The Church Visit

When the Lord speaks it’s our duty to obey or disobey. We don’t have to do anything He says because we have been given free will.

I felt the impression to visit my home church. It has been a while since I had been there. However, one moment came and I felt God had put it on my heart to visit. I woke up that Sunday, dressed and headed to catch the “church bus”. I was still debating about whether I should really go or not but finally when I stepped out of the bus after it stopped off in front of the church I decided to just attend. (I could feel the burden.)

The impression I spoke of was really the Holy Spirit giving me that nudge.

Stepping into the church, I still had no idea why the Lord wanted me to visit but I decided I was just gonna trust, wait and see. It was certainly different from the other churches I have been attending. However, one thing that’s pretty still awesome, is that they have kept the Sunday School segment. Sunday School has always been a great experience for me because that’s where you get to not only interact with your fellow classmates but get to dive deep into Bible study and stories. You get to learn more about who Jesus is.

That Sunday I joined a class, sat and listened to the teacher. Interestingly, the story was referenced from 1 Samuel 17. This is the story of David and Goliath. In summary, David was called out to go attend to his brothers who were out at battle. He soon discovered that everyone was terrified to fight Goliath and volunteered to fight him. He was finally given permission to do so and decided to fight with his slingshot and stones. He went out and fight in the Name of the Lord. Which means he wouldn’t depend on his strength or strategy but God’s. In the end David conquered Goliath with only what he went out to battle with. He cut off the giant’s head with his own sword. Isn’t that just an amazing story?

As I sat there and listened to this story being read, it began to make sense why God was directing me to this church. He had a word of encouragement for me. I don’t understand why I couldn’t have gotten this encouragement elsewhere, but this was His plan and His plan is always perfect.

Reflecting on the story this one important fact stood out to me. David was not new to this kind of battle. Yes the characters were very different but it wasn’t anything which was unfamiliar to him. David being a shepherd boy encountered many battles while he would have to ensure the safety of his Father’s sheep. Spending all this time in the field prepared him for this battle in 1Samuel 17. He was ready and it wasn’t anything he couldn’t handle. God showed me right there that this battle that I was praying about and even concerned about wasn’t one I couldn’t handle. I have been preparing for it and therefore was ready and equipped to go out and win the giant. The Lord also highlighted to me how David went out. He didn’t go with the king’s armour. He decided to go with what he already had; his clothing, the slingshot and the stones. This was what he used in the preparation season and these instruments would work perfectly fine because the power wouldn’t come from them but from God. In essence David went as he was and only trusted in the God who protected him in the field when he fought the lion and the bear so he was confident that this same God would save him now.

Sometimes when we face battles we tend to shy away because fear grips us and tells us that we can’t defeat them. However, what we sometimes fail to realize is that, God who lives in us is Greater than the one in the world. All the previous battles we encountered in the past and the victory we received from them, are testimonies of the goodness and unfailing love and victor of God. If God fought the battle for you the last time who said He wouldn’t fight this one? He has also equipped you perfectly enough for you to conquer the giants when you step out unto the battle ground. Therefore just like David, you can go out and fight in the Name of the Lord. The Lord of Heaven Armies (Jehovah Tsebaoth) is with you and He will not cause you stumble neither will He cause your enemies to triumph over you.

David replied to the Philistine, “You come to me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies—the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.

1 Samuel 17:45 – NLT