Defeating Giants (Part 2)

In his book “Believe and Belong”, author Bruce Larson tells of how he helped people who were struggling to defeat the giants in their lives. He writes, “For many years, I worked in New York city and counseled at my office any number of people who were wrestling with these situations. Often I would suggest they walk with me from my office down to the RCA building on Fifth Avenue. In the entrance of that building is a gigantic statue of Atlas, a perfectly proportioned man who, with all his muscles straining, is holding the world upon his shoulders. There he is, the most powerfully built man in the world, and he can barely stand up under his burden. ‘Now that’s one way you can live,’ I would point out, ‘trying to carry the world on your shoulders. But now, come across the street with me.’ On the other side of Fifth Avenue is St. Patrick’s Cathedral, and there behind the altar is a statue of Jesus as a boy, perhaps eight or nine years old, and with no effort, he is holding the world in one hand.”

The truth is, we have a choice, and we are faced with a question: Who are we relying on to defeat our giants? Who are we counting on to carry our burdens?

Obviously, if we’re going to talk about facing giants and overcoming the biggest challenges in life, we have to begin with David and Goliath.  David faced a physical giant in Goliath, but we face giants of our own all the time, whether they are mental, physical, emotional, or spiritual giants. So how do we defeat them?  Follow David’s strategy:

1. Run toward the battle.

David shows up, surveys the situation, sees the problem and immediately runs to the battle.  We wake up every morning and walk to the battle line. We look across the valley and see the intimidating problem standing there. And it happens day after day, and the more we delay in battling the giant, the more intimidating the problem becomes, and the harder it is to handle later.

David didn’t go to the valley of Elah expecting a battle. He was simply on an errand for his father to check up on his three older brothers who were soldiers in the army. David, more than likely, had no idea who Goliath even was. But that’s the way it is with giants. We don’t expect them, and they rarely announce that they’re coming.  They just show up. So run to the battle when they do.

2.   Fight your own battle, not someone else’s.

Anyone who has ever fought a battle of any kind always has advice for you.  It’s not a bad thing to learn from others’ experiences, but just as each individual is unique, each battle we fight is unique.

King Saul wanted David to fight using armor and weaponry. Saul thinks he knows best, but David knows he has to fight his own battle his own way.

You need to fight the way God asks YOU to do it.  God created you in a unique way, and that means that when you battle your giants, He will give you a unique way to handle them and defeat them. There’s nothing wrong with seeking advice and wise counsel, but ultimately, your giants are YOUR giants, and we cannot approach them trying to be somebody we are not.

3. Trust in the Lord and not only in your weapons.

As David and Goliath approached each other in battle, they each carried their weapons. Goliath had his spear and sword, David had his sling and 5 stones.  But that’s where the similarities end.  Here’s what David said:

...everyone will know that the LORD does not need weapons to rescue his people. It is his battle, not ours. The LORD will give you to us!"  (1 Samuel 17:47, NLT)

Please get this because this is important:  David HAD a weapon, but David wasn’t TRUSTING his weapon.  He was trusting in God.

David expressed his trust in the Lord before, during and after the battle. David had faith in a mighty God Who has never ever lost a battle.  That was his greatest weapon!

4. Celebrate your victories.

David killed Goliath and then cut off his head.  But then he packed Goliath’s head with him back to Jerusalem.  Can you imagine the conversation?

“David, what’cha got there in the bag?”

“Oh dude, you’re not going to believe this!  Check it out!”

“Wow!!  That’s a good one!  He was big!!!”

“Oh yeah!  You should have been there!  God showed up and the giant went down.  It was so cool!!!  And you know what they say, ‘The bigger they are the harder they fall!’”

Start your own trophy case. God healed your broken arm?  Keep a piece of the cast.  God healed your broken heart? Write down the Scripture where you found His promise to you, and keep it somewhere that you will see it.  God defeated a financial giant for you?  Keep a copy of the check or simply keep a dollar or a coin somewhere to remind you of God’s faithfulness.  Start yourself a trophy case where you can celebrate your victories and give glory to God.

Every giant we face in battle can bring us closer to God. And when we are faithful and we stand before the giants in the name of the Lord and for His glory, the victory is sure to come.

Defeating Giants (Part 1)

Remember the story of David and Goliath?  (1 Samuel 17)  I recently used that story to take the church through a series on overcoming giants in our lives.  Giants are bullies.  It’s what they do.  Goliath was no different - he was just doing what he does.  Giants will taunt you and bully you and make you feel like you can’t do anything.  But you can!  Take a look at the situation with David & Goliath.

Goliath was huge and well armored, and he was taunting King Saul and the entire army of Israel.  That’s how giants work.  They taunt us, they flaunt their size and power in front of us, just daring us to take them on.  And far too often we react like the Saul and the Israelites........we are dismayed and cower in fear.  

Along comes David, delivering some items to his brothers who are serving in Israel’s army, and he hears Goliath’s challenge.  No one had taken it up, so King Saul was doing everything he could to sweeten the deal.  David asks about the offer from the king and his brother goes off on him, trying to use guilt and ridicule to keep him away from the battle.

Sometimes, when it comes to fighting the giants in our lives, part of the battle is overcoming others who would drag us down and try to get our attention on something else rather than the battle before us.  It’s important for us to keep our focus, which is what David did.  He stepped away from his brother - not out of disrespect - but because he didn’t want to be distracted.

So David steps up and says, “Yeah, this dude’s big, but you know, God’s brought me through some other battles over the past few years.  I’m no rookie to difficult situations.  God has taken care of me this far, and I’m sure He will take care of me now.  So let me at ‘em!!”  And Saul said, “Go for it!”

When we are facing a giant in our life, it’s always good to look back and remember the other victories God has brought our way.  Too often we forget all about the other victories because the giant looks so big.  Don’t let yourself forget the other victories that have brought you to this particular giant because each one of those was preparation for where you are now.

A shepherd often carried a sling that was two pieces of small rope or leather with a pouch in the center.  He would then load a rock in the pouch, swing the sling around and at the right time, let go of the end of the sling and the rock would go sailing toward the target.

When giants come our way, we sometimes think we have to have heavy artillery.  That’s why Saul wanted David to use his own armor and  weapons.  But David knew that wouldn’t work.  He had to use what he was accustomed to.  It wasn’t huge, but it was very effective.

David said some mighty big words to Goliath.  “I’ll strike you down, cut off your head and leave your carcass and the carcasses of your buddies for the birds to eat and the beasts to devour.”  Pretty big words.......but remember, David had a big confidence in an even bigger God.

Then he loaded a rock into his sling, took aim and let it fly.  It landed and brought the giant to the ground.  Not bad for the shepherd boy from the dessert.  One giant, one rock, one sling, one throw, one victory.

The headlines in the local paper the next day read, “Boy defeats Giant.”  But how did he do it?  The same way you and I are going to have to do it if we’re going to defeats giants in our lives.  Very quickly, to defeat the giants:

1.   I must remember that the odds are against me.

In the story, the odds were definitely against David.  More than likely, you are too.  But your giant doesn’t carry sword or shield.  He looks more like unemployment, or abandonment, sexual abuse, or depression. He brings bills you can’t pay, grades you can’t make, people you can’t please, addictions you can’t resist, a career you can’t escape, a past you can’t shake, and a future you can’t face.  If you’re going to defeat the giant you’re going to have to realize that you’re outgunned.  But while you might be outgunned, God isn’t.

2.   I have to remember God is bigger than my giants.

In the story of David and Goliath, no one else discusses God.  Not Saul, the king of Israel.  Not David’s brothers.  Not the army of Israel.  No one discusses God.  David discusses no one else but God. Ultimately, this comes down to more than “David versus Goliath,” this is “God-focus versus giant –focus.”  David sees what others don’t and refuses to see what other do.

Your giants are real, and they may be big.  But God is bigger.  If your entire focus is on the giants, chances are you’ll lose the battle.  But if you keep your eyes on God, chances are your giant will fall just like Goliath did.

3.   I must give the battle to the Lord.

When David stepped onto he battlefield he was the laughing stock of the entire Philistine army.  But David is prayed up.  He knows God and He knows the power of God.  Fighting on your own doesn’t have great odds, so give the battle to God.

4.   I must focus on God, not the giants.

David makes no inquiries about Goliath’s skill, age, social standing, or IQ.  David asks nothing about the weight of the sword of the size of the spear.  But he gives much thought to God.  If you read the account you’ll find no less than nine references to the Lord.  God-thoughts outnumber Goliath-thoughts nine to two.  How does this ratio compare with yours? Do you ponder God’s grace four times as much as you ponder your guilt?  Is your list of blessings four times as long as your list of complaints?  Is your mental file of hope four times as thick as your mental file of dread?

The whole thing can be summed up this way:

Focus on giants – you stumble.

Focus on God – your giants tumble.    

So.......what giants need to go down in your life?