The Fourth Smooth Truth For Worship

When young David faced Goliath in 1 Samuel 17, he had five smooth stones, his shepherd’s staff, a leather strap called a sling, and the faith and knowledge that he was on the side of the living God, the God of Israel.

Goliath had come against God. He did not know that, but David did. And David knew God and he knew the promises of God for Israel. Armed with that knowledge and the skill he learned from keeping sheep safe from predators, he was confident in defeating Goliath and the Philistine army.

In 1 Samuel 17:41 – 47 you hear the conversation that David had with Goliath before the fight. Some might call this trash talk, but for David it was truth talk! Goliath was amused that David would come out to fight him without weapons. He cursed David by his gods and said that he was about to give David’s little scrawny body to the birds and the beasts of the field. David answered that he was about to give the whole army of the Philistines to the birds and wild beasts, right after he killed and decapitated Goliath.

The next thing David said is the fourth smooth truth for learning to worship the Father in spirit and truth. He said in 17:45, “You come to me with sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand…” David said what he said and did what he did in the name of the LORD. When you become a true worshiper, worshiping the Father in spirit and truth, you do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ!

The apostle Paul said it like this in Colossians 3:17, “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” But what does it mean to do what you do in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, giving thanks to the Father through Him? It is more than just saying the words, “In the name of Jesus…” You must learn what those words means if you are to worship the Father in spirit and truth. More than that, you must learn what that Name means!

Living in the name of the Lord Jesus means that His life, character, strength, and desires is your life, character, strength, and desires. Christ is your life, Colossians 3:4! When you live before the Father in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, you are a fragrant aroma to God, a pleasing sacrifice, God can see His Son in you, with you, living through you, as you, and it brings Him glory! You get the joy, and He gets the glory. Hallelujah!!!

When David said those words to Goliath, he wanted to make sure Goliath knew who he was fighting. It wasn’t David he was fighting, it was the God of David, and of Israel that he was fighting. And God always wins the battle!

Today, find on your phone, or write on an index card to carry with you, Colossians 3:16 – 17, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” Make sure you look at it often throughout the day, meditating on it, praying it, and most of all, doing it in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ!

Tomorrow, the fifth smooth truth for worshiping the Father in spirit and truth.