Sunnyside Church of the Nazarene
Sunday, March 22
  • Our God
  • You Are God Alone (Not A God)
  • Lord I Need You
  • We Believe (NB)
  • 2 Chronicles 20
    Due to having online service, I’ll keep this shorter than normal. The problem is I don’t know what a normal sermon length is so … but here’s what is on my heart.
    On September 11, 2001, the country was shocked by terrorist attacks against our nation. And for several weeks after, people from all over our nation flooded our churches. They were looking for answers, help, guidance. They were looking to the people of God - give us something to hold to, to make sense of this.
    The question we must ask is how well did the Church respond? That was 18-years ago. The Church in America has been in serious decline ever since. Not saying we’re completely to blame, but we missed something. Whatever it was that the Church had to offer at that time didn’t stick, didn’t make a difference.
    Now, in 2020, not only is America in a crisis but the entire world.
    Who’s turning to the Church for answers, for help, for guidance? Is anyone looking to God’s people to help make sense of all this? I’m just asking questions, but it seems like very few people are interested in what the Church has to say right now. I may be wrong, but I don’t think God, or the Church is on anyone’s radar during this crisis. I have a whole thought on that, but we can chat about that later.
    So what do we do? How do we respond? If you saw my video this past week, I read from 2 Chronicles 20 and I want to revisit that this morning. Something is bothering me. The idea of waiting this out bothers me.
    2 Chronicles 20:1–2 ESV
    After this the Moabites and Ammonites, and with them some of the Meunites, came against Jehoshaphat for battle. Some men came and told Jehoshaphat, “A great multitude is coming against you from Edom, from beyond the sea; and, behold, they are in Hazazon-tamar” (that is, Engedi).
    ​
    Engedi is about 30-40 miles walking distance from Jerusalem. Understand the scene - this army is already within the borders of Judah. The enemy is not out there somewhere, and we’ve got time. No - already inside. 3 or 4 or 5 days out. Which left very little time to react.
    2 Chronicles 20:3 ESV
    Then Jehoshaphat was afraid and set his face to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.
    ​
    Throughout Scripture, whenever God’s people, whether an individual or as a nation faced an enemy…
    The enemy often looks bigger and victory seems impossible. That is the norm - especially for God’s people.
    It is never unusual for God’s people to face an enemy that is bigger and badder than us. So listen,
    The size of the enemy; the severity of the circumstance is never the main issue. The issue is always how God’s people respond to fear; how we respond to an enemy.
    I’m glad that we have been encouraging one another to not be afraid - to remain steadfast in our faith - that’s great and we should continue, but that is not a classical biblical response. At least, not in whole. So what do we do?
    2 Chronicles 20:3–4 ESV
    Then Jehoshaphat was afraid and set his face to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. And Judah assembled to seek help from the Lord; from all the cities of Judah they came to seek the Lord.
    ​
    What do we do? We need to be seeking God.
    I image that many of his advisers said, “Muster the army. The enemy is on our doorstep, we don’t have time for this spiritual stuff. Common sense says, let’s go!”
    But Jehoshaphat understood the severity of the situation - that victory does not come through might, or power, or waiting to see what happens. Victory comes through the Spirit of the Lord.
    In other words, he understood that victory came through hearing God’s voice and then obeying God’s voice. The only way to hear and obey is to seek.
    Victory doesn’t come from merely obeying the government, but ultimately from obeying God. If all we’re doing is getting all of our direction from government officials, something is wrong. I’m not saying we defy the government, break the rules - but if we’re not asking God for His guidance, for His plans, something is wrong.
    Jehoshaphat wasn’t a newbie. He’s been the king of Judah for a while. He’s experienced war. He knows how to command his armies. Yet, he knows that the answer is not in his own abilities, the answer is not necessarily in doing it the way we’ve always done it - the answer is in seeking God. Not just believing in God or praying for God to take care of this, but in seeking Him!
    Jehoshaphat could have easily rode into battle with his army. But he didn’t. Look at the end of his prayer in verse 12.
    2 Chronicles 20:12 ESV
    O our God, will you not execute judgment on them? For we are powerless against this great horde that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.”
    ​
    Jehoshaphat was not powerless in the sense of the size of his army or his ability to lead. What he means here is that, “God, we are dependent upon you. Our salvation, our deliverance comes not from our strength, our ability but from you and you alone.” And then he said, “We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.”
    Where are your eyes right now?
    We need to ask ourselves that question, because
    Whatever our eyes are focused on will determine how we pray and how we respond.
    If we don’t respond correctly to this crisis, this may be another missed opportunity like 9/11 and we become even more irrelevant to society.
    The challenge is to keep our eyes on Christ - and not just on self, seclusion, or survival - but on Him who directs us, protects us and gives us victory. We must keep our eyes on Christ and not simply to pray, “God, get us through,” but to seek Him and ask, “God, what do we do? How do we respond?”
    So Jehoshaphat and Judah came together, fasted and prayed and sought God. They humbled themselves - while the enemy was on their doorstep they humbled themselves before Almighty God, fasting and praying and look at what happened.
    2 Chronicles 20:13–15 ESV
    Meanwhile all Judah stood before the Lord, with their little ones, their wives, and their children. And the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, son of Benaiah, son of Jeiel, son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, in the midst of the assembly. And he said, “Listen, all Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat: Thus says the Lord to you, ‘Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours but God’s.
    ​
    God told them what to do - how to respond - how to face this enemy that was bigger and badder. It wasn’t simply to go out and fight. God had another plan.
    Look, if all we do is hunker down, wait out the storm and practice social distancing and bathe in hand sanitizer - what have we done? What have we shown the world? If we do all this without seeking God’s voice and guidance - what have we done?
    I’m not saying don’t practice those things - we should - but we can’t stop there.
    I’m committed to fasting at least one day a week - Wednesday. I may do more, but at least on Wednesdays. I’m asking each person from Sunnyside Nazarene to commit to praying and fasting for the sole purpose of seeking God, humbling ourselves before Him, listening for His voice and responding in obedience.
    There’s more to this story - read it over and over again. Keep in touch with each other. Please leave comments and before we go, if you don’t know Jesus Christ as Savior …

      • 2 Chronicles 20:1–2NLT

      • 2 Chronicles 20:3ESV

      • 2 Chronicles 20:3–4ESV

      • 2 Chronicles 20:12NLT

      • 2 Chronicles 20:13–15ESV

  • Raise A Hallelujah
Sunnyside Church of the Nazarene
office@sunnysidenazarene.com
503-771-3934
http://www.sunnysidenazarene.com
36 members • 11 followers