The Battle is the Lord’s; 1 Samuel 17: 46-47

I Samuel 17:46-47, "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. 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.”

Not the 1st face-off with the Philistines… 1 Samuel 4: 2-3

1 Samuel 4: 2-3, "Now Israel went out to battle against the Philistines, and encamped beside Ebenezer; and the Philistines encamped in Aphek. 2 Then the Philistines put themselves in battle array against Israel. And when they joined battle, Israel was defeated by the Philistines, who killed about four thousand men of the army in the field. 3And when the people had come into the camp, the elders of Israel said,

“Why has the LORD defeated us today before the Philistines “Why has the LORD defeated us today before the Philistines? Let us bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD from Shiloh to us, that when it comes among us it may save us from the hand of our enemies.”   The Israelites were badly beaten at the hands of the Philistines, Chap 4-6. As a result of this defeat, Eli and his sons died, and the ark of the covenant was stolen. Apart from any military action by the Israelites, the ark was returned. God did not need men to vindicate His name

Some battles loom as large as GIANTS! 2 Cor 10: 4-5 Our imagination takes over! In our mind’s eye, in full technicolor, we are beaten before the battle even begins!

Some battles loom as large as giants Some battles loom as large as giants! When David faced Goliath, he had a giant battle on his hands. In anticipation, we sumise, sometimes speak and prophesy everything that can go wrong. In our mind’s eye, in full Technicolor, we are beaten before the battle even begins. Sometimes we are being realists. We know we are out of our league and beyond our level of expertise. All our friends tell us we are silly, or worse yet, wrong to pursue a battle seemingly impossible to win. But why do we persevere?

2 Cor 10: 4-5, "For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,"

Because we are people of faith, we don't fear "giants!" 2 Corinthians 5: 7 Hebrews 11: 1 Romans 4: 17b, “…God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did.“ We Pray and Prophesy God’s will for our lives!

WE WALK BY FAITH… BECAUSE we are people of faith, we don't fear "giants!"  2 Cor 5: 7, " For we walk by faith, not by sight." Hebrews 11: 1, "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."

Rom 4: 17, "As it is written, “I have made you a father of many nations”) in the presence of Him whom he believed—God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did;"  We persevere because we have become believers in the God of the supernatural and we know that His works are exceptional and glorious. 

Some Ground Rules: #1, God was first in David’s life! GOD MUST BE FIRST IN OUR LIVES!

1 Sam 17: 26 "Then David spoke to the men who stood by him, saying, “What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy (oppose, withstand) the armies of the living God?” 

 Matt 6: 33 "When David confronted Goliath, Samuel had already anointed him king. God had chosen David because he was a young man after God’s own heart.  Are we "after God's own heart?"

Ground Rules: 2. David focused his attention on the Lord! OUR FOCUS MUST REMAIN ON THE LORD—LOOK TO JESUS!

FILL YOUR MIND WITH GOD! The taunts and threats spewing out of Goliath’s mouth did not find fertile ground to grow in David’s mind. His mind was overflowing with the power and glory of God Almighty. 1 Sam 17: 36, "Your servant has killed both lion and bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, seeing he has defied the armies of the living God.”

Ground Rules: 3. David knew only God could give him victory! WE MUST KNOW THAT GOD IS OUR STRENGTH!

LORS OF HOSTS vs GOLIATH! David did not think it was David versus Goliath but rather it was The Lord Of Hosts versus Goliath. 1 Samuel 17: 45 "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."

1 Sam 17: 47 “…for the battle is the LORD’S!" Battle-focus: On God’s strength not your own weaknesses!!!   Saul tried to equip David properly for the battle. Generously, he offered him his own armor. David tried it on but realized it was not his style. He could not pretend to be someone he was not.

Just one stone… 1 Samuel 17: 40 You are that “one smooth stone!” 1 Peter 2: 5

YOU ARE THAT STONE! JUST ONE SMOOTH STONE- You are that ONE SMOOTH STONE 1 PETER 2: 5, "you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ."

THE CHIEF CORNERSTONE THE STONE THAT THE BUILDERS REJECTED IS THE CHIEF CORNERSTONE! Are you trying to fight your battle using someone else’s style? 1 SAM 17: 40, “Then he took his staff in his hand; and he chose for himself five smooth stones from the brook, and put them in a shepherd’s bag, in a pouch which he had, and his sling was in his hand. And he drew near to the Philistine." FEARLESSLY, COURAGEOUSLY, ASSUREDLY...!

FOLLOW GOD’S DIRECTION NOT MAN’S David used unorthodox weapons of warfare; 5 smooth stones did not compare equally with a 15 pound javelin, 125 pounds of armor, However, David was familiar with his stones and slingshot!  He had a successfully killed a lion and a bear that tried to attack his father’s sheep.

David knew God would deliver Goliath into his hands David knew God would deliver Goliath into his hands. Believe God will deliver your enemy/ies into your hands! SATAN IS A DEFEATED FOE! 1 John 3: 8, "He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil."

OUR PRAYER Dear Father, Thank You for the victory I have in You. You ARE GOD ALMIGHTY!  There is no power in Heaven or Earth that can stand against You. I will not dwell on the enemy or the threats he has made against me!  I will not shrink back, cower or be afraid! I will face the enemy using Your weapons of warfare and not his. I release the weight of the battle that is bearing down on me to You, Jesus!  The battle is not mine, IT'S YOURS!  In Jesus’ name AMEN!