Theological Status: DEAD ORTHODOXY / DECISIONISM
Biblical Parallel(Archetype): Sardis
❓ What do these grades mean?
🔍 Biblical Discernment: The 7 Church Parallels
The Cold Orthodox Parallel
Ephesus
Teaching that upholds doctrinal precision yet parallels the loss of the "first love"—the vital, motivating power of the Gospel (Rev 2:4).
The Compromised Parallel
Pergamum
Teaching that parallels churches tolerating the "doctrine of Balaam" through cultural accommodation (Rev 2:14), characterized by weak boundaries, sloppy theology, and worldly compromise.
Why strictly "Mark & Avoid"?
We do not issue this rating to attack the speaker, but to protect the listener. This ministry's overall teaching trend consistently deviates from sound doctrine. As per Romans 16:17, we identify these patterns so believers can guard their hearts.
We do not issue this rating to attack the speaker, but to protect the listener. This ministry's overall teaching trend consistently deviates from sound doctrine. As per Romans 16:17, we identify these patterns so believers can guard their hearts.
🧐 Overview
Theological Verdict & Summary
Sermon Summary: Can human willpower defeat the giants in our lives, or do we need a power greater than ourselves?
Pastoral Analysis: The sermon offers engaging illustrations and a relatable theme of overcoming life's obstacles. However, it fundamentally compromises the Gospel by teaching that salvation and spiritual victory are achieved through human decision and effort (synergism) rather than God's sovereign grace. This shifts the burden of salvation onto the congregation, creating a theology of works-righteousness disguised as faith.
Biblical Parallel (Archetype): Sardis — The sermon presents a 'name that it is alive, but is dead' orthodoxy. While it utilizes biblical imagery of David and Goliath, the core mechanism for spiritual victory and salvation is shifted from God's sovereign grace to human willpower and decision. This synergistic approach, where the believer's 'bold unwavering trust' and 'giving in their heart' are treated as the decisive factors for overcoming spiritual giants, constitutes a fundamental error in soteriology that deadens the power of the Gospel.
Big Idea: Christians face various 'giants' in life, but through abiding in Christ and exercising unwavering faith, these obstacles can be defeated. [00:56:45 ▶️ 📄]
📖 How they Handle Scripture & Jesus
- Primary Text: 1 Samuel 17
- Usage Classification: Thematic
- Text-to-Talk Ratio: High
- Pulpit Decorum: ⚠️ CAUTION - The use of coarse language ('sissies', 'wimps', 'spineless jellyfish') to describe Goliath's taunts, while illustrative, borders on impropriety for a public sermon.
✝️ Christological Focus: Moralistic/Imitative
"Christ is presented as the object of trust for overcoming life's problems, but not as the sole Savior whose atonement secures victory. The focus is on imitating David's faith rather than relying on Christ's finished work."
Scripture Saturation: Verses Read: 11 | Referenced: 14 | Alluded: 1
📖 View 1 Passages Read Aloud
-
1 Samuel 17:41-51
[00:43:05 ▶️ 📄]
"And the Philistine came on and drew near unto David, and the man that beared the shield went before him. And when the Philistine looked about and saw David, he disdained him, for he was but a youth and ruddy and of fair countenance. And the Philistine said unto David, Am I a dog that thou comest to me with staves, that is, wooden instruments? And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. And the Philistine said to David, Come to me, and I will give thy flesh into the fowls of the air and to the beasts of the field. Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword and with a spear and with a shield, but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. this day will the Lord deliver thee into mine hand and I will smite thee and take thine head from thee and I will give the carcass of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air unto the wild beasts of the earth that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel and all this assembly shall know that the Lord saveth not with sword and spear for the battle is the Lord's and we will give it into your, he will give it into our hands and it will come to pass. When the Philistine rose and came nigh to David, David, that David hasted and ran toward the meat of the Philistine. And David put his hand to his bag and took a stone and slain it and smote the Philistine in his forehead that the stone sunk in his forehead and he fell face down to the earth. So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone and smote the Philistine and slew him. But there was no sword in the hand of David. Therefore David ran and stood upon the Philistine and took his sword and drew it out of the sheath thereof and slew him and cut off his head therewith. And when the Philistines saw their champion was dead, they fled."
Key References: 1 Samuel 17:10-16, 1 Samuel 17:4-7, 1 Samuel 17:26, 1 Samuel 17:40, 1 Samuel 17:48, 1 Samuel 17:32, 1 Samuel 17:45-46, John 15, Philippians 4:13, Philippians 4:19, and 4 more...
💧 Liturgy & Sacraments
Altar Call / Invitation Observed: Yes
- Theological Conditions: giving in their heart and life to God, turn it over to you, trust you
- Sinner's Prayer: "Father thank you for this time to come together i've talked a little bit about goliath but it wasn't really about goliath as much as the giants that are often in our lives that come our way perhaps i'm talking to a christian this morning and there's a giant in their life i don't know what it is a trial a circumstance a hurt a habit and lord you know what it is and that person i'm talking to right now knows what it is as well perhaps they need to come this morning and turn it over to you perhaps you're not a christian and god is speaking to you right now about giving in their heart and life to you, Lord. Help them in just a few moments as we sing together, whether it's a Christian or a non-Christian, to come and to give it all to you and to trust you and to overcome that giant in their heart and in their life." 01:13:12 ▶️ 📄
- Coercive Pressure: "perhaps you're not a christian and god is speaking to you right now about giving in their heart and life to you, Lord." [01:13:43 ▶️ 📄]
🎙️ Sermon Content & Delivery
Word Count: 3,560 words
📌 View 9 Key Topics Addressed
-
David and Goliath Narrative
[00:40:48 ▶️ 📄]
> The pastor reads 1 Samuel 17 and provides historical and physical context for the battle, emphasizing Goliath's size and David's faith. -
Spiritual Giants/Obstacles
[00:56:45 ▶️ 📄]
> The pastor applies the biblical narrative to modern life, identifying personal struggles like addiction as 'giants' that believers must face. -
Confrontation of Evil
[00:45:02 ▶️ 📄]
> The pastor highlights David's active approach to the enemy, noting that David 'ran toward the army to meet the Philistine' rather than waiting passively. -
Spiritual Giants and Addictions
[00:57:07 ▶️ 📄]
> The pastor defines 'giants' as personal struggles like addiction, pride, and bitterness, illustrating with a story of a cocaine addict. -
Abiding in Christ
[01:01:16 ▶️ 📄]
> Using John 15, the pastor explains that remaining in fellowship with Jesus is necessary to be productive and face life's challenges. -
Fear and Victimhood
[01:02:56 ▶️ 📄]
> The pastor discusses how giants are intimidating, using a childhood story about a bully named Mark Rice to illustrate fear and feeling powerless. -
Faith and Victory
[01:07:18 ▶️ 📄]
> The pastor argues that giants are defeated through trust in God, citing Philippians 4:13 and Hebrews 11, and using an illustration of Leonardo da Vinci focusing on the Lord rather than distractions. -
Personal Struggles and Spiritual Warfare
[01:13:12 ▶️ 📄]
> The pastor identifies 'giants' as personal trials, circumstances, hurts, or habits that believers face, urging them to surrender these burdens to God. -
Evangelism and Invitation
[01:13:43 ▶️ 📄]
> The pastor addresses both Christians and non-Christians, inviting them to give their hearts and lives to God.
🖼️ View 9 Illustrations & Stories
-
Sermon Illustration
[00:46:05 ▶️ 📄]
> The pastor recalls reading 'Jack and the Beanstalk' to his son, specifically the giant's rhyme about grinding bones to make bread, to contrast a fairy tale with the biblical narrative. -
Sermon Illustration
[00:51:59 ▶️ 📄]
> The pastor invites a tall congregation member named Bob (6'3") to stand so he can visually compare his height to the estimated 9.5-foot height of Goliath. -
Sermon Illustration
[00:57:42 ▶️ 📄]
> The pastor shares a testimony of a cocaine addict who lost his job, family, and home, describing addiction as a 'giant consuming and controlling every aspect of his life' until he received Christ. -
Sermon Illustration
[00:57:42 ▶️ 📄]
> A personal anecdote about a cocaine addict who lost his job, family, and home, describing addiction as a giant consuming his life until he received Christ. -
Sermon Illustration
[01:00:12 ▶️ 📄]
> A reference to Charles Swindoll's book 'Become Before Winter,' noting how David slew Goliath but was later slain by the giant of lust. -
Sermon Illustration
[01:03:00 ▶️ 📄]
> A childhood memory of a fifth-grade bully named Mark Rice who ruled the playground and stole lunch money, illustrating the feeling of fear and powerlessness. -
Sermon Illustration
[01:05:39 ▶️ 📄]
> A story about an old pastor during revival who used a can labeled 'Can Do' to illustrate trusting God for strength. -
Sermon Illustration
[01:11:58 ▶️ 📄]
> An anecdote about Leonardo da Vinci obliterating a beautiful cup in his painting 'The Last Supper' to ensure nothing distracted from the focus on the Lord. -
Sermon Illustration
[01:13:12 ▶️ 📄]
> The pastor uses the biblical figure of Goliath as an analogy for the 'giants' (trials, circumstances, hurts, habits) that individuals face in their daily lives.
🚀 View 2 Calls to Action
-
Pastoral Charge
[01:13:43 ▶️ 📄]
> The pastor invites both Christians facing specific struggles and non-Christians to come forward during the upcoming song to surrender their lives to God and trust Him. -
Pastoral Charge
[01:13:43 ▶️ 📄]
> Come forward during the song to surrender personal struggles ('giants') to God and place trust in Him.
🧭 Biblical Alignment Dashboard
Overall Verdict: Fundamentally in Error
| Category | Status | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| Gospel Presentation | ❌ FAIL | The Gospel Engine is broken. The sermon concludes with an altar call that attributes the decisive action of salvation to human will ('giving in their heart and life'), violating the monergistic nature of regeneration. |
| Soteriology | ❌ FAIL | The sermon teaches Synergistic Soteriology, asserting that human cooperation ('giving in their heart') is required for salvation, directly contradicting the doctrine of Monergism. |
| Bibliology | ✅ PASS | The sermon references biblical narratives (David and Goliath) appropriately, though the theological application is flawed. |
| Hermeneutic | ⚠️ WEAK | The hermeneutic imposes a moralistic framework onto the David narrative, treating it as a template for human effort rather than a type of Christ's victory. |
| Theology Proper | ✅ PASS | God is acknowledged as the source of strength, but His role is diminished by the emphasis on human response. |
| Sacramentology | ⚪ N/A | No sacramental errors detected, but no sacraments were observed. |
| Confessional Depth | ❌ FAIL | The sermon lacks depth in explaining the nature of grace, regeneration, and the sovereignty of God in salvation. |
⚙️ The Core Gospel Framework
What is this? This section checks if the sermon contains the essential building blocks of the Gospel. We look for explicit, substantive mentions of God's holy standard, human inability, and Christ's finished work on the cross.
Why it matters for the final verdict: A complete Gospel framework protects a sermon from becoming man-centered. If a preacher gives commands for good behavior but leaves out the grace and atonement of the Gospel, it often results in a 🔴 Critical or 🟠 Major error for Moralism (teaching human self-improvement rather than reliance on Christ). However, if these Gospel elements are missing simply because the pastor is preaching a highly focused, practical message to mature believers (e.g., instructions on biblical marriage), our system applies a "Safe Harbor" pardon, graciously reducing the omission to a 🟡 Minor error.
Why it matters for the final verdict: A complete Gospel framework protects a sermon from becoming man-centered. If a preacher gives commands for good behavior but leaves out the grace and atonement of the Gospel, it often results in a 🔴 Critical or 🟠 Major error for Moralism (teaching human self-improvement rather than reliance on Christ). However, if these Gospel elements are missing simply because the pastor is preaching a highly focused, practical message to mature believers (e.g., instructions on biblical marriage), our system applies a "Safe Harbor" pardon, graciously reducing the omission to a 🟡 Minor error.
❌ The Law And Wrath: Not observed in the sermon.
❌ Total Depravity And Inability: Not observed in the sermon.
❌ Active Obedience Of Christ: Not observed in the sermon.
❌ The Cross And Atonement: Not observed in the sermon.
⚠️ Theological Concerns
🔴 Critical Synergistic Soteriology (Human Will in Salvation)
Root Cause: Semi-Pelagianism
"perhaps you're not a christian and god is speaking to you right now about giving in their heart and life to you, Lord. Help them in just a few moments as we sing together, whether it's a Christian or a non-Christian, to come and to give it all to you and to trust you and to overcome that giant in their heart and in their life." [01:13:43 ▶️ 📄]
The Belief/Behavior: The pastor urges non-Christians to 'give in their heart and life' to God and 'trust you' to overcome their giant, implying that human decision is the decisive factor in salvation.
Why It's Dangerous: This teaches that salvation is a cooperative effort between God and man, robbing God of His sovereignty and placing the burden of salvation on the sinner's willpower.
Biblical Correction: But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. (John 1:12-13)
🟠 Major Coarse Language in Illustration
Root Cause: Worldly Entertainment
"he would say things like this we believe in terms of that defying come out and fight you sissies you wimps come on i dare you cross the line you're not warriors you're spineless jellyfish oh yeah that goes for your god too" [00:49:44 ▶️ 📄]
The Belief/Behavior: The pastor uses crude language ('sissies', 'wimps', 'spineless jellyfish') to quote Goliath.
Why It's Dangerous: While intended to be humorous or vivid, this language can distract from the solemnity of the text and may cause offense or distraction among sensitive congregants.
Biblical Correction: Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer every man. (Colossians 4:6)
🟠 Major Moralism (Self-Powered Growth)
Root Cause: Moralistic Therapeutic Deism
"giants can be defeated in our life like David when you too have a bold unwavering trust in God" [01:08:14 ▶️ 📄]
The Belief/Behavior: The sermon teaches that Christians defeat 'giants' (sin, addiction) through their own 'bold unwavering trust' and 'abiding' as a method of self-discipline.
Why It's Dangerous: This reduces the Christian life to moral effort, leading to burnout and despair when believers fail to 'trust hard enough.' It ignores the transformative power of the Holy Spirit.
Biblical Correction: For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds; Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; (2 Corinthians 10:4-5)
✅ Commendations
Illustration | Engaging Visuals
The use of the Da Vinci cup anecdote and the physical comparison with a tall congregation member effectively captures attention and illustrates the concept of focus.
Relevance | Relatable Applications
Connecting 'giants' to modern struggles like addiction and hidden sins makes the ancient text relevant to the congregation's daily lives.
📜 Full Sermon Transcript (Audit)
Use the 📄 icons next to quotes above to automatically jump to their location in this raw transcript.
[00:20:33] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]
[00:20:33] Good morning, everybody. It is good to see everybody. I am going to start out by reading a little letter here. Dear church family, thank you so much for the prayers for me and the gift. I was touched, but even more so by your prayers. Knowing that you are thinking of
[00:20:50] me and keeping me in your thoughts bring me so much comfort. Your support means the world to me and has given me so much strength. And thank you again, church family. And that is from Jeff Davis. Jeff, we just want to say that we love you and we care about you. And that's kind
[00:21:05] of and that's that's one thing, too. I've noticed this church is just so loving and so caring. And that is that is just a huge blessing. But I'll keep the announcements kind of short. So one thing
[00:21:16] I would like to go ahead and say is that we got VBS coming up very soon, which is kind of hard to believe. But man, in about three weeks or so. So if you have not registered yet, look in the
[00:21:26] bulletin here. There's a little QR code that you can just scan super easy and register for that.
[00:21:31] And again, that is going to be June the 7th through the 10th. Just want to remind everybody as well, this summer, since I won't be running around to like 20 different schools during the day, I'll also have kind of more office hours Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to noon. So
[00:21:47] if you guys need anything, just feel free to drop by. That'll be fun as well. But with that being said, I'll also have a little video we're going to show you, but before we do, I'm going to go
[00:21:56] ahead and open us up in a word of prayer. So let's bow our heads. Father, we just want to thank you once again for just a beautiful day that you've given to us, for a day of worship and a day of
[00:22:08] just remembering who you are. We ask, Lord God, as we are, again, worshiping you and as we are enjoying our fellowship with each other, that you just kind of put everything else to the side and
[00:22:17] just let us remember you, Father. And we just ask this in your name that we pray. Amen.
[00:22:22] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]
[00:22:22] Hey mom, I need a light bulb.
[00:22:37] Honey, you know where we keep them.
[00:22:39] You can use the step stool if you need it.
[00:22:41] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]
[00:22:41] See, you found the light.
[00:22:57] You don't need to stay in the dark any longer.
[00:23:12] Illumination Station shines a light on who Jesus really is.
[00:23:18] Light is everywhere around you.
[00:23:21] You just might not be aware of it.
[00:23:24] Light coming through your windows got its start at the creation of the world when God said, let there be light.
[00:23:32] light. And then flipping a switch does more than turn on a single bulb. It illuminates everything around it too. You can see it. You can feel it. Light impacts everything. Light is always moving, always redirecting and bouncing off a million surfaces, highlighting everything it touches.
[00:23:51] It's because of light we can clearly see. Just hearing about it is never enough. Come experience light for yourself come to illumination station VBS is the brightest week of the year come join us at illumination station as we shine a light on the truth
[00:24:16] of food Jesus really is many people are still in the dark about who Jesus is they might think he's just a good person or a historical figure but he is so much more. Illumination Station exists to make sure people can see the truth. Jesus is
[00:24:35] the light of the world and as we explore all the ways light illuminates and envelops our lives, we'll learn that Jesus is even brighter than the beaming rays of the Sun or the glowing shine of a neon sign. He is the perfect, proven, and
[00:24:51] powerful Son of God. Light up your summer at Illumination Station and shine a a light on who jesus really is i'm excited about bbs are you guys yeah illumination station that's
[00:25:16] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]
[00:25:16] gonna be awesome but keeping with that theme we're gonna let our light shine this morning
[00:25:19] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]
[00:25:19] and see you again once more please stand let us pray thank you father again for this beautiful
[00:30:33] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]
[00:30:33] gorgeous morning dear lord thank you for letting us be in your house father father we pray for those who are sick, the Lord, and those who are lost. Father, please let us just give up just a
[00:30:47] small portion of what you have given us to further your kingdom. In your name I pray. Amen.
[00:39:15] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]
[00:39:15] It's always just so much fun.
[00:39:18] Maybe that's just kind of a teacher's part of the thing.
[00:39:20] But I will say, I love relating to all kinds, but one thing I've noticed, Ada has been eager to learn every single step of the way, but it's not just that she's been eager to learn.
[00:39:31] I've also noticed she's not only eager to learn, and as we went over stuff that's a little bit more technical, like the apologetics, the preservation form, and the light and things like that, I not only noticed that she soaked that up like a sponge,
[00:39:45] But she already had a vision there as well.
[00:39:48] And I want you to thank Jason and Sheila for that.
[00:39:51] I can tell you she had a big foundation.
[00:39:53] And that is a new lesson.
[00:39:55] Ava, I want to say this.
[00:39:57] We are going to be in prayer for you.
[00:39:59] If you need anything, you guys as well.
[00:40:01] If you guys ever need anything, you let me know.
[00:40:04] Let the church know.
[00:40:05] We're here for you guys.
[00:40:05] We love you guys.
[00:40:07] I would like for us all to say a prayer.
[00:40:10] And prayer for Ava as she takes this huge, monumental step.
[00:40:15] Let us pray.
[00:40:15] Father once again as we are seeing this next step we see that she is very much prepared for God Father we just ask that you give her that kind of confidence Father just let her know
[00:40:35] let her family know that they are so very loved forced by this church but by you as well Father let that confidence never wait for her we just pray and we thank you for a good God as you are
[00:40:46] we thank you
[00:40:48] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]
[00:40:48] draw close to brothers and sisters in the body of christ was i hearing music or is that something else well okay would you please take your bibles and turn with me to first samuel chapter 17
[00:42:09] i'll be reading to you several sections of this before it's over but i want to begin with 41 through 51 it's a passage we're all familiar with and um about david and goliath first samuel
[00:42:28] chapter 17 beginning here in verse 41 biblical text reads as follows and may i add very quickly it's good to have jeff with us this morning back there in the corner praise god and uh
[00:42:49] I just want to praise God publicly that he saw fit to use the doctors and nurses and others and the prayers of this church and other churches and other people.
[00:43:02] Again, praise the Lord.
[00:43:05] Picking up 1 Samuel chapter 17 and verse 41, the text tells us, And the Philistine came on and drew near unto David, and the man that beared the shield went before him.
[00:43:19] And when the Philistine looked about and saw David, he disdained him, for he was but a youth and ruddy and of fair countenance.
[00:43:31] And the Philistine said unto David, Am I a dog that thou comest to me with staves, that is, wooden instruments?
[00:43:42] And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.
[00:43:45] And the Philistine said to David, Come to me, and I will give thy flesh into the fowls of the air and to the beasts of the field.
[00:43:56] Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword and with a spear and with a shield, but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.
[00:44:11] this day will the Lord deliver thee into mine hand and I will smite thee and take thine head from thee and I will give the carcass of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air
[00:44:25] unto the wild beasts of the earth that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel and all this assembly shall know that the Lord saveth not with sword and spear for the battle is the Lord's
[00:44:42] and we will give it into your, he will give it into our hands and it will come to pass.
[00:44:48] When the Philistine rose and came nigh to David, David, that David hasted and ran toward the meat of the Philistine.
[00:44:57] Did you notice that?
[00:44:59] He doesn't wait for the Philistine to come to him.
[00:45:02] David confronts the enemy and runs in his direction.
[00:45:06] Yes.
[00:45:07] Amen.
[00:45:10] And David put his hand to his bag and took a stone and slain it and smote the Philistine in his forehead that the stone sunk in his forehead and he fell face down to the earth.
[00:45:23] That is significant.
[00:45:25] Face down, the place of submission.
[00:45:33] So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone and smote the Philistine and slew him.
[00:45:40] But there was no sword in the hand of David.
[00:45:43] Therefore David ran and stood upon the Philistine and took his sword and drew it out of the sheath thereof and slew him and cut off his head therewith.
[00:45:53] And when the Philistines saw their champion was dead, they fled.
[00:45:58] May God bless the reading of his blessed word.
[00:46:02] Perhaps you're like me.
[00:46:05] As I read this story this past week, I was reminded of an old, old fable from many, many years ago.
[00:46:12] I remembered reading the book to my little boy.
[00:46:17] Part of it went like this.
[00:46:21] Fee-fi-fo-fum, I smell the blood of an Englishman.
[00:46:25] Be he alive or be he dead, I'll grind his bones to make my bread.
[00:46:31] Of course, you remember those words from Jack and the Beanstalk.
[00:46:36] The giant talking about taking Jack to lunch.
[00:46:41] That's quite literally, by the way.
[00:46:43] I still remember reading that story to my son as a little boy.
[00:46:49] the text I've read to you this morning is not a fairy tale it is a narrative from God's word in the Old Testament and I trust today it will speak to our hearts allow me to develop the context
[00:47:04] just a few moments Israel and the Philistines are at war and the text if you read it one is on one side of a valley the Philistines are on a hill on one side of the valley
[00:47:17] and the Israelites are on the other side of the valley on a hill and in the middle is what we call the valley of elah suddenly a giant philistine steps on the field of battle and he challenges the israelites to come out and fight
[00:47:31] he tells them you send out an israelite israelite to fight and i'm going to fight for the philistines that's goliath if the israelites win we'll be your servants but if i win says goliath You and all Israel will be our servants.
[00:47:55] That is servants of the Philistines.
[00:47:58] Note in verses in this text 10 through 16.
[00:48:05] And the Philistines said, I will defy the armies of Israel this day.
[00:48:10] Give me a man that we may fight together.
[00:48:13] Send out your best man.
[00:48:16] We're going to go one on one.
[00:48:21] Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine.
[00:48:24] they were dismayed and greatly afraid. Now David was the son of the Ephraimite of Bethlehem Judah whose name was Jesse and he had eight sons and the man went among them for an old man in the
[00:48:39] days of Saul and the three eldest sons of Jesse went and followed Saul to the battle and the names of the three sons that went to battle was Eliab the firstborn and next to him Abinadab and the
[00:48:52] third man shema and david was the youngest and the three eldest followed saul but david went and returned from saul to feed his brother's sheep at bethlehem and the philistine drew near morning and evening and presented himself for 40 days now think of it here's the giant of a man
[00:49:16] for 40 days he comes out morning and evening and he challenges the nation of israel the battlefield on the battlefield come out and fight me note verse 10 the word defy means goliath was less
[00:49:33] than flattering to the nation of israel let me put it into a modern parlance he would come out morning and evening and he would defy the nation of israel and he would say things like this we
[00:49:44] believe in terms of that defying come out and fight you sissies you wimps come on i dare you cross the line you're not warriors you're spineless jellyfish oh yeah that goes for your god too so goliath is challenging them trying to force them onto the field of battle think of it
[00:50:14] every morning every evening for 40 days and he the insults went on and on and on now very quickly verses four through seven of the biblical text and there went out a champion out of the camp
[00:50:31] of the philistines named goliath of gath whose height was some six cubits tall now think about that no no back to the text six cubits in the span now had to work at this how tall was goliath
[00:50:59] we think roughly nine and a half feet now that's a big guy anyway you cut it well this is drawn to scale i had to have it done i didn't have the technical skills to do this i may have been into
[00:51:21] coloring it but i didn't do that either but it's drawn to scale this is about the size the size of a man's head who's nine to nine and a half feet tall now look at this that's roughly nine and a
[00:51:45] half feet tall. Who's the biggest guy in the building this morning? Boy, I have no volunteers.
[00:51:59] I'm trying to find somebody. Is Toby here? No, he didn't make it. He's a big fella. Who? Can't hear. Where is he? Oh, come on. Now, how tall are you? Oh, that's great. Bob, would you stand right
[00:52:31] here. Now, would you say he's a pretty big fellow? He's a pretty big fellow. 6'3".
[00:52:42] You see his head up there, Robert? I sure do.
[00:52:45] I wouldn't want to meet him in the dark alley. Thank you, thank you.
[00:52:50] I wanted you to have some way of comparing this morning with just how big this guy was. But back to the text.
[00:52:59] So he's six cubits and a span, and he had a helmet of brass upon his head and he was armed with a coat of mail he's not talking about the u.s mail but overlapping brass fish-like scales that overlapped and the weight of the coat was
[00:53:19] about 5 000 shekels of brass in other words about 130 pounds and he had greaves of brass upon his legs that is defended his shins and the top of his feet and a target of brass between his shoulders
[00:53:34] That's a plate that held everything together back there where you put your sword, etc.
[00:53:41] And the staff of his spear was like a weaver's beam.
[00:53:44] Now what in the world?
[00:53:45] A weaver's beam in the ancient world was around six feet long and two inches wide.
[00:53:52] Now that's what we call a whoop-em stick.
[00:53:57] Imagine, six feet long, roughly two inches, maybe four inches wide, some think.
[00:54:04] And his spear's head weighed 600 shekels of iron.
[00:54:08] 15 pounds just for the head of the spear and one bearing a shield went before him imagine this his armor etc weighed about 270 pounds just the armor i weighed 230 he was a big burly rough
[00:54:43] warrior i dare say if he stepped on the battlefield well think of it nine and a half feet tall covered in armor skilled warrior no doubt a loud booming voice that carried would you want to fight
[00:55:05] him even well enter a young man named david who was sent by his father to bring food to his three brothers you see he was the youngest of eight sons who stayed back back on the farm so to speak
[00:55:22] to take care of his father's sheep he arrived just in time to hear the jeers and taunts of Goliath David's speaking in verse 26 who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God the next thing David knew he found himself before the king of Israel
[00:55:43] trying on Saul's armor and about to accept the greatest challenge of his life to take on a giant.
[00:55:53] Note verse 40.
[00:55:55] And he took his staff and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook.
[00:56:00] Now this is the challenge for you this week.
[00:56:03] Did he have brothers?
[00:56:08] I'll let you figure that one out.
[00:56:10] Won't take long to figure that out this coming week.
[00:56:15] Put them in a shepherd's bag and a sling was in his hand and he drew near the Philistine.
[00:56:21] Verse 48, and we see these words, David hastened and ran towards the army to meet the Philistine.
[00:56:29] And you know the rest of the story.
[00:56:32] David defeated a giant that day.
[00:56:35] But as I read and prayed and reflected on this passage, I began to wonder, what does this passage have to say to us this morning?
[00:56:45] We've talked about Goliath.
[00:56:48] We've talked a little about David.
[00:56:49] but what does this passage have to do with you and me right where we are this morning this morning three insights about this passage for us number one from time to time all of us will face giants
[00:57:07] in our lives i'm not talking about a giant like goliath the one david faced but i do believe there are giants that will come our way from time to time in our lives take for example the giant
[00:57:27] of alcohol and drugs these giants and many others can hinder us in our walk of faith and prevent us from becoming productive and useful for god's kingdom and his work not long ago i sat down with
[00:57:42] a cocaine addict and we talked for a little while and he shared with me how after his first hit they call it he knew he knew he would never reach that high again he spent years and years taking the
[00:57:56] cocaine trying to reach that same high that experience when he first took it but he could never get it he went on to share with me how he lost everything job family home ended up living
[00:58:09] on the streets homeless because of the giant of addiction he mentioned the evil was like A giant consuming and controlling every aspect of his life until the day that he received Christ.
[00:58:31] But folks, there are many addictions in the world, aren't there?
[00:58:34] There are many giants we might face as God's people.
[00:58:38] For example, forgiving that person who has offended or hurt us.
[00:58:47] There's the giant of pride.
[00:58:49] Anybody here ever struggled with pride?
[00:58:54] How about an unforgiving spirit?
[00:58:58] How about bitterness of heart and soul?
[00:59:00] I'm talking about some of the giants we might face as the people of God.
[00:59:07] Bitterness, anger, a vengeful and spiteful spirit, a broken heart, the death of a loved one.
[00:59:16] This stuff we're wrapped in called flesh.
[00:59:20] Have you ever wrestled with it?
[00:59:26] A temper, worry, so, so much more.
[00:59:31] then there are the giants of depression of temptation of greed and the list goes on ad infinitum there's no limit and by the way what may be a giant to you may not be one to someone else
[00:59:49] these giants i'm talking about come in all shapes and sizes of different places and different times in our life charles swindoll some of you may remember him popular preacher and writer from several years ago in his devotional book become before winter several chapters there
[01:00:12] on david outstanding book one section of the book speaks of david and how he was a mighty warrior for god he slew the giant but then swindoll went on to speak of the giant that slew david
[01:00:29] we call it lust he looked at a woman was unable to control himself impacted his life and his ministry again giants will come our way what will you do about it how will you handle it
[01:00:54] in john 15 jesus here said it's john 15 a beautiful passage we're just going to read a tiny portion of it jesus said i am the vine and my father is a husbandman every branch in me that
[01:01:16] beareth not fruit he taketh away and every branch that beareth fruit he purchaseth that it may bring forth more fruit now you are clean through the word which i have spoken unto you then jesus goes
[01:01:30] on to say this abide in me and i in you as the branch cannot bear fruit of itself except it abide in the vine no more can ye except ye abide in me the word abide here means something that
[01:01:44] remains that continues in a fixed state it's a metaphor jesus is saying abide in me that is unbroken fellowship continuous relationship to the savior that we might be productive and fruitful for the kingdom of god my point since we're all going to face giants in our lives every one of us
[01:02:07] needs to abide or remain close to jesus in fellowship that's critical in the life of a christian is it not what's the objective of being a christian to become more like christ and when we abide in him when we remain in him when we have close fellowship with him we grow
[01:02:28] in the christian life and in the christian walk the christian life is not static it's dynamic We're continually growing and becoming more like the Savior.
[01:02:43] But that means we must also face the giants in our lives, just as David did.
[01:02:50] Secondly, this morning, giants can be fearful and intimidating.
[01:02:56] I can still remember him quite well.
[01:02:58] His name was Mark Rice.
[01:03:00] He was a head taller than anybody else in the fifth grade.
[01:03:05] He ruled the playground, as I recall.
[01:03:08] You didn't want to mess with Mark.
[01:03:10] I watched one morning as he took two other little boys' lunch money from him.
[01:03:15] I had enough sense to stay as far away as I could get from Mark.
[01:03:20] And that's exactly what I did.
[01:03:23] I imagined the very sight of Goliath caused Israel's hearts to be filled with fear.
[01:03:29] And as I read the text this morning, it became obvious to me.
[01:03:34] The Israelites were so filled with fear they were powerless and impotent before such a foe.
[01:03:40] How are we when we face the giants in our lives?
[01:03:44] We feel more like a victim than a victor, more like a wimp than a winner.
[01:03:49] On more than one occasion, I've heard a fellow saint say something like this to me.
[01:03:55] I can't deal with this, pastor.
[01:03:59] I've heard there's not even any need to try.
[01:04:03] It's totally and absolutely hopeless.
[01:04:05] I cannot overcome this situation, this circumstance, this trial, this difficulty in my life.
[01:04:13] I'm just defeated.
[01:04:18] Well, are we powerless?
[01:04:21] Are we fodder for Satan and our enemies, giants in our lives?
[01:04:29] When we face those giants as Christians, do we ever stop and think of the promises of God?
[01:04:38] We allow the giants to block our vision in the midst of the trial, the hurt, and the pain, the trauma of the situation.
[01:04:49] I have some words to share this morning.
[01:04:52] Three or four verses.
[01:04:54] I'm talking about, again, giants we face.
[01:05:00] Problems we deal with.
[01:05:01] I love those words in Philippians 4 and 13.
[01:05:09] It says, I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
[01:05:15] Do you believe that?
[01:05:17] Or is that simply a pious platitude we like to quote for somebody else who's going through a difficult trial?
[01:05:25] I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
[01:05:29] That's God's word speaking to us.
[01:05:32] Do we believe it?
[01:05:34] I remember that old pastor who got up in the pulpit one night during revival.
[01:05:39] he had a little can and around it was a label it said can do on it we can do when we trust god who'll give us the strength to deal with every situation that comes our way
[01:05:56] another one a few verses later there in philippians is 419 but my god shall supply all your needs according to his riches and glory do you think we could tax what god's got stored up i don't think
[01:06:15] so and one more this is from psalms and psalms 56 3 and 4 a beautiful passage here what time i am afraid i will trust in thee in god i will praise his word in god i have put my trust i will not
[01:06:55] fear what flesh can do unto me and when you fear god as you ought there's nothing else left to fear thirdly giants can be defeated if we will trust god back to our biblical text in first samuel
[01:07:18] verse 32 here we're told let no one lose heart on account of this philistine your servant will go and fight him and then verses 45 46 you come against me with sword and spear javelin but i
[01:07:42] come against you in the name of the lord almighty now we know what happened that day david put what we would call him the south put a whooping on that giant didn't he he defeated him utterly defeated
[01:07:57] him he took a giant of a man down others say david was foolhardy and presumptuous i don't think so i david was i believe david was trusting god to defeat to defeat him but folks the point i'm
[01:08:14] making is this giants can be defeated in our life like David when you too have a bold unwavering trust in God we are told in Hebrews chapter 11 now faith is being sure of what we hope for and
[01:08:31] certain of what we do not see that is what the ancients were commended for what do you think about David and Goliath was he too big to take down I rather think Goliath was not too big to
[01:08:47] tackle that goliath was too big to miss that's what i think let me share another metaphor on this line it is found in matthew in chapter 17 and in verse 30 he says abide in me remain in me
[01:09:11] stay with me in matthew 17 and 20 jesus speaking because of your unbelief for verily i say unto you if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed you shall say to this mountain remove hence to yonder
[01:09:25] place and it shall remove and nothing shall be impossible under you now as jesus talked about a literal mountain we don't think so we believe it's a metaphor any problem that comes your way any difficulty any trial you can move it because of your faith in the true and the living god
[01:09:46] the t to overcoming giants our faith one more i'm talking about overcoming defeating the giants in our lives in first john in chapter 5 beginning in verse 3 for this is the love of god that we
[01:10:15] keep his commandments and his commandments are not grievous for whatsoever is born of god overcometh the world and this is the victory that overcometh the world even our faith we are overcomers we can be victorious this morning no matter the giant when we're willing to trust god
[01:10:34] and take him at his word the bible teaches us the key to overcoming giants is our faith faith means we trust him even when we don't understand even when the way is dark and lonely
[01:10:49] when life tumbles in and disappointment and heartaches come our way we trust him we believe in him no matter what happens i began this morning with the words fee fie fo fum i smell the blood of
[01:11:05] an englishman be alive or be he dead i'll grind his bones to make my bread in our bible satan is described as a roaring lion walking about seeking who whom he may devour you know what he wants to
[01:11:20] devour this morning christian he wants to devour your testimony he wants to devour your faith he wants to wreck and ruin your life young people he wants to destroy you he wants to rob you of
[01:11:38] your testimony he wants to make you a victim rather than a victor he wants to gobble up your life and to ruin you, but faith is the key for us as God's people. That's it. I read when Leonardo
[01:11:58] da Vinci finished his painting, The Last Supper, he asked a friend to come in and sit down and look over it. His friend came in, was looking over the painting, and the man was fascinated
[01:12:11] with the cup. He said, what a beautiful cup. I just can't take my eyes off of it. Leonardo da Vinci grabbed his brush and did this to the cup completely obliterated it while it was still damp
[01:12:25] and the man said why did you do that and leonardo da vinci said to him nothing should distract us from the attention of the lord yes no matter the trial no matter the difficulty no matter the hardship no matter the giant that comes our way nothing should distract us
[01:12:52] from our focus on the risen savior and may i add not even a giant would you please pray with me father thank you for this time to come together i've talked a little bit about goliath but it
[01:13:12] wasn't really about goliath as much as the giants that are often in our lives that come our way perhaps i'm talking to a christian this morning and there's a giant in their life i don't know
[01:13:27] what it is a trial a circumstance a hurt a habit and lord you know what it is and that person i'm talking to right now knows what it is as well perhaps they need to come this morning and turn
[01:13:43] it over to you perhaps you're not a christian and god is speaking to you right now about giving in their heart and life to you, Lord.
[01:13:57] Help them in just a few moments as we sing together, whether it's a Christian or a non-Christian, to come and to give it all to you and to trust you and to overcome that giant in their heart
[01:14:15] and in their life.
[01:14:16] Bless now, Father, as we sing.
[01:14:19] Touch hearts.
[01:14:19] I know you're speaking.
[01:14:21] Give me, give everyone the courage to respond in a way that honors you.
[01:14:26] we pray in Jesus name Amen what are we singing this morning would you please stand with me this morning as we sing together
[00:20:33] Good morning, everybody. It is good to see everybody. I am going to start out by reading a little letter here. Dear church family, thank you so much for the prayers for me and the gift. I was touched, but even more so by your prayers. Knowing that you are thinking of
[00:20:50] me and keeping me in your thoughts bring me so much comfort. Your support means the world to me and has given me so much strength. And thank you again, church family. And that is from Jeff Davis. Jeff, we just want to say that we love you and we care about you. And that's kind
[00:21:05] of and that's that's one thing, too. I've noticed this church is just so loving and so caring. And that is that is just a huge blessing. But I'll keep the announcements kind of short. So one thing
[00:21:16] I would like to go ahead and say is that we got VBS coming up very soon, which is kind of hard to believe. But man, in about three weeks or so. So if you have not registered yet, look in the
[00:21:26] bulletin here. There's a little QR code that you can just scan super easy and register for that.
[00:21:31] And again, that is going to be June the 7th through the 10th. Just want to remind everybody as well, this summer, since I won't be running around to like 20 different schools during the day, I'll also have kind of more office hours Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to noon. So
[00:21:47] if you guys need anything, just feel free to drop by. That'll be fun as well. But with that being said, I'll also have a little video we're going to show you, but before we do, I'm going to go
[00:21:56] ahead and open us up in a word of prayer. So let's bow our heads. Father, we just want to thank you once again for just a beautiful day that you've given to us, for a day of worship and a day of
[00:22:08] just remembering who you are. We ask, Lord God, as we are, again, worshiping you and as we are enjoying our fellowship with each other, that you just kind of put everything else to the side and
[00:22:17] just let us remember you, Father. And we just ask this in your name that we pray. Amen.
[00:22:22] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]
[00:22:22] Hey mom, I need a light bulb.
[00:22:37] Honey, you know where we keep them.
[00:22:39] You can use the step stool if you need it.
[00:22:41] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]
[00:22:41] See, you found the light.
[00:22:57] You don't need to stay in the dark any longer.
[00:23:12] Illumination Station shines a light on who Jesus really is.
[00:23:18] Light is everywhere around you.
[00:23:21] You just might not be aware of it.
[00:23:24] Light coming through your windows got its start at the creation of the world when God said, let there be light.
[00:23:32] light. And then flipping a switch does more than turn on a single bulb. It illuminates everything around it too. You can see it. You can feel it. Light impacts everything. Light is always moving, always redirecting and bouncing off a million surfaces, highlighting everything it touches.
[00:23:51] It's because of light we can clearly see. Just hearing about it is never enough. Come experience light for yourself come to illumination station VBS is the brightest week of the year come join us at illumination station as we shine a light on the truth
[00:24:16] of food Jesus really is many people are still in the dark about who Jesus is they might think he's just a good person or a historical figure but he is so much more. Illumination Station exists to make sure people can see the truth. Jesus is
[00:24:35] the light of the world and as we explore all the ways light illuminates and envelops our lives, we'll learn that Jesus is even brighter than the beaming rays of the Sun or the glowing shine of a neon sign. He is the perfect, proven, and
[00:24:51] powerful Son of God. Light up your summer at Illumination Station and shine a a light on who jesus really is i'm excited about bbs are you guys yeah illumination station that's
[00:25:16] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]
[00:25:16] gonna be awesome but keeping with that theme we're gonna let our light shine this morning
[00:25:19] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]
[00:25:19] and see you again once more please stand let us pray thank you father again for this beautiful
[00:30:33] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]
[00:30:33] gorgeous morning dear lord thank you for letting us be in your house father father we pray for those who are sick, the Lord, and those who are lost. Father, please let us just give up just a
[00:30:47] small portion of what you have given us to further your kingdom. In your name I pray. Amen.
[00:39:15] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]
[00:39:15] It's always just so much fun.
[00:39:18] Maybe that's just kind of a teacher's part of the thing.
[00:39:20] But I will say, I love relating to all kinds, but one thing I've noticed, Ada has been eager to learn every single step of the way, but it's not just that she's been eager to learn.
[00:39:31] I've also noticed she's not only eager to learn, and as we went over stuff that's a little bit more technical, like the apologetics, the preservation form, and the light and things like that, I not only noticed that she soaked that up like a sponge,
[00:39:45] But she already had a vision there as well.
[00:39:48] And I want you to thank Jason and Sheila for that.
[00:39:51] I can tell you she had a big foundation.
[00:39:53] And that is a new lesson.
[00:39:55] Ava, I want to say this.
[00:39:57] We are going to be in prayer for you.
[00:39:59] If you need anything, you guys as well.
[00:40:01] If you guys ever need anything, you let me know.
[00:40:04] Let the church know.
[00:40:05] We're here for you guys.
[00:40:05] We love you guys.
[00:40:07] I would like for us all to say a prayer.
[00:40:10] And prayer for Ava as she takes this huge, monumental step.
[00:40:15] Let us pray.
[00:40:15] Father once again as we are seeing this next step we see that she is very much prepared for God Father we just ask that you give her that kind of confidence Father just let her know
[00:40:35] let her family know that they are so very loved forced by this church but by you as well Father let that confidence never wait for her we just pray and we thank you for a good God as you are
[00:40:46] we thank you
[00:40:48] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]
[00:40:48] draw close to brothers and sisters in the body of christ was i hearing music or is that something else well okay would you please take your bibles and turn with me to first samuel chapter 17
[00:42:09] i'll be reading to you several sections of this before it's over but i want to begin with 41 through 51 it's a passage we're all familiar with and um about david and goliath first samuel
[00:42:28] chapter 17 beginning here in verse 41 biblical text reads as follows and may i add very quickly it's good to have jeff with us this morning back there in the corner praise god and uh
[00:42:49] I just want to praise God publicly that he saw fit to use the doctors and nurses and others and the prayers of this church and other churches and other people.
[00:43:02] Again, praise the Lord.
[00:43:05] Picking up 1 Samuel chapter 17 and verse 41, the text tells us, And the Philistine came on and drew near unto David, and the man that beared the shield went before him.
[00:43:19] And when the Philistine looked about and saw David, he disdained him, for he was but a youth and ruddy and of fair countenance.
[00:43:31] And the Philistine said unto David, Am I a dog that thou comest to me with staves, that is, wooden instruments?
[00:43:42] And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.
[00:43:45] And the Philistine said to David, Come to me, and I will give thy flesh into the fowls of the air and to the beasts of the field.
[00:43:56] Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword and with a spear and with a shield, but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.
[00:44:11] this day will the Lord deliver thee into mine hand and I will smite thee and take thine head from thee and I will give the carcass of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air
[00:44:25] unto the wild beasts of the earth that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel and all this assembly shall know that the Lord saveth not with sword and spear for the battle is the Lord's
[00:44:42] and we will give it into your, he will give it into our hands and it will come to pass.
[00:44:48] When the Philistine rose and came nigh to David, David, that David hasted and ran toward the meat of the Philistine.
[00:44:57] Did you notice that?
[00:44:59] He doesn't wait for the Philistine to come to him.
[00:45:02] David confronts the enemy and runs in his direction.
[00:45:06] Yes.
[00:45:07] Amen.
[00:45:10] And David put his hand to his bag and took a stone and slain it and smote the Philistine in his forehead that the stone sunk in his forehead and he fell face down to the earth.
[00:45:23] That is significant.
[00:45:25] Face down, the place of submission.
[00:45:33] So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone and smote the Philistine and slew him.
[00:45:40] But there was no sword in the hand of David.
[00:45:43] Therefore David ran and stood upon the Philistine and took his sword and drew it out of the sheath thereof and slew him and cut off his head therewith.
[00:45:53] And when the Philistines saw their champion was dead, they fled.
[00:45:58] May God bless the reading of his blessed word.
[00:46:02] Perhaps you're like me.
[00:46:05] As I read this story this past week, I was reminded of an old, old fable from many, many years ago.
[00:46:12] I remembered reading the book to my little boy.
[00:46:17] Part of it went like this.
[00:46:21] Fee-fi-fo-fum, I smell the blood of an Englishman.
[00:46:25] Be he alive or be he dead, I'll grind his bones to make my bread.
[00:46:31] Of course, you remember those words from Jack and the Beanstalk.
[00:46:36] The giant talking about taking Jack to lunch.
[00:46:41] That's quite literally, by the way.
[00:46:43] I still remember reading that story to my son as a little boy.
[00:46:49] the text I've read to you this morning is not a fairy tale it is a narrative from God's word in the Old Testament and I trust today it will speak to our hearts allow me to develop the context
[00:47:04] just a few moments Israel and the Philistines are at war and the text if you read it one is on one side of a valley the Philistines are on a hill on one side of the valley
[00:47:17] and the Israelites are on the other side of the valley on a hill and in the middle is what we call the valley of elah suddenly a giant philistine steps on the field of battle and he challenges the israelites to come out and fight
[00:47:31] he tells them you send out an israelite israelite to fight and i'm going to fight for the philistines that's goliath if the israelites win we'll be your servants but if i win says goliath You and all Israel will be our servants.
[00:47:55] That is servants of the Philistines.
[00:47:58] Note in verses in this text 10 through 16.
[00:48:05] And the Philistines said, I will defy the armies of Israel this day.
[00:48:10] Give me a man that we may fight together.
[00:48:13] Send out your best man.
[00:48:16] We're going to go one on one.
[00:48:21] Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine.
[00:48:24] they were dismayed and greatly afraid. Now David was the son of the Ephraimite of Bethlehem Judah whose name was Jesse and he had eight sons and the man went among them for an old man in the
[00:48:39] days of Saul and the three eldest sons of Jesse went and followed Saul to the battle and the names of the three sons that went to battle was Eliab the firstborn and next to him Abinadab and the
[00:48:52] third man shema and david was the youngest and the three eldest followed saul but david went and returned from saul to feed his brother's sheep at bethlehem and the philistine drew near morning and evening and presented himself for 40 days now think of it here's the giant of a man
[00:49:16] for 40 days he comes out morning and evening and he challenges the nation of israel the battlefield on the battlefield come out and fight me note verse 10 the word defy means goliath was less
[00:49:33] than flattering to the nation of israel let me put it into a modern parlance he would come out morning and evening and he would defy the nation of israel and he would say things like this we
[00:49:44] believe in terms of that defying come out and fight you sissies you wimps come on i dare you cross the line you're not warriors you're spineless jellyfish oh yeah that goes for your god too so goliath is challenging them trying to force them onto the field of battle think of it
[00:50:14] every morning every evening for 40 days and he the insults went on and on and on now very quickly verses four through seven of the biblical text and there went out a champion out of the camp
[00:50:31] of the philistines named goliath of gath whose height was some six cubits tall now think about that no no back to the text six cubits in the span now had to work at this how tall was goliath
[00:50:59] we think roughly nine and a half feet now that's a big guy anyway you cut it well this is drawn to scale i had to have it done i didn't have the technical skills to do this i may have been into
[00:51:21] coloring it but i didn't do that either but it's drawn to scale this is about the size the size of a man's head who's nine to nine and a half feet tall now look at this that's roughly nine and a
[00:51:45] half feet tall. Who's the biggest guy in the building this morning? Boy, I have no volunteers.
[00:51:59] I'm trying to find somebody. Is Toby here? No, he didn't make it. He's a big fella. Who? Can't hear. Where is he? Oh, come on. Now, how tall are you? Oh, that's great. Bob, would you stand right
[00:52:31] here. Now, would you say he's a pretty big fellow? He's a pretty big fellow. 6'3".
[00:52:42] You see his head up there, Robert? I sure do.
[00:52:45] I wouldn't want to meet him in the dark alley. Thank you, thank you.
[00:52:50] I wanted you to have some way of comparing this morning with just how big this guy was. But back to the text.
[00:52:59] So he's six cubits and a span, and he had a helmet of brass upon his head and he was armed with a coat of mail he's not talking about the u.s mail but overlapping brass fish-like scales that overlapped and the weight of the coat was
[00:53:19] about 5 000 shekels of brass in other words about 130 pounds and he had greaves of brass upon his legs that is defended his shins and the top of his feet and a target of brass between his shoulders
[00:53:34] That's a plate that held everything together back there where you put your sword, etc.
[00:53:41] And the staff of his spear was like a weaver's beam.
[00:53:44] Now what in the world?
[00:53:45] A weaver's beam in the ancient world was around six feet long and two inches wide.
[00:53:52] Now that's what we call a whoop-em stick.
[00:53:57] Imagine, six feet long, roughly two inches, maybe four inches wide, some think.
[00:54:04] And his spear's head weighed 600 shekels of iron.
[00:54:08] 15 pounds just for the head of the spear and one bearing a shield went before him imagine this his armor etc weighed about 270 pounds just the armor i weighed 230 he was a big burly rough
[00:54:43] warrior i dare say if he stepped on the battlefield well think of it nine and a half feet tall covered in armor skilled warrior no doubt a loud booming voice that carried would you want to fight
[00:55:05] him even well enter a young man named david who was sent by his father to bring food to his three brothers you see he was the youngest of eight sons who stayed back back on the farm so to speak
[00:55:22] to take care of his father's sheep he arrived just in time to hear the jeers and taunts of Goliath David's speaking in verse 26 who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God the next thing David knew he found himself before the king of Israel
[00:55:43] trying on Saul's armor and about to accept the greatest challenge of his life to take on a giant.
[00:55:53] Note verse 40.
[00:55:55] And he took his staff and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook.
[00:56:00] Now this is the challenge for you this week.
[00:56:03] Did he have brothers?
[00:56:08] I'll let you figure that one out.
[00:56:10] Won't take long to figure that out this coming week.
[00:56:15] Put them in a shepherd's bag and a sling was in his hand and he drew near the Philistine.
[00:56:21] Verse 48, and we see these words, David hastened and ran towards the army to meet the Philistine.
[00:56:29] And you know the rest of the story.
[00:56:32] David defeated a giant that day.
[00:56:35] But as I read and prayed and reflected on this passage, I began to wonder, what does this passage have to say to us this morning?
[00:56:45] We've talked about Goliath.
[00:56:48] We've talked a little about David.
[00:56:49] but what does this passage have to do with you and me right where we are this morning this morning three insights about this passage for us number one from time to time all of us will face giants
[00:57:07] in our lives i'm not talking about a giant like goliath the one david faced but i do believe there are giants that will come our way from time to time in our lives take for example the giant
[00:57:27] of alcohol and drugs these giants and many others can hinder us in our walk of faith and prevent us from becoming productive and useful for god's kingdom and his work not long ago i sat down with
[00:57:42] a cocaine addict and we talked for a little while and he shared with me how after his first hit they call it he knew he knew he would never reach that high again he spent years and years taking the
[00:57:56] cocaine trying to reach that same high that experience when he first took it but he could never get it he went on to share with me how he lost everything job family home ended up living
[00:58:09] on the streets homeless because of the giant of addiction he mentioned the evil was like A giant consuming and controlling every aspect of his life until the day that he received Christ.
[00:58:31] But folks, there are many addictions in the world, aren't there?
[00:58:34] There are many giants we might face as God's people.
[00:58:38] For example, forgiving that person who has offended or hurt us.
[00:58:47] There's the giant of pride.
[00:58:49] Anybody here ever struggled with pride?
[00:58:54] How about an unforgiving spirit?
[00:58:58] How about bitterness of heart and soul?
[00:59:00] I'm talking about some of the giants we might face as the people of God.
[00:59:07] Bitterness, anger, a vengeful and spiteful spirit, a broken heart, the death of a loved one.
[00:59:16] This stuff we're wrapped in called flesh.
[00:59:20] Have you ever wrestled with it?
[00:59:26] A temper, worry, so, so much more.
[00:59:31] then there are the giants of depression of temptation of greed and the list goes on ad infinitum there's no limit and by the way what may be a giant to you may not be one to someone else
[00:59:49] these giants i'm talking about come in all shapes and sizes of different places and different times in our life charles swindoll some of you may remember him popular preacher and writer from several years ago in his devotional book become before winter several chapters there
[01:00:12] on david outstanding book one section of the book speaks of david and how he was a mighty warrior for god he slew the giant but then swindoll went on to speak of the giant that slew david
[01:00:29] we call it lust he looked at a woman was unable to control himself impacted his life and his ministry again giants will come our way what will you do about it how will you handle it
[01:00:54] in john 15 jesus here said it's john 15 a beautiful passage we're just going to read a tiny portion of it jesus said i am the vine and my father is a husbandman every branch in me that
[01:01:16] beareth not fruit he taketh away and every branch that beareth fruit he purchaseth that it may bring forth more fruit now you are clean through the word which i have spoken unto you then jesus goes
[01:01:30] on to say this abide in me and i in you as the branch cannot bear fruit of itself except it abide in the vine no more can ye except ye abide in me the word abide here means something that
[01:01:44] remains that continues in a fixed state it's a metaphor jesus is saying abide in me that is unbroken fellowship continuous relationship to the savior that we might be productive and fruitful for the kingdom of god my point since we're all going to face giants in our lives every one of us
[01:02:07] needs to abide or remain close to jesus in fellowship that's critical in the life of a christian is it not what's the objective of being a christian to become more like christ and when we abide in him when we remain in him when we have close fellowship with him we grow
[01:02:28] in the christian life and in the christian walk the christian life is not static it's dynamic We're continually growing and becoming more like the Savior.
[01:02:43] But that means we must also face the giants in our lives, just as David did.
[01:02:50] Secondly, this morning, giants can be fearful and intimidating.
[01:02:56] I can still remember him quite well.
[01:02:58] His name was Mark Rice.
[01:03:00] He was a head taller than anybody else in the fifth grade.
[01:03:05] He ruled the playground, as I recall.
[01:03:08] You didn't want to mess with Mark.
[01:03:10] I watched one morning as he took two other little boys' lunch money from him.
[01:03:15] I had enough sense to stay as far away as I could get from Mark.
[01:03:20] And that's exactly what I did.
[01:03:23] I imagined the very sight of Goliath caused Israel's hearts to be filled with fear.
[01:03:29] And as I read the text this morning, it became obvious to me.
[01:03:34] The Israelites were so filled with fear they were powerless and impotent before such a foe.
[01:03:40] How are we when we face the giants in our lives?
[01:03:44] We feel more like a victim than a victor, more like a wimp than a winner.
[01:03:49] On more than one occasion, I've heard a fellow saint say something like this to me.
[01:03:55] I can't deal with this, pastor.
[01:03:59] I've heard there's not even any need to try.
[01:04:03] It's totally and absolutely hopeless.
[01:04:05] I cannot overcome this situation, this circumstance, this trial, this difficulty in my life.
[01:04:13] I'm just defeated.
[01:04:18] Well, are we powerless?
[01:04:21] Are we fodder for Satan and our enemies, giants in our lives?
[01:04:29] When we face those giants as Christians, do we ever stop and think of the promises of God?
[01:04:38] We allow the giants to block our vision in the midst of the trial, the hurt, and the pain, the trauma of the situation.
[01:04:49] I have some words to share this morning.
[01:04:52] Three or four verses.
[01:04:54] I'm talking about, again, giants we face.
[01:05:00] Problems we deal with.
[01:05:01] I love those words in Philippians 4 and 13.
[01:05:09] It says, I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
[01:05:15] Do you believe that?
[01:05:17] Or is that simply a pious platitude we like to quote for somebody else who's going through a difficult trial?
[01:05:25] I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
[01:05:29] That's God's word speaking to us.
[01:05:32] Do we believe it?
[01:05:34] I remember that old pastor who got up in the pulpit one night during revival.
[01:05:39] he had a little can and around it was a label it said can do on it we can do when we trust god who'll give us the strength to deal with every situation that comes our way
[01:05:56] another one a few verses later there in philippians is 419 but my god shall supply all your needs according to his riches and glory do you think we could tax what god's got stored up i don't think
[01:06:15] so and one more this is from psalms and psalms 56 3 and 4 a beautiful passage here what time i am afraid i will trust in thee in god i will praise his word in god i have put my trust i will not
[01:06:55] fear what flesh can do unto me and when you fear god as you ought there's nothing else left to fear thirdly giants can be defeated if we will trust god back to our biblical text in first samuel
[01:07:18] verse 32 here we're told let no one lose heart on account of this philistine your servant will go and fight him and then verses 45 46 you come against me with sword and spear javelin but i
[01:07:42] come against you in the name of the lord almighty now we know what happened that day david put what we would call him the south put a whooping on that giant didn't he he defeated him utterly defeated
[01:07:57] him he took a giant of a man down others say david was foolhardy and presumptuous i don't think so i david was i believe david was trusting god to defeat to defeat him but folks the point i'm
[01:08:14] making is this giants can be defeated in our life like David when you too have a bold unwavering trust in God we are told in Hebrews chapter 11 now faith is being sure of what we hope for and
[01:08:31] certain of what we do not see that is what the ancients were commended for what do you think about David and Goliath was he too big to take down I rather think Goliath was not too big to
[01:08:47] tackle that goliath was too big to miss that's what i think let me share another metaphor on this line it is found in matthew in chapter 17 and in verse 30 he says abide in me remain in me
[01:09:11] stay with me in matthew 17 and 20 jesus speaking because of your unbelief for verily i say unto you if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed you shall say to this mountain remove hence to yonder
[01:09:25] place and it shall remove and nothing shall be impossible under you now as jesus talked about a literal mountain we don't think so we believe it's a metaphor any problem that comes your way any difficulty any trial you can move it because of your faith in the true and the living god
[01:09:46] the t to overcoming giants our faith one more i'm talking about overcoming defeating the giants in our lives in first john in chapter 5 beginning in verse 3 for this is the love of god that we
[01:10:15] keep his commandments and his commandments are not grievous for whatsoever is born of god overcometh the world and this is the victory that overcometh the world even our faith we are overcomers we can be victorious this morning no matter the giant when we're willing to trust god
[01:10:34] and take him at his word the bible teaches us the key to overcoming giants is our faith faith means we trust him even when we don't understand even when the way is dark and lonely
[01:10:49] when life tumbles in and disappointment and heartaches come our way we trust him we believe in him no matter what happens i began this morning with the words fee fie fo fum i smell the blood of
[01:11:05] an englishman be alive or be he dead i'll grind his bones to make my bread in our bible satan is described as a roaring lion walking about seeking who whom he may devour you know what he wants to
[01:11:20] devour this morning christian he wants to devour your testimony he wants to devour your faith he wants to wreck and ruin your life young people he wants to destroy you he wants to rob you of
[01:11:38] your testimony he wants to make you a victim rather than a victor he wants to gobble up your life and to ruin you, but faith is the key for us as God's people. That's it. I read when Leonardo
[01:11:58] da Vinci finished his painting, The Last Supper, he asked a friend to come in and sit down and look over it. His friend came in, was looking over the painting, and the man was fascinated
[01:12:11] with the cup. He said, what a beautiful cup. I just can't take my eyes off of it. Leonardo da Vinci grabbed his brush and did this to the cup completely obliterated it while it was still damp
[01:12:25] and the man said why did you do that and leonardo da vinci said to him nothing should distract us from the attention of the lord yes no matter the trial no matter the difficulty no matter the hardship no matter the giant that comes our way nothing should distract us
[01:12:52] from our focus on the risen savior and may i add not even a giant would you please pray with me father thank you for this time to come together i've talked a little bit about goliath but it
[01:13:12] wasn't really about goliath as much as the giants that are often in our lives that come our way perhaps i'm talking to a christian this morning and there's a giant in their life i don't know
[01:13:27] what it is a trial a circumstance a hurt a habit and lord you know what it is and that person i'm talking to right now knows what it is as well perhaps they need to come this morning and turn
[01:13:43] it over to you perhaps you're not a christian and god is speaking to you right now about giving in their heart and life to you, Lord.
[01:13:57] Help them in just a few moments as we sing together, whether it's a Christian or a non-Christian, to come and to give it all to you and to trust you and to overcome that giant in their heart
[01:14:15] and in their life.
[01:14:16] Bless now, Father, as we sing.
[01:14:19] Touch hearts.
[01:14:19] I know you're speaking.
[01:14:21] Give me, give everyone the courage to respond in a way that honors you.
[01:14:26] we pray in Jesus name Amen what are we singing this morning would you please stand with me this morning as we sing together
