Key Scriptures:

• Ephesians 6:10-11
• 2 Chronicles 18
• 2 Chronicles 20

Introduction

Being a believer in Christ does not exempt us from the attacks of the enemy. There is an unseen battle raging between the kingdom of darkness and the kingdom of light. Ephesians chapter 6 instructs believers to stand firm in the battle against the strategies of the devil putting on the full armor of God. Because we are fighting a spiritual battle we are going to need spiritual strategies to win against our enemy. In this lesson we will look at the life of King Jehoshaphat and see three strategies we need to employ to win our battles. 

Identify the Battle

A battle is any obstacle that continues to exist despite adhering to God’s principles and prevents you from fulfilling His intended purpose for your life. Some struggles we encounter in life can be attributed to wrong choices or disobedience to God. If we are living our lives in alignment with the word of God and following the principles of scripture yet we are still facing the attacks of the enemy, we are in a spiritual battle. The goal of our adversary is to take territory in our life. He wants to rob us of peace in our minds and the joy of living for Jesus.  

Question: In your own words, what are the reasons believers find themselves in a battle? What does having our lives in alignment with the word of God look like?

How did I get into this Battle?

(2 Chronicles 18) - Some battles that believers face are generational. A struggle can continue through generational lines until someone wins the victory over it. A second type of battle that believers can encounter occurs when we have wrong associations. King Jehoshaphat made an alliance with wicked King Ahab. Because of this alliance Jehoshaphat found himself in a battle that he did not initiate. In 2 Chronicles 20 we see Jehoshaphat in another battle with some surrounding nations. This battle was not because of a wrong alliance or disobedience to God but just an attack from the enemy. Some battles we walk though are not any result of our own actions but because we are a child of God.    

Question: Wrong alliances are a major contributor to believers facing battles. What is a good rule to follow when considering if an alliance is a good or bad idea?

How can we be victorious 

(2 Chronicles 18) - When wicked Ahab summoned the prophets to ask if he should go to war at Ramoth-gilead, he sought out those who would agree with his plan (vs 5). Jehoshaphat asked: “Is there not a prophet of the Lord here?”.  When we are confronted with a battle our first response should be to seek the Lord, not our friends or peers. Prayer is your number one weapon in any battle you might face. 

In Chapter 20 Jehoshaphat is under an unprovoked attack from surrounding nations. Verse 3 tells us that he begged the Lord for guidance and ordered the entire nation to fast and seek the Lord’s help. The Spirit of the Lord came upon one of the men standing there and told him “Do not be afraid! The battle is not yours but the Lord’s!”. 

Question: How easy is it for you to trust God in the battle? Have you experienced a situation where God fought your battle and you were able to see the victory through what he did? Explain. 

Conclusion

As believers we know that battles are unavoidable. We also know that we never need to fight our battles alone. When we do encounter an attack from our enemy we have clear instructions to put on the armor God has provided for us and “Put on the full armor of God…Stand your ground!...pray in the spirit at all times”(Ephesians 6:10-18). When you do God will fight your battles for you and you will come out victorious!