Pay Attention (2 Parts?)

2 Chronicles 20:1–23 CSB

After this, the Moabites and Ammonites, together with some of the Meunites, came to fight against Jehoshaphat. People came and told Jehoshaphat, “A vast number from beyond the Dead Sea and from Edom has come to fight against you; they are already in Hazazon-tamar” (that is, En-gedi). Jehoshaphat was afraid, and he resolved to seek the Lord. Then he proclaimed a fast for all Judah, who gathered to seek the Lord. They even came from all the cities of Judah to seek him. Then Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem in the Lord’s temple before the new courtyard. He said: Lord, God of our ancestors, are you not the God who is in heaven, and do you not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations? Power and might are in your hand, and no one can stand against you. Are you not our God who drove out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel and who gave it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend? They have lived in the land and have built you a sanctuary in it for your name and have said, “If disaster comes on us—sword or judgment, pestilence or famine—we will stand before this temple and before you, for your name is in this temple. We will cry out to you because of our distress, and you will hear and deliver.” Now here are the Ammonites, Moabites, and the inhabitants of Mount Seir. You did not let Israel invade them when Israel came out of the land of Egypt, but Israel turned away from them and did not destroy them. Look how they repay us by coming to drive us out of your possession that you gave us as an inheritance. Our God, will you not judge them? For we are powerless before this vast number that comes to fight against us. We do not know what to do, but we look to you. All Judah was standing before the Lord with their dependents, their wives, and their children. In the middle of the congregation, the Spirit of the Lord came on Jahaziel (son of Zechariah, son of Benaiah, son of Jeiel, son of Mattaniah, a Levite from Asaph’s descendants), and he said, “Listen carefully, all Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and King Jehoshaphat. This is what the Lord says: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast number, for the battle is not yours, but God’s. Tomorrow, go down against them. You will see them coming up the Ascent of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the valley facing the Wilderness of Jeruel. You do not have to fight this battle. Position yourselves, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord. He is with you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid or discouraged. Tomorrow, go out to face them, for the Lord is with you.’ ” Then Jehoshaphat knelt low with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before the Lord to worship him. Then the Levites from the sons of the Kohathites and the Korahites stood up to praise the Lord God of Israel shouting loudly. In the morning they got up early and went out to the wilderness of Tekoa. As they were about to go out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Hear me, Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem. Believe in the Lord your God, and you will be established; believe in his prophets, and you will succeed.” Then he consulted with the people and appointed some to sing for the Lord and some to praise the splendor of his holiness. When they went out in front of the armed forces, they kept singing: Give thanks to the Lord, for his faithful love endures forever. The moment they began their shouts and praises, the Lord set an ambush against the Ammonites, Moabites, and the inhabitants of Mount Seir who came to fight against Judah, and they were defeated. The Ammonites and Moabites turned against the inhabitants of Mount Seir and completely annihilated them. When they had finished with the inhabitants of Seir, they helped destroy each other.

2 Chronicles

Part 1

Jehoshaphat was afraid (v.3)

LEADERS STILL HAVE FEARS - it’s how you respond! that dictates the outcome.

If you allow fear to take the driver’s seat - you are giving our enemy a foothold in your life to confuse you, to speak lies over you, to shake your faith in the Lord

But if you feel afraid and do what King Jehoshaphat did, you will see God work powerfully

His response? He RESOLVED to seek the Lord (v.3)

He PRAYED!

What was the content of that prayer?

He REMINDED himself of all that God had already done

Are you not a God who… (v.6-7)

Are you not the God who has always been close to me?

Are you not the God who took a sinner like me and made him a pastor?

Are you not the God who has worked miracles?

Are you not the God who has answered prayers?

Are you not the God who ...

We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you (v. 12)

Pay attention to what you pay attention to

I do this thing sometimes when I’m bored where I’ll go scroll through twitter, then i’ll jump to Instagram, then over to Reddit, then back to twitter, and it’s all completely mindless. I don’t even realize i’m doing it.

I’ll close out of my apps and then like a minute later i open twitter back up and nothing has changed.

It’s like i don’t even realize what i’m doing.

Where you look matters:

I’m not talking about physically using you eyes to look, although that is important too

The content you consume, the voices you allow to have authority, the figures who you follow...

If you RESOLVE, decide in your heart, make a commitment, to seek the Lord, it better start with your eyes. Followers must have their eyes on the leader

Part 2

GOD ANSWERS JEHOSHAPHAT

(verse 17)

Don’t be afraid the battle isn’t yours to fight, it’s God’s

Follow the Leader

When you were little, do you remember walking through the snow? I remember days when the snow would be so deep in my yard, and my dad, would go out in front of me, and then i would follow and try to step into his footprints

Three Steps to Follow the Leader: (in verse 17)

Position Yourself

We all have a position, we all have a sphere of influence, God has put you into your house, your neighborhood, your friend group, your school, your sports team

Your position matters

God is already in your position. Follow him to where he’s already at work. He was there working before you, is is there working through you, he will continue the work there after you.

Your position might be different from someone else, and that is okay!

Stand Still

Sometimes the best thing you can do is not move.

It can be really tempting to try and move on to the next thing, the next place, the next job, the next season - but maybe God has you right where you are “for such a time as this”

“Be still and know that I am God”

Once you know your position, you’ve identified where God is working, STAY THERE.

See Salvation

You might have no idea what God is doing in your current position

GOD MIGHT NOT WANT YOU TO KNOW RIGHT NOW,

Maybe he’s closing doors on you, maybe the path you thought he was leading didn’t end up where you thought you were going

maybe he just wants you to trust Him

Or maybe you’re looking in the wrong place. You’re eyes are wrong. Your focus is off.

You’re expecting God to show up in one way, but what he’s really doing is something else

God might be using you, in your current place, in your current season, to author salvation in the life of someone you know. Who is he calling you to right now?