SERMON SPOTLIGHT * 3/24/24
“Bad news” is an inevitable part of our life on this earth but let’s look to see how a King of Judah, named Jehoshaphat, responded to uncertainty and some devastating news. Below is an outline summary of the sermon for your further study and deeper reflection.
TEXT: 2 Chronicles 20:1-24
TITLE: God is Trustworthy: The Prayer of Jehoshaphat
PREACHER: Trey Richardson
BIG IDEA: God is trustworthy, Trust God and Pray
POINTS:
1. When news brings fear (1-4)
2. When Fear brings prayer (5-12)
3. When Prayer brings praise (13-24)
SERMON EXCERPTS:
All quotes are taken from the pastor’s notes.
”Through this passage, we want to see that it is possible to live our lives in a world full of uncertainty and not be controlled by the fears that come with it. We need to know that it is possible to live our lives in 2024 in a way that keeps our thoughts and minds above the fray of fear, regardless of what is going on, and regardless of the news that comes our way. It is possible because of where we place our trust.”
“A great multitude made of three different nations - the Moabites, the Ammonites, and some of the Meunites - were discovered marching toward Judah to destroy it. How many were coming is unclear, but what is clear is that it is a ‘multitude’ or a ‘great horde’, are terms used to designate a numerically superior army.”
“How did Jehoshaphat respond to the news he received about these three different nations, now combining their armies, coming to destroy Judah? He was facing the genocide of his nation. He was the King and leadership in this was up to him. His decisions would shape the nation’s success or the nation’s demise.”
“Jehoshaphat was genuinely afraid. There was an overwhelming force that was coming, but what he did in his fear is important to see - Jehoshaphat then took his fear to the Lord in prayer.”
“He decided to seek the Lord. The phrase ‘he set his face’ to seek the Lord indicates his full attention, and commitment was given to seek the Lord. It was a decision to go to God with his need in prayer. His decision to pray was a godly result of his intense feeling of fear. Fear itself will tempt us to recoil into ourselves, running from the source of that fear, trying to figure it out on our own, just talking it out with others, or distracting ourselves with something else. But Jehosaphat’s decision was based on the truth he knew and believed … that God was his and his nation’s only true rescue and refuge.”
“Jehoshaphat led the nation in prayer. He began with praise for God, acknowledging his authority exercised from heaven, his rule over the kingdoms, and his sovereign power. In his prayer, he then reviewed his history of how God drove out the nations before them as they occupied the promised land. He calls on God to defend his people again against the invading enemy trying to remove Judah from the land God has given to his people for their possession.”
“Listen to the attitude, his approach to solving this national issue and the way that Jehoshaphat expressed his trust in God. He could have put his eyes in so many different places at this moment, but he didn’t.
He could have looked to other nations to become his ally, but he didn’t.
He could have looked to the invading army’s vast superiority and just surrendered, or negotiated a peace treaty, but he didn’t.
He looked to God and kept his eyes on His Lord Jehovah.”
“Remember, we have more reasons to trust God than Jehoshaphat did: We have a nearer God and a better prophet. We do not have to go to a place to meet with God. He is with us. Yes, we have full access through Christ to God the Father in heaven.”
“Jehoshaphat did not stop when he heard the prophecy and the promise of deliverance, he instructed them to now praise God through singing, praising God for this promised deliverance. They had not experienced it yet but trusted God with their lives and futures. Their trust in God that led them to pray now leads them to express the assurance of the coming victory in song!”
ADDITIONAL SCRIPTURE:
1 Corinthians 6:19
Romans 8:34
Romans 8:26–27
John 16:33
Matthew 28:20
2 Corinthians 12:9
Acts 16:25–27
Proverbs 3:5
Colossians 4:2
QUOTES:
Joni Rickson-Tada- “It may only be seven o’clock in the evening when I am put to bed, and I may not go to sleep until eleven. That leaves me with hours each day to still myself….and pray. Sometimes I’m amazed that, from my bed, I can help set into motion the cogs and wheels of God’s workings in the life of the world. Through my prayers, I may change the destiny of a life – or even a nation. Lying on my bed, I can hasten the day of the Lord’s return. I don’t move a muscle in those hours, but I help move the hand of God here and abroad.”
Charles Spurgeon - "There is help in God for your present trial, whatever form it assumes. Infinite wisdom understands it, and infinite power can help you through it.”
APPLICATION:
Q. How are we tempted to respond when we hear news that brings genuine fear into our lives? What action does our first decision lead us to take?
We will not have the calamity that Jehoshaphat experienced, but in 2024 how often will news come your way from a doctor visit, a news item on TV, or from a phone call, or seeing a Facebook post, or from a text message, from Instagram, or even your own thoughts, that brings news that starts a cascading response in your heart of fear or anxiety.
Where does fear lead you? Let it lead you to seek the Lord, to prayer as Jehoshaphat did. Let us be like Jehoshaphat, and let fear, lead us to seek the Lord, and encourage those around us to do the same. Let’s trust God and Pray.
There are many challenges that are before us, let us trust God with them, pray to God through them, and praise God in the midst of them!