“THE BATTLE IS THE LORD’S”
Part One:
Putting things in God’s Hands.
Text: 2 Chronicles 20
Introduction: Jehoshaphat was the King. As King everything would fall on his shoulders. When a “great multitude came against Judah to do battle, Jehoshaphat determined to seek God for help. In today’s message we will learn how to put things in God’s hands.
Key Verse:
17Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against them: for the LORD will be with you.
1. Know that you have a problem.
2Then there came some that told Jehoshaphat, saying, There cometh a great multitude against thee from beyond the sea on this side Syria; and, behold, they be in Hazazontamar, which is Engedi.
The enemy was hiding in the deep undergrowth of Hazazontamar. Someone exposed their devious plot to the King.
May we ask God to expose the sin in our lives. Most of the time people refuse to believe that they have a problem, or they do not understand the true nature of their problem.
The kind of people who attend Church are the kind of people who admit that they have a problem and that they need God’s help, or they would not have come to Church in the first place.
2. Know that your problem is bigger than you are.
3And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.
Although Jehoshaphat had a standing army, he knew that his army was no match for the oncoming enemy.
We need to admit the frailty of our flesh.
3. Know that God is bigger than your problem.
6And said, O LORD God of our fathers, art not thou God in heaven? and rulest not thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen? and in thine hand is there not power and might, so that none is able to withstand thee?
Our God is the King of Kings. We need to proclaim the sovereignty of God.
4. Know that God is on your side of the problem.
7Art not thou our God, who didst drive out the inhabitants of this land before thy people Israel, and gavest it to the seed of Abraham thy friend for ever?
If God is not on your side… that is the real problem! If you want God to be on your side of the battlefield, get humble. God gives grace to the humble. Jehoshaphat got humble. A person is not humble until they are willing to obey God’s directives.
5. Make your problem, God’s problem to solve.
8And they dwelt therein, and have built thee a sanctuary therein for thy name, saying, 9If, when evil cometh upon us, as the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we stand before this house, and in thy presence, (for thy name is in this house,) and cry unto thee in our affliction, then thou wilt hear and help.
God’s testimony was on the line. He had made promises to the nation of Israel. Jehoshaphat claimed the promises that God made.
Prayer:
Lord, I have a problem and I need your help...
“THE BATTLE IS THE LORD’S”
Part Two:
How do you know when you have put your problem in God’s hands?
1. You will not be afraid.
Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid
Worry is a sin. When we cast our cares upon the Lord, God will grant to us a peace that passes all understanding.
2. You can face your enemy.
to morrow go out against them
A person who continues in sin, is a person who wants to hide in the darkness. Once you have put your problem is God’s hands, you can walk in the light! You have not fear of the darkness.
3. You will experience the presence of the Lord.
for the LORD will be with you.
Jesus is the Captain of the Lord of Hosts. He has never lost a battle.
4. You will want to go to Church.
the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell before the LORD, worshipping the LORD.
Many people blame God for their problems and, therefore, have no desire to attend Church. A wall of bitterness divides them from God. This problem is potentially far greater than the problem that you thought that you had!
Jehoshaphat, the King, set his heart to seek the Lord. He placed himself on the Temple steps and started a revival of prayer and fasting.
5. You will have a song in your heart.
22And when they began to sing and to praise,
When the enemy heard the music and praise of the children of Judah, they realized that they were no longer doing battle with Israel. They were up against the God of Israel.
The enemy turned on one another and the only thing that Jehoshaphat and God’s people had to do was to enjoy the spoils of victory. The people of Israel had anticipate Easter, (To be crucified) but instead they would experience Christmas!
Prayer
Lord, Thank you for fighting my battles. I rejoice in the knowledge that eternity will reveal to me the ultimate victory.
