There's something you need to know today; someone is trespassing on your land! Did you know that you're living in enemy occupied territory? We've been talking about Spiritual Warfare and have already seen how the victory is won. Jesus won it a long time ago. So, why are many Christians living below their privileges? Why are we not walking into our Promised Land and taking all that Jesus paid for?
The enemy can be intimidating. The devil's only real weapon is deceit. He's a liar through and through. Look at the Israelites. They had a Promised Land, promised to them by the Promise Keeper; God Almighty! But what happened? The spies came back with a bad report.
'In our own sight' they said. They saw themselves grasshoppers compared to their enemy. Caleb said they were 'well able to overcome it' but the others had a different, more negative perspective. They were intimidated. Even after the Israelites had finally taken the Promised Land, they were fighting for years to claim all of it. They had trespassers on their land, but they weren't enforcing the victory. And then the Philistines come along with their secret weapon; Goliath!
Talk about intimidating! Goliath was 9ft 9! That’s huge! The tallest NBA player ever was 7' 7". Goliath was more than two feet taller than that. Imagine. Remember that the height of an average man in those days was around 5' 5". So this guy was nearly twice the size of everyone else. Not only that, he was an experienced warrior, a veteran fighter. His spear handle alone was described as a weaver's beam which was commonly around 2 to 2 1/2" inches thick and more than 5 feet long! His armour chest plate weighed 10lbs. This guy had to be the most intimidating warrior, the most intimidating anything, the world had ever known. And he knows it. He comes out and taunts Israel's army, mocking them and insulting the Lord their God.
1 Samuel 17:10-11 And the Philistine said, I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together. When Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine, they were dismayed, and greatly afraid.
The reaction of the Israelites in verse 11 says a lot. The enemy wants you to look with natural eyes. Goliath used his size to intimidate. The devil will use his lies to convince you the battle is too big. He will do all he can to keep you from looking with supernatural eyes of faith. Like David.
Saul was also focused on the natural. He says to David in v33; Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou art but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.
But David was focused on something entirely different. v36-37; Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God. David said moreover, The Lord that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine.
David's focus was on his covenant with Almighty God, not on the natural circumstances. He wouldn't let this trespasser intimidate him.
Let's look at what happens:
When David came on the scene in this story, there was no natural solution.
David didn’t focus on the natural circumstances. He saw them with his eyes, sure. But despite not being recognised as a warrior by anyone else, he knew that his power rested not in his own strength, not in the natural. It was in God.
David looks at the spiritual reality of a man who is not in covenant with God and the overwhelming and infinitely greater power of God over satan. So when Saul told him he couldn’t do it, he rehearsed the truth that David knew. He recalled his previous victories that he achieved in the Lord and we see where his focus and his trust are.
Goliath laughs at David. Satan does the same to you. Don’t listen to him. He’s getting desperate at that point.
David’s focus couldn’t care less about Goliath’s taunts because he’s focused entirely on God.
David defeats Goliath.
Your spiritual power has zero to do with your natural abilities or circumstances. It doesn’t matter what position you’re in, what mistakes you’ve made, whether you’re white or black, whether you’re rich or poor, it doesn’t matter. David recognised the situation for what it really was: a challenge between Satan and God. When we approach spiritual warfare we are to operate from that victory, from the promises of God, from our covenant with God. When we do that we will operate in God’s power, not our own.
What was the key to this victorious mindset? David knew that the battle belonged to God. You see, you must come from a place of victory, not trying to obtain victory. You’re already seated with Christ in heavenly places. You can say to the devil exactly what David told Goliath. We need to get stirred up and determined about this. You can say as David said to Goliath; Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the Lordof hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. This day will the Lord deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. And all this assembly shall know that the Lord saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the Lord's, and he will give you into our hands. (1 Samuel 17:45-47)
What a speech! The battle belongs to the Lord, church. Keep your mind stayed on Him, keep your trust in His promises and your covenant with Him and you cannot lose.
Yours Assuredly,
Upstream Ministries
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