PROTECTING THE PROMISE
There are many promises that God has given us. The book of Deuteronomy chapter 28 reminds us that we are to be the lender not the borrower, the head and not the tail.

John 16:13 reminds us how the Holy Spirit will lead and guide us into all truth.
As believers we have the great promise of eternal life.

1 John 2:25
Often, promises are connected to the anointing of God on our lives. It is the anointing is what breaks the yoke of bondage, and sets the captive free (Isaiah 10:27, Luke 4:18)

1 Samuel 16:10 - 13 NKJV
Thus Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. And Samuel said to Jesse, “The LORD has not chosen
these.” 11 And Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all the young men here?” Then he said, “There remains yet the youngest, and there he is, keeping the sheep.” And Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and bring him. For we will not sit down till he comes here.” 12 So he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, with bright eyes, and good-looking. And the LORD said, “Arise, anoint him; for this is the one!” 13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel arose and went to Ramah.

David not only received the anointing but was willing to fight to protect it. He was willing to fight for the fulfillment of God’s promises.

Being a good steward isn’t just about finances… we must be good stewards of our entire lives. Willing to protect itat all costs.

*To protect or provide protection for something means to provide stewardship.

How is our stewardship with the life God has given us?

David fought to protect what God wanted to give him in his future David was a good steward because he had a good relationship with the Lord and willingly served however God required.

Matthew 11:12 NKJV
“And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.”

In order to be a good steward in the Kingdom of God we must be willing to fight to protect the life He gives us.

David wasn’t just fighting for a herd of sheep when he killed the lion and the bear, he was fighting to protect the promises God had for his future!

If we are going to be good stewards and protect the promises God has for OUR future we have to be mindful
of what type of fighter we will be…

Will we be a FEARFUL FIGHTER or a FAITH-FILLED FIGHTER?
FEARFUL FIGHTERS…

1. Cover up and hide when the enemy comes

• Always on defense, survival mode, afraid to fall into
  temptation, can’t handle themselves appropriately
  when sin comes around, easily persuaded/influenced
• Lacking boldness and courage in the Lord, don’t know
  who they are in Christ

2. Specialize in counter attacks.

1. Lacking spiritual maturity and awareness, usually
3. caught off guard by the attacks of the enemy and put
5. themselves in positions to be attacked.
   
   3. Cower in the face of danger

• More worried about their image, always trying to save
  themselves from looking bad in any way
• Hard to find when the battle gets real
• FAITH-FILLED FIGHTERS…

1. Prepared for the fight

• Spiritually mature, self-disciplined, self motivated, selfaware
  1 Corinthians 9:27 ESV
  “But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest
  after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.”

2. Attack first

• Spiritually alert and stay ready though prayer, reading
  God’s word, fasting
• Get excited to engage the enemy and exercise faith in
  battle
  
  1 Samuel 17:48 NKJV
  “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.”

3. Courageous in battle

• Love facing challenges because God uses them to
  bring change to our life
• Understand that a fight free life is a fairytale and look
  forward to the opportunity to "fight the good fight of
  faith!”
• Trust in God’s word and “FEAR NOT”
• Have an unwavering faith that God is with us!
  
  Fearful fighters will always struggle to be good stewards
  with the life God gives them.
  
  Faith-filled fighters desire to be good stewards due to an understanding that everything first belongs to God.
  
  God gives us the privilege to steward our lives according to His word and fight to protect the promises for our future.