The Battle is not yours, but the victory is!
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2nd Chronicles 20: 15-17
“And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the Lord unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's. To morrow go ye down against them: behold, they come up by the cliff of Ziz; and ye shall find them at the end of the brook, before the wilderness of Jeruel. Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the Lord with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against them: for the Lord will be with you.”
Text coming from the 15th verse
The battle is not yours, but the victory is!
My brothers and sisters, believe it or not I believe we all have had to face some sort of battle. We face battles on or Jobs, in our family, finances, sickness, battle with our own mind. As a matter of fact if your listening to this message I would like to congratulate you. Someone may say why is he congratulating me. I would like to congratulate you for the the victories that God has already brought you through. The battles that you have already won in your past. Yes, I know the enemy tried to destroy your body with sickness, but congratulations you got the victory out of it. I know the enemy tried to destroy your marriage but congratulations, you got the victory, The enemy tried to bring havoc on your job and in your finances, but congratulations you got the victory. As a matter of fact some you just need to pat ourselves on the back and declare what the devil meant for evil God turned it around for your good. Your past battles did not destroy you but they actually made you stronger, wiser more patient, more tolerant. Somebody should take a moment and thank God for giving you the victory over and over again.
I’ve heard it said before time and time again to choose your battles wisely, However, my brothers and sister if truth be told often times in spirituals battles we dont have the opportunity to chose our spiritual battles they show up at our front door and we are forced to deal with the issues that life bring. My brothers and sisters, just as we have been in battles previously, there will be some battles in the future, As a matter of fact most of us are in a battle right now. I’m not talking about a battle with our fists and guns, but I’m talking about a spiritual battle.
The bible gives us instructions on how to deal with spiritual battles.
Ephesians 6:12-13 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
this battle is not a physical battle it’s a spiritual battle therefore my dear brothers and sisters this battle requires us to have spiritual weapons.
In 2 Corinthians 10:4 Paul confirms this by stating that For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
My brothers and sisters we must be willing to fight with spiritual weapons.
Because it’s clear that society as a whole body of Christ is in a battle.
It’s clear that we are in a battle when the world begins love evil but hate Good.
It’s clear that we are in a battle when, death is continuing to strike family and loved ones.
It’s clear that we are in a battle when sickness aims desease has attacked or nation like never before.
It’s clear that we are in a battle when, racisms and prejudice has stuck its face out and it’s not being hid behind the scheme anymore,
It’s clear that we are in a battle when divorce rates and families being torn apart are at its high yes rate.
My brothers and sisters it’s clear that we are in a battle. The question is now how will we fight this battle?
I would like to Ephesians 6:13 our spiritual self defense class
Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.
In all circumstances take up the 1.shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;
and take 2. the helmet of salvation,
and 3. the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,
praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.
To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints"
No matter what’s coming against us, my brothers and sisters if we have God on our side, we are able defeat and gain victory over every battle in our life.
It doesn’t matter if the odds are against you, it’s doesn’t matter the likelihood of you winning, however, we will win in the end It was Gideon that went to battle with 300 men versus 135,000
and gained the victory.
It was David that went to battle with the giant Goliath with only a rock and a sling shot and God gave him the victory.
There is a strategy to winning this battle. The problem becomes when we attempt to fight this battle by ourselves. God did not intend for us to fight this battle alone. As a matter of fact if we have God on our side all we gotta do is be still and let God fight your battles.
I come to tell you that if God, is for you who can be against, and no weapon that is formed against you shall prosper.
Background study of the text
As we get to the text, Here in the text we find Jehoshaphat setting the standard for us as to how to deal with unexpected battles
In this text Judah was under Jehoshaphat’s Leadership.
During these times Some attacks of the enemy was due to God’s displeasure with his people. However, this attack was to prove that God was with them.
Jehoshaphat and the Judean Army was not just facing a normal battle but they where facing a battle against three armies.
By the time Jehoshaphat Got word the army was about to attack they where already close.
He didn’t expect a battle.
So what Did Jehoshaphat do.
He set his face towards God for Guidance.
He not only set his own face but he declared a fast amongst all the people of Judah to seek the Lords help.
While they were praying the spirit of the Lord came upon the prophet Jahaziil and he begin to speak a word.
He tells them in 2 chronicles 20 and
17 Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the Lord with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against them: for the Lord will be with you.
set yourself stand still- he tells them to stand still, can you just imagine the the reaction on the people face when the enemy is at the throne from door, when when everything around them is chaotic and here is the prophet of God telling them to stand still, during this time with everything that’s going on when we are constantly moving from place to another When everything around us is chaotic It becames difficult to stand still. I believe this is a strong point because often times we relate progress to movement, often times I feel as though if I’m not moving I’m not winning, but sometimes my brothers and sisters God wants us to sit down, and allow him to handle our light weight. He wants us to stand still, could it be my brothers and sisters that we are trying to fight a battle that was not intended for us to fight. When we stand still it allows us to think about the many ways God has made for us before, and I heard the song writer say if he did it before, he can do it again when he says stand still I mean stand firm on your faith, stand firm on your believe in God, stand firm in midst of what you going through, the song says be still be still, God will fight your battle, be still be still God will fight your battle God will fight your battle if you just be still, so in the midst of your battle, don’t curse them ou but just be still, don’t give up because what the doctors say, just be still, don’t give up on your children and your family, just be still, sooner or later God will begin to turn somethings around in your favor.
Not only does he tells them to be still but
He tells them Fear not nor be dismayed.
I come to encourage you that I’m this battle you don’t have to be afraid. You don’t have to hide and run from the enemy. Don’t be scared. God has not given us a spirit of fear but the lord has given power love and a sound mind. In this season your faith has got to outweigh your fear. Faith over fear. If the Judean army was going to fight the battle they had to put aside all doubt and believe that God was going to give them the victory. Don’t panic, don’t stress out, don’t be dismayed because of the battle. Because God is going to give you the victory.
Not only does he tell the to fear not nor be dismayed but he tells them to
Go out for God is with you.
After he tells them tonot be afraid he tells the to go out because God’s with them.
I’ve heard it said once before that half the battle is showing up. Although God was going to give them victory. Jehoshaphat still had to prepare his armies, he still had to prepare his army, he still had to at least go out for the fighting ground. Jehoshaphat has his army readily prepared for war. As he had before. However this time there was something different about the preparation for this war, there is no need for or mentioning of military equipment, they did not need their sword, they need not need their shields, neither their spears, all they needed was To show to the battle ground. All they needed was to go out, a lot of your victories are going to be won by your preparation and your ability to show up. Just tell somebody prepare and show up, once you get there let God do the fighting.
All they had to do was praise God, singers song, worshipers worship, and and will they where praising God the enemy was destroyed like never before, I don’t know about you but I’m still and advocate of praise,
God still inhabits the praises of his people.
Show up. With your praise. Don’t stay down, but show up, show up to that job, with praise in your attitude, you don’t have to show up to your job. Clapping your hands singing, you don’t have to walk up your spouse clapping and singing. But sometimes praise is in your attitude,
Change our attitude toward that situation. Have an attitude of praise when it comes to that situation. Walk into like you got victory, smile at and watch God give you the victory. God is with you in the battle.
I remember growing up, playing little league football, and every now and then we would have a team that would not show up. If the other team didn’t show up it would mean a forfeit which automatically gave us a the victory. I came to encourage you to keep showing up. The other half of the battle is having mind to fight. How many know that the enemy would love for you to just give up. How many have made up mind that I’m going to continue to fight this battle. Because I’m not in it alone. God is with me. The Bible says that he will never leave me nor forsake us. It’s says he is a very present help in times of trouble. Whatever battle you are facing you have a partner that is with you.
Not only is he with you but the Bible says in 2 chronicles 20:15 that he is willing to take on the battle as his own. It’s says be not afraid or dismayed for the Battle is not yours but the battle is the lord.
The famous and anointed Yolanda Adams song a song that
“There is no pain Jesus can't feel
No hurt He cannot heal
For all things work according to His perfect will
No matter what you're going through
Remember God is using You
For the battle is not yours, it's the Lord's
There's no sadness Jesus can't feel
And there is no sorrow that He cannot heal
For all things work according to the Master's holy will
No matter what you're going through
Remember that God is only using You
For the battle is not yours, it's the Lord's.
Growing up, used to watch wresting occasionally, during those times they had tag teams wresting, as I would watch. I noticed that when one wresting was in ring, and he got tired and weary, he would reach out his hand and tag his partner and his partner would face the battle he would come in refreshed and ready to fight.
Can I encourage you that although you have become tired you have become weary, you have become frustrated, you have partner in Jesus waiting for you to tag him in so that he could fight this battle. He said in his word
Matthew 11:28-29
28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
My brothers and sisters the Bible declare the only actions required from the judean Army was to go out to the battle sight stand still in their positions and their posture and watch the Lords victory.
As they went Jehoshaphat assigned singers to lead the army, he assigned praisers to
To
March with the singers, and at the very moment the praisers and singers begin to praise, the enemy started fighting against one another, all the Judean army had to do was to sit back and watch, after the battle was over
Jehoshaphat’s army went in and took the spoils, everything that enemy had left belonged to them.
Your coming out with more than when you went in.
Can I encourage you that your going to win this battle.
The battle of sickness you’re going to win.
The battle of stress your going to win
The battle of bereavement your going to win.
The battle of worry your going to win.
The battle of uncertainty your going to win.
The battle of family issues your going to win.
The battle of financial problems your going to win.
The battle of job issues your going to win.
All you have to do is be still. God will fight your battle.
Jesus himself understood the concept of being still and letting God fight his battle.
I can picture him on the cross, he was fighting a battle but all he did was be still,
He was bruised in his side, nailed to the cross a crown of thorns was placed in his head, he was ridiculed, mocked and scorned and he did was be still.
They took him to and old rugged tomb, and all he did was be still.
He stayed still for one day,
He stayed still for two days,
But I’m the third day he declared victory when rolled the stone away got up out of the grave and claimed victory over death Hell and the grave .
Your going to win the battle without having to fight.
Alter call.