Ambassadors For Christ: The Triumphs Of David And Elijah

The Philistines and Israelites faced each other on opposite hills, with the valley between them.

Then Goliath, a Philistine champion from Gath, came out of the Philistine ranks to face the forces of Israel. He was over nine feet tall! He wore a bronze helmet, and his bronze coat of mail weighed 125 pounds. He also wore bronze leg armor, and he carried a bronze javelin on his shoulder. The shaft of his spear was as heavy and thick as a weaver’s beam, tipped with an iron spearhead that weighed 15 pounds… 

“Don’t worry about this Philistine,” David told Saul. “I’ll go fight him!”

1 Samuel 17:3-7, 32 (NLT)

God loves to enter tough competitions– and place a crown on unlikely winners, as He turns human logic upside down. Because when big shots get full of themselves, their puffed-up pride sets them up for a fall.

  • 'God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong' (1 Corinthians 1:27). 

In the David versus Goliath match, Israel’s future was tied to a teen.  

  • Goliath was a frightening giant: a seasoned warrior in battle gear.

  • David was a shepherd with a slingshot: a boy emboldened by faith in his God.

The odds of his win were too small to count.

In Elijah versus Baal’s prophets (a 450 to 1 match), God staged a supernatural cook-off! Whose fire would light with a prophet’s prayer?

  • Baal’s huge team called, cried, and leaped around. They even cut themselves… to spur their god. But… 

'No one answered, no one paid attention' (1 Kings 18:29). 

  • Elijah stepped up with a surprise move. Since the goal was supernatural fire, he flooded the wood with water-- three times.

'Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood and the stones and the dust, and it licked up the water that was in the trench. Now when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, 'The Lord, He is God! The Lord, He is God!' ' (1 Kings 18:38-39).

The show’s result? Public triumph for God…  leading to salvation for His people. 

Actors, models, and talent for Christ:

Don’t “faint” when the odds aren’t in your favor. Although your “win” may seem like a long shot… you’re in the Lord’s favorite position– to stump the chumps and put on a big show.

In the meantime…

'Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves' (Philippians 2:3). Because 'His power is perfected in weakness' ' (2 Corinthians 12:9). Because 'Those who humble themselves will be exalted' (Matthew 23:12).

Ambassadors For Christ: The Triumphs Of David And Elijah (Part 15)

NOTE: God is my Ghostwriter. If what I write is good, it’s from God. You may see notes to 'Actors, Models & Talent for Christ.' If you think you're not in show business, think again. Shakespeare said, 'All the world's a stage and all its men and women merely players.’ Mostly true. But you're not merely players. You are messengers and ambassadors for the King of kings.

* David v. Goliath: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Samuel+17&version=NKJV

* Elijah v. the prophets of Baal: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Kings+18%3A20-40&version=NKJV

Carey Arban