​     It's an ancient battle.  Actually, it could be considered a duel of sorts.  The year was 1063 B.C.  It's safe to say that this battle was over three thousand years ago.  And yet, it is probably as well-known a battle that there is.  As soon as one reads that it was between the Philistines and the Israelites this battle between two men will jump to mind.
     Yes, it is David and Goliath.  The match between these two couldn't have been more lopsided.  Goliath, as far as is known, was at least nine feet tall, a powerful and imposing warrior who was able to fight while wearing close to 200 pounds of armor.  That's impressive.  He was an accomplished enemy.  And he was fearless.  For forty days he called out the Israelites. (I Samuel 17:16)  Verses 8, 9. and 10 of chapter 17 recounts the goading he gave Israel.  "Send a man to fight me.  If he kills me, we'll be your servants.  If I kill him, you'll be our servants."  That was the meaning that was repeated by Goliath for forty days.
     The Philistines knew that all was not well with King Saul and chose this moment to strike.  Here they are in the valley of Elah which is well inside Israel.  They are camped on one side of the valley and Israel is camped on the other.  The Philistines were certain to win.  After all, who of the Israelites had a champion like Goliath?
     Enters David, the young man who plays the lyre to sooth the nerves of the king.  The young man who spent his youth as a shepherd, and tended the flocks of his father.  He is older now since the last time Saul saw him.  He had been out to the battlefield and heard Goliath's taunt.  Now he approaches the King.  He wants to fight Goliath.  He pleads his case to Saul.
     No one, not even Saul, believes that he can be a match for this giant.  However, he pleads anyway and persuades Saul that he was able to whip the lion that stole a lamb in his care and a bear, too.  This was the tipping point for Saul.  He offered David his armor but David declined and took five smooth stones from a brook, his staff, and his slingshot.  Out he went to meet Goliath.
     This time the taunt was from David.  "This day the Lord will deliver thee into mine hand..." (I Samuel 17:46)  With that, David loaded his slingshot with one of the smooth stones and slung it.  The giant fell.  The stone sank into his forehead.  He was dead.
     This story was renewed for us in the Sunday sermon.  "Don't be a coward especially when it's against the devil." said Pastor Josh.  Then he repeated this engaging battle written in the Bible.  "What's the giant in your life?  Don't you know that the Lord has equipped you to do battle just as he did David?"

     Pastor Josh is not one to stand on ceremony.  Just because some think that "this is the way we've always done it" and that continuing on the same path is necessary, our pastor doesn't necessarily agree.  So, this past Sunday, he broke with ceremony.
     God must be working on him.  Our church has just spent the past 5 weeks listening to sermons on the ten commandments. (One had to attend the evening services to get the other half of the commandments; hence, five weeks, ten commandments.)  Now, this week, our beloved preacher preached most of Romans 8.
     There's a total of 39 verses in this chapter.  And, if one has never been privy to hearing a verse-by-verse sermon, it is truly something to behold.  Speaking for myself only, it was a new experience and, hopefully, one that will be repeated again.  Taking notes, which is what I do, was a taxing experience.  But, it was also refreshing.  Kind of like someone had blown away all the cobwebs and here was this beautiful chapter waiting to be seen through fresh eyes.
     Romans 8 is hope for the believer.  Paul, the author of Romans, is speaking to those who are in the Spirit.  Those who are in Christ Jesus are free from sin and death.  The law was perfect but man was not.  God made up the difference and sent Jesus. (Romans 7:24-25)  Sinful man was now able to become a new creature.
     "The old man's dead.  I may drive the same truck, the same tractor, wear the same old clothes but the old man is dead.  I'm a new man." said Pastor Josh as he expounded on verse 3.  As he continued on it was clear that there is a definite division between the flesh and the Spirit.  It's the believers' responsibility to know who he's cheering for.  It's important to walk God's way, not the way of man.  Remember that the Word of God will stand when the world's on fire.
     Life comes from the Spirit.  Sin comes from the flesh and leads to death.  Live by faith and not by experience.  As it is now, we live by faith for the things not seen.  A day will come when faith will end in sight.  God showed his love towards man when he sent his Son to redeem him.  It's about what God wants.  Please Him.  ​

   As far back as Genesis 12 God said that he would make a great nation.  He as much as said so to Abraham who is referred to as the father of the Jewish nation.  Because of a great famine the people of God wound up being in bondage in Egypt for four hundred years.  God had told Abraham that this would happen. (Genesis 15:13)  
     The story of Moses and the pilgrimage from Egypt is a familiar one.  God has brought his people out of bondage.  He says as much in Exodus 20:2.  In fact, this is the very introduction to the Ten Commandments.  "I am the Lord thy God, which has brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage."
     God has redeemed his people and now they are returning to the promised land.  God must have looked at them and realized that some changes needed to take place.  The first thing that he asked for was some respect.  The first four statements he makes have to do with Him:  no other gods before Him, no graven images, no bowing down to them, and don't take the His name in vain.
     The last six have to do with how other people are to be treated:  honor your parents, don't kill or commit adultery, don't steal or bear false witness,   and don't covet your neighbor's possessions.  Those are the ten  commandments.
     Four hundred years they spent in bondage.  Four hundred years among pagan worshipers.  Four hundred years of mistreatment.  Is it any wonder that God wanted his people to write these commandments on their hearts so that they could have a better life than the one they had been in.    ​