1. Facing The Future In Faith: A Wits’ End Prayer (2 Chronicles 20:1-30)

Perhaps you have had the experience of praying without receiving an answer. You have been in a difficult situation and have prayed, but nothing seemed to happen, leaving you wondering where God was. In this sermon, I would like to talk about the subject of Effective Prayer, prayer that recognizes our human response to fear and despair, prayer that acknowledges our total dependence on God, and prayer that elicits God's powerful intervention. The narrative we are going to study is one of the most amazing stories in the Old Testament. It is amazing for several reasons… First, it depicts a unique Israelite victory over their enemies. It is unique because the Israelites are merely spectators in the battle, watching from a distance as God acts on their behalf. Second, it is a remarkable record of Israel's faith in God and of God's response to their fervent prayer. Third, it links together three vital components of our spiritual lives: (1) Praying - a cry to God for help (20:6–12). (2) Preaching - a word from God (20:15–17). (3) Praising - a response to God (20:18–30), expressed through: (a) Expectant worship (20:18–19), in anticipation of what God will do. (b) Responsive worship (20:26–3...