Sermons
Battle is the Lord's
How many of you are in a situation where you don't know what to do?
Facing a spiritual battle?
Coming up against persistent difficulties?
Could be in a spiritual attack!
But you are more than a conqueror in Christ Jesus
12 signs
- Sudden changes for the worst – health, finances, relationships
- Temptation to sin beyond the normal (1 Cor 10:13)
- Pattern of recurring negative events
- Atmosphere of pressure or oppression
- Severe discouragement
- Crippling condemnation
- Intimidation / Fear
- Confusion / Cloudiness
- Anything that brings pressure to bear against God's revealed will for your life
- Pressure beyond the normal of important relationships
- Battle for the mind -ve tapes playing
- There's a distinct time of onset (beginning, middle and end)
Scriptures 2 Chr 20:1-23
After this
Jehoshaphat and his kingdom happened after his return to seeking God, following his near-death when he allied himself with King Ahab of Israel
Attack often comes after significant spiritual growth like baptism!
Three nations suddenly moved against Judah—Moab, Ammon and the Menuites. Without warning, they crossed the Dead Sea. Even now they were only 40 miles away. The attack came from nations nursing ancient hostility, long memories of perceived slights, anger simmering over the years, jealousy now boiling over. The danger was very real.
The news came this way: “A vast army is coming against you. They have crossed the Dead Sea and are already in En Gedi.”
Discouragement
V2 Some men come and tell him they are “coming against you” – this sounds like one of those 12 signs – intimidation!
Not just against Judah, not just against Jerusalem, but against the king himself, against Jehoshaphat.
V3 He is afraid.
There's three main types of fear
- F.E.A.R. – learnt that abseiling. Petrified of heights. = Talk to yourself.
- Scary things – like Amonites, Moabites and Meunites coming to get you. Talk to God
- Fear of the Lord, which is not scary fear, more an awesome reverence. Enjoy God
First thing Jehoshaphat does is set his face to seek the Lord. First thing the devil wants to do is keep you from praying. Because it is the no1 weapon in your arsenal.
Prayer & Fasting
“Fasting is not a work that gains merit, but a weapon that gains ground.”
— Mike Betts
Model Prayer
- Sovereignty of God
- Refresher of the promises of God
- The Big Ask
- Thank you – more obvious in this one
Nehemiah does this 1:5-7; v8,v11, 2:8b
Peter does this in Acts 4:24; 25-27; 28
Jehoshaphat
Sovereignty of God v6
Remind of God's promises v7-9
Big Ask v10-12
Honest about the situation, but faith stance.
Stockdale paradox – https://www.jimcollins.com/concepts/Stockdale-Concept.html
“We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you”
Note the prayer is a family thing – everyone is there calling on God, even the little ones.
And sometimes the little ones have more faith in God!
During a prolonged drought, some farmers went to church to pray to God for rain. The dry weather threatened their livelihood. After the service, a little girl asked her father if the farmers really expected it to rain, the father replied saying “Of Course, otherwise we wouldn't be here”. Then the little girl protested, “But Daddy, how come no one came with an umbrella?”
Prophetic
When we are facing trial or attack, we need to know what the Lord is saying in His written word and the prophetic word.
We need to focus not on the attack and the enemy but on what God is doing and saying.
The Spirit of the Lord comes upon Jahaziel – that puts him in one of only 150 people in the Old Testament. New Covenant we can all have the power of the Spirit. Nearly as many people here who can be Spirit filled as during the whole OT times/
Prophecy – brings en-couragement, strength and edification
Jahaziel's prophecy is incredible.
There is some forthtelling and some foretelling
Forthtelling – what God is doing
Do not be afraid, do not be dismayed!
The battle is not yours but God
Foretelling
Where they will come and how v16-17
Encouragement
Just stand firm. Tomorrow go out against them and the Lord will be with you.
Often we just need to stand firm – the devil wants to wear us down and most give up five mins before the breakthrough.
Praise and Worship
They responded with praise and worship – and this before battle. It's easy to praise God in thankfulness. Harder before!
But that's what they did.
Jehoshaphat and the people face down, bowed before the Lord in worship.
Then the praise team stood up very loudly. Need both!
In 2 Chronicles 20:21, we read that King Jehoshaphat instructed singers to go out in front of the army praising God and giving Him thanks. Singing and giving thanks may not feel like the thing to do when we are in trouble, but it is exactly what we need to do!
Trusted God
Early next morning they went out
Jehoshaphat declaring faith in God and what has been prophecied.
They go out praising!
They begin to sing because of who God is. They begin to sing because of the words of the prophet. They begin to sing because they believe, they trust, in their God. The choir begins to sing before they see any evidence that God has indeed done for them what He promised to do, but for them, the promise is a good an evidence as anything else could be.
And God does it – he ambushes the bad guys and routs them and they end up destroying each other, leaving the spoil behind.
God wins.
Seasons of battle – they end and God will help you come out golden!
Pray first
Listen to God
Even if you don't know what to do, keep your eyes on Him.