Pebbles I Sam. 17:3-13; 17-20; 22-24;26-40, 48-51; Romans 8:37
All my life this has been a thrilling story to me. How a young lad defeated the Giant. A giant 9 & 1/2 feet tall. He would make Shaquille O’Neil look like a midget. His armor weighed 125 lbs. and the point of his spear weighed 15 lbs.
The people in our church family and many of you listening online Amaze me. Because you have had to take on some big Giants. Cancer the death of a loved one. The loss of a Job; Divorce and disease. Those were Giants to you and yet with God’s help you took them on.
We have some giants of today. We are a Country in Turmoil; Socialism and conflicting theories of Government. Despair, uncertainty; tension; Pandemic; Sorrow; Impatience; Disillusionment; Apathy; Lethargy;
Three things we can do with our giants is to run away from them; run with them; or run at them and conquer them.
Some one defined our giant this way. A Giant is that last fearful thought that you go to bed with a night and the first fearful thought that you wake it. It is your Giant because it dominates your day and steals your peace and joy. Some of these Giants that we face have been passed down from the Family before us. Generational Domination.
You see and know your Giant the question is all that you see.
David was different.
Saul and his army talked about God but as Max Lucado tells us Goliath Majored in God.
David won the battle and defeated the Giants because of one thing and one thing only. He was living in the Presence of God. If you don’t remember anything then remember that.
Those stones or what I want to call them Pebbles are what I want us to look at this morning. 5 of them. Why five? Someone said he chose five because if he missed he would just shooting. No, David was very good at this and he knew that he would hit him with the 1st rock. I have heard this, Goliath had 4 more brothers. He would need those for stones for the other four. 2 Samuel 21:19-22 has the reason for this. David knew that his sons would eventually come after him.
Let’s Talk about defeating your Giant and the pebbles that you have. Compared to the Giant the stones looked like pebbles. Focus on your Giant and you will stumble but focus on God and your giant will tumble. Remember you have a Giant but that is not all you need to see. You need to see those pebbles that will help you defeat your Giant.
Pebble of Confidence from your Past. (Notice David had already had experience in taking care of a Bear & a Lion. David had conquered fear before he conquered Goliath. )
When your mate or a family member died you did not know what you were going to do yet your still here moving on. Some of you have had health issues but you are still here. Draw from your past victorious. The Past Battles and Victories. Ask yourself, What got me though that adversity or heartache? David had unwavering confidence because of past victories.
Pebble of Self-Acceptance … David could not use Saul’s Armor. Listen do what God has called you to do and what he has equipped you to do. If God wants you to use a slingshot then use slingshot. If God calls you to speak then speak. If God has called you to sing then sing but if He has not called you to sing then don’t. Many times people are using a sword when God wanted them to use a sling shot.
Be yourself. Wishing to be somebody else will not work. I cant be George Truett I have to be W.A. Criswell. Saul and David’s Brothers and others looked at David and said that he did not have much to offer. I Sam. 16…Samuel looks at Eliab…is the one I need to anoint? Surely this has to be the one. I Samuel 16:7 “The Lord does not see as men see; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
Pebble of the Ability to Reach Out To Others. He went to Saul and Saul went to him and they talked and Saul allowed yielded to David’s Strategy. One of the great weaknesses of President Woodrow Wilson was that it was hard for him to convince and work with others. Seek advice but most of all do what God has called you to do. We sometimes we do not want to share our giants and our strategy. Talk it up. We too many times keep our Giants to ourselves.
Pebble of Devotion and Doing Something for the Greater Good.
In David’s case it was Israel. The saving of his nation.
It is putting more into life than you take out.
David had a solemn determination, vs. 32
Pebble of Trusting God. (Remember David Living in the Presence of God.)
The pebble that makes the greatest difference.
The One that David could say that the Lord is My Shepherd. The one who can Say, The Lord is the Rock of My salvation whom should I fear. The one who could say, God is my Refuge and Strength my very present help in time of Need. The Lord is My Helper; The Lord is My Shield. The Lord is My Light and My Salvation who shall I fear; The Lord is My Stronghold in times of Trouble. Courage is fear that has said its prayers.
With a Sling Shot of Faith and a Stone of Truth David was victorious. .
Six great words from Greece- Rome- and Judea- Know thyself; Control thyself; Give Yourself…David Gave himself…Romans 12:1 Give your life to a Greater Cause….Lose yourself and then you will find yourself.
We must face our giants but you don’t have to face them alone.
The greatest thing about David was that his greatest friend was God.
Rock of ages cleft for me. Let me hide my self in Thee.
God wants to help you. Jesus is for you. If God before you, then who can be against you.
“Look unto Me, and you will be delivered or saved.” Isa. 45:22 What did HE mean? If you have 10 things to do then Look to Him 1st… and HE will help you with those 10 things.
There’s not a friend like the lowly Jesus– No, not one! no, not one! None else could heal all our soul’s diseases– No, not one! no, not one! Refrain: Jesus knows all about our struggles, He will guide till the day is done; There’s not a friend like the lowly Jesus– No, not one! no, not one!
Thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ! I Cor. 15:57