MORE THAN CONQUERORS

 

      Christians need to have strong faith that we are the children of God. This faith should cause us to shout out, "Our God He is alive" and "Victory in Jesus." God is for us and, "...If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31.) Those who honor God and are dedicated to His cause are assured of victory. The account in 2 Chronicles 20 shows us how God helped His people when they were faithful to Him. This gives us reassurance of victory in Jesus today.

 

      Jehoshaphat is King of Judah at this time. Moab, Ammon and others are about to invade Judah. "...The people of Moab with the people of Ammon, and others with them besides the Ammonites, came to bat­tle against Jehos­haphat." (2 Chronicles 20:1.) God's people are facing what seemed to be insurmountable odds.

 

      IT IS A TIME TO STAND BEFORE GOD. When word came to Jehoshaphat concerning the invasion he realized that it was time to stand before God. "Then some came and told Jehos­haphat, saying, 'A great multitude is coming against you from beyond the sea, from Syria; and they are in Hazazon Tamar' (which is En Gedi). And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast through-out all Judah. So Judah gathered to­gether to ask help from the Lord..." (2 Chronicles 20:2-5.) Jehoshaphat knew his only hope was God. He knew it was time to stop and ask God to bless His nation. Jehoshaphat drew the nation of Judah together before God for strength, help and hope. The church can find those same blessings in God's presence today.

 

      IT IS A TIME TO REMEMBER WHO GOD IS AND WHAT HE HAS PROMISED. We do well when we remember that God is Creator and we are His people. God is really there! He rules the kingdoms of the earth. In His hand is all power. "And said: "O Lord God of our fa­thers, are You not God in heaven, and do You not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations, and in Your hand is there not power and 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 of Abraham Your friend forever? And they dwell in it, and have built You a sanctuary in it for Your name...we will stand before this temple and in Your presence...and cry out to You in our afflic­tion, and You will hear and save.' And now, here are the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir -- whom You would not let Israel invade when they came out of the land of Egypt, but they turned from them and did not destroy them -- here they are, rewarding us by coming to throw us out of Your possession which You have given us to inherit. O our God, will You not judge them? For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You. Now all Judah, with their little ones, their wives, and their children, stood before the Lord." (2 Chronicles 20:6-13.) Jehoshaphat and his people stood together before God remember­ing both who they were and who God is.

 

      IT IS A TIME FOR STRONG LEADER­SHIP FOR GOD. God has always raised up great men and women to stand strong for His cause. Such was the case here. "Then the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of As­aph, in the midst of the assembly." (2 Chronicles 20:14.) Jahaziel stirred the people with the cry, "the battle is not yours, but God's." He told them to do what they could and then to "stand still and see the salvation of the Lord." (2 Chronicles 20:16-17.) There is value in great leadership!

 

      IT IS A TIME OF DRAWING CLOSER TO GOD. The people rededicated themselves to God and reaffirmed faith in God. This rededica­tion was lead by Jehoshaphat himself. Churches need elders, deacons, preachers, and teachers taking the lead in rededication to God. Churches do what the leaders do. This was the case with the nation of Judah also. "And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem bowed before the Lord, worshipping the Lord. Then the Levites of the children of the Ko­hathites and of the children of the Korahites stood up to praise the Lord God of Israel with voices loud and high." (2 Chronicles 20:18-19.) These people began to act like people of God.

 

      IT IS A TIME FOR ACTION FROM THE PEOPLE. They rose up early and went to do as God said. As they went they were again chal­lenged by Jehoshaphat to hear and believe God. "So they rose 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 in the Lord your God, and you shall be established; believe His prophets, and you shall prosper."" (2 Chronicles 20:20.) Jehoshaphat led the people to praise God for victory even before they re­ceived the victory. "And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed those who should sing to the Lord, and who should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army and were saying: Praise the Lord, for His mercy endures forever." (2 Chronicles 20:21.) God gave victory to them as they began to sing. "Now when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushes against the people of Am­mon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; and they were defeated." (2 Chronicles 20:22.)

 

      IT IS A TIME FOR GOD TO GIVE VICTORY TO HIS PEOPLE. God divided those attacking Judah. The enemies of God's people attacked and destroyed each other. "For the people of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of Mount Seir to utterly kill and destroy them. And when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, they helped to destroy one another. So when Judah came to a place overlooking the wilderness, they looked toward the multitude; and there were their dead bodies, fallen on the earth. No one had escaped." (2 Chronicles 20:23-24.) The victory was so great that three days were necessary for Jehos­haphat and his people to gather the spoils of battle. "When Jehoshaphat and his people came to take away their spoil, they found among them an abundance of valuables on the dead bodies, and precious jewelry, which they stripped off for themselves, more than they could carry away; and they were three days gathering the spoil be­cause there was so much." (2 Chronicles 20:25.) After the battle God's people again rejoiced and praised Him. God likes rejoicing. (2 Chronicles 20:26-27.)

 

      It is time to get right with God and to stay faithful to Him. To go to heaven you must hear the gospel (Romans 10:17), be­lieve in Jesus (John 8:24), repent of sins (Acts 17:30), confess Jesus as Lord (Romans 10:9-10), be baptized (Romans 6:3-4) and remain faithful till death. (Revelation 2:10.) Chris­tians can and ought to claim victory in Jesus. God is alive and He will use you if you will al­low Him to.

 

By Charles Box, Walnut Street Church of Christ, P.O. Box 551, Greenville, Alabama 36037 USA