Deeper Deeper Prayer Prayer

LifeLife

A Sermon Series on A Sermon Series on PrayerPrayer

The The FocusFocus of of

Prayer:Prayer:

A A King’s King’s Theology Theology in in

Prayer Prayer 2 Chronicles 20:1-122 Chronicles 20:1-12

Jehoshaphat was one of the righteous Jehoshaphat was one of the righteous kings of Judah. He was, most of the kings of Judah. He was, most of the time, dependent on God, especially in time, dependent on God, especially in times of trouble. This was especially times of trouble. This was especially true when a vast army, the Moabites true when a vast army, the Moabites and the Ammonites, came to make and the Ammonites, came to make war against him and the people of war against him and the people of Judah. He turned to God in prayer. Judah. He turned to God in prayer. Not just that; he mobilized his entire Not just that; he mobilized his entire constituency to pray.constituency to pray.

In his prayer we observe three In his prayer we observe three rhetorical questions that demonstrate rhetorical questions that demonstrate his depth of understanding of who his depth of understanding of who God is and his confidence in the God is and his confidence in the power of God. From Jehoshaphat’s power of God. From Jehoshaphat’s prayer, we learn that the focus of prayer, we learn that the focus of prayer is God.prayer is God.

1.1. Lord, Are You Not? Lord, Are You Not? (v. 6)(v. 6)

"O LORD, God of our fathers, "O LORD, God of our fathers, are you not are you not the God who is in the God who is in heaven? You rule over all the heaven? You rule over all the

kingdoms of the nations. Power kingdoms of the nations. Power and might are in your hand, and and might are in your hand, and

no one can withstand you.”no one can withstand you.”

Review God’s character:Review God’s character:

God IS!God IS!

SovereignSovereignLoveLoveWiseWise

1.1. Lord, Are You Not? Lord, Are You Not? (v. 6)(v. 6)

2.2. Lord, Did You Not? Lord, Did You Not? (vv. 7-9)(vv. 7-9)

““O our God, O our God, did you not did you not drive drive out the inhabitants of this land out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel and before your people Israel and

give it forever to the give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your descendants of Abraham your

friend?friend?(v. 7)(v. 7)

They have lived in it and have They have lived in it and have built in it a sanctuary for your built in it a sanctuary for your

Name, saying, Name, saying, (v. 8)(v. 8)

2.2. Lord, Did You Not? Lord, Did You Not? (vv. 7-9)(vv. 7-9)

'If calamity comes upon us, whether 'If calamity comes upon us, whether the sword of judgment, or plague or the sword of judgment, or plague or

famine, we will stand in your famine, we will stand in your presence before this temple that presence before this temple that

bears your Name and will cry out to bears your Name and will cry out to you in our distress, and you will you in our distress, and you will

hear us and save us.’”hear us and save us.’”(v. 9)(v. 9)

2.2. Lord, Did You Not? Lord, Did You Not? (vv. 7-9)(vv. 7-9)

Review God’s track record: Review God’s track record:

God DID!God DID!

Saved usSaved usSanctified usSanctified usSet us freeSet us free

2.2. Lord, Did You Not? Lord, Did You Not? (vv. 7-9)(vv. 7-9)

3.3. Lord, Will You Not? Lord, Will You Not? (vv. 10-12)(vv. 10-12)

"But now here are men from "But now here are men from Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir, Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir, whose territory you would not whose territory you would not

allow Israel to invade when they allow Israel to invade when they came from Egypt; so they turned came from Egypt; so they turned

away from them and did not away from them and did not destroy them.destroy them.

(v. 10)(v. 10)

See how they are repaying us by See how they are repaying us by coming to drive us out of the coming to drive us out of the possession you gave us as an possession you gave us as an

inheritance. inheritance. (v. 11)(v. 11)

3.3. Lord, Will You Not? Lord, Will You Not? (vv. 10-12)(vv. 10-12)

““O our God, O our God, will you not will you not judge judge them? For we have no power to them? For we have no power to

face this vast army that is face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are what to do, but our eyes are

upon you." upon you." (v. 12)(v. 12)

3.3. Lord, Will You Not? Lord, Will You Not? (vv. 10-12)(vv. 10-12)

Review God’s promises: Review God’s promises:

God WILL!God WILL!Power Power (Acts 1:8)(Acts 1:8)

Peace Peace (John 14:27)(John 14:27) Presence Presence (Matthew 28:20)(Matthew 28:20)

3.3. Lord, Will You Not? Lord, Will You Not? (vv. 10-12)(vv. 10-12)