Jehoshaphat stood in fear at the news of an impending attack by an army of massive proportions. He had been working to restore the nation to a place of righteousness. He had been doing all that is needed to reestablish Judah to a God-standing. He had placed judges and teaching priests throughout the nation to bring them back to their first love. What can he do, knowing that the armies against him are much greater than the armies that are with him? As we go into this blog, I want to look at how a king, who was outnumbered, stood bold and strong in the face of great adversity.
[1] Set a Course
2 Chronicles 20:3, the word says that although Jehoshaphat feared, he set himself to seek the Lord and proclaimed a fast throughout the entire land. The most important first step when facing adversity is to make the decision that God has the answer. This is vital. Otherwise, it’s the fear and the flesh that will dictate all that you do. Make sure you’re in right standing with God in your heart and life. Jehoshaphat had been in the place of rebuilding the nation. This became the foundation for which he had the right to come to God with focus, fasting, and determination.
[2] Confession
In verses 6-9, the king begins to confess all that God is in might and power. He confesses all that the Lord has done for them in driving out the nations that had been there and bringing them as a people in and giving the land to them. Our confession of all that God is, sets the standard and focus for our next level. When we stand in the name of Jesus, we are declaring all the victory that was accomplished at Calvary and how we are now seated in the heavenly places in Christ. From this place we can begin to confess all that belongs to us, the victory that is ours in Christ, and the right to stand in the place of overcoming. Our confession can make or break us. If we confess defeat, then we have just written God out of the equation. But if we confess (against all that is coming against us) the powerful and victorious name of Jesus, then we have just set ourselves up for success.
[3] The Problem
From the place of where we stand in our position, we can now come boldly before the throne of grace and present our need and the assault that has come against us. Whatever the attack, whether sickness, disease, attacks against our home, our family, or our finances, we are now in the place to receive the answer and the grace we need in which to confront the attack that has come against us. Jehoshaphat rehearsed the assault that had come against the nation but he also rehearsed the word and the power by which the Lord had given them this land. Disease may come against you, but Jesus has made a way to defeat it. “By His Stripes You Are Healed” (1 Peter 2:24).
[4] Ask, Seek, Knock
Matthew 7:7 states; “Ask and it will be given you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened for you.” James 1:5-6, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, Who gives all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith…” These two scriptures tell us how to approach God. Matthew says that when you ask, seek, and knock, you are asking and expecting to receive. James says to ask in faith, and it will be given you. When we approach God, we must know that it is His will to give you the directions, answers, and provisions that are needed. We don’t ask hoping; we ask expecting. This is how the king approached God. Jehoshaphat declared that we are all here and waiting on your reply and answer to this attack. He, along with the entire nation, waited expectantly for the answer as to how to defeat this enemy.
[5] Act on What God Says
In verse 15, the nation and the king wait expectantly on the Lord to give the directions on what to do. The word of the Lord then comes forth and tells them not to be afraid nor dismayed of this great army for the battle is not yours but the Lord’s. This is the place where boldness and strength comes in. The Lord tells them to go and stand before the enemy on the next day. The nation has to make a decision. When we get the word of God on the matter, we must act on it in order for it to produce, whether we need victory, healing, or breakthrough. The Bible is full of the promises and covenants that belong to us. When we receive the answer, we must act in faith to receive it. The next day Jehoshaphat and the nation took their place confidently and began to sing of the greatness of God’s mercy and strength. They stood boldly, and they stood strong on the word that God had given. As they did, God set all the nations against each other, and Judah had a great victory that day.
No matter what the assault that comes against your life is, God has an answer. He promised in Isaiah 54:17, “No weapon formed against you will prosper” and in Romans 8:28, “That all things work together for good to them that love Him, and are called according to His purpose.” Believers, our victory is sure, when we stand in faith and believe all that the word says. From that place, we act on what it says, and then we stand bold, and stand strong, till the victory is truly ours.
Blessings,
Pastor Giovannetti
