Secret #1
David was Self disciplined:
If David were standing here today he would tell you if you ever expect to slay the giants in your life you have become self disciplined like the ant, who has no ruler or overseer = she disciplines herself.
(Pro 6:6-8)
6 ¶ Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:
7 Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler,
8 Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.
Purpose driven:
For David purpose began in caring for his father’s sheep, everything he did, and learned was birthed in him out of this purpose, It was within this purpose that David began to cultivate his ability with a slingshot
It was while fulfilling this purpose that David developed his love for music and his talent for playing the harp.
He knew how to handle Criticism - negativism
When his brother tried to criticize him and speak negatively to him, he did not entertain it, or stand and argue, (he simply said what have I now done, is there not a cause) and turned toward another. (He had selective Hearing).
He connected himself to something greater than himself
There must be something bigger than me, something greater than self, something that will outlast me, (The cause) is the vision that keeps us connected to our destiny.
The cause is that which I am willing to fight for and if necessary die for.
He knew how to speak up:
A. First of all he knew how to speak up to himself
1Sa 30:6 And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.
B. He knew how to speak up to his superiors
C. He knew how to speak up to his problems
He knew how to address the problem:
He didn’t waste his time talking about the size of goliath, magnifying the problem, but he spoke directly to the mountain.
I don’t know what the mountain might be in your life, but I know every mountain has a mouth and will talk back to you. And you can’t sit back and let the mountain have the last say.
Mark 11:23 For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.
He refused to be defined by others:
A. His father tried B. his brother tried C. Saul tried D. his circumstances – Problem = Goliath tried.
You have got to be yourself, (If you let people give you your identity, you’ll be so confused you won’t know if you’re coming or going).
David Collected trophies of past victories:
He recounts to Saul his victories over the lion and the bear, and compares the philistine to one of these and recognizes that the same God who gave him the victory over the lion and the bear will give him the victory over the philistine problem.
We must keep the records of past victories.= (Goliath’s Sword).
He knew the Battle was the Lords:
Too many times people are drawn into a fight with the devil thinking that it’s a personal battle between them and the devil, I’m fighting this sickness, and I’m fighting this financial problem. (This is the devils strategy, to try to get us to fight in a battle that’s already been won.
The truth is the victory has already been established by Jesus Christ, Our part is to stand in faith on what has already been done.
He didn’t back down when the problem stood up: 1Sam 17:48
Here is where we lose the battle most of the time, This is where our confession is tested, It’s easy to be bold when everything’s under control, when the problem is sitting down and behaving itself, the real test of faith is when the problems stand up in your face and defy you.
He qualified himself:
He had confidence in his weapons and his ability to use them, because he had qualified himself in the use of them.
If we are going to be successful in our warfare we are going to have to qualify ourselves in the use of our weapons.
(The word of God= the sword of the spirit) The name of Jesus, The power of the blood, Praise and Worship, Prayer- Intercession.
David understood the Power of Covenant life:
He was a covenant keeper, He knew that if he kept the covenant, The covenant keeping God would keep him.
David knew the power of Praise:
Ps 34:1 I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
Ps 104:33 I will sing unto the LORD as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.
Ps 34:3 O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.
Ps 69:30 I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving.
Magnify = Enlarge, make greater, increase,
David knew How to finish the Job
With a sling and a stone, he took goliath to the ground, but with his own sword he took his head off.
One of the greatest secrets of a giant killer is (finish it).
Ec 7:8 Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof
Mt 24:13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
Heb 3:6 But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.
God is a finisher:
Ge 2:1 Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.
Jesus Was a Finisher:
Joh 19:30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.
David was a Finisher: He knew how to complete what he started.
David knew the importance of being a finisher ( He encourages His Son to Finish what he started).
1Ch 28:20 And David said to Solomon his son, Be strong and of good courage, and do it: fear not, nor be dismayed: for the LORD God, even my God, will be with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, until thou hast finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD.
Paul Was A Finisher
2Ti 4:7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
Nehemiah was a Finisher:
Ne 6:15 So the wall was finished in the twenty and fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty and two days.
Moses Was A Finisher:
Ex 40:33 And he reared up the court round about the tabernacle and the altar, and set up the hanging of the court gate. So Moses finished the work.
It’s not really that important how you start, it’s how you finish that matters:
Giant killers understand that everything depends on finishing.
You may start slow, or you may take off like a rocket but whether you start like a turtle or a rocket (What really matters is how you finish).
A good runner knows that it is important to pace yourself
Tell your neighbor: Pace yourself, so you can finish strong.
