FACING GIANTS IN LIFE & WORK
50 Days of Transformation
7th Key—Your Life Work
Pastor Sip
September 25, 2014
1 SAMUEL 17:1-52
`“Now the Philistines had
gathered their forces for war... They
occupied one hill and the Israelites another, with the valley between them. A champion named Goliath, from Gath, came out
of the Philistine camp. He was a giant
of a man, over nine feet tall, wearing a huge bronze helmet, and a coat of
bronze armor that weighed over 125 pounds, He also wore bronze leggings, and
slung a huge bronze javelin over his back, The iron spearhead alone weighed 15
pounds, and a solider with a large shield always walked in front of
Goliath.” (vs. 1-7)
I. LESSONS FROM DAVID FACING GOLIATH
*David had to face other “Giants” before he faced
Goliath.
II. THE OTHER ‘GIANTS’ DAVID HAD TO FACE
1. DELAY: HIS DAD HELD HIM BACK.
“Now David
was the youngest of Jesse’s eight sons...
His three older brothers enlisted in Saul’s army... but David was held back to care for the
sheep in Bethlehem.” (vs. 12-15)
2. DISCOURAGEMENT: EVERYONE WAS AFRAID!
“Each day Goliath would stand and shout
at the ranks of
Israel’s army, ‘Why do you come out
here and line up for
battle?... Choose one man to fight me. If he’s able to kill
me, we will become your subjects; but if
I kill him, you’ll
become our subjects and serve us.’ Day after day Goliath
taunted them saying ‘This day I
defy the ranks of Israel!’
When Saul and the Israelites heard this, everyone
was
deeply shaken and paralyzed with fear.” (vs.
8-11)
“For forty days, twice a day, morning and evening, the
Philistine giant loudly berated the Israelite army.” (vs. 16)
“As David
talked with his brothers on the front line, he saw Goliath start shouting his
usual threats to Israel’s army. When the
army heard Goliath, they all ran away in terror.”
(vs. 23-24)
3. DISAPPROVAL: HIS BROTHER QUESTIONED HIS
MOTIVES.
“David
asked, ‘What’s the reward for killing this Philistine and ending this
disgraceful abuse?’... When David’s
older brother heard this he burned with anger at David and said ‘Why are YOU
even here anyway? Why aren’t you taking
care of your scrawny little flock of sheep?
You cocky little brat. I know how
conceited you are!’ ‘Now what have I done?’
said David. ‘Can't I even ask a
question?’" (vs. 28-29)
4. DOUBT:THE EXPERT DOUBTED HIS ABILITY.
“‘Don't worry about a
thing,’ David told the King, ‘I'll fight this Philistine!’ ‘Don't be
ridiculous!’ Saul replied. ‘There’s no
way YOU can go against this Philistine!
You’re only a boy, and he’s been a professional warrior all his life!’” (vs. 32-33)
HOW TO DEFEAT GIANTS
1. REMEMBER HOW GOD’S HELPED ME IN THE
PAST!
“In
protecting my sheep, I’ve killed both a lion and a bear... The Lord who delivered me from the teeth of
that lion, and the claws of that bear, will surely now deliver me from this
Philistine too!” (vs. 36-37)
2. USE THE TOOLS GOD HAS GIVEN ME NOW!
“Then
Saul dressed David in his own armor...
But David said, ‘I cannot go out in these, because I’m not used to
them.’ So he took them off... Instead he
chose 5 smooth stones for his sling.” (vs.
38-40)
3. IGNORE THE DREAMBUSTERS!
“ ... When others were speaking against him, David encouraged
himself in the Lord.”
1 Sam. 30:6
4. EXPECT GOD TO HELP ME FOR HIS GLORY!
“David
shouted to Goliath ‘You come at me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come
to you in the name of the Lord Almighty!...Today the Lord will conquer
you... and the whole world will know
that there is a God! And everyone will
know that the Lord doesn’t need weapons to rescue his people. It is his battle, not ours. The Lord will give you to us!’”
(vs. 45-47)
