What to do, when you don't know what to do

INTRO: What do you do when...

Jehoshaphat’s Prayer, 2 Chron 20:1-30

20 After this the Moabites and Ammonites, and with them some of the Meunites, came against Jehoshaphat for battle. 2 Some men came and told Jehoshaphat, “A great multitude is coming against you from Edom, from beyond the sea; and, behold, they are in Hazazon-tamar” (that is, Engedi). 3 Then Jehoshaphat was afraid and set his face to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. 4 And Judah assembled to seek help from the LORD; from all the cities of Judah they came to seek the LORD.

5 And 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? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. In your hand are power and might, so that none is able to withstand you. 7 Did you not, our God, drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel, and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend? 8 And they have lived in it and have built for you in it a sanctuary for your name, saying, 9 ‘If disaster comes upon us, the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we will stand before this house and before you—for your name is in this house—and cry out to you in our affliction, and you will hear and save.’ 10 And now behold, the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir, whom you would not let Israel invade when they came from the land of Egypt, and whom they avoided and did not destroy— 11 behold, they reward us by coming to drive us out of your possession, which you have given us to inherit. 12 O our God, will you not execute judgment on them? For we are powerless against this great horde that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.”

13 Meanwhile all Judah stood before the LORD, with their little ones, their wives, and their children. 14 And the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, son of Benaiah, son of Jeiel, son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, in the midst of the assembly. 15 And he said, “Listen, all Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat: Thus says the LORD to you, ‘Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours but God’s. 16 Tomorrow go down against them. Behold, they will come up by the ascent of Ziz. You will find them at the end of the valley, east of the wilderness of Jeruel. 17 You will not need to fight in this battle. Stand firm, hold your position, and see the salvation of the LORD on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.’ Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed. Tomorrow go out against them, and the LORD will be with you.”

18 Then Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before the LORD, worshiping the LORD. 19 And the Levites, of the Kohathites and the Korahites, stood up to praise the LORD, the God of Israel, with a very loud voice.

20 And they rose early in the morning and went out into the wilderness of Tekoa. And when they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Hear me, Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem! Believe in the LORD your God, and you will be established; believe his prophets, and you will succeed.” 21 And when he had taken counsel with the people, 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.”

22 And when they began to sing and praise, the LORD set an ambush against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah, so that they were routed. 23 For the men of Ammon and Moab rose against the inhabitants of Mount Seir, devoting them to destruction, and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, they all helped to destroy one another.

The LORD Delivers Judah

24 When Judah came to the watchtower of the wilderness, they looked toward the horde, and behold, there were dead bodies lying on the ground; none had escaped. 25 When Jehoshaphat and his people came to take their spoil, they found among them, in great numbers, goods, clothing, and precious things, which they took for themselves until they could carry no more. They were three days in taking the spoil, it was so much. 26 On the fourth day they assembled in the Valley of Beracah, for there they blessed the LORD. Therefore the name of that place has been called the Valley of Beracah to this day. 27 Then they returned, every man of Judah and Jerusalem, and Jehoshaphat at their head, returning to Jerusalem with joy, for the LORD had made them rejoice over their enemies. 28 They came to Jerusalem with harps and lyres and trumpets, to the house of the LORD. 29 And the fear of God came on all the kingdoms of the countries when they heard that the LORD had fought against the enemies of Israel. 30 So the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet, for his God gave him rest all around

PRAY!!

The very first verse cues us into something that is very important, and we should always remember when we are facing something that is overwhelming, and that is:

“It came to pass.”

Jehoshaphat's initial response is what we almost always do when we are faced with what appears to be an unconquerable foe, He feared.

But then he made the single most decisive decision, the one that was crucial to the saving of his kingdom, he set his face to seek the Lord.

2 Chron 20:3 “Then Jehoshaphat was afraid and set his face to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.”

I believe with all my heart that is the single most important thing we should do when faced with any thing in this life, big or small, this is the master key to unlock any of life’s problems

The 5 keys to victory over the unconquerable:

Set yourself to seek the Lord

Fast- Forward

Stand Together

2 Chron 20:4 “And Judah assembled to seek help from the Lord; from all the cities of Judah they came to seek the Lord.”

Don’t go it alone! Satan tries to isolate us, remember God’s word

Ecc 4:12 “And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.”

4. Remember God’s Omnipotence and faithfulness

2 Chron 20:6-12 “and said, “O Lord, God of our fathers, are you not God in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. In your hand are power and might, so that none is able to withstand you. Did you not, our God, drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel, and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend? And they have lived in it and have built for you in it a sanctuary for your name, saying, ‘If disaster comes upon us, the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we will stand before this house and before you—for your name is in this house—and cry out to you in our affliction, and you will hear and save.’ And now behold, the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir, whom you would not let Israel invade when they came from the land of Egypt, and whom they avoided and did not destroy— behold, they reward us by coming to drive us out of your possession, which you have given us to inherit. O our God, will you not execute judgment on them? For we are powerless …”

I find it interesting that God had spared these very kingdoms in Deu 2 from Israel and God let them keep the land they were dwelling, and this is how they repay Him.

5. Keep your eyes on the one from whom your help comes.

2 Chron 20:12 “ We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.”

2 Chron 20:20 “Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Hear me, Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem! Believe in the Lord your God, and you will be established

Jahaziel makes his 1 and only appearance.

Jahaziel receives a word from the Lord

2 Chron 20:15 “Thus says the Lord to you, ‘Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours but God’s.”

a. Praise is Powerful Stuff!

2 Chron 20:19 “And the Levites, of the Kohathites and the Korahites, stood up to praise the Lord, the God of Israel, with a very loud voice.”

2 Chron 20:21 “And when he had taken counsel with the people, 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.””

In one of the coolest,boldest moves in the old testament, The King puts his choir on the front line! why? because he knows the power of praise!

Psalm 100:4 “Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!”

b. Praise is an act of faith

Psa 42:5 “Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation”

In Acts chapter 16 we find Paul and Silas sitting in chains in a dark prison, miserable, unimaginable conditions. But they chose to stop focusing on their conditions and start focusing on the faithfulness of all mighty God “El-Shaddai.” So powerful was their praise that their environment was suddenly changed and they were instantly set free. The kingdom of Heaven burst through the atmosphere, magnetically drawn to the to the authentic faith of two suffering men, and the miraculous power of God was released- shaking everything around them and releasing them, and everyone around them from their chains! It even set free the people who were around them, Praise has a residual effect on those who are around us!

Acts 16:26 “and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s bonds were unfastened.”

Psalm 22:3 tells us that God inhabits the praise of His people

When Jehoshaphat and the army of Judah entered the battlefield. it was already over’

2 Chron 20:24 “When Judah came to the watchtower of the wilderness, they looked toward the horde, and behold, there were dead bodies lying on the ground; none had escaped.”

To get from Judah to the battlefield was about a 5-6 hour walk. By the time they reached the “Watch tower” It was already over. God had one the day. And when we go back and read, we find out exactly when this happened and why.

2 Chron 20:22 “And when they began to sing and praise, the Lord set an ambush against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah, so that they were routed.”

It was when they began to sing and praise!

Not one of the enemy escaped, and not one of God’s people were lost that day, in fact, were told that God’s people took such an abundance of loot, valuables and precious jewelry and garments, that they gathered for 3 days, they gathered more than they could carry off! which brings me to my final point:

When God is in the blessing, its more than you can take

2 Chron 20:25 “When Jehoshaphat and his people came to take their spoil, they found among them, in great numbers, goods, clothing, and precious things, which they took for themselves until they could carry no more. They were three days in taking the spoil, it was so much.”

Eph 3:20 “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,”

They never had to fight in battle, they just had to gather and carry away the blessings. So so often that's all were called to do do also

Were told in verse 27 that the end result was The Lord had made them rejoice

2 Chron 20:27 “Then they returned, every man of Judah and Jerusalem, and Jehoshaphat at their head, returning to Jerusalem with joy, for the Lord had made them rejoice over their enemies.”

CALL UP WORSHIP TEAM!!

In Closing..

What I want you take away from this message is this.

When your faced with something so imposing that you don’t know what to do.

Seek God

Fast

Praise like crazy

Thank Him like it’s already done

PRAY!!!