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Transcript
Today’s Scripture Reading 2 Chronicles 20:15 The Battle Belongs To the Lord If I could learn just one thing from: Nadab and Abihu 2 Chronicles 20:15 Do We Believe Our Hymns? We sing: Be with me Lord, I cannot live without Thee – I dare not try to take one step alone… Do we really believe the words of this song? We DO truly need God’s strength to lean ourselves upon. Sometimes we forget that, and try to fight battles by ourselves – with our own strength. The End Is Often Disastrous If we try and fight all our battles ourselves, we will often find ourselves overwhelmed and defeated. Some battles ONLY GOD CAN FIGHT! Whatever battle we’re involved in, we need God to show us the way. Are we prayerful enough? Are we faithful enough? Let’s consider these questions as we learn just one thing from Jehoshaphat Jehoshaphat? •Bible says precious little about this king of Judah. •Most people only know him from a funny saying: Jumpin’ Jehoshaphat! •Yet he was a mighty man of God in a troubled time. Godly Character Counts •In 1 Kings 22:41-50 we learn: •Jehoshaphat was a great man of God (vs. 43) •His godliness was reflected in his behavior •Followed the reforms started by his father Asa •Fought against idolatry and ungodliness •Removed idolatrous worship, including temple prostitution from the nation of Judah •Stood in contradistinction to the wickedness of neighbor Israel When Trouble Came •2 Chronicles 20:3-4 (Ammon and Moab attack Judah) •Jehoshaphat immediately turns to God in times of trouble •“Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the LORD, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah. The people of Judah came together to seek help from the LORD; indeed, they came from every town in Judah to seek him.” If You Seek Help From the Lord… • James 1:5-8 -- If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does. The Prayer of Jehoshaphat •We’re all familiar with the prayer of Jabez. •Are you familiar with the prayer of Jehoshaphat? •It is a beautiful prayer full of trust and dependence upon the Lord. •Let’s notice certain elements of the prayer of Jehoshaphat to mark his faith in God. Praise To God For His Sovereignty •2 Chronicles 20:6 -- and said: "O LORD, God of our fathers, are you not the God who is in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. Power and might are in your hand, and no one can withstand you. Thanksgiving To God For His Blessings 2 Chronicles 20:7 O our God, did you not drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend? •Has the Lord ever done anything wonderful for us? We should continually count our blessings. Humbleness Before the Lord •2 Chronicles 20:9 •'If calamity comes upon us, whether the sword of judgment, or plague or famine, we will stand in your presence before this temple that bears your Name and will cry out to you in our distress, and you will hear us and save us. Request For Help and Judgment •2 Chronicles 20:10-11 •"But now here are men from Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir, whose territory you would not allow Israel to invade when they came from Egypt; so they turned away from them and did not destroy them. See how they are repaying us by coming to drive us out of the possession you gave us as an inheritance. Divine Intervention: When God Fights For Men! •The battle belongs to the Lord •Verse 15: He said: "Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the LORD says to you: 'Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God's. God’s Part In The Plan Verses 22-23 – God carries out His part As they began to sing and praise, the LORD set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated. 23 The men of Ammon and Moab rose up against the men from Mount Seir to destroy and annihilate them. After they finished slaughtering the men from Seir, they helped to destroy one another. Their Part In The Plan Verses 16-17 – They had to be obedient to God’s commands. Verses 18-21 – They had to offer up praise and trust to God. They did not have to fight, because God was doing the fighting. They praised God and waited on His deliverance. Verses 24-27, 30 – They reaped the benefits of God’s blessings – it took them three days to collect all the bounty from the defeat of the armies. Will God Fight Our Battles? What kind of battles do we face? Spiritual battles Political battles Social battles Is there any battle too great for God? What is the best time for prayer? God will help if we will ask in faith! 1 Peter 5:5-7 -- Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Romans 8:31 What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? If God is for us, can we be defeated by other nations? Other religions? Other ideologies? Other anything? Is God for us? Are we for God?