A Warrior’s Spirit

A Warrior’s Spirit

Psalms 27:1-14

1 The LORD is my light and my salvation;

Whom shall I fear?

The LORD is the defense of my life;

Whom shall I dread?

2 When evildoers came upon me to devour my flesh,

My adversaries and my enemies, they stumbled and fell.

3 Though a host encamp against me,

My heart will not fear;

Though war arise against me,

In spite of this I shall be confident.

4 One thing I have asked from the LORD, that I shall seek:

That I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life,

To behold the beauty of the LORD

And to meditate in His temple.

5 For in the day of trouble He will conceal me in His tabernacle;

In the secret place of His tent He will hide me;

He will lift me up on a rock.

6 And now my head will be lifted up above my enemies around me,

And I will offer in His tent sacrifices with shouts of joy;

I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the LORD.

7 Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice,

And be gracious to me and answer me.

8 When You said, “Seek My face,” my heart said to You,

“Your face, O LORD, I shall seek.”

9 Do not hide Your face from me,

Do not turn Your servant away in anger;

You have been my help;

Do not abandon me nor forsake me,

O God of my salvation!

10 For my father and my mother have forsaken me,

But the LORD will take me up.

11 Teach me Your way, O LORD,

And lead me in a level path

Because of my foes.

12 Do not deliver me over to the desire of my adversaries,

For false witnesses have risen against me,

And such as breathe out violence.

13 I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD

In the land of the living.

14 Wait for the LORD;

Be strong and let your heart take courage;

Yes, wait for the LORD.

WWII: September 1, 1939 – September 2, 1945

US dead: 407,300 - The total World War II was roughly 72 million people.

Korean War: June 25, 1950 - Full-scale fighting until an armistice on July 27, 1953

US dead: 36,516 - total - millions (as much as 2.5 mil)

Vietnam war: 1959 – April 30, 1975

US dead: 58,209 - total - 1,101,000

Gulf War or Persian Gulf War: (2 August 1990 – 28 February 1991)

US dead: 148 battle-related deaths - 100,000 Iraqis

War in Afghanistan: October 7, 2001 - present

US dead: 459 - total - Between 10,000 and 20.000

War in Iraq: March 20, 2003 – present

US dead: 3,860 - total - 1,220,580

ILL.- A group of Americans, retired teachers, recently went to France on a tour. Robert Whiting, an elderly gentleman of 83, arrived in Paris by plane.

At French Customs, he took a few minutes to locate his passport in his carry on. "You have been to France before, monsieur?" the customs officer asked sarcastically.

Mr. Whiting admitted that he had been to France previously. "Then you should know enough to have your passport ready." The American said, "The last time I was here, I didn’t have to show it."

"Impossible. Americans always have to show your passports on arrival in France!"

The American senior gave the Frenchman a long hard look. Then he quietly explained. "Well, when I came ashore at Omaha Beach on D-Day in ’44 to help liberate this country, I couldn’t find any Frenchmen to show it to."

David, God’s great veteran warrior, offers thoughts on engaging the enemy in spiritual warfare:

1. Keep your focus on God, not your fear. (Psalm 27:1-3)

Notice how David honors God first. Then, there is no need for fearing his enemies.

1 The LORD is my light and my salvation;

Whom shall I fear?

The LORD is the defense of my life;

Whom shall I dread? NASB

"The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?"

"The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?" KJV

Undoubtedly one of the greatest hurdles to overcome in battle is fear.

David did not let fear take the song out of his life.

Max Lucado shares the story of a parakeet named Chippie. Chippie’s owner decided to clean his cage… with a vacuum cleaner. She was almost finished when the phone rang, so she turned around to answer it. Before she knew it, Chippie was gone.

In a panic she ripped open the vacuum bag. There was Chippie, covered in dirt and gasping for air. She carried him to the bathroom and rinsed him off under the faucet. Then, realizing that Chippie was cold and wet, she reached for the hair dryer! Chippie never knew what hit him.