GOD HAS A PEOPLE
God has always had people who were strong and fearless through whom He could fulfill His will upon the earth. He has always had men and women who would boldly face danger, oppose entire kingdoms, face hunger, pain, persecution, and death without fear.
When the armies of Israel saw the size and fierceness of the giant and heard his threats against the armies of Israel, they all ran in fear. Even when all the seasoned warriors were trembling in fear, God had a man who was not afraid. A young boy named David said, “…Who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?” (1 Samuel 17:26). He told Saul, “…Let no man’s heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine” (1 Samuel 17:32). Without any armor protecting him and armed only with a slingshot and five stones, David fearlessly went out to face Goliath (1 Samuel 17:45-46).
Later, as a great warrior who fearlessly faced his enemies in battle, he said,
“The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? …Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear…” (Psalm 27:1, 3).
In ancient Babylon when all the people bowed down and worshiped the golden idol built by King Nebuchadnezzar, there were three young Jewish boys — Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego — who fearlessly faced death in the fiery furnace rather than compromise their loyalty and faithfulness to God Almighty (Daniel 3:16-18).
A young man named Daniel fearlessly faced being thrown into the lions’ den, rather than obey the king’s decree that no one was to pray or ask a petition of any god or man for thirty days. He refused to compromise his relationship with God (Daniel 6:10).
The Apostle Paul wrote of men and women of faith who conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword: whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies (Hebrews 11:33-34, NIV).
He spoke of men and women who fearlessly faced persecution, temptation, cruel torture, and death rather than turn their backs on God:
Others had to suffer the trial of mocking and scourging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned to death; they were lured with tempting offers (to renounce their faith); they were sawn asunder; they were slaughtered by the sword; (while they were alive) they had to go about wrapped in the skins of sheep and goats, utterly destitute, oppressed, cruelly treated. (Hebrews 11:36-37, TAB)
Make this declaration:
I will not fear. I will be mighty in the Lord and have fearless faith. 1 Samuel 17:1-51