1 Samuel 17:36-37 (NKJV) Your servant has killed both lion and bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, seeing he has defied the armies of the living God.” Moreover David said, “The LORD, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” And Saul said to David, “Go, and the LORD be with you!”
How someone responds to a crisis reveals a lot about them. David was truly a man of God. The entire Israelite army was terrified and powerless when Goliath threatened them. David demonstrated that he was different from the rest of the Israelite army. He knew God, was aware of His covenant right with Him, and had experienced God’s faithfulness. He understood that his ability to defeat the bear and the lion wasn’t solely his own, but came from the covenant-keeping God who had helped him. His declaration of “how dare this uncircumcised Philistine” (1 Samuel 17:26) showed that He understood the people of Israel were God’s chosen people. He trusted in God’s power to overcome Goliath, just as he had overcome the lion and the bear. He had life experiences with God.
John 17:3 (NKJV) And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.
As Christians, we know God; we walk with Him and are led by the Holy Spirit. We can receive counsel from Him daily. Our faith in God is founded on the Word. Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. We can be very secure and stable when our faith is rooted in Jesus Christ and the complete counsel of God’s Word. We can choose not to respond in carnality but in faith and the Spirit when faced with a difficult situation. We will respond in faith just like David when confronted with a trial, tribulation, or test in our lives.
We will also avoid promoting ourselves through strife and politics if we see our work in the corporate world as worship unto God. Instead, we will trust that God has a good plan for us. The weapon of our warfare is not carnal but mighty in God. We will pray through every situation we face and have faith that God will handle it. God is the God of all flesh, and nothing is too difficult for Him. It is through faith and patience that we will inherit God’s promises in our lives. What gives substance to our faith is His Word to us during our daily Bible reading. We will stand on the promises He has given us, rather than striving in the natural to bring about the promises with our own strength.
Sermon Series: Walk into your Calling
认识神的重要性
撒母耳记上17:36–37 你仆人曾打死狮子和熊，这未受割礼的非利士人向永生神的军队骂阵，也必像狮子和熊一般。”37 大卫又说：“耶和华救我脱离狮子和熊的爪，也必救我脱离这非利士人的手。”扫罗对大卫说：“你可以去吧，耶和华必与你同在。”
一个人在危机中的反应，往往显明他内在的生命光景。大卫确实是一个属神的人。当歌利亚向以色列军队发出威胁时，整个以色列军队都充满惧怕，显得软弱无力。然而，大卫与众人不同。他认识神，明白自己与神之间的约，也亲身经历过神的信实。他知道，自己能够战胜狮子和熊，并不是单靠自己的能力，而是因为那位守约施慈爱的神曾帮助他。
他所说的：“这未受割礼的非利士人怎敢如此？”（撒母耳记上 17:26），表明他清楚知道以色列是神所拣选的子民。他相信神的大能，正如过去帮助他胜过狮子和熊一样，也必帮助他胜过歌利亚。他与神有真实的生命经历。
约翰福音17:3 认识你独一的真神，并且认识你所差来的耶稣基督，这就是永生。
作为基督徒，我们认识神，与祂同行，并且被圣灵引导。我们每天都可以从祂那里领受劝勉与指引。我们的信心建立在神的话语之上；信道是从听道来的，听道是从基督的话来的。当我们的信心扎根在耶稣基督以及神话语的全备真理中时，我们的生命就能稳固而安稳。当我们面对困难处境时，可以选择不凭血气反应，而是凭着信心、顺服圣灵来回应。正如大卫一样，当试炼、患难或考验临到我们生命时，我们也能以信心作出回应。
同样地，当我们把职场中的工作视为献给神的敬拜时，就不会借着纷争或权谋来高举自己。相反，我们会相信神为我们预备了美好的计划。我们争战的兵器不是属血气的，乃是在神面前有能力的。我们会在所面对的每一件事上祷告，并且凭信心相信神必亲自成就。神是凡有血气之人的神，在祂没有难成的事。我们正是借着信心和忍耐，承受神在我们生命中的应许。而使我们信心得着真实根基的，是我们在每日读经中从神领受的话语。我们要站立在祂已经赐下的应许之上，而不是凭自己的力量，在天然中竭力去成就那些应许。
讲章系列：走进你的呼召