You Need a Miracle When the Odds Are Against You?
Series: Do You Need a Miracle? – City Church of Chattanooga, Chattanooga, TN
How do you face incredible odds? How do you react when the odds are against you? If you feel like life is ganging up on you, today’s message is for you. It is from 2 Chronicles 20, and it begins like this…After this, the Moabites, the Ammonites, and some of the Meunites came to make war with Jehoshaphat. Some men came and told Jehoshaphat, ‘A vast army is coming against you. Alarmed… (vv. 1-3)
1. TUNE INTO GOD
Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the Lord and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah. The people of Judah came together to seek help from the Lord. (V. 3-4) Stop and look up. Fasting is a disciple of spiritual focus.
2. PRAY
Then King Jehoshaphat went and stood before them and prayed aloud. (v. 5)
Remind yourself of who God is. Are you not the King of Heaven? You rule over the kingdoms of the nations. Power and might are in your hand, and no one can withstand you. (v. 6)
Remind yourself of what God has done in the past. Did you not drive out the inhabitants of this land before the people of Israel and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham, your friend. (v. 7)
Ask God to do it again.
Will you not judge these armies? (v. 12)
3. ADMIT YOUR NEED
We have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. (v. 12)
4. FOCUS ON GOD, NOT YOUR PROBLEM
We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you! (v. 12b)
God spoke through one of the priests (Jahaziel) Listen. This is what the Lord says, ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged by this vast army. The battle is not yours, but it is God’s I(v. 15)
You don’t hold up God. He holds up you. Some of you may be ready to give up. GREAT! That is what God has been waiting for.
5. RELAX IN FAITH
You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you. (v. 17)
God has never lost a battle!
“Stand firm” is a mental attitude of quiet confidence. We stand firm on two things:
(1) Who God is.
(2) What he has said.
Listen to me…Have faith in the Lord your god and you will be upheld. Have faith in his prophets, and you will be successful. (v. 20)
6. PRAISE GOD IN ADVANCE
Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the Lord and to praise Him…as they went out at the head of the army. (v. 21)
A unique battle plan was put into place. The choir led the army singing “Give thanks to the Lord for his Love endures forever.”
Praise is verbalized faith.
The results: The miracle came (v. 22)…The valley of defeat becomes the valley of blessing (vv. 25-28)…The world took notice and the fear of the Lord comes on them (v. 29)
