Tuesday, July 05, 2005
Choices and battle strategies
Here are brief notes on this week's Sunday sermon - about the battle between David and Goliath which is related to my previous post on being battleweary.
The Lord was gracious in sending a 'word in season' almost immediately after reflecting on it only a couple of days ago. Here is a summary...
The pastor expounded on the need for each believer to make explicit choices in preparing for 'battle' (1 Samuel 17).
1) Choose your giant (v4-11)
We can't fight all the battles at once, so it is important to choose which battles and specific giants to come up against. The giants can be internal (e.g. attitudes, motivations, character flaws, struggle with sins) or external (e.g. taking a stand against broader issues such as secular values that are diametrically opposed to God's word, stemming the tide of abortion, the crowding out of Christian values from media, etc). Are we wise in choosing the right giants to fight?
2) Choose faithfulness (v12-24)
Way before he slew Goliath, David was tending sheep, serving his warrior brothers' needs, and fighting off lions and bears. Nobody noticed him in that part of his "preparation". Nobody, except the Lord, that is. How faithful are we in small things and in those 'unseen' battles, when we think nobody is noticing? Because God will prepare us for bigger things.
3) Choose righteousness (v25-27)
When Goliath challenged the Israelite army, the men reasoned amongst themselves in terms of earthly values: "... 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."
What is our motivation for getting rid of the giants of sin in our lives? Is it to make more friends? For a better career to make more money? Or is it just part of our own self-improvement efforts to make our lives better?
David motivation to Goliath's challenge was, "For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?" How much do we love God and His righteousness? How pure are our motives?
4) Choose friends (v28-31)
People closest to us can be the very people who will rob us from our destiny in God. They can be family, they can also be close friends.
For David, it was his older brother Eliab who spoke out against him: "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..."
Who do we listen and give our attention to? Choose friends who are godly and wise in preparing for battle. It may determine whether you even make it to the battleground...
5) Choose armour (v37-39)
Many of us try to live our Christian lives in the law and through other people's experiences and victories. We think that if we read the bible more, we will be more righteous. We think that we can make up for sinful areas by doing good in others. We think that if others think we are alright, then we are righteous. These are all false items of security, faulty armory.
Nothing can add or lessen the righteousness that was earned through the blood of Jesus and what He has done on the cross. Choose to fight in the security which is the Lord Himself. Put on the armour of righteousness, but under grace and in Christ, not under the law. Our feet needs to be fitted with the readiness of the gospel of Christ. How secure are we in the love of God, and only in the love of God? How prepared are we to give an answer in defense of the gospel?
6) Choose weapons (v40-44)
We try to apply formulae and human methods in our battles, but victories can only come through applying the Word of God in the power and annointing of the Spirit. There is no other way. Without abiding in the vine that is Christ himself, we can do nothing and will see no fruit.
David said to his giant, "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. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you."
Ultimately, the battle is for your mind. How much do we allow God's Word to penetrate / shape our thinking and outlook? How much do we wield the sword of the Spirit?
7) Choose victory (v47-51)
In the final picture, the battle belongs to the Lord and He has already given us the victory. But the question is how much we believe that 'fact' deep down inside.
When Goliath came on the scene, the Israelites feared how big he was and wondered whether their weapons were adequete. But David saw how big Goliath was and wondered how he could possibly miss when he took aim!
Faith is built and strengthened by action, especially when it is enlarged and stretched. We have got to labour. We have got to tear down. Step beyond our own 'comfort' territories. But what will ensure victory is God's Word living in us through the Holy Spirit.
How much does faith truimph over unbelief in our lives? Are your giants so big that your weapons seem so small, or are your giants so big that you cannot possibly miss when you cast your weapons to fight? It's not enough just to passively believe, it needs to be a matter of whether we act by faith.
Expect great things. Attempt great things. But be wise in the choices we make along the way.
The Lord was gracious in sending a 'word in season' almost immediately after reflecting on it only a couple of days ago. Here is a summary...
The pastor expounded on the need for each believer to make explicit choices in preparing for 'battle' (1 Samuel 17).
1) Choose your giant (v4-11)
We can't fight all the battles at once, so it is important to choose which battles and specific giants to come up against. The giants can be internal (e.g. attitudes, motivations, character flaws, struggle with sins) or external (e.g. taking a stand against broader issues such as secular values that are diametrically opposed to God's word, stemming the tide of abortion, the crowding out of Christian values from media, etc). Are we wise in choosing the right giants to fight?
2) Choose faithfulness (v12-24)
Way before he slew Goliath, David was tending sheep, serving his warrior brothers' needs, and fighting off lions and bears. Nobody noticed him in that part of his "preparation". Nobody, except the Lord, that is. How faithful are we in small things and in those 'unseen' battles, when we think nobody is noticing? Because God will prepare us for bigger things.
3) Choose righteousness (v25-27)
When Goliath challenged the Israelite army, the men reasoned amongst themselves in terms of earthly values: "... 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."
What is our motivation for getting rid of the giants of sin in our lives? Is it to make more friends? For a better career to make more money? Or is it just part of our own self-improvement efforts to make our lives better?
David motivation to Goliath's challenge was, "For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?" How much do we love God and His righteousness? How pure are our motives?
4) Choose friends (v28-31)
People closest to us can be the very people who will rob us from our destiny in God. They can be family, they can also be close friends.
For David, it was his older brother Eliab who spoke out against him: "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..."
Who do we listen and give our attention to? Choose friends who are godly and wise in preparing for battle. It may determine whether you even make it to the battleground...
5) Choose armour (v37-39)
Many of us try to live our Christian lives in the law and through other people's experiences and victories. We think that if we read the bible more, we will be more righteous. We think that we can make up for sinful areas by doing good in others. We think that if others think we are alright, then we are righteous. These are all false items of security, faulty armory.
Nothing can add or lessen the righteousness that was earned through the blood of Jesus and what He has done on the cross. Choose to fight in the security which is the Lord Himself. Put on the armour of righteousness, but under grace and in Christ, not under the law. Our feet needs to be fitted with the readiness of the gospel of Christ. How secure are we in the love of God, and only in the love of God? How prepared are we to give an answer in defense of the gospel?
6) Choose weapons (v40-44)
We try to apply formulae and human methods in our battles, but victories can only come through applying the Word of God in the power and annointing of the Spirit. There is no other way. Without abiding in the vine that is Christ himself, we can do nothing and will see no fruit.
David said to his giant, "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. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you."
Ultimately, the battle is for your mind. How much do we allow God's Word to penetrate / shape our thinking and outlook? How much do we wield the sword of the Spirit?
7) Choose victory (v47-51)
In the final picture, the battle belongs to the Lord and He has already given us the victory. But the question is how much we believe that 'fact' deep down inside.
When Goliath came on the scene, the Israelites feared how big he was and wondered whether their weapons were adequete. But David saw how big Goliath was and wondered how he could possibly miss when he took aim!
Faith is built and strengthened by action, especially when it is enlarged and stretched. We have got to labour. We have got to tear down. Step beyond our own 'comfort' territories. But what will ensure victory is God's Word living in us through the Holy Spirit.
How much does faith truimph over unbelief in our lives? Are your giants so big that your weapons seem so small, or are your giants so big that you cannot possibly miss when you cast your weapons to fight? It's not enough just to passively believe, it needs to be a matter of whether we act by faith.
Expect great things. Attempt great things. But be wise in the choices we make along the way.
Labels: Hardship / Struggles / Pain, Spiritual Growth
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