To say that life is a battle is no longer news. Once there is life, there is a battle both for a believer and non - believer in Christ though the difference is that the battle of a believer had been won for him over two thousand years ago by our Lord Jesus Christ who gives him victory. His duty is to enter into the established victory. In Jesus, he conquers daily. This can be seen in one of the greatest story contained in the word of God - the battle of the champions. (David and Goliath)
1 SAMUEL 17: 32-39
“And David said to Saul, Let no man's heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine. And Saul said to David, Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for thou art but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth. And David said unto Saul, Thy servant was keeping his father's sheep; and when there came a lion, or a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock, I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth; and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him. Thy servant smote both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God. And David said, Jehovah that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and Jehovah shall be with thee. And Saul clad David with his apparel, and he put a helmet of brass upon his head, and he clad him with a coat of mail. And David girded his sword upon his apparel, and he assayed to go; for he had not proved it. And David said unto Saul, I cannot go with these; for I have not proved them. And David put them off him”.
Because, a believer is in a battleground, not a playground, there are some facts he should understand about his battle with Satan, Sin & the World.
FACTS TO NOTE:
1. The knowledge of war is a half victory.
2. The kingdom of hell is highly fortified.
3. Your battle is with an unseen powers who see you and know where you are.
4. The enemy breeds his champions
5. Unless you are provoked in your situation, you may not react positively.
EPHESIANS 6:12-18
“For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world-rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places . Wherefore take up the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and, having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; withal taking up the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil one . And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: with all prayer and supplication praying at all seasons in the Spirit, and watching thereunto in all perseverance and supplication for all the saints”
From the Battle between David and Goliath;
We see the battle of all titans
We see the the criticism of David and the way he handled them
We see the presentation of David to King Saul
We see the testimonies of David before Saul.
This story is a great example of what God can use His available and faithful instrument to do, for His kingdom sake.
But in this Battle of life, certain things are not required or needful.
(vs 38-39) Saul wanted to help David with his armor, his helmet, his coat but he refused them all.
“ And Saul clad David with his apparel, and he put a helmet of brass upon his head, and he clad him with a coat of mail. And David girded his sword upon his apparel, and he assayed to go; for he had not proved it. And David said unto Saul, I cannot go with these; for I have not proved them. And David put them off him”
THE BATTLE OF LIFE - WHAT YOU CAN'T GO WITH ( You don't need these things)
1. THE ARMOR OF FEAR - (Psalm 27:4)
“Yea, thou I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for thou art with me; Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me”
Fear is a dangerous weapon. It defeats a warrior. This is one of the salable product of the enemy. Fear is a spirit. It is the absence of faith. It paralyzes and weakens a life. This was the first offer of Goliath to the nation of Israel. Goliath became a giant, Saul the tallest man of Israel became a dwarf. You can't win your battle with this decorated armor.
What fear is,
a. A state of being afraid
b. To be uneasy
c. A feeling of disquiet
d. A distressing emotion aroused by impending danger, evil or pain
It comes with;
Panic, Alarm, Scare, Intimidation, Concern
It is dangerous;
a. Abraham - Genesis 20:11
b. Hagar - Genesis 21:17
c. Rachel - Genesis 35:17
d. Joseph's Brothers - Genesis 50:19
e. Israelites - Exodus 14:13
2. ARMOR OF DISCOURAGEMENT (Psalm 11:1)
“In Jehovah do I take refuge: How say ye to my soul, Flee as a bird to your mountain”
For a successful winning in the battle of life, this armor is not a necessity. Discouragement is selling fast in the kingdom of hell. By it,
many victories have been postponed, and many warriors defeated. By it, many projects suspended while great destinies aborted.
It is an act of;
a. Demoralization
b. Weakened faith & life
c. Despondency
d. Disheartening
It draws one back and and makes the journey of life too far.
a. The Spies ( Numbers 13)
b. It didn't stop David ( 1 Samuel 30:1-8)
c. Elijah (1 kings 19:1-4)
3. ARMOR OF PRIDE
Devil discovers a heart of Pride easily because it is identified with him. Pride is a killer and its garment cannot go in this battle of life. When one lives in pride, he is a prey already to the evil one.
It is an act of
a. Ego
b. self - importance
c. Self - regard
d. vanity
It killed many people;
a. It brought down the anointed cherub (Isaiah 14: 12-16, Ezekiel 28:12-19)
b. It made a throne vacant for 7 years – (Daniel 4:30-37)
c. It made a king to be eaten by maggots – (Acts 12:20-25)
d. By it, heaven declared a man, fool – (Luke 12: 13-21)
God abhors Pride. It
1. Makes heaven iron & earth brass - Leviticus 26:19
2. Attracts God to hate - Proverbs 8:13
3. Brings Shame - Proverb 11:2
4. Goes before destruction - Proverb 16:18
5. Brings one low - Proverb 29:23
4. ARMOR OF WORLDLY KNOWLEDGE
Some people are already victim of life because they thought they will conquer their enemies with worldly wisdom. A professor can be a victim. Some people have concluded that there is no God - Psalm 14:1
Because of their knowledge , they have attracted the anger of God- Romans 1: 21-32;
“Because that, knowing God, they glorified him not as God, neither gave thanks; but became vain in their reasoning, and their senseless heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God for the likeness of an image of corruptible man, and of birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts unto uncleanness, that their bodies should be dishonored among themselves: for that they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. For this cause God gave them up unto vile passions: for their women changed the natural use into that which is against nature: and likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another, men with men working unseemliness, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was due. And even as they refused to have God in their knowledge, God gave them up unto a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malignity; whisperers, backbiters, hateful to God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, without understanding, covenant-breakers, without natural affection, unmerciful: who, knowing the ordinance of God, that they that practice such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but also consent with them that practice them”
God chooses His own way - 1 Corinthians 1:26-29, Jeremiah 9:23-29
5. ARMOR OF HISTORIC ACHIEVEMENT
The anointing of yesterday is not sufficient for today's battle. This was the doom of Saul. He was a victor yesterday but his armor has been engulfed with defeat already. You need to renew your strength everyday.
The word of God says;
“ Not that I have already obtained, or am already made perfect: but I press on, if so be that I may lay hold on that for which also I was laid hold on by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself yet to have laid hold: but one thing I do , forgetting the things which are behind, and stretching forward to the things which are before, I press on toward the goal unto the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus”.
(PHILIPPIANS 3:12-14)
May God give you victory in any battle facing you in life. Amen. The starting point is acknowledging the Lordship of Our Lord Jesus Christ in your life. He will help you to overcome all situations today!
