no15

Spiritual warfare

Lesson #15
An example of demonic intimidation.

Read 1st Samuel Chapter 17,
The entire Chapter
Story of David and Goliath

Perhaps the best example of the wiles, devices, and deceptions of the devil can be found in the story of David and Goliath.
By studying the true life story of David and Goliath,
You will see all three of these negative forces at work,
And you will see how the devil used these allegations to intimidate the armies of Israel were functionally paralyzed for forty days.
Until David came along with the power of God to
challenge these lying allegations!
In 1st Samuel Chapter 17 the devil used Goliath to intimidate and confuse the armies of Israel for forty days.
He scared them so bad, not one of those soldiers were
willing to stand up to this aggressor.
The Word says in 1st Samuel 17:3-4,
3. And the Philistines stood on a mountain on the one side, and Israel stood on a mountain on the other side:
and there was a valley between them.
4. And there went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span.

No wonder the armies of Israel scared of Goliath,
The appearance of this giant alone would be overwhelming.
He stood 9"feet 9 inches tall.
1st Samuel 17:5-7 says,
5. And he had an helmet of brass upon his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail; and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of brass. 6. And he had greaves of brass upon his legs, and a target of brass between his shoulders.
7. And the staff of his spear was like a weaver's beam; and his spear's head weighed six hundred shekels of iron:
and one bearing a shield went before him.

One Scholar has speculated that the weight of Goliath
was somewhere around 700 pounds.

Yet it wasn't his armor that caused the Israelites to fear.
It was his constant threats and mental bombardment
that Goliath hit them with every day.
This harassment crippled them with fear until they lost sight of the awesome ability of their God.
These threats from Goliath was so emotionally overpowering, that verse 11 says.
11. When Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine, they were dismayed, and greatly afraid.

Goliath mentally and emotionally immobilized the armies of Israel
without ever even using an sword or a spear.
With words alone he disarmed them.

This outrages conduct is still the mental tool which the devil still uses to assault the mind of the believer today.
Satan comes to pave a road of fear into your mind so that
you will eventually not have the courage you need to step out in faith to obey God in your life.
If you listen to him long enough,
you will be just like the children of Israel was.
Do not listen to his lies.
I cannot stress this point enough.

When David stepped on the scene, he was so annoyed by this Philistines verbal arrogance that David spoke to the men near by in verse 26.

And David spake to the men that stood by him, saying, What shall be done to the man that killeth this Philistine, and taketh away the reproach from Israel? for who is this uncircumcised Philistine,
that he should defy the armies of the living God?

Quite often when young men and women of God
Step out to challenge the foe, they are accused of being to bold.
The is a vast difference between being bold and having
The Holy Ghost boldness.
David surrendered to the Power of the Holy Spirit.
This Holy Spirit confidence rose up within him,
And he could not hold this divine anger back.
David was ready and willing to be used by God.
He knew in whom he could trust.
What about you?
Are you going to keep listening to the lies of satan?,
Or are you going to listen to the Word of our Almighty God?
The choice is up to you.

Lets look at verse 45 and 46

45. Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel,
46. whom thou hast defied.
This day will the Lord deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that
there is a God in Israel.

This must have shocked Goliath,
most people would run away from conflict,
But Not David.
Look at verse 48
47. And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came, and drew nigh to meet David, that David hasted, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine.
David ran toward the enemy.
It's time for us as Christian to start attacking the enemy first.
We have the same Holy Ghost power working within us as David did.

Lets look at verse 49-51,
And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth.
50. So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him; but there was no sword in the hand of David.
51.Therefore David ran, and stood upon the Philistine, and took his sword, and drew it out of the sheath thereof, and slew him, and cut off his head therewith. And when the Philistines saw their champion was dead, they fled.

Are you tired of the Philistines in your life?
Well take your stones (The Word of God) and
sink one in the enemy's head.
Let him know that you come to him In the Name Of The Lord.
He cannot defeat you.
He cannot stand up against the Word of God.
So come on saints of God.
Let's get ready to go to battle!!!!