2020 Endless Hallelujah

1 Some time later the Moabites and Ammonites, accompanied by Meunites, joined forces to make war on Jehoshaphat. 2 Jehoshaphat received this intelligence report: “A huge force is on its way from beyond the Dead Sea to fight you. There’s no time to waste—they’re already at Hazazon Tamar, the oasis of En Gedi.” 3 Shaken, Jehoshaphat prayed. He went to God for help and ordered a nationwide fast. 4 The country of Judah united in seeking God’s help—they came from all the cities of Judah to pray to God. 5 Then Jehoshaphat took a position before the assembled people of Judah and Jerusalem at The Temple of God in front of the new courtyard 6 and said, “O God, God of our ancestors, are you not God in heaven above and ruler of all kingdoms below? You hold all power and might in your fist—no one stands a chance against you! 7 And didn’t you make the natives of this land leave as you brought your people Israel in, turning it over permanently to your people Israel, the descendants of Abraham your friend? 8 They have lived here and built a holy house of worship to honor you, 9 saying, ‘When the worst happens—whether war or flood or disease or famine—and we take our place before this Temple (we know you are personally present in this place!) and pray out our pain and trouble, we know that you will listen and give victory.’ 10 “And now it’s happened: men from Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir have shown up. You didn’t let Israel touch them when we got here at first—we detoured around them and didn’t lay a hand on them. 11 And now they’ve come to kick us out of the country you gave us. 12 O dear God, won’t you take care of them? We’re helpless before this vandal horde ready to attack us. We don’t know what to do; we’re looking to you.” 13 Everyone in Judah was there—little children, wives, sons—all present and attentive to God. 14 Then Jahaziel was moved by the Spirit of God to speak from the midst of the congregation. (Jahaziel was the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah the Levite of the Asaph clan.) 15 He said, “Attention everyone—all of you from out of town, all you from Jerusalem, and you King Jehoshaphat—God’s word: Don’t be afraid; don’t pay any mind to this vandal horde. This is God’s war, not yours. 16 Tomorrow you’ll go after them; see, they’re already on their way up the slopes of Ziz; you’ll meet them at the end of the ravine near the wilderness of Jeruel. 17 You won’t have to lift a hand in this battle; just stand firm, Judah and Jerusalem, and watch God’s saving work for you take shape. Don’t be afraid, don’t waver. March out boldly tomorrow—God is with you.” 18 Then Jehoshaphat knelt down, bowing with his face to the ground. All Judah and Jerusalem did the same, worshiping God. 19 The Levites (both Kohathites and Korahites) stood to their feet to praise God, the God of Israel; they praised at the top of their lungs! 20 They were up early in the morning, ready to march into the wilderness of Tekoa. As they were leaving, Jehoshaphat stood up and said, “Listen Judah and Jerusalem! Listen to what I have to say! Believe firmly in God, your God, and your lives will be firm! Believe in your prophets and you’ll come out on top!” 21 After talking it over with the people, Jehoshaphat appointed a choir for God; dressed in holy robes, they were to march ahead of the troops, singing, Give thanks to God, His love never quits. 22 As soon as they started shouting and praising, God set ambushes against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir as they were attacking Judah, and they all ended up dead. 23 The Ammonites and Moabites mistakenly attacked those from Mount Seir and massacred them. Then, further confused, they went at each other, and all ended up killed. 24 As Judah came up over the rise, looking into the wilderness for the horde of barbarians, they looked on a killing field of dead bodies—not a living soul among them. 25 When Jehoshaphat and his people came to carry off the plunder they found more loot than they could carry off—equipment, clothing, valuables. It took three days to cart it away! 26 On the fourth day they came together at the Valley of Blessing (Beracah) and blessed God (that’s how it got the name, Valley of Blessing). 27 Jehoshaphat then led all the men of Judah and Jerusalem back to Jerusalem—an exuberant parade. God had given them joyful relief from their enemies! 28 They entered Jerusalem and came to The Temple of God with all the instruments of the band playing. 29 When the surrounding kingdoms got word that God had fought Israel’s enemies, the fear of God descended on them. 30 Jehoshaphat heard no more from them; as long as Jehoshaphat reigned, peace reigned. 31 That about sums up Jehoshaphat’s reign over Judah. He was thirty-five years old when he became king and ruled as king in Jerusalem for twenty-five years. His mother was Azubah daughter of Shilhi. 32 He continued the kind of life characteristic of his father Asa—no detours, no dead-ends—pleasing God with his life.

2 Chronicles 20:32 The Message

32 He continued the kind of life characteristic of his father Asa—no detours, no dead-ends—pleasing God with his life.

No Detours

Proverbs 4:25–27 NIV

25 Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. 26 Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. 27 Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.

Jehoshaphat knew exactly who he would be turning to. He didn't get distracted by the fear of man. The fear of the Lord overruled. He was more awed at the power and majesty of God than at the destructive force of his enemies.

Never look back Darling, it distracts from the now- Edna

No Dead Ends

2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT

17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

Don’t allow the enemy to stop the building process by believing lies. walk in truth.truth of who he says you are.

Christ is the master over the beginnings and ending of my life. example … all that concerns me in regards to finding, holding and even losing a job.

Our Dead Ends are God’s New Beginnings

In order to inherit the promises of God, we have a responsibility to exercise our faith.

for there to be anything new, old things always have to end, and we have to let them go.

Without the ability to end things, People stay stuck never becoming who they are meant to be.

Be a beginner in the new instead of an expert in the old!

Judah did not need to fight in this battle, yet it did not mean there was nothing for them to do. It was a significant step of faith to position yourselves, to stand still, and to believe that you would see the salvation of the Lord in the face of a large attacking army.

Pleasing God with My Life

1 Peter 2:5 NIV

5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

Romans 12:1 NIV

1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.

Jehoshaphat prayed with both knowledge and understanding of God

King Jehoshaphat stood before His people and openly confessed that he didn't have the answer. Their only answer was to trust in God. He ordered a universal Fast and all the people came together and did just that.

A Family Set Apart for His Glory

Set Aside for the( Glory) very presence of God permeating our beings and invade our day to day. A people set apart to call on and to live in the fullness of who God is and who we are in Him. set closer to the Heart of God.... prayer and fasting does this. Fasting is a powerful expression of our total dependance on Him.

Our countenance reflects the world we are most aware of.

A People who live their lives in endless Hallelujah, never ending, constant in all we do....endless praising God. it produces the ;lyrics of our life that creates our own personal Hallelujah

Pray and live in such a way that it causes heaven to appear on here.

Jehoshaphat did this and at the character he had was absolutely

NO DETOURS/ NO DEAD ENDS / PLEASING GOD WITH HIS LIFE

2 Chronicles 20:20 NLT

20 Early the next morning the army of Judah went out into the wilderness of Tekoa. On the way Jehoshaphat stopped and said, “Listen to me, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem! Believe in the Lord your God, and you will be able to stand firm. Believe in his prophets, and you will succeed.”

Believe in the Lord your God, and you shall be established; believe His prophets, and you shall prosper: With this exhortation Jehoshaphat considered believing the prophets of God to be equal to believing the Lord your God Himself. This remains true; to believe God’s Word is to believe God Himself.

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