 Spiritual First: Approaching Battles Spiritually King Jehoshaphat was a wise King who served the Lord with wisdom. He drew the people towards the Lord in their worship and everyday life. We as Kings and Priests of the Lord, too must draw people to the Lord. It is our privilege, joy, and responsibility to do so. Rev 5:10, “You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth.” NASU. God has made us into a realm. Kingdom means a realm or a place of ruling under a king. We become a refuge or a stronghold. Jehoshaphat’s plan to restore his nation was to bring the Law or the Word of God to the people who had wandered away from the Lord. 2 Chron 17:7-10, “Then in the third year of his reign he sent his officials, Ben-hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel and Micaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah; 8 and with them the Levites, Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah and Tobadonijah, the Levites; and with them Elishama and Jehoram, the priests. 9 They taught in Judah, having the book of the law of the Lord with them; and they went throughout all the cities of Judah and taught among the people. 10 Now the dread of the Lord was on all the kingdoms of the lands which were around Judah, so that they did not make war against Jehoshaphat.” NASU These verses captured my heart. The strategy he used brought the people back to God by sending out leaders [priests and Levites] into the land to teach the Word. This also brought the fear of the Lord upon the surrounding nations. We can bring the fear of the Lord upon the enemy by sending out the teaching of the Word. Aglow, you have been apostolically sent to bring the word of the Lord to your cities and regions. When we walk in the Spirit, we become a refuge or place for people to come to just as the Lord is our refuge and strength. We are the Lord’s realm- His place of rulership. When the enemy approached the people that had been taught the ways of God the people knew how to join Jehoshaphat in prayer and fasting. This was because of the strategy of equipping the people to know how to approach the problem spiritually first. 2 Chronicles 1:4, ” So Judah gathered together to seek help from the Lord; they even came from all the cities of Judah to seek the Lord.” In a crisis many cry out to the Lord. Maturity is when we insert Him habitually or daily into our lives. When that is in place, the battle becomes the Lord’s. Learning to respond spiritually first is important for us to succeed. Our first nature is spiritual and not natural. We are spirits having a natural experience. If you want 20:20 vision, you apply 2 Chronicles 20:20. “Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Listen to me, O Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem, put your trust in the Lord your God and you will be established. Put your trust in His prophets and succeed.” RECORDING OF ZOOM CALL AUG 24 His Kingdom Come, S. Darlene Smith Outreach Coordinator Aglow International Canada |