20 “Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens And they rose early in the morning and went out into the wilderness of Tekoa. another.” And when they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Hear me, Judah and inhabitants Proverbs 27:17 of Jerusalem! Believe in the Lord your God, and you will be established; believe his prophets, and you will succeed.”  Salty Presence “Beyond the Walls” 21And when he had taken counsel with the people, he appointed those who were to Making people thirsty for Jesus sing to the Lord and praise him in holy attire, as they went before the army, and say, “Give thanks to the Lord, for his steadfast love endures forever.” 22And when they New Song News began to sing and praise, the Lord set an ambush against the men of Ammon, Moab, WORSHIP AT HQ OPEN TO ALL and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah, so that they were routed. Worship will be held to live stream at New Song facility. Healthy people who take necessary precautions are welcome be present.

6. Receive and experience GOD AT WORK. PARTICIPATE and CONNECT 23 For the men of Ammon and Moab rose against the inhabitants of Mount Seir, Please make every effort to “meet” together at 10:00am on Sundays and devoting them to destruction, and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of comment with the Facebook Live. Watching later is an option but Facebook Seir, they all helped to destroy one another. removes songs on the replay. By participating live we stay better connected. IMPORTANT NOTE: Invite others to join our worship, Study and From 24 When Judah came to the watchtower of the wilderness, they looked toward the Where God Sits live streams. When you do, don’t “share” it because that horde, and behold, there were dead bodies lying on the ground; none had escaped. creates your own separate “Watch Party” where comments show up only in the 25 When Jehoshaphat and his people came to take their spoil, they found among them, separate group you created. It’s like taking a group to a different room in the in great numbers, goods, clothing, and precious things, which they took for themselves house with a separate conversation. Instead call or text friends to join in on until they could carry no more. They were three days in taking the spoil, it was so the link at the New Song Facebook page below: much. Facebook Live link: https://www.facebook.com/NewSongPittsburgh/. Download sermon notes and New Song announcements from the home page

7. REJOICE and LIVE IN AWE of God. of the website. www.newsongpittsburgh.org 26 On the fourth day they assembled in the Valley of Beracah, for there they blessed the COMING UP: Lord. Therefore the name of that place has been called the Valley of Beracah to this Virtual New Song Group Conversations - Tues 9am, host Pastor Herb; 27 day. Then they returned, every man of Judah and Jerusalem, and Jehoshaphat at their Wed noon, host Wendy Scott; Wed 6pm, hosts Jeff Scott & Nate Graybill. head, returning to Jerusalem with joy, for the Lord had made them rejoice over their Download the Houseparty App to your phone, tablet or computer, search 28 enemies. They came to Jerusalem with harps and lyres and trumpets, to the house of for the host, “add” them and join them for conversation to stay in touch. 29 the Lord. And the fear of God came on all the kingdoms of the countries when they Live streams: New Song family updates and From Where God Sits episodes 30 heard that the Lord had fought against the enemies of Israel. So the realm of Thursday, 7pm – Facebook Live stream Bible study with Pastor Herb Jehoshaphat was quiet, for his God gave him rest all around. April 5-12 – Week of Prayer and Fasting.

What do we do with this? Regular Offering Projected Budget Family Assistance Children of Promise 3/22/2020 $1,827.00 $ 2,821.63 3/22/2020 $ 0.00 3/22/2020 $5.00 To Date $27,818.00 $ 31,037.98 Balance $ 2,349.16 Month Total $26.32 Practical Actions: Experiencing More Building Fund Campaign Actual Giving Weekly Pledged Friends of New Song 1. More time turning to God than culture – especially when fear threatens 3/22/2020 $ 145.00 $ 543.59 $ 0.00 2. S.L.O. prayers: Surrender → Listen → Obey 50 weeks $ 20,696.50 $ 27,179.49 $ 3,000.00 3. Stay connected aggressively and creatively So you can receive credit for your giving, please print your name & amount on the offering envelope. 4. Serve others aggressively.