Every generation of men confront their own giants and fight their own battles. Like the Israelites in the days of David, we are faced with our own giants and fight against our own odds. There are odds and challenges that threaten our very existence, liberty, and prosperity; which we must challenge and pull down.
Text
[1 Samuel 17:26 KJV] “And David spake to the men that stood by him, saying, What shall be done to the man that killeth this Philistine, and taketh away the reproach from Israel? for who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?”
Reference
[1 Samuel 17:19-26 KJV] “Now Saul, and they, and all the men of Israel, were in the valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines.
[20] And David rose up early in the morning, and left the sheep with a keeper, and took, and went, as Jesse had commanded him; and he came to the trench, as the host was going forth to the fight, and shouted for the battle.
[21] For Israel and the Philistines had put the battle in array, army against army. [22] And David left his carriage in the hand of the keeper of the carriage, and ran into the army, and came and saluted his brethren”.
[23] “And as he 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.
[24] And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him, and were sore afraid”.
[25] “And the men of Israel said, Have ye seen this man that is come up? surely to defy Israel is he come up: and it shall be, that the man who killeth him, the king will enrich him with great riches, and will give him his daughter, and make his father’s house free in Israel.
[26] And David spake to the men that stood by him, saying, What shall be done to the man that killeth this Philistine, and taketh away the reproach from Israel? for who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?”
Discussion
Every generation of men, family, tribe, clan, people, or peers, are confronting and fighting their own giants and beasts. This is the time for one of us — any one of us — to arise and stand up to the beast and giants that defile, insult, threaten, or mock our being, faith, hopes, or aspirations. We can arise and defend the name and banner under which we gather.
David, in his day, single-handedly rose up and fought the order, the system, and the champions that tried to mocked their faith, their God, and their assurance. We don’t have to sit down for politicians and some few arrogant folks to insult our intelligence. Sometimes, the church is too quiet. We sit and watch as one drunken politician insult and abuse ones of our own and we are happy because our names were not directly mentioned. Indeed, if one is mocked, then all have been mocked. We cannot joke about it.
David became the game changer when he appeared on the scene. Be the game changer, appear and speak in the name of the Lord.
Is it really true that anyone of us can become the game changer? Yes, anyone! In the context of anyone having the potential to become, but not anyone, in the context that not everyone is prepared to pay the price it takes to change the status quo and to slaughter champions.
What is the secret to becoming the game changer? What is the secret to becoming a beacon of hope for the discouraged and despaired masses? Who is this person who can stand up and speak and act to restore hope to the many disillusioned masses? Can there arise another David? Can there arise another man, who will stand up to evil and challenge the basis of the mockery? The answer is a big yes!
1. Be prepared in the wilderness where no one is watching:
You should have been prepared in the wilderness when nobody was watching. If you are not disciplined enough to do what is right when nobody is watching, then you are not ready to be a champion in the public square.
2. Be anointed by your Samuel:
I am not talking about a private anointing. You should have had a touch by an anointing that has public expression. Some “anointing” is irrelevant for the gate.
3. Be humble enough to keep doing menial jobs and running errands for the fathers and kings;
This includes even kings whom the Lord has rejected. David was submitted to his father, and went back to the sheep even after he was anointed. There are times when the anointing seems not to be making any significant difference in status but don’t spite it. David went back to the sheep in the wilderness after the anointing.
4. Be the game changer, ask the right questions:
David came to the camp and when the giant began to speak, he heard him like everyone else; he saw him like everyone else but he had a better perspective of the issues. While others saw a giant, he saw an uncircumcised Philistine; while King Saul saw an experienced warrior, David saw a beast. Game changers always have a more sound perspective to issues.
5. Game changers prepare their weapons of war, and step out in the name of the Lord
Hallelujah! Game changers prepare their weapons of war and step into action, but they step out in the name of the Lord. They find safety in that name and they do battle in that name. Game changes don’t trust in human armour and flesh. Game changers step out in the name of the Lord.
We cannot leave life to chance, we cannot allow things to go on as usual. We must prepare for war, as though it all depends on preparation. We must not run because everyone is running; we must not retreat because everyone is retreating. We must be ready to train in the wilderness, pursue the anointing and the heart of God, be willing to serve until God commissions us, ask the right questions, and prepare the weapons of war, but step out in the name of the Lord.
Stay blessed; I love you!
Noah Simpe Bediako
