Tag: spiritual warfare

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WHAT TO PLACE ON THE ALTAR

How do you behave in adversity? II Chronicles 20:1-30 records a dire situation. Messengers arrive and report to Judah’s King Jehoshaphat: “’A huge army is attacking you from the other side of the Dead Sea, from the direction of Edom’…Jehoshaphat was afraid, so he decided to seek the Lord’s advice. He decreed that all Judah should observe a fast. The people of Judah assembled to ask for the Lord’s help; they came from all the cities of Judah to ask for the Lord’s help.”

CONNECTION TO FASTING

The Kingdom of Judah is in danger of being annihilated and Jehoshaphat’s solution is to abstain from lunch? Avoid Chick-Fil-A? What is the practice of fasting? “Fasting is not about manipulating God. It will not cause God to do something that is outside of His will. Fasting is about changing yourself to be in agreement with God’s plan and to be prepared to carry out your role in His plan.” In my last post I wrote about placing things of God’s altar. A great way to prepare yourself is to fast. Get your mind off your everyday appetites and center on God. Fasting can do this.

LAYING FEAR ON THE ALTAR

Jehoshaphat prays an honest prayer, “We are powerless against this huge army that attacks us. We don’t know what we should do; we look to You for help.” He lays the battle before God. Then he has the faith to tell his people, “Don’t be afraid and don’t panic because of this huge army! For the battle is not yours, but God’s.…you will not fight in this battle. Take your positions, stand, and watch the Lord deliver you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Don’t be afraid and don’t panic! Tomorrow march out toward them; the Lord is with you!”

NO TYPICAL ACTION MOTIVE

This is not like any action movie I have ever seen. God is on the move and not soldiers frantically manning the guns, crossing hoping against hope for a good outcome. This is a different approach to warfare. Hearts are prepared by fasting and centered on God. They lay their fears on the altar.

RUNNING TO WORSHIP

Shouldn’t the people instead run to the armory??? No, “Jehoshaphat bowed down with his face toward the ground, and all the people of Judah and the residents of Jerusalem fell down before the Lord and worshiped him”. Notice, their fighting positions are not upright, but they are face down before the Lord. They run to worship. Hearts are placed on the altar.

THE PEOPLE SING AND GOD FIGHTS

I love the next part. Jehoshaphat “met with the people and appointed musicians to play before the Lord and praise his majestic splendor. As they marched ahead of the warriors they said: ‘Give thanks to the Lord, for his loyal love endures.’ When they began to shout and praise, the Lord suddenly attacked.” Did you notice Who attacks the enemy and wins the battle? It is God!

RETURN TO THE ALTAR

Then all the men of Judah and Jerusalem returned joyfully to Jerusalem with Jehoshaphat leading them; the Lord had given them reason to rejoice over their enemies.  They entered Jerusalem to the sound of stringed instruments and trumpets and proceeded to the temple of the Lord.   They return to where it all began. At the altar.

HE PLEADS FOR YOU AT THE ALTAR

What battles are you engaged in? Are you exhausted, alone and beyond all hope? Has Satan gotten the upper hand? Come to the altar. Place your burden down. Remember the observation of Thomas Brooks, “A humble soul is good at turning Satan over to the Lord Jesus, and this increases Satan’s hell.” Proclaim with centuries of believers: “Christ is my advocate, my strength, and my Redeemer, and He will plead for me.”

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Nehemiah 4: Overcoming Adversity through Prayer

Nehemiah 4 records a critical part of the game which can turn on the head of a dime. The completion of the massive project of rebuilding the walls around the city of Jerusalem is close to 50%. Work has progressed at least twenty days and the results are phenomenal. Concurrently, tons of debris are disposed of while walls are going up. Chapter 3 mentions the words “next to” 16 times. This is a massive joint effort from relative strangers working next to each other after returning from years in exile. And just when victory is rising on the horizon, the enemy shows up in full battle gear.

A PSYCHOLOGICAL AND SPIRITUAL ATTACK

Sanballat is Nehemiah’s nemesis. The powerful Persian-appointed governor of Samaria appears loudly on the scene. Sanballat furiously opposes rebuilding Jerusalem’s walls. A strong Jerusalem is a major threat to his powerbase. He pulls every trick in the book, including mockery, threats, and plots to disrupt the Jewish workers.  The enemy launches a powerful psychological and spiritual attack.

WORDS FROM THE PIT OF HELL

Enraged and furious, Sanballat publicly ridicules the Jews. “What does this bunch of poor, feeble Jews think they’re doing? Do they think they can build the wall in a single day by just offering a few sacrifices? Do they actually think they can make something of stones from a rubbish heap—and charred ones at that?” Sidekick Tobiah gleefully adds, “That stone wall would collapse if even a fox walked along the top of it!”. Words penned from the pit of hell.

WE STAND STRONGEST ON OUR KNEES

How does Nehemiah respond? He immediately runs to God. Nehemiah realizes that this battle is not his; it is God’s. Only God can handle Satan. Charles Stanley notes, “We stand tallest and strongest on our knees.”

God responds by giving the Jews new vigor. “At last the wall was completed to half its height around the entire city, for the people worked with enthusiasm.” End of drama? No! Sanballat and company “all made plans to come and fight against Jerusalem and throw us into confusion.” The enemy loves to frighten and confuse us.

NO HOPE OF ANYTHING GETTING BETTER

Notice the response from the Jewish people this time: “But WE prayed to our God and guarded the city day and night to protect ourselves.” Prayer catches on at a crucial moment as a blanket of discouragement settles down on Jerusalem’s exhausted workers. “Then the people of Judah began to complain, ‘The workers are getting tired, and there is so much rubble to be moved. We will never be able to build the wall by ourselves.’.. The Jews who lived near the enemy came and told us again and again, ‘They will come from all directions and attack us!’” Sounds like the hopeless worldview of Winnie the Pooh’s friend Eeyore: “End of the road. Nothing to do. And no hope of things getting better.” Satan prepares for a victory lap.

WHEN VICTORY BLOSSOMS

The workers only see obstacles rather than the goal. This is the moment when God can shine the greatest. Yes, they will never be able to build the wall by themselves. Victory blossoms when we come to an end of ourselves, our own strengths, talents and abilities and admit it to God. Satan doesn’t like to hear when we totally submit to God. God’s angels begin running a victory lap.

REMEMBER WHO GOD IS

Nehemiah looks over the situation, calls together the nobles and the rest of the people and says, “Don’t be afraid of the enemy! Remember the Lord, who is great and glorious, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes!” In other words, REMEMBER! REMEMBER WHO GOD IS!!!!!! These are the words that strike fear in the evil one’s heart.

The Jewish people at that point throw their lot totally into the hands of God. Instead of wringing their hands, they “work early and late, from sunrise to sunset. And half the men are always on guard.” Can you imagine the new attitude and words of encouragement coming out of the mouths of God’s people?

The enemy retreats back to the shadows when we intentionally adjust our attitudes. “Don’t be afraid of the enemy! Remember the Lord, who is great and glorious!” “We stand tallest and strongest on our knees.”