WHERE ARE YOU LOOKING?
"We don't know what to do but our eyes are upon you." • Sermon • Submitted
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· 10 viewsKing Jehoshaphat against Moab, Ammon and Syria
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Transcript
INTRO
INTRO
In the past few weeks, we have seen the Federal Government, Health Agencies, and people all over the world looking for some answers. As most people in North America and a great portion of the planet continues in isolation, we see questions coming from all over, we see the President holding press conferences every day and trying to calm the Nation in this already known as one of the worst health crisis that the modern civilization has seen.
Yes, we are in quarantine (which technically is 40 days), but hey... there was confinement as well for Noah and his family for 1 year in the ark, and when they left, it was for a brand new world of possibilities;
There was even confinement of the prophet Jonah for 3 days and 3 nights in the belly of a big fish, but when he left, 120 thousand people were saved!
When the incipient Church in Jerusalem was confined for 40 days after the Lord’s resurrection, they fasted and prayed, they waited on the promise given, and when the right time came, 120 people who started their literally quarantine full of fear and uncertainties, left that room to preach and perform miracles under the power and anointing of the Holy Ghost!
And how about our Lord Jesus Christ? As an infant, He was confined in Egypt for 2 years, because of the oppression of king Herod the Great, but when He came back, He saved the whole world!
The Lord Jesus also spent a quarantine (40 days) in the desert, being tempted and getting ready for the beginning of His ministry, and when He left, the world saw the most amazing man that has ever stepped in this planet!
So, yes, there is something about SALVATION after confinement!!
So, yes, there is something about SALVATION after confinement!!
This must be a time of obedience, intercession and complete trust in the Lord.
This must be a time of obedience, intercession and complete trust in the Lord.
Today, we will study one of the greatest stories of the Bible. A true story of deliverance, a dramatic example of praising the Lord in the midst of difficulties, and how He comes and rescues us in times of trouble.
Today, we will study one of the greatest stories of the Bible. A true story of deliverance, a dramatic example of praising the Lord in the midst of difficulties, and how He comes and rescues us in times of trouble.
Today, we will study one of the greatest stories of all the Bible.
Let’s read the text:
Let’s read the text:
MAIN TEXT
MAIN TEXT
1 Después de esto, los ejércitos de los moabitas y de los amonitas, y algunos meunitas le declararon la guerra a Josafat. 2 Llegaron mensajeros e informaron a Josafat: «Un enorme ejército de Edom marcha contra ti desde más allá del mar Muerto; ya está en Hazezon-tamar» (este era otro nombre para En-gadi).
2 CHRON 20
2 CHRon 20:
12 Oh Dios nuestro, ¿no los vas a detener? Somos impotentes ante este ejército poderoso que está a punto de atacarnos. No sabemos qué hacer, pero en ti buscamos ayuda».
CONTEXT
CONTEXT
King Jehoshaphat reigned in Judah about 870 BC. He reigned for 25 years and was a good king. But now he was being attacked by an alliance of very powerful nations, and the the text we read was his prayer to the Lord.
King Jehoshaphat reigned in Judah about 870 BC. He reigned for 25 years and was a good king. But now he was being attacked by an alliance of very powerful nations, and the the text we read was his prayer to the Lord.
There are some principles we can learn from this chapter, and today our theme is:
There are some principles we can learn from this chapter, and today our theme is:
WHERE ARE YOU LOOKING?
WHERE ARE YOU LOOKING?
¿DONDE ESTA TU MIRADA?
¿DONDE ESTA TU MIRADA?
1. THE BATTLE IS NOT OURS
1. THE BATTLE IS NOT OURS
The Lord used his prophet Jahaziel with a message to His people:
15 Dijo: «¡Escuchen habitantes de Judá y de Jerusalén! ¡Escuche, rey Josafat! Esto dice el Señor: “¡No tengan miedo! No se desalienten por este poderoso ejército, porque la batalla no es de ustedes sino de Dios.
One of the greatest advantages of being a servant of the Lord, is that a servant does not have to worry about anything, we are in the Lord’s hands, we are His children! We were bought by a price, by the blood of Jesus, we are exclusive property of the King!!
One of the greatest advantages of being a servant of the Lord, is that a servant does not have to worry about anything, we are in the Lord’s hands, we are His children! We were bought by a price, by the blood of Jesus, we are exclusive property of the King!!
5 ¿Por qué estoy desanimado? ¿Por qué está tan triste mi corazón? ¡Pondré mi esperanza en Dios! Nuevamente lo alabaré, ¡mi Salvador y
When the enemy wants to defeat you, he will try to convince you that you have to handle everything, that’s a lie! The battle is not yours! This is not a personal matter against you, this is a matter of ownership! The battle is not yours, because you belong to the Lord!
When the enemy wants to defeat you, he will try to convince you that you have to handle everything, that’s a lie! The battle is not yours! This is not a personal matter against you, this is a matter of ownership! The battle is not yours, because you belong to the Lord!
2. IT’S NOT ABOUT FIGHTING, IT’S ABOUT POSITIONING
2. IT’S NOT ABOUT FIGHTING, IT’S ABOUT POSITIONING
17 Sin embargo, ustedes ni siquiera tendrán que luchar. Tomen sus posiciones; luego quédense quietos y observen la victoria del Señor. Él está con ustedes, pueblo de Judá y de Jerusalén. No tengan miedo ni se desalienten. ¡Salgan mañana contra ellos, porque el Señor está con ustedes!”».
15 He said: “Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s.
What does it mean “position yourselves?”
What does it mean “position yourselves?”
It means to be aware, to be prompted to the command and desires of our Master, it means not being desperate, but in assurance that the Lord is in control, and at His side, we will always be victorious!
It means to be aware, to be prompted to the command and desires of our Master, it means not being desperate, but in assurance that the Lord is in control, and at His side, we will always be victorious!
Position has nothing to do with us massaging our ego and doing nothing, it has to do with being in complete submission to God and in full awareness on the spiritual warfare that surrounds us every day.
Position has nothing to do with us massaging our ego and doing nothing, it has to do with being in complete submission to God and in full awareness on the spiritual warfare that surrounds us every day.
God did that in several battles, countless times for His people throughout the Old and New Testament, and He will continue doing it! But you have to be IN POSITION!
God did that in several battles, countless times for His people throughout the Old and New Testament, and He will continue doing it! But you have to be IN POSITION!
The psalmist advices us:
The psalmist advices us:
10 «¡Quédense quietos y sepan que yo soy Dios! Toda nación me honrará. Seré honrado en el mundo entero».
13 And Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever.
13 And Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever.
And just about before seeing the Red Sea open before their eyes...
And just about before seeing the Red Sea open before their eyes...
exodus
13 Pero Moisés les dijo: —No tengan miedo. Sólo quédense quietos y observen cómo el Señor los rescatará hoy. Esos egipcios que ahora ven, jamás volverán a verlos.
talks about Aaron positioning in the middle of dead and living with the censer
3. OUR EYES SHOULD BE ON THE LORD
3. OUR EYES SHOULD BE ON THE LORD
12 Oh Dios nuestro, ¿no los vas a detener? Somos impotentes ante este ejército poderoso que está a punto de atacarnos. No sabemos qué hacer, pero en ti buscamos ayuda».
It’s interesting to remember that King David, Jehoshaphat’s ancestor, wrote something about that 130 years before...
1 Levanto la vista hacia las montañas, ¿viene de allí mi ayuda? 2 ¡Mi ayuda viene del Señor, quien hizo el cielo y la tierra!
Our eyes are not on pastors, are not on FEMA, are not on CDC, our eyes are not in the stimulus bill of 2 trillion dollars, our eyes are not on a political party; our eyes are not in human plans, but
Our eyes are not on pastors, are not on FEMA, are not on CDC, our eyes are not in the stimulus bill of 2 trillion dollars, our eyes are not on a political party; our eyes are not in human plans, but
Our eyes are, and will always be, UPON THE LORD ALMIGHTY!!
Our eyes are, and will always be, UPON THE LORD ALMIGHTY!!
Dear brothers and sisters, where are you looking?
Dear brothers and sisters, where are you looking?
4. PRAISE CHANGES EVERYTHING
4. PRAISE CHANGES EVERYTHING
22 Cuando comenzaron a cantar y a dar alabanzas, el Señor hizo que los ejércitos de Amón, de Moab y del monte Seir comenzaran a luchar entre sí.
Imagine the scene!! Thousands of warriors defeated, not by human weapons, not by courageous soldiers, not by heavy machinery, not by tanks, canons, missiles or anything.
Imagine the scene!! Thousands of warriors defeated, not by human weapons, not by courageous soldiers, not by heavy machinery, not by tanks, canons, missiles or anything.
You see, what is God’s weakness, (if we can make an analogy?)
You see, what is God’s weakness, (if we can make an analogy?)
You see, what is God’s weakness, (if we can make an analogy?)
You see, what is God’s weakness, (if we can make an analogy?)
What is His “Achilles heel”? What makes the Lord of the Universe vulnerable?
What is His “Achilles heel”? What makes the Lord of the Universe vulnerable?
What makes God’s heart turn to us with compassion and benevolence, what triggers his favor, what stirs up his heart towards us with deliverance in times of great need?
What makes God’s heart turn to us with compassion and benevolence, what triggers his favor, what stirs up his heart towards us with deliverance in times of great need?
The answer: PRAISE! The enemy was defeated by praise, and praise alone!
The answer: PRAISE! The enemy was defeated by praise, and praise alone!
17 El sacrificio que sí deseas es un espíritu quebrantado; tú no rechazarás un corazón arrepentido y quebrantado, oh Dios.
We will defeat this enemy, you will defeat your enemy! Just praise Him! Like the text says: “Praise the Lord, for His mercy endures forever”
We will defeat this enemy, you will defeat your enemy! Just praise Him! Like the text says: “Praise the Lord, for His mercy endures forever”
joshua 5:20
Just praise Him!
joshua 6:20
This was not the first time it happened, the Lord had done a similar deliverance in Jericho:
This was not the first time it happened, the Lord had done a similar deliverance in Jericho:
1 I look up to the mountains— does my help come from there? 2 My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth!
20 Cuando el pueblo oyó el sonido de los cuernos de carnero, gritó con todas sus fuerzas. De repente, los muros de Jericó se derrumbaron, y los israelitas fueron directo al ataque de la ciudad y la tomaron.
our eyes are not on pastors, are not on FEMA, are not on CDC, are eyes are not in the xxxx bill, our eyes are upon the Lord!!
Start praising Him in all circumstances, not a forced or imposed one, not the one interested in favors, but that praise that comes from the heart, in spirit and in truth, praise that feed your faith and renew your strength, and you will also see the powerful hand of the Lord moving towards you!
Start praising Him in all circumstances, not a forced or imposed one, not the one interested in favors, but that praise that comes from the heart, in spirit and in truth, praise that feed your faith and renew your strength, and you will also see the powerful hand of the Lord moving towards you!
The Lord hates murmuration, but He is moved by praise!
The Lord hates murmuration, but He is moved by praise!
FINAL APPLICATIONS
FINAL APPLICATIONS
There is power when we are united in unity and prayer!
There is power when we are united in unity and prayer!
2 chron 20:4v 4 talks about gathering, unity
4 De modo que los habitantes de todas las ciudades de Judá fueron a Jerusalén para buscar la ayuda del Señor.
King Jehoshaphat, in his prayer, remembered the Lord of His promises, and announced that the whole Nation would be fasting. Yes, Prayer is the key!
King Jehoshaphat, in his prayer, remembered the Lord of His promises, and announced that the whole Nation would be fasting. Yes, Prayer is the key!
King Jehoshaphat in his prayer remembered the Lord of His promises, and announced that the whole Nation would be fasting. Yes, Prayer is the key!
King Jehoshaphat in his prayer remembered the Lord of His promises, and announced that the whole Nation would be fasting. Yes, Prayer is the key!
King Jehoshaphat in his prayer remembered the Lord of His promises, and xxxxx
Prayer is the key!
Prayer is the key!
We need to understand our role of intercessors.
We need to understand our role of intercessors.
talks about a plague that killed 14.700 Israelites in rebellion against the Lord. Moses asked the High Priest Aaron to go and intercede for the people.
talks about a plague that killed 14.700 Israelites in rebellion against the Lord. Moses asked the High Priest Aaron to go and intercede for the people.
Aaron did not have to fight as well, but “he stood between the dead and the living”, with incense in his hands. Incense talks about praise, about prayer, about intercession!
Aaron did not have to fight as well, but “he stood between the dead and the living”, with incense in his hands. Incense talks about praise, about prayer, about intercession!
Let’s set our eyes upon the Lord, let’s seek His face, and He will deliver us! This is what He says in His Word:
Let’s set our eyes upon the Lord, let’s seek His face, and He will deliver us! This is what He says in His Word:
2 Cuando te prepares para una batalla, el sacerdote saldrá a hablarle a las tropas 3 y les dirá: “¡Préstenme atención, hombres de Israel! ¡No tengan miedo cuando salgan hoy a pelear contra sus enemigos! No se desanimen ni se asusten, ni tiemblen frente a ellos. 4 ¡Pues el Señor su Dios va con ustedes! ¡Él peleará por ustedes contra sus enemigos y les dará la victoria!”.
Let’s pray.
Let’s pray.