This post is from one of my best friends, actually, my spiritual dad. My wife and I have known Dr. John and his wife, Rebecca, for close to 40 years.
For more information about their ministry, please go to http://www.rfiusa.org.
Developing The Faith Of A Champion
By: Dr. John Polis
“And David said to Saul, Let no man’s heart fail because of him; thy servant will go
and fight this Philistine”. 1 Sam. 17:32
Young David went to face the “champion of the Philistines”. As the “unofficial champion” of Almighty God, he had a “champion faith” which enabled him to “take out his adversary”. You and I will need that kind of “champion faith” in these last days as well, because Jesus said in Luke 21:26 that “…men’s hearts will be failing them for fear” as they look upon their adversaries.
Think about David as he looked at all of Saul’s army hiding in the trenches, shivering with fear because of Goliath’s roar of blasphemy. He wasn’t overcome because everyone else was, but on the contrary, their cowardice made him angry and more determined to destroy the enemy whom he knew was already a defeated foe. “ And all men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him, and were sore afraid”. I Sam 17:24. “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?” vs.26. David had one thing on his mind and that was the fact that this was not just “ his enemy”, but Goliath was defying Almighty God and therefore in deep trouble. David knew that God would need someone to use executing vengeance upon His enemy, so he stepped up to the plate and said it might as well be me.
Praise the Lord. We should remember that our enemies are God’s enemies because we have a covenant with God. He will defeat them by using one of us as His Champion, just like He did with Jesus when he walked this earth. Jesus was God’s Champion, who through the Holy Ghost, defeated every enemy he faced who was threatening the future of the people of God( Acts 10:38).
YOU CAN DEFEAT THAT WHICH STANDS IN OPPOSITION TO GOD”S PLN FOR YOUR LIFE!
What are some of the steps we can learn from David that will help us develop this championship faith as well? What made David different from all the rest of his contemporaries that brought him to his great destiny in God?
First we should note that David was a “youth”, a mere boy of about 15 years. This tells me that David didn’t wait until he was an adult to get to know God. David was not a “time waster ” when it came to his spiritual life. During those early years while herding his fathers sheep, he developed qualities that enabled him to “step up to the plate” when his opportunity for advancement came.
Many people are unprepared for the day of opportunity because they have wasted so much time after becoming a beliver. Instead of pressing in while a “spiritual youth” through prayer, fasting and study of God’s word, many have allowed the cares of life and an unbiblical value system rob them of time needed for preparing themselves for God’s plan in the future. God is preparing you for the day of battle, because the day of battle is also the day of advancement. Don’t forget that after this battle (David & Goliath) a nobody became a somebody!
Did you ever wonder why you have had the seemingly “tough training” during your formative years as a Christian? This could be the reason, Satan will be there to “defy you” when it your time for promotion. You will not get to your destiny without defeating the Goliath that stands in your way, therefore, you will need “championship faith” in that hour.
What are the four qualities David developed that enabled him to win his “big battle” and “breakthrough to destiny”?
1. He was faithful in his “fathers house”.
2. He had a tender heart of worship.
3. He understood covenant concepts.
4. He understood faith principles.
David was “tending his father’s sheep. He learned to be “faithful in the house of a father”. Submission and obedience are implied in this message. We see David being faithful to duty at this time in his life obeying the assignment his father had given him; to watch the sheep and to take “lunch” to his brothers on the battle front. It is important that believers learn to be faithful to duties in the local church right away and develop the ability to stay under authority and do a good job while there. Many people downplay this important part of “preparation” and roam about “looking for opportunity” that never comes. David was called “the sweet singer of Israel” because he developed “intimacy” with God while tending the sheep. He learned to draw near to God through praise and worship allowing his heart to become tender to God. This tenderheartedness is what caused him to be so grieved when he sinned, and to immediately seek restoration with the Lord. Many today have no “grief” over their sins, but continue in hardheartedness and denial of their wrongdoing. A tenderhearted worshipper cannot stay out of fellowship with God for long, but will repent and seek God’s presence.
David also learned the key of “covenant relationship” while a youth. He understood that Goliath was an “uncircumcised” Philistine. Circumcision was the entrance to covenant in Israel. No uncircumcised person could partake of the covenant blessings of God promised to the people. God is “cutting away the flesh” that hinders us from entering “covenant” with others that have been placed in our lives for further maturity and impartation. Have you allowed “circumcision” in your life at the hand of a “skilled work man” who takes the “sword of the spirit” delicately to those areas that need “cut away”?
Lastly, David learned to “speak the word” in faith when he faced the enemy. He said,
“The Lord delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, HE WILL DELIVER ME OUT OF THE HAND OF THIS PHILISTINE”. I Sam. 17:37 “So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him. AND THERE WAS NO SWORD IN THE HAND OF DAVID” VS. 50. But there was a SWORD IN HIS MOUTH.
When we have learned these four indispensable traits, we will be ready to both defeat our adversary and move into promotion.
Jan Grace 