Trusting God to Fight Your Battles: A Study of Psalm 35 | Edward Jackson Jr | Sermon Notes — Hello Pastor

Sermon Notes

Trusting God to Fight Your Battles: A Study of Psalm 35

Edward Jackson Jr

Friendship Baptist Church • Mar 4, 2026 • 63 min

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

Summary

In this study of Psalm 35, Pastor Edward Jackson Jr. teaches on how believers can navigate unfair attacks, hostility, and mistreatment from others. Rather than taking revenge or celebrating when enemies fall, Christians are called to let God fight their battles, pray for those who cause them harm, and focus on God's divine deliverance. Through every trial, God guards His people and gives them a powerful testimony to share with others.

Themes

Spiritual WarfareGod's ProtectionPraying for EnemiesVindicationTestimonyDeliverancePraise and Worship

Key Points

1.
Psalm 35 is an imprecatory psalm where David asks God in strong legal and military terms to contend with and defeat his enemies.
2.
God provides both defensive protection (shield and buckler) and offensive defense (spear and javelin) to fight on behalf of His children.
3.
Believers need personal, divine reassurance directly from God to know He has their back during difficult trials.
4.
Experiencing opposition or hatred without cause is nothing new under the sun; spiritual attacks have occurred throughout generations.
5.
When God deals with enemies, believers must not gloat over the enemy's downfall, but instead rejoice in God's deliverance.
6.
True Christian maturity requires praying, fasting, and grieving for those who mistreat you, fulfilling Christ's instruction in the Sermon on the Mount.
7.
When facing overwhelming pressure or feeling like God is silent, believers must commit to praising Him faithfully in the sanctuary.
8.
Sharing your testimony openly is essential for encouraging other believers who are going through similar trials and hardships.

Sermon Moments

“There's nothing new under the sun. The devil been the devil, and the devil been devilin' for a long time.”

“The old saints put it like this: You dig one ditch, you better dig two, cuz the trap you set just might be for you.”

“David is not rejoicing over the destruction of his enemies. He's rejoicing over the deliverance that came from his God.”

“Do you know how crazy it is for people who you know are mistreating you... David said, 'The way they treated me, I did not let that impact how I treated them.'”

“Most bullies ain't tough. They just talk loud. And if they know you quiet and you ain't going to say nothing, they going to keep on bullying you.”

“Sometimes you got to pray, 'God, don't give them a testimony about me.'”

“Don't ever be ashamed of your testimony. The same God that did it for me is the same God that'll do it for you.”

This Week

Surrender personal conflicts and grievances to God, asking Him to litigate and fight the battle on your behalf instead of seeking revenge.

Spend quiet time in prayer listening for God's direct reassurance when you feel isolated or under spiritual attack.

Intentionally pray and fast for someone who has mistreated, criticized, or plotted against you this week.

Guard your heart against gloating or rejoicing when an adversary experiences trouble or downfall.

Refuse to let mistreatment from others dictate your character or alter how kindly you treat them.

Share a portion of your personal testimony with someone who is currently struggling with addiction, financial burden, or hardship.

Encourage fellow church members—such as single parents or those facing mental health battles—by reminding them of God's faithfulness.

Remember This

Trust God to litigate and fight your battles, pray for those who mistreat you, and respond to His deliverance with praise and bold testimony.

A Challenge for You

Hold on just a little while longer, refuse to come down to the level of your enemies, keep praying for those who oppose you, and testify boldly of how God has delivered you.

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