Many years ago, a woman walked up to me in church and whispered in my ear, “Kim, when you feel you are winning the battle, when you begin to see a breakthrough, DO NOT LAY DOWN YOUR SWORD.”
Although it was many years ago, I remember those words as if they were yesterday. I share it with you today because within that word is the ability to attain victory.
Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword, 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, and I will strike you and take your head from you. And this day I will give the carcasses of the camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. Then all this assembly shall know that the LORD does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the LORD’s, and He will give you into our hands.”
So it was, when the Philistine arose and came and drew near to meet David, that David hurried and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine. Then David put his hand in his bag and took out a stone; and he slung it and struck the Philistine in his forehead, so that the stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the earth. So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone, and struck the Philistine and killed him. But there was no sword in the hand of David. Therefore, David ran and stood over the Philistine, took his sword and drew it out of its sheath and killed him, and cut off his head with it.
And when the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled. 1 Samuel 17
Most of us are familiar with the story of David and Goliath. It is a powerful testimony of the power of God. I believe it is still relevant today.
This year, I have fought some wars. I have battled and pressed into God. Amid my press, I began to see a little light at the end of the tunnel. You know what I mean…I saw and felt a little relief concerning what I was praying about. Not total fulfillment, but some little manifestations led me to believe I was going in the right direction.
I was thinking about this one morning while talking to the Lord. I was thanking God for what I was seeing. For the small signs that let me know my prayers were hitting the mark.
At that precise moment, He quietly and quickly cautioned me, reminding me of that word from years ago.
He said, “Don’t stop now, take the head off.”
Biblically, the head represents authority. It represents Lordship, rulership, and power. When God says, “take the head off, ” He is saying, get to the root of this thing and take it out completely. Do not stop until you do.
What if David had stopped when Goliath fell? Let’s look at the scripture again.
Then David put his hand in his bag and took out a stone; and he slung it and struck the Philistine in his forehead, so that the stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the earth…. But there was no sword in the hand of David. Therefore David ran and stood over the Philistine, took his sword and drew it out of its sheath and killed him, and cut off his head with it. And when the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled.
David struck Goliath with a stone, and he fell to the ground.
David could have stopped and celebrated right there…but the Bible says, David ran and stood over him, took HIS sword and killed him and cut off his head.
David ended this battle when he killed him and took off his head…not when he hit him with the stone…at least that is how I read it. When this happened, the enemies fled.
The words of the woman at church who whispered in my ear so long ago are a word for this hour.
“DO NOT LAY DOWN YOUR SWORD.”
We cannot lay down our swords when it appears we have a little relief. NO! We must stand firm and continue fighting until the head is completely removed from our enemy. Until he flees in terror.
When we begin to see a breakthrough, that is not the time to quit. It is time to RUN TOWARD OUR ENEMY and take his head off. It is time to end it once and for all.
When our finances begin to get a little bit better, it is not time to quit. It is time to press in and remove the enemy of lack from our lives.
When the sickness we are battling eases up a bit. It is not time to stop pressing it. It is time to continue to declare, “By HIS stripes I was healed and made whole.” To declare it until you see a full manifestation of His promise concerning healing.
Friends, if you get one thing this year, please get this. Do not stop until you remove the head of your enemy. Run toward him and finish it. If you fail to finish it, you may very well face this enemy again.
The truth remains, Jesus gave us the victory at the cross. All we have to do is lay hold of it. It often takes a fight of faith – but remember, the battle is already won.
It’s time to finish it. Once and for all. Then…we can celebrate!
