Bible Text: 1 Samuel 17:28-44 | Preacher: Pastor Steve | Series: David: Committed Living
Two Evil Twin Giants – Jealousy and Envy
1 Samuel 17:28-31 But when David’s oldest brother, Eliab…he was angry…What about those few sheep you’re supposed to be taking care of? I know about your pride and dishonesty. You just want to see the battle…What have I done now? David replied. I was only asking a question!
The family giant – big brother
1 Samuel 17:32-37 Don’t worry about a thing, David told Saul. I’ll go fight this Philistine!
…I have been taking care of my father’s sheep, he said. When a lion or a bear comes to steal a lamb from the flock, I go after it with a club and take the lamb from its mouth.
…I have done this to both lions and bears, and I’ll do it to this pagan Philistine, too, for he has defied the armies of the living God!
We learn from David that one of our greatest concerns as a believer is to uphold God’s honor!
1 Corinthians 10:31-11:1 So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God…And you should imitate me, just as I imitate Christ.
Do not judge a book by its cover!
1 Samuel 17:32-37 Don’t worry about a thing, David told Saul. I’ll go fight this Philistine! Don’t be ridiculous! Saul replied. There is no way you can go against this Philistine. You are only a boy, and he has been in the army since he was a boy!
There are times when we may have to overcome the negativity of others by our testimony, persistence and performance!
Living faith strengthens and readies us to face giants!
But David persisted…I have been taking care of my father’s sheep…When a lion or a bear comes to steal a lamb from the flock, I go after it with a club and take the lamb from its mouth. If the animal turns on me, I catch it by the jaw and club it to death. I have done this to both lions and bears, and I’ll do it to this pagan Philistine, too, for he has defied the armies of the living God! The LORD who saved me from the claws of the lion and the bear will save me from this Philistine!
We make the mistake of thinking that our small decisions are not important and yet they are training grounds for those few big decisions we will have to make
Luke 16:10-12 He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much. Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?
Confidence in God leads to success!
Confident faith starts where man’s power ends and God’s power begins
David had three important things going for him that gave him the ability and confidence to challenge the giant:
Personal experience with the Lord
The Word of God
The anointing (spirit-filled life) with God
David was transformed by his personal experiences and personal knowledge of God
Powerful confident faith requires actual faith in God, not faith in the hope that something might happen!
Trust in the Lord and not in man’s armor
1 Samuel 17:38-39 So Saul clothed David with his armor, and he put a bronze helmet on his head; he also clothed him with a coat of mail. David fastened his sword to his armor, and he tried to walk, for he had not tested them. And David said to Saul, I cannot walk with these, for I have not tested them. So David took them off.
Facing giants can be lonely, humbling and life-changing!
1 Samuel 17:41-44 Goliath walked out toward David with his shield bearer ahead of him, sneering in contempt at this ruddy-faced boy. Am I a dog…that you come at me with a stick? And he cursed David by the names of his gods. Come over here, and I’ll give your flesh to the birds and wild animals!
Facing giants can be intimidating and memorable
1 Samuel 17:45-51 David shouted in reply, You come to me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD Almighty–the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. Today the LORD will conquer you, and I will kill you and cut off your head. And then I will give the dead bodies of your men to the birds and wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel! 
David was prepared for this moment of opportunity
And everyone will know that the LORD does not need weapons to rescue his people. It is his battle, not ours. The LORD will give you to us! As Goliath moved closer to attack, David quickly ran out to meet him. Reaching into his shepherd’s bag and taking out a stone, he hurled it from his sling and hit the Philistine in the forehead…
The stone sank in, and Goliath stumbled and fell face downward to the ground. So David triumphed over the Philistine giant with only a stone and sling. And since he had no sword, he ran over and pulled Goliath’s sword from its sheath. David used it to kill the giant and cut off his head. When the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they turned and ran…
There are times when God will bypass some Christians because they fail to prepare for the times when God wants to use them in special ways.
Are you prepared for the time when God wants to do something special through your life, something you cannot even imagine?