HE WILL DO IT AGAIN

1 Samuel 17:19-37 NKJV, “Now Saul and they and all the men of Israel were in the Valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines. [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. [21] For Israel and the Philistines had drawn up in battle array, army against army. [22] And David left his supplies in the hand of the supply keeper, ran to the army, and came and greeted his brothers. [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. [24] And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him and were dreadfully afraid. [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. [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? [27] And the people answered him in this manner, saying, So shall it be done for the man who kills him. [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. [29] And David said, What have I done now? Is there not a cause? [30]

Then he turned from him toward another and said the same thing; and these people answered him as the first ones did. [31] Now when the words which David spoke were heard, they reported them to Saul; and he sent for him. [32] Then David said to Saul, Let no man’s heart fail because of him; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine. [33] And Saul said to David, You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are a youth, and he a man of war from his youth. [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, [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. [36] Your servant has killed both lion and bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, seeing he has defied the armies of the living God. [37] Moreover David said, The LORD, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.”

He will do it again!

How To Be Self-Motivated

It’s obvious that David had no support for his ambition of bringing down Goliath. He was self-motivated. Self motivation is the ability to drive oneself to take initiative and action to pursue goals and complete tasks. It’s an inner drive to take action — to create and to achieve. It’s what pushes you to keep going on tasks, especially those you’re pursuing because you want to, not because someone told you to.

• Insurgency: 1 million pupils to benefit from educational facilities in N/East
• How Kano community generates income through dry season vegetable farming

1. FOCUS ON PAST VICTORIES. 1Samuel 17:37, “David said moreover, The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the LORD be with thee.” Rehearse previous achievements and acts of faith. You will be spurred to stand and win present battles. Be in the habit of recounting your achievements. David, while facing Goliath, rehearsed how the Lord helped him to destroy a bear and a lion that came to snatch his sheep. It is a powerful way to overcome doubt and fear.
2. Focus on the reward of the fight. [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? That fight could be a divine schedule for your promotion.
3. Focus on the covenant. [26] “… For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?”
4. Fight for a worthy cause. [29] And David said, What have I done now? Is there not a cause? What cause are you fighting for? Is it worth dying for? David was ready to put His life on the line for the cause he believed in. How important is what you are chasing to you? Motivation is simply the force driving your behavior. It’s the “why” behind everything you do, and the reason you might take up a cause, commit to an action, or work toward a goal. Everything we do is motivated by some combination of conscious and unconscious need or desire. Focus on adding value to others. Think of the impact and joy your gift will bring to others. Think of the reward but realize that it the value you bring that creates the reward, therefore focus on making life better for others, focus on creating value for which you can be rewarded. David was fighting for the image of God, he was fighting to liberate and protect God’s heritage from the oppression of the Philistines. We pray for leaders that will fight for the good of the people, leaders who will fight for the progress of the nation. It’s a good cause to fight for the liberation of people from hardship and poverty.
5. Realise that He never changes. “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.” Hebrews 13:8. Remember, He will do it again. [37] Moreover David said, The LORD, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” David was sure that God would do it again. He divided the Red Sea, He divided the River Jordan for Israel. He then divided it for Elijah and then Elisha. If He did it for one person, He will do it for another. He will do it again for you! Remember all the miracles you have received in the past. If the Lord did those things in the past, He will do it again. Jesus fed five thousand people with five loaves of bread and two fishes. He repeated the miracle again by feeding four thousand people with seven loaves of bread and a few fishes. If He helped you once, He will help again! The song writer says ‘He will do it again’. Israel suffered in the wilderness because they had a short memory. They did not use their past testimonies of miraculous interventions.

God will do it again for you if you will trust Him. Greater miracles are coming your way. Get ready for amazing breakthroughs, in Jesus Name!

Bishop Dr Charles Olowojoba is the General Overseer of Dayspring Bible Church Worldwide with HQ in Abuja, Nigeria & President, Dayspring Christian Ministries Int’l.