OUR PRAYER, HIS FIGHT
Shaken #1
Pastor Brandon Cross
Woodland Church
September 6, 2026
(2 Chronicles 20:1-4) “It happened after this that the people of Moab with the people of Ammon, and others with them besides the Ammonites,came to battle against Jehoshaphat. Then some came and told Jehoshaphat, saying, “A great multitude is coming against you from beyond the sea, from Syria; and they are in Hazazon Tamar” (which is En Gedi). And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. So Judah gathered together to ask help from the Lord; and from all the cities of Judah they came to seek the Lord.”
Main Idea:
When we face tough tests, the impossible, or when we just do not know what to do; we need to focus on seeking God, praising Him, acknowledging His power and trusting Him to fight for us!
Let’s look at what happened with King Jehoshaphat:
- The Crisis (v. 1-4): A vast army marches against Judah, leaving King Jehoshaphat terrified and desperate.
- The Response (v. 3-5): Jehoshaphat proclaims a fast and gathers all of Judah in the temple in Jerusalem to seek God.
- The Prayer (v. 6-12): Jehoshaphat acknowledges God’s supreme power and honestly confesses, “We are powerless against this great horde… We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you” (2 Chronicles 20:12).
- The Prophecy (v.14-17): God answers through Jahaziel, a Levite, who promises that the battle is God’s and tells them they will not need to fight.
- The Praise (v.18-21): Instead of putting soldiers in front, Jehoshaphat puts a choir in front to sing praises to God as they march to the battlefield.
- The Victory (v.22-25): As Judah sings, God causes the enemy armies to turn on and destroy each other completely. Judah spends three days gathering abundant wealth and treasure left behind.
- The Aftermath (v.26-30): All the people blessed God and praised Him and returned to the Temple to sit in His presence corporately and rejoice/praise Him with GRATITUDE!!! The rest of Jehoshophat’s reign was filled with peace.
QUESTION:
How should we respond to crises or challenges both individually and corporately?
1. Honest Vulnerability (v. 12): Jehoshaphat models admitting weakness and fear instead of pretending to be self-sufficient.
King David = Raw Emotional Honesty in the Psalms
- Questioning God (Psalm 13)
- Physical and Mental Despair (Psalm 22)
- Processing Trauma (Psalm 55:3-5)
- Confessing Sin (2 Samuel 12:13)
- Accepting Consequences (2 Samuel 12:15-19)
2. Seeking God First: The immediate reaction to a crisis should be prayer and turning to God rather than frantic human efforts. (2 Chronicles 20:3-4)
- King Hezekiah (2 Kings 19 / Isaiah 37)
- Moses at the Red Sea (Exodus 14)
- King David (1 Samuel 30)
3. Worship as a Weapon: Praising God in advance demonstrates active faith and trust in His deliverance before the outcome is seen.
- The Fall of Jericho (Joshua 6)
- Paul and Silas in Prison (Acts 16:25-26)
- David Playing the Harp for Saul (1 Samuel 16:14-23)
- The High Praises (Psalm 149:5-9)
Application:
How To Pray When We Face Challenges
- Acknowledge God’s Sovereignty (v. 6)
- Declare God’s Faithfulness (v. 7-9)
- Admit Helplessness & Seek God (v. 12)
- Ask for Divine Intervention (v. 12)
- Stand in Faith (v. 15-17)
- Praise for Victory in Advance (v. 21-22)
- Declare Restoration (v. 25)
Call to Action:
- Fast and Seek: Similar to Jehoshaphat, fast when facing overwhelming circumstances. Fast this week for the families in our community.
- Focus on God: Shift focus from the magnitude of the problem to the magnitude of God.
- Listen for Direction: Wait on God to give instructions for the battle.
- Fight with Praise: Use praise to declare God’s victory in any circumstances we face.