Untitled Sermon

The enemies strategy against us

To silence our ministry

To intimidate our hearts

To confuse our minds

The divine protection for us

To calm our fears

To assure our faith

To broaden our ministry

The enemies strategy against us

Perhaps we are acquainted with the idea that we have a spiritual enemy, but it is also vitally important for us to realize what his strategies are against us. As Paul says in 2 Co 2:11 that he is not ignorant of his schemes. One of the ways we can identify his scheme or strategy against us is through the lens of history of God’s people. We might not be Israel in the flesh, yet we are Israel spiritually.

A good view of this is an account of Elisha the prophet in 2 Ki 6. During this time and season, the Kingdom of Aram constantly went against Israel. But they were unsuccessful because the prophet Elisha would always inform Israel’s king of their plans.

To silence our ministry

This highly upset and frustrated the king of Aram to the point where he could only conclude that it must had been a traitor in his military, tipping off Israel of his plans. But then his central intelligence agency informed him it was Elisha the prophet who was revealing his plans. This moved the king to plot to investigate Elisha’s whereabouts so they could capture him in order to silence him, and thus make Aram’s ambushes on Israel successful.

Application: We must recognize that part of our enemy’s (satan) strategy is to silence our ministry. Why? Because our service for the Lord can get in the way of his attacks on fellow believers, as well as those who would believe in GOD. Paul says in 1 Thess 2:18 that he wanted to go to the Thessalonians more than once, but satan hindered him. How? Through the hostility of evil people.

To intimidate our hearts

Not only that, we see that the king of Aram put his plan in motion and sent a bunch of horses, chariots, and troops to Dothan, where Elisha currently was. They hemmed up the whole city overnight, in stealth mode. When early morning came, Elisha’s servant went outside and was met with the sight of an army circled around the city. His servant immediately yelled out “Alas, my master!” Which was like pressing the emergency button on our home alarm systems.

Application: Through the hostility of people, multiple instruments of pain and death, the enemy’s tactic is also to intimidate our hearts. When we see problem after problem, the thought of pain, death, life’s challenges, loss of possessions, etc., moreover the size of them... all of it is another tactic to terrorize us. Ex. One of my uncles would lock us in my grandmother’s basement in the dark, saying “I’m gone put y’all down there with chucky”. Chucky wasn’t big, but what he could do was big to us as kids!!! That made us fret!!!

To confuse our minds

It’s not just intimidation, listen what else his servant yells out “What shall we do?” He is in a panic, not knowing what to do or where to turn.

Application: Thus the last part of the enemy’s strategy in this text is to completely confuse our minds. Illustration: It’s like the movie “I’m gone git you sucka”, when the villains were shooting from the roof, and Keenan Ivory Wayans ran around saying “They shootin, they shootin”. So, if we are responding in complete confusion and uncertainty, know that’s where the enemy wants us.

The divine protection for us

But we can overcome the enemy’s strategy against us through the power and protection of GOD. Elisha’s servant was a novice and not as experienced with GOD as he was. Elisha knew that GOD protects his children from all enemies.

To calm our fears

The first response Elisha gives to his servant is to “calm down”. Well how is it that Elisha could be so calm and encourage him to be calm and not be afraid? He says because “There are more on our side!!” In other words, “We’re rollin deep!!”

Application: When we know who’s on our side and who’s side we’re on, it really, really ought to calm us down. No matter what weapons the enemy has formed against us, how can they prosper if GOD be for us!!!

To assure our faith

Ok, somebody might be like his servant and just being told to calm down doesn’t automatically do for us. He’s still panicking regardless. Elisha recognizing that called on GOD, open his eyes so he can see what I’m talking about. GOD did that, and he was enlightened to see horses and chariots of fire filling up the mountains!! This was the presence of divinity!! And the word “was full” indicates they didn’t just arrive, but they were already there, meaning they were there before they woke up!! How could Elisha recognize this? Well when Elijah (in 2 Ki 2:9-12), his predecessor, was about to be taken, he said ask anything you want, he asked for a double portion of his spirit, Elijah said that’s difficult, but if you see me when I’m taken up, it will happen. Suddenly a chariot and horse of fire came between them and Elijah was taken up. Elisha said “The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!!” Thus the same divine presence delivering Elijah from death is what Elisha saw. His faith was firm.

Application: We must realize that God’s presence and those whom he sends us is to assure our faith. It must be faith, Paul says in Eph 1:18 the eyes of your heart. Heb 11:1 says faith is conviction of things not seen!! Ro 8:11 if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is in us, then he will give us life. And his Spirit is greater than he who is in the world. God’s protection assures our faith. Watching over us all night, keeping us, and his promises are eternal life. What do we have to fear.

To broaden our ministry

Lastly, Elisha called blindness on the army and led them to Samaria, the capital of Israel’s kingdom, putting them in a defenseless position. The king thought to kill them, but Elisha said serve them instead.

Application: When we recognize and trust God’s protection, it broadens our ministry to the same folk the enemy has used against us!! Why? Because I know God watches over my life, and has promised me life beyond physical death, I will minister to anybody, no matter the threat!!!