Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: Pierce (06/05/25)
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TITLE: The Power of the Cross | Previous Challenge Entry
By Ruby Isaac
06/12/25 -
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Often pictured on the front covers of children’s Bible story books, David’s defeat of Goliath was amazing—remarkably quick and decisive! All he needed was his sling and the first of five smooth stones carefully selected from a nearby brook. But David was trusting in neither himself, his sling, nor the single smooth stone soon to be hurled at the giant. His trust was in God.
“Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?” Goliath had sneered gruffly at David—his ruddy, youthful opponent as the Philistines stood in battle array against Israel in the Valley of Elah. “Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the sky and the beasts of the field.” Then he cursed David, threatened him, and swore by his impotent, powerless false gods.
But David knew the true God! Unafraid, he confidently shouted back to the giant, “You come to me with a sword, a spear, and 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 taunted.”
[I Samuel 17:43-45; NASB 1995] David wanted all the soldiers assembled there to know the greatness of the God of Israel, and that the battle is the Lord’s.
The truths demonstrated in this familiar Old Testament story are timeless. They reflect the spiritual warfare described in the New Testament, particularly in Ephesians 6:10-18 NKJV. This passage provides a detailed set of “How to” instructions for winning our spiritual battles. Centuries after the fact, we still grapple with the ravages of sin and spiritual darkness. Trials and temptations still trip us. We sin every day.
Unseen enemy agents of evil are listed in Ephesians 6:12 [NKJV]. In this same passage, we are commanded at least four times to “put on” or “take” or “take up” the whole armor of God. Among other items, this includes “the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,” [Ephesians 6:17 NKJV]. The battle is the Lord’s, but as Christians, we are responsible for equipping ourselves both offensively and defensively to stand for truth during spiritual warfare as best we can. The Lord of hosts will not fail us just as He did not fail David.
The battle between good and evil has already been won by the Lord Jesus Christ through His death on the cross. He paid the penalty for sin for all who believe and trust Him for forgiveness. Psalm 22:1 NKJV recounts how Jesus felt forsaken by God and cried out to Him in agony. His suffering for us was enormous.
He said in verse 16, “They pierced my hands and my feet.” While He was still on the cross, one of the soldiers also pierced His side with a spear. Immediately both blood and water came forth [John 19:34 NKJV], indicating that Jesus was already dead. Three days later He arose from the grave, triumphant over sin and death and hell. Through His sacrifice the battle has been won. We, too, can enjoy victory and look forward to spending eternity with Him. That’s the power of the cross. Glory be to God!
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For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. [Hebrews 4:12 NKJV]
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