A LIFE IN FOUR ACTS
1. SHEPHERD (childhood - adolescence)
2. WARRIOR (young adulthood)
3. KING (adulthood)
4. SAGE (senior)
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ACT 2: WARRIOR

DAVID: Pizza Delivery Driver & Giant Slayer

THE WARRIOR'S CODE

#1. STAY PREPARED (1 Samuel 17:40)
Instead, he took his staff in his hand and chose five smooth stones from the wadi and put them in the pouch, in his shepherd’s bag. Then, with his sling in his hand, he approached the Philistine.

"Keep your head on a swivel"

1 Corinthians 16:13 – Be alert, stand firm in the faith, be courageous, be strong.

1 Peter 3:15 – but in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, ready at any time to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you.
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#2. FIGHT THE REAL ENEMY (1 Samuel 17:28-29)
David’s oldest brother Eliab listened as he spoke to the men, and he became angry with him…
“What have I done now?” protested David. “It was just a question.”

We're on the same team!

Ephesians 6:12 – For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens.
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#3. DON'T NEGLECT YOUR TRAINING (1 Samuel 17:37)
“The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.”

Practice makes permanent

1 Timothy 4:14-15 – Don’t neglect the gift that is in you… Practice these things; be committed to them, so that your progress may be evident to all.

2 Timothy 2:15 – Be diligent to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who doesn’t need to be ashamed, correctly teaching the word of truth.
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#4. REMEMBER WHAT YOU'RE FIGHTING FOR (1 Samuel 17:26)
“What will be done for the man who kills that Philistine and removes this disgrace from Israel? Just who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?”

For vs. Against

1 Timothy 6:11-12 – But you, man of God, flee from these things, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of eternal life to which you were called…

1 Corinthians 9:24 – Don’t you know that the runners in a stadium all race, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way to win the prize.
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#5. TRUST IN GOD'S STRENGTH (1 Samuel 17:45-47)
“You come against me with a sword, spear, and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord of Armies, the God of the ranks of Israel—you have defied him… Then all the world will know that Israel has a God, and this whole assembly will know that it is not by sword or by spear that the Lord saves, for the battle is the Lord’s. He will hand you over to us.”

I can’t, but God can

Exodus 14:14 – "The Lord will fight for you, and you must be quiet.”

Isaiah 40:29 – He gives strength to the faint and strengthens the powerless.
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#6. CHANGE THE GAME (1 Samuel 17:48-49)
When the Philistine started forward to attack him, David ran quickly to the battle line to meet the Philistine. David put his hand in the bag, took out a stone, slung it, and hit the Philistine on his forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell facedown to the ground.

Whatever it takes

2 Corinthians 10:3-5 – For although we live in the flesh, we do not wage war according to the flesh, since the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but are powerful through God for the demolition of strongholds.
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#7. KNOW WHEN TO LAY YOUR WEAPON DOWN (1 Samuel 24:10)
“Someone advised me to kill you, but I took pity on you and said: I won’t lift my hand against my lord, since he is the Lord’s anointed.”

Wage peace

John 18:36 – “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would fight... But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.”

Ecclesiastes 3:1, 8 – There is an occasion for everything, and a time for every activity under heaven: …a time for war and a time for peace.
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As long as David followed his own code, things went well. God protected and provided for him.

But that doesn’t mean life was easy.
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"THE SON OF DAVID"

GOING DEEPER | Study & Discussion Questions

1. Why do we tend to focus more on the size of the giant (whatever that may be in our lives) than on the size of our God?

2. Which of these seven principles do you find most helpful? Which do you find most challenging? How can "The Warrior's Code" help keep you on track?

3. Explain how David changed the rules of the game to his own advantage. Is there a scenario in your life where you need to "change the game?"

4. What would you consider worth fighting for? How can we be known more for what we are for and not just what we're against?

5. How did Jesus win the ultimate victory?