MEMORISE:
“Behold, all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded: they shall be as nothing; and they that strive with thee shall perish.” – Isaiah 41:11

READ: 2 CHRONICLES 20:1-30

1. It happened after this that the people of Moab with the people of Ammon, and others with them besides the Ammonites, came to battle against Jehoshaphat.
2. 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).
3. And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.
4. So Judah gathered together to ask help from the LORD; and from all the cities of Judah they came to seek the LORD.
5. Then Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the LORD, before the new court,
6. 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?
7. 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?
8. And they dwell in it, and have built You a sanctuary in it for Your name, saying,
9. ‘If disaster comes upon us—sword, judgment, pestilence, or famine—we will stand before this temple and in Your presence (for Your name is in this temple), and cry out to You in our affliction, and You will hear and save.’
10. 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—
11. here they are, rewarding us by coming to throw us out of Your possession which You have given us to inherit.
12. 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.”
13. Now all Judah, with their little ones, their wives, and their children, stood before the LORD.
14. 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.
15. And he said, “Listen, all you of Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you, King Jehoshaphat! Thus says the LORD to you: ‘Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s.
16. Tomorrow go down against them. They will surely come up by the Ascent of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the brook before the Wilderness of Jeruel.
17. You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the LORD, who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem!’ Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the LORD is with you.”
18. And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem bowed before the LORD, worshiping the LORD.
19. 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.
20. 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.”
21. 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.”
22. 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.
23. 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.
24. 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.
25. 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.
26. And on the fourth day they assembled in the Valley of Berachah, for there they blessed the LORD; therefore the name of that place was called The Valley of Berachah until this day.
27. Then they returned, every man of Judah and Jerusalem, with Jehoshaphat in front of them, to go back to Jerusalem with joy, for the LORD had made them rejoice over their enemies.
28. So they came to Jerusalem, with stringed instruments and harps and trumpets, to the house of the LORD.
29. And the fear of God was on all the kingdoms of those countries when they heard that the LORD had fought against the enemies of Israel.
30. Then the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet, for his God gave him rest all around.

MESSAGE:
In Acts 4:1-31, the apostles were threatened by the chief priests and elders not to speak in the name of Jesus again. However, they gathered together to pray, and as they prayed, the place where they were gathered was shaken, and they spoke the word of God with boldness. The devil is a bully, and like all bullies, he does not like being confronted. If someone threatens you for doing the will of God, that is not the time to start fidgeting or hiding; that is the time to pray.

In today’s Bible reading, three great enemy nations came to threaten Jehoshaphat, and he was terrified. He felt threatened by the size of the enemies, and this led him to seek God. As Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah fasted and prayed, God gave them the strategy that would destroy their enemies – praise. As Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah began to sing and praise the Lord, He set the enemies against one another, and those who had previously been united against Judah suddenly turned against themselves and began to kill one another.

For the children of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of mount Seir, utterly to slay and destroy them: and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, every one helped to destroy another. 2Chronicles 20:23

God silenced the threats of the enemies without Jehoshaphat having to lift a sword. In the name above every other name, my Daddy will arise to silence every threat of the enemy against your life and destiny, in Jesus’ name.

Some years ago, a woman came running to me, shaking badly. Her daughter was pregnant, and her enemies had come to threaten her, saying, “Your daughter is pregnant? We will see where she will deliver – whether on the ground or in the air. We will use every diabolical means to ensure she never gives birth.” The woman was frightened, and I said to her, “Fear not! Your daughter will deliver safely. She asked, “How do you know?” I replied, “Because the Lord of Hosts will fight for you.” Indeed, the Lord fought for her, and she delivered safely.

Beloved, I know a God who is stronger than the strongest. He can handle every threat that comes your way. When the enemy threatens you, do not be afraid. Instead, put your trust in God because greater is He that is in you than he that in the world 1John 4:4.

PRAYER POINT:
Father, please arise and silence every threat of the enemy against my family and destiny, in Jesus’ name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: MARK 1-3

HYMN 27: WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS

1. What a friend we have in Jesus,
   All our sins and griefs to bear;
   What a privilege to carry
   Everything to God in prayer!
   Oh, what peace we often forfeit,
   Oh, what needless pain we bear,
   All because we do not carry
   Everything to God in prayer.
2. Have we trials and temptations?
   Is there trouble anywhere?
   We should never be discouraged,
   Take it to the Lord in prayer,
   Can we find a friend so faithful,
   Who will all our sorrows share?
   Jesus knows our every weakness,
   Take it to the Lord in prayer.
3. Are we weak and heavy laden,
   Cumbered with a load of care?
   Precious Saviour, still our refuge,
   Take it to the Lord in prayer,
   Do your friends despise, forsake you?
   Take it to the Lord in prayer.
   In His arms He’ll take and shield you,
   You wilt find a solace there.