Date: Monday, 6th November, 2023
Text: 1 Samuel 17:1-54
Author: Pastor Adedeji Fadehan
Exhortation
Fear and faith are opposite each other. Faith is of God while fear is of the devil. Fear happens when you exalt your problem above God; while faith is activated when you see God bigger than your problem.
For forty days, Goliath threatened Israel and the troops could not lift a finger against him because they considered his size and in their hearts exalted him above their God. “When Saul (the king) and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine, they were dismayed, and greatly afraid”- 1 Samuel 17:11. In verse 24 of the same chapter, the bible says, “And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him, and were sore afraid.”
But when David came along, his own view was different. He lifted God above this massive enemy. To him, Goliath was not a threat, but a stepping stone to an undeniable testimony. The bigger your challenge the bigger the testimony and the tougher the battle, the sweeter the victory.
David had an unwavering trust and confidence in God’s ability to overcome the giant. He was so full of faith that not even his eldest brother or the king could discourage him.
He remembered the victory God gave him over his previous enemies. David said, “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-”- 1 Samuel 17:37
Has God fought your battles for you before? He has the power to do it again. Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forevermore- Hebrew 13:8. His power remains intact. When we remember the faithfulness of God in the past, we are encouraged to believe him for the new or future challenges.
At the end of the day, David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him.
Are you on the Lord’s side? Fear not! Whether the enemy likes it or not victory shall be yours in Jesus name.
Action Nugget: Get up today in the name of Jesus and confront your fear.