Facing your Giants By Molly Manhanga

Title: Facing Your Giants
Text: 1 Samuel 17:40 - 51

Theme: There are many giants that we face today - fear, sexual abuse, domestic violence, HIV/AIDS, jealousy, alcoholism, pornography etc. God has all the answers for our giants. We need to FACE them and not hide, cower or run away.

Biblical starting point: Story of a boy and his battle with a giant.

1. The odds are against you: 1 Samuel 17:42 says David is little more than a boy, slender, glowing in health and handsome. He searches for smooth stones that fit neatly into a shepherds pouch. When you look at David, you wouldn't think much of him but his faith was a force to be reckoned with. When visiting his 3 brothers on the battle field, he got chatting to some other soldiers and learnt that the Israelites were afraid of Goliath. Davids faith in God stirs up anger in his brother Eliab. The Bible says Eliab burnt with anger and called David conceited and wicked in heart. Davids reaction was to walk away. David then spoke to Saul who told him that he was not to go up against the Philistine because he was young. This negativity did not distract David even though odds looked like they were against him. Lesson: There will be people who don't think much of you, will attempt to create a reality for you, will think that nothing can come from you, will belittle your achievements in God, will accuse you as Eliab did to his own brother David, speak negatively about you etc and the best thing to do sometimes is to simply walk away. Goliath on the other hand was 3 meters tall and wore 58kg of armour, his sword and shield and javelin weighed about 6.9kg etc. When he saw David, the Bible tells us that he "despised" David. Despised means to look down upon and to think someone is inferior. Goliath was huge and seemed to have it all. No wonder he said in 1 Samuel 17:10 "This day I defy the armies of Israel! Give me a man and let us fight!" Lesson: There will be people who think they are by far greater & better than you and will despise you. They will think you are truly insignificant. Your Goliath may not come with a sword and shield but he is there in the form of low self-esteem, abuse etc. He may not walk on the hills of Elah but he comes into your bedroom, your office, your classroom presenting you with bills you cannot pay, alcohol you can't resist, pornography you can't refuse, people you cannot please etc. How long has your giant stalked you? When Saul and his men heard the Philistines' challenge, they were dismayed and terrified. (1 Samuel 17:11)
With all the giants we must face, where is our focus?

2. Where is your focus? Do you see God? You know your Goliath but is that all you see and hear? David saw and heard more. His discussion was on God. 1 Samuel 17:26 "Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should challenge the armies of the living God?"  David arrives on the scene and speaks about God while the soldiers and his brothers mention nothing of him. He does the same with King Saul - he makes a God-birthed announcement in 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 the Philistine."  No one else discusses God. David discusses no one else but God. Everyones eyes, except David's, major in on the giant while David's eyes major in on God. David's battle cry 1 Samuel 17:45 "You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel." David sees Goliath, but he sees God more. When David sees the armies of God, he hurries and runs toward the army to meet the Philistine. Lesson: Know who you are in God. Have a God-focus when giants come your way in whatever shape and size.
Who has got your focus - the giant or God?

Continue reading Facing Your Giants pt 2

Notes adapted from Max Lucado's book "Facing your Giants"