Podcast Summary: "This Battle Belongs To God"

Host: Pastor Jabin Chavez
Podcast: City Light Church Las Vegas
Date: January 18, 2026

Episode Overview

In this passionate message, Pastor Jabin Chavez explores the biblical narrative of King Jehoshaphat from 2 Chronicles 20, emphasizing faith, community, fasting, and worship when facing insurmountable battles. The recurring encouragement is that "this battle belongs to God," inviting listeners to transfer their struggles and expectations of breakthrough into God's hands for miracles, signs, and wonders.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Story of Jehoshaphat: Facing Overwhelming Odds

• Reference: 2 Chronicles 20
• Judah, led by King Jehoshaphat, is surrounded by multiple armies (Moab, Ammon, and others).
• Jehoshaphat's first reaction is fear, but he immediately seeks God, calling for a fast and communal prayer. (00:00)
• God’s direct instruction: “Do not be afraid nor dismayed… for the battle is not yours but God’s.” (00:53)
• The Levite Jahaziel prophetically declares victory is the Lord’s, demonstrating how faith and obedience can become practical steps even when fear is present.

"The battle is not yours, but God’s. I want to preach for just a few moments from this subject. This battle belongs to God." – Jabin Chavez (01:15)

2. Needing a Miracle: Miracles Then and Now

• Pastor Jabin lists stories of Biblical figures who needed miracles, highlighting a consistent God who is active today like He was in the past.
• Practical faith means believing God for present miracles, not just admiring past ones. (02:45)
• Personal testimony: A congregant who miraculously became pregnant after baptism highlights the power of present-day faith and obedience. (05:10)

"We don't read the Bible to say, 'good job, God, that must have been nice.' No, we read the Bible to find out who our living Savior is." – Jabin Chavez (03:45)

3. How to Give Your Battles to God

A. Get Close—Seeking God Amidst Fear

• Faith and fear can coexist; what matters is the response to fear. Jehoshaphat ‘feared and set himself to seek the Lord’. (07:45)
• Yielding: Not giving into emotions, but yielding to God’s direction.
• Fasting as a spiritual discipline: Shutting out distractions to create sacred space for God to work. (12:00)

"Don’t put a period where God put a comma. What you do after the feeling of fear really matters." – Jabin Chavez (09:50)

B. The Power of Fasting & Prayer

• Fasting detaches us from worldly inputs; prayer connects us to God. Together, they create spiritual focus and breakthrough. (15:15)
• Quoting Matthew 17, certain breakthroughs ("this kind") only happen with prayer and fasting.
• Fasting is recommended where there’s spiritual defeat, and everyone’s “kind” or struggle is different. (14:30)

"Prayer connects us to God, but fasting disconnects us from the world." – Jabin Chavez (16:00)

C. Hearing God’s Voice

• In Acts 13, prayer and fasting lead to the Holy Spirit speaking—“the whisper,” not the shout—implying we need to quiet our lives to hear. (17:29)
• Pastor Jabin gives examples of how major decisions for the church have been guided by God’s voice during seasons of fasting and prayer. (19:00)

"I wouldn’t do anything big without fasting... you’re going to need the inward witness of the Holy Ghost." – Jabin Chavez (18:24)

4. Connect Your Faith—Don't Go Alone

• Gathering (Judah gathered together as a nation) releases prophetic encouragement and greater breakthrough. (21:28)
• Importance of having "faith friends" and spiritual leaders—community is a source of strength, accountability, and support.
• Personal mentorship and accountability stories, with advice from his pastor focusing on being a "good pastor and a great husband." (24:00)

"Don’t fight alone. Don’t fight fair. Find you some faith friends." – Jabin Chavez (22:55)

5. Watch God Work—Praise as a Weapon

• After fear, prayer, fasting, and community, comes worship—trusting God by praising Him for the answer before it arrives. (26:23)
• Worship isn't “hooky spooky” but practical: singing praise shifts the atmosphere, protects joy, and is a spiritual shield. (28:52)
• Extended worship session, repeating declarations: “My praise is a weapon against the enemy.” (31:03)

"This is how I fight my battles... with my song, this song is a weapon." – Worship & Jabin Chavez (29:12–31:44)

• The ultimate victory: God moves on behalf of His people. The valley of battle becomes a "Valley of Blessing" thanks to their obedience and praise. (31:57–34:50)
• Prophetic declaration for 2026: A year of miracles, breakthrough, and transformation.

"Your praise can rename a year. Your praise can rename a teenager. Your praise can rename sickness to health, poverty to provision, sin to righteousness, addiction to freedom, loneliness to family, abandoned to accepted, cursed to bless." – Jabin Chavez (33:40)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Faith and Fear:
  "The fact that you need faith proves you’re going to get in some fearful situations. And the fact you’re fearful proves you need faith." (09:20)
• On Fasting:
  "I’m going to do water and coffee. Okay. Because I’m not that saved. Amen. I can’t do no coffee." (13:15)
• On Community:
  "An isolated Christian is going to be a deceived Christian and a defeated Christian…find you some faith friends." (22:55)
• On Praise:
  "Praise will protect you from discouragement. Praise will protect you from depression. Praise will protect you from hopelessness." (27:00)
• Worship Declaration:
  "This is how I fight my battle, with my song, my song is a weapon." (29:14–31:47)
• On Breakthrough:
  "God did what they could not do. This battle belongs to God." (32:00)

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Timestamp | Segment Description | |------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:00 | Introduction to Jehoshaphat’s battle—key scripture and theme | | 02:37 | The need for miracles—past and present examples | | 07:45 | Dealing with fear—faith and emotion can coexist | | 12:00 | Fasting: Spiritual discipline, how & why | | 14:30 | Areas of spiritual defeat—personalizing prayer and fasting | | 16:00 | Fasting disconnects us from the world | | 17:29 | Hearing God’s voice—making space for the whisper | | 21:28 | Community: connect your faith—don’t fight battles alone | | 24:00 | Pastoral accountability and life advice | | 26:23 | Watch God work—transition to praise and worship | | 29:12 | Extended worship: "This is how I fight my battles" | | 31:03 | Declaration: Praise as spiritual weapon | | 32:00 | God’s intervention and the valley of blessing | | 33:40 | Prophetic encouragement—praise renames situations and seasons | | 34:50 | Final blessing and close |

Conclusion

Pastor Jabin unpacks how faith, fasting, prayer, community, and praise equip believers to hand over their toughest challenges to God. Through personal stories, scripture, humor, and heartfelt worship, he calls individuals to expect miracles and trust that every battle belongs to God—reminding the church that God is still in the business of breakthrough and transformation.

“May this be a year of breakthroughs, of suddenlies, of miracles, signs and wonders. In the name of Jesus, say Amen, everybody.” (34:50)

For more encouragement and resources, visit citylightvegas.com.