Declaring Faith

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DECLARING FAITH

Text: Hebrews 11: 2.

Introduction: Note: This and others in the series might be effectively introduced by the c oir, or a quartet, singing, "Faith Is The Victory."

A. Faith is laiming God's promises and responding to them wi h no reservation about the outcome.

B. The te mentions Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephth ,David. Samuel and others, all men of great fai h.

C. David h been chosen as our hero for this lesson.

I. DAVIDDEC ED HIS FAITH IN THE LIVING GOD, I Samuel 17: 6.

A. He put ,0 confidence in gods of wood, stone or gold.

B. His life as a shepherd brought him into direct contact ith the wonders of God's creation.

1. The ising and setting of the sun on an orderly sched e.

2. The r gular appearance of the stars. and of the moon in its egular phases.

3. The ubbling of brooks; the birth of a Iamb.

4. The s ging of the birds; the chirping of the crickets.

5. Thes, and others, all declared to David: "God lives. "

C. If God is not a living God, then there is no God.

1. Near he end of his life, David declared: "The Lord liveth" IT Samuel 22:47.

2. Job id: "I know that my redeemer liveth,"Job 19:25.

3. Jesus said: "As the living Father hath sent me," John 6:57.

II. DAVIDDEC ED HIS FAITH IN THE DELIVERING GOD, I Sam el 17:37.

A. God deli ered him from a lion and a bear.

B. This stre gthened his faith that God would deliver him fro the sword of Goliath.

1. Such aith seems to have convinced troubled King Saul, erses 38 and 39.

2. He th n offered David the use of his armor.

C. David'sf: ith caused him to reject the provisions of men in f voe of the projection of the living God. - 12 -

III. DAVIDDEC ED HIS FAITH IN SPITE OF CYNICS, I Samuel 17: 8-47.

A. King Sa I endeavored to dissuade him, vs 33.

B. Through no fault of his, he had incurred the anger of .his bother, Eliab, verses 28 and 29. I can imagine:

1. Eliab laughed almost hysterically when David put on King aul's over-size armor.

2. He .robably sneered in unbelief when David deter . ed to meet the giant armed only with his shep erd's staff and sling.

3. He p obably shouted in mockery as David confidently move, out across the intervening valley, "Little broth r, do you have any message you want us to give to 0 father, Jesse?"

4. He PibablY sneeringly called out, "Be carefullittIe br- other remember that old Prophet Samuel said you woul be king someday, but that giant will feed your dead ody to the dogs. That will show up that old prop t, ha, ha."

5. Laug ter and ridicule does not deter those with real faith the real God.

a. oliath cursed and ridiculed David, vs 43.

b. is insults and threats were blasphemous, verses 4 -44.

C. David's f ith enabled him to praise God for victory before t e conflict began, verses 46 and 47.

IV. THROUGH TH DAVIDWASVICTORIOUS, I Samuel 17:48-51.

A. David the outcome of this confron

1. He r to engage the foe, vs 48.

2. Faith enables one even to enjoy the conflicts against God's enemies.

B. Through faith David prevailed.

1. With sling and a stone.

2. There was no sword in his hand; he didn't need one.

C. Goliath's head was severed with his own sword.

1. The ved, God-defying, are their own worst enemi s.

Index