Sermon Tone Analysis

Opening

If you have been in church very long, you have probably heard the story of David and Goliath in .

I have heard this story over the years used in a way to motivate us to think positively about ourselves, to be confident.

I mean we are told if a young boy can defeat a 9 foot 9 inch tall giant with a sling and a stone we can have the confidence to do anything.

I am not saying I don't agree with that, but maybe after this message today you will have a little bit different perspective while looking at this passage.

When I do a Bible study in the Old Testament I think it is a lot of fun finding Christ in the scriptures; or at least a picture of Him.

I think you will find every story in the Bible is there to point us to Christ in some way some how.

When I approach this story with that in mind.

I don't see this as a story of a young boy who overcomes his physical inadequacies, to conquer a giant .

I see a picture of Christ who defeats the devil, an enemy who taunts us and wants to destroy us.

David the key character in the story was confident not arrogant

He was confident because he had the power of the living God within him.

He witnessed that power numerous times when God saved him from the attacks of lions and bears.

Jesus while on this earth was both humble, and confident, He was not arrogant at all.

Being humble is about our ability to do something on our own, not our self worth or how we feel about ourselves.

The devil likes to make us think that being humble is being weak, and worthless.

That couldn't be further from the truth.

We should not think we are worthless, or weak.

God thinks we are more precious than gold.

ESV

For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb.

I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.

Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.

My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth.

ESV

Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies?

And not one of them is forgotten before God.

Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered.

Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows.

In God's eyes we are worth enough to die for!

ESV

But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Fear is a lier!

It comes straight from the lier himself the devil.

Goliath was lying in verse 9 when he said if he is killed the Philistines would become slaves to the Israelites.

Goliath had no authority to promise he make slaves of all the Philistines, it was just a trick to make someone want to fight him, but if he had won I could almost promise both he and the Philistines would sure want to make slaves of the Israelites.

Satan is able to put the spirit of fear in us by lying to us.

We need a relationship with Jesus so we can recognize when the devil is speaking to us, or if it is the Holy Spirit speaking to us.

David was not afraid.

We don't have to be afraid when we have power from the name of Jesus, and the Power of the Holy Spirit with us.

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but the power, and of love, and of a sound mind… Who hath saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.

- and

17 Now the Philistines … Azekah, in Ephes-dammim.

Satan is always lining up in battle against God's people.

From the very beginning of creation Satan was ready to attack.

God created man and woman, and as soon as they were placed in the garden Satan was there taunting and tempting them to fall into sin.

Did this foil God's plan?

No, nothing takes God by surprise; He has always had a solution for anything that Satan can come up with.

Before He even created the garden for man to enjoy God already had a plan in place for the fall, because He knew it was going to happen.

20 He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you

God was ready with a word for Satan as soon as the fall happened.

says:

15  I will put enmity between you and the woman,

and between your offspring and her offspring;

he shall bruise your head,

and you shall bruise his heel.”

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version.

(2016).

(Ge 3:15).

Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

Society today is always ready to attack Christianity.

If something in society offends the beliefs of someone other than Christianity they don't want to offend them.

To be politically correct is the way society has headed.

What happened to the good old days when we were not afraid to "offend" someone with the Gospel.

Just as Satan is always ready to battle against God's people we should be lined up and ready to battle against any attack he might plan against us.

The battle is between us and the devil, not between God and Satan.

Don't ever think of this relationship of God and Satan as a battle where God is fighting for our lives and we just hope that God wins.

No matter what the devil throws at us is no battle at all for God, because He is in control, He is all sovereign, he uses everything that happens for His plans for our eternal relationship with Him.

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

9 foot 9" tall this giant was!

He had 125 lbs of armor, bronze sword, bronze helmet, 15 lb spear head.

This must have been an impressive site to see, a scary site to see.

This is a picture of Satan himself, and he is scary if we try to fight him on our own.

There is no way we can fight him on our own.

He is intelligent, he is cunning, and he is coming at you with an armor piercing missile, the biggest spear head he can throw at you.

The iron spear head weighed 15 lbs, and the shaft that pushed it probably weighed even more.

It wouldn't have mattered how much armor a soldier would have on it would probably not stop a spear of that size.

We often try to go up against Satan on our own.

Situations may seem small enough that we can handle them on our own, but when these situations are from Satan they are always bigger than we think.

Why should we even attempt to do anything on our own when we have someone on our side that will protect us, because He loves us.

Satan is always taunting us.

He wants to confuse us about our theology, he likes to insult us.

Goliath was insulting the Israelites' socially, and theologically.

Socially he insulted Saul their leader ,their king.

Saul was their king, and it says he was afraid along with the rest of Israel.

The devil taunts us into thinking we are not good enough, not smart enough, not able to do anything.

In a way he is right, but what he leaves out is that with the power and the guidance of the Holy Spirit we are given the power and the knowledge to do whatever God calls us to do.

With that being said, we are not to pick a fight with the devil, we are to be ready to fight by preparing ourselves by reading and studying His word, we wait for Satan's attack, then we take a stand

The Whole Armor of God

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.

11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.

12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.

14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.

16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.

To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, 19 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.

The Israelites outnumbered Goliath but were still afraid to fight him.

Some of us are more ready to fear the devil than to trust God.

This kind of thinking does not come from God. tells us fear does not come from God, but instead He gives us power, love, and sound judgement.

Satan, "the spirit of fear" can disguise himself as an angel of light fooling us into thinking that fear is from God. .

14 And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.