Title: Gratitude brings us out of crisis.
Contents
Ex) Crisis (Risk Opportunity)
body description
King Jehoshaphat of Judah is being invaded by the combined forces of Moab and Ammon.
It was a national crisis.
How do you overcome this crisis?
1. I prayed (verses 3-4).
2 Chronicles 20:3-4 “Then Jehoshaphat was afraid and turned to the LORD and made a proclamation to all the people of Judah to fast. Then the men of Judah gathered from all the cities of Judah to ask the LORD for help, and they came to the LORD.”
Example) British troops besieged in a French fishing village
2. They depended only on God (verse 20).
Verse 20: “Then the people got up early and went out into the field of Tekoa. As they were going out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Listen to me, you inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem; trust in the Lord your God, and you will be established. Trust in the prophet. If you do, you will prosper.”
*Verses 6-12 (The appearance of trusting only in God)
In fact, Jehoshaphat had 1.16 million soldiers (2 Chronicles 17:10-19).
However, he declares that he will look to God rather than relying on visible military power.
Why?
Because war belongs to God.
Verse 17: “You have nothing to fight in this war; stand in line and see the deliverance of the Lord who is with you, Judah and Jerusalem, do not be afraid and do not be dismayed; go out to face them tomorrow, for the Lord is with you.”
And he knew that he could only win if God was with him.
3. I gave thanks (verse 21).
Verse 21, “He counseled with the people, and chose singers, clothed in holy robes, and walked before the army, praising the Lord, saying, Give thanks to the Lord, and his mercy endures forever.”
The hymn theme of the hymns was “Give thanks to the Lord, for His mercy endures forever.”
Today we are worshiping on Thanksgiving Day.
At this time of year, I often hear the word ‘thank you’.
But what is really important is that it should be a life to be thankful for, not a life to be grateful for when the time comes.
Jehoshaphat did not mobilize an army armed with new weapons, but organized a choir.
They put on holy robes and stood before the army to give thanks to the Lord.
It was a moment that human common sense could not tolerate.
The people of Judah didn't even go to war, they just praised the Lord, but the enemies began to destroy themselves.
This was the supernatural power of God.
God's supernatural events are recorded countless times in the Bible.
Ex) Paul and Silas in Jericho/Philippi prison
Organize your words.
Jehoshaphat prayed in the midst of a crisis and relied entirely on God.
As a result, I was able to give a confession of gratitude first even in a situation where the enemies were gradually advancing.
*Compared to the Israelites in the wilderness
The prayer that comes out of your mouth and your dependence on God alone, in that case, you can give a sincere confession of gratitude.
I pray in the name of the Lord that you will become all who experience God's presence with you through a confession of thanks.
Although it is not in the video, the 10th thanks is as follows.
“I give all the glory to God who has blessed me with undeserved and undeserved blessings.
I have no doubt that these are the prayer decisions made with the tears my father and mother cried out every dawn for decades, and they are the fruits of the sincerity that my dear brothers and sisters with leprosy have prayed for me and my family for 23 years. give."
I hope that the protagonists of this confession will be you and me.