Living Annointed and Called

1 Samuel 17

Introduction

Today, we will dive into 1 Samuel 17 and learn to 1.) Recognize Where the Real Battle Lies, 2.) Realize God's Desire to Use Us, and 3.) Remember the Battle Belongs to the Lord.

In the midst of life's challenges and greater spiritual warfare, we must always keep our eyes on the heart of God and seek His power to overcome the enemy.

As we prepare our hearts to receive this fresh fire, let us remember the words of A.W. Tozer, who once said, "The key to victorious living is not found in our strength, but in our submission to the Holy Spirit." It is through submission to the Holy Spirit that we can access the gifts of the Spirit and gain victory in our lives.

Our Scripture passage today comes from 1 Samuel 17.

>> Read 1 Samuel 17

1 Samuel 17:3–52 NKJV

3 The Philistines stood on a mountain on one side, and Israel stood on a mountain on the other side, with a valley between them. 4 And a champion went out from the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, from Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span. 5 He had a bronze helmet on his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail, and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of bronze. 6 And he had bronze armor on his legs and a bronze javelin between his shoulders. 7 Now the staff of his spear was like a weaver’s beam, and his iron spearhead weighed six hundred shekels; and a shield-bearer went before him. 8 Then he stood and cried out to the armies of Israel, and said to them, “Why have you come out to line up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and you the servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves, and let him come down to me. 9 If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we will be your servants. But if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall be our servants and serve us.” 10 And the Philistine said, “I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together.” 11 When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid. 12 Now David was the son of that Ephrathite of Bethlehem Judah, whose name was Jesse, and who had eight sons. And the man was old, advanced in years, in the days of Saul. 13 The three oldest sons of Jesse had gone to follow Saul to the battle. The names of his three sons who went to the battle were Eliab the firstborn, next to him Abinadab, and the third Shammah. 14 David was the youngest. And the three oldest followed Saul. 15 But David occasionally went and returned from Saul to feed his father’s sheep at Bethlehem. 16 And the Philistine drew near and presented himself forty days, morning and evening. 17 Then Jesse said to his son David, “Take now for your brothers an ephah of this dried grain and these ten loaves, and run to your brothers at the camp. 18 And carry these ten cheeses to the captain of their thousand, and see how your brothers fare, and bring back news of them.” 19 Now Saul and they and all the men of Israel were in the Valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines. 20 So David rose early in the morning, left the sheep with a keeper, and took the things and went as Jesse had commanded him. And he came to the camp as the army was going out to the fight and shouting for the battle. 21 For Israel and the Philistines had drawn up in battle array, army against army. 22 And David left his supplies in the hand of the supply keeper, ran to the army, and came and greeted his brothers. 23 Then as he talked with them, there was the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, coming up from the armies of the Philistines; and he spoke according to the same words. So David heard them. 24 And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him and were dreadfully afraid. 25 So the men of Israel said, “Have you seen this man who has come up? Surely he has come up to defy Israel; and it shall be that the man who kills him the king will enrich with great riches, will give him his daughter, and give his father’s house exemption from taxes in Israel.” 26 Then David spoke to the men who stood by him, saying, “What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?” 27 And the people answered him in this manner, saying, “So shall it be done for the man who kills him.” 28 Now Eliab his oldest brother heard when he spoke to the men; and Eliab’s anger was aroused against David, and he said, “Why did you come down here? And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your pride and the insolence of your heart, for you have come down to see the battle.” 29 And David said, “What have I done now? Is there not a cause?” 30 Then he turned from him toward another and said the same thing; and these people answered him as the first ones did. 31 Now when the words which David spoke were heard, they reported them to Saul; and he sent for him. 32 Then 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 a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.” 34 But David said to Saul, “Your servant used to keep his father’s sheep, and when a lion or a bear came and took a lamb out of the flock, 35 I went out after it and struck it, and delivered the lamb from its mouth; and when it arose against me, I caught it by its beard, and struck and killed it. 36 Your servant has killed both lion and bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, seeing he has defied the armies of the living God.” 37 Moreover David said, “The Lord, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” And Saul said to David, “Go, and the Lord be with you!” 38 So Saul clothed David with his armor, and he put a bronze helmet on his head; he also clothed him with a coat of mail. 39 David fastened his sword to his armor and tried to walk, for he had not tested them. And David said to Saul, “I cannot walk with these, for I have not tested them.” So David took them off. 40 Then he took his staff in his hand; and he chose for himself five smooth stones from the brook, and put them in a shepherd’s bag, in a pouch which he had, and his sling was in his hand. And he drew near to the Philistine. 41 So the Philistine came, and began drawing near to David, and the man who bore the shield went before him. 42 And when the Philistine looked about and saw David, he disdained him; for he was only a youth, ruddy and good-looking. 43 So 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 And the Philistine said to David, “Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field!” 45 Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword, 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 and take your head from you. And this day I will give the carcasses of the camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. 47 Then all this assembly shall know that the Lord does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord’s, and He will give you into our hands.” 48 So it was, when the Philistine arose and came and drew near to meet David, that David hurried and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine. 49 Then David put his hand in his bag and took out a stone; and he slung it and struck the Philistine in his forehead, so that the stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the earth. 50 So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone, and struck the Philistine and killed him. But there was no sword in the hand of David. 51 Therefore David ran and stood over the Philistine, took his sword and drew it out of its sheath and killed him, and cut off his head with it. And when the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled. 52 Now the men of Israel and Judah arose and shouted, and pursued the Philistines as far as the entrance of the valley and to the gates of Ekron. And the wounded of the Philistines fell along the road to Shaaraim, even as far as Gath and Ekron.

Recognize Where the Real Battle Lies

In the story of David and Goliath, we see a young shepherd boy who, despite his youth and inexperience, was able to defeat a giant warrior. This victory was not achieved through physical strength alone, but through recognizing that the true battle was not against flesh and blood, but against the spiritual forces of evil. As believers, we must also learn to discern the true nature of our battles and understand that our fight is not against people or circumstances, but against the enemy who seeks to steal, kill, and destroy.

In the world we live in today, it is easy to become distracted by the many challenges and obstacles that we face. We may find ourselves struggling with financial difficulties, health issues, broken relationships, or even persecution for our faith. In these moments, it can be tempting to focus on the physical and emotional aspects of our struggles, forgetting that there is a deeper spiritual battle taking place. The enemy wants us to believe that our problems are insurmountable and that we are powerless to overcome them. However, when we recognize where the real battle lies, we can begin to see our circumstances through the lens of faith and trust in God's power to bring victory.

To recognize where the real battle lies, we must first understand the nature of our enemy.

The Bible tells us that Satan is a deceiver and the father of lies (John 8:44).

He seeks to sow discord, confusion, and doubt in our minds, causing us to question God's goodness and faithfulness. Additionally, the enemy uses various tactics to distract us from our true purpose and calling, such as fear, temptation, and discouragement. By recognizing these tactics, we can better equip ourselves to stand firm in our faith and resist the enemy's schemes.

Another key aspect of recognizing where the real battle lies is understanding our identity in Christ. As believers, we have been given authority and power through the Holy Spirit to overcome the enemy and walk in victory.

In Ephesians 6:10-18, the Apostle Paul encourages us to put on the full armor of God so that we can stand against the devil's schemes. This armor includes the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. By equipping ourselves with these spiritual weapons, we can effectively engage in the real battle and emerge victorious.

Recognizing where the real battle lies also requires us to be vigilant and alert. The Apostle Peter warns us in 1 Peter 5:8, "Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour."

We must be aware of the enemy's tactics and be prepared to resist his attacks. This means spending time in prayer, studying the Word of God, and being sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit. As we grow in our relationship with God, we will become more adept at discerning the true nature of our battles and responding with faith and confidence in His power to deliver us.

Finally, recognizing where the real battle lies involves understanding the power of prayer and intercession.

In 2 Corinthians 10:4 “4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,”

Prayer is one of the most powerful weapons we have in our spiritual arsenal, and it is through prayer that we can access the supernatural power of God to overcome the enemy. As we intercede for ourselves and others, we can see strongholds broken, chains loosed, and lives transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Recognizing where the real battle lies is an essential aspect of our Christian walk. As we learn to discern the true nature of our struggles and understand the spiritual warfare taking place, we can equip ourselves with the armor of God and walk in victory. Let us be vigilant and alert, standing firm in our faith and trusting in God's power to overcome the enemy. And as we do so, we will see the manifestation of God's anointing, spiritual gifts, and apostolic power in our lives, enabling us to fulfill our divine purpose and bring glory to His name.

Realize God's Desire to Use Us

Now, David was not afraid to face the giant in his life because he knew that God was with him. David's faith in God's power and his willingness to be used by God allowed him to overcome the seemingly insurmountable challenge before him. This same principle applies to our lives today.

We will not live the victorious Christian life because we will it so, but by facing our challenges in the power of God's Spirit.

When we look at the life of David, we can see that he was not the most likely candidate to face Goliath. He was the youngest of eight brothers, and his father, Jesse, did not even consider him worthy to be presented to the prophet Samuel when he came to anoint the future king of Israel. However, God saw something in David that others did not see – a heart that was fully committed to Him. David's willingness to be used by God, despite his humble background and lack of experience in battle, is a powerful example for us to follow.

In our own lives, we may feel inadequate or unqualified to be used by God. We may think that we do not have the necessary skills or talents to make a difference in the world. However, the story of David and Goliath reminds us that God does not look at our outward appearance or qualifications; He looks at our hearts. If we have a heart that is willing to be used by God, He can work through us to accomplish great things for His kingdom.

As we seek to realize God's desire to use us, it is essential to understand that we are not called to rely on our own strength or abilities. Instead, we are called to depend on the power of the Holy Spirit. In the story of David and Goliath, we see that David did not rely on his own strength or the conventional weapons of warfare. Instead, he trusted in the power of God's Spirit to deliver him from the giant. This same principle applies to our lives today. As we face the challenges and giants in our lives, we must learn to rely on the power of the Holy Spirit, rather than our own strength or abilities.

One way to cultivate this dependence on the Holy Spirit is through prayer. As we spend time in prayer, we can ask God to fill us with His Spirit and empower us to face the challenges in our lives. We can also ask Him to reveal any areas of our lives where we may be relying on our own strength or abilities, rather than depending on His power. As we submit ourselves to God in prayer, we will begin to see His power at work in our lives, enabling us to overcome the giants that we face.

Another way to realize God's desire to use us is by stepping out in faith and obedience. In the story of David and Goliath, we see that David was willing to step out in faith and face the giant, even though it seemed like an impossible task. He did not let fear or doubt hold him back from obeying God's call on his life. In the same way, we must be willing to step out in faith and obedience, even when it seems like the challenges we face are insurmountable. As we do this, we will begin to see God's power at work in our lives, enabling us to overcome the giants that we face.

Furthermore, realizing God's desire to use us involves recognizing the spiritual gifts He has given us.

The apostle Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 12:7, "Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good."

Each one of us has been given spiritual gifts by the Holy Spirit, and these gifts are meant to be used for the benefit of others and the advancement of God's kingdom. As we recognize and develop these gifts, we will be better equipped to face the challenges in our lives and be used by God in powerful ways.

Remember the Battle Belongs to the Lord

The battle belongs to the Lord, does it not? Despite David’s lack of experience and physical stature, he boldly faced Goliath, knowing that the Lord was on his side and would deliver him from the hands of the enemy.

We too may face seemingly insurmountable challenges, but when we trust in God's power and sovereignty, we can overcome any obstacle that stands in our way. Our faith in God's ability to deliver us from the enemy is what empowers us to walk in victory and experience the fullness of His promises.

When we remember that the battle belongs to the Lord, we can also find comfort in knowing that we are not alone in our struggles. The Holy Spirit is with us, guiding and strengthening us as we face life's challenges. As we submit to the Holy Spirit and allow Him to work in and through us, we can tap into the spiritual gifts that God has given us to overcome the enemy and advance His kingdom.

In Ephesians 6:10-18, the apostle Paul reminds us that our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

As we face these spiritual battles, it is crucial that we put on the full armor of God, which includes the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. By equipping ourselves with these spiritual weapons, we can stand firm against the enemy's schemes and experience the victory that God has promised us.

One of the most powerful ways to remember that the battle belongs to the Lord is through prayer. In the midst of our struggles, we must continually turn to God in prayer, seeking His guidance, wisdom, and strength. As we pray, we can declare and decree God's promises over our lives, knowing that He is faithful to fulfill His Word. By praying in the Spirit and allowing the Holy Spirit to intercede on our behalf, we can tap into the supernatural power of God and experience breakthroughs in our lives.

Another way to remember that the battle belongs to the Lord is by praising and worshiping Him, even in the midst of our trials. When we choose to praise God, despite our circumstances, we are declaring our faith in His ability to deliver us from the enemy's grasp. As we lift our voices in worship, we invite the presence of God to invade our lives, bringing with it the fresh fire of the Holy Spirit and the apostolic power needed to overcome the enemy.

In the story of Jehoshaphat in 2 Chronicles 20, we see the power of praise and worship in action. As the Israelites faced a vast army, they were instructed by the Lord to send out a group of singers and musicians to lead the army in worship. As they began to sing and praise the Lord, God set ambushes against their enemies, causing them to turn on each other and ultimately leading to their defeat. This powerful account serves as a reminder that when we choose to praise God in the midst of our battles, He will fight on our behalf and bring about victory.

As we face the giants in our lives, let us remember the example of David, who boldly declared,

"The battle is the Lord's, and He will give all of you into our hands" (1 Samuel 17:47).

By trusting in God's power and sovereignty, we can overcome any obstacle and experience the fullness of His promises.

Conclusion

In conclusion, friends, let's not forget that our real battle isn't against flesh and blood, but against the spiritual forces of darkness. Let's continue to rely on God's anointing and the power of the Holy Spirit to equip us with the spiritual gifts we need to overcome the enemy. And most importantly, let's always remember that the battle belongs to the Lord, and He is fighting for us.