Speak Before You See It: David's Confession Before Goliath

Sermon outline

You already carry the blessing of Abraham, so like David before Goliath you can speak your victory before you see it and take the limits off God.

1. The blessing of the Lord: empowered to prosper

   Proverbs 10:22 is not a verse to grow familiar with but one to meditate on. The blessing means 'be blessed': God empowering you by declaration to excel in every good, in marriage, relationships and finances, and to take possession of what rightfully belongs to you. The only currency you need is faith, and God wants you to do what is naturally impossible so that He gets the credit.

   Illustration: God is raising up Josephs with superior wisdom and Esthers who make strategic moves in the marketplace and bring the spoils into the church to advance the kingdom.

   “It is an enablement, a divine enablement that comes upon us as the children of God to excel in life.”

   • Proverbs 10:22
   • Genesis 1:28
   • Isaiah 55:1

2. There is a land God is going to show you

   God called Abram out to a land He would show him and promised to make him a great nation, bless him and make his name great. In the same way God will highlight houses, land, businesses and jobs in your sphere of influence. He will bless you beyond your human ability and make you a blessing to the people around you, blessing those who bless you.

   “There is a land God is going to show you.”

   • Genesis 12:1-3

3. Speak before the manifestation: David's confession

   David faced Goliath knowing he was a covenant man, and so are you. The Philistine cursed him by his gods, with a small letter g, but David came in the name of the Lord of hosts. Before he had slung a single stone he declared, 'This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand,' and in his mind's eye already saw Goliath fed to the birds. Speak and praise before you see the result.

   Illustration: If you are in sales, declare your figures at the start of the month and confess that customers heading to another store will come to yours. If you have been retrenched or have just finished university, thank God for the position before you have it.

   “Don't wait for the manifestation before you speak right.”

   • 1 Samuel 17:43-46

4. Take the limiter off God

   David said there was enough of Goliath's army to feed the birds and wild animals, because God is not a God of just enough but of more than enough. We put limits on God in our finances, our families and what we expect from Him. God does exceedingly abundantly more than we ask, so He will teach you to ask big and then surprise you.

   Illustration: While fiddling with his car radio he accidentally switched on the speed limiter at about 20 km/h; pulling away from a traffic light up a hill, the car would not go and a little car zoomed past him until he spotted the green light on the dashboard and switched it off.

   “We kind of put a limiter on God.”

   • Ephesians 3:20

5. The battle is the Lord's, and you don't need a sword

   The Lord does not save with sword and spear, for the battle is the Lord's. Every circumstance, contrary wind and storm in your life is a Goliath that words of faith will strike down. David prevailed with a sling and a stone and no sword in his hand, so do not be afraid. He notes that verse 50 speaks of jubilee, when debt is wiped out supernaturally.

   Illustration: God does not need anyone's permission but yours: one EFT, one letter, one contract or one connection to the right person can be the end of all your debt.

   “Every circumstance is a Goliath.”

   • 1 Samuel 17:47-51
   • Zechariah 4:6
   • 2 Timothy 1:7

6. The same blessing is on you: be blessing-minded

   The blessing on Adam and Eve before the fall was put on Abraham, then David, Joseph, Daniel, Christ, the disciples and the early church at Pentecost, and it is on you. Christ became a curse so the blessing of Abraham could come on the Gentiles. Stop praying 'God bless me'; you are already blessed, and that blessing gives you dominion in your sphere and springs you up whenever the enemy thinks he has you cornered. Whatever the calls, bills, emails or doctors say, stay blessing-minded.

   Illustration: That afternoon, holding two of his grandchildren, the words that came out of his mouth were 'you're blessed'. He urges parents to grab their children and say the same, whatever the doctors or teachers report.

   “I want you to be blessing minded.”

   • Galatians 3:13-14
   • Acts 2
   • Deuteronomy 28:6

7. Associated with the blessing by grace

   Believing God's prophets brings prosperity, and what the church needs from its pastor is a blessing out of his mouth: that blessing propels, elevates, opens roads and brings promotion. Being a Christian is more than membership and carrying a Bible; it is being covenant-minded and knowing who you are in Christ. The blessing is not earned by good works but comes by grace, because God gave first while we were still in sin.

   Illustration: We all like shopping, but it is not the stuff on the shelf that helps us; it is the blessing. The blessing works like a magnet, drawing people to you without them knowing why.

   “It's the blessing, that's what you need.”

   • 2 Chronicles 20:20
   • Ephesians 1:18
   • Psalm 119:18
   • John 3:16
   • Romans 5:8