“What If ….?”
2 Chronicles 20:1-30
INTRODUCTION: NOTICE the TITLE of the message this morning.
We say this a lot, don’t we? “What if …?” causes a lot of NEEDLESS worry in our lives. I’m guilty of doing this, as I’m sure a lot of you are.
We hear it a lot:
On September 11, 2001, I received a telephone call from a very frightened lady. “What if … the terrorists should attack Bell, FL.?” I responded by saying: “First of all, if they did, there’s nothing you can do. Secondly, Bell, Florida is probably the safest place on the planet to be!”
We worry a lot about the “What if’s …?”
o Someone damaged the dash of a customer’s $100,000 Hummer … “What if … they kill me!”
o Someone’s child is being sent to Iraq … “What if … they should be wounded or killed?”
o Someone’s daughter is getting married & moving away … “What if … it doesn’t work out … they can’t make it financially … she needs me & I can’t be there for her?”
“What if …?” “What if …?” “What if …?” Needless worry about what MIGHT HAPPEN.
THIS AM, I want us to take a look at a Biblical event in history that helps us come to terms with the “What if’s …?” in life.
Turn with me to 2 Chronicles Chapter 20.
Jehoshaphat was the King of Judah. Israel had been divided into 2 kingdoms … Israel in the North, and Judah in the South. Jehoshaphat was the King of the Southern Kingdom of Judah.
3 nations had united to attack King Jehoshaphat and the Kingdom of Judah – 20:1.
They were already on the West side of the Dead Sea, about 25 miles from Jerusalem, the capital city where Jehoshaphat was – 20:2.
“What if …?” A question we often ask when we are confronted with fear, doubt, and helplessness.
o “What if … they keep coming?”
o “What if … we aren’t strong enough to defend ourselves?”
o “What if … they defeat us?”
o “What if …?” “What if …?” “What if …?”
Let’s see how King Jehoshaphat handled HIS “What if’s …?”
I. HE FEARED – 20:3
FEAR … that’s what brings on the “What if’s …?”, isn’t it? The fear of the UNKNOWN … that’s why we ask the question, “What if …?”.
Whenever this question and the fear of the UNKNOWN plagues our mind, we need to remember … NOTHING IS UNKNOWN TO GOD. God is OMNISCIENT.
We worry about those things that we have little or no control over.
o “What if … I don’t get that raise & promotion?”
o “What if … I get sick & can’t work?”
o “What if … lightening strikes my house & I lose everything I own?”
I’ve tried not to worry about those things that I have no control over. If I worry (and we all DO!), I need to worry about those things that I DO have some control over … and let my worry work FOR me … to get busy and do what I need to do to ease my worry. If we would stop worrying about those things that we have no control over, it would cut our worry by 90%.
God not only KNOWS about the UNKNOWN … He’s OMNISCIENT … nothing is UNKNOWN to HIM … BUT … He’s also OMNIPRESENT. A lot of times we worry about the “What if’s …?” because we can’t be there and therefore can’t do anything about it.
BUT … God doesn’t have that problem … He’s OMNIPRESENT. Psalm 139:7-10 – all turn.
We FEAR the UNKNOWN, because we can’t control it.
II. HE SOUGHT THE LORD – 20:3
This makes sense … if it’s out of my hands, put it in GOD’S hands! HOW did Jehoshaphat do this?
1.- He Proclaimed A Fast – this showed his SINCERITY.
If you are SINCERE about your problem (and you ARE, if you’re worrying about it!) … get SERIOUS about going to God with it. NOT … as a LAST RESORT … BUT … as a FIRST RESORT. That’s what Jehoshaphat did.
You can worry … and sit idle. This causes ulcers, nervous breakdowns, crying … you worry yourself SICK. As long as you can’t eat (because you’re sick with worry) … put it to good use … FAST!
2.- He Asked God’s Help – 20:4
Don’t get SERIOUS about WORRYING … get SERIOUS about taking it to GOD. Why do you worry? “What if …?” “What if …?” “What if …?” You worry because you are HELPLESS. HELLO! Ask Somebody Who can help!
III. HE PRAYED
1.- He Acknowledged God’s Power – 20:5-6
Since YOU are HELPLESS … turn to Somebody Who ISN’T. When we say “What if …?”, “What if …?”, “What if …?” … what are we REALLY saying? We are saying that God’s not in control … He’s lost His power. It’s like saying that God isn’t relevant. “God, WHAT IF you die or something?” “WHAT IF You can’t handle this problem (it’s too big for You)?” “WHAT IF You don’t know what to do?”
That’s ridiculous, isn’t it? AMEN? SO … let’s STOP the “What if’s …?” … AND … START with the “Who now?” GOD … that’s “Who now?” Jehoshaphat acknowledged God’s power.
2.- He Acknowledged God’s Record
1.) God Had Proven Himself Before – 20:7
We tend to forget God’s track record of faithfulness in the past. When you are confronted with the unknown, think of all the times God has been there for you. He’s already PROVEN Himself, hasn’t He? God hasn’t just gotten you out of trouble before … He has also PREVENTED trouble from ever getting to you … that you don’t even know about. God has proven Himself over & over in your life.
2.) God Had Promised His Blessing – 20:8-9
When you get the “What if’s …?”, just remember the PROMISES of God:
o Hebrews 13:5 – “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”
o Philip. 4:19 – “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”
o Matthew 11:28 – “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
Jehoshaphat reminded God of His promise – 20:9b
3.- He Acknowledged His Immediate Need – 20:10-12
“We have no might.” “Neither know we what to do.” When the Children of Israel came from Egypt on their way to the Promised Land, they DEFEATED some of their enemies … and SPARED some of their enemies. The 3 nations who were about to attack them now, were some that they had SPARED.
“It isn’t fair!” “We didn’t destroy them, and now they want to destroy us!” Don’t go there! You don’t want “fair” from God. If God was “fair” to you, you’re problems would be 1000 times WORSE. You don’t need God’s “fairness” … you need God’s mercy & grace! If you start arguing with God about how “unfair” He is, you’ll take your focus off His power and presence.
4.- He Acknowledged His Immediate Help – 20:12b
“But, our eyes are upon Thee.” Maybe, that’s WHY God put you in this “What if …?” situation … to get your eyes on Him … and off yourself – 20:13
You are now where God wants you to be … helpless ... and totally dependent on Him.
IV. HE LISTENS TO GOD’S MESSAGE
1.- The Messenger
Now that the focus is OFF the “What if’s …?” … and ON the “Who now?” … God sends His message from His messenger … Jahaziel – 20:14
God uses many different messengers to deliver His message of hope, peace, comfort & encouragement:
Your church family – that’s a ministry we all have to you.
Your Pastor – through this sermon, counsel, prayer.
Your Holy Spirit – Who lives within you … “Comforter” … He will give you a Scripture.
God will send a messenger to speak to you … you just have to stop and listen!
2.- The Message – 20:15
1.) “Be not afraid” – Nothing can PUT fear in your heart like the “What if’s …?”. Nothing can REMOVE that fear like the “Who now?”. AMEN? God has a MESSAGE for you this morning … “You don’t have to be afraid.”
God is OMNISCIENT … He knows all about it, even if you don’t.
God is OMNIPRESENT … He’ll be there even though you can’t.
God is OMNIPOTENT … He can do what you aren’t able to do.
“Do not be afraid”
2.) “for the battle is not yours, but God’s.” – We try to play God, don’t we? We try to fight His battles, don’t we? We try to take away His power, don’t we? Here’s the message from God: “for the battle is not yours, but God’s.” Let God “worry” about the UNKNOWN (Guess what, God doesn’t worry!). Let God FIGHT the battles you can’t FIGHT. Let God TAKE CONTROL of the things you have NO CONTROL over. Let God use HIS POWER over the things that you have NO POWER over.
Instead of making it “your battle” … God says to make it “His battle”.
3.- The Method – 20:16-17 – “stand … and see” – No more “What if’s …?” … BUT … “Who now?” INSTEAD of “worry”, God gave them peace. INSTEAD of “worry”, God gave them PRAISE – 20:18-19. AND … this was BEFORE they saw the VICTORY! They had praise & peace BEFORE they saw God work it out … BECAUSE … they quit saying “What if …?” … and started saying “Who now?”
WHAT DID GOD DO? In (20:20-25) we see that the 3 armies were gathered together to attack Judah. King Jehoshaphat led his army out, and they started singing & praising God – 20:22. When the enemy heard this, it so confused them that they fought EACH OTHER … until every last one of them were dead! It took Jehoshaphat & his army 3 days just to collect the jewels, swords & clothes of the enemy soldiers.
Their “What if …?” turned into “Who now?” … AND … God did the rest.
V. HE GAVE THANKS TO THE LORD – 20:26-30
NOTICE: “joy” … “rejoice” … “rest” … OR … “worry”. It’s your choice!
CONCLUSION: “What if …?” “What if …?” “What if …?” … OR … “Who now?” What makes the difference? 20:15b
What LESSONS do we need to carry away from here this morning?
o God KNOWS all about your UNKNOWN.
o Let God FIGHT the battles you can’t FIGHT.
o Give God CONTROL over the things that you have no CONTROL over.
o Let God use HIS POWER over the things that you have NO POWER over.
REMEMBER: God is greater than your “What if’s …?”
STAND - PRAYER
OUTLINE FOR HANDOUT:
“What if …?”
2 Chronicles 20:1-30
INTRODUCTION: “What if ... ?” causes a lot of needless worry.
- 2 Chronicles 20:1 – 3 nations had united to attack Judah.
- 20:2 – The enemy was only 25 miles from Jehoshaphat.
I. HE FEARED – 20:3
- The fear of the unknown brings on the “What if’s …?” … but God is OMNISCIENT and nothing is unknown to Him.
- Don’t worry about what you have no control over.
- God is OMNIPRESENT – Psalm 139:7-10
II. HE SOUGHT THE LORD – 20:3
1.- He Proclaimed A Fast – This showed his SINCERITY … get serious about going to God with your “What if’s …?”.
2.- He Asked God’s Help – 20:4 – Ask God to help.
III. HE PRAYED
1.- He Acknowledged God’s Power – 20:5-6 – Stop the “What if’s …?” and start with “Who now?”
2.- He Acknowledged God’s Record
• God had proven Himself before – 20:7 – God has a track record of faithfulness in the past … even PREVENTING trouble.
• God had promised His blessing – 20:8-9 – Remember the promises of God – Hebrews 13:5, Philippians 4:19, Mt. 11:28
• He acknowledged His immediate need – 20:10-12 – You don’t want God to be “fair” with you … you need His grace & mercy.
• He acknowledged His Immediate Help – 20:12-13 – God wants your eyes on Him & off yourself.
IV. HE LISTENED TO GOD’S MESSAGE
1.- The Messenger – 20:14 – God uses many messengers … just stop & listen.
2.- The Message – 20:15
• “be not afraid” – God is omniscient, omnipresent & omnipotent.
• “for the battle is not yours, but God’s” – Make it God’s battle, not yours.
3.- The Method – 20:16-19 – God gave them peace & praise BEFORE they saw the victory.
- God took care of the battle – 20:20-25
V. HE GAVE THANKS TO THE LORD – 20:26-30
CONCLUSION:
• God knows all about your unknown.
• Let God fight the battles you can’t fight.
• Give God control over things you have no control over.
• Let God use His power over things you have no power over.
God is greater than your “What if’s …?”.
PRISCILLA BAPTIST CHURCH – Ray Scott, Pastor
