Walking in Victory (Part Two)

As believers, walking in victory is not just an abstract concept but a practical reality. The Scriptures offer us countless examples of how to live victoriously.

Romans 15:4 reminds us, “For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that by our steadfast and patient endurance and the encouragement drawn from the Scriptures we might hold fast to and cherish hope.” (AMP)

Let’s draw inspiration from the life of David to understand how faith and ministry together serve as the foundation for walking in victory.

David’s Ministry-Conscious Life

David said in Ps.18.29
For by You I can run against a troop, By my God I can leap over a wall. (NKJV)

David was not just a warrior; he was deeply conscious of his ministry. Even after being anointed as the future king, he prioritized his ministry of tending his father’s sheep over dwelling in the palace. Today, such a person might be called a “church boy” or “church girl,” someone who values ministry above all else, even when exposed to worldly success.

Read 1Sam.17.15
But David occasionally went and returned from Saul to feed his father’s sheep at Bethlehem.

David’s commitment to ministry is evident when he occasionally left the palace to tend the sheep.

Despite the allure of power and prominence, he remained humble and faithful to his ministry. This teaches us that true honor lies in our commitment to God’s work, irrespective of our worldly status.

Read 1Sam.16.13
Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel arose and went to Ramah.
1Sam.16.14 – But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and a distressing spirit from the LORD troubled him.
1Sam.16.15 – And Saul’s servants said to him, “Surely, a distressing spirit from God is troubling you.
1Sam.16.16 – Let our master now command your servants, who are before you, to seek out a man who is a skillful player on the harp. And it shall be that he will play it with his hand when the distressing spirit from God is upon you, and you shall be well.”
1Sam.16.17 – So Saul said to his servants, “Provide me now a man who can play well, and bring him to me.”
1Sam.16.18 – Then one of the servants answered and said, “Look, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, who is skillful in playing, a mighty man of valor, a man of war, prudent in speech, and a handsome person; and the LORD is with him.”
1Sam.16.19 – Therefore Saul sent messengers to Jesse, and said, “Send me your son David, who is with the sheep.”
1Sam.16.20 – And Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread, a skin of wine, and a young goat, and sent them by his son David to Saul.
1Sam.16.21 – So David came to Saul and stood before him. And he loved him greatly, and he became his armorbearer.
1Sam.16.22 – Then Saul sent to Jesse, saying, “Please let David stand before me, for he has found favor in my sight.”
1Sam.16.23 – And so it was, whenever the spirit from God was upon Saul, that David would take a harp and play it with his hand. Then Saul would become refreshed and well, and the distressing spirit would depart from him.

He was serving in a role before the king whose throne he has been anointed to take over. Yet he didn’t get covetous of it, he still preferred to do ministry – feeding the sheep. The humble will abide faithful in ministry irrespective of their promotion; the charming allure of secular placing. Your money, affluence and influence should be your crown laid down before God.

Protecting and Preserving the Flock

David was interested in protecting and preserving the sheep. He wasn’t excited over going to the warfront to the detriment of his ministry. He kept the sheep in safe hands before leaving. We must do ministry with an attitude of “leaving no stone unturned”. We tidy the minutest details. We carry on with every task with a finishing of the former.

Read 1Sam.17.20
So David rose early in the morning, left the sheep with a keeper, and took the things and went as Jesse had commanded him. And he came to the camp as the army was going out to the fight and shouting for the battle.

His attitude was diligent and excellent showing that we do not serve halfheartedly nor serve foolishly. He left the sheep with a keeper implies he hired someone to guard the sheep, he payed someone well known for guarding the sheep to help him feed the sheep and protect them. His testimony is that under his watch he lost no sheep.

Read 1Sam.17.34 
But David said to Saul, “Your servant used to keep his father’s sheep, and when a lion or a bear came and took a lamb out of the flock,
1Sam.17.35 – I went out after it and struck it, and delivered the lamb from its mouth; and when it arose against me, I caught it by its beard, and struck and killed it.

Ministry prospers in the hands of saints who fight the good fight of faith. They are the ones who walk in the victory.

Overcoming Fear and Opposition

Read👉1Sam.17.23

Then as he talked with them, there was the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, coming up from the armies of the Philistines; and he spoke according to the same words. So David heard them.
1Sam.17.24 – And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him and were dreadfully afraid.
1Sam.17.25 – So the men of Israel said, “Have you seen this man who has come up? Surely he has come up to defy Israel; and it shall be that the man who kills him the king will enrich with great riches, will give him his daughter, and give his father’s house exemption from taxes in Israel.”
1Sam.17.26 – Then David spoke to the men who stood by him, saying, “What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?”

He overcame the mockery of familiarity. His elder brother was livid at the sight of him. Notoriety gets intimidated at emerging leaders. Don’t give in to cheap slander, blackmail and mockery. David stood firm on purpose and mission.

Read 1Sam.17.28

Now Eliab his oldest brother heard when he spoke to the men; and Eliab’s anger was aroused against David, and he said, “Why did you come down here? And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your pride and the insolence of your heart, for you have come down to see the battle.”
1Sam.17.29 – And David said, “What have I done now? Is there not a cause?”
1Sam.17.30 – Then he turned from him toward another and said the same thing; and these people answered him as the first ones did.

Turn your back on familiarity and slander and mockery, do the ministry for in it lies your walk of victory.

Relying on Past Victories

David used his testimony to convince Saul of his readiness to perform greater tasks. He clearly explained how, with God’s help, he protected the sheep from marauding lions and bears. Today, ministry places us on the front lines, delivering the unsaved from the mouth of the devil and protecting the saved from the charging bears. Ministry calls us to pray for the salvation of others and to pray that Christ is formed in those who are saved. Our victory over demons and wickedness is rooted in this mission. Just as the apostles said upon their return from evangelism, “All devils were subject to us in your name,” so it is with us today.

Luke.10.17 – Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.”
Luke.10.18 – And He said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.
Luke.10.19 – Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Ministry affords such victory remark

The Power of Revelation

David relied on the supernatural force of revelation knowledge of Christ to gain victory over his enemies. Ministry affords us the privilege of relying on revelation of Christ to walk in victory.

He picked five stones for the battle. He had a revelation of Christ as the stone the builders rejected that became the chief cornerstone. He had a revelation of Christ as the Stone laid in Zion, that builds up those who believes but crashes those who fall on it in unbelief.

Read Ps.118.22

The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone.

Jesus made reference to it

Matt.21.42

Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: “The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone. This was the LORD’s doing, And it is marvelous in our eyes’?

It was referenced in

Acts.4.10

let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. Acts.4.11 – This is the “stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’

Paul made reference to it

Rom.9.32 

Why? Because they did not seek it by faith, but as it were, by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumbling stone.
Rom.9.33 – As it is written: “Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and rock of offense, And whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.”

Peter referenced it also

1Pet.2.6

Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, “Behold, I lay in Zion A chief cornerstone, elect, precious, And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.”
1Pet.2.7 – Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, “The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone,”
1Pet.2.8 – and “A stone of stumbling And a rock of offense.” They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed.

Prophet Isaiah referenced it in his prophecy

Isa.28.16

Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: “Behold, I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation, A tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; Whoever believes will not act hastily.

Jesus affirmed that the church will stand on this stone, the revelation of Christ and gain the victory over the devil.

Matt.16.17

Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.
Matt.16.18 – And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.

 

1Sam.17.40

Then he took his staff in his hand; and he chose for himself five smooth stones from the brook, and put them in a shepherd’s bag , in a pouch which he had, and his sling was in his hand. And he drew near to the Philistine.
1Sam.17.49 – Then David put his hand in his bag and took out a stone; and he slung it and struck the Philistine in his forehead, so that the stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the earth.

This is symbolic. What should emerge from the shepherd is the chosen stone, Christ. We rely solely on the revelation knowledge of Christ. Ministry shapes in us the attitude of rightly dividing the word of truth, enabling us to walk triumphantly by the fragrance of Christ.

Read 2Cor.2.14

Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.
2Cor.2.15 – For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.
2Cor.2.16 – To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. And who is sufficient for these things?
2Cor.2.17 – For we are not, as so many, peddling the word of God; but as of sincerity, but as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ.

David chose five stones for his victory, using one to kill Goliath. What happened to the remaining stones after killing Goliath? He took them home. Walking in victory entails having the revelation of Christ within you, preparing you for the challenges of the evil day.

Read Eph.6.13
Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Eph.6.14 – Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness,

Legacy of Victory

David’s reliance on revelation extended beyond his lifetime. At an old age, when the sons of Goliath sought to kill him, his trained men rose up and secured victory (2 Samuel 21:15-22). This legacy teaches us that walking in victory involves training the next generation to continue the fight of faith.

The victory walk is assured when our ministry has a legacy. What we have received, we train our children and the younger ones in the church to do the same. Though the enemies of ministry await us in the future, our children will resist and prevail over them at the gate.

Ps.127.3
Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, The fruit of the womb is a reward.
Ps.127.4 – Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, So are the children of one’s youth.
Ps.127.5 – Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them; They shall not be ashamed, But shall speak with their enemies in the gate.

Read

2Sam.21.15

When the Philistines were at war again with Israel, David and his servants with him went down and fought against the Philistines; and David grew faint.
2Sam.21.16 – Then Ishbi-Benob, who was one of the sons of the giant, the weight of whose bronze spear was three hundred shekels, who was bearing a new sword, thought he could kill David.
2Sam.21.17 – But Abishai the son of Zeruiah came to his aid, and struck the Philistine and killed him. Then the men of David swore to him, saying, “You shall go out no more with us to battle, lest you quench the lamp of Israel.”
2Sam.21.18 – Now it happened afterward that there was again a battle with the Philistines at Gob. Then Sibbechai the Hushathite killed Saph, who was one of the sons of the giant.
2Sam.21.19 – Again there was war at Gob with the Philistines, where Elhanan the son of Jaare-Oregim the Bethlehemite killed the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the shaft of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam.
2Sam.21.20 – Yet again there was war at Gath, where there was a man of great stature, who had six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot, twenty-four in number; and he also was born to the giant.
2Sam.21.21 – So when he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimea, David’s brother, killed him.
2Sam.21.22 – These four were born to the giant in Gath, and fell by the hand of David and by the hand of his servants.

The four remaining stones in the shepherd’s bag were symbolic of David’s reliance on the same victory over Goliath for victory over his generation. This implies that the victory of Jesus will be as relevant to our walk of victory today and tomorrow as it was on the day He rose from the dead. We live to do ministry in that pattern.

Today, we walk in victory, using ministry as our foundation and assurance that our protégés will overcome in their time just as we do in ministry today.

I call you blessed