Whose Sword Are You Holding? - Part 5

God had not abandoned David.

David was the one to depart from the power of the Holy Spirit who had brought victory over Goliath. And he is left with nothing but Goliath’s sword. He is also hungry, so he asks Ahimelech, “Give me five loaves of bread, or whatever can be found” (1 Samuel 21:3b). He explains that the matter of King Saul is so urgent that he was forced to leave in a hurry with no time to secure provisions or weapons for protection. So the priest gave him Goliath’s sword and the consecrated bread. And David fled to the Philistine town of Gath.

David’s choice of Goliath’s sword led him to the most embarrassing display of cowardice and humiliation in his entire life (1 Samuel 21:13-14). He literally acted as an insane madman to protect himself from the king of Gath. Oh, the depths of degradation men fall into when they trust Goliath’s sword of self-dependency rather than the Sword of the Spirit.

Now David is in great disobedience. This once heroic champion for God is not trusting, but running from his new foe, King Saul. It is not enough to receive the anointing of God’s presence for victory once. It must abide in us.

God always gives opportunity to rejoin the battle

Perhaps David relied too absolutely on what he previously received from God and neglected the daily renewal of the heavenly empowering God desires for each of us (see 1 John 3:24). But mercifully, God gave David another chance. He reminds David—do you remember where I brought you from? Do you remember how faithfully My Presence surrounded and strengthened you when the bear and the lion attacked? (1 Samuel 17:36). Do you remember how you defeated Goliath?

Is God trying to get your attention today? Have you stopped fighting and started running from something God wants you to face? Is there a victory you once enjoyed over the flesh, a place where you saw a mighty Goliath fall in your life, but now you are running in fear, having given up the good fight of faith?

God is saying to you as he said to David, “I haven’t left you, but you have left Me. You’re not in My Presence as you once were, and you’re not enjoying the victory you had in your life. Victory is found before My face as you fight to remain dependent upon Me and in My Presence.”

Are you fighting the good fight of faith? Do you look upon your adversaries as things to crush you, or do you accept their challenge and yield to God to make you a mighty, conquering champion for His glory?

Victory awaits the weakest person who trusts only in God’s provision

It is believed that Psalm 27 is associated with this period in David’s life. Listen to the lessons he learned:

“The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear?

The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?...

Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear;

Though war break out against me, even then will I be confident.”

(Psalm 27:1, 3)

These are the words of a man who learned to seek the face of God. He pleads for God’s mercy on these grounds. “When You said, ‘Seek My face’, my heart said to You, ‘Your face, O Lord, I shall seek’” (Psalm 27:8).

Friend, are you in difficulty right now? Do you need guidance on which way to turn? Have areas of the flesh once under control of the Holy Spirit emerged to defeat you? Are you battling a giant in your life? Get before God’s face, trust Him to be there for you even if you don’t feel or sense Him. He knows your heart and your battle, and He desires to make you a conqueror.

Goliath’s sword may appeal to the human mind as the premier weapon of choice, but as David discovered, humiliation awaits those who select it. What’s more, running away from your problems won’t help you either. No means of escape—no matter how swift or adroit—provide deliverance. Having learned this lesson the hard way, David declares, “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God” (Psalm 20:7).

When you have nothing to boast about except the living God within, you will wear the victor’s crown. When the giants in your life are brought to their knees and fall, you will rise up and stand firm (Psalm 20:8).

Originally published in the April 1998 issue of Reaching Higher

Whose Sword Are You Holding? - Part 4

You’re on your own when you stop flowing in God’s strength

What was the first sign that David’s faith was beginning to falter? It happened before he arrived at Nob. He made a telling remark to Jonathan when he said, “But truly as the Lord lives, there is hardly a step between me and death” (1 Samuel 20:3). His previous confidence in God is now but a memory as his new enemy, King Saul, pursues him. When he faced Goliath, he had looked beyond that formidable foe through the clear eyes of faith—and his God was bigger than his adversary. Now he only sees through the cloudy mist of circumstances, and he stands on the brink of disaster.

God hides his bread and sword if you face your giants, trusting in your own resources

The little village of Nob, situated among the hills five miles south of Gibeah, was a peaceful, secluded spot where 86 priests lived. No highways of commerce or wars invaded the tranquility of that place. Therefore no weapons could be found expect one—Goliath’s sword. Somehow the slain giant’s immense blade had found a resting place there. Also, the food supply was short, so no bread to spare could be located except the “shewbread” or the “bread of Presence”, representing God’s faithful provision for any need among his people.

Now picture this scene: When David arrives at Nob, Ahimelech asks, “Why are you alone and no one with you?” (1 Samuel 21:1) In other words, why are you traveling like an ordinary pilgrim? Kings’ messengers, especially of David’s status, traveled with a kingly entourage, but David is alone. This is just too unusual to Ahimelech. David’s hasty explanation about being on a secret mission attempts to cover his double-mindedness. Where he once knew victory when he depended upon God, he has now turned to self-sufficiency.

Friend, are you secretly running from God and trying to face your enemies in your own strength? Think about it. When you leave the battle, God hides the bread and the weapons, and you, like David, are cast upon your own feeble resources.

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Originally published in the April 1998 issue of Reaching Higher

Whose Sword Are You Holding? - Part 3

Don’t be afraid to risk for God

You, like David, may be ridiculed by those who refuse to confront the giants in their lives (1 Samuel 17:28), or by those who say you can’t (1 Samuel 17:33). But David dared to trust God instead of listening to the despairing voices around him. To be a Christian is to be a warrior against all opposition, and running from battle is not an option.

God wants you to enjoy a complete victory, in which all the adversary’s power over you is broken. However, to experience this, you must:

·      Look away from your own inabilities

·      Cast yourself wholly upon the One “who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you” (Deuteronomy 20:4)

·      Charge ahead into battle against the enemy.

When you retreat from the battle, you’re only pretending to be on a mission from God

By now Goliath is defeated. The crisis is behind. How does David handle the next difficulty? David enters the little village of Nob. He looks exactly the same as before. Ahimelech, the priest, recognizes him instantly (1 Samuel 21:1). David’s voice sounds as it always did, and nobody questions him when he explains that he is on a mission for King Saul (1 Samuel 21:2).

What they don’t know is that this man who once needed only God to fight is battles is now depending upon his own strength. He is not on the King’s errand as he says. He’s actually fleeing from him and living in fear and living a lie. David is in precarious straits, but he doesn’t know it yet.

Once we get in the flesh, we only pretend to be on the King’s mission. In our hearts, we’re not fighting against sin any longer, but outwardly we still appear to be the same as always.

A divine law that applied to David still operates today. Whenever you trust in yourself and your own sufficiency, you are doomed to failure. Your first step in that direction takes place with God—allowing something to interfere with your prayer life.

You can count on it, my friend—there is no shortcut to a life of faith. Consistent periods of secluded meditation and fellowship with God are essential. Remember, David’s great victory over Goliath followed his solitary life as a shepherd on the lonely hills of Galilee.

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Originally published in the April 1998 issue of Reaching Higher

Whose Sword Are You Holding? - Part 2

Confront your giants directly

David wasn’t afraid to respond fearlessly to Goliath’s threats. No matter that Goliath was twice David’s size, carried weapons to match his giant stature, and possessed an arrogant spirit to exceed both. Without flinching, David bravely shouted, “For who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should taunt the armies of the living God?” (1 Samuel 17:26b)

Though only a youth, David possessed a triumphant faith—and a willingness to depend on God, and God alone. The Lord of hosts was such a reality to him that he could say, “You come to me with a sword, a spear and a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have taunted. This day the Lord will deliver you up into my hands, and I will strike you down and remove your head from you…that all this assembly may know that the Lord does not deliver by sword or by spear; for the battle is the Lord’s and He will give you into our hands.” (I Samuel 17:45-47)

Think of the audacity of this mere child in the eyes of seasoned warriors. Who did he think he was? Even his oldest brother, burning with anger, demanded of him, “Why have you come down?...I know your insolence and the wickedness of your heart…” (1 Samuel 17:28b)

But the strategy of Israel at that point would appear strange to any observer. When they saw this giant, “they fled from him and were greatly afraid” (1 Samuel 17:24). Goliath emerged day by day shouting insults, and Israel promptly ran and hid.

But trouble doesn’t disappear like that. You can’t run and hide. Unless you face your problems directly and in conflict, they become worse and gain ground on you. If you conceal even a small offense such as anger, lust, greed, pride, fear or unbelief, it will not stay small. You must attack it and defeat it in the power of God. And the easiest time to do this is before the thing grows into a giant and threatens to swallow you.

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Originally published in the April 1998 issue of Reaching Higher

Whose Sword Are You Holding? - Part 1

Imagine facing Goliath, the giant. At about 9’7”, he was two feet taller than the tallest basketball player in the NBA today. Clothed with scale-armor and wearing a heavy bronze helmet, Goliath probably weighed nearly 450 pounds, more than any lineman in professional football.

In his huge hands, he carried a spear four to six inches in diameter and 12 to 15 feet in length. Its iron head alone weighed 30 pounds. It’s hard to picture a soldier throwing such a weapon accurately, but Goliath could. He so terrified the entire Israeli army that they fled in panic. And yet a young boy named David dared to oppose this incredible hulk.

David wore no armor, only a flimsy shepherd’s garment. And he carried no sword. But against all odds, David prevailed. With a single stone from his sling, he struck the Philistine on his forehead, so he fell on his face to the ground. Then David drew Goliath’s sword from his sheath and cut off the giant’s head.

Are there giants in your life?

Probably you, like I, face giants of varying sorts. Not long ago I found myself facing a Goliath I couldn’t even name. I just felt a heaviness settling over me. It didn’t feel like depression, but it was so enormous that I felt weak and hopeless. Nothing I could do made it go away. Absorbing myself in the promises of the Word, praying, plunging into the work of the ministry-all proved futile.

Feeling utterly overwhelmed while alone in a hotel room one day, I began to pray. I’d done this many times without success, but this time was different. Because I was hurting so deeply, I cried out to God in utter abandonment. Before long I caught myself humming a little tune I hadn’t sung in years:

Through it all, through it all, I’ve learned to trust in Jesus, I’ve learned to trust in God…”

Suddenly I felt something move through me. A new courage began to rise up, and I started to worship God all over that room. I sang, I cried, I laughed until finally the dark cloud was gone. The words, believe in God, do not be afraid, coursed through my mind. Then I remembered John 14:1—“Believe in God, believe also in Me.” And I knew I didn’t have to let this Goliath shout at me and wound me every day. Morning and evening he had taunted me, threatened me. But now the living God was in control.

I think I know how the Israelites felt as Goliath shouted at them, “If you don’t overcome me, I’ll force you to serve me the rest of your life.” That’s what it feels like when we face our Goliaths, doesn’t it? And there we stand confronting a mammoth hulk with a huge sword who demands, “What weapon do you have?”

“Only God,” we meekly reply. But God is enough!

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Originally published in the April 1998 issue of Reaching Higher

Behind Closed Doors: Opening the Secrets of Persistent Prayer - Part 1

Once upon a time, prayer was difficult for me. Every time I tried to pray, an inner voice would say, “You don’t really mean that, Bob. You didn’t say it the right way. God is not listening.”

I know now that these thoughts were the enemy’s arrows. Satan wanted me to back off of prayer. But for many years, even as I taught about the importance of prayer to my congregation, my life was not full of prayer.

Then something happened. My wife and I were starting a new church in Johnson City, Tennessee. Because the church wasn’t large enough to support a pastor’s salary at first, my wife agreed to take a job. “Bob, why don’t you spend the time in prayer while I’m working, “she suggested.

I took her suggestion. I prayed eight hours a day for weeks. What happened to me during that period was absolutely revolutionary. I began to see things I had never seen before – revelations of God and the presence and sweetness of the Lord. God became so real to me—like one who is an intimate companion.

But here’s what happened, I began to feel guilty seeing my wife go off to work every day. Within two months, I was feeling horrible about myself. I even forgot about the benefits coming to me from prayer.

In just a month or two, the church would be large enough to handle my salary, but at the time I didn’t know that. So I took things into my own hands and created a small business servicing fire extinguishers.

One day I was at a gas station servicing fire extinguishers when one of them blew up in my face, covering me with dry chemical.  Some began to get into my eyes, but I couldn’t wipe my face because the chemical was all over my clothes and hands.

Then I remembered the restroom across the lot and on the other side of the gas station. So I started walking in that direction. People began honking at me, yelling, “Watch out!” They didn’t know I couldn’t see. Finally somebody came up and took me by the arm and led me to the men’s restroom.

And while I was washing my face, God spoke to me. “I want to be like the man who led you across the parking lot,” He said. “I want to lead you where you can’t see and that’s what prayer will do for you if you’ll continue to seek My face.”

Without prayer, you and I are like blind men in a busy parking lot. We must make prayer the number one priority in our lives and disregard the taunting voice of the enemy.

…let the heart of those who seek the LORD be glad. Seek the LORD and His strength; seek His face continually. (1 Chronicles 16:10-11)

 Originally published in “Come Up Higher” newsletter volume 3,  #6 June 1997

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