Talk

BRO. BO SANCHEZ:

You have a choice. You can live your life sitting on a rocking chair, sipping your tea on the porch, and watching life pass by– not participating but just watching Netflix, KDrama, or what other people are doing.

The other choice is fighting battles with giants by holding a slingshot, getting hurt, getting wounded, and getting damaged.

You have a choice. What do you choose? I’ve got good news and bad news for you.

Now, between this teacup and this slingshot, the noble part of me would rather die fighting giants for the people I love. Yes, there’s this other part of me that likes the rocking chair. I do. As you get older, you want to slow down.

In my almost six decades of living, I want to thank God that He has pulled me out of that chair many times and God has told me: “No! You fight. You serve.

You care!”

Do not cross your arms amid a suffering world and say: “I don’t care. Let me sip my tea.”

God says, “You care. You sacrifice. You suffer for the sake of other people.

I call you.”

I fight the giants inside me first — the giants of selfishness, pride, sin, greed, and lust. I’m also fighting the poverty around me — material poverty, spiritual desolation, and the suffering of the people around me. I fight that every single day. I’ll get hurt and I will lose but it is okay because if God is with me in this battle, I already have won.

Big Message

Whatever battle you’re facing, if God is with you, you have already won.

I pray that you’re receiving this in your spirit. If you’re fighting a battle, my one big message is this:

The battle is the Lord’s, and you’re going to win because God is there in your midst.

We’ve been going through this series, Joshua, Judges, and Samuel.

This is a group of people in search of a king. So far, the actors that we have been studying have not been great leaders, including the current one we’re studying– King Saul. He was so disobedient and so proud that God had to reject him.

Then, we receive this word: Samuel is sent to Jesse, who had a bunch of sons. We’re going to read this Word:

This was probably the eldest of the sons of Jesse. What an impression!

Remember Saul last week? We studied that he was handsome. He was head and shoulders above everybody.

So, he was Chris Hemsworth, right? Eliab was probably like Jason Momoa of Aquaman.>

So, Samuel says, “This is it.” But God says…

This reminds me of the way we elect politicians. We elect celebrities.

I’m not against celebrities running for political office. Some have character and capacity but some are elected just because they’re photogenic.

Look at the Heart

What God is telling us: Look deeper. Singles, this also applies to you.

I was talking to a young woman and I asked her, “What are you looking for in a husband?”

I was expecting her to say: “I want someone who has a sense of responsibility and who treats his mom and his sisters with such respect because that’s how he will treat me.”

But she said, “I want a guy who looks really nice in a plain shirt, blue jeans, and black leather shoes.”

I said, “Wow. That’s deep. What if he’s really cool, cute, dashing, drop-dead gorgeous serial killer?”

God says: “Look at the heart.”

The biblical definition of heart is it includes thoughts, feelings, will, motives, and moral character. That’s what God looks for in a leader. A leader whose heart is pure will serve without expecting anything in return.

Eliab was rejected. It was like an American Idol audition because all the sons paraded in front of Samuel– but he was not the judge. He was just the host of the show. God was the judge. Every time a brother walks by and auditions, God says, “Nope, not this one… No, not this one… Not this one…”

Jesse did not even think of David. Maybe he’s too small. Maybe he’s too thin.

Maybe because he’s a shepherd. During that time, being a shepherd was not a dream job. It required long hours and hard labor. It was hazardous to health to the point of death.

You don’t want to be a shepherd. But David was one. Maybe, you feel like you’re David. You’re too ordinary.

Let’s pray: Jesus, You brought me to this place for a Divine Purpose. Thank You for loving me and calling me to serve You. Speak to me. I will continue to fight giants inside and outside me as long as You are with me. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

The Incredible Giant

When David finally came, the Lord tells Samuel:

David was anointed.

This is what happens right after:

In our measurement, Goliath would be 9 feet tall like the Incredible Hulk. Some 5,000 shekels is about 55 kilos, and that’s just his coat of armor. Just the point of his spear is 6.5 kilos.

Not only was he Hulk but his armor was the Bronze Age equivalent of Iron Man’s suit. So, think Hulk and Iron Man together.

There were two armies facing each other –the Philistines and the Israelites.

Then Goliath breaks in and starts speaking to the army of Israel.

Goliath says:

Goliath was like saying, “Hey, why do our armies fight each other?

Many people will die. Just give me one man to fight with. Whoever wins this duel wins the entire battle.”

Think about it. Who will volunteer to fight this Hulk-Iron Man guy? That’s like going against Godzilla. It’s like a death wish. It’s like a suicide wish.

Because there were no volunteers from the army of Israel, this is what happened…

Nobody wanted to fight. Is this not how our fears work? Every day, you overthink.

It comes and then you think about it. The next day, you think about it again. Do you know when it stops? When you face your Goliath. That’s the only way. That’s the only time the Goliath stops.

Fear stops when you face your giant. This mental loop will replay in your mind until you do one thing: face your fear.  You have to face your fears now.

I preach this a lot. I always tell people to Do It Afraid. But I’ve got better advice.

I added four very important words: Do It Afraid with God Beside You.

This was not the first time that the Israelites faced a giant. A few books before, in the Old Testament, in the book of Numbers, these people came from Egypt and as they were moving to the Promised Land, they sent 12 spies. Ten of them came back with a bad report.

Pictures are very powerful:

This image where the enemy is a giant and they see themselves as grasshoppers. Because of that, the Israelites did not enter the Promised Land.

They got delayed. They walked in the wilderness for 40 years.
https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/desert|

David Volunteers

Let’s go back to our story. For 40 days, Goliath was speaking. But no one stood up to him.

1 Samuel 17:14 says, “They all fled from him.”

There was one guy who could have fought Goliath. It was King Saul. He was not only handsome. 1 Samuel 9:2 says, “He was head and shoulder taller than anyone else in the land.”

Saul may not have been 9 feet tall, but he was pretty tall. All of the brothers of David were soldiers in the army. David was the shepherd boy. Do you know who volunteered to fight Goliath?

The errand boy.

Jesse tells David, “Bring this lunchbox to your brothers.”

So, David goes to bring food to his brothers. Then he hears Goliath’s challenge. He goes to King Saul and says, “I’ll fight him.”

Of course, everybody says, “You’re small.” David says:

David was like saying, “Yes, I’m a shepherd but do you know the work of shepherds? The lions and the bears are not vegetarians. They like lamb chops. When I see one of my sheep disappear from my flock and I see my sheep already in the jaws of a lion, I get my slingshot and my rock, and I go into a battle. I rescue my sheep. If God did it before, He’s going to do it again.”

A few Talks ago, we said this: “You’ve got to rewatch your God moments.” David was recalling his God moments.

When you are in front of your enemy, and you are overthinking, and you are overwhelmed by your fears, think back to those moments when God rescued you and say: “If God did it in the past, He’s going to do it again.”

Just One Stone

What King Saul said was, “You really want to fight Goliath? Here’s my armor.”

The best armor of the land was the king’s armor. David wore it, and he said, “It doesn’t fit.

It’s too heavy.”

He removed the armor of King Saul. David went as is where is.

David believed he needed only God’s Presence:

David uses one stone in his sling and it hits the target. Goliath falls.

You have been fighting battles, and right now, you don’t want to fight anymore because you’ve given up. The one who gives up loses. Are you fighting your own selfishness? Are you fighting your own laziness? Are you fighting your own desires? You know they are not from the Lord, but you keep on falling. You keep on sinning. You keep on going astray.

God is telling you: “Keep fighting.”

Some of you have certain projects that God wanted you to do. You’ve given up because they are too stressful. But it doesn’t have to be stressful if you go and fight that battle with the Lord’s Presence, depending not on your strength and not on your sword or spear but on the Presence of God in you. Keep on fighting because there is Someone in our midst who is greater.

Like David, Jesus was a nobody. He was so ordinary. He came from Nazareth.

There were only about 40 families in that town.

There was a saying back then, “Hello? Who comes from Nazareth?” Yet, God chose the lowliest to show His greatness in David and in Jesus.

If you feel like you’re the lowliest, you are a candidate to show the greatness of God. Like David, Jesus battled the giants of death, sin, greed, self-pity, and self-condemnation.

Like David, the shepherd boy, Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd, and I will lay down my life for my sheep.”

Hold On to Your Slingshot

There was one thing that was different between David and Jesus. David was fighting physical enemies. Jesus was fighting spiritual enemies.

We are also fighting spiritual enemies.

Unlike David, Jesus allowed

His enemies to kill Him so that He could defeat them with His Resurrection. Right now, some of you feel defeated. Let’s face it. We lose some of our battles.

I want you to turn to this One who is called “victor.” He is the One who, at the end

of the day, wins every battle. If He wins, you also win no matter what battle you’re in right now: facing a lawsuit, drowning in debt, being in a broken relationship, fighting an addiction, and you’re losing.

I heard the phrase “win-win situation” for the first time from my friend who had Stage 4 cancer. Somebody with Stage 4 cancer should be moping, weeping, and feeling depressed. My friend wasn’t. He was jolly as ever. I could not understand it.

I asked him, “Why are you smiling?”

My friend said, “Because I’m in a win-win situation. I’m praying for healing.

All my friends are praying for healing. If God heals me, He will be glorified, and I will live my life and serve Him. If He does not heal me and I go to Heaven– isn’t that a win?

All of us are in a win-win situation. But this is the most important: You lose if you sit on the rocking chair. You lose if you stop fighting. You lose if you say, “I don’t care anymore.”

Stand from that rocking chair. Put aside that teacup. Hold on to your slingshot, the gift that God has given to you. You might win. You might lose for a while.

But in the end, if God is with you, you will win. Whatever you’re facing right now, in the end, you will win. You’ve got to believe in that. Keep on fighting. Keep on struggling. Keep on serving. Keep on caring.

Renewal

Lift your hands and say this after me.

“Father, Thank You for the battle is Yours. This battle that I’m fighting, You own this. No matter what is happening now, I am in a win-win situation. No matter what happens, if You are with me, I have already won.

In Jesus’ Name. Amen.”

I invite you to make Jesus stand beside you always, 24/7, for the rest of your life. That means you have to follow Him. That means He becomes the center of your life.

Let’s renew our Baptismal promises. Put your hand over your chest. Say and mean every word: “Jesus, I will fight my battles as long as You are beside me.

Win or lose today, I will win tomorrow. I Thank You that my life is Yours and You have chosen me.”

When God looked at you, He said: “This is the one.”

The same way He said to Samuel when David was in front of Him, God told Samuel: “This is the one.”

In the same way, God is here right now. God looks at you and He’s looking at all His angels. He’s looking at His army, and He’s saying :”This is the one. I’m choosing this one who will love me. This is the one who will serve me.

This is the one I call to build My Kingdom in this world. This is the one who will fight the battles and defeat the giants. This is the one!”

Love Offering

BRO. AUDEE VILLARAZA:

The Battle is the Lord’s. And if He is for us, who can be against us.

How many of you sometimes, if not all the time, have this fear of lacking resources. I agree with you. I share that sentiment.

My fear as Feast Builder, every week, is operational expenses. That’s my fear.

But I come to the Lord and I come before Him every week and you know what I do? I face my fear because I know and I trust the Lord, that He will provide through your generosity. I know that for a fact that the Lord will continue the mission of this Ministry simply because of other people who also face their fear.

So, if you’re the kind of person afraid to give, to release money, I want you to release that fear every day and to simply say I believe that the Lord will provide for my needs.

So, simply lift your hands, Everybody, in the Presence of God, and say:

Lord, this is for You, for You have blessed me so much. It’s my turn to give back So, I give this from heart and I trust that You will provide for all my needs. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

 

This story was first published in the Feast Family Online News Magazine
Published by THE FEAST (April 6, 2025)