Fight with Confidence 1 Kings 20:1-30
It should be quite obvious and apparent to us today that we all face different trials, struggles, temptations, and even battles in our lives.
One of the greatest tools that we have in our disposal in spiritual warfare is confidence. Confidence: Firm belief, Assurance, Certainty
Athletes and soldiers speak often about the need to be confident on the field.
In our example today we will look at two specific battles and how confidence affects the outcome.
King Ahab of Israel versus King Ben-Hadad of Syria.
1 Kings 20: 1 – 4, 10 – 11, 23 – 30
A. The overconfidence of the enemy.
Ben Hadad has threatened to take over Israel.
He simply sent word that he was coming and assumed that Ahab we just give up.
Intimidation is a powerful tool.
He had a great army (32 kings), and a great ego. But he had a bad plan.
Intimidation Illustration: A wealthy man took his faithful dog on Safari with him in Africa. One day the dog wanders off into a field and soon discovers he is lost. Before long he notices a leopard heading rapidly in his direction preparing for attack. He quickly noticed some bones on the ground close by and immediately began to chew on them with his back to the approaching cat. Just as the leopard is about to leap the dog exclaims loudly “wow, that was one delicious leopard. I wonder if there are any more around here?”
The leopard quickly halts his attack and slinks away into the trees. “Whew that was close. That dog nearly had me.”
A monkey was watching in the tree nearby and figures he can put his knowledge to good use and gain an ally. He tells the big cat about the dogs’ deception. The monkey and the leopard created an alliance and the monkey hopped on the leopard’s back to confront the dog and enjoy the slaughter.
Meanwhile the dog sees the leopard, with the monkey on his back, as they are about to attack the dog says loudly “Where’s that monkey. I can never trust him. I sent him out half an hour ago to bring me another leopard, and he’s still not back!”
Intimidation is a powerful tool.
Ben Hadad sent word to Ahab that he would take his gold, silver, wives, and children. Then he added the servants. Satan is never satisfied.
At first Ahab gave in – he was completely intimidated by the confidence of the enemy. (4)
(8) “Do not listen or consent” was the response from the people of Israel.
Sometimes we need encouragement. Sometimes we need confidence. Sometime we need to know we are not alone.
Our enemy will tell you many lies to get you to hear him roar or scare you into submission without even going to battle.
He is the father of lies. He is unscrupulous and uncaring.
“Everybody else is doing it” – “it’s just this once” – “no one will know” – “you can’t win” – “giving in is not so bad”.
I love Ahab’s response to Ben Hadad’s threats.
Now that he knows that he is not alone.
He gives a great comeback!
(11) “Let not the one who puts on his armor boast like the one who takes it off.”
Idioms Don’t count your chickens before they hatch.
Don’t count your victories before the battle.
Don’t count your money while sitting at the table.
Don’t bite off more than you can chew.
It’s not over until the fat lady sings.
The battle has not even been fought, so you can’t brag about how great you are until it’s over.
The overconfident are often surprised by the well-prepared.
“Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard” Tim Tebow.
Ben Hadad was supremely overconfident and his forces and his gods.
(18) “Take them alive” that’s how great we are, they won't even resist enough to make it a fight.
Despite the threats and intimidation’s – Israel went to battle and won decisively.
How? Why?
A) They have a greater God. God sent word to fight.
B) They didn’t shy away. Confident in God
C) They expected the battle to be tough. Each man did his job
D) They had nothing to lose. Hadad was going to attack.
Round one goes to God’s people – Israel.
The enemy is never satisfied (let’s go two out of three).
(23-30) Ben Hadad comes up with a new plan. This one is ridiculous.
His advisers gave him new advice.
The Israelites only won on the mountains because to God is only good in the mountains, but if they fight in the Valley their God is weak and they cannot win.
They (the Syrians) obviously have never walk by faith before.
It is true it’s easier to fight with the high ground or to resist while on the mountain top.
But never underestimate the strength it takes to go through a valley!
Unfortunately, we have to many “commercial Christians” and churches today.
As long as life is good – they will praise God and be comfortable.
If life goes bad – they blame God and get angry towards him.
Ben Hadad may have been right about many people today.
They can fight from a mountaintop but not in the Valley.
To be truthful – faith is the opposite.
The Valley is where we most rely on God.
The Valley is where we find our faith to be real.
The Valley is where we are tested the most.
But, God is the same whether it is a mountain or a Valley – He is still in control.
Many of us have gone through Valley and been attacked while we were there.
It seems so unfair “kicking us when we are down”, but our enemies don’t care, they look for the easiest places to defeat us.
The enemy wants to beat you down, discourage you, intimidate you, and defeat you.
It takes less effort to beat you down in the Valley than it does to knock you off of a mountaintop. (King of the hill game)
(28) Ahab was made aware of the enemy’s plan of attack and his claim that they were weak and the Valley.
What an insult to think that God is not God of all.
He doesn’t just love you when things are all good.
He doesn’t just protect you when it’s convenient.
He doesn’t waver at the sight of difficult times in your life.
Look at the promise of God!
(28) “Therefore I will deliver all this great multitude into your hand and you shall know that I am the Lord God.”
The battle plans are switched – the overconfident enemy has underestimated God.
B) The confidence of God.
God knows all, sees all, and has power over all mountains, hills, and valleys.
It is not up to Israel to defeat Ben Hadad. They know they can’t!
All they have to do is trust God to deliver them in the Valley just like he delivered them on the mountain.
God promises a great victory – all (28)
All means all – very important that we are all in.
Notice who the victory was for.
Not for the enemy sake – although God reputation would grow from this victory.
It was for Israel sakes so that they could see that God is all-powerful from valleys to mountaintops.
(28) “And you shall know that I am the Lord God.”
(29) For six days they encamped across from the Syrians.
Both sides prepared for battle – it was inevitable.
The Syrians were confident that the God of Israel could not beat them.
The Israelites were assured that God would lead them to victory.
Do you think the Israelites could have had doubts?
We doubt sometime too. – they had already won a great victory over Syria.
God is undefeated.
Has not God given you victories in your life?
Yet for some reason we forget begin to doubt.
Six days passed – the anticipation, anxiety, and agony of knowing that battle was upon them was real.
They did not retreat – though they were severely outnumbered.
They did not run – though they were surrounded and already in a Valley.
On the seventh day the battle began.
Here it comes, a full on attack, an onslaught from the enemy, coming down from everywhere.
How can God deliver us from such an overwhelming enemy and such a terrible position?
(29) The Israelites slaughtered 100,000 foot soldiers of Syria in one day.
How impressive was that? (27) They were described as flocks of goats.
(30) Some Syrians fled from the battle including King Ben Hadad.
God dropped the city wall on the 27,000 of them that ran.
Remember – God said (28) “I will deliver all”.
Remember- God is God on the mountain and in the valley and evidently at the city wall!
Only King Ben Hadad survived – God delivered him into Ahab’s hands to complete the victory.
But Ahab did not allow God to give the ultimate victory by letting Ben Hadad live.
When God promises to deliver – he does!
We must be obedient and destroy all of the enemy when in battle because if we fail to do so the enemy will come back.
That is perhaps one of our greatest weaknesses.
You may win a battle here and there but never eliminate the source.
We leave a little around for sentimental value.
(Sentimental sin – the old man who keeps corrupting and warring with us.)
Conclusion:
God is God on the mountains and in the valleys.
Friend if we don’t let God destroy, annihilate, and eliminate those things are in our lives that are out to destroy us, they will keep coming back and we will have to keep fighting them.
They will show up in the Valley of discouragement, despair, drudgery and even try to place doubt in our minds.
Things like – “Your God is only good when things are good.”
But where is God when things are not so good?”
Here friend you can lean on me, trust me, let me win this one for you. I will not kill you, just take you captive (18).
Lies – lies – lies!
The Syrians set out to take Israel captive and to kill them just like the enemy does today.
Good news – God is the God of the mountains and valleys and God can deliver you in both. You can fight back with confidence in God!
Invitation:
How do you fight your battles?
Are you fighting in your own strength? (or with God)
Are you losing more than you win?
Who do you fight the most with?
I am my own worst enemy sometimes.
Satan gives me fits (temptation, trials, difficult circumstances).
Are you intimidated or overwhelmed by the power of the enemy?
Will you allow God to fight the battle for you?
He guarantees victory (total victory and the spoils).
The secret (not really so secret) is to trust God before and during the fight.
Mountains, valleys and everywhere in between is under Gods authority.
