Marching Orders #328... "Got a GOLIATH in Your Life?"

LET THE

SONSHINE

..."Your eyes light up your inward being.

A pure eye lets sunshine into your soul."

Luke 11:34a

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Got a GOLIATH in your life?

Do you think that all the "Goliaths"... the giant battles we face in our lives, could be sent by God? The more I live for God, and the more I study His Word, the more I am convinced that if He does not send the "giant" tests and obstacles that I face, He is aware that they are there, and I am convinced that satan cannot send or do anything to me that God does not permit. Because Jesus has already defeated the devil, and is ready and willing to defend us against his attacks.

The name Goliath has an interesting meaning...it means to reveal, uncover, make plain to see. And Goliath came from Gath, which was a city where wine presses pressed the juice from grapes ...so we could imply that to meet up with "Goliath from Gath" is to meet up with a situation that is going to cause what we are made up of to be revealed, uncovered and made plain through pressures. This is exactly what happened to the children of God when they faced the, literally over nine feet tall, Philistine champion, Goliath. They were facing a giant of a battle, and in such battles, we see character exposed.

In I Samuel 17 this interesting story unfolds. Goliath shouted out a threat to the army of Israel challenging them. The outcome of a battle between himself and just one representative of the Israelis army was that the losers would become the slaves to the winner of the battle. That challenge did not end with that battle because each one of us must face it individually just like David did...in that it is made plain for us and all to see where our trust lies... to uncover if our power comes from God, and thusly, for our character to be revealed. When we face such a battle, we will either be victorious, or we will become slaves to what we face.

Let's compare the character of David, Eliab (David's oldest brother), and Saul, the then King of Israel.

At the time of this battle, David had already been anointed by God, through the prophet Samuel, to replace Saul. God had told Saul in another battle to destroy all of the Amalekites and all of their possessions, and animals...ALL of the sheep and lambs. But what did Saul do? He kept the best of the plunder for himself. We see GREED and DISOBEDIENCE in Saul. After God had won this battle for Saul, what do we find Saul doing? I Sam. 15:12...he was erecting a monument to himself. A bit of a PRIDE problem here, wouldn't you say? And, after David took on the giant Goliath and won, we see more of Saul's character exposed. It says that he was JEALOUS, FEARFUL, and that he held HATRED towards David, and planned to MURDER him.

Let's go back and take a look at the character of Eliab, David's oldest brother...the most likely choice to replace the faltering Saul. When Samuel went to the house of Jesse to anoint the new king of Israel he looked at the eldest, Eliab (I Sam. 16:6) and said, "Surely this is the man the Lord has chosen." Outwardly Eliab must have looked real good...but God does not look on the outward appearance, He looks on the heart, the thoughts and intentions. We have had what was on the inside of Eliab revealed, uncovered, and made plain to see at the battlefield where Goliath made his challenge.

In I Sam. 17:28 it says that Eliab was ANGRY when David arrived at the scene. He DEGRADED, DEMEANED, CRITICIZED AND JUDGED David for even showing up, when his dad had sent David with food. He showed JEALOUSY and RIVALRY when he called him a "cocky brat." Is it any wonder that God did not choose the first born of Jesse to replace Saul? Saul and Eliab had like spirits and character.

Now, let's take a look at David, called a man after God's own heart, by God Himself. In I Sam. 16:18 he was described as having good solid judgment which meant he had WISDOM. When he faced Goliath, he could not be talked out of fighting for what was right by Saul...he was PERSISTENT and FEARLESS. And in verses 17:17 we see Who he credits his past victories against the lion and bear to. He GLORIED IN GOD. When they tried to place Saul's massive armour on David, he said, "The Lord does not depend on weapons to fulfill His plans. He works without regard to human means! He will give you (speaking of Goliath or the enemy) to us." David had COMPLETE AND TOTAL FAITH IN GOD. (I Sam. 17:47) And, after the battle was won, and Saul offered David the right to become his son-in-law (part of what the victor of the battle was promised), David showed his HUMILITY by saying, "Who am I that I should be the kings son-in-law? My father's family is nothing." This shows that David took no credit whatsoever in winning the battle against the enemy.

When we face a "giant" of a battle in our own lives...it will reveal, uncover, and make plain to us, and to all, just what we are made up of. When the pressure comes, like the winepress on the grapes, will the goodness and grace of God, as found in David, be revealed? When we face giant pressures in our lives, what can we do when we see the characteristics of Saul and Eliab in ourselves? When some of these characteristics are found in us...

GREED

DISOBEDIENCE

JEALOUSY

FEARFULNESS

ANGER/HATRED

A MURDEROUS SPIRIT

DEGRADING/DEMEANING

CRITICAL

JUDGMENTAL

RIVALRY

We can only do what David did when he so miserably failed God... REPENT, ask God for forgiveness, surrender ourselves completely to God, seek His strength and guidance, and look completely and totally to Him and trust Him for forgiveness and victory in turning from these things. Which is it going to be in your life? Reliance on SELF, or a man or woman after God's own heart? One who trusts in, clings to, depends upon and lives his/her life for Him?

Lord, I choose to live for You. I denounce the works of my flesh, my self reliance and all the characteristics that are associated with that kind of character and life style. Father, forgive me in the areas that I have failed You so miserably. Strengthen me, uphold me with Your right hand. Build in me the characteristics we saw in David's spirit...

WISDOM

PERSISTENCE

FEARLESSNESS

SELFLESSNESS

ALWAYS GLORFYING AND PRAISING GOD

FULL OF FAITH AND TRUST

HUMILITY

Help me to always remember that the battle is not mine to fight...it is Yours, that all I need do is submit it to You, and as I trust in You with all of my heart You will make me fearless against the enemy, You will give me wisdom as you gave David, You will be my power to overcome and be victorious. I thank You and praise You for Your great loving kindness towards me, Lord, Your constant care, Your provision, Your steadfastness, and Your faithfulness in all of my past and future battles, in Jesus' precious name I pray. Amen

In Him, and He in me,

Marlene \o/

MARCHING ORDERS #328

Marching orders are compiled from paraphrased verses out of the Living Bible. No commentary is added...they are the pure Word of God.

"As Christ's soldier do not let yourself become tied up in worldly affairs, for then you cannot satisfy the one who enlisted you in his army." II Timothy 2:4 L/B

Lead on with courage and strength!

The Lord is my light and my salvation; he protects me from danger; whom shall I fear?

He gives power to the tired and worn out, and strength to the weak. Even the youths shall be exhausted, and the young men will all give up. But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

My heart fails; my spirits droop, yet God remains! He is the strength of my heart; he is mine forever!

If God is on our side, who can ever be against us?

He is for me! How can I be afraid? What can mere man do to me?

It is only by your power and through your name that we tread down our enemies.

Overwhelming victory is ours through Christ who loved us enough to die for us.

So get to work, and may the Lord be with you!

(Living Bible:)

Joshua 1:18.

Ps. 27:1. - Is. 40:29-31. - Ps. 73:26.

Rom. 8:31. - Ps. 118:6.

Ps. 44:5. - Rom. 8:37.

I Chronicles 22:16.

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