Ministering: Pastor Shola Awobajo (Senior Pastor).
Text: 2 Chronicles 20:1-4.
“1 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. 2 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 are in Hazazontamar, which is Engedi. 3 And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. 4 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.“
Everyone will at one time or the other come to a dead-end in the course of their life. For us in Christ Jesus, a dead-end is actually an opportunity for The Lord to open a greater door to us. Life itself is a journey, and there are many dead ends pregnant with opportunities for a new beginning. Not many make it successfully in this journey of life due to the several curveballs or crossroads that came their way. Dead ends are when contrary things come our way in this journey of life. From our above Text, Jehoshaphat got to a dead end when 3 nations came against Judah; he was afraid like any man would but he took certain steps to convert that dead-end into a mighty testimony by seeking The Lord.
Paul is another Biblical example of someone that got to his dead-end but turned to The Lord – 2 Cor. 12:8-10 – For this thing, I besought The Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And He said unto me, My Grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
Our Lord Jesus Christ also during His earthly ministry got to a dead-end in the Garden of Gethsemane but The Father engraved Him to carry out His will. We all will at one point or the other get to our dead ends in life, but the difference is how each of us handles that dead end. Some will come out better, others sadly may fall by the side. The antidote to all battles of life is for one to praise God by recognizing His Power to succumb to every battle. This was what Jehoshaphat and Judah did to obtain victory in 2 Chronicles 20.
How Jehoshaphat Handled His Dead End:
1. Despite the threat of the enemy, he did not forget to turn to The Lord for His Help.
2. Jehoshaphat began to recall God’s Faithfulness and also eulogizing Him.
3. He acknowledged to The Lord that their eyes were on Him and not the problem.
In conclusion, every battle is a set-up to the next level for no man rises in life without a battle they overcame. Battles are part and parcel of the growth process of life. Battles are essential to elevating us if we know how to handle them successfully. To us The Redeemed of The Lord, He has said in Isaiah 59:19b – “… When the enemy shall come in like a flood, The Spirit of The Lord shall lift up a standard against him.”
God Bless You!
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