ON THE SHELF: PREPARED, READY OR NOT…
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (YouTube: Wade Hughes)
Part #2. COME LET US REASON TOGETHER… BE READY… (You have to do this as two parts, or cover the points quickly.)
As a child we played a game: “HIDE AND SEEK.” One person would face a tree and hide their eyes. Everyone else would run and hide. The person with their eyes closed would count to 100 and give each person a chance to hide. When we counted to a hundred we would give a loud warning. HERE I COME READY OR NOT. Then the person would go looking for the individuals that were hiding.
*READY: (can be physical, mentally, emotionally and/or spiritually) fully prepared, within reach, available, alert, on guard, development, of needed skills, willing, EXPECTING,
*PREPARED: BE READY IN MIND, IN DEED, IN ACTION. BE EAGER. GIVE ACCOUNT, WILLING.
WHERE ARE YOU? ARE WE FORGETFUL HEARERS? HEARING IS NOT ENOUGH… DON’T DECEIVE YOURSELF, GOD IS MORE THAN MERE LISTENING…
James 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: 24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. 25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
“ON THE SHELF.”
I was so excited to hear about an information book that had much wisdom. I took the book home with me and I spent hours reading the book and making personal notes. The book was powerful. I finished the book and I PLACED THE BOOK ON A SHELF. Every now and then I ponder some of the points from the book, but the BOOK STAYS ON THE SHELF. I might look up something in the book, but it always goes back on the SHELF. I have loaned so many books to others instead of sitting on the shelf. With my limited income I have often went in the book store and read one chapter. I would go back later and read another chapter. The book always goes back on the shelf. I feel so sorry for books that are gathering dust on the shelf. I ponder HOW DOES THAT BOOK FEEL SITTING IDLY covered by dust? The book could help someone’s marriage? Not while on the shelf! How many people have purchased a book to read a few pages, maybe a chapter or two, then put the unfinished book on the shelf… WHAT A WASTE? How sad is it WHEN A PERSON LEARNS FROM A BOOK AND NEVER APPLIES THE KNOWLEDGE HIDDEN IN THE PAGES!
DAVID IS NOT ON THE SHELF! DAVID WAS READY… EVERYONE SAW DAVID AS A SHEPHERD BOY. GOD SAW DAVID’S POTENTIAL BECAUSE OF HIS SUBMISSION AND OBEDIENCE. GOD PREPARED HIM FOR THE JOURNEY AHEAD.
WHAT IS A HERO? A hero is a person that is always ready? Ready for what? READY FOR ANYTHING! DAVID WAS FAITHFUL… AND HUMBLE. DAVID WAS DILIGENT IN LITTLE THINGS…
1 Samuel 17:15 But David went and returned from Saul to feed his father's sheep at Bethlehem.
While working with the sheep David learned many lessons that built his confidence and skills. David learned how to keep a watchful eye. He also learned to TRUST GOD…
1 Samuel 17:34 And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father's sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock:
GOD PREPARED THIS YOUNG MAN FOR YEARS… DAVID WAS READY, TRAINED, SELF-DISCIPLINED AND READY… AS DAVID WAS PULLING A WAGON OF BREAD AND CHEESE TO HIS BROTHERS THERE WOULD BE AN OPEN DOOR… NO FEAR --- GOD HAD PREPARED DAVID FOR THIS JOURNEY FACING THE GIANT.
DAVID WILL FACE THE ENEMY OF THE GOD THAT DAVID SERVED.
1 Samuel 17:4 And there went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span.
1. GOLIATH WAS AN EXPERIENCED WARRIOR. Goliath had many victories under his belt. GOLIATH WAS A CHAMPION! He was big and he had never lost to any competitor.
2. Goliath's sword had known blood and great superior skills. Goliath was a giant, a legend, a name associated with super human strength and powers. Giants were not just huge in size, but in proportion of power. Goliath was over 9 feet tall. (READY?)
3. Goliath had the best military training and equipment of his day. His helmet was of the best polished brass. He had bronze leggings. (READY?)
4. Goliath had a 200 pound coat of mail, breast plate. Mail is armor made of metal plates over lapping, to make a hard, impenetrable covering. This coat of mail was a great defense. Vs. 5. (READY?)
5. Goliath had a bronze javelin that was several inches thick. This super spear was weighed and balanced and Goliath was deadly accurate. A javelin has a long metal shaft and can be thrown for great distances. The point was razor blade sharp. Most javelins weighed several ounces. Goliath's javelin weighed 25 pounds. Not only could the sharpness and speed of this flying object kill. Goliath's javelin could be used as a weapon of force by weight.
6. In the middle of the two hundred pound breast plate was a brass target, making mockery of his enemies, daring them to come forward. vs. 6. (READY?)
7. In addition to all this offensive and defensive protection around this giant, Goliath had an armor bearer that walked in front of him with a huge shield. It was impossible to get to Goliath, for there was a mighty trained warrior that stood between him and DAVID. (READY?)
8. Goliath was trained in psychological warfare. He practiced mental control and body gestures to scare his victim's before he came in for the kill. (READY?)
9. Goliath used mental tactics to breed fear. Goliath stood and shouted with his loud, deep voice and taunted God's people, vs.8. (Ready?)
10. The Power of the Psychological and propaganda message was reinforced by 80 messages. Vs. 16. This was all accomplished over a period of 40 days.
11. Great fear and dismay, pressure, fear and anxiety that was horrifying God's people. There was a loss of courage, alarm reigned. vs. 11. (Ready?)
12. Goliath's proud gait, strutting with a pompous air made all God's warriors ineffective, crybabies hiding in their tents. (Ready?)
DAVID IS READY! DAVID WAS A LITTLE UNTRAINED SHEPHERD BOY. DAVID HAS NOT HEARD THE 80 NEGATIVE MESSAGES FROM THE ENEMIES CAMP. DAVID IS READY FOR THE BATTLE…
Vs. 32 --- David says, Don't worry about a thing, I will take care of that giant Goliath. Goliath laughs at the kid warrior with no armor, for he easy, tender prey?
Vs. 45 David says, "You come with a sword, I COME IN THE NAME OF THE LORD!
Vs.. 47... AND ISRAEL WILL LEARN THAT THE LORD DOES NOT DEPEND ON FLESHLY WEAPONS TO FULFILL HIS PLAN --- GOD WORKS WITHOUT REGARD TO HUMAN MEANS.
GOLIATH, GOD WILL GIVE YOU TO US!
DAVID’S MOUTH REFUSES THE FEAR. He speaks Positive Words to release God’s plan...
vs. 46 This day the Lord will deliver YOU into my hands, I will kill YOU and CUT YOUR UGLY HEAD OFF!!!
READY? The RUNNING AWAY IN FEAR WAS OVER. The mind games were over. Doubt and fear was overcome...
David ran towards Goliath vs. 48. The GOD’S HOLY ANOINTING OVER SHADOWS THE BOY.
David had a PLAN --- he picked up five stones. Goliath had 4 brothers, David was ready to take them all to their grave.
DAVID WAS SO READY HE REFUSED KING SAULS ARMOUR…
David refused Saul's untested armor, for 5 smooth stones. Vs. 40. David had his shepherd's staff and a simple sling. Notice, David never selected 5 sharp stones, but smooth. Ever heard of a guided missile? How about a guided stone? Goliath had one weak spot, the forehead, God knows the enemy's weakest point. The rock hits so hard, it sinks into Goliath's skull, Goliath falls on his face.
David has no sword, so he borrows the CHAMPION'S SWORD AND CUTS OFF GOLIATH'S HEAD, WITH GOLIATH'S OWN WEAPON! What a testimony. Goliath's weapon will become historical evidence stored at church.
Later, David will retrieve Goliath's sword for more victories. A lad with his faith was ready for the battle. David had energy and complete trust as he faced the giant and kills him.
THE GREAT WARRIOR OF GOD IS PLACED ON THE SHELF… NEVER TO SEE THE BATTLE FIELD AGAIN.
David is lazy and has had all the comforts of the palace to spoil him. He is not ready. IT IS SO SAD WHEN THE BUBBLE BURST AND A HERO IS DEMOTED TO HUMAN STATUS. DAVID MEETS ANOTHER HALF GIANT. HE CAN'T HANDLE HIM.
2 Samuel 21:15 Moreover the Philistines had yet war again with Israel; and David went down, and his servants with him, and fought against the Philistines: and David waxed faint. 16 And Ishbibenob, which was of the sons of the giant, the weight of whose spear weighed three hundred shekels of brass in weight, he being girded with a new sword, thought to have slain David. 17 But Abishai the son of Zeruiah succoured him, and smote the Philistine, and killed him. Then the men of David sware unto him, saying, Thou shalt go no more out with us to battle, that thou quench not the light of Israel.
1. DAVID IS A MIGHTY KING. David is much wiser, now a King mature, and experienced, David has slain his 10,000's.
2. In the heat of the battle David is weak and exhausted. This shows a lack of preparation. No exercise, fat and lazy. The easy life of a King FORGOT the preparation of the shepherd boy.
3. MEET ISHBIBENOB.... 1/2 OF A GIANT.
4. ISHBIBENOB HAD A 12 POUND SPEAR HEAD, 1/2 OF GOLIATH'S. Vs. 16.
5. ISHBIBENOB WAS A SON OF A GIANT, HE WAS NOT A GIANT. Vs. 16.
6. Ishbibenob has a new sword, vs. 16,
7. He is no champion, there has never been a test of the battle. There is no blood his a new sword.
8. Ishbibenob couldn't have even carried Goliath's 200 pound suit.
9. Ishbibenob had no target, he hid in the shadows.
10. Ishbibenob had played no psychological mind games with his enemy, he was not that smart or trained.
11. David ran toward Goliath, David was so weak and faint in the battle, he could not have ran to save his own life.
THANK GOD FOR FRIENDS…MEET ABISHAI.
David had a friend, a skilled warrior. David had the poorest strategy. The King was penned down and faced certain dead. Abishai, the King's friend steps forward and slays Ishbibenob, the son of the giant.
Conclusion: DAVID HAS BEEN PLACED ON THE SHELF. Few preach of the mighty warrior’s fall. DAVID THE MIGHTY KING IS NOT PREPARED AND HE IS NOT READY. David has to make a promise to his men, almost in disgrace--- David promises to never go to battle again, DAVID IS ON THE SHELF, LIKE A DUST COVERED BOOK.
WHAT IS YOUR ISHBIBENOB?
ARE YOU FACING LITTLE BIBLE READING AND DEVOTIONS? Is your prayer life anemic? What about your temper? Laziness? Apathy? Are you not faithful to the church? Lust? Lack of discipline? Sin? Quitting spirit? Family tree is full of nuts?
IT DOES NOT MATTER WHAT GIANT YOU FACE, YOU HAVE A FRIEND, HIS NAME IS JESUS. HE WILL STEP FORWARD AND MAKE YOU MORE THAN A CONQUEROR. JESUS CAN HELP YOU SEE AND PREPARE FOR THE GIANT TRAPS NO MATTER WHAT. JESUS WANTS TO RESCUE YOU. LET HIM.
Are we ready? What have you done to PREPARE? WHAT IS THE SIN OF THE 5 FOOLISH VIRGINS? All 10 were virgins, the foolish virgins were not ready. They allowed their oil to run low and their light to grow dim.
BE READY IN MIND, IN DEED, IN ACTION. BE EAGER. GIVE ACCOUNT. BE WILLING.
Luke 12:40 Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (YouTube: Wade Hughes)
