Slaying Giants

Slaying Giants

2 Sam 21:15

Once again there was a battle between the Philistines and Israel. David went down with his men to fight against the Philistines and he became exhausted.

NIV

David had been at war with the Philistines since he was a teenager when he defeated Goliath. He was now 78 and was weary, faint and exhausted over the many battles and giants.

David learned the lesson about the willingness of fighting earlier in his life. Once he decided to stay home and send the army off without him. He yielded to various temptations and brought many judgments of God against him.

So by the time this battle came around David went to battle, even though he was old and tired of fighting the Philistines. He faced the giants that stood between him and victory.

Giant of Pride

2 Sam 21:16-17

Then Ishbi-Benob, who was one of the sons of the giant, the weight of whose bronze spear was three hundred shekels, who was bearing a new sword, thought he could kill David. 17… But Abishai the son of Zeruiah came to his aid, and struck the Philistine and killed him.

NKJV

Ishbi-Benob, = my dwelling is on the heights or on the mountains. It speaks of pride. The same pride that Lucifer had when he said, “Isa 14:14…I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High."

The Giant of pride has marched into the church today and boasted of who we are and what we have. Pride had fenced in entire churches and even large denominations with a covenant of death. The giants of pride hold doctrines and traditions that salience the living God making Him impotent causing Christianity to be an intellectual pursuit.

Pride keeps:

• Pastors from repenting…

• Deacons from being humble

• Teachers from changing methods.

Pride Keeps:

• People in rebellion

• Youth in disobedience

• Marriages in conflict

Pride Keeps Worshippers:

• From being undignified

• From demonstrating praise

• Touching the heart of God

Pride keeps:

• Sinners in sin

• Anger in the heart

• Pain in you life

Pride Keeps:

• People seated at altar time

• Offended spirits offended

• People at a distance

There is a giant we all face, his name is pride and he must be slain.

Wrinkles:

The story is told of the young mother who took much pride in her appearance was putting moisturizer on her face when her little girl asked her what she was doing. Wanting to satisfy her daughter’s curiosity about beauty secrets, she carefully explained that the cream was good for wrinkles. Studying her mother’s face intently, the little girl replied, "It’s doing a great job, Mommy. You’ve got so many wrinkles."

Abishai, had the nature of humility. He was a brother to Joab and a leader of the army under David. He was faithful to David when Absolom rebelled in pride against his father.

He came to David’s rescue against the giant. He pushed David aside and defeated the giant, but he allowed the king to receive the glory.

Ps 51:17

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit,

A broken and a contrite heart--

These, O God, You will not d

NKJV

God’s power mixed with a humble heart will conquer the giant of pride in ones life.

The pride of our beliefs, our doctrine, and our relationship with God all must be defeated by the power of the Holy Spirit working through a humble spirit of man.

Pride in the believer, has marred the robes of righteousness the Jesus gave his life for on the cross. Through His death he has placed the robes of right standing around the shoulders of the church, His bride. These robes must be washed in humility.

The Giant of Hypocrisy

2 Sam 21:18… In the course of time, there was another battle with the Philistines, at Gob. At that time Sibbecai the Hushathite killed Saph, one of the descendants of Rapha.

NIV

Saph, the giant, was a symbol of hypocrisy. He was holding on to that which God had cursed.

HYPOCRISY (Heb. from hanap) "defile," or "polluted"; Pretending to be what one is not.

Jer 3:9… Because Israel’s immorality mattered so little to her, she defiled the land and committed adultery with stone and wood.

NIV

Saph, the Giant represented the sons of God coming down to the daughters of men in Gen 6 and desecrated everything for which God created them.

Trying to preserve that which God has cursed is hypocrisy.

The church often finds herself in the trap of the hypocrite.

The believers present ourselves as sold out to God yet we hold back part of our life.

Acts 5:1 … Ananias who sold a piece of land, came and said he gave it all to the church, but in truth held some back. The money for the land was his to do with as he wished, but he said he did one thing whale doing another.