 WISDOM FOR LIVING DAILY DEVOTIONAL
AUGUST 26, 2021
TOPIC: TRUST IN THE NAME OF THE LORD
BY T. O. BANSO
âThen David said to the Philistine, âYou come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defiedââ (1 Samuel 17:45 New King James Version).
Both David and Goliath knew that the battle they were fighting was both physical and spiritual. It was Goliathâs gods versus Davidâs God. David knew Goliathâs gods were just ordinary gods, mere idols. Goliath didnât come to the battle alone; he came, backed by his gods.
The Bible says, âGoliath walked out toward David with his shield bearer ahead of him, sneering in contempt at this ruddy-faced boy. âAm I a dog,” he roared at David, âthat you come at me with a stick?â And he cursed David by the names of his gods. âCome over here, and I’ll give your flesh to the birds and wild animals!â Goliath yelledâ (1 Samuel 17:41-44 New Living Translation).
Please take note of that statement: And he cursed David by the names of his gods (verse 43). So Goliath invoked the power of his gods to defeat David. Any curse by anyone upon you by the names of his gods shall return to the person. Why? Because the LORD said, âI will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses youâ (Genesis 12:3 New King James Version). What the LORD said to Abraham then, He says to you now.
Every curse that has been released upon your life by anyone, invoking the names of some gods or deities, shall backfire in Jesusâ name. The Bible says, âWhoever digs a pit will fall into it, and he who rolls a stone will have it roll back on himâ (Proverbs 26:27 New King James Version). Whatever a man sows, that he shall reap. Therefore, every curse against your life shall return to the sender manifold in Jesusâ name. So shall it be!
Goliath cursed David by the names of his gods. What was Davidâs reaction? âThen David said to the Philistine, âYou come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defiedââ (1 Samuel 17:45 New King James Version). The LORD of hosts means the LORD of Heaven’s Armies or the LORD All-Powerful. Who can withstand Him?
David said further, âToday the LORD will conquer you, and I will kill you and cut off your head. And then I will give the dead bodies of your men to the birds and wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel! And everyone will know that the LORD does not need weapons to rescue his people. It is his battle, not ours. The LORD will give you to us!ââ (1 Samuel 17:46-47 New Living Translation).
Again, take note of that statement: It is His battle, not ours. The LORD will give you to us! David shouted to Goliath that he came not with sword, spear, and javelin, which Goliath was holding, but in the name of the LORD Almighty. Did you see that?
In whose name are you fighting your battles? Are you depending on your experience, your intelligence, your connections, those supporting you, your prayer and fasting, etc.? There is a limit these can take you.
The writer of Psalm 20 says, âSome trust in chariots, and some in horses; but we will remember the name of the LORD our God. They have bowed down and fallen; but we have risen and stand uprightâ (verses 7-8 New King James Version).
David trusted in the name of the LORD Almighty. âThe name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safeâ (Proverbs 18:10 New King James Version). David knew his God and approached Goliath, the Philistine champion, in the name of his God. That should be your attitude too in the battles of life. Don’t depend on any other thing even when you have to use ‘a sling and a stone’, as David did.
The writer of Psalm 118 says, âThough hostile nations surrounded me, I destroyed them all in the name of the LORD. Yes, they surrounded and attacked me, but I destroyed them all in the name of the LORD. They swarmed around me like bees; they blazed against me like a roaring flame. But I destroyed them all in the name of the LORDâ (Psalm 118:10-12 New Living Translation).
It doesnât matter how formidable the enemy or challenge youâre facing is, let these words of the psalmist be your confession also. It doesn’t matter how many their gods are. Confess that in the name of the Lord you shall conquer; you shall prevail. No one will succeed or prevail by strength alone (1 Samuel 2:9b).
David said in Psalm 124:8, âOur help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earthâ (New King James Version). Let your help be in the name of the LORD. His name is powerful, more powerful than any other name. The name made the difference between victory and defeat for the Israelites. According to David, If it had not been the LORD who was on their side, their enemies would have swallowed them alive (Psalm 124:1-2).
The Bible says the people who know their God shall be strong and carry out great exploits (Daniel 11:32b). Do you know your God? Do you know His name is the most powerful? Do you know He is supreme?
In that battle between David and Goliath, it wasnât actually a sling and a stone that conquered Goliath; it was the LORD. Truly, the stone David hurled with his sling hit Goliath’s forehead and he stumbled and fell face down on the ground. That wasn’t ordinary. It could only have been the LORD. David said, âToday the LORD will conquer youâ (1 Samuel 17:46 New Living Translation). And He did.
The LORD took over the battle the moment David called upon Him and He fought the battle because the battle was His, as David had declared. He said, âAnd everyone will know that the LORD does not need weapons to rescue his people. It is his battle, not ours. The LORD will give you to us!â (1 Samuel 17:47 New Living Translation).
The LORD conquered Goliath, and David just went there to cut off his head, using Goliath’s sword because he had no sword! Glory be to God! The Lord will conquer whatever opposition youâre facing; youâll triumph over your enemies. Put your trust in the name of Jesus, not only for your salvation but for everything that pertains to your life.
What Jesus would do if He were here physically on earth, His name will do today. He said that whatever you ask the Father in His name, that will He do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son (John 14:13). The name of Jesus is powerful. His name is above every other name.
Philippians 2:9-11 says, âTherefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Fatherâ (New King James Version). There is victory for you in the name of Jesus. Put your trust in His name.
Put your trust in the name of the Lord. You are more than conquerors through Him who loved you (Romans 8:37). In other words, overwhelming victory is yours through Christ, who loved you; you are completely victorious.
TAKE ACTION!
If you are not born again, you need to give your life to Jesus now. I urge you to take the following steps: *Admit you are a sinner and you cannot save yourself and repent of your sins. *Confess Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. *Renounce your past way of life â your relationship with the devil and his works. *Invite Jesus into your life. *As a mark of seriousness to mature in the faith, start attending a Bible-believing and Bible-teaching church. There they will teach you how to grow in the Kingdom of God.
Kindly say this prayer now: O Lord God, I come unto You today. I know I am a sinner and I cannot save myself. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died on the cross to save me and resurrected the third day. I repent of my sins and confess Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. I surrender my life to Jesus now and invite Him into my heart. By this prayer, I know I am saved. Thank You, Jesus, for saving me and making me a child of God.
I believe you have said this prayer from your heart. Congratulations! You will need to join a Bible-believing and Bible-teaching church in your area where they will teach you how to live your new life in Christ Jesus. I pray that you flourish like the palm tree and grow like the cedar of Lebanon. May you grow into Christ in all things and become all God wants you to be. I will be glad to hear from you. The Lord be with you.
PRAYER POINTS: Jesus Christ, I put my trust in Your name and I overcome every enemy, problem, or challenge. I am more than a conqueror in Jesus’ name.
(For over 600 in-depth and powerful messages by T. O. Banso, visit www.cedarministry.org).
T. O. Banso is the President, Cedar Ministry International, Abuja, Nigeria.
Phone No: +2348155744752, +2348033113523
WhatsApp No: +2349081295947
Email: cedarministryintl@yahoo.com,
cedarministryng@gmail.com
Website: www.cedarministry.org
  
  
  
  
