David and Goliath

Facing Our Giants

Picture—Green Pastures

As we face our GIANTS (whatever they may be)

FOCUS DAILY ON JESUS AND HIS WORD

Faith is active, not passive. Our faith moves us toward Jesus

Ephesians 3:14–21 — For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

And His Word

Read a chapter a day in the Gospel of John

John 8:31–32 — “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

SEEK AND ACCEPT HIS HELP

STEP TOWARD YOUR GIANTS IN FAITH

Philippians 4:13 — I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

RESIST DOUBT AND STEP FOWARD

ALLOW JESUS TO MAKE THE DIFFERENCE THROUGH YOU

As we step toward our giants, we may find ourselves pushed to two extremes.

We position ourselves in a spectator role.

OR we position God in a spectator role.

God meets us in the middle.

Story of David and Goliath (1 Samuel 17)

What is the story about?

Courage . . . the underdog prevailing . . . Read it again . . .

The story is about FAITH, the Honor of the Lord, and God’s larger work through His servant’s life.

GOLIATH—A GIANT OF A MAN

Intimidating in every way--height, strength, reputation

1 Samuel 17:11 — When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid.

David appears in verse 12

David’s confidence is not in himself, but in the Lord.

1 Samuel 17:37 —“The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” And Saul said to David, “Go, and the Lord be with you!”

Trust and confidence is in the LORD

1 Samuel 17:45 — 45“You come to me with a sword and 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 . . . For the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give you into our hand.”

David ran quickly toward Goliath (vs. 48)

1 Samuel 17:50 — 50 So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and struck the Philistine and killed him. There was no sword in the hand of David.

Here’s the question?

Is David a spectator in the battle?

Is God a spectator in the battle?

The Lord works through his servant

Allow Jesus to make the difference through you

Stick Figure Illustration

John 15:4–5 (ESV) — 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

John 16:33 (ESV) — 33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

The honor of God.

Take some momentos

1 Samuel 17:54 (ESV) — 54 And David took the head of the Philistine and brought it to Jerusalem, but he put his armor in his tent.

1 Samuel 16:13 (ESV) — 13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers. And the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon David from that day forward. And Samuel rose up and went to Ramah.

1 Samuel 17:1–2 (ESV) — 1 Now the Philistines gathered their armies for battle. And they were gathered at Socoh, which belongs to Judah, and encamped between Socoh and Azekah, in Ephes-dammim. 2 And Saul and the men of Israel were gathered, and encamped in the Valley of Elah, and drew up in line of battle against the Philistines.

1 Samuel 17:16 (ESV) — 16 For forty days the Philistine came forward and took his stand, morning and evening.

1 Samuel 17:26 (ESV) — 26 And David said to the men who stood by him, “What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?”

1 Samuel 17:32 (ESV) — 32 And David said to Saul, “Let no man’s heart fail because of him. Your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.”

1 Samuel 17:33 (ESV) — 33 And Saul said to David, “You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him, for you are but a youth, and he has been a man of war from his youth.”

1 Samuel 17:39–40 (ESV) — 39 and David strapped his sword over his armor. And he tried in vain to go, for he had not tested them. Then David said to Saul, “I cannot go with these, for I have not tested them.” So David put them off. 40 Then he took his staff in his hand and chose five smooth stones from the brook and put them in his shepherd’s pouch. His sling was in his hand, and he approached the Philistine.

There was David’s “gospel” for Goliath:

(1) I come in the name of the Lord;

(2) You have mocked the Lord;

(3) I will destroy you;

(4) The world will know who God is.[1]

Everything about David speaks of weakness—boy, a shepherd, a sling

Goliath—man’s man, a powerful warrior, a sword and armor

Weakness against strength.

The battle is the Lord’s—God’s honor.