21ST CENTURY GOLIATH YOUTH MUST CONQUER
1 Samuel 17:4-10, “4And there went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span. 5And 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. 6And he had greaves of brass upon his legs, and a target of brass between his shoulders. 7And 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. 8And he stood and cried unto the armies of Israel, and said unto them, Why are ye come out to set your battle in array? am not I a Philistine, and ye servants to Saul? choose you a man for you, and let him come down to me. 9If he be able to fight with me, and to kill me, then will we be your servants: but if I prevail against him, and kill him, then shall ye be our servants, and serve us. 10And the Philistine said, I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together.”
1 Samuel 17:45-49, “45Then 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, whom thou hast defied. 46This 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. 47And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD’S, and he will give you into our hands. 48And 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. 49And 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.”
Anchor verse: 1 Samuel 17:47
The above text narrates the very popular David and Goliath story, a picture of Jesus Christ defeating the devil and death. Goliath was the enemy of God’s people, who sort to plant fear in people’s heart and shame not just the people of Israel but the God of Israel too.
In the 21st century, there are many things young adults and youths face which are seeking to plant fear and shame in them, things that will not glorify God in their lives. Things like our careers progress, financial desires, relational desires, identity and convenience generally good things which want to become their goliaths.
We defeat the fear by putting God first, remembering that we are called to seek God’s kingdom first in life. That’s what David did, he had God’s kingdom first in his thinking. Matthew 6:33, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”
Sins are also goliath than must be slain, sins like pornography, abortion, sexual interaction outside of marriage and many sins that seem convenient to the body. Hebrews 12:1, “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,” 1 Corinthians 6:20, “For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”
The call of the world and flesh can also be very loud like goliath demanding we give way to vices that temporarily satisfy but steal our last joy. But like David, we are to defeat the enemy by using the rocks of God’s truth and throwing them at the lies of the enemies. We must not leave the enemy to grow bolder and louder but defeat them as soon as possible and as many times as necessary.
VICTORY TIP:
Meditating on God’s promises in our hearts frequently is the way our hearts are renewed and remember it is a continuous fight against the goliath of sin while here on earth.
Prayer:
- Lord, keep my eyes focused on You so I do not get deceived by the enemies of my glory in the name of Jesus Christ.
- I will not stand for Your name being dragged in the mud in the name of Jesus Christ.
- Oh Lord, help me to keep Your truth close to my heart, and fight against the enemies of my growth in Jesus’ name.
