Defeating the Giants in Your Life
Ephesians 6:12 NIV-84
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
1 Samuel 17:3-4 NLT
So the Philistines and Israelites faced each other on opposite hills, with the valley between them. 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!
1 Samuel 17:8a, 10-11 NLT
Goliath stood and shouted a taunt across to the Israelites. 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.
1. Discourage God’s people
1 Samuel 17:11 NIV-84
On hearing the Philistine's words, Saul and all the Israelites were dismayed and terrified.
2. Defy God & His people
1 Samuel 17:10 NIV-84
Then the Philistine said, "This day I defy the ranks of Israel! Give me a man and let us fight each other."
3. Create doubt that victory is possible
1 Samuel 17:23-24 NIV-84
As he was talking with them, Goliath, the Philistine champion from Gath, stepped out from his lines and shouted his usual defiance, and David heard it. When the Israelites saw the man, they all ran from him in great fear.
4. Don’t go away
1 Samuel 17:16 NIV-84
For forty days the Philistine came forward every morning and evening and took his stand.
1st Remind yourself that the battle is the Lord’s
1 Samuel 17:45-47 NIV-84
David said to the Philistine, "You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will hand you over to me, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. Today I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord's, and he will give all of you into our hands."
2nd Rely on spiritual weapons
2 Corinthians 10:3-4 NIV-84
For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.
1 Samuel 17:45-46a NIV-84
David said to the Philistine, "You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will hand you over to me, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head.
3rd Realize your battle is an opportunity for God’s glory
1 Samuel 17:46-47 NIV-84
Today I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord's, and he will give all of you into our hands."
