As we look around the world today, there is no denying the
turmoil and upheaval that the community
of earth is being forced to deal with.
Daily our world faces the threat of natural disasters, escalating
crime rates, broken homes and marriages and also a weak economy. All these
issues have the tendency to loom large in each of our lives. They are capable
of causing our faith to fail and our hearts to fear; and if we are not careful,
we will become cowardice in spirit, easily causing our thoughts turn to
suicide.
These and many other issues are giants which if allowed,
have the ability to stop our appointed progress in the Kingdom of God and ruin
our natural lives. They cause us to worry and destroy the “peace that passeth our understanding”. And it doesn’t matter that
Jesus admonishes us in Matthews the sixth chapter to take no thought for our
lives, because the issues of life have a way of distracting us so that we fail
to keep our minds stayed on him.
“The Philistines now mustered their army for battle Then Goliath, a Philistine champion from Gath, came out of the Philistine ranks to face the forces of Israel. He was over nine feet tall! He wore a bronze helmet, and his bronze coat of mail weighed 125 pounds. He also wore bronze leg armor, and he carried a bronze javelin on his shoulder. The shaft of his spear was as heavy and thick as a weaver’s beam, tipped with an iron spearhead that weighed 15 pounds. His armor bearer walked ahead of him carrying a shield. Goliath stood and shouted a taunt across to the Israelites. “Why are you all coming out to fight?” he called. “I am the Philistine champion, but you are only the servants of Saul. Choose one man to come down here and fight me! If he kills me, then we will be your slaves. But if I kill him, you will be our slaves! I defy the armies of Israel today! Send me a man who will fight me!” When Saul and the Israelites heard this, they were terrified and deeply shaken.” (1st Samuel 17:1-11 NLT)
In the Hebrew tongue Goliath’s name means “Splendour”… the mere sight of him was enough to shake any ones faith.
Giants are bullies that harass the people of God each and every day; they call out from the spirit realm with the purpose of causing us to make bad decisions which not only affect you, but also those around you. Giants reveal themselves in many forms:
·
Compounded
With Other Peoples Issues:
Often times when facing our giants someone close comes along to drop their own
issues in our lap. Just as David arrives to meet with his brothers he hears
Goliath’s threats, and also witnesses the fear that engulfs the armies of
Israel. David questions their courage, and also overhears a few soldiers
discussing the reward the King will offer to the man who kills the giant. But
Eliab; David’s eldest brother is filled with anger towards David… reference 1st Samuel 17:24-29…
Eliab’s issue with his younger brother stems from being passed over when the
prophet Samuel anointed David as the future King of Israel… reference 1st Samuel 16:1-13...
When you’re about to face your giant that’s not the time to be encumbered with
someone else’s issues of jealousy. A
tactic of the enemy is to have you lose focus of the task before you because he
understands that the victory has already been won in the heavenly’s. (see Ephesians 6:12)
Your
response to the personal issues others may have with you must simply be…”That’s
Not My Problem”
·
People
Will Doubt You:
There’s no question that God has gifted us with many awesome abilities. However
there are those who doubt what God has done within you. Those feelings are
mostly formed out of their fear and envy. King Saul doubted David’s ability to
challenge and defeat Goliath based on how he viewed both men, and also by the
fact that he was too afraid of facing the giant… reference vs. 31-37… But you must never forget the fact that; “You
Have History With God”… David remembered his past victories over a lion
and a bear while watching his father’s flock and boldly proclaimed to the king exactly
what God had accomplished through him.
·
People
Expect You To Use Their Tactics: There
is an old adage in the world of boxing that says; styles make fights… and since not everyone fights the same, then
not everyone wins in the same manner. King Saul attempted to put his armour on
David…see vs. 38-40… but David’s
weapon of choice was a sling, the very same weapon he used to defeat the lion
and bear… “Use Your Own Stuff”… When dwarfing your giants, it is always
wise to use the skill set that God has instilled within you, both naturally and
spiritually. The Apostle Paul wrote;
“We are human, but we don’t wage war as
humans do. We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the
strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. We destroy every
proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious
thoughts and teach them to obey Christ.” (Ref. 2nd Corinthians 10:4-5 NLT)
So exactly how do we dwarf the giants that oppose us, and what weapons do we use?.
·
Truth: The truth of Gods’ word is that his spirit in us is far
greater than any in this present world and, gives us the freedom to do and
accomplish all things.
·
Righteousness: As in “Gods’ Righteousness” because our own is flawed and filthy.
·
Peace: The peace of knowing that we belong to him, the very peace
that Jesus promised us and also helps us to live at peace with all mankind.
This is the same peace by which the child of God is able to share the Gospel
with all men.
·
Faith: Which enables the believer to completely trust in the Lord
and do exploits in his name, and is able to shield us from the attacks of the
enemy.
·
Salvation:
Which comes from a repented life that accepts Christ as Savior, and Lord.
·
The Word of God: By which our faith is increased and also
helps us to understand the heart of God. “The
Sword of the Spirit” to be wielded against the lies and tricks of Satan our
adversary.
·
Prayer: Praying in the Spirit at all times and on
every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers
everywhere.
By following these guidelines our problems will be rendered small in our eyes, and our giants will become dwarfs.
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