David Livingstone, the missionary who laid down his
life to open the dark continent of Africa, said, “Difficulties? What are difficulties?
Just things to be overcome.”
Our day demands that every believer have this kind of
victorious faith. Recently, a leading religious periodical characterized American
Christianity as “lifeless, pessimistic, and defeated.” If this analysis
holds even a grain of truth, there is an urgent need for people who have
winning faith.
In 1 Samuel 17, we find the story of a young man who
arrived at a battlefield to find the army of his nation paralyzed with fear. A boisterous
representative of military might named Goliath had challenged them, and they
were afraid to accept the challenge. David, the young shepherd, clothed in the
lightest possible armour, strong in
the Lord, and armed with faith, decided to go into
battle against this giant. David’s faith in God brought victory that day. From
his experience, we learn that the believer’s dynamic power flows from faith in
God.
The winner’s faith
will withstand severe challenges. As young David came onto the
field of combat, Goliath said to him, ” … Come to me, and I will give
thy flesh unto the fowls of the air, and to the beasts of the field” (1
Samuel 17:44). What a challenge to David’s faith! Yet he marched on to victory.
Every day believers face severe challenges, but faith
will not tum or run. As C. H. Spurgeon said, “Many men owe the grandeur of
their lives to their tremendous difficulties.”
These challenges may come in the form of overwhelming
obstacles. David was told concerning Goliath, ” … thou art but a youth,
and he a man of war from his youth” (1 Samuel17:33). The critics today
say, “Why don’t you Christians give up? You will never win the
world.” The obstacles may be great, but it is ours to face them in the
strength of the Lord. Though everyone else stands like a stunned animal in fear
and dismay, we should strive to overcome the obstacles.
These challenges may come in the form of
disheartening rebukes. David’s faith was severely rebuked. David’s brother told
him, ” … 1 know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thine heart … ”
(1 Samuel 17:28). Saul said, ” … Thou art not able to go against this
Philistine … ” (1 Samuel 17: 33). Whenever anyone gets out of the battle
line, such rebukes follow. His motives, his faithfulness, and his abilities
will be questioned, but the winner’s faith will not falter.
The winner’s faith will provide unshakable
confidence. No Christian should believe that he has the strength within
himself to face all the battles of life. He should believe that nothing is
impossible for him if God furnishes the power. David was able to say, ”
… The LORD … will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine … ”
(1 Samuel 17:37).
The winner’s faith will provide unshakable confidence
in his God. In David’s little phrase, ” … The LORD that delivered me …
” (1 Samuel17:37, we find utmost confidence in God. The great, loving, redeeming
God we serve has led us to victory over the curse of sin by saving us. Now we
can believe that no need shall go unfulfilled when we trust Him to provide.
Winner’s faith will provide unshakable confidence in
his cause. The cause of telling the world about Christ and perfecting the saints
is even greater than that of taking away ” … the reproach from Israel…”
( 1 Samuel17 :26).
The winner’s faith will provide unshakable confidence
in himself. David was able to say, “Thy servant slew both the lion and the
bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them … ” (1
Samuel17:36). We need nothing to puff us up with pride, but we do need a quiet
confidence that God can use us as channels for service.
The winner’s faith will produce sure conquest. When
we live in constant doubt, we walk a treadmill; and the work we attempt to do
for God never seems to bear fruit. I Samuel 17:50 gives us a thumbnail sketch
of the battle between David and Goliath, “So David prevailed over the
Philistine … ” David had done the impossible.
This conquest brings glory to God. ” … that
all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel” (1 Samuel 17:46)
should be the motive behind every victory we seek. Dawson Trotman once said,
“In all that I do, I want men to see no one but Jesus.”
This conquest encourages God’s people. The armies of
Israel stood in fear of the Philistines until Goliath fell, and then ”
… the men of Israel and of Judah arose, and shouted, and pursued the Philistines
… ” (1 Samuel17:52).
F. B. Meyer was speaking in the spirit of the
winner’s faith when he told his congregation, “We never test the resources
of God until we attempt the impossible.” There are times when it seems
that the task is too large, our abilities too small, and the world too
unfriendly. These are the times for us to lay the situation squarely before
God. When we do this, we, like David, can slay our “Goliaths.”
