“If God is for
us, who can be against us?”
~Romans
8:31 (NIV)
Let’s step back into the story of
David and Goliath. I left you with three steps to take down your enemy. Now I want to teach you how to be a
victorious warrior for Christ! How are we supposed to step on to the battlefield. Let’s find out through
the next few verses in 1 Samuel 17.
The battle
lines have been drawn. Goliath and his army are camped out on one side of the valley, while Saul and the Israelites
are camped out on the other. Who will make the first move?
Well, as the story goes. Goliath makes the first move, and the second, and the third…
In fact, he makes the first 40 moves. The Bible says he comes out for 40 days and nights to taunt his enemy.
How daunting to hear Goliath shout day after day. Can you imagine hearing your enemy defy God and everything you know
for 40 days?
These were the shouts of Goliath
for 40 days,
Goliath stood and shouted
to the ranks of Israel, “Why do you come out and line up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not
the servants of Saul? Choose a man and have him come down to me. If he is able to fight and kill me, we will
become your subjects; but if I overcome him and kill him, you will become our subjects and serve us.”
Then the Philistine said, “This day I
defy the ranks of Israel! Give me a man and let us fight each other.”
Can you hear the taunting in Goliath’s voice? I sure can!
Why are you coming to battle me? Who do you think you are all lining up for battle? You will never be able to
take me down! You can hear it in his voice. Then he adds insult to injury, as he calls them the servants of
Saul. He does not even give them the honor they deserve by calling them warriors. He is stripping them of their
pride little by little. Choose a man, as if he is saying can you find one among the servants. He is degrading
everyone in the ranks of Saul’s army. Then he goes on to say, “If that man is able to fight me…”
Wow, Goliath is such a big shot!
I’ve
faced a few of these big shots in my life. How about you? Have you ever faced a big shot trying to take you
down? Satan is constantly trying to steal your joy, kill your love for Jesus, and destroy the life you live for your
Savior! Will you let Him? Are you going to show up for battle and just stand there and take these awful remarks?
I say no! It’s time we fight back!
There
are plenty of others who have shown up for battle for 40 days. If they can do it, I know we can do it! Let’s
learn from our examples and move forward by faith! Let’s not let the enemy kick us while we’re down!
Let’s show him a thing or two.
How
to be a Victorious Warrior in Battle against the Enemy of our souls?
1. Follow the examples that have gone before us!
- Noah ~ For 40 days the flood waters poured on the earth. Noah kept his eyes on God. It
was longer before Noah’s foot touched dry land again. (Genesis 7:17)
- Elijah ~ For 40 days he traveled to Mount Horeb, the mountain of God. (1 Kings 19:8)
- Israelites ~ For 40 years they wandered in the desert. (Deuteronomy 8:2-5)
- Jesus ~ For 40 days and nights He fasted and was tempted by Satan in the wilderness. (Matthew
4:2)
- There are quite a few more stories that happened within an increment
of the number 40, but this is what I will list for now!
