Great influence

If we surrender and set ourselves determinedly, as if a vital need, to seek the Lord, we will have great influence on those around us...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXb7-WommBY&feature=youtu.be

In Part 1 of our look at 2 Chronicles 20, God showed us, through Jehoshaphat, that whether as a king, within our family or in our community, if we surrender and set ourselves determinedly, as if a vital need, to seek the Lord, we will have great influence on those around us. By watching how we walk with the Lord and how we establish Him in and around our life, others will, ultimately, seek the Lord, longing for Him with all their heart too. Jehoshaphat took a nation, in Judah, that was worshiping false gods and set their face firmly on the one true God. It is one of the beautiful things in Chapter 20. However, as I said before, it is not the only one. As we saw in Part 1, Jehoshaphat was about to go into battle but he did not ready a single troop. Instead, he prayed. Admitting to the Lord that he did not know what to do but his and all of Judah’s eyes were on Him.

So there they stood. Jehoshaphat, all of Judah, their infants, wives and children. This “great multitude” is bearing down on them and their move is to stand, fully surrendered, before the Lord. We see, though, that their surrender moved God because the Spirit of God moved upon a man named Jahaziel to speak. 2 Chronicles 20:15, “He said, Listen carefully, all [you people of] Judah, and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and King Jehoshaphat. The LORD says this to you: ‘Be not afraid or dismayed at this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s.” What a mighty, mighty verse. You see, Jahaziel was moved by the Spirit because of what God saw Jehoshaphat lead himself and all of Judah to do. Surrender. And apparently, they for real, wholeheartedly did it. Because God didn’t just say, like He said to Joshua, “Be strong and courageous for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go”. No. God said “Be not afraid or dismayed at this great multitude, FOR THE BATTLE IS NOT YOURS, BUT GOD’S”. I mean, in some ways, I’ve been looking at my battles all wrong. I don’t need to just take God INTO the battle with me. I need to hand over the whole dang thing!  Jehoshaphat realized he, nor his kingdom, stood a chance against the “great multitude” that was heading their way.

So instead of freaking out, trying to gather up enough troops, weapons, or gear, He surrendered. Not to the enemy. To God. How often do I, do we, look at the “great multitude” heading our way and freak out? Trying to make sure we have a big enough army to take it on? Gathering supplies and readying our weapons? I go into the battle sincerely asking the Lord to go with me. And honestly, there are going to be those times when the Lord does go INTO the battle with us. Just like Joshua. Revealing Himself through the battle. However, I think He is showing us through Jehoshaphat and Judah what can come through full surrender before the battle has even begun. He says in vs. 17 “You need not fight in this battle; take your positions, stand and witness the salvation of the LORD who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the LORD is with you.” How beautiful is that?! Just imagine the Lord saying to you, as your biggest battle bears down on you, “My child, you need not fight in this battle, just stand and witness what I will do”. It reminds me of one of my favorite passages Exodus 14:14, “The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still”.

I’ve been told by countless Pastors that if God says something more than once we better sit up and pay attention. What I feel He is revealing deeper in this passage verses the Exodus one, however, is what it takes to move Him from joining us in our battles to taking over our battles as His own. Yes. Surrender. However even there, I feel it shows us the type of surrender needed. A continual surrender. One day, like all of Judah, you may hear God say “I have this battle” and you accept it and walk in it. But then, you go to bed. And you wake up, not so sure anymore. Will He really just take over my entire battle? I think Judah and King Jehoshaphat felt the same way the next morning, the morning of battle. So, once again Jehoshaphat shows them the way, “So they got up early in the morning and went out into the Wilderness of Tekoa; and as they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Hear me, O Judah, and you inhabitants of Jerusalem! Believe and trust in the LORD your God and you will be established (secure). Believe and trust in His prophets and succeed.” (vs. 20) They were now face to face with the “great multitude”, Jehoshaphat could probably see the fear creeping into his people’s heart. I’m sure he felt it in his own. But instead of giving in to that fear, he double downed on his surrender. “Believe and trust in the Lord and you will be secure”. Other words, “remember your surrender, believe and trust God does as well”. You see, it’s all fun and games and easy to say “Yes! I’ve surrendered this battle. I know the Lord is going to make it HIS not mine” when the battle is coming. What about when you are 100% facing it? When you are looking at the swords and spears of your enemy? In that moment, we all need to double down on our surrender. Remind ourselves like Jehoshaphat that we heard the Lord correctly, we surrendered, He took it, now believe and trust. But there is more. Like I said, this passage reveals deeper what it takes to go from God joining our battles to God taking over. Surrender is the first step. If we continue to read this Chapter it shows another one. One, I feel, we often forget. 2 Chronicles 20:21-22, “When he had consulted with the people, he appointed those who sang to the LORD and those who praised Him in their holy (priestly) attire, as they went out before the army and said, “Praise and give thanks to the LORD, for His mercy and lovingkindness endure forever.” When they began singing and praising, the LORD set ambushes against the sons of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; so they were struck down [in defeat].” Did you see it? They praised BEFORE their breakthrough! The battle was not handed over to them UNTIL they began to praise. It says, when they BEGAN SINGING, the Lord set ambushes. Surrender gets God’s attention. Praise gets His action. Praise is our weapon. It’s the key to God taking the battle as His.

When we surrender alone, without praise, we grab God’s attention and He joins us in battle. When we surrender and then we partner it with praising God, before the victory, praising God for the future acts of mercy and loving kindness, then He takes over our battles. We finally get our mindset right and take our battles from the earthly to the spiritual, where all battles are truly waged (Ephesians 6:12). How often are we surrendering without the praise? Thinking that once we surrender we have done all that is necessary?  It’s His now. Yes. It is. However, to surrender without praising is like loading a weapon and never pulling the trigger. God is moved by our praise. Look at what He did for Jehoshaphat and Judah. The enemies were wiped out and Judah never even lifted a weapon. God had their enemies destroy themselves and then left Judah so many spoils and riches it took 3 days for them to get it all. And how did Judah respond? Yep. More praise. Praising God as they came back to Jerusalem, so much so that the fear of God fell on other kingdoms and Judah was granted rest on all sides.  If God did all that for Judah, won’t He do it for you? For me? Absolutely. No matter how vicious our enemies appear, our battle plan should always remain the same. A sincere, for real, wholehearted surrender, followed by continual surrender, followed by praise. As we go face our battles let’s not just get God’s attention through our surrender but move Him to action through our praise.  “I will praise before my breakthrough, til my song becomes my triumph.”