Timing In Spiritual Warfare

TIMING IN SPIRITUAL WARFARE

2 Sam. 5:17-24

INTRODUCTION

A. HUMOR

1. A doctor had trouble with his plumbing. The pipes in his bathroom began to leak. The leak became bigger and bigger.

2. Even though it was 2 A.M. the doctor decided to call his plumber. Naturally the plumber was upset at being awakened in the middle of the night. “For Pete’s sake Doc, is this any time to wake a guy up?”

3. The Doctor answered brusquely, “Well you’ve never hesitated to call me in the middle of the night with a medical problem. Now it just happens that I’ve got a plumbing emergency!”

4. “You’re right Doc” the plumber said, “Tell me what’s wrong.” The doctor explained about the leak in the bathroom.

5. “I’ll tell you what to do” said the plumber, “Take two aspirins every four hours and drop them down the pipe. If it hasn’t cleared up by morning, phone me at the office!” [Braudes, 576]

B. PROCRASTINATION

1. It looks as if the plumber were procrastinating. We’re going to look this morning at a time in King David’s life when it looked like he was procrastinating.

2. But we’re going to find that David had his priorities in line; he was waiting for orders from God, which we would do well to do also. Read with me.

C. TEXT

17 When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, they went up in full force to search for him, but David heard about it and went down to the stronghold. 18 Now the Philistines had come and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim; 19 so David inquired of the Lord, “Shall I go and attack the Philistines? Will you deliver them into my hands?” The Lord answered him, “Go, for I will surely deliver the Philistines into your hands.” 20 So David went to Baal Perazim, and there he defeated them. He said, “As waters break out, the Lord has broken out against my enemies before me.” So that place was called Baal Perazim. 21 The Philistines abandoned their idols there, and David and his men carried them off. 22 Once more the Philistines came up and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim; 23 so David inquired of the Lord, and he answered, “Do not go straight up, but circle around behind them and attack them in front of the poplar trees. 24 As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the poplar trees, move quickly, because that will mean the Lord has gone out in front of you to strike the Philistine army.”

D. TITLE

1. The devil doesn’t like it when we decide to make an impact for God. Listen to Neh. 2:10; “When Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the Ammonite, heard of it, it grieved them…” that someone had come to “seek the welfare of the children of Israel.”

2. The enemy doesn’t want you to:

a. get a burden for reaching the lost;

b. decide to work in the church;

c. determine to change things through prayer or make new commitments to God. Don’t be surprised if you’re opposed when you begin to work for God’s kingdom.

3. The title of this message is “Timing in Spiritual Warfare.” God is alive; He’s speaking. He’s moving around the world and we should be moving when He does.

4. David can teach us a lot about God. He was the –

a. Sweet Psalmist of Israel. He published 73 songs of love he wrote to God;

b. He was anointed with oil & the Holy Spirit;

c. He killed Goliath, the arch-type of Satan, and brought the Presence of God back to Israel.

I. THE BATTLES OF LIFE

A. COMMON TO ALL

1. DAVID’S SITUATION

a. Valley of “Rephaim” = Valley of “Giants.” Multiple battles were fought in this same valley.

b. Previously, there was a giant named Goliath that David defeated; but that wasn’t the end of David’s battles. God was preparing him to fight whole armies later.

2. WE WILL ALL HAVE BATTLES! “There has no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that you may be able to bear it” 1 Cor. 10:13.

3. The enemy doesn’t mess with you unless you’re a threat. David had just become King of the Northern 10 tribes and they knew he would attempt to unite all Israel.

4. So they decided to strike him before he could get organized. They mobilized and immediately attacked before he could get prepared.

B. GOD WANTS YOU TO HAVE VICTORY!

1. Q – Do You believe God wanted David to be victorious? Do you think He wants YOU to be victorious?