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"THE BATTLE IS NOT YOURS"
In Eph 6 11-12 says
Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood,
but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.
This verse is talking about battles that we fight daily – they may be: financial battles, spiritual battles, relationship battles – all kinds of battles in our daily lives.
I took Jehoshaphat story for the illustrations.
In the Old Testament we find that Jehoshaphat, king of Israel, got word from a friend that three enemy nations were coming against him to fight him. The odds weren’t too good because it was three nations against the one nation of Israel. The Bible tells us that these three nations were the Moabites, the Ammonites, and the Meunites. Let’s look into the story – it is found in Second Chronicles chapter twenty:
In 2 chron 20 verse 1- 2 says
“Now it came about after this that the sons of Moab and the sons of Ammon, together with some of the Meunites, came to make war against Jehoshaphat. Then some came and reported to Jehoshaphat, saying, "A great multitude is coming against you from beyond the sea…”
Lets see some priniciples or ways from this story for hoow to win the battle of our life.
priniciple no1:
1. Identify Your ENEMY
Verse 1 shows us the first principle in overcoming the battles of life: Identify your enemy.
Many people simply do not know who their enemy is. They start mistrusting everyone. Often we think the enemy is some other person – even our own family members. But they may not be the ones who are standing against us – but for us. Many times the enemy is our own attitude – the way we handle the situation. Before we can start winning our battles – we have to know who are enemy is.
Notice how Jehoshaphat reacted when he heard that these three nations were coming against him:
if u read verse 3
Jehoshaphat was afraid……..”
That brings us to point two.
2. Don’t Be Driven By EMOTION
when we face some trouble we will cry or
we will get mad – we will get angry – we will be furious
But look at what the Bible says:
“This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.” James 1:19-20
The Bible also says:
“For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” 2 Tim. 1:7 (KJV)
All of us are emotional beings – that’s the way God has created us. But don’t let your emotions get the better of you.
What you should do next is:
3. Take Your Problems To The LORD
Let’s look at verse three again:
Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.” 2 Chron. 20:3
When Jehoshaphat learned that three nations were coming against him he was afraid – but instantly he “set himself to seek the LORD”.
The third principle in winning the battles of life is to take your problems to the Lord. Prayer will be the first weapon we use whenever we face the battles of life, not the last. Usually the last thing we try is prayer – maybe because we want things to work out on our own.
If u see in verse 6 -12 it says
Jehoshaphat prayed and do you know what he said? In effect he said, “God, I know You’ve helped me in the past. I know You can help me in the future. So please help me now. Please take care of our enemies, for we have no power to face the vast army that is attacking us. We don’t know what to do –
That brings us to point four:
4. Admit You Need HELP
The fourth principle in winning the battles of life is to admit you need help. Jehoshaphat did when he said:
"We are powerless before this great multitude who are coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are on You." 2 Chron. 20:12
When we say, “Lord, I’ve got a problem; I need help, I admit my inadequacy,” then he can work on it.
God is willing to help but if we are too proud to ask for it – He will not help us. The Bible says:
"GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE." James 4:6
Lets see point 5
5. Rely On God’s POWER
If you see in verse 12
after Jehoshaphat admitted, “Lord, I don’t know what to do,” he added, “but our eyes are on You” (2 Chron. 20:12).
The fifth principle in overcoming life’s battles is to rely on God’s power. We need to get our eyes on the Lord. Too often we’ve got our eyes on everything else – on everything except the One who can solve our problems.
Circumstances are like a mattress: If we’re on top – we rest easy. But if we’re underneath – we might suffocate.
If we keep our eyes on the Lord we’ll stay on top of our circumstances.
point no 6 is
6. Relax In FAITH
Notice how God responded to Jehoshaphat’s prayer:
"Thus says the LORD to you, 'Do not fear or be dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours but God's.’ 2 Chron. 20:15
The sixth principle in overcoming life’s battles is to relax in faith.
So many Christians today are totally worn out because they’re trying to fight God’s battles in our own power.
when we try to do something for God's Kingdom without faith, we are so disappointed and we think like we disappointed god and we felt like we really let him down.
God says, “No, you didn’t let Me down, because you weren’t holding Me up.”
the truth is : We don’t hold up God – He holds us up.
Here I’m not saying we should not try – that we should not do our best – because we should try – we should give it our best effort. But we should also realize that without God’s power we have no power at all.
Jesus said it this way:
"I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.” John 15:5
eg. Peter
God wants us to relax in faith and let Him work through us.
so The Christian life is a walk of faith.
If God says He’ll take care of it – He will do it
God never broken His promise? So relax and allow Him to be in charge.
But lot of times we running around trying to win the battle
but here what God says to Jehoshaphat – He says:
'You need not fight in this battle; station yourselves, stand and see the salvation of the LORD on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out to face them, for the LORD is with you.’ 2 Chron. 20:17
What does it mean to stand firm when you’ve got a problem – when you’re facing a battle – when you’re in a crisis of life? It’s a mental attitude of quiet confidence that says, “I’m going to trust God.” If He has promised you that He will take care of it.
Here is the seventh point:
7. Thank God In ADVANCE
The seventh principle in conquering life’s battles is to thank God in advance for giving you the victory.
In this story
After he consulted the people, he appointed men to sing to the Lord – to praise God for His loving-kindness.
There are these two mountains and a valley in-between. The battle is going to take place in the valley. On one mountain are the three enemy armies just waiting to devastate the Jews. On the other mountain are the Jews led by Jehoshaphat. He tells his people, “Here’s God’s battle plan. All of those who can sing in the choir – I want you out front. I want them to lead the battle line.”
So they go marching to battle with the choir in the front of the army – singing praises to God.
The Bible tells us that the three enemy armies got confused and ended up killing each other! They defeated themselves
from this verse he teach us to praise Him in faith even before the victory – even before the battle was won – even before the battle was fought – we need to praise God. When God gives us a promise we need to praise Him – because a promise from God is a sure thing!
verse 25 says,
“When Jehoshaphat and his people came to take their spoil, they found much among them, including goods, garments and valuable things which they took for themselves, more than they could carry. And they were three days taking the spoil because there was so much.”
When God wins the battle – there is always a bountiful blessing.
so the Battle is not ours its Gods.
Amen.
it
In Eph 6 11-12 says
Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood,
but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.
This verse is talking about battles that we fight daily – they may be: financial battles, spiritual battles, relationship battles – all kinds of battles in our daily lives.
I took Jehoshaphat story for the illustrations.
In the Old Testament we find that Jehoshaphat, king of Israel, got word from a friend that three enemy nations were coming against him to fight him. The odds weren’t too good because it was three nations against the one nation of Israel. The Bible tells us that these three nations were the Moabites, the Ammonites, and the Meunites. Let’s look into the story – it is found in Second Chronicles chapter twenty:
In 2 chron 20 verse 1- 2 says
“Now it came about after this that the sons of Moab and the sons of Ammon, together with some of the Meunites, came to make war against Jehoshaphat. Then some came and reported to Jehoshaphat, saying, "A great multitude is coming against you from beyond the sea…”
Lets see some priniciples or ways from this story for hoow to win the battle of our life.
priniciple no1:
1. Identify Your ENEMY
Verse 1 shows us the first principle in overcoming the battles of life: Identify your enemy.
Many people simply do not know who their enemy is. They start mistrusting everyone. Often we think the enemy is some other person – even our own family members. But they may not be the ones who are standing against us – but for us. Many times the enemy is our own attitude – the way we handle the situation. Before we can start winning our battles – we have to know who are enemy is.
Notice how Jehoshaphat reacted when he heard that these three nations were coming against him:
if u read verse 3
Jehoshaphat was afraid……..”
That brings us to point two.
2. Don’t Be Driven By EMOTION
when we face some trouble we will cry or
we will get mad – we will get angry – we will be furious
But look at what the Bible says:
“This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.” James 1:19-20
The Bible also says:
“For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” 2 Tim. 1:7 (KJV)
All of us are emotional beings – that’s the way God has created us. But don’t let your emotions get the better of you.
What you should do next is:
3. Take Your Problems To The LORD
Let’s look at verse three again:
Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.” 2 Chron. 20:3
When Jehoshaphat learned that three nations were coming against him he was afraid – but instantly he “set himself to seek the LORD”.
The third principle in winning the battles of life is to take your problems to the Lord. Prayer will be the first weapon we use whenever we face the battles of life, not the last. Usually the last thing we try is prayer – maybe because we want things to work out on our own.
If u see in verse 6 -12 it says
Jehoshaphat prayed and do you know what he said? In effect he said, “God, I know You’ve helped me in the past. I know You can help me in the future. So please help me now. Please take care of our enemies, for we have no power to face the vast army that is attacking us. We don’t know what to do –
That brings us to point four:
4. Admit You Need HELP
The fourth principle in winning the battles of life is to admit you need help. Jehoshaphat did when he said:
"We are powerless before this great multitude who are coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are on You." 2 Chron. 20:12
When we say, “Lord, I’ve got a problem; I need help, I admit my inadequacy,” then he can work on it.
God is willing to help but if we are too proud to ask for it – He will not help us. The Bible says:
"GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE." James 4:6
Lets see point 5
5. Rely On God’s POWER
If you see in verse 12
after Jehoshaphat admitted, “Lord, I don’t know what to do,” he added, “but our eyes are on You” (2 Chron. 20:12).
The fifth principle in overcoming life’s battles is to rely on God’s power. We need to get our eyes on the Lord. Too often we’ve got our eyes on everything else – on everything except the One who can solve our problems.
Circumstances are like a mattress: If we’re on top – we rest easy. But if we’re underneath – we might suffocate.
If we keep our eyes on the Lord we’ll stay on top of our circumstances.
point no 6 is
6. Relax In FAITH
Notice how God responded to Jehoshaphat’s prayer:
"Thus says the LORD to you, 'Do not fear or be dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours but God's.’ 2 Chron. 20:15
The sixth principle in overcoming life’s battles is to relax in faith.
So many Christians today are totally worn out because they’re trying to fight God’s battles in our own power.
when we try to do something for God's Kingdom without faith, we are so disappointed and we think like we disappointed god and we felt like we really let him down.
God says, “No, you didn’t let Me down, because you weren’t holding Me up.”
the truth is : We don’t hold up God – He holds us up.
Here I’m not saying we should not try – that we should not do our best – because we should try – we should give it our best effort. But we should also realize that without God’s power we have no power at all.
Jesus said it this way:
"I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.” John 15:5
eg. Peter
God wants us to relax in faith and let Him work through us.
so The Christian life is a walk of faith.
If God says He’ll take care of it – He will do it
God never broken His promise? So relax and allow Him to be in charge.
But lot of times we running around trying to win the battle
but here what God says to Jehoshaphat – He says:
'You need not fight in this battle; station yourselves, stand and see the salvation of the LORD on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out to face them, for the LORD is with you.’ 2 Chron. 20:17
What does it mean to stand firm when you’ve got a problem – when you’re facing a battle – when you’re in a crisis of life? It’s a mental attitude of quiet confidence that says, “I’m going to trust God.” If He has promised you that He will take care of it.
Here is the seventh point:
7. Thank God In ADVANCE
The seventh principle in conquering life’s battles is to thank God in advance for giving you the victory.
In this story
After he consulted the people, he appointed men to sing to the Lord – to praise God for His loving-kindness.
There are these two mountains and a valley in-between. The battle is going to take place in the valley. On one mountain are the three enemy armies just waiting to devastate the Jews. On the other mountain are the Jews led by Jehoshaphat. He tells his people, “Here’s God’s battle plan. All of those who can sing in the choir – I want you out front. I want them to lead the battle line.”
So they go marching to battle with the choir in the front of the army – singing praises to God.
The Bible tells us that the three enemy armies got confused and ended up killing each other! They defeated themselves
from this verse he teach us to praise Him in faith even before the victory – even before the battle was won – even before the battle was fought – we need to praise God. When God gives us a promise we need to praise Him – because a promise from God is a sure thing!
verse 25 says,
“When Jehoshaphat and his people came to take their spoil, they found much among them, including goods, garments and valuable things which they took for themselves, more than they could carry. And they were three days taking the spoil because there was so much.”
When God wins the battle – there is always a bountiful blessing.
so the Battle is not ours its Gods.
Amen.
it
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