Introduction:

A. We [Christians] are soldiers in a battle:

1. I Timothy 1:18
2. I Timothy 6:12
3. II Timothy 2:3-4

B. Our warfare is Spiritual, not carnal:

1. We Spiritual Armor (Ephesians 6:10-18).
2. We do not war after the flesh: 

a. II Corinthians 10:3
b. Ephesians 6:12

3. Our weapons are not carnal: II Corinthians 10:4

 

I. Our Enemies Are:

A. Anyone who defies [challenges] God and/or His people (I Samuel 17:1-10).
B. The Devil (I Peter 5:8).

1. He wants us to be deceived and blind:

a. II Corinthians 11:3
b. II Corinthians 4:3-4

2. He wants us to serve Him not God (Matthew 4:9)

C. Those wolves among us in sheep’s clothing:

1. Jesus warned of wolves (Matthew 7:15-20).
2. Paul promised wolves among the flock (Acts 20:28-30).
3. Peter and Jude identified characteristics of these wolves (II Peter 2:1-3 and Jude 4).
4. We must try them (I John 4:1).
5. Then expose them for others to see (Romans 16:17-18).

a. No fellowship with them (II John 9-11).
b. Reprove them (Ephesians 5:11).

A. We must not fear our enemy (I Samuel 17:11).

1. Romans 8:31
2. II Timothy 1:7

B. If while on our mission we find a challenge (I Samuel 17:17-22)…

1. …We must have faith in God (Hebrews 11:6)…
2. …Realize the challenge… (I Samuel 17:23-25)…
3. …Accept the challenge with the proper attitude (I Samuel 17:26).

a. Some of our liberal brethren today would not have accepted the challenge.
b. They would have run to Goliath, hugged him, and told him that it was OK to challenge and disagree with God.
c. The liberals today would have defied John 14:15, and told Goliath all about unity in diversity!

C. We must earnestly [zealously or instantly] contend [fight] for the faith  (Jude 3).

1. We must be bold (Ephesians 6:19-20)

A. God is with His army:

1. The young David recognized God would deliver Him as God had done in times past (I Samuel 17:33-37).

a. David maintained that attitude: (I Samuel 30:6) "And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God."

2. Daniel 3:16-18
3. There will be those who fight against us.  But, we can take what God told Jeremiah to heart: (Jeremiah 1:19) 

a. Hebrews 13:5-6 

B. David whips the great Philistine (I Samuel 17:40-51).

1. David recognized that this was the Lord's battle and he was just a soldier (I Samuel 17:45;47), we too must learn that lesson!
2. Just as we can overcome our enemy in battle (James 4:7).

A. Paul said: (II Timothy 4:6-8) 
B. The reward is an eternal home in Heaven:

1. Hebrews 13:14 
2. II Corinthians 5:1 

2002 by Brian Yeager may be reproduced for non-commercial purposes at no cost to others.