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One of my favorite Bible stories is found in 1 Samuel 17. Even the lost world is familiar with the underdog story of David and Goliath. One of the most captivating parts to me is the way God prepared David in private to fight a real battle in public. When I was lost, I would be driven by pride to press my flesh to the limit at wrestling practice simply so I would not be embarrassed in public. Coach Mike Bradly once told me that he was not worried about my effort because he knew I hated to lose. I thought that was a badge of honor until I was saved and understood it was pride motivating me to the middle of the mat.

David had no such pride. He was in it to win it, not for his glory but for the glory of God. He was not leaning on his own strength and just in case anyone would be confused he laid aside Saul's oversized and unproven armor for the hand slingshot he had trusted in the private battles with lions and bears as a shepherd. You know the story, David stepped up and destroyed the Giant with one smooth stone, taking Goliath's own sword and beheading him right there on the battle field. The vigorous bantering of Goliath was replaced with shock and silence, then the roar of victory as the armies of Israel pursued the Philistines and smote them.

Underlying this story was motive and motivation. God needed a man who would step up and address the battle in principle not practically and tactically. Goliath had won the war of words. He had the military advantage. It would appear he could whip any man one on one and he paralyzed the armies of Israel on Judah's own soil. It was not until a fresh set of eyes looked upon the situation and viewed it from the context of God's promise that the tide turned. Not only did David have to contend with the giant's dismissal of his prowess as a warrior, he had to contend with his brother Eliab telling him his motives were not pure.

David understood the battle in simple terms. This was the enemy mocking God on his own territory. What else was there to discuss? David didn't view Goliath's words over the word of God. He not only knew the scripture but he believed and trusted it in application. David had historical precedence to base his valor on. First, God had removed entire communities of giants under Joshua's reign. Second, whenever Israel turned to God during the period of Judges, he brought great deliverance. David was certain this would be no different. He could smell victory where everyone else saw defeat.

Isn't this the way of Jesus? When it looked like humanity was forever taken captive to Adam's sin, Jesus showed in his weakness the power to redeem humanity through the power of his shed blood on the cross. His weakness is stronger than the strongest cords of sin and he overturned the enemy's power through his willingness to stand in our place as our sacrifice for sin. 1 John 2:1 calls this "propitiation," which is a big word describing the adequate provision of Jesus’ sacrifice to atone for our sin before Holy God. Like the armies of Israel, we now roar the gospel, the good news that Jesus died, was buried and rose again the third day so that we and all who would receive him will have victory over sin and death. As we go forward in pursuing souls in the love of God, we find no greater joy than to join Christ in the victory because we realize we are more than conquerors, we are indeed sons of God. (Romans 8:37, 1 Corinthians 15:57, 1 John 3:1-3).

I have to be careful when I say I'm excited about the opportunities God is providing his people to participate in "real battles". I don't mean physically armed conflict but the spiritual wars that require the same principled faith that David demonstrated thousands of years ago when he stood against Goliath. We know that God is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). We need some ingredients to quit ourselves like men (1 Corinthians 16:13) and engage in the deliverance of souls for the kingdom of God.

  1. Faith - We must believe that God is and that he is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him. (Hebrews 11:6) Without faith it is impossible to please God. It is a great pleasure to God when we rest in the promise of his word.
  2. Preparation - We need to be "built up" in the faith. This is not simply a one-time encounter but an exercising of faith and fact from God's word that causes us to be equipped as a resource in God's good hand for his glory. (James 1:3, Romans 2:7, 2 Timothy 2:2, 2 Timothy 3:16-17).
  3. Willingness - Brokenness before God is what provides the confidence we need to stand for God. When we are contrite and broken before Holy God, there is nothing that terrifies the believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. (Psalm 34:18, 51:17; Philippians 1:28; 2 Timothy 1:7) When we have a pliable heart, God can direct it wherever he wills. (2 Corinthians 8:12)
  4. Tenacity - Bringing all things to the Lord in Prayer is huge. David was a man of prayer so when the day of battle came, there was nothing left to pray about, he understood his place in God's will and plan. May we be fervent in every good word and work as we bring everything to the Lord in prayer with a tenacity that causes subdue kingdoms and brings every thought captive to the will of God. (Luke 18:1, 1 Thessalonians 5:17, 2 Thessalonians 2:11, 2 Timothy 1:3, Ephesians 6:18)
  5. If the desire of your heart is to engage in a real spiritual battle, you need not do anything different than the young shepherd David. He simply went about the mundane affairs of his father Jesse and God placed him providentially in a place to show publically what God had prepared in his heart privately.

Perhaps you are looking for a big conflict and you simply need to take hold of the real battles in front of you. Things like giving box fans and bleach to folks suffering in Baton Rouge are the type of things David did day in and out while he served his father. Taking work trips like the one to Baton Rouge or participating in Bible Conference, Burnt District Festival are opportunities to see God show up and do big things through your faithfulness. Week in and week out we have the privilege of serving our children in the Kingdom Kid's ministry. Attending or assisting in the Life Issues Ministry in some way. There are opportunities to teach and preach God's word in Prisoners of Hope, RICH Nursing Home Ministry as well as other fields. We need faithful men and women to answer the call to fill in at places like the Cass County Juvenile Detention Center.

Going to your place of employment with a prepared heart will certainly glorify God and prepare you for opportunities in the future. Caring for the members of the body who are going through very real trial with illness and infirmity is also ground zero in the war for souls. Sometimes we imagine the "big" battle field but the real battles are fought day in and day out as we desire to seek and serve our Savior with humility and faithfulness counting the ministry as a great privilege.

We need not worry about the pressure of winning the "big" battle because Jesus has already won it on the cross! Now we, like Israel, pick up the sword and charge the field in the power of his victory knowing that where we have failed, he has made up the difference.

Ephesians 3:20-21 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, 21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.