Slaying your Giants: in 5 stages
1st Samuel 17:3-11, 26-27, 38-51
(Written By Rev D. Helbling)
Some time back we stood together with the Roper family from Texarkana in that viewing tower over Hot Springs. It was a beautiful sight: Very little of what you saw was actually in Hot Springs. Most of it was mountains and valleys.
We will consider a famous story this night from the valley of Elah. The bible tells of many valleys. Some where the scenes of victories, others the valley of death and pain. A valley suggests lowliness, fertility, and fruitfulness - born out of struggle. And that¡¦s what we have 1st Samuel 17
David was on the Lords side - and was in a trouble spot. He didn¡¦t start the trouble. But neither did he shrink from it. He dealt with it, & and overcame the adversity
In this heroic story, the enemy is doing the boasting and threatening.
But God¡¦s man does not back down. He treated Goliath the way we need to treat temptation. He didn¡¦t entertain Goliath, didn¡¦t give in to him, didn¡¦t try to ignore him. He defeated him! And we see it happening in five steps.
1. Trained
Kicking without his contact lenses
THE FIRST PRINCIPLE IS THAT VICTORIES ARE FIRST WON NOT ON THE PLAYING FIELD BUT IN THE TRAINING ROOM.
In Paul¡¦s words, "Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize...." In other words, the final victory demands more than determination. It requires discipline.
Former Michigan State football coach Duffy Daugherty tells a great story about a winning field goal kicked by a young man name Dave Kaiser against UCLA many years ago. The game was in Los Angeles and the field goal gave Michigan a 17-14 victory.
As Dave Kaiser came back to the bench to meet the roaring enthusiasm of his teammates, Coach Daugherty said: "Nice going, Dave, but I noticed you didn¡¦t watch the ball after you kicked it. How come?"
Kaiser replied, "You¡¦re right coach, I didn¡¦t watch the ball. I was watching the referee to see how he would call it. You see, I forgot my contact lenses. They are back at the hotel. I couldn¡¦t even see the goal posts!"
Daugherty was shocked and at first very angry that Kaiser had not told him about his contact lenses. But after he thought it over he changed his mind entirely. Why shouldn¡¦t Kaiser kick without his contact lenses? Kaiser was a disciplined kicker and had practiced for long hours. He knew well the angle and the distance to the goal even though he could not see it. The whole process of kicking the ball was programmed into his body and mind by the ongoing discipline of daily practice. In that moment, when the ball went through the goal posts, discipline paid off.
Think of this a moment: We see no military career for David prior to this. We just see a young man tending sheep and spending a lot of time worshiping god. So where was his training?
That was his training! Spending time with God, living a normal life. And through he probably didn¡¦t know it God was fitting David for service. David grew to know God secretly, to worship him privately: Now, God could reward him openly.
You never really know just what kind of emergency you can handle, after you¡¦ve spent quality time with God.
Eph. 6:16-17 makes it clear that we¡¦re supposedly to already be suited up in the armor of God BEFORE we leave home -thus to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. We don¡¦t wait until we¡¦ve been hit broadside and mortally wounded to start putting on our armor.
The Lord had been preparing David to win all along. Had already made him able to fight against a lion and a bear. So, while the big soldiers out there trembled, David surprised them all by going out and saying, "Hey- how dare this man curse God?"
You see, the frightened solders had been trained in warfare. But not trained in handling something as big as Goliath. For that, you need God. And David had had Godly training.
2. Tripped -up
Notice it was David¡¦s own brother who tried to stop him from going out to get Goliath. It¡¦s easy for us today to look back and say, sure God could use a shepherd to kill a giant. But his own brothers were to close to the situation. It¡¦s been harder to have faith up close.
When King Saul finally gave in to letting David go fight, he tried to help out by piling armor on David.
But the armor didn¡¦t help. It just got in the way. They is a principle here. We don¡¦t into the Lord¡¦s battle with man¡¦s equipment. Weapons of our warfare are not carnal, Paul said, but mighty, THROUGH GOD, to the pulling down of strongholds, 2nd Corr. 10:4
If someone does evil against you and you retaliate, your returning evil for evil, and your still defeated, But the Lord says you can OVERCOME evil-with good.
When David tossed off the armor,
„« it was like tossing off his trust in the world,
„« the world¡¦s ways,
„« and the worlds, tools.
3. Taunted
Scottish martyrs
In the sixteenth century there was a bloody purge of Christians in Scotland. Thousands of ministers and lay persons suffered for Christ¡¦s sake. Many were hanged or slaughtered in cold blood. Some of these believers endured the torture of burning at the stake or being beheaded. Patrick Hamilton was a young Scotsman, twenty-four years old, when he was sentenced to die. As he was tied to the stake and the fire was burning at his feet he pulled off his outer garments and handed them to his servant, saying, "These will not profit me in the fire, yet they will do thee some good." Hamilton was taunted by one of his persecutors to deny God, but he answered, "Wicked man! Thou knowest I am not at guilt, and that is the truth of God for which I now suffer."
As the fire burned, the young martyr called out, "How long, O Lord, shall darkness overwhelm this realm? How long wilt Thou suffer this tyranny of man?" As he was being consumed by the flames he prayed like the biblical Stephen, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." (4)
While we remember those who have died in battle we also need to remember committed followers of Jesus like Patrick Hamilton. They died in battle, too - the battle between light and darkness. Their sacrifices remind us how anemic our own witness for Christ sometimes is.
„« Getting past his own king and his own brothers should have been enough.
„« Getting past his own inner feelings of reservation; but here was the moment of truth.
His giant,
his mountain,
his trial,
his crises,
speaking out to him and taunting him!
There are things you face in life, either publicly or very privately, that rise up like mountains before you make you feel small.
When Goliath laughed and cursed David, David could have retreated right then. And nobody would have blamed him!
As one writer years later said C. Columbus could have turned back before he discovered America, and no one would have blamed. But no one would have remembered him either.
Whatever you might be facing today - as you feeling the ground shaking beneath you - look at what David did! He stood his ground!
Goliath tried to make David the issue.
„« Tried to point out how young,
„« how small,
„« insignificant he was.
But when David spoke back, he made God the issue!
„« He came not in the name of King Saul,
„« of Israel,
„« certainly not in the name of David himself -
but in the name of the Lord.
Some commentators now believe that Goliath¡¦s sword was as big as a small telephone pole - really! Isn¡¦t that intimidating?
Not to the God that David was serving. The God who also watches over you.
Jesus only promised us one thing that we can get from this world - and that¡¦s tribulation. But as Peter wrote (1st Pet. 4:1), that very tribulation will bring you into a sweeter, more exciting fellowship with the captain of your salvation. For Jesus also suffered - and won!
Stage 4: Trusting
To trust God in the face of Goliath:
„« a giant that you could see with your eyes,
„« hear with your ears -
to trust a God you can¡¦t see at a time like that?! The world called it crazy. The world still does.
Like walking into the face of a shotgun and saying, "you can¡¦t hurt me." Imagine little you running up to the face a giant who had been able to terrify a whole nation.
David had spoken of his trust in God. How David was backing up his words with actions.
G: "Come to me and I will feed your body to the birds"
D: "You come against me with swords and staves, but I come against you in the Name of the Lord"
„« Not in the name of his country.
„« Not in the name of some political alliance that isn¡¦t worth the paper it¡¦s written on.
„« Not on the authority of the united nations (Notions)
„« But in the name of the One, whose name is above all other names.
Those intriguing 5 smooth stones. Let¡¦s let them represent 5 weapons of truth, that can apply to David - and to you:
„« Christ IS -Is. 51 Our confidence.
„« Christ CAN - Luke 11:22 Can conquer.
„« Christ HAS - mark 16:17 has all power
„« Christ WILL - 1st John 5:4-5 will give us victory
„« Christ DOES - Rev. 12:11 he causes us to overcome
The Lord¡¦s people are doing better than some realize. A recent study report given in Eugene, Oregon says that Christianity is growing at 3 times the rate of population growth in the world. In 100 AD, there were 360 non-Christians for every Christian.
The only sad part of this report is that the United States is the one country that is going the other way: Actually losing growth.
5. Growth
David defeated Goliath in Verse 50-51 should remind us of the Son of David (Jesus), triumphing over sin.
Our deliverer is Jesus, mighty to save. And he can give you victory over ANYTHING that hindered your walk with God: A bad habit, a bad memory, and a tough situation.
Spiritual growth
We are growing spiritually when:
1. We are increasingly aware of our sins and weaknesses.
2. Our response to sin is quick and followed by genuine repentance.
3. Our spiritual battles are becoming more fierce and yet we still rejoice.
4. We see trials and temptations as opportunities for growth.
5. We view service for Him as high honor and not a burden.
6. We view everything that comes our way as being from God. (Romans 8:28?)
7. We sense our faith is growing stronger (ie - when our faith level rises, or when it takes more to "ruffle" us)
8. We desire to spend more time in genuine praise and worship.
9. Our desire to obey Him is becoming more intense and sin is less attractive.
10. We are eager to share with others what Christ is doing in our life.
11. We are experiencing an increasing awareness of His presence.
12. We jealously guard our private time of prayer and Bible reading.
13. We prefer to spend more time with Him above all others.
