Comfort Zone (Part 3)
1 Samuel 17:23-24, 26
And as he (David) talked with them, behold, there came up the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, out of the armies of the Philistines, and spake according to the same words: and David heard them. And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him, and were sore afraid. And David spake to the men that stood by him, saying, What shall be done to the man that kills this Philistine, and takes away the reproach from Israel? for who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?
Inertia!
Sometimes it appears easier to assume the status quo. Often we tend to allow lingering situations or conditions remain the way they are without confrontation. How often do we have a family afflicted with a condition which has lingered through the generations? Some even say 'oh but it runs in my family' and they just live with it. It could be a medical condition. It could also be some kind of misfortune that keeps happening but no one does anything about it.
In our passage today, the young boy DAVID had been sent by his father to go check the welfare of his brothers who were at the battle front and bring back report for his father. But while David was speaking to his brethren, then comes Goliath with his so called manifesto in which he wants Israel to send one man to fight him. The loser becomes servant to the winner. 1 Samuel 17:16 tells us that Goliath did this for forty days. 'And the Philistine drew near morning and evening, and presented himself forty days'. Astonishing! Twice daily for forty days Goliath defied and taunted the armies of Israel. For forty days he reproached against Israel and no one said any anything nor did any one confront him. The whole army of Israel heard Goliath defy them for forty day and no one said anything to him. 1 Samuel 17:24 tells us 'And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him, and were sore afraid'. But the young boy David heard Goliath speak just once and something triggered on the inside of him. Notice from the passage we are considering today, in 1 Samuel 17:26, David said '...for who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?'. David immediately identified an abnormality and was going to challenge the status quo. In David's own words, he said 'What shall be done to the man that kills this Philistine, and takes away the reproach from Israel?' David was simply saying 'I am going to do something about this'. 'I going to put an end to this reproach'. 'This reproach must not continue'. 'This reproach must end today'. Also notice that David identified the abnormality in the light of who they were and their relationship with God....'the armies of the living God'. The armies of the living God are not meant to suffer reproach or be defied. It is time to confront that recurring situation! It is time to confront that medical condition. It is time to say no to that generational torment.
Do you know that you are a child of God? Do you know that you are born of God? Do you know that you are joint heir with Jesus? Do you know that you are an overcomer? The bibles says in 1 John 5:4 'For whatsoever is born of God overcomes the world: and this is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith'. So rise up, speak to that situation and stand your ground as David did because he knew who he was....'army of the living God'.1 Corinthians 6:19-20 says 'What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's'. Do you know that your body including your brain, your lungs, your kidneys, your heart, your bones, your skin belong to God. No disease has any right to be in or on your body, the doctors report notwithstanding? Therefore, arise and command that condition to leave your body because your body belongs to God.
There is always a time to say 'enough is enough'. This is that time and season. It is time to challenge the status quo. It is time to deal with that 'Goliath' in your life. The Lord is with you and will never leave you, a child of God; as He was with David and brought down Goliath, taking all reproach away with it.
Have a wonderful and victorious week and God bless you.
