Change Your World Pt. 3

Pastor Brendon Wilson

5 minute read

 

I was so excited to be able to spend this past weekend with all my friends at Create. If you don’t know, I pastor Fusion Church in New Jersey, but I’ve been close friends with Pastor Ryan & Ellie for quite some time. This past weekend I shared with many of you a prescription for how to win. If you’re anything like me, I often don’t feel like I’m winning, so the message I’m really sharing is a prescription to win, even when you don’t feel like you’re winning.

 

The key to this message is found in 2 Chronicles 20:1-4.

 

“After this, the Moabites and Ammonites with some of the Meunites came to wage war against Jehoshaphat. Some people came and told Jehoshaphat, ‘A vast army is coming against you from Edom, from the other side of the Dead Sea. It is already in Hazezon Tamar’ (that is, En Gedi). Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the Lord, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah. The people of Judah came together to seek help from the Lord; indeed, they came from every town in Judah to seek him.” 

 

Let me catch some of you up on some Israelite history. The Hebrew people settled in the land of Canaan (modern day Israel) based on a promise God gave them, which included conquering the tribes inhabiting the land. This left Israel with many enemies, chiefly the Moabites and the Ammonites. 

 

In 2 Chronicles 20, we see King Jehoshaphat faced with a vast army coming to wage war against him, and he was alarmed. He could have tried to solve the problem on his own, but instead, he resolved to inquire of the Lord and proclaimed a fast.

 

This is a critical point to remember. We need to learn to rely on God and seek His guidance, especially when we feel overwhelmed and don’t know what to do. We need to inquire of the Lord, seek His counsel, and trust in His ways. We often see this as being in the “middle” of the story. We can’t see the end, but there is a process being worked out!

 

Our victory is not always instantaneous. As frustrating as that can be, it’s helpful to remember that it is in that process where God works the most. We need to show up and do the preparation for the battle. We need to trust in God’s way, even when it doesn’t make sense, and praise Him for the splendor of His holiness.

When we do that, that is when the victory comes. 

 

When we trust God’s way, there is a blessing and supernatural provision in the victory. As we see later on in 2 Chronicles 20, Jehoshaphat and his men went to carry off their plunder, and they found among them a great amount of equipment and clothing and articles of value—more than they could take away. There was so much plunder that it took three days to collect it.

 

I want all of us to understand, that whether it be fasting like Jehoshaphat, or something else, biblical principles work. Need a list? Here, take mine!

·      Prayer 

·      Bible Study 

·      Groups 

·      Tithing / Generosity 

·      Fasting 

·      Worship 

 

They worked thousands of years ago and still work today! 

 

So, my challenge to you is to ask yourself, what is the Holy Spirit saying to you? What is your best next step this week? In what biblical disciplines do you need to grow? James 4:8 reminds us, “Draw near to me, and I will draw near to you.” Let’s draw near to God and trust in His ways, so we can change our world for the better. Thank you.