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Overcoming Challenges

Sermon by Ps Roland Lee at the Faith Community Baptist Church, first weekend of May 2025.


Acts 11:27-30 tells us that Antioch was going through a famine but the Church in Antioch did not hold back in their giving.  Like the Antioch church, we must expect to face opposition and challenges. In times like these where we are anxious of what is happening due to the economy, the job markets, we should trust that God will provide and continue to be generous in our giving. 

Scripture: 1 Samuel 17 the story of David and Goliath. Goliath is a giant of a man who taunted the Isrealites who was afraid to confront him in a 1:1 battle. In comes David, the shepherd boy who picked up 5 stones. Using a sling guided by God, he managed to kill the giant Goliath with the first stone.

This story holds many lessons for the church in Singapore. Goliath is Hebrew means giant,  captivating or oppression. In Genesis 12, God gave Israel a mandate to be a great nation.  Just like Israel, the Singapore church is given a mandate to be the Antioch by Dr Billy Graham, needs to advance outwards and bless the nations. In order to overcome challenge to bless the nations, we need to:

1. Focus on God, He is the greatest 

Historically,  God has given Israel many victories: the Egyptian army was wiped out, Israel conquered Jericho, Gideon, Samson brought victory over Midianites, Canaanites and Philistines.  But the Israel lost their focus when they saw Goliath.  They became cowardly but not David who asked "who is this pagan...to defy the army of the living God?"
Just like David, we do not need to fear because God is with us. 

2. Fight our giant, God is for us

Paul asked in the letter to the Romans that if God is for us, who can be against us? There is a big difference between facing the giant and actually fighting and overcoming the giant. It is not enough just to face - we need to fight.  We do not fight with our own strength but we speak the name of Jesus, with prayer and intercession.  

The story of David is for us - the God of David is the same God that we serve that this is the Lord's battle and the Lord will rescue his people. Though it all, David overcame and he is also the author is one of the best psalms in the Bible...

Psalm 23
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want
He makes me lie down in green pastures
He lead me beside still waters
He restores my soul
He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil
For you are with me
Your rod and your staff, they comfort me
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies 
You anoint my head with oil
My cup overflows
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life
And I shall dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

Psalm 23 can be summed in 4 words : provision, protection, peace, presence.
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