Don Graham Revival Ministries

"IF my people.....will.....PRAY"

II Chronicles 20

The absolute indispensable necessity for revival is prayer! The Chronicler has God calling us to do four things in order for Him to hear from heaven, forgive our sins and heal our land. (II Chron. 7:14)--pray, humble, seek His face and turn from our wicked ways! Then he devotes fifteen chapters in the rest of the book restating the stories of reform/revival under several different kings. Each of these five movements of God, while all have several things in common, seems to highlight one of these key verbs (humble yourselves, pray, seek His face and turn) and shows us how God responds. For instance, the revival under Jehoshaphat was earmarked by prayer. Follow this movement in chapters 17-20 and notice how the author stresses the importance of prayer. While Jehoshaphat labored under many weaknesses (as we all do), this closing chapter of his life shows him having learned how to pray and the marvelous response of God.

I.THE PROBLEM THAT THREATENED HIM (20:1 -2)

Jehoshaphat is now surrounded with a dual alliance against him. A coalition of the Moabites and Ammonites and others press attack against him from one side while the report came of another vast army coming up against him from another direction. He is hopelessly surrounded and helpless before such a formidable foe.

II.THE PRAYER THAT PROVED HIM (20:3-13)

Driven by fear of this dual alliance against him, Jehoshaphat must have remembered how when he cried out to God at the battle of Ramoth-gilead that the Lord helped him and gave him miraculous deliverance. (18:31) So, he sets himself to seek the Lord, calls for a fast and the nation gathers with him to seek the Lord. (vs. 3-4)

A. Acknowledged the Sovereignty of God in all things.

B. Anticipated the help of God as he reminded God of His promise to help His children when they stand before His house and turn in repentance to Him.

C. Admitted his weakness! He declared honestly,...neither know we what to do...(y. 12). Humbled and broken before God he transparently admits his utter inability to cope. But in the same breath he declared ...but our eyes are upon Thee... He knew he didn't know what to do but he knew God did! What a precious moment in the life of the child of God, hard pressed with insurmountable enemies pressing in on every side, to admit his weakness and look to the One who has an answer. Perhaps at this moment you, too, feel you don't know what to do. Remember, God does! Turn to Him! Cry out to Him! When you get to the end of yourself you have arrived at the beginning of God! Amen!!

III.THE PROPHECY THAT DELIGHTED HIM (20:14-19)

In a time of national crisis, God raised up Jahaziel to speak the Word boldly to the people. Oh, for such a man for our day! As we look out over the spiritual and political fields of our day, we cry out for such a man as this little known prophet who rises to the occasion. Coming straight from the presence of God he charges the people to fear not, nor be dismayed. When you come out of the presence of God you will fear no man! He calls the people to...set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the Lord. (v. 17) This clarion summons is reminiscent of Moses word to his people with the Red Sea before them and the armies of Pharaoh behind them. Moses said to the people, Fear ye not, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord. (Exodus 14:13) How in the world can a man be still with the drowning currents surging all around? Only when you know the battle is not yours but the Lord's, (v.15) David knew that secret as he informed Goliath, that the Lord saveth not with the sword and spear: for the battle is the Lords! (I Samuel 17:47)

IV.THE PROTECTION THAT DELIVERED HIM (20:20-30)

Overnight the enemy was eliminated. God set them in confusion and disarray and they fought against each other and were stricken dead, leaving so much spoil that it took three days to gather it all. (vs.23-25) What triggered such a miraculous intervention? The Bible clearly states that When they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushments against...the enemy and they collapsed and self-destructed, (v.22) Worshipful adoration and praise of God in song is integral and imperative for victory. The fact that Jehoshaphat sent the choir singing as the advance guard leading the troops proved that he indeed believed God had given the promise (v. 17) and they so radically believed (v.20) that they go into the battle, not with their crack troops leading the charge, but the choir. By faith they believed and by faith they sing worshipfully in the Spirit as if it were already done! Oh, that today's church might learn the secret of song that sets ambushments of the enemy rendering them helpless before the armies of God. Hezekiah would learn this truth years later as he restored the temple worship discovering that when the burnt-offering began the song of the Lord began also. It was by the burnt offering that man was cleansed from sin and a man thus cleansed before God can sing the ambushments of God down upon the enemy. (II Chron. 29:27) And that, my friend, is not the issue of contemporary versus traditional music but is the issue of a man who is altogether right before God singing the right music in the Spirit! And that is the result of REVIVAL which alone can set a man free to so sing! Amen! So may we seek God's face in prayer to see the hearts of men revived that revived people may be able to sing Satan into shambles.

Now, we would stop the story here. But the Bible won't allow it. The Bible's sad foot-note to Jehoshaphat's career is a startling challenge to us all. Note-

V.THE PLAGUE THAT STALKED HIM (20:31-37)

Jehoshaphat is ever stalked to the end by....
A. His refusal to destroy the high places (v.33) and by....
B. His reliance upon the arm of flesh (vs.35-57)
Throughout all his inconsistencies, God was gracious to respond to Jehoshaphat when he cried out to the Lord. This is the way to revival--PRAY! PRAY! PRAY! May we give it the priority it deserves in our private life and in the life of our churches--PRAY, and when you have prayed, PRAY!