Honor Before Glory
I Samuel 17:32-37 NKJV
[32] Then David said to Saul, “Let no man’s heart fail because of him; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.” [33] And Saul said to David, “You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.” [34] But David said to Saul, “Your servant used to keep his father’s sheep, and when a lion or a bear came and took a lamb out of the flock, [35] I went out after it and struck it, and delivered the lamb from its mouth; and when it arose against me, I caught it by its beard, and struck and killed it. [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.” [37] Moreover David said, “The Lord, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” And Saul said to David, “Go, and the Lord be with you!”
If you follow the Lord Jesus Christ long enough you will have conflict, battles and wars.
Personal battles will arise.
Spiritual battles creep up.
Emotional and spiritual defeats.
Sometimes bodies are affected and suffer too.
Why did David go against Goliath?
We hear and have heard so many sermons,teachings, and devotionals about David and Goliath.
There are books after books on how to defeat your Giants.
Yes we live in a world full of conflicts.
And what Jesus has said is true.
Wars, rumors of wars. Men’s hearts grow cold, falling away from the Faith.
All of it! Just as Jesus said it would.
As a repentant, born again, washed by the Blood of the Lamb proclaiming Him and Him alone as an atonement for our sins. Knowing how He has brought us through the fire and has us here as a testimony of His goodness.
Can we say with all confidence that we are here to defend His name, His Kingdom, His Righteousness, the Love and Mercy He has shown us?
Or do we cower away because of the giants the enemy puts in place to directly defy the One that has redeemed us?
Ultimately what are we fighting for?
David accepted the challenge made by Goliath when no one else would. Hardened, battle worn, experienced soldiers wouldn’t defend the Honor of their God, the Father of Abraham, Issac and Jacob. The One and True King of Heaven!
They were not willing to risk their own lives even if Heaven was waiting.
David steps up to the battle when fear has settled into the bones of these trained soldiers. When there was no one else, this one shepherd boy would!
David knew all that he had encountered in the wilderness, all these small battles against lions and bears was all preparation for the war that was about to happen with Goliath.
David wasn’t only defending the name of his God but the people of His God.
I love David’s heart, his eagerness, the courage and bravery he shows to defend and Honor our Lord!
If I only had a small portion of this today, if the Church as a whole had just a sprinkle of what David had, our world would be so much different right now!
When did we as a Church stop defending the One that saved and redeemed us?
At what point did we become so disengaged from the Voice of Heaven that when He called we didn’t answer?
When did we make the Gospel about us?
David had something greater than any Philistine giant. Something greater than worldly armor or sword.
I Samuel 17:45-46 NKJV
[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. [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.
“I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied”
That is a Battle Cry!
This is how we should defend the Kingdom of Heaven!
Confidence! Courage! Fear and Reverence!
Faith and Trust!
Seek His Honor before your Glory!
Isn’t the Father, Son and Holy Spirit worth the Battle?
David had faith!
Plain and simple. Faith in His God. Not faith in his staff, not faith in his sling or the stones in his bag or even faith in his own abilities.
He was defending his King and His Kingdom!
David was putting the Throne of Heaven before himself!
Because David had faith in the One that sits in that Throne!
The One that sits on that Throne is worthy to defend and lay down our lives for!
Where is our Faith!
This story is NOT about David!
This story is NOT about Goliath!
It is definitely NOT about our battles!
This is about putting First The Kingdom of God!
This is about defending the Faith that has been given to us!
It is about being active in the Redemption that has been given to us by the Ransom that Jesus gave on the Cross on Calvary!
Oh, If we could have the courage to stand against those that threaten the Throne of Heaven and He who sits in it!
Wouldn’t our world look and be different if we took the focus off ourselves?
What if we all had the ability to truly lay every burden down at the Cross of Christ.
What if we could have total and complete Trust, Faith and Assurance in ALL of His promises.
We come at the enemy with our sticks and stones and wonder why the victories are short lived.
I urge you today to do as the Apostle Paul instructed us,
Renew your mind!
Yes we have battles and wars that rage against us. Some of us are probably going through the hardest times in our lives right now. We need the Hand of God to guide us. We need the promises of the comfort of the Holy Spirit.
We will have fear of what lies ahead of us this day, month or new year.
There will be the expected and the unexpected. There will be victories and loss.
But I encourage you today,
Go out in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel!
If we have the Promise of Heaven then we should defend that promise.
If we have assurance we should fight to keep that assurance.
If Jesus has saved you from an Eternity of separation from the Father then isn’t His name and Word worthy to protect and preserve?
Isn’t He Worthy enough to tell someone else about the Glories of His Kingdom?
I challenge you today to put the Kingdom of God First. Put His Son first. Seek Him first. Rely on Him first. Speak to Him first.
Honor Him before your enemies and see what strength, courage, victory and healing that comes in His Hands!
Seek His Honor Before your Glory and see where He will guide you!
Watch what He can deliver us from
See where it guides you!
Pastor Ed