by W. Chaz Glass

 

Each generation has its Philistines. For every generation, faith must be tried and refined, and each generation must learn to trust God and remain vigilant. With this, every era of the Church must face Goliaths. The Goliaths of this generation are organizations united against God, and therefore His Church. Anything that stands against scripture and truth, including those within the body redefining it, is a Goliath. They are Goliaths because of their insurmountable size, their vast influence is their spear, and their limitless resources is their shield. They speak blasphemy in daylight and taunt the people of God, striking fear into the hearts of believers. Yet, the Philistine god fell broken before the Ark, and Goliath was killed by a shepherd. We greatly respect and admire David, but we all have an opportunity to cut the head off a giant.

 

Today, Goliaths are advancing the LGBTQ agenda within the Church, taunting and intimidating preachers and teachers who speak out against them. There are Goliaths in politics working to create laws to remove any evidence of God. There are Goliaths in the music industry mocking God. There are Goliaths keeping people bound through illegal and prescription drugs. There are Goliaths in the school system targeting children’s identities. There are even Goliaths in the pulpit, popular, influential pastors telling the body that sin is normal and acceptable. But in the face of all these Goliaths, we must remember that we serve the same God who triumphed over sin and death through the cross and resurrected of Jesus Christ. If Christ delivered us from the prince of this world, He will empower the David’s of today to slay the Goliaths in our time.

 

The stones we have are sharper than any double-edged sword because greater is He that is in us. Paul says the Word is foolishness to those who are perishing, just as they thought it was foolishness for David to approach Goliath with a sling and a stone. These Goliaths see the body and the Word we stand on and the Word we preach against them as foolishness, unable to do any harm, a useless tool of no effect. In the same way, when we as believers stand up against the Goliaths of our day with the Word of God and the power of the Holy Spirit, we may be mocked, dismissed, or even persecuted by those who view our faith as foolish and irrelevant. But when David’s rise, armed with the Word and faith, God moves in the heavens and things move on Earth, and Goliaths fall. The righteous anger in one’s heart against such organizations, movements, and people, like the zeal that consumed Jesus when He cleared the temple, is an indication of the Goliath we may be called to challenge. It is His zeal stirring in us to enter the valley, for He desires to work through us to slay that giant.

 

God looks at the heart and chooses men and women who the world may view as unqualified, too young, too old, uneducated, not influential enough to stand in the valley of Elah. We may appear to the world as unlikely or unexpected choices, people against unmovable obstacles, opposition, or limitations. But when we surrender to God and step out in faith and obedience, He is able to use us in incredible ways to impact our generations and beyond. This teaching is a rally to all the David’s of this time, to encourage them despite how others may view them and their efforts, and to remind them that God is on their side. Will we stand on the sidelines of the valley, or will we step out, armed with the Word and spiritual gifts, and eliminate the Goliaths opposing our God?