NO WEAPON... October 05 2014
NO WEAPON: We all know the story of David and Goliath. Young kids hits giant with a sling shot and rock. Great. But have you stopped to consider what this has to do with you and your bills, your enemies, your hostile bosses and loud neighbors?
David, as young and naive as he was, was also pure in heart. He relied on God to help him kill the lion and the bear. He said things like, "I come againstyou in the name of the Lord Almighty. This day you will be delivered into my hands." He spoke boldly what he wanted God to do. He didn't stand by timidly saying, "Well Lord, I pray we win."
The NIV Study Bible even points out that the battle is the Lord's, I Samuel 17:47. The Israelites and Philistines put their trust in human, man-made devices, but David counted on God. In essence, David was standing boldly and saying, "No weapon formed against me shall prosper and I will refute every tongue that accuses me." Praise the Lord that we have a God who defends us in battle, but what about when you're battling bills and fighting foes on the home front or at the job?
With God on your side, you're the big guy, i.e., the powerful one, not the devil, who is tiny and small. Oh yes, He tries to get it twisted and make you think that you're weak, but with God's strength you can do all things!
Always stand on God. You have to speak the word out confidently like you're swinging a proverbial sword through the air, because in essence, you are:
-Use this to defeat sickness, cancer, loss and the enemies on your job. You will be triumphant: "Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world."
-Try this one when you're writing those bills out: "The Lord won't let my foot slip." "Who the Son sets free is free indeed."
-Remember these if you get a bad report or are afraid of a fine, an eviction notice, a penalty, a court date or if you feel threatened. "The name of the Lord is a strong tower. The righteous go in and they are safe." "You are God alone and there is none higher." "I won't fear the arrow by night nor the terror by day."
Keep on counting on God. Keep on consulting Him. It's only the devil that wants you to doubt God. When David showed up with the cheese and the meat he knew Saul, his brothers, and the Israelites were afraid because Goliath was yelling at them and tormenting them. He had been doing this for 40-days! Of course when you let the devil torment you like that, you will feel defeated, but David wanted to put a stop to it right away, i.e., don't give place to the devil, "Who is this uncircumsized Philistine?" Recognize the enemy and put a stop to him.
What happens in life is we are tested. When God is testing you, He wants you to quote the scriptures back. He wants you to not defend yourself in battle your way through the flesh, (this is why Saul and the Israelites were afraid of Goliath because God sent something so big in the flesh they knew their physical weapons were no match), but stand on the scriptures God's way and let Him handle the consequences. Praise the Lord in all you do. Count it all joy when you fall into diverse temptations. The more you learn to overcome fear with faith and move forward using the Word and leaning on God, the more confident you will be in God to move mountains and giants out of the way. I Samuel says David ran to meet Goliath.
Another strong point about not fighting the flesh and the devil with your own flesh, it has to be God backing you up in Jesus name. There are passages in the New Testament about how demons recognized Jesus right away, but if someone tried to exorcise them without Jesus or calling on Jesus, it wouldn't work. One demon even spoke and said, "Jesus I know and Paul I know, but who are you?" (Acts 19:15)
God is with you and will deliver you, so whether it's a pile of bills and debt or a nasty neighbor, plead the blood of Jesus and stand on the Word. "No harm shall come near my dwelling place." "God supplies all my needs." When you use the sword of the Lord, you are mighty for the pulling down of strongholds and God is on your side, strong and mighty in battle. Sometimes we fail our fights, so to speak, or perish for lack of knowledge. If you don't study the scriptures you won't know what to call on. Study to show yourself approved. You are more than a conqueror and you are stronger than you know, but feed your faith, not your fears, with the Word/Sword of the Lord.
Reference: NIV Study Bible Zondervan, 2002, pg 403, verse 17:47.
