Learning Lessons from History

Scripture: Isaiah 59:19

Isaiah 59:19 (NKJV) So shall they fear The name of the LORD from the west, And His glory from the rising of the sun; When the enemy comes in like a flood, The Spirit of the LORD will lift up a standard against him.

2 Corinthians 12:9 (NKJV) And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Introduction

When we are on the verge of being overwhelmed, and we still acknowledge Him, God's grace and His power kicks in. It is then that He becomes strong on our behalf. It is then that He shows both us and the world WHO HE IS.

I. Acknowledging our powerlessness

2 Kings 19:14, 19 (NKJV) And Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers, and read it; and Hezekiah went up to the house of the LORD, and spread it before the LORD. "Now therefore, O LORD our God, I pray, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You are the LORD God, You alone."

2 Chronicles 20:12, (NKJV) "O our God, will You not judge them? For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You."

Acts 27:20 (NKJV) Now when neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest beat on us, all hope that we would be saved was finally given up.

A. Realizing it is out of our hands

B. Stopping our attempts to manipulate the situation

C. Bringing the hopeless situation to Him

II. Acknowledging His greatness

2 Chronicles 20:15, 18-19 (NKJV) And he said, "Listen, all you of Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you, King Jehoshaphat! Thus says the LORD to you: 'Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God's. {18} And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem bowed before the LORD, worshiping the LORD. {19} Then the Levites of the children of the Kohathites and of the children of the Korahites stood up to praise the LORD God of Israel with voices loud and high.

1 Kings 18:36-37 (NKJV) And it came to pass, at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near and said, "LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that You are God in Israel and I am Your servant, and that I have done all these things at Your word. {37} "Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that You are the LORD God, and that You have turned their hearts back to You again."

Acts 27:25 (NKJV) "Therefore take heart, men, for I believe God that it will be just as it was told me.

A. Worship in spite of adversity

B. Obedience

1. Says He is in control

2. Allows us to participate with Him

C. Committing the results to Him

III. Seeing Him rise to help

1 Kings 18:38 (NKJV) Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood and the stones and the dust, and it licked up the water that was in the trench.

2 Kings 19:35 (NKJV) And it came to pass on a certain night that the angel of the LORD went out, and killed in the camp of the Assyrians one hundred and eighty-five thousand; and when people arose early in the morning, there were the corpses; all dead.

2 Chronicles 20:22 (NKJV) Now when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushes against the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; and they were defeated.

A. Waiting on Him to respond

B. Allowing Him to do His work