June 26 2016 Receiving Help For Our Problems

RECEIVING HELP FOR OUR PROBLEMS

2 Chronicles 20:1-30

Verse 1 – After this, the Moabites, and the Ammonites, with some of the Meunites, came to make war on Jehoshaphat.

Seven Ways to Handle Your Problem

STEP ONE Identify the problem.

Verse 2-  “Some men came to Jehoshaphat and said, “A vast army is coming against you from Edom.”

Verse 3 – He was alarmed.

STEP TWO Take your problems to the Lord.

Verse 3-4 -  “Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the Lord. He proclaimed a fast and had all the people come together to seek help from the Lord.

• Remind yourself who God is. (vs. 6)

Are you not......?

• Remind yourself what God has done. (vs. 7)

Did you not......?

• Now ask God to do it. (vs. 12)

Will you not....?

STEP THREE Admit your inadequacy.

Verse 12 – We have no power to face this vast army.

Zechariah 4:6 – It's not y might, nor by power, but by (God's) Spirit.

STEP FOUR Learn to rely on God’s resources.

Verse 12 – But our eyes are upon you.
    
STEP FIVE You must relax in faith.

Verse 15 – Do not be afraid or discouraged because of the vast army for the battle is not yours, but God's.

Colossians 2:6– As you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in Him.

1 Corinthians 15:57 – Thanks be to God He gives us the victory.

2 Chronicles 20:17 – You will not have to fight this battle. Take your positions and stand firm.

HOW TO STAND FIRM

• Stand on God’s character.
• Stand on God’s truth.

STEP SIX Get some support.

Verse 13 – All the men of Judah, with their wives and children and little ones stood before the Lord.

STEP SEVEN Thank God in advance.

Verse 21 – Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the Lord and to praise Him as they went out at the head of the army.

THE RESULTS

Verse 22 God gave the victory.

Verses 25-26 They lived in the valley of blessing.

Verses 29-30 It was a great testimony.

September 22 2013 Trusting God With Impossibilities

Trusting God With Impossibilities

Verse 1 - After this, the Moabites and Ammonites with some of the Meunites came to make war on Jehoshaphat.

Step One: Tune into God.
Verses 3-4 - Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the Lord, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah.  The people of Judah came together to seek help from the Lord.

Step Two:  Pray about your problem.
Verse 5 - Then King Jehoshaphat went and stood before them and prayed aloud.

Verses 5-12:
•  Remind yourself who God is.  (Verse 6)
    Are you not……?
•  Remind yourself what God has done.  (Verse 7)  
    Did you not……?
•  Now ask God to do it again.  (Verse 12)
    Will you not……?

Step Three:  Admit your need for help.
Verse 12a - O our God, will you not judge them?  For we have no power to fail this vast army that is attacking us.

Step Four:  Focus on God, not your problem.
Verse 12c - We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon You!

God’s Response:  The battle belongs to God.
Verse 15 - Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army.  For the battle is not yours, but God’s.

Step Five:  Get some support.
Verse 13 - All the men of Judah, with their wives and children and little ones, stood before the Lord.

Step Six:  Relax in Faith.
Verse 17 - You will not have to fight this battle.  Take up your positions, stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you.

What do I stand firm on?  (Verse 20b)
• God’s character.

• God’s Word.

Step Seven:  Thank God in advance.
Verse 21 - Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the Lord and to praise Him as they went out at the head of the army.

The Results

Verse 22:  God gave the victory.

Verses 25-26 - There was a great blessing.

Verses 29-30 - Great testimony to unbelievers.

February 6 2011 How Can I Overcome Discouragement

*no sermon audio*

How Can I Overcome Discouragement?

(Nehemiah 4:6-14 - So we rebuilt the wall till all of it reached half its height, for the people worked with all their heart. But when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites and the men of Ashdod heard that the repairs to Jerusalem's walls had gone ahead and that the gaps were being closed, they were very angry. They all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and stir up trouble against it. But we prayed to our God and posted a guard day and night to meet this threat. Meanwhile, the people in Judah said, "The strength of the laborers is giving out, and there is so much rubble that we cannot rebuild the wall." Also our enemies said, "Before they know it or see us, we will be right there among them and will kill them and put an end to the work." Then the Jews who lived near them came and told us ten times over, "Wherever you turn, they will attack us." Therefore I stationed some of the people behind the lowest points of the wall at the exposed places, posting them by families, with their swords, spears and bows. After I looked things over, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, "Don't be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes.")

Verse 10 - The strength of the laborers is giving out

I. Causes of discouragement

1. We get tired

(Verse 10 - Meanwhile, the people in Judah said, "The strength of the laborers is giving out")

(Verse 6 - So we rebuilt the wall till all of it reached half its height, for the people worked with all their heart.)

2. Frustration

(Verse 10 - "and there is so much rubble that we cannot rebuild the wall.")

What's the rubbish in your life that needs attention?

3. Failure

(Verse 10 - "we cannot rebuild the wall.")

The difference between winners and losers is winnders see it as a temporary set back.

4. Fear

(Verse 11 - Also our enemies said, "Before they know it or see us, we will be right there among them and will kill them and put an end to the work.")

(Verse 12 - Then the Jews who lived near them came and told us ten times over, "Wherever you turn, they will attack us.")

II. The cures to discouragement

1. Find a better way

(Verse 13 - Therefore I stationed some of the people behind the lowest points of the wall at the exposed places, posting them by families, with their swords, spears and bows.)

(Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 - Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.)

2. Remember your Lord

(Verse 14 - After I looked things over, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, "Don't be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes.")

Three ways to remember the Lord

• His goodness in the past
• His closeness in the present
• His Power in the future

3. Resisting it

(Verse 14 - After I looked things over, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, "Don't be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes.")

(James 4:2 - You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God.)