NO WEAPON FORMED AGAINST YOU SHALL PROSPER
Isa. 54:17
INTRODUCTION
A. HUMOR:
1. A young couple, very much in love, were getting married in a church. However, Sue, the bride, was very nervous. So the Pastor decided to include the verse, 1 John 4:18 to calm her down, “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out all fear.”
2. However, when the time of the wedding came, the Pastor got Covid and asked the assistant pastor to do it. Unfortunately, the assistant pastor didn’t know the Bible as well and didn’t know the difference between First John and the Gospel of John.
3. So at the beginning of the wedding, he stressed that the Pastor had said this verse specially applied to the bride, Sue. He read John 4:18, which says, “You have had five husbands and the one that you now have is not your husband!”
B. ORIGIN OF MESSAGE
1. The other day I woke up depressed; a difficulty in my life had me down. All I could think about was my problem. Suddenly my phone dinged with a text. “Who could be writing at this early hour,” I thought.
2. It was from one of our prayer warriors who said, “I was just praying, and the Lord told me to send you this message from Him.” It was this scripture:
C. TEXT & TITLE
1. “No weapon that is formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue that shall arise against you in judgment you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of Me," declares the LORD.
2. So that’s the title of this morning’s message; “No Weapon Formed Against You Shall Prosper!”
I. THE BLACKSMITH & HIS WEAPONS
A. WE HAVE A DETERMINED ENEMY WHO IS OUT TO DESTROY US
1. First, Isa. 54:17 tells us there’s a real enemy who’s seeking to destroy us. That’s why we can’t be lackadaisical, or get too comfortable. When you're in a war zone, you can’t forget there's an enemy who wants to take you out.
2. Can you imagine a soldier in a battle, putting his gun down and idly standing there trimming his fingernails? No! He’d be a dead soldier!
B. THAT HE HAS FORGED WEAPONS AGAINST YOU
1. Next, this verse tells us that the weapons that our enemy forms are uniquely crafted for each one of us. Our weaknesses are studied; our vulnerabilities are observed. Which people, around us, can fail us? What situations can shake our faith?
2. The enemy’s tactics are designed to cause us maximum spiritual confusion and damage.
3. Haman plotted not only to destroy Mordecai, but all the Jews. Haman imagined Mordecai swinging from a lofty gallows. But there’s a God in the courts of heaven and an Esther in the Palace of Shushan. Instead of Mordecai hanging on the gallows, it was Haman!
C. THESE WEAPONS ARE UNEXPECTED
1. In addition, the devil uses things you wouldn't expect -- to hinder you, and throw you off track.
2. Examples:
a. Your Past b. An Addiction
c. Sickness d. Loss of family member
e. Depression f. Series of catastrophes
g. A Job mishap h. Car troubles
3. MANY OF US HAVE STRONGHOLDS:
a. Satan uses our KIDS;
b. He causes FINANCIAL STRESS;
c. Or chronic HEALTH PROBLEMS;
d. MARITAL PROBLEMS;
e. LONELINESS or DEPRESSION.
f. Some of you battle TEMPTATIONS: pornography, alcohol, drugs, cigarettes, cursing, unforgiveness, bad thoughts, sex outside marriage, etc.
4. If the enemy can’t stop you, he wants to make you ineffective and unproductive for the kingdom. But you don't have to allow that; "No weapon formed against you shall prosper!
II. ISA. 54:17 SAYS “TONGUE” “ACCUSATIONS”
A. CRITICISM IS A MAIN WEAPON
1. Why are weapons aimed at me? Because 1). you can’t be a servant of God without becoming an enemy of the devil; 2). You’re in a war zone between heaven & hell; 3). What appears to be bad, right now, may ultimately turn out to be for our or someone else’s good, Rom. 8:28.
2. THE POWER OF CRITICISM. The accusations the devil throws at us are his attempt to separate us from God through guilt, shame, or despair. We have a choice: either to run away from God or to face God, acknowledge our sin, and be forgiven & set free.
3. Rev. 12:11 says, “They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb & the word of their testimony!” The Blood of Jesus & our faith in God, despite what we see, overcome the road-blocks of the enemy.
B. RESPONDING TO CRITICISM
1. Nobody likes being judged or criticized. How do we usually respond to criticism? Many people defend themselves, get mad, or say equally bad things.
2. The Bible says that when Jesus was insulted, he didn't offer insult in return. When he was abused, he didn't abuse in return. He trusted that God would take up for Him. The best way to respond to critics is to act like Jesus!
3. ILLUS: IT’S EASY TO CRITICIZE
a. A manager of a minor league baseball team was so disgusted with his center fielder’s performance that he ordered him to the dugout and assumed that position himself.
b. The FIRST ball to him took a bad hop and hit the manager in the mouth. The SECOND was a high fly ball which he lost in the glare of the sun—until it bounced off his forehead. The THIRD was a line drive that flew between his hands and smacked his eye.
c. Furious, he ran back to the dugout, grabbed the center fielder by the uniform, and shouted. ‘You idiot! You’ve got center field so messed up that even I can’t do anything with it!’ [In Discipleship Journal, Don McCullough; Wake Up Calls, Ron Hutchcraft, Moody, 1990, p. 46] HE SOWED, AND HE REAPED!
4. Satan wants you angry, filled with unforgiveness and bitter. Satan loves division. He loves to tear up families, tear up marriages, tear up friendships, and tear up churches. It’s time we wised up and said, "I’m not going to be part of that."
5. Psalm 133 talks about unity. If you want God’s blessing, you’ve got to get the strife out of your life! Peace equals power. Where there's no peace, God’s power is absent. Satan wants us angry at everybody, but God wants us to remain steady in every storm.
III. YOU ARE INVINCIBLE IN CHRIST
A. HELL LOST POWER OVER US AT CALVARY!
1. Satan says,
a. "You will never change/be healed.
b. “You will never get over this problem.”
c. “You will never see your loved ones saved.”
d. “Your church will never see revival.”
2. I've got good news today: Satan is a Liar! Jesus says, "The thief has come only to steal and kill and destroy; BUT I HAVE COME that they may have life, and have it to the full!” John 10:10.
3. “I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans to PROSPER you and NOT to HARM you; plans to give you a HOPE and a FUTURE." Jeremiah 29:11.
4. Now, the fact that the scripture says, “No weapon formed against you shall prosper” doesn't mean nothing can hurt us, but that it cannot do us any permanent long-term damage if we keep our trust in God. In John 16:33, Jesus said, "In the world, you will have tribulation. Cheer up. I have overcome the world." The AMPC Version says, "I have deprived it of the power to harm you." 1 John 3:8 says, "The reason the Son of God was made manifest [came] was to UNDO the works of the devil.” Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed.
5. Change your thinking & your feelings will change. Instead of thinking hopeless thoughts, think, "I've got hope. This is going to change. I can do this. God will help me.”
6. Nothing the enemy can throw at us will sink us, if we're walking with God! Balaam (Numbers 23), a sorcerer, tried to curse the Israelites, but couldn’t: his curses were turned into blessings!
B. WE HAVE POWER OVER HELL
1. Walter Knight told about a man from India who came to Europe to study law and languages. In Paris he got involved with Madam Blavatsky, and began to channel evil spirits.
2. He later became a Christian. It was then that he came under satanic attack by the spirits. Night after night he was awakened, and felt their evil presence around him. He kept praying to God for help.
3. At last the voice of God got through, saying, “Mention the Blood!” He then spoke to the spirits, commanding them, by the precious blood of Jesus, to leave him! The spirits left him completely, and never returned! [3,000 Illus. for Christian Service, Walter Knight, p. 209] YOU ARE INVINCIBLE IN CHRIST!
C. YOU ARE PERFECTLY SAFE
1. "NO Weapon." Think how diverse are the weapons of man. From hand grenades, to guns, to missiles, to bombs and land mines, to booby-traps, planes, drones, to all kinds of explosives; laser beams, atom and neutron bombs, tanks and artillery, soundwave weapons, EM pulse, cyber, etc.
2. And imagine that out of all of them, universally, not one could harm you! Not even one! You are PERFECTLY SAFE! There is no way that harm can come to you. You should have no fear; you should rest in perfect peace.
CONCLUSION
A. ILLUSTRATION: New Christian Miraculously Saved from Death and Shame
1. Hawa Ahmed was a Muslim student in North Africa. One day, she read a Christian tract in her dormitory and decided to become a Christian. Her father was an Emir (Islamic ruler), so she expected to lose her inheritance because of her conversion. She was completely unprepared for what happened.
2. When she told her family she had become a Christian and changed her name to Faith, her father exploded in rage. Her father and brothers stripped her naked and bound her to a chair fixed to a metal plate with which they wanted to electrocute her.
3. Faith asked if she could have a Bible in her lap. Her father allowed it but her brothers added, "That will show that your religion is powerless." Although bound, she was able to touch a corner of the Bible. She felt a strange peace, as though someone were standing beside her.
4. Her father and brothers pushed the plug into the electric socket—and nothing happened. They tried four times with various cables, but it was as though the electricity refused to flow. Finally her father, angry and frustrated, hit her and screamed, "You are no longer my daughter."
5. They threw her into the street, naked. She ran to a friend who let her in, clothed her, and gave her shelter. The next day, her friend asked neighbors what they had thought when they had seen Faith running naked through the streets. They said, "That girl had a wonderful white dress on.”
6. God had hidden her nakedness from their eyes, clothing her in a beautiful white dress. Today, Faith is a full-time evangelist with “Every Home for Christ.” [Guido Kuwas, Global Revival News, 12-17-01; also reported in Christianity Today]
B. THE CALL
1. It doesn’t matter if we’re OUTNUMBERED.
2. It doesn’t matter if we have FEW RESOURCES.
3. It doesn’t matter how IMPOSSIBLE THE CIRCUMSTANCES. “[God] holds victory in store for the upright” Prov. 2:7, NIV1984.
4. “No weapon formed against you shall prosper!”
5. It’s time for you to be set free! You’ve been bound long enough. Come forward in Jesus’ name and let’s pray for liberty. Prayer partners come.
6. Do you have some areas in your life that you want to get victory over?
