Dealing with Our Fears

1 Samuel 17:26–58

1 Samuel 17:26–58 (NLT)

26 David asked the soldiers standing nearby, “What will a man get for killing this Philistine and ending his defiance of Israel? Who is this pagan Philistine anyway, that he is allowed to defy the armies of the living God?”

27 And these men gave David the same reply. They said, “Yes, that is the reward for killing him.”

28 But when David’s oldest brother, Eliab, heard David talking to the men, he was angry. “What are you doing around here anyway?” he demanded. “What about those few sheep you’re supposed to be taking care of? I know about your pride and deceit. You just want to see the battle!”

29 “What have I done now?” David replied. “I was only asking a question!”

30 He walked over to some others and asked them the same thing and received the same answer.

31 Then David’s question was reported to King Saul, and the king sent for him.

32 “Don’t worry about this Philistine,” David told Saul. “I’ll go fight him!”

33 “Don’t be ridiculous!” Saul replied. “There’s no way you can fight this Philistine and possibly win! You’re only a boy, and he’s been a man of war since his youth.”

34 But David persisted. “I have been taking care of my father’s sheep and goats,” he said. “When a lion or a bear comes to steal a lamb from the flock,

35 I go after it with a club and rescue the lamb from its mouth. If the animal turns on me, I catch it by the jaw and club it to death.

36 I have done this to both lions and bears, and I’ll do it to this pagan Philistine, too, for he has defied the armies of the living God!

37 The Lord who rescued me from the claws of the lion and the bear will rescue me from this Philistine!” Saul finally consented. “All right, go ahead,” he said. “And may the Lord be with you!”

38 Then Saul gave David his own armor—a bronze helmet and a coat of mail.

39 David put it on, strapped the sword over it, and took a step or two to see what it was like, for he had never worn such things before. “I can’t go in these,” he protested to Saul. “I’m not used to them.” So David took them off again.

40 He picked up five smooth stones from a stream and put them into his shepherd’s bag. Then, armed only with his shepherd’s staff and sling, he started across the valley to fight the Philistine.

41 Goliath walked out toward David with his shield bearer ahead of him,

42 sneering in contempt at this ruddy-faced boy.

43 “Am I a dog,” he roared at David, “that you come at me with a stick?” And he cursed David by the names of his gods.

44 “Come over here, and I’ll give your flesh to the birds and wild animals!” Goliath yelled.

45 David replied to the Philistine, “You come to me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies—the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.

46 Today the Lord will conquer you, and I will kill you and cut off your head. And then I will give the dead bodies of your men to the birds and wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel!

47 And everyone assembled here will know that the Lord rescues his people, but not with sword and spear. This is the Lord’s battle, and he will give you to us!”

48 As Goliath moved closer to attack, David quickly ran out to meet him.

49 Reaching into his shepherd’s bag and taking out a stone, he hurled it with his sling and hit the Philistine in the forehead. The stone sank in, and Goliath stumbled and fell face down on the ground.

50 So David triumphed over the Philistine with only a sling and a stone, for he had no sword.

51 Then David ran over and pulled Goliath’s sword from its sheath. David used it to kill him and cut off his head. When the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they turned and ran.

52 Then the men of Israel and Judah gave a great shout of triumph and rushed after the Philistines, chasing them as far as Gath and the gates of Ekron. The bodies of the dead and wounded Philistines were strewn all along the road from Shaaraim, as far as Gath and Ekron.

53 Then the Israelite army returned and plundered the deserted Philistine camp.

54 (David took the Philistine’s head to Jerusalem, but he stored the man’s armor in his own tent.)

55 As Saul watched David go out to fight the Philistine, he asked Abner, the commander of his army, “Abner, whose son is this young man?” “I really don’t know,” Abner declared.

56 “Well, find out who he is!” the king told him.

57 As soon as David returned from killing Goliath, Abner brought him to Saul with the Philistine’s head still in his hand.

58 “Tell me about your father, young man,” Saul said. And David replied, “His name is Jesse, and we live in Bethlehem.”

INTRODUCTION:

As you face a world that is hostile to Christ, and all he stands for, do you find yourself shrinking back in fear? When you are confronted by an individual who openly attacks what you know by the spirit of God in his word to be true? Do you feel will not come into the pit of your stomach? Do you find yourself thinking, “I know I should say something to this person.” But yet are unable to speak because of the paralyzing effects of fear?

Fear is one of the most effective tools of temptation that Satan has to use against God’s children. He has used throughout human history and uses it against you and I today. It comes in varying degrees and forms. It varies from the subtle fear of peer pressure (such as David faced in 1 Samuel 24 and 26) to the intense fear that David must have felt in our text.

Somehow we seem to think that David had no fear when facing Goliath… But he was human… We see David “scared, but standing in confidence” against his colossal foe.

Let us take a look at some pointers from God’s word that will help us to stand confidently against the Goliath of fear when it attacks.

I- RECOGNIZE THAT THE SOURCE OF YOUR FEAR IS LIMITED. (1 Samuel 17:26-29).

1 Samuel 17:26–29 (NLT)

26 David asked the soldiers standing nearby, “What will a man get for killing this Philistine and ending his defiance of Israel? Who is this pagan Philistine anyway, that he is allowed to defy the armies of the living God?”

27 And these men gave David the same reply. They said, “Yes, that is the reward for killing him.”

28 But when David’s oldest brother, Eliab, heard David talking to the men, he was angry. “What are you doing around here anyway?” he demanded. “What about those few sheep you’re supposed to be taking care of? I know about your pride and deceit. You just want to see the battle!”

29 “What have I done now?” David replied. “I was only asking a question!”

A- Circumstances sometimes create fear.

1- When David, then a teenager, came into the Israelite camp, he found an alarming situation.

a- First, he found a king who refused to lead because he was bound by fear.

b- Second, he found an army who was in bondage to fear because of the condition of the king.

c- Third, the forces of the enemy were encamped and in battle array across the valley.

d- Fourth, there was a giant – an enemy who was speaking blasphemous things against the Lord.

2- As he inquired, he learned that not one man was willing to fight against Goliath!

a- It is easy to let the fear of others strike fear in our hearts.

b- Looking at the obstacles through the eyes of the flesh can sometimes create fear.

B- It is important to realize that all sources of fear have limitations.

1- Every source of fear originates in the created order; and by the very fact that it is from something created means that it has limitations.

a- The only being in the entire universe that is not created is the creator.

b- As believers, we are children of the creator and need not fear him.

II- REMEMBER THE SPIRIT-EMPOWERED VICTORIES OF THE PAST (1 Samuel 17:31–36).

1 Samuel 17:31–36 (NLT)

31 Then David’s question was reported to King Saul, and the king sent for him.

32 “Don’t worry about this Philistine,” David told Saul. “I’ll go fight him!”

33 “Don’t be ridiculous!” Saul replied. “There’s no way you can fight this Philistine and possibly win! You’re only a boy, and he’s been a man of war since his youth.”

34 But David persisted. “I have been taking care of my father’s sheep and goats,” he said. “When a lion or a bear comes to steal a lamb from the flock,

35 I go after it with a club and rescue the lamb from its mouth. If the animal turns on me, I catch it by the jaw and club it to death.

36 I have done this to both lions and bears, and I’ll do it to this pagan Philistine, too, for he has defied the armies of the living God!

A- Past victories are a source of confidence.

1- As David remembered the victories that God had given him, he could have confidence assurance of victory.

a- In spite of the words of discouragement, David could remain confident.

1) He had proven cases to instill confidence.

Experiences with wild beasts while caring for his father’s sheep.

2- When the giant of fear comes, take time for a backward glance. Look back to the victories God has given you in the past.

a- Remember the teachings of Scripture.

( 2 Timothy 1:6–9)

2 Timothy 1:6–9 (NLT)

6 This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you.

7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.

8 So never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord. And don’t be ashamed of me, either, even though I’m in prison for him. With the strength God gives you, be ready to suffer with me for the sake of the Good News.

9 For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time—to show us his grace through Christ Jesus.

b- Remember the victories!

Remember the victory over sin and Satan when you were saved.

Remember the victories over “hopeless” situations of the past when God brought the victory!

III- RELY ON THE POWER OF GOD FOR THE VICTORY (1 Samuel 17:37).

1 Samuel 17:37 (NLT)

The Lord who rescued me from the claws of the lion and the bear will rescue me from this Philistine!” Saul finally consented. “All right, go ahead,” he said. “And may the Lord be with you!”

A- The Lord will bring victory as you trust in him.

1- David responded in faith and confidence to the utter trustworthiness of God.

a- God had proven himself trustworthy in previous battles of a lesser nature against animals who threatened his flock.

b- David relied on and rested in the total trustworthiness of God. Not only to deliver himself, but all of God’s people!

Was he scared? – Who would not be? But he stood in confidence – relying on the power of the living God!

B- The key to release from the bondage of fear is trust in God.

1- Fear brings bondage (Romans 8:15).

Romans 8:15 (NLT)

15 So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.”

2- We must rely on the presence and power of God for victory (Hebrews 13:6).

Hebrews 13:6 (NLT)

6 So we can say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?”

Answer this: “Is God trustworthy?” He is your helper – trust in him. Rely on his power!

IV- REPUDIATE THE DECEPTIVE IDEA THAT YOUR STRENGTH IS FOUND IN THE FLESH (1 Samuel 17:38-39).

1 Samuel 17:38–39 (NLT)

38 Then Saul gave David his own armor—a bronze helmet and a coat of mail.

39 David put it on, strapped the sword over it, and took a step or two to see what it was like, for he had never worn such things before. “I can’t go in these,” he protested to Saul. “I’m not used to them.” So David took them off again.

A- Strength to fight the battle is not found in the flesh.

1- David tried on the armor and weaponry provided by King Saul.

a- He found that he was hindered, weighed down, cumbered by what was supposed to be protection for him and should have helped him defeat his enemy.

2- David rejected the physical armor and weapons, in favor of faith.

3- The weapons of the flesh (skill, intellect, logic) will cumber you and make you more vulnerable to the enemy!

a- Physical skills are useless in a spiritual fight.

b- Intellect is useless because it is limited to our own experience, which is also limited.

Logic:

Given: one man can dig a posthole in 60 seconds.

Given: 60 men can do a job 60 times faster than one man.

Therefore: 60 men can dig a posthole in one second.

c- Logic fails because our logic is many times faulty.

The songwriter wrote, “the arm of flesh will fail you; you dare not trust your own.”

V- RETRIEVE THE WEAPONS ORDAINED BY GOD (1 Samuel 17:40).

1 Samuel 17:40 (NLT)

He picked up five smooth stones from a stream and put them into his shepherd’s bag. Then, armed only with his shepherd’s staff and sling, he started across the valley to fight the Philistine.

A- God’s weapons often make no worldly sense, but will provide the victory.

1- David rejected the armor and weapons normally used in warfare, and instead used a slingshot in 5 smooth stones.

a- Imagine the ridicule that David must have endured as he walked out with only a slingshot and rocks!

2- You must likewise reject the weapons normally used by the world… Money, skill, intellect, logic… And use instead the weapons of prayer and the word of God.

Note also that David use that which he was most familiar with and skilled with.

You cannot use spiritual weapons to fight with when you have had no practice with them. If you are not familiar with the word of God and prayer you will not be able to use them in battle against Satan!

Paul emphasized the need to use spiritual weapons instead of worldly weapons.

(2 Corinthians 10:4)

2 Corinthians 10:4 (NLT)

We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments.

(2 Corinthians 6:7)

2 Corinthians 6:7 (NLT)

We faithfully preach the truth. God’s power is working in us. We use the weapons of righteousness in the right hand for attack and the left hand for defense.

VI- REMEMBER THE SOURCE OF YOUR SUFFICIENCY (1 Samuel 17:41-47).

1 Samuel 17:41–47 (NLT)

41 Goliath walked out toward David with his shield bearer ahead of him,

42 sneering in contempt at this ruddy-faced boy.

43 “Am I a dog,” he roared at David, “that you come at me with a stick?” And he cursed David by the names of his gods.

44 “Come over here, and I’ll give your flesh to the birds and wild animals!” Goliath yelled.

45 David replied to the Philistine, “You come to me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies—the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.

46 Today the Lord will conquer you, and I will kill you and cut off your head. And then I will give the dead bodies of your men to the birds and wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel!

47 And everyone assembled here will know that the Lord rescues his people, but not with sword and spear. This is the Lord’s battle, and he will give you to us!”

A- The source of your sufficiency is the Lord.

1- Goliath began to ridicule David (vs. 41 – 44).

He even cursed David and threatened him! (1 Samuel 17:43)

1 Samuel 17:43 (NLT)

“Am I a dog,” he roared at David, “that you come at me with a stick?” And he cursed David by the names of his gods.

2- David responded to the taunts of the giant by clearly defining the source of his sufficiency for the battle.

(1 Samuel 17:45-47)

1 Samuel 17:45–47 (NLT)

45 David replied to the Philistine, “You come to me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies—the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.

46 Today the Lord will conquer you, and I will kill you and cut off your head. And then I will give the dead bodies of your men to the birds and wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel!

47 And everyone assembled here will know that the Lord rescues his people, but not with sword and spear. This is the Lord’s battle, and he will give you to us!”

2- When entering the conflict and the enemy begins to tempt you to despair and fear remember:

your source of sufficiency is not in what men say or think, but in the anointing power of God! Remember his spirit resides within you and will not leave you.

(Hebrews 13:5)

Hebrews 13:5 (NLT)

5 Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said,

“I will never fail you.

I will never abandon you.”

VII- RECEIVE THE VICTORY FROM GOD (1 Samuel 17:48-58).

1 Samuel 17:48–58 (NLT)

48 As Goliath moved closer to attack, David quickly ran out to meet him.

49 Reaching into his shepherd’s bag and taking out a stone, he hurled it with his sling and hit the Philistine in the forehead. The stone sank in, and Goliath stumbled and fell face down on the ground.

50 So David triumphed over the Philistine with only a sling and a stone, for he had no sword.

51 Then David ran over and pulled Goliath’s sword from its sheath. David used it to kill him and cut off his head. When the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they turned and ran.

52 Then the men of Israel and Judah gave a great shout of triumph and rushed after the Philistines, chasing them as far as Gath and the gates of Ekron. The bodies of the dead and wounded Philistines were strewn all along the road from Shaaraim, as far as Gath and Ekron.

53 Then the Israelite army returned and plundered the deserted Philistine camp.

54 (David took the Philistine’s head to Jerusalem, but he stored the man’s armor in his own tent.)

55 As Saul watched David go out to fight the Philistine, he asked Abner, the commander of his army, “Abner, whose son is this young man?” “I really don’t know,” Abner declared.

56 “Well, find out who he is!” the king told him.

57 As soon as David returned from killing Goliath, Abner brought him to Saul with the Philistine’s head still in his hand.

58 “Tell me about your father, young man,” Saul said. And David replied, “His name is Jesse, and we live in Bethlehem.”

A- Run into the battle, not away from it. (1 Samuel 17:48).

1 Samuel 17:48 (NLT)

48 As Goliath moved closer to attack, David quickly ran out to meet him.

1- David ran to meet Goliath.

a- Notice, he not only ran toward the giant, but toward the hole for listing Army!

2- If God is your sufficiency, you can charge the host of hell with a water pistol and still win.

a- Remember, the battle is not yours… “The battle is the Lord’s.” (1 Samuel 17:47).

1 Samuel 17:47 (NLT)

47 And everyone assembled here will know that the Lord rescues his people, but not with sword and spear. This is the Lord’s battle, and he will give you to us!”

B- Use the weaponry of God (1 Samuel 17:49).

1 Samuel 17:49 (NLT)

49 Reaching into his shepherd’s bag and taking out a stone, he hurled it with his sling and hit the Philistine in the forehead. The stone sank in, and Goliath stumbled and fell face down on the ground.

1- David use the weapon ordained by God… So “all the assembly shall know that the Lord saves not with the sword and spear…”

a- It was obvious that God won the battle, not David.

2- When the victory comes in spite of human weakness, the only explanation is the power of God!

CONCLUSION:

What about the giant of fear in your life? You have been filled with fear by the enemy, tempting you to give up… To cause blasphemy instead of glory for God. What are you going to do?

Recognize that the source of your fear has limits.

Remember the Spirit empowered victories of the past.

Rely on the power of God for the victory.

Repudiate the deceptive idea that strength is found in the flesh.

Retrieve the weapons ordained by God.

Remember the source of your sufficiency for the battle.

Receive the victory from God.

What if you have already given into fear? Confess, repent, and recommit your life to the Lordship of Christ (1 John 1:9).

1 John 1:9 (NLT)

9 But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.