Spiritual warfare is an inevitable reality in the life of every believer, and the question we must ask ourselves is: where is our sword? In 1 Samuel 13, we see a dramatic shift in the spiritual and military condition of Israel under King Saul’s leadership. In his first year as king, Saul responded to an attack from King Nahash of the Ammonites by rallying the people, uniting them in battle, and securing victory. This triumph led to the people embracing Saul as king and, most importantly, to God being glorified. It was evident that this victory was the work of the Lord.

However, in Saul’s second year as king, a new challenge arose. He formed a standing army of 3,000 men, with 2,000 under his command and 1,000 under the command of his son, Jonathan. This departure from Israel’s previous practice of rallying forces only in times of need led to complacency among the people. They began to rely on the government for protection rather than preparing themselves for battle. Similarly, many Christians today make the mistake of relying solely on their pastors to study the Word, pray, and teach their children, instead of taking personal responsibility for their spiritual growth.

Jonathan courageously attacked a Philistine garrison, but Saul took credit for the victory. This provoked the Philistines, who responded with overwhelming force—30,000 chariots, 6,000 horsemen, and countless foot soldiers. Faced with such a formidable enemy, the Israelites were filled with fear and hid in caves, thickets, and pits. This mirrors the spiritual warfare we face today: the moment we decide to break free from sin and live for Jesus, the enemy launches attacks against us—through marital strife, job loss, financial struggles, or discouragement. The enemy seeks to prevent us from praying, studying Scripture, attending church, and persevering in faith. The Apostle Paul reminds us in Ephesians 6:12 that our struggle is not against flesh and blood but against spiritual forces of darkness. Hiding in fear is not the answer; we are called to stand firm and fight back with the Word of God.

Saul, waiting in Gilgal as Samuel instructed, grew impatient when Samuel did not arrive as expected. Instead of trusting God’s timing, he took matters into his own hands and offered a burnt sacrifice—something only the prophet was permitted to do. This act of disobedience revealed Saul’s lack of trust in God. As soon as he finished the offering, Samuel arrived and confronted him. Instead of repentance, Saul justified his actions by blaming others and his circumstances. This moment marked the beginning of Saul’s downfall. God desired a leader who would seek after His heart, and because of Saul’s disobedience, God chose David to eventually replace him. Saul’s actions teach us an important lesson: God develops us in the waiting room before promoting us. Waiting on God builds faith, patience, character, humility, obedience, and spiritual maturity. Psalm 46:10 reminds us to “be still and know that I am God.”

As the Philistines advanced, Israel faced another challenge—they had no weapons. The Philistines had ensured that no blacksmiths were available in Israel, preventing them from making swords or spears. This left the Israelites vulnerable, with only Saul and Jonathan possessing real weapons. The enemy seeks to disarm God’s people in the same way today, not by taking away physical weapons but by keeping them from the Word of God. Too many Christians are unarmed in spiritual battle, replacing Scripture with worldly wisdom, philosophy, and self-reliance. A believer without the Sword of the Spirit—the Word of God—is defenseless against the enemy.

As we reflect on this passage, we must ask ourselves: where is our sword? Are we prepared for the battles ahead? Do we rely on others to feed us spiritually, or are we actively equipping ourselves with God’s Word? The enemy is not afraid of religious traditions, good works, or titles; he trembles only at the name of Jesus and the power of God’s Word. Saul’s failure to wait on God cost him the kingdom. Let us not make the same mistake. Instead, may we be a people who seek after God’s heart, stand firm in faith, and remain armed with the Sword of the Spirit.

At Calvary Chapel West Jacksonville, under the leadership of Pastor Allen Victor, we encourage believers to be spiritually equipped and ready for battle.

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