Better to Crawl in Faith Than Stand in Fear | Carter Conlon | Sermon Notes — Hello Pastor

Sermon Notes

Better to Crawl in Faith Than Stand in Fear

Carter Conlon

Times Square Church • Nov 5, 2026 • 20 min

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Take this message with you through a journey of Scripture, reflection, and prayer.

Summary

In a world where believers often feel overwhelmed by spiritual conflict and circumstances beyond their control, Pastor Carter Conlon reminds us that our battles are fundamentally spiritual, not physical or political. Drawing from the story of Jonathan in 1 Samuel, he demonstrates that God is never limited by human numbers, weapons, or natural strength. When believers humble themselves, get on their knees, and take steps of active faith, God enters the battle and turns fear into victory for His glory.

Themes

Faith vs. FearSpiritual WarfarePrayer and HumilityGod's AnointingGenerational Revival

Key Points

1.
Life's struggles are fundamentally a spiritual war between godlessness and the testimony of Jesus Christ, rather than physical or political conflicts.
2.
God's covenant promise assures believers that He desires to use their lives to display His power and bring glory to His name.
3.
The enemy uses small 'raiding parties'—daily setbacks, temptations, and negative thoughts—to strip away our courage before larger battles even begin.
4.
Jonathan recognized that human numbers do not restrict God, because nothing can restrain the Lord from saving by many or by few.
5.
Standing with God guarantees an absolute majority regardless of how vastly outnumbered or under-resourced we appear in the natural.
6.
Humbling ourselves on our hands and knees brings Almighty God directly into our spiritual battles when we lack human weapons or strength.
7.
Jesus was anointed by the Holy Spirit to bring good news to the spiritually poor, set captives free, open blind eyes, and heal the brokenhearted.
8.
Believers are God's primary plan in this generation to push back spiritual darkness through earnest prayer and active faith.

Sermon Moments

“We may not have swords, but we have knees.”

“When God is brought into the battle, God and I are a majority.”

“It's better to crawl in faith than to stand in fear.”

“The raiding parties are sent out to convince you and I that there's no point to engaging in a larger battle.”

“Somebody on their hands and knees brought God into the battle.”

“There's no secondary plan of God. The plan of God is you.”

“Revival starts with somebody somewhere that just gets down on their knees.”

This Week

Get down on your knees in prayer to invite God directly into the specific spiritual battles facing your family, marriage, or mind.

Refuse to let small daily setbacks or negative thoughts—Satan's 'raiding parties'—rob you of your courage to trust God for victory.

Step out in active faith even when you feel under-equipped, remembering that it is better to move forward in weakness than to stand frozen in fear.

Acknowledge your spiritual helplessness before God, allowing the Holy Spirit to fill you with His strength and guidance.

Commit to praying earnestly for the younger generation, including your children, students, and family members.

Surrender human schemes and clever strategies, relying entirely on God's power and mercy to fight your battles.

Stand firm in the covenant promises of God, trusting that He desires to display His glory and power through your life.

Remember This

It is far better to crawl up a mountain in simple, humble faith than to stand paralyzed in fear before the enemy.

A Challenge for You

Go down on your hands and knees and pray for your family, your mind, your addiction, your situation tonight, because you are the plan of God for this last day.

These are personal sermon notes shared to help you remember the message — not a replacement for Scripture, your church, or your pastors.