Stand & Fight Your Giant

I love reading scripture. Now admittedly, I'm not a traditional reader in that I love to read. Yet the Bible is another story. Last Saturday I preached a message entitled "Stand & Face Your Giant" at a youth concert. The sermon was about David's encounter with Goliath.

God gave me this particular message after re-reading this classic Bible story during my devotions. Interestingly enough was the fact that in the past I had overlooked one critical detail about this story. This detail is found in 1 Samuel 17:16. In this verse God reveals that for 40 days Goliath challenged Saul and the army of Israel to fight him. More directly Goliath "punk'd the people of God" for more than a month.

As I began to pray and ponder this, the Lord spoke to me and said that this generation is being punk'd just like Saul and the Israelite army had been. Week after week  as I travel I hear story after story of how believers are being punk'd by depression, pornography, regret, poverty, peer pressure, and so much more. I felt like the Lord said "It's time for someone to stand and fight the giant!" As I thought about this I examined His words more closely. He didn't say "face the giant" at all. He said it's time to fight the giant! I couldn't agree more!!!

Thank God for people like David who wouldn't let fear or even the thought of being thrashed stop him. This generation needs to learn this lesson from David...these battles aren't ours they're the Lord's! Read 1 Samuel 17:46.

David was a brave guy! He merely heard Goliath barking about his physical strength and felt compelled to respond. I want to be like that! Not just for myself, but also for my family...my wife and kids. I want to demonstrate that to the students I serve and the community of faith I'm in.

So with all this said, are you simply facing your giant(s) or are your ready to fight them? Saul, the leader of God's hand-pick nation wasn't. The army of Israel wasn't. Perhaps your family isn't. Maybe your church isn't.

Whatever the case, I'd like like to leave you with the three points of the message to ponder:

(1)  Sooner or later we all will face a giant. It may be our health, finances, relationship, or whatever...but we'll face them.

(2)  When the giant(s) appear you'll either flee from them or fight them. It's the notion of "fight or flight!" If you run, you'll eventually become a runner (if you know what I mean).

(3)  Usually when you stand and fight them, they fall! One of the devil's oldest trick is that of intimidation. The least you can do is face him and demonstrate to him you're standing your ground.

I pray that this blog challenges you to go beyond "facing your giant(s) to actually fighting them with the Lord's help!

Be blessed!