Scared but Standing in Confidence

As you face a world that is hostile to Christ, and all he stands for, do you find yourself shrinking back in fear? When you are confronted by an individual who openly attacks what you know by the spirit of God in his word to be true? Do you feel will not come into the pit of your stomach? Do you find yourself thinking, “I know I should say something to this person.” But yet are unable to speak because of the paralyzing effects of fear?

Fear is 1 of the minute most effective tools of temptation that Satan has to use against God’s children. He has used throughout human history and uses it against you and I today. It comes in varying degrees and forms. It varies from the subtle fear of peer pressure (such as David faced in and 26) to the intense fear that David must have felt in our text.

Somehow we seem to think that David had no fear when facing Goliath… But he was human… We see David “scared, but standing in confidence” against his colossal foe.

Let us take a look at some pointers from God’s word that will help us to stand confidently against the Goliath of fear when it attacks.

I- RECOGNIZE THAT THE SOURCE OF YOUR FEAR HAS LIMITS ().

A- Circumstances sometimes create fear.

1- When David, then a teenager, came into the Israelite camp, he found an alarming situation.

a- First, he found a king who refused to lead because he was bound by fear.

b- Second, he found an army who was in bondage to fear because of the condition of the king.

c- Third, the forces of the enemy were encamped and in battle array across the valley.

d- Fourth, there was a giant – an enemy who was speaking blasphemous things against the Lord.

2- As he inquired, he learned that not one man was willing to fight against Goliath!

a- It is easy to let the fear of others strike fear in our hearts.

b- Looking at the obstacles through the eyes of the flesh can sometimes create fear.

B- It is important to realize that all sources of fear have limitations.

1- Every source of fear originates in the created order; and by the very fact that it is from something created means that it has limitations.

a- The only being in the entire universe that is not created is the creator.

b- As believers, we are children of the creator and need not fear him.

II- REMEMBER THE SPIRIT-EMPOWERED VICTORIES OF THE PAST ().

A- Past victories or a source of confidence.

1- As David remembered the victories that God had given him, he could have confidence assurance of victory.

a- In spite of the words of discouragement, David could remain confident. He had proven cases to instill confidence.

2- When the giant of fear comes, take time for a backward glance. Look back to the victories God has given you in the past.

a- Remember the teachings of Scripture. H

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2 Timothy 1:6–9 NLT

6 This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you. 7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. 8 So never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord. And don’t be ashamed of me, either, even though I’m in prison for him. With the strength God gives you, be ready to suffer with me for the sake of the Good News. 9 For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time—to show us his grace through Christ Jesus.

b- Remember the victories!

Remember the victory over sin and Satan when you were saved.

Remember the victories over “hopeless” situations of the past when God brought the victory!

III- RELY ON THE POWER OF GOD FOR THE VICTORY ().

A- The Lord will bring victory as you trust in him.

1- David responded in faith and confidence to the utter trustworthiness of God.

a- God had proven himself trustworthy in previous battles of a lesser nature against animals who threatened his flock.

b- David relied on and rested in the total trustworthiness of God. Not only to deliver himself, but all of God’s people!

Was he scared? – Who would not be? But he stood in confidence – relying on the power of the living God!

B- The key to release from the bondage of fear is trust in God.

1- Fear brings bondage ().

Romans 8:15 NLT

15 So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.”

2- We must rely on the presence and power of God for victory ().

Hebrews 13:6 NLT

6 So we can say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?”

Answer this: “is God trustworthy?” He is your helper – trust in him. Rely on his power!

IV- REPUDIATE THE DECEPTIVE IDEA THAT YOUR STRENGTH IS FOUND IN THE FLESH ().

A- Strength to fight the battle is not found in the flesh.

The songwriter wrote, “the arm of flesh will fail you; you dare not trust your own.”

1- David tried on the armor and weaponry provided by King Saul.

a- He found that he was hindered, weighed down, cumbered by what was supposed to be protection for him and should have helped him defeat his enemy.

2- David rejected the physical armor and weapons, in favor of faith.

3- The weapons of the flesh (skill, intellect, logic) will cumber you and make you more vulnerable to the enemy!

a- Physical skills are useless in a spiritual fight.

b- Intellect is useless because it is limited to our own experience, which is also limited.

c- Logic fails because our logic is many times faulty.

V- RETRIEVE THE WEAPONS ORDAINED BY GOD ().

A- God’s weapons often make no worldly sense, but will provide the victory.

1- David rejected the armor and weapons normally used in warfare, and instead used a slingshot in 5 smooth stones.

a- Imagine the ridicule that David must have endured as he walked out with only a slingshot and rocks!

2- You must likewise reject the weapons normally used by the world… Money, skill, intellect, logic… And use instead the weapons of prayer and the word of God.

Note also that David use that which he was most familiar with and skilled with.

You cannot use spiritual weapons to fight with when you have had no practice with them. If you are not familiar with the word of God and prayer you will not be able to use them in battle against Satan!

VI- REMEMBER THE SOURCE OF YOUR SUFFICIENCY ().

A- The source of your sufficiency is the Lord.

1- Goliath began to ridicule David (vs. 41 – 44).

He even cursed David and threatened him!

2- David responded to the taunts of the giant by clearly defining the source of his sufficiency for the battle.

2- When entering the conflict and the enemy begins to tempt you to despair and fear remember:

your source of sufficiency is not in what men say or think, but in the anointing power of God! Remember his spirit resides within you and will not leave you.

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Hebrews 13:5 NLT

5 Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.”

VII- RECEIVE THE VICTORY FROM GOD ().

A- Run into the battle, not away from it. (Verse 48).

1- David ran to meet Goliath.

a- Notice, he not only ran toward the giant, but toward the hole for listing Army!

2- If God is your sufficiency, you can charge the host of hell with a water pistol and still win.

a- Remember, the battle is not yours… “The battle is the Lord’s.” (verse 47).

B- Use the weaponry of God (verse 49).

1- David use the weapon ordained by God… So “all the assembly shall know that the Lord saves not with the sword and spear…”

a- It was obvious that God won the battle, not David.

2- When the victory comes in spite of human weakness, the only explanation is the power of God!

CONCLUSION:

What about the giant of fear in your life? You have been filled with fear by the enemy, tempting you to give up… To cause blasphemy instead of glory for God. What are you going to do?

Recognize that the source of your fear has limits.

Remember the Spirit empowered victories of the past.

Rely on the power of God for the victory.

Repudiate the deceptive idea that strength is found in the flesh.

Retrieve the weapons ordained by God.

Remember the source of your sufficiency for the battle.

Receive the victory from God.

What if you have already given into fear? Confess, repent, and recommit your life to the Lordship of Christ ().

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