A Preview for Endtime.Church s Gathering A reminder that we re our only enemy.

Transcription

1 Invincible A Preview for Endtime.Church s Gathering A reminder that we re our only enemy. 1 I n v i n c i b l e P r e v i e w

2 Day 1: Victory in Every Valley From 1 Samuel 17 The Event In 1 Samuel 17, we find one of the most retold Bible stories David versus Goliath. David the youngest of eight boys, was sent by his father to get a report and take food to his three oldest brothers who were camped with Saul s army at the Valley of Elah. The Israelites had been in position on one hill for forty days while the Philistines held the opposite ridge. A literal giant, the champion warrior of the Philistines, Goliath, would walk down into the valley twice everyday to challenge an Israelite to fight him and to mock the God of Israel. David s brothers were among the terrified Israelites frozen on this hillside. On hearing, Goliath s challenge and defiance of Yahweh, David voiced a desire to face the giant which was heard and got him taken to King Saul, who laughed, but gave in to the boy s willingness to fight. David refused to wear the king s armor and marched out onto the plain armed with only a sling and five stones while Goliath stood ready standing over nine-foot-tall, wearing a bronze helmet, bronze mail, having a sword, shield, and huge spear. The body armor alone weighed a hundred and twenty-five pounds while the head of the spear weighed fifteen. Not only was Goliath huge, but He had been fighting since he was a boy. Yet, against the odds, David hit the giant with his first shot. The giant fell dead, and David used Goliath s own sword to cut off the giant s head. David was victorious, even against a giant. He survived unscathed. 2 I n v i n c i b l e P r e v i e w

3 The Calling at Stake David won and was celebrated afterwards and for years to come for the victory, but David didn t march out onto that plain for a personal victory or accomplishment. He marched out to fight for the Lord s honor. He marched out in obedience to the Lord s instruction. Granted, we have no place in this narrative of God speaking to David in some way, calling him to take on this task. But there were plenty of existing orders from the Lord in which David obeyed and the entire Army of Israel had ignored. Israel had been called to conquer the land. They had been instructed to wipe out the Philistines. They had been repeatedly instructed for four hundred years to trust the Lord and let Him fight for them and give them victory. They had been told to be strong and courageous to trust God would give the victory. And I would believe an Israelite soldier of that day, understood if their God was mocked by an enemy then they should fight for God s honor. And I believe it would be fair to say, God could have very possibly told David through special revelation to go fight this champion of the Israelites. Whether God did or not in this instance is irrelevant, but often our callings are a mix of both. We have the general calling that s already existing, that s already on the books. It has been written in the Bible. And then we have the specific-holy-spirit led instructions that we receive. Whatever the case, David marched against Goliath, compelled by God s plan for his people. David also carried a hidden detail into that fight. Already, David had been anointed the next King of Israel. No one, but Samuel, Jesse, and maybe his brothers knew of this calling. Also, David never once seems to appeal back to that anointing to force something in the future nor does he ever seem to try to ascend to that calling by himself. There appears to be no bearing on 3 I n v i n c i b l e P r e v i e w

4 David in this particular fight regarding his anointing as the next king, but yet this calling was on his life. God s plan is not going to be thwarted. If God had instructed David through Samuel of what lied ahead, then David should trust that no measly giant is going to prevent that David was invincible. For a defeat by Goliath would have made God a liar. The Promises Known At the time of David s life, the Torah existed. Also, the testimony of Abraham, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Joshua, and the Judges stood before him. He knew the promises made to Israel through Moses that God would fight for them. He knew that God had done the impossible before the parting of the Red Sea or Gideon s victory with only three hundred men. That previous testimony of God should have weighed in on David s faith maybe it did or maybe it didn t. But 1 Samuel 17:37 reveals that David does recount the victories God had given him over lions and bears. In smaller victories, God had already proven himself to the young man. The Challenge and Victory A legendary warrior that appeared unbeatable to King Saul and a whole army of battlehardened men, hurled insults at the One True God, so David, not even a soldier marches against Him and God gives a victory for the ages. David was unharmed. David took God at His Word. Undaunted by Goliath, he marched onto the plain, convinced God would give him victory. And the Lord did. God made him invincible. David wasn t surprised. 4 I n v i n c i b l e P r e v i e w

5 Later in life, while possibly even looking back at the victory in the Valley of Elah, he wrote, Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. - Psalm 23:4 (NIV) Before David walked into the literal dark valley to fight Goliath, King Saul warned him of the danger. Saul recommended the boy put on armor and take the King s sword, but David responded with how God had given past victories over a lion and bear. If the Lord had been with Him then, He d be with Him now. By the point in life that David wrote Psalm 23, he d seen a string of God-given victories like ones when Saul was seeking to kill him, many more battles, many more enemies, family struggles, and even a battle with sin. He knew God would come through even in the darkest valleys. Psalm 23:4 isn t just a verse for a sympathy card, it s a battle cry. If you follow the Lord into any valley, regardless how dark its shadow, He ll bring you out the victor even if a literal giant is waiting for you. Today s Faith Builder: Like David recounted to King Saul, reflect on the victories God has given you. 5 I n v i n c i b l e P r e v i e w

6 Day 2: Victory Belongs to Yahweh From Exodus The Event Have you ever watched someone who you knew had immense talent, but they didn t know it? Or they wouldn t live up to their potential? Maybe you look back at a time in your life when at the time you did not realize what you could do. In Exodus 1:6-11, we see the Israelites in that situation you have seen others or maybe yourself. They had grown in number. They had the potential of doing Egypt great harm. They had Pharaoh nervous. He recognizes that if they decided to turn against the Egyptians or if they joined with another army they could defeat Egypt in terms of numbers. But Israel did not see their potential and they certainly didn t know the potential of their God. Once Pharaoh recognized the threat Israel could be, he double-downed on them. He made the slavery stricter. He enslaved them deeper and ordered their newborns to be killed. It appears that Israel did not realize that they had grown to possibly almost the same population size as the Egyptians. What they did know was that Egypt was the powerful Kingdom on earth. Their army was second to none. They had been victorious time after time. The Israelites would have seen that the Egyptian gods had come through time after time. So, was it possible that their gods was greater than their God the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. 6 I n v i n c i b l e P r e v i e w

7 The Promises Known We often condemn Ancient Israel for how quickly they turned against God and grumbled during the Exodus, but it s interesting to consider what they knew of God, the promises they had from him, and understanding they had of what He could do. They really had not received many promises or seen God do much before the Exodus. Granted, God never ceases working, so even though we don t have much about what God did in His people and through his people while they were in Egypt its likely he did in some way. But for what do know, they were going by what had been passed down to them about Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. They knew God had promised to make them a mighty nation and that God had promised them particular land. They knew how God gave Abraham and Sarah their son Isaac. They likely knew God had provided the Ram for the sacrifice. They would have known Him as the Creator. But they had little work sample from God, its amazing that they had remained faithful to Him for those 400 years. Now, they could have looked around and seen how that God had grown them into a mighty nation. The Calling at Stake They also had this promise that they would be this large nation that continues forever, so no matter what they faced they would not be wiped out. God s plans wouldn t be crushed, if he intends for Israel to remain then they will. 7 I n v i n c i b l e P r e v i e w

8 The Challenge and Victory Israel was enslaved in Egypt. The Egyptians seemed impossible to defeat or even challenge. But they cried out to God. And wow, did God ever hear and respond. He sent Moses and then performed all of those plaques which were not only miraculous feats, but they also challenged the Egyptian gods. Then when Pharaoh would not relent, God sent the plague of the firstborns. In Goshen, the Hebrews were able to cover their doorpost with the blood of the lamb and their firstborn was spared, but none of the Egyptians were. Finally, the most powerful man on earth relents. He bows to the demands of his slaves. Not only is Israel allowed to leave, but the Egyptians bring them blunder. God had won big and proved Himself, the God above all. David would look back the victories He had and write, He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me. - Psalm 18:17 (NIV) This was true for David and it was certainly true for all of Israel at the Exodus. It s true for us today. Today s Faith Builder: Like David remembered God gives victory when the foes are stronger than us. Think about your foes can God beat them? 8 I n v i n c i b l e P r e v i e w