Battlefield Strategies
#261 Battlefield Strategies 2 Chronicles 20 Part 1
“When all kinds of trials and temptations crowd into your lives, my brothers, don’t resent them as intruders, but welcome them as friends! Realize that they come to test your faith and to produce in you the quality of endurance. But let the process go on until that endurance is fully developed, and you will find you have become men of mature character with the right sort of independence. And if, in the process, any of you does not know how to meet any particular problem he has only to ask God—who gives generously to all men without making them feel foolish or guilty—and he may be quite sure that the necessary wisdom will be given him.” James 1:2-5 Phillips translation
I am in a communication dilemma. I start off calm and centered, and after a few exchanges of words I react with an intense tone to what I interpret as inconsideration and intensity on the other end of the conversation. There is a sensitive subject of conversation and when it comes up there is a mutual negative reaction. This has been a pattern that I have prayed about. Now I am claiming the verses above and praying for wisdom.
God is giving me some points of wisdom through 2 Chronicles 20. This chapter records a time when Moab came in war against Israel under the reign of King Jehoshaphat. When the King hears this report, his reaction is noteworthy. “And Jehoshaphat was afraid and turned his attention to seek the LORD; and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.” Verse 3
1. Admit our fear and focus our attention on seeking the God who keeps His promises. 2 Timothy 4:17-18
Then the King gathered the nation of Judah together to seek help from the LORD. People came from many of the cities of Judah to seek the LORD.
2. Gather together with others in prayer. James 5:14-16
King Jehoshaphat then stood among the assembly in the temple of the LORD, and prayed. “O LORD, the God of our fathers, art Thou not God in the heavens? And art Thou not ruler over all the kingdoms of the nations? Power and might are in Thy hand so that no one can stand against Thee.” Verse 6
3. Confess the truth of Who God is. Admit in prayer before God, the power and might that are His. No stronghold is beyond His power. Acts 4:23-25
King Jehoshaphat recounts the past deliverance promised to the descendants of Abraham. He recounts the gift of the Promised land, and building of the temple. He quotes King Solomon’s words for dedication of the temple from 2 Chronicles 6:28-30. “Should evil come upon us, the sword, or judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we will stand before this house and before Thee (for Thy name is in this house) and cry to Thee in our distress, and Thou wilt hear and deliver us.”
4. Remember the past deliverance of God in our lives and in the lives of our Brothers and Sisters. Remember that we are part of the Temple of God, His name is in our hearts, and when we stand before Him by the authority of our spiritual identity in Christ, and cry out to Him in our need, He will hear and deliver. Acts 4:27-30
The King describes the problem: the sons of Ammon and Moab intend to drive them out of the land that is theirs by divine inheritance. Verses 10-11 “O our God, wilt Thou not judge them? For we are powerless before this great multitude who are coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are on Thee.” 2 Chronicles 20:12
5. What do we do when we feel powerless? What do we do when we don’t know what to do? We fix our gaze on HIM. 1 Peter 5:6-9
“And all Judah was standing before the LORD, with their infants, their wives, and their children.” 2 Chronicles 20:13
6. Come to the LORD as a family unit. Come to the LORD as a spiritual family unit. Matthew 18:20
The spirit of the LORD spoke through Jahaziel the Levite: “Listen, all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat; thus says the LORD to you, ‘Do not fear or be dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours but God’s.’” verse 15
We don’t have to ‘win’ the discussion or ‘win’ the outcome we want. There is a spiritual battle behind the scenes. The battlefield is in our mind. He is able to equip us, but not by our power and orchestration of events. “Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, that you may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.” Ephesians 6:10-11
“When all kinds of trials and temptations crowd into your lives, my brothers, don’t resent them as intruders, but welcome them as friends! Realize that they come to test your faith and to produce in you the quality of endurance. But let the process go on until that endurance is fully developed, and you will find you have become men of mature character with the right sort of independence. And if, in the process, any of you does not know how to meet any particular problem he has only to ask God—who gives generously to all men without making them feel foolish or guilty—and he may be quite sure that the necessary wisdom will be given him.” James 1:2-5 Phillips translation
I am in a communication dilemma. I start off calm and centered, and after a few exchanges of words I react with an intense tone to what I interpret as inconsideration and intensity on the other end of the conversation. There is a sensitive subject of conversation and when it comes up there is a mutual negative reaction. This has been a pattern that I have prayed about. Now I am claiming the verses above and praying for wisdom.
God is giving me some points of wisdom through 2 Chronicles 20. This chapter records a time when Moab came in war against Israel under the reign of King Jehoshaphat. When the King hears this report, his reaction is noteworthy. “And Jehoshaphat was afraid and turned his attention to seek the LORD; and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.” Verse 3
1. Admit our fear and focus our attention on seeking the God who keeps His promises. 2 Timothy 4:17-18
Then the King gathered the nation of Judah together to seek help from the LORD. People came from many of the cities of Judah to seek the LORD.
2. Gather together with others in prayer. James 5:14-16
King Jehoshaphat then stood among the assembly in the temple of the LORD, and prayed. “O LORD, the God of our fathers, art Thou not God in the heavens? And art Thou not ruler over all the kingdoms of the nations? Power and might are in Thy hand so that no one can stand against Thee.” Verse 6
3. Confess the truth of Who God is. Admit in prayer before God, the power and might that are His. No stronghold is beyond His power. Acts 4:23-25
King Jehoshaphat recounts the past deliverance promised to the descendants of Abraham. He recounts the gift of the Promised land, and building of the temple. He quotes King Solomon’s words for dedication of the temple from 2 Chronicles 6:28-30. “Should evil come upon us, the sword, or judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we will stand before this house and before Thee (for Thy name is in this house) and cry to Thee in our distress, and Thou wilt hear and deliver us.”
4. Remember the past deliverance of God in our lives and in the lives of our Brothers and Sisters. Remember that we are part of the Temple of God, His name is in our hearts, and when we stand before Him by the authority of our spiritual identity in Christ, and cry out to Him in our need, He will hear and deliver. Acts 4:27-30
The King describes the problem: the sons of Ammon and Moab intend to drive them out of the land that is theirs by divine inheritance. Verses 10-11 “O our God, wilt Thou not judge them? For we are powerless before this great multitude who are coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are on Thee.” 2 Chronicles 20:12
5. What do we do when we feel powerless? What do we do when we don’t know what to do? We fix our gaze on HIM. 1 Peter 5:6-9
“And all Judah was standing before the LORD, with their infants, their wives, and their children.” 2 Chronicles 20:13
6. Come to the LORD as a family unit. Come to the LORD as a spiritual family unit. Matthew 18:20
The spirit of the LORD spoke through Jahaziel the Levite: “Listen, all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat; thus says the LORD to you, ‘Do not fear or be dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours but God’s.’” verse 15
We don’t have to ‘win’ the discussion or ‘win’ the outcome we want. There is a spiritual battle behind the scenes. The battlefield is in our mind. He is able to equip us, but not by our power and orchestration of events. “Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, that you may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.” Ephesians 6:10-11
