Confronting the Giants of Our Lives

UV 4292/10000 Confronting the Giants All those gathered here will know that it is not by the sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands. 1 Samuel 17 v 47 David, moved by the power of the Holy Spirit, not only foresaw that he would kill Goliath but that the Israelites would totally rout the powerful Philistines. He was not relying on the power of his weapons, his skills or his fighting prowess but on the Lord God of Israel. He was filled with conviction that the Lord would give all of them into their hands. David spoke his faith before he acted on it. We, too, in this age and time, as we confront powerful forces that oppose us, attack us, challenge us, need to confess our faith in the Lord. We are not to rely on our strength, skills, resources or weapons but go forth to face our challenges in the name of the Lord, clothed with His power, assured of victory. For the battle is not ours but the Lord’s. If we go out to fight relying on the world, on our connections, our resources, our strength, it is akin to David weighing himself down with a heavy armour and sword. Of course, David then used his skill and natural strength with the sling and the stone. It implies that our primary source of reliance is spiritual, the strength and might of the Lord and our secondary source to fall back on is our God-given talents, abilities, strengths and resources. After much prayer, praise and worship, we need to step out like David to confront our challenges, to enter the battle. We cannot slink back in fear looking at the sheer size of the enemy and his power. When God is on our side or rather, we are on God’s side, the odds diminish, the barriers to our success in whatever domain disappear or get levelled out. However big or powerful our enemy, our foes, the Lord is much, much bigger. He is infinitely stronger. We only need to partner with Him, pair our strength with His. Like David we should not entertain an iota of doubt that the Lord can enable us to wrest victory. With Jesus, we are heroes. Without Him we are zeroes. With Him our every thought, stand, goal, word and action will bear results or fruit that will glorify the name of God. Without Him, we are living a life of vanity and vulnerability like the rest of mankind. The Lord strengthened the spirit and mind of the young David to be fearless, to be the hero Israel was looking for. He caused His sling swinging arm to be both strong and accurate that not a stone was wasted and the very first throw hit the giant Goliath in the temple of his head. After Goliath collapsed unconscious to the ground, David used Goliath’s own sword to decapitate him. The words we employ to affirm our faith in God is like the stone David threw at the mocking and snarling giant. The sword is akin to the word of God that we can use to finish our task, complete or fulfill our purpose. Words of affirmation of our faith in a specific situational challenge followed by the specific word of God relevant to complete the challenge are the way we need to confront our giants.