The Giant in front of you is not bigger than the God inside of you.
Case Study - David and Goliath 1Samuel 17
Case Study - David and Goliath 1Samuel 17
"Now the Philistines gathered together their armies to battle,..."(vs 1)It was time for war with the Philistines. The Children of Israel with their King gathered, "And Saul and the men of Israel were gathered together,..."(vs 2)
They thought it was just like the usual battles against the Philistines. They prepare to attack with assurance of victory, not knowing the enemies had fortified their camp.
Something made their heart shrunk. "And there went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span...."(vs4).
This champion, Goliath challenged the God of the Israelites, "And he stood and cried unto the armies of Israel, and said unto them, Why are ye come out to set your battle in array? Am not I a Philistine, and ye servants to Saul? choose you a man for you, and let him come down to me."
"And the Philistine said, I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together. When Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine, they were dismayed, and greatly afraid." (vs 10 - 11)
The battles we face daily challenge us in such manner. Most times you say to yourself - how can I make it through?...they challenged our stand. They challenged the God in us.
Goliath that confronted Israel that day was not just a giant, he was raging spirits. The true meaning of Goliath is raging spirits. This was a man filled with raging, fierce spirits that cannot be tamed. Same way the mountain or giants in front of you is empowered by evil spirits.
Goliath that confronted Israel that day was not just a giant, he was raging spirits. The true meaning of Goliath is raging spirits. This was a man filled with raging, fierce spirits that cannot be tamed. Same way the mountain or giants in front of you is empowered by evil spirits.
Many are faced with trials that have defiled the glory of God in their life. But what went wrong. Many are challenged with difficulties that seemed to be overshadowing the promises of God in their lives - "I have tried all, why this?" "People are asking,'where is my God' " What went wrong?
Why did it have to last for 40 days before breakthrough came through a youth - David
Why did it have to last for 40 days before breakthrough came through a youth - David
Don't forget your identity
He wrongly called them, "...and ye servants to Saul?" They foolishly swallowed that lie. They weren't servants of Saul even though he was their King. They totally forgot. They did not remember that they were the covenant people of the Lord.
But David remembered when he asked, “Who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?” (1 Samuel 17:26) And beyond every doubt, being on the right side of the Lord makes you stronger than anything you can and cannot imagine.
I Samuel 17:45 -47, 'David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.” '
Forgetting your identity - Who you are - can make you lose faith, and losing faith makes you give up your place with God. A child of a king who do not know of his royalty will be act like a subject and be treated like one. The best path have been set before the children of covenant but we forget that and lose our stand, allowing the enemies to take that "position". We don't know we have been given that power in Christ Jesus.
Always remember, we are more than a conqueror.
Don't forget the testimonies
Was it not written that we overcome the devil by the words of our testimonies? "...and by the word of their testimony..." Revelation 12:11
The children of Israel forgot totally the testimonies of old. They have heard of the wonders God has done before their forefathers and even before their eyes. But too bad they forget all that and became dismayed when Goliath roared.
When we forget the testimonies, we lose faith in what ever we believe in. Truly, we lose faith in God Almighty. The obstacles becomes the god at that moment. If you keep on reminiscing on the deeds of a friend, your assurance and faith on that friend will continued to flourished but, if you don't, it diminishes.
That was exactly what David did. (vs 34-37)'But David said to Saul, “Your servant has been keeping his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it. Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.” '
How many of us today do that. We jump into confusion and fear when trouble is approaching. It has not happen but about to - people will start to run from helter shelter. And when it eventually come, they die - give up.
Remember the testimonies at all times.
Was it not written that we overcome the devil by the words of our testimonies? "...and by the word of their testimony..." Revelation 12:11
The children of Israel forgot totally the testimonies of old. They have heard of the wonders God has done before their forefathers and even before their eyes. But too bad they forget all that and became dismayed when Goliath roared.
When we forget the testimonies, we lose faith in what ever we believe in. Truly, we lose faith in God Almighty. The obstacles becomes the god at that moment. If you keep on reminiscing on the deeds of a friend, your assurance and faith on that friend will continued to flourished but, if you don't, it diminishes.
That was exactly what David did. (vs 34-37)'But David said to Saul, “Your servant has been keeping his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it. Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.” '
How many of us today do that. We jump into confusion and fear when trouble is approaching. It has not happen but about to - people will start to run from helter shelter. And when it eventually come, they die - give up.
Remember the testimonies at all times.
Beware of people in the Camp and Mind what you hear
This is very important. The words we listen to are seeds planted in the soil of our hearts and they grow into actions - from actions - to habits - to destiny and You. The words make you or break you.
When Goliath was ranting, some Israelites took up the challenge but the words of the population in the camp discouraged them. Check:
verse 25,'Now the Israelites had been saying, “Do you see how this man keeps coming out? He comes out to defy Israel..." '
They said more discouraging words. A discouraging comments can quench the strongest of flames - courage - if yielded to.
Remember David heard it too but never mind. His response shows he was not moved. In verse 26, 'David asked the men standing near him, “What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and removes this disgrace from Israel? Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?” '
Even when his brother and Saul tried to discourage him, make him see reasons why he shouldn't take up the task, he went on.
'Saul replied, “You are not able to go out against this Philistine and fight him; you are only a young man, and he has been a warrior from his youth.”'verse 33
This is very important. The words we listen to are seeds planted in the soil of our hearts and they grow into actions - from actions - to habits - to destiny and You. The words make you or break you.
When Goliath was ranting, some Israelites took up the challenge but the words of the population in the camp discouraged them. Check:
verse 25,'Now the Israelites had been saying, “Do you see how this man keeps coming out? He comes out to defy Israel..." '
They said more discouraging words. A discouraging comments can quench the strongest of flames - courage - if yielded to.
Remember David heard it too but never mind. His response shows he was not moved. In verse 26, 'David asked the men standing near him, “What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and removes this disgrace from Israel? Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?” '
Even when his brother and Saul tried to discourage him, make him see reasons why he shouldn't take up the task, he went on.
'Saul replied, “You are not able to go out against this Philistine and fight him; you are only a young man, and he has been a warrior from his youth.”'verse 33
People can talk you out of your destiny, my friend. So be careful. Not all comments from people should be swallowed. If you do, it sink into you and change your concept and flow in life. Remember your path is not theirs.
t as acan extinguished the the
e defied the ranks of Israel. And remember the host of Israel is God himself.
t as acan extinguished the the
e defied the ranks of Israel. And remember the host of Israel is God himself.
Most times we also don't know that the obstacle we face is our promotion. Or that the battle is for God's glory be demonstrated in our lives - our testimonies.
Back to Goliath issue...
....to be continue.
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