Agreement before warfare

 

Matthew 18:19,20 - “And I tell you once more that if two of you on earth agree in asking for anything it will be granted to you by my Heavenly Father. For wherever two or three people come together in my name, I am there, right among you!”

 

1 Corinthians 1:10 - “I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.”

 

Psalm 133 - “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is. For brethren to dwell together in unity!…For there the Lord commanded the blessing—Life forevermore.”

 

> Heaven is about to invade what you term ‘crisis.’

 

2 Chronicles 20:1-25

 

1. Situation

 

Verse 2 - “Some people came and told Jehoshaphat, “A vast army is coming against you from Edom, from the other side of the Dead Sea. It is already in Hazezon Tamar” (that is, En Gedi).”

 

Confronted by a vast army; helpless and overwhelmed, outgunned and outmanned.

 

Verse 3 - “Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the Lord, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah.”

 

Keeping fear in check: What do you do when you are overtaken by fear and anxiety?

 

2. Supplication

 

Verse 3 - “Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the Lord, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah.”

 

In case of Emergency: Who do you look to for help?

 

Verse 4 - “The people of Judah came together to seek help from the Lord; indeed, they came from every town in Judah to seek him.”

 

Guidance and discernment: Who do seek counsel from? Who are your advisers? Who do you bounce issues off of?

 

Verse 5 - “Then Jehoshaphat stood up in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem at the temple of the Lord in the front of the new courtyard and said: “Lord, the God of our ancestors, are you not the God who is in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. Power and might are in your hand, and no one can withstand you.”

 

Prayer of thanksgiving: reminding God of his word and his promises to you.

 

3. Strategy

 

Verse 15 - “He said: “Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s.”

 

> When God speaks, you receive strategy!

 

Verse 16 - “Tomorrow march down against them. They will be climbing up by the Pass of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the gorge in the Desert of Jeruel. 17You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.”

 

> When you receive strategy, it is expected you take action!

 

Verse 21 - “After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the Lord and to praise him for the splendor of his holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying: “Give thanks to the Lord, for his love endures forever.”

 

Worship: “How Great is Our God.”

 

4. Strike

 

 

Verse 22 - “As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab anSeirunt Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated.”

The battle is the Lord’s. So fight a good fight: you win!

 

5. Surplus 

 

Verse 24 - “When the men of Judah came to the place that overlooks the desert and looked toward the vast army, they saw only dead bodies lying on the ground; no one had escaped. So Jehoshaphat and his men went to carry off their plunder, and they found among them a great amount of equipment and clothing and also articles of value—more than they could take away. There was so much plunder that it took three days to collect it.”

 

> God is going to show up strong and you will have the spoil!