- Sermon Notes
- Scripture
Facing Giants
1 Samuel 17:32-49
Intro: Pool Party
Sometimes in life we are presented with threats that seem too big for us to overcome. These trials are like giants in our lives, intimidating seemingly
impossible to overcome. It can be paralyzing to stare into the face of these giants. As our problems loom over us it can feel like we are too small
and incapable of moving forward.. However, by the strength of the Lord we can conquer these trials.
Because of our relationship to God we are uniquely equipped to prevail in our hardships and battles, no matter what we face (Psalm 50:15, Romans 8:28).
When the problem is too difficult, when we aren’t enough, we can have victory through Him. To remind us of this, we are going to read a story of a
young man named David who trusted the Lord to lead him in victory over an “unconquerable” philistine giant.
Read: 1 Samuel 17:32-49
Israel had been scared into inaction for 40 days by the threat of Goliath. This intimidating warrior had been coming out daily challenging and taunting
the armies of God, and no one had stepped up to face him. The battle was at a stand-still and the occupying enemies would cast their shadow over the
peace of Israel until the fight was over. The giants that lurk in our life have no right to steal our peace. When the taunts and insults of the trial
come, we must be like David. He knew that the Lord would be with him as He always had been, and this is important to recognize in your life as well…the
Lord is with you, fear not!
I. Fear Not
- While no one else had stepped up, David was ready to go! He came into the camp declaring victory with so much boldness that he was brought before the
king. David’s words and courage were backed not by pride or naivety, but by trust in the Lord.
- When struggles come and battles seem imminent, what attitude do we take? Is our response like David, ready in faith, or like the rest of the men of
Israel, cowering in fear.
- The heart that we have as a trial draws near is important. If just the sight of the giant paralyzes you, then you lost before the battle even began.
Illus. Like Oregonians and Snow
- We can’t let the sight of something difficult or scary rob us of a victory that the Lord wants to give us, but how can we boldly address our situation
when it seems so daunting, so much bigger than us?
- The Israelites had a reason to be afraid of Goliath. The Bible indicates that he was somewhere north of 9 feet tall (over a foot above the tallest
NBA players), and his armor itself weighed as much I did in high school. Facing such a man in battle looked like certain death.
- Well, David was ready for the Lord to lead him in victory over this unconquerable giant. Even saying, “Let no man’s heart fail on account of him.”
So too, we need to let the Lord lead us as we approach what looks unconquerable.
2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV)For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
- There will be things that make us anxious, and put fear in our hearts, but we can’t let them defeat us. Jesus even says…
John 16:33 (NIV)I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.
- The fact is that trials will come, in this life we will be confronted by giants. But we have something that should always fill our hearts with courage.
We overcome by victory in Jesus! The same God that gave David enough heart to face a literal giant, has overcome the very world and welcomed us
into His victory.
- Let the Lord prepare you
- To everyone around him, David certainly seemed unfit for this fight. The king directly told David that he was not able to go against Goliath because
he was just a youth.
- However, David had walked into this carrying a history with God. He had fought and defeated deadly animals, and he attributed those wins to the Lord.
1 Samuel 17:37 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.
- If you have made it this far in life, chances are God has brought you through some stuff. The Lord can use each challenge you have faced to prepare
you for greater ones.
- God has brought you through before, He can do it again. Whatever challenge you face today–small or large–you can face with boldness, knowing that
it’s an opportunity for you to grow.
James 1:2-4 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
Illus. Mountain Climbing
- Our trials are often where we gain the most altitude. Each climb strengthening us and preparing us for the one to come
- David was not required to fight the lion or bear while he was out shepherding. In those times it was the shepherd’s responsibility was to bring
the remains of any sheep killed by animals to the owner of the flock. They were not expected to fight to save the sheep.
- David, however, faced the challenge in front of him to defend the sheep entrusted to him. This made him an exemplary shepherd, but also paved the
way for him to face Goliath. Giving these victories was assurance to the king that God would hand David another.
- Like the challenge David faced tending the sheep, let the Lord prepare you right where he has you. God will use whatever trial you walk through
to prepare you for the trouble you have yet to see.
- He has walked you through the trials of the past, and He will equip you with everything that you need for the challenges to come.
- Allow the Lord to determine what you need
- Sometimes we have the boldness to rise to the challenge, except that we look at ourselves and say, “I don’t have what I need.”
- King Saul looked at David and saw someone willing to fight but on the surface thought he didn’t have the right stuff.
- In the king’s eyes, David needed the royal armor. So, he loaded David up with his garments, weapons, and shielding. Saul was trying to equip David
the way that he would equip himself.
- Sometimes we see our giant and try to put on an armor that isn’t our own. We try to become something or someone that we aren’t called to be. Other
people may even encourage us to do this.
- But David wasn’t so sure. He had to test this armor out to see if he could walk in it. Well, the armor must have failed the test, because David
turned it down.
- When we try to put on someone else’s armor it can be really hard to walk in. The person someone else is may not suit who we are or who God is asking
us to be.
- It may seem wise in the eyes’ of men to do things a particular way, but if it inhibits us from being who we are in Christ, or who Christ has called
us to be, then it’s of no benefit.
1 Corinthians 12:14-17 For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot says, “Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. And if the ear says, “Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the sense of smell be?
- Let God’s Word determine who you need to be, not people’s paths or opinions . Let your convictions be established by the Lord.
- So David took off Saul’s armor and went out to face Goliath as the shepherd boy he was. Stick and all.
Illus. Diving
- You may feel that you don’t have what you need, but God has used less to achieve more. Have confidence that He can use you and what He has given you.
Be true to your calling, and depend on God to deliver.
II.Depend on God to Deliver
- As David approached Goliath with his stick, sling and stones. The giant mocked some more “Am I a dog, that you come at me with sticks?”He didn’t realize
what the all-powerful God of Israel could do with such humble means.
- When the odds seem stacked against us and we are being reminded of how little we seem, we should look to the Lord and trust that He is strong enough
even if we are not.
- But why does God allow us to face trials that seem so much bigger than us? Why would God choose a young shepherd to fight a giant who has been a warrior
since his youth?
- What looks impossible to you and me is child’s play for God!
Ephesians 3:20-21 Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.
- The Lord can deliver though the trial and into victory. He is more than able. You just need to call on His name!
- Go in the name of the Lord
- As Goliath finished his last words, David responded with his own battle cry.
1 Samuel 17:45-46 “…You come to me with a sword, a spear, and 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 taunted. “This day the Lord will deliver you up into my hands, and I will strike you down…”
- That is truth we need to speak to our giants! Regardless of how intimidating they may be, their spears and threats have no leverage on those who are
under the Lord’s protection.
2 Corinthians 4:8-10We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.
- We are not crushed! This means that as long as you are walking the path God has laid for you, as long as you are an ambassador for Christ, whatever
hardship you are facing does not have the authority to overtake your heart.
Illus. Callaway
- Ultimately it’s the name of the Lord that invites victory in our lives. Only by Jesus’ name are we saved (Acts 4:12),and we need to call upon and lean
on His name in all we do.
- This not only blesses us, but it demonstrates to anyone who sees it that our God is incredible! This is part of the reason God allows such impossible
trials. It becomes very clear who really did the heavy lifting.
Illus. Gideon
- God wants everyone to know who He is, so that everyone would turn to Him. God is the one with the strength to save. Jesus is the only one who can redeem
us from our sin. This brings honor to His name, and blesses our lives in a richer way than we could ever think to ask for. You can count on Him!
- Don’t back down
- As Goliath drew near to meet David, David ran straight at him. He leaned into his courage, and put his faith in the Lord on display.
- When the moment finally comes to confront our giant, the temptation can be to run away or stammer. Don’t let your heart fail!
- David took one stone from his bag, slung it at the giant, and in a moment the battle was over! That’s all it took!
- It is so important that we follow through with our faith. The boldness that David showed should be an inspiration to us in the trial, because we serve
the very same God that he did.
Isaiah 41:10 Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.
- Don’t look from side to side as if your salvation will come suddenly where you weren’t looking. If you must look anywhere, look up!
- When you are facing your giant, have courage that He will deliver you! Even if you can’t imagine how you will come out in victory.
Matthew 10:27 With people it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God.
out against this Philistine and fight him; you are only a young man, and he has been a warrior from his youth.” But David said to Saul, “Your servant
has been keeping his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, I went after it, struck it and rescued
the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it. Your servant has killed both the lion and the
bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. The Lord who rescued me from
the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.”Saul said to David, “Go, and the Lord be with you.”
Then Saul dressed David in his own tunic. He put a coat of armor on him and a bronze helmet on his head. David fastened on his sword over the tunic
and tried walking around, because he was not used to them. “I cannot go in these,” he said to Saul, “because I am not used to them.” So he took
them off. Then he took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his shepherd’s bag and, with his
sling in his hand, approached the Philistine.
than a boy, glowing with health and handsome, and he despised him. He said to David, “Am I a dog, that you come at me with sticks?” And the Philistine
cursed David by his gods. “Come here,” he said, “and I’ll give your flesh to the birds and the wild animals!” 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. 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. All those gathered
here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.” As
the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him. Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone,
he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell facedown on the ground.