Romans 8:31 What shall we then say to these things? If
God be for us, who can be against us?
We all will face giants at one time or another in our lives. The
giants, I am speaking of what seem to be too great to be overcome that are problems
and issues. These giants, but often they seem to only grow stronger with the
passing of time.
It could be a giant of fear. Or it might be a giant of some type
of personal sin that you fall into again and again. It might be the sin of
pride or envy or gluttony or lust or something else.
In a related way, your giant might be one of addiction,
something that has a grip on your life. Then again, it could be a giant of
threat that is taunting you today. Someone has slandered you. A lawsuit has
been filed against you. Maybe there is even a threat against your very life.
Or it might be a different kind of giant altogether, like an
unbelieving spouse or a prodigal child. You have prayed for them. You have
asked the Lord to reach them, yet they seem to become more hardened by sin as
the years pass by. You find yourself wondering how you will ever overcome this.
So how do
we deal with giants? We find the answer in the Old Testament account of David
and Goliath. I Samuel 17
What a
victory it was as David boldly defeated the giant Goliath, armed only with a
slingshot and five smooth stones. The will of the Philistines was broken. The
Israelites were reinvigorated. And it was all because a little shepherd boy
answered the call of God and cut down the giant.
So what can we learn from this story about facing off with our
own giants in life?
One - recognize that we all have giants. We all face severe
hardships, seemingly insurmountable obstacles and temptations. We all have
problems. We all have temptations.
We read in 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. When you
are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure" While it
is true we all have giants, it is also true that every giant can be defeated.
After all, giants rarely start out that way.
Goliath was not always a giant. He was not always
9-feet-6-inches tall. He was once a baby. And with the passing of time and the
nurture of others, the baby became a child. And the child became a teenager.
And the teenager became a man. And the man turned into a giant.
In the same way, giants often begin quite small. When we have a
big sin in our lives, it started as a little sin that was allowed, nurtured,
fed, and even encouraged, and then became a giant that taunts us. It started
with a so-called Christian liberty that we proclaimed and is now getting the
best of us.
In time,
little things become big things.
Two - realize that the battle belongs to the Lord. David told
Goliath, "This is the Lord's battle, and he will give you to us!" (1 Samuel 17:47).
That is why giants defeat us again and again—because we face them in our own
strength and we lose. We need to realize this is the Lord's battle.
Three - attack your giant. Goliath had come into the actual
territory of the Israelites. He had crossed their line. He was taunting them.
And if you tolerate a Goliath, he will take over your territory. He will come
right up on your doorstep.
That is why you don't run from giants. You don't negotiate with
them. You attack them. The Bible tells us, "As Goliath moved closer to
attack, David quickly ran out to meet him" (1 Samuel 17:48). 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.
Whatever
your giant may be, force it into the light of day. Stop rationalizing it. Stop
excusing it. Realize you can't defeat it in your own strength.
Call on God and pray for His power, and then attack it. Draw
lines and be accountable to others. Stay away from people or situations where
you would be easily tempted. And don't let that giant back into your life
again.
Finally,
trust in the Lord. Don't look at God in the light of your giant. Instead, look
at your giant in the light of God.
David asked
the question? Who is going to stop this evil man from damaging the reputation
of Israel that services the true living God?
I Samuel
17:26-27 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? 27 And the people answered
him after this manner, saying, So shall it be done to the man that killeth him.
Eliab
David's oldest brother was angry with David for leaving the few sheep alone in
the wilderness to come to see what was going in Shochoh where the battle of
Israel and the Philistines and Goliath were going to begin.
I 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. 29 And David said, What have I now done? Is
there not a cause?
David has
experience the might hands of God killing the Lion and the bear
I Samuel
17:37 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. 37 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.
Goliath
mocking David
I Samuel
17:42-44 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. 43 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. 44 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.
David
claimed the victory of God
I Samuel
17:45-46 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. 46This
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.
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