LORD, contend against whoever, whatever contends with us
“But thus says the Lord: “Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, And the prey of the terrible be delivered; For I will contend with him who contends with you, And I will save your children’. Isaiah 49:25
“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” Romans 8:31
EXPOSITION:
There are multiples of multifaceted forces that contend with our peace, joy, and overall well-being on earth. These could be human or non-human forces.
Concerning these contending forces, the writer of Psalm 3, was alarmed and cries to God saying: “LORD, how they have increased who trouble me! Many are they who rise up against me…” The weird and painful thing about this is that these contentions against us are often without justifiable causes, confirming how wicked the world we live in continues to be. May God deliver us. Amen.
After his cry to God, this writer find solace and he said, “But You, O LORD, are a shield for me, my glory and the One who lifts up my head.” Beloved in Christ, when we are bombarded with problems left and right, when forces, human and non-human contend against us without cause, the sure and reasonable place of refuge we should run into is the secret place of the Most High; Jesus, the strong Tower is our Refuge and strength, an ever present Help in times of trouble.
The Bible is replete with scriptures from where we can find comfort, hope and peace. Isaiah 49:25 says: “But thus says the Lord: “Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, And the prey of the terrible be delivered; For I will contend with him who contends with you…” In Psalm: 25:2&3, it written: “To You, O Lord, I lift up my soul. O my God, I trust in You; Let me not be ashamed; Let not my enemies triumph over me. Indeed, let no one who waits on You be ashamed; Let those be ashamed who deal treacherously without cause.” Here’s another golden portion in Psalm 27:2-3 “When the wicked came against me to eat up my flesh, my enemies and foes, they stumbled and fell.”
In addition to these reassuring scriptures, we have also a blessed assurance in Romans 8:31 – “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” And in v. 37, it says – Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.”
Getting these living, powerful words of God on our fingertips to use, there is no doubt that evil forces will think twice before attempting to contend against us for the fear of meeting their Waterloo if they dare to do so!
As we pray this season, may we receive power and the wherewithal to be able to contend effectively with whoever and whatever contends against us; may we overpower and overcome them all in the name of Jesus. Amen. God bless you SHALOM. – Pastor Jide Siwoku
Prayer Points:
1. Father, thank You for Your powerful love for us in that You made a way of escape for us through the sacrifice of Your only begotten Son Jesus. (John 3:16).
2. Father, as we release ourselves to You, whatever comes against Your holiness and sanctification in our lives, wash them away with the blood of Your Son Jesus Christ. (Hebrews 12:14).
3. O Lord, deliver us from the terrible stony hearts ganging up against us in Jesus’ name. (Isaiah 49:25).
4. God heard Daniel’s prayer on the first day, but the enemy blocked the reply. Father, send down Your mighty army to deliver our breakthrough to us in Jesus’ name. (Daniel 10:12-14).
5. Father, contend with anyone who does not want our joy to be full in Jesus’ name.
6. Father, destroy every visible and invisible weapon used to curtail our growth in Jesus’ name.
7. We declare that no weapon fashioned against us shall proper in Jesus’ name. (Isaiah 54:17).
8. O Lord, return all arrows of sicknesses to their senders in Jesus’ name.
9. Father, contend against everyone waiting at the gate of our finances to take it away in Jesus’ name.
10. Father, disappoint the plans of the wicked against our children in Jesus’ name.
11. Father, destroy everything the enemy is using to cause disunity and hatred in the body of Christ in Jesus’ name. (Isaiah 54:15).
12. Father, contend with our glory stealers in Jesus’ name. (John 10:10).
13. O Lord, confound and condemn the gathering of the wicked against our nations in Jesus’ name.
14. We declare that because God is with us, we shall live victoriously in Jesus’ name. (Romans 8:31).
15. Father, at the end of the day, let Your Kingdom become our inheritance in Jesus’ name.
