Anxious For Nothing - Week 4
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Anxious for Nothing
Week 4
2 Chronicles 20:1-12
1 After this the Moabites and Ammonites, and with them some of the Meunites, came against Jehoshaphat for battle. 2 Some men came and told Jehoshaphat, “A great multitude is coming against you from Edom, from beyond the sea; and, behold, they are in Hazazon-tamar” (that is, Engedi). 3 Then Jehoshaphat was afraid and set his face to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. 4 And Judah assembled to seek help from the Lord; from all the cities of Judah they came to seek the Lord. 5 And Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the Lord, before the new court, 6 and said, “O Lord, God of our fathers, are you not God in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. In your hand are power and might, so that none is able to withstand you. 7 Did you not, our God, drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel, and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend? 8 And they have lived in it and have built for you in it a sanctuary for your name, saying, 9 ‘If disaster comes upon us, the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we will stand before this house and before you—for your name is in this house—and cry out to you in our affliction, and you will hear and save.’ 10 And now behold, the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir, whom you would not let Israel invade when they came from the land of Egypt, and whom they avoided and did not destroy— 11 behold, they reward us by coming to drive us out of your possession, which you have given us to inherit. 12 O our God, will you not execute judgment on them? For we are powerless against this great horde that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.”
Discusion:
What was one thing that stood out to you from the Scripture?
Why do these words stand out to you, and what fresh insight do they bring?
What was Jehoshaphat’s response to the perfect storm of armies that were preparing to attack (see verses 3 and 12)? When the perfect storm of anxiety is looming in your own life, how can you respond like Jehoshaphat?
Read John 14:27 aloud. What is the difference between the “peace” the world gives and the peace God gives?
27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
God never promises we will live a storm-free existence. The Bible is full of stories about storms and how to face them. Take a moment to read Matthew 8:23– 27. How does Matthew describe the ferocity of this storm in verse 24?
23 And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him. 24 And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. 25 And they went and woke him, saying, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing.” 26 And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. 27 And the men marveled, saying, “What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?”
Read Psalm 119:75 and Hebrews 12:6, 11. Many times, the “winds and waves” in our storm are caused by our own poor decisions. And the Lord, just as he rebuked the winds and waves in Galilee, rebukes us for disobeying his word. According to the verses you just read, why does God discipline us?
6 For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.”
75 I know, O Lord, that your rules are righteous, and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me.
To what type of relationship do these verses compare our relationship with God? How can God’s rebuke bring calm to our storm?
Let’s Read Psalm 29:10-11
10 The Lord sits enthroned over the flood; the Lord sits enthroned as king forever. 11 May the Lord give strength to his people! May the Lord bless his people with peace!
Let’s Read Psalm 46
To the choirmaster. Of the Sons of Korah. According to Alamoth. A Song. 1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, 3 though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah 4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High. 5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns. 6 The nations rage, the kingdoms totter; he utters his voice, the earth melts. 7 The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah 8 Come, behold the works of the Lord, how he has brought desolations on the earth. 9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the chariots with fire. 10 “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” 11 The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
Here’s the interesting thing about this Psalm - Some Scholars think it was written in response to Jehosaphats dilemma that we read about at the beginning of our session.
What’s the take away - In the midst of a crazy world we are called to “Be still and know that he is God.”
Someone said it this way - Perhaps we fail to know he is God because we so often fail to be still.
Share an area in your life where God’s peace feels faint. Then take turns asking for God’s peace to fill the heart of one of your fellow group members.
Thank God for his peace. Thank him for the promises you discussed today— that he sends his angels regarding you, that you belong to him, and that he is sovereign over your calling in this life.
Use the passage you just read and declare its promises and/or truth over the person you are praying for. (You can insert the person’s name into the verse or simply ask that the truth of this verse would be true in his or her life.)