God’s got your back Part 2
Have you ever had a time in your life where you felt overwhelmed? You felt life had just knocked you down and was kicking you while you were down
Have you ever felt you were surrounded by enemies and had nowhere to go?
Have you ever felt all alone as if everyone had abandoned you?
Have ever found yourself in a position where you felt like you just couldn’t win no matter how hard you tried?
Have you ever just felt you needed God to show up for you and it felt as though he wasn’t ?
We have all been there and can identify with this at some level and as we grow and mature we will most likely walk through something like this again because we have some very powerful enemies out there….a world that hates anything Jesus-like, the devil who simply hates everything and everyone because that is who he is, and our own flesh that simply wants to do everything it’s own way because that is the nature of our flesh….but we have a supernatural God, who overcomes all of this because you are the one He loves the most…
Last week we talked about…
- In the middle of your struggle seek the Lord…he has the answers
- Ask others to stand with you…we need the fellowship of believers
- Acknowledge God for who he is…stand on his promises and His character and nature
So let’s pick it up from here….how do we place ourselves in a position to allow God to have our backs
- Trust the Lord for your deliverance!
We often pray and ask the Lord for help but hold onto the struggle. Whatever is in our hands will only be handled as well as what we can do with it but whatever we place in God’s hands will only be as good as what we can do with it…
God handles our struggles, difficulties, enemies, blessings, health, future, and finances as we choose to place them into His hands
Jehoshaphat did something no king should ever do…
2 Chronicles 20:10-12
And now see what the armies of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir are doing. You would not let our ancestors invade those nations when Israel left Egypt, so they went around them and did not destroy them. 11 Now see how they reward us! For they have come to throw us out of your land, which you gave us as an inheritance. 12 O our God, won’t you stop them? We are powerless against this mighty army that is about to attack us. We do not know what to do, but we are looking to you for help.”
How many of us are willing to admit it when we are in over our heads, that we need help? That’s not a good feeling, but Jehoshaphat didn’t care he wanted the nation delivered.
Our enemy plays with our minds. He makes us feel that God has abandoned us, that we don’t matter to God. After all, if He did, we wouldn’t be in this mess. But according to scripture, we’re not in this mess for Colossians 1:13
For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son,
When we take our eyes off of the Lord it is easy for the enemy to convince us that we are still part of the enemy’s domain
If we remember who we are and whose we are we will always come away victorious
- Faith and fear can not rule your life at the same time…choose faith
Faith and fear will always battle each other for dominance. As Jehoshaphat proclaimed his choice to rely of God, something happened to build his faith…notice he made the proclamation before he knew of his deliverance and he was even been battling fear through the proclamation
2 Chronicles 20:13-17
As all the men of Judah stood before the LORD with their little ones, wives, and children, 14 the Spirit of the LORD came upon one of the men standing there. His name was Jahaziel (ja-haz-e-el) son of Zechariah, son of Benaiah (Ben-a-i-ah), son of Jeiel (Jay-e-el), son of Mattaniah (matt-a-nigh- a), a Levite who was a descendant of Asaph.
15 He said, “Listen, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem! Listen, King Jehoshaphat! This is what the LORD says: Do not be afraid! Don’t be discouraged by this mighty army, for the battle is not yours, but God’s. 16 Tomorrow, march out against them. You will find them coming up through the ascent of Ziz at the end of the valley that opens into the wilderness of Jeruel (Jer-ool). 17 But you will not even need to fight. Take your positions; then stand still and watch the LORD’s victory. He is with you, O people of Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid or discouraged. Go out against them tomorrow, for the LORD is with you!”
Notice the flow when you are up against the wall..recognize and remember God’s faithfulness, put your hope and trust in God, be honest with yourself and God..God met Jehoshaphat and the entire nation of Judah because of that response…remember Jehoshaphat had blown it but because his heart was right God met him.
Jehoshaphat understood
- The battle is not yours but mine, and I’ve got this
- Peace is to be the normal condition for us as believers in Jesus Christ.
- Jehoshaphat dismissed his fears, not because they were not real, but because he put his trust in the living God.
When our backs are against the wall, fear is a natural response. But we also have the ability to set aside our fears because of our faith in God and His abilities. When we act in faith, we make a conscious decision not to fear.
When we know all of this, we can be at peace that God has our back
- Stand still and trust the Lord
2 Chronicles 20:17 reminds us
17 But you will not even need to fight. Take your positions; then stand still and watch the LORD’s victory. He is with you, O people of Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid or discouraged. Go out against them tomorrow, for the LORD is with you!”
After praying to the Lord for deliverance, Jehoshaphat and the people stood still; they waited. The salvation was coming, but not by anything he or the people would do. They would see God’s power in action. When they heard this, verse 18 says,
2 Chronicles 20:18
Then King Jehoshaphat bowed low with his face to the ground. And all the people of Judah and Jerusalem did the same, worshiping the LORD.
When the king and the people bowed in worship, I believe they were taking up their positions.
When we worship God…
- We put ourselves in His hands.
- We release our cares.
- We act in faith.
Praise and worship are important when we find ourselves in situations that seem hopeless. When we praise and worship God, we turn our faces toward Him – we set our eyes upon Him and His abilities, not our own abilities.
2 Chronicles 20:20 shows us how they put this faith into action
Early the next morning the army of Judah went out into the wilderness of Tekoa. On the way Jehoshaphat stopped and said, “Listen to me, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem! Believe in the LORD your God, and you will be able to stand firm. Believe in his prophets, and you will succeed.”
The king reminded the people of the Lord’s promise and told them to have faith – believe that God will keep his Word. And then they praised God. In the minds of Jehoshaphat and the people, the victory was already won. When they went to battle they stood still and watched how God delivered their enemies into their hands. They did not have to lift a sword! When the battle was over (with their enemies turning on themselves) Jehoshaphat and his armies entered the battle field and took the spoils.
When we trust the Lord, he not only has our backs but has made plans for our future because we have learned to put out faith and trust in Him
When we come to the place of deciding that trusting God completely is the best way to go, God always has our backs, he always accomplishes the best for us and he always has a plan to bless us far greater than we can imagine…
So today what battles are you facing, what war are you in, what fear has control of you?
God does have your back no matter how much against the wall you are, choose to trust Him and he will not only handle your situation but also bless you more as you learn to trust him