“When Faith Is Your Only Option”

The Lexham English Bible Chapter 20

13 And all Judah was standing before Yahweh, and also their little children, their wives, and their children. 14 Then the Spirit of Yahweh came upon Jahaziel, the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, the Levite from the descendants of Asaph, in the midst of the assembly. 15 And he said, “Listen, all Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat, thus says Yahweh to you: ‘Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed before this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s. 16 Tomorrow go down against them. Behold, they are coming up the ascent of Ziz. And you will find them at the end of the valley facing the desert of Jeruel. 17 There will be no need for you to fight in this battle. Take your stand! Stand and see the deliverance of Yahweh among you, O Judah and Jerusalem! Do not fear and do not be dismayed. Tomorrow go out before them and Yahweh will be with you.’ ” 18 Then Jehoshaphat bowed his face down to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell before Yahweh to worship Yahweh. 19 Then the Levites, from the ⌊Kohathites⌋ and from the ⌊Korahites⌋ stood up to praise Yahweh the God of Israel with an exceedingly loud voice.

Have you ever been going about life, and all seems well - you have a good job, a good relationship, good health, your finances are in the best shape they have been in a while, your kids are acting right… everything seems to be just right - and then, it seems that all of a sudden, all hell seems to break loose - trouble at work, your husband or your wife is not acting right, you get a bad report from the doctor, your money starts to look a bit funny, and your kids just won’t act right? Who am I talking to in here? You suddenly find yourself in situations that seem so complex, and you know that in your own strength, with your own might, with your own mind, there is absolutely no possible way you could make it better. You find yourself with your back up against the wall. Have you ever been there? Have you ever been faced with sickness, lost a job, found yourself in a position where you can’t pay your bills, or had a situation where the outlook wasn’t favorable for you at all?

But, it’s in these moments that you you realize you have utterly no options - Your doctor has done all she can do, we’re in the middle of a pandemic and jobs are few and far between, everyone is holding on to the money they have; you are literally to the point where all hope of rescue is humanly impossible. You realize that without God, getting through these times is literally out of the question. It is at these times that all logical options make no sense - all logical options seem unfeasible - all logical options literally won’t make make ends meet. Who am I talking to? I guess I’m preaching to myself today.

But, regardless of what logic says, regardless of what your friends are saying, regardless of what the doctor is saying, regardless of what your bank statement says… something rises up inside of you and says, “God, I need you. God, I can’t make it without you!” That something is faith. It is in times such as these that FAITH IS YOUR ONLY OPTION. Who am I talking to today?

Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” In other words, faith is the expectation, faith is the confidence, faith is the trust and the proof of something that isn’t readily visible or attainable. I know I’m supposed to be talking about Jehoshaphat, but I need to set you up to receive this prophetic Word. I need to lay a good foundation for you. The writer of Hebrew and this verse contain several valuable aspects regarding the concept of faith. Here you see that the Hebrew writer defines faith - faith is a complex concept, and there is literally no English word that could define its magnitude. The Greek word for faith is “pistis,” which means a state of certainty with regard to belief. In laymen’s terms, it means believing in something even if it doesn’t make sense. Pistis is literally being divinely persuaded, full of confidence. You see, you can believe in carnal or natural things like, for instance, when you put your key in your car’s ignition, that key will start your car, or when you set your alarm to wake you up in the morning, it will do just that… well.. some of us still has problems with that.. well at least you have faith that the alarm will go off. Pistis - faith derives from a supernatural source - so that supernatural joy and peace you when every natural thing about your life says you should be crying, depressed, down and out or that overwhelming feeling of victory you have when you receive that bad report is because of the source from which your faith derives. Some of you are questioning - what makes you so sure about you, Elder? Well.. i’m glad you asked - Romans 12:3 says that God has apportioned or given to each of us a measure of faith, AND it is during impossible situations that this supernatural faith wakes up. It’s the faith that when you lose your job, and you say, “If God closes this door, then He must be opening another one just for me.” It’s the supernatural faith that moves you to discount any thought or doubt you have of coming out of your situation. I know I’m not the only person in here that has had a moment like this. I’m not the only one in here that understands that it was your belief in God that walked with you in your situation - it was your faith in God that carried you when you did not have enough strength or courage to endure the storm.

Somebody give God a praise for faith.

In the text, we encounter Jehoshaphat, the son of Asa and the fourth king ofJudah, and the people of Judah at a critical juncture. They are faced with an impossible situation - they are literally at a point in which their army is outnumbered and threatened to be overtaken by three different tribes - the Moabites, Ammonites, and Menuites. These are the same people God spared Israel from attacking when they left Egypt. So basically, the same people who God said not to bother are the same people that are trying to overtake the land God has given to them. In verses 10-11, Jehoshaphat addresses this fact with God because when Israel left Egypt, they could have easily overtaken these people, but now, because there has been a separation among Israel - the northern Kingdom (the Kingdom of Israel) and the southern kingdom (the kingdom of Judah), the people of Judah are vastly outnumbered. Jehoshaphat basically says to God, “We did what you said, and we even built a sanctuary for your name, and in times of trouble, we vowed to cry out to you with confidence that you will hear us and deliver us.” At this point, Jehoshaphat launches into a very eloquent and, arguably, the most passionate prayer in Scripture. The Bible says that when Jehoshaphat was faced with this news, he was alarmed; he was afraid. And truth be told, some of us are at this juncture right now - you’ve been fasting, you’ve been praying, you’ve been paying your tithes, you’ve been living right, but yet, the enemy is still lurking and trying to take what little joy you have left. You’re at wit’s end, you’re afraid that at any moment, you’re going to lose your mind, lose your home, or even, lose you life. But God… somebody look at your neighbor and say, “But God...”

This leads me to point #1 - God has sent me here to tell somebody, “Don’t be alarmed.” After faced with the horrible and inevitable reality of his situation, Jehoshaphat called a fast and prayer. God then spoke words of encouragement to Jehoshaphat and the entire nation of Judah - God said, “Do not be afraid, and do not be dismayed at the great horde.” But God in His amazing grace and glory went a step further and said, “for the battle is not yours, but God’s.” And God is saying to you today - He’s saying, “I know it looks impossible. I know you’ve tried your best. I know when he left you it hurt. I know when you lost that loved one - you felt empty. I know that you feel lonely. I know that this seems to be too much for you. I know you’re in a pandemic within a pandemic. I know you fear for your in a state of panic over your son’s life, your husband’s life… but even in all this, even in all the uncertainty, you were never meant to have to find a solution. This situation is for me to fix. This situation is for me to work out. This situation is for me to get all the glory.” Look at somebody and tell them.. “Don’t be alarmed.” You see the devil will have you thinking that God has forsaken you, that God could care less about what you’re going through. Even in this pandemic, with some of us not being able to assemble to fellowship with one another, the devil has you thinking that God can’t visit you right where you are - right in the middle of your situation. I’m on assignment against the devil today. Some of you haven’t opened your mouth and declared victory in your life since you last stepped foot in a sanctuary. That ends today. WHEN YOU ARE AT WIT’S END, WHEN YOU HAVE EXHAUSTED ALL OF YOUR MEANS TO SEE RESULTS, IS THE MOMENT YOU REALIZE YOUR OWN WEAKNESS.. BUT IT IS AT THIS POINT YOU WILL SEE GOD’S HAND IN IT ALL. IT IS AT IN YOUR WEAKEST MOMENT, IN YOUR PLACE OF BROKENNESS, THAT YOU WILL EXPERIENCE GOD’S MIRACLES. I dare somebody, especially you listening at home, to open up your mouth and declare victory in your situation - because where you are right now, faith is your only option for victory.

But what God told Jehoshaphat next was mind-blowing… which leads me to point #2. God says, “Take your position, stand firm, and face your situation.” God literally gives Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah detailed instructions to go directly to the place where the Moabites, Ammonites, and Menuites are, and he says to them - just go right where I tell you, stand firm, and face your enemies - I’ll be right there with you. I don’t know about you, but I would have been like, “God, what? You want me to show up to a battle and just stand there. Isn’t this exactly what I prayed to you for help with?” You see, this is the point in which that faith, that pistis, that measure of faith that God has given you, rises up and activates. Faith begins at the end of natural belief. Your faith is activated the moment all realistic, all natural, all feasible outcomes are exhausted. Your faith begins when you look cancer in the faith and say, “But God...” Your faith beings the moment you look at that bank account and say, “Because of God, I have more than enough.” Your faith begins the moment you say, “I am above and not beneath.” It begins the moment you say, “My son life matters too.” It takes an unquenchable faith to face an impossible situation - a dead situation - a situation where you know that you know that you know that without a shadow of a doubt, without some divine intervention, you will be defeated. This was Jehoshaphat’s mindset. This was the mindset of the people of Judah. Just imagine how afraid they must have been.. the Bible says there were little ones (those that can’t walk yet; lap babies), women, men, and children involved in this situation. It takes unquenchable faith to know that trusting in something that seems utterly impossible at the sake of what may possibly happen to your children, your family to trust in a divine source and act. But this is where we are.. look at somebody and say, “In this situation, faith is your only option.”

Point 3:

I am on assignment to speak to all of the impossible situations of those who are hearing the words of my mouth today - those dead dreams, dead promises, dead health issues, dead relationships, dead finances.. those things the devil told you would never work… those lies the devil has spoken over you all your life that you’ll never amount to anything, those falsehoods he has spoken to you over the past three months, and even today as you sit here or listen today.. As the words are leaving my mouth, God is working in you to give you an extra measure of faith to face this impossible situation, and at the same time, God is working it out for you in the midst of your storm. I dare somebody to open up your mouth and declare victory over your situation. You have to realize, like the Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah did, that every time you act in faith, God moves. You cannot be moved by what you see. You have to declare that every time you speak life over the impossible and dead situations in your life that God responds to you, and because God responds to you, your situation changes - the atmosphere begins to shift.

When faith is your only option, you have the authority to declare victory over what the doctor says.

When faith is your only option, you have the authority to cause miracles to happen directly in the middle of your situation.

When faith is your only option, you have the power to speak to the storm, and it will move.

When faith is your only option, you have the power and authority to declare that it is already done.

The Bible says that as the people of Judah approached the battlefield to take their positions, they were singing and giving thanks to the Lord… and when they arrived and as they begin to sing praises, God confused their enemies. The Ammonites and Moabites mistakenly killed the Menuites, and then then the Ammonites and Moabites were further confused and massacred each other. When Judah arrived to battle, all they saw were dead bodies. The Bible says not a living soul was among them. When faith is your only option, you have no choice but to show up for the battle. But how many of you know that it’s not the the fact that you show up for the battle that will cause you to win.. it’s because you realize that when faith is your only option, and you vow to God to just stand there in the midst of it. You see, some of you think that you are already on the battlefield because of how difficult it seems, because of how much pain it has caused you, because of how many loved ones or friends you have lost, but God says, “You haven’t even made it to the real battle yet.” God says, “Just keep going, keep persevering, keep trusting, keep loving, keep giving, keep sacrificing, keep hoping - and when you finally reach the battlefield, you will see that I’ve caused confused and defeated the enemy on your behalf.” You’ll go back to the doctor and they won’t be able to find the bad report they gave you.. you’ll apply for the home loan knowing that your credit is horrible, and because of your faith, you’ll be approved.

MIRACLES ARE ABOUT TO BREAK THROUGH IN YOUR LIFE. YOU’VE RECEIVED DENIAL AFTER DENIAL, CLOSED DOOR AFTER CLOSED DOOR, NO AFTER NO.. BUT GOD IS ABOUT TO GIVE YOU A YES.

When faith is your only option, you have no choice but to show up for the battle. But how many of you know that it’s not the the fact that you show up for the battle that will cause you to win.. it’s because you realize that when faith is your only option, and you vow to God to just stand there in the midst of it. You see, some of you think that you are already on the battlefield because of how difficult it seems, because of how much pain it has caused you, because of how many loved ones or friends you have lost, but God says, “You haven’t even made it to the real battle yet.” God says, “Just keep going, keep persevering, keep trusting, keep loving, keep giving, keep sacrificing, keep hoping - and when you finally reach the battlefield, you will see that I’ve caused confused and defeated the enemy on your behalf.” You’ll go back to the doctor and they won’t be able to find the bad report they gave you.. you’ll apply for the home loan knowing that your credit is horrible, and because of your faith, you’ll be approved.

I’m about to take my seat now, but people of God you have to understand that because God is so gracious and merciful, and He has given you a measure of faith… THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO WAY YOU CAN NOT LOSE THIS BATTLE. Before He formed you, before He saved you, God gave you the advantage to face any situation in life - you were always predestined win. You were always predestined to conquer the enemy. YOU HAVE TO REALIZE THAT IF HELP DOES COME, IT COMES FROM GOD, AND EVEN THOUGH YOU DON’T KNOW WHEN OR HOW GOD WILL INTERVENE… WHEN FAITH IS YOUR ONLY OPTION, YOU ARE LOOKING TO GOD FOR HELP… IT’S AT THE POINT WHEN FAITH IS YOUR ONLY OPTION, THAT GOD INTERVENES.

I’M GOING TO LEAVE YOU WITH THIS.. RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW, AT THIS VERY MOMENT, BECAUSE FAITH IS YOUR ONLY OPTION, EXPECT THE UNIMAGINABLE - EXPECT A MIRACLE! GOD DOESN’T NEED YOU TO DEFEAT THE ENEMY, AND HE COULD CONQUER YOUR SITUATION IN ANY WAY HE CHOSES, BUT HE WANTS YOU TO PARTICIPATE IN FAITH. HE WANTS YOU TO BE A WITNESS OF HIS GRACE, MERCY, AND LOVE FOR YOU!