BELIEVERS ARE AT WAR WITH THE WORLD

PROCLAMATION

“For thought we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does.  The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world.  On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.  We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God …”  2 Corinthians 10:3-5 (NIV)

 

EXPLANATION

These words were written by the apostle Paul, under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God, to the believers in the church at Corinth.  In this chapter, Paul offers a defense of his ministry and his attack on the false teachers who oppose the gospel of Christ.  Though physically weak in statue, Paul spoke boldly against them through the power of God. (2 Corinthians 10:10)  Here he tells them that although they live in the world, they do not fight their battles like the world does. (2 Corinthians 10:3-4)  He admits to them that his letters are bolder than he is in person. (2 Corinthians 10:9-11)  He ends by boasting, within limits, on his work and the works of others spreading the gospel. (2 Corinthians 10:13-16)

 

APPLICATION

Because we are in Christ and He is within us, we are physically in this world but not of this world. (John 8:23)  Because we are not of this world, we do not fight our battles like the world fights. (2 Corinthians 10:3-6)  The life of every believer is battle against Satan, and his principalities and powers, and the men of the world which he uses to corrupt the hearts of believers. (Ephesians 6:12)  The more useful we are to the purpose of God and His kingdom, the more we are attacked.  That is why we need to put on the whole armor of God so that we can stand strong against the devil. (Ephesians 6:11-18)  We must be on guard because the battle is not physical but psychological and spiritual.  The devil is after our minds and our hearts, and if he can’t get them, he will attempt to destroy our credibility, influence, and effectiveness.  In truth, the battle against Satan is not ours, but God’s. (2 Chronicles 20:15)  We are just pawns in this war and in this game of life, used for His purpose.  We need to make sure that we are ready for service in His army.  However, in this war we will be victorious. (1 Corinthians 15:57)  To God be the glory!

 

STAND UP AND FACE YOUR GIANTS

Proclamation:

"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..." 1 Samuel 17:45-46 (NIV)

Explanation:

These words were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by the Prophet Samuel.  In chapter seventeen, Samuel records the account of David as a young man when he faced the giant named Goliath, the Philistine.  The armies of the Philistines and the armies of Israel were prepared for battle. (1 Samuel 17:1-3)  Goliath, the champion of the Philistines was a giant. (1 Samuel 17:4)  He approached the armies of Israel and told them to send out one man to fight him.  He said that if that man defeated him, his people would serve Israel, but if he defeated that man, then Israel would serve the Philistines. (1 Samuel 17:8-10)  David had only come to the camp of the army to bring food to his three brothers, who were in the army, and to inquire about their status for his father. (1 Samuel 17:17-18)  David heard Goliath's disrespectful challenge to the army of Israel and was upset. (1 Samuel 17:26)  David said that he would fight Goliath. (1 Samuel 17:32)  He refused to wear King Saul's armor, (1 Samuel 17:38-39), and he took five smooth stones and his sling as a weapon. (1 Samuel 17:40)  With the help of The Lord God, David defeated Goliath with one stone from his sling, then he cut off Goliath's head with his own sword. (1 Samuel 17:48-51)

Application:
David knew that The Lord God was with him when he fought the lion and the bear, and he knew that He would be with him against Goliath. (1 Samuel 17:34-37)  David faced his giant in the name of The Lord God Almighty, and he did it without fear.  He knew that God would be with him.  David stood up for God and faced the giant.  We also need to stand up for The Lord and His righteousness, even when we stand alone.  God did not give us the spirit of fear. (2 Timothy 1:7)  We are to be victorious conquerors. (Romans 8:37)  When we stand up for that which is Godly and right, The Lord God will help us. (Psalms 94:16-17)  He will fight our battles for us. (Deuteronomy 28:7, 2 Chronicles 20:15 and 20:17)  We must not only stand up, but we must speak up.  It is not good to keep silent when we should speak up for The Lord. (Psalms 39:2-3)  If we will not speak up for Him, He will not speak up for us. (Matthew 10:33)  However, if our giant is not an enemy but instead is a sinful habit, we still need to stand up and face it.  First we will have to go to The Lord in prayer, confess our sins and weaknesses, and ask for His help in fighting this giant.  There are some things which we cannot do alone.  But with the help of God, all things are possible. (Matthew 19:26)  

Stand Up And Face Your Giants

"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..."  1 Samuel 17:45-46 (NIV)

The Bible Book of First Samuel, in chapter seventeen, records the account of David as a young man when he faced the giant named Goliath, the Philistine.  The armies of the Philistines and the armies of Israel were prepared for battle. (1 Samuel 17:1-3)  Goliath, the champion of the Philistines was a giant. (1 Samuel 17:4)  He approached the armies of Israel and told them to send out one man to fight him.  He said that if that man defeated him, his people would serve Israel, but if he defeated that man, then Israel would serve the Philistines. (1 Samuel 17:8-10)  David had only come to the camp of the army to bring food to his three brothers, who were in the army, and to inquire about their status for his father. (1 Samuel 17:17-18)  David heard Goliath's disrespectful challenge to the army of Israel and was upset. (1 Samuel 17:26)  David said that he would fight Goliath. (1 Samuel 17:32)  He refused to wear King Saul's armor, (1 Samuel 17:38-39), and he took five smooth stones and his sling as a weapon. (1 Samuel 17:40)  With the help of The Lord God, David defeated Goliath with one stone from his sling, then he cut off Goliath's head with his own sword. (1 Samuel 17:48-51)

David knew that The Lord God was with him when he fought the lion and the bear, and he knew that He would be with him against Goliath. (1 Samuel 17:34-37)  David faced his giant in the name of The Lord God Almighty, and he did it without fear.  He knew that God would be with him.  David stood up for God and faced the giant.  We also need to stand up for The Lord and His righteousness, even when we stand alone.  God did not give us the spirit of fear. (2 Timothy 1:7)  We are to be victorious conquerors. (Romans 8:37)  When we stand up for that which is Godly and right, The Lord God will help us. (Psalms 94:16-17)  He will fight our battles for us. (Deuteronomy 28:7, 2 Chronicles 20:15 and 20:17)  We must not only stand up, but we must speak up.  It is not good to keep silent when we should speak up for The Lord. (Psalms 39:2-3)  If we will not speak up for Him, He will not speak up for us. (Matthew 10:33)

Don't Encourage Or Cause Someone To Sin

"Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way." Romans 14:13 (NIV)

The Apostle Paul told the Christians in Rome to stop judging one another, and to stop saying and doing things which would cause someone else to sin.

We should not cause or encourage someone to sin. We ought not do anything in front of others, especially children, which if they imitate us, would cause them to sin. We should not seek company to participate in our sinful activities. We should be very careful of the example we set for others to follow. Do the right thing, the Christ-like thing, and encourage others to do likewise.

Stand In The Face Of Adversity

After his conversion, Saul, the future apostle Paul, went about boldly preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. So much so that the people wanted to kill him, but he continued his work for The Lord even in the face of adversity.

"And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, the He is The Son of God ... And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him ... And he spoke boldly in the name of The Lord Jesus and disputed against the Grecians, but they were about to slay him." Acts 9:18-30

Twice the brethren led Saul to safety to save his life. They let him down over the wall in a basket, Acts 9:25, and they took him to Caesarea to get away from the Crecians, Acts 9:30.

He continued to do The Lord's work even when the people wanted to kill him for doing so. And The Lord used his good relationship with the brethren to protect him from harm.

Will we stand up for Christ even when it is not popular with the people that we are around? Do we have the respect of the Christians around us such that they would be willing to help us in times of trouble?

It is easy to stand for a popular position, but it takes a serious commitment to stand up for what you believe in when you are faced with adversity. Don't deny Him to please the crowd. Jesus said "... whosoever shall deny Me before men, him will I also deny before My Father which is in heaven." Matthew 10:32-33

Stand up for Christ, even in the face of adversity.