In 2 Chronicles 20:13-17, we see that God indeed gave them His very specific and clear battle plan:
"This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God's. 16 Tomorrow, march down against them. They will be climbing up by the Pass of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the gorge in the Desert of Jeruel. 17 You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.’” 2 Chronicles 20:15-17 (NIV)
Here we see the specific plans that were given to Jehoshaphat for warring against the enemy:
Don’t fear the enemy, for the battle is God’s (God gave them courage and assurance).
Tomorrow they were to march (God gave them the time of the battle).
The enemy would be climbing up the pass, at the end of the gorge (God gave them the place).
Take up your positions, stand firm, see the deliverance the Lord will give you (God gave them the method).
Go out and face them tomorrow (God gave them specific instructions).
The point here is that God provided a specific plan at a particular time and place to bring His people victory. And today, we must still ask God for the particular way to fight against our specific temptations, a way to win the battle against the “vast enemy” of gluttony that comes against you. In the next verses, we see that Jehoshaphat appointed singers to lead the army into battle.
And here was the final outcome:
"As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated." 2 Chronicles 20:22 (NIV)
Listen to this word: "as they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes…" God had promised victory and given the Israelites precise instructions, and so they sang and praised their way into battle as if the victory were already won! And as they sang and praised, God set an ambush, and the Israelites experienced their victory. They won their battle by consulting the Lord, following His plan, and praising Him.
God's solutions are not man's solutions. God tells us to stand still and look up at the cross. There we see a man dying on a cross like a criminal, suffering in place of sinners, to win the battle against Satan and purchase eternal life for all who believe. He still uses this message's power, the power of the cross to destroy enemy strongholds, and set captives free. Our role is to look up at this solution and praise Him for the cross, believing the battle has already been won! Yes, the cross is our victory!
My friend, I would venture a guess that you are right where these Israelites were. You are facing a vast army that has proven more powerful than you. It has dragged you down and trampled on you, probably for many years as it did me.
Please take just a moment and watch this video:
If this is true, God is calling you to acknowledge your weakness against this army and look to Him for strength, for wisdom on how to fight, and for specific plans to war against your flesh and defeat the enemy. And more specifically, He is calling you to turn and look at the cross right now, and see that Jesus' apparent defeat is your real victory!
When learning to fight as a soldier in the Lord's army, the first important truth is to look to your Commanding Officer, tell Him your problems, and ask for His solution.
If God is calling you to turn to Him in the face of the battle, to look to Him alone for victory, then why not turn to Him and cry out to Him right now? There's no shame in acknowledging your enemy's strength and power, as long as you are looking to the Lord for victory.
“But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 15:57 (NIV)
Question 6. Please share your final thoughts on this lesson today:
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The rest of this course will be looking at how to wash at the cross, walk by the Spirit, and war against our flesh.
In the next lesson, I invite you to a strategy session. We’re going to sit down together and make some serious plans against the evil one, against our flesh and the world. We’re going to strategize together, and I’m going to give you a battle plan I made and then ask you to make one of your own.