HOW TO MAKE IT THROUGH THE BATTLE?--PSALM 20
Introduction: Psalm 20 and 21 go together. Both are Battle songs. The 20th psalm precedes the battle and the 21st follows the battle. Psalm 20 is a Psalm of Prayer for the Battle, while Psalm 21 is praise for the victory of the battle. Psalm 20 Anticipates victory, Psalm 21 reflects on the victory. This Psalm was written by David probably during the period of his many wars recorded in II Samuel chapter 8-10. David was the warring King. His sword may have been worn, but at least it was not rusty.
This Psalm records an intercessory prayer for the king just before he encounters the enemy in battle. One thing is for certain, battles will arise. Therefore we must have the goods to get us through the hard times. I want to show you what kept David through the battles.
I. A SUSTAINING FACT - vs. 1 “The Lord hear thee...”
A. It is always enouraging to know that the Lord not only hears our prayers, but is also ready to help.
B. Jesus said in John 15:7 “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be
done unto you.”
1. The secret here is the little word “if”.
2. Affirmative answers in prayer are always conditional.
C. I John 5:14-15 “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he
heareth us: and if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we
desired of him.”
1. The first condition was “abide”.
2. The second condition is “according to his will.”
D. The key to answered prayer is holy living and discernment of the will of God.
E. If we abide in him, and he in us, and we ask according to his will, then we know that what we ask will be
granted. This is a sustain fact.
F. There is always hope no matter what the situation because we have of prayer. No matter what the battle, no
matter who the enemy every child of God can still pray.
II. A STRENGTHENING FORCE - vs. 2 “strengthen thee”
A. The strength of the Lord is the Force that can take you through a battle.
1. It is always sufficient for any situation.
2. Paul learned this valuable lesson in regard to “his thorn in the flesh”.
3. He asked the Lord three times to remove it, but he got a “no” every time.
4. And then the Lord said, “My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.”
B. When we are weakest in the flesh, the power of God becomes the strongest in the Spirit. This is why Paul could
say later, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”
C. Too many times in battles we try to go in our own power. We will fail every time. The Only way to make
through battles is to rely on the strengthening power of God.
III. A STEADY FAITH - vs. 7 “We will remember the name of the Lord our God”
A. Faith flourishes on past blessings.
B. If you know what God has done in the past, then you have a good indication of what he will do in the future.
C. Too many Christians fall in the battle because they fail to realize who their God is.
1. We are living in dangerous times, we need to remember the name of the Lord our God.
2. Jesus told the Pharisees, “Ye do err, not knowing the Scriptures.” And many of God’s people lack enduring
faith simply because they do not know and therefore cannot claim the promises of God.
3. When we, like Israel, recognize that we do not have the equipment nor man power to fight our enemies, then
we will learn to lean completely on God for our victories. “If God be for us, who can be against us.”
D. “We will Remember”
1. If we could only commit the Word of God to memory, we would be better equipped for our battles.
2. The Key to Success in the Work of God is the Kind of Studying we do in the Word of God.
E. The way to make it through the Battle is to remember the name of the Lord our God.
IV. A SECURED FOE - vs. 8 “They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen, and stand upright.”
A. One spiritual principle that the average Christian has never understood is that they think that Satan still has the
upperhand in all earthly things. This is not so.
1. Christ defeated Satan at Calvary.
2. Because of this victory, we too can live victorious in this present life.
B. Scripture References
1. Romans 5:17 “For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance
of grace and of the gift of righteousness SHALL REIGN IN LIFE by one, Jesus Christ.” This is not the
future but it’s the present.
2. Revelation 1:5-6 “Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, and HATH MADE
US KINGS AND PRIESTS unto God his Father.”
These verses tells us that God has:
a. Loved Us
b. Loosed us
c. Lifted Us
C. II Corinthians 2:14 “Now thanks be unto God, WHICH ALWAYS CAUSETH US TO TRIUMPH IN CHRIST,
and maketh manifest the saviour of his knowledge by us in every place.
1. WE ARE ON THE WINNING SIDE NOW!!!
2. The World, the Flesh and the Devil need not have the upper hand in your life.
3. The Enemy of your soul is head for Hell, but you are headed for Heaven.
4. We need to pray as the song writer wrote, “I’m pressing on the upward way, new heights I’m gaining every
day; still praying as I’m onward bound, Lord plant my feet on higher ground.”
D. The Way to Make it through a Battle is to remember that Christ has already won the battle for you and the Foe
has been secured.
V. A SHELTERING FORT - vs. 9 “Save Lord”
A. Verse nine begins with the shortest prayer in the Bible. Only Two words; but they are enough to get the job
done.
1. Isaiah 59:1 “Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot saved; neither his eear heavy, that it
cannot hear.”
2. James reminds us of the fact “We have not, because we ask not” in chapter 4:2
3. The Lord Himself, admonishes, “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be
opened unto you:....” Matthew 7:7
B. Prayer turns hope into certainty.
C. Confidence in the Lord turns defeat into victory.
D. Prayer will carry us where power will fail.
E. How to make it through a Battle? Take it to the the Sheltering Fort of Prayer!
