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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
3. Step UP AND STEP OUT
David had had experiences with God before
When he volunteered he said I have slayed lions and bears That was not mere arrogance, it was testimony of what God did
Measure your giant against God not yourself
Everyone else was terrified including King Saul
Who offers his armor out of guilt At least the dead man would be protected Then David took his shepherd’s staff, selected 5 smooth stones from the brook, and put them in the pocket of his shepherd’s pack, and with his sling in his hand approached Goliath. Vs 40
Message Bible
David stepped out in courage facing the giant
Be prepared to be TAUNTED
Goliath said “I DEFY THE RANKS OF ISRAEL.”
Defy=to taunt ridicule and humiliate
Do you know how Saul & his fighting men reacted to that? For 40 days, Goliath speak vs 23-24 – they ran away in fear. Vs 32, "Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine. Your servant will go and fight him." And there were probably soldiers nearby guys on his side saying, "Ha Ha Ha! Your mouth is bigger than you are, David! This little shepherd boy going to save us from big, bad giant?" Vs 33 king Saul "You can’t to go out vs this Philistine fight him; you only a boy, he’s been a fighting longer you’ve been living
Saul finally says he’s all we got, from guilt gave David armor Goliath says who is this pipsqueak you have sent out here to me?
I will feed his flesh to the birds and mice by sunset
Laughing giants have most of their power in intimidation
“In any situation, what you ARE determines what you see, what you SEE determines what you DO.” Haddon Robinson
Giants we face can bring us closer to God
When we find that God is bigger Simply a call from God to stand up to the giants in our lives, and to be faithful to him as we battle. Have you given your battles to God? Or are you still fighting your giants on your own? Echo the call of David, “…the battle belongs to the Lord.”
Vs 41 Goliath comes forward with shield bearer in front
Vs 48 after taunting Goliath moves forward, music starts But David verse says ran quickly to meet him
4. Honor GOD IN THE VICTORY
God is going to give you a problem that will be your opportunity. God will give you challenges. That will be your mountain. Face your mountains instead of cutting out or coasting.
You’ll experience the greatest joy of life: the joy of self-esteem that comes when you know you did what you had to do.
David answered: You’ve come out to fight me with a sword and a spear & a dagger. But I’ve come out to fight you in the name of the LORD All-Powerful. He is the God of Israel’s army, & you have insulted him too! Today the LORD will help me defeat you Vs 45-46 NCV
Clearly a battle between 2 gods One true God vs Philistine God Vs 43 Goliath curses David by his gods
David comes and says today the Lord will help me defeat you
Instead of saying, "Look how big my giant is,"
Should say, "look how big my God is compared to this giant! Look at how awesome He is compared to this
piddly little problem in front of me!" Giants today prepare us for giants of tomorrow, always around
2 Peter 1:3 "His divine grace has given us everything we need for life & godliness." W\Jesus we already have everything need to go up against the giants in our lives.
Does the battle belong to the Lord, or you trying in yourself? Is this a battle God wants you to fight?
Vs 52f David influenced army who routed the Philistines
Lord please help me I am facing a giant. I am overwhelmed. Right now I reach out to you believing nothing too hard for you because you defeated biggest giant When you defeated Satan. The battle belongs to you. I give myself to you and your care;
I ask you to be my Lord, my life is in your hands. Amen
HOW TO SLAY A GIANT
October 15, 2006 Jay Robison 1 SAMUEL 17:38-49
1. Recognize
Take a look at Goliath
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
What are the Giants in your life?
2. Keep looking
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
The soldiers thought
David saw that
3. Step
Then David took his shepherd’s staff, selected 5 smooth stones from the brook, and put them in the pocket of his shepherd’s pack, and with his sling in his hand approached Goliath. Vs 40 Message
Be prepared to be
“In any situation, what you ARE determines what you see, what you SEE determines what you DO.” Haddon Robinson
4. Honor
David answered: You’ve come out to fight me with a sword and a spear & a dagger. But I’ve come out to fight you in the name of the LORD All-Powerful. He is the God of Israel’s army, & you have insulted him too! Today the LORD will help me defeat you Vs 45-46 NCV
