Wednesday, June 8th
Pastor Chris Oyakhilome PhD DSc DD
…help us, O LORD our God; for we rest on thee, and in thy name we go against this multitude. O LORD, thou art our God; let not man prevail against thee (2 Chronicles 14:11).
In the Scriptures, we find certain instances where God’s people were overwhelmed by their adversaries in numbers and weapons. In the days of King Asa, Judah was completely outnumbered by Zerah, the Ethiopian King, who invaded Judah with an army of a million men and three hundred chariots.
Asa cried out to the Lord and the Lord gave him supernatural victory (2 Chronicles 14:12). Then you find the story of Jehoshaphat, the King of Judah. Judah was surrounded by three enemy nations that were ready to attack her—Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir. The king gathered all Judah together to seek the Lord in prayer and fasting, and God said through a prophetic message, “…fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against them: for the LORD will be with you” (2 Chronicles 20:17).
God told them how to approach the war and was definite: He said, “Tomorrow, go out against them!” Not only that, He revealed the exact location of the enemies’ camp and gave them the strategy to defeat them. Employing the strategy God gave them, Jehoshaphat organized and placed singers, the Levites, in front to praise the beauty of God’s holiness.
The result was a great victory for Jehoshaphat and all Judah. Think about it; not a single sword lifted, yet God’s people recorded an overwhelming victory against three enemy nations. This is our reality as new creatures in Christ Jesus; we’re undefeatable. The battle was already won before we came on the scene. What God expects is for us to give Him praise. This is what we must do in our churches. Our churches have to be filled with songs of praise to God.
It makes no difference what you face in this world, be full of praise, and worship the Lord, because the battle has been won! No wonder He says, “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations” (James 1:2). Then in Romans 8:37, He says, “Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.”
Prayer
I thank you, Lord, for the victories, triumphs and successes that I experience always. You’re incorruptible and immortal, invisible, the only God; to you be honour and glory, majesty, might and dominion, power and authority, now and forever. Amen.
Further Study:
Psalm 20:7
“Some [trust] in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.”
Hebrews 2:12-13 AMPC
“For He says, I will declare Your [the Father’s] name to My brethren; in the midst of the [worshiping] congregation I will sing hymns of praise to You.
13 And again He says, My trust and assured reliance and confident hope shall be fixed in Him. And yet again, Here I am, I and the children whom God has given Me.”
Hebrews 13:15 AMPC
“Through Him, therefore, let us constantly and at all times offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, which is the fruit of lips that thankfully acknowledge and confess and glorify His name.”
Psalm 28:7
“The LORD [is] my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.”
1-Year Bible Reading Plan:
John 21:1-25;
1 Chronicles 26-29
2-Year Bible Reading Plan:
1 Corinthians 16:13-24;
Ecclesiastes 7-8
