PRAYER FOR BREAKTHROUGH 1 - THE GREATER ONE
Welcome everyone. I hope that you are really well and have had a good
summer season. We’ve had a busy but fruitful time - highlight was a
wonderful family wedding - here’s a couple photos (photos). I’ve then been
away in Bulembu in Swaziland, conference South Africa and then up to the
One event in Lincoln! And in between I’ve managed to write a new book for
our October sermon series called the Transformed Life! So excited about this
autumn. Today, we are starting a brand new mini-series on Prayer for
Breakthrough, alongside a 21 day season of Prayer and Fasting.
I want to start today with a bit of Maths - symbol that we looked at a while ago
- this GREATER THAN sign. (Diagram 1 - greater than sign - followed by
sums).Let me illustrate 10 is greater than 1. 100,000 is far greater than 100.
Let me ask you a question: is there an area in your life or circumstances or in
with you someone you know - and feel somewhat overwhelmed and that the
challenges you are facing are GREATER THAN your ability to overcome? In
short, you long for and need a breakthrough.
Today, we are going to be looking at an OT story where they needed and
received a mighty breatkhrough. 2 Chronicles 20. Good king of Judah
called Jehoshaphat - just initiated a revival amongst the people in previous
chapter, but then this happens: Read in “After this, the Moabites and
Ammonites with some of the Meunites came to make war on
Jehoshaphat. Some men came and told Jehoshaphat, “A vast army is
coming against you…” 2 Chr. 20:1-2. Here’s the point - J is not just facing
1 army, but 3 heathen armies, all at the same time, and the chronicler
describes them as a vast army - in other words overwhelming opposition FAR GREATER than them. For J it was literal physical armies of “ites” Moabites, Ammonites and Meunites. We still face “ites” today but with us, as
Joyce Meyer writes it may be the “fear-ites”, “disease-ites”, “poverty-ites”,
“bad marriage-ites,” “stress-ites”, “grouchy neighbour-ites,” “insecurity-ites”,
“rejection-ites”. If you are a Man United fan - it might be the “MKDonites”…
Us and there’s ties and sometimes they seem greater than our ability to
handle. (Diagram 2 - us / Ites) So, let me ask a question - what the “ites”
that you are facing right now? What areas of your life or your family, friends,
do you need breakthroughs in?
That’s what I could breakthrough and protection, as it were on the
DEFENSIVE - against “ites” that are coming at us. But as NT people of God,
we are not called merely to defend our territory, rather in Jesus’ Name we are
called to on the OFFENSIVE as, but we are called to go on a life-transforming
mission by taking the good news of the grace and love of God into OTHER
people’s lives. The great news is that this autumn represents one of the
greatest potential seasons for breakthrough and advance in our over 25 years
history as KingsGate church. In this season we are going to be fully
launching our new and third Centre in Leicester; we are going to be starting a
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PRAYER FOR BREAKTHROUGH 1 - THE GREATER ONE
new term in Cambridge and Peterborough - believing for great growth through
Alpha, Life Groups and on Sundays - across all services, centres and age
groups. Huge opportunity but also “ites” - spiritual forces that don’t want us to
rescue people. In other words its a season for OFFENSIVE advance and
breakthrough.
The good news though is that both in the case of Jeh and the people of
Judah and for us today, we are not alone facing the “ites”. There is a 3rd
party in this story… THE LORD Himself - (Diagram 3 - Us / Ites / God)
He’s the hero - He is FAR GREATER THAN any “ites” that we may be
facing.So, with that the knowledge that we have the GREATER ONE with us
in mind, what can we learn about breaking through, I want to look at how we
can welcome into our lives and our world in a new way. 3 keys I want to pick
out from this passage - transferable to all situations:
1. Seek the Greater One with FASTING
When you are facing the “ites” you need to position yourself to seek the God
who is far greater than the “ites”. One of the primary ways you can do so is
thorough fasting. Read here - how faced with 3 armies: “Jehoshaphat
resolved to enquire of the Lord, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah.
The people of Judah came together to seek help from the Lord; indeed,
they came from every town in Judah to seek him.” (2 Chron. 20:3-4).
Notice here, J’s 1st response to the crisis and 1st key we are looking at for
breakthrough - he came to seek God with fasting. For those of you who new
to the idea - let me just say a few things about fasting.
What is it? is a Biblical practice - employed and encouraged by Jesus
Himself - to either reduce or eliminate your intake of food for a specific time
and purpose. At KingsGate we also encourage the practice of fasting from
other things, particularly during extended seasons of prayer. For example,
you may want to give up watching your favourite television programme (or TV
altogether!) Or, there may specific foodstuffs or drink eg, chocolate, coffee,
alcohol etc. Different lengths of Fast - 1, 3 day, 10 Day, 21 days as we are
doing, 40 days. Notice here that J the leader called it but he called it for ALL
Judah - not just the leaders, or the priests, or a keen few - but for ALL Judah.
I want to call everyone calls KingsGate their church home to participate in
some way in this 21 days. Came from “every town” = every area where we
have people Pet, Camb and Leicester.
Why do it? Many people would claim that fasting, done rightly can have
health benefits. Recent fad - 5 / 2 diet - “fast” on 2 days, eat normally on 5.
BUT - purpose of Biblical fasting, while it may have beneficial side effects in
terms of long-term health, is NOT done primarily for physical reasons but for
spiritual reasons - Number 1 - here - set ourselves to SEEK THE LORD in a
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PRAYER FOR BREAKTHROUGH 1 - THE GREATER ONE
more intensive way. FASTING IS NOT SO MUCH ABOUT DOING
WITHOUT FOOD BUT FEASTING ON GOD. Not a way to twist God’s arm,
or get God to love us more. He already loves us in Christ, has blessed us
and wants to give us breakthroughs. But it is a powerful means of seeking
God. Done rightly, it gives us more time for prayer. As Karen shared last
week - It’s an opportunity to develop our self-control and master the desires
of the flesh. It releases God’s supernatural power and is a tool we can use
when there is opposition to God’s will. Prayer and fasting has always been
used by God to deal a decisive blow to the enemy.
Right from the start of the church, and especially over the last 15 years, we at
KingsGate have set aside regular times, like this to SEEK THE GREATER
ONE WITH FASTING. I believe one of the main reasons for so much
blessing and growth has been this practice of fasting. I want to commend
those of you who have stood with us over those years. Enter into a new
season of potential breakthrough, it is time to SEEK the Lord again.
So, can I encourage, if you haven’t already done so, decide in what way you
are going to Fast over these next 21 days. Then stick to it. Try not to overfocus on the physical activity of not eating, but focusing on the spiritual
dimension of seeking God. As I’ve said for years, Fasting is FEASTING on
God. This brings us to the 2nd key for breakthrough:
2. Speak with the Greater One in PRAYER
It’s so important that we combine fasting WITH PRAYER. Not primarily about
doing WITHOUT FOOD, but doing WITH MORE OF GOD! In Prayer we
come to speak with the ONE WHO HAS ALL THE RESOURCES for
breakthrough that we need. Lots of different types of prayer in the Bible Lord’s Prayer,, praying the Word of God, praying in tongues, praying Bible
prayers. Here in v. 6-12, we one of those Bible prayers as King J, prays in
front of the whole assembly.
Notice how he starts his prayer: not by focusing on the “ites” but on the One
who is Greater than the “ites.” So easy when facing opp or problems to focus
on the problems - when praying START WITH GOD. As in Lord’s Prayer start with Father, Hallowed be your name, Your Kingdom Come, Your will be
done… then give us, forgive us, deliver us… Focus on Him - He is FAR
GREATER THAN… “O Lord, God of our fathers, are you not the God
who is in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. Power
and might are in your hand, and no-one can withstand you.” (2 Chron.
20:6). If you are facing an insurmountable problem, focus on the 1 who is the
God in heaven, the ruler of the nations, and who has power and might, and
NO-ONE AND NOTHING can stand against Him! How much bigger is God
than us or anything we will face. God is the Creator and ruler. Starts by
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PRAYER FOR BREAKTHROUGH 1 - THE GREATER ONE
focusing on WHO GOD IS, then moves on to WHAT GOD HAS DONE: “O
our God, did you not drive out the inhabitants of this land before your
people Israel and give it for ever to the descendants of Abraham.” (2
Chron. 20:7).
Then and only then does he turn in v. 10-12 to talking about the problem =
focusing on the “ites” - even then does so - not worrying about the issue but
linking it back to God and His inheritance and how the “ites” were “coming to
drive us out of the possession you gave us an inheritance.” (2 Chron.
20:11). There is almost a sense of indignation here - how dare they come
and take the land that YOU GAVE US LORD. Then concludes with a prayer
of dependence on God and asking for His help: “O our God, will you not
judge them? For we have no power to face this vast army that is
attacking us. We do not know what to do but our eyes are upon you.”
(2 Chron. 20:12). Sometimes when you are desperate - you can only turn to
God and acknowledge your total dependence on him.
Whole nation involved - “All the men of Judah with their wives and
children and little ones, stood there before the Lord.” (2 Chron. 20:13)
Great news, though is that prayer is not just us speaking TO GOD 2 way - but
it is us speaking WITH God, and God wants to speak TO US. God speaks in
many ways - in NT as I mentioned in guidance series - from His Word quickens promises, in our spirit - inner witness and through other people, incl.
prophecy and here God speaks prophetically. Spirit comes upon a Levite
called Jahaziel, and he speaks from God: ““Do not be afraid or
discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but
God’s. Tomorrow march down against them…You will not have to fight
this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance
the Lord will give you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not
be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be
with you.’” (2 Chron. 20:15-17)
Notice what’s happening here. God is speaking to the people - 1st
breakthrough they need is within themselves. Hence he comes to deal with
fear and discouragement - twice repeats do not be afraid or discouraged. For
some of you today, that’s the starting point you need to SEEK THE LORD,
and SPEAK WITH HIM IN PRAYER, and receive His Word into your life to
destroy the fear and discouragement that is attempting to paralyse you.
But of course prayer not only deals with internal battle, but it is a way of
receiving God’s help in the external battles and situations in life. Put simply
PRAYER REALLY WORKS. Very powerful when a whole community comes
together before God in prayer. Let me give you one example:
27 May 1940, King George VI called for a national day of prayer following the
realisation that the British troops in Northern France were at risk of ‘total
annihilation’ from some of the worst ties in history - the nazis.. Three
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PRAYER FOR BREAKTHROUGH 1 - THE GREATER ONE
extraordinary events occurred following that day of prayer. First, Hitler
overruled his Generals and halted the advance of his troops (something that
has never been fully explained). Second, a storm of unprecedented scale
grounded the Luftwaffe that was poised to attack the evacuating troops. And
third, despite the storm, a serene calm settled over the Channel days later
which enabled a vast armada of boats to come and rescue the escaping men.
Either this is an extraordinary set of coincidences, or this was the hand of
God in response to a nation on its knees praying.
Something about the power of PRAYING TOGETHER - come to prayer
meetings. And then when on our own - let’s all be praying together - use
prayer notes as a focal point. So, let’s use this 21 days as to pray individually, in our homes - also altogether.
- Seek the Greater One with fasting. - Speak with the Greater One in prayer.
3rd key to breakthrough…
3. Honour the Greater One with WORSHIP
If their fasting and praying positioned themselves before the Greater One,
then it was as the people of God honoured Him in Worship that the
breakthrough actually came.
So why do we worship? Simply because God is worthy. We don’t worship
based on our feelings, but based on His faithfulness. Hence, having received
the promise: “Jehoshaphat bowed with his face to the ground, and all the
people of Judah and Jerusalem fell down in worship before the Lord.” (2
Chron. 20:18). When you are facing overwhelming odds - may not seem the
obvious thing to do - but the safest place to before is prostrate in worship
before the One is All knowing, all-powerful and all-loving. Then we see
another dimension of worship: “Then some Levites…stood up and praised
the Lord, the God of Israel, with a very loud voice.” (2 Chron. 20:19).
There’s a time to lie down and be still, there a time to stand up and praise him
with a VERY LOUD VOICE. They’d have lost some British Christians right
there - worship God in quietness - fine, but also praise him with a VERY
LOUD VOICE. 3rd aspect - getting ready, just getting warmed - up - third
aspect… singing… Still not had the breakthrough - getting ready - what’s the
strategy: “Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the Lord and to praise
him for the splendour of his holiness as they went out at the head of the
army, saying: “Give thanks to the Lord, for his love endures for ever.”
Let’s just pause here for a moment. Here is J and people of Israel facing 3
enemy armies, and they are going out the worship team and the choir are
leading out. Idea of singing before a combat is of course not unique. War
cries - through history. Or more common - sing national anthems before
sports nations. For those of you seen All Blacks Rugby team - Hakka is a war
cry (not going to do it). . But this is a war cry with a difference - not focuses
on fighting or aggression - but a good God but the Lord whose LOVES
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PRAYER FOR BREAKTHROUGH 1 - THE GREATER ONE
ENDURES FOR EVER. They are honouring the GREATER ONE, and as
they Him up this happens: “As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set
ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir and
they were defeated.” (2 Chron. 20:22). In fact in this passage the enemies
started fighting one another until they are defeated. What’s going on here?
Psalm 22:3, critical principle. Psalmist says to God: “Yet you are
holy,enthroned on the praises of Israel.” Idea here is of God dwelling,
settling down, sitting down in the midst of the praise of His people. When we
are singing, not just singing nice songs - we are enthroning the King of Kings
as He comes in.
There’s something about worshipping God with singing and praise - as we
exalt Him, He is honoured and comes to dwell. That’s why WORSHIP is one
of the key values here in KingsGAte.. Why we start every weekend with
singing and praise, why we respond to God after the Word in singing in
praise. Why when we are in our prayer meetings, such as Touching Heaven
evenings, high focus on singing in praise. GOD IS GLORIFIED AND
ENTHRONED and THE ENEMIES ARE SCATTERED. BREAKTHROUGHS
ARE RELEASED. There’s something about worship, and praise that attracts
the presence of God, and brings confusion to the enemy.
So, can I say, if you are getting a bit over-familiar with worship, habit of
coming in late, wondering why we sing so much - know this - not only are you
honouring God but you are creating a climate of breakthrough for God
Himself to move. Don’t stay away if you are struggling come to where you
can experience an atmosphere of breakthrough.
THE RESULTS - TOTAL BREAKTHROUGH. Whole army destroyed AND J
and men started carrying back the plunder that was left: “There was so
much plunder that it took three days to collect it” (2 Chron. 20:25). The
plunder then was physical plunder - for you it maybe physical restoration and
recovery, financial provision, children coming back to the Lord, relationships
being reconciled. For us a church family, I believe it means a defeat of the
spiritual opposition as we move forward with the gospel, leaving precious
men and women, children to go free.
Here’s the great news - if they could see total breakthrough then - we can
certainly experience breakthrough now. Something decisively changed when
Christ came. If we go back to our diagram - No longer us facing the ties with needing God’s external help. Now through Christ - through His death,
resurrection, ascension and our being united with Him, we are not just on
God’s side, but we are in Him. (Diagram - Ites / God and us in Christ). Pray
FROM a position of victory. But even more than that - not only are we IN
CHRIST, but through Christ and by the Spirit, the GREATER ONE Himself
comes to live on the inside of us. 1 John 4:4, John makes this remarkable
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PRAYER FOR BREAKTHROUGH 1 - THE GREATER ONE
“ You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because
the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world”.
Call to whole of KingsGate - seek the Greater One WE’RE BELIEVING FOR
BREAKTHROUGHS - defensive and offensive…. with Fasting, speak to the
Lord in prayer, Honour the Lord in Worship. and watch what He will do.
LET’S PRAY: Father - our, you the God, the Creator, the Lord of heaven and
earth - you are the ruler of the nations - you are far Greater than any other,
and are eyes are on you. As we seek you, speak with you and Honour You,
we expect and invite you to come in a new way - revive us, protect us, deliver
us, and give us the breakthrough, in Jesus’ Name!
OUR GOD IS GREATER!
ALTAR CALL - only 1 truly safe to be - in Christ and in a relationship with
Him. If not yet a Christian, not sure, or been away from Him.
You may here needing breakthroughs - SEEK WITH… need a relationship….
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