HEROES #2: RUNNING TOWARDS YOUR GIANT
INTRO TO TOPIC:
Review last week. Although Jesus is the world’s greatest superhero, God is calling every one of us to be heroes as well. Heroes are made when you make a choice – will you be a hero?
KEY TEXT: Daniel 11:32b.
“But the people who know their God will be strong and carry out great exploits.”
THE BIG IDEA: David, the shepherd boy, was a young person who knew God, was strong in the Lord, and therefore had great adventures. His victory over the giant Goliath is an example for us as to how we can overcome the giant troubles and problems in our lives.
BIBLE STORY – GOD’S CHOOSING OF DAVID:
“Now the Lord said to Samuel, "How long will you mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go; I am sending you to Jesse the Bethlehemite. For I have provided Myself a king among his sons." 2 And Samuel said, "How can I go? If Saul hears it, he will kill me." And the Lord said, "Take a heifer with you, and say, ’I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’ 3 Then invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do; you shall anoint for Me the one I name to you." 4 So Samuel did what the Lord said, and went to Bethlehem. And the elders of the town trembled at his coming, and said, "Do you come peaceably?" 5 And he said, "Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice." Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons, and invited them to the sacrifice. 6 So it was, when they came, that he looked at Eliab and said, "Surely the Lord’s anointed is before Him. 7 But the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:1-7).
ILLUSTRATION: Have someone play Samuel, Jesse, and Jesse’s seven sons. Have them all line up from the tallest to the shortest, and describe something great about all of them. Then have someone come up to play David – the shortest one.
• v.12: “Arise, anoint him; for this is the one.”
PERSONAL STORY: When I was 12 on the Huskies little league team. First year, I was only a bat boy. I didn’t have much athletic skill. But the next year I got on the team (even though most of the season I was only a bench warmer). Why? My best friend’s dad was the coach!
• Jesus said, “You did not choose Me, but I chose you.” (John 15:16).
TEXT: “Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He has made us accepted in the Beloved.” (Ephesians 1:4-6).
• What amazing thought that God chooses US! He loves US! He accepts US!
WHO WAS DAVID?
“Look, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, who is skillful in playing, a mighty man of valor, a man of war, prudent in speech, and a handsome person; and the Lord is with him.” (v. 18).
• Do you want to be a hero? Get to know God, be strong, have great adventures…
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT IN THE STORY? (1 Samuel 17)
v.1-3 - the Israelites go to war against the Philistines (Goliath = about 9 feet tall)
v.4-10 - Goliath ‘the champion’ issues a challenge to Israel: “I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together!”
v.11 - King Saul and all the Israelites (including David’s bro’s) are dismayed & afraid
v.15-19 - Jesse asked his son David to take a lunch to David’s brothers and the army
BIBLE STORY – DAVID RUNS TOWARDS HIS GIANT:
“26 Then David spoke to the men who stood by him, saying, "What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes 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 in this manner, saying, "So shall it be done for the man who kills him." 28 Now Eliab his oldest brother heard when he spoke to the men; and Eliab’s anger was aroused against David, and he said, "Why did you come down here? And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your pride and the insolence of your heart, for you have come down to see the battle." 29 And David said, "What have I done now? Is there not a cause?"
• “Is there not a cause?” Heroes are made when we make a choice to do something!
• David went before King Saul and said, "Let no man’s heart fail because of him; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine." (v.32).
• King Saul finally said, “Go, and the Lord be with you!”
40 Then he took his staff in his hand; and he chose for himself five smooth stones from the brook, and put them in a shepherd’s bag, in a pouch which he had, and his sling was in his hand. And he drew near to the Philistine. 41 So the Philistine came, and began drawing near to David, and the man who bore the shield went before him. 42 And when the Philistine looked about and saw David, he disdained him; for he was only a youth, ruddy and good-looking. 43 So the Philistine said to David, "Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?" And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. 44 And the Philistine said to David, "Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field!"
• ILLUSTRATION: Have the shortest boy and the tallest man in the church face off. Give the man (Goliath) a sword, shield, helmet, and give the boy (David) a sling shot and some rocks. Who would you put your money on?
45 Then David said to the Philistine, "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, whom you have defied. 46 This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you. And this day I will give the carcasses of the camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. 47 Then all this assembly shall know that the Lord does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord’s, and He will give you into our hands."
48 So it was, when the Philistine arose and came and drew near to meet David, that David hastened and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine. 49 Then David put his hand in his bag and took out a stone; and he slung it and struck the Philistine in his forehead, so that the stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the earth. 50 So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone, and struck the Philistine and killed him. But there was no sword in the hand of David. 51 Therefore David ran and stood over the Philistine, took his sword and drew it out of its sheath and killed him, and cut off his head with it. And when the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled.” (1 Samuel 17:23-51).
WHAT ARE THE GIANTS IN YOUR LIFE? Maybe you’re facing a giant of:
• relationship problems, parenting challenges, health issues, financial difficulties, worries, fears, stresses, pressures, addictions, low self-esteem.
FIVE ‘SCRIPTURE STONES’ TO DEFEAT YOUR GIANTS:
1. Arise, anoint him; for this is the one. We too are anointed by the Holy Spirit!
2. I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts. The power in the name of Jesus!
3. The battle is the Lord’s. If God is for us, who can be against us? (Rom. 8:31).
4. David ran towards (the giant). Greater is He who is in us that he that is in the world (1 John 4:4).
5. David prevailed over the (giant) “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13). The victory that overcomes the world is our faith! (1 John 5:4).
CLOSING: Prayer for victory for those who are facing giants in their lives today.
Beausejour Community Church Website: www.beausejourchurch.ca
Pastor Chris Jordan’s Blog: http://thelandofpromise.blogspot.com/
