I remember December 18, 1983 very clearly. We awoke to find the house half-filled with smoke. At almost midnight we jumped out of bed; we threw windows open, and on the coldest night of the year so far, we turned on the attic fan. It was a desperate situation. We live in desperate times and a desperate situation -- nationally, locally, morally, spiritually, mentally, emotionally, ecclesiastically (church), and in every other way. We need God’s preachers and God’s people to be moved by the desperation of the day and to return believers (first) and whole churches (second) to a faithful service of God. I see signs that say: “Prayer - America’s only hope.” But if we do not “put legs” on our prayers, if our lives are full of unfaithfulness and sin, it will be just so many words. What did God say in Isaiah 59:1-2? “Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: (2) But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.” As we look at our text we see that Jehoshaphat was king of Judah. He was facing a desperate situation. It drove him and the nation to take some “drastic” measures. So we see:

I. THE PROBLEM -- VV. 1-2.

II. THE PROCLAMATION -- VV. 3-4.

III. THE PRAYER - VV. 5-13.

IV. THE PROPHECY - VV. 14-17.

V. THE PRAISE - VV. 18-19.