This past weekend I preached on an incident in the life of Jehoshaphat from 2 Chronicles 20. It was more than a sermon; it was a look back. You see, I heard the outline of this message in 1987. I attended a Pastor’s Conference in Washington state that Spring which changed my life. But not without some pain. I was attending that conference as a man who was hurting. A man who had just been asked to leave the church he had pastored for 3 years. The reason I was given was that I would not preach what they wanted me to preach and I chose to attend that conference even though they told me I couldn’t (I paid my own way). In all honesty, there was some arrogance and belligerence on my part as well.
Anyway, I heard the outline of this message while there. I saved it for 29 years in my files…looking for the perfect time to bring it out and preach it. I had tried it once before but it was a dud. A royal dud. So I put it away…until the time came when I felt God “released” me to preach it. That time is now as I come close to finishing my series on Second Chances. Here are the five steps Jehoshaphat took to make the Impossible a Possible. I’m going to “bare bones” it with the main thought and the Scripture.
I. Seek The Lord Not Men- Verses 1-4
II. Acknowledge God’s Unlimited Power- Verses 5-9. I added Isaiah 40:12-14, 25-26, 28-31 for more emphasis.
III. Face The Task Recognizing The Hopelessness Without God- Verses 10-12. I also used 2 Corinthians 12 for clarification.
IV. We Need to Remember Whose Battle It Is- Verses 15-17. We get ready. We prepare but ultimately the battle is not ours.
V. Praise Him in Advance- Verses 19-22. Principle: God inhabits the praise of His people.
It is totally possible others have used this same outline. Who says there are any original thoughts? 🙂 But I do hope perhaps it might help you or someone you know who may be facing a seemingly impossible situation.
Hi Bill! Boy, life is funny, isn’t it? You held on to this subject for almost 30 years, and now you are really ready to preach it.
I’m going to copy the Scripture passages here so I can use them in my prayer time. Of course, I want to be sure that I am putting Him first, not taking everything as if it’s my own. ‘The battle isn’t mine’…so comforting.
Blessings,
Ceil
Yeah life is funny. Amazing how that works. 🙂 Glad it was helpful.
The lessons from Jehoshaphat are invaluable. So many times, we are tempted to do things or face challenges on our own when first, we should turn to God, knowing the battle belongs to Him. Thanks for this inspiration today, Bill!
Blessings!
Exactly the point Martha. And you’re welcome.
I am with Ceil, great outline for the battle we face yesterday, today, tomorrow. I am going to take it to bible study tomorrow night and share it with the women. So many struggling with different issue but the outline will help them no matter their issue. Blessings.
Hope it helps the ladies in your Bible study Betty. I’m honored you would think enough of it to share it.
God’s word does not come up empty, does it? I love that He used this message in your life, and then prompted you to bring it *out of the vault* at just this time. Perhaps He knew it was also a good time for your heart to hear it anew, too.
I have to remind myself all the time that the battle is the Lord’s. Yes, I do believe He expects us to do our due diligence, but often He counsels us to stand back.
Let’s listen to Him wisely.
For my impossible is HIM-possible!
GOD BLESS!
I agree Sharon. NEVER comes up empty. And I certainly believe in a God who specializes in the impossible.
Sounds like a great outline for a sermon, Bill. I’m sure it reached many hearts yesterday, an apt word in season. Love this point particularly: “We get ready. We prepare but ultimately the battle is not ours.” So thankful for that!
Thanks Lisa. I’m praying it reached hearts (I had a few say it did). And I like that thought also.
I prefer to face my battles alone. I have a great deal of confidence in myself. I think that self-confidence is what most people lack. I think religion is a way to abdicate that reliance on oneself and take full and total responsibility for the outcome. The “I failed so God must have a different plan” is so not how I think. The battle is my battle and God or whatever one thinks that is will not solve the problem. But I do think that the Church Community can rally around a hurting person to make a difference. That’s not the supernatural at work.
I realize as a Deist you do feel you can fight your battles alone Jeff. As a Theist, I cannot take that approach. I believe I need help in winning the battle against sin. I don’t abdicate anything since I believe I am the one who fails. So I HAVE to take full responsibility for something not working out. Will I say that sometimes God has a better plan when my plans fail? Yes. But when I fail or fall, it is never God’s fault. As for you final example, that could be true. Except when God’s people do help we bring the supernatural with us.
Don’t you love when you tuck something special away because you just KNOW that someday it will be the exact word that you need?
And then that day comes, and there it is, just waiting to be unfurled.
Super, Bill. Praise God!
Yeah…amazing how God works things sometimes. I love it when He does that.
You know I appreciate your honesty, Bill. That’s what opens the eyes and ears of others. Great and powerful thoughts. Much wisdom.
What a great reminder. Thanks for saving and pondering it over the years. And so glad you were given many more years to preach and serve howbeit in a new place. We all need a mulligan on occasion and thankfully by God’s grace, we get them as needed. He is always greater than our circumstances. Glory!