Don’t focus on the giants!

“4 And a champion went out from the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, from Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span. 5 He had a bronze helmet on his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail, and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of bronze. 6 And he had bronze armor on his legs and a bronze javelin between his shoulders. 7 Now the staff of his spear was like a weaver’s beam, and his iron spearhead weighed six hundred shekels; and a shield-bearer went before him. 8 Then he stood and cried out to the armies of Israel, and said to them, “Why have you come out to line up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and you the servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves, and let him come down to me. 9 If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we will be your servants. But if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall be our servants and serve us.” 10 And the Philistine said, “I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together.” 11 When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid.”
1 Samuel 17:4-11 (NKJV)
 
The Israelites had a pretty big giant up against them. Goliath was about 9 foot 9 (just under 3 meters tall), and wore a breastplate that weighed about 60kgs – he was big and strong. Goliath was a giant and not only did he look scary, but he was continuously instilling fear in King Saul and the armies of Israel by shouting out against them. God’s people were scared!
 
We all face giants in our lives; things that come against us and seek to intimidate us through fear. It might be sickness, financial issues, a crisis, war… whatever the giants you are facing, you need to know that you do not have to fear!

“And the Philistine drew near and presented himself forty days, morning and evening.”
1 Samuel 17:16 (NKJV)
 
One of the reasons that the armies of Israel were hiding in their tents, paralysed with fear, was that they had allowed the giant to speak fear and intimidate them for such a long period of time. We shouldn’t tolerate even the smallest terrorist in our lives. You may see the terrorist as manageable and not such a big problem now, but if you tolerate it, it will grow. The longer you wait, the harder it is to get out of the fear that paralyses you.
 
David, who was a shepherd boy at the time, heard the same threats from the same giant and yet he had a completely different reaction. He didn’t have any fear. He didn’t panic. He actually had a boldness rise up within him to challenge the giant.  

“Then David spoke to the men who stood by him, saying, “What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?”
1 Samuel 17:26 (NKJV)
 
David wasn’t focused on what the giant was saying. He was focused on the reward for defeating the giant. He had victory in his mind, not defeat. When you face a giant, don’t focus on the problem, focus on Jesus and the promises in God’s Word. If you focus on the giant you will be overcome by fear, but as you focus on Jesus and His promises in the Word, faith will rise up and you’ll boldly face your giants and win!

“…For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?”
1 Samuel 17:26 (NKJV)
 
Circumcision was a sign of a covenant or agreement or relationship with God. The Israelites were “the armies of the living God” who had a relationship and an agreement with Him. David was reminding himself and the Israelite soldiers that the Philistines had no agreement with the living God – the Israelites had the favour of God with them and that gave them the advantage! Likewise, no matter what you’re facing, you have God’s undeserved favour on your life, you have a relationship with God, and therefore nothing can stand against you.
 
When you face a giant, don’t focus on the problem – focus on Jesus and the promises in God’s Word. You have God’s undeserved favour on your life, you have a relationship with God, and therefore nothing is able to stand against you.