Category: I am the warrior

1Samuel 16:13 (NIV)
“So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David.”

“David had divinely guided insight that others lacked. Because of the Spirit of God working within him, he saw things others did not see (16:13). His perception of Goliath was dominated by what he saw with his heart, not his eyes.” [Bill Arnold, NIVAC: 1&2 Samuel]

Each of us are warriors that can be like David, because our Christian perspective is now in the Spirit. May we experience and know that it is truly by God that we overcome giants in our lives and in the lives of those around us. We can and are to fight together as his church – the army of God – through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Prayer: Holy Spirit, fill my heart with the courage to fight the good fight. I ask for divinely guided insight and the power to walk forward in the direction you lead. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.

Let’s also pray for the Spirit to fill our church with courage and renewed urgency to fight in the name of the Lord Almighty. Ask for God’s leading in our campuses, missional groups, and churches as you worship to “Fire Fall” by Planetshakers.

-JH

 

 

 

1Samuel 17:47 (NIV)
“All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.”

“God’s way of salvation is different from the human method, not with a sword and a spear. God accomplishes his plan of salvation in his own way, eventually by Jesus Christ, the Messiah.” [David Tsumura, NICOT: The First Book of Samuel]

Who does the fighting and how in verse 47 above? Who is the warrior in your life?

We are called to fight but not in the ways we think, because the battle belongs to the Lord and not to us. The terms of engagement are not to be dictated by our own ability, situations, or the ways of our culture; but rather they are to be dictated by the Lord as the warrior. It’s about engaging/living with the Lord before, during, and after the fight, and especially within the context of the church as God’s army.

Prayer: God, you are the warrior king, who leads us from victory to victory. Help me to fix my eyes, ears, mind, and heart on your leading and change my perspective. You are truly greater and bigger than anyone or anything else. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.

Let’s worship to “Do It Again” by Elevation Worship.

-JH

 

 

1Samuel 17:16, 46 (NIV)
The Philistine came forward morning and evening for forty days and took his stand… [David said to Goliath] “This day the LORD will deliver you into my hands… and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel.”

“Has the fear of a giant ever gripped you to such a degree that it prevented you from moving forward? Maybe you’ve experienced this before on your job, in your home, with your health… Whatever it is, the giant calls the shots, dictating your emotions and your actions (or lack of actions) … It’s difficult to score playing defense. A child of the King conquers his giants when he goes on the offense – which is exactly what David did.” [Tony Evans, The Power of God’s Names]

When we encounter opposition in our Christian walk that looks big in our eyes, we can’t just play defense and let it have a say over against who God is. It needs to be dealt with ‘this day’; otherwise, we’ll lose sight of the battle and the victory in God. The task doesn’t have to be as monumental as we think because we are not alone. Like David, may we fight with the assurance that ‘the LORD will deliver’ and ‘the whole world will know that there is a God.’

‘This day’ offer up any opposition against the Lord that you are facing (e.g., personal, relationships, campus, ministry group, church).

Prayer: Father, I offer up to you the opposition I’m facing. I receive again that I am a child of the King and I ask for your deliverance. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.

Let’s worship to “God of Revival” by Bethel.

-JH

1Samuel 17:45 (NLT)
David replied to the Philistine, “You come to me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies—the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.”

“Goliath can’t believe his eyes! He mocks and threatens David. But David’s reply points out what the whole story is about: Goliath is challenging not just the army of Israel, but the God of Israel (as David had already said in v. 26). So the fight belongs to God, and so will its result.” [Christopher Wright, How to Preach & Teach the Old Testament for All Its Worth, 105]

Whose battle are you fighting?

David fights in the name of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies – the God of the armies of Israel. What does this name mean in our own context/fighting?

We need to identify if the battles we’re fighting are the Lord’s battle, or if we’re even fighting or not. Sometimes we can be in the battle, but not engaged. As the Lord’s church, we are a part of his armies and are called to fight in the Lord. Pray that your fight would belong to God as well as its result.

Prayer: God, open my eyes to see your warrior-heart for your people. Help me to know that you fight for your people because we belong to you. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.

Let’s worship to “Lion And The Lamb” by Leeland.

-JH

Romans 8:37 (NIV)
… in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

“I remember standing. We were told to believe with just one word, that God could do it, that God could heal us and I remember just wanting that truth to be made real for me and as the speaker prayed this over us, I did sense the softening of my heart, the raising of my faith again. And when I went home that night and the next day, a joy overtook me. What Pastor Gus had looked like months before on the outside, I was experiencing that on the inside. I felt saved, I felt clean – it was the joy of the Spirit’s salvation, rescue, and healing bubbling up from within me. Our warrior won! God defeated the battles that raged in us, that raged against us, and most importantly God overcame us, he won us. As more battles do come, my faith and hope rests on knowing God is the warrior.” [excerpt from Anne Kim’s testimony]

What does it mean to be a conqueror? How are we to conquer in the Lord?

Prayer: Lord, you are the warrior. Thank you for your victory. As a child of your kingdom, I am called to be more than a conqueror where your love overcomes. Let your salvation work bubble up from within my heart in praise and worship. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.

Let’s worship to “There’s Nothing That Our God Can’t Do” by Passion.

-JH