God is our true Warrior.

Lonnie Brooks

Spiritual warfare • Sermon • Submitted 6 years ago

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Introduction

So lets consider a question today.... When we are in spiritual battles, why do we so often loose?

Have you ever considered that, why do we loose spiritual battles? Well first off we are too strong, we think we have it all together, we believe we are able to take care things our self, and we end up making a mess of it.

We try to fix first and pray second.....

God has to break us of this..... We must realize that we are never able to fight the battle by ourselves.... we are truly unfit. But God is able. Give the battle over to Him.

We are going to look at that today....

If you have your Bibles lets go over to .

And with that chapter we will find the story of a epic battle between good and evil, right and wrong, light and darkness… between David and Goliath.

So let turn that and see what the word of God says to us...

1 Samuel 17:1–11 ESV

Now let me tell you something right off the bat.... in this battle it is easy to see the challenge, it is easy to see what stood in their way, it was easy to recognize the fight.

But the size of the battle that lay before them was so much larger than them.

Q. Do you remember what I told you last week. Sometimes God leads us into impossible battles so that He might be our warrior, so that He might receive glory and honor, and that the world would know His name.

That is exactly what is happening here.

The battle seems impossible, but God will triumph and He will get all the glory!

So here is the first thought I want you to see today...

1. The Battle is Identified....

I know it seems pretty simple, and honestly it is simple. It doesn’t take a lot to know what is really happening here.

The Philistines have come out to battle against God’s people. They hate Israel.

So what do we know about the Philistines? They were an ancient people, they were the descendants of Ham, the son of Noah in .

and when God made his covenant with Abraham, God promised Abraham that He and the generations would take possession of the land of Canaan, which included the land where the Philistines lived.

Now in the book of Joshua and Judges we know this is the only group of people the Israelites never conquered and drove from the land. Because of their failure to go in and take possession of all the land, the Philistines were always a thorn in their side.

In fact the Philistines will not be destroyed until the Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon and the later Kings of the Medes and Persians Cryus and Darius take control of the land beginning in early 600 bc.

So the Philistines are a pain to say the least, they are always fighting against Israel, raiding their border cities, stealing food and taking people into captivity.

And today, they have come out to war against Israel, and they have brought their best champion.

Look at verses 4-7

1 Samuel 17:4–7 ESV

4 And there came out from the camp of the Philistines a champion named Goliath of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span. 5 He had a helmet of bronze 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 javelin of bronze slung between his shoulders. 7 The shaft of his spear was like a weaver’s beam, and his spear’s head weighed six hundred shekels of iron. And his shield-bearer went before him.

I Sam 11

So here is their champion, he is 9 feet 9 inches tall. His armor weighs 120 lbs and this tip of his spear is 15 lbs. He is a giant, a warrior from his youth.... He is a big, bad man....

I mean wow.... No one wants to fight him.... when we say the name Goliath,

But He really isn’t the battle my friends, he is just an instrument of the devil, between right and wrong, good and evil. Between the children of God and the children of the devil.

And then recognize that he taunts the children of Israel. He is trying to call them out into battle so he can defeat them.... and make them all their slaves....

1 Samuel 17:8–11 ESV

8 He stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, “Why have you come out to draw up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not 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 ranks 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.

Why have you come out here if you don’t intend to fight, You Lilly liveried bunch of cowards… Are you not the men of Saul, realistically, are you not the Kings army???

Send out your best man,.....

Verse 10 says He defied the ranks of Israel. the word defy means to mock, to show with contempt.

He is trash talking them, giving them down the road and accusing them before God. In fact He is mocking God as well, if you treat God’s people poorly understand you have treated Him poorly.

The Philistines are putting all their money on just one man, one plan. They believe Goliath will win the battle, He cannot be defeated.

The devil does the same thing, he opposes the children of God and yes God himself. He always puts His eggs in the same basket and he brings as much fear, taunting and size hoping to scare us into submission, to drive us away.

The philistenes are putting all thier money on just one man, one plan devil does the same.

So let me ask you...

Are you facing a battle today?

Look at it and ask God to help you see it for what it really is...

But please, please dont go out onto the field of battle in your own strength. You will be defeated… Trust in the Lord first! Seek His face and plan....

Now this brings me point number 2....

2. Faith of the Least...

Sometimes those of us who are older, sometimes we need to see the battle through younger eyes, sometimes we need to see the battle with the eyes of child like faith…

Now this is where David comes in, He is really to young to be in the army, He is the least of his father Jesse's children. David we are told is the youngest son of 8 children., verse 14. From what we know, a teenager...

So while David’s brothers are encamped with the army with King Saul, David is stuck at home tending the flocks of his father.

Now mind you, it is an important job. But it is not as exciting as the battle field could be…

Now one day Jesse tells his son David to take some supplies to his brothers and also their commander out on the battle field, for 40 days this had been going on. let me share some of the passage ith you

1 Samuel 17:17–18 ESV

17 And Jesse said to David his son, “Take for your brothers an ephah of this parched grain, and these ten loaves, and carry them quickly to the camp to your brothers. 18 Also take these ten cheeses to the commander of their thousand. See if your brothers are well, and bring some token from them.”

I Sam 17:17

The two armies lined up on apposing ridges, but no one would march out to meet Goliath on the battle field. And David arrived as this was happening this day…

Look at verses 20-23

1 Samuel 17:20–23 ESV

20 And David rose early in the morning and left the sheep with a keeper and took the provisions and went, as Jesse had commanded him. And he came to the encampment as the host was going out to the battle line, shouting the war cry. 21 And Israel and the Philistines drew up for battle, army against army. 22 And David left the things in charge of the keeper of the baggage and ran to the ranks and went and greeted his brothers. 23 As he talked with them, behold, the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, came up out of the ranks of the Philistines and spoke the same words as before. And David heard him.

The last line there is important,While David is there, Goliath comes out once again, and David heard him. David heard the evil words Goliath spoke against Israel and the God of Israel.

And He didn’t like what he was hearing....

And I think David is a bit amazed… the whole army is afraid and the king has sweetened the pot, to the man who kills Goliath I will reward with treasure and my own daughter in marriage.

Saul is so desperate, he has put a reward on the head of Goliath. And listen to David in verse 26

1 Samuel 17:26 ESV

26 And David said to the men who stood by him, “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?”

David might be the youngest there, just a teenager if you will. The youngest and weakest of his family. But he has faith…

What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach of Israel?

Consider the word “Reproach.”

The word reproach is an important one… reproach means shame,dishonor.

Here they were the children of the living God, they are weak, they have acted cowardly and they haven’t asked God what to do about this battle.

Who is this man that he should mock the army of the living God, literally God himself.

David knows that with God all things are possible regardless of what we face.....

Now as you read the text, Davids older brothers are put-off by their sure talking little brother… in fact they are down right mad at him for even implying that he was able…Verse 28, the oldest brother accuses David of neglecting his duties of keeping the sheep and just running around down there and talking a good talk.

There is a little jealously here, the oldest brother has never had the courage to say what David has just said about Goliath, he is upset with David for being so brave.

Now as you read the text, Davids older brothers are put off by their sure talking little brother… in fact they are down right mad at him for even implying that he was able...

Now David’s word spreads, and very quickly the word makes its way to Saul and King Saul sends for this young man who has such great confidence…

Very quickly the word makes its way to Saul and King Saul sends for this young man who has such great confidence…

Look with me at verses 31-33

1 Samuel 17:31–33 ESV

31 When the words that David spoke were heard, they repeated them before Saul, and he sent for him. 32 And 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 but a youth, and he has been a man of war from his youth.”

Listen to David’s faith.... “Let no man’s heart fail because of him. Your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.”

David’ words are like. don’t worry your majesty, I will take are of this problem. David was sure, why because of his faith.....

Hebrews 11:1 ESV

1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

Faith says with God all things are possible regardless of what my eyes see or do not see, the lack of faith says God cannot do it.... He has met his match.

Saul, while he doesn’t have many men knocking at the door to volunteer, he isn’t so certain about David...

Why? He looked at David’s youth.... there is the second time that term is come up.

Saul wasn’t so certain… Why? He looked at David’s youth.... there is the second time that term is come up.

Yes David is young, but it doesn’t mean God is not with Him

Verse 33... And Saul said to David, “You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him, for you are but a youth, and he has been a man of war from his youth.”

Now this is important my friends....

You see we keep hearing about David’s youth here… Why?

God is contrasting the picture for you. Two armies, Two kingdoms, Two people .... one a seasoned veteran of the fighting arena, and the other is the youngest son of 8 children… But David has faith, and He walks in the ways of the Lord.

IMPORTANT My friends, I want to remind you to stop looking at the battle through natural eyes and believe God can and will as we trust him. Age is not the factor, you are neither to old or young to be used of God. Only a disobedient faithless heart cannot be used of God.

Let me share a story with you......

I am reminded of a man by the name of George Mueller, a man born in Germany in 1805 and later in life migrated to England.

I could tell you a lot of things about Mueller, but the best if that he loved the Lord and loved to take care of God’s children. Especially physical children. God led him to establish an orphaned in the Bristol area of England. And there he and others ministered to those who were helpless.

I remember the story of a morning the children having no bread or milk and some of the workers came and told Mueller about the predicament. He told the workers to just wait, God would provide. He went in and prayed, having faith to ask knowing God would bless these orphans.

Very soon, shops that held extra bread, bread they were unable to sale from the day before brought loaves for the orphanage, and extra mike not sold at the market came as well.

Mueller didn’t go about worrying about what to do, and what he could not do, instead he turned to the one who can.... There is an old song “I know a man who can...” God can friends, give it to Him!

George Mueller sought and God provided for the needs of so many children.

Do you trust God to fight your battles, to provide when you least expect it. Do you believe that He is able to do exceedingly and abundantly more than you can think of ask?

Now this brings me to my last point....

3. The Battle is the Lord’s...

Saul could not believe that David had volunteered to go fight against Goliath. But there he was, full of faith and confidence....

Saul still isn’t sure....

Listen to David recount the journey He has endured with God’s help.

1 Samuel 17:34–37 ESV

34 But David said to Saul, “Your servant used to keep sheep for his father. And when there came a lion, or a bear, and took a lamb from the flock, 35 I went after him and struck him and delivered it out of his mouth. And if he arose against me, I caught him by his beard and struck him and killed him. 36 Your servant has struck down both lions and bears, and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God.” 37 And David said, “The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” And Saul said to David, “Go, and the Lord be with you!”

David knew God would deliver Him from the hand of this Philistine just as he had the bear and the Lion.

What can Saul say expect, the Lord be with you and go.... But still there is a lack of faith on Saul’s part… you know why? Look at this mindset in verse 38

1 Samuel 17:38 ESV

38 Then Saul clothed David with his armor. He put a helmet of bronze on his head and clothed him with a coat of mail,

Saul had a human mindset, come here David, lets help God out. Let get you ready for the battle....

Verse 39 tells us that the armor of the king was to big for this little shepherd boy. David took it off and picked up the weapons of his warfare..

1 Samuel 17:40 ESV

40 Then he took his staff in his hand and chose five smooth stones from the brook and put them in his shepherd’s pouch. His sling was in his hand, and he approached the Philistine.

As David steps out onto the battle field my friends we see it again.... everyone is talking about his youth.

Verses 41-42

1 Samuel 17:41–42 ESV

41 And the Philistine moved forward and came near to David, with his shield-bearer in front of him. 42 And when the Philistine looked and saw David, he disdained him, for he was but a youth, ruddy and handsome in appearance.

Verse 42 tells us for the third time that David is but a boy, a youth....

If there was ever a mis-match on the battle field, then its this one and God wants you to see it my friends.

While we are guilty of trying to compare, to reason, to plan and make strategies one after the other to slave our problems. God wants you to see the battle isn’t yours ..... it is His!

Now Goliath is angry, upset, and curses David and the Israelites by their own God.

Now here is where it is beautiful my friends, listen to David’s testimony this day…

1 Samuel 17:45–47 ESV

45 Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword and 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 down and cut off your head. And I will give the dead bodies of the host of the Philistines this day to the birds of the air and to the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, 47 and that all this assembly may know that the Lord saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give you into our hand.”

1 Sam 17:45-

Now there is the heart of a future King. You come at with your weapons but I come at you in the name of the Lord, that all may know there is a God in Israel.

David wants God to get all the glory for this battle and its victory.

Do we want God to get all the glory for the way you live and work in front of Him. Then it begins with faith.

Now the devil would like to limit your faith, he would like to keep it squished, in unbelief that you cannot fight, the problem like Goliath is so big, you really should just run and hide.

Saul and those men failed because they tried to do it in their strength. David did it God’s way, totally dependent on Him.

Now as Paul Harvey says … “the rest of the story.”

1 Samuel 17:48–51 ESV

48 When the Philistine arose and came and drew near to meet David, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet the Philistine. 49 And David put his hand in his bag and took out a stone and slung it and struck the Philistine on his forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the ground. 50 So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and struck the Philistine and killed him. There was no sword in the hand of David. 51 Then David ran and stood over the Philistine and took his sword and drew it out of its sheath and killed him and cut off his head with it. When the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled.

God is the true warrior here, He empowered David to fight, But God brought the outcome.

Question....

Is God the one who fights your battles or are you still trying to do it in your own strength?

If you are fighting in your own strength… seeing failure after failure, are you ready to stop and give it over to God.

He will allow you to do it all by yourself, but that is a hard lesson to learn at times.

Let God be your warrior.

Pray!

1 Samuel 17 ESV

1 Now the Philistines gathered their armies for battle. And they were gathered at Socoh, which belongs to Judah, and encamped between Socoh and Azekah, in Ephes-dammim. 2 And Saul and the men of Israel were gathered, and encamped in the Valley of Elah, and drew up in line of battle against the Philistines. 3 And the Philistines stood on the mountain on the one side, and Israel stood on the mountain on the other side, with a valley between them. 4 And there came out from the camp of the Philistines a champion named Goliath of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span. 5 He had a helmet of bronze 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 javelin of bronze slung between his shoulders. 7 The shaft of his spear was like a weaver’s beam, and his spear’s head weighed six hundred shekels of iron. And his shield-bearer went before him. 8 He stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, “Why have you come out to draw up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not 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 ranks 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 an Ephrathite of Bethlehem in Judah, named Jesse, who had eight sons. In the days of Saul the man was already old and advanced in years. 13 The three oldest sons of Jesse had followed Saul to the battle. And the names of his three sons who went to the battle were Eliab the firstborn, and next to him Abinadab, and the third Shammah. 14 David was the youngest. The three eldest followed Saul, 15 but David went back and forth from Saul to feed his father’s sheep at Bethlehem. 16 For forty days the Philistine came forward and took his stand, morning and evening. 17 And Jesse said to David his son, “Take for your brothers an ephah of this parched grain, and these ten loaves, and carry them quickly to the camp to your brothers. 18 Also take these ten cheeses to the commander of their thousand. See if your brothers are well, and bring some token from them.” 19 Now Saul and they and all the men of Israel were in the Valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines. 20 And David rose early in the morning and left the sheep with a keeper and took the provisions and went, as Jesse had commanded him. And he came to the encampment as the host was going out to the battle line, shouting the war cry. 21 And Israel and the Philistines drew up for battle, army against army. 22 And David left the things in charge of the keeper of the baggage and ran to the ranks and went and greeted his brothers. 23 As he talked with them, behold, the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, came up out of the ranks of the Philistines and spoke the same words as before. And David heard him. 24 All the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him and were much afraid. 25 And the men of Israel said, “Have you seen this man who has come up? Surely he has come up to defy Israel. And the king will enrich the man who kills him with great riches and will give him his daughter and make his father’s house free in Israel.” 26 And David said to the men who stood by him, “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 the same way, “So shall it be done to the man who kills him.” 28 Now Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spoke to the men. And Eliab’s anger was kindled against David, and he said, “Why have you come down? And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your presumption and the evil of your heart, for you have come down to see the battle.” 29 And David said, “What have I done now? Was it not but a word?” 30 And he turned away from him toward another, and spoke in the same way, and the people answered him again as before. 31 When the words that David spoke were heard, they repeated them before Saul, and he sent for him. 32 And 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 but a youth, and he has been a man of war from his youth.” 34 But David said to Saul, “Your servant used to keep sheep for his father. And when there came a lion, or a bear, and took a lamb from the flock, 35 I went after him and struck him and delivered it out of his mouth. And if he arose against me, I caught him by his beard and struck him and killed him. 36 Your servant has struck down both lions and bears, and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God.” 37 And David said, “The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” And Saul said to David, “Go, and the Lord be with you!” 38 Then Saul clothed David with his armor. He put a helmet of bronze on his head and clothed him with a coat of mail, 39 and David strapped his sword over his armor. And he tried in vain to go, for he had not tested them. Then David said to Saul, “I cannot go with these, for I have not tested them.” So David put them off. 40 Then he took his staff in his hand and chose five smooth stones from the brook and put them in his shepherd’s pouch. His sling was in his hand, and he approached the Philistine. 41 And the Philistine moved forward and came near to David, with his shield-bearer in front of him. 42 And when the Philistine looked and saw David, he disdained him, for he was but a youth, ruddy and handsome in appearance. 43 And 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 The Philistine said to David, “Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and to the beasts of the field.” 45 Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword and 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 down and cut off your head. And I will give the dead bodies of the host of the Philistines this day to the birds of the air and to the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, 47 and that all this assembly may know that the Lord saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give you into our hand.” 48 When the Philistine arose and came and drew near to meet David, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet the Philistine. 49 And David put his hand in his bag and took out a stone and slung it and struck the Philistine on his forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the ground. 50 So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and struck the Philistine and killed him. There was no sword in the hand of David. 51 Then David ran and stood over the Philistine and took his sword and drew it out of its sheath and killed him and cut off his head with it. When the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled. 52 And the men of Israel and Judah rose with a shout and pursued the Philistines as far as Gath and the gates of Ekron, so that the wounded Philistines fell on the way from Shaaraim as far as Gath and Ekron. 53 And the people of Israel came back from chasing the Philistines, and they plundered their camp. 54 And David took the head of the Philistine and brought it to Jerusalem, but he put his armor in his tent. 55 As soon as Saul saw David go out against the Philistine, he said to Abner, the commander of the army, “Abner, whose son is this youth?” And Abner said, “As your soul lives, O king, I do not know.” 56 And the king said, “Inquire whose son the boy is.” 57 And as soon as David returned from the striking down of the Philistine, Abner took him, and brought him before Saul with the head of the Philistine in his hand. 58 And Saul said to him, “Whose son are you, young man?” And David answered, “I am the son of your servant Jesse the Bethlehemite.”