We all, sometimes, face challenges that mock our faith. Sometimes the things we go through are literally contradictions of what we profess. And when this happens, we sometimes, get afraid or ashamed to step out and boldly declare what we believe. In the following passage, the enemy came against Jehoshaphat and mocked his faith and his God, but the man of God stood tall and fought back.
[2 Chronicles 20:1-4,20-24 KJV] “It came to pass after this also, that the children of Moab, and the children of Ammon, and with them other beside the Ammonites, came against Jehoshaphat to battle. [2] Then there came some that told Jehoshaphat, saying, There cometh a great multitude against thee from beyond the sea on this side Syria; and, behold, they be in Hazazon-tamar, which is En-gedi. [3] And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. [4] And Judah gathered themselves together, to ask help of the Lord : even out of all the cities of Judah they came to seek the Lord.”
[20] “And they rose early in the morning, and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa: and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in the Lord your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.“
[21] “And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the Lord, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the Lord ; for his mercy endureth for ever. [22] And when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten. [23] For the children of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of mount Seir, utterly to slay and destroy them : and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, every one helped to destroy another. [24] And when Judah came toward the watch tower in the wilderness, they looked unto the multitude, and, behold, they were dead bodies fallen to the earth, and none escaped”.
Now, let us explore the four things that helped him to fight through. Gleaning from his story, I want to exhort you to do the following if challenges mouth up against you;
1. Don’t let your heart be troubled, rather, invoke the testimonies of the Lord to mock the challenge;
The man of God was shaken but he invoked the testimonies of the Lord against the terror. He prayed and recounted what God had done in the past. I exhort you to make a list of things that taunts your faith and then a list Scriptures that share the testimony of what God can do against those challenges. You must pray the scriptures against every challenge and you will come out of them all.
2. Separate to find the way:
The world is miserable and I pity them because they have only one way of solving problems. The world thinks about only science and logic, but there is something higher than science and logic; that is called the spiritual or the supernatural.
I wonder why the world often wants to impose and force everyone to subscribe to what they believe. Why should you tell me to conform to science and logic; would you be happy if I forced you to conform to the spiritual. When the enemy comes against you, spend time to seek God and find our what He has to say. God is good and He always makes a way of escape.
3. Believe the Lord:
“Believe the Lord, and you will be established, and His prophets and you will prosper”. When we seek the Lord, He speaks; we must decide to believe Him and His prophets if we want to advance and be established.
4. Cast the vision:
Confer with the people; Jehoshaphat conferred with the people before leading them out to battle. When God speaks to you confer with people who will be affected by your decision. The king conferred with people before implementing what God told him. You must cast vision. Don’t leave the people in ambiguity.
5. Step out into action by wisdom:
You must step out and act in wisdom. Put in energy and press on to advance the cause of God over the enemy. Faith must be backed by action. Let us arise and fight the common enemy. You are more than able to win, just press on.
I love you!
Pastor Simpe.
