Note: Today the United States will hold midterm elections. As a man of God I don’t share my personal politics views. I will simply say two things about the election. First, please vote. Be part of the process. Second, as a child of God, you should never allow a vote to divide you from people. You can disagree without being disagreeable. Walk in the love of God towards all men, even those who do not share your political views.
(1 Samuel 17:48-51)
This morning I continue our series entitled, “Standing on a Word from God.” This is Part 47 of the series and Part 19 of the life of David.
Once again, David said to Goliath, “Today the Lord will conquer you, and I will kill you and cut off your head.” This teenage shepherd boy, with nothing but a slingshot, a stone, a shepherd’s staff, and the grace of God, stood against a Philistine battle-tested, 9ft. tall, hardened elite Soldier. This would be like a teenage paperboy attempting to fight against a member of Seal Team 6. In the natural the odds were completely against David. Guess what? This is exactly how the Lord loves to operate. Remember, I said David was equipped with a slingshot, a stone, a shepherd’s staff, AND the grace of God. The grace of God makes all the difference.
David was being led of God, therefore God’s grace was on him for the victory. David had already seen, by faith, what was going to happen. Our present is heaven’s past. Heaven gave David a glimpse of his future. David saw himself killing Goliath and then cutting his head off with his own sword. David had remarkable faith. He had the faith to believe what God revealed and then the audacity to say it before he did it. David received an image of the victory and he had the faith to take God public. Anyone can say what they saw (by faith, in prayer) after the fact, but it takes faith to say what you believe the Lord wants to do through your life, before you do it, so that God gets even more glory out of the situation.
As Goliath moved closer to attack, David, unafraid, quickly ran out to meet him. Reaching into his shepherd’s bag, David took out a stone and hurled it from his sling. The stone hit the giant in the forehead and it sank in. Goliath stumbled and fell face-down to the ground. Just like that, the man who had been menacing king Saul and his entire army for over a month was killed within a few seconds by a teenager with the grace of God on his life. The Bible says, “So David triumphed over the Philistine with only a sling and a stone, for he had no sword.” But wait, what David saw and what he said had not come to pass yet. So David then ran over to Goliath, pulled the giant’s sword from its sheath, and used it to kill him and cut his head off.
So what does this mean to you today? A few things:
1. Our present is God’s past.
a) Your future is God’s past. He has already been there. He has already seen it. It has already played out before Him. So when He looks at your life today, He is looking for what He saw (Ecc 3:15).
b) God can show you your future, because from heaven’s perspective, it’s already done. When you are able to see it, believe it, declare it, and step out into it, it’s called faith.
2. Don’t be afraid to take God public.
a) Faith is something you say, something you do, or a seed you sow, based on something God revealed to you about your future.
b) When the Lord shows you your future, don’t be afraid to tell others about it. If you wait until God does it to say it, God will be glorified. But He will get even more glory if you have the audacity to say it before it happens and then watch as others are amazed when God brings it to pass.
c) When you have the audacity to take God public, before it happens, it lets God know that you are truly confident that He will do what He said. You are so confident that you are willing to look foolish if it does not happen. That’s the type of confidence God is looking for. That’s the type of confidence David had. He said he was going to cut the giant’s head off before he did it. He said this in front of his entire nation. He said this at the risk of looking foolish. This is true faith!
3. The bigger the challenge, the greater the glory.
a) There is nothing too hard for God and there are many things too hard for us. God likes to perform things in, with, and through us that are clearly too big for us, so that He can get the glory.
b) When you are faced with something that is too big for you, instead of getting intimidated, get excited about God and what He can do through your life.
Closing Confession:
Father, this is a season of expectation for me. I expect to receive ALL You reveal. What is future to me is past to You. You reveal to me what is going to happen, before it happens, and when You do, I have the faith to receive it, believe it, declare it before I walk it out. I even have the audacity to TAKE YOUR PUBLIC! I head into this day and every day ready to walk and live by faith, with my full confidence in You. I will say whatever You tell me to say. I will do whatever You lead me to do. I am fully relying on Your grace to flow through me, so You can be glorified, Your name can be magnified, and the devil can be horrified through my life and living! I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
