July 19, 2014
OUT ON THE BATTLEFIELD, WILL YOU BE AN ARMY OF ONE FOR GOD?
Today let’s go to 1 Samuel 17 where you have two opposing armies on the battle field one representing the god of this world and the other representing Jehovah the creator of the universe. “The Philistines stood on a mountain on one side, and Israel stood on a mountain on the other side, with a valley between them.
……“I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together.” When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, THEY WERE DISMAYED AND GREATLY AFRAID [my friends ask yourself how does a child of God become afraid of outside forces when He has God on His side]…
……Then David [a bystander] 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 the armies of the living God?” My friends where I need you to focus today is how far does a individual or a whole army have to move away from a relationship with God before they fail to recognize the presence of God.
Consistent with this, It took a “ruddy boy with bright eyes” to bring them back to reality and allow them the 
opportunity to understand the consequences of an uncircumcised Philistine or the god of this world who defies the armies of the living God because “For forty days the host of Israel had trembled before the haughty challenge of the Philistine giant.
Their hearts failed within them as they looked upon [the] massive form” of Goliath. But my friends continue to ask yourself why no one out of this vast army besides David a “ruddy kid” who was only a bystander did not defend the living God who they were suppose to be representing and then look at yourself and ask, do I defend God each day, in my home , on my job, in my neighborhood and in a world that has lost their “spiritual compass.”
As David faces Goliath He Speaks for His God and not for Himself. David did not fear this Giant who represented everything that He had been taught was an abomination to God. Representing God he faces Goliath with only God at his side, as he speaks to the uncircumcised Philistine: “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 Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.”
God made sure David’s speech to Goliath reverberated among the thousands of warriors on both sides. To the Philistines God needed them to recognize that Israel’s army were not “SERVANTS OF SAUL” but they represented the God of the universe, Jehovah.
In addition, the Israeli army along with God’s Chosen army for today’s battle field needed to know if we would only lift up [our] eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh [our] help. [Never forgetting that our] help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth. He will [never] suffer [our] foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, he that keepeth Israel [and todays chosen army] shall neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord is [each of our] keepers: the Lord is [the] shade upon [our] right hand. The sun shall not smite [none of His chosen] by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord shall preserve [His Children] from all evil: he shall preserve [our] soul. The Lord shall preserve [our going out and [our] coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.” [Even throughout the ceaseless ages of eternity if we believe]” Ps. 121:1-8 (KJV)
God’s Word then tell us David “ran toward the army to meet the Philistine.” Because He rememberd as each of us should if we are “strong and courageous [for God] [and not afraid or terrified to face the enemy]… [the] LORD [our] God[will go before us]; he will never leave [His Children nor forsake [us.]” Deu. 31:6 (NIV) even if we are only AN ARMY OF ONE.
So my friends today. Stay focused, remain faithful, love one another and endure till the end and never forget to STUDY&PRAY
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