God has promised to be by your side and guide you in every situation. Dr. Stanley turns to 2 Chronicles to examine the life of Jehoshaphat. Discover what this story says about how God responds to the prayers of His people and always provides a way forward.
Sermon Outline
Sometimes life seems like one dilemma after another. The good news is that God is aware, and He’s there for us. Today, Dr. Stanley uses the story of Jehoshaphat to give us eight practical principles for dealing with challenges.
Key Passage: 2 Chronicles 20:1
Supporting Passages: 2 Chronicles 19:3; 20:3-4, 6, 12; Jeremiah 32:17; Romans 8:29
Being a Christian doesn’t solve all our problems. But in His Word, God shows us how He will help whenever trouble strikes.
► “God, who loves you unconditionally, will get you through difficulties no matter what.”
Our problems can be solved through prayer. That’s why we must always remember these eight truths:
1. God is interested in our problem.
Believing God cared, the king turned right to Him (2 Chron. 20:3).
What was true for Jehoshaphat is true for us. God doesn’t change.
2. God is greater than our problem.
Jehoshaphat and Judah were facing total destruction (v. 1).
Their situation teaches us there is no problem in our life that God cannot handle (Jeremiah 32:17).
3. Our initial response should be to seek the Lord.
The first thing Jehoshaphat did was run to God (2 Chron. 20:3). It was already his habit (19:3).
As was true of Jehoshaphat, seeking God should be our priority—even before trouble comes.
When we seek Him, our problems get smaller because He’s becoming larger in our thinking.
By praying “Father ...,” we invite God’s supernatural power and love into our situation.
► “We grow by watching God work in each other’s life.”
4. God may involve other people.
Jehoshaphat knew that the difficulty facing him was a problem for the entire nation (20:3-4).
Situations that affect our families, church, or country benefit from shared prayer.
Don’t forget that God’s answer to someone else’s prayer can strengthen your own faith (and vice versa).
5. God will give us a solution to our problem, but it may not be exactly what we expect.
He may delay giving us the way to solve it.
He is primarily interested in our spiritual development. (See Romans 8:29.)
He always deals with the real source of our problems.
6. Our prayers are to be God-centered, not problem-centered.
Jehoshaphat’s prayer focused on God’s power, past actions, and love (2 Chronicles 20:6, 12).
This focus allows the Spirit to resurrect our faith when it’s buried under difficulties.
God transforms our life in the midst of our problems.
► “If God tells you to do something a certain way, trust Him—and the victory is already won.”
7. God’s solution usually requires an act of faith.
Jehoshaphat was told the battle was God’s, not his. In faith, he sent a praise choir ahead of the army.
God sometimes asks us to do something that looks impossible. This causes our faith to grow when the problem is solved.
The Lord won’t lead us into defeat. He seeks our trust.
8. God’s solution is always best.
Because of human limitations, we could never solve problems as well as our omnipotent God can.
Every difficulty is an opportunity to trust God more. Troubles strengthen us in ways good times simply can’t.
After Watching
Consider a problem you’re facing today. What was your attitude toward it before you listened to today’s sermon? How has your outlook changed?
When confronted with a problem, do you find it hard to praise God? How can one of the eight points Dr. Stanley shared help you grow in this area?
