We have arrived. Another ending to a wonderful two weeks together in the study of God’s Word. The beauty of our ending is that it sets the stage for our continuing…for our moving forth from this one moment with a little more truth under our belts and a little more faith grasped within our hands. That is the power of Bible study. It accomplishes. It achieves. It does something within us, even when we remain unaware of its effecting work (Isaiah 55:10-11). We can be silent in our learning, or we can put words to God’s working within. Sometimes, silence is easier. Less confrontational. Less to risk, thus one reason I am convinced that we hear so little from the church at large these days.
But putting voice to God’s truth can be a hard obedience if not voiced in faith. For almost as soon as our “talk” issues forth from our lips, our “walk” is required to follow in compliance.
Walking what we talk. Living out the faith that we profess to believe. Whether the words come in conversation, from behind a pulpit, in a Bible study or a Sunday school room, via a television screen, through the radio, or whether painted across the canvas of a blog. Whenever and wherever faith is preached, the preacher of said faith better be prepared to back up his/her words with action—with a life that exemplifies the true Truth of what is being said. If not, then we fall prey to an enemy’s schemes and to a critic’s charge of hypocrisy. And while our intentions may be honest—spoken with the true confession of a heart that wants to live in faith—all too often our words spend as cheap if not first and constantly surrendered to the fire of the only Refiner who can brand our lives with genuine intent.
I want to be a genuine truth teller, so it comes to me as no surprise that when I began to write about Fighting to Win, the enemy would recognize my need to talk and would stand ready to force me to walk that talk. He has forced the issue, and I am still walking, albeit not smoothly and not without a limp. It matters not the details of my struggle. Mine is not yours, but rest assured that our enemy is one in the same. We may call him by different names, but his intent has always been singularly focused. Our defeat. As it is today, so it was all those years ago, when the enemy named Goliath reared his ugly head on the battlefield of David’s faith.
Please take a moment to read our final portion of scripture as found in 1 Samuel 17:48-58.
David backed his talk with a fearless walk. Well armored with a five stone kind of faith, David exacted a blow that would silence his Goliath. Yes, the enemy would return to David in various maskings over the days to come, but this one battle was finished. Completed. An ending that set the stage for David’s continuing. And his ending speaks a lesson to each one of us who enter the fray of battle to finally know a victory in the end.
David humbly chronicles his ending by bringing his trophy of war to his king and by rightly identifying his ancestral heritage.
“As soon as David returned from killing the Philistine, Abner took him and brought him before Saul, with David still holding the Philistine’s head. ‘Whose son are you, young man?’ Saul asked him. David said, ‘I am the son of your servant Jesse of Bethlehem.’” (1 Samuel 17:57-58).
Now that’s some perspective. At the end of the day, David brought the king what the king was due, and he gave his father’s name the recognition and honor that it was due.
Before David would eventually find his promised throne, David would fight many battles with the one enemy who was intent on keeping this shepherd boy from it. The enemy knew that there was more at stake than an earthly crown and scepter. There was something eternal and lasting about David’s ascension to the throne. Something about a scepter not departing and a Messiah yet to come (Genesis 49:10). Kingdom business was at hand, and the enemy was not going down easy. But make no mistake. He was going down. His downward spiral continues through the likes of you and me, for the torch…the King’s business…has been handed over to us. For we are sons and daughters of the Most High God. We are his family tree.
How long has it been, my sisters and my brothers, since you…yes you…have brought your trophies of war and laid them at the feet of our King? When was the last time you held your ground in a battle with a five stone kind of faith to know a sure victory in the end? Do you even begin to understand your ancestral lineage?
Today, you and I have been summoned by the God of all creation to enter into his courts. To bring our trophies of war and to lay them at his feet. To put voice to the one and final question that King Saul asked of David as he walked from the battlefield at the end of day…
Whose son…whose daughter are you?
Our answer embodies our theology. And if your truth answers anyone other than the LORD Jesus Christ, then your perspective is flawed and your faith is as nothing. There will be precious little to lay at his feet because faith is the foundation for all victory. Without faith, it is impossible to please God, and my friends…
I want to please him. With a life that lives a faith that is true, that is grounded in the truth, and that walks the talk, not with hypocrisy, but with integrity and sacred intention. I am my Father’s daughter, and so I pray…
Let it not be in vain, Lord…these past two weeks of Bible study. Take the words of my mouth and the mediation of my heart and multiply it all toward your good and perfect end. I am flawed, Lord…far beyond what the world can see. You, alone, know where my faith is weak and where my walk doesn’t measure up to my talk. Purify the difference between the two. Consume my intent with the sacred flames of your intent until all that can be seen is your Truth living in me, as He is meant to be seen. Thank you, Father, for rooting my family tree. It is my highest privilege to be grafted within your sacred bloodlines. Show me how to walk in faith with that talk this day. Amen.
What a joy and privilege to share this past two weeks with you! In a past season, I would have kept my writings to myself…saving them for a better day. But God has spoken this truth over my heart recently…
Spend it today, child. For tomorrow is not promised to you.
Please feel to leave your comments about anything you’ve gleaned from our time together in God’s Word. I will wait until Monday to pick a name for the give-away. May God bless each one of you this weekend with a rich awareness of just exactly who you are in Him! You are worthy of my time, and I feel so blessed to have walked this portion of the road with you. As always…
Copyright © May 2008 – Elaine Olsen. All rights reserved.
“a life that exemplifies the true Truth of what is being said.”
THAT is what I want my life to do…I want my walk to match my walk. So important.
Thanks for sharing Elaine. I love visiting you.
Blessings,
Lelia
WOW! I know whose child I am, the question is am I acting like a daughter of the king? That will require some thought and probably some changes in behavior.
I have enjoyed the Bible Studay, thanks for sharing your time and insight. Roxie
So….when you’re ready to find a publisher, be sure to remember I’m happy to write an endorsement!
Beautiful – as always.
Wow, girl. You are really good. You have given me much to think about. In particular, your comment “Do you even begin to understand your ancestral lineage?” has really spoken to my heart. That will be a topic for pondering and prayer for sure.
You are a blessing!
Rebecca
Thank you, Elaine, for sharing your heart for God with this study.
~But putting voice to God’s truth can be a hard obedience if not voiced in faith. For almost as soon as our “talk” issues forth from our lips, our “walk” is required to follow in compliance.~
These words that you wrote really hit me today…You are so right; once we boldly claim something for God, we will be challenged by the enemy. He is lurking around waiting to challenge us.
I pray like David that I would keep a stone of “faith” in my pocket and be ready to run to the battle line and face him head on.
I will miss your posts while I am away. You are a blessing.
In Christ,
Amy:)
My Grandmother.. used to say, “Silence is golden.” I now understand the beauty of it…
For it is in the silence… we find Him….
Breathtaking words my friend… and thank you for your faithfulness
love to you
Connie
You made me smile – again! I thought about adding something about my pre-post and now 22years later weight…but said, oh, well, they don’t need to know….:}
Happy Week-end!
Elaine, I have just finished reading your “Fighting to Win” series. What a blessing! I love the life of David. I have studied him in depth, I’ve taken Night School classes at Bible College probing his character, I’ve taught this Scripture in Bible study…and yet still…new truths abound. God’s Word continues to be alive and active. I can never exhaust His resources – there is always more, and a deeper still to reach into my heart. Thank you for sharing all this teaching with us.
It sounds like you are facing your own ‘fight’ in some areas. Praying the Lord will renew your strength as the eagles, that you will run and not be weary and walk and not faint.
Blessings to you my friend,
Joy
I loved reading the way you see Gods words, you make it seem so real, I walk away each time understanding and wanting more…
Thank you
Connie
GBU
I think I have some tallying up to do this weekend. I’ve been inspired to list the battles I have found victory in, and lay them at my Lord’s feet this weekend during my quiet time.
Thank you for this study Elaine, I have learned a great deal, and now I must live it out.
Wonderful study! Who would have ever thought the world ob blogging could be so beneficial for our souls and daily walks. Thanks for the words of encouragement on my blog. I would love to bring my dog, my book, my DVD’s, and my story to the children of your church!
I so enjoyed this word you shared.
You have inspired me to ponder much. In the case of where I work I feel that so many times my walk has not represented my talk. Only in the sense that I want people to see me leaning on Him and not worrying so much of things.
Your obedience in putting the Word He is placing in your heart out into light is going to cause the devil to raise his head your way.
I’m praying for you tonight…
Thanks for your prayers about my interview today…things went really well.
“Running forward to a battle line’s embrace means that the sacred ground left behind will remain as it is. As sacred”
This made such a visual in my mind. I envisioned running out to meet the battle, running forward to meet the battle. By running forward it took me away from my “home” of comfort… but also away from where my treasures are. Being quick to fight the enemy on the battle line that we have had to run to… will keep the battle from being so close to home. Hopefully protecting our treasures and keeping some of our ground untouched by the enemy.
This may not have been where you were going with this… but it spoke volumes to me.
Thanks so much for sharing this study with us. Lynn
What a perfect wrap up to this portion of study! So glad you’ve invited us on this journey along with you. May we all “walk our talk with integrity and sacred intention.”
Blessed to be a beneficiary of your “walk,” I thank God for you this morning…
Tracy
How my walk sometimes does not equal my talk. God is so good… I was wanting to get to this last post all weekend. With so much packed in (Graduation Open Houses, Yard Work, Family in town) it wasn’t until this morning that I was able to log on and spend the time needed to read, study and reflect. God knew I needed this post today – not yesterday or Friday night. As my dad always says – I have the “gift of gab” ha ha – and I don’t hesistate to talk about my Lord and praise His name. But how the walk doesn’t always measure up to my talk. I prayed about this yesterday morning at the end worship. I think all the activities that had filled the weekend seemed to leave me a bit disconnected and a bit cranky. I just didn’t feel like myself. I hadn’t been walking the talk. I am thanking God this morning – for speaking what I needed to hear through you. To desire to be like David – and to walk fearlessly with the Lord and not aimlessly through a busy weekend. The aimless wandering makes me a prime target for the enemy.
Elaine… I am also thanking God that He has prompted you to not keep your writings to yourself. He has decided that this is the time to share! Yes, we are our Father’s daughters!!!
Thanks so much for the study. It has been fun and I have certainly gleaned from it. In reading the post this morning I thought of Paul’s words, in Romans 7:15 “…For what I want to do, I do not, but what I hate I do.” It is difficult to walk the walk, but it is what we must strive to do in order to be effective for our King.
Thanks again.
Marita