Sunday, August 21, 2016

STAND UP AND FACE YOUR GIANTS

Proclamation:
"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..." 1 Samuel 17:45-46 (NIV)
Explanation:
These words were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by the Prophet Samuel.  In chapter seventeen, Samuel records the account of David as a young man when he faced the giant named Goliath, the Philistine.  The armies of the Philistines and the armies of Israel were prepared for battle. (1 Samuel 17:1-3)  Goliath, the champion of the Philistines was a giant. (1 Samuel 17:4)  He approached the armies of Israel and told them to send out one man to fight him.  He said that if that man defeated him, his people would serve Israel, but if he defeated that man, then Israel would serve the Philistines. (1 Samuel 17:8-10)  David had only come to the camp of the army to bring food to his three brothers, who were in the army, and to inquire about their status for his father. (1 Samuel 17:17-18)  David heard Goliath's disrespectful challenge to the army of Israel and was upset. (1 Samuel 17:26)  David said that he would fight Goliath. (1 Samuel 17:32)  He refused to wear King Saul's armor, (1 Samuel 17:38-39), and he took five smooth stones and his sling as a weapon. (1 Samuel 17:40)  With the help of The Lord God, David defeated Goliath with one stone from his sling, then he cut off Goliath's head with his own sword. (1 Samuel 17:48-51)
Application:
David knew that The Lord God was with him when he fought the lion and the bear, and he knew that He would be with him against Goliath. (1 Samuel 17:34-37)  David faced his giant in the name of The Lord God Almighty, and he did it without fear.  He knew that God would be with him.  David stood up for God and faced the giant.  We also need to stand up for The Lord and His righteousness, even when we stand alone.  God did not give us the spirit of fear. (2 Timothy 1:7)  We are to be victorious conquerors. (Romans 8:37)  When we stand up for that which is Godly and right, The Lord God will help us. (Psalms 94:16-17)  He will fight our battles for us. (Deuteronomy 28:7, 2 Chronicles 20:15 and 20:17)  We must not only stand up, but we must speak up.  It is not good to keep silent when we should speak up for The Lord. (Psalms 39:2-3)  If we will not speak up for Him, He will not speak up for us. (Matthew 10:33)  However, if our giant is not an enemy but instead is a sinful habit, we still need to stand up and face it.  First we will have to go to The Lord in prayer, confess our sins and weaknesses, and ask for His help in fighting this giant.  There are some things which we cannot do alone.  But with the help of God, all things are possible. (Matthew 19:26)  


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