Did you know that to experience deliverance and victory you must go through trials?
John 16:33 NLT
I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”
2 Chronicles 20:1 NLT
After this, the armies of the Moabites, Ammonites, and some of the Meunites declared war on Jehoshaphat.
2 Chronicles 19:8-9 NLT
8 In Jerusalem, Jehoshaphat appointed some of the Levites and priests and clan leaders in Israel to serve as judges for cases involving the LORD’s regulations and for civil disputes.
9 These were his instructions to them: “You must always act in the fear of the Lord, with faithfulness and an undivided heart.
Dedicating yourself to faithfully make God first will go against the accepted norm.
The role of every believer is to set the standard of what righteousness should look like in an ever-shifting anti-Christ culture.
Luke 19:13 NKJV
So he called ten of his servants, delivered to them ten minas, and said to them, ‘Do business till I come.’
As we occupy, continue to “do business” here on earth before His coming, we represent God’s divine order and testing to culture.
1. Moab
Descendants from Lot by his eldest daughter.
Represents a people who rush to fix problems without God’s council.
2. Ammon
Descended from Lot by his youngest daughter.
Represents a people who live without conviction or faith.
3. Meunites
A mixture of Moab, Ammon and indigenous people.
Also means to cover. A people who are driven to take to cover their own lack.
2 Chronicles 20:3 NLT
Jehoshaphat was terrified by this news and begged the LORD for guidance. He also ordered everyone in Judah to begin fasting.
In times of trouble, there will always be a choice to operate in the flesh or in the Spirit.
2 Chronicles 20:6-12 NASB
6 and he said, “LORD, God of our fathers, are You not God in the heavens? And are You not ruler over all the kingdoms of the nations? Power and might are in Your hand so that no one can stand against You.
7 Did You not, our God, drive out the inhabitants of this land from Your people Israel, and give it to the descendants of Your friend Abraham forever?
8 They have lived in it, and have built You a sanctuary in it for Your name, saying,
9 ‘If disaster comes upon us, the sword, or judgment, or plague, 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 distress, and You will hear and save us.’
10 Now behold, the sons of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, whom You did not allow Israel to invade when they came out of the land of Egypt (for they turned aside from them and did not destroy them),
11 see how they are rewarding us by coming to drive us out from Your possession which You have given us as an inheritance.
12 Our God, will You not judge them? For we are powerless before this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are on You.”
“Oh God, will You not judge them?”
If you don’t feel comfortable articulating what it is you want from God, He is not obligated to answer a prayer not asked.
“For we are powerless before this great multitude that is coming against us…”
This is how we feel. It’s okay to feel.
“…but our eyes are on You.”
The ultimate equalizer of our faith. I KNOW you are with me, and that I belong to you.
2 Chronicles 20:13 NASB
All Judah was standing before the LORD, with their infants, their wives, and their children.
Unity – the power of anointing and blessing.
TIFAW
When trials come, I run to God, knowing deliverance and victory come from Him.
He is with me; therefore, I’m empowered to be honest with my prayer request and trust Him with my prayer need.