Help: The Battle Is Not Yours: 2 Chronicles 20:1-29

 

GIANT PROBLEMS SHOULD BE SOLVED BY…

1.  BIG BOLD PRAYERS

Then Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem in the Lord’s temple before the new courtyard.  He said: Lord, God of our ancestors, are you not the God who is in heaven, and do you not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations? Power and might are in your hand, and no one can stand against you.  Are you not our God who drove out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel and who gave it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend?… Now here are the Ammonites, Moabites, and the inhabitants of Mount Seir. You did not let Israel invade them when Israel came out of the land of Egypt, but Israel turned away from them and did not destroy them.  Look how they repay us by coming to drive us out of your possession that you gave us as an inheritance. Our God, will you not judge them? For we are powerless before this vast number that comes to fight against us. We do not know what to do, but we look to you.
2 Chronicles 20:6-12 (CSB)

2.  PATIENT PERSISTENT WAITING

And he said, “Listen carefully, all Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and King Jehoshaphat. This is what the Lord says: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast number, for the battle is not yours, but God’s…You do not have to fight this battle. Position yourselves, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord. He is with you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid or discouraged. Tomorrow, go out to face them, for the Lord is with you.’”
2 Chronicles 20:15-17 (CSB)

3.  ENTHUSIASTIC ENERGETIC PRAISE

Then Jehoshaphat knelt low with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before the Lord to worship him. Then the Levites from the sons of the Kohathites and the Korahites stood up to praise the Lord God of Israel shouting loudly…Then he consulted with the people and appointed some to sing for the Lord and some to praise the splendor of his holiness. When they went out in front of the armed forces, they kept singing: Give thanks to the Lord, for his faithful love endures forever. The moment they began their shouts and praises, the Lord set an ambush against the Ammonites, Moabites, and the inhabitants of Mount Seir who came to fight against Judah, and they were defeated.
2 Chronicles 20:18-22 (CSB)

source https://edgechurchcolorado.com/help-the-battle-is-not-yours-2-chronicles-201-29/

Help: Run To The Tower: Proverbs 18:10-11

 

 

God’s Help Is Available When I…

1. Magnify His Name

The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are protected.
Proverbs 18:10 (CSB)

2. Run To His Presence

The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are protected.
Proverbs 18:10 (CSB)

3. Reject Self Dependence

A rich man’s wealth is his fortified city; in his imagination it is like a high wall.
Proverbs 18:11 (CSB)

source https://edgechurchcolorado.com/help-run-to-the-tower-proverbs-1810-11/

Help: Bring The Thunder: 1 Samuel 7:2-13

 

How can I experience God’s help?

1. Turn

Time went by until twenty years had passed since the ark had been taken to Kiriath-jearim. Then the whole house of Israel longed for the Lord. Samuel told them, “If you are returning to the Lord with all your heart, get rid of the foreign gods and the Ashtoreths that are among you, dedicate yourselves to the Lord, and worship only him. Then he will rescue you from the Philistines.” So the Israelites removed the Baals and the Ashtoreths and only worshiped the Lord. 
1 Samuel 7:2-4 (CSB)

2. Expect

When the Philistines heard that the Israelites had gathered at Mizpah, their rulers marched up toward Israel. When the Israelites heard about it, they were afraid because of the Philistines. The Israelites said to Samuel, “Don’t stop crying out to the Lord our God for us, so that he will save us from the Philistines.”
1 Samuel 7:7-8 (CSB)

Samuel was offering the burnt offering as the Philistines approached to fight against Israel. The Lord thundered loudly against the Philistines that day and threw them into such confusion that they were defeated by Israel. Then the men of Israel charged out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines striking them down all the way to a place below Beth-car.
1 Samuel 7:10-11(CSB)

3. Celebrate

Afterward, Samuel took a stone and set it upright between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, explaining, “The Lord has helped us to this point.” So the Philistines were subdued and did not invade Israel’s territory again. The Lord’s hand was against the Philistines all of Samuel’s life.
1 Samuel 7:12-13 (CSB) 

source https://edgechurchcolorado.com/help-bring-the-thunder-1-samuel-72-13/

Boot Camp: Sacrifice: Luke 9:21-26

 

But he strictly warned and instructed them to tell this to no one, 22 saying, “It is necessary that the Son of Man suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, be killed, and be raised the third day.”23 Then he said to them all, “If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me. 24 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of me will save it. 25 For what does it benefit someone if he gains the whole world, and yet loses or forfeits himself? 26 For whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory and that of the Father and the holy angels.
Luke 9:21-26 (CSB)

1. I Lost My Life

A. Urgent Requirement
“He must”

 Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.”
Luke 9:23 (NIV)

B. Full On Focus
“Deny Yourself”

 Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.”
Luke 9:23 (NIV)

C. Self-less Determination
“Take Up Your Cross”

 Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.”
Luke 9:23 (NIV)

D. Passionate Pursuit
“Follow Me”

 Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.”
Luke 9:23 (NIV)

E. Daily Decision
“Daily”

 Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.”
Luke 9:23 (NIV)

2. I Gained My Life

source https://edgechurchcolorado.com/boot-camp-sacrifice-luke-921-26/

Boot Camp: Determination: 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

 

Determined people…

1. Focus

Don’t you know that the runners in a stadium all race, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way to win the prize.
1 Corinthians 9:24 (CSB)

2. Train

Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training.
1 Corinthians 9:25 (NIV)

3. Preach

Instead, I discipline my body and bring it under strict control, so that after preaching to others, I myself will not be disqualified.
1 Corinthians 9:27 (CSB)

source https://edgechurchcolorado.com/boot-camp-determination-1-corinthians-924-27/

Boot Camp: Courage: Deuteronomy 31:6

“…Be strong and courageous; don’t be terrified or afraid of them. For the Lord your God is the one who will go with you; he will not leave you or abandon you.”
Deuteronomy 31:6 (CSB)

1. Courageous People Experience God’s Power

The men of Israel retreated in the place they had gathered for battle, but Eleazar stood his ground and attacked the Philistines until his hand was tired and stuck to his sword. The Lord brought about a great victory that day. Then the troops came back to him, but only to plunder the dead. After him was Shammah son of Agee the Hararite. The Philistines had assembled in formation where there was a field full of lentils. The troops fled from the Philistines, but Shammah took his stand in the middle of the field, defended it, and struck down the Philistines. So the Lord brought about a great victory.
2 Samuel 23:9-12 (CSB)

2. Courageous People Do A Lot With A Little

These are the names of David’s warriors: Josheb-basshebeth the Tahchemonite was chief of the officers. He wielded his spear against eight hundred men that he killed at one time.
2 Samuel 23:8 (CSB)

3. Courageous People Encourage Others

At that time David was in the stronghold, and a Philistine garrison was at Bethlehem. David was extremely thirsty and said, “If only someone would bring me water to drink from the well at the city gate of Bethlehem!”  So three of the warriors broke through the Philistine camp and drew water from the well at the gate of Bethlehem. They brought it back to David, but he refused to drink it. Instead, he poured it out to the Lord. David said, “Lord, I would never do such a thing! Is this not the blood of men who risked their lives?” So he refused to drink it. Such were the exploits of the three warriors.
2 Samuel 23:13-17 (CSB)

4. Courageous People Glorify God

They brought it back to David, but he refused to drink it. Instead, he poured it out to the Lord.  David said, “Lord, I would never do such a thing! Is this not the blood of men who risked their lives?” So he refused to drink it. Such were the exploits of the three warriors.
2 Samuel 23:16-17 (CSB)

5. Courageous People Seize God-Given Opportunities

Benaiah son of Jehoiada…went down into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion. He also killed an Egyptian, an impressive man. Even though the Egyptian had a spear in his hand, Benaiah went down to him with a club, snatched the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand, and then killed him with his own spear.
2 Samuel 23:20-21 (CSB)

 

source https://edgechurchcolorado.com/boot-camp-courage-deuteronomy-316/

It’s a Mindset: God Is On My Side: Psalm 124:1-8

What if the Lord had not been on our side? Let all Israel repeat: What if the Lord had not been on our side when people attacked us? They would have swallowed us alive in their burning anger. The waters would have engulfed us; a torrent would have overwhelmed us.  Yes, the raging waters of their fury would have overwhelmed our very lives. Praise the Lord, who did not let their teeth tear us apart! We escaped like a bird from a hunter’s trap. The trap is broken, and we are free! Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

Psalm 124:1-8 (NLT)

1. I Live Under Attack

What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us?
Romans 8:31 (NLT)

2. I Live Under Attack But God Is With Me

The Lord himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.
Exodus 14:14 (NLT)

Praise the Lord, who did not let their teeth tear us apart! We escaped like a bird from a hunterâ€s trap. The trap is broken, and we are free!В В Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
Psalm 124:6-8 (NLT)

source https://edgechurchcolorado.com/its-a-mindset-god-is-on-my-side-psalm-1241-8/