1 00:00:01,520 --> 00:00:02,800 Speaker 1: Hey, this is Stephen Ferdik. 2 00:00:02,840 --> 00:00:05,840 Speaker 2: I'm the pastor of Elevation Church and this is our podcast. 3 00:00:05,880 --> 00:00:08,280 Speaker 1: I wanted to thank you for joining us today. Hope 4 00:00:08,320 --> 00:00:10,680 Speaker 1: this inspires you. Hope it builds your faith. 5 00:00:10,760 --> 00:00:12,840 Speaker 2: Hope it gives your perspective to see God is moving 6 00:00:12,920 --> 00:00:13,560 Speaker 2: in your life. 7 00:00:13,840 --> 00:00:16,880 Speaker 1: Enjoy the message. 8 00:00:17,600 --> 00:00:19,880 Speaker 2: I would like to share with you a verse of 9 00:00:19,920 --> 00:00:23,040 Speaker 2: scripture that I pray will go off like a bomb, 10 00:00:24,520 --> 00:00:27,520 Speaker 2: like the promise that it is when I read it. 11 00:00:28,480 --> 00:00:29,560 Speaker 1: A certain number of you. 12 00:00:29,800 --> 00:00:31,440 Speaker 2: I don't know how many, and I don't know where 13 00:00:31,480 --> 00:00:34,680 Speaker 2: you are, but a certain number of you are going 14 00:00:34,760 --> 00:00:37,559 Speaker 2: to know that this one is for you when I 15 00:00:37,640 --> 00:00:40,760 Speaker 2: read the verse. And I'm not saying it's for everybody, 16 00:00:41,040 --> 00:00:43,199 Speaker 2: but if it's for you, and how you can know 17 00:00:43,240 --> 00:00:46,680 Speaker 2: if it's for you, If you're currently facing a battle 18 00:00:47,400 --> 00:00:51,800 Speaker 2: that is bigger than you, then this verse is for 19 00:00:51,920 --> 00:00:56,040 Speaker 2: you today. And so when I read this verse, it's 20 00:00:56,080 --> 00:00:59,120 Speaker 2: not for everybody. It's for those who are facing a 21 00:00:59,200 --> 00:01:03,320 Speaker 2: battle that is bigger than you. And the scripture is 22 00:01:03,320 --> 00:01:08,360 Speaker 2: found in Second Chronicles, chapter twenty. In just a moment, 23 00:01:08,400 --> 00:01:10,160 Speaker 2: I'll read it. I want to give everybody who wants 24 00:01:10,240 --> 00:01:11,800 Speaker 2: to turn to it a chance to do that. 25 00:01:13,959 --> 00:01:15,959 Speaker 1: You got it, Rachel. 26 00:01:16,440 --> 00:01:19,560 Speaker 2: When Rachel's ready, I'll read it, because she knows the 27 00:01:19,600 --> 00:01:21,600 Speaker 2: Bible so good, so she hadn't found it by now. 28 00:01:21,640 --> 00:01:24,640 Speaker 2: I know somebody else's over in Galatians looking for Second Chronicles. 29 00:01:26,560 --> 00:01:32,319 Speaker 1: You got it twenty seventeen. Listen to this. You ready? 30 00:01:32,480 --> 00:01:34,959 Speaker 1: I don't think you are. This is the word of 31 00:01:34,959 --> 00:01:35,720 Speaker 1: the Lord. 32 00:01:37,840 --> 00:01:40,640 Speaker 2: And really, I'm going to minister off of the song 33 00:01:40,680 --> 00:01:43,840 Speaker 2: that we just sang. We were singing I'm going to 34 00:01:43,880 --> 00:01:47,480 Speaker 2: see a victory, and we were singing Romans eight twenty eight, 35 00:01:47,600 --> 00:01:50,600 Speaker 2: Genesis fifty twenty, one of the major themes of scripture, 36 00:01:50,640 --> 00:01:54,360 Speaker 2: how God takes what the enemy meant for evil and 37 00:01:54,400 --> 00:01:59,160 Speaker 2: he flips the intention of the enemy and actually uses 38 00:01:59,240 --> 00:02:04,160 Speaker 2: it to produce a purpose through your life. And I'm 39 00:02:04,160 --> 00:02:06,160 Speaker 2: going to minister off of that today. That song went 40 00:02:06,200 --> 00:02:09,200 Speaker 2: so well with my sermon. It's almost like we planned it. 41 00:02:09,200 --> 00:02:11,840 Speaker 2: It's almost like I texted LJ Wednesday and told him 42 00:02:11,840 --> 00:02:13,519 Speaker 2: to do that song before I preached. 43 00:02:15,960 --> 00:02:17,960 Speaker 1: Second Chronicles twenty verse seventeen. 44 00:02:18,560 --> 00:02:22,800 Speaker 2: The word of the Lord. You will not have to 45 00:02:22,880 --> 00:02:31,440 Speaker 2: fight this battle six of y'all all right, if you 46 00:02:31,520 --> 00:02:33,600 Speaker 2: want that to be your word? Shot when I read it, 47 00:02:34,080 --> 00:02:41,679 Speaker 2: you will not have to fight this battle. Come on, 48 00:02:41,800 --> 00:02:43,400 Speaker 2: punch somebody, say not this. 49 00:02:43,240 --> 00:02:48,280 Speaker 3: One, not this one. You will not have to fight 50 00:02:48,320 --> 00:02:50,840 Speaker 3: this battle. You will not have to fight this battle. 51 00:02:50,840 --> 00:02:52,800 Speaker 3: Tell them you will not have to You will not 52 00:02:52,880 --> 00:02:58,200 Speaker 3: have to fight this battle. Take up your positions, stand 53 00:02:58,240 --> 00:03:05,760 Speaker 3: firm and see Stand firm and see the deliverance the 54 00:03:05,800 --> 00:03:09,120 Speaker 3: Lord will give you, O Judah and Jerusalem, Do not 55 00:03:09,240 --> 00:03:13,680 Speaker 3: be afraid, do not be discouraged. Don't believe that devil 56 00:03:13,680 --> 00:03:15,600 Speaker 3: when he tells you that there's nothing you can do 57 00:03:15,680 --> 00:03:19,440 Speaker 3: about it. Go out to face them tomorrow and the 58 00:03:19,600 --> 00:03:23,400 Speaker 3: Lord will be with you. Let's give God a shout 59 00:03:23,400 --> 00:03:30,040 Speaker 3: of praise for his prophet. Amen, you may be seated 60 00:03:30,080 --> 00:03:31,160 Speaker 3: in the presence of God. 61 00:03:34,240 --> 00:03:39,640 Speaker 2: I should mention that yesterday mark seventeen years since I 62 00:03:39,680 --> 00:03:43,760 Speaker 2: made the best decision of my life in Monks Corner, 63 00:03:43,800 --> 00:03:46,880 Speaker 2: South Carolina, at the Old Santee Canal State Park, where 64 00:03:46,880 --> 00:03:49,880 Speaker 2: I send my vows to the Hollyanna Boytan out of 65 00:03:49,920 --> 00:03:54,640 Speaker 2: my dreams. Sweating through my s and K two sizes 66 00:03:54,680 --> 00:03:57,600 Speaker 2: too big, standing out in one hundred and four degree 67 00:03:57,680 --> 00:03:58,560 Speaker 2: low country heat. 68 00:03:59,240 --> 00:04:01,200 Speaker 1: Eric Phillips was a groomsman. 69 00:04:01,600 --> 00:04:06,000 Speaker 2: Sweating and six ministers stood on the rostrum to share 70 00:04:06,080 --> 00:04:08,800 Speaker 2: in seven different songs that we sang. 71 00:04:09,440 --> 00:04:11,600 Speaker 1: It was quite an occasion. We made a big deal 72 00:04:11,640 --> 00:04:13,720 Speaker 1: about it and everybody had to endure it. It was 73 00:04:13,760 --> 00:04:14,400 Speaker 1: a big day. 74 00:04:15,120 --> 00:04:18,120 Speaker 2: I sang a song to Holly on my Taylor acoustic 75 00:04:18,200 --> 00:04:20,760 Speaker 2: guitar that I could barely afford that I had written 76 00:04:20,760 --> 00:04:23,560 Speaker 2: for the occasion, And I'm going to write her another song. 77 00:04:23,640 --> 00:04:25,279 Speaker 2: She doesn't know it yet, but I've already got the 78 00:04:25,360 --> 00:04:27,640 Speaker 2: chorus and I'm working on it before we get to 79 00:04:27,680 --> 00:04:30,360 Speaker 2: the twentieth anniversary, and I'm going to have it ready. 80 00:04:30,520 --> 00:04:32,520 Speaker 2: It's a good song. It's kind of got a Tom 81 00:04:32,560 --> 00:04:35,400 Speaker 2: Petty vibe with a little bit of edge sheering, and 82 00:04:35,440 --> 00:04:38,279 Speaker 2: I'm praying that it'll help me to unlock the doors 83 00:04:38,279 --> 00:04:40,440 Speaker 2: of love that I need unlocked in moments of my 84 00:04:40,480 --> 00:04:43,919 Speaker 2: life where I want affection, attention, and intimacy with my wife. 85 00:04:44,040 --> 00:04:48,000 Speaker 2: So y'all pray for me about that as well. Already 86 00:04:48,040 --> 00:04:55,000 Speaker 2: got the chorus praying about the verse. So now I 87 00:04:55,040 --> 00:04:58,800 Speaker 2: think I'm qualified to give marriage advice. Seventeen years I 88 00:04:58,880 --> 00:05:02,800 Speaker 2: have something to say. Not ready to do the parenting 89 00:05:03,160 --> 00:05:08,159 Speaker 2: book yet, but the marriage thing. Really, I feel unqualified 90 00:05:08,160 --> 00:05:11,360 Speaker 2: to give marriage advice because I feel like our marriage 91 00:05:11,440 --> 00:05:15,520 Speaker 2: is strong mostly because of who I chose, And that's 92 00:05:15,520 --> 00:05:18,560 Speaker 2: the honest truth. I'm not pandering now, I'm telling you 93 00:05:18,600 --> 00:05:21,680 Speaker 2: the truth. I think that selection is so important. And 94 00:05:22,440 --> 00:05:24,920 Speaker 2: I don't mean that God can't take a relationship that 95 00:05:24,960 --> 00:05:30,000 Speaker 2: starts rocky and turn it into something that is really, 96 00:05:30,000 --> 00:05:33,160 Speaker 2: really beautiful. Of course, he makes beauty out of ashes, 97 00:05:33,680 --> 00:05:37,240 Speaker 2: that's what he does. But I think I get sometimes 98 00:05:37,320 --> 00:05:40,200 Speaker 2: credit for things about our marriage that are really just 99 00:05:40,240 --> 00:05:43,040 Speaker 2: a product of the character of the person that I married. 100 00:05:43,760 --> 00:05:46,400 Speaker 2: And one person told me, who has a very psychologically 101 00:05:46,440 --> 00:05:49,560 Speaker 2: based knowledge, that the healthiest part of me chose Holly. 102 00:05:51,320 --> 00:05:52,520 Speaker 2: And I didn't even know what that meant when they 103 00:05:52,560 --> 00:05:54,360 Speaker 2: said it, but it sounded truth. So I'm saying it 104 00:05:54,360 --> 00:06:02,480 Speaker 2: to you. When I chose her, I chose a union 105 00:06:02,480 --> 00:06:05,640 Speaker 2: with her strengths, but I also chose to cover her 106 00:06:05,680 --> 00:06:08,479 Speaker 2: weaknesses as her husband, and then she chose to cover 107 00:06:08,560 --> 00:06:11,839 Speaker 2: my weaknesses. And I definitely got the good end of it. 108 00:06:11,880 --> 00:06:12,640 Speaker 1: I promise you that. 109 00:06:12,839 --> 00:06:16,560 Speaker 2: But you know, the thing about marriage is sometimes it's 110 00:06:16,600 --> 00:06:18,919 Speaker 2: more helpful to look at an example than it is 111 00:06:18,960 --> 00:06:24,039 Speaker 2: to listen to advice. Even Jesus he loved the church 112 00:06:24,520 --> 00:06:27,040 Speaker 2: like he wants a husband to love their wife. So 113 00:06:27,080 --> 00:06:31,680 Speaker 2: it's more of an example than an explanation. And people 114 00:06:31,720 --> 00:06:35,920 Speaker 2: will give you marriage advice or life advice or parenting advice, 115 00:06:35,960 --> 00:06:38,520 Speaker 2: but they'll give it to you based on ideal situations. 116 00:06:39,480 --> 00:06:42,520 Speaker 2: And the problem with that is when someone is advising 117 00:06:42,600 --> 00:06:46,280 Speaker 2: you but they don't know the exact nature of your challenges. 118 00:06:47,400 --> 00:06:49,560 Speaker 2: They might give you a strategy that worked for them, 119 00:06:50,080 --> 00:06:53,400 Speaker 2: but it might not work for you. Because every relationship, 120 00:06:53,440 --> 00:06:59,160 Speaker 2: every challenge, every battle is not created equal. And I 121 00:06:59,200 --> 00:07:03,839 Speaker 2: remember asking so many different couples before our wedding what 122 00:07:03,960 --> 00:07:05,839 Speaker 2: advice they would give, and mostly you get the same 123 00:07:05,839 --> 00:07:09,560 Speaker 2: old cliches, the same old tired cliches about you know, 124 00:07:09,640 --> 00:07:12,400 Speaker 2: never go to bed angry, which I want to say, 125 00:07:12,480 --> 00:07:16,120 Speaker 2: is a horrible, horrible thing to try, because the best 126 00:07:16,160 --> 00:07:18,280 Speaker 2: thing to do sometimes is get some rest and come 127 00:07:18,280 --> 00:07:20,239 Speaker 2: at it fresh in the morning before you say something 128 00:07:20,520 --> 00:07:23,200 Speaker 2: you regret with your sleep deprived, delirious self, with your 129 00:07:23,200 --> 00:07:25,760 Speaker 2: filter off. And now you're tired saying stuff that you 130 00:07:25,760 --> 00:07:27,880 Speaker 2: would never say if it wasn't three am. So go 131 00:07:27,880 --> 00:07:30,480 Speaker 2: to your corner and come out tomorrow morning. See I'm 132 00:07:30,520 --> 00:07:33,920 Speaker 2: saying some of this advice that sounds good like, choose 133 00:07:33,960 --> 00:07:37,680 Speaker 2: your battles. That's one advice you always get. Choose your battles. 134 00:07:38,480 --> 00:07:42,560 Speaker 2: Don't fight over everything, which is great advice. You know, 135 00:07:43,120 --> 00:07:46,320 Speaker 2: you have to decide in any relationship. This is not 136 00:07:46,360 --> 00:07:48,160 Speaker 2: a marriage seminar, by the way, I'm just using it 137 00:07:48,160 --> 00:07:50,920 Speaker 2: for an opening illustration. But you have to decide, like, 138 00:07:51,280 --> 00:07:53,400 Speaker 2: is this really worth waging a war over? 139 00:07:55,160 --> 00:07:57,400 Speaker 1: Is it really worth If Holly. 140 00:07:57,600 --> 00:08:00,600 Speaker 2: Still, after seventeen years, doesn't know how to care load 141 00:08:00,640 --> 00:08:03,680 Speaker 2: the silverware in the dishwasher, and she thinks it's still 142 00:08:03,720 --> 00:08:06,320 Speaker 2: okay to put the part of the fork that you 143 00:08:06,360 --> 00:08:08,840 Speaker 2: put in your mouth facing up so that your hand 144 00:08:08,920 --> 00:08:10,920 Speaker 2: touches the part that's going in your mouth when you 145 00:08:10,960 --> 00:08:13,520 Speaker 2: get it out the next day, If she really still 146 00:08:13,560 --> 00:08:16,600 Speaker 2: thinks that makes sense after seventeen years, is it really 147 00:08:16,640 --> 00:08:19,120 Speaker 2: worth fighting about. No, I'm bigger than that. I'm not 148 00:08:19,160 --> 00:08:26,840 Speaker 2: a petty man. I let it go. So they'll tell 149 00:08:26,880 --> 00:08:31,160 Speaker 2: you choose your battles. Let your kids play the music 150 00:08:31,440 --> 00:08:33,959 Speaker 2: too loud every once in a while, don't always choose 151 00:08:33,960 --> 00:08:38,559 Speaker 2: your battles. Don't get tripped up over tiny things. Choose 152 00:08:38,559 --> 00:08:42,800 Speaker 2: your battles. The question I want to ask today, and 153 00:08:42,920 --> 00:08:45,360 Speaker 2: I guess you could use it as a title for 154 00:08:45,400 --> 00:08:48,480 Speaker 2: the message as well. From Second Chronicles twenty is it's 155 00:08:48,520 --> 00:08:50,640 Speaker 2: wise to choose your battles when you can. 156 00:08:52,360 --> 00:08:56,240 Speaker 1: But what do you do when your battle chooses you? 157 00:08:58,720 --> 00:09:02,280 Speaker 2: What do you do when something shows up on your 158 00:09:02,320 --> 00:09:05,800 Speaker 2: doorstep and it's not from Amazon Prime and you didn't 159 00:09:05,920 --> 00:09:10,000 Speaker 2: order it? What do you do when the devil drops 160 00:09:10,040 --> 00:09:13,080 Speaker 2: something off for you to deal with that you did 161 00:09:13,080 --> 00:09:21,320 Speaker 2: not directly cause, choose or definitely anticipate. Like Jehoshaphat in 162 00:09:21,400 --> 00:09:25,640 Speaker 2: Second Chronicles twenty, who is told one morning in verse one, 163 00:09:26,480 --> 00:09:30,280 Speaker 2: might I add in a time of spiritual renewal for Judah, 164 00:09:30,480 --> 00:09:33,480 Speaker 2: the southern kingdom of Israel, in a time of great 165 00:09:33,760 --> 00:09:38,360 Speaker 2: momentum spiritually, one day, just when everything's going good, you 166 00:09:38,400 --> 00:09:40,800 Speaker 2: know how, just when you get something figured out, and 167 00:09:41,000 --> 00:09:43,079 Speaker 2: just when you get in your groove, and just when 168 00:09:43,120 --> 00:09:45,360 Speaker 2: you get in your rhythm, and here comes some news. 169 00:09:45,360 --> 00:09:48,679 Speaker 2: The Bible says, after this first one, the Moabites and 170 00:09:48,800 --> 00:09:52,280 Speaker 2: Ammonites and even some of the men Unites came to 171 00:09:52,320 --> 00:09:57,360 Speaker 2: make war on Jehashaphat. And some men came and told Jehashaphat, 172 00:09:58,080 --> 00:09:58,720 Speaker 2: I'm not telling them. 173 00:09:58,760 --> 00:10:01,960 Speaker 1: You tell him. I'm not tell him. You tell him, Well, 174 00:10:02,000 --> 00:10:03,520 Speaker 1: I'll tell him. Let's all tell him together. 175 00:10:03,920 --> 00:10:08,000 Speaker 2: A vast army is coming against you from Edom, from 176 00:10:08,000 --> 00:10:11,520 Speaker 2: the other side of the sea. This means they're sneaking 177 00:10:11,640 --> 00:10:16,680 Speaker 2: up from behind. They're going around the Dead Sea and 178 00:10:16,720 --> 00:10:19,880 Speaker 2: then coming back up to attack the people of God 179 00:10:20,400 --> 00:10:23,280 Speaker 2: on a little known route because they can't use the 180 00:10:23,360 --> 00:10:26,360 Speaker 2: normal trade route, and so they're sneaking up from behind, 181 00:10:26,720 --> 00:10:28,960 Speaker 2: and they're twenty five miles out. 182 00:10:29,200 --> 00:10:29,880 Speaker 1: That means that. 183 00:10:29,920 --> 00:10:33,800 Speaker 2: Jehashaphat doesn't have time to develop a strategy. 184 00:10:34,320 --> 00:10:35,800 Speaker 1: He doesn't have time. 185 00:10:36,240 --> 00:10:39,760 Speaker 2: To build the armed forces to mount a defense. He 186 00:10:39,800 --> 00:10:43,040 Speaker 2: doesn't have time to rethink the occasions that led up 187 00:10:43,080 --> 00:10:46,400 Speaker 2: to This event is coming, and it's coming now. Have 188 00:10:46,520 --> 00:10:49,800 Speaker 2: you ever got that phone call, that text message, that 189 00:10:50,040 --> 00:10:52,880 Speaker 2: moment in time where something is sneaking up on you 190 00:10:53,200 --> 00:10:56,360 Speaker 2: and it's only a day's march away. That means I 191 00:10:56,400 --> 00:10:58,920 Speaker 2: have to deal with it tomorrow. I don't have time 192 00:10:58,960 --> 00:11:01,160 Speaker 2: to read a book. I don't have time to watch 193 00:11:01,200 --> 00:11:03,520 Speaker 2: a Ted talk. I don't have time to get my 194 00:11:03,600 --> 00:11:06,600 Speaker 2: nutrition in my sleep. This one caught me off guard. 195 00:11:06,880 --> 00:11:09,199 Speaker 2: This one slapped me up side the head. This one 196 00:11:09,280 --> 00:11:11,720 Speaker 2: left my ear ringing. This one, I can't even believe 197 00:11:11,800 --> 00:11:14,040 Speaker 2: is happening. This one, I'm not even really sure if 198 00:11:14,080 --> 00:11:14,880 Speaker 2: it's real yet. 199 00:11:15,040 --> 00:11:15,400 Speaker 1: This one. 200 00:11:15,440 --> 00:11:18,120 Speaker 2: I don't have time to call twelve people about this one. 201 00:11:18,120 --> 00:11:20,720 Speaker 2: I don't have time to get everybody's opinion. This one, 202 00:11:20,720 --> 00:11:22,800 Speaker 2: I don't have time to get everybody's advice. 203 00:11:23,080 --> 00:11:24,640 Speaker 1: So watch what Jahasaphat did. 204 00:11:24,840 --> 00:11:27,240 Speaker 2: He said, I don't have time for all that, so 205 00:11:27,320 --> 00:11:30,360 Speaker 2: I gotta go to God. There's something about a surprise 206 00:11:30,440 --> 00:11:33,560 Speaker 2: attack that will drive you into the presence of God. 207 00:11:33,920 --> 00:11:36,840 Speaker 2: There's something about the one you didn't see coming that'll 208 00:11:36,840 --> 00:11:37,760 Speaker 2: make you run to the. 209 00:11:37,679 --> 00:11:43,720 Speaker 1: Place you should have run too. All along, I'm getting 210 00:11:43,760 --> 00:11:44,520 Speaker 1: ahead of myself. 211 00:11:44,559 --> 00:11:46,640 Speaker 2: But it said that they were coming, and they were 212 00:11:46,760 --> 00:11:54,120 Speaker 2: already in Ingetti, And so the response of the king 213 00:11:55,480 --> 00:12:00,840 Speaker 2: is urgent. It says that in verse three he will alarmed, 214 00:12:01,840 --> 00:12:03,800 Speaker 2: but yet he resolved. 215 00:12:04,679 --> 00:12:05,480 Speaker 1: I really liked that. 216 00:12:06,840 --> 00:12:10,920 Speaker 2: I really liked that he had a determination to seek 217 00:12:10,960 --> 00:12:15,559 Speaker 2: the Lord even in the face of an unexpected attack. 218 00:12:16,840 --> 00:12:18,960 Speaker 2: He had made up his mind who he would go 219 00:12:19,120 --> 00:12:22,200 Speaker 2: to before he even knew what would come against him. 220 00:12:23,720 --> 00:12:28,280 Speaker 1: And of course he didn't always respond this way. Nobody does. 221 00:12:29,720 --> 00:12:30,959 Speaker 1: Come on, nobody does. 222 00:12:32,280 --> 00:12:34,599 Speaker 2: Oh man, this is so difficult to get across the 223 00:12:34,679 --> 00:12:37,400 Speaker 2: hypocritical Christians who always want to act like they always 224 00:12:37,400 --> 00:12:42,120 Speaker 2: sought the Lord and prayed about everything, like you always 225 00:12:42,160 --> 00:12:44,760 Speaker 2: prayed in tongues, like you always lifted your hands, like 226 00:12:44,800 --> 00:12:48,559 Speaker 2: you always prostrated yourself before the holiness of His Majesty, 227 00:12:48,600 --> 00:12:53,240 Speaker 2: the Great Jehovah, who fights your battles. No, Jehoshapad hooked 228 00:12:53,320 --> 00:12:57,240 Speaker 2: up with Ahab and almost got himself killed two chapters 229 00:12:57,280 --> 00:13:02,880 Speaker 2: ago because it seemed like the right strategy. Because when 230 00:13:03,480 --> 00:13:09,280 Speaker 2: they wanted to attack a strategic city, the wicked king Ahab, 231 00:13:09,400 --> 00:13:13,440 Speaker 2: and you might recognize his name from the prophetic account 232 00:13:13,440 --> 00:13:14,760 Speaker 2: of Elijah. 233 00:13:14,840 --> 00:13:16,200 Speaker 1: That's the one Elijah. 234 00:13:15,800 --> 00:13:18,120 Speaker 2: Went to and he was like, Hey, it's not going 235 00:13:18,200 --> 00:13:22,120 Speaker 2: to reign until I say so. The heavens are going 236 00:13:22,200 --> 00:13:25,280 Speaker 2: to be like a voice activated shower system, and until 237 00:13:25,280 --> 00:13:26,719 Speaker 2: I say so, it's not going to rain. 238 00:13:27,000 --> 00:13:29,640 Speaker 1: That was Ahap He said that too, And so. 239 00:13:29,720 --> 00:13:33,840 Speaker 2: Jehashaphat got with that same king and went out to 240 00:13:33,880 --> 00:13:38,800 Speaker 2: do what seemed smart, and they almost got killed. In fact, 241 00:13:38,840 --> 00:13:43,040 Speaker 2: Ahab did get killed, and the prophet Makaiyah tried to 242 00:13:43,040 --> 00:13:43,480 Speaker 2: tell him. 243 00:13:43,640 --> 00:13:46,360 Speaker 1: These false bail prophets, what they're telling you is what 244 00:13:46,400 --> 00:13:47,760 Speaker 1: you want to hear. But it's not what you need 245 00:13:47,800 --> 00:13:48,120 Speaker 1: to hear. 246 00:13:48,320 --> 00:13:51,920 Speaker 2: If you go into that battle, you're gonna get yourself hurt. 247 00:13:52,640 --> 00:13:56,280 Speaker 2: And he did, and he barely made it out because 248 00:13:56,320 --> 00:13:59,600 Speaker 2: he fought the wrong battle. Have you ever barely made 249 00:13:59,600 --> 00:14:01,720 Speaker 2: it out because you fought a battle that you weren't 250 00:14:01,720 --> 00:14:07,920 Speaker 2: supposed to fight. One time, my father in law were driving. 251 00:14:08,280 --> 00:14:11,400 Speaker 2: It was actually on the day of my wedding seventeen 252 00:14:11,520 --> 00:14:15,600 Speaker 2: years ago, and we passed a couple who on the 253 00:14:15,679 --> 00:14:19,720 Speaker 2: side of the road. They were fighting physically, But the 254 00:14:19,840 --> 00:14:23,320 Speaker 2: interesting thing about it was the man was in a 255 00:14:23,320 --> 00:14:29,360 Speaker 2: headlock and the woman seemed to have the situation firmly 256 00:14:29,400 --> 00:14:30,400 Speaker 2: in control. 257 00:14:30,520 --> 00:14:33,280 Speaker 1: I didn't see that till I pulled. When I pulled 258 00:14:33,280 --> 00:14:34,320 Speaker 1: the car over, I. 259 00:14:34,280 --> 00:14:36,480 Speaker 2: Was going to get out and help because I thought 260 00:14:36,520 --> 00:14:38,080 Speaker 2: that the man was beating up on the woman. 261 00:14:39,440 --> 00:14:40,720 Speaker 1: But when I saw. 262 00:14:42,880 --> 00:14:47,760 Speaker 2: That the woman was taking care of the man, I figured, 263 00:14:47,880 --> 00:14:52,560 Speaker 2: you know, just praise God for his sovereignty that he 264 00:14:52,640 --> 00:14:56,760 Speaker 2: knows what's best, and apparently this woman doesn't need my help. 265 00:14:56,800 --> 00:15:01,160 Speaker 2: So I just drove off. Father in law said, why 266 00:15:01,160 --> 00:15:02,680 Speaker 2: did you stop. I said, I was going to get 267 00:15:02,680 --> 00:15:06,760 Speaker 2: out and help. He said, no, no, no, never get 268 00:15:06,760 --> 00:15:09,720 Speaker 2: in a fight between a man and his woman because 269 00:15:09,760 --> 00:15:13,320 Speaker 2: you'll step in to help them. And then if you 270 00:15:13,400 --> 00:15:17,160 Speaker 2: step into their fight and it's not your fight, but 271 00:15:17,240 --> 00:15:19,880 Speaker 2: you get in the middle of it, they'll turn around 272 00:15:19,920 --> 00:15:21,440 Speaker 2: and both start fighting you. 273 00:15:23,720 --> 00:15:24,880 Speaker 1: It's good life advice. 274 00:15:25,920 --> 00:15:28,960 Speaker 2: Don't try to take on a fight that's not your fight, 275 00:15:30,320 --> 00:15:32,520 Speaker 2: because you might find out when you take on a 276 00:15:32,560 --> 00:15:36,120 Speaker 2: fight that's not your fight, you might find out that 277 00:15:36,280 --> 00:15:38,880 Speaker 2: the surest way for you to get yourself in trouble 278 00:15:39,560 --> 00:15:42,200 Speaker 2: is for you to take on a battle that doesn't 279 00:15:42,240 --> 00:15:46,960 Speaker 2: belong to you. This is why Christians don't always need 280 00:15:47,000 --> 00:15:51,240 Speaker 2: to share their opinion on every subject that is presented 281 00:15:51,680 --> 00:15:57,720 Speaker 2: as a cultural issue. You've got to choose your battles 282 00:15:58,320 --> 00:16:00,320 Speaker 2: and to know God, this is what your if I 283 00:16:00,400 --> 00:16:01,040 Speaker 2: wanted to know. 284 00:16:01,280 --> 00:16:04,320 Speaker 1: Is this my battle? Is this my fight? Is this 285 00:16:04,400 --> 00:16:06,720 Speaker 1: something that I need to be involved in? Is this 286 00:16:06,760 --> 00:16:08,120 Speaker 1: something that I'm called to do? 287 00:16:08,400 --> 00:16:11,120 Speaker 2: You'd be shocked how many people through the years have 288 00:16:11,240 --> 00:16:13,800 Speaker 2: tried to get me to be more political from my pulpit. 289 00:16:14,800 --> 00:16:19,920 Speaker 1: But that's not my fight. I vote, I'm involved. 290 00:16:20,680 --> 00:16:23,080 Speaker 2: I lead thousands of people to make a difference in 291 00:16:23,120 --> 00:16:27,280 Speaker 2: our community. I build something that represents and reflects unity 292 00:16:27,320 --> 00:16:29,640 Speaker 2: to a broken fragmented world, and we do it together 293 00:16:29,720 --> 00:16:35,920 Speaker 2: every six days and through the week. But you've got 294 00:16:35,960 --> 00:16:39,120 Speaker 2: to be very careful that you don't expend all of 295 00:16:39,160 --> 00:16:43,760 Speaker 2: your energy fighting battles that are not yours, and then 296 00:16:43,800 --> 00:16:46,360 Speaker 2: you don't have any energy left for the battles that 297 00:16:46,440 --> 00:16:52,040 Speaker 2: are yours. And now you've gotten so tired leaving comments 298 00:16:52,080 --> 00:16:54,640 Speaker 2: on Facebook posts with people that you don't know in 299 00:16:54,720 --> 00:16:57,600 Speaker 2: Idaho that you don't have any strength to engage with 300 00:16:57,640 --> 00:17:00,800 Speaker 2: the people who live in your own house. I'm not 301 00:17:00,920 --> 00:17:03,760 Speaker 2: trying to run the White House. I'm trying to run 302 00:17:03,840 --> 00:17:06,880 Speaker 2: my house. And I got my hands full. I got 303 00:17:06,960 --> 00:17:14,720 Speaker 2: three people in my house who are dependents. Do I 304 00:17:14,760 --> 00:17:17,120 Speaker 2: know when you're wearing yourself out swinging that stuff that's 305 00:17:17,160 --> 00:17:20,119 Speaker 2: not even yours to fight. 306 00:17:21,920 --> 00:17:23,360 Speaker 1: I'm bad about this though. 307 00:17:23,400 --> 00:17:27,959 Speaker 2: I sometimes it's as if I don't have enough drama 308 00:17:28,000 --> 00:17:32,520 Speaker 2: for my own self, so I start trying to control 309 00:17:32,560 --> 00:17:33,119 Speaker 2: other people. 310 00:17:34,440 --> 00:17:36,040 Speaker 1: You know how you can tell if you're fighting the 311 00:17:36,040 --> 00:17:36,760 Speaker 1: wrong battles. 312 00:17:37,280 --> 00:17:40,280 Speaker 2: If you are trying to control others, you're fighting the 313 00:17:40,320 --> 00:17:45,760 Speaker 2: wrong battle. You can't control others past a certain point. 314 00:17:45,800 --> 00:17:49,119 Speaker 2: You can only manipulate short term behavioral results, but you 315 00:17:49,160 --> 00:17:54,120 Speaker 2: can't change somebody's heart. That's why even the New Testament says, 316 00:17:54,160 --> 00:17:56,000 Speaker 2: as much as it is possible with you live at 317 00:17:56,000 --> 00:17:58,520 Speaker 2: peace with all men. There comes a point where the 318 00:17:58,600 --> 00:18:02,080 Speaker 2: peace of another per is not your responsibility. 319 00:18:02,600 --> 00:18:04,920 Speaker 1: Your piece is your responsibility. 320 00:18:05,080 --> 00:18:08,879 Speaker 2: And there comes a point where you have to say, 321 00:18:09,760 --> 00:18:14,080 Speaker 2: that's not my battle, that's not my battle. I've done 322 00:18:14,080 --> 00:18:17,880 Speaker 2: all I can do, but that's not my battle. In fact, 323 00:18:17,920 --> 00:18:19,600 Speaker 2: let me give you a great little line to use 324 00:18:20,280 --> 00:18:22,439 Speaker 2: the next time somebody tries to draw you into some 325 00:18:22,480 --> 00:18:26,440 Speaker 2: gossip or draw you into some drama, okay, And they'll 326 00:18:26,480 --> 00:18:27,680 Speaker 2: usually say, what do. 327 00:18:27,680 --> 00:18:31,119 Speaker 1: You think about so and so? You heard about so 328 00:18:31,160 --> 00:18:31,480 Speaker 1: and so on? 329 00:18:31,480 --> 00:18:33,080 Speaker 2: What you think about people asking me this off time 330 00:18:33,119 --> 00:18:35,359 Speaker 2: about another ministry? What do you think about so and so? 331 00:18:35,560 --> 00:18:37,480 Speaker 2: And I learned this from an older minister. They taught 332 00:18:37,520 --> 00:18:40,000 Speaker 2: me what to say, what do you think about? And 333 00:18:40,040 --> 00:18:49,879 Speaker 2: here's what you say back, I don't. It'll work for 334 00:18:49,920 --> 00:18:54,359 Speaker 2: a variety of situations. It can work for a situation 335 00:18:54,480 --> 00:18:56,679 Speaker 2: that you're ignorant about and you only read headlines, so 336 00:18:56,720 --> 00:18:58,600 Speaker 2: you really don't have anything to say because we can't 337 00:18:58,600 --> 00:19:02,520 Speaker 2: trust the information that we're given. And it can work 338 00:19:02,560 --> 00:19:04,960 Speaker 2: about Donald Trump, it can work about Kanye West, It 339 00:19:04,960 --> 00:19:07,199 Speaker 2: can work about somebody else that drops their kid off 340 00:19:07,200 --> 00:19:08,960 Speaker 2: at school next to you and they're having trouble in 341 00:19:08,960 --> 00:19:09,399 Speaker 2: their marriage. 342 00:19:09,640 --> 00:19:11,800 Speaker 1: What do you think about so and so? I don't. 343 00:19:13,160 --> 00:19:18,919 Speaker 2: My heart is a full time drama factory. I do 344 00:19:19,040 --> 00:19:23,160 Speaker 2: not need to borrow drama from anybody else's personal life. 345 00:19:23,640 --> 00:19:28,760 Speaker 2: I got my own drama byod bring your own drama. 346 00:19:29,080 --> 00:19:29,840 Speaker 1: I got enough. 347 00:19:29,960 --> 00:19:33,080 Speaker 2: You brought your own drama to church without judging somebody 348 00:19:33,080 --> 00:19:36,120 Speaker 2: else from what you think about them from ten seconds 349 00:19:36,119 --> 00:19:38,840 Speaker 2: of their life compared to the entirety of it. I 350 00:19:38,840 --> 00:19:41,639 Speaker 2: don't have time for it. And Jehoshaphat didn't run around 351 00:19:41,640 --> 00:19:44,320 Speaker 2: looking at what other people were doing. He went to 352 00:19:44,520 --> 00:19:48,720 Speaker 2: seek the Lord. He went to inquire of the Lord. 353 00:19:48,960 --> 00:19:51,399 Speaker 2: And this is not just some glib prayer or this 354 00:19:51,520 --> 00:19:53,720 Speaker 2: is not just getting some feeling and going with it 355 00:19:53,800 --> 00:19:54,720 Speaker 2: and calling it God. 356 00:19:55,000 --> 00:19:56,600 Speaker 1: And this isn't just slapping. 357 00:19:56,200 --> 00:19:58,600 Speaker 2: A scripture verse on something that you wanted to do 358 00:19:58,720 --> 00:20:01,040 Speaker 2: anyway so that you can blame it on God when 359 00:20:01,080 --> 00:20:04,080 Speaker 2: it doesn't work out. This is really seeking the Lord. 360 00:20:04,400 --> 00:20:07,639 Speaker 2: In fact, the Bible says that he was shaken, but 361 00:20:07,760 --> 00:20:08,240 Speaker 2: he wasn't. 362 00:20:08,640 --> 00:20:09,320 Speaker 1: He wasn't. 363 00:20:09,920 --> 00:20:12,920 Speaker 2: Maybe I should say it this way. He was shocked, 364 00:20:13,800 --> 00:20:21,760 Speaker 2: but he wasn't shook. Oh didn't see this coming. Amm 365 00:20:21,840 --> 00:20:25,399 Speaker 2: and Moab and the Edomites. That's three of them. I 366 00:20:25,400 --> 00:20:30,280 Speaker 2: could fight one, but there's three of them. It's bigger 367 00:20:30,280 --> 00:20:35,159 Speaker 2: than me, and it's coming up from behind me. You 368 00:20:35,200 --> 00:20:39,879 Speaker 2: got something bigger than you that came up from behind you. 369 00:20:42,440 --> 00:20:45,240 Speaker 2: Jehoshapat's prayer is interesting because he's. 370 00:20:45,080 --> 00:20:46,840 Speaker 1: Praying about Amm and Moab. 371 00:20:46,440 --> 00:20:51,560 Speaker 2: And the Edomites from Mount Sierra. But we got three 372 00:20:51,600 --> 00:20:56,359 Speaker 2: different enemies. We got the world, the flesh, and the devil. 373 00:20:57,680 --> 00:21:01,520 Speaker 2: That's from first John, that's your enemy. The world, the flesh, 374 00:21:01,920 --> 00:21:05,600 Speaker 2: and the devil that's the values that oppose your purpose. 375 00:21:05,640 --> 00:21:09,280 Speaker 2: The world the flesh, that's the patterns that oppose your purpose. 376 00:21:09,760 --> 00:21:13,600 Speaker 2: And the devil that is the principality that opposes your purpose. 377 00:21:14,600 --> 00:21:17,240 Speaker 2: And I could fight one, But how do I fight 378 00:21:17,280 --> 00:21:21,240 Speaker 2: the devil when I'm fighting my own flesh? How do 379 00:21:21,320 --> 00:21:24,040 Speaker 2: I fight the world when actually there's a part of 380 00:21:24,080 --> 00:21:26,560 Speaker 2: me that wants to do it like the world. I 381 00:21:26,600 --> 00:21:29,520 Speaker 2: could fight one, but I can't fight them all, and 382 00:21:29,560 --> 00:21:32,920 Speaker 2: they're bigger than me and it's coming up from behind. 383 00:21:33,080 --> 00:21:36,360 Speaker 2: How do I raise kids in a culture where the 384 00:21:36,400 --> 00:21:40,920 Speaker 2: information of the history of the universe is in their pocket. 385 00:21:41,440 --> 00:21:43,840 Speaker 2: How do I have a sex talk with kids when 386 00:21:43,880 --> 00:21:46,159 Speaker 2: they don't have to go to a gas station to 387 00:21:46,240 --> 00:21:49,600 Speaker 2: see pornography? They can do it right beside their Bible lap. 388 00:21:50,800 --> 00:21:56,600 Speaker 2: The nature of the battle determines the nature of the strategy. 389 00:21:57,920 --> 00:22:01,399 Speaker 2: When you don't understand the nature of the battle, you 390 00:22:01,440 --> 00:22:05,480 Speaker 2: will not understand the nuance of the strategy. So you 391 00:22:05,560 --> 00:22:09,960 Speaker 2: will fight the battle not understanding the dynamics of the battle, and. 392 00:22:09,840 --> 00:22:12,480 Speaker 1: You will lose the battle because you will. 393 00:22:12,359 --> 00:22:15,639 Speaker 2: Wrestle on the wrong level. Can I preach you a 394 00:22:15,680 --> 00:22:20,360 Speaker 2: little bit today? It's for fifty people that you are 395 00:22:20,440 --> 00:22:22,880 Speaker 2: facing something that snuck. 396 00:22:22,640 --> 00:22:23,640 Speaker 1: Up from behind. 397 00:22:23,720 --> 00:22:26,760 Speaker 2: You didn't see this coming, and it's bigger than you. 398 00:22:27,040 --> 00:22:28,840 Speaker 1: I don't know which one to fight next. 399 00:22:30,440 --> 00:22:35,359 Speaker 2: When you understand the nature of the battle, you can understand. 400 00:22:35,000 --> 00:22:37,240 Speaker 1: The nature of the strategy. 401 00:22:37,800 --> 00:22:41,200 Speaker 2: And that's why I got to ask God. Jehosha Fat 402 00:22:41,200 --> 00:22:45,200 Speaker 2: resolved to seek the lure. That means he involved the priests, 403 00:22:45,560 --> 00:22:49,880 Speaker 2: the Levites, and they got together and he got surrounded 404 00:22:49,920 --> 00:22:52,439 Speaker 2: by the right people. He's not going to Ahab this time. 405 00:22:53,359 --> 00:22:55,680 Speaker 2: He's not asking all his friends what they think about 406 00:22:55,680 --> 00:22:59,159 Speaker 2: at this time. He's not looking for celebrity culture to 407 00:22:59,240 --> 00:23:03,320 Speaker 2: influence his decisions. This time, he's going to the right place, 408 00:23:03,760 --> 00:23:06,480 Speaker 2: but he doesn't have a plan. And I want you 409 00:23:06,520 --> 00:23:08,520 Speaker 2: to see his prayer because it'll help you. If you're 410 00:23:08,560 --> 00:23:11,639 Speaker 2: facing a battle that is bigger than you and it's 411 00:23:11,640 --> 00:23:15,240 Speaker 2: snuck up from behind you. Every day this week, I 412 00:23:15,280 --> 00:23:17,639 Speaker 2: want you to open your Bible to Second Chronicles twenty 413 00:23:18,560 --> 00:23:24,600 Speaker 2: verse three, and following read what Jahasapad prayed, and then 414 00:23:24,640 --> 00:23:27,800 Speaker 2: pray it. Because verse five says out loud, I want 415 00:23:27,840 --> 00:23:29,880 Speaker 2: you to pray this every day this week. If you're 416 00:23:29,880 --> 00:23:32,960 Speaker 2: fighting a battle that is bigger than you and it's 417 00:23:32,960 --> 00:23:37,040 Speaker 2: snuck up from behind you, get in God's face this week. 418 00:23:37,359 --> 00:23:40,679 Speaker 1: For a few minutes every day and pray this prayer. 419 00:23:41,160 --> 00:23:44,199 Speaker 2: Because Jehasafad stood up verse five in the assembly of 420 00:23:44,240 --> 00:23:47,560 Speaker 2: Judah and Jerusalem at the Temple of the Lord in 421 00:23:47,640 --> 00:23:50,439 Speaker 2: the front of the new courtyard. This is Solomon's temple. 422 00:23:50,680 --> 00:23:53,000 Speaker 2: This is the one they dedicated to God. This is 423 00:23:53,040 --> 00:23:56,320 Speaker 2: the one where God promised to pour out his presence 424 00:23:56,600 --> 00:23:58,119 Speaker 2: for any problem you face. 425 00:23:58,800 --> 00:24:02,000 Speaker 1: And he starts reding God of what. 426 00:24:01,880 --> 00:24:05,919 Speaker 2: God said, O, Lord, God of our fathers, are you 427 00:24:06,040 --> 00:24:07,560 Speaker 2: not the God who is in heaven? 428 00:24:08,000 --> 00:24:10,040 Speaker 1: I love this man, because he has. 429 00:24:10,000 --> 00:24:14,960 Speaker 2: Already shifted his focus from what is coming against him 430 00:24:15,200 --> 00:24:18,640 Speaker 2: to the one who reigns above him. O Lord, Look, 431 00:24:18,680 --> 00:24:20,960 Speaker 2: God of our fathers, are you not the God who 432 00:24:21,000 --> 00:24:24,119 Speaker 2: is in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of 433 00:24:24,119 --> 00:24:27,840 Speaker 2: the nations. Power and might are in your hand, and 434 00:24:27,920 --> 00:24:31,600 Speaker 2: no one can withstand you, Oh our God, Did you 435 00:24:31,680 --> 00:24:34,600 Speaker 2: not drive out the inhabitants of this land before your 436 00:24:34,640 --> 00:24:38,119 Speaker 2: people Israel? Remind God of what he's already done when 437 00:24:38,160 --> 00:24:41,000 Speaker 2: you're not sure what he's doing right now. Not so 438 00:24:41,119 --> 00:24:43,840 Speaker 2: he can remember, but so you can. Come on, You 439 00:24:43,880 --> 00:24:46,760 Speaker 2: need to remember. This is not your first rodeo cowboy. 440 00:24:47,200 --> 00:24:49,639 Speaker 2: This is not the first time you cry. This is 441 00:24:49,680 --> 00:24:52,000 Speaker 2: not the first time you were sort of breath. This 442 00:24:52,040 --> 00:24:54,240 Speaker 2: is not the first time you didn't see away clear. 443 00:24:54,560 --> 00:24:56,720 Speaker 2: This is not the first time you were hurt. This 444 00:24:56,800 --> 00:24:59,080 Speaker 2: is not the first time your heart was broken. This 445 00:24:59,119 --> 00:25:01,280 Speaker 2: is not the first time you didn't have enough money. 446 00:25:01,440 --> 00:25:05,359 Speaker 2: This is not the first diagnosis that came up from behind. 447 00:25:07,320 --> 00:25:08,200 Speaker 1: Phyllis presence? 448 00:25:10,680 --> 00:25:14,400 Speaker 2: Did you not do it before your people Israel? And 449 00:25:14,440 --> 00:25:18,080 Speaker 2: give it forever to the descendants of Abraham, your friend? 450 00:25:18,119 --> 00:25:21,840 Speaker 2: Watch this, He said you gave it forever and since 451 00:25:21,880 --> 00:25:26,440 Speaker 2: you gave it forever. It can't stop now, since you 452 00:25:26,680 --> 00:25:31,359 Speaker 2: promised to fulfill your purpose. No enemy from Emmin, no 453 00:25:31,680 --> 00:25:36,520 Speaker 2: enemy from Moab, no enemy from Mount Sierra, no Edomite. 454 00:25:36,160 --> 00:25:37,640 Speaker 1: Can take it away. 455 00:25:38,480 --> 00:25:42,600 Speaker 2: And when he says it, on one hand, he's praising God, 456 00:25:43,320 --> 00:25:46,880 Speaker 2: but it almost sounds like he's blaming God. 457 00:25:46,920 --> 00:25:49,800 Speaker 1: Notice the tone it shifts in verse eight. 458 00:25:51,200 --> 00:25:54,479 Speaker 2: They have lived in it and have built in it 459 00:25:54,560 --> 00:25:58,160 Speaker 2: a sanctuary for your name, saying, if calamity comes upon us, 460 00:25:58,359 --> 00:26:01,000 Speaker 2: whether the sword or judgment, or play or famine, we 461 00:26:01,080 --> 00:26:03,639 Speaker 2: will stand in your presence before this temple that bears 462 00:26:03,680 --> 00:26:06,520 Speaker 2: your name, and will cry out to you in our distress, 463 00:26:06,680 --> 00:26:11,399 Speaker 2: and you will hear us and save us. But now, God, 464 00:26:12,520 --> 00:26:15,760 Speaker 2: Great God, respectfully, King. 465 00:26:15,680 --> 00:26:18,200 Speaker 1: Sir, the Righteous One. 466 00:26:18,400 --> 00:26:22,640 Speaker 2: But now here are men from Ammon, Moab, and Mount 467 00:26:22,680 --> 00:26:27,840 Speaker 2: Seer whose territory you would not allow Israel to invade 468 00:26:27,840 --> 00:26:33,400 Speaker 2: when they came from Egypt. Oh Jehasha Fah said, this 469 00:26:33,440 --> 00:26:37,920 Speaker 2: is not my fault. Now, last time, when I hooked 470 00:26:38,000 --> 00:26:39,280 Speaker 2: up with Ahab. 471 00:26:39,480 --> 00:26:40,000 Speaker 1: That's on me. 472 00:26:41,480 --> 00:26:46,160 Speaker 2: But this one, somebody shot this one. This one, we're 473 00:26:46,160 --> 00:26:49,600 Speaker 2: doing the best we can. This one we're praying in 474 00:26:49,640 --> 00:26:53,159 Speaker 2: the temple. This one we were acting according to the 475 00:26:53,160 --> 00:26:55,520 Speaker 2: wisdom that we had for the situation we were in. 476 00:26:56,760 --> 00:26:58,719 Speaker 2: This one, nobody really knew how to do it. 477 00:26:58,720 --> 00:26:59,600 Speaker 1: This one we. 478 00:26:59,560 --> 00:27:04,760 Speaker 2: Couldn't have prevented by obedience. This one is different. This 479 00:27:04,800 --> 00:27:08,800 Speaker 2: one is different. And you're going through something right now, 480 00:27:09,840 --> 00:27:11,920 Speaker 2: that's a little different. Sure, you've got sin and you've 481 00:27:11,960 --> 00:27:13,760 Speaker 2: got things you need to repent of, and I do too. 482 00:27:14,840 --> 00:27:15,840 Speaker 1: And if you dare look at me. 483 00:27:15,840 --> 00:27:17,879 Speaker 2: With an angelic face when I say that, I promise 484 00:27:17,880 --> 00:27:19,880 Speaker 2: I will prophesy and God will show me something about 485 00:27:19,920 --> 00:27:22,000 Speaker 2: your life that you do not want on these imax screens. 486 00:27:22,040 --> 00:27:22,520 Speaker 1: I'll do it. 487 00:27:24,000 --> 00:27:32,840 Speaker 2: But this one, this battle, this this coalition is three enemies. 488 00:27:33,440 --> 00:27:34,560 Speaker 1: They joined up to fight me. 489 00:27:35,400 --> 00:27:39,240 Speaker 2: And the whole reason they're even here is because when 490 00:27:39,320 --> 00:27:43,200 Speaker 2: Moses led the people out of Egypt, you told him 491 00:27:43,440 --> 00:27:46,960 Speaker 2: that he couldn't drive them out because they were the 492 00:27:47,000 --> 00:27:49,840 Speaker 2: relatives of Esau. That's who the Edomites were. They were 493 00:27:49,880 --> 00:27:54,200 Speaker 2: the descendants of Esau. And Esau was the son of Isaac. 494 00:27:54,440 --> 00:27:56,560 Speaker 2: He wasn't his favorite son, but he was still a son. 495 00:27:57,080 --> 00:28:00,040 Speaker 2: He gave away his birthright, but he was still a son. 496 00:28:00,080 --> 00:28:04,280 Speaker 2: And Isaac was the son of Abraham, and Abraham was 497 00:28:04,320 --> 00:28:08,080 Speaker 2: God's friend, and so God did not let the Israelites 498 00:28:08,160 --> 00:28:11,600 Speaker 2: drive out somebody that belonged to his friend. When you've 499 00:28:11,640 --> 00:28:14,360 Speaker 2: got a friend who knows how to fight, it will 500 00:28:14,400 --> 00:28:15,240 Speaker 2: make you confident. 501 00:28:16,160 --> 00:28:18,280 Speaker 1: When you've got a friend who knows how to fight. 502 00:28:18,840 --> 00:28:20,960 Speaker 2: I remember this kid we used to pick on in 503 00:28:21,040 --> 00:28:25,800 Speaker 2: fourth grade called Eric Pye, but then Eric Pye made 504 00:28:25,800 --> 00:28:29,639 Speaker 2: friends with Harry Walker. Eric Pye couldn't fight, but Harry 505 00:28:29,640 --> 00:28:33,280 Speaker 2: Walker could. Harry Walker was seventeen with chest hair in 506 00:28:33,320 --> 00:28:36,399 Speaker 2: the fourth grade. Harry Walker had a prison record. In 507 00:28:36,440 --> 00:28:40,000 Speaker 2: the fourth grade. Harry Walker said, you pick on him, 508 00:28:40,240 --> 00:28:43,360 Speaker 2: you pick on me. Now look at somebody confident, say 509 00:28:43,400 --> 00:28:46,920 Speaker 2: you fight me. You gotta fight my friend. This is 510 00:28:46,960 --> 00:28:48,160 Speaker 2: a pold message. 511 00:28:48,240 --> 00:28:50,640 Speaker 1: This is to know. It might be bigger than me, 512 00:28:51,000 --> 00:28:55,120 Speaker 1: but it's not bigger than God. I'm gonna calm down. 513 00:28:56,840 --> 00:29:05,880 Speaker 1: I'm gonna calm down. You wouldn't let us drive them out. 514 00:29:05,960 --> 00:29:07,600 Speaker 1: We would have done it, but. 515 00:29:07,600 --> 00:29:13,720 Speaker 2: You wouldn't let us. This is not our fault. Well, 516 00:29:13,760 --> 00:29:15,240 Speaker 2: you have to do when you fight a battle that's 517 00:29:15,280 --> 00:29:21,360 Speaker 2: not your fault. Sometimes you fight against things that are 518 00:29:21,360 --> 00:29:26,720 Speaker 2: in your genetics, but you still got. 519 00:29:26,560 --> 00:29:30,800 Speaker 1: To figure out what to do about that battle. And 520 00:29:30,840 --> 00:29:32,360 Speaker 1: when it's that deep, it's that strong. 521 00:29:34,800 --> 00:29:38,960 Speaker 2: Sometimes you fight against things that other people did, and 522 00:29:39,000 --> 00:29:41,200 Speaker 2: if you go into shame and you're like, well, I 523 00:29:41,240 --> 00:29:45,920 Speaker 2: take responsibility for my part, that's good. But it's tricky 524 00:29:45,960 --> 00:29:48,600 Speaker 2: because before long, shame will drive you out of the 525 00:29:48,640 --> 00:29:50,640 Speaker 2: presence of God, which is what you need when you're 526 00:29:50,680 --> 00:29:53,960 Speaker 2: in a situation, even if you created it. So it's 527 00:29:54,000 --> 00:29:57,000 Speaker 2: tricky because you can find yourself in a battle and 528 00:29:57,040 --> 00:29:59,440 Speaker 2: you can say, well, I can't expect God's help in 529 00:29:59,480 --> 00:30:03,560 Speaker 2: this situation because it was created by my hand. But 530 00:30:04,040 --> 00:30:09,479 Speaker 2: Jehoshaphat is transcending all of that with his prayer, and 531 00:30:09,520 --> 00:30:11,720 Speaker 2: he says, Oh, Lord, our God, we belong to you. 532 00:30:12,880 --> 00:30:14,600 Speaker 1: We are your possession. 533 00:30:15,960 --> 00:30:18,840 Speaker 2: And when we came into this land so many years ago, 534 00:30:19,120 --> 00:30:22,240 Speaker 2: you would not let us drive out these enemies. And 535 00:30:22,240 --> 00:30:25,760 Speaker 2: they're bigger than us, and they came up from behind us, 536 00:30:26,760 --> 00:30:28,479 Speaker 2: and we're not to blame for this battle. 537 00:30:29,560 --> 00:30:30,560 Speaker 1: And yet here it. 538 00:30:30,480 --> 00:30:40,400 Speaker 2: Is so so now verse eleven, Oh Lord our God, 539 00:30:41,800 --> 00:30:43,960 Speaker 2: see how they are repaying us by coming to drive 540 00:30:44,080 --> 00:30:46,520 Speaker 2: us out of the possession you gave us as an inheritance. 541 00:30:47,520 --> 00:30:50,800 Speaker 2: Now let me put this in here. I'm just going 542 00:30:50,840 --> 00:30:53,240 Speaker 2: with the spirit today. I haven't opened my nose. I 543 00:30:53,240 --> 00:30:55,280 Speaker 2: mean I got in my heart. I'm preaching. I'm preaching 544 00:30:55,320 --> 00:30:57,280 Speaker 2: spirit to spirit today for whoever needs to receive it. 545 00:30:59,200 --> 00:31:01,880 Speaker 2: And God gave me this word before I gave you 546 00:31:01,960 --> 00:31:05,560 Speaker 2: this word for the battles that I face that are 547 00:31:05,560 --> 00:31:09,520 Speaker 2: bigger than me. And he said, see how they are 548 00:31:09,520 --> 00:31:11,000 Speaker 2: repaying us by coming to drive us out of the 549 00:31:11,000 --> 00:31:15,960 Speaker 2: possession you gave us. Now, if it's God who gave it, 550 00:31:16,040 --> 00:31:24,720 Speaker 2: then it's God's to protect it. That's about possession. It's 551 00:31:24,720 --> 00:31:27,240 Speaker 2: not about how much power you have. It's about possession. 552 00:31:28,240 --> 00:31:31,880 Speaker 2: And if you are God's possession and you are stewarding 553 00:31:31,960 --> 00:31:35,560 Speaker 2: something that he gave you to possess, then it's not 554 00:31:35,600 --> 00:31:39,400 Speaker 2: a matter of how much power you have that determines 555 00:31:39,480 --> 00:31:44,800 Speaker 2: what happens next in this battle. When it's God's possession, 556 00:31:45,720 --> 00:31:54,200 Speaker 2: is God's problem. 557 00:31:54,320 --> 00:31:55,719 Speaker 1: I don't want to cry telling you this. 558 00:31:57,200 --> 00:32:00,880 Speaker 2: If it hits your heart that if it's God's possession, 559 00:32:01,280 --> 00:32:02,560 Speaker 2: is God's problem. 560 00:32:02,960 --> 00:32:06,120 Speaker 1: And then you realize that you are his. 561 00:32:06,200 --> 00:32:12,760 Speaker 4: Treasure, You are his possession, You are his daughter, you 562 00:32:13,360 --> 00:32:18,600 Speaker 4: are his son, You are his friend, and your friend 563 00:32:18,720 --> 00:32:26,600 Speaker 4: knows how to fight. It gives you the confidence, Oh 564 00:32:26,640 --> 00:32:29,720 Speaker 4: our God, will you not judge them, for we verse 565 00:32:29,760 --> 00:32:32,840 Speaker 4: twelve have no power to face this vast army that 566 00:32:32,920 --> 00:32:33,800 Speaker 4: is attacking us. 567 00:32:34,040 --> 00:32:37,000 Speaker 2: It's bigger than us. It came up from behind us. 568 00:32:37,280 --> 00:32:41,880 Speaker 2: We can't do it. We do not know what to do. 569 00:32:42,120 --> 00:32:43,880 Speaker 2: If you're there right now, raise your right hand. 570 00:32:44,160 --> 00:32:48,239 Speaker 5: I do not know what to do. I don't know 571 00:32:48,280 --> 00:32:50,440 Speaker 5: how to fight. I don't know how to fix it. 572 00:32:50,600 --> 00:32:54,240 Speaker 5: I can't control what comes against me. But our eyes 573 00:32:54,880 --> 00:32:59,520 Speaker 5: are upon you, and God says, if. 574 00:32:59,320 --> 00:33:02,520 Speaker 1: You will shack change the focus, he will win the fight. 575 00:33:03,160 --> 00:33:03,880 Speaker 1: If you will. 576 00:33:03,840 --> 00:33:07,200 Speaker 2: Change the focus and stop looking at how big it is, 577 00:33:07,640 --> 00:33:10,720 Speaker 2: but start praising him for how great he is. 578 00:33:12,120 --> 00:33:20,440 Speaker 1: Help is on the way. Thirteen. 579 00:33:20,480 --> 00:33:22,600 Speaker 2: All the men of Judah, with their wives and children 580 00:33:22,640 --> 00:33:25,520 Speaker 2: and little ones, stood there before the Lord. Then the 581 00:33:25,560 --> 00:33:29,320 Speaker 2: spirit of the Lord came upon Jehazel, son of Zachariah, 582 00:33:29,520 --> 00:33:32,200 Speaker 2: the son of Benaniah, the son of j Eo, the 583 00:33:32,200 --> 00:33:34,480 Speaker 2: son of mad and Aiah, a Levite, and the descendant 584 00:33:34,520 --> 00:33:35,040 Speaker 2: of Asaf. 585 00:33:35,240 --> 00:33:36,400 Speaker 1: As he stood in the assembly. 586 00:33:36,480 --> 00:33:38,960 Speaker 2: Why did you read all those names, pastor Steven, Why 587 00:33:38,960 --> 00:33:41,280 Speaker 2: didn't you skip over that that's not important to the story. 588 00:33:41,280 --> 00:33:45,480 Speaker 2: It absolutely is, because every name that was represented represented 589 00:33:45,520 --> 00:33:48,680 Speaker 2: a generation that God was faithful in and it meant 590 00:33:48,680 --> 00:33:51,520 Speaker 2: that every single time that God got ready to pass 591 00:33:51,760 --> 00:33:55,520 Speaker 2: his purpose to another generation, he didn't drop it, and 592 00:33:55,560 --> 00:33:57,720 Speaker 2: he won't drop it now, and it won't. 593 00:33:57,480 --> 00:33:58,120 Speaker 1: Stop with you. 594 00:33:58,400 --> 00:34:06,400 Speaker 2: And you won't lose the battle unless you lose your focus. 595 00:34:09,680 --> 00:34:15,160 Speaker 2: It's not about your power, it's about your position. Can 596 00:34:15,200 --> 00:34:17,399 Speaker 2: I show you you got like. 597 00:34:17,360 --> 00:34:18,120 Speaker 1: Ten more minutes. 598 00:34:23,560 --> 00:34:26,680 Speaker 2: I'm so thankful that that prophet stood up and said 599 00:34:26,680 --> 00:34:29,920 Speaker 2: what he said, because you know, everybody was starting to 600 00:34:29,920 --> 00:34:33,640 Speaker 2: get ready to fight, and you know if they had fought, 601 00:34:34,200 --> 00:34:38,440 Speaker 2: they would have lost. Isn't that the craziest thing is ironic? 602 00:34:39,400 --> 00:34:41,640 Speaker 2: If they had fought, they would have lost. 603 00:34:43,040 --> 00:34:46,319 Speaker 1: When you don't understand the nature of the battle that 604 00:34:46,360 --> 00:34:51,080 Speaker 1: you're in, you use the wrong strategy and some of 605 00:34:51,160 --> 00:34:56,200 Speaker 1: us are losing because we are fighting on the wrong level. 606 00:34:57,680 --> 00:35:01,000 Speaker 1: To unpack it, I could use Ethesian twelve. We wrestle not. 607 00:35:01,040 --> 00:35:04,400 Speaker 2: Against flesh and blood, but that's what we fight against 608 00:35:04,400 --> 00:35:05,080 Speaker 2: flesh and blood. 609 00:35:06,239 --> 00:35:09,160 Speaker 1: We fight every battle physically, we fight people. We even 610 00:35:09,160 --> 00:35:13,200 Speaker 1: fight people that are trying to help us. Because we're insecure. 611 00:35:14,760 --> 00:35:15,480 Speaker 1: We fight. 612 00:35:15,719 --> 00:35:18,880 Speaker 2: We fight the battle to protect our ego and to 613 00:35:18,920 --> 00:35:21,560 Speaker 2: protect our pride, and then we lose the battle in 614 00:35:21,600 --> 00:35:24,640 Speaker 2: our spirit because we were more concerned about protecting our 615 00:35:24,719 --> 00:35:28,239 Speaker 2: pride than we were about receiving God's power and his 616 00:35:28,320 --> 00:35:34,000 Speaker 2: help and his provision in our lives. I was talking 617 00:35:34,040 --> 00:35:36,000 Speaker 2: to somebody this week and they were saying all kinds 618 00:35:36,040 --> 00:35:38,680 Speaker 2: of crazy stuff to me, and the Lord said, not 619 00:35:38,760 --> 00:35:46,000 Speaker 2: this one. Don't fight this one. Learn the twenty percent 620 00:35:46,080 --> 00:35:48,840 Speaker 2: that he say in this true. Keep your mouth shut, 621 00:35:49,320 --> 00:35:56,120 Speaker 2: save your energy for the real battle. Sometimes I see 622 00:35:56,120 --> 00:35:59,640 Speaker 2: a comment on Instagram about my preaching or my shoes 623 00:35:59,719 --> 00:36:02,919 Speaker 2: or something like that, and the Lord says, not this one, 624 00:36:04,400 --> 00:36:08,319 Speaker 2: not this one, because if you convince a fool, all 625 00:36:08,320 --> 00:36:09,760 Speaker 2: you got for a friend is a fool. 626 00:36:14,560 --> 00:36:19,279 Speaker 1: Not this one. Somebody say, not this one. Mm hmm. 627 00:36:20,760 --> 00:36:24,080 Speaker 2: I watched the movie about Jackie Robinson forty two, and 628 00:36:24,120 --> 00:36:26,120 Speaker 2: there was a scene in the movie where the owner 629 00:36:26,200 --> 00:36:28,880 Speaker 2: was telling him, we're gonna put you in the system 630 00:36:29,000 --> 00:36:31,840 Speaker 2: and hopefully get you to Brooklyn to play professional baseball. 631 00:36:32,000 --> 00:36:33,040 Speaker 1: But there's one problem. 632 00:36:33,160 --> 00:36:35,920 Speaker 2: What are you gonna do when they're screaming racist threats 633 00:36:35,920 --> 00:36:38,200 Speaker 2: in your face? What are you gonna do when they 634 00:36:38,239 --> 00:36:40,440 Speaker 2: attack you at every stop? What are you gonna do 635 00:36:40,480 --> 00:36:42,480 Speaker 2: when they push it to the breaking point, and he 636 00:36:42,600 --> 00:36:44,040 Speaker 2: jumped up in the depiction. 637 00:36:43,800 --> 00:36:45,560 Speaker 1: In the movie. I don't know if this happened in 638 00:36:45,600 --> 00:36:47,040 Speaker 1: real life, but I like to think it did. 639 00:36:47,280 --> 00:36:49,200 Speaker 2: And he said, what do you want a player who 640 00:36:49,200 --> 00:36:52,759 Speaker 2: doesn't have the guts to fight? And he looked back 641 00:36:52,760 --> 00:36:54,319 Speaker 2: at him and said, no, I want to I want 642 00:36:54,320 --> 00:36:57,040 Speaker 2: a player who has the guts not to fight back. 643 00:36:58,880 --> 00:37:02,480 Speaker 2: And here's the message. Sometimes it takes more faith not 644 00:37:02,640 --> 00:37:07,839 Speaker 2: to fight back. Sometimes it takes more faith to just 645 00:37:07,960 --> 00:37:12,680 Speaker 2: let God be God and be great in your situation, 646 00:37:13,040 --> 00:37:15,320 Speaker 2: because if you manipulate it, you're. 647 00:37:15,160 --> 00:37:16,040 Speaker 1: Gonna mess it up. 648 00:37:16,360 --> 00:37:19,280 Speaker 2: If you start plucking tears, you're gonna pull up wheat. 649 00:37:20,000 --> 00:37:22,800 Speaker 2: Sometimes it takes more faith to let. 650 00:37:22,640 --> 00:37:23,600 Speaker 1: God sort it out. 651 00:37:24,719 --> 00:37:27,840 Speaker 2: And the prophet said, you have to understand the nature 652 00:37:27,880 --> 00:37:31,279 Speaker 2: of the battle to understand the strategy. This is why 653 00:37:31,320 --> 00:37:34,800 Speaker 2: we don't fight much in our marriage after seventeen years. 654 00:37:35,120 --> 00:37:38,160 Speaker 2: It's not because we don't disagree, but we understand it's 655 00:37:38,200 --> 00:37:41,600 Speaker 2: not me against her, it's me and her against it. 656 00:37:42,280 --> 00:37:44,399 Speaker 1: If we thought it was me against her, we would 657 00:37:44,440 --> 00:37:45,120 Speaker 1: fight each other. 658 00:37:45,520 --> 00:37:47,800 Speaker 2: But we got we gotta line up on the same 659 00:37:47,920 --> 00:37:50,720 Speaker 2: side of this problem or we're gonna lose this battle. 660 00:37:53,360 --> 00:37:56,719 Speaker 2: And one time when we were first maybe a year 661 00:37:56,800 --> 00:37:59,359 Speaker 2: and a half married, there came across our desk a 662 00:37:59,360 --> 00:38:01,520 Speaker 2: bill for three eight thousand dollars. And I didn't have 663 00:38:01,600 --> 00:38:05,920 Speaker 2: three thousand dollars, not just laying around, I didn't have it. 664 00:38:06,920 --> 00:38:09,360 Speaker 1: So I did what I do when I'm afraid. I 665 00:38:09,400 --> 00:38:11,840 Speaker 1: got angry. Did you hear me? 666 00:38:12,560 --> 00:38:16,839 Speaker 2: When I'm afraid, I get angry because the anger is 667 00:38:17,000 --> 00:38:20,040 Speaker 2: a camouflage for the fear, which makes me feel vulnerable. 668 00:38:22,160 --> 00:38:25,240 Speaker 2: So I gotta get angry because that makes me look strong, 669 00:38:26,160 --> 00:38:27,920 Speaker 2: because on the inside I feel weak. 670 00:38:29,160 --> 00:38:29,680 Speaker 1: And I was. 671 00:38:29,800 --> 00:38:33,200 Speaker 2: Yelling at Holly about the bill and it was only 672 00:38:33,760 --> 00:38:40,680 Speaker 2: seventy percent her fault. And in the middle of yelling, 673 00:38:40,719 --> 00:38:43,040 Speaker 2: I saw her countenance change. And I'm not saying this 674 00:38:43,120 --> 00:38:45,239 Speaker 2: excuses me yelling I should have been more grown up. 675 00:38:45,400 --> 00:38:48,200 Speaker 2: But she realized in that moment, he's not fighting me. 676 00:38:49,719 --> 00:38:54,960 Speaker 2: He's not mad at me. He's scared about this, and 677 00:38:55,000 --> 00:38:56,360 Speaker 2: if I can help him fight. 678 00:38:56,239 --> 00:38:59,320 Speaker 1: His fear, we can fix this together. 679 00:39:00,840 --> 00:39:05,520 Speaker 2: But if you wrestle at the wrong level, you'll wear 680 00:39:05,560 --> 00:39:09,879 Speaker 2: yourself out fighting it where it shows up. But where 681 00:39:09,920 --> 00:39:13,200 Speaker 2: it shows up is not where it started. So if 682 00:39:13,200 --> 00:39:15,880 Speaker 2: you got somebody and they have an addiction. You can't 683 00:39:15,920 --> 00:39:18,600 Speaker 2: counsel them to win against addiction with willpower. 684 00:39:19,080 --> 00:39:22,280 Speaker 1: It's not a matter of willpower, it's a matter of worship. 685 00:39:26,400 --> 00:39:29,400 Speaker 2: Something in their life has started meeting the needs that 686 00:39:29,560 --> 00:39:33,120 Speaker 2: only God alone can meet. And if you don't show 687 00:39:33,200 --> 00:39:36,719 Speaker 2: them that God can meet those same needs that alcohol can, 688 00:39:37,120 --> 00:39:38,040 Speaker 2: that God can. 689 00:39:37,880 --> 00:39:39,319 Speaker 1: Meet those same needs. 690 00:39:39,040 --> 00:39:42,359 Speaker 2: That pornography can, that God can meet those same needs 691 00:39:42,400 --> 00:39:44,880 Speaker 2: as overspending overeating can. 692 00:39:45,120 --> 00:39:46,239 Speaker 1: If you don't fix. 693 00:39:46,000 --> 00:39:49,440 Speaker 2: The worship problem, you can't win it with willpower. 694 00:39:52,040 --> 00:39:57,240 Speaker 1: Am I right about it? So you got to fight 695 00:39:57,719 --> 00:39:58,520 Speaker 1: with a focus? 696 00:39:58,600 --> 00:40:02,960 Speaker 2: Touch three people say, focus, focus, fight with a focus. 697 00:40:04,560 --> 00:40:09,759 Speaker 1: And the prophet said, this is not even about you. 698 00:40:11,239 --> 00:40:13,000 Speaker 1: So don't be afraid. 699 00:40:14,440 --> 00:40:18,520 Speaker 2: If it's too big for you, don't be afraid. This 700 00:40:18,640 --> 00:40:20,160 Speaker 2: is what the Lord says to you. You got it 701 00:40:20,200 --> 00:40:25,160 Speaker 2: on the screen Verse fifteen. Don't be afraid, don't be discouraged, 702 00:40:26,640 --> 00:40:29,320 Speaker 2: don't back down, don't get in your own head and 703 00:40:29,320 --> 00:40:30,799 Speaker 2: try to figure it out. You can' figure this one out. 704 00:40:31,480 --> 00:40:35,919 Speaker 2: And if you fight it. If you fight it, you're 705 00:40:35,920 --> 00:40:40,280 Speaker 2: gonna lose it. If you try to meet the righteous 706 00:40:40,280 --> 00:40:43,080 Speaker 2: requirements of the law in your own strength, and don't 707 00:40:43,160 --> 00:40:45,239 Speaker 2: let the power of Christ flow through you and the 708 00:40:45,239 --> 00:40:48,440 Speaker 2: Holy Spirit direct you. You are going to keep losing 709 00:40:48,480 --> 00:40:51,520 Speaker 2: the battles because you are wrestling on the level of 710 00:40:51,560 --> 00:40:52,760 Speaker 2: what you can see. 711 00:40:52,920 --> 00:40:56,040 Speaker 1: But it is not against flesh and blood. It's spiritual. 712 00:40:58,800 --> 00:41:02,040 Speaker 1: So he said, don't don't be afraid for this vast army. 713 00:41:02,160 --> 00:41:04,480 Speaker 2: Vast army is the phrases they use when they were 714 00:41:04,480 --> 00:41:07,319 Speaker 2: just saying it's too big for you. I know it's 715 00:41:07,320 --> 00:41:12,080 Speaker 2: too big for you, but the battle is not yours, 716 00:41:15,200 --> 00:41:23,520 Speaker 2: it's God's. When I say this, I want you to 717 00:41:23,560 --> 00:41:28,040 Speaker 2: receive it like if it was just for you. If 718 00:41:28,120 --> 00:41:31,480 Speaker 2: it's too big, it doesn't belong to you. 719 00:41:36,520 --> 00:41:40,800 Speaker 1: If it's too big, you got to give it back 720 00:41:41,280 --> 00:41:45,000 Speaker 1: to God. And we say the battle is the lord's, 721 00:41:45,680 --> 00:41:49,600 Speaker 1: but we stress like it's ours. We say the battle 722 00:41:49,680 --> 00:41:52,520 Speaker 1: is the lords, but we worry like it's ours. 723 00:41:53,280 --> 00:41:56,759 Speaker 2: Now we've wasted all of our strength worrying when we 724 00:41:56,800 --> 00:42:03,680 Speaker 2: could have been worshiping. The battle is not yours. Give 725 00:42:03,680 --> 00:42:09,560 Speaker 2: it back. Quit doing God's job for him. God wants 726 00:42:10,000 --> 00:42:16,800 Speaker 2: his battle back. God wants his battle back. 727 00:42:17,320 --> 00:42:21,040 Speaker 1: Is too big for you. It came up from behind you. 728 00:42:21,040 --> 00:42:24,319 Speaker 1: You can't do it. Give it back, You can't fight it. 729 00:42:24,560 --> 00:42:27,840 Speaker 2: Give it back. You can't figure it out. Give it back? 730 00:42:28,000 --> 00:42:30,839 Speaker 2: How do you give it back? That's a focus, that's 731 00:42:31,080 --> 00:42:34,880 Speaker 2: looking beyond what's coming against you and looking toward what 732 00:42:35,040 --> 00:42:38,719 Speaker 2: is within you, to know that greater is he that 733 00:42:38,880 --> 00:42:42,040 Speaker 2: is in me than he that is in the world. 734 00:42:42,280 --> 00:42:50,360 Speaker 2: And God wants his battle back. The battle is not 735 00:42:50,680 --> 00:42:57,200 Speaker 2: yours but God's. And tomorrow I want you to march 736 00:42:57,280 --> 00:43:03,040 Speaker 2: down against them. I want you to march down. 737 00:43:03,840 --> 00:43:08,640 Speaker 1: Against an enemy that you're not even gonna have to fight. 738 00:43:10,040 --> 00:43:14,359 Speaker 2: I want you to get in position, not so that 739 00:43:14,400 --> 00:43:19,440 Speaker 2: you can fight, not so that you can struggle, but 740 00:43:19,560 --> 00:43:24,040 Speaker 2: so that you can see the deliverance that the Lord 741 00:43:24,680 --> 00:43:26,320 Speaker 2: will bring about to Israel. 742 00:43:26,440 --> 00:43:26,960 Speaker 1: This day. 743 00:43:27,960 --> 00:43:31,680 Speaker 2: God is fighting for Juda. God is fighting for worshippers. 744 00:43:32,000 --> 00:43:35,720 Speaker 2: God is fighting for praisers. God is fighting for his people. 745 00:43:36,040 --> 00:43:38,680 Speaker 2: God is fighting for you. 746 00:43:38,680 --> 00:43:39,839 Speaker 1: You're his friend. 747 00:43:42,200 --> 00:43:45,759 Speaker 2: You get his help, you get his strength, you get 748 00:43:45,760 --> 00:43:49,440 Speaker 2: his miracles, you get his wisdom, you get his provision, 749 00:43:49,480 --> 00:43:58,480 Speaker 2: you get his angels. If you worship, you age. The 750 00:43:58,520 --> 00:44:01,799 Speaker 2: war of worship is to big for me. What do 751 00:44:01,880 --> 00:44:04,359 Speaker 2: you do when the battle chooses you? 752 00:44:04,360 --> 00:44:09,160 Speaker 1: You worship your way through it. Now that sounds good, 753 00:44:09,920 --> 00:44:17,040 Speaker 1: but it feels stupid because here they come, Ammonites, Moabites, Edomites. 754 00:44:17,320 --> 00:44:21,279 Speaker 2: They were all big in their own right, and they're 755 00:44:21,320 --> 00:44:24,000 Speaker 2: all fighting together. And so how are you gonna fight them? 756 00:44:24,120 --> 00:44:26,160 Speaker 2: What are we gonna do, Jehasha Fat, What we're gonna 757 00:44:26,160 --> 00:44:27,919 Speaker 2: do about this situation? What are you gonna do about 758 00:44:27,920 --> 00:44:33,319 Speaker 2: the prophet said you verse seventeen, will not have to 759 00:44:33,360 --> 00:44:39,719 Speaker 2: fight this battle, but you're gonna experience the victory. 760 00:44:39,000 --> 00:44:51,040 Speaker 6: Not by fighting, but by focusing. If they would have fought, 761 00:44:51,080 --> 00:44:51,880 Speaker 6: they would have lost. 762 00:44:53,120 --> 00:44:57,400 Speaker 2: But because they focused on the goodness of God, you 763 00:44:57,440 --> 00:44:58,080 Speaker 2: know what they did. 764 00:44:58,239 --> 00:45:03,400 Speaker 1: I love this scripture. I think this scripture. 765 00:45:04,400 --> 00:45:07,560 Speaker 2: Is a beautiful illustration and picture of the weapons of 766 00:45:07,600 --> 00:45:10,880 Speaker 2: our warfare that pulled down strongholds in our life. It 767 00:45:10,920 --> 00:45:14,400 Speaker 2: says that Jehasha Fat verse eighteen bowed with his face 768 00:45:14,440 --> 00:45:17,719 Speaker 2: to the ground, and all the people of Judah and 769 00:45:17,800 --> 00:45:22,480 Speaker 2: Jerusalem fell down in worship before the Lord. Then some Levites, 770 00:45:22,480 --> 00:45:28,560 Speaker 2: that's the priests, some Levites, the one who administered the 771 00:45:28,640 --> 00:45:33,360 Speaker 2: levitical law, the priestly law, from the Coethites and Coralites 772 00:45:33,400 --> 00:45:36,040 Speaker 2: stood up and praised the Lord, the God of Israel, 773 00:45:36,719 --> 00:46:03,319 Speaker 2: with a very loud voice. Why why Because early in 774 00:46:03,360 --> 00:46:07,319 Speaker 2: the morning they left for the desert of Tacoa, And 775 00:46:07,480 --> 00:46:09,640 Speaker 2: as they set out, Jehasha Faz stood and. 776 00:46:09,600 --> 00:46:13,600 Speaker 1: Said, listen to me Judah. Judah means praise. 777 00:46:15,360 --> 00:46:19,080 Speaker 2: And people of Jerusalem, have faith in the Lord, your God, 778 00:46:19,239 --> 00:46:21,040 Speaker 2: and you will be uphelld. 779 00:46:21,760 --> 00:46:25,560 Speaker 1: Is fight or flight. Time is fight or flight. 780 00:46:26,640 --> 00:46:28,319 Speaker 2: But when you can't win the fight and you can't 781 00:46:28,400 --> 00:46:31,520 Speaker 2: run from it, watch this. This is amazing. They didn't 782 00:46:31,520 --> 00:46:34,120 Speaker 2: have to fight it, but they did have to face it. 783 00:46:38,000 --> 00:46:41,560 Speaker 2: And God wants to give you the faith to face 784 00:46:41,640 --> 00:46:43,640 Speaker 2: it and to trust him. 785 00:46:43,440 --> 00:46:44,000 Speaker 1: To fight it. 786 00:46:44,400 --> 00:46:46,560 Speaker 2: Do you have the faith not to fight it in 787 00:46:46,640 --> 00:46:50,200 Speaker 2: your flesh, but to deal with it in your spirit? 788 00:46:52,160 --> 00:46:56,360 Speaker 2: Jesus told Peter, puts your sword away. Sometimes it takes 789 00:46:56,400 --> 00:46:59,760 Speaker 2: more faith not to fight. Sometimes it takes more faith 790 00:46:59,840 --> 00:47:02,080 Speaker 2: just to go to the cross and get over your 791 00:47:02,160 --> 00:47:05,840 Speaker 2: pride and get over yourself and let him fight your battles. 792 00:47:09,719 --> 00:47:16,000 Speaker 2: But what they did next is remarkable, especially considering the enemies. 793 00:47:16,719 --> 00:47:21,640 Speaker 2: We're standing right in their face. The scripture says, after 794 00:47:21,680 --> 00:47:24,320 Speaker 2: consulting the people, Johasapad appointed. 795 00:47:23,880 --> 00:47:31,040 Speaker 1: Men to sing to the Lord. Singing is a strange strategy. 796 00:47:31,320 --> 00:47:35,040 Speaker 2: To fight three nations all at once, But sometimes the 797 00:47:35,080 --> 00:47:39,080 Speaker 2: battle is so big that you know I can't fight 798 00:47:39,160 --> 00:47:44,440 Speaker 2: this on my own. I always thought that this scripture 799 00:47:44,480 --> 00:47:47,840 Speaker 2: meant that when you're in trouble, you should sing. But 800 00:47:48,000 --> 00:47:52,000 Speaker 2: some people can't carry a tune and they don't like music. 801 00:47:53,320 --> 00:47:56,840 Speaker 2: Now I realize that the passage isn't about music. 802 00:47:57,880 --> 00:48:05,319 Speaker 1: It's about focus. And I want you to look past 803 00:48:05,400 --> 00:48:08,200 Speaker 1: your enemy, and I want you to sing. 804 00:48:08,280 --> 00:48:11,200 Speaker 2: It says that johash Fat appointed men to sing to 805 00:48:11,239 --> 00:48:12,960 Speaker 2: the Lord and to praise him for the splendor of 806 00:48:13,000 --> 00:48:13,960 Speaker 2: his holiness. 807 00:48:14,560 --> 00:48:20,280 Speaker 1: Let's focus on him. Let's focus on what's right about 808 00:48:20,320 --> 00:48:24,440 Speaker 1: God rather than what's wrong with our life. And if 809 00:48:24,480 --> 00:48:28,160 Speaker 1: you will focus on that, if you will focus on that, 810 00:48:28,200 --> 00:48:30,480 Speaker 1: if you will look past what's standing in front of 811 00:48:30,520 --> 00:48:31,480 Speaker 1: you that's bigger. 812 00:48:31,200 --> 00:48:33,920 Speaker 2: Than you, and look to the God who is bigger 813 00:48:33,960 --> 00:48:38,400 Speaker 2: than it, and praise him for the splendor of his holiness. 814 00:48:39,200 --> 00:48:41,240 Speaker 2: As they went out at the head of the army, saying, 815 00:48:41,280 --> 00:48:42,399 Speaker 2: give thanks to the. 816 00:48:42,360 --> 00:48:47,280 Speaker 1: Lord for his love endures forever. Give thanks to the Lord. 817 00:48:47,920 --> 00:48:51,040 Speaker 2: I wonder, are there any praisers from the tribe of 818 00:48:51,160 --> 00:48:57,319 Speaker 2: Judah who are willing to use gratitude as a strategy 819 00:48:57,760 --> 00:48:59,720 Speaker 2: for the battle that I'm. 820 00:48:59,560 --> 00:49:03,239 Speaker 1: In and magnify the Lord in the middle of the. 821 00:49:03,239 --> 00:49:11,239 Speaker 7: Battle, and as they began to sing in praise, the 822 00:49:11,360 --> 00:49:16,880 Speaker 7: Lord said, ambushes against their enemies, and they were defeated 823 00:49:17,520 --> 00:49:17,920 Speaker 7: by the. 824 00:49:18,000 --> 00:49:19,360 Speaker 1: Angel armies of God. 825 00:49:19,840 --> 00:49:23,080 Speaker 2: God is gonna fight what you can see by sending 826 00:49:23,120 --> 00:49:27,120 Speaker 2: what you can't see. I declare an ambush against insecurity, 827 00:49:27,400 --> 00:49:31,520 Speaker 2: and ambush against a diction, and ambush against depression, and 828 00:49:31,640 --> 00:49:41,759 Speaker 2: ambush against the darkness in your life. And watch this, 829 00:49:41,880 --> 00:49:44,880 Speaker 2: and I'm gonna pray for you. The men of Emmine 830 00:49:44,880 --> 00:49:46,839 Speaker 2: and Moab rose up against the men of Mount Sir. 831 00:49:46,920 --> 00:49:53,239 Speaker 2: That's the enemies to destroy and annihilate them. 832 00:49:53,280 --> 00:50:00,239 Speaker 1: The enemy started eliminating the enemy. That's what happens when 833 00:50:00,320 --> 00:50:03,279 Speaker 1: you let God fight your battles. 834 00:50:05,160 --> 00:50:10,880 Speaker 2: He's gonna use everything that came against you. He's gonna 835 00:50:11,040 --> 00:50:16,160 Speaker 2: use everything that the enemy meant for evil. He's gonna 836 00:50:16,280 --> 00:50:19,320 Speaker 2: use a cross to create a space. 837 00:50:19,600 --> 00:50:24,479 Speaker 1: For a resurrection for the glory of the Lord. He's 838 00:50:24,520 --> 00:50:30,520 Speaker 1: in that place. Give it a sound of pray. Thank 839 00:50:30,560 --> 00:50:31,440 Speaker 1: you for joining us. 840 00:50:31,760 --> 00:50:34,200 Speaker 2: Special thanks to those of you who give generously to 841 00:50:34,280 --> 00:50:35,000 Speaker 2: this ministry. 842 00:50:35,360 --> 00:50:37,760 Speaker 1: Is because of you that this ministry is possible. 843 00:50:38,239 --> 00:50:40,399 Speaker 2: You can click the link in the description to give 844 00:50:40,520 --> 00:50:44,440 Speaker 2: now or visit Elevation church dot org slash podcast for 845 00:50:44,480 --> 00:50:48,319 Speaker 2: more information and if you enjoyed the podcast, you can subscribe. 846 00:50:48,760 --> 00:50:50,080 Speaker 1: You can share it with your friends. 847 00:50:50,360 --> 00:50:52,640 Speaker 2: You can click the share button, take a screenshot and 848 00:50:52,680 --> 00:50:54,799 Speaker 2: share it on your social stories and tag us at 849 00:50:54,840 --> 00:50:55,680 Speaker 2: Elevation Church. 850 00:50:55,760 --> 00:50:57,400 Speaker 1: Thanks again for listening. God bless you.