How To Slay A Giant

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HOW TO SLAY A GIANT

October 15, 2006 Jay Robison 1 SAMUEL 17:38-49

Biblical story today is a familiar one, needs little introduction

1 Sam 17 is one of most famous stories in Bible. Israel about to rumble w\arch enemy: Philistines. Philistines 1 mountain & Israelites on other, w\valley between

Both armies are at a standstill. Neither side wants to go down.

Mean we have all heard about David and Goliath

If we are not careful we can miss the meaning in the story

God’s word unlike any other book

has meaning for that day then and our day now for you and me

1. Recognize GIANTS WILL BE AROUND YOU

Battle lines drawn for weeks battle between Israel and Philistines

In standoffs like this, army would choose best warrior to go head to head against the other army’s best warrior. Whichever side won, losing side would retreat or surrender

There are going to be giants in life, I don’t like to think about it Take a look at Goliath 9 FT TALL, 125 LB ARMOR, 15 LB SPEAR, David teenager Goliath lays out challenge Goliath’s armor weighed over 200 lbs bigger than David

Choose a man and have him come down to me. If he is able to fight and kill me, we will become your subjects; but if I overcome him and kill him, you will become our subjects and serve us." Then the Philistine said, "This day I defy the armies of Israel! 1 Samuel 17:8-10 Today’s NIV

Goliath challenged the whole army

Send out anyone you like and I’ll whip’m

Vs 11 hearing Goliath Saul all Israelites dismayed\ terrified.

What are the Giants in your life?

What are the obstacles that leave you dismayed & discouraged?

Maybe your giant is financial. Have bills mortgage, car, Dr. bills Seems that as soon as you pay off one, another one comes Problem seems so big just can’t see how God can help you. Maybe giant is addiction. You’ve been struggling w\it for years You’ve done everything in your power to try & break the habit.

Or maybe your giant is a person. Not because they’re 9 feet tall.

But because they intimidate you. Their personality is strong. Or their tongue is sarcastic. Or their position is powerful. Or ability so great feel like a mental midget in their presence. Maybe your giant is some internal battle, depression or anger

The normal reaction to the giants in our lives is to get discouraged & to give ground.

2. Keep looking TO GOD OVER YOUR GIANTS

Where your focus is will make all the difference

Be computer instead of a typewriter diff between two is memory. Typewriter writes words but must be done each time. Computer has memory saved experiences

when you come to document pick up where left off

We approach God sometimes in fear facing a giant

Acting like a typewriter, I don’t know what to do

I am so afraid, when God use your memory Remember what I have done in the past, in your life

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!” Vs 37 NKJV

Get the right perspective,

God has done it before and God will do it again

David had had experiences with God, prayed before

Acted in faith before, empowered before

Those things not just for David as biblical hero

But for everyone who really prays, reads God word

Who is willing to have a relationship with God?

Bruce Larson Believe & Belong how helped people defeat giants “For years, worked in New York city and counseled at my office Often suggest they walk w\me down to RCA building on 5th Av. In entrance of building a gigantic statue of Atlas, a perfectly

proportioned man w\all his muscles straining, holding world upon his shoulders. Most powerful man in world, he can barely stand up under his burden. ‘Now that’s one way you can live,’ I would point out, ‘trying to carry the world on your shoulders. Now, come across the street w\me.’ Other side of Fifth Avenue is St. Patrick’s Cathedral, there behind altar is a statue of Jesus as a boy, 8 or 9 yrs old, w\no effort, holding world in one hand.

The soldiers thought HE’S TOO BIG TO BE BEAT

David saw that HE’S SO BIG I CAN’T MISS

Really better said, God’s so Big I can’t miss

Your outlook will determine your results

The me I see is the me I’ll be

Several years ago, circus act with Bengal Tigers on live TV Trainer locked in cage w\tigers, whip & chair man in control Then they shut off all the lights for 20-30 seconds Animals had night vision, could see in dark. Trainer was well in the dark But he survived, afterward interviewed and asked how he did it Controlled tigers even in the dark, Just kept racking whip They never knew I could not see them as well as they see me