2 Chronicles 20:1-23
Introduction
The Christian life is not a playground, it is a battleground. Sometimes we forget this fact- perhaps because we are so accustomed to this life, or because we are so distracted from spiritual things- we lay down our arms, surrender our position, and forsake our posts.
Because the enemy is largely invisible, we forget how fierce the battle is raging, and how essential it is that we are ready for war each day!
The Bible tells us that there are three enemies that we face: (1) The world; (2) The flesh; and (3) The Devil. I call these these the External Enemy, the Internal Enemy, and the Infernal Enemy.
Every single day of our lives we feel the direct impact or influence of these three enemies. However, many of us no longer “struggle” in the fight because these enemies have infiltrated and taken out our defences. Even though we know that ultimate victory is ours, we have become prisoners of war, and are shackled to the cleverly devised strategies of these enemies.
The Bible tells us that ultimate victory is ours in Christ but that does not mean that we can just cruise. We are to fight moment by moment. The Lord would have us live victorious Christian lives every day, but that is so hard. It requires much time, effort, energy, and focus.
This message comes to us today because I am concerned for us. I am concerned that there are some who have raised a white flag, packed up their spiritual arsenal, and are venturing into enemy territory without protection. I am concerned that there are those who are running away from the fight because it is too hard. I am concerned because there are some who have been wounded by the deceitful darts of the evil one and are believing his lies. I am concerned that there are few left on our battleground who are truly wrestling with the enemy, and are being left without support and backup.
As we venture into the life of Jehoshaphat and the kingdom of Judah let us learn together how we can live The Victorious Christian Life.
Context
King Jehoshaphat was a man who loved God and sought to abolish the idolatry that so often became a problem in the life of God’s people.
The Bible tells us that “his heart was courageous in the ways of the Lord” (2 Chronicles.17:6).
Furthermore, Jehoshaphat was so concerned with his people knowing the truth of Scripture that he sent out “Bible teachers” throughout the land who expounded the law of God to them (2 Chronicles17:7-9).
It is very clear from 2 Chronicles 19 that Jehoshaphat was a man who knew God, and established his kingdom on His truth and righteousness.
1. The Reality of the Battle
“A great multitude is coming against you….” (2 Chronicles 20:1-2)
God had been blessing the people of Judah because Jehoshaphat loved the Lord and established his kingdom in righteousness and truth.
A great army approaches the city of Judah with the intention of dethroning King Jehoshaphat and destroying the people of God.
Dear friends, we too are in a battle. God’s people today are still being attacked by many adversaries. Our enemy is invisible but the effects of his efforts are clearly manifested. God’s people are fighting for truth in a world that not only believes a lie, but propagates it. God’s people are attacked constantly by the world, the flesh and the devil.
Do NOT THINK that a church or family which is established on God’s truth and righteousness is somehow inoculated against warfare! Nothing could be further from the truth.
We are not fighting visible enemies.
We fight against:
- Sin in all its forms (Romans 6:12-13)
- Our Self – the mind, desires of the flesh, natural tendencies, temptation (Romans 7:15-25)
- The Devil and his kingdom (1 Peter 5:8)
- False teaching (Colossians 2:6-8)
We fight for:
- Word of God and the truth of God (Jude 3)
- The Gospel (1 Timothy 1:11)
Scripture is filled with analogies of battle for the Christian:
1Timothy 1:18 This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may wage the good warfare,
2 Corinthians 10:3-4 For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.
Ephesians 6:10-12 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
1 Timothy 6:12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
1 Peter 5:8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
2. The Correct Response to the Battle
King Jehoshaphat though rattled by the news of this oncoming army and their intentions responds in a way that pleased the Lord. Consider the following observations:
a) Set his face to seek the Lord
“Then Jehoshaphat was afraid and set his face to seek the Lord…” (2 Chronicles 20:3)
What would you do if you were confronted with an army who were passionately pursuing your life and the life of your people? Though the king’s initial response was fear, he very quickly was driven to his knees to seek the Lord.
More than anything today, God’s people MUST seek the Lord. They must be driven to their knees and beg God in His awesome power to fight for them.
The great need of this hour is for God’s people, the Church of Jesus Christ to seek Him and Him alone. We pursue so many other things but it is time to seek the Lord.
1 Chronicles 16:11 Seek the LORD and his strength; seek his presence continually!
Psalm 14:2 The LORD looks down from heaven on the children of man, to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God.
Hosea 10:12 Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap steadfast love; break up your fallow ground, for it is the time to seek the LORD, that he may come and rain righteousness upon you.
Dear friends, the path to victory begins by pursuing the Lord.
Turn your attention away from all other forms of “help and hope”, and seek the Lord.
b) Proclaimed a fast throughout Judah
“And proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.” (2 Chronicles 20:3)
Fasting is something that most 21st century Christians have never considered.
The Bible is full of instances where God’s people in times of distress or in preparation for some great task fasted and prayed.
Fasting is not primarily about abstinence from food, but a period of specific concentration upon the Lord without the distraction of “earthly things”.
Fasting in times of great sorrow
2 Samuel 12:19-22 But when David saw that his servants were whispering together, David understood that the child was dead. And David said to his servants, “Is the child dead?” They said, “He is dead.” Then David arose from the earth and washed and anointed himself and changed his clothes. And he went into the house of the LORD and worshiped. He then went to his own house. And when he asked, they set food before him, and he ate. Then his servants said to him, “What is this thing that you have done? You fasted and wept for the child while he was alive; but when the child died, you arose and ate food.” He said, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept, for I said, ‘Who knows whether the LORD will be gracious to me, that the child may live?’
Nehemiah 1:4 As soon as I heard these words I sat down and wept and mourned for days, and I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven.
Fasting in times of great spiritual warfare
Matthew 4:1-2 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.
Fasting in the New Testament Church
Acts 13:2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”
c) The Unity of God’s People in Prayer
“And Judah assembled to seek help from the Lord; from all the cities of Judah they came to seek the Lord.” (2 Chronicles 20:3)
History shows us that when the people of God are in distress or under attack they will unite and gather together with one purpose: to seek the Lord collectively.
All the major revivals have come about on the back of prayer. God’s people recognised the prevailing sin of the nation and the need for true revival in the church. Men and woman began to gather and pray and fast and beg God to fight on their behalf. It was at these times that great awakenings were seen and God was most glorified.
If we are to see God work in our little church and communities it will come about through prayer. Prayer is something that should be the natural language of the Christian. Consider the power of prayer:
- Moses Prays and intercedes for his people and turns away the wrath of God (Exodus 32:9-14)
- Elijah calls down fire from heaven (1 Kings 18:36-38)
- Elijah prays for rain to come (1 Kings 18:42-43)
- Hezekiah’s victory over Sennacherib (Isaiah 38:21,36)
- Joshua prays and the sun stands still (Joshua 10:12-13)
James 5:16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.
1John 5:14 And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.
Acts 12:5-7 So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church. Now when Herod was about to bring him out, on that very night, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries before the door were guarding the prison. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood next to him, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him, saying, “Get up quickly.” And the chains fell off his hands.
3. The Right Understanding of God & Ourselves
2 Chronicles 20:6-12
As we begin to look at the contents of Jehoshaphat’s prayer we quickly realise that he had a wonderful understanding of the character of God and his own inability to fight this battle.
Consider the following observations:
a) The Sovereignty of God
“You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. In your hand are power and might, so that none is able to withstand you.” (2 Chronicles 20:6)
God is in control. Though the armies rage against us and enemy seeks to destroy us, though we are tossed upon life’s billows roll, let us remember that it is God who holds the reins. True victory will be experienced when God’s people recognise and rejoice in His sovereignty over every part of life.
1 Chronicles 29:11 Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O LORD, and you are exalted as head above all. Both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all. In your hand are power and might, and in your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all.
Job 42:2 “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.
Psalm 115:3 Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases.
- God is sovereign in creation.
- God is sovereign in salvation.
- God is sovereign in legislation.
- God is sovereign in administration.
b) The Powerful Acts of God in the Past
2 Chronicles 20:7-11
One of the sure ways to maintain the right perspective of God is to recount the blessings and the outpouring of his power in the past.
This is what Jehoshaphat did.
Consider what great things the Lord has already done for you.
Illustration:
I look back on my own life and I recount times when I was crushed and bruised and broken and ready to quit. People had falsely accused me, the battle was so fierce and I could do nothing to rescue myself from the feelings of despair. Along came God like a bird and swooped down and carried me into his bosom where peace, love, joy and security were found.
Victory will come when we remember who our God really is.
c) The Powerlessness of the Believer
“For we are powerless against this great horde that is coming against us. We do not know what to do.” (2 Chronicles 20:12)
Jehoshaphat was aware that he and his people did not stand a chance unless God intervened.
MCCBC will never have the victory until we recognise our own inability and cast ourselves upon the mercy of God. We will never see great things occur in our lives and in the lives of the lost until we learn to cast our lot on God.
So many today are trying to manufacture spiritual work in the life of others without turning to the Lord.
Friends, I am completely at the mercy of God this morning. No eloquence or elocutionary skills on my part will bring about change and revival. It must be God.
Zechariah 4:6 Then he said to me, “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of hosts.
d) The Importance of Fixing our Eyes on the Lord
“But our eyes are on you.” (2 Chronicles 20:12)
If we are to be victorious in our battle it will come about because our eyes are on the Lord.
Today it would seem that the Christian is looking everywhere else. He is looking to his own abilities, strength, wealth, prosperity and so.
If the Christian’s eyes are not on the Lord, how will we ever effect a lost generation with the gospel when we ourselves are not looking to the Saviour?
e) The Battle Belongs to the Lord
“Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours but God’s.” (2 Chronicles 20:15)
Victory will come for us when we realise that this battle that we are involved in every day is God’s. He fights for us and nothing can overcome Him. We are quickly defeated when we are not turning to Him for strength, help and enablement in the fray.
f) The Importance of Praising the Lord
“He appointed those who were to sing to the Lord and praise him in holy attire, as they went before the army, and say, “give thanks to the Lord for his steadfast love endures forever.”
(2 Chronicles 20:18-21)
How important it is for us to praise the Lord. In spite of the raging battle, in spite of the hardship of life, we must praise the Lord. The Lord delights in our praise.
4. Victory over the Enemy (vv.22-23)
“And when they began to sing and praise, the Lord set an ambush against the men…”
(2 Chronicles 20:22-23)
How did he do this? Who did he use to perform this ambush?
Questions we will not have an answer to until we get to glory.
The important thing is that it was God who fought this battle and he was victorious.
How will we be victorious in the battle?
- Recognise the reality of the battle.
- Have the correct response.
- Understand God and ourselves
- And then….victory will be ours!
Be Strong in the Lord
Be strong in the Lord, and be of good courage.
Your mighty defender is always the same.
Mount up with wings as the eagle ascending
Victory is yours when you call on His name.
Be strong, be strong, be strong in the Lord;
And be of good courage for He is your guide.
Be strong, be strong, be strong in the Lord;
And rejoice for the victory is yours.
So put on the armour the Lord has provided,
And place your defense in His unfailing care
Trust Him for He will be with you in battle,
Lighting your path to avoid every snare.