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A Pattern For Praying & Receiving
Contributed by Gary Smith on Jan 5, 2003 (message contributor)
Summary: This sermon takes a look at a story which serves as a good pattern for all who are seeking God for a miracle
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“A Pattern Of Praying And Receiving”
TEXT: II Chr. 20:1-5 (KJV)
1 It came to pass after this also, that the children of Moab, and the children of Am-mon, and with them other beside the Am-mon-ites, came against Je-hosh-a-phat to battle.
2 Then there came some that told Je-hosh-a-phat, saying, There cometh a great multitude against thee from beyond the sea on this side Syr-I-a; and, behold, they be in Haz-a-zon--ta-mar, which is
En-ge-di.
3 And Je-hosh-a-phat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.
4 And Judah gathered themselves together, to ask help of the LORD: even out of all the cities of Judah they came to seek the LORD.
5 And Je-hosh-a-phat stood in the congregation of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the LORD, before the new court,
INTRODUCTION:
Some people say that the Old Time Religion is dead and that there is no hope when it comes to the miraculous today.
But I believe that God is still very much God.
I believe that God is AS MUCH God today as He was back in the days
that our text.
I believe that our text this morning offers to us; a pattern for praying for and receiving miracles.
ABOUT OUR TEXT:
(1) It describes a unique Israelite Victory
(2) On other occasions God had enabled the Israelite forces to be
Victorious.
(3) But here the credit is due entirely to God while the army of Israel
Is reduced to the level of spectators.
I believe that you can have a miracle by following the pattern set here by Judah’s King Je-hash-a-phat;
As you begin the pray;
I. Remind Yourself Who God Is
2 Chron 20:6-9 (KJV)
[A] Je-hosh-a-phat had done a pretty good job serving as King, He
did make one mistake, that of forming an alliance with King
Ahab. But Jehoshaphat learned from his past mistake, and
turned to God for forgiveness and led Israel to revival.
Now faced with a new threat that man of Godly reform, stands
and declares inn prayer that God is;
(1) “You are the God of our fathers”
(2) “You are the God of heaven”
(3) “You rule over all the kingdoms of the heathen (the enemy).”
(4) “You have all power and might”
(5) “ NO ENEMY can withstand You.”
(6) “You are God”
(7) “You drove the Canaanites before Israel.”
(8) “You gave their land to the seed of Abraham.”
(9) “You are the God who hears us in our times of famines and
pestilence, and wars and when evil tempts us you are the one
We cry to and you deliver us from them all.”
We know who you are;
(10) “You are the God who hears us and helps us.”
In order to receive a miracle, you have to know who God is and be convinced that what He has done for others, He will do for you! What He has done in the past, He can do NOW!
Today; We need political leaders who know who God is and who are
not ashamed to stand up and proclaim it to the people.
Leaders who will lead our nation in a prayer of repentance
and a time of seeking God’s wisdom as well as the
intervention of His Mighty Hand.
We need religious leaders who know who God is and who are
not afraid to stand up before the assemblies of God’s people
and declare it!
II. Remind God Who You Are Vv. 10-13
2 Chron 20:10-13 (KJV)
[A] We have been Obedient to you
V.10 “You would not let Israel invade these people”
[B] We are in great need
V.12 “On our own we have No Power, No Knowledge”
[C] We are dependent upon you
V.12 “our eyes are upon you”
[D] We will Wait in Faith
V.13 “And Judah Stood before the Lord”
III. Make Your Petition Known Vv.11-12
2 Chron 20:11-12 (KJV)
[A] “Lord Your Possession Is In Danger”
[B] Our future is doubtful without your intervention
[C] Judge Our Enemy -- Put our enemies in their place!
IV Act In Obedience To The Holy Spirit Vv. 14-17
2 Chron 20:14-17 (KJV)
[A] Look At The Spirit’s Message;
(1) It was a message delivered by a man of Integrity.
“Ja-haz-i-el” meaning “Beheld Of God” or “Seeing God.”
Jahaziel is not a fast flight by night prophet who rides into
Town on the whim, fetches up his tent and begins to prophesy.
On the contrary the Word of God traces his geneology back 5
generations, back to Asaph
Asaph- meaning “One who gathers together, collector”
You might remember, Asaph was appointed by King David as
Chief Musician in charge of playing music and leading worship
Around the “ARK OF THE COVENANT” after its return to