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.”