Topic: Life’s Battle Made Easy
Text: 1 Samuel 17:1-11
Key Verse: Here and now, I challenge Israel’s whole army! Choose someone to fight me! – 1 Samuel 17:10 CEV
Life is a battle, the forces of light and darkness have been in contention since the world began, and light has always prevailed. Hallelujah!
Every battle is fought and won when an army brings out its best men and most sophisticated armory. But many wars are won by sheer doggedness, strategy, and divine support.
In our text today, Israel was already intimidated by the sheer size of Goliath, and then the boast of the leader of the Philistines army to fight only their leader made things worse. Saul was the leader, but he lacked the courage to go out and fight, and no other soldier considered it a feat worth undertaking.
It’s all good because God always works in our favor in every situation. The enemy brought out a joker he considered a sure banker( using betting terminology ), but he had no idea that he would bite more than he could chew.
We know that God is always at work for the good of everyone who loves him. They are the ones God has chosen for his purpose, – Romans 8:28 (CEV)
We speak of God’s hidden and mysterious wisdom that God decided to use for our glory long before the world began. The rulers of this world didn’t know anything about this wisdom. If they had known about it, they would not have nailed the glorious Lord to a cross. But it is just as the Scriptures say, “What God has planned for people who love him is more than eyes have seen or ears have heard. It has never even entered our minds!” – 1 Corinthians 2:7-9 CEV
The enemy had his eyes on his strength and armor, and so did Saul and his men. But, l want you to see differently from today.
God is not just our creator; if you have come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ and received Him as savior, you are now a child of God and have a different kind of relationship.
God determined what will happen in the lives of his children; these plans and purposes are in the scriptures.
Secondly, God has promised to be with us as long as we live according to His purposes. We must live with that assurance no matter what happens and where we find ourselves.
So the Lord’s promise came true, just as the prophet had said, “A virgin will have a baby boy, and he will be called Immanuel,” which means “God is with us.”- Matthew 1:22-23 CEV
… The Lord has promised that he will not leave us or desert us. That should make you feel like saying, “The Lord helps me! Why should I be afraid of what people can do to me?”- Hebrews 13:5-6 CEV
The battle of life is made easy for us by the statement that is our key verse. The Philistines asked for the champion of each army to fight on behalf of all. What a perfect plan! Our champion is Jesus, can’t you see it? He is our champion! He went to Calvary and fought and won the battle for us all. God raised him from the dead to prove his victory, and now he is sitting at God’s right hand in glory.
Though David didn’t know about Calvary, he had his eyes not on himself but on God. He did not boast of his strength, weapons, or experience to Goliath; his confidence was in who was with him.
David answered: You’ve come out to fight me with a sword and a spear and a dagger. But I’ve come out to fight you in the name of the Lord All-Powerful. He is the God of Israel’s army, and you have insulted him too! – 1 Samuel 17:45 CEV
Today the Lord will help me defeat you. I’ll knock you down and cut off your head, and I’ll feed the bodies of the other Philistine soldiers to the birds and wild animals. Then the whole world will know that Israel has a real God. Everybody here will see that the Lord doesn’t need swords or spears to save his people. The Lord always wins his battles, and he will help us defeat you. – 1 Samuel 17:46-47 (CEV)
Where is your confidence today as you face life’s battle? The devil will remind you of who is not with you, who has left you, or who is against you and how powerful they are. Today, l have come to assure you that you are already a winner as long as this battle is between their champion and your champion, Jesus.
You do not need to fear or hide God is with you, and as long as God is fighting for you in these battles, you cannot lose.
Live life confidently, raise your head high, and declare to those who care to listen… What can we say about all this? If God is on our side, can anyone be against us? – Romans 8:31
Prayer
Father, thank you for inviting me to a beautiful and secure relationship where l don’t have to face life’s battle alone; help me remember this every day. Teach me, Lord, to keep my eyes on Jesus, my champion and hero, instead of on myself or the storms, in Jesus’ mighty name. Amen
Pastor Ada