Jesus said to the church at Ephesus, that they had lost their first love. Rev 2:7

Because they had left their first love, they needed to renew their love for God and each other. In order to do this,they needed to OVERCOME those things which caused them to lose their first love.

We all have obstacles to our fruitfulness and growth that we need to overcome.

There are many battles which we must fight and overcome to enable us to grow into the mantles that God has for us. Identifying the current battle, removes confusion and releases the prophetic wisdom to overcome that battle

BATTLE ONE;

WHEN YOU ARE STUCK IN THE QUICKSAND AND FACING OVERWHELMING ODDS

STEPS TO OVERCOME;

1. DISCERN THE OBSTACLE- ENEMY ATTACK OR UNDISCIPLINED SOUL?

Your enemy comes as a roaring lion seeking whom he MAY devour or put into an emotional melt down

2. DISCERN THE RULES OF ENGAGEMENT 1 Peter 5:6-8

Humble yourself- don’t worry- be careful of your enemy [is it satan, your soul or your flesh?], we need different approaches to different enemies.

3. DISCIPLINE YOUR SOUL, WHEN BAD NEW COMES                2 Chronicles 20

Vs 1 messengers came and told Jehoshaphat about the problem. Jehosophat FEARED BUT SOUGHT THE LORD

HE ORDERED A FAST

We know that JESUS  ALSO SAID “this kind comes not out but by prayer and fasting”

3. FIND A PRAYER BUDDY- All the people came together–unity brings commanded blessing

4. DON’T LET YOUR FEET BE MOVED FROM YOUR ASSIGNED GROUND Vs 5 Jehosophat STOOD AND PRAYED

When you’ve prayed every prayer, declared every scripture and one liner, worshiped, fasted and shouted out your prophecies, bound every devil and the mountain still won’t move-

Then it’s time to STAND, God will fight for you where necessary

Ephesians 6-put on the armour-having done all stand-don’t be afraid to wait for God’s response-don’t retreat-don’t act from your soul [don’t just stand there, do something]

SUBMIT TO GOD-RESIST THE DEVIL JAMES 4:7

If you are not sure who it is, then just pray that! God will sort it.

4.REMIND YOURSELF OF THE PREVIOUS VICTORIES and your personal covenants with God.

David encouraged HIMSELF in the Lord. he said “why are you cast down my soul, hope in God”

Jehosophat reminded God of their covenant history by saying “ OH God of our ancestors, He recognised and assigned SOVEREIGNITY To God.

Sometimes God does not want to meet our demands-he must be allowed to be sovereign

Vs 10- Jehosophat reminded God that he had left some tribes undefeated so Israel would get strong in defeating them and so his name would be glorified-we kill giants one at a time to keep us dependant on God.

Healthy dependence means we do all we can then he does the rest.

•  DON’T BE IGNORANT- WE ARE NOT IGNORANT OF SATANS’ DEVICES 2 Cor 2:11

Or of God’s righteousness, power and sovereignty, study His word you will find Him in His word, and His word will be your sword and strength.

vs 12-Jehosophat acknowledges the magnitude of the problem-but declares his faith for God to fulfil the answer

Vs 13 again they STOOD- THEN- the spirit of the Lord comes upon Jahaziel, from the line of kings, and levites. He had the answer by the Holy Spirit.

The Spirit of God comes upon us for revelation when we stand and wait for him

Vs 15 THE LORD SAYS-DON’T BE AFRAID IT’S NOT YOUR BATTLE

Your battle is to stand declare and pray-then only do what God says without presumption

Having done all stand!!! Don’t run off in the flesh

They worshipped and shouted the victory

The Next day Jehosophat encouraged them

Believe in God and the word he sends for your current situation

Look for the Rhema word-WHAT IS QUICKENED OR LIT UP IN YOUR HEART

THEN JEHOSOPHAT APPOINTED SINGERS-when singers are assigned by God appointed leadership in a church, they carry apostolic/prophetic anointing

Vs 22 AT THAT MOMENT-GOD SENT CONFUSION ON THEIR ENEMIES WHO THEN KILLLED THEIR ALLIES, TURNED ON EACH OTHER AND NOT ONE ESCAPED, THERE WERE DEAD BODIES EVERYWHERE

THEY CAPTURED PLUNDER,VAST AMOUNTS OF IT –MORE THAN THEY COULD CARRY

Then they gathered in the valley of blessing, it is named that to this day. Valley of beracha = (barak); =benediction; by implication prosperity :- blessing, liberal, pool, present.

This is a lesson in separating the confusion of the natural mind from the voice of God, when we say to God, “We don’t know what to do but our eyes are upon you”

SUMMARY;

·Remind God of his power, and His previous deliverances, speaking out loud, this will break the fear that binds you into passivity and inaction. God knows these things of course, but when we bring them before Him we are releasing his power over them.

·Stand in faith, don’t lie down in your spirit After the prayer of Jehosaphat, Judah STOOD before the Lord .

Continue to believe and affirm the words God has given you. Israel Listened to the prophet, they believed what the prophets had said and this produced life.

Maintain worship, even in the darkest, most hopeless hour. God’s people Worshipped their God and the worship broke the darkness.

Obey God’s word, especially those Rhema words to you, in every area of your life under all battle conditions.

Remember there are seasons in our lives and delays are not necessarily a no from God. Blockages will fall down and mountains will move at the right time, perhaps God even allows blockages to cause us to grow-God left some giants alive in the wilderness to make His people strong through battle.!

Our voices reverberate, and those reverberations build towards the answer we are declaring and praying. The walls fell down in Jericho by the build up of the obedience of Joshua, the people pounding their feet on the ground as they walked around and around the city. Till on the final day, they shouted, and their voice reverberations added to their walking and the wall collapsed. Some say it went straight down into the ground, anyhow it fell down without the touch of human had, but only with what they create by their feet and their hands.

FINALLY-

RECEIVE THE SPOILS OF WAR, THOSE BLESSINGS AND PROVISIONS THAT HAVE BEEN DELAYED OR WITHELD BY ENEMY ACTION .

ARE NOW LOOSED BY OUR OBEDIENCE, FAITH AND PATIENCE

THROUGH FAITH AND PATIENCE WE INHERIT PROMISES BY FAITH AND PATIENT ENDURANCE   Hebrews 10:35-36