Introduction

Good morning, dear ones. Gather around, lean in, and let your hearts be still for a moment. In the quiet of this sanctuary, let us unite our spirits and turn our attention to the Word of the Lord.

We find ourselves today in the midst of the Old Testament, in the book of 1 Samuel, chapter 17, verses 37 through 51. It's a story we've all heard before, the story of David and Goliath. But today, let's not rush past the familiar, but rather, let's sit with it, let it marinate in our minds and our hearts. This is a story of faith, of courage, of divine intervention. It's a story that reminds us that our God is not a passive observer of our struggles but an active participant in our battles.

It's a story that echoes the words of J.I. Packer, who once said, "There's a difference between knowing God and knowing about God. When you truly know God, you have energy to serve Him, boldness to share Him, and contentment in Him."

Let's read the scripture together:

[Read passage]

Let's pray.

Dear Father, as we sit with this scripture today, may it not be just a story from our past, but a living, breathing Word for our present. Open our hearts to receive what you have to say to us today. Help us to see the Goliaths in our own lives and remind us that the same God who was with David is with us today. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Today, we're going to look at this story through three different lenses: Believing in God's Battle Plan, Bearing Witness to God's Power, and Becoming Victorious through God's Intervention. As we do, let's remember Packer's words: When we truly know God, we have the energy to serve Him, the boldness to share Him, and the contentment in Him. Let's approach this familiar story with fresh eyes and open hearts, ready to truly know God in a deeper way.

Believing in God's Battle Plan

As we look at the story of David and Goliath, we see a young shepherd boy, armed only with a sling and a few stones, standing before a giant warrior. On the surface, it seems like a hopeless situation. But David wasn't relying on his own strength or his own battle plan. He was relying on God's.

David's confidence: It didn't come from his physical abilities or his weapons. It came from his faith in God. He knew that God had a plan, and he trusted in that plan, even when it seemed impossible. This is the kind of faith that we are called to have. A faith that trusts in God's plan, even when we can't see the way forward.

In our own lives, we face many battles: We face challenges and obstacles that seem insurmountable. We face situations that leave us feeling helpless and afraid. But just like David, we can trust in God's battle plan. We can have confidence that God is with us, that He is fighting for us, and that He has a plan for our victory.

Trusting in God's battle plan isn't always easy: It requires us to let go of our own plans and our own understanding. It requires us to surrender control and trust in God's sovereignty. This can be a difficult thing to do. We like to feel in control. We like to know what's going to happen next. But when we trust in God's battle plan, we have to let go of all that. We have to surrender our need for control and trust in God's wisdom and His timing.

This is where faith comes in: Faith is not just believing in God, it's trusting in His plan. It's believing that He knows what's best for us, even when we can't see it. It's believing that He is working all things together for our good, even when we can't understand it. This is the kind of faith that David had. And it's the kind of faith that we are called to have.

Faith is not a passive thing: It's not just sitting back and waiting for God to do everything. Faith is active. It's stepping out in obedience, even when it's scary. It's doing what God has called us to do, even when it's hard. David didn't just stand on the sidelines and watch as God defeated Goliath. He stepped out in faith and obedience. He did what God had called him to do. And because of his faith and obedience, God used him to defeat Goliath and bring victory to the Israelites.

God wants to use us in our battles: He wants us to step out in faith and obedience. He wants us to trust in His plan and do what He has called us to do. And when we do, we can have confidence that He will be with us, that He will fight for us, and that He will bring us to victory.

Bearing Witness to God's Power

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