SPEAKER_00: Chronicles.
SPEAKER_00: The book of 2 Chronicles in chapter 20.
SPEAKER_00: Second Chronicles chapter 20.
SPEAKER_00: And we'll begin reading in verse number one.
SPEAKER_00: 2 Chronicles chapter 20.
SPEAKER_00: And we'll begin reading in verse number 1.
SPEAKER_00: This last week I preached to the boys and girls Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, two times each day.
SPEAKER_00: So if you hear me say something absurd, I do apologize, alright?
SPEAKER_00: And uh just kidding.
SPEAKER_00: Second Chronicles chapter 20, verse number one.
SPEAKER_00: If you're there, would you say amen?
SPEAKER_00: The Bible says, 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.
SPEAKER_00: 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 his uh Hazan Tamar, which is in Geti.
SPEAKER_00: And Jehoshaphat feared and set himself to seek the Lord and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.
SPEAKER_00: 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.
SPEAKER_00: And Jehoshaphat stood in the congregation of Judah and Jerusalem in the house of the Lord before the new court, and said, O Lord God of our fathers, art not thou God in heaven, and rulest not thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen?
SPEAKER_00: And in thy hand is there not power and might, so that none is able to withstand thee?
SPEAKER_00: Art not thou our God?
SPEAKER_00: Who dost drive out the inhabitants of this land before thy people Israel, and gave us it to the seed of Abraham, thy friend, forever?
SPEAKER_00: And they dwelt therein and have built thee a sanctuary therein for thy name, saying, If when evil cometh upon us, as the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we stand before this house, and in thy presence, for thy name is in this house, and cry unto thee in our affliction, then thou wilt hear and help.
SPEAKER_00: And now, behold, the children of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir, whom thou wouldest not let Israel invade when they came out of the land of Egypt, but they turned from them and destroyed them not.
SPEAKER_00: Behold, I say how they reward us to come to cast us out of thy possession, which thou hast given us to inherit.
SPEAKER_00: O our God, wilt thou not judge them?
SPEAKER_00: For we have no might against this great company that cometh against us.
SPEAKER_00: Watch this.
SPEAKER_00: Neither know we what to do, but our eyes are upon thee.
SPEAKER_00: And all Judah stood before the Lord with their little ones, their wives, their children.
SPEAKER_00: You will notice that phrase again in the latter part of verse number 12 where Jehoshaphat is praying before the God of heaven, and he says, Neither know we what to do, but our eyes are upon thee.
SPEAKER_00: I want to speak to you tonight on this thought.
SPEAKER_00: What to do when you don't know what to do.
SPEAKER_00: There are moments in life when you know exactly what to do.
SPEAKER_00: You know the next step, you know the decision that needs to be made, you know the conversation that needs to happen, you know how to handle what is in front of you, but then there are moments when life brings you to a place where you simply do not know what to do.
SPEAKER_00: The burden is too heavy, the situation is too complicated, the answer is not clear, the pressure is real, the fear is honest, and every, almost every single person in this room knows what it feels like to face something and say, Lord, I do not know what to do.
SPEAKER_00: It may be a family burden, it may be a financial pressure, it may be a health concern, it may be a marriage struggle, it may be a parenting decision, it may be grief or fear, temptation, or some spiritual battle that no one else can see.
SPEAKER_00: And this is exactly where Jehoshaphat is in 2 Chronicles chapter 20.
SPEAKER_00: A great multitude has come against Judah, and they're ready to war against Judah, they're ready to fight against Judah, they're ready to rage battle, and Jehoshaphat is the king, and he doesn't have enough strength or strategy or soldiers or resources to win this battle on his own.
SPEAKER_00: And the Bible is so honest here in verse number three.
SPEAKER_00: The Bible says, and Jehoshaphat feared.
SPEAKER_00: You think about this, one of the most powerful men in the world, the king of Judah, the man who could say anything and it was done, the man who had riches and fortune had everything.
SPEAKER_00: The Bible says he feared.
SPEAKER_00: Jehoshaphat feared, but he did the right thing with his fear.
SPEAKER_00: He set himself to seek the Lord.
SPEAKER_00: And then he prayed one of the most honest prayers in all the Bible.
SPEAKER_00: He says in verse number 12, Neither know we what to do, but our eyes are upon thee.
SPEAKER_00: Can I tell you tonight, ladies and gentlemen, that is faith.
SPEAKER_00: Faith is not always knowing the answer.
SPEAKER_00: Faith is knowing where to look when you don't have the answer.
SPEAKER_00: Faith is not always having the plan, but faith is trusting the God who does.
SPEAKER_00: Listen, when you don't know what to do, fix your eyes on the God who does.
SPEAKER_00: Listen, you may not have the answer, but God does.
SPEAKER_00: You may not see the way, but God does.
SPEAKER_00: You may not have the strength, but God does.
SPEAKER_00: You may not know tomorrow, but God is already there.
SPEAKER_00: What to do when you don't know what to do?
SPEAKER_00: Several thoughts I want to share with you tonight.
SPEAKER_00: Number one, the crisis was greater than them.
SPEAKER_00: The crisis was greater than them.
SPEAKER_00: Verse number two, the Bible says, then there came some that told Jehoshaphat, saying, There cometh a great multitude against thee from beyond the sea on this side, Syria.
SPEAKER_00: Jehoshaphat had just received news that no king wants to hear, no, no leader wants to hear.
SPEAKER_00: A messenger comes and says, There cometh a great multitude against thee.
SPEAKER_00: These these enemies are coming against you.
SPEAKER_00: Jehoshaphat, listen, this wasn't a small problem or a minor inconvenience.
SPEAKER_00: No, a great multitude was coming against Judah, and from every human standpoint, they were outnumbered, they were overwhelmed, and they were outmatched.
SPEAKER_00: And Jehoshaphat faced a battle that he could not win on his own.
SPEAKER_00: He says in verse number three, and Jehoshaphat feared and set himself to seek the Lord.
SPEAKER_00: Listen, this verse shows the honesty of faith.
SPEAKER_00: Jehoshaphat feared.
SPEAKER_00: Jehoshaphat was afraid.
SPEAKER_00: He didn't know what was going to happen, but he did not pretend he was not afraid or act like the crisis was smaller than what it was.
SPEAKER_00: But his fear did not drive him away from God.
SPEAKER_00: His fear drove him to God.
SPEAKER_00: Can I tell you tonight?
SPEAKER_00: Fear said, This is bigger than me, but faith said, But it's not bigger than God.
SPEAKER_00: Fear said, I don't know what to do.
SPEAKER_00: Faith said, But my eyes are upon thee.
SPEAKER_00: Fear, fear said, I cannot handle this, but faith said, But God can.
SPEAKER_00: Listen, faith is not pretending the battle is small.
SPEAKER_00: Faith is admitting the battle is too big for us, but it's not too big for God.
SPEAKER_00: David said in Psalm 56 in verse number three, what time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.
SPEAKER_00: Listen, David said he never saying he never got afraid.
SPEAKER_00: He was saying, I know where to run to when I'm afraid.
SPEAKER_00: I know where to go to when I'm afraid.
SPEAKER_00: I know where to where to cry out to when I'm afraid.
SPEAKER_00: Listen, the crisis was greater than them, but it became the very thing that led them and pushed them toward God.
SPEAKER_00: Sometimes God allows us to face things bigger than us, so we will stop trusting in ourselves and start trusting in Him.
SPEAKER_00: There are moments in life when the crisis is greater than you.
SPEAKER_00: A health report can be greater than you, a financial burden can be greater than you.
SPEAKER_00: A family struggle can be greater than you.
SPEAKER_00: A grief can be greater than you.
SPEAKER_00: A spiritual battle can be greater than you.
SPEAKER_00: And listen, it's not weakness to admit, Lord, this is too much for me.
SPEAKER_00: No, the weakness is pretending you can handle life without God.
SPEAKER_00: And listen, Christian, you cannot handle life without the Lord Jesus Christ.
SPEAKER_00: You cannot handle life without the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords in your life.
SPEAKER_00: So stop pretending you can handle life on your own when you can't.
SPEAKER_00: The weakness is pretending you can handle life without God.
SPEAKER_00: I think about Peter walking on the water, Matthew chapter 14.
SPEAKER_00: The storm was greater than Peter, but it wasn't greater than Jesus.
SPEAKER_00: When Peter cried, he sank, he took his eyes off the Lord, he said, Lord, save me.
SPEAKER_00: The Bible says, and immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand and caught him.
SPEAKER_00: Listen, crisis has a way of stripping away pride and teaching us to cry out, Lord, I need you.
SPEAKER_00: Proverbs 18, 10 says, The name of the Lord is a strong tower, the righteous runneth into it and is safe.
SPEAKER_00: Listen, this is what Jehoshaphat did.
SPEAKER_00: He ran to the Lord.
SPEAKER_00: Listen, he did not deny the crisis because the crisis was on its way.
SPEAKER_00: No, he brought the crisis to God.
SPEAKER_00: We find in verse number 12, we've read it a few times, for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us.
SPEAKER_00: Neither know what we neither know we what to do, but our eyes are upon thee.
SPEAKER_00: What an honest prayer.
SPEAKER_00: We have no might, we don't know what to do, but our eyes are upon thee.
SPEAKER_00: And this is where many of us need to get tonight.
SPEAKER_00: It's not, Lord, I can handle this, but Lord, I have no might, I do not know what to do, so my eyes are upon you.
SPEAKER_00: The crisis was greater than them.
SPEAKER_00: Oh, my dear friend, but it was not greater than him.
SPEAKER_00: The mountain may be greater than you, the burden may be greater than you, the diagnosis may be greater than you, the enemy may be greater than you, but it is not greater than God.
SPEAKER_00: There is nothing too hard for him.
SPEAKER_00: So when the crisis is greater than you, do what Jehoshaphat did.
SPEAKER_00: Don't run away from God, don't panic without prayer, don't carry it by yourself.
SPEAKER_00: Set yourself to seek the Lord because the crisis that is too big for you is still under the authority of God who rules over all.
SPEAKER_00: Maybe tonight you're in a crisis.
SPEAKER_00: Maybe tonight you're facing something, and you say, Pastor Ethan, I don't know what to do.
SPEAKER_00: But I'm here to tell you tonight here's what to do.
SPEAKER_00: Seek the Lord.
SPEAKER_00: The crisis was greater than them.
SPEAKER_00: Number two, the cry was directed to God.
SPEAKER_00: In verse number three, the Bible says, and Jehoshaphat feared, watch this, and set himself to seek the Lord and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.
SPEAKER_00: You know what Jehoshaphat when he did not know what to do?
SPEAKER_00: When Jehoshaphat was at the crossroads, when Jehoshaphat didn't know what to do, he didn't know where to go.
SPEAKER_00: You know what he did?
SPEAKER_00: The Bible says he prayed.
SPEAKER_00: Now that may sound super simple, right?
SPEAKER_00: As a Christian, well, we just need to pray about it, but it's also convicting.
SPEAKER_00: Many times prayer is not our first response.
SPEAKER_00: We worry, we complain, we talk to others, and we try to fix things by ourselves before we pray, but Jehoshaphat shows us the complete opposite.
SPEAKER_00: He shows us the complete different side.
SPEAKER_00: He says, and Jehoshaphat feared and set himself before the Lord.
SPEAKER_00: Listen, he was afraid and he was scared and he didn't know what to do, but he took his fear to God.
SPEAKER_00: He didn't run first to panic, he didn't, he didn't go to people, he didn't plan, he didn't complain.
SPEAKER_00: No, he set himself to seek the Lord.
SPEAKER_00: Listen, prayer was not his last resort, it was his first response.
SPEAKER_00: I want to notice that phrase.
SPEAKER_00: He says, set himself.
SPEAKER_00: Watch this.
SPEAKER_00: This was not casual, this was deliberate.
SPEAKER_00: There was determination, there was focus, there was dependence.
SPEAKER_00: Jehoshaphat knew that it was not a time now for just some religion routine.
SPEAKER_00: It was a time to get a hold of God.
SPEAKER_00: It was it was a time to answer to the king of kings and the Lord of Lords.
SPEAKER_00: It was it was time to answer the one who rules and reigns.
SPEAKER_00: The word seek here carries the idea of pursuing and looking to someone for help.
SPEAKER_00: Jehoshaphat was not merely seeking relief from the problem.
SPEAKER_00: No, he was seeking the Lord Himself.
SPEAKER_00: Listen, sometimes we only seek God's hand.
SPEAKER_00: Sometimes we say, Lord, we'll just fix this or or just remove that, or just take away this problem, or just take away this trial, this storm, or or provide, or meet my needs.
SPEAKER_00: But Jehoshaphat set himself to seek the Lord.
SPEAKER_00: He needed more than an answer.
SPEAKER_00: He needed God.
SPEAKER_00: Psalm 27, verse number 8 says, When thou said, Seek ye my face, my heart said unto thee, Thy face, Lord, will I seek.
SPEAKER_00: Listen, that's the kind of heart that God desires.
SPEAKER_00: Not just, Lord, get me out of this, but Lord, I need you in this.
SPEAKER_00: Not just, Lord, change my circumstances, but no, Lord, draw me closer to you.
SPEAKER_00: And Jehoshaphat was directed to God.
SPEAKER_00: And notice that he did not seek the Lord alone.
SPEAKER_00: Verse number four, the Bible says, 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.
SPEAKER_00: This wasn't just a private prayer, it became a public dependence.
SPEAKER_00: Judah had come together, they had gathered themselves together as a whole to seek the Lord.
SPEAKER_00: The king sought the Lord, and the people gathered to seek the Lord, and they gathered for one purpose to ask help of the Lord.
SPEAKER_00: Listen, this is what homes need, this is what churches need, this is what every believer needs today.
SPEAKER_00: Listen, there's nothing wrong with planning and counsel and action, but there is something wrong when we do all of those things without praying.
SPEAKER_00: Listen, prayer doesn't mean you do nothing.
SPEAKER_00: No, prayer means you refuse to do anything without dependence on God.
SPEAKER_00: And that's exactly what Jehoshaphat did before he fought, he prayed.
SPEAKER_00: Before he moved, he he sought, before he responded to the enemy, he responded to God.
SPEAKER_00: And the problem is that a lot of Christians get that backwards.
SPEAKER_00: We complain first and then we pray.
SPEAKER_00: We worry first and then we pray.
SPEAKER_00: We we panic first and then we pray, but no, prayer is not what you do when all else fails.
SPEAKER_00: Prayer is where we begin because God never fails.
SPEAKER_00: Someone once said this all of our prayers, excuse me, all of our failures are prayer failures.
SPEAKER_00: You know why sometimes we fall flat on our face because we didn't pray.
SPEAKER_00: You know why sometimes a certain circumstance didn't work out?
SPEAKER_00: Because we didn't pray.
SPEAKER_00: You know why sometimes things go weary in life?
SPEAKER_00: Because we didn't pray, we didn't seek the God of heaven, we didn't seek the Lord Jesus Christ.
SPEAKER_00: Philippians chapter 4, verses 6 and 7, Paul writes, Be careful for nothing but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving.
SPEAKER_00: Let your request be made known unto God, and the peace of God which passeth all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Jesus Christ.
SPEAKER_00: Through Christ Jesus.
SPEAKER_00: You know what God is saying?
SPEAKER_00: Bring it to me.
SPEAKER_00: All your problems, all your worries, all your cares, bring them to me.
SPEAKER_00: What does the Bible say?
SPEAKER_00: Casting all your care upon him, for he careth for you.
SPEAKER_00: Bring it to God.
SPEAKER_00: Notice what God promises.
SPEAKER_00: He does not promise immediate answers, but he does promise peace.
SPEAKER_00: He says, In the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
SPEAKER_00: Sometimes prayer changes a situation, but sometimes prayer changes us in a situation.
SPEAKER_00: Sometimes God calms a storm, sometimes God calms his child in a storm.
SPEAKER_00: I think of Hannah.
SPEAKER_00: 1 Samuel chapter 1.
SPEAKER_00: She wanted a child and she was hurting deeply.
SPEAKER_00: And the Bible says in 1 Samuel chapter 1 and verse number 10.
SPEAKER_00: And she was in bitterness of soul and prayed unto the Lord and wept sore.
SPEAKER_00: She took her pain to God.
SPEAKER_00: She took her burden to God.
SPEAKER_00: She took her trial to God.
SPEAKER_00: And after she prayed, verse number 18 says, So the woman went away and did eat, and her countenance was no more sad.
SPEAKER_00: Her circumstances had not changed, but her heart did.
SPEAKER_00: Why?
SPEAKER_00: Because she had left the burden with God.
SPEAKER_00: Listen, this is what prayer does.
SPEAKER_00: It gives you a place to lay down what you were never meant to carry alone.
SPEAKER_00: And Jehoshaphat shows us the same truth.
SPEAKER_00: Listen, when fear came, he took the situation of God.
SPEAKER_00: He set himself to seek the Lord.
SPEAKER_00: Listen, church, prayer not ought to be the spare tire we pull out only in emergencies.
SPEAKER_00: Prayer ought to be the steering wheel.
SPEAKER_00: Well, let me say that again.
SPEAKER_00: Prayer ought not to be the spare tire we pull out only in emergencies.
SPEAKER_00: Prayer ought to be the steering wheel.
SPEAKER_00: It ought to guide our decisions.
SPEAKER_00: It ought to guide our families.
SPEAKER_00: It ought to steady our hearts, Jesus said in John chapter 15 and verse number 5.
SPEAKER_00: For without me, we ye can do nothing.
SPEAKER_00: Listen, we can stay busy without Jesus.
SPEAKER_00: We can make plans without Jesus.
SPEAKER_00: We can even do church activities without Jesus.
SPEAKER_00: But we cannot bear bear spiritual, lasting fruit without Him.
SPEAKER_00: That is why prayer matters.
SPEAKER_00: Pray is saying, Lord, I need you.
SPEAKER_00: God, I need you.
SPEAKER_00: Lord, I cannot do this on your own.
SPEAKER_00: I need I need your wisdom.
SPEAKER_00: I need your strength.
SPEAKER_00: I need your help.
SPEAKER_00: And sometimes the most spiritual thing you can do is simply stop long enough to pray.
SPEAKER_00: Listen, stop carrying it alone.
SPEAKER_00: Stop trying to fix it alone.
SPEAKER_00: Stop worrying over it alone.
SPEAKER_00: Set yourself to seek the Lord.
SPEAKER_00: The cry was directed to God.
SPEAKER_00: That is where our cry must be directed to.
SPEAKER_00: Listen, when you don't know what to do, take the burden to the one who dies.
SPEAKER_00: When you don't know what to say, cry out to the one who hears.
SPEAKER_00: When you don't know where to go, seek the one who leads.
SPEAKER_00: Less panic, more prayer.
SPEAKER_00: Less complaining, more crying out.
SPEAKER_00: Less self-reliance, more seeking God.
SPEAKER_00: The crisis may have been greater than them.
SPEAKER_00: But their cry was directed to the God who was greater than the crisis.
SPEAKER_00: Number three.
SPEAKER_00: The confidence was grounded in God.
SPEAKER_00: In verse number six, the Bible says, Jehoshaphat's praying, and he says, Oh Lord God of our fathers.
SPEAKER_00: Art not thou God in heaven?
SPEAKER_00: And rulest not thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen?
SPEAKER_00: And in thy hand is there not power and might so that none is able to withstand thee?
SPEAKER_00: Jehoshaphat's prayer, it did not begin with the enemy.
SPEAKER_00: It began with God.
SPEAKER_00: Before he described the multitude coming against Judah, he reminded himself who God was.
SPEAKER_00: Before he asked God to move, he acknowledged that God was already mighty, and that's good praying right there.
SPEAKER_00: Listen, good prayer begins by looking away from the size of the enemy and looking at the greatness of God.
SPEAKER_00: Prayer says, God, I'm not worried about my enemy, but can I tell you one thing?
SPEAKER_00: You're great, you're wonderful, you're awesome, you're amazing, you're the ruler of this world.
SPEAKER_00: Verse number six, he says, Oh Lord, God of our fathers, art not thou God in heaven?
SPEAKER_00: Jehoshaphat was not asking because he was unsure.
SPEAKER_00: He wasn't saying, Lord, are you God in heaven?
SPEAKER_00: He wasn't asking because he was unsure.
SPEAKER_00: He was declaring what he already knew to be true about God.
SPEAKER_00: Lord, you are God in heaven.
SPEAKER_00: That means that God was above the crisis.
SPEAKER_00: God was above the enemy.
SPEAKER_00: God was above the fear, and Judah was surrounded on earth.
SPEAKER_00: Oh, but God was seated in heaven.
SPEAKER_00: Listen, God's not surprised by the news.
SPEAKER_00: God was not confused by the situation.
SPEAKER_00: Jehoshaphat may not have known what to do, but God did.
SPEAKER_00: And can I tell you tonight?
SPEAKER_00: Nothing catches God by surprise.
SPEAKER_00: You say, Well, I didn't know this crisis was gonna come.
SPEAKER_00: Oh, but God did.
SPEAKER_00: I didn't know this situation was gonna take place.
SPEAKER_00: Oh, but God did.
SPEAKER_00: Let me tell you tonight.
SPEAKER_00: We serve the God of heaven.
SPEAKER_00: Nothing catches him by surprise.
SPEAKER_00: He sees all things, he's already in the future, he's already in the past, he's everywhere because he's omniscient, he's omnipresent, he's all in one, he's the God of heaven, and we can look to him because he already knows what's going on in our lives.
SPEAKER_00: You know, God knows you so well, he knows the number of hairs that's on your head.
SPEAKER_00: He knows what's going on, he knows what you're facing.
SPEAKER_00: God is in control, he is the King of kings and the Lord of lords.
SPEAKER_00: The Bible says in Psalm 115, verse number 3, but our God is in the heavens, he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased.
SPEAKER_00: Listen, that doesn't mean God is distant.
SPEAKER_00: Listen to me tonight.
SPEAKER_00: That means God is dominant.
SPEAKER_00: The throne of God was not shaken by a great multitude come against Judah.
SPEAKER_00: And child of God, the throne of God is not shaken by what has come against you either.
SPEAKER_00: Nothing shakes the throne of God in your life, nothing shakes the throne of God here at Calvary Baptist Church, nothing shakes the throne of God here in the world, nothing shakes the throne of God in the United States of America.
SPEAKER_00: There's nothing that can shake the throne of God.
SPEAKER_00: The doctor's report doesn't shake his throne, the financial pressure doesn't shake his throne, the family burden doesn't shake his throne.
SPEAKER_00: Listen, God is still God of heaven, he's in charge, he has the final say when it's all said and done.
SPEAKER_00: He is the king of kings.
SPEAKER_00: Jehoshaphat remembered God's authority.
SPEAKER_00: He says, And rulest not thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen.
SPEAKER_00: Listen, the enemy was real.
SPEAKER_00: Oh, but the enemy wasn't sovereign.
SPEAKER_00: The opposition was strong, but it was not supreme.
SPEAKER_00: God ruled over them all.
SPEAKER_00: Listen, no enemy outranks him, no circumstances surprise him, no devil defeats him.
SPEAKER_00: And sometimes what you need most in a crisis is not more information about the problem.
SPEAKER_00: You need a fresh reminder of who God is.
SPEAKER_00: Then Jehoshaphat remembered God's power.
SPEAKER_00: He says, In thine hand is there not power and might so that none is able to withstand thee.
SPEAKER_00: Listen, Judah did not have enough strength.
SPEAKER_00: Oh, but God had all the strength.
SPEAKER_00: The battle was too big for Judah, but it was still in the hand of God.
SPEAKER_00: Listen, the enemy was not in control, the future was not in control, God was in control.
SPEAKER_00: The Bible says in Isaiah chapter 59 and verse number one, Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened that it cannot save, neither his ear heavy that it cannot hear.
SPEAKER_00: Listen, God's hand has not lost strength.
SPEAKER_00: He is still able to save, hear, help, and deliver.
SPEAKER_00: I love what Paul said in Ephesians chapter 3, verse number 20, he is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.
SPEAKER_00: Listen, we often underestimate God because we measure him by our limitations.
SPEAKER_00: We say, Well, I don't see a way, but God says, I am the way.
SPEAKER_00: Jesus said in Matthew chapter 19, verse number 26, when men, this is impossible.
SPEAKER_00: Oh, but with God all things are possible.
SPEAKER_00: This is where Jehoshaphat's confidence came from.
SPEAKER_00: Listen, not from Judah's army, not from Judah's wisdom, not from Judah's resources.
SPEAKER_00: No, his confidence was grounded in God.
SPEAKER_00: And then Jehoshaphat remembered God's past faithfulness.
SPEAKER_00: He prayed in verse number seven.
SPEAKER_00: Art not thou our God who didst drive out the inhabitants of this land before thy people Israel and gave us it to the seed of Abraham, thy friend, forever?
SPEAKER_00: You know what Jehoshaphat did?
SPEAKER_00: He looked back, he looked back over the course of history.
SPEAKER_00: Of Israel, he remembered what God had already done.
SPEAKER_00: Can I tell you tonight?
SPEAKER_00: Can I remind you when you don't know what to do, remember what God has already done.
SPEAKER_00: You need to say, God has been faithful before.
SPEAKER_00: God has answered prayer before.
SPEAKER_00: God has provided before.
SPEAKER_00: Listen, if God has been faithful in the past, you can trust him to be faithful in the present.
SPEAKER_00: Remember that prayer request that he once answered.
SPEAKER_00: Remember that trial that he once brought you through.
SPEAKER_00: Remember that storm that he walked through with you.
SPEAKER_00: Remember what God has done for you.
SPEAKER_00: Malachi chapter 3, verse number 6 says, For I am the Lord, I change not.
SPEAKER_00: The Bible says in Hebrews chapter 13 and verse number 8, Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today, and forever.
SPEAKER_00: Listen to God who was faithful yesterday, is faithful today, he'll be faithful tomorrow, he'll be faithful in a year, he'll be faithful in 10 years, and he'll be faithful to thee.
SPEAKER_00: And our God is faithful.
SPEAKER_00: Never forget his faithfulness.
SPEAKER_00: A man driving through thick, thick fog cannot see the whole world ahead, but he keeps moving because his headlights give enough light for the next stretch.
SPEAKER_00: That's often how the Christian life feels.
SPEAKER_00: So our confidence cannot be grounded in what we can see.
SPEAKER_00: It must be grounded in the God we know.
SPEAKER_00: Listen, you may not know the road, but you know the guide.
SPEAKER_00: You may not know the answer, but you know the one who does.
SPEAKER_00: You may not know tomorrow, but you know the God who is already there.
SPEAKER_00: Jehoshaphat did not have confidence because he understood this situation.
SPEAKER_00: He had confidence because he understood something about God.
SPEAKER_00: God was in heaven.
SPEAKER_00: God ruled over all.
SPEAKER_00: God had power and might.
SPEAKER_00: God had been faithful before.
SPEAKER_00: When you don't know what to do, remember what you do know.
SPEAKER_00: God is still sovereign.
SPEAKER_00: God is still good.
SPEAKER_00: God is still faithful.
SPEAKER_00: God still hears and answers prayerless, and the enemy may be great.
SPEAKER_00: Oh, but God is greater.
SPEAKER_00: The future may be uncertain, but God is already there.
SPEAKER_00: Jehoshaphat's confidence was not grounded in Judah's ability.
SPEAKER_00: It was grounded in God.
SPEAKER_00: Put your confidence in God.
SPEAKER_00: Trust him.
SPEAKER_00: That is where our confidence must be grounded to.
SPEAKER_00: Number four.
SPEAKER_00: The commitment was to gaze upon God.
SPEAKER_00: Our key verse, verse number 12, the very last phrase.
SPEAKER_00: Jehoshaphat says, Neither know we what to do, but our eyes are upon me.
SPEAKER_00: This is the heart of the passage.
SPEAKER_00: It's right here.
SPEAKER_00: Jehoshaphat comes to the end of this prayer and he gives one of the most honest confessions in all the Bible.
SPEAKER_00: God, I don't know what to do.
SPEAKER_00: But my eyes were upon you.
SPEAKER_00: They didn't know what to do.
SPEAKER_00: Listen, oh, but they know they knew where to look.
SPEAKER_00: They did not have the answers, but they had their eyes on the answer.
SPEAKER_00: They did not have the strategy, but they had their eyes on the sovereign.
SPEAKER_00: They didn't know the next move, but they had their eyes on the Lord.
SPEAKER_00: Listen, that is faith.
SPEAKER_00: Faith does not always have the full plan or explanation.
SPEAKER_00: Sometimes faith is simply refusing to look away from God and saying, God, no matter what happens, no matter what occurs, my eyes are fixed upon you.
SPEAKER_00: Sometimes faith says, Lord, I don't know what to do, but I'm not taking my eyes off of you.
SPEAKER_00: And Jehoshaphat was not pretending to be strong, wise, or self-sufficient.
SPEAKER_00: No, he simply said, Lord, we don't know what to do, but our eyes are upon me.
SPEAKER_00: And listen, there's a powerful truth here.
SPEAKER_00: Watch this.
SPEAKER_00: The issue is not just what you are facing, the issue is where you are focusing.
SPEAKER_00: Where's your focus tonight?
SPEAKER_00: Because what you focus on will affect your faith.
SPEAKER_00: Listen to me tonight.
SPEAKER_00: When you focus on the problem, you panic.
SPEAKER_00: When you focus on people, you get disappointed.
SPEAKER_00: When you focus on yourself, you get discouraged.
SPEAKER_00: When you focus on the future, you get anxious.
SPEAKER_00: Oh, but when your eyes are on God, you get steadied.
SPEAKER_00: Isaiah chapter 26, verse number 3 says, Thou will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee because he trusteth in thee.
SPEAKER_00: Listen, perfect peace does not come from perfect circumstances.
SPEAKER_00: Perfect peace comes from a mind that is fixed on God.
SPEAKER_00: Jehoshaphat's circumstances, they were not peaceful.
SPEAKER_00: The enemy was coming.
SPEAKER_00: They were on their way.
SPEAKER_00: The threat was real and the future was uncertain.
SPEAKER_00: But his focus was fixed.
SPEAKER_00: He says, Our eyes are upon thee.
SPEAKER_00: Not upon the enemy.
SPEAKER_00: Not upon our resources, not upon our wisdom, not upon our fear, upon thee.
SPEAKER_00: And listen, that is the safest place for your eyes.
SPEAKER_00: The one who made heaven and earth is able to help his people.
SPEAKER_00: Listen, that means when you don't know what to do, you can lift your eyes to the Lord Jesus Christ.
SPEAKER_00: I quote this verse often and I love it.
SPEAKER_00: The Bible says in Hebrews chapter 12 and verse number two, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.
SPEAKER_00: Listen, the Christian life is not lived by looking within ourselves or for our strength.
SPEAKER_00: No, it's lived by looking unto Jesus.
SPEAKER_00: And some of us need to change where we've been looking.
SPEAKER_00: Listen, get your eyes off the White House, get your eyes off the government, get your eyes off the politics, get your eyes off the world and look to the Lord Jesus Christ and fix your eyes upon him.
SPEAKER_00: You've been staring at the problem, you've been staring at the diagnosis, you've been staring at the burden, you've been staring at the worst-case scenario, you've been staring at what you cannot fix.
SPEAKER_00: No wonder your soul is weary.
SPEAKER_00: That doesn't mean we ignore reality all because it's real.
SPEAKER_00: Jehoshaphat knew there was a great multitude coming, and that Judah had no mind against him, Judah had no chance.
SPEAKER_00: There was no way that we were gonna be able to win before these guys.
SPEAKER_00: No, he all but he knew where to look.
SPEAKER_00: He knew that his eyes must be upon Jesus.
SPEAKER_00: Listen, faith does not deny the problems, faith directs its focus to God, even when our focus fails, he does not.
SPEAKER_00: Sometimes I have to tell my son Maverick to look where he's going.
SPEAKER_00: Don't we?
SPEAKER_00: We have to, don't we?
SPEAKER_00: My wife's back there.
SPEAKER_00: Thanks for doing the screens, I appreciate it.
SPEAKER_00: Sometimes my son will he'll be looking at something walking this way.
SPEAKER_00: And I'll say, Maverick, please look ahead.
SPEAKER_00: Or he'll be looking at something on the TV walking this way, and there's a wall.
SPEAKER_00: Maverick, please turn your head straight.
SPEAKER_00: Or sometimes sometimes he'll be looking at me and there's a cliff, and I say, Maverick, please watch your step.
SPEAKER_00: You know, that's the same with the Christian life.
SPEAKER_00: If we keep our eyes on fear, we'll drift toward panic.
SPEAKER_00: If we keep our eyes on bitterness, we'll drift toward hardness.
SPEAKER_00: If we keep our eyes on disappointment, we'll drift toward discouragement.
SPEAKER_00: But if you keep our if you keep your eyes upon the Lord, he will steady your soul.
SPEAKER_00: Jehoshaphat said, Our eyes are upon thee.
SPEAKER_00: That was a commitment.
SPEAKER_00: It was if he was saying, Lord, we're not looking anywhere else.
SPEAKER_00: We're looking only to you.
SPEAKER_00: And I think there's somebody in this room that needs that tonight.
SPEAKER_00: Take your eyes off of uncertainty and put them back on God.
SPEAKER_00: Take your eyes off of weakness and put them back on God.
SPEAKER_00: Take your eyes off the worst case scenario.
SPEAKER_00: Because by the way, usually the worst case scenario doesn't even happen.
SPEAKER_00: Put your eyes on God.
SPEAKER_00: Look to him.
SPEAKER_00: Look to his character, look to his promises, look to his faithfulness, look to his power, look to his mercy, and look to his son.
SPEAKER_00: You may not know what to do, but you can know where to look.
SPEAKER_00: Jehoshaphat did not know the plan yet.
SPEAKER_00: The battle had not been won yet.
SPEAKER_00: But Judah was already in the right position because her eyes were on the Lord.
SPEAKER_00: Sometimes before God changes the situation, he changes the direction of our gaze.
SPEAKER_00: Lord, our eyes are upon thee.
SPEAKER_00: Listen, this is where peace is found.
SPEAKER_00: This is where strength is found.
SPEAKER_00: This is where wisdom is found.
SPEAKER_00: This is where help is found.
SPEAKER_00: When you do not know what to do, look to the one who does.
SPEAKER_00: When you don't, when you don't know where to go, look to the one who leads.
SPEAKER_00: When you don't know how it will all work out, look to the one who already knows the end from the beginning.
SPEAKER_00: The commitment was to gaze upon God.
SPEAKER_00: And you may not have the answer tonight, and you may not know the next step, but and you may not see forward, but you can say what Jehoshaphat said, neither know we know, neither know we what to do, but our eyes are upon thee.
SPEAKER_00: Listen, that's not defeat, that is faith, because the safest place for your eyes to be is upon the Lord.
SPEAKER_00: Where are you looking tonight?
SPEAKER_00: Where's your gaze?
SPEAKER_00: Where's your focus?
SPEAKER_00: Looking unto Him.
SPEAKER_00: Looking onto Jesus.
SPEAKER_00: You know what I've figured out in my life for the last several years?
SPEAKER_00: Just stop looking at everything around me and look to God.
SPEAKER_00: Listen, I can't control anything, and you can't control anything.
SPEAKER_00: But we can trust in the one who does.
SPEAKER_00: What to do when you don't know what to do?
SPEAKER_00: Our eyes are gazed upon.
SPEAKER_00: Father, we thank you for your word.
SPEAKER_00: Lord, we thank you for the story.
SPEAKER_00: Lord, we thank you for this truth, Lord, that Jehoshaphat set for us a reminder.
SPEAKER_00: Lord, we know when we don't know what to do.
SPEAKER_00: When things are out of our control, when circumstances don't make sense to us, we can look unto thee.
SPEAKER_00: Help us, Lord, to keep that reminder.
SPEAKER_00: To keep that truth in our hearts.
SPEAKER_00: Every head bowed, every eye closed.
SPEAKER_00: Can we sing that song?
SPEAKER_00: Jesus to you, we lift our eyes, turn your eyes upon you.