Confront To Conquer Part 4 by Apostle Johnson Suleman: MP3 Download & Sermon Notes

Recap of Previous Points

2 Kings 4:1-7 forms the foundation of this series. Over the previous sessions, the following elements for conquest were covered:

1. Urgency
2. Opened eyes
3. The honour system
4. The voice of God
5. Relationship with the Holy Spirit
6. The concept of prayer
7. Forgiveness and bitterness — Point 7

Point 7 — Dealing with Bitterness

In 2 Kings 4:3, the woman was instructed to borrow vessels — but it was her sons she sent. To enjoy a life of conquest, bitterness must be dealt with.

There is a direct connection between forgiveness and answered prayer. James 5:16 says: confess your faults to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed — first confess.

Matthew 16:15-19 — The binding and loosing authority of the believer is conditional. If your brother offends you, go to him. If he refuses, take two witnesses. If he still refuses, bring it to the elders. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven — but until relational issues are resolved, do not presume to bind anything.

The Case of Ahithophel

2 Samuel 16:23 — Ahithophel's counsel was regarded as if a man had inquired of the oracles of God. He had prophetic precision and accuracy. Yet he died dishonourably.

2 Samuel 11:3 and 2 Samuel 23:34 reveal that Bathsheba was the granddaughter of Ahithophel. David had killed Uriah — Ahithophel's grandson-in-law. The man held a grievance. His connectivity with God was not enough to shield him from the destruction that bitterness brought.

2 Samuel 15:12 — While offering sacrifices at Giloh, Ahithophel was recruited into Absalom's conspiracy. He was looking for an opportunity to strike David. His proximity to God and his prophetic accuracy were ultimately cut short by bitterness.

When you forgive, forgiveness does not make the forgiven powerful — it makes the forgiver free.

Hebrews 12:14-15 — Follow peace with all men and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord. Looking diligently lest any root of bitterness spring up and trouble you — despite your prayer, despite your service, despite your intimacy, despite your connection to God — any root of bitterness will trouble you and defile many.

I decree cleansing. I decree a release in your spirit. You will no more walk in bitterness.

Testimony — The Pastor's Wife

A pastor's wife was brought for prayer after a caesarean delivery that led to a rupture. While holding her hand, the Lord said, "Stop. She is angry with Me." When confronted, she confessed her bitterness — she felt that her anointing was for child-bearing prayer for others, yet she herself had suffered difficulty. After counsel and releasing the offense against God, a visible glow came over her. She could not walk when she arrived, but after forgiving God, her legs responded. She stood, walked, and was told to stay for three days. When the minister returned, she was totally whole. The problem was grief held bound.

Three Levels of Offense

A woman in Luke 13 was bowed together in the synagogue for eighteen years — still present, still worshipping, yet bound.

There are three categories of those held by offense:

1. Offense against others — Someone did or said something. The trauma resurfaces whenever you see them.
2. Offense against yourself — Unable to forgive personal failures or choices made.
3. Offense against God — The most dangerous. John the Baptist, the greatest man born of woman, sent a message from prison asking if Jesus was truly the one. He was offended. Jesus had enough divine backing to walk out of prison — but he did not, because bitterness held him. John was greater than Abraham, greater than Isaac, greater than David — yet he died unnecessarily.

When God says offenses will come, He adds: "Woe to him by whom offenses come." When people hurt you, leave them to the Lord. Unforgiveness ruins the one who refuses to let go. It has kept many on one spot for too long.

Let the offense go. God has a plan for your life. Every word of God spoken over you will receive accelerated fulfilment.

How a husband treats his wife is how God treats his prayers (1 Peter 3:7). Grief toward your wife can hinder answers to prayer.

The opposite of love is not hate — it is indifference. When you reach the point where a past hurt has no hold over you, where you think of it and simply smile — that is freedom.

Every root of bitterness in my heart and spirit, be consumed by fire.

The heaviness is rolled away. The spirit of God will touch your heart and modify your spirit. In Jesus name.

Point 8 — Seeking God

Psalm 34:10 — The young lions do lack and suffer hunger, but they that seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing. If you seek God and still lack a thing, it means that thing is not good for you.

The height of answered prayer is not when what you expect is granted. The Lord said: "The height of answered prayer is when I structure an arrangement that ushers in more of Myself into your life. It is not the availability of things, but the availability of My presence."

Jeremiah 1:1 — The name Jeremiah means Yahweh has uplifted me. The name Hilkiah (his father's name) means Yahweh answers prayer. The proof that Yahweh has answered your prayer is that Yahweh becomes your passion. And when Yahweh is your passion, upliftment follows.

Jeremiah 29:13 — They shall seek Me and find Me when they seek for Me with all their heart.

Paul said: That I may know Him — and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings. When I know Him, something is communicated, uncovered, revealed, released.

Matthew 6:33 — Seek His interest first. Promote His interest. We love Him not for what He does, but because He first loved us (1 John 4:19).

Romans 5:8 — God commended His love toward us in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Your love for God is the driving force. Everyone who enjoyed acceleration in the covenant — every kingdom high-flier — rode on the wings of love.

When you seek Him, money loses value. Materialism loses value.

1 John 3:1 — Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called the children of God. John 13:1 — Having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.

Legalistic messages are not rooted in God's word. The Lord said: "Son, I always wait for My own. I do not cast them out." Sin destroys you more than it offends God. When you go into sin, the consequences are to you — not primarily to God. Being holy is not doing God a service; it upholds your own health, sanity, and spiritual clarity.

God wants you to daily, in no detail, live connected to His guidance. No detail is immaterial — who you marry, the name of your children, where you walk, where you migrate.

Testimony — Held Back from the Flight

While praying after a programme, the Lord held back from departing. The team knocked repeatedly — "We will miss the flight." But there was no release in prayer. After waiting, they went to the airport. Everyone on the plane had been deboarded because a young man with wired explosives had been found — raising questions of complicity at the security level. The Lord had held back through prayer. As you seek Him, matters are addressed. As you seek Him, clarity comes.

Ask God about everything. Spirit of God, guide me. Thank God for the earthquake, thank God for the fire — but sometimes God is not in them. He is always in His voice.

The Holy Ghost will introduce Himself to you. Times will change. Seasons will change. I decree over your life — every word of God spoken over you will receive accelerated fulfilment. Let the offense go.