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Throwback Thursday – November 10, 2019

Nov 14, 2019

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Pastor Bill posed the question on Sunday, “What do you do when the enemy is trying to steal your thanksgiving?” He read from 2 Chronicles 20, starting in verse 12…

“O our God, will You not judge them? For we are powerless before this great multitude who are coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are on You.” All Judah was standing before the Lord, with their infants, their wives and their children. Jahaziel Answers the Prayer then in the midst of the assembly the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, the Levite of the sons of Asaph; and he said, “Listen, all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat: thus says the Lord to you, ‘Do not fear or be dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours but God’s. Tomorrow go down against them. Behold, they will come up by the ascent of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the valley in front of the wilderness of Jeruel. You need not fight in this battle; station yourselves, stand and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.’ Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out to face them, for the Lord is with you.” Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before the Lord, worshiping the Lord. The Levites, from the sons of the Kohathites and of the sons of the Korahites, stood up to praise the Lord God of Israel, with a very loud voice. They rose early in the morning and went out to the wilderness of Tekoa; and when they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Listen to me, O Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem, put your trust in the Lord your God and you will be established. Put your trust in His prophets and succeed.” When he had consulted with the people, he appointed those who sang to the Lord and those who praised Him in holy attire, as they went out before the army and said, “Give thanks to the Lord, for His lovingkindness is everlasting.” When they began singing and praising, the Lord set ambushes against the sons of Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; so they were routed.”

Israel was powerless, they were overwhelmed, they were seemingly hopeless. They didn’t know what to do, but they figured out what they needed to do. They needed to look UP and not OUT. The key to their victory was fixing their eyes on the Lord, not their circumstance. A changed focus leads to a heart of thanksgiving. Pastor Bill encouraged us on Sunday to quit waiting for our circumstances to change, but rather change our focus, our attitudes, and our prayers! May we be quick to thank the Lord in all things.

POINTS TO PONDER:

  1. How can you effectively make sure you’re looking up rather than looking out?
  2. What does it mean for you to set your gaze on Jesus?
  3. How can you lead the way with thanksgiving this week?

 

Check out the full sermon:

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