After God's own Heart: Trusting God

Introduction

The inspirational movie Little Giants. . .

Overcoming is a theme of David and Goliath,and usually that is the primary focus of this story in sermons and bible studies. but it’s not the most important aspect I think. The most important aspect is Trust. As a man after God’s own heart, David knew that placing his full trust in God is key to overcoming all obstacles thrown His way.

The armies of the Philistines and Israelites have gathered for battle. Goliath, a 9 foot plus warrior stepped out and challenged the Israelites to single combat. Saul the King and the whole Israelite army are scared to death. They have lost their courage, honor, and most importantly they lost their ability to trust in the almighty God.

In comes David sent by His father to deliver food to his brothers in the army. He hears Goliath’s taunting and sees the fear in his countrymen eyes. And he steps up to the challenge, telling the King that the same God that delivered him from bears and lions in his shepherding days will deliver him from any Philistine giant! David goes out to Goliath and says this in ,

The Let’s read .

45 David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel.

Never forget this was a boy saying this to a professional giant warrior. Yet he had no fear! How could when he trusted the one true God! Which means he can overcome this challenge, how does he do this,

David Trusted God that no earthy weapon can overcome God’s will.

tells us

no weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and this is their vindication from me,” declares the Lord.

David uses psychological warfare against Goliath. He says, “You done messed up Goliath, you talked trash, and know you and all your boys are getting a whooping because God’s got our back” David confronts his obstacle and tells it I am not afraid of you because God who is more powerful than you and has my back!

That is exactly what we should do toward the Devil! When we are faced with temptation and trials we need to look Satan in eyes and say not today because God has my back. There is no weapon on this earth or universe that can do any harm to God much less conquer Him. And if that's the case, if we truly believe that then realistically what is there to fear?

How does any underdog defeat a superior opponent, its confidence. For David and for us its confidence in God’s power to deliver.

David Trusted God that the size of the challenge makes no difference

Goliath was over 9 feet tall and cocky, he had the whole army of Israel shaking, including the King . Now, if he were 3 feet tall and had a weak squeaky voice do you think Saul and the Israelites would not have been afraid.

How we view our problems makes a difference in how we feel about them. But size doesn’t matter to God. And our Faith in God can make any large and scary problem look small and puny.

Our Lord Jesus told us, (Matthew 17:20)

... if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

Its not about literally moving mountains its about if we possess even a small amount of genuine faith that truly trusts in God, they would have access to unlimited resources through the power of God. Overcoming Sin, overcoming doubt, overcoming addiction, no matter the type or size of the problem the solution is the same: faith and trust in God!

When you read the story of David and Goliath it is amazing to see that the size and might of Goliath never fazed David. From Start to finish he trusted God.

David trusted God that salvation is from God and not man.

- Salvation belongs to the Lord; Your blessing be upon Your people! Selah.

David practiced exactly what the New Testament teaches us, Salvation is a gift from God we cannot earn, instead it we receive it by faith. David proves that, and his faith is so powerful here. David didn't ask for a regiment to go with him, and he took off the armor that Saul gave him, weather it fitted him or not, he didn’t need it. He took a sling shot and a few stones and went out knowing the slingshot was just a formality because God was the most powerful weapon he had.

We must stop taking inventory of our own skills and accomplishments and trust that God has done the work for our salvation and victory over sin! David was fighting a military battle and had to use a weapon t accomplish God’s task. For us we have weapons as well but they are spiritual because we fight a spiritual battle. Paul lists these in Ephesians 4:

11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

God never leaves those who trust in Him without the means to fight! David only need a sling and rock to kill one Goliath. For all the meteorically Goliath's we can imagine we have from head to toe all the protection we need and we have the most powerful weapon: The word of God.

My wife is a big Zelda Fan. . . in the games there is always one weapon that surpasses all others - the Mater Sword. Sometimes you have to go an a quest to get it. In real life. Jesus offers Salvation to those who place there faith in Him. And when you do you receive the Sword of Truth! Use it!

Salvation only comes from God, David knew it and defeated a giant with a sling. We we trust in that we can conquered sin and help free others with the weapon God provides.

Conclusion

Trust was key to David’s victories, trust in God is also what will carry us to victory in our daily challenges. Its only possible because God has already won the war and is fighting on our behalf even to this very day! When we trust in God we learn that no weapon or power can over take God or separate us from Him, when we trust we learn that no problem is too big or small for God, but our faith needs to be strong. And when we trust God we know only he can save us, from both our past sin and present challenges; and he equips us with the weapons we need.

Davis a young Shepard overcame a giant, and yes we can too but only if we trust God!