Scripture 2 Samuel 23:20 NKJV

²⁰Benaiah was the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man from Kabzeel, who had done many deeds. He had killed two lion-like heroes of Moab. He also had gone down and killed a lion in the midst of a pit on a snowy day. ²¹ And he killed an Egyptian, a spectacular man. The Egyptian had a spear in his hand; so he went down to him with a staff, wrested the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand, and killed him with his own spear. ²² These things Benaiah the son of Jehoiada did, and won a name among three mighty men.

Title: Chase the Lion – Learning from Congressman John Lewis

Introduction

Think about this for a second, here we have a man who deliberately jumped down into a pit that has a lion in it. This isn’t a modern day person with all kinds of 21^st century technology, this man goes in to do hand-to-paw combat believing that he will come out victorious. Not only is this man in the pit with a lion, but it was also a damp, snowy day. It was cold outside and it was hard for the man to get good footing in that pit, unlike the lion that had claws it could use. The lion had every advantage working in his favor. There was no reason for the lion to lose

Someone is facing a situation like Benaiah to where life has every advantage and you don’t know how you’re going to make it.

The lion that you’re in the pit facing is your health

The lion that you’re in the pit facing is your finances

The lion that you’re in the pit facing in a pit is your career

The lion that you’re in the pit facing is an uncontrollable child

But I have good news for you the lion lost to Benaiah and your lion will lose to you.

Dear brothers and sisters I know what some of you’re thinking, I’m not a warrior. But guess what Benaiah grew up in a levite/priest home. But he adapted to his situation, and you might not have grown up doing a thing but it’s time to adapt.

POINT 1 CONGRESSMAN LEWIS TEACHES US COURAGE IS AN ACTION WORD

Many of us have heard of the saying Bloody Sunday which took place March 7, 1965: where young John Lewis and many others marched across the Edmund Pettus Bridge for the rights of African Americans. This is important because in the fight for the things God has called you to have you might get a little bloody, a few bruises, a few headaches, a few heartaches but in the end hang on because you will win.

I came remind someone this morning you was made to deal with this season because you’ve been broke before, you’ve had times where you didn’t see friends before, you’ve had times when you had to go weeks without getting hair/nails done. If you made it out before you can make it out of this one again.

POINT 2 CONGRESSMAN LEWIS TEACHES US TO HAVE COURAGE AND A STRATEGY

You see dear brothers and sisters what Help Congressman Lewis to be successful in his work was his strategy to get result. Thos strategies put things in the spotlight to bring about the necessary change.

This is important because it’s not just about what you do but when you do it as well. Some of you God has given you goal but you have to think about when to do it because some plans will be successful when the obstacles are the greatest.

I think many of us think it was crazy for this man to go in the pit when it was snowing but the pit was part of this man’s strategy. I don’t know if this pandemic is part of God’s strategy but it has allowed us to rethink some things.

POINT 3 CONGRESSMAN JOHN LEWIS TEACHES US IT’S OKAY TO GET INTO GOOD TROUBLE

It’s impossible to talk about John Lewis without talking about his faith. Lewis was a civil rights leader, a legislator, an author, and a mentor to many. But he was always a preacher. The day he and I shared the stage, he gave a version of a speech he must have given thousands of times — about growing up in a two-room “shotgun shack” and practicing his preaching with chickens as his audience.

Congressman Lewis got into trouble for the right reason. But he utilized his faith in God to help him determine when/what He should fight. Get into good trouble. Learn to disrupt the norm when God is telling you.

Conclusion 

When it comes to God moment or God moments you will see that it is important to keep moving forward. You have a lion to kill and don’t let it scare you. The bible says, eyes have not seen, ears have not heard neither has it entered the heart of men the things which God has prepared for those who love Him. God is not finished with you. Be courageous even when it seems like you should be afraid. You win even in this season.