Preparing For Great Battles (Part I) Series

David fought one of the most historic and greatest of all battles when he confronted Goliath. Yet, this did not happen without him receiving the adequate training. God did not send David against Goliath just like that. God trained David through smaller battles that he had to win before he confronted his greatest battle. Today, God wants to prepare us to win great battles and that’s why he advises us to “fight the good fight.” But before we can do that, we must conquer a few battles that are critical to our ability to win the greatest of them all. What are the battles God is preparing us to fight and conquer? When we read about David, we learn about them. These include:

I. THE BATTLE OVER THE TONGUE

“When Eliab, David’s oldest brother, heard him speaking with the men, he burned with anger at him and asked, ‘Why have you come down here? And with whom did you leave those few sheep in the desert? I know how conceited you are and how wicked your heart is; you came down only to watch the battle.’” (1 Samuel 17:28)

A. David’s brother Eliab bothered him for no reason

1. Called David conceited and evil

a. Conceited: To have an excessively high opinion of oneself; marked by unrestrained imagination rather than by reason and experience

b. Evil: Morally very bad; likely to cause harm, distress or trouble

2. Accused David of being irresponsible

a. He asked about the well being of the sheep rather than that of his father

3. He blamed David of simply wanting to watch the battle

a. Eliab did not ask David why he had come

b. Eliab ignored his own father had sent David to find out how they were doing

4. Eliab’s only reason for verbally attacking David was that he burned with anger

B. David did not respond in the same manner

1. David had already been anointed as king of Israel

a. Eliab was present on that day

“So he asked Jesse, ‘Are these all the sons you have?’ ‘There is still the youngest,’ Jesse answered, ‘but he is tending the sheep.’ Samuel said, ‘Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives.’ So he sent and had him brought in. He was ruddy, with a fine appearance and handsome features. Then the LORD said, ‘Rise and anoint him; he is the one.’ 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 upon David in power. Samuel then went to Ramah.” (1 Samuel 16:11-13)

2. Eliab’s attitude was enough to infuriate anyone

a. His accusations were unfounded

b. His anger was enough to provoke unleashed anger

3. Though David could have answered in anger, he refused

a. He simply walked away

b. David knew there was a bigger enemy that had to be defeated

c. David was unwilling to lose this small battle

d. He knew God was preparing him for a greater battle

4. If David would have lost this battle, he would have lost his greatest battle too

“He looked David over and saw that he was only a boy, ruddy and handsome, and he despised him. He said to David, ‘Am I a dog, that you come at me with sticks?’ And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. ‘Come here,’ he said, ‘and I’ll give your flesh to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field!’” (1 Samuel 17:42-44)

C. Today, we must also win the battle over our tongue

“No man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be.” (James 3:8-10)

1. Without a doubt, throughout our life, we’ll find people like Eliab

a. People who will accuse us of being evil, conceited, vain, worthless, gossipers, lazy, untrustworthy, etc.

b. They will criticize with cruelty all that we do

i. The example of Mary who anointed Jesus

2. The sad thing is that we will find people like Eliab even inside the church

a. Eliab’s name means “to whom God is father”

i. Still, he did not behave as a child of God

b. Understand that though people call themselves Christian, it does not mean God is their father

“If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.” (James 1:26)

c. They will not care about what God has said about you

i. Though God has called you