Have faith in God (4)

Good morning, CHURCH!

(Opening joke)

Twin seven year old boys were always getting into trouble. Their parents knew if any mischief was reported in town, the twins were probably involved.

Their mother heard that a preacher in town had been successful in disciplining children, so she asked if he would speak with her boys. The preacher agreed, but he asked to see them individually.

The mother sent one boy in the morning, with the other boy scheduled to see the preacher in the afternoon.

The preacher, a huge man with a deep booming voice, sat the boy down and asked him sternly, "Do you know where God is, son?"

The boy made no response, sitting there wide-eyed with his mouth hanging open.

So the preacher repeated the question in an even sterner tone, "Where is God?!"

Again, the boy made no attempt to answer.

The preacher raised his voice even more and shook his finger in the boy's face and bellowed, "WHERE IS GOD?!"

The boy screamed, ran directly home and hid in his closet.

When his twin brother found him in the closet, he asked, "What happened?"

He said, "brother we are in BIG trouble this time!

GOD is missing, and the preacher thinks WE did it!"

Are you ready to be equipped today?

Let me see your Bibles.

Let’s go to the book of Psalm 56:3-4 ESV for this week’s wisdom Vaccination.

This Week’s Wisdom Vaccination Psalm 56:3-4 ESV

When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. 4 In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?

We are in a series titled:

Have faith in God

Today’s message title is:

In God We Trust

1 Samuel 17: 41-47 ESV

And the Philistine moved forward and came near to David, with his shield-bearer in front of him.

42 And when the Philistine looked and saw David, he disdained him, for he was but a youth, ruddy and handsome in appearance.

43 And the Philistine said to David, “Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?” And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.

44 The Philistine said to David, “Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and to the beasts of the field.”

45 Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.

46 This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head. And I will give the dead bodies of the host of the Philistines this day to the birds of the air and to the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel,

47 and that all this assembly may know that the Lord saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give you into our hand.”

Point #1

Confidence in God, causes a certain swag

1 Samuel 17:45 ESV

Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied

How was David able to answer this Giant with bold courage although the rest of the army was totally afraid.

The ancients believed that their gods warred against one another.

The Philistines would have believed in their gods to cause Goliath to win the battle, while the Israelites should have believed in their God to win the battle.

There was one Israelite who believed his God would cause them to win the battle.

David was so sure that his God would prevail, that he didn’t fall in line with the normal weaponry of one-on-one combat.

David chose 5 smooth stones, and his weapon of choice was his slingshot.

It’s possible that one of the underlying reasons David chose rocks, was because he was an avid observer of the Torah.

Leviticus 24:16 ESV

Whoever blasphemes the name of the Lord shall surely be put to death. All the congregation shall stone him. The sojourner as well as the native, when he blasphemes the name, shall be put to death.

The stones were perfect for David to use because he was skillful in the use of the slingshot.

David’s confidence was not based on his own ability or on the fact that he had previous experience slaying Lions and Tigers and Bears “Oh my.”

We know this because David didn’t say, “But I come to you with a sling and 5 smooth stones.”

He said, “But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel.”

Point #2

Faith in God changes the odds

There has never in our history been a more seemingly overmatched opponent than David versus Goliath.

1 Samuel 17:41-43 ESV

And the Philistine moved forward and came near to David, with his shield-bearer in front of him. 42 And when the Philistine looked and saw David, he disdained him, for he was but a youth, ruddy and handsome in appearance. 43 And the Philistine said to David, “Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?” And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.

(In this corner standing 9 feet tall, 450 lbs. of muscle with zero percent body fat, wearing a helmet, full body armor, boots and being led by his shield bearer; He is Goliath.)

(And in this corner standing at 5’9”, 155 lbs, carrying a slingshot and a pouch with 5 smooth stones; He is David.)

The contrasts were so evident.

*Goliath was tall, and David was small.

*Goliath was strong, and David was weak in comparison.

*Goliath had great military armor and David couldn’t move in it.

*Goliath had an armor bearer and David was all by himself.

*Goliath had extensive military experience and David had none.

Question?

Have you ever been in an underdog situation?

(More bills than money, more sickness than drugs, desiring to go to college but parents didn’t have a lot of money, never experienced a healthy relationship in your life but trying to make it in this marriage etc.)

Point #3

Remembrance of God, causes faith to rise

1 Samuel 17:32-36 ESV

And David said to Saul, “Let no man's heart fail because of him. Your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.” 33 And Saul said to David, “You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him, for you are but a youth, and he has been a man of war from his youth.” 34 But David said to Saul, “Your servant used to keep sheep for his father. And when there came a lion, or a bear, and took a lamb from the flock, 35 I went after him and struck him and delivered it out of his mouth. And if he arose against me, I caught him by his beard and struck him and killed him. 36 Your servant has struck down both lions and bears, and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God.”

Although Goliath had been fighting in wars since his youth and David was still just a youth with no experience in war, David did have experience with fighting.

David recalled how God had come through for him when he was protecting the family flock.

When your back is against the wall, you’re either going to panic and get fearful or you can remember when.

Joshua 1:9 ESV

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Sometimes we act like God is not with us.

And surely you have no reason to fear if you have a word from God.

Joshua 10:8 ESV

And the LORD said to Joshua, “Do not fear them, for I have given them into your hands. Not a man of them shall stand before you.”

What has the LORD said to you?

Psalm 111:5 ESV

He provides food for those who fear him; he remembers his covenant forever.

Noahic Covenant

Genesis 8:20-9:17

Despite humanities evil, God won’t destroy the earth by flood again.

Abrahamic Covenant

Genesis 12,15 and 17

Mankind spirals downhill and God chooses Abraham. He promises him a huge family that will inherit a piece of land in Canaan.

Mosaic Covenant

Exodus

In Exodus we get the story of the growth of Abraham’s offspring and a new Pharoah is threatened by their sure numbers and enslaves them. God sends Moses on His behalf and gives him a covenant on Mount Sinai to be their people if they will follow Him as their God.

Davidic Covenant

2 Samuel

God’s people start trying to be like other nations. They want a king. Saul is anointed as Israel’s king, but he fails to obey God. God chooses David as king. God promises to raise up a descendant from David’s line whose throne and kingdom will last forever.

The New Covenant

The Synoptic Gospels

The synoptic gospels introduce us to Jesus who is the climax of all the covenants.

Hebrews 7:24-25 ESV

but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. 25 Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.

Remembering these covenants and knowing God is a covenant keeper, should cause your faith in Him to rise.

(Closing illustration)

If you’re watching online or here in the room, I have a very important question to ask you.

What is Holy Spirit saying to you right now?