June 2006 - Standing Steadfast In Christ

STANDING STEADFAST IN CHRIST

Pastor Bill Marks, Christian Fellowship, Potchefstroom, Tel: (018) 293 1608 or 082 260 5965

WAR WAS A DOMINANT THEME IN THE OLD TESTAMENT
2 Chronicles 20:2 - Some men came and told Jehoshaphat, “A vast army is coming against you from Edom, from the other side of the sea.” When Jehoshaphat received this news, he faced the greatest external threat of his reign. Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the Lord (vs. 3).
Vs. 5-6: “And Jehoshaphat stood in the congregation of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the Lord, before the new court, and said, ‘O Lord God of our fathers, art not Thou God in heaven? and rulest not Thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen? and in Thine hand is there not power and might, so that none is able to withstand Thee?’” Jehoshaphat stood up at the temple of the Lord and declared God’s greatness.
Vs. 9: “If, when evil cometh upon us, as the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we stand before this house, and in Thy presence, (for Thy name is in this house,) and cry unto Thee in our affliction, then Thou wilt hear and help.” (Also read Rom. 8:35-39). Jehoshaphat STOOD steadfast in God.
Vs. 13: “And all Judah stood before the Lord, with their little ones, their wives, and their children.”
On 4 May 2006, Israel called for a National Day of Prayer and on 4 June 2006, 220 nations of the world STOOD before God on the Global Day of Prayer to seek His face.
Vs. 14: “Then upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, came the spirit of the Lord in the midst of the congregation.”
In Hebrew this literally means the Spirit of the Lord clothed Himself with Jahaziel (The Holy Spirit took full possession of Jahaziel for prophetic utterance).
Vs. 15: “And he said, ‘Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the Lord unto you, ‘Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s.’’”
Vs. 19: “And the Levites, of the children of the Kohathites, and of the children of the Korhites, stood up to praise the Lord God of Israel with a loud voice on high.”
On Monday morning, 8 May, I woke up while it was still dark and the Holy Spirit spoke these words to me: You can either sit in heavenly places (Eph. 2:5-6) or sit in the seat of mockers (Ps. 1:1). Blessed is the man who positions himself in the presence of God, for there he will find grace when calamity comes.

FINAL VICTORY!
Vs. 25-26: “And when Jehoshaphat and his people came to take away the spoil of them, they found among them in abundance both riches with the dead bodies, and precious jewels, which they stripped off for themselves, more than they could carry away: and they were three days in gathering of the spoil, it was so much. And on the fourth day they assembled themselves in the valley of Berachah; for there they blessed the Lord: therefore the name of the same place was called, The valley of Berachah, unto this day.”

THEY BLESSED THE LORD!
The Valley of Berachah means: The Valley of Blessing and it is still there to this day. Position yourself in your valley of blessing and stand steadfast in Christ (Eph. 6:14). Seek God’s guidance in your life and you will experience success and prosperity that are founded on Spiritual values (Matt. 6:33).

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