“When the Philistine arose and came and drew near to meet David, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet the Philistine. And David put his hand in his bag and took out a stone and slung it and struck the Philistine on his forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the ground.
“So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and struck the Philistine and killed him. There was no sword in the hand of David. Then David ran and stood over the Philistine and took his sword and drew it out of its sheath and killed him and cut off his head with it. When the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled.” [1]
Giants appear in our world with alarming regularity. I’m not suggesting that individuals standing “six cubits and a span” loom over the landscape today. I do mean that situations, conditions and even individuals can be capable of inflicting great misery on the people of God—and they are with us to this day. Situations or people can have exaggerated power to make life miserable, to inflict harm that cripples the saints, even hindering the progress of Christ’s faithful people. Often, the appearance of one of these giants during the conflicts of life can intimidate the saints into silence. These giants rage, perhaps even engaging some of the saints in battle, and they seem invincible to us when we must face them. We witness the casualties resulting from these conflicts, and we tremble.
We read how Goliath caused the warriors of Israel to quail, even fleeing in terror each time he appeared. “As [David] talked with [his brothers], behold, the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, came up out of the ranks of the Philistines and spoke the same words as before. And David heard him.” This is our introduction to the giant that threatened an entire army. Thus, we read, “All the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him and were much afraid” [1 SAMUEL 17:23-24].
We each face giants which threaten our walk as a follower of the Risen Christ. These giants challenge us to fight, a fight that is anything but fair. If we accept the challenge, and usually we have little choice in the matter, we know that the system is rigged. From a human perspective, there is no way we can win. If these giants win the battle, their victory will threaten the life of the assembly to which we belong and which we love. Our children, younger believers who look up to us and outsiders who stand on the fringes of the Faith watch to see what the outcome of the conflict will be. The ogre is terrifying, towering over our life as it does. These giants are equipped with armaments that frighten us. We see him and we are certain that we cannot stand against this terrifying spectre. We are certain we will lose the battle.
GIANTS WE FACE — It would be impossible to enumerate all the giants we face in life, but it doesn’t require a great deal of imagination to name some of them. In fact, it is virtually certain that some who are listening at this hour are facing a giant, or perhaps even several giants. It is to our advantage to know that giants exist and that they are intent on doing us harm as a people of faith. Perhaps it would be helpful if we categorise the giants we may face rather than attempting to name every single giant.
David faced Goliath; he was armed with a slingshot and a staff when he met the giant. The young shepherd had five slick river rocks in his pouch. Some people have questioned why, if David was certain that the LORD would guide him, did he need five smooth stones? Often, people are not aware that Goliath had brothers. We know that one of those brothers was named Lahmi. Elhanan, the son of Jair killed this giant during the wars [see 1 CHRONICLES 20:5].
As the divine author is recounting the wars of Israel against the Philistines, he writes of giants killed during the wars, specifically describing four of these giants. All these were felled by the people of Israel under the leadership of David. David killed the first giant, Goliath, and the remainder were downed by others who were encouraged by David’s example. The divine writer points to five giants in total, each of whom was a warrior. The evidence, then, indicates that Goliath likely had four brothers. David was prepared to take out the entire crew if need be.
The point is, David did face a giant, and Bible readers are well aware of that contest and how it ended. What is less well known is that Goliath was not the only giant participating in Israel’s wars with the Philistines. Other warriors were compelled to face giants at various times. And though we won’t study those battles, we will benefit from a review of David’s battle with Goliath as a model of facing the giants. We will seek to understand the danger David faced and how he was enabled to win the conflict. This study will be a source of encouragement to God’s people in this day because we still face giants.
Few of us will actually ever go into physical combat; nevertheless, each individual who seeks to obey the Saviour is engaged in combat. Whether you wish to be a combatant or not, each follower of Christ is engaged in a spiritual war. We are aware of this war if we are the least conversant with what has been written in the Word. For instance, the Apostle informs us who follow the Master, “Though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ” [2 CORINTHIANS 10:3-5].
Notice that Paul uses the present tense. The conflict swirls about us, though we are not aware of the battle at all times. From time-to-time, we become acutely aware of the battle. At such times we are driven to draw upon the weapons God has placed at our disposal because we realise that we are facing an enemy who is far stronger than we are.
You may recall that Peter, also, writes of the enemy of the Faith who seeks to destroy the follower of Christ. He writes, “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world” [1 PETER 5:8-9]. You are charged to resist the devil, standing firm in your faith. It is of some help to realise that what you are experiencing is common for the people of God.
In a similar vein, the Master Himself cautions His followers against the thief, which could assuredly refer to Satan, though it is more likely that He was referring to the individual motivated by Satan who is destructive. Jesus said, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly” [JOHN 10:10].
Of course, you are no doubt familiar with the somewhat more extended teaching that speaks of our battles. “Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” [EPHESIANS 6:10-12].
Though we accept that the devil is a foe of the Faith, fortunately, few of us actually know what it is to be the focus of Satan’s wrath. Should Satan focus his rage on us, none of us would be able to remain standing. If you doubt that to be true, just consider the manner in which Job was attacked. He was the sole focus of the wicked one; the rage he endured is unprecedented. Nevertheless, we will each have likely known at various times opposition that was undoubtedly demonically inspired. Perhaps we have known an individual who seemed inspired by demonic powers to oppose righteousness, and the opposition was almost more than we could stand. We have known situations, some of which are the result of the human condition. However, knowing that others face such opposition does not make the trial we face any less painful. Just because some giants are more common than others doesn’t make facing them any less intimidating.
There are giants that threaten us emotionally and mentally. We can be beaten down by constant negative statements that cause us to question our worth, or by negative attitudes that attempt to convince us that we have no value. Parents may think they are helping when they berate a child for the child’s actions; but there is a fine line between warning of dishonourable behaviour and destroying someone by tearing them down. As followers of the Saviour, we are appointed to build up. You have heard me say on multiple occasions that the Christian is responsible for “upbuilding and encouragement and consolation” [1 CORINTHIANS 14:3b].
Elsewhere, Paul encouraged believers when he instructed us, “Let us pursue what promotes peace and what builds up one another” [ROMANS 14:19 CSB]. He taught that we are to pursue whatever promotes peace and what builds up one another.
I am always humbled to see the emphasis on building one another recorded in the Word. For instance, consider this statement from the Letter to the Christians in Ephesus. “He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ” [EPHESIANS 4:10-12].
The work of building up that Christ desires is emphasised again when the Apostle writes, “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear” [EPHESIANS 4:29].
Allow me to point to one other instance in Scripture when followers of the Saviour are charged to build up fellow believers. The Apostle has written, “Encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing” [1 THESSALONIANS 5:11].
If I am tearing someone down, I am not honouring God. From this brief excursus through Scripture, it should be obvious that the Lord expects His people to be known as builders. The Apostle would defend his ministry to the Corinthians by reminding them, “Even if I boast a little too much of our authority, which the Lord gave for building you up and not for destroying you, I will not be ashamed” [2 CORINTHIANS 10:8]. In the same way, each of us must recognise that we are appointed to be builders, to be known as those who build up others rather than tearing down others. We must guard ourselves against the cynicism of this fallen world.
We sometimes face giants that tower over our physical strength. I don’t mean that we will face people who are nine feet tall; I do mean that we may well face threats to our physical health. It is frightening in the extreme to receive a diagnosis of a dreaded disease. Should our family physician tell us that we have cancer, we are prone to not hear another word. The mere mention of the dreaded “C word” terrifies us. It is almost impossible for us to hear anything else. Perhaps it is equally frightening to receive a diagnosis of coronary heart disease, or to hear that we have suffered a stroke. Immediately, in our modern world we wonder whether a surgical intervention might put off the inevitable, or we ask if there is a medication that will deliver us.
There are people listening at this time who are even now facing some of these giants. If you are not facing one of these giants at this moment, it is highly likely that you will face such a giant at some point in the future. You’ve heard me say on numerous occasions that the statistics on death are pretty amazing—one out of one die! Admittedly, death is not pleasant to contemplate. The means by which we may die is not often pleasant or easy. How we respond to the giant of health reversal says a great deal concerning us and concerning our faith.
At other times, we may face giants that are identified with relationships we thought were secure. Tragically, there will always be found among us individuals who have faced this giant, just as there are some who are even now compelled to face this giant. Few of us marry with the thought looming over our mind that we will probably be divorced or separated. It is almost inconceivable that we could imagine that the tender bond between a parent and a child would be broken, but it happens all too often. Relationships can hide some terrifying giants.
When a woman discovers that her husband is unfaithful, whether his lack of fidelity is defined as a physical relationship with another woman or whether he fruitlessly fills his mind with pornography, he violates the marriage relationship. Did he never hear Jesus’ words? “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart” [MATTHEW 5:27-28].
Let me be very clear in adamantly asserting that wallowing in pornography is adultery! This behaviour is not a harmless diversion; it must be identified for what it is—adultery! Licentious behaviour is adulterous behaviour that is censured by the Spirit of Christ. Surrendering to the lascivious attitudes that are resident in the heart leads inevitably to adultery. To allow oneself to be unrestrained, to become lewd, to surrender to wanton lusts, is to become adulterous. Men, and women as well, know that such actions are adulterous!
Increasingly, Christians living in the modern world face a giant identified as compromise. Legions of professing saints of the Living God have made the choice to compromise their convictions in order to have what they believe will be an easier life. Understand that godliness is an offence to those identified with the world. Worldlings plead with us to make our religion a private matter even as they insist on being allowed to promote their own views concerning morality and righteousness. If the child of God compromises, allowing herself or himself just a little bit of sin, they will no longer be holy. Be assured that there is no such thing as “a little bit of sin.” We have attempted to avoid the stigma of sin in this day, even though we know that the man of God is responsible to ensure that we who hear know that transgression of God’s holiness is sinful beyond measure. All sin is horrendous, disgusting in the sight of Holy God.
It is amazing to witness believers in the Risen Son of God who are willing to cultivate friendships with the world. I enjoyed the friendship of a younger pastor in the Lower Mainland who used to say, “I don’t want to be friendly with that man,” speaking of a modernist minister. “I’m afraid that if I get to know him, I might like him.” He was correct in that concern!
Let’s be clear in stating that not everyone who says they are a Christian is one. Not every individual who claims to be a minister of Christ is one. Paul warned against those who deceive believers when he wrote, “What I am doing I will continue to do, in order to undermine the claim of those who would like to claim that in their boasted mission they work on the same terms as we do. For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds” [2 CORINTHIANS 11:12-15].
Looking back at the historical account of the history of Israel and comparing that history to the day in which he wrote, Peter warned, “False prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep” [2 PETER 2:1-3].
Peter’s warning echoes that which Paul delivered to the elders from Ephesus. On the beach at Miletus, the Apostle warned, “Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them” [ACTS 20:28-30].
This warning delivered by the Apostle was amplified by his words to Timothy included in his first letter to the young preacher. Paul warned, “The Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared” [1 TIMOTHY 4:1-2].
In the realm of morality or Christian conduct, there is no room for compromise. This giant will demand an ever-greater role until godliness is no longer to be found in your life. The follower of Christ will ensure the ruin of her life when she first allows this giant to live. Perhaps we can compromise in matters that do not impinge on righteousness, do not encroach on our relationship with the Risen Saviour, but when we first make concession in matters of morality or in matters of the will of God, we will ensure that we have taken the initial step on the slippery slope that leads to destruction. We are warned,
“There is a way that seems right to a man,
but its end is the way to death.”
[PROVERBS 14:12]
WEAPONS EMPLOYED — “David said to the Philistine, ‘You come to me with a sword and 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].
Christians are armed with weapons this world can neither recognise nor resist. We have already noted the passages in the Second Letter to the Church of God in Corinth and in the Ephesian encyclical, passages which speak of the panoply and weaponry provided for the child of God. These armaments and accoutrements are given to be employed in the battle in which we are engaged. We are engaged in spiritual warfare, not in physical combat. We seek to redeem the souls of lost people, not destroy them or consign them to the fires of hell. Our purpose is to save lost people and to strengthen the saints of God.
The world cannot appreciate these powerful weapons entrusted to the righteous. The primary weapons are “the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God,” and prayer. Have you heard the ridicule cast upon the people of God because they employ these weapons? The lost of this world often ridicule quoting the Word of God, calling the Christian who dares use the words of Scripture a “Bible thumper.” This is nothing less than the pitiful echo of Goliath, mewling, “Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks” [1 SAMUEL 17:43a]? These seemingly powerful individuals will curse the child of God by their own gods, just as Goliath cursed David.
You will have observed the rage that is frequently expressed by unbelievers in the world toward nearly anyone who has been motivated by compassion when they hear of great tragedy? Politicians and civic leaders casually offer “thoughts and prayers” for those who have suffered as result of natural disasters. Perhaps a terrorist attack, or a natural disaster, or the crash of some public transportation that claimed the lives of many people, elicits the response from political leaders of offering “thoughts and prayers.” In fact, the phrase sounds so glib as to be easily dismissed by many. Yet, decent people do pray for mercy and grace for those who suffer.
However, politicians of a more secular variety are apparently triggered by expressions of compassion. With increasing frequency these raging politicians deride anyone who dares offer “thoughts and prayers.” These politicians without a conscience want action! They want people to be driven by emotion so they will do something! “Seize the moment,” they argue. They want to make changes—immediately and without thinking of what they are doing. It is of no consequence if the changes they want to introduce will not really change anything. They want to be seen as in control, and they will take even more control over the lives of the citizenry through the changes they introduce. So, in order to show that they are in charge, they ridicule offering “thoughts and prayers.” Prayer is seen by the emotion-driven world as a cop-out, a means of avoiding responsibility. Prayer is ridiculed as meaningless, as a positive evil because it keeps us from doing something right now.
Hold this thought, don’t allow yourself to be intimidated by the rage of this dying world—when people ridicule “thoughts and prayers,” we can know that they are simply exposing their own fears. Denizens of this dark world fear the power of those who pray; they want to silence the child of God who dares speak with His Father. So, they attempt to silence the believer through ridicule.
Dear people, your prayers are powerful, more powerful than you could ever imagine. Wayward children cannot escape the prayers of a godly mother who will not cease asking the Master to deliver her child. Even the prayers of those who belong to the “wrong” denomination are powerful, since it is not what we call ourselves that is important but the One on whom we call that is essential.
Refresh your memories of an incident that occurred during the ministry of the Master. This particular incident involved a non-Jew petitioning the Master to give her what she asked. “Behold, a Canaanite woman from [the region of Tyre and Sidon] came out and was crying, ‘Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely oppressed by a demon.’ But he did not answer ‘her a word. And his disciples came and begged him, saying, ‘Send her away, for she is crying out after us.’ He answered, ‘I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.’ But she came and knelt before him, saying, ‘Lord, help me.’ And he answered, ‘It is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.’ She said, ‘Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.’ Then Jesus answered her, ‘O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.’ And her daughter was healed instantly” [MATTHEW 15:22-28].
There are some points that we need to see in order to really understand what was happening and to make it applicable to our situation today. It is as though a Catholic woman came to Jesus and a group of Baptist deacons all united in saying, “Send her away, Lord. She ain’t one of us! She doesn’t even know how to pray properly!” Jesus doesn’t answer immediately, but she persists in begging Him to help her. When He says, “You know I’m blessing Baptists at this time,” she responds by pointing out that she will gladly settle for crumbs. Jesus, marvelling at her response, commends her, noting that she has great faith!
Why would anyone question the manner in which another prays? They are not praying to us! Paul challenges all who follow the Lord, “Who are you to pass judgement on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand” [ROMANS 14:4]. What is important is that the person does pray. So long as the one praying is seeking the Lord, seeking His glory through His divine intervention, there is no reason to argue that their prayer has no validity. To act as a judge is to exalt yourself, attempting to usurp the place of God.
As powerful a weapon as prayer is, we also have the Word of God. You will remember that the Word of God is identified as “the sword of the Spirit.” As Paul describes the panoply and weaponry of the well-equipped saint of God, he writes, “Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints” [EPHESIANS 6:10-18].
To be sure, we must stand strong “in the Lord.” We do not stand in our own strength, because were we to attempt to do so, we would fail. The child of God who attempts to stand against the powers of darkness in her own strength soon has a new title—VICTIM! However, God has not left us defenceless. He has ensured that we are equipped to fight the battles that are certain to come. With all the defensive accoutrements that we are provided, He has also given us a powerful offensive weapon—the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.
Here is something that I know to be true, though it is not often acknowledged. During my brief days as a Marine, we were trained in handling the weapons of war. Hand a battle rifle to a teenage boy, and he likely has no idea how to use what he holds. That battle rifle is nothing more than an expensive club if that lad has no training. Therefore, the aspiring young warrior is trained in the use of that rifle. He must learn to care for it, learning to employ it as it is meant to be used and understanding when it is to be displayed and when it is to be fired. The warrior must know how to disassemble the battle rifle, clearing jams when they do occur and ensuring that it operates as intended. He must know something of ballistics so that the bullet will fly unerringly to the intended target when it is employed.
The same is true with the Sword of the Spirit. To witness the life of far too many of the saints of the Most High God, one would think that the Word of God has some magical power. Too many of the professed people of God display the Bible, but never use it. They have it lying in some prominent position, perhaps to identify them as followers of the Christ, but they are ignorant of what is written therein or how to use what God has entrusted to them.
God speaks of His Word as a weapon. Recall the statement provided in the Letter to Hebrew Christians: “Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart” [HEBREWS 4:11-12].
The follower of Christ is responsible to learn to wield this Word so that it accomplishes all that the Lord intended. Writing of the war in which all Christians are engaged, the Apostle says, “Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. We put no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love; by truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left” [2 CORINTHIANS 6:2b-7].
Too few saints actually read the Word today. Fewer still actually memorise Scripture. We would do well to read the 119th PSALM, hearing the Psalmist testify of his love for the Word of the LORD. Repeatedly does the writer speak of that Word and the proper employment of what God has given to His people. Here are a few instances of the proper use of the Word of the Lord.
“How can a young man keep his way pure?
By guarding it according to your word.”
[PSALM 119:9]
The Word will guard our path. This is assuredly a powerful reason for the child of God to memorise the Word of God. In memorising, we are protecting ourselves before ever a problem arises. Before assault occurs, by equipping ourselves with the Word, we protect ourselves from being injured through attack.
“I have stored up your word in my heart,
that I might not sin against you.”
[PSALM 119:11]
The Word of God will keep us from sin. In the front cover of one of the first Bibles I purchased following my new birth in Christ the Lord, I penned, “Either this Word will keep you from sin, or sin will keep you from this Word.” Those words were true then; they are true to this day.
“My soul clings to the dust;
give me life according to your word!”
[PSALM 119:25]
This Holy Word gives life. It is nourishment and it is refreshment. Therein is found rest when needed, and strength as required for the task we may face.
“My soul melts away for sorrow;
strengthen me according to your word!”
[PSALM 119:28]
Again, it is the Word of the Living God that strengthens the follower of the LORD God.
“Your word is a lamp to my feet
and a light to my path.”
[PSALM 119:105]
The Word is light for the path we must walk. It will keep us from stumbling because it reveals the pitfalls we face, enabling us to avoid error and destruction.
Use the weapons our God has provided His people—prayer and His divine Word. Don’t talk about prayer—PRAY! Don’t talk about the Word—READ IT and USE IT! Though the world may despise the weapons God gave, they will accomplish what God intends. Here is a thought worth holding in mind at all times. A slick river rock has no power, but the God who guides His servant is powerful. The young shepherd proclaimed to the mighty Philistine warrior, “You come to me with a sword and 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. This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head. And I will give the dead bodies of the host of the Philistines this day to the birds of the air and to the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, and that all this assembly may know that the LORD saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is the LORD’s, and he will give you into our hand” [1 SAMUEL 17:45-47]. Here is an essential truth: Prayer is not powerful; but the God to whom we pray is powerful. The Word is not powerful; but the God who gave the Word is powerful. We are to go forth in the power of the Living God!
VICTOR IN BATTLE — “David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and struck the Philistine and killed him. There was no sword in the hand of David” [1 SAMUEL 17:45]. I am so glad that the Spirit of the Lord included this account of David in the Scriptures. Because this account is recorded, I am confident that when we face the giants in our life, standing in the Faith of the Risen Christ, we shall emerge from the contest victorious.
You are facing giants. These giants threaten you day-by-day. If you attempt to wrestle them, grapple with them in your own strength, you will be destroyed. It is time for you to aver, “I won’t let this giant live any longer!” Among the giants that threaten the child of God is the giant of Past Indiscretion. This vicious giant looms menacingly before the follower of the Master, accusing her of failures that now mar her life. This cruel giant reminds her of choices she made in the past, choices that seem somehow to linger long after the action is finished. God’s child wants to honour God and she longs to do the great things for which she has been set apart; she wants to enter into the Master’s service, but this giant seeks to destroy her, compelling her to face him each time she is just set to break out. The giant is powerful in great measure because he knows her greatest vulnerability.
You were young and you made a choice that haunts you to this day. Or you were still in the world, and you acted as the world acts. Now the consequences of your choice haunt you. The giant of past indiscretion seems always to confront you each time you want to accomplish something for the glory of the Saviour. You need to hear the promise of God,
“For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;
as far as the east is from the west,
so far does he remove our transgressions from us.”
[PSALM 103:11-12]
The LORD God has removed our sin, separating what we once were from who we now are in Christ. The Living God promises,
“I, I am he
who blots out your transgressions for my own sake,
and I will not remember your sins.”
[ISAIAH 43:25]
Another giant many will face is the giant Insignificance. This giant tells you that you are a nobody, that you have accomplished nothing in your life. The great tragedy for the people of God is that many believe this giant. Of course, we are nobodies. We make no claim of greatness for ourselves. Nevertheless, we serve a great God, the God who called all things into being. Now, we are His ambassadors and we know that we are charged to be His heralds, proclaiming life to a lifeless world and bringing light into a darkened world.
Just as we enter into the holy task to which we are assigned, this giant rises up and accuses us of being nobody. I’ve faced this giant, and no doubt you’ve faced this giant at times. I recall a time when I had only begun my pastoral work here in Canada. A friend of mine, a Creationist speaker with whom I had appeared during conferences on college campuses, was invited to come to the church I pastored to speak for a series of evening lectures. One representative of the Creationist community in Canada became aware of what we were planning. He phoned me to tell me how insignificant I was and how this great man must appear in a larger venue. His entire argument was a repetitious idea that I was a nobody and pastoring a little congregation. I responded that while I don’t think of myself as anyone great, I do represent a great God. I continued that though the congregation I pastored was small, it was great in the sight of the mighty God whom we served. I serve the Living God; I do not serve some man’s idea of what constitutes a great church. I’ve been part of some rather large churches, and I’ve started a few congregations in the living room of my home. All alike served the Living God. None was insignificant, except in the eyes of this dying world.
I assume that man was unaware of the teaching of the Word. The LORD spoke through Zechariah, saying, “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of hosts. Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain. And he shall bring forward the top stone amid shouts of ‘Grace, grace to it’” [ZECHARIAH 4:6-7]! That promise to Zerubbabel is the same promise that sustains each of us as we do the work that God assigns. We are insignificant; but God is great!
One giant that has exaggerated power in the western world is Ridicule. This giant has unprecedented power to utterly destroy the saints of the Most High God. This giant has unprecedented power precisely because we secretly worship at the shrine of popularity. We want to be great in the eyes of the world, and when the world laughs at us, it wounds our pride. However, we are charged to point to our great God, not to exalt ourselves.
We need to heed the reminder penned by Paul to a church that had grown proud of who it was. He wrote, “Consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, ‘Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord’” [1 CORINTHIANS 1:25b-31].
There are other giants each of us will face. The wicked one sends these monsters to confront us, seeking to cause us to stumble and fall. He is determined to render us ineffective in our service before the Lord our God. Each of these giants will seek to make the child of God fearful, knowing that fear will cause us to falter, cause us to stumble, cause us to fail.
I seek to encourage the people of God to stand firm in the Son of God. We are taught in Scripture that “The LORD is a man of war” [EXODUS 15:3a]. We thrill at Isaiah’s declaration,
“The LORD goes out like a mighty man,
like a man of war he stirs up his zeal;
he cries out, he shouts aloud,
he shows himself mighty against his foes.”
[ISAIAH 42:13]
As we read the Apocalypse, we read of the Lord leading His people in a final battle. “Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords” [REVELATION 19:11-16].
Christ is victor. As we stand with Him, as we permit Him to fight our battles, even to the final battle, we share in His victory. Child of God, when the giants come, and giants shall come, stand in Christ. He is our champion, our king. Amen.
[1] Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers, 2001. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
