INTRO: 1. When I think about this event in the life of David, I don’t envision David standing before Goliath with a sling in his hand… I rather envision David in Saul’s dressing room buried under the massive armor of King Saul.
a. How awkward it must have been, being overwhelmed by the armor before going out to face Goliath.
b. But this event in David’s life would be a significant changing room for David… a turning point in his life.
c. It was, I believe, where God would suite David up to the Anointing on his life.
c. This event was David’s inaugural introduction to the kingdom… where David would began being what God had called him to be.
2. Tonight, we’ll not be focusing on Saul’s Armor, but on David’s Armor.
a. What was David clothed with when he went out to face Goliath?
b. What kept David heart in the heat of the battle?
c. Although Goliath’s armor was massive and impressive to the onlooker… David’s armor proved itself more affective.
3. This opportunity would come years after David had been anointed King.
a. David didn’t grow impatient, but occupied himself with three jobs… kept the sheep for his father, was the armorbearer for King Saul and was on call to play music for the King when evil spirits tormented him.
b. If you just keep serving faithfully in due time He will exalt you if you don’t faint or quit.
4. What appeared to be happenstance was a Divinely Orchestrated Opportunity.
a. Because David was more than willing to be faithful in the little things… he’d find himself right where God planned him to be.
b. Didn’t show up to show up his brothers, but to bring them lunch and to check on their welfare.
c. Wasn’t there because he planned to be, but because he had obeyed the instruction of his father.
d. History would prove that this wasn’t Jessi’s idea, but in fact God had laid this upon his heart so that David would truly shine.
5. This whole situation began with an uncomfortable situation for David.
a. One thing was clear this whole matter stirred David up.
b. David was furious with Goliath and frustrated with the armies of Israel.
c. Often time God will put us in an uncomfortable place… where we feel like we must act.
d. Just because your heart is being stirred doesn’t mean it’s the enemy, God may just be introducing you to your finest hour.
e. The temptation is to conform to the attitude and the spirit of the age… when God wants to stir us to anger and to action.
6. Notice the process that David had to go through to be fit for the fight.
I. THE WRONG FIT
a. There are things that we don’t need to put on if we’re going to win in the fight.
b. I want you to know tonight that there are those in your life that are attempting to put on you what doesn’t belong to you.
c. If we let them, our lives will never know the victory of being dressed for our calling… but we’ll only know the heavy weight of borrowed burdens.
d. You see the contrast of the thousands of Soldiers and King Saul to the young man called David… they sat under the burden of what Goliath heaped on them.
A. WHAT DAVID’S BROTHER TRIED TO PUT ON HIM
Vs. 28 And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spake unto the men; and Eliab's anger was kindled against David, and he said, Why camest thou down hither? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thine heart; for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle.
1. This scene represents those closest to us: family, friends, co-workers… sincere, but sometimes sincerely wrong.
2. First of all he tried to heap guilt on him.
3. Many are living a life crippled by undeserved guilt that someone else has put on them.
4. He also tried to heap a self-defensive attitude on him.
5. Many are out to defend themselves, defend their name.
6. David refused to be entangled in this web.
7. He tried to entangle David in strife.
8. Many spend too much precious time entangled in useless arguments and battles.
9. Not every battle is worth fighting.
B. WHAT SAUL TRIED TO PUT ON HIM
Vs. 38 And Saul armed David with his armour, and he put an helmet of brass upon his head; also he armed him with a coat of mail.
1. Saul was head and shoulders above the rest of the people and one of the only men who had armor and a sword, yet he sat in his tent.
2. Saul was a Benjamite… the tribe best known for their skill of killing with a sling.
3. Many will try and recruit you to do what they should be doing.
4. Many tell you how, but will never show you how.
5. Saul represents religious people in our life that try and put their calling on your shoulders.
6. But this armor was custom made for King Saul.
7. Your calling is custom made for you… it won’t fit on anyone else, nor can you hope to pass it off on another.
8. Don’t try to be someone else… God’s got a work and a place for you.
9. Don’t let people burden you with their armor.
10. They’ll try and put their convictions on you.
11. They’ll try and put their qualifications on you.
vs. 33 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.
12. Notice that David said in vs. 39 “I cannot go with these; for I have not proved them.”
13. David went back to the simple things God had proved in him… use what God has given you. (Moses' staff, David's sling, stones found at nearby brook)
C. WHAT GOLIATH TRIED TO PUT ON HIM vs. 43-44
1. Goliath represents the enemy and his baggage that tries and throw our way.
2. He tried to burden David with Intimidation.
3. The devil will try to defeat you first with his propaganda and lies.
4. If he can get you to feel inferior to the situation he knows he’s nearly won.
5. He tried to burden David with Superstition.
Vs. 43b …And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.
6. Superstition is fear of any power but God’s… bad luck, bad karma.
7. Many Christians have their hands tied by the bonds of fear because they see God as against them… constantly judging them.
8. He tired to burden David with Predictions.
9. He’ll say, if he come against me… you’ll lose your job, family, health.
10. But David wouldn’t accept any of the baggage of the enemy, because he had already dressed for battle although the giant never saw it.
II. THE PERFECT FIT
a. Like David we must learn to comfortably operate in the realm that God has called us to… clothe ourself with the spirit and attitude God has planted in us and put on us.
b. If you ever learn to flow in your own personal anointing, you will find that there is no place where you feel more at home.
c. We must realize that this was a perfect fit for an imperfect boy, far from perfect.
d. Earlier we see a flaw in David’s character, he tries to find out what’s in it for him… God would later deal with this attitude at a cave called Adullum.
e. God is showing us that if we will let him, in spite of our flaws, he will clothe us for our calling.
f. Goliath didn’t realize it, but David was Armed and Dangerous.
A. GRACE FIT HIM PERFECTLY
1. David had the confident assurance that he declared in vs. 47 “the battle is the Lords.”
2. When you read his response to Goliath, it sound more like a sermon than a defense.
3. He made it crystal clear that it would be God who would be defeating him today.
4. If we can ever grasp the fact that God is going to be doing the fighting for us then it will impact how we approach any and every battle.
5. When we embrace this fact there is Sudden Release…we let go of the fight.
6. When we embrace this fact there is a Shift in Responsibility… no longer responsible for the strategy, implementation, or even the outcome.
7. When we embrace this fact there is a Sense of Resignation…no longer worry about what we can or cannot do, but open God to work through us.
8. We cannot truly live the victorious life until we learn to embrace Grace in the challenges.
B. FAITH FIT HIM PERFECTLY
1. All day long people had been telling David what he couldn’t do… but David wasn’t comfortable with their doubts, but he was comfortable with his faith.
2. His faith stood.
3. His faith spoke.
4. His faith saw.
Vs. 46 This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.
5. His faith actually Charged the enemy.
Vs. 48 And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came and drew nigh to meet David, that David hasted, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine.
6. His faith Acted
Vs. 49 And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth.
7. No matter what the situation, you are always at your best when you respond with faith.
C. VICTORY FIT HIM PERFECTLY
1. But not the kind of Victory that the Philistines where accustomed to.
2. David had become skilled in Spiritual Warfare.
Vs. 50 So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him; but there was no sword in the hand of David.
3. The world will never understand how and why you fight the way you do… they weren’t meant to understand.
4. David took full advantage of the Victory.
5. He didn’t get caught up in the moment, but he maximized the moment when he ran and leaped on top of the giant pulling out his sword and taking off his head.
6. We should let God show us how to be comfortable in our victories… it should be the norm in our lives. (Not gloating in our accomplishments... but rejoicing in God's grace)
Rom. 8:37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us
7. Don’t think that victory is easy… it takes surrendering to God’s power working through us and changing us at the same time. (Grants us a double victory)
CONCLUSION: What are you clothed in today? Intimidation, Fear, Guilt, Worry, Expectations of Others… or are you wearing David’s Armor?
