Position Yourself Series

Title: Position Yourself

Theme: Setting ourselves in the right position of praise so the Lord can deliver us.

Text: Matthew 6:9-14, 2 Chronicles 20:14-23

Offering: 2 Corinthians 9:5-7 Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren to go to you ahead of time, and prepare your generous gift beforehand, which you had previously promised, that it may be ready as a matter of generosity and not as a grudging obligation. (6) But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. (7) So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.

2 Chronicles 20:15 And he said, "Listen, all you of Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you, King of Judah! Thus says the Lord to you: 'Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God's.

(16) Tomorrow go down against them. They will surely come up by the Ascent of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the brook before the Wilderness of Jeruel.

IOW – I know where you are and I also know where the enemy is.

(17) You will not need to fight in this battle.

Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem!'

Introduction

Last Sunday we talked about Prayer. The importance of prayer.

You can’t separate prayer and praise.

Notice the Lord’s Prayer or Disciples Prayer

Lord’s Prayer

Matthew 6:9-14 In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. (10) Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. (11) Give us this day our daily bread. (12) And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. (13) And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. (14) "For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.

Notice how Jesus begins and ends this prayer.

Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name . . . For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.

Worship and Praise invites the Presence of the Lord

“But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.” (Psalm 22:3)

Psalms 22:3 NKJV But You are holy, Enthroned in the praises of Israel.

Matthew 18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them."

Spirit of Praise and Worship

John 4:23 But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.

Truth – mental state

Spirit – spiritual state

Utley’s Guide to the Bible

"in spirit and truth" The term "spirit" (see Special Topic at Joh_3:8) speaks of a worship that is not locally or physically based. The term "truth" was used in the Greek world to speak of a mental concept, while the Hebrew background was that of faithfulness or trustworthiness. See Special Topics on Truth at Joh_6:55; Joh_17:3.

Have you ever been going through the motion and you “Get It”? I mean I have seen it on peoples face, they are going through the motion and then ‘BAM’ it hits them. The mental connects with the spiritual.

This is where you want to be. This is how you should pray, until they connect. This is why prayer dosne’t have a time limit. It may take a while or short time. It is when you reach this you know you are truly praying.

When you get these two connected, watch out?

Praise: Sometimes is an act of faith – King of Judah

2 Chronicles 20:14-23 Then the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, in the midst of the assembly. (15) And he said, "Listen, all you of Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you, King Jehoshaphat! Thus says the Lord to you: 'Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God's.

(16) Tomorrow go down against them. They will surely come up by the Ascent of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the brook before the Wilderness of Jeruel.

IOW – I know where you are and I also know where the enemy is.

(17) You will not need to fight in this battle.

Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem!' Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the Lord is with you." (18) And Jehoshaphat (King of Judah) bowed his head with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem bowed before the Lord, worshiping the Lord. (19) Then the Levites of the children of the Kohathites and of the children of the Korahites stood up to praise the Lord God of Israel with voices loud and high.