Chariots and Horses

As you're standing there church I'm gonna invite you I've had one passage of scripture

I'm gonna read today a

Versa, Lord place on my heart to share with you Psalms chapter 20 and verse 10

Psalms 20 · chapter mention

Psalms chapter 20 and verse 10

Psalms 20 · chapter mention

We have a we have a message and a goddess been speaking to me about I

Pray that it will speak to you some trust in chariots and

some in horses

But we will remember

the name of the Lord our

God

Some trust in chariots

Some in horses, but we will remember the name of the Lord our

God

And I want to today talk about horses and chariots horses and chariots someone say in Jesus name

Amen, you may be seated in God's presence

In this day of

Modern high-speed transit and advanced warfare is hard

To imagine the chariot

being a

luxurious mode of transportation

Let alone a fierce weapon used in battle

But I want to invite you if you can go back with me in time

to the days of

ancient Israel

When horses and chariots were used in war

Back then the war chariot was a powerful

weapon

As powerful a weapon as perhaps a missile is to us today

It was an incredible machine

consisting of two large

wheels spinning on an axle and at the center of the spokes would often be a

blade-like object

protruding out which would

cause damage whenever

site-swiping

another chariot and many chariots held three people consisting of a warrior a

shield bearer and the charioteer

Who was driving it?

Of course there were drawn by powerful horses

some Persian

Chariots were drawn by up to four horses

Lined up side by side on the battlefield these fighting machines caused fear and

intimidation at their very site

Once in motion they

Sped along at

Rapid speed and slaughtered the enemy

In their path to have horses and chariots was indeed

an advantage for any army it was a luxury and

in many cases it was

The sign of victory if you had a host of horses and chariots

it was almost a

Foregone conclusion that the victory would be yours if you had such weapons at your disposal

Yet, I want you to know

What the Lord instructed Israel?

Concerning how they should face their enemies on the battlefield

I want to read in Deuteronomy chapter 20 and verse 1

Deuteronomy 20 · chapter mention

This is God's war plan

He says when you go out to battle against

your enemies

and see horses and chariots

And people more numerous than you

Do not be afraid of them

For the Lord your God is with you

Who brought you up out of the land of Egypt

Verse 4 for the Lord your God is he who goes with you

To fight for you against your enemies

To save you someone say amen today

Now as encouraging as these words are and they are the people of Israel were still human like you and I

So I want you to imagine the terror that they must have felt whenever they

Were about to go into battle as they looked across the battlefield

Across the valley and saw their enemy

Whoever they might be lined up with all of their horses and chariots

I want you to imagine for a moment what

May have been on their minds

What kinds of thoughts and feelings they must have felt

Standing on opposite sides of the valley looking at the makeup the construction

of these war machines

And how it is to be able to fight for them

The machines and how it is that they were going to fight this battle how it is they were going to achieve the upper hand in

warfare

How it is that they were going to draw up a

battle plan to compensate for the fact that they were

outnumbered perhaps

But in this regard outgunned because the enemy was allowed to use these things but God's people were

forbidden

Now maybe that's where somebody in some way might find themselves today

You know that God is with you. Amen. I

Said you know that God is with you

But sometimes brother it doesn't feel like a fair fight

Sometimes it doesn't feel like it's pound for pound

toe-to-toe

unequal fight

Maybe it doesn't seem like God is

moving with the kind of force

Speed and fashion that you would like him to do maybe you find yourself today

At the forefront of a battle or engage in a battle

Where it feels like the odds are against you and that it is harder than what you thought

It was going to be it was more difficult or it is more challenging

Than you thought it was going to be that that is lasting longer than you thought it was going to last that is

Fiercer you thought it was going to be and if you ever felt like that or if you feel like that today

Let me tell you you're in good company

Because that is exactly where the children of Israel found themselves time and time again

And that's exactly where we are most tempted to trust in

Chariots and in horses

This is exactly when we are most tempted to resort to our flesh to other means to rely on our

Expertise on our resources our

Education our money our connections our emotions to save us to give us the upper hand

So that we can get out of whatever pickle whatever

Dilemma whatever fight that we are in well God set me here today to remind you

That our victory in this life is not found in the accumulation or the strength of our

Chariots or our horses

But it is in fact as the people of God found in our ability to

Remember and to know the name of the Lord our God

Come on and give God a hand praise today somebody say amen

But come on let's be honest today it is easier said than done

So what I'd like to do for a few moments is explore how chariots and horses relate to us

Today and how we can avoid

Placing our trust in them

I'd like to get a little practical with you today. I like to help you understand how even as people of faith

Even as Christians even as believers

We can without knowing it at times resort to horses and chariot strategies

Instead of remembering the name of the Lord. Amen. How many of you are ready for this? Amen

first

Let's talk about chariots

Chariots which signify the ingenuity of man

the writer of the psalm says some

trust in

chariots there are a

Population there are segment there are a group or groups of people within

God's nation within the God's people who have a propensity an inclination

to put their confidence their trust and

Bank on their ingenuity now

Man has been given this mind and our mind is a great thing

It has the ability to invent to build and this capacity has allowed man to achieve some

Unimaginable things the mind is a powerful thing and the mind has taken mankind to some

Amazing never thought possible levels. Amen

Consider some of our modern-day chariots that we have seen throughout our lifetime and lifetimes

Before us such as the light bulb, huh?

the light bulb

automobiles and

Aeroplanes and rocket ships. I mean who would have ever thought that we would go to the moon or to outer space

Who would have ever thought that we would have the kind of technology?

To with with just our our thumbs send a message from here to the other side of the world

I mean these are the inventions of man. Amen

These are the inventions of man and the mind that God has given us has allowed us to invent these things smartphones digital cameras

How about modern medicine and some of the things that that medicine does for us just to name a few God?

Has given us an incredible ability

To create and to invent and to build things. I'm gonna say amen for that. Amen. I mean

He's given all of us this ability to do that and the world is the innovative place that it is because of that

So it's no wonder

It's no wonder that we're always trying to solve and to fix our way out of our problems

Here's the caution many times we lean on our ability to invent to make or to fix

And we say in our hearts and I think sometimes innocently, but we say I can do this

hmm

We say we can do this and if we're not careful

We can end up with our own intent and our own ingenuity with our own thinking our own smart

Brilliance and all these creative capacities that we have within us to completely squeeze God out of the picture

Amen, I'm going somewhere today. You better buckle up your safety belt this afternoon. I'm taking my time. Is that alright?

I'm taking my time. I know we have other things we got to do this afternoon

Amen, but but I'm taking my time today because I need you to understand how even as people of faith

Sometimes we are resorting to the ingenuity that God has given us where we say I'm going to make this happen

And we try to make it happen this happens and all spheres of life it can happen at home

It can happen at work it can happen in our relationships it can happen in church

It can happen just about any place where we try to put our minds together

Or we try to solve the puzzle and fix things through our own ingenuity and the logic goes a little something like this

You or someone you know gets a bright idea huh?

Light bulb someone say light bulb

Light bulb you get a bright idea and it sounds good

It checks all the boxes it totally makes sense

It's like why didn't I think of this earlier?

It's one of those kinds of ideas or one of those kinds of things we just man

This is something that man it's just one plus one equals two

And in fact you get emotionally invested in the idea you think man this makes so much sense

You know this this is just like you know this is like a no-brainer

I ought to just do this and you already start envisioning yourself there you know

You already start imagining yourself in that job huh

You already start imagining yourself marrying that person

You already start imagining yourself serving in that ministry

And you say to yourself well God wants me to be happy and this makes me happy

So it must be His will

Come on are you guys going to talk with me here today come on now

Don't be so quiet on me

This makes me happy God wants me to be happy so it must be the will of God

And then you go start thanking God thank you Jesus for something that God didn't even do for you

Start thanking Him for a job He didn't even actually give to you

This happens a lot this happens a lot

Start thanking Him for things that God is simply the product of your own invention

Well hold up let me ask you a question today

How are you sure that it was the Lord?

What because you feel like it was?

How do you know that it was the Lord?

How do you know that it's not a chariot that you're depending on?

How do you know that it's not a product of your own invention?

How do you know that it's not a product of your own will and creativity?

How do you know that it's not you making plans and then asking God to bless them?

How do you know that it's not you creating this idea in your mind?

This life that you want to live?

This place you want to go?

This job you want?

This person you want?

This thing you want?

And you get so emotionally invested in it that you never stop to ask is this really what God wants for me?

And so therefore because you're so emotionally or you're so intellectually invested in it

You're in too deep and now you just need God to bless you because man this thing is already taking off

And I've come to tell you today that not every good idea is a God idea.

I'm going to preach the rest of this message whether you clap or say amen or not

Because I need to help somebody to understand just because it's a good idea doesn't mean it's a God idea.

And there is somebody here today you've got to start growing up in your faith to start learning the difference between the two.

And start asking ourselves these important questions we ought to do what we ought to do is say

Is pray to the Lord and say God thank you for giving me the ability to think thank you God

That I've got a good mind thank you God I can put my education to work I can put my brilliance to work

I can put my good strategizing and my good problem solving skills to work

But Lord I also need you to help me so that you guide me and direct me in the right path

Because I don't want to go somewhere that you didn't call me to go

Whatever happened come on somebody I need to ask you a question

Whatever happened to say wait let me pray about it first

Whatever happened to let me pray first

And sometimes we just get an opportunity oh yes yes yes me me me me

It's like wait a minute did we pray about it first and did we listen to the answer that God gave us

Someone say pray first

Pray first pray first

And the only way to ensure that we don't trust in our chariots is to pray first

Now the problem with chariots is that they break down

Even the most sophisticated chariots cannot be trusted you don't believe me as Pharaoh

Who hardened his heart and chased watch this after something who happened to be Israel

That God had told him to let go

What are you chasing that God told you to let go of

I'm about to call the piano player up because y'all ain't ready for this

I said what it is that you are chasing that God said to let go

But see when you're in your chariot you ain't got time to think about that

You're just like chasing after it

I'm chasing after you now you're not chasing after that you're chasing after something else

But we're saying I'm chasing after you about the stuff that we want brother Bill

What are we chasing after

And a lot of times we're chasing after things like Pharaoh

Pharaoh the Bible says that he has 600 choice chariots and all the chariots of Egypt

And there they were chasing after something that God had told them let go

I mean they went through all the plagues

How many plagues that God had to allow into our lives

How many frogs

Do we have to kiss

Before we realize

Maybe just maybe this time someone say this time

Maybe this time I should just let God do it

Because every time I try to take control of my life

And I try to take control of my situation

Every time I always seem to miss

So instead of trying to make him Mr. Wonderful and make her Mrs. Perfect

Instead of come on now Sam I'm helping somebody out right now

Instead of trying to make Sam well you know how about you ask God is this the right one for me

Oh man a lot of times I don't know why I'm giving relationship advice but I'm going to do it right now

Last time we fall in love with that person and then we ask God

You already set a date

What's God going to do now

I mean I've had people coming for me asking for relationship advice

They already got a date they sent out the invitation into my question

Well what if I told you it's not the right one

Pastor

You wouldn't do that sure make me the bad guy

No no no

And we do this not just in the big stuff but sometimes we do it in the small stuff

Before you approach that person pray about it

Before you take that thing pray about it

And maybe like Pharaoh when he was chasing with his chariots the people of God

The thing that God told him to let go his wheels started to break down

And they got stuck in the middle of the sea and then they got swallowed up

Maybe you're getting swallowed up maybe your wheels are getting jammed where you are

Because instead of trusting in God you've been riding your chariot trying to force things to happen

Trying to force your will upon it try to engineer your way through life and all that

At some point you got to just take a step back and say God I'm going to let you do this one for me

At some point you got to learn how to just say Jesus it's not me it's not my will

It's your will

Pharaoh didn't listen he insisted on driving his chariot

Even you'd be surprised even with broken busted up wobbly wheels

There he was some people oh man we could be so stubborn our wheels are falling apart our chariots are all

You know held together by duct tape and glue but there we go

We're insisting on something that God has said that's not for you

Let it go someone say let it go

So trusting in chariot is the equivalent to forcing your will and leaning on your own understanding

Which Proverbs tells us not to do it says trust in the Lord with all your heart

And lean not to your own understanding but acknowledge him in all your ways

And he and he and he and he shall direct your path

Come on and clap your hands and give the Lord some praise today

I'm just trying to help everybody out today

You know I care about you and I care about the decisions that we are making because you know God's doing some amazing things in our life

We just you know we're in revival but then you know what about Monday through through through Saturday and what kind of decision that we're making

So if chariots represent the ingenuity of man then let's talk about horses because horses represent the resources

The resources of man he said some trust in chariots and some there's another segment

So if you were like not in the chariot group you might be in the horses group

Because some they don't have a chariot problem they got a horse problem

Oh Lord help me today consider this man made the chariot but God made the horses

God created the horses amen just making sure we all believe that God created the horses amen

And he is the one who put life into the horse not man

The horse is not a product of man's ingenuity it's a product of God's ingenuity

All man did watch this all man did was put a saddle on the horses back a bit in his mouth and started to use the resource that God had given him

Pretty simple God made it and he gave it to man for us to appreciate to enjoy and to use

So maybe you're thinking what's the problem sounds like horses are a good thing God created them

Well yes and no because even God made things can become false sources of confidence

I'm gonna say that again even God made or God created things can become false sources of confidence

Perhaps this is why Israel wasn't even allowed brother to have horses in excess

Did you know the Lord told them this in Juneronomy watch Juneronomy 1716

The Lord told them his people but he shall not multiply horses for himself

Nor cause the people to return to Egypt to multiply horses for the Lord has said to you you shall not return that way again

God doesn't have anything against horses like man what's wrong with horses man I like horses

God's got no problem with horses the animal the horses not the problem is the people who own them

And use them and put their confidence in the resources to help them win the victories in the battlefield

So God said look I've given you a resource that you did not create on your own I need you to track me here today church

I've given you a resource whatever that resource is it's something that I gave you

Now you need to make sure that as you move along your confidence doesn't start to transition over from confidence in the name of the Lord

Who is your God me my presence and confidence towards the thing that I gave you

So now instead of worshiping me you're worshiping the thing come on

Instead of worshiping me you're worshiping the thing that I gave you

Ah but God you bless me with this job praise be to God if he blessed you with that job guess what that job is a resource

Someone say it's a resource but the moment I start trusting in my job more than I trust in him it's no longer a resource it's a God

Ah I need to help somebody here today he say well how does this happen it happens right under our noses sometime

At what point do you stop trusting in the Lord's name and start trusting more in the things he gave you

I'll tell you when when God tells you to let that thing go and you can't

Well wait a minute Jack who's the one that gave you that job

Ah okay now we're getting somewhere now wait a minute buddy wait a minute who's the one that blessed you with that resources

Who gave you that house

So now you're working for your house or you're working for me which one is it

Because don't you ever forget that the Lord gives and the Lord takes away

But blessed be come on now somebody the name of the Lord I've got to remember that it's okay for me to have stuff

It's okay for me to have resources brother as long as my resources don't have me

Oh my Lord somebody give God some praise today

Hallelujah from God's point of view there's a big difference between trusting in him and trusting in what he gave you

Listen to the Psalmists in Psalms 33 verse 16 and 17 no king is saved by the multitude of an army

Psalms 33:16

A mighty man is not delivered by great strength a horse a horse is a vain hope for safety

Neither shall it deliver any by its great strength here's the principle that God wanted his people

And he wants us to understand today I'll be just a few more moments but this is the principle that God wants us to understand

What keeps you in the promised land is not the strength of your resources but the depth of your obedience

It's not how strong your resources are it's not the strength of your retirement account

It's not the strength of your career it's not your job security it's not your relationship security all your confidence and trust is dependent on your depth of obedience

God said I don't want you worshiping what I gave you I didn't bless you so that you would stop

I didn't bless you so that you would stop till you would pull away from ministry I bless you so you would gravitate towards ministry

I didn't bless you so that you would be working so much you didn't have time for me I bless you so that you can use that resource and not the resource use you

Is there somebody today that says God I want to remember your name I want to trust in your name God I want to walk in your way

Come on church this is why I pray daily this is why I tithe faithfully under God why do I tithe to remind my flesh and my bank account

That it wasn't my business deals and it wasn't this or that or who I know or my connections or my degree that bless me with what I have it's the Lord that bless me

And everything I have belongs to him that's why I tithe better remind myself that it's not about me I pray daily that's why I attend church

Every single week to let the flesh know that the key to a victorious life is to come into the house of the Lord and get refreshed with his spirit

That's why I praise him and that's why I lift up my hands to remind myself that it's not in me it's not in my name I invite the piano player to come on

It's not in me it's not in what I know but it's the fact that he is the Lord he is my God come on somebody give God some praise this afternoon

I feel the presence of the Lord in this house I feel the spirit of God in this house I feel the glory of the Lord in this house

We need to stop placing our confidence and trust in other things and put them back in the Lord and let the Lord fight our battles let the Lord take good care of us

Come on is there anybody a witness that God is faithful?

Is anybody a witness that God is faithful if you will honor the Lord he will not let you fall he will not let you go

God is faithful David said I was young but now I'm old and I've never seen the righteous forsaken or his seed begging for bread you don't have to chase after that opportunity brother you chase after him

The Bible says seek ye first the kingdom of God come on is there a witness in the house today seek ye first the kingdom of God and all of his righteousness come on now

Obedience someone say obedience and all of his righteousness and all of these things shall be added unto you

I have found that when I put my confidence in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ he will never cause me to go awry he will never lead me down the wrong path

he will never lead me down on dead end but if I follow after God if I remember his name if I lift up his name if I magnify is there anybody that can magnify his name today