Overcoming Defeat

Journey Into The Promised Land

2 Chronicles 20:13–19 (CSB)

GOD’S ANSWER

13 All Judah was standing before the Lord with their dependents, their wives, and their children. 14 In the middle of the congregation, the Spirit of the Lord came on Jahaziel (son of Zechariah, son of Benaiah, son of Jeiel, son of Mattaniah, a Levite from Asaph’s descendants), 15 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. 16 Tomorrow, go down against them. You will see them coming up the Ascent of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the valley facing the Wilderness of Jeruel. 17 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.’ ”

18 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. 19 Then the Levites from the sons of the Kohathites and the Korahites stood up to praise the Lord God of Israel shouting loudly.

Face Your Enemy

Look back over our daily readings for the past week and you will see that in Jehoshaphat’s prayer the first four steps are taken by man toward God. In step five, however, we see the beginning of God’s answer.

God’s message through His prophet to the king and the people of Judah was, “I have heard your prayer.” What a fantastic word of assurance! The most beautiful thing about the Word of God and the Holy Spirit is that when we follow the same path in prayer as Jehoshaphat, we too can hear in our innermost being: “I have heard your prayer!”

The answer came to Jehoshaphat, and the answer will come to you! As a servant of the living God, I can guarantee you that as you humble yourself before God, the answer will come. It will come with such unmistakable clarity so you will know beyond the shadow of a doubt that you have heard from God and your deliverance is on the way.

Listen to the assurance that the word of the Lord brings to the king and the people: “Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude…” (verse 15). Living in constant fear is a living hell. There is nothing worse except hell itself.

When humility came and the king got off the throne and, in essence, said, “Lord, you deliver the people because I can’t,” then the Spirit of God showed them exactly where the enemy was. You cannot deal with your problem until you know exactly what it is. You must be ready and willing to face it head on. You can’t cover it over and pretend that it isn’t there.

The element of trust is manifested in your life when you are ready to face your enemy completely unarmed in your own strength. This is a vital point. When the Spirit of God shows you exactly where your enemy is, there is a great temptation to do a little of your own warfare on the side. At least to have something in reserve to protect yourself when you stand face to face before your adversary.

God emphasized again to the king and the people: “…Fear not, nor be dismayed … for the Lord will be with you.” Trust the Holy Spirit as you face the enemy today.

Make this declaration:

I am not afraid. I am not dismayed. I am trusting the Holy Spirit as I face the enemy today.

*Adapted from MCWE email – Journey Into The Promised Land by Morris Cerullo

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