Divide and Conquer

If you plan to do nothing you will achieve it every time.

7-There will be Obstacles to our Vision.

Nehemiah from Last Week - Obstacles from the surrounding people to keep them from building the wall - Attacks, appeals to Artexerxes to stop the building. - Needed to post guards.

Jehoshophat Obstacle - Attack from three surrounding Nations - Great Army

Slide 8-9 -

2 Chronicles 2:1–4 NIV

Solomon gave orders to build a temple for the Name of the Lord and a royal palace for himself. He conscripted 70,000 men as carriers and 80,000 as stonecutters in the hills and 3,600 as foremen over them. Solomon sent this message to Hiram king of Tyre: “Send me cedar logs as you did for my father David when you sent him cedar to build a palace to live in. Now I am about to build a temple for the Name of the Lord my God and to dedicate it to him for burning fragrant incense before him, for setting out the consecrated bread regularly, and for making burnt offerings every morning and evening and on the Sabbaths, at the New Moons and at the appointed festivals of the Lord our God. This is a lasting ordinance for Israel.

2 Chronicles 20:1–2 NIV

After this, the Moabites and Ammonites with some of the Meunites came to wage war against Jehoshaphat. Some people came and told Jehoshaphat, “A vast army is coming against you from Edom, from the other side of the Dead Sea. It is already in Hazezon Tamar” (that is, En Gedi).

2 Chronicles 2:1-

2 Chronicles

Jehoshophat is not perfect - Gets a C or B as a King, to point he is not the Messiah, even though he is a pretty good king - Alliances with other nations, does not take down all of the “High Places,” and while the people of God’s heart turn to God on occasion, like this one, they do not fully turn - Points to the need of the ideal King.

But he gets an A+ in this Story because of how he approaches the challenge.

As you pursue the vision God gave you, there will be impossible challenges that come against you. Debt, relationship challenges, addictions, resistance, attacks by the enemy. - Obstacles is really promised.

When you face the impossible, it’s important that you divide and conquer. Figure out what you can do and what only God can do.

10-Seek and Trust God’s Part

Seek and Trust God’s Part. - Red Marker

First thing Jehoshophat Does - Brings the Community together to Pray and Fast. - Listen to God.

Slide 11-13 -

First thing Jehoshophat Does - Brings the Community together to Pray and Fast. - Listen to God.

2 Chronicles 20:3–6 NIV

Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the Lord, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah. The people of Judah came together to seek help from the Lord; indeed, they came from every town in Judah to seek him. Then Jehoshaphat stood up in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem at the temple of the Lord in the front of the new courtyard and said: “Lord, the God of our ancestors, are you not the God who is in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. Power and might are in your hand, and no one can withstand you.

2 Chronicles 20:1–5 NIV

After this, the Moabites and Ammonites with some of the Meunites came to wage war against Jehoshaphat. Some people came and told Jehoshaphat, “A vast army is coming against you from Edom, from the other side of the Dead Sea. It is already in Hazezon Tamar” (that is, En Gedi). Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the Lord, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah. The people of Judah came together to seek help from the Lord; indeed, they came from every town in Judah to seek him. Then Jehoshaphat stood up in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem at the temple of the Lord in the front of the new courtyard

2 Chronicles 20:

2 Chronicles 20:1

14 - Structure of His Prayer.

Structure of His Prayer.

God responds through a Prophet about what he is going to do.

15 - 18:

19 - Philmont Trip - Show a Map of our Possible Journey's - What is our Guides part? and What is our Part? - We are not doing this alone, we are relying on those who have been there before, who actually know how to get there, and can keep us safe along the way - We need to pack like they tell us, we need to prepare our bodies for the journey, etc....

- 20 - Illustration: Take two markers (red and black). In a visible place, hang a chart or goal with your vision written on it. First, with the red marker, write down the steps you can’t do on your own. Start by accomplishing steps in black letters, and pray for God to work a miracle on the red words that are out of your control.

Philmont Trip - Show a Map of our Possible Journey's - What is our Guides part? and What is our Part? - We are not doing this alone, we are relying on those who have been there before, who actually know how to get there, and can keep us safe along the way - We need to pack like they tell us, we need to prepare our bodies for the journey, etc....

George Mueller's Story. - The orphan houses exist to display that God can be trusted and to encourage believers to take him at his word.

The Renovation Project. - Retreat, Prayer with the Consistory

Prayer Meetings before finding a pastor.

Search Team prayer before finding Jim Poit

Do Your Part. - Black Marker

They faced the obstacle with Courage - Jehoshaphat’s encouragement to Trust God and the Prophets words.

21 -

2 Chronicles 20:20 NIV

Early in the morning they left for the Desert of Tekoa. As they set out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Listen to me, Judah and people of Jerusalem! Have faith in the Lord your God and you will be upheld; have faith in his prophets and you will be successful.”

2 Chronicles 20:

Do Your Part. - Black Marker

22 - Do Your Part.

Joke about the man on the roof praying to be saved by a flood.

- Illustration: Now, take the black marker and write down all of the things you can do to accomplish this goal.

- Illustration: Now, take the black marker and write down all of the things you can do to accomplish this goal.

When we face the impossible we are simply called to do what we can and trust God to do what only he can do. Jehoshaphat was called to “go out against them.” (20:16)

Also Jehoshaphat Included other people in the process.

2 Chronicles 20:21–24 LEB

And when he had taken counsel with the people, he appointed singers to Yahweh who were giving praise to the splendor of his holiness when they went out before the army. And they said, “Give thanks to Yahweh, for his loyal love is everlasting!” And when they began with singing and praise, Yahweh set ambushes against the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir who were coming against Judah. And they were defeated when the people of Ammon and Moab rose up against the inhabitants of Mount Seir to destroy and demolish them. And when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, each helped to destroy his comrade. And Judah came against the watchtower of the wilderness. And they looked at the crowd, and behold, corpses were lying on the ground. There was none who had escaped.

23 - 26:

27 - 3-year plan.

3-year plan.

"Tony Horton" - P90X - "Do your Best and Forget the Rest." - Do your Best and Let God take care of the Rest.

Conclusion:

Conclusion:

- What Obstacles do you need to pray for now?

- “What is the one black letter thing you can do today. Make the phone call. Write the card. Set up the meeting. Fill out the paperwork. Do it, and trust God to make something great come from it.

Reference the Reformed Confessions: The Reformed Confessions are statements of faith written to clarify the Gospel at times when the Church was in crisis. Heidelberg Catechism: Q&A 1, 46-54, 62-64, 86, 91, 116-129 Belgic Confession: Article 14, 24 Canons of Dort: Head III & IV, Articles 6-16; Head V, Article 12