Breakthrough: Run Towards Your Giant

BREAKTHROUGH: RUN TOWARDS YOUR GIANT

OPENING TEXT:

“For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world--our faith.” (1 John 5:4).

• If you are born of God, then His desire for you is to experience overcoming victory.

• If that’s true, then why are so many Christians living defeated lives? No faith.

• I want to stir up your faith to run towards your giants and experience God’s victory!

THE BIG IDEA: What giants are you facing in your life? The story of David gives us the keys to having confidence to run towards our giants and defeat them.

1. INTRODUCING GOLIATH THE GIANT:

• The Philistines and Israelites were enemies who had come together for a battle:

“3 The Philistines stood on a mountain on one side, and Israel stood on a mountain on the other side, with a valley between them. 4 And a champion went out from the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, from Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span. (9 ½ feet tall).

• He had a bronze helmet, a coat of mail, a javelin, a spear and a shield-bearer (v.5-7).

8 Then he stood and cried out to the armies of Israel, and said to them, "Why have you come out to line up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and you the servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves, and let him come down to me. 9 If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we will be your servants. But if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall be our servants and serve us." 10 And the Philistine said, "I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together." 11 When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid.” (1 Samuel 17:3-4,8-11, NKJV).

• This is a familiar Bible story, but remember: “All Scripture is profitable.” (2 Tim. 3:16).

• Like Israel, all of us have giants in our lives that cause us to be dismayed and afraid.

2. INTRODUCING DAVID THE GIANT-SLAYER:

“12 Now David was the son of that Ephrathite of Bethlehem Judah, whose name was Jesse, and who had eight sons. And the man was old, advanced in years, in the days of Saul. 13 The three oldest sons of Jesse had gone to follow Saul to the battle. The names of his three sons who went to the battle were Eliab the firstborn, next to him Abinadab, and the third Shammah. 14 David was the youngest. And the three oldest followed Saul.” (1 Samuel 17:12-14).

• So Jesse sent David to take a lunch to his brothers on the battlefield (v.15-19).

• When David arrived in the camp, Goliath came out to challenge & taunt Israel (v.20-23).

• “And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him and were dreadfully afraid.” (v. 24). They ran away.

• It reminds me of the Tale of Sir Robin from Monty Python’s Quest for the Holy Grail: “Brave Sir Robin ran away, bravely ran away away, when danger reared its ugly head, he bravely turned his tail and fled. Bravest of the braaaave, Sir Robin!”

• David said: “who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?” (v. 26). Even though David had faith in God, he still had opposition:

FIRST OPPOSITION: “Now Eliab his oldest brother heard when he spoke to the men; and Eliab's anger was aroused against David, and he said, "Why did you come down here? And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your pride and the insolence of your heart, for you have come down to see the battle." And David said, "What have I done now? Is there not a cause?” (v. 28-29).

• Sometimes our family will oppose us when we rise up in faith

SECOND OPPOSITION: “And Saul said to David, "You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are a youth, and he a man of war from his youth." Moreover David said, "The Lord, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine." And Saul said to David, "Go, and the Lord be with you!” (v. 33,37).

• Sometimes people in leadership will oppose us when we rise up in faith.

• David did not allow himself to be discouraged by family or leadership!

• I love the faith of David, this young little guy who trusted in a Big God.

• The Philistines had been taking away the cattle and crops – taunting them for years.