RUN TOWARDS YOUR GIANT
INTRO TO SPEAKER: August 14, 1989 – 22 years ago today I met Jesus!
INTRO TO TOPIC: For the past couple of weeks, we have been considering the story of the disciple Peter who got out of the boat to walk on the water with Jesus. God wants us to get out of the boats of our comfort zones and take a leap of faith and do something great for Him!
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. THE CALL:
Paraphrase verses 1-5: God rejected Saul as King over Israel and told the prophet Samuel to go and anoint one of the sons of Jesse to be the new king.
“So it was, when they came, that he looked at Eliab and said, "Surely the Lord’s anointed is before Him. But the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:6-7).
• 1 Sam. 16:12: “Arise, anoint him; for this is the one.”
Bible TEXT:
“Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He has made us accepted in the Beloved.” (Ephesians 1:4-6).
• What amazing thought that God chooses US! He loves US! He accepts US!
• He has called you and chosen you to be one of His children!
• What gives me the confidence to run towards the giants in my life? Knowing that God has called me – and He has called you, too!
STORY: Last night playing football at Morgan & Danielle’s:
• I wasn’t the best player on the team, but it was fun playing!
• There are no benchwarmers in the kingdom of God. We’ve been called!
• Jesus said, “You did not choose Me, but I chose you.” (John 15:16).
WHO WAS DAVID? He is one of my Bible heroes – a man after God’s own heart.
“Look, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, who is skillful in playing, a mighty man of valor, a man of war, prudent in speech, and a handsome person; and the Lord is with him.” (1 Sam. 16:18).
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT IN THE STORY? (1 Samuel 17)
v.1-3 - the Israelites go to war against the Philistines (Goliath = about 9 feet tall)
v.4-10 - Goliath ‘the champion’ issues a challenge to Israel: “I defy the armies of
Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together!”
v.11 - King Saul and all the Israelites (including David’s bro’s) are dismayed & afraid
v.15-19 - Jesse asked his son David to take a lunch to David’s brothers and the army
2. THE CAUSE:
“Then David spoke to the men who stood by him, saying, "What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?" And the people answered him in this manner, saying, "So shall it be done for the man who kills him." 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?" (1 Sam. 17:26-29).
• “Is there not a cause?” We will get out of the boat when we discover that there is a cause.
• David went before King Saul and said, "Let no man’s heart fail because of him; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine." (v.32).
• King Saul finally said, “Go, and the Lord be with you!”
• In the story of Esther, her uncle Mordecai says to her: “For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this.” (Esther 4:14).
• What is our cause? To be a force for good in this world! Edmund Burke said, “All that is necessary for evil to prosper is that enough good men do nothing.”
• What is your passion? This will often help you discover your ‘cause’. Maybe it’s missions, children’s ministry, small groups, evangelism or outreach…
3. THE CONFIDENCE:
“40 Then he took his staff in his hand; and he chose for himself five smooth stones from the brook, and put them in a shepherd’s bag, in a pouch which he had, and his sling was in his hand. And he drew near to the Philistine. 41 So the Philistine came, and began drawing near to David, and the man who bore the shield went before him. 42 And when the Philistine looked about and saw David, he disdained him; for he was only a youth, ruddy and good-looking. 43 So the Philistine said to David, "Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?" And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. 44 And the Philistine said to David, "Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field!" 45 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. 46 This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you. And this day I will give the carcasses of the camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. 47 Then all this assembly shall know that the Lord does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord’s, and He will give you into our hands." 48 So it was, when the Philistine arose and came and drew near to meet David, that David hastened and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine. 49 Then David put his hand in his bag and took out a stone; and he slung it and struck the Philistine in his forehead, so that the stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the earth. 50 So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone, and struck the Philistine and killed him. But there was no sword in the hand of David. 51 Therefore David ran and stood over the Philistine, took his sword and drew it out of its sheath and killed him, and cut off his head with it. And when the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled.” (1 Samuel 17:40-51).
• Notice that David didn’t run from his giant, he ran towards his giant!
• Goliath represents all of the giants – impossible situations – that we face in our lives, too.
• After David ran towards his giant and defeated it, all of the other Philistines ran away.
WHAT ARE THE GIANTS IN YOUR LIFE? Maybe you’re facing a giant of:
• relationship problems
• parenting challenges
• health issues
• financial difficulties
• worries
• fears
• stresses
• pressures
• addictions
• low self-esteem
FIVE ‘SCRIPTURE STONES’ TO DEFEAT YOUR GIANTS:
1. Arise, anoint him; for this is the one. We too are anointed by the Holy Spirit!
2. I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts. The power in the name of Jesus!
3. The battle is the Lord’s. If God is for us, who can be against us? (Rom. 8:31).
4. David ran towards the giant. Greater is He who is in us that he that is in the world (1 John 4:4).
5. David prevailed over the giant. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13). The victory that overcomes the world is our faith! (1 John 5:4).
SONG: The Voice of Truth by Casting Crowns
CLOSING: Prayer for victory for those who are facing giants in their lives today.
Beausejour Community Church Website: www.beausejourchurch.ca
Pastor Chris Jordan’s Blog: http://thelandofpromise.blogspot.com/
