“Facing the Giants”
Duet 9:1-6
-Luke 6:46-49 (NLT)
46 “So why do you keep calling me ‘Lord, Lord!’ when you don’t do what I say?
47 I will show you what it’s like when someone comes to me, listens to my teaching, and then follows it.
48 It is like a person building a house who digs deep and lays the foundation on solid rock. When the floodwaters rise and break against the house, it stands firm because it is well built.
49 But anyone who hears and doesn’t obey is like a person who builds a house without a foundation. When the floods sweep down against that house, it will collapse into a heap of ruins.”
-I would like you to focus not so much on the foolish man but the wise. Imagine if it could be said of us that we built on the firm foundation, think of the giants in life we could slay, think of the promises we could claim.
-What it takes is to come, listen, and follow. Plant His life in yours. Make living your life about living for Him.
-Read Text
-Remember the folks Moses is speaking to are the next generation that will ultimately inherit the Promised Land. The first generation was the disobedient people, the one’s that refused the promise of God and dodged His blessing, in other words those who called Him Lord but did not do what He said.
-I often times wonder, “which are we?” Are we the generation that listens and obeys God’s voice or the one that hears it and rejects it in our disobedience? Are we the ones that cross through the Jordan on dry ground and begin to stake claim to the promise or did we see the power of God and walk across the sea on dry ground then refuse to take the next step closer to the guarantee of peace?
-I assure you of one thing, that if we are the latter then when the prevailing winds and storms, or giants, come calling we then we will buckle and be abused by their appearance.
-When I face thoughts of defeat, even though I had not been defeated it was just my mind telling me I would be, how much greater the peace and strength I would have in my life had I stood on the foundation that God desires for me rather the thought of defeat.
-A very real comfort has come to my life lately by a reassuring passage of scripture.
Proverbs 3:25 (NKJV)
25 Do not be afraid of sudden terror, Nor of trouble from the wicked when it comes;
-The certainty of victory in our lives can be had if we could hide the promises of God in our mind and spirit.
I. Understand the certainty of battle
A. Even the faithful will face battles.
1. Jesus describing the wise in Luke 6 was facing storms.
2. Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount said that those who are faithful will be “reviled and persecuted” these too are storms and battles we will face.
3. None the less we are to persevere even under pressure.
4. Even though Israel had faced these battles for years in their mind, it was now time to follow in obedience. The fight had to take place.
5. You have decisions to make in life. Whether you like it or not you have to face the challenges set before you by God.
a. For some that means for the first time in your life you have to face your sin and answer the question “will I seek God’s forgiveness through Christ or continue to ignore it?”
b. For others who have made that initial step of faith, now you must determine what you are going to do with obedience.
c. Will you follow Him where He leads even though that means tough decisions, or neglect that part of your spiritual life and continue in disobedience to Him?
6. Stand strong in the Lord and direction He has placed you in for it is then you will know what victory and promise is all about.
7. The message was clear from John the Baptist and Jesus, “Repent” even though the battle is tough this is God’s call on your life.
II. Believe the difficulty of the encounter
A. Israel faced two battles
1. Mass of humanity that awaited
a. The very people that drove their fathers into the wilderness for 40 years were the same people they would now encounter.
b. Years of wondering spent with thought of the giants of the land.
c. The victory that could not be had due to the size and population of those in the land.
d. So great was the fear of these colossal people that rhymes and sayings were developed and plagued those in the camp.
e. Deuteronomy 9:2 (NKJV)
2 a people great and tall, the descendants of the Anakim, whom you know, and of whom you heard it said, ’Who can stand before the descendants of Anak?’
f. These people were a defeated group.
1) Victims of their own mind.
2) Torture of what might await them.
3) 40 years spent making these giants bigger than what they were.
g. We too face these same principles of a mindset.
1) The massive mountain of sin that lies in our minds. They tell us “no way can you be forgiven of that”.
2) The obvious defeat we will acquire trying to tackle such tasks in our life.
3) And the bigger they become in our minds the smaller our God seems to be.
2. Mass of personal arrogance
a. Coming off the great defeat of Midianites in Numbers 31 some self righteousness began to swell among them.
b. The idea of that victory coupled with promise that the land was theirs may have driven some to think they were worthy of the inheritance.
1) Imagine going into this battle with that mindset. Accomplishments would have never come. Successes never experienced. Defeat would be evident.
2) Notice in verse 3 that the claim of victory would be due to not who they are or what they accomplished but who God is.
3) He would destroy them, He would bring them down, He would go before them, and He would be the One that softened them so victory could be had.
c. How can battles waged in our own power and might be acceptable to God when it is He that gave us the power to begin with. How can we be arrogant enough to think the promises given can be had by our actions when it is He that gives the victory?
d. Paul claiming this thought says, “It is no longer I who live but Christ that lives in me”. Jesus says in John 14:19, “because I live, you will also live”
e. Not only is the life we live His to begin with but only humility can result in the claiming of victory.
III. Trust in the assurance of victory
A. “You shall drive them out”
1. When you get to the end you can then say the battle is worth it.
2. For upon the conclusion of the battle God will deliver to you peace and purpose, strength and honor.
3. Psalms 29:11 (NKJV)
11 The Lord will give strength to His people; The Lord will bless His people with peace.
