Where are you Standing? (2 Chronicles 20.13-20)

2 Chronicles 20:13 NRSV

Meanwhile all Judah stood before the Lord, with their little ones, their wives, and their children.

2 Chronicles 20:14 NRSV

Then the spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel son of Zechariah, son of Benaiah, son of Jeiel, son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, in the middle of the assembly.

2 Chronicles 20:15 NRSV

He said, “Listen, all Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem, and King Jehoshaphat: Thus says the Lord to you: ‘Do not fear or be dismayed at this great multitude; for the battle is not yours but God’s.

2 Chronicles 20:15 NRSV

He said, “Listen, all Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem, and King Jehoshaphat: Thus says the Lord to you: ‘Do not fear or be dismayed at this great multitude; for the battle is not yours but God’s.

2 Chronicles 20:16 NRSV

Tomorrow go down against them; they will come up by the ascent of Ziz; you will find them at the end of the valley, before the wilderness of Jeruel.

2 Chronicles 20:17 NRSV

This battle is not for you to fight; take your position, stand still, and see the victory of the Lord on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.’ Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, and the Lord will be with you.”

2 Chronicles 20:18 NRSV

Then Jehoshaphat bowed down with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before the Lord, worshiping the Lord.

2 Chronicles 20:19 NRSV

And the Levites, of the Kohathites and the Korahites, stood up to praise the Lord, the God of Israel, with a very loud voice.

2 Chronicles 20:20 NRSV

They rose early in the morning and went out into the wilderness of Tekoa; and as they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Listen to me, O Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem! Believe in the Lord your God and you will be established; believe his prophets.”

Intro:

Freedom.......

.....there is a huge difference between trying to look perfect

.....and trying to look whole!

(pause)

Our goal as believers in Jesus Christ is not to Model an illusion of standing perfectly.....

......that portrays the right image

.......but instead to work on becoming whole

.....which from a God perspective starts resembling who God intended us to look like when we were created by God!

(pause)

And so when we talk about “Standing”........

.........its not about a LOOK

.......but its about being or Becoming

(pause)

And I believe in this text today.....

......we discover who we should be becoming

.......which determines what we should be doing

and......

.......the combination of becoming and doing on this level efffects our “Standing”

(pause)

Look at it now......

2 Chronicles 20:13–14 NRSV

Meanwhile all Judah stood before the Lord, with their little ones, their wives, and their children. Then the spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel son of Zechariah, son of Benaiah, son of Jeiel, son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, in the middle of the assembly.

According to the text.......

As these families are standing together in this experience that is saturated with prayer that Jehosophat is praying to God.....

......the Holy Spirit has revealed God’s presence through the prophet Jehaziel

(slight pause)

And so Freedom, the first question we have to ask is,

- Where are our families standing?

(slight pause)

And here’s the reason why.......

.......because the text says,

“It happened in the middle of the assembly!”

(pause)

Jehosophat is praying.........

......and there are some families in Judah who have intentionally positioned everybody around this experience.

.....and not just some of the family, but the bible says,

All of Judah which implies,

Husbands/Fathers were around this experience of prayer

Mothers/Wives were around this experience of prayer

Their Children were around this experience of prayer

And the text says, their little ones were around this experience of prayer which is refering to their Grandchildren

(pause)

And so.......

.......there are “Generations” of familes standing around where King Jehosophat is standing and praying.

Now.....

........let me tell you who Jehosophat is praying so that it can make complete sense.

(pause)

Because....

.....apparently Judah has found themselves in a situation

......where 3 different enemies have combined together to come against them.

(pause)

Now listen.......

........because we only discovered these circumstances in Jehosophat’s prayer to God.

.....in other words if Jehosophat does not pray to God

.....we never hear their problem!

(pause)

Did yall catch that.........

..........some of our problems are being spoken so often outside of our prayer life

.......that everybody else knows our business

........but God has to eavesdrop on our life scenarios just to figure out what’s going on with us!

(pause)

Listen.........

.........because this teaches everyone from grandchildren to husbands.....

....to wives and children

......that when we have a problem

.........there is a God that hears us pray!

(pause)

Freedom can I tell you something......

.....I am excitedly determined to position my family in places where the Holy Spirit shows up!

(pause and expound)

Watch this.....

......because this is not an overnight stance

.....this does not look like quick success

.........the bible does not tell us how long Jehosophat prayed

(pause)

......the only thing we know is that for the duration of the experience

......these families are “STANDING” in the middle of this experience!

(pause)

And so the first thing we learn in the text is that.....

We have to “Put the work in” to stand

......you got to want your family to stand by getting everybody in the middle of a Holy Spirit filled experience.

(pause)

And watch this.......

.....because Love says,

“If I didn’t love you.....

....I would let you stand anywhere

.....but love says,

“I need you to stand over here with me where Jehosophat is praying”

(pause and expound)

(note - expound on “Putting in the work” to get around praying)

Look at it now.....

2 Chronicles 20:15 NRSV

He said, “Listen, all Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem, and King Jehoshaphat: Thus says the Lord to you: ‘Do not fear or be dismayed at this great multitude; for the battle is not yours but God’s.

When Jehaziel opens his mouth to everyone in the community........

.......the text says he wants to make sure they have the “Correct Stance!”

(pause)

He tells them two things that they should not do.......

He says,

Do not be afraid

in other words, regardless of this combined problem where multiple things are coming against our community....

.....don’t look at that

.....and let it cause you to start “standing in fear!”

(pause)

Because watch this......

.........there is a way that we must stand

....so that we can stand correctly!

(pause)

And......

........I somebody listening to me is trying to stand

.....but fear wont let you be who God wants you to be

But.....

......I came here to let you know that God has not given you the spirit of fear.....

......but of Power

....and of Love

....and a Sound Mind!

(pause and expound)

Listen......

....because the next thing Jehaziel says is,

Do not be dismayed

In the Aramaic language this word “dismayed” means “To break or be broken”

And so the prophet of God is saying.......

......Don’t stand Heartbroken even though we are facing what we are facing.

(pause)

(Note........Holy Spirit in prepartion)

I got to preach this today........

........I feel a wave of Glory

(pause)

Here it is family........

(slight pause)

Where are you standing......

“With God’s truth that is spoken into your life?”

(pause)

And the reason that the prophet is correcting their stance.......

......is because the Holy Spirit has said,

“The battle is not yours, but Gods”

(pause)

Freedom listen.....

.....because this is one of the best uses of the word “The” that I have seen in a minute.

Because......

.......Jehaziel is declaring a word of truth that says,

.....you don’t have to compare your capacity to your conflict

....but instead,

.....this battle right here has been taken off your hands!

(pause)

And this is for somebody who needs to hear God say,

“I’m taking this one off your hands!”

So correct your stance......

..........because in verse 16 it says,

“On TOMMORROW..............

.......its time to GO OUT”

2 Chronicles 20:16 NRSV

Tomorrow go down against them; they will come up by the ascent of Ziz; you will find them at the end of the valley, before the wilderness of Jeruel.

Listen family.......

Notice the text does not say.....

“We’re going out NOW”

(pause)

But instead the text says.....

“On Tommorrow”

(pause)

I wondered.......

.....why the Holy Spirit said go out Tommorrow, instead of Now?

(pause)

Watch this.......

..........if I told some of you to go forth in this Word right now while its fresh

.......you could probably TEAR UP some devils

(pause)

And so.......

.....in my little mind I was thinking

....this would have been the best idea

......because the Word of the prophet was FRESH!

(pause)

But then God reminded me..........

“Baker.......

.......when you really start standing on what I speak in your lives

....even if I don’t say “GO NOW”

.....but instead even if i say “GO on TOMMORROW”

(pause)

You can REST your mind in the fact of knowing that.....

.....because there is VICTORY in what has been spoken into your life

You can CORRECT your stance........

......and instead of standing heartbroken and fearful

.....you can “STAND with your MIND at PEACE!”

(pause)

Freedom watch this.......

the text says......

On tomorrow....

“Go down against them”

(pause)

And in my spiritual imagination I hear God saying,

“I need to teach you how to look down at your opponents instead of looking UP!”

Because......

.....I need you to understand when you look UP

.......My Word is the only thing you should be seeing!

Freedom.....

......when you want to see your Problems

......look DOWN

but when you want to see OUR God......

........look UP!

(pause and expound)

Look at it now.....

2 Chronicles 20:17 NRSV

This battle is not for you to fight; take your position, stand still, and see the victory of the Lord on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.’ Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, and the Lord will be with you.”

The Prophet reiterates who is doing the fighting in this battle........

.....but watch how he tells them to “STAND” in the text

(pause)

He says.....

Hold your position

.......this phrase in the text means to “Put yourself in place”

…and in my spiritual imagination

.....all I could hear God saying is,

“Get ready to watch me work this out!”

(pause)

then he says,

Stand still

.......and this “stand still” means to “be Established”

And in my spiritual imagination I hear God saying......

“.......I don’t want you moving around too much because you might not get the best view of what’s getting ready to happen.”

.....and sometimes

....I think we get too comfortable when we don’t have to fight!

(pause)

.....and the reason that God wants them to stand still

.......is so that they can get a good look at how VICTORY looks when God is fighting for you!

As a matter of fact the next thing he says is,

Stand so that you can..........

See the Salvation of the Lord

and this “Seeing” in the text is really “ To Understand or Perceive”

And in my spiritual imagination I hear God saying......

“I need you to Stand in such a way that your UNDERSTANDING starts shifting to where I need it to be!”

Because you will only MOVE as great as you UNDERSTAND me!

God says.....

I’m RELEASING you from worry

I’m SETTING you FREE in the area of your UNDERSTANDING

Take a GOOD LOOK.......

1)....at me

2).....at what I’m doing for you

(pause)

And God says.....

I want you to Hold your position......

.....stand still

......and SEE what I came here to do for you!

(pause)

Optional Barrel:

Lights flickering in bathroom confused with Eyes dimming...

It’s not you that’s off. You just need to Stand still......hold your position.......and get a good look at what God is doing for your life!

(pause)

Freedom look at verse 18 and 19....

2 Chronicles 20:18 NRSV

Then Jehoshaphat bowed down with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before the Lord, worshiping the Lord.

2 Chronicles 20:19 NRSV

And the Levites, of the Kohathites and the Korahites, stood up to praise the Lord, the God of Israel, with a very loud voice.

Here’s my next question.....

Where are you standing in your “Worship and Praise?”

(pause)

The text says.......

they have gone from “lamenting” to praise and worship!

(slight pause)

Freedom......

.........whenever there is a Supernatural Progression towards Victory

.......everything in the Natural is supposed to follow that same cadence of expression!

(pause)

In other words.......

Even before the battle is over.........

go ahead and SHOUT now!

(pause)

And watch this.......

Because in my spiritual imagination I see the Levitical worship leaders in front of families......

......where Men are standing Worshipping God

.....where Women are standing lifting up Praises to God

.....where Children and Grandchildren are Dancing and lifting God up!!

(pause and expound)

Here it is Freedom......

2 Chronicles 20:20 NRSV

They rose early in the morning and went out into the wilderness of Tekoa; and as they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Listen to me, O Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem! Believe in the Lord your God and you will be established; believe his prophets.”

According to the text.......

Tomorrow has arrived........

Listen closely now......

.....because I want you to see what is taking place.

(slight pause)

Because everything that they were encouraged to do on their yesterday.......

......still had to manifest itself in their tomorrow.

(pause)

And as powerful as everything was that happend in their yesterday.........

.......if they don’t “STAND” in their tomorrow

.......they missed the WHOLE POINT

(pause)

Fat Joe has a quote I like that says,

“Yesterday’s price.........

......is NOT today’s price!”

(pause)

And in my spiritual imagination......

I see Jehosophat saying to all of JUDAH.......

........There’s just one more thing we got to talk about!

(pause)

And what I hear him asking is,

“Where are you standing in your Faith?”

(pause)

I see him talking to his army as he is leading them forward to face their enemies........

(pause)

And Notice now........

.....he did not say to them,

“Be Strong and Courageous”

.....because this battle does not require an arm of flesh

(slight pause)

But what he said was.....

…I need us to

“Believe in the Providence of God!”

(slight pause)

And in my spiritual imagination I see him saying.....

“I know you have never gone into a battle like this!”

(slight pause)

Family.......

when I read verse 20.......

I wondered if they had crazy faith!!!?!?!?!

(pause)

What do you mean Pastor?

........think about it

......if they’re going into a battle that they don’t have to fight

(slight pause)

I wonder if they had the kind of faith that said.........

“Let’s put all of our weapons down......

.....since we aint got to fight no way!

........let’s drop all or our figthing equipment down on the ground

(slight pause)

And lets just show up.........

........where God told us to stand

.....and lets see if FAITH can hold us UP in God’s Word!!

(pause)

Freedom what if God wants us to TRUST God on a level that says......

“Lord, if I’m STANDING where you are.........

.....I don’t need a plan B!”

(slight pause)

But look at where we have been “Standing!”

Look at where our families have been standing in our prayer walk

Look at where we have been standing with God’s Word that was spoken into our lives

Look at where we have been standing in our Worship and Praise

(pause)

Now.........

......the only thing left for us to do is to,

“STAND up in our FAITH!”

(pause)

Freedom.......

“Do you believe we can STAND?”

...................CLOSE and COMPLETION................