How Goes the Battle? is a sermon teaching us that the Christian life is a battle, not a physical one but a spiritual one. Seek the Lord for help and we are promised victory.
Key verses:
2 Chronicles 20:1-15
I invite you to take your Bible and turn with me now to 2 Chronicles, chapter 20. While you are finding that let me share a couple of things with you. The message tonight is a follow-up or continuation of the message this morning. That is the same subject matter which is the battle of the Christian life. The question tonight is: How goes the battle? How are you doing in it? How are you making it? We all have battles to fight and we’re going to talk about that.
But I want to share more scripture tonight or different scriptures than we usually do in one message. We’re going to go fairly fast. We are not going to turn to all of them for sake of time. I’m going to read you a good many scriptures that will hopefully encourage you and strengthen your faith and help you to realize that the victory can be yours.
To begin with is 2 Chronicles, chapter 20, and we will read verses 1 through 15, but let’s start with verse 15.
2 Chronicles 20:15: “And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s.”
As we were saying this morning the Christian life is a battle. There is no doubt about that. And I’m going to reiterate some things we said this morning for several reasons. One, some of you may not remember what we said this morning and two, some of you weren’t here to hear it. I’ll be honest with you; I have trouble remembering things I said five minutes ago. So, if you don’t remember something from this morning, I couldn’t hold that against you.
The Real Battle
The Christian life is a battle, not a physical one, but a spiritual one. And if you are a Christian, you are in the battle. But if you are not a Christian, then you are not in the battle. Somebody is bound to be thinking, “Preacher, don’t you mean that if I’m not a Christian, I’m the enemy in the battle?” No, I do not mean that at all. I mean what I said. If you are not a Christian, you are not in the battle, you’re not part of it.
The battle is not between the believer and the unbeliever. We need to know that. We need to understand that. Sometimes, I know, some non-believers, certainly not all of them, but some seem to act like the enemy, but the battle is not between the believer and the unbeliever. The battle is between God and Satan. The battle is between our flesh, our own flesh, and the spirit. The battle is between good and evil. The battle is between right and wrong. The battle is not between the Christian and the unbeliever. The Christian is in the battle, the unbeliever is not. It’s that simple.
Listen to the Word of God and I’m going to begin with a number of scriptures. This is where we began this morning, Ephesians chapter 6, beginning in verse 10:
Ephesians 6:10: “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.”
Ephesians 6:11: “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”
Ephesians 6:12: “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”
Ephesians 6:13: “Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”
Ephesians 6:14: “Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;”
Ephesians 6:15: “And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;”
Ephesians 6:16: “Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.”
Ephesians 6:17 “And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:”
Now, this battle, as we’ve just said, as we’ve just read, is a spiritual one and it is more internal than external. Listen to 2 Corinthians 10:3-6:
2 Corinthians 10:3: “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:”
2 Corinthians 10:4: “(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)”
2 Corinthians 10:5: “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;”
We were talking about that this morning, bringing our thoughts in the obedience of Christ. And then it goes on to say:
2 Corinthians 10:6: “And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.”
In James 4:1, James tells us where wars come from, he said:
James 4:1: “From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?”
Physical wars come out of the heart of mankind, but we’re talking about spiritual war.
1 Peter 2:11: “Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;”
Your own lusts war against your own body.
Galatians 5:17: “For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.”
The real enemies that we face are the world. By the “world” we do not mean the people of the world. By the “world” we mean the world system. The system of unbelief, the system of animosity towards God, the system that says there is no God, and the flesh.
“What do you mean, the flesh?” Our own flesh, our own desires of our own flesh, and the devil. And we talked about that this morning. “Preacher, you don’t believe in the devil?” I do. So, John tells us in John 2:15-18:
1 John 2:15: “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”
Now, again, that’s not the people of the world. The people of the world are what Jesus is talking about in John 3:16, He says,
John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
1 John 2:15: “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”
A little child asked me just last week, “’Does not perish’, does that mean you wouldn’t have eternal life?” A little six-year-old asked me that. I said, “You’ve got it. You understand, don’t you.” Yeah, should not perish but have everlasting life. He understood what perish meant. This is a six-year-old mind you and people say, “I don’t understand, that Bible is too hard to read.” A six-year-old understood it. John goes on:
1 John 2:16: “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.”
1 John 2:17: “And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.”
“The world passeth away” – it’s temporary, it’s not permanent. It’s not eternal.
1 John 2:18: “Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.”
The Christian Soldier
So, if you are a Christian, you are in the battle. But I have good news for you. You’re not in it alone. You don’t have to stand alone. Christians are commanded to be in the battle. A Christian soldier must realize that he has been called to war.
1 Timothy 1:18: “This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare;”
A Christian soldier must prepare himself for the battle. He must be in a right relationship with the Lord.
2 Corinthians 7:1: “Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.”
The Christian soldier must recognize who the enemy is. Again, John says:
1 John 2:15: “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”
1 John 2:16: “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.”
Revelation 16:14: “For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.”
We talked recently about the Lord’s Day, not Sunday which we usually use the term, but the Day of the Lord, the day God will come and judge the nations.
Then the Christian soldier must realize that the battle is not easy.
Luke 14:31: “Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?”
2 Timothy 2:1: “Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.”
2 Timothy 2:2: “And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.”
2 Timothy 2:3: “Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.”
2 Timothy 2:4: “No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.”
A Christian soldier must lean upon the Lord for his strength realizing that the battle is not ours but His. David understood that when he faced Goliath.
1 Samuel 17:47: “And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD’S, and he will give you into our hands.”
Seek the Lord
Now, we will look at our text, it’s been a while getting there.
2 Chronicles 20:1: “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.”
Now, let’s get the picture here. Jehoshaphat is the king of Judah at this time. He sits on the throne of David in Jerusalem. He rules over the tribes of Judah and Benjamin. This is not the 10 northern tribes of Israel. They are going to be attacked by the armies of Moab and Ammon. These are ancient enemies of Israel, and we will see that later in the text.
Where is this geographically? This is on the east side of the Jordan River, opposite Jerusalem. This is what is called today the country of Jordan, but at that time, Moab and Ammon. I want to help you with a picture of the geography there.
Some time ago, I guess a year or a year and a half ago, it was time for me to get new glasses, I think it’s about time for me to go again. I had gone to get new glasses and the fellow who was working with me there told me he was from the country of Jordan.
“Isn’t that interesting.” I said to him, “I’ve never been to Jordan, but I’ve seen it.” He thought for a minute, and he said, “You’ve been to Jerusalem.” I said, “That’s right.” He knew exactly what I was talking about because you can see it from Jerusalem. Just like I was in El Paso and saw Mexico. I’ve never been to Mexico, but I could see it, same idea.
But the fact of the matter is, these two ancient enemies of Israel, Moab and Ammon, were going to attack. And note in verse one, it says others beside them. They had others who joined them for the battle, giving them an amazing army to attack Jerusalem.
There are some things you and I need to know about spiritual warfare. First of all, we need to know that Christians have casualties in the battle. King Jehoshaphat looked at that army and he said [paraphrasing], “We’re in trouble guys. There are more of them than there are of us and they’re coming to attack.” Look at verse two:
2 Chronicles 20:2: “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 be in Hazazontamar, which is Engedi.”
2 Chronicles 20:3: “And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.”
“And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD.” Can I share something with you? When you are afraid that’s what you need to do. You need to set yourself to seek the Lord. And he “proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah” – a national fast. We’re going to fast, we’re going to pray, we’re going to get ready for this attack that’s coming.
Sometimes you need to fast and pray. You always need to pray. Sometimes you also need to fast. We could say a lot more about that, but we need to move on.
2 Chronicles 20:4: “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.”
Did you see that? They are all gathering out of all the cities to Jerusalem, to the Lord’s house in Jerusalem in the temple. To do what? To seek the Lord. Why? Because they are afraid because they are in trouble. Psalmist says, “What time I’m afraid, I will seek the Lord.”
2 Chronicles 20:5: “And Jehoshaphat stood in the congregation of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the LORD, before the new court,”
So, he is standing in the temple area, the king is standing in the temple area. He is not standing in his palace. He’s not there relying on his governmental administrative powers. He’s there in the Lord’s house. And the people of his country have come to meet him, and folks, that’s what we need tonight. We need our people to be God’s people to gather together and to unite together. Not to do physical warfare but to realize there is a spiritual battle going on.
2 Chronicles 20:6: “And said, O LORD God of our fathers, art not thou God in heaven? and rulest not thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen? and in thine hand is there not power and might, so that none is able to withstand thee?”
2 Chronicles 20:7: “Art not thou our God, who didst drive out the inhabitants of this land before thy people Israel, and gavest it to the seed of Abraham thy friend for ever?”
2 Chronicles 20:8: “And they dwelt therein, and have built thee a sanctuary therein for thy name, saying,”
2 Chronicles 20:9: “If, when evil cometh upon us, as the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we stand before this house, and in thy presence, (for thy name is in this house,) and cry unto thee in our affliction, then thou wilt hear and help.”
2 Chronicles 20:10: “And now, behold, the children of Ammon and Moab and mount Seir, whom thou wouldest not let Israel invade, when they came out of the land of Egypt, but they turned from them, and destroyed them not;”
That’s right. When Israel first came into the land they could have come up and gone through the lands of Moab and Ammon, but they did not. The Lord would not let them do that. Why? We don’t have time to go into all this but if you go back far enough, they were relatives. That’s why the Lord would not allow them to attack.
2 Chronicles 20:11: “Behold, I say, how they reward us, to come to cast us out of thy possession, which thou hast given us to inherit.”
They would not attack Moab and Ammon but now Moab and Ammon are attacking them. As I said, ancient enemies. So, the king prays.
2 Chronicles 20:12: “O our God, wilt thou not judge them? for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee.”
We sing often the song “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus”. If our country needs anything tonight, it’s to turn our eyes upon Jesus. We have rejected Him for so long. We have forbidden His mention in our public facilities for so long. We have cast His Word out of our public places years ago.
Years ago, I don’t mean recently, a judge in Alabama said we’re going to have the ten commandments on the courthouse lawn. They fought against him on that and got it moved. He got himself elected to the Supreme Court in Alabama. He said we’re putting it back. He did and they fought him again and they took it away again. Honestly, folks. You say, “Well, that’s Alabama. What’s that got to do with us?” It’s got a lot to do with us. It is, it’s our country. Just because they are in another state doesn’t mean that it’s none of our business.
I’m telling you they wanted to get rid of God and the mention of God when I was a boy going to school. You had the ten commandments on the wall in the school. You open school every day with the Lord’s prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance.
And we had at Easter time every year – and I never knew who these ladies were – but these ladies would come in and do a flannelgraph and tell us the Easter story. I told you this morning about Paul Anderson, who had the title of the strongest man in the world came to our high school and preached the Gospel and nobody even tried to think to stop him.
But things have changed, and they didn’t change all at once. They change gradually over time, a step here, a step there, deliberately, and methodically. Things have changed. We’ve turned our eyes away from Jesus. We’ve turned our hearts away from God. we don’t pray like we need to pray. We certainly don’t surrender to God like we need to surrender to God. But as I’ve said here many times, don’t look to the house of government to correct all this and honestly, it’s not their job.
“Where am I going to look?” The same place Jehoshaphat and the people of Jerusalem and Judah looked. They went to the house of the Lord. That’s where you are going to look. It’s where you have to look. Look at verse 13:
2 Chronicles 20:13: “And all Judah stood before the LORD, with their little ones, their wives, and their children.”
People brought their families to the house of the Lord, and they brought them there to seek the Lord, not just to sing songs. I’m not against singing songs, I’m all for it, I like music, I like singing, I’m not very good at it but I like it. There’s a lot of things I like but I’m not very good at, that’s one of them.
I’m not very good at basketball but I like it, but I’m not very good at it at all. I like to play chess. I’m not very good at it but I like it. You can like something without being good at it, don’t you think? Yeah. We can sing and we can sing and praise the Lord and worship God in our singing.
But Judah comes before the house of the Lord and the king is there. And he’s proclaimed this fast, and he’s called this assembly.
2 Chronicles 20:14: “Then upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, came the Spirit of the LORD in the midst of the congregation;”
Get this heritage of this man who’s about to speak. This man has this heritage, the Lord tells us this man has this heritage, he is of the house of Levi and goes all the way back to Asaph. Who is Asaph? Well, if you read the Psalms, you are going to find many of the psalms were written by David but not all of them.
One psalm, in particular, Psalm 90 was written by Moses. But many of the psalms written by David but some of them don’t give the name of the author, we don’t know who wrote it, and then you are going to find many of them were written by Asaph. Who was he? He was a Levite of the tribe of Levi, the priestly order and he was the chief musician in David’s court. He wrote many of those psalms.
And so, this man who’s about to speak, Jahaziel, is a descendant of Asaph. Let’s read verse 14 again:
2 Chronicles 20:14: “Then upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, came the Spirit of the LORD in the midst of the congregation;”
He’s there, this descendent of Asaph, and the Holy Spirit comes upon him and he’s about to speak. He’s about to speak to the king, he’s about to speak to the people and to the families of the children of the land of Judah. And what does he have to say? Verse 15, where we started:
2 Chronicles 20:15: “And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s.”
“Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude” – this big army that’s about to attack you, Why? “For the battle is not yours, but God’s.” The battle is God’s. Again:
Psalm 18:39: “For thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle: thou hast subdued under me those that rose up against me.”
Casualties of War
But we’re going to have casualties in the battle. You need to understand that. Why is that? Some don’t take the battle seriously. Some say, “Well, I’m a Christian.” But they’re not at all concerned about spiritual warfare. “No, just leave me alone. I will do what I want to do. As long as I’m at peace, everything’s fine.” But you may not always be at peace.
I heard read many years ago the first battle, not THE first battle but one of the first battles of the Civil War, it was very close to Washington, D.C. And they said that people came out in their buggies and their wagons and brought a picnic lunch and sat up on the side of a hill. They were going to watch the battle like you would watch a sporting event.
Then, as the battle ensued, and they saw the reality of it, and they saw the death and destruction of it, those same people fled for their lives. They weren’t taking it seriously. They thought they were going to watch a ballgame. It’s not like that, folks. Neither did they take it seriously.
Then some had deserted in the heat of the battle.
Luke 9:62: “And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”
Psalm 53:3: “Every one of them is gone back: they are altogether become filthy; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.”
Job 23:12: “Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.”
Some turn back. We call them backsliders. I don’t mean to say they lose their salvation, they don’t, but they’ll lose reward. Then some are traitors in the battle.
2 Timothy 3:1: “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.”
2 Timothy 3:2: “For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,”
2 Timothy 3:3: “Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,”
2 Timothy 3:4: “Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;”
If anything describes our society today, I think that phrase does it, “Lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;”
2 Timothy 3:5: “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.”
Then some grow weary in the battle and that’s understandable for it’s hard.
2 Thessalonians 3:13: “But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing.”
Galatians 6:9: “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”
Some have been wounded in the battle. I mention the Civil War. One of the famous people associated with that – many famous generals on both sides – we think of General O.O. Howard, who after the war did a tremendous amount of work for people. He was the founder of Howard University. Some of you would know about that, did a lot of work for people.
But another famous general was Thomas J. Jackson. They called him “Stonewall Jackson” because of his bravery in the field. He was known as a great Christian. He actually led some of the other generals to faith in Jesus Christ. But one day during a battle one of his own soldiers mistook him for the enemy and shot him and he died. Some have been wounded in the battle. Sometimes it’s friendly fire like the case of General Jackson.
Sometimes, those who claim to be Christian attack each other. Brethren, we ought not to do this. Some have fallen in the battle. We’ve lost some of our dearests to the enemy of death.
The Promise of Victory
But then there’s victory. Victory is promised to us. Even when death comes, we are promised victory. I stood at a gravesite yesterday and read these same words:
1 Corinthians 15:54: “So when this corruptible [that which can get sick, that which can get diseased] shall have put on incorruption [that which cannot be affected by illness or disease], and this mortal [that which can die] shall have put on immortality [that which cannot die], then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.”
1 Corinthians 15:55: “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?”
1 Corinthians 15:57: “But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
1 John 5:4: “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.”
We need faith, we’ve always needed faith. We need it more than ever. So, the question tonight is this, how goes the battle? Are you in the battle? If not, will you join? “You said earlier, Preacher, Christians are in the battle and unbelievers are not.” That’s right. So, why not trust Jesus? “I don’t want to be in this battle business if that’s what this is about.” Let me assure you that you will not be alone. We sang the hymn a while ago “Who Will Be on the Lord’s Side?” If you are on the Lord’s side, victory is guaranteed.
Have you lost loved ones in the battle? The great news is, you’ll see them again, you will. There’s going to be a great reunion day. Have you been wounded in the battle? Many are, but Jesus is the healer. Let Him touch your heart. Let Him give you the strength to carry on. Have you deserted in the battle? Well, you can get back in. We don’t shoot deserters. You can get back in. How goes the battle?
Let me read to you, we’ve read it a couple of times already tonight but let’s read it again:
2 Chronicles 20:15: “And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s.”
You put your faith and trust in Him, you submit yourself to Him, you surrender yourself to Him, and you leave the victory to Him.
~~~~~~~
Let us pray. Thank you, Father, for blessing us. Thank you for each and every person who is here tonight. Thank you, Lord, that we can be used of you every day in spiritual warfare, not attacking physically those around us, not fighting them, but Lord, trying to fight against the powers of darkness and of wickedness, the powers of Satan in this world.
Lord, help us to stand strong in the faith. Help us to realize that our weapon is the Word of God. Help us to realize that prayer is our ascension. Help us like the people of Judah in those days who came to the house of the Lord and assembled there to hear the Word of the Lord, and came to fast and to pray and to seek the Lord. Help us to be like that. And then Lord, help us to remember that the battle is not ours but yours. Thanks be to God who has given us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Heads are bowed, eyes are closed. In just a second, we are going to sing a hymn. As we do and you need to make a spiritual decision, this is your prime opportunity to do that. If you are not sure beyond a shadow of a doubt that when you close your eyes for the last time, that when you breathe your last breath, that you are going to step into eternity and meet God and be at home with the Lord forever. If you’re not certain of that, I plead with you to trust Jesus right now. You may say, “Preacher, I’m not sure how to do that.” Come, let us help you with it. We’d be happy to help you with it. You just come while we sing.
Perhaps you are here tonight and say, “Preacher, I know the Lord, but I sure don’t feel I’m on the victory side. Things have been hard.” Why don’t you pray and ask the Lord to give you new strength, ask Him to encourage your heart, ask Him to heal the wounds that you have, ask Him to help you carry on, for the battle is not yours, it’s God’s. Father bless now in this invitation time we pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
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