This sermon explores how faith in God, like David's, can empower us to face our battles with courage and emerge with blessings.
Welcome, beloved. Isn't it a beautiful day that the Lord has made? A day to gather together, to share in the warmth of fellowship, to lift our hearts in worship, and to turn our ears and minds toward the Word of God. Today, we set our sights on a familiar story, a story that resonates with the courage of a young shepherd boy and the faithfulness of an ever-present God.
Opening Scripture Reading – We turn to the book of 1 Samuel, chapter 17, verses 32 to 37: "And David said to Saul, 'Let no man's heart fail because of him. Your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.' And Saul said to David, 'You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him, for you are but a youth, and he has been a man of war from his youth.' But David said to Saul, 'Your servant used to keep sheep for his father. And when there came a lion, or a bear, and took a lamb from the flock, I went after him and struck him and delivered it out of his mouth. And if he arose against me, I caught him by his beard and struck him and killed him. Your servant has struck down both lions and bears, and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God.' And David said, 'The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.' And Saul said to David, 'Go, and the Lord be with you!'"
Isn't it astonishing, the faith of young David? A faith that looked at the impossible and saw opportunity. A faith that saw beyond the physical and into the spiritual. A faith that trusted not in the might of man, but in the might of God. This is the faith we aspire to, a faith that brings belief to the battle, bolsters bravery for the battle, and bears blessings from the battle.
A. Now, let's look at the first aspect of this belief. David had a personal relationship with God. He knew God, not just as a distant deity, but as a close friend. He had spent countless hours in the fields, tending his sheep, talking to God, singing praises to Him. This personal relationship gave David a deep trust in God. He knew that God was with him, that God would never abandon him. This trust was the first pillar of his belief.
B. The second aspect of David's belief was his understanding of God's power. David had seen God's power firsthand. He had watched as God protected his sheep from lions and bears. He had seen how God had delivered him from danger time and again. These experiences gave David a profound understanding of God's power. He knew that God was more than capable of delivering him from the Philistine giant. This understanding was the second pillar of his belief.
C. The third aspect of David's belief was his conviction of God's promises. David knew that God had chosen the Israelites as His people. He knew that God had promised to protect them, to give them victory over their enemies. This conviction gave David confidence. He knew that God would not let His promises fail. He knew that God would give him victory over the Philistine. This conviction was the third pillar of his belief.
D. The fourth aspect of David's belief was his commitment to God's glory. David was not fighting for his own honor or for the honor of Israel. He was fighting for the honor of God. He was outraged that the Philistine had defied the armies of the living God. This commitment to God's glory gave David a sense of purpose. He knew that he was not just fighting a physical battle, but a spiritual one. He knew that he was fighting for the glory of God. This commitment was the fourth pillar of his belief.
So, we see that David's belief was a concrete, tangible belief, built on a personal relationship with God, an understanding of God's power, a conviction of God's promises, and a commitment to God's glory. This belief was what enabled David to face the giant. It was what gave him the courage to step forward, to offer to fight, to bring belief to the battle.
As we reflect on the story of David, we find a young shepherd boy who dared to face a giant ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO
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