It’s Not Your Battle

Worship Service for October 23, 2021

WELCOME

Good day, welcome, and thanks for joining CrossPointe Community Church’s online Word worship presentation. My name is Jim for those of you who may be new.

I thank God for all of you and for the opportunity to spend the next few hours with you. Since Randy left me in charge, I thought a good 3 hour service digging into the Old Testament would be an awesome way to spend our Sunday together. Just kidding. So let’s get started with some announcements.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

I have a few announcements to make. First, I want to let all of you know that this Friday is the Community Meal. Anyone who would like to help out with distribution and clean-up, please contact Sandy Barnes. It’s always a blessing to lend a hand. Sandy has the details.

Secondly, can you divert your attention to the lovely Annie Dean. She has details to share with you about the Gather to Scatter Sunday.

CALL TO WORSHIP

This chapter starts with the Lord telling Moses his plan to give the people of Israel the land on the other side of the Red Sea. But first, before they cross over, the Egyptians are going to pursue them. The people cry out to the Lord and ask Moses, why would you take us away from Egypt? Just so that we could die in the wilderness?

And here is verse 13 and 14…

And Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.”

Exodus 14:13-14

Now let’s skip over to Joshua 1:1-5

After the death of Moses, the servant of the Lord, it came to pass that the Lord spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, saying: “Moses My servant is dead. Now therefore, arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them—the children of Israel. Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you, as I said to Moses. From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the River Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your territory. No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you.

Joshua 1:1-5

OPENING WORSHIP SONGS

Because He Lives

Gaither, Bill

God sent His son, they called Him Jesus;
He came to love, heal and forgive;
He lived and died to buy my pardon,
An empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives!

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow,
Because He lives, all fear is gone;
Because I know He holds the future,
And life is worth the living,
Just because He lives!

How sweet to hold a newborn baby,
And feel the pride and joy he gives;
But greater still the calm assurance:
This child can face uncertain days because He Lives!

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow,
Because He lives, all fear is gone;
Because I know He holds the future,
And life is worth the living,
Just because He lives!

And then one day, I’ll cross the river,
I’ll fight life’s final war with pain;
And then, as death gives way to victory,
I’ll see the lights of glory and I’ll know He lives!

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow,
Because He lives, all fear is gone;
Because I know He holds the future,
And life is worth the living,
Just because He lives!

© 1971 William J. Gaither, Inc
CCLI License No. 1843349

Victory In Jesus

Bartlett, E.M.

I heard an old, old story how a Savior came from glory,
How He gave His life on Calvary to save a wretch like me;
I heard about His groaning, of His precious blood’s atoning,
Then I repented of my sins and won the victory

O victory in Jesus, my Savior, forever!
He sought me and bought me with His redeeming blood;
He loved me ‘ere I knew Him, and all my love is due Him.
He plunged me to victory beneath the cleansing flood

I heard about His healing, of His cleansing pow’r revealing
How he made the lame to walk again and caused the blind to see;
And then I cried, “Dear Jesus, come and heal my broken spirit,”
And some sweet day I’ll sing up there the song of victory.

O victory in Jesus, my Savior, forever!
He sought me and bought me with His redeeming blood;
He loved me ‘ere I knew Him, and all my love is due Him.
He plunged me to victory beneath the cleansing flood

I heard about a mansion he has built for me in glory,
And I heard about the streets of gold beyond the crystal sea;
About the angels singing and the old redemption story,
And some sweet day I’ll sing up there the song of victory.

O victory in Jesus, my Savior, forever!
He sought me and bought me with His redeeming blood;
He loved me ‘ere I knew Him, and all my love is due Him.
He plunged me to victory beneath the cleansing flood

©1967, Albert W. Brumley and Sons
CCLI License No. 1843349

OPENING PRAYER

O Lord, Almighty Father, we humble ourselves before you. We give you thanks and praise. You are the God of all that is good. Your love never fails. You keep your promises. You have fought for us through the generations and even now in the midst of calamity around the globe, you are in control. Help us today to see that we must release our bags of burdens and hand them over to you. Through Jesus we pray.

THE GIVING OF THE LORD’S OFFERING

May the overflow of your blessings and grace be a reminder of your unconditional love for us. All that we have is yours. Not 10 percent but 100 percent. You have given abundantly because of how you love us. Let our offering be of free will. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. (2 Cor 9:7) Thanks be to God! Amen.

PRAYER SONG

Hear My Prayer

Owens, Debbie

Hear my prayer, O Lord
From the ends of the earth I cry
Your peace will lead me to
The Rock that is higher than I

Hear my prayer, O Lord
From the ends of the earth I cry
Your peace will lead me to
The Rock that is higher than I

For you have been my strength in times of trouble
A tower above my enemies
And Lord, I will abide with you forever
In the shelter of your wings

Hear my prayer, O Lord
From the ends of the earth I cry
Your peace will lead me to
The Rock that is higher than I

©1993 Maranatha Praise, Inc.
CCLI License No. 1843349

MORNING PRAYER

Alan Robbins

The words of today’s prayer song

Hear my Prayer, O Lord
From the ends of the earth I cry
Your peace will lead me to
The Rock that is higher than I.

That message is so powerful.

For me, this was a very difficult week as I am sure it was for many of the others in our congregation.

My ongoing prayer is that we know you will stay by our side. We know you will listen and guide our prayers to Reach Out…. to Hold….. to give Help….. to give Love….to give Peace …to give Joy and to Call the Holy Spirit to those that are grieving, for those that are ill, for those that are hurting in any way and prayers for our own needs.

I am offering my special prayers to:
Family of Ruth Self; Maria Harmon, son Darius and brother Patrick
Family of my son’s father-in-law, Dave Barnett awaiting a heart transplant
Russ Martin’s friends and family

Let’s take a few moments to silently pray for those in need.

Thank you Lord, as we give God’s Glory ….and Grace…… and Joy….and Refuge…… and Strength….. and Love ….and Peace ….and the Holy Spirit to our community and the world in which we live.

Your peace will lead me to
The Rock that is higher than I.

In Jesus name we pray. Amen

SCRIPTURE

It happened after this that the people of Moab with the people of Ammon, and others with them besides the Ammonites, came to battle against Jehoshaphat. Then some came and told Jehoshaphat, saying, “A great multitude is coming against you from beyond the sea, from Syria; and they are in Hazazon Tamar” (which is En Gedi). And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. So Judah gathered together to ask help from the Lord; and from all the cities of Judah they came to seek the Lord.

Then Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the Lord, before the new court, and said: “O Lord God of our fathers, are You not God in heaven, and do You not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations, and in Your hand is there not power and might, so that no one is able to withstand You? Are You not our God, who drove out the inhabitants of this land before Your people Israel, and gave it to the descendants of Abraham Your friend forever? And they dwell in it, and have built You a sanctuary in it for Your name, saying, ‘If disaster comes upon us—sword, judgment, pestilence, or famine—we will stand before this temple and in Your presence (for Your name is in this temple), and cry out to You in our affliction, and You will hear and save.’ And now, here are the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir—whom You would not let Israel invade when they came out of the land of Egypt, but they turned from them and did not destroy them— here they are, rewarding us by coming to throw us out of Your possession which You have given us to inherit. 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.”

Now all Judah, with their little ones, their wives, and their children, stood before the Lord.

Then the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, in the midst of the assembly. And he said, “Listen, all you of Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, (people of Crosspointe), 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. Tomorrow go down against them. They will surely come up by the Ascent of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the brook before the Wilderness of Jeruel. You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem!’ Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the Lord is with you.”

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. 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.

So they rose early in the morning and went out into the Wilderness of Tekoa; and as they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Hear me, O Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem: Believe in the Lord your God, and you shall be established; believe His prophets, and you shall prosper.” And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed those who should sing to the Lord, and who should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army and were saying:

“Praise the Lord,
For His mercy endures forever.”

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. For the people of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of Mount Seir to utterly kill and destroy them. And when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, they helped to destroy one another.

So when Judah came to a place overlooking the wilderness, they looked toward the multitude; and there were their dead bodies, fallen on the earth. No one had escaped.

2 Chronicles 20:1-24

THE MESSAGE

It’s Not Your Battle

Jim Brandenburg

Advent is a little over a month away. Sunday, November 28th. 63 days until Christmas.

It doesn’t even seem that far away. Stores are already stocking Christmas stuff and we haven’t even reached Halloween. Well, as a sneak peak for Advent and Christmas season, I decided to give you a couple jokes to get you in the spirit. Are you ready?

Last week we heard Randy talk about “Life is hard… but God is Good…”
This week we are going to talk about Hope and Battles. It’s amazing how the Holy Spirit brought these two messages together. They sort of complement each other. It’s going to be an exciting and encouraging message today. Hopefully, you are able to walk away from here today having left your battles for God to take care of. Like he has promised for generations. Let us pray…

Father, as you have instructed your people to be still, may we take a moment to recognize your greatness. Breathe in your glory. Lord help me to get out of the way of your message and may all which you have called be receptive to the words which you have given me to speak, through Jesus we pray. Amen.

Hope is one of the most powerful things in the universe. When someone has hope, it’s like the wind of the Holy Spirit has just filled their sails. There is a determination that far exceeds understanding and reason. I’ve experienced this and I am sure most of you have, as well. Hope is defined as a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen. Or even a feeling of trust.

During the Thirty Years’ War in the 17th century, German Pastor Paul Gerhardt and his family were forced to flee from their home. One night as they stayed in a small village inn, homeless and afraid, his wife broke down and cried openly in despair. To comfort her, Gerhardt reminded her of Scripture promises about God’s provision and keeping. Then, going out to the garden to be alone, he too broke down and wept. He felt he had come to his darkest hour.

Soon afterward, Gerhardt felt the burden lifted and sensed anew the Lord’s presence. Taking his pen, he wrote a hymn that has brought comfort to many. “Give to the winds thy fears; hope, and be undismayed; God hears thy sighs and counts thy tears; God shall lift up thy head. Through waves and clouds and storms He gently clears the way. Wait thou His time, so shall the night soon end in joyous day.”

It is often in our darkest times that God makes His presence known most clearly. He uses our sufferings and troubles to show us that He is our only source of strength. And when we see this truth, like Pastor Gerhardt, we receive new hope. Are you facing a great trial? Take heart. Put yourself in God’s hands. Wait for His timing. He will give you a “song in the night.” ¹

God’s provision and keeping. Soak that in for a moment. God’s provision and keeping.
Provision.. Is the action of providing or supplying something for use.
Keeping.. Is the action of owning, maintaining, or protecting something.
God provides for us and keeps us. God protects us.

Pastor Gerhardt and his family were faced with a battle that they did not start. Did not choose. Did not anticipate. Isn’t it funny how God works sometimes? He takes the enemy’s plan and turns it around. In the moment of despair you run to him which should have been the first place you went anyway. Right?

Then God says this. Listen to these words. These are your instructions.

Thus says the Lord…
You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, for the Lord is with you.”

If I told you, tomorrow, I want you to go out and battle your biggest fear.. The giant that has been taunting you. The enemy that has been distracting you. The pain that has swallowed you up. The loss that has left you feeling empty. I want you to conquer these things. And just let me know if I can help you. Okay. Just give me a call. Text me.

Would you feel confident going into battle not knowing if you have back up?
Not knowing if I can be there for you? If I can keep a promise?
What if God said to you, just as he told Jehoshaphat?
Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the Lord is with you.” Would you go?

Remember back in school there was always that bully or that group that made themselves known. They would steal lunch money. Or knock your books out of your hand. Pick fights. Make fun of you. We had them in my school. We also had the equalizer. That’s right. The equalizer. He was a 6 foot 2, 180 pound 4th grader who was 17 years old, bench pressed 200, and had chest hair. The equalizer had a soft spot for people that got picked on. It was good to become friends with the equalizer.

God is our equalizer. The enemy doesn’t have a chance.

Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the Lord. Then Jehoshaphat reminds God, as if He needs to be reminded, that Abraham’s descendants built this temple in the name of the Lord. And they said, ‘If disaster comes upon us—sword, judgment, pestilence, or famine—we will stand before this temple in Your presence, and cry out to You in our affliction, and You will hear and save.’

And He did. He saved them. The people sang songs of praise and God set ambushes.

Remember in Acts Chapter 16? Paul & Silas are singing in prison and there is an earthquake. All the doors opened and all the chains fell off of the prisoners? The guard wakes and see the doors open and just before he pulls his sword to kill himself Paul calls with a loud voice, saying, “Do yourself no harm, for we are all here.” The guard fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” So they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.”

The guard went from the brink of death to eternal life. Hope…

Hope… Generations of people who followed God and worshiped Him.
Hope… Three men standing in a furnace.
Hope… One boy with a slingshot and a stone.
God says, No need to fight. Here’s a trumpet.
Walk around those walls and they’ll crumble.
Hope… One man hanging from the cross. Hope…

This is not your battle. God says “get behind me.” “I’ve got this.” From the fall of Adam and Eve to this very moment. God says, I’ve got this… God keeps His promises. This is God’s battle. When are you going to step out of the way so that He can show you His victory?

Some of you may know that I am the Sexton for the Cemeteries over in Lodi.

Last week I buried a veteran. He was a Vietnam veteran. He was a very decorated soldier and on that day, he was honored by his family and the armed forces. Imagine being in a war and only having those around you, your fellow soldiers and your sergeant, to give you guidance. These people you depend on for keeping you safe and alive. These are the people you die for to save theirs. Hope pulls them through the war.

There’s nothing that sends a chill through your bones or brings a tear to your eye quite like the sound of the trumpet playing Taps. A 21 gun salute. The reading of Psalm 23. There is one other… The sound of bagpipes playing Amazing Grace.

Dearly Beloved. We gather today to pay our respects to a life that was given us through the breath of God, nurtured through the word and the good news of Jesus, and sealed by the creator of the universe who sent His son to insure our eternity with Him.

This life we have tried to control and take matters into our own hands. We have failed.
Today! Lord, Today!

We are going to lay to rest our fears today. Our worries. Our struggles. Our battles.
We are going to find the hope of the generations. We will die to ourselves so that we may be raised up with you. Our hope is in Jesus the Christ.

O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?

Many generations of people and prophets spoke of Jesus coming. When He finally showed up, they didn’t believe Him. Here we sit, 2000 years later anticipating His second coming. Seeing signs of horrible tragedies. Earthquakes. Volcanoes erupting. War. Senseless murders. Greed. COVID… Where is your hope?

I have a mother in a nursing home whose health has diminished to complete care.
Doesn’t even walk any more. There is still hope.
You know why? Because my God is an awesome God.
My God can make beauty from ashes. My God can heal the sick.
The lame will walk. The blind will see.
He can raise the dead.

Sickness is an affliction. Some will say the devil is behind sickness. But the only power that the devil has is the power you give him. We are children of God.

Daddy’s gonna take care of business.

I have hope. I trust God. I believe God. His love has never failed me and He always keeps His promises. The Battle belongs to the Lord! Amen? Amen!

SPECIAL MUSIC

The Battle Belongs To The Lord

Owens-Collins, Jamie

In heavenly armor we’ll enter the land
The battle belongs to the Lord
No weapon that’s fashioned against us will stand
The battle belongs to the Lord

And we sing glory, honor, power and strength to the Lord (repeat)

When the power of darkness comes in like a flood
The battle belongs to the Lord
He’s raised up a standard, the pow’r of His blood
The battle belongs to the Lord

And we sing glory, honor, power and strength to the Lord (repeat)
When your enemy pressed in hard do not fear
The battle belongs to the Lord
Take courage, my friend, your redemption is near
The battle belongs to the Lord

And we sing glory, honor, power and strength to the Lord (repeat)(2x)

©1985 Fairhill Music (Admin. by Fairhill Music, Inc.)
CCLI License No. 1843349

CLOSING SONG

Strong Tower

Furler, Peter/Taylor, Steve

Strong and mighty, strong to save us
Like a fortress never failing
Strong in battle, strong in kindness
When we stray, Lord, You’re strong to find us
When the winds come hard against us
You are steadfast, You are true
When the ground beneath us trembles
Your foundation never moves

Strong tower, high and glorious
Strong tower, mighty in love
Our refuge, our defender
Strong tower, Lord, above

Strong to lead us through the shadows
Strong to carry all our sorrows
When the enemy surrounds us, closing in as darkness falls
Though his armies rage against us, they can never scale these walls

Strong tower, high and glorious
Strong tower, mighty in love
Our refuge, our defender
Strong tower, Lord, above

You are my shelter, my shield
You are the home I could never deserve
Here I will serve, ever under Your gaze
Here I will serve, ever singing Your praise
Strong tower, high and glorious
Strong tower, mighty in love
Our refuge, our defender

Strong tower, Lord, above
Strong tower, high and glorious
Strong tower, mighty in love
Our refuge, our defender

Strong tower, Lord, above
Strong tower, Lord, above
Strong tower, Lord, above

©2004 Ariose Music/ASCAP, admin by EMI CMG Publishing/Soylent Tunes (SESAC)
CCLI License No. 1843349

BENEDICTION

The Lord says, “I will rescue those who love me.
I will protect those who trust in my name.
When they call on me, I will answer;
I will be with them in trouble.
I will rescue and honor them.
I will reward them with a long life
and give them my salvation.”

Psalm 91:14-16

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1 Our Daily Bread, May 7, 1992