You’d think in an assembly like the one Jehoshaphat gathered together, God would have chosen someone in a high place of governmental authority to be the primary spokesman. You’d think He would have given His instructions through King Jehoshaphat himself. But He didn’t. He chose to speak, instead, through a man named Jahaziel who stood “in the midst of the assembly” (2 Chronicles 20:14).
Remarkably enough, that didn’t bother Jehoshaphat one bit. He didn’t take offense at the idea of receiving divine direction through someone who was underneath him in the chain of authority. He was wise and humble enough to recognize it when the Spirit of the Lord came upon somebody. So he paid attention when Jahaziel said:
Hearken, all Judah … and you King Jehosphat. The Lord says this to you: Be not afraid or dismayed at this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s. Tomorrow go down to them … take your positions, stand still and see the deliverance of the Lord [Who is] with you. (verses 15 – 17 Amp)
I especially like the phrase “take your positions.” It emphasizes the fact that all the people in God’s assembly have a particular role to fulfill—not just a natural role like usher or children’s worker but a spiritual role for which they are divinely equipped. All believers have a particular supply of God’s Spirit that flows in a unique and distinct way through them.
A good leader understands that. He makes it a point to know the spiritual supplies and positions of the people around him.
Jehoshaphat was definitely a good leader.
He realized, for example, that in addition to Jahaziel who was gifted to prophesy, there were certain people in the assembly who were anointed to praise the Lord in an especially powerful way. They didn’t just lift their hearts in worship as all God’s people can do. They stood in the position of spiritual warriors. Their praises carried a supply of the Spirit that initiated intervention by heaven’s military forces. So Jehoshaphat appointed those worshippers to go out in front of the army.
I know it sounds crazy but it worked! “When they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushments against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir who had come against Judah, and they were [self-] slaughtered” (v. 22 Amp).
That’s what I call an easy victory—and it’s the kind of victory that can be ours in prayer when all the members of the assembly take their positions and release their spiritual supply.
Scripture Reading: 2 Chronicles 20:18 – 23
On the chilly March night in 1972 when Lynne Hammond took her first step into a life of Spirit-led prayer, she had no idea what was about to happen. All she knew was the hunger in her heart for God wouldn’t let her sleep. In the few short months she’d been born again, her desire to fellowship with Him had grown so strong she could hardly contain it. “Help me, God!” she cried. “I want to know you. I want to be able to talk to you. Please, teach me to pray!”
Suddenly, a heavenly presence flooded the room. Lynne sensed waves of spiritual fire sweeping over her and a beautiful language began to flow like a river from within her. Although she’d never heard of the baptism of the Holy Spirit, she knew instantly, without a doubt—this was God!
What began that night soon blossomed into a life of prayer that ultimately became a ministry of prayer when, in 1980, Lynne and her husband, Mac, founded Living Word Christian Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Under Lynne’s leadership, the prayer ministry at Living Word has become an internationally recognized model for developing effective pray-ers in the local church.
A teacher and an author, Lynne publishes a newsletter called Prayer Notes, has written numerous books, and currently serves as the national prayer director for Daughters for Zion. Her passion for inspiring and leading others into the life of Spirit-led prayer continues to take her around the world to minister to believers whose heart cry, like hers, is “Lord, teach me to pray!”