HOW DO YOU FIGHT YOUR BATTLES?

Attacks, slander, and hatred are part of the fabric of our nation.  What is the solution when the battle is raging?  What do we do when we are personally attacked?   Scriptures tell us God will fight for us if we seek Him through prayer, singing praise, believing His Word, and listening for the Holy Spirit’s voice. 

Scripture says any attack or battle we face is not only with another person.  We are fighting something more.

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places (Ephesians 6:12).

The Old Testament story from 2 Chronicles 20 gives powerful testimony to the fact that God fought for His people, and He will fight for His people today.

SOME BACKGROUND HISTORY

Jehoshaphat erred in his alliances with the evil King Ahab through marriage and in fighting against the Aramaens whom God sent to destroy Ahab. God rebuked Jehoshaphat through Jehu, the prophet: “Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the Lord?”

God rebuked the King, but he also noticed good in him.  The prophet encouraged the King, “There is some good in you, for you have rid the land of the Asherah poles (idols) and have set your heart on seeking God” (2 Chronicles 19:3).

Following the Lord’s rebuke, Jehoshaphat realized he could not have one foot in the wicked ways of Ahab and the culture, and one foot in serving God.  If we are expecting God’s blessings and provision, we must make sure we are standing with people who fight for God and His values. “Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the Lord?”

Jehoshaphat showed true repentance. He set out to turn the people back to serving Jehovah.  He radically reformed the judiciary in every fortified city of Judah.  “Now let the fear of the Lord be on you.  Judge carefully, for with the Lord our God there is no injustice or partiality or bribery” (2 Chronicles 19:7). 

He appointed Levites, priests, and heads of Israel families to “serve faithfully and wholeheartedly in the fear of the Lord, and warn them not to sin against the Lord”  2 Chronicles 19:10).  

Jehoshaphat stepped us his leadership to get his people under God’s rule and laws. 

After this, King Jehoshaphat faced a significant attack from vast enemy armies.  But with his committed heart for God leading the nation to honor God, he knew what to do.  No longer helping the wicked who hate the Lord (wicked King Ahab), the King gathered the people from every town in Judah to seek God’s help in this attack.  Without it, only defeat! All the men of Judah, their wives and little ones stood before the Lord in prayer. Here’s the full text (2 Chronicles 20).

PRAY FIRST

The King prayed:

“O Lord God, are You not God in heaven, and do You not rule over all might so that no one is able to withstand You? 

Are you not our God, who drove out the inhabitants of this land before Your people Israel, and gave it to the descendants? 

 We have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us.  We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.

The Spirit of the Lord spoke through a Levite minister, Jahaziel:  Do not be afraid nor discouraged because of this vast army.  For the battle is not yours, but God’s.

I love those words!  Our battles are God’s, too, when we lean on Him and trust His Word. 

At a recent prayer meeting, we were seeking God’s help for a difficult situation.  A brother in prayer felt the Spirit speak these similar words to us, “Don’t be afraid. The battle is the Lord’s, and He never loses” (Thank you, Bill R).  Now that’s a faith builder!

In the Old Testament story, the Lord continued to speak:

“You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.'”

The next morning they set out and began to sing and praise, “Give thanks to the Lord, for his love endures forever,” and the Lord set ambushes against the men who were invading Judah, and they were defeated and destroyed.  No survivors in the enemy’s camp.  None!

GOD NEVER LOSES!  Our part is to pray, praise, believe the Word, and listen to the Spirit! As we do, we can be confident the same God who fought the batlles in Scripture will fight for us!

SING PRAISE TO THE LORD 

When the people sang and praised the Lord, the Lord took care of the enemy. I can’t be angry when I sing. Fear leaves. Peace builds. Singing praise brings my attention to God’s power and greatness.  My eyes focus on the power of God rather than the giant in front of me.

In God’s presence, there is fullness of joy.  Singing praise fills my thoughts and lifts my attention upward.  Faith builds.  I believe what God says in His Word!

You may be familiar with these songs: “I’m going to see a victory, for the battle belongs to the Lord.”  Or, “I raise a hallelujah in the presence of my enemies.”

When we sing and praise the Lord, He promises to fights for us.  

BELIEVE GOD’S WORD  

When I sing, pray, and fill my thinking with Scripture,  it’s easier to focus on Gods able deliverance. The same principles in the stories of Scripture are true. When God bolds a scripture, I underline it, put in my journal, post it on the refrigerator, and say it out loud. I keep reminding myself of God’s promises. 

God’s Word builds my faith!  The more I hear it, the more I believe it!  When I feed my faith, it grows. When I starve my fear, it dies.

The prayer of Bill (I mentioned above) is posted on the refrigerator, so I see it often through the day (“Don’t be afraid. The battle is the Lord’s, and He never loses”) and because it’s Scripture, my faith is encouraged.  I can believe in God’s Word. He’s the same today as He was yesterday.  What He did for his people in Bible times, He will do for us who believe. 

LISTEN FOR THE GENTLE VOICE OF THE SPIRIT

God speaks through others, but God also speaks to us individually when we are facing trouble. 

The Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahazial: “Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s.”

We were seeking God’s direction if we should fly to attend our grandson’s wedding at the end of April during the COVID.  The restrictions and fear of contracting the virus weighed into our discussion. Should we go or stay at home?  Will we be safe?

The day before the deadline for flying, the Lord bolded this verse of Scripture, “I will walk about in freedom, for I have devoted myself to your commandments” (Psalm 119:45).  I knew God spoke through His Word and the gentle voice of the Spirit. We could go to the wedding.  We could walk in freedom on this trip, and not be afraid.   

We made the trip without issue and had a wonderful time. God kept His Word!

A more recent experience of the Holy Spirit’s voice came through in a unique way. I’m learning new software for recording music and have called several times for technical support.  Often, the tech wasn’t able to immediately fix the problem.  This time, I was amazed at how quickly and easily he solved it.  It was an easy fix!  That’s when the Holy Spirit spoke clearly to me about the impossible battle we were facing and said, “It’s an easy fix for Me!”

I  knew God’s presence and peace.  God is fighting our battle!

Satan, our adversary, goes to great lengths to deceive, discourage, and destroy faith. He is not only a super-thief but the Father of Lies, an accuser, a slanderer, a murderer from the beginning.  He masquerades as an angel of light.  He tries to scare us like a roaring lion ready to pounce and devour. However, standing firm with prayer, singing praise, and listening to the Spirit’s voice through the Word, the evil one has to flee. Greater is He who is in us than he who is in the world!  

When God speaks, peace comes as I listen.

BONUS – BLESSINGS AND PEACE

Not only did God destroy Jehoshaphat’s enemies, but He also blessed the people beyond expectation! It took three days to collect all the spoil from these defeated enemies – valuables, clothing, equipment – a wealth of blessing!   And not only the spoils, but there was peace in the land, and the enemies didn’t attack again. 

The story ends this way:  The Lord won the battle, and it was known.

“The fear of God came on all the surrounding kingdoms when they heard how the Lord had fought against Israel’s enemies. And the kingdom of Jehoshaphat was at peace, for his God had given him rest on every side” (2 Chronicles 20:29, 30). 

Not only did God win the battle, but God was honored in the nations.  Unexpected provision and peace blessed His people. 

CONCLUSION

Ultimately every battle we face is a spiritual one, whether a personal battle or the battles raging in our nation.  The same prescription remains – pray, sing praises, fill our minds with God’s Words and promises, and listen for the Spirit’s voice. 

Armor up with the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God.  Soldier up with your shield of faith in God’s promises. Keep your head covered with the helmet of salvation, and the belt of truth.  Wear the breastplate of right living, and walk about in God’s peace (Eph 6:12-18). 

God will fight for us.  God will exceed our expectations.  Peace and rest will come as we live in God’s presence and believe His Word. 

When we pray, worship, believe the Word of God, and listen for the Spirit’s voice, we will know victory in our battles!   

I hope you will take time to read 2 Chronicles 20 and let the Holy Spirit speak to you as you pray, sing praises, believe God’s Word and listen to the gentle leading of the Spirit for your own personal battles.. I’m doing the same.

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. You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you” (2 Chronicles 20: 15-17).