In this message, Norm Spohr looks at the life of Benaiah from 1 Chronicles 11:22-24, one of David’s mighty men, and considers what his courage and victories can teach us about living faithfully for God. Benaiah faced seemingly impossible challenges, including a lion, a powerful Egyptian warrior, and some heroes from Moab.
Norm draws spiritual lessons from these accounts, showing how the believer must learn to overcome three enemies: the flesh within (pictured by Moab), the world around us (pictured by Egypt), and Satan himself (pictured by the lion). He reminds us that the Christian life involves an ongoing battle against the old nature, the values and empty promises of the world, and the direct attacks of the enemy.
Yet the message is ultimately one of encouragement. We are not called to fight these battles in our own strength. Through Christ, the Word of God, the armor of God, faith, and a life surrendered to the Lord and lived in love toward others, believers can overcome.
Benaiah’s victories serve as a picture of what God can accomplish through those who rely upon Him. As Norm concludes, believers can be overcomers—defeating the enemy within, resisting the world, and standing against Satan through God’s strength.
May we, like Benaiah, become men and women of valor who stand faithfully for Christ and allow His love and power to work through us.