Introduction:
ILL – Tell the story of Caleb – 85 years old, yet drove out the giants from Hebron and took it for his family. Imagine taking on an army of men like Goliath. Wow! Caleb was a giant killer!
* We all face giants in our Christian life:
• The giant of sickness.
• “ “ “ weariness.
• “ “ “ financial reversal.
• “ “ “ family problems.
• “ “ “ marriage struggles.
• “ “ “ doubt
• “ “ “ temptation.
• “ “ “ homesickness.
• “ “ “ weakness.
• “ “ “ depression.
• “ “ “ fear.
• “ “ “ grief.
• “ “ “ worry.
• “ “ “ loneliness.
* You can slay these giants! You can have the victory! You can be a conqueror! You can defeat these foes! You can be a giant killer!
** What do you need to be a giant killer?
1) You need Confidence in the presence of God
Joshua 14:12 “Now, therefore, give me this mountain, whereof the LORD spake in that day; for thou heardest in that day how the Anakims were there, and that the cities were great and fenced: if so be the LORD will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out, as the LORD said.”
* Caleb knew that if God was with him, he could kill any giant and defeat any army. He chose Hebron as his goal, despite the giants that defended it, because he was confident in the presence of God.
* You can overcome any obstacle and defeat any foe if you are certain that God is with you!
Isaiah 41:10 “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”
ILL – The effect of Napoleon’s presence upon his army during the tragic campaign in Russia in 1812. If the troops knew that their emperor was with them, and especially if they saw him among them, they were inspired with a new zeal and courage to face the enemy, despite awful losses and overwhelming odds.
* I cannot see God, and neither can I hear his audible voice. How, then, can I be sure that He is with me, especially when things are not going so well?
* Remember what Caleb said: “if so be the LORD will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out, as the LORD said.” Caleb depended upon God’s promise of His presence.
* Do we have God’s promise of His presence? YES!
SEE Matthew 28:18-20 “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”
* When the Lord Jesus said, “I will never leave thee nor forsake thee”, what did He mean? He meant that he would NEVER leave us or forsake us! Jesus PROMISED to be with you and me no matter what we go through. GOD IS WITH YOU.
• God is with you when you face the surgeon’s knife.
• “ “ “ “ “ fear grips your soul.
• “ “ “ “ “ friends and loved ones forsake you.
• “ “ “ “ “ you lose your job.
• “ “ “ “ “ the bills aren’t paid.
• “ “ “ “ “ the doctor says, “It’s cancer.”
• “ “ “ “ “ you are tempted to worry and despair.
• “ “ “ “ “ temptation overwhelms you.
• “ “ “ “ “ you fail and falter.
• “ “ “ “ “ your health fails.
• “ “ “ “ “ people hurt you and hinder you.
• “ “ “ “ “ Christians disappoint you.
• God is with you – ALWAYS!
* You need confidence in the presence of God.
2) You need Courage founded upon faith
* Even the bravest among us must deal with fear at some time.
ILL – Gideon had to be really sure that God had chosen him because he was afraid of the Midianites.
* How did the elderly Caleb have the courage to overcome the giants and take Mt. Hebron? Caleb had faith in God.
Joshua 14:12 “Now therefore give me this mountain, whereof the LORD spake in that day; for thou heardest in that day how the Anakims were there, and that the cities were great and fenced: if so be the LORD will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out, as the LORD said.”
* Fear is evidence of a lack of faith. So to overcome fear, you must grow in faith.
ILL – The apostles sank in the ship during the storm. Jesus: “Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?”
Proverbs 28:1 “The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion.”
ILL – David and Goliath. Faith => Courage => dead giant!
SEE 1 Samuel 17:32-37
* Faith in the presence of God and the promises of God gives me the courage I need to go out into this world and fight Satan with a sure hope of victory.
3) You need a Conquering spirit
* Caleb was an overcomer – he was not hostile or pessimistic. Caleb had the spirit, the mindset, of a CONQUEROR.
Joshua 14:12 “Now therefore give me this mountain, whereof the LORD spake in that day; for thou heardest in that day how the Anakims were there, and that the cities were great and fenced: if so be the LORD will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out, as the LORD said.”
* This same attitude of victory was obvious when he and Joshua encouraged the Jews to conquer Canaan and the giants there:
Numbers 13:30 “And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.”
* If you will conquer the giants that you face in your life, you need the spirit of a conqueror. You need to cast down evil thoughts of defeat and failure, and you need to replace them with the mighty promises of God!
SEE Romans 8:37-39
Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”
1 Corinthians 15:57 “But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
* You need the spirit of a CONQUEROR!
ILL – Hudson Taylor: other missionaries said he could not reach inland China, but he did it: with God.
• You can overcome worry, doubt and fear.
• “ “ “ Satan and his devices.
• “ “ “ sickness and disease.
• “ “ “ anxiety and stress.
• “ “ “ those who oppose you.
• “ “ “ failure and disappointment.
• “ “ “ sin and temptation.
• “ “ “ strongholds and sinful habits.
• “ “ “ financial reversal.
• “ “ “ the giants who would defeat you.
1 John 4:4 “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.”
Conclusion: ARE YOU A GIANT KILLER? YOU CAN BE!
1) You need Confidence in the presence of God
2) You need Courage founded upon faith
3) You need a Conquering spirit
** ARE YOU A GIANT KILLER?
