Facing the Giants - Part VIII

The Giants in our lives are a great opportunity for us to act on our faith and bring glory to God. Not only did David win a great victory with God's help, but he also was used of God to encourage those around him.  1 Samuel 17:51  Therefore David ran, and stood upon the Philistine, and took his sword, and drew it out of the sheath thereof, and slew him, and cut off his head therewith. And when the Philistines saw their champion was dead, they fled. And the men of Israel and of Judah arose, and shouted, and pursued the Philistines, until thou come to the valley, and to the gates of Ekron. And the wounded of the Philistines fell down by the way to Shaaraim, even unto Gath, and unto Ekron. And the children of Israel returned from chasing after the Philistines, and they spoiled their tents. In our last devotion we talked about David's courage and bravery. Now after his victory we see the impact David's courage had on the men of Israel. David's actions instilled confidence and bravery to the rest of Israel. The men of Israel and Judah who before were fear stricken because of Goliath, now are on the attack. David was a great leader! He led by example and influenced those around him to be moved to action.  Now listen my fellow Christian someone is watching you. You are an example to someone! What those who are looking at you need is a faith filled servant. As you face the Giants in your life you are able to show others that God is sufficient. Your actions of bravery and courage can help your children, your friends, your fellow church members to be encouraged that they too can overcome the Giants in their lives.  We need leaders who will step out in faith and trust God to provide in order that others may strengthened to face the Giants too.

Facing the Giants - Part VII

1 Samuel 17:46-48  This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD'S, and he will give you into our hands.  And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came and drew nigh to meet David, that David hasted, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine.  Amazing! What Courage!  It said, "that David hasted, and ran" meet his challenge with bravery.  Notice again who David was trusting in, "This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand;"  David's faith was in God and His ability. David was confident the LORD was going to bring deliverance and use him to do so, "and I will smite thee."  In all of this we see David's main concern was not what people thought about himself. He realized that this battle was much more then David verses Goliath, it was about making God known to the world, "that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel."  I wonder if we ever think about that when it comes to our Giants in our lives. Do we see the Giant as an obstacle or do we see it rather as an opportunity to make God known to others. When we face our Giants with faith and courage we testify to God's power, God's grace, and God's sufficiency in our lives. Let us change our outlook on problems, trials and battles; to viewing them has opportunities to showcase to the world how Great our God is.  After all we must remember that the battle is the LORD'S! 1 Corinthians 10:13  There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. 1 John 4:4  Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. Listen my friend, God will not put you into a situation that you are not able to overcome because He in whom nothing is impossible lives within you! And when you trust in the LORD to strengthen you to push through, He will clear the way. God is good! Face your Giant will courage and watch God move! And of course we know how the story ends. To God be the glory! 1 Samuel 17:49  And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth.  Today you too can likewise see a great victory in your life as your trust in the LORD to fight for you.

Facing the Giants - Part VI

1 Samuel 17:42-45  And when the Philistine looked about, and saw David, he disdained him: for he was but a youth, and ruddy, and of a fair countenance.  And the Philistine said unto David, Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with staves? And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. And the Philistine said to David, Come to me, and I will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the air, and to the beasts of the field. Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.  So here we have Goliath the Philistine Giant ranting and raving about how he is going to feed David to the birds. Again, David cool, calm and collectively responds to the threat. David said "Goliath you may have a sword, a spear and a great shield, but I have something better than that. No not his sling shot! David said, "Goliath I have a weapon that you can't see. I have the Lord God of Israel!" You see David recognized that his greatest weapon was having the LORD on his side. Listen as we face the Giants in our lives, it's not out own resources (weapons) that are going to make the difference. It is all about our faith in God! It's not our wisdom, our strength,  or our strategy that gives us victory. It is God and God alone! Zechariah 4:6...Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts. What are we trusting in today? Our money, our intellect, our own will power? The only thing that we can trust in when it comes to facing the Giants in our lives is the Lord being on our side. Well I'm on the winning side, for I know who fights my battles!  Let Go and Let God fight your Giant today! Jesus Christ is still the all time undisputed heavy weight champion! He never fails!

Facing the Giants - Part V

1 Samuel 17:38-40  And Saul armed David with his armour, and he put an helmet of brass upon his head; also he armed him with a coat of mail. And David girded his sword upon his armour, and he assayed to go; for he had not proved it. And David said unto Saul, I cannot go with these; for I have not proved them. And David put them off him. And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd's bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling was in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine.  Boy I like this!  We are living in a day and age when more and more Christians and Churches are compromising, just to reach more people. As a result there has been a watering down and a lukewarm type of Christianity.  You see Saul said, "David if you are going to have success and victory then you need some new weapons."  Saul gave David a sword and some armour to go with it, but David rejected it. The key point here is David did not want to use something new, but rather stick with what was already proven to work. In essence David was saying, "I am going to use what God has blessed and used in the past!"  Listen to me, what we need today in America and in churches all across this land is not something "new!"  No sir! What we need is, "Give me that old time religion, give that old time religion, give that old time religion it's good enough for me. It was good for Paul and Silas, it was good for grandma and grandpa and bless God it is still good enough today!  We do not need a new Bible, we don't need more contemporary Christian music, what we need to do is get back to what has worked in the past. I'm talking about the religion of what worked in Whitefield's, Spurgeon's, Finney's, Moody's, and Sunday's day. Let us not use something new, but rather what has already been proven. The KJB. The Old Time Hymns. Soul Winning. Holy Living. Spirit Filled Lives.

Facing the Giants - Part IV

Yesterday we talk about how David was not just willing to fight the Giant, but he was bold and confident.  Even after King Saul tried to discourage David by telling him he was too young and simply did not have the ability to face this Giant, David remained stedfast. But why? Why was David so confident and unwavering in his faith in God?  The simple reason is because David had already faced fierce challengers before. After Saul told David he was not able, David responded in 1 Samuel 17:34-37  And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father's sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock:  And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him.  Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God.  David said moreover, The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the LORD be with thee.  The simple point I want to make here is that David's great faith was in recalling of God's deliverance for him in the past! David was saying, "Hey if God saved me from a bear and lion and gave me victory over them, then certainly He can do the same for me against this Philistine."  As Born-Again Christians we likewise can look back and see how God has delivered us!  Hey, we serve a faithful God! Don't you recall the times in your life when God stepped in and delivered you from destruction. My God has certainly come through for me in the past and there is no need to doubt Him now!  Listen, my dear friend, when I think back about how the Lord saved my soul from hell and set my feet upon a rock, I shout GLORY!  Likewise, when I look back at times in my life when the enemy seemed too tall and too strong, yet God in His great grace and might delivered me! God has been so faithful to me! Just as God delivered David from a lion, He has done the same for me. You see I am overwhelmed with the truth of knowing that God has delivered me from the mouth of a roaring lion (Satan) who is seeking whom he may devour.  David looked into the past and was certain that God was able and willing to help him defeat the Philistine Giant.  What about you?  Is that Giant that you are Facing, bigger than God? Has God provided and protecting you in the past?  Don't fret, He has not changed; there is still nothing too hard for God!  Trust Him today as you face your Giants because God's track record of the past is and always will be perfect!

Facing the Giants - Part III

1 Samuel 17:32,33  And David said to Saul, Let no man's heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine. And Saul said to David, Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou art but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth. While everyone else in Israel was afraid of the Giant, including King Saul, David steps up and tries to encourage the fearful. It is as David was nonchalantly saying, "Don't worry, I got his guy, he's no problem!" David was calm, cool, collected and confident. There was no fear! Why? I'll tell you why. It was because he had great faith! David knew personally, just how big of God he served. Now please take notice of Saul's response..."Thou art not able...for thou art but a youth..."  Herein lies the problem. Like Saul, many Christians when facing the Giants in their lives are focus on themselves. Saul was looking at David's ability or lack thereof.  Saul said, "Your not able, your too little, your too young," but David had something that Saul could not see! The Hand of God! Amen!! When it comes to facing our Giants, it's not our ability, wisdom, strength, or experience that will give us the victory. It is God and God alone who brings victory. The truth is David's faith was in God's ability. When it looks humanly impossible or insurmountable we must remember our God is able!  Ephesians 3:20  Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us. Again the scriptures say, "I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able...."  As you face the Giants of fear, failure, disappointment, heartbreak and testings, your faith must be in God's ability not in your own resources. David was willing to fight this Giant because the Lord Jehovah was on his side. Even the Giant thought this was going to be an easy victory because of the lack of ability and resources of David. 1 Samuel 17:42  And when the Philistine looked about, and saw David, he disdained him: for he was but a youth, and ruddy, and of a fair countenance. Listen when your up against the Giant don't allow your own limitations and circumstances negate your faith in God! What it really comes down to is who are you really trusting? When your relying upon yourself you will be subject to fear, but if your trusting in God there will be a clam, cool and collected spirit. Let's Face our Giants today with faith in God's ability.

Facing the Giants - Part II

1 Samuel 17:23,24  And as he talked with them, behold, there came up the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, out of the armies of the Philistines, and spake according to the same words: and David heard them. And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him, and were sore afraid. Yes, it is true that the majority of people, when they see the Giant standing in front of them, run and flee from it!  When the trial looks too hard, when the burden is too heavy, when the obstacle is too big, when the enemy is too strong, that's when we give in to fear and run. The opposite of fear is faith! A faith in the God in whom nothing is too hard, too big, too heavy or too strong for Him to overcome! While the majority will run from the Giant there was one man that was willing to step up and face the Giant.  1 Samuel 17:26  And David spake to the men that stood by him, saying, What shall be done to the man that killeth this Philistine, and taketh away the reproach from Israel? for who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?  David stood up with great courage and boldness and said, "Are we going to let this guy talk about our Saviour that way."  You see David realized that this Giant was much more than just a personal threat. There was more at stake here than just losing a street fight with a Philistine. The testimony of God was at stake! 1 Samuel 17:28,29  And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spake unto the men; and Eliab's anger was kindled against David, and he said, Why camest thou down hither? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thine heart; for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle.  And David said, What have I now done? Is there not a cause?  Even after a false accusation from his oldest brother, David still remained focus on the task at hand. David was willing to stand up for the cause! Is there not a cause? Is there not a reason to face the Giants in our lives?  Listen friend, the testimony of God is at stake! By running we are saying that God is not big enough, strong enough or wise enough to help me overcome the Giant! When we respond to the Giants with fear we miss out on a great opportunity to show the world, just how big of a God we serve! Are you willing to be like David and stand up for the cause of Christ and face the Giants in your life with faith in Almighty God? It's not time to run and hide! It's time to stand up, stand up for Jesus and face the Giant! Is there not a cause?

Facing Our Giants - Part I

1 Samuel 17:4  And there went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span. The Giant here in our story is of course Goliath the Philistine warrior who had never lost a fight. Standing at 9 feet, 9 inches tall this Giant seemed impossible to overcome. We all face Giants in our lives. It may be a financial giant, it may be a illness, a trial, a heartbreak, an obstacle in serving Christ, but whatever the Giant may be, often it too seems impossible to overcome. 1 Samuel 17:8-11  And he stood and cried unto the armies of Israel, and said unto them, Why are ye come out to set your battle in array? am not I a Philistine, and ye servants to Saul? choose you a man for you, and let him come down to me. If he be able to fight with me, and to kill me, then will we be your servants: but if I prevail against him, and kill him, then shall ye be our servants, and serve us. And the Philistine said, I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together. When Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine, they were dismayed, and greatly afraid.  The Giants in our lives desire to bring us into bondage. They desire to discourage us and cause us to fear. Who or what is your Giant? What do you have in your life that seems impossible to overcome? Listen, no matter how big and how successful the Giant you are facing has been there is someone bigger!  The LORD is on our side. Recently, I stepped out in faith and dropped from a full time position to perdiem at my secular job in order to give more time and attention to the work of the ministry. Often fear will rear its ugly head and say you can't make it financially, your God's not big enough. That's when you need to stand tall and say "Giant you may be big and undefeated, but I have the LORD on my side!"  Listen, my friend don't let that Giant you are facing cause you to live in fear and discouragement because that's the Giant's way of bringing you into bondage. Stand strong, trust in the LORD and watch Him work. The Giants in our lives are there in order for us to grow our faith in God. Without faith it is impossible to please Him! Facing our Giants allows us to bring a smile to the face of our Saviour! The Giants in our life are a great opportunity for us to act on our faith and bring Glory to God. Decide today that no matter how big the Giant looks and how unbeatable he may appear, that you will face him head on and trust in the LORD!