What Should I Do in Times of Crisis
Introduction
Over the past Sundays, we have dealt with what have been called times of crisis. For many of us we have faced or are facing or will be facing a crisis in our life. No matter who you are, no one is armored from crisis. We must all face crises in our lives. We answered two questions in this series. “Where is God in the Time of Crisis?” We discovered that in times of Crisis God is right there. He is with us and dwells in us but when we walk in fear we cannot see His presence. In times of crisis we must walk in faith and not in fear.
Secondly we discovered “The Nature and Character of God in Times of Crisis.” There were three things we learned about God. First He is a Fulfilling God, what ever we need God can provide. He is the great I AM. Secondly He is a Focus God not distracted by the issues of our lives. Thirdly He is a Faithful God, whatever He has promise He will do.
When we understand the presence of God and the nature and character of God we do not have to fear in times of crisis. Today we will look at another question.
Subject
What Should I Do In Times of Crisis?
2 Chronicles 20:1-4
20 It came to pass after this also, that the children of Moab, and the children of Ammon, and with them other beside the Ammonites, came against Jehoshaphat to battle.
2 Then there came some that told Jehoshaphat, saying, There cometh a great multitude against thee from beyond the sea on this side Syria; and, behold, they be Hazazon-tamar, which is En-gedi.
3 And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.
4 And Judah gathered themselves together, to ask help of the Lord: even out of all the cities of Judah they came to seek the Lord. KJV
In our scriptures today Jehoshaphat the king of Judah is facing a crisis. News of a great army from beyond the sea was coming to battle against them. King Jehoshaphat knew that they could not defeat them and the army was already at their front door. He was in a crisis and was asking the question, “What should I do in this Time of Crisis?
What should we do in time of Crisis? Note what King Jehoshaphat did:
2 Chronicles 20:3 And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.
4 And Judah gathered themselves together, to ask help of the Lord: even out of all the cities of Judah they came to seek the Lord. KJV
He did what we should all do seek the Lord. But note He set himself and the people of Judah to seek the Lord. He placed himself in a position to seek the Lord. What did he do to set himself to seek the Lord?
First He Prayed and Fast
We have missed out on the power of God because of our lack of prayer. The power of God is released in our lives through prayer and fasting.
Recall the situation when a father brought his demon possess son to the disciples to be delivered. They could not deliver his son, so when Jesus came, the father asked Jesus to cast out the demon. When the disciples were alone with Jesus they asked the question. Why could we not cast out the demon?
Matthew 17:20-21
20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
21 Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.
KJV
They came together in the temple of the Lord to pray for deliverance. Most of us want deliverance but we don’t want to pray. Please note they came together to pray. I know that you can go into your prayer closet to pray and King Jehoshaphat could have gone into this prayer closet but this was a crisis situation and they decided to have prayer service. Note what the scripture says:
2 Chronicles 20:4 And Judah gathered themselves together, to ask help of the Lord: even out of all the cities of Judah they came to seek the Lord. KJV
St. John when we recognize the power of God’s people coming together in prayer, we will be able to unlock the power of God that can change this church, this city and this world.
I believe that is what’s happening in the city of Lakeland as we speak. The Power of God has been turn loss it that city, miracles are taking place, died are coming back to life, God power is moving in a mighty way.
King Jehoshaphat understood the importance of prayer and fasting in the time of Crisis so he called for a national day of prayer and fasting.
Note King Jehoshaphat’s prayer:
First He Extolled God for His Sovereign Power
2 Chronicles 20:6 And said, O Lord God of our fathers, art not thou God in heaven? and rulest not thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen? and in thine hand is there not power and might, so that none is able to withstand thee? KJV
Sometimes we need to remind ourselves the Sovereign Power of God. We need to remind ourselves that He rules both heaven and earth and there is nothing beyond His reach.
Secondly He Recalled God’s Grace
2 Chronicles 20:7-8
7 Art not thou our God, who didst drive out the inhabitants of this land before thy people Israel, and gavest it to the seed of Abraham thy friend for ever?
8 And they dwelt therein, and have built thee a sanctuary therein for thy name, saying, KJV
He recalled the gift of the land and the temple than He:
Thirdly He Remind God of His Promise
2 Chronicles 20:8-9
8 And they dwelt therein, and have built thee a sanctuary therein for thy name, saying,
9 If, when evil cometh upon us, as the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we stand before this house, and in thy presence, (for thy name is in this house,) and cry unto thee in our affliction, then thou wilt hear and help. KJV
God had promised them that He would hear their prayer and heal their land. It the same promise He makes to us today.
2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. KJV
Fourth He Referred to Their Need
He states their problem.
2 Chronicles 20:10 And now, behold, the children of Ammon and Moab and mount Seir, whom thou wouldest not let Israel invade, when they came out of the land of Egypt, but they turned from them, and destroyed them not;
He states their need:
2 Chronicles 20:11-12
11 Behold, I say, how they reward us, to come to cast us out of thy possession, which thou hast given us to inherit.
12 O our God, wilt thou not judge them? for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee. KJV
So many times in our prayer life we do not state our problem and our needs. It’s not that God needs to know, we need to express it so that we can acknowledge our problem and our need. So many times we live in a state of denial.
What did Jehoshaphat do in time of crisis? He prayed and fasted.
Secondly He listens to the Prophecy
When you pray God does not always speak directly to you. There are times He would chose to speak through His Prophet or through the Preacher. In our scriptures today God chose to answer the prayer of King Jehoshaphat through the Prophet Jahaziel. (Ja-hay-zi-el)
2 Chronicles 20:15 And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the Lord unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's.
Once again we see some familiar reminders from God in Crisis situation. We are told be not afraid:
Why should we not be afraid? “…for the battle is not yours, but God’s…” We just need to let God fight our battle.
Again we are told:
2 Chronicles 20:17 Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the Lord with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against them: for the Lord will be with you. KJV
Third He Praised the Lord
2 Chronicles 20:18-19
18 And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground: and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell before the Lord, worshipping the Lord.
19 And the Levites, of the children of the Kohathites, and of the children of the Korhites, stood up to praise the Lord God of Israel with a loud voice on high. KJV
The thing we must notice is that did not wait for deliverance to praise the Lord. They praise the Lord while in crisis. I truly believe many of us remain in our crisis longer than we have to because we have not learned how to praise the Lord while in crisis.
We have a chose to wallow in a pity party or rejoice in praise while in a crisis. We have a chose of pity or praise in the time of crisis.
King Jehoshaphat chose to worship and praise the Lord in time of Crisis.
Now if he were in some churches today, people would look down on him. Notice what happen in their worship and praise service.
First They fell before the Lord in Worship
They were falling out in church as the praise the Lord and I believe the Usher were busy that day in church.
Secondly They Praise the Lord God with a loud voice.
They were not quiet in their worship and praise of God. I don’t believe that there was anyone in service that day saying it doesn’t take all that to worship the Lord. The bible says:
2 Chronicles 20:18 And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground: and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell before the Lord, worshipping the Lord. KJV
Conclusion
In the time of Crisis he prayed and fast. In the time of Crisis he listen to the prophet of God. In the time of Crisis he praise and worship the Lord.
2 Chronicles 20:20 And they rose early in the morning, and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa: and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in the Lord your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper. KJV
Note Jehoshaphat’s message to the people and that the answer to the question, What should I do in time of crisis?
1. Prayer and Fasting
2. Listens to the Prophecy
3. Praise the Lord
There are two things that Jehoshaphat leaves us with today.
First “Believe in the Lord your God, so shall ye be established…”
Second “Believe in His Prophet, so shall ye prosper”
God delivered them in their time of crisis.
2 Chronicles 20:24-25
24 And when Judah came toward the watch tower in the wilderness, they looked unto the multitude, and, behold, they were dead bodies fallen to the earth, and none escaped.
25 And when Jehoshaphat and his people came to take away the spoil of them, they found among them in abundance both riches with the dead bodies, and precious jewels, which they stripped off for themselves, more than they could carry away: and they were three days in gathering of the spoil, it was so much. KJV
The same God who delivered them will deliver you in your time of crisis. But you must first have a relationship with Him.
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. KJV
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. KJV
Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. KJV
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. KJV
Romans 10:9-11
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
KJV