My Hope in Spiritual Warfare

Scripture:
O you who love the LORD, hate evil!
He preserves the lives of his saints;
he delivers them from the hand of the wicked. Psalm 97:10

Observation: The Lord reigns. Those who worship him can rejoice, knowing that God is in control. This control extends to the lives of his saints, especially when they face the wicked. God’s concern and care is not only global, but local. God cares for and can deliver his people from evil.

Application: I am in the middle of preparing this week to talk about spiritual warfare. While it is easy in this topic to get lost in debate, or to value experience over scripture, the simple truth is that God reigns. God reigns over Satan and all the demonic host. The Most High over all the earth is most high over all the enemies in the earth as well. There is victory and protection found in God and God alone. Not in formulas or objects, not in spiritual relics or human power. Our victory does not lie in our own ability to fight well. The Lord reigns. He alone is the Most High over the earth. He alone delivers us from the hand of Satan.
I need to remember this in my own spiritual battles. My victory is found in Christ alone. When it comes to the enemy, I must remember the words of Martin Luther: “One little word shall fell him.” That little word is Jesus.

Prayer: God, thank you for your complete power over all creation, both seen and unseen. Help me to truly have faith in you, and not in myself. Not in my words, my posture, my attitude, but to stand firm in my faith. I believe you when you said that everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Help me believe and preach You this week.

Swinging Goliath's Sword

Scripture: And the priest said, “The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you struck down in the Valley of Elah, behold, it is here wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod. If you will take that, take it, for there is none but that here.” And David said, “There is none like that; give it to me.” 1 Samuel 21:9

Observation: David, fleeing from Saul, leaves without gathering supplies, such as bread and weaponry. He asks a priest if he has any weapons, and the priest pulls out Goliath’s sword, which had been hidden and preserved. David takes this and goes forth, using the sword of the enemy he and God vanquished.

Application: A sword that had been used to defy God was now going to be used by David in his many battles as king. I imagine it was a huge sword, difficult to carry and wield. But nonetheless, David swung it with power.
As we are nearing the middle of our series on Sacred Sexuality, I have been discouraged by what I see happening in our world. I feel the enemy has taken the sword of sex and is using it to swing such harm and pain and deception. Everyone I know has been wounded by it. Yet in this story, I see the hope that God is the ultimate victor. And Jesus has already defeated Satan in every area, including his abuse of sex. So maybe we can pick up Goliath’s sword and use it to fight for good and healing and restoration. Maybe we can use it to rebuild what Satan has tried to destroy. We can use this sword, because God has slain its previous owner.

Prayer: God, I pray you will allow us to reclaim Goliath’s sword. That we could take the same subject of sex and use it for You. Help us to stay true to the battle and to love people to Christ, especially those wounded by sex.

Won't Somebody do Something?

Scripture: For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God? 1 Sam 17:26

Observation: David is taking bread and cheese to his big brothers on the battlefield. Once there, he hears Goliath calling for someone, anyone, to come and fight him to decide the battle. David sees the armies of God fleeing in fear. When he wonders why, the people reply, “Have you seen Goliath?” Well, David had. But instead of an unconquerable giant, he saw only an uncircumcised Philistine. Instead of a physical opponent, he sees simply a man who is defy\ing God. David sees this is primarily a spiritual battle. And in that sense, the only thing he needs to “see” is that there is Goliath on one side, and God on the other. And armed with this, David decides to do something about it.

Application: I am sure David was frustrated at the armies of God quivering in defeat. He must have felt like he had fallen through the looking glass. Were the armies of God really afraid of this guy? Sure Goliath was big, but David must have wanted to scream, “Have you seen our God?” David had a bias towards action based on his belief in an Almighty God. Size didn’t matter. Sides did. And Goliath was on the wrong side; David was on the right. To David, this was no contest.
I love when people act. Especially when that action is an act in faith. What probably keeps me from acting is I am looking at Goliath and not at God. I see the flesh and blood, but not the spiritual force of God. I see the hundred pound armor, and my puny sling, and actually think I am outmatched.

Prayer: God, the battle belongs to the Lord. Help me act in faith. Show me the true score in the battles I face. Not the armor and weapons, but your power. Fill me with the simple faith of David.