My Sermon Note: Steps to Resounding Victory

Minister : Pastor E. A. Adeboye

Message Title : Steps to Resounding Victory

Text : 2 Chronicles 20

>> Step 1 - The Problem

2 Chronicles 20:1-4
1 It came to pass after this also, [that] the children of Moab, and the children of Ammon, and with them [other] beside the Ammonites, came against Jehoshaphat to battle.
2 Then there came some that told Jehoshaphat, saying, There cometh a great multitude against thee from beyond the sea on this side Syria; and, behold, they [be] in Hazazon-tamar, which [is] En-gedi.
3 And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.
4 And Judah gathered themselves together, to ask [help] of the LORD: even out of all the cities of Judah they came to seek the LORD.

If there must be victory, there must be a battle to fight first.

Jehoshaphat was a very good king. Of all the kings in the Scriptures, he scored very high marks with the Lord. The Lord testified that he (Jehoshaphat) did that which was right before God.

So the people God is addressing primarily today are those who are doing what is right before the Lord. Those who are:

born again
sanctified
filled with the Holy Spirit
studying their Bibles
paying their tithes correctly
giving their offerings cheerfully

In short, those who are serving the Lord - people that God will say they've tried.
God had made Jehoshaphat prosper by causing the whole Judah to bring gifts to him. After he thanked God for the gifts, God decided to make him even more prosperous. Little did he know that his prosperity and blessings were coming in a disguised form of a problem.

What was the problem?

3 mighty armies decided to invade the land of Judah (2 Chronicles 20:1)
Then Jehoshaphat feared! (Vs 3) But he did something. The Bible said that he "...set himself to seek the LORD..."

There are a lot of things to fear but decide not to fear (Read Psalm 23:4). Instead of fear, do as David did in Psalm 121:1&2 - lift up your eyes to God your help.
Read also Psalm 27.

NOTE: If you don't have problem, then continue praising Him.

>> Step 2 - Inquire from the Lord

2 Chronicles 20:5

Challenge the Lord by His status.
If you have a couple of problems, the next thing you should do is to ask God questions. Ask God questions like:
° Is it true that You are the God of all flesh and there's nothing too hard for You?
° Is it true that the whole earth is Yours and the fullness thereof?
° Are You really the Lord of host?
° Is it true that all powers belong to You?
° Is it true that You are the Jehovah El-Shaddai? ...and so on...

God confirmed to Jehoshaphat that His ways are not our ways. God may want to bless or prosper you as He did to Jehoshaphat and wrap up the blessing disguised in the wrappings of a problem.

Vs 25 shows us that the bigger the problem, the bigger the testimony - it took them three days to gather the spoil.

I pray for you that very soon, the cup of your blessings will run over in Jesus name.

[HOUR OF SALVATION]
The Bible said "the house of the Lord is not shuttened that it cannot save... but if there be sin in your life, it will separate you from God"

If you are reading this and you have not given your life to Christ or you are still dwelling in sin, say this prayer:
Father, have mercy on me, I have come to surrender my life to You, save my soul today, wash me in Your blood and write my name in the Book of Life.

>> Step 3 - Report Your Problems to Him

and ask Him to show Himself because you cannot handle it on your own.
May everything contrary to the will of God in your life be taken away in Jesus name.