A Resilient Remnant 3: Running to the Line

1 Samuel 17:12-54

Intro

Our world seems to thrive on misplaced fear rather than on quiet confidence. Fear is the tool unrighteous politicians use to try and get us to vote for them. Fear is why people isolate themselves in their ideological echo chambers. They don’t want to be challenged because they fear discomfort. It’s why they cancel those who challenge them, refusing to have a real conversation about uncomfortable things. It’s why many would rather mutilate their body than face up to an uncomfortable reality.

People everywhere love to take the easy out. They don’t like to face difficult things.

Tension

Facing reality is hard. Many of life’s aches and pains feel like overwhelming giants which we can never overcome.

And we, though Christian, are human too. We face giants in our lives and we may also feel like there is no hope for us to overcome those difficulties we face.

That’s actually true. We can’t slay giants, but we do know the One who can. Through Christ we can face anything that comes our way and we can overcome.

Philippians 4:10–13 NASB 2020

But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at last you have revived your concern for me; indeed, you were concerned before, but you lacked an opportunity to act. Not that I speak from need, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with little, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.

Revelation 12:10–11 NASB 2020

Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers and sisters has been thrown down, the one who accuses them before our God day and night. And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death.

We will indeed come to hours of life which seem hopeless and too big for us to meet at the battle line. The good news is that God never intended for you to face those moments alone. He intends to go with you, and to be the power behind every blow you throw at your enemies.

With Christ, and only with Christ, can we have the confidence to run to the battles we face and the power to slay every giant which comes against us.

Truth

I. Anointed people react much differently to challenges than everyone else (20-30).

Whereas Saul and his army responded in fear to Goliath’s challenge, David responded with faith.

David recognized that Goliath was not taunting Saul, but actually God.

David knew God’s character, that God would not tolerate being mocked.

David also knew that God would do all that He has promised for Israel.

David knew that Israel was not just any nation, but God’s chosen possession and that God delighted in defending His people.

David knew that God had promised to fight Israel’s battles and to bring the entire promised land into their possession.

The Philistines were an enemy that God has already condemned.

II. Anointed people have a confidence that others will recognize (31-37)

David was confident in his ability to challenge and defeat Goliath not because David had a high opinion of himself, but because he believed God.

There is a difference between believing in God and actually believing God.

Believing God is a sign of a truly righteous person.

Abraham believed God (Gen 15:6)

Romans 4:18–22 NASB 2020

In hope against hope he believed, so that he might become a father of many nations according to that which had been spoken, “So shall your Descendants be.” Without becoming weak in faith he contemplated his own body, now as good as dead since he was about a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah’s womb; yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform. Therefore it was also credited to him as righteousness.

Remember Christ’s teaching and ministry which came with power because Jesus actually believed God.

The people knew something was very different about Jesus because of the authoritative way in which He carried Himself.

The content of Christ’s message was not entirely new. He was preaching and teaching the same things God had been saying for years, but with fresh illumination and power.

He knew who He was and He knew the Father would do all that He promised to do through Him.

Matthew 7:28–29 NASB 2020

When Jesus had finished these words, the crowds were amazed at His teaching; for He was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.

Something Christians today struggle with is moving from believing in God to actually believing God.

I see many believers who would claim to be saved in Christ, but who live daily overcome by sin and guilt which Jesus died to free us from.

Christ wants us to learn to actually live in the freedom He was won for us. We should take sin seriously, but we need to recognize that its effects on us have been nullified by the bloody cross and the empty tomb.

We are anointed with the power of the Holy Spirit to overcome this world and to live victorious lives in Christ.

The difference between believing in God and believing God is that when we believe Him we begin to actually reach out and claim things which are ours by grace through faith in Christ, including our freedom from the wages of sin and bondage to sin.

It is high time that we reject the old condemnation we were under before Christ. Christians who resubmit themselves to condemnation are Christians who will never be effective. We will walk in Adam’s anointing rather than Christ’s and we will be effectively neutered with regards to living out our witness in the world.

III. Anointed people recognize their true armor and weapons are the presence of the Lord Himself (38-40)

Israel would not have won a single battle if it had not been for the hand of God fighting for them.

Deuteronomy 4:36–40 NASB 2020

Out of the heavens He let you hear His voice to discipline you; and on earth He let you see His great fire, and you heard His words from the midst of the fire. Because He loved your fathers, He chose their descendants after them. And He personally brought you from Egypt by His great power, driving out from before you nations greater and mightier than you, to bring you in and to give you their land as an inheritance, as it is today. Therefore know today, and take it to your heart, that the Lord, He is God in heaven above and on the earth below; there is no other. So you shall keep His statutes and His commandments which I am giving you today, so that it may go well for you and for your children after you, and that you may live long on the land which the Lord your God is giving you for all time.”

Joshua 23:8–11 NASB 2020

But you are to cling to the Lord your God, as you have done to this day. For the Lord has driven out great and mighty nations from before you; and as for you, no one has stood against you to this day. One of your men puts to flight a thousand, for the Lord your God is He who fights for you, just as He promised you. So take great care for yourselves that you love the Lord your God.

Israel had come to learn in the desert and in their battles to take the land, that what matters most was never who had the biggest chariots, baddest horses, strongest armor, and sharpest swords. What matters most is who has the Lord on their side.

Zechariah 2:1–5 NASB 2020

Then I raised my eyes and looked, and behold, there was a man with a measuring line in his hand. So I said, “Where are you going?” And he said to me, “To measure Jerusalem, to see how wide it is and how long it is.” And behold, the angel who had been speaking with me was going out, and another angel was going out to meet him. And he said to him, “Run, speak to that young man there, saying, ‘Jerusalem will be inhabited as open country because of the multitude of people and cattle within it. But I,’ declares the Lord, ‘will be a wall of fire to her on all sides, and I will be the glory in her midst.’ ”

IV. Anointed people are often underestimated by our challengers (41-47)

The world doesn’t recognize the power of God in us and can only see what’s on the outside.

Goliath sized David up and was offended. The mighty, battle tested warrior had no idea that he had met his match in the shepherd boy standing before him (41-44).

Goliath was confident in his size, training, and might. David was confident in God (45-47).

David clearly understood Israel’s true identity as the armies of God. He also realized God’s purpose in his conflict with Goliath, that God would remind the people who they were through David’s victory.

Notice how David hinges his confidence that he will have victory squarely on the Lord.

For Israel, it had never been about swords or spears but they had forgotten that. God was reminding them through David, that a shepherd boy is mightier than any great champion if he walks with the Lord.

God overcomes giants through us partially because when others see us overcome a giant that we have no business whooping, it proves to everyone that God is glorious and that He can accomplish anything through anyone who is willing.

V. Anointed people slay giants by the power of the Greater Giant who empowers them (48-58)

Knowing Who was with him, David did not hesitate. In fact, he ran to the conflict in faith.

By faith David slung his stones and the Lord made his shot successful.

Consider what strength it would have taken to fling a stone hard enough to penetrate that giant’s forehead.

There would have been no doubt to anyone that David did this by God’s hand.

David wasted no time in killing the enemy.

He immediately took the victory God had given him and took Goliath’s head off.

Application

Like David, you can be confident because you have an anointing in Christ.

The Lord has clearly defined for you who you are and whose you are.

You are not like the culture outside which is always looking to find identity, meaning, and value in material reality.

You have all that you need already in Christ. You have clear definition in Him.

Like David, God is shielding you from the effects of evil in this world.

We can be confident that the worst things which may happen to us on this side of Heaven, will be used by God to bring about eternally significant good for us.

Romans 8:28 NASB 2020

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

Satan has no real power over the Christian who is walking in his or her anointing in Christ. What can he do to you when the worst he may do will only be flipped around in his face for your good and God’s glory?

Like David, you can face giants because of the Giant who walks with you.

Trials and tribulations will come but Christ has clearly stated that He has overcome the world. If you are in Christ, you also have overcome the world in Him.

John 16:33 NASB 2020

These things I have spoken to you so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”

Hi

Like David, you can be a warrior who run towards the battle with confidence because of who you are in Christ

Because of what Christ has done for us, what Christ is doing in us, and what Christ will do for us we can have every confidence that we will be victorious against every enemy we face.

This is not self-confidence like the world is trying to manufacture. It is God-confidence and God will never fail.

Many Christians hide from facing sin, emotional pain, and other giants because they are afraid and so they never really overcome the world as Christ has intended for them to do.

Hebrews 10:39 NASB 2020

But we are not among those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith for the safekeeping of the soul.

When we knock down a giant through God’s power, we must also quickly dispatch it so that it never comes back again.

Your destiny in Christ is to overcome, to slay giants and to hold their heads up for all to see what God can do through a weak vessel who is available to Him.

Romans 8:37–39 (NASB 2020)

Romans 8:37–39 NASB 2020

But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.