THURSDAY 6TH JULY 2017

TOPIC: BRINGING DOWN YOUR GOLIATH
TEXT: 1 Samuel 17:45 “Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied…”

What exactly does the word goliath denote? Apparently, it paints a picture of a negative thing in one’s mind. It can refer to unpalatable circumstances or situations happening around our environment or in one’s life which needs to be put off completely. You must put up a fight with the whole armor of God. ( Eph 6: 10-18) Meditate on these verses.
To bring down the ‘Goliath’ in your life, here are three things you should consider:
1) You must stand up to him! Any problem you try to excuse or escape, you knowingly or unknowingly empower. After listening to Goliath’s threats every day, fear gripped the hearts of God’s people and they couldn’t stand up to him.
2) Remember what God has already done for you regarding past victories. David recalled his victories over the lion and the bear, and you must do the same. Jeremiah said, ‘this I call to mind…therefore I have hoped: because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning’ (Lam 3:21-23). The strength to deal with today’s struggles comes from remembering how God helped you solved yesterday’s struggles.
3) You must cut off the giant’s head. ‘David…took his sword…and cut off his head…And when the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled’ (1 Sam 17-15).
You need to know your enemy or source of stronghold, study his tactics, and be willing to fight with the same level of intensity as he does. You must take what you have learned and apply it to his weak areas. Never assume he’s dead when he’s just dazed. If you don’t cut off his head he’ll sneak up on you another day. Go for a permanent solution, not a short-term fix. Fortify yourself with prayer, renew your mind with the Word of God, and reach for the support that’s available to you through your spiritual family. Above all, remember your strength doesn’t lie in yourself, but in God. With Him on your side you’ll win every time. The conclusion of the whole matter is in 2Cor 10:4. Also for more emphasis, a believer’s struggle in their walk with Jesus can only be defeated by the power of the Holy Spirit indwelling in us. (Gal 5: 22-24).

MEDITATION Col 1:13 & 2:14-15

BIBLE STUDY
Josh. 8, Ps. 139, Jer. 2, Matt. 16