There is a lot going on right now. The economy, joblessness, careers and business dreams that have gone up in smoke, investments gone bankrupt, instability and violence in nations around the globe, marriages and families under attack, despair walking unchecked down the streets like some cruel bully picking on the helpless. My friends, you may be too young to remember (I’d like to think I’m too young to remember) but this stuff that’s going on right now has all happened before.
King Solomon declared in the first chapter of Ecclesiastes (1:9) “What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.” If anyone takes the time to read their Bibles, everything we are going through right now, real people just like you and I have endured; they lived it. We have the advantage of seeing how they got it right and how they blew it. We can see which responses brought God’s blessing or reproach.
Believer, Jesus said “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart, for I have overcome the world.” He’s talking about victory. I run into people, Christians, and you ask, “How are you doing?” (Well, I’m surviving…we’re getting by…) Jesus didn’t die on a cross for us to just survive the battles of life, He went to hell and back victoriously over sin and death so that we could live lives of victory.
I know times are tough. I know there is not one person in our church family that is not going through some trouble of varying degrees. And by the very fact that MtnVu was founded with a heartbeat for being on the frontlines, it’s no wonder we are going to be attacked. It’s not the soldier working in the rear ranks that is the immediate threat to the enemy. The one’s being shot at are the ones closest to the fight. It’s tough for a company commander to lead his men onto the beach and watch them taking casualties for the sake of gaining ground. Discouragement and panic can start to paralyze them. The captain is the one who chooses not to react, but rather to respond. And he hollers out to his men, “Let’s go! We are not going to stay on this beach! We are moving forward!”
And while it would be easy to begin to think “Man what is going on, something must be wrong, why can’t we be more like those churches where everything is just going right with everybody?” My spirit has resolved to say, “Lord, I welcome these challenges, thank you that You feel confident to bring them to us, thank you Lord, for the opportunity to connect real life with real truth to bring real freedom. Thank you Lord that we are obviously making the devil upset.”
The world is not looking for the perfect church. It’s looking for a different church. The difference in not that we as Christians are immune to troubled times; the difference lies in how we respond to those times when they come.
Gang, God’s Word clearly tells that even at the most discouraging times the world has ever known, even then we are on the brink of the most powerful move of God upon the hearts of man the world has ever seen. Church I believe we are on the edge of our finest hour. The enemy is doing all he can to hinder or even destroy the purpose of God in our lives. We have a choice to make as Christians. Husbands, wives- you have a choice to make in your marriages and families. The enemy is always going to be trying to interfere. Are you going be paralyzed by some fearful reaction to what’s happening in your life? Or are you going to respond in such a way that opens the door for God’s victory in your life?
And as we study God’s Word it’s not complicated: stop doing this, start doing this.
Today, we begin with the first response that brings victory in troubled times:
Stop complaining.
God had used Moses to lead the children of Israel out of the captivity of Egypt and generations of cruel slavery, and He did it with some pretty spectacular ways. God hasn’t yet brought the Messiah and the ultimate “fresh start” experience, but for Israel at this moment, they’ve kinda been born again. There’s a journey to the Promised Land. My friends, there’s always a journey to the Promised Land. There’s challenges. What is Israel’s response?
Exodus
15:24 “And the people complained against Moses, saying, "What shall we drink?"
16:2 “Then the whole congregation of the children of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness.”
17:3 “and the people complained against Moses, and said, "Why is it you have brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?"
Numbers
14:2 “And all the children of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron, and the whole congregation said to them, "If only we had died in the land of Egypt! Or if only we had died in this wilderness!”
Deuteronomy 1:27 “and you complained in your tents, and said, '…the Lord hates us…”
Do you see a pattern here?
Numbers 1:11 “Now when the people complained, it displeased the Lord; for the Lord heard it, and His anger was aroused.” Complaining is sin, and it never results in a good crop for our lives or our circumstances. Complaining is the soil wherein fear, resentment, and doubt are sown.
Christians, we have all been guilty of this choice at one time or another.
How many of us have:
? Complained to others about our problems instead of talking to God about them.
? Complained because we didn’t have things other people had.
? Complained about leaders at work, school, or church and by doing so allowed a spirit of rebellion against those that God had put over us
? Complained and blamed others for our own troubles, or failed to recognize that we’ve brought stuff on ourselves by our own disobedience.
When Israel complained, they were in reality saying, “God, we don’t trust You. We don’t believe You are who You say You are. We don’t believe You will do what You say You will do.” And that lack of faith shuts down God’s blessing for Israel, and it’s the same with us. They thought they had lack? Complaining led them into a wilderness of lack that cost them not only the Promised Land, it cost that generation their very lives.
We as the Body of Christ cannot make the same mistake and expect to see victory in our lives.
Stop complaining. START PRAISING.
Praise is more than the antidote to complaining; praise is the key to victory to any-ANY battle you may be facing. Let’s look at just one really cool example of the power of praise in the lives of God’s people. Turn to 2 Chronicles 20 as we read about the leadership of King Jehoshaphat and the kingdom of Judah. As we join the account, Jehoshaphat is about 30 years into his reign as king. He’s made some Godly decisions, and worked to remove the false idol worship in the nation. He had appointed priests to help ensure that God’s directives are being facilitated through a national religious education program. He had many military victories. Here’s a leader who’s doing everything right, but he about to face one of the most challenging confrontations of his life and the life of God’s people.
Verse 1 “After this, the Moabites and Ammonites with some of the Meunites came to make war on Jehoshaphat. 2 Some men came and told Jehoshaphat, "A vast army is coming against you from Edom, from the other side of the Sea. It is already in Hazazon Tamar" (that is, En Gedi).”
I. EVEN THE GODLY ARE NOT IMMUNE TO ATTACK BY THE ENEMY.
Why are they coming to make war? Because they hate Jehoshaphat because God is blessing him, because they see Judah as a threat. And the devil sees you as a threat. The more you serve the Lord, the more you clean house, the more you set yourself on making Him high and lifted up before men—the devil is going to bring trouble with one agenda—to destroy you by overwhelming you.
II. THE FIRST STEP OF VICTORY IS FOUND IN OUR INITIAL RESPONSE.
¾Look at Jehoshaphat’s response: Verse 3 “And Jehoshaphat feared.” The NIV says he was alarmed. Gang, sometimes fear is a good thing because it gets our attention real quick. Fear says trouble is headed my way. The word used in Hebrew is yaw-ray' and it was used in the Old Testament for two meanings: A) to be fearful, dreadful. B) a holy fear and reverence for God
There are times when we are going to have the first kind of fear. But if we have the second, the holy, Godly fear inspired by His awesome power and abilities, my friend, your response to the attack is going to be different.
Vs 3 again) “Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the Lord, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah.”
He went to God first. He fasted and led his people to fast.
4 The people of Judah came together to seek help from the Lord; indeed, they came from every town in Judah to seek him. 5 Then Jehoshaphat stood up in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem at the temple of the Lord in the front of the new courtyard 6 and said: (Jehoshaphat prayed to God) Let’s examine the elements of this powerful prayer---
¾ Verse 6) "O Lord, God of our fathers, are you not the God who is in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. Power and might are in your hand, and no one can withstand you.”
We see a declaration of God’s power. Do you think the king is saying anything to God that He don’t already know? We’ll see in a few minutes why this has so much importance to our lives as we make the choice to praise.
¾ Verse 7) O our God, did you not drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend? 8 They have lived in it and have built in it a sanctuary for your Name, saying, 9 'If calamity comes upon us, whether the sword of judgment, or plague or famine, we will stand in your presence before this temple that bears your Name and will cry out to you in our distress, and you will hear us and save us.'
We see a reality of God’s faithful presence.
¾ Verse 10) "But now here are men from Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir, whose territory you would not allow Israel to invade when they came from Egypt; so they turned away from them and did not destroy them. 11 See how they are repaying us by coming to drive us out of the possession you gave us as an inheritance.
We see a reminder of God’s promise. God has made a covenant with His people going back to Abraham. They may be a stiff-necked people, but they are God’s people, and this land that is coming under attack is God-given real estate. And by the way, to this day, Israel and the land promised to her is still of covenant concern to God. My friend, He’s made a promise for your life as well—you are precious to God—you can stand on those promises He’s breathed through His Word and into your life.
¾ Verse 12) " O our God, will you not judge them? For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you."
We see a humble reliance of God’s provision. Here’s where a lot of Christians would set themselves up for defeat. We’re not willing to admit to ourselves or anyone else, even to God Himself, that we can’t handle this. This is the king talking. He’s the leader. We cannot do this. We have no power. We are clueless. Lord, our eyes are upon you.
Verse 13- “All the men of Judah, with their wives and children and little ones, stood there before the Lord.” It doesn’t say how long they stood there. But they didn’t move until the Lord gave them a word from Him. (Are we willing to stand there in humble submission for as long as it takes?)
III. THE BATTLE IS NOT OURS, BUT GOD’S.
Verse 14- Then the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite and descendant of Asaph (was the chief worship musician under King David), as he stood in the assembly. 15 He said: "Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the Lord says to you: 'Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God's. 16 Tomorrow march down against them. They will be climbing up by the Pass of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the gorge in the Desert of Jeruel. 17 You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.'"
Please note that this word didn’t come from God to the king to the people. It came to a man like you or me standing in the crowd. Mind you this man has praise and worship in his DNA, there is a mantle of powerful praise going back to the glorious days when David danced before the Lord!
¾Notice what he says, “The battle is not ours to begin with. It belongs to God. Don’t be afraid. Don’t be discouraged. Go on down there to meet them, here is where they will be.”
¾Don’t fight this battle. Just go where I tell you to go, do what I tell you to do, and watch what happens. And by the way, I will be with you.
Why is it we just can’t seem to get this? Our practice is to fight the battle our way on our terms. What do you think would have happened if these folks had done what we normally do? They would have been wiped off the map, because God wouldn’t have been with them. And for a lot of Christians, the enemy is wiping up the floor with you because you’re trying to find victory your way or the world’s way, and it ain’t happening.
God speaks through a man with a heart of worship. God is so cool. There is always a behind the scenes reason that He picks a person to speak or do anything for Him. He gets done and Jehoshaphat hears this, and he could be like, “Who is this guy?” He could have gotten wrapped up in pride, he could have taken mattes in his own hands, or just kept standing there paralyzed with fear, but look at verse 18.
Vs. 18- “Upon hearing this, Jehoshaphat bowed with his face to the ground, and all the people of Judah and Jerusalem fell down in worship before the Lord. 19 Then some Levites from the Kohathites and Korahites stood up and praised the Lord, the God of Israel, with a very loud voice.
You want to know how to find God’s victory for your life? It starts on our face to the ground. That is where we find the heart of God. That’s where worship begins. That’s not a very dignified position. Try doing it your way and failing and see what kind of undignified position you find yourself in. Verse 19 says, then, they stood up and praised with a very loud voice. Sounds extreme doesn’t it? That’s what praise is—it’s extreme because God is worthy of everything we’ve got—every bit of humility—every bit of passion!
IV. THE POWER OF PRAISE GIVES THE VICTORY.
Verse 20 “Early in the morning they left for the Desert of Tekoa. (They didn’t tarry) As they set out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, "Listen to me, Judah and people of Jerusalem! Have faith in the Lord your God and you will be upheld; have faith in his prophets and you will be successful." 21 After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the Lord and to praise him for the splendor of his holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying: "Give thanks to the Lord, for his love endures forever."
He sends the worshippers ahead of the army. He didn’t send the warriors with their swords and shields, he sends the men’s choir as the spearhead of the army.
It wasn’t just that they sang, but it was about what they sang, “Thank you Lord, we’re headed out to be the first to meet men who want to kill us, oh, but Your love endures forever.”
That’s crazy worship! That’s “It don’t make sense, but I’m praising you anyway” kind of worship! That’s a worship that not only communicates but also demonstrates “God, I trust You! I may not feel like it, but I believe you are about to do a miracle; I make the choice to rejoice!”
Verse 22- “As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated. 23 The men of Ammon and Moab rose up against the men from Mount Seir to destroy and annihilate them. After they finished slaughtering the men from Seir, they helped to destroy one another. 24 When the men of Judah came to the place that overlooks the desert and looked toward the vast army, they saw only dead bodies lying on the ground; no one had escaped.
My friend, Satan has no defense against our praises. When we praise, it is like metal screeching glass in the heart of the enemy. The devil and his demonic spirits go into confused panic, they start turning on one another, “we gotta get out of here!” (Fighting with night goggles; praise turns on the light)
By the time the army of God showed up, there was no battle left to fight. God gave them the victory—complete victory without ever breaking a sweat or confronting the enemy face to face. And all they did was praise and do some singing? Christians, when we question the God’s promise for victory either we are under-estimating God, or we are ignoring God’s Word.
If there is no victory in the life of a blood-bought, born-again child of the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, there is a problem, and the problem is not with God!
God not only wants to give you the victory, but blessing on top of it!
Verse 25 So Jehoshaphat and his men went to carry off their plunder, and they found among them a great amount of equipment and clothing and also articles of value--more than they could take away. There was so much plunder that it took three days to collect it. 26 On the fourth day they assembled in the Valley of Beracah, where they praised the Lord. This is why it is called the Valley of Beracah to this day. 27 Then, led by Jehoshaphat, all the men of Judah and Jerusalem returned joyfully to Jerusalem, for the Lord had given them cause to rejoice over their enemies. 28 They entered Jerusalem and went to the temple of the Lord with harps and lutes and trumpets. 29 The fear of God came upon all the kingdoms of the countries when they heard how the Lord had fought against the enemies of Israel. 30 And the kingdom of Jehoshaphat was at peace, for his God had given him rest on every side.
Is there anybody here today that wants to experience this kind of victory? God not only gives victory but the total peace and confidence that go with it. How can praise do this? It can’t be that simple!
Maybe that’s what provoked Paul to say in 1 Corinthians 1:27 “But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty.”
Next week we will look at the Power of Praise and how it works, but I want to close today’s message with one simple word study by looking at the BATTLE CRY OF PRAISE: HALLELUJAH! The most commonly used word for praise in the Bible is Hallelujah. Hallelujah is pronounced the same in every language; it’s a word of praise that transcends cultures and languages.
We have in this marvelous word a combination of two Hebrew words.
Hallel- “to boast, to brag on, to laud, to make a show, even to the point of looking foolish.”
Jah- is simply the shortened name for Jehovah God.
Thus Hallelujah became the spontaneous outcry of one who was excited about God. There are some fifty-five words used for praise in scripture, Hallelujah is used only twenty-four times, all of them in the Psalms.
It seems that Hallelujah is reserved as a special response of extreme exuberance and exaltation. The very word itself rings out and resonates like some instrument of praise.
Let me close with this little observation: With the two Hebrew words we have hallel and jah. All that is needed to make it complete is “U.” It takes someone like you to make two words a spontaneous response of praise and worship.
We have a choice today. When troubled times come we can choose to live in the wilderness of complaining, or we can choose to live in the Promised Land of victory found through the power of praise.