RUSSELL SANDERS

9-24-2025

GOLIATH’S PURPOSE

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Goliath thought his purpose was to put fear and intimidation into the hearts of the Israelites, so they could be easily defeated by the Philistines. Israel may have thought that his purpose was to expose their fear and weakness. David may have thought that Goliath’s purpose was to prove that God alone was Israel’s defender, as God had raised David up for that purpose.

Goliath exposed the fear and weakness of Israel’s army. They saw that they could not rely on man’s strength alone, as they felt helpless against the giant. God provided a deliverer through the shepherd boy David.

Goliath’s true God-given purpose was to show that their salvation was from God alone. Yes, God does use men as deliverers, but it is by God’s strength and not man’s.

We need to understand that the main purpose of our day-to-day struggles is to give God opportunity to show His strength, love, and deliverance for us, his children. We must trust Him for that.

David trusted God against Goliath, and it brought victory to all of Israel. When we trust God, we also gain the victory through Him. Each trial we go through has a purpose, so do not be discouraged. “Let go and let God.”

There has no trial, test, or problem come upon you but that God has made a way through it for you.

Proverbs 3:5-6 is a good reminder. “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He will direct thy paths.”

HELEN SANDERS

9-24-2025

OCCUPY

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As we study the scriptures, we learn that many things must take place before Jesus returns for his bride. We know that the antichrist will be revealed and the spirit of lawless will be upon the entire world. 

Many believed that Jesus was going to come back yesterday, September 23.  They have been deceived because the scripture says in Matthew 24:36 says that we will not know the day or hour. Setting dates is not scriptural my friends. Don’t fall for that deception.

We are given some instructions as we wait for the Lord’s return. In Luke 19:11 it says many are like those deceived today because “…they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear.” Because of this mindset Jesus taught the parable of the pounds.

He told them that that there was a certain nobleman that went into a far country wanting to receive a kingdom for himself. He would set his kingdom up and return later. He called ten people, citizens of his kingdom, to serve him and gave them ten pounds [equivalent to over $60,000.00) and said in verse 13, “…Occupy till I come.”

They had been given this money and were told to occupy. The word occupy does not mean to “take up space in residence.” It means to work, to trade, to bring increase. Remember, he gave them the money to do the work. They were citizens of his kingdom.

His citizens hated him and actually sent a message telling him that no one was going to reign over them. This leads us to believe that the nobleman knew their heart condition before he would return. Jesus went on to say that the nobleman came back to see what they had done with the money he had given them. 

One doubled the ten pounds and was told by the nobleman that because he had been faithful that he would rule over ten cities in his kingdom. Another gained half of the first person and was given half the amount of cities to rule over in the nobleman’s kingdom. Then came the last person. He told the nobleman that he knew he was a harsh ruler and hid the money in a napkin. The nobleman rebuked the man and took away what he had give him. He told him he could have at least put the money in the bank and earned interest from it. Then, the nobleman took the ten pounds he had given him and gave it to the one that had doubled his ten pounds. All those that hated him were slain. [vs. 27]

We are given the same choice as these ten citizens, because we are also citizens of the kingdom of God. We can take what God has given us, whether much or little and cause it to increase, or we can be idle in His kingdom. We must be willing to “occupy” which means to be about the Father’s business until the Lord returns. Will he find us fruitful, or will he find us empty handed? The choice is ours. I pray you choose wisely.