Praying Beyond Our Limitations – Sermon 2 (August 16, 2026)

Click the Blue Heading To Download Notes

SLBC SERMON NOTES –  Praying Beyond Our Limits – Sermon #2

Shining Light Baptist Church has set aside the month of August to focus on prayer. Our main goal is to re-establish a belief and desire to pray for the big prayers that require God to get involved and work a miracle if necessary.

The main truth from sermon #1:

God’s power gives believers confidence to pray beyond human limitations.

 

The key verse:

Ephesians 3:20  KJV 20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

 

This verse is not a magic formula for prosperity; we discovered Paul had just prayed, asking God to transform the believers in Ephesus into the image bearers of God.

Paul was calling on God to overcome obstacles they were facing and develop them into mature Christians who would image God and defend the faith without fear or fainting.

After his prayer, Paul adds that God is able to do exceeding, abundantly, above all we ask or think.

The first sermon challenged you to write one or more prayer requests on a card and seal it in an envelope, then place it in the glass bowl. As a church we will pray together about these prayers represented in the bowl.

Today’s sermon is designed to encourage our faith in God and prayer.

Today’s sermon is going to look at a time in Israel’s history when an invading army came to destroy them. Their example teaches us what to do, when we don’t know what to do. Our statement for today is a bit of a play on words:

When I don’t know what to do, I know exactly what to do!

 

After the death of King Solomon, the nation of Israel was divided into the Northern Kingdom and the Southern Kingdom. The northern kingdom is often called Israel, and the southern kingdom is called Judah. Our story takes place approximately 80 years after the death of Solomon and around 850 years before the time of Jesus.

A man named Jehoshaphat was king of the Southern Kingdom of Judah. He was primarily a good king who sought the LORD, fortified the cities, and strengthened Judah’s army.

The problem was that several of Judah’s enemies had come together in a coalition to attack them. By the time Jehoshaphat learned they were coming, this great army had already advanced nearby.

 

2 Chronicles 20:1–13  KJV 1 It came to pass after this also, that the children of Moab, and the children of Ammon, and with them other beside the Ammonites, came against Jehoshaphat to battle. 2 Then there came some that told Jehoshaphat, saying, There cometh a great multitude against thee from beyond the sea on this side Syria; and, behold, they be in Hazazontamar, which is Engedi. 3 And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. 4 And Judah gathered themselves together, to ask help of the LORD: even out of all the cities of Judah they came to seek the LORD. 5 And Jehoshaphat stood in the congregation of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the LORD, before the new court, 6 And said, O LORD God of our fathers, art not thou God in heaven? and rulest not thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen? and in thine hand is there not power and might, so that none is able to withstand thee? 7 Art not thou our God, who didst drive out the inhabitants of this land before thy people Israel, and gavest it to the seed of Abraham thy friend for ever? 8 And they dwelt therein, and have built thee a sanctuary therein for thy name, saying, 9 If, when evil cometh upon us, as the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we stand before this house, and in thy presence, (for thy name is in this house,) and cry unto thee in our affliction, then thou wilt hear and help. 10 And now, behold, the children of Ammon and Moab and mount Seir, whom thou wouldest not let Israel invade, when they came out of the land of Egypt, but they turned from them, and destroyed them not; 11 Behold, I say, how they reward us, to come to cast us out of thy possession, which thou hast given us to inherit. 12 O our God, wilt thou not judge them? for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee. 13 And all Judah stood before the LORD, with their little ones, their wives, and their children.

 

Jehoshaphat quickly realized that Judah was not strong enough to defeat the army coming against them. Even more troubling, he did not know what to do about it. Listen to his own words in verse 12:

“we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do:”

It is necessary to clarify something about his words; Jehoshaphat did not know how to defend his city, but he did know to turn to God for help. This is why our key statement is so important:

When I don’t know what to do, I know exactly what to do!

 

The text is honest about Jehoshaphat’s fear. This introduces our first action step when we don’t know what to do:

Acknowledge Fear

 

2 Chronicles 20:3 states that Jehoshaphat “feared”:

2 Chronicles 20:3  KJV 3 And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.

 

The word “feared” literally means to be afraid, be alarmed by danger.

• I must not deny my fear
• I must not ignore my fear
• I must acknowledge my fear

 

When we deny or ignore our fear we are cheating ourselves. Only when we are honest about our fear do we take the proper steps that lead us to God.

If I ignore my fear, I will continue trying to handle my situation on my own.

When I acknowledge my fear to God I am able to start trusting Him with the situation.

 

Does the situation you are praying about alarm you? If God does not intervene, are you afraid of the outcome?

After taking the first step, and acknowledging my fear, I am ready to take the second step:

Act Biblically Toward My Fear

 

Psalm 56:3  KJV 3 What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.

 

This is a proper Biblical response to fear. And it is what Jehoshaphat did.

2 Chronicles 20:3  KJV 3 And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.

 

In this case both Fear & Faith are motivating Jehoshaphat to seek God and pray.

Jehoshaphat responded biblically to his fear.

Fear can serve a good purpose when it turns our attention away from our own ability and toward God for help.

 

This is a good place to review our key truth for the sermon:

When I don’t know what to do, I know exactly what to do!

 

Jehoshaphat did not know what to do about the enemy, or how to protect his people.

BUT, he knew exactly what to do — turn his fear and faith toward God, and seek the LORD.

What does it mean that he set himself to seek the LORD?

The Hebrew phrase carries the idea of making an intentional decision and setting yourself in a particular direction. Jehoshaphat deliberately turned himself toward seeking the LORD.

To “set himself to seek the LORD” was an action, not simply a thought or feeling. Jehoshaphat made seeking God his priority, and the actions that followed demonstrate his decision: he proclaimed a fast, gathered the people, and led them in prayer.

2 Chronicles 20:3  KJV 3 And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.

 

He did more than pray a single prayer or add it to his prayer list. Seeking God became a priority that affected what he did next.

 

Is the situation you are praying about alarming you? Is it worth setting yourself to seek the LORD?

 

Review: When I don’t know what to do, I know exactly what to do. ●      Acknowledge my fear ●      Act Biblically to my fear

Once we have set ourselves to seek the LORD, we can involve others who are affected by the situation to seek the LORD.

Ask Others To Seek The LORD

 

2 Chronicles 20:4  KJV 4 And Judah gathered themselves together, to ask help of the LORD: even out of all the cities of Judah they came to seek the LORD.

 

Jehoshaphat called on others to pray. He included God’s people — naturally, they were affected by the outcome and had a vested interest in deliverance.

BUT, the principle is true. Do not neglect the church’s role in praying for and with you.

Romans 15:30  KJV 30 Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ’s sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me;

 

2 Corinthians 1:11  KJV 11 Ye also helping together by prayer for us, that for the gift bestowed upon us by the means of many persons thanks may be given by many on our behalf.

 

On the night before Jesus was crucified, He was facing the agony of the cross. He took Peter, James, and John with Him into Gethsemane and told them, “tarry ye here, and watch with me” (Matthew 26:38). Even Jesus, during this time of great sorrow, brought other believers close to Him while He sought the Father in prayer.

Matthew 26:36–38  KJV 36 Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder. 37 And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy. 38 Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.

 

Later in v. 41 Jesus says “watch and pray” — the point is clear. Even Jesus gathered people together to pray.

 

Consider our Key Truth again:

When I don’t know what to do, I know exactly what to do!

 

You and I must rely on each other to pray for and with one another.

So far, we have learned to acknowledge our fear, act biblically to our fear, and ask others to pray with and for us. The next step is to acknowledge God’s ability.

Acknowledge What God Is Able To Do

 

Jehoshaphat begins his prayer by acknowledging God and God’s power. Before addressing what he does not know about the situation, he focuses on what he does know about the power of God.

2 Chronicles 20:5–6  KJV 5 And Jehoshaphat stood in the congregation of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the LORD, before the new court, 6 And said, O LORD God of our fathers, art not thou God in heaven? and rulest not thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen? and in thine hand is there not power and might, so that none is able to withstand thee?

 

Knowing we should pray does not automatically make our faith strong. Our confidence in prayer comes from remembering who God is and what He is able to do.

This takes us back to the main truth we established in our first sermon:

God’s power gives believers confidence to pray beyond human limitations.

 

Jehoshaphat knew that Judah was not strong enough to defeat the army coming against them, but he also knew his limitations were not God’s limitations.

His prayer acknowledges that power and might are in God’s hand and that no one is able to withstand Him.

This is what gives him confidence to pray.

Next Step — After acknowledging God is able to take care of your situation, remind yourself of what God has done in the past.

Acknowledge What God Has Done

 

2 Chronicles 20:7–9  KJV 7 Art not thou our God, who didst drive out the inhabitants of this land before thy people Israel, and gavest it to the seed of Abraham thy friend for ever? 8 And they dwelt therein, and have built thee a sanctuary therein for thy name, saying, 9 If, when evil cometh upon us, as the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we stand before this house, and in thy presence, (for thy name is in this house,) and cry unto thee in our affliction, then thou wilt hear and help.

 

After acknowledging who God is and what He is able to do, Jehoshaphat begins to recall what God has done for His people. God had given them this land, just as He promised Abraham. They were standing in Jerusalem, in the land God had given them, worshipping at the temple that had been built for His name. Their history was evidence of God’s faithfulness.

But Jehoshaphat also remembers what God had told His people they could do when trouble came. Verse 9 recalls the promise connected with Solomon’s dedication of the temple: when God’s people faced the sword, judgment, pestilence, or famine, they could cry unto Him in their affliction and trust Him to hear and help.

This is a common pattern in the prayers of Scripture. God’s people remind themselves of who God is, what God has done, and what God has said. Jehoshaphat is facing something he has never faced before, so he builds his confidence on truths about God that he already knows.

We need to learn to do the same thing in our prayers. Say out loud what God is able to do. Remember what God has already done. Remind yourself of what God has said. When we do not know what God is going to do in our present situation, we can strengthen our faith with what we already know to be true about Him.

 

So far we have covered four action steps when we don’t know what to do about a situation that is out of our control: ●      Acknowledge our fear ●      Act biblically toward our fear ●      Acknowledge what God is able to do ●      Acknowledge what God has done or said

The next step is to acknowledge my dependence on God.

Acknowledge My Dependence On God

 

2 Chronicles 20:12  KJV 12 O our God, wilt thou not judge them? for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee.

 

It is possible to pray while still trying to work out the problem ourselves. When this happens, we are not really looking to God for the answer. We have already decided what we think needs to happen, and we are asking God to make our plan work.

Jehoshaphat reaches a different place. He admits, “we have no might” and “neither know we what to do.” He does not have a plan to present to God. He is looking to God for the answer: “but our eyes are upon thee.”

Dependence on God means I am willing to admit that I do not have the answer and trust God with what happens next.

 

Jehoshaphat provides a good example of what it means to allow my faith to work alongside my fear:

 

• When my faith is working with my fear, I keep my eyes on God.
• When my fear is working alone, I keep my eyes on the problem.

 

When I don’t know what to do, I know exactly what to do!

 

Take These Steps

 

At this time, reflect on your need and ask yourself if your prayer is following the model set by Jehoshaphat.

 

What is the need in your life that if God does not intervene will be tragic? How can you apply these action steps in this situation?

 

• Acknowledge your Fear
• Act Biblically to Fear
• Ask Others To Seek God
• Acknowledge What God Is Able To Do
• Acknowledge What God Has Done
• Acknowledge Dependence On God