What King Jehoshaphat faced then, we face now. He was king of Judah. Moab and Ammon, usually enemies of each other, banned together to go against Israel. They were well constructed and got as far as Engedi. The king got the people together and sent out a plea for help. We are in the same boat as Israel and Jehoshaphat were. By human means this invasion meant Israel would fall. His plea was to God. Nothing can compare to the help of the Lord. God is still just as he is described in the Bible. He can give such help to you to defeat your enemies and give you victory.
II Chronicles 20: 1It 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. 2Then 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 Hazazontamar, which is Engedi. 3And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. 4And Judah gathered themselves together, to ask help of the LORD: even out of all the cities of Judah they came to seek the LORD. 5And Jehoshaphat stood in the congregation of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the LORD, before the new court, 6And said, O LORD God of our fathers, art not thou God in heaven? and rulest not thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen? and in thine hand is there not power and might, so that none is able to withstand thee?
Read this prayer and see how God responded. See what the people did and how the battle was won. From the king to the smallest child, they were motivated to seek the Lord. The country was under invasion by fierce enemies. They had won many battles in the past, but this was unlike others. There were not enough people in their army. Jehoshaphat couldn’t lay down a successful battle strategy. The enemy was taking mile after mile of Israel.
The same thing is happening today, but it is a different type of invasion, a slow and methodical invasion in a private way of every person. Not only is the world in trouble, the devil has each of us in his target. Things are coming unglued as we see an unprecedented invasion take place.
We’re in the last days before the coming of the Lord. Major changes are taking place on every level. Satan is taking much ground in the world today. The family is under attack. No home, no family, and no individual are safe. Satan wants to conquer you. He knows what you can do for the Lord. Israel’s enemies were determined to turn the people over to idolatry; if not, they would be killed. Today the attempt is to destroy your mind, your life, your family, your friends. Your enemy wants to tear you apart. He knows you. You are constantly monitored and tracked. You are being profiled and don’t even realize it. We’re heading to a one-world government which means the approach of the anti-Christ. Before he can appear as ruler, there must be an invasion, a winning over of the people.
God wants you in his kingdom. That’s why Jesus died on the cross. Jesus will appear and take us away, but before that happens, the invasion continues. We must be ready when Jesus comes. Be aware. The devil knows his time is short. Turn from your sin and accept Jesus as Savior. The devil works to corrupt your thinking. He’ll make you think everything is fine.
King Jehoshaphat realized he couldn’t do it by himself. In our human nature, you and I are fragile. We must stay on our toes, stay in a state of awareness. Be cautious. We have to face life. The devil is a threat. It is right for us to be sober minded and consider ourselves in an honest way. The world at large works against us to change us into what we don’t want. Outnumbered, Jehoshaphat was afraid. We are outnumbered. We cannot do it on our own. Face it. Deal with your weaknesses now. Deal with invasions that already hamper you.
And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. He stopped the routine of life and sought the Lord. Today people tend to seek their own good, what suits them. We live in a selfish day and time, in a world that is going to hell and needs to trust the Lord.
The final confrontation between darkness and light is about to happen. Don’t let life go to the invader. Set your life to seek the Lord. Don’t just pray. PRAY! Don’t just read the Bible. READ! The only hope is to seek the Lord and set your heart toward heaven. Do you sense the need? I do. I need help from God. He gathered Israel to seek the Lord and asked help from God. Don’t say there is no hope. There is still a God in heaven. His Son is still Savior. He died for us and rose again. He’s at the other end of your prayer. Ask and you shall receive. Seek and you shall find. Knock and it shall be opened unto you.
God’s house is so forsaken. This is a sanctuary because it’s holy. It also means safety. Jehoshaphat gathered the people at the house of God to pray. He got on his face and prayed. He admitted he had no might or power and asked for help from God. His response was to tell him to stand still and see the salvation of the Lord. The next day the enemy would be delivered into his hand without his having to lift a finger. He let God work. God stirred the enemies of Israel against each other, and they killed each other. When the king went out the next day, his enemy was already dead. God prevailed.
The people first had to get serious with God and ask for help. If we will do as they did, the invasion will stop. Seek the Lord.
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 