Sunday, November 20th ,2022

Topic: Never underestimate the battle

Preacher: Pastor David JOHN

Matthew 4:1-11

On this third Sunday of the international month on which we pursue holiness, let’s talk about battle in Christian’s life. 

Goma and its surroundings are in a situation of war due to the threat of the M23.  Each inhabitant goes through moments of fear and questioning. In all these things, we have to trust the Lord because he is more than able to conquer any enemy who shall come against us. 

When we go through scriptures in Matthieu 4, we see Jesus Christ who went through the temptations and passed the test. Temptation is a trial in which man has a free choice of being faithful or unfaithful to God. Satan encouraged Jesus to deviate from the plan of his father by misusing his authority and privileges but Jesus used the Holy Scripture to resist all such temptation. Jesus denied himself the opportunity to satisfy his hunger, even though he had been fasting for forty days and nights.

As Christians, we don’t have to underestimate our daily battles but in all that we have to notice that the battle is not ours, it belongs to God (2 Chronicles 20: 14).

We are going to support this promise of God with the examples of biblical images who understood that only God fought for them because it is to him that the battle belongs.

1. Samson (judges 16): The chapter switches to a time he met a woman he loved named Delilah. What’s odd is that the Philistines were already on her to entice him and find out his secret to his strength. They were going to pay her eleven hundred pieces of silver Delilah was all about the money and went to work pressing Samson for his secret to his strength. He gave phony answers at first. After much pressing, Samson told Delilah his secret, and she had his locks shaved off. When he was ambushed, he realized he had no strength. The Philistines put his eyes out and imprisoned him. When Samson was about to give up, he calls upon the name of the Lord in prayer who came to save him. He understood that the battle belongs to God. 

1. King Jehoshaphat (2 chronicles 20): The Ammonites and others attack Judah; Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah, and all the people fast and pray. Jahaziel prophesies the deliverance of Judah. We see that Jehoshaphat didn’t put his faith in the army but in the Lord. 

Dear congregation, whatever circumstances you are going through, whatever trials and tribulations on your way, take it to the Lord in prayer, be focused on the cross of Jesus, he will go before you to fight against all your enemies. We don’t need to fight, we have only to position ourselves and stand still in prayer, obedience and submission, we will see the salvation of the Lord in each and every way. Jesus overcame, we will also overcome. Jesus Christ paid the price on the cross, so that nothing shall prosper against us. Amen