War has many faces and the
source of war comes from the spirit that is in mankind. One man’s ideas
are different from another. Someone has greed in their heart and desire
to possess the treasures which belong to someone else. One person desires
to dominate those around him. And occasionally someone wants to bring
correction into a situation and the result is the use of force. Usually
war is one of the most violent acts imaginable.
There are also wars of words. There is a war on poverty as we help
those who cannot help themselves. There is a war against disease as we
come to the aid of those who suffer. There is spiritual warfare that
takes place as we pray and God answers our prayers. And this Tuesday
there will a war that will be fought at the ballot box.
I am delighted that our United States has not succumbed to the philosophy
that differing opinions must be settled in a violent physical response.
We can talk, exchange ideas, and then cast our ballot to reflect our
ideas. I want to enlist you to become that kind of warrior.
The Old Testament recounts a story of war between the Philistines and
Israel. And more specifically, 1 Samuel 17 tells of the battle between
David and Goliath. (The Living Translation)
1 Sam 17
3 So the Philistines and Israelites faced each other on opposite hills,
with the valley between them.
4 Then Goliath … came out of the Philistine ranks to face the forces
of Israel. He was a giant of a man, measuring over nine feet tall!
8 Goliath stood and shouted across to the Israelites, "…
Choose someone to fight for you, and I will represent the Philistines.
9 If
your man is able to kill me, then we will be your slaves. But if I kill
him, you will be our slaves!
10 I defy the armies of Israel! Send me a man who will fight
with me!"
11 When Saul and the Israelites heard this, they were terrified and
deeply shaken.
The war between the Philistines and the Israelites was a war of dominance …
a war for territory. The antagonism had first begun when Abraham, Isaac, and
Jacob lived within the territory of the Philistines, there were often disputes
over the wells which were dug as to whether or not the Jewish people could
keep their wells. Yet this was the land that God promised to give to Israel.
When Israel left Egypt, God had declared to Moses that the sin of the
Philistines had come to a full measure and there was no remedy. The Israelites
took the land from the Philistines and made it their home and it set
off a continual struggle for the land! Now the Philistines have a champion
… Goliath the giant!
Did you know that you and your possessions once belonged to the devil? Adam
and Eve gave you away with all your possessions when they willingly obeyed
the devil instead of maintaining their commitment to God. But Christ purchased
you back! From that time until now, all believers wage spiritual warfare in
order to obtain … and to maintain … the possessions which Christ has freely
given to you!
Did you hear the words of Goliath? He said, “I defy the army of Israel!”
When Satan defies you, he is also defying the Lord Jesus Christ because
you now belong to Him! You and must have an answered prepared! Look how
Israel responded:
I Samuel 17
23 … David saw Goliath, the champion from Gath, come out from the Philistine
ranks, shouting his challenge to the army of Israel. 24 As soon as the
Israelite army saw him, they began to run away in fright.
25 "Have you seen the giant?" the men were asking. "He
comes out each day to challenge Israel. And have you heard about the
huge reward the king has offered to anyone who kills him? The king will
give him one of his daughters for a wife, and his whole family will be
exempted from paying taxes!"
26 David talked to some others standing there to verify the report.
Have you seen people running from the Goliath’s in the land? There
are people all around us who are terrified of the gigantic problems in
Iraq, Iran, and North Korea. There are people who are terrified of our
government policies. There are people who are terrified about the economy.
There are people who are terrified of the Republicans … and others who
are terrified of the Democrats! They are terrorized by Satan.
David wasn’t terrified. He heard the words of Goliath, and then the
report of rewards for the one who killed Goliath and he was confident
those rewards could become his own! Wow!
I know we are in a very serious situation our world, but in the middle
of all that I hear the words of Christ …
1 John 4:4
4 You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He
who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
David was ready to be an overcomer! But did you know that not everyone
wants you to be an overcomer? David’s own family was against his interest
in overcoming!
28 But when David's oldest brother, Eliab, heard David talking
to the men, he was angry. "What are you doing around here anyway?" he
demanded. "What about those few sheep you're supposed to be taking
care of? I know about your pride and dishonesty. You just want to see
the battle!"
29 "What have I done now?" David replied. "I
was only asking a question!"
When you tell people that prayer is the answer to the world’s problems
… that intercessory prayer can change nations and the hearts of our rulers
… that wars can be stopped by our combined faith … you will probably
get some odd looks. But may I add that faith without works is dead? Faith
without voting is dead. Faith without giving to help the poor, the sick,
and the hungry is dead. Faith without writing letters to your Congressman
is dead. Faith without a positive action from you … is dead!
1 Samuel 17
40 David picked up five smooth stones from a stream and put them in
his shepherd's bag. Then, armed only with his shepherd's staff and sling,
he started across to fight Goliath.
41 Goliath walked out toward David with his shield bearer ahead of him,
sneering in contempt at this ruddy-faced boy.
43 "Am I a dog," he roared at David, "that you come at
me with a stick?" And he cursed David by the names of his gods. "Come
over here, and I'll give your flesh to the birds and wild animals!" Goliath
yelled.
45 David shouted in reply, "You come to me with sword,
spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD Almighty
— the God
of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.
46 Today the LORD will conquer you, and I will kill you and cut off
your head. And then I will give the dead bodies of your men to the birds
and wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in
Israel!
47 And everyone will know that the LORD does not need weapons
to rescue his people. It is his battle, not ours. The LORD will give
you to us!"
48 As Goliath moved closer to attack, David quickly ran out to meet
him.
49 Reaching into his shepherd's bag and taking out a stone, he hurled
it from his sling and hit the Philistine in the forehead. The stone sank
in, and Goliath stumbled and fell face downward to the ground.
50 So David triumphed over the Philistine giant with only a stone and
sling. And since he had no sword, he ran over and pulled Goliath's sword
from its sheath. David used it to kill the giant and cut off his head.
One young man changed the war plan for that day. One young man led his nation
to victory. Our US Army uses that as a slogan: “An Army of one.” Because of
one man or one woman will take a step of faith … a step of leadership … there
will be a victory!
Are you willing to pray? To express your faith? To vote your ballot?
To take leadership in doing good? To give what you can so others will
have their needs met? Are you ready for battle? Are you ready for God’s
victory? Lead on!
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