Revelation 12:11 – “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. NKJV

1 Samuel 17:45-47 – “Then David said to the Philistine, “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. 46 This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you. And this day I will give the carcasses of the camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. 47 Then all this assembly shall know that the LORD does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the LORD’s, and He will give you into our hands.” NKJV

Back to the story of David and Goliath and we find that King Saul heard of the lad’s questions and apparent willingness to fight.  David picked up the gauntlet Goliath had thrown down while the trained men of Israel cowered in fear.  They were willing to send a boy to do a man’s job.  Saul even cautioned David saying, “You are not even a man yet.”   Fear had so gripped them that they looked for every reason not to do something rather than Faith to do something.  David quickly rehearsed his life before the king regarding the bear and the lion he had killed protecting his flock.  Fear, as demonstrated in Saul and Israel, will always let someone else take the risk.  Saul finally consented to let David fight the fight and tried to burden David with his method (armor).

Faith does not fight with man-made weapons.  David’s trust was not in what man could do but what God could do and had done in his life.  Saul [The System] said: “Take our credentials, go to our seminaries, follow our prescribed methods, utilize our programs, and you will succeed.”  David [The Spirit] said: “No thanks!  I’ll go in the Name of the Lord.”  It was not that David totally rejected man’s weapons or devaluing man’s knowledge, but he knew that first and foremost he had to trust God and follow God’s way.

Some have said the five smooth stones represented Goliath and his brothers and others contend it represents the five-fold ministry gifts, offices, and functions.  I believe that smooth indicated the rough edges had been polished off by the stream of what God is doing or the flow of the Spirit of God.  Those are great and God’s Spirit will polish our lives but David had to have Faith, demonstrate that Faith by walking in Obedience to what his heart directed him.

IMAGINE HOW GOLIATH FELT….

When this shepherd boy, with a slingshot, in his shepherd’s clothing, without armor came out to fight, how did that make Goliath feel?  It infuriated and insulted him, and he said so!  Israel had so disrespected him they send out a boy to fight a man’s battle.  He roared against David with fury.  This is the make-or-break point for David.  He could turn and run and no one person in either army would have thought much about it.  He was a boy and not supposed to be brave.  But, because of David’s heart and faith he cannot turn back.  There is something inside that propels him forward and it is his unshakable confidence in God.  He has the spirit of a warrior!

David proclaimed God’s Promise (v.45) and declared his commitment (v.46).  David had learned what Isaiah wrote about in 40:31, He had learned to wait now he can walk and run mounting up with wings like an eagle.  David ran toward the Philistine!  He didn’t wait for the enemy to come to him he charged ahead in the power and confidence of God.  “The battle is the Lord’s and He will give you into our hands…”  And the end result was that with Goliath’s own sword David took off his head.

Faith gives Confidence and Obedience brings victory!   I will pause there and pick up again tomorrow but as you go through this day go in the Confidence of God’s Promises and diligently Obey the voice of the Spirit of God no matter what you are facing! 

Blessings as you go through your day!