Secrets to Slaying Giants
Notes
Transcript
Finish Strong
Finish Strong
It was no accident nor coincidence, that made David a giant killer, Before the giant he had already killed a lion and a bear.
I want to point out the characteristics of Davids life that made him a giant killer.
The Secret that intertwines into all the others is that
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.
Take a lesson from the ants, you lazybones. Learn from their ways and become wise! Though they have no prince or governor or ruler to make them work, they labor hard all summer, gathering food for the winter.
This means you must:
1. Be Purpose Driven:
You may not totally know what you calling is now...but there is purpose in everything God has you doing right now..
And I can guarantee that everything you are doing now is training you for your ultimate purpose/calling
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.
2. Know 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.
3. Know how to speak up
A. First of all he knew how to speak up to himself
1Sa 30:6 says David encouraged himself
B. He knew how to speak up to his superiors
C. He knew how to speak up to his problems
4. Know 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. You cannot sit back and let it have the last say.
5. Refuse 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).
(Ive seen all you go thru this growing up)
6. Collect 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).
7. Never Forget the Battle is 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.
8. Don’t back down when problems stand up
As Goliath moved closer to attack, David quickly ran out to meet him.
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.
9. Qualify Yourself
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.
Never neglect or underestimate
(The word of God= the sword of the spirit) The name of Jesus, The power of the blood, Praise and Worship, Prayer- Intercession.
10. Hold 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.
11. Remember the Power of Praise
I will praise the Lord at all times. I will constantly speak his praises.
Ps 69:30 I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving.
Magnify = Enlarge, make greater, increase,
12. 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.