Talking Like A Champion
Someone asked me an insightful question recently. Can we create our own reality?
They had been listening to a teaching that was advocating that notion and wanted me, their pastor, to listen to five minutes of this teaching and let them know what I thought. My assumption was that, this teaching seemed akin to new age philosophy, positive thinking, and humanism. However, instead of simply bashing the teaching I wanted to give a biblical, better alternative to the answers my friends were looking for. You see they were facing some financial setbacks and they were hoping to improve their situation. And let me tell you, there’s nothing wrong with that. The only question is — “What’s the right way to go about getting the results we need and that God wants to provide.”
With that story as the backdrop, the biblical account of David and Goliath kept coming to mind. I had a general memory that young courageous David had some very powerful words for his enemy, Goliath. Sure enough as I turned to 1 Samuel 17, in my Bible, I started underlining and circling with excitement.
David did affect his own reality by what he said and did. But what’s fascinating is that his priorities were so different than most. He was told, “Whoever defeats Goliath and helps us win the battle against the Philistines will receive three rewards from Saul, the king of Israel 1) great wealth 2) marriage to the kings daughter and 3) exemption from paying taxes.” This promise of reward for victory would have been enough for the average warrior, but this wasn’t David’s top priority.
David’s top priorities were 1) defending God’s reputation and 2) defending God’s people, Israel. David knew it was the Lord that would give him the victory over Goliath and he was laser focused to do his part and let Almighty God do his greater part. David’s part was one of preparation, planning, faith, and courage. God’s part was to be pleased with David’s courageous faith and favor him with a mighty victory.
David knew if he could kill a lion and a bear protecting his father’s sheep, he could kill Goliath. David knew if God always came through for him in the past, he’d come through for him in the future. David knew if God honored his faith before, he’d honor his faith again. David knew if he sent that first of five smooth stones sailing toward Goliath’s forehead, then God would ensure it hit the mark of victory.
Let me ask you — are you planning, preparing, and believing God for the victory over your enemies? Secondly and equally importantly, are you talking like a champion? Listen to the way David talked and acted on the way to his God-given victory.
1 Samuel 17 - Talking Like A Champion
26 David asked the men standing near him, “What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and removes this disgrace from Israel? Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?”
32 David said to Saul, “Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine; your servant will go and fight him.”
33 Saul replied, “You are not able to go out against this Philistine and fight him; you are only a young man, and he has been a warrior from his youth.”
34 But David said to Saul, “Your servant has been keeping his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, 35 I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it. 36 Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. 37 The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.”
Saul said to David, “Go, and the Lord be with you.”
45 David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. 47 All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.”
48 As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him. 49 Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell facedown on the ground.
50 So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him.
51 David ran and stood over him. He took hold of the Philistine’s sword and drew it from the sheath. After he killed him, he cut off his head with the sword.
When the Philistines saw that their hero was dead, they turned and ran.
Let me remind you that, you have the God-given ability and the God-given favor to cause the enemy to turn and run. Start talking and acting like the champion Almighty God has created you to be. Whether it’s finances, health, or relationships that are staring you down like “Goliath” —turn to them and declare like mighty David of old, “I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands…for the battle is the Lord’s.”