BUT GOD... 12 - But God promises... 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. (2 Chronicles 20:15 NLT) The author Corrie Ten Boom once said, If you look at the world, youll be distressed. If you look within, youll be depressed. If you look at God youll be at rest. She was making the valuable point that it matters a great deal where we focus our attention. Focus on the wrong things or the wrong people, and you can find your confidence and your resolve disappearing fast. Focus on negative people and you will find yourself becoming negative in outlook. Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.” (1 Corinthians 15:33 NIV) The Jews, led by Jehoshaphat, were facing a desperate situation. Three nations - the Moabites, the Ammonites and the Meunites - had banded together with the sole intention of wiping Judah off the face of the map. As reported to Jehoshaphat, a vast army was approaching, completely outnumbering and overwhelming Judahs puny forces. What could they possibly do in the face of such overwhelming opposition? This situation could very easily have both distressed and depressed them! There are so many situations in our lives where, with the best will in the world, there just seems to be no solution. We go to sleep at night with it weighing on us and we wake up in the morning with it still right there. We go over and over the problem in our minds and each time we feel defeated and desperate. What hope is there? Hope lies in two words: But God. Jehoshaphat was both distressed and depressed, but he made one crucial decision that changed everything. The situation stayed the same, in that the vast army was still coming towards Jerusalem, but God gave him a crucial insight that changed his perspective. As Jehoshaphat received the news of the impending invasion, he was ...alarmed by this news and sought The Lord for guidance. (2 Chronicles 20:3). What was revealed to him in the light of that was that although a mighty army was indeed on its way, the battle was not theirs, But Gods. He wasnt promising to help them fight their battle. He wasnt promising just to strengthen them for the battle ahead. He was saying that, in picking a fight with Gods chosen people, the Moabites, Ammonites and Meunites were, in fact, picking a fight with God. Yes, they still had to take a stand and not run from their enemies, but they were to do so in the confidence of knowing that they would not even have to fight. This battle had a spiritual origin...it reflected the war in heaven (see Revelation 12:7-13), and the Jews could be confident that the promise God made to them in Genesis 12:3 was still every bit as serious to God as when it was first made. Those who bless you I will bless, but tho who curse you I will curse. So the battle is not yours, Judah, But Gods. Our God is a God who makes promises (there are over 7000 promises in the Bible) and he doesnt forget a single one. For all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding “Yes!” And through Christ, our “Amen” (which means “Yes”) ascends to God for his glory. (2 Corinthians 1:20 NLT) He promised to curse those who would dare to curse Israel, and, before Jehoshaphats very eyes, that promise was fulfilled. Our God of promises makes you a promise today: And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires. (2 Peter 1:4) What promises do you need to stand on today? Here are just a selection. Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you (Hebrews 13:5) Trust in The Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do and he will direct your paths. (Proverbs 3:5-6) “For those who are always generous and lend freely, their children will be blessed.” Psalm 37:26 (NIV) Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand. (Isaiah 41:10 NLT) The issue is not how daunting or depressing the situation you are facing may seem - this issue is whether, in the face of that daunting situation, you allow two words to change your focus: But God. But God promises to be WITH you. But God promises to guide you, to strengthen you, to encourage you, to give you wisdom to vindicate you. Are you standing on the promises of God today? The situation may look daunting, But God promises... Lord, in the face of all the challenges that are before me, I choose today to turn to you and trust in your promises. As I review the many promises that you make in your Word, help me to stand on those promises. Help me to live a life that enables those promises to be released into my life. Thank you that the battle is not mine, But Gods!
Posted on: Tue, 18 Mar 2014 07:32:57 +0000
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