David and Goliath

The first thing I want us to consider from this story is that…

We have a greater enemy than David did.

1 Peter 5:8 NASB95

Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

Ephesians 6:10–13 NASB95

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.

The Israelites had a human enemy, but the Church has an angelic enemy.

The Israelites had to fight the Philistines at one point in time, but the Church fights her enemy every day.

The Israelites had an enemy who had been fighting longer than David had been alive, but the Church has an enemy who has been fighting since the first humans were created.

The Israelites had an enemy who they could see, touch, and harm, but the Church has an enemy that no human can see or touch or harm!

Goliath was bad news for one group of people, but sin is bad news for every person! Don’t be deceived; You are not strong enough to resist temptation to sin or to make your mistakes right in God’s eyes!

We have a greater enemy than David did, but that’s only part of the story…

We have a greater representative than Israel did.

The Apostle Peter explains this in his sermon at Pentecost…

Acts 2:29–39 NASB95

“Brethren, I may confidently say to you regarding the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. “And so, because he was a prophet and knew that God had sworn to him with an oath to seat one of his descendants on his throne, he looked ahead and spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that He was neither abandoned to Hades, nor did His flesh suffer decay. “This Jesus God raised up again, to which we are all witnesses. “Therefore having been exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured forth this which you both see and hear. “For it was not David who ascended into heaven, but he himself says: ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, Until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.” ’ “Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ—this Jesus whom you crucified.” Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brethren, what shall we do?” Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. “For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.”

When Jesus came to the earth two thousand years ago, He was born as a helpless baby to a poor family from a backwoods town and laid in a feed trough instead of a crib. He grew up in disgrace - even his siblings and disciples didn’t believe in Him at first! He died worse than the worst criminals for crimes He didn’t commit and was placed in a borrowed tomb because He was too poor to even have a hole in the ground for them to lay Him in.

But this Jesus is the same one John saw in his vision on Patmos…

Revelation 1:12–18 NASB95

Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands; and in the middle of the lampstands I saw one like a son of man, clothed in a robe reaching to the feet, and girded across His chest with a golden sash. His head and His hair were white like white wool, like snow; and His eyes were like a flame of fire. His feet were like burnished bronze, when it has been made to glow in a furnace, and His voice was like the sound of many waters. In His right hand He held seven stars, and out of His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword; and His face was like the sun shining in its strength. When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. And He placed His right hand on me, saying, “Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.

What now?

It’s time to chase the enemy out of town.

The Devil is alive today and has an army of demons that work night and day to deceive and distract us, our loved ones, and our neighbors. We do not fight our neighbors, we fight their ideas. We do battle against evil leaders, organizations, policies and governments with our minds and not our fists. The weapon that we pick up to fight them is the Bible.

2 Corinthians 10:3–5 NASB95

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,

The enemy of our souls has a stronghold in the Village of Albion if you have eyes to see it. That stronghold isn’t financial or material, it is spiritual. The solution to Albion’s problems can’t be solved by government grants, better jobs and housing, or improved healthcare. Those things are great, but without renewed minds they will never happen.

The news that we have a greater enemy than Goliath and a greater representative than David strikes at the root of despair, hopelessness, depression, addiction, perversion, and desperation!

You may be asking yourself…

What power do we have to solve problems that are so big?

Matthew 16:13–18 NASB95

Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, He was asking His disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; but still others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. “I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.

You may be asking yourself…

What right do we have to call people to come to Jesus?

Matthew 28:18–20 NASB95

And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Our authority to tell people that they are sinners who need God’s forgiveness that can only be found in Jesus doesn’t come from our own perfection, from what type of church we go to, or from how well we know the Bible. It comes from Jesus Himself!

You may be asking yourself…

1 John 3:7–8 NASB95

Little children, make sure no one deceives you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous; the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil.

Can we really make a difference in Albion?

That’s the wrong question. The right question is, “Can God fail?”

When David killed Goliath, the victory was won even though the battles continued as the Israelites chased the Philistines out of the land. Jesus has already defeated Satan, but the battles still continue as the Church chases the enemy out of the land.

If the people who make up Canalside Community Church take up their Bibles and fight deception with truth in Albion, we will drive away the darkness in this community. We can have total assurance of victory because Jesus is risen and He already paid the price for those who will turn from their sin and trust in Him alone for their salvation!