WHEN MEN SHOWS UP
WHEN MEN SHOWS UP
1Sa 17:20-30 KJV 20 And David rose up early in the morning, and left the sheep with a keeper, and took, and went, as Jesse had commanded him; and he came to the trench, as the host was going forth to the fight, and shouted for the battle. 21 For Israel and the Philistines had put the battle in array, army against army. 22 And David left his carriage in the hand of the keeper of the carriage, and ran into the army, and came and saluted his brethren. 23 And as he talked with them, behold, there came up the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, out of the armies of the Philistines, and spake according to the same words: and David heard them. 24 And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him, and were sore afraid. 25 And the men of Israel said, Have ye seen this man that is come up? surely to defy Israel is he come up: and it shall be, that the man who killeth him, the king will enrich him with great riches, and will give him his daughter, and make his father’s house free in Israel. 26 And David spake to the men that stood by him, saying, What shall be done to the man that killeth this Philistine, and taketh away the reproach from Israel? for who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God? 27 And the people answered him after this manner, saying, So shall it be done to the man that killeth him. 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. 29 And David said, What have I now done? Is there not a cause? 30 And he turned from him toward another, and spake after the same manner: and the people answered him again after the former manner.
In the text we read, Jesse had asked David to the battle front in order to check out his brother’s welfare and to give them provisions. While he was there, the Philistine champion Goliat came out and rant as usual. He had been doing this for the past forty days challenging the army of Israel and defiling them.
He gave them a challenge that if anyone kills him then Philistine will become Israel’s servant and if it was the other way round they Israel will become Philistine’s enemy.
Each time he shows up the army of Israel will run away and nobody was able to face him.
It was on one of those occasions that David was around and he heard him. David asked people what would be done for a man that will kill the Goliath and take away the reproach and shame from Israel.
He asked his brothers and they rebuked him and despised him. David did not waste time with his brothers, he asked other people. It is true that family members will not accept or celebrate a person.
The remaining story is well known, Goliath was killed and the shame and reproach was taken away once and for all. The reproach of forty days was in a moment removed when the right person shows up
When men show up.
The equation changes when men arise and show up. It is not only men, even when women show up. This is the testimony of Deborah.
Jdg 5:6-7 KJV 6 In the days of Shamgar the son of Anath, in the days of Jael, the highways were unoccupied, and the travellers walked through byways. 7 The inhabitants of the villages ceased, they ceased in Israel, until that I Deborah arose, that I arose a mother in Israel.
Not only did those Canaanitish robbers go upon the highway, and robbed all they met with, which made traveling difficult and dangerous; but entered into the villages and unwalled towns, and broke into houses and plundered them; so that the inhabitants of them were obliged to quit their dwellings, and go into the fortified cities for security; by which means the villages were left empty, and in time fell to ruin, and ceased
The streets were deserted and unoccupied. nobody could go to their farm until a woman arose and challenged the status quo.
In the New Testament, a man was possessed by the devil so strong that he was a concern to the community.
The book of Mark described him.
Mar 5:2-6 KJV 2 And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, 3 Who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains: 4 Because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: neither could any man tame him. 5 And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones. 6 But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him,
Because of him roads were deserted. His fear would not allow people to pass.
Mat 8:28 KJV And when he was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way.
But one day when Jesus showed up, this changed. Look at what happened in verse 6
Mar 5:6-8 KJV 6 But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him, 7 And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not. 8 For he said unto him, Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit.
The devil in the man could not prevent him from bowing and worshiping Jesus. A man of power has shown up. A man with anointing has shown up. You know the remaining part of the story, that day that man was rescued and delivered from the powers that had kept him in bondage over the years.
After this encounter whatever has kept anyone in the tomb, in chains and oppression shall break out in Jesus name.
The LOrd Jesus did not only show up for this man alone but for the whole of humanity. Humanity was heading down to hell and perdition without hope but Jesus the Son of God became a man that He may rescue us because only a man can deliver a man. He died for our sin so that we may be declared righteous.
Do you know that God is still looking for Deborah, David and men and women who will rise up for their family, town and humanity like the Lord Jesus.
Eze 22:30-31 KJV 30 And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none. 31 Therefore have I poured out mine indignation upon them; I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath: their own way have I recompensed upon their heads, saith the Lord GOD.
When He could not find a man, He poured His anger on them.
God is looking for people that will stand up not only for themselves but for the unborn generation in their families.
I call upon you this day to be that man.
Oba 1:21 KJV And saviours shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the LORD’S.
Jesus is the ultimate Saviours but we too have become saviours. When you bring people to church, you are a saviour. When you preach the gospel, you are a saviour, when you minister your gift you are a saviour, when you stand in the gap as intercessor, warrior, guardian, custodian, legislator and litigator you are a saviour.
What you must do?
-. You become again. You cannot fight the devil when you are in his camp Col 1: 12-13
-. Be filled with the Holy Spirit. It is the empowerment of the Holy Spirit that will bring the needed change
-. Engage in the good fight of faith