Facing Your Giants: Blind Intersections Series

“Blind Intersections”

2 Sam. 2:1-4

These sermons served as the foundation for Max’s newest book, Facing Your Giants.

THEME: You have all you need to face the giant – size questions of your life.

Introduction: Max Lucado introduced the idea of direction for our lives by saying, “if geese had my sense of direction, they would spend winters in Alaska” (p. 90). He also wrote that: “I can get lost anywhere. Seriously. Anywhere. The simplest map confuses me; the clearest trail bewilders me. I couldn’t track an elephant through four feet of snow. I can misread instructions to the bathroom down the hall. Indeed, once I did and embarrassed several women in a fast-food restaurant in Fort Worth.

I once got lost in my hotel. I told the receptionist that my key wasn’t working, only to realize I’d been on the wrong floor trying to open the wrong door.

Several years ago I was convinced my car had been stolen from the airport parking garage. It hadn’t; I was in the wrong garage.

While in Seattle, I left my hotel room in plenty of time for my speaking engagement, but when I saw highway signs for the Canadian border, I knew I’d be late. I once went for a morning jog, returned to the hotel, and ate. I’d eaten two portions of the free breakfast before I remembered my hotel had no breakfast bar. I was in the wrong place” (p.90-91).

Perhaps you can relate to Columbus, who, as they say, didn’t know where he was going when he left, didn’t know where he was when he got there, and didn’t know where he had been when he had gotten back.

Can you relate? Of course you can. We’ve all scratched our heads a time of two, if not at highway intersections, at least at the cross roads of life. The best of navigators have wondered, do I take the job or leave it? Accept the marriage proposal or not? Leave home or remain home? Build or buy?

One of life’s giant-size questions is How can I know what God wants me to do? and David asks it. He’s just learned of the deaths of Saul and Jonathan. Suddenly the throne is empty, and David’s options are open. So David inquired of the Lord about what to do (2 Sam. 2:1). David makes a habit of running his options past God. God answered and told David what to do.

Transition: Oh, that God would do the same for us. That we could ask and he would answer. That we could cry out and he would reply.

I. Consult Your Maker

The God who guided David guides you. You simply need to consult your Maker. God hasn’t changed. He still promises to guide us. “Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying,

"This is the way, walk in it," Whenever you turn to the right hand or whenever you turn to the left” (Isa. 30:21). "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me” (John 10:27). There are many promises concerning prayer of God’s Word. Consult your Maker. Discover his direction by marinating your mind in his writing.

Transition: Do you have a Bible?

II. Read Your Bible

Has any other book ever been described in this fashion? “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).

“Living and powerful.” The words of the Bible have life! Nouns with pulse rates. Muscular adjectives. Verbs darting back and forth across the page. God works through these words. The Bible is to God what a surgical glove it to the surgeon. He reaches through them to touch deep within you.

Haven’t you felt his touch?

In a late, lonely hour, you read the words “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:15). The verse comforts like a hand on your shoulder. When anxiety termites away at your peace, someone shares this passage, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God” (Phil. 4:6). Put the word to work. Let “the words of Christ…live in your hearts and make you wise” (Col. 3:16).

Don’t make a decision, whether large or small, without sitting before God with open Bible, open heart, open ears, imitating the prayer of Samuel: “Speak Lord for your servant heareth” (1 Sam. 3:10).

Transition: You have a Bible? Read it. You have a family of Faith? Consult it.

III. Family of Faith

Others have asked your question. You aren’t the first to face your problems. Others have stood where you stand and wondered what you wonder. Seek their advice. “…whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their faith” (Heb. 13:7).