Sermon on Winning Without Fighting

Winning Without Fighting

Introduction: In life, we often find ourselves facing battles—physical, emotional, spiritual, or relational. Our natural instinct is to fight these battles with our own strength, strategies, and resources. However, the Bible teaches us that sometimes, the greatest victories are won without fighting, when we fully trust God to fight on our behalf. This principle is beautifully illustrated in the story of King Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah in 2 Chronicles 20, where God brought victory without a single sword being drawn. In this sermon, we will explore how we can experience victory by depending on God rather than fighting in our own strength.

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1. God Gives the Strategy for Victory (2 Chronicles 20:16):

"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."

Jehoshaphat and Judah were facing a vast army, but instead of crafting their own plan, they sought God's direction. When we face overwhelming situations, it is vital to seek God's strategy rather than relying on our human wisdom. God sees the end from the beginning, and His plan for victory is always perfect.

2. The Battle Belongs to God (2 Chronicles 20:17a):

"You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you."

God reminded Judah that the battle was not theirs to fight—it belonged to Him. Similarly, when we are faced with challenges, we must remember that we are not alone. God is our defender, and He will fight for us. We don’t have to carry the burden of battle on our own shoulders.

3. Trust in God’s Promise (2 Chronicles 20:17b):

"Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you."

God gave Judah a promise of victory, but they had to trust Him and take action based on that promise. Trusting in God means believing that His promises are true, even when circumstances seem impossible. Fear and discouragement may try to creep in, but God calls us to stand firm in faith.

4. The Attitude of Worship Before Battle (2 Chronicles 20:18):

"Jehoshaphat bowed down with his face to the ground, and all the people of Judah and Jerusalem fell down in worship before the Lord."

Before the battle began, Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah responded in worship. Worship is an expression of trust and surrender. When we worship in the face of challenges, we declare that God is greater than the battle before us. Worship shifts our focus from the problem to the One who holds the solution.

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5. Praise the Lord Before Victory (2 Chronicles 20:19):

"Then some Levites stood up and praised the Lord, the God of Israel, with a very loud voice."

Before they saw the outcome, Judah praised God with a loud voice. Praise is an act of faith, acknowledging that God is in control and that victory is assured. By praising God in advance, we are declaring our confidence in His ability to deliver us, even before the battle begins.

6. The Importance of Believing God’s Prophets (2 Chronicles 20:20):

"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.'"

Jehoshaphat encouraged the people to believe in God's prophets. When God speaks through His Word or through His messengers, we must trust what He says. Victory often comes when we align ourselves with the prophetic word of God, holding onto His promises in faith.

7. God Uses Praise as a Weapon (2 Chronicles 20:21):

"Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the Lord and to praise him for the splendor of his holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying: 'Give thanks to the Lord, for his love endures forever.'"

Remarkably, the front line of Judah’s army was composed of worshipers. God instructed them to use praise as their primary weapon. Praise has the power to confuse the enemy and change the atmosphere of battle. When we praise God, we invite His presence into our situation, and His presence brings victory.

8. God Confounds the Enemies (2 Chronicles 20:22):

"As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated."

As soon as Judah began to praise, God intervened. Their enemies became confused and turned on each other. When we praise God in faith, He can confuse and defeat the spiritual forces that are coming against us. God’s intervention is swift and powerful when His people put their trust in Him.

9. Victory Without Fighting (2 Chronicles 20:23):

"The Ammonites and Moabites rose up against the men from Mount Seir to destroy and annihilate them. After they finished slaughtering the men from Seir, they helped to destroy one another."

Jehoshaphat and Judah never had to fight. The enemy destroyed itself. This is a powerful reminder that when we let God take control, He can win the battle for us in ways we could never imagine. Sometimes the greatest victories come when we do nothing but stand in faith and allow God to work.

10. The Harvest of Victory (2 Chronicles 20:25):

"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."

After God granted them victory, Judah experienced an abundance of blessing. The plunder was so great that it took three days to collect it all. When we trust God to fight our battles, He not only gives us victory but also blesses us beyond what we could have imagined. His rewards are abundant.

Conclusion:

The story of Jehoshaphat and Judah shows us that we can experience victory without fighting when we trust in God. The battle belongs to the Lord, and our role is to stand firm in faith, praise Him, and follow His lead. By aligning ourselves with God, worshiping in the face of adversity, and believing His promises, we can witness God’s miraculous power in our lives. Victory without fighting is possible when we place our full trust in the Lord. Let us choose to praise Him before the battle and rest in the assurance that He will fight for us.