Sermon Notes, October 30, 2011

Sermon Notes, Oct. 30, 2011

 

            District Superintendent Dr. Phil Fuller preached the sermon Sunday.  His scripture reading was 2 Chronicles 20, which he related to today's circumstances as he read.   We're at the corner of God's Way and My Own Way, and it's a daily decision to live out God's way.

            King Jehoshaphat had a problem: a vast army of many nations had come to make war on the Israelites.  Furthermore, the enemy were right there. (v. 2)   We also have problems, problems right here and right now, and the enemy wants to scare us, and to defeat us just as in Jehoshaphat's day.  What do you do when you have a problem?  Jehoshaphat "inquired of God" and called for a national fast. (v. 3) We need to do that today, too.  The people of Judah came from miles around to fast and pray. (v. 5-12)

            Then the Spirit of the Lord came.  (v. 14)  He still comes when we fast and pray in earnest.  The prophet told the king and the people "Do not be afraid or discouraged . . . For the battle is not yours but God's." (v. 15)  This is true today also.  We are God's people, following God's way, and we can depend on Him to fight our battles.

            The prophet gave the people specific instructions from the Lord on how to meet the enemy, and reminded them again that this was not their fight, but God's.  They were not to be afraid or discouraged, but to face the enemy, and the Lord would be with them. (v. 16-17)

            As they marched out in the morning, Jehoshaphat admonished them to have faith, then he appointed singers to give thanks to God—before the battle.  The singers went out at the head of the army.  (v. 21) They didn't wait until the army was defeated to give God praise.   That is a good strategy for us as well: to give thanks for the victory before it comes.  We need to get on with the praise!

            The vast army WAS defeated.  The enemy got after each other, and destroyed each other.  (v. 22-23)  Jehoshaphat's army saw God's deliverance, and it took three days for them to collect all the plunder. (v. 24-25)  They went back to the valley where they'd praised God; the valley of doom had become the valley of praise.

            In the midst of our problems, we can remember Jehoshaphat and the men of Judah, and the victory the Lord gave them.  1 Thessalonians 5:16 tells us "Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."  We can trust the Lord as they did.  GOD IS WITH US!  If you know the Lord is with you, you can do anything He asks you to do.