A Heart to Fight
Johannes emphasizes the importance of cultivating a "fighting heart" for God's kingdom, drawing from biblical examples like David's confrontation with Goliath. He highlights that to attain kingship in God's spiritual realm, believers must exercise their hearts through worship, love for God, and active spiritual warfare against the enemies of God. The story of David's victory over Goliath illustrates that true strength lies not in physical armor or weapons but in faith, spiritual weapons, and divine wisdom. Johannes stresses that believers must learn to use spiritual weapons—hidden wisdom and divine strategies—that are not of a carnal nature but mighty through God to pull down strongholds. He points out that past experiences of faith and victory, such as David's encounters with lions and bears, serve as training grounds for future battles. Johannes warns that passivity and complacency allow the enemy to gain ground, and that the church must rise with a fighting spirit to confront spiritual darkness, as exemplified by the battle against Goliath and modern spiritual challenges like pagan festivals or societal sins. He concludes that the current spiritual warfare requires believers to be engaged, prayerful, and willing to confront the enemy actively, trusting that God will provide the secret weapons needed for victory. A failure to fight can lead to spiritual downfall, as seen in David’s later lapse, underscoring the necessity of a persistent fighting heart to attain spiritual kingship and fulfill God's purpose.
Outline of Main Points
- Exercise of the heart through worship and love for God is essential for kingship.
- David's victory over Goliath exemplifies faith, divine wisdom, and spiritual weapons.
- Spiritual warfare is necessary to confront and defeat the enemies of God, both historically and today.
- Past experiences of faith serve as training for future battles.
- Passivity and complacency allow the enemy to advance; believers must rise with a fighting spirit.
- Modern challenges, like societal sins and pagan festivals, require active prayer and spiritual confrontation.
- Spiritual weapons are hidden and powerful, only accessible through engagement in warfare.
- Failure to fight can lead to spiritual downfall, as illustrated by David’s later lapse.
- God is raising a people with a fighting heart to prepare for the final spiritual battle and kingship.
14 But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the LORD hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the LORD commanded thee.
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. 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. 47 And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD’S, and he will give you into our hands.
1 And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; 2 Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: 3 And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. 4 And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; 5 Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me. 6 And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith. 7 And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? 8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?
6 Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: 7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: 8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
