Where Are They?

WHERE ARE THEY?

1 SAMUEL 17:32-52

Introduction:

1. As a small boy, I can remember all of the noises and shadows I saw at night.

a. I would be laying in bed and the tree outside my window would brush

upon my window and the shadow of that tree would look as if someone

was coming in.

b. I would very softly and quietly sneak out of bed and crawl to my

parents room where I would report to my father that someone was

coming in.

c. Each night my father would get up and carry me back to my room and

patiently show me and prove to me that there was no one there, it was

just the tree.

d. This routine went on for several years, but dad was always faithful to

take me back to bed and calm my fears.

2. One night, the sound was a little different, and I again went to my dad and

made a report.

a. To his surprise, someone was trying to come in and he quickly called

the police, put his shoes on (only his shoes), called the neighbor (which

was the church music minister), and preceded to try to chase this man

down.

b. Why do I tell you this story this morning, not to tell you so much about

my father’s bravery, but to tell you of his faithfulness and patience.

c. My father’s faithfulness to me is what helped build that lack of fear and

comfort for me to go to bed each night.

3. I too now make trips to check out noises and shadows each night and I will be

honest, my children think I am very brave because I always get up and check it

out, but many times, just the thought of someone being there to break in just

scares me to death.

4. Our Christian lives are very similar to this story in many ways, because so

often when the giants of life seem to be looming and I am afraid and don’t

know what to do, my Heavenly Father is right there comforting me.

a. Men, there are many battles today that we must face.

b. Our world is falling apart all around us and is only getting worse each

day.

c. What God needs is some men that will lead out in their families,

churches, and workplaces so that we will see revival and be victorious

in our daily lives.

5. It has been said that if the church is to have revival it will most likely start

with the women, because the men are no longer the spiritual leaders in our

homes, communities, and churches.

a. Not only are they not the leaders, but many times they are not even

present.

b. Who leads out in prayer?

c. Bible study?

d. Church attendance?

6. God is looking for men that are not afraid to go to battle for Him against those

giants that loom around every corner.

7. What are the giants?

Galatians 5:19-21: "Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these;

adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred,

variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders,

drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have

also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the

kingdom of God."

8. Men, we are called to lead out in our families, churches, and community; are

you willing?

9. Our text this morning shows us that this is not a new problem.

a. The Israelite army had been given a challenge for 40 days by a man

named Goliath.

b. Goliath wanted someone to come down and fight him, but Goliath was

9 foot 9 inches tall and no one had the courage to take this challenge.

c. God was waiting for someone in His army to defend the people of God

but no one could be found to take this challenge.

d. But God is always in control, don’t forget that, and He did have

someone, that someone was David.

e. Look with me at verses 26-31.

10. Notice that David realizes who is on his side.

a. There is a progression here that you need to notice in this all familiar

passage.

b. This progression is no different today in the battles of life.

I. Two Paths 1 Samuel 17:32-37

A. Man’s Path (vs. 32-33)

The New Living Translation reads: "Don’t worry about a thing," David told

Saul. "I’ll go fight this Philistine!"

"Don’t be ridiculous!" Saul replied. "There is no way you can go against this

Philistine. You are only a boy, and he has been in the army since he was a boy!"

1. Here we see man doing what he does best, and that is telling someone