2 Chronicles 20:1

Somehow, I failed to post anything yesterday, o I am going to post twice today. 

2 Chronicles 20:1 says, It came to pass after this also, that the children of Moab, and the children of Ammon, and with them other beside the Ammonites, came against Jehoshaphat to battle.  After Jehosaphat had been setting up the kingdom of Judah in accordance with God's word, he had a large force come against him.  When we are doing God's work today, we may often find ourselves being attacked by the people of the world who want nothing to do with God.  Verse two adds, Then there came some that told Jehoshaphat, saying, There cometh a great multitude against thee from beyond the sea on this side Syria; and, behold, they be in Hazazontamar, which is Engedi.  Jehoshaphat received word of the army coming against him, and I believe that God will always let us know when we are in spiritual danger, even if no one else does.  Verse three continues, And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.  Jehoshaphat became afraid and sought the Lord and also declared a fast throughout Judah.  He did not look to his army, but to God.  When we are threatened today as followers of Christ, our first action should be to pray to God for guidance and rely on the Holy Spirit to keep us safe spiritually.  Verse four states, And Judah gathered themselves together, to ask help of the Lord: even out of all the cities of Judah they came to seek the Lord.  All of Judah gathered to seek help from God.  We as Christians need to gather as a united group and seek God's protection and guidance when people of the world are gathering against us.  Verse five adds, And Jehoshaphat stood in the congregation of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the Lord, before the new court,  Jehoshaphat stood before God and with the people of Judah.  It would be wonderful if we had leaders who would stand with us under the leadership of God today.  Verse six continues, And said, O Lord God of our fathers, art not thou God in heaven? and rulest not thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen? and in thine hand is there not power and might, so that none is able to withstand thee?  Jehoshaphat asked if God was not more powerful than anyone or anything.  He also asked if any could stand against God.  We know the answer to that question, and it is that God is more powerful than anything and He is the ultimate authority over the universe.  Verse seven says, Art not thou our God, who didst drive out the inhabitants of this land before thy people Israel, and gavest it to the seed of Abraham thy friend for ever?  Jehosaphat then asked if God had not driven out the inhabitants of the land of Judah and given it to the seed of Abraham forever.  This promise was fulfilled when Jesus Christ died for our sins, and if we put our faith in Him as our Savior and Lord, we are a part of God's kingdom forever.  Verse eight adds, And they dwelt therein, and have built thee a sanctuary therein for thy name, saying,  Jehoshaphat then said that the people of Judah had dwelt in the land and built a sanctuary for God's name to be glorified in.  As Christians our bodies become a sanctuary for the Holy Spirit, and we need to do all that we can to make sure that it is set aside from the world for Him.  Verse nine continues, If, when evil cometh upon us, as the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we stand before this house, and in thy presence, (for thy name is in this house,) and cry unto thee in our affliction, then thou wilt hear and help.  Jehosaphat said he knew if the people stood before God's house and asked for his help when they were under attack that God would help them.  We need to always be certain that whenever we call on God as Christians, wherever we are, He will hear us.  We already have everlasting security through our faith in Jesus Christ.  Verse ten states, And now, behold, the children of Ammon and Moab and mount Seir, whom thou wouldest not let Israel invade, when they came out of the land of Egypt, but they turned from them, and destroyed them not;  Jehoshaphat seems to be blaming God for their predicament.  He said God had not allowed them to destroy the Ammonites and Moabites when they came out of Egypt.  We are not called on to destroy the evil people in the world today, and they may one day attack us, but we cannot blame God if that happens.  We already have the everlasting victory, and that is all that matters.  Verse eleven adds, Behold, I say, how they reward us, to come to cast us out of thy possession, which thou hast given us to inherit.  Jehosaphat said that the Ammonites and Moabites rewarded them for their having been spared destruction by coming to try and cast the people of Judah out of the Promised Land.  No matter how powerful the enemy may be, they can never cast the followers of Christ out of their heavenly home, which is our Promised Land.  Verse twelve continues, O our God, wilt thou not judge them? for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee.  Jehoshaphat said they were helpless before the great company that was coming against them and didn't know what to do, but he asked God to judge those coming to fight Judah.  Of our own ability, we are helpless to defeat Satan and his army, but God has already done that, so all we need to do is put our faith in Him.  Verse thirteen concludes, And all Judah stood before the Lord, with their little ones, their wives, and their children.  All of Judah, from the men to their wives and children, stood before God seeking His protection.  We need the whole church today to stand before God and seek His protection as we encounter those who would destroy us, and we need to do everything for His honor and glory.