Partnership – 4

Partnership – 4

Subject – God Uses People

By Rick Welborne

2 Chronicles 20:1-3 (NKJV)
¹  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.
²  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).
³  And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. 

--As we continue this series on Partnership, we see how people who have partnered with God have been used to bless others and to bring glory to God.

--Our LOL group have put together Care Baskets to bless people who really needed encouragement and hope. Individuals have done the same thing. God gets the glory but He uses people.

--We have watched our Honor Bound Motorcycle Ministry go to Harley Davidson in Leesburg during Bike Fest, set up a booth, give away Bibles and literature, and lead people to Christ.

--This group of men and ladies have decided to be used by God to touch a segment of our society that most of us would never reach. God is glorified because He uses people like this.

--You may not even know about this ministry. Pastor Mark with a few of his children’s workers every week go into some of the roughest neighborhoods to share Jesus.

--Jesus said, when you have done it to the least of these, you have done it unto Me. Kids come to church on the bus, picked up by people who are used by God, and Jesus is glorified. Partnership.

--I could go on talking about God using people in jail ministry, nursing home ministry, visitation ministry, altar ministry, kitchen ministry but time is short. A beautiful partnership where God gets the glory.

--The story in our text was so magnified in my heart about this partnership, that I felt it was necessary to share with you the characters who were important to seeing the miracle.

1. In This Partnership, God is the Main Character.

2 Chronicles 20:1-3 (NKJV)
³  And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. 

--Jehoshaphat had every reason to fear. A great army is on the way to destroy and to take captive the people of Jerusalem and Judah. Any leader with half a brain would be afraid.

--That being said, Jehoshaphat knew who his source of help was. He set himself to seek the Lord. He realized if deliverance would come, it would be God. God loves these situations.

Psalm 118:5-7 (NKJV)
⁵  I called on the LORD in distress; The LORD answered me and set me in a broad place.
⁶  The LORD is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?
⁷  The LORD is for me among those who help me; Therefore I shall see my desire on those who hate me. 

--Because God is the main character, we call on Him first. This poor man cried out and the Lord heard him and delivered him out of all his troubles. 

--Jehoshaphat was wise to see that partnering with God was his only hope. But God uses people.

2. In This Partnership, A Leader is Needed.

--We live in an interesting day when it seems to be more than acceptable to disrespect and even ridicule leadership, in and out of the church.

--Our national leaders have done so much harm to our country by resorting to name calling, lying about, and even manipulating facts to make the other person look bad. Creates division.

Proverbs 14:34 (NKJV) ³⁴ Righteousness exalts a nation, But sin is a reproach to any people. 

Romans 13:1-2 (NLT2) ¹ Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God.
²  So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished. 

--Israel and Judah were in trouble and they needed a leader. They needed Jehoshaphat. Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.

--God could have just went out and destroyed all the enemies coming against them but God uses people. Jehoshaphat began to seek the Lord, proclaimed a fast, and prayed giving God the glory.

2 Chronicles 20:6 (NLT2) ⁶ He prayed, “O LORD, God of our ancestors, you alone are the God who is in heaven. You are ruler of all the kingdoms of the earth. You are powerful and mighty; no one can stand against you!

--God uses people especially those who seek God and give Him all the glory.

3. In This Partnership, Someone Needs to be Sensitive to Holy Spirit.

2 Chronicles 20:14-17 (NKJV)
¹⁴  Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah…
¹⁵  And he said, "Listen, all you of Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you, King Jehoshaphat! Thus says the LORD to you: 'Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God's.
¹⁶  Tomorrow go down against them. They will surely come up by the Ascent of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the brook before the Wilderness of Jeruel.
¹⁷  You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the LORD, who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem!' Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the LORD is with you."

--We read about the gifts of Holy Spirit in the NT but obviously, Holy Spirit was active and speaking through people in the OT. He uses people to encourage people and to glorify God.

--To those of you who are used by the Spirit of God, let me say thank you and let me give you an exhortation that will give glory to God and edify those who hear.

--V. 15 Jahaziel tells the people, including King Jehoshaphat to listen but listen to how he prefaces his remarks to them…Thus says the LORD to you. This is what the Lord says. NLT

--First, in this partnership you need to make sure that you have truly heard from God before you speak, and second, you begin what you are saying, Thus says the LORD to you.

--Why is this important? Not everyone has been raised in Pentecost. When you just speak out speaking in first person, which sounds like to new people, you are God, it is confusing.

--But when you say, Thus says the LORD to you. or this is what the Lord is saying to His Church, they can understand you are speaking on God’s behalf. God is glorified. 

--Sensitivity to Holy Spirit helps us glorify God and helps us be used by God to encourage others.

--We love when God says You will not need to fight in this battle but that doesn’t mean we have nothing to do in the situation. We still must be obedient.

--Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the LORD, do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the LORD is with you."

--Many believe God will do it all but always remember, God loves using His people to glorify His Name. Position yourselves, stand still, don’t fear, and see. They worship God.

4. In This Partnership, We Have to Be Boldly Obedient.

2 Chronicles 20:21 (NKJV) ²¹ And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed those who should sing to the LORD, and who should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army and were saying: "Praise the LORD, For His mercy endures forever." 

--Get this in your mind, a great army is coming toward you with the sole purpose of destroying you. You have been praying with your leader and he says he has a plan from God. Great!

--Jehoshaphat says I want the singers and musicians with all your instruments to go out on front of the army and sing and play. Wait a minute, partnership with God is one thing, but…

--Not sure which musician it was but probably one of them spoke up and said, wouldn’t it make more sense for the soldiers with all their weapons to go out front…just saying.

--Partnership with God and how He uses people will not always make sense but our job is to be boldly obedient to God’s plans and ways. Okay, singers and musicians out front.

--When the enemy comes against you and your family, and one of your pastors say to you, get out front of your problem with your praise and worship. Hear his advice. Your worship can defeat the enemy.

--Probably some brave singer like me would say, I will go out front and we will attack the enemy with our singing. Thanks but remember the instructions.

2 Chronicles 20:21 (NKJV) ²¹ And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed those who should sing to the LORD, and who should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army and were saying: "Praise the LORD, For His mercy endures forever." 

--Appoint those who should sing…Partnership with God and with each other means we are boldly obedient but it also means we should recognize the gifts and talents around us. God deserves the best.

--Because God is to be glorified and because He wants to use people, He also, chooses who should be…should be, doing what.

1 Corinthians 12:11 (NKJV)
¹¹  But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.