Bible Message/Preaching : Facing a Crisis!
1It 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. 2Then 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). 3And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. 4So Judah gathered together to ask help from the LORD; and from all the cities of Judah they came to seek the LORD. 5 Then Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the LORD, before the new court, 6 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? ... (2 Chro 20:1-30)
How do we respond to a crisis situation?
Many run away from the problem by choosing escape routes in
medicating chemicals, burying in over-work, diversion of illicit relationships,...
Jehoshaphat was loyal to the Lord as David (2 Chro 17:3), yet he made mistake in making alliance with Ahab and went for war with him against the warning of the Lord through His prophet. Only by the Grace of God he was spared of life when he called out in the battle field. Then he made the reforms in Judah after his safe return. This current situation is after these happenings.
How can we face a crisis successfully?
- Commit our will to seek the Lord
- Prayer with focus on the Lord & not on the problem
- Submit our supplication -> He knows the best!
- Be willing to wait after prayer
- When its time to act, deliberately review the character of God
- Expect fear and strengthen self when nearing the edge of the cliff
- When the crisis is over, return praise & honour to the Lord
In the earlier encounter with Ahab, Jehoshaphat tried to convince him to follow the Lord but his efforts were futile. So this time he decided to seek His face. He deliberately chose to wait till all the people gather for the fast & prayer. While enemy is about 15 hour away from them, instead of preparation for war, he declared a fast in his kingdom!
v9 If disaster comes upon us; sword, judgment, pestilence, or famine; we will stand before this temple and in Your presence, and cry out to You in our affliction, and You will hear and save.'
V12 - 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."
He can move a mountain, so focus on Him and not on the mountain.
Isa 40:26 Lift up your eyes on high, And see who has created these things,
v13 Now all Judah, with their little ones, their wives, and their children, stood before the LORD.
Prayer is the most tangible and practical thing to do in a crisis!
We must remember that Jehoshaphat had a mighty army of 1160 k men!!
What should we do when it is time to take action?
v14 Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jahaziel ..., in the midst of the assembly... 15 Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God's.
v17 You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the LORD,
Sometime we may think that is God tells us what to do it'll be easy. But is it so?
They do not have to fight the battle, but need to take position to see the salvation!
How was taking the position executed? In Worship
v21 And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed those who should sing to the LORD, and who should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army and were saying: "Praise the LORD, For His mercy endures forever."
When we're near the cliff, increase the time of worship.
Faith is not equivalent to feeling even though they have some relation. Faith prompts action and feeling follows.
Faith is voluntary choice while feelings are involuntary response. Hence we can make a course of action while our feelings run contrary.
v22 Now when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushes against the people...and they were defeated.
They praised and worshipped the Lord for the victory & made a permanent reminder for the future!
v26 And on the fourth day they assembled in the Valley of Berachah (= praise), for there they blessed the LORD; therefore the name of that place was called The Valley of Berachah until this day.
Meditation:
- Am I in need of the Lord's intervention right-now?
- What do I need to do so that the Lord can have glory in the situation?
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