Run To The Battle line
1 Samuel 17:1-51
Please take a moment to place your vote. If you have an idea for an improvement, I am very teachable. My e-Mail is pastorbrian@greenrivernazarene.com
Introduction … we are all in a battle!
All throughout God’s word we see evidence that God knows we are in a battle. His Word gives us guidance to help us fair well as we fight!
The book of Ephesians tells us to Eph 6:11-13 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.
This verse tells us to put on the full armor of God!
Armor is something that you wear when you go into battle!
How many of you know that you don’t put on armor to go to the swimming pool… Armor is something that you wear when you go into Battle!
This verse also tells us who the battle is with! (Paul makes it clear that Christian warfare is not against human forces! If it were, then human strength would be sufficient to win the battle. Powers, rulers, authorities, all of these are various ranks among the hosts of satan. He is the ememy! The verse closes by using the phrase heavenly realms. This is a realm of spiritual conflict!
At the end of his life, the apostle Paul tells us that he has “Fought the good fight!” He knew that we are in a battle too!
SO WHAT IS THE PROPER RESPONSE TO THE BATTLE THAT WE ARE NOW IN?
I would like for us to look back to an old familiar story for some insite as to how a man after God’s own heart responded when the enemy defied both God and His people!
Turn to 1 Samuel 17:1-51
You remember the story of David and Goliath. The philistines were at odds with the Israelite army at the valley of socoh in Judah. The philistines occupied one hill and the Israelite army the other with a valley between them.
A champion named Goliath came out and began to defy the Israelites and their God. Goliath was a giant! He was over 9 feet tall! Think about that, nine feet tall! Most of the ceilings in your homes are 8 feet tall. This man was a foot taller than that!
The bible tells us that he wore a bronze helmet and a coat of scale armor! He also carried a bronze spear that had a point on it that was so heavy that it was worth mentioning it’s tremendous weight! Goliath would come out in the valley between the two armies and shout at God’s people!
He taunted them saying, “this day I defy the ranks of Israel, give me a man and let us fight each other!”
Day after day this giant would make his challenge and day after day no one would stand up for God’s people… that is until one young shepherd boy heard this Philistine and decided to take action!
You know how the story goes… David hears the challenge… David agrees to go and fight the giant… David selects 5 smooth stones and puts them in his pouch and goes to meet the Giant! As we read on, the Bible records in verse 48 that David Ran to the Battle line!
He ran to the battle line isn’t that amazing? How was a young shepherd boy with no armor and only a slingshot able to run to the battle line and meet a fully armed and shielded 9 foot tall Giant ?
The title of this message is “run to the battle line!” My prayer is that when you face the enemy we will be challenged to run to the battle line! I pray that as you go through the battle of this life, you will have the courage and the boldness to run to the battle line!
This morning it would be good for us to see some ways that we can do that. David ran to the battle line several ways that day let’s look a little bit closer shall we?
THE FIRST WAY THAT DAVID RAN TO THE BATTLE LINE WAS THROUGH HIS FAITH!
The deck was stacked against him! walking by sight, things didn’t look good. He was a boy his foe was a man. He was small of stature and yet he faced a giant. His weapons were crude and his enemy was fully armed.
We are told walk by faith not by sight! Sight told all that day that he never had a chance! But Faith said something different!
Look with me at God’s word beginning at vers 32.
1Sa 17:32 David said to Saul, “Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine; your servant will go and fight him.” Saul replied, “You are not able to go out against this Philistine and fight him; you are only a boy, and he has been a fighting man from his youth.”
But David said to Saul, “Your servant has been keeping his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth.
When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it. Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God.
The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” Saul said to David, “Go, and the LORD be with you.”
Skipping down to verse
1Sa 17:45 David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.
This day the LORD will hand you over to me, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. Today I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, (notice David’s motivation) and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel.
DAVID ALSO RAN TO THE BATTLE LINE THROUGH HIS ACTION
1Sa 17:38 Then Saul dressed David in his own tunic. He put a coat of armor on him and a bronze helmet on his head. 1Sa 17:39 David fastened on his sword over the tunic and tried walking around, because he was not used to them.
“I cannot go in these,” he said to Saul, “because I am not used to them.” So he took them off.
1Sa 17:40 Then he took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his shepherd’s bag and, with his sling in his hand, approached the Philistine.
1Sa 17:48 As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him. Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead.
The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell facedown on the ground. So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him.
David ran and stood over him. He took hold of the Philistine’s sword and drew it from the scabbard. After he killed him, he cut off his head with the sword. When the Philistines saw that their hero was dead, they turned and ran.”
David not only believed in what God could do, he was willing to put his hide where his mouth was and take action!
Do you remember his brother’s reaction to David’s faith filled words? When David asked, “Who is this uncircumcised philistine?” His oldest brother got angry with him! He accused David of leavening the sheep unattended, he accused David of having a wicked heart and he accused David of only being there to watch the battle!
Having heard all of this negative talk, David could have very easily said, “fine then go and fight this giant by yourself!” he could have said, “forget it then!” but he didn’t! David knew that the world needed God!
David knew that there was a God in Israel and that this battle belonged to that God! So much so that he put feet to his faith! So much so that he put a sling and a stone to his faith! David sensed the need so much that he ran to the battle line with faith And his actions!
FRIEND YOU TOO CAN RUN TO THE BATTLE LINE!
An ancient Chinese proverb says that when two tigers fight, one gets hurt very badly… that they other dies! Tigers go into battle with the fur flying! How do you go into battle? Are you a tiger? Or a mouse?
It makes a difference how you go into battle! Will you be a warrior or a weakling?
The warrior doesn’t go into the battle with trembling knees, quivering lips, and chattering teeth. The warrior Runs! To the battle line with the Power of God on his side, with the shield of Faith and the confidence and boldness to take action!
Jesus is the Christ the son of The living God! On this rock he’ll build His church and The gates of hell shall not prevail against it (this paints an offensive picture not an defensive one!)
The gate around a city is for defense! Not offence! We are the attackers! We are the warriors!
Take up the sword of the spirit! And run to the battle line!
Paul said I have fought the Good fight! When you fight a good fight, you fight vigorously! Your give it everything you’ve got! You Run to the battle line!
SO IF DAVID RAN TO THE BATTLE LINE THROUGH FAITH AND ACTION, HOW CAN WE DO IT? The answer is that we can run to the battle line in many of the same ways that David did.
We can run to the battle line through faith!
RUN TO THE BATTLE LINE IN FAITH BY ACCEPTING JESUS AS LORD AND SAVIOR! “That if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe with your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved!”
RUN TO THE BATTLE LINE IN FAITH BY HITTING YOUR KNEES IN PRAYER! In faith knowing that there is a God in heaven who hears you and answers you when you pray!
Run to the battle line knowing that my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus!
You will run to the battle line in faith and be so called a “prayer warrior!”
You can run to the battle line believing and knowing in faith that this battle has already been won! The devil is a defeated foe! Jesus is the author and finisher of our salvation! “it is finished!”
We have read the end of the book and we win!
ILLUSTRATION
In Zig zigler’s book, “see you at the top” he tells the story of A time when Oil was discovered on some Oklahoma property belonging to an elderly Indian.
All his life he had been poverty stricken, just eking out a living. But the discovery of oil had suddenly made him a very wealthy man. The first thing he bought was a very big Cadillac. He wanted the longest car in the county, so he added four spare tires on the trunk.
He would dress up in his new clothes and everyday he would take his Cadillac into the hot dusty little town nearby. He wanted to see everyone and he wanted everyone to see him. He was a friendly old soul. so when he was riding through town he would turn in all directions to wave at all the people as he rolled by.
Interesting enough, he never ran into anybody nor into anything. The reason for this was that directly in front of that big beautiful auto was two horses harnessed to it and pulling it. There was nothing wrong with the car’s engine. It was because the old Indian had never learned to drive it.
He had never learned how to insert the key into the ignition switch and turn it on. Under the hood was 100 plus horsepower ready and willing and raring to go, but the old Indian was content to use the two horsepower hooked to the front of the car.
The devil gets really happy (or as happy as a devil can get) when he can keep the believer chugging along in their Christian life on a two horse power faith level. At that rate, the spiritual progress is slowed down to a crawl, and this is what the devil is after in his Battle with us
Don’t’ be content with a two horse faith when you can exercise a turbo-charged high output faith! Run To the Battle line!
WE CAN ALSO RUN TO THE BATTLE LINE THROUGH ACTION!
Having believed in Christ unto salvation, and accepted Him as Lord and Savior
RUN TO THE BATTLE LINE BY TELLING OTHERS ABOUT JESUS! “go and Make disciples”
RUN TO THE BATTLE LINE BY OBEYING EVERYTHING THAT HE HAS COMMANDED US TO DO
I can’t tell you how many times I have talked to people who claim to be Christians who tell me that they
don’t have to go to church (forsake not the assembling of the people)
Refuse to get baptized (Baptism doesn’t save you, but it is very clearly something that Jesus wants his followers to do)
Forgive others their trespasses
Pray without ceasing!
Read your bible! “I have hidden thy word inside my heart”
These folks seem to be saying, I know what Jesus said, I’m just not going to do it!
In the book of Matthew Jesus tells us to make disciples and he goes on the say that we are to teach them to obey everything that he has commanded!
RUN TO THE BATTLE LINE BY AVOIDING TEMPTATION ! This is the one area where we are told to go the other direction!
1Co 6:18 Flee from sexual immorality
1Co 10:14 Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry.
1Ti 6:9 People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. 1Ti 6:11 But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.
When it comes to temptation.. don’t stand there to see how much you can endure without giving in! don’t flirt with it, don’t mess with it, don’t try to walk the fence…. FLEE FROM IT!
A wise warrior knows when to fall back and regroup! As well as when to advance!
RUN TO THE BATTLE LINE BY LOVING JESUS WITH ALL OF YOUR HEART SOUL MIND AND STRENGTH!
.
WE CAN RUN TO THE BATTLE LINE BY LOVING OUR NEIGHBORS AS OURSELVES.
· Hungry-- feed
· Cold-- warm
· Naked-- clothing
· Thirsty - a cup of cold water in Jesus name
· Sick—cared for
· Prison—visited
· Encourage
· And warn
RUN TO THE BATTLE LINE!
ILLUSTRATION
The poet said it this way…
I am a soldier in the army of my God.
The Lord Jesus Christ is my commanding officer.
The Holy Bible is my code of conduct, Faith, prayer and the Word are my weapons of warfare.
I have been taught by the Holy Spirit--
trained by experience, tried by adversity and tested by fire.
I am a volunteer in this army, and I am enlisted for eternity.
I will either retire in this army at the rapture or die in this army;
but I will not get out, sell out, be talked out, or pushed out.
I am faithful, reliable, capable, and dependable.
If my God needs me, I am there.
If He needs me in the Sunday school to teach the children,
work with the youth, help adults or just sit and learn I’ll be there.
He can use me because I am there!
I am a soldier.
I am not a baby. I do not need to be pampered, petted, primed up, pumped up,
picked up, or pepped up.
I am a soldier.
No one has to call me, remind me, write me, visit me, entice me, or lure me.
I am a soldier.
I am not a wimp.
I am in place saluting my King, obeying His orders, praising His name, and building His kingdom!
No one has to send me flowers gifts, food, cards, candy or give me handouts.
I do not need to be cuddled, cradled, cared for, or catered to.
I am committed.
I cannot have my feelings hurt bad enough to turn me around.
I cannot be discouraged enough to turn me aside.
I cannot lose enough to cause me to quit.
If I end up with nothing, I will still come out ahead.
I will win.
My God has, and will continue, to supply all of my needs.
I am more than a conqueror.
I will always triumph.
I can do all things through Christ.
Devils cannot defeat me.
People cannot disillusion me.
Weather cannot weary me.
Sickness cannot stop me.
Battles cannot beat me.
Money cannot buy me.
Governments cannot silence me and hell cannot handle me.
I am a soldier.
Even death cannot destroy me.
For when my Commander calls me from this battlefield He will promote me to Captain and then allow me to rule with Him.
I am a soldier in the army and I’m marching, claiming victory.
I will not give up.
I will not turn around.
I am a soldier marching, heaven bound.
BUT PASTOR... SOMETIMES BATTLES CAN BE SCARY!
in closing, I want to address one last thing. this is scary stuff! I know that it can be scary to enter into a battle! One has only to watch CNN to see how scary battles can be.
you can run to the battle ! how can I do that? Through faith! How can I do that? Through action! Why can I do that?
Listen to verse 47
1Sa 17:47 All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD’S,! you can run to the battle line because the battle belongs to the Lord!
You can run to the battle line because it is not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the LORD Almighty
You can run to the battle line because if you belong to Christ, you can say with confidence, “I Can Do All Things Through Christ Who strengthens me!
In American history, the Battle of the Alamo stands as a prime example of the kind of boldness that Jesus calls for. In 1836 a band of fewer than 200 men defended the little mission in San Antonio, against General Santa Anna’s 6,000 Mexican troops. For two weeks they held the Alamo against impossible odds. Then, on March 5, the night before what would surely be the final assault, William Barret Travis, the comander of the Texans, called a meeting of his men. Telling them he knew the enemy would break through the walls on the morrow, he drew his sword and cut a line in the sand. He invited those who wanted to stay and defend to the death to cross the line. Jim Bowie, who was sick on a pallet, asked to be carried across the line.
And so today there is a line in the battle between good and evil! a line in the battle between the Lord’s church and the enemies church. Will you fight this good fight with the boldness of a man or a woman after God’s own heart?
RUN TO THE BATTLE LINE!
