How to Slay a Giant

Scripture

Main Idea: God has given us the tools to fight the giants we face.

Major questions in the Text:

What are those giants?

How should we respond to those giants

Tension in the text:

1 Samuel 17:8–11 NKJV

8 Then he stood and cried out to the armies of Israel, and said to them, “Why have you come out to line up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and you the servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves, and let him come down to me. 9 If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we will be your servants. But if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall be our servants and serve us.” 10 And the Philistine said, “I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together.” 11 When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid.

Introduction:

In his book “Men’s Secret War’s “ ,Patrick Means recalls a conversation and a trip to an elderly facility. When he surveyed the facility everyone was healthy, and well-to do. The environment was pristine. Every one looked healthy and happy. When asked if he noticed anything ,he made mention of the absence of any sick people.

He was informed that this place did not want the sick. Once it was found out that you were sick they asked you to leave. on Page 210 it reads:

“I haven’t told you the best part yet,”Dick said. “My parents told me that when residents first begin to develop a physical problem, many cover it up for fear that they might be kicked out. A lot of these folks we see strolling around here looking fine go back to their rooms and collapse, glad they’ve made it through another day without someone discovering their secret!”

-Men’s Secret War’s p.210 Means, 1996 ©

Today I wan’t to address not just the giants externally, but the giants that live in our thoughts, our hearts, our very soul.

The truth of the matter is, every man has giants to face

Men Face many giants:

Isolation

Fear of failure

Lacking the confidence to Lead

Silent Frustration

Lust

Health

Marriage and communication struggles

Being able to relate to wife and children

Isolation - Genesis 2:18

Genesis 2:18 NKJV

18 And the Lord God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.” 18 And the Lord God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.”

We are currently facing a loneliness epidemic among men. Societal pressures discourage men from exhibiting any form of emotion. Men are workaholics trying to prove the intrinsic worth through their net worth.

Older men, will experience loss and a shrinking of their social network. I have seen this too many times to count.

So we have men silently drowning in their own thoughts and unprocessed emotions.

Fear of failure-

Joshua 1:9 KJV 1900

9 Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.

365 times bibles says to fear not. That is one for every day in the Gregorian calendar. But many men fear still grips them. Especially a fear of Failure

Lacking the Confidence to lead-

Jeremiah 1:7 NKJV

7 But the Lord said to me: “Do not say, ‘I am a youth,’ For you shall go to all to whom I send you, And whatever I command you, you shall speak.

We have been taught to be totally self reliant and independent as men. However the biblical path is one of complete and total dependence on God.

Silent Frustration -

Psalm 18:6 NKJV

6 In my distress I called upon the Lord, And cried out to my God; He heard my voice from His temple, And my cry came before Him, even to His ears.

Isolation can cause us to suffer in silence. Many times as men we a dissatisfied with our accomplishments, relationships, physiques and the like. However, we should be mindful that we have a God who is always willing to listen.

Point Transition

We are faced today with Giants that threaten our well being. This morning as we study David, We will see 3 tools on slaying our Giant.

I. Face It!

Fear had paralyzed an entire army of men. Men who were trained to fight were rendered ineffective because they viewed themselves as inadequate to meet the challenge.

Goliath was undefeated not because he was unbeatable. He undefeated because he was not engaged.

Often times we avoid confronting our issues because of the stigma, pyschological and emotional trauma facing our issue.

A report released by Movember today reveals that 45 per cent of 18-34-year-olds have avoided talking about their problems because they don’t want to appear less of a man.

https://cdn.movember.com/uploads/images/2012/News/UK%20IRE%20ZA/Movember%20Masculinity%20%26%20Opening%20Up%20Report%2008.10.19%20FINAL.pdf

Power Principle: You cannot fight what you will not face!!

THE TRUTH: Goliath was not just a giant to David. He was a giant to all Israel. We should never assume that the struggles we face are mutually exclusive.

1 Corinthians 10:13 NKJV

13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

Solution: 1 John 1:9

1 John 1:9 NKJV

9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

II. Faith It!

1 Samuel 17:37 NKJV

37 Moreover David said, “The Lord, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” And Saul said to David, “Go, and the Lord be with you!”

David not only decided to confront the enemy, He also equipped himself with tools to help him win.

A. We must take action to defeat our Giants

James 2:26 NKJV

26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

1 Samuel 17:40 NKJV

40 Then he took his staff in his hand; and he chose for himself five smooth stones from the brook, and put them in a shepherd’s bag, in a pouch which he had, and his sling was in his hand. And he drew near to the Philistine.

B. We must approach our giants with the power and authority of Christ

1 Samuel 17:45–47 NKJV

45 Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you. And this day I will give the carcasses of the camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. 47 Then all this assembly shall know that the Lord does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord’s, and He will give you into our hands.”

III. Focus!

1 Samuel 17:48–49 NKJV

48 So it was, when the Philistine arose and came and drew near to meet David, that David hurried and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine. 49 Then David put his hand in his bag and took out a stone; and he slung it and struck the Philistine in his forehead, so that the stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the earth.

A. Fight with Fury

David ran toward Goliath. If we are to defeat out giants, our actions must be deliberate, and aggressive. We courageously move toward defeating our giants. Goliath reminds us that giants can be beaten.

B. Finish the Job

Often time we will let up when pressure lightens up. But we should take a lesson from David:

1 Samuel 17:50–51 NKJV

50 So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone, and struck the Philistine and killed him. But there was no sword in the hand of David. 51 Therefore David ran and stood over the Philistine, took his sword and drew it out of its sheath and killed him, and cut off his head with it. And when the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled.

You’ve have to look it in. Consistency and accountability will win the day

You cannot show mercy to your Giant. Make a consistent habit of finshing the Job.

1 Corinthians 15:31 NKJV

31 I affirm, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.

Luke 9:23 NKJV

23 Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.

IV. Conclusion:

If we are to conquer the giants in our life, we must face them. We must be honest with ourselves and others. Pride must be eradicated and sober judgement instituted. Once we have face the truth, we must operate in faith taking steps to freedom. Finally, we cannot let up and allow our giants to live, we must die daily and conquer with Christ!