Conquering The Unconquerable

INTRO: 1. When we think of Jerusalem we think of it as the pearl and glory of all Israel.

a. No other place in the world is considered as sacred by so many as is Jerusalem. (Three world Religions: Christianity, Judaism, Islamics)

b. Few places in the world has there been more blood-shed over a city than Jerusalem.

2. But we must remember that Jerusalem wasn’t always the possession of the children of Israel.

a. It wasn’t until King David had united the tribes of Israel before Jerusalem could be taken

b. It was not conquered even by the Joshua generation... Although part of the promised land

c. For years this city was occupied by the Jebusites, and it was their pride and joy.

d. This city was considered an “unconquerable fortress”, an impenetrable safe haven for the enemy to dwell in the very heart of Israel.

3. Jerusalem, in the hands of the Jebusites, represents for every child of God, those “unconquerable things” that has taken up residence in our lives.

a. They have a history of defeating us.

b. They mock us. (The lame was lined on the walls and David’s army was mocked)

c. They are central to our effectiveness. (We cannot be all that God intended until these areas of difficulty is dealt with)

d. They contaminate our Peace. (How could Israel live at peace until this enemy has been cast down)

e. They don’t belong in our lives. (this was God’s promise land, they had no real claim to it)

4. Like David & Joab we don’t have to surrender to the “unconquerable things” in our lives, God’s will and his Word has given us the power and the tools necessary for conquering the unconquerable in our lives.

a. Paul reminds us of our power in the face of “strongholds”.

2 Cor. 10:4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

5. The possessing of Jerusalem leaves us with some powerful principles concerning the conquering of seemingly impossible things in our life.

I. WE MUST FIRST CONQUER INTIMIDATION

a. The first response of the Jebusites that possessed the city of Jerusalem was a response to intimidate David's men

b. They mocked them by lining the blind and the lame along the wall to reveal the futility of what they were trying to do.

c. No doubt there was some among the ranks of the children of Israel who believed this trap and was at that time ready to return home.

A. INTIMIDATION IS THE ENEMY’S LAST HOPE FOR VICTORY.

1. The worst thing that can happen to the enemy is for you to realize the power and promise you possess.

2. He’ll mock our ability. (Say you don’t have the talent or the skill)

3. He’ll mock our spirituality. (Your not spiritual enough to content with such an enemy)

4. He’ll mock our past failures. (Remind you of the times you’ve failed before)

B. INTIMIDATION DISTRACTS US FROM WHO WE’RE WITH.

1. Joab didn’t fall for the strategy of the enemy because his attention was on one thing - who he was with - the “anointed one”, the King.

2. The enemy will try to distract us with the difficulty of the task.

3. The enemy will try to distract us by the faithlessness and criticism of others.

4. But Joab would not forget the miracles that followed King David and his reliance on the God of Israel.

5. It’s time to fix our eyes on Jesus and who we are or what we can do no longer matters - the “anointed one” becomes our key to successfully conquering the unconquerable.

II. WE MUST ACCEPT THAT GOD’S PEACE IS OURS TO HAVE.

a. The root word for Jerusalem and the ancient name for Jerusalem was Salem which literally meant “peace”.

b. For the enemy who lived inside the mighty walls of Jerusalem, they felt the security of this fortress that was surrounded by three valleys and would challenge some the world’s greatest empires.

c. But David understood that this city of Peace was intended by God for his people, but the enemy had taken their residence there.

d. David also understood that sometimes this “Place of Peace” would only come as a result of struggling with the enemy and the thieves of our peace.

e. ILL. The first mention of this city was in the time of Abraham, who received a visit from Melchizedek who was the king of Salem. This visit by the King of Peace, who brought a spiritual Peace to Abraham came as a result of his battles with the enemy who had kidnapped Lot.

A. GOD’S PEACE IS SOMETHING WE POSSESS.

1. David believed that this place of Peace was rightfully his to claim, because it was part of the promised land God had given him.