07/11/2023 - IN THE NAME OF THE LORD OF HOSTS

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Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.  1 Samuel 17.45

We will always win the battles if we fight in the Name of the Lord. This is the secret for God’s people to succeed in their endeavors. That Name has been given to us to cast out demons and any evil (Luke 10:19). When He was here, Jesus healed the sick using the gift He had received to do divine work. When He returned to heaven, Christ gave us this power: and with the baptism I am baptized with you will be baptized (Mark 10:39). Use that power!

David declared that his opponent’s strength was insignificant before the one he possessed: the Name of the Lord. Goliath was militarily armed, but the future king of Israel relied on the One who created all things. Therefore, by using the Name of God, nothing would stop the young shepherd from defeating his opponent. This is true for anyone who has accepted Jesus as Savior. David entered the battle declaring that on that day it would be shown who the Lord was!

Paul describes our struggle as spiritual. In fact, we never fight against flesh and blood, but against the spiritual forces listed by the apostle: For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places (Ephesians 6:12). Against the powers of darkness, only the Name of Jesus!

Who was in a better position: Goliath or the young shepherd? Certainly, if there were any bets, most would have chosen the giant, since he had participated in many training sessions, and this would not be his first fight. However, such experience was useless, because the main thing was to have divine help – something he did not have. It doesn’t matter if people say that you have already lost the battle before it has even started on identical grounds. Victory belongs to those who have faith!

What was the point of all that apparatus against the young man who accepted the challenge? Wouldn’t the size of Goliath itself be enough? Each battle is different from the other. At that moment, two heroes would face each other: the Philistine and his pomp versus the shepherd with his staff and his sling. David didn’t even have a knife, but that was irrelevant, because he knew God would guide him in that confrontation. Goliath could not withstand such power, and what was about to happen would show that there is a true God in Israel!

The young man’s firmness messed with the giant’s mind. He must have thought David was either mad or well prepared. Goliath tried to intimidate David and make him feel defeated, but the shepherd of Israel was convinced of victory. By his attitude towards the devil’s servant’s mockery, the young boy showed that he was centered on the promises of the Lord. He ran toward Goliath, and the Philistine warrior did the same. David stopped, spun his sling and fired.

The end is already widely known: David proved that there was God in Israel. This proves that the Lord is in the church: “Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.” (1 Corinthians 10:11). Believe, pray and live!

In Christ, with love,

R. R. Soares