WHEN DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES TEST YOUR FAITH

LESSON 55

INTRODUCTION

My dear friend Frank Eiklor asked me to share one of my lessons of life with you. Like you, I have been in many difficult circumstances in this life. When the tough times come, I always turn to this passage in 2 Chronicles 20 and remind myself how great is our God. My prayer is that this brief outline will help you in your struggles when the circumstances of life seem overwhelming.

WORSHIP INSTEAD OF WORRY 

“Go to the Lord for help and worship Him continually.”  Psalm 105:4 (TEV) 

WORSHIP IS...

1) ASKING; 2) BELIEVING; 3) CONFESSING; 4) DEPENDING; 5) EXPRESSING;  6) FINDING. 

The Moabites, the Ammonites, and the Meunites, joined forces to make war against Jehoshaphat.  He received this intelligence report: “A huge force is on its way from beyond the Dead Sea to fight you.  There's no time to waste.”  2 Chronicles 20:1, 2 (Mes)

1) ASK ­­GOD FOR HELP

“Jehoshaphat was afraid, so he decided to ask the Lord what to do.”  2 Chronicles 20:3 (NCV)

“The entire country of Judah united in seeking God's help—they came from all the cities to pray to God.”  2 Chronicles 20:4 (Mes)  

2) BELIEVE ­­GOD CAN HANDLE YOUR SITUATION

“Jehoshaphat went and stood before them and prayed aloud…” 2 Chronicles 20:5b-6a (TEV)

REMIND MYSELF OF WHO GOD IS

 “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!” v 6 (NIV)             

 REMIND MYSELF ­­OF WHAT GOD HAS DONE

 “Didn’t You drive out those who lived in this land when Your people arrived?”  v 7 (NLT) 

3) CONFESS OUR INADEQUECY­ 

 “We are powerless against this mighty army that is about to attack us.  We do not know what to do...” 2 Chronicles 20:12 (NLT) 

4) DEPEND ­­TOTALLY ON GOD’S HELP

We do not know what to do, BUT we are looking to You for help. “All the men of Judah stood before the Lord with their little ones, wives, and children.”  2 Chronicles 20:12b-13 (NLT)  

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!”  2 Chronicles 20:15 (NIV) 

“You won't need to fight in this battle.  Just stand strong in your places, and you will see the Lord save you.”  2 Chronicles 20:17 (NCV) 

5) EXPRESS ­­PRAISE IN ADVANCE

“Then the king chose men to be singers to the Lord, to praise him because He is holy and wonderful.  As they marched in front of the army, they said, Thank the Lord, because His love continues forever.”  2 Chronicles 20:21 (NCV)  

“At the moment they began to sing and to praise, the Lord caused the armies of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir to begin  fighting among themselves, and they destroyed each other!”                 2 Chronicles  20:22 (LB) 

 6) FIND ­­GOD’S BLESSING IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES      

“When the army of Judah arrived at the lookout point in the wilderness, there were dead bodies lying on the ground for as far as they could see...  King Jehoshaphat and his men went out to gather the plunder.  They found vast amounts of equipment, clothing, and other valuables—more than they could carry.  There was so much plunder it took them three days just to collect it all!  On the fourth day everyone gathered in the Valley of Blessing, which got its name that day because the people praised and thanked the Lord there.” 2 Chronicles 20:24-26 (NLT)  

“Then, led by Jehoshaphat, all the men of Judah returned joyfully to Jerusalem, for the Lord had given them cause to rejoice ...”  2 Chronicles  20:27 (NIV)