THE BATTLE IS ON!

1 SAMUEL 17:22-29

Pastor Rick Jackson

I. GET IN THE BATTLE [1 Sam. 17]

Too many Christians want to sit on the sidelines when actually they are in the battle but without the battle mentality.

1. Get your Heart in the Battle by Realizing the Battle is the LORD's! [v. 23, 26, 29-37. Eph. 6:10-12]

2. Get your Head in the Battle by Refusing Unproven Battle Gear [v. 38-39, 2 Corinthians 10:4]

(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

3. Get your Hands in the Battle by Reusing Proven Battle Gear [v. 40-50, Eph. 5:10, 6:10ff]

II. PREPARE FOR THE BATTLE [1 Sam. 17:51, 18:1-5, 13, 27a, 21:8-9]

1. Study [2 Timothy 2:15]

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

2. Stay Active [Acts 24:14-16]

But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets: And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust. And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men.

3. Share (Encourage others) [v. 52-53, 1 Tm. 4:6-16]

III. STAY IN THE BATTLE [2 Sam. 11:1]

1. Don't Remain (at status quo) [1 Cor. 3:1-2, 13:11]

And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.

When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

2. Don't Revert [Gal. 1:6, 3:1-4, 4:9]

I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:

O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain.

But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?

3. Don't Retreat [Psalm 78:9]

The children of Ephraim, being armed, and carrying bows, turned back in the day of battle.

-Stand [Acts 7:39 To whom our fathers would not obey, but thrust him from them, and in their hearts turned back again into Egypt,

1 Corinthians 2:5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

1 Corinthians 15:1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;

1 Corinthians 16:13 Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.

Galatians 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

Ephesians 6:11, 13 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil... Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.