If you are covered by the blood of Christ, the question is not “Are you equipped?” but “Do you know, you’re equipped?
“Making you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” -Hebrews 13:21 [KJV]
“For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” – Philippians 2:13 [KJV]
It’s easy to get weary. It’s easy to feel inadequate, and dwell on all the endless whys and worries of this life. It’s so very easy to be disobedient to God in the most subtle ways of our inward doubt. It would be so easy to say I can’t do this; not anymore, and give up. However, if we desire victory in the everyday we have to wage war on these things.
In 1 Samuel chapter 17 Young David had resolved that he was to go up against the big and feared giant, Goliath. It was not much later that King Saul had sent for him. Upon meeting him in verse 32 David first decreed “Let no man’s heart fail because of him, your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.” David didn’t come asking Saul for advice or for his finest weaponry but he said your servant will go out and fight with this Philistine.
Now, we’re all human beings here I suppose; flesh and blood right? So if you’re breathing, I’m sure you know well that just because you don’t ask for someones advice… won’t stop them from giving it to you.
good ole’ unsolicited advice; an all too regrettably familiar friend we run into every now and then; praying to the big man upstairs that for the love of all that is good, an incoming call would politely excuse us from.
So here in chapter 17, verse 33 Saul makes his response to David:
“You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.”
If you look back in chapter 17 you’ll find that David was the youngest of eight brothers. David had already been ridiculed by his oldest brother and others concerning his resolve to fight Goliath. [1 Samuel 17:26-30] And here we are before the king; the king! and David is discouraged again in his pursuit to go up against this giant. Saul doesn’t even offer up some “helpful” advice saying, “It’s probably not a good idea” or “I wouldn’t suggest it, you may get hurt” but he said,
you are not able.
What seemingly disarming words these would be, (especially being told this several times)and coming from the king! ouch.
But wait, here’s the key. Those seemingly disarming words didn’t disarm David at all. The Bible begins in verse 34 saying “But David said to Saul”
“But” is a conjunction; it is to say on the contrary, being opposite in nature or position. David had just been ridiculed time and time again against his resolve to fight this giant, actually if we look into scripture there’s no offering of support to be found anywhere up to this moment. But David said to Saul; David was aware of his unpopular stance yet he stood on anyway. David unwavering, then proceeds to tell the king why He is qualified and very much so, able. He boldly concluded his argument in verse 37 saying:
“The Lord, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.”
The word tells us that then Saul said to David, “Go, and the Lord be with you!”
What?
Yep.
The king shifted his entire stance on the argument four verses later!
So we know how the rest of it goes; if you don’t, take some time to read the rest of chapter 17.But we know David goes on to face Goliath with only five smooth stones, taking only one to kill the giant. His head was delivered into the hand of David; the young inadequate Shepard boy.
We’ve discussed all this to get to this point. What if David had listened to all the discouraging words people offered him, what if when confronted by the king he backed up and said “You know what, you’re right, I am young and unequipped.” But David was not wavered by any of this, why? Because David valued God’s opinion of him more than of any other and He valued God’s call and instruction above any advice, even to deny the king. Most of all David was able to stand unwavering in the face of discouragement because he rest assured in who his God is and because of that God, all that equipped him to be.
“David was able to stand unwavering in the face of discouragement because he rest assured in who his God is and because of that God, all that equipped him to be.”
To stand effectively and firmly for the promises God has given us it doesn’t take a crowd of supporters, being the biggest and baddest of them all, or even big guns and ammo, but it takes Christ centered resolve and resting in His word. People will give you all kinds of advice, some good, some bad; some wanted, some very much unwanted. However it’s up to you what you do with it. Will you be set off course by sister Rosemary’s subtle offhanded comment after sunday school? or the whispers and stares of passers by?People change their minds all the time. If you go by what man says, you’ll be anything but stable. But steady yourself upon the word of God and you will not go wrong.
As stated by Peter and the other apostles “We ought to obey God rather than men.” Acts 5:29 [KJV]
So do not be swayed by the fickle proclamations of man. Do, be grounded in Jesus’ unchanging truth and promises. You may feel inadequate and you may be on your own on this one but rest assured the battle is the Lord’s and He that delivered David from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, and from the hand of the philistine will deliver you!
“Do not be swayed by the fickle proclamations of man. Do, be grounded in Jesus’ unchanging truth and promises.”
So c’mon little David; God says you’re able, equipped, and qualified. Now pick up your stones.