Are you ready Jesus is coming..!

 

Matthew 25:1-6
Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.

They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.

Jesus is coming again, but the exact time of His coming is unknown to all but the Father. He is the only one who knows when that time will be. We may not know the time, but Jesus let us know what the signs of the season would be (see Matthew 24 and Luke 21).

Matthew 24:6-8
And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.

We can see these signs in our present day and know that His coming is getting closer and closer.

Matthew 25 speaks of ten virgins: five were wise, and five were foolish. A virgin is one whom we think of as being pure.

Matthew 25:7,8
Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.

The wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps, but the foolish wanted the wise to give of their oil because their lamps had gone out. Their lamps had been lit, or they would not have said they had gone out. These foolish, as well as the wise, had been saved, had known the Lord. They were virgins, pure, and their lamps had once been burning.

Why were they foolish? They didn't keep up their prayer life. They weren't watching like they were supposed to be watching.

I Peter 4:7
But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.

God's people are to be ever watching. They are to be on guard, watching and praying. But many who claim to be Christians — who claim they belong unto God — are lackadaisical about their experience.

This is what was wrong with the five foolish. They didn't keep up with their spiritual experience. They let down their guard.

The Enemy of Your Soul

I Peter 5:8,9
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

We have an adversary, the devil. He is ever walking about, seeking whom he can devour. And when we're not on guard, watching and praying, we give him the opportunity to attack us and take control. This is why people yield when temptation comes along: They are not on guard. They haven't really been watching and praying as they should be.

I Thessalonians 5:17
Pray without ceasing.

Does this mean we are to stop everything and pray 24 hours a day, 7 days a week? No, it means we are to have a faithful prayer life. We're not to pray today and then wait to pray again a month later when something turns up that we need to pray about. No, it means to pray without ceasing, not slacking off in our prayer life. If we slack off in prayers, we have no power to resist the devil, and we will yield to temptation.

It's very, very important that we keep a consistent prayer life, and that we are ever watching, ever on guard. If we're not on guard, the adversary will succeed in causing us to fall to temptation.

Matthew 26:41
Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

This is why it's so very important to watch and pray. Our flesh is weak, but when we are on guard and praying, we have what we need to resist the adversary.

James 4:7,8
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

When we draw nigh unto God, He will draw nigh unto us. And when we resist the devil, he will flee from us.

I Corinthians 16:13
Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.

We are told to watch and stand fast in the faith. Don't let your prayer life down. You are not going to stand fast in the faith if you let down on your prayer life. You need your prayer life. You need to be on guard. The devil is trying to turn the genuine children of God away from God.

Some feel they can stand on their own, but the Scriptures say:

I Corinthians 10:12
Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.

We cannot do this in ourselves, but we can do it through Christ who strengthens us. And we'll do it with prayer and by being alert, watching for the snares of the adversary, because the devil will put snares in our way: and if we're not watching, we'll walk right into them.

As the devil walks about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour, we are not ignorant of his devices (II Corinthians 2:11).

Jesus called the devil a thief (John 10:10) who came to kill, to steal, and to destroy. The devil wants to steal our salvation from us. He wants to steal our peace, steal our joy. Yes, he wants to destroy us and take everything from us that he can take.

Quit you like men, and be strong. Get a backbone like a man, a spiritual backbone, and stand for God.

Be Prepared for Jesus' Coming

Matthew 24:44
Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.

Jesus is going to come in an hour we wouldn't think he would come.

Revelation 3:11
Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.

Jesus is going to come quickly, giving no time for us to get ready. Today is the day of salvation, the day to get ready while we can get ready.

The Bible tells us to prepare to meet our God (see Amos 4:12). We need to be prepared, because we will have no time to get prepared when He comes. There's no time to fool around, to play around with our life. Our world is in serious condition. Anytime, we could find war in our own land. Would you be ready?

We have already experienced attacks against us in recent years, and we don't know what terrible times will come our way down the road.

Many are hoping that everything will work out just fine. But if we read the Bible, we read of God's judgment falling upon this world. Oh, there is judgment falling now, but the day is coming when it will fall without measure.

We are a nation who once prided itself as "one nation under God." But today God is being taken out of things more and more.

You'd best not take God out of your life, or there is a terrible place waiting you that burns for ever and ever, and you will not get out. You'll live in eternal damnation if you reject the Lord.

Obey the Scriptures

Even when we profess to know the Lord Jesus Christ as our personal Saviour, we need to keep on top of things. We need to be watching and praying. We need to walk close to the Lord. We need to obey His Word.

Hold fast that which you have. Let no man take your crown. Don't be deceived. There are a lot of deceivers in this world, a lot of false prophets and false teachers. Those who advocate beliefs that don't agree with the Scriptures are false.

We need to cling to the Lord and to His Word. We need to cherish the Word of God: and not only cherish it, but let it sink down into the depths of our soul. And if perhaps He deals with us through His Word, yield to Him.

As we walk along day by day there will be things in our lives that are not well pleasing to the Lord. What about hard feelings towards another? What about bitterness and resentment? Those are things God will deal with us about because they are sinful and need to be repented of.

When God deals with us through His Word, He'll make us to know what we're really like — if we will listen. If we yield to His dealings, we can be freed from these things that crop up in our life along the way.

Do you have an unforgiving spirit in your heart because of what someone did to you? The Bible says that if you don't forgive others, your heavenly Father will not forgive you.

We've got to have a forgiving spirit: willing to forgive and forget. Bury the old hatchet. Bury it, and get on with our life. Give it totally, completely, unto the Lord, and go on, living totally for Him.

That's all that's going to matter these days. And when Jesus comes, we'd best be ready. There's a lot of teaching today that says you can do whatever you want to do, and you'll make it into heaven. They teach that as long as you prayed the sinner's prayer, you can live any way you want to.

Absolutely not!! You cannot live in sin and expect to make eternal life. Realize that Jesus Christ went to the cross because of our sins.

Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

He went to the cross the pay the debt. His death would have been in vain if He provided a salvation that didn't deal with sin.

But this false teaching is so prevalent.

Matthew 24:27
For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

Imagine how quick that will be. There will be no time to get ready then. His coming will be too quick to give any time to get ready — as quick as a flash of lightening.

I Corinthians 15:51,52
Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

Those who are ready to meet Christ will be changed: in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye. That's quick!

When the trumpet sounds, the dead in Christ will be raised incorruptible, and then we who remain at His coming will also be raised incorruptible. Those who are found ready will all be changed — in the twinkling of an eye.

Matthew 25:10
And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.

They that were ready went in with Him to the marriage, and the door was shut. They that were ready! They who had confessed their sins, had forsaken their sins, asking the Lord to forgive them and be their personal Lord and Saviour, going on to live for Him.

Living for Him day after day is important. We can't be lackadaisical about our walk with the Lord.

There is so much lust in the world today: lust for drugs, lust for sex, lust for things.

Separate from the World

II Corinthians 6:17,18
Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

God has called us to a separated life, not making friends with the world and the ways of the world.

I John 2:15,16
Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

If you follow the world and their ways, you will find yourself drawn back into sin.

Proverbs 1:15,16
My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path: for their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood.

You have to come to a crossroads where it is either your worldly friends or Christ, either walking the broad way with the world, or the strait and narrow way with the Lord.

The Lord has done so much for you, taking your sins upon Himself on the cross, suffering tremendously for your sins and for the sins of the world. Do you appreciate that?

How will you ever win your friends and loved ones to the Lord if you follow their sinful ways, if you allow them to bring their sinful ways into your home? Many sinners know it is wrong to sleep with someone they're not married to, yet there are Christians who will allow their loved ones to do this very thing in their home!

It takes the Spirit of God to deal with His people concerning these things, to deal with them about separating from sin and taking a stand.

Luke 21:34-36
And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

Here's another area where we need to be watchful. We don't want that day to come upon us unawares: the day the Lord comes for His own. It will come as a snare to those who are not watching and praying, who are not ready when He comes.

We want to examine these verses carefully that we not be caught unawares:

Matthew 13:22
He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.

The care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches can make you become unfruitful. And in Luke we see that if we're not watchful, our hearts can be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and the cares of this life.

The Bible likens us to a tree. The tree that bears good fruit will be ready for the coming of Jesus, but the tree that does not bear good fruit — the tree that is unfruitful — will lose out and be cast into the fire.

This is serious. We find in Matthew 3:10 that the tree which is unfruitful will be cut to the ground and cast into the fire. In the end there will be final rejection:

Hebrews 6:7,8
For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God: but that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.

We cannot be worldly and expect to have eternal life. In the end there will be final rejection of those who turn away from Jesus Christ to be taken up with the things of this life, this fleshiness, this worldliness.

I John 2:15
Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

This is speaking of those who love fleshy things, who love worldly things, while professing to love God. We must be watchful that we don't turn aside.

Half-hearted or Whole-hearted?

If we want to win others to Jesus Christ — even someone we might consider as our worst enemy — we wouldn't want them to lose out and find themselves in the lake of fire for eternity. We should have a concern in our hearts for souls, wanting to see them surrendering all to the Lord Jesus Christ, and going on to love and serve Him wholeheartedly, not half-heartedly.

The problem with many is that they are serving the Lord half-heartedly. That will not work. He tells us to love Him with all our heart, all our soul, all our mind, and all our strength.

Luke 10:27
And He answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.

If you do this, you will be blessed of the Lord. Oh, you will find some persecution along the way from those who don't understand your love for the Lord. Even some under the guise of Christianity don't understand the people who sell themselves right out to God. They think they're going crazy, or that they're living under the law just because they want to walk in obedience to God's Word.

When we're wholly dedicated to God, devoted to Him, our lives belong to Him in loving service.

Are you ready? Think about it. Are you really ready? Or are you still messing in the world, still playing around with sin, still doing things that are totally contrary to the Word of God? Only you can answer that. But you need to be sure that you're ready to meet the Lord at His coming.

How to Be Ready

Because He lives we can live also. We can have eternal life through believing in Him. First of all, we must acknowledge that we're a sinner in need of the Saviour, and we must believe that Christ died for our sins and that God raised Him on the third day.

I John 1:9
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

If we sin, we must confess our sin to the Lord that He might forgive and cleanse us. What mercy! He loves us so much that He has made the way for us to receive eternal life.

John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

God is moving to get a people ready for the coming of His Son. If you're not ready, why not get ready while you can? Why not surrender all to the Lord Jesus Christ? You'll never regret it.

Daniel 1:8 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.

We need to purpose in our heart that we won't defile ourselves with the world. Daniel was just a young person when he purposed in his heart not to defile himself, and he stood the test. You and I can also purpose in our hearts not to defile ourselves and to stand firmly true to the Lord. It's up to us.

Again, I would ask, are you ready? If not, what's holding you back?

 

Pastor Rolando Ramos

www.fghconline.com

Rebellion

 

What causes the rebellion syndrome to fail in the obedience to God? Were we born to disobey God? No, we were born into this world as sinners, because we have falling short of the Glory of God. Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; We are taking the falling of man from Adam & Eve.

The meaning of rebellion is: (n.) The act of rebelling; open and avowed renunciation of the authority of the government to which one owes obedience, and resistance to its officers and laws, either by levying war, or by aiding others to do so; an organized uprising of subjects for the purpose of coercing or overthrowing their lawful ruler or government by force; revolt; insurrection.

Origin of rebellion, Genesis 3:4-7 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: 5For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. 6And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. 7And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.

God told Adam in the beginning that the tree of the forbidding garden should not be eating. This was a direct order from the creator (God) that if you would eat of that fruit you will die that very day.    

Genesis 2:15 And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. 16And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: 17But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

Temptation is an itch that attacks your flesh to fulfill your actions. The devils works to find an area that is unguarded and begins to setup camp and begins a strategy of attacks until he then SUCCEE.

I 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.

When the tempter is come and fills your mind with ideas of thought that are not Godly. Immediately replace those thoughts with Jesus, and Heavenly things and Joy with songs of praise and bible scriptures this will fight of the devil and bring strength to your flesh. The more of the devils assignment are discover and blocked and destroy, the more we are getting stronger and closer to a higher place with God. Remember the story of Jesus when the tempter came to reroute his mission to save the people of the world from there death in their sins. Read Matthew 4:1-11

Sinful addiction is the works of the devils, and assignment that have lifted us with our defense down and has left channels of cannels to feed your desires. We now have to fill those cavities with the rock of Jesus to power us with the Holy Ghost and the word of God.

It’s like having a bad tooth ache, we know that there is a problem, possible a tooth with a cavity, but does that stop us from eating the foods we like? Usually not, What do we do? We make an appointment for the dentist to check the problem of the tooth ache. Once the problem is corrected the pain is gone. Temptation are the same after the action of sin has been executed the pain is still there. There will be a time when we will think that God is working with our challenges when in fact the devil is adding fuel to the fire. Romans 6:1-4 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? 3Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.    

How to protect our salvation?

Isaiah 59:17 For he put on righteousness as a breastplate, and an helmet of salvation upon his head; and he put on the garments of vengeance [for] clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloke.

Ephesians 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:  

I John 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things [that are] in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

Luke 21:36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

 

 

Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, [which is] your reasonable service.

Present your bodies a living sacrifice means that because Jesus Christ gave his life for our life to be set free from death into life. We now will let our new transformation become known onto all that known us and, to those that do not. This change will cover a multitude of sins. When you were in the tradition of the world you knew not righteousness living in darkness kept you blind from the truth, and you were free from life eternal. Being set free from sin you no longer service death, but life eternal which is blessed for ever amen.

Kill the old man!

One of the worst problems that new Christian are facing today is losing old friends. I am not telling you to tell them that you hate them. Just to let them know that you are not doing the things that you once did. And what are those things? Anything that will separate you from the love of God. (SIN) and anything that will tempt you from keeping your salvation guarded to protect your new transformation in the new life with Christ Jesus.

Why is that? Some come to Christ, and go back into the world of sin?

When fear comes at you, and you have nowhere to run. You go to God. God is greater than your fears that are why people call upon God for help. Joel 2:21 Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for the LORD will do great things.

Part 2 Rebellion Luke 11:11 Genesis 4:3 I Corinthians 10:13 II Corinthians 12:9

 I Timothy 1:9   

How to detect dangers of rebellion in the flesh

The story of Cain & Abel proves a breakdown in the flesh due to jealousy causing a form of rebellion.

Genesis 4:3-7 And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering to the LORD. 4 And Abel, he also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect to Abel and to his offering: 5 But to Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. 6 And the LORD said to Cain, Why are you wroth? and why is your countenance fallen? 7 If you do well, shall you not be accepted? and if you do not well, sin lies at the door. And to you shall be his desire, and you shall rule over him.

Your countenance becomes a sign of indication of character. This is a built-in feature that God has giving us to assist one another.

Numbers 6:26 The LORD lift up his countenance on you, and give you peace.

When we are depressed, upset, or mad we can see and hear a change of attitude. We have to choose the direction and attitude based on your faith and strength in the Lord. Remember the deep groves of cavities that we may have in our life that act as alleys or channels. One wrong doesn’t make it right.

I Corinthians 4:4-5 For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord. 5Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.

Pride is a cavity channel that can make you self-centered and may be hard to break the habit.

Proverbs 16:18 Pride [goeth] before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.

 1. (superl.) High; lofty; bold.

2. (superl.) Disdainfully or contemptuously proud; arrogant; overbearing.

3. (superl.) Indicating haughtiness; as, a haughty carriage.

Pride is not just for sinner only; Christian can also be included in this category. God knows how much blessing you can handle. Even Pastors of churches can become self-centered only thinking that they are greater than their congregation not in the sense of knowledge, but standing on top of the mountain and only want to be noticed as better than anyone in the church.    

James 4:6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.       

We will find an over amounted of people in this world with character of pride in the last days. The power of money has changed the people to service mammon as there answer to a better life. This problem has escalated because of the power of media and internet. People want to covet 

MAMMON. ... In these passages mammon merely means wealth, and is called "unrighteous,"
because the abuse of riches is more frequent than their right use

Matthew 6:24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

Luke 16:11 If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true [riches]?

I Timothy 6:10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

Hebrews 13:5 [Let your] conversation [be] without covetousness; [and be] content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

Stumbling stone can come in 2 ways, offence or avoid. There could be a time when the Lord will put down a stumbling stone to catch your attention. Our Lord does not give up to direct your ways. Jesus doesn’t want you to reason with him, he just wants you to pay attention to direction and seek for the best chose. The second stumbling stone will be the one that you will see before you trip over it. This type is the Christian on high alert and strong in the faith always looking to avoid dangerous damage to their faith and direction.                

Romans 9:32-33 Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;

33As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

Peter became a stumbling block for Jesus.

Matthew 16:23 But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.     

 

Pastor Rolando Ramos

www.fghconline.com

HOW TO BE A GIANT KILLER

1 Samuel 17:32-40

Intro:  Whenever I read this great passage, I am reminded of Israel’s trouble with giants in Numbers 13-14.  After two years in the wilderness, Israel had arrived at the banks of the Jordan River.  God had promised them the land on the other side of Jordan, but they stopped to send in spies to examine the land.  When those spies returned, they reported that the land was a good land, but that it was a land inhabited by many great giants, Num 13:27-28.  In fact, ten of the spies were absolutely terrified of the giants they had seen there, Num. 13:33.  Caleb and Joshua, who had seen the same giants, tried their best to get the people to trust in the Lord, enter Canaan and claim the land, but the people listen to the majority report and refused to battle their giants.  As a result, they were all condemned to 38 more years of wilderness wandering.  They were to wander until that faithless generation had died out.

      38 years later, they arrive back at the Jordan River.  Moses speaks to them to prepare them to enter Canaan.  As he does, he lets them know that they are about to face some giants on the other side of Jordan, Deut. 9:1-2.  What’s the point? Israel fled from those giants 38 years before, when their children came back 38 years later, the giants were still there and they had to be faced.

      I am speaking to a group of people this evening who are facing some giants.  How do I know?  We all face giants.  I even have a few of my own! The bottom line is this: you may not want to face your giants.  You may want to run from them in fear.  You may want to avoid them and hope that they will just go away.  You need to know that your giants will not just go away.  They must be faced and they can be defeated.

      This passage presents David as a young man.  He is a young man filled with faith in the Lord.  David is a young man who was not afraid to go to battle with the giants of life and claim victory in the name of the Lord.  David was a giant killer and you need to know that you can be too!

      That giant you are facing this evening, regardless of its nature, can be destroyed and it can be defeated.  This text gives us precious insight into how that can be accomplished.  Let me share with you three simple steps that are absolutely necessary, as I preach for a while on How To Be A Giant Killer. 

  I.               YOU HAVE TO EXHIBIT THE RIGHT MOTIVES

(Ill. A little background related to this text might be in order.  David’s father Jesse had sent David to bring some supplies to three of David’s brothers who were fighting in Saul’s army, vs. 12-13, 17-18.  When David arrives at the battlefield, he finds Saul and the armies of Israel cowering in fear because of the taunts and threats of a giant named Goliath, vs. 1-11. 

      It seems that Israel and the Philistines were carrying out an ages old ritual.  Each army would produce a champion; these champions would fight to the death and the side which won that battle would claim victory over the enemy.  The loser of that battle would become the servants of the victor.

      Of course, the champion chosen by the Philistines was no ordinary soldier!  In fact, his stats are quite impressive.  He was some 9’ 9” tall!  He wore armor that weighted in at 175 pounds.  He carried a spear that weighed over 32 pounds.  This monster was covered in brass, from head to toe.  He was a formidable opponent, and his defeat seemed in question!

      For 40 mornings and evenings, this giant had taunted the armies of Israel and had been challenging them to send out a man to do battle with him.  For 40 mornings and evenings the Israelites had heard the challenges and had retreated to their tents in fear.

      However, this day would be different!  Goliath and his challenges were seen and heard by a young man named David.  David’s faith and confidence in the Lord rises to the challenges and he offers to go out and fight this giant.)

A.  When David spoke of killing the giant, his motives were questioned.  Some people may have thought that David was motivated by the financial rewards offered to the man who killed Goliath, vs. 25-27, 30. His brother Eliab, speaking out of jealousy, tried to accuse David of promoting himself, vs. 28.  Eliab, and David’s other brothers, knew that David had been anointed by Samuel.  They may have thought that he was trying to advance his name in Israel.

B.  What were David’s motives? Perhaps David saw the offer of Saul, vs. 25, as a stepping stone to the throne of Israel.  Little did he know that many miles and many trials lay between him and his being king in Israel.

            As I read this text, I am convinced that David’s heart was motivated by two things only.  I do not think it was the money, the fame or the power.  I think he was motivated by:

      1.  The glory of God – vs. 26, 29, 36 – Goliath was mocking the God of Israel and David could not stand the thoughts of that happening! 

      2.  By his role as the newly anointed king – 1 Sam. 16:1-12 – Just as David had protected his sheep from the attacks of the lion and bear, vs. 34-36, he would protect his Israel from the attack of Goliath. 

C.  When you see the giants you are facing in your own life, ask yourself this question: Why do I want this giant defeated?  What is my motive for wanting this giant dead?  An easier life?  Bragging rights? Power in the eyes of others? So that I will feel better?  What?  I would submit to you that there are only two proper motives for wanting to see your giants defeated:

      1.  A Desire For God’s glory – 1 Cor. 10:31 – This should be the ultimate motivator for all of life!  Everything we do should be passed through the filter of God’s glory!

      2.  A Desire For God’s plan to be fulfilled in your life – Rom. 8:28; 2 Cor. 4:17 – It is part of God’s plan for you to face your giant, or that giant would not be there.  It may be part of God’s plan for you to defeat your giant.  It may also be God’s plan for you that you live with your giant.  Are you willing to accept His plan, regardless of what it is?

D.  I would submit to you this evening that one of the primary reasons God used David to defeat Goliath was because David had the right motives for wanting that giant dead!  And friend, one of the reasons you and I do not see our giants fall like we want them to is because we are often praying and operating from wrong motives, James 4:1-3. 

 II.                 YOU HAVE TO EMBRACE THE RIGHT METHODS

A.  When David’s plan to kill the giant reached the ears of King Saul, he joined the chorus of naysayers, telling David that he could not do the job, vs. 33. (Ill. What a group of cheerleaders!)  Then, hearing that David was determined in this matter, Saul tried to suit David up in his own armor, vs. 38.  David, however, rejected Saul’s armor because it had not been proven in his life.

      David was determined that he would go into battle with the things that had always worked on him in the past. David knew that the God Who had always come through in the past, was the God Who would still come through in the present, vs. 34-36.

B.  David did not know a thing about shields, spears and swords.  He wasn’t schooled in armies, armor and archery.  Yet, David knew God!  He knew that God had always given him the victory in the past, and he knew that God does not change, Heb. 13:8.

            David knew that God was greater than any giant.  He also knew that God had a plan for his life and that plan did not include him dying at the hand of Goliath.  So, when David went out to fight, he only took those things that had worked for him in the past: he took his staff, his sling, five smooth stones, and Sovereign God, vs. 40. 

      (Note: Why did David take five stones, when he only needed one?  Here are some theories that have been offered.

      1.  Five in the Bible is the number of grace and David needed grace to defeat Goliath.  Well, he did need grace, but I doubt David knew anything about Bible numerology!

      2.  Goliath had four sons, 2 Sam. 21:19-22, and David wanted to be ready just in case they showed up.  Well, the giant did have four sons, but David didn’t know that at the time.

      3.  The most likely reason is that David wanted to be sure he could finish the job.  He knew he might miss.  He also knew that the giant might not fall on the first shot.  So, he wanted to be sure he was ready to complete the assignment.  By the way, your giants and mine don’t always go down on the first swing!  But, if you will go into battle fully equipped in the power of God, and you keep swinging, that giant will eventually fall at your feet!) 

C.  Folks, you can try any method you please to defeat the giants in your life.  You can attend the latest seminars.  You can read the newest books.  You can climb on the latest bandwagon.  You can pray the prayer of Jabez.  You can strive for a purpose driven life.  But, when it is all said and done, giant killing gets real simple.  It all comes down to this one simple, basic truth: The just shall live by faith, Hab. 2:4; Rom. 1:17; Gal. 3:11; Heb. 10:38.

D.  If you want to see the giants in your life lying dead at your feet, then know these facts:

      1.  God is greater than your giants – Matt. 28:18; Eph. 3:20.

      2.  The God Who worked then will still work now – Mal. 3:6.

      3.  You don’t need new methods to defeat your giants.  Tried and proven weapons like prayer, faith and the Word of God will still get the job done today, Eph. 6:12-18.

            a.  Communicate with headquarters about your giant.  Prayer is the believer’s greatest secret weapon.  (Ill. Communications have always been an issue on battlefields, that problem has been solved on the spiritual battlefield.  The saints of God can be in constant contact with the throne of grace.)

            b.  Assault your giant with the Word of God – Heb. 4:12.  This was the Savior’s method – Matt. 4:1-11

            c.  Attack your giant in faith, knowing that God always gives the victory, 1 Cor. 15:57.  He will either give you the victory over what you face, or He will give you victory in what you face, 2 Cor. 12:9.

      4.  God did not save you to let you fall at the hand of your giant – Phil. 1:6.  God is not interested in your defeat.  He is interested in your victory!

      5.  Giants are placed in our lives to grow us in the Lord – Num. 14:9.  They are the original “breakfast of champions”.  (Ill. "Giants are the bumps we climb on." - Warren Weirsbe.)

III.               YOU HAVE TO EXPECT THE RIGHT MIRACLES

A.  David walked down into that valley directly into an impossible situation.  He was doubted by some, vs. 28, 33.  He was ridiculed by the giant, vs. 42-44.  Yet, his faith allowed David to accomplish everything that fear denied Saul and the others! 

      (Note: Notice the contrast between the speeches of Goliath and David, vs. 43-47.  David declared the victory and the glory of God before the battle was even fought!  That is the essence of faith!  It will allow you to give your victory speech before you even fight the battle!) 

B.  Ill. The context.  David engaged the giant in battle and won the victory over him!  Faith took up the challenge that day.  Faith stayed with God and with what had always worked.  Faith walked down into that valley; faith faced that giant; faith hurled that stone; faith saw that giant fall to the ground and faith received that victory!  Never underestimate that power of faith in your battles! 

      (Note: Did you know that Goliath did not die in verse 49?  He didn’t die in verse 51 either!  Goliath died in verse 26.  David dug his grave in verse 29.  He gave the eulogy in verse 36.  David had the graveside rites and had filled in the grave by verses 45-47.  All David had to do in verses 49 and 51 was to walk by the grave, lay some flowers on the headstone and say “I told you so!”) 

C.  Friend, you may not see your giants fall the instant you exercise faith in God.  Don’t let that cause you to lose hope!  You see, you cannot always believe what the eyes of flesh see!  But, you can always believe what the eyes of faith see.  It may look like you are outgunned, outnumbered and in an impossible situation.  It looked that way for David.  It looked that way for Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.  It looked that way for Daniel.  It looked that way for the Disciples in that ship.  It looked that was for Jesus on that cross.  I would just like to remind you that we serve a God Who specializes in doing the impossible, Luke 1:37!  If you will bring that hopeless, impossible situation to Him and then go and face it in faith, you will see Him snatch victory from the jaws of defeat! 

      (Note: Look carefully at verse 51.  I am going to ask you a question right now.  It is a question so simple and so easy that I am almost ashamed to ask it.  But here goes: In verse 51, is the giant still there?  Of course he is!  Only now, he is 10 feet long and not 10 feet tall!  You can get over a giant like that!  You see, faith will take that which is over your head and will put it under your feet!) 

 

Pastor Rolando Ramos

www.fghconoline.com