How can we rely on God's deliverance in our own spiritual battles today? Micah’s Picture of Deliverance • Micah 5:6: “And they will rule the land of Assyria with the sword, the land of Nimrod with a drawn blade; so He will deliver us from Assyria when it invades our land, when it marches against our borders.” • In Micah’s day, Assyria was the fiercest military power on earth. Israel had no human means to repel it. • The promise: God Himself would step in—raising up deliverers who “rule…with the sword,” yet the decisive victory is “He will deliver us.” • Assyria’s invasion pictures every force that threatens God’s people—sin, temptation, spiritual oppression (Ephesians 6:12). Seeing the Ultimate Deliverer • Micah 5:2–5 points directly to the coming Messiah born in Bethlehem; verse 6 flows from that same promise. • Jesus fulfills the role: – Colossians 2:15 “He disarmed the rulers and authorities and made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.” – Hebrews 2:14 “Through death He destroyed the one who has the power of death—that is, the devil.” • Because Christ has already won, believers fight from victory, not for victory (1 Corinthians 15:57). What Spiritual “Assyrias” Look Like Today • Persistent sin patterns that feel overpowering • Accusations and condemnation from the enemy (Revelation 12:10) • Cultural hostility to biblical truth • Personal crises that threaten faith—fear, anxiety, doubt How to Rely on God’s Deliverance Now 1. Recognize the invasion • Stay alert (1 Peter 5:8). Call the threat what it is—an assault on your soul. 2. Remember the covenant promise • “He will deliver us” is as certain today as when first spoken (2 Corinthians 1:20). 3. Stand in Christ’s finished work • Revelation 12:11 “They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony.” 4. Clothe yourself in God’s armor (Ephesians 6:10-17) • Truth, righteousness, gospel readiness, faith, salvation, Word of God. 5. Wield the “drawn blade” of Scripture • Matthew 4:4-10 shows Jesus repelling Satan with “It is written.” So do we. 6. Engage in steadfast prayer • Ephesians 6:18 “Pray in the Spirit at all times…with all perseverance.” 7. Seek the support of fellow believers • Ecclesiastes 4:12 “A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” 8. Walk in obedient faith • James 4:7 “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” Encouraging Promises for Today’s Battles • 1 John 4:4 “He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” • Psalm 34:7 “The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him, and delivers them.” • 2 Thessalonians 3:3 “The Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one.” • Isaiah 54:17 “No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you.” Walking Forward in Confidence • The God who crushed Assyria is the same Lord who crushes sin and Satan under our feet (Romans 16:20). • Victory is not self-generated; it is received by faith and acted upon in obedience. • Every battle becomes an occasion to prove again, “so He will deliver us.” |
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