GIANT SLAYERS
Numbers 13:33
And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.
1 Chr. 20:4
And it came to pass after this, that there arose war at Gezer with the Philistines; at which time Sibbechai the Hushathite slew Sippai, that was of the children of the giant: and they were subdued.
1 Samuel 17 = David and Goliath
What is a giant?
It is really a relavent term. To little Matthew, Bro. Gary must seem like a giant. When I am in proximity to Bro. Gary, I see another man who is more or less my equal.
Some things or situations in my life may seem gigantic to me, but to someone else, they are common matters.
A mechanical problem can easily be a giant to me, but to Bro. French, it is no big deal.
Different Approaches to the Giants of Life
A. One can decide to live with the giant and accept being dominated by him, suffering all the while. There is never victory nor freedom.
B. One can find some temporary help and get some temporary relief from the giants (1 Chr. 20:4). Too many times we are willing to settle for less than the will of God for our life. He wants us to have complete victory.
1 Chr. 20:4-8 tell of three battles and three giants that were slain.
C. One can confront the giant and not back up until that giant has been destroyed.
Our Giants are NOT always large human beings. They may be:
--Debt --Depression --Unemployment --Abuse --Rejection
--Habits --Temptations --Phobias --Anger --Uncertain Future
--Feeling Unimportant
Our Giants seem to shout in our face.
"you can't" "you never will" "you are too cowardly"
"you're to weak"
Due to our personal limitations, we can never get the job done in our own power.
We must connect to a Live Source of Power.
Acts 1:8
8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
8 mas recibiréis poder cuando haya venido sobre vosotros el Espíritu Santo; y me seréis testigos, a la vez, en Jerusalén, en toda Judea, en Samaria, y hasta lo último de la tierra. (RVG04)
1 Co. 2:4,5
4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: {enticing: or, persuasible}
4 y mi palabra y mi predicación no fue con palabras persuasivas de humana sabiduría, sino con demostración del Espíritu y de poder; (RVG04)
5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. {stand: Gr. be} (KJV)
5 para que vuestra fe no esté fundada en la sabiduría de los hombres, sino en el poder de Dios. (RVG04)
Acquire the Adequate Artillery
David gives a good example. He choose five smooth stones. We know that he did not all of them to conquer Goliath, but he made sure preparation, nonetheless.
Let us put a name on those five stones.
1. The Stone of the Past
1 S. 17:37
37 David said moreover, The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the LORD be with thee. (KJV)
37 Y añadió David: Jehová que me ha librado de las garras del león y de las garras del oso, Él también me librará de la mano de este filisteo. Y dijo Saúl a David: Ve, y Jehová sea contigo. (RVG04)
David remembered what God had done before, and was assured that He could do it again.
2. The Stone of Prayer
David believed in prayer. The psalms prove that fact.
Ps. 57:1
1 ¶ Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast. (KJV)
1 Ten misericordia de mí, oh Dios, ten misericordia de mí; porque en ti ha confiado mi alma, y en la sombra de tus alas me ampararé, hasta que pasen los quebrantos. (RVG04)
Ps. 59:16
16 But I will sing of thy power; yea, I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning: for thou hast been my defence and refuge in the day of my trouble. (KJV)
16 Pero yo cantaré de tu poder, y alabaré de mañana tu misericordia: Porque has sido mi amparo y refugio en el día de mi angustia. (RVG04)
Isa. 26:3
3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. (KJV)
3 Tú guardarás en completa paz, a aquel cuyo pensamiento en ti persevera; porque en ti ha confiado.
(RVG04)
3. The Stone of Priority
Is the reputation of God a high priority in your life? If God does not have first place in your life, He has no place at all.
1 S. 17:46,47
46 This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. {deliver...: Heb. shut thee up} (KJV)
46 Jehová te entregará hoy en mi mano, y yo te venceré, y te cortaré la cabeza; y daré hoy los cuerpos de los filisteos a las aves del cielo y a las bestias de la tierra: y sabrá toda la tierra que hay Dios en Israel. (RVG04)
47 And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD'S, and he will give you into our hands. (KJV)
47 Y sabrá toda esta congregación que Jehová no salva con espada y lanza; porque de Jehová es la batalla, y Él os entregará en nuestras manos. (RVG04)
4. The Stone of Passion
1 S. 17:48
48 ¶ And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came and drew nigh to meet David, that David hasted, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine. (KJV)
48 Y aconteció que como el filisteo se levantó y venía acercándose al encuentro de David, David se dio prisa, y corrió hacia el combate contra el filisteo. (RVG04)
David ran toward the enemy to fight him.
Side note: The name Palestine means the land of the Philistines. An age old enemy of Israel.
5. The Stone of Persistence
Jacob was determined to not give up. He was set on receiving the blessing from God.
Gen. 32:26
26 And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. (KJV)
26 Y dijo: Déjame, que raya el alba. Y él dijo: No te dejaré, si no me bendices. (RVG04)
Be aware of divine opportunity when it comes your way. It may come when you least expect it and where you never thought to look for it.
Don't leave the job undone. Goliath was down, but probably just unconscious. David had to cut off the head of the giant to be 100% sure that he would not come back to haunt him. We have to do as much also.
1 S. 17:51
51 Therefore David ran, and stood upon the Philistine, and took his sword, and drew it out of the sheath thereof, and slew him, and cut off his head therewith. And when the Philistines saw their champion was dead, they fled. (KJV)
51 Entonces corrió David y se puso sobre el filisteo, y tomando la espada de él, sacándola de su vaina, lo mató, y le cortó con ella la cabeza. Y cuando los filisteos vieron muerto a su campeón, huyeron. (RVG04)
This is not to say that other giants will not rise up later on to defy you, but you can be assured that it is not the giant that you slayed on your great day in history.
