Summary: Prayer

1 SAMUEL 17:40-52 The Battle

I. The CONDITIONING for PRAYER 39 And David girded his sword upon his armour, and he assayed to go; for he had not proved it. And David said unto Saul, I cannot go with these; for I have not proved them. And David put them off him.

II. The CHALLENGE for PRAYER 4 And there went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span.

The Reality of Battle - The Description Of A Giant

1. Distressing 2. Daring 3. Defiant 4. Demoralizing 5. Dangerous

The Reaction to Battle -

Some Hide, Some Hinder, Some Help, Some Hold.

III. The CRITICISM of PRAYER 28 And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spake unto the men; and Eliab’s anger was kindled against David, and he said, Why camest thou down hither? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thine heart; for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle.

IV. The COMMITMENT of PRAYER 29 And David said, What have I now done? Is there not a cause?

45 Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.

V. The CONFIDENCE in PRAYER 46 This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.

48 And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came and drew nigh to meet David, that David hasted, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine.

VI. The CONQUEST of PRAYER 49 And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth.

(notice he fell upon his face - if the stone had defeated him, he would have fallen backwards)

VII. The CHALLENGE of PRAYER -

Because David stood - Israel stood!!!

52 And the men of Israel and of Judah arose, and shouted, and pursued the Philistines, until thou come to the valley, and to the gates of Ekron. And the wounded of the Philistines fell down by the way to Shaaraim, even unto Gath, and unto Ekron.