For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and out a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV).
...be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus (2 Timothy 2:1).
A champion named Goliath, who was from Gath, came out of the Philistine camp. He was over nine feet tall. He had a bronze helmet on his head and wore a coat of scale armor of bronze weighing five thousand shekels [about 125 pounds]; on his legs he wore bronze greaves, and a bronze javelin was slung on his back. His spear shaft was like a weaver’s rod. And its iron point weighted six hundred shekels [about 15 pounds]. His shield bearer went ahead of him (1 Samuel 17:4-7).
Then the Philistine said, “This day I defy the ranks of Israel! Give me a man and let us fight each other.” On hearing the Philistine’s words, Saul and all the Israelites were dismayed and terrified (1 Samuel 17:11).
Goliath is like the SIN in your life that is most difficult for you to defeat.
What is your Goliath?
SLAYING THE GIANT
Four battle strategies:
1. Giant-slayers don’t TOLERATE the giant.
As [David] was talking with [his brothers], Goliath, the Philistine champion from Gath, stepped out from his lines and shouted his usual defiance, and David heard it (1 Samuel 17:23).
“Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he would defy the armies of the living God?” (1 Samuel 17:26b).
David said to Saul, “Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine; your servant will go and fight him” (1 Samuel 17:32).
2. Giant-slayers don’t listen to the NAYSAYERS.
Saul replied, “You are not able to go out against this Philistine and fight him; you are only a boy, and he has been a fighting man from his youth” (1 Samuel 17:33).
3. Giant-slayers remember their GOD STORIES.
“The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine” (1 Samuel 17:37a).
[Goliath] said to David, “Am I a dog, that you come at me with sticks?” And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. “Come here,” he said, “and I’ll give your flesh to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field!” (1 Samuel 17:43-44).
4. Giant-slayers focus on GOD, not GIANTS.
Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied” (1 Samuel 17:45 NKJV).
Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God (Psalm 20:7).
Fight introductions:
• On the Philistine side, measuring 9 feet, nine inches tall and weighing 600 pounds, carrying a sword, a spear, and a javelin, the undefeated, undisputed champion, from Gath, Goliath, the mighty giant.
• On the Israelite side, measuring much less than 9 feet and weighing nowhere near 600 pounds, carrying a staff, a sling, and five stones, making his fighting debut, from Bethlehem, David, the shepherd boy.
“All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD’s, and he will give all of you into our hands” (1 Samuel 17:47).
“The LORD of hosts” (Adonai Tseva’ot) = the Lord of armies:
• The LORD of hosts is with us;
The God of Jacob is our refuge (Psalm 46:7 NKJV).
• O LORD of hosts,
Blessed is the man who trusts in You! (Psalm 84:12 NKJV).
• “The LORD of hosts, Him you shall hallow;
Let Him be your fear,
And let him be your dread” (Isaiah 8:13 NKJV).
• “Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,”
Says the LORD of hosts (Zechariah 4:6 NKJV).
When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. “Oh, my lord, what shall we do?” the servant asked. “Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” And Elisha prayed, O LORD, open his eyes so that he may see.” Then the LORD opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha (2 Kings 6:15-17).
We are not alone in our battles.
VICTORIOUS IN BATTLE
So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him (1 Samuel 17:50).
Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power (Ephesians 6:10).
I can do everything through him who gives me strength (Philippians 4:13).
Human effort is INADEQUATE, but God’s power is INVINCIBLE.
