Sunday Service: 22/05/2022
Supporting Scripture: 2 Chronicles 20: 1-13
Title of Message: Positioning yourself for a Miracle in times of Chaos
Delivered by: Pastor Mercy
“It happened after this that the people of Moab with the people of Ammon, and others with them besides the Ammonites, came to battle against Jehoshaphat. Then some came and told Jehoshaphat, saying, “A great multitude is coming against you from beyond the sea, from Syria; and they are in Hazazon Tamar” (which is En Gedi). And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. So, Judah gathered together to ask help from the Lord; and from all the cities of Judah they came to seek the Lord.
“Then Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the Lord, before the new court, and said: “O Lord God of our fathers, are You not God in heaven, and do You not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations, and in Your hand is there not power and might, so that no one is able to withstand You? Are You not our God, who drove out the inhabitants of this land before Your people Israel, and gave it to the descendants of Abraham Your friend forever? And they dwell in it and have built You a sanctuary in it for Your name, saying, ‘If disaster comes upon us—sword, judgment, pestilence, or famine—we will stand before this temple and in Your presence (for Your name is in this temple), and cry out to You in our affliction, and You will hear and save.’ And now, here are the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir—whom You would not let Israel invade when they came out of the land of Egypt, but they turned from them and did not destroy them— here they are, rewarding us by coming to throw us out of Your possession which You have given us to inherit. O our God, will You not judge them? For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You.”
King Jehoshaphat got some really bad news that a vast army made up of fierce enemies was headed towards them to attack his country. Jehoshaphat recognized immediately that he and his country were in trouble. However, he also knew that he had a Covenant Partner – God, Who was in no way overpowered in this crisis. You see, in a covenant, if an enemy attacks your partner, you are also attacked. So, you gather all your resources, and you fight as if the enemy had directly attacked you. That’s blood covenant. God was ready to do just that.
Jehoshaphat called a fast and went before the Lord. What he told God provides a great template for each of us when we’re in a situation that is beyond our control. He said Lord, “We’re powerless in this situation. We don’t know what to do, but our eyes are on You.” Let’s ponder on that for a moment. In ways completely available to you and me, Jehoshaphat was positioning himself for a miracle!
1. Jehoshaphat didn’t try to figure it out himself but immediately went to God. How often we struggle and worry and sweat! We think we should be able to solve problems ourselves. If God were to let us get into situations, we were completely capable of handling; we would not recognize and understand our need of Him.
2. Jehoshaphat acknowledged his powerlessness, confusion, and weakness. He did not mince words with God. He was in a big mess, and he knew it. He was overwhelmed, and he did not know what to do. Don’t let pride be a killer obstacle. Humble yourself before God, acknowledge that you desperately need help, and release control to Him.
3. Jehoshaphat rehearsed examples of the faithfulness of God. Jehoshaphat remembered, and he described out loud a sample of the incidents previously when God had come through in impossible circumstances. In so doing, he was stirring up his faith.
4. He placed his eyes on the Lord, not on his problems. This is a big one! When Jesus was in the boat and the storm was blowing, he asked his scared-to-death disciples, “WHERE is your faith?” I believe that he wasn’t just admonishing them for not having enough faith. I think the emphasis was on the where. In other words, “Is your faith in these winds and waves, or is it in Me?” In another wind-and-wave story, Peter was doing just fine walking to Jesus on the water until he stopped focussing on the Master and started looking at the rolling waves under his feet. Beloved, where are you and where are you placing your eyes today – on your frightening situations or on the Lord?
Jehoshaphat just set himself up for the supernatural intervention of God. He was about to see a miracle. You and I can do the same! (II Chronicles 20: 11-21)
Jehoshaphat cried out unto the Lord in the middle of a life-threatening situation. And God answered and came to their rescue. He said He would take care of them because the battle was His, not theirs.
God said, I want you to go out and face your enemies having complete faith in Me. However, as you go, you will see me take care of it all.” Though they were trusting God to resolve it, they had to do their part. They did not know how it would all come out, but they had to obey the part that God revealed to them.
The people believed, and thanked God as if they had already seen breakthrough. They didn’t know exactly how, but they saw in the eyes of their spirits that God would come through. They had to do their part by walking in obedience, and ready to act in faith on any future instructions from the Lord. (Prov. 3:5-6)
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.”
As they went out in obedience praising and thanking God, the Lord went to work! He set ambushes, and the enemies turned on each other and destroyed themselves. He will do the same for you and me, if we only trust Him completely and keep walking in obedience.
People, God will always fight and win the battle for us if we trust Him completely. His ways are higher than our ways. Jehoshaphat and his people were not only the victors, but they also left with a great bounty. God delivered his children out of a huge trouble, and He is ready to do the same for us. The scripture says that God wants to do super-abundantly more than we could ask or think. God saved Israel, and then they had peace. Trust Him and He will give you peace and joy.