By Rev. Michael Mwangi
Senior Pastor, Fedha Church KAG
2 Chronicles 20
We are in a crisis and it is not yet over. There are those going through the crisis but there are those that are navigating through the crisis. One is in charge and in the other; it is the crisis which is in charge. Crisis and challenges are not necessarily bad.
They do not always come to finish us but to makes us better. They are not comfortable or convenient because they disrupt the norm without presenting alternatives, but come with hidden opportunities. Unfortunately, not everyone can discern. Crisis produces victors and victims. Winners and losers.
They either bring the best and the worst out of us
• They leave you better or bitter. Warriors are made out of battles, not in times of peace.
• Giant killers emerge out of giant challenges.
• Above all crisis makes faith or breaks faith. It separates the strong from the weak, the genuine from the fake.
A crisis provides opportunities and kills the existing ones
• Depending on how you face the crises, you can emerge stronger and better or broken and worse. As church reopens, how are you emerging? What type of a Christian do you bring back, what type of a church are you going to make, are you coming on fire or you are coming to seek for fire. Have the crises made you better or bitter as a believer?
A crisis is meant to make us better
• They awaken the giant in us as we rise up to the challenge. It possible to navigate any crisis victoriously and come out stronger.
How do we navigate crises victoriously?
1. Respond by seeking the face of God
V3 Jehosphat enquired from God and called for prayers and fasting.
• When crises strike, most people lose balance. They are threatened by the details of the crises and the first reaction is mitigation, countering in our own capacity. They run to possible options.
• When Covid came, many people immediately reacted and quickly did the unnecessary things. They ran to supermarkets and stores and upcountry instead of running to the house of God for prayers. The best option was to take time with God and seek the counsel of God who knows better than you.
Isaiah 37:1
[1]When King Hezekiah heard this, he tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and went into the temple of the Lord
1 Samuel 30:6
[6]David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him; each one was bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters. But David found strength in the Lord his God.
1 Samuel 30:8
[8]and David inquired of the Lord, “Shall I pursue this raiding party? Will I overtake them?” “Pursue them,” he answered. “You will certainly overtake them and succeed in the rescue.”
2. Remember God's faithfulness in the past.
• Draw strength from past victories. God has done it in the past, He will do it even now.
2 Chronicles 20:7
V[7]Our God, did you not drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend?
• When we reflect on what God has done for us in the past we are strengthened and assured He will do it even now
1 Samuel 17:37
[37]The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.” Saul said to David, “Go, and the Lord be with you.”
3. Obey the instructions.
• When we walk in obedience, we can be sure God is with us and hence victory
2 Chronicles 20:7,16
[16]Tomorrow march down against them. They will be climbing up by the Pass of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the gorge in the Desert of Jeruel.
[20]Early in the morning they left for the Desert of Tekoa. As they set out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Listen to me, Judah and people of Jerusalem! Have faith in the Lord your God and you will be upheld; have faith in his prophets and you will be successful.”
• People find it easier to give sacrificially instead of obeying God. Sacrifices have filled the house of God at the expense of obeying the word of God.
• remember obedient is better than sacrifice
1 Samuel 15:22
[22]But Samuel replied:
Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord?
To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.
Conclusion
Victory/Results
Chronicles 20:25
[25]So Jehoshaphat and his men went to carry off their plunder, and they found among them a great amount of equipment and clothing and also articles of value—more than they could take away. There was so much plunder that it took three days to collect it.
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