What voice are you focused on? – 5 Smooth Stones, part 1
Feel defeated, afraid, or unable to move? This message reminds us that we’re never alone and offers advice for what to focus on and how to confront Satan.
What voice are you focused on today? The enemy’s voice or Jesus’ voice? One voice breeds fear, doubt, and an array of questions. The other brings hope, faith, victory, and eternal life. With faith in Christ, you are never alone. Like David, focus on the Lord and listen for his voice. Jesus can bring victory in both as you walk in faith and not doubt.
We must never allow doubt or discouragement to take up residence in our minds or hearts. Our faith is in God; in his strength and his ability. We must always remember the battle is the Lord’s. Draw your strength, faith, and hope from the word of God and listen for the voice of the Holy Spirit to speak to your heart each day as you focus on Christ the Lord.
With faith in Christ, you are never alone.
In 1 Samuel 17 we find the well-known bible story of David and Goliath. Here we find a giant of an enemy taunting the Israelite army. The entire army was afraid. They could not move for fear of the enemy that stood before them. It took a small boy without any military experience to teach king Saul and his army some important lessons.
David taught Saul three truths:
The bigger they are the harder they fall.
God is bigger than any giant you might be facing.
Don’t believe the lies of the enemy.
God is stronger, wiser, and greater than the enemy of your soul. The Lord is all-powerful, all knowing and ever present.
The enemy of your soul is going down. Like Goliath, the enemy of your soul talks big but he is already defeated at the cross.
David took five smooth stones into battle, but David only needed one and he defeated the giant because he reverenced God in his heart more than he feared the enemy. David relied on God Almighty in order to defeat the enemy.
‘Now the Philistines gathered their forces for war and assembled at Sokoh in Judah. They pitched camp at Ephes Dammim, between Sokoh and Azekah. 2 Saul and the Israelites assembled and camped in the Valley of Elah and drew up their battle line to meet the Philistines. 3 The Philistines occupied one hill and the Israelites another, with the valley between them.
4 A champion named Goliath, who was from Gath, came out of the Philistine camp. His height was six cubits and a span. 5 He had a bronze helmet on his head and wore a coat of scale armor of bronze weighing five thousand shekels; 6 on his legs he wore bronze greaves, and a bronze javelin was slung on his back. 7 His spear shaft was like a weaver’s rod, and its iron point weighed six hundred shekels. His shield bearer went ahead of him.
8 Goliath stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, “Why do you come out and line up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not the servants of Saul? Choose a man and have him come down to me. 9 If he is able to fight and kill me, we will become your subjects; but if I overcome him and kill him, you will become our subjects and serve us.” 10 Then the Philistine said, “This day I defy the armies of Israel! Give me a man and let us fight each other.” 11 On hearing the Philistine’s words, Saul and all the Israelites were dismayed and terrified’ (1 Samuel 17:1-11 , NIV).
Peter gives us some powerful insight for when we confront the enemy of our souls. The question is not if you confront an enemy, but when.
To confront Satan, Peter tells you to:
Humble yourselves.
Cast all your anxiety on God.
Be self-controlled and alert.
Resist Satan, standing firm in the faith. Trust the Lord with all your heart.
The enemy of your soul will try to get into your head in order to get you to doubt what you are doing and what you believe is true. Like David, focus on the Lord and listen for his voice.
Goliath was able to get the Israelite army to see themselves as servants of Saul rather than servants of God Almighty. Goliath got the Israelites believing they were already defeated before the battle even started. The Israelites lined up to do battle but only saw defeat. They listened to the enemy’s voice rather than trusting in God Almighty and the promises of God.
You are not able to stand against the enemy of your soul in your own strength or ability. The battle against Goliath was both a physical and spiritual battle. Every battle you face in life has both a physical and spiritual aspect to it. Jesus can bring victory in both as you walk in faith and not doubt.
We must never allow doubt or discouragement to take up residence in our minds or hearts. Our faith is in God; in his strength and his ability. We must always remember the battle is the Lord’s. Do not let the enemy condemn you or get you to focus on yourself or on your abilities. Focus on Christ the Lord who has already defeated the enemy at the cross. Do not allow the enemy to strike fear in your heart. Fear is one of the enemy’s most successful tactics. He uses deceit and lies to instill fear in your heart.
Fear breeds questions and doubt.
Doubt will cause you to question God and it will keep you from moving forward in the power and strength of the Lord.
Fear and doubt will handicap you spiritually and stop you in your tracks. They will keep your heart in spiritual check. Do not allow that. Look to Christ the Lord.
What voice are you focused upon today? The enemy’s voice or Jesus’ voice? Remember, one voice breeds fear, doubt, and an array of questions. The other brings hope, faith, victory, and eternal life.
Today you may feel defeated, terrified, afraid, and unable to move. You will not be able to defeat the enemy alone. Remember, with faith in Christ you are never alone. The Lord is with you.
Live in such a way that your life glorifies God. Live with faith and victory in Christ. You have the victory in Christ, no matter what the enemy shouts. Stop listening to the enemy’s voice. Be known as a person of Faith. Be known as a Christian and glorify God in all you do. Listen to the Holy Spirit as he brings alive the truth of God’s word in your heart and mind.
“Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, 2 but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. 3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers” (Psalm 1:1-3).
Do not believe the voice of the enemy. Do not live in spiritual defeat. Draw your strength, faith, and hope from the word of God and listen for the voice of the Holy Spirit to speak to your heart each day as you focus on Christ the Lord.
Suggested Praise and Worship
YOUR SUPPORT IS APPRECIATED
If this message has been helpful to you, we’d be grateful for your support. A small gift of $5 can help us reach our goal of helping people grow in faith, heal, laugh, and thrive—both locally and globally. It’s because of people like you that this ministry can offer hope, help, encouragement, and a closer walk in faith with God.
This and other sermons brought to you by Faith Chapel, an Assemblies of God church in Pleasanton, CA.
1 Samuel 15:10-23: Do you wish you had more faith? This message illustrates mistakes to avoid, steps to increase faith, and how to achieve a deeper relationship with God.