Eliminating The Giants In Your Life

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Are you facing any giants today?

We must defeat the giants in our lives before we can ever enter the Promised Land.

How do your giant(s) compare with Goliath?

1 Samuel 17:4 says:

“And there went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span.”

Based on the King James Version of the Bible six cubits and a span would make Goliath over nine feet tall.

When you consider the average height of a man in Biblical times was five feet three inches. . Goliath was truly a giant.

1 Samuel 17:5 says:

“And he had an helmet of brass upon his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail; and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of brass.”

According to my historical research Goliath’s helmet weighed roughly 66 pounds and his brass coat weighed roughly 175 pounds.

Can you imagine your 9’ neighbor carrying a 175 pound backpack and a 66 pound Red Sox hat?

1 Samuel 17:7 says:

“And the staff of his spear was like a weaver's beam; and his spear's head weighed six hundred shekels of iron: and one bearing a shield went before him.”

The tip of Goliath’s spear. . .not the entire spear. . .but just the tip weighed approximately 20 pounds. Pick up a 20 pound bag of potatoes and imagine that weight on the end of a spear!

Without question, Goliath was a fierce-looking, trash-talking, massive killing machine who struck terror in the hearts of his opponents.

Have you faced any Goliaths today?

I’m not talking about a natural Goliath but. . .

Is living from paycheck to paycheck. . .barely making ends meet. . .a giant in your life?

Is being unemployed or under-employed. . .a giant in your life?

Is having someone you love addicted to drugs or alcohol. . .a giant in your life?

Is having your spouse unfaithful. . .either in word or deed. . .a giant in your life?

How are you dealing with your giants? Are you making the typical response?

What was David’s first response when he saw Goliath march out to meet Israel?

We do not see in scripture that he did any differently than the rest . . .he ran out of fear. . .along with the rest of the soldiers of Israel.

1 Samuel 17:24 says:

“And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him, and were sore afraid.”

Notice the verse says. . . “all” the men of Israel fled which would have included David. . .they ran and were afraid. . .fearful for their lives.

But then something happened to change David’s mind. . .he had a defining moment based on new information and motivation.

1 Samuel 17:25 says:

“And the men of Israel said, Have ye seen this man that is come up? surely to defy Israel is he come up: and it shall be, that the man who killeth him, the king will enrich him with great riches, and will give him his daughter, and make his father's house free in Israel.”

David discovered that the person who killed Goliath would be given three things:

First, not just riches but “great riches.”

Second, he would be given the hand of the King’s beautiful daughter in marriage thus making him a member of the King’s family and giving him entrance into the King’s court.

Third, his father and family would have their homes free from payments and taxes.

Upon learning of the reward. . .David made a profound statement in 1 Samuel 17:26 based on his belief in knowing His God when he said: “for who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?”

David, finally received the right win-win motivation. . .what is your motivation?

Here are seven keys to eliminating the giants in your life.

1.      Show up for the battle ready to fight.

Sometimes you don’t get to pick the place nor the time. . .but you must always be ready for the fight when the right time comes.

First, sometimes you must take the fight to the enemy.

1 Samuel 17:34-35 says:

“And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father's sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock: And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him.”

David didn’t just defeat the lion and the bear. The scripture says that David went after them when they stole what belonged to him.

Second, you have to expect the return of what belongs to you plus restitution.

There will be times in life when the enemy takes what belongs to you. He will steal your income, your home, a family member, your time or health.

You must be aggressive in going after what the enemy has taken.

Proverbs 6:31 says:

“But if he be found, he shall restore sevenfold; he shall give all the substance of his house.”

Third, you must be ready for battle in season and out of season.

2 Timothy 4:2 in the Amplified Bible says:

“Herald and preach the Word! Keep your sense of urgency [stand by, be at hand and ready], whether the opportunity seems to be favorable or unfavorable. [Whether it is convenient or inconvenient, whether it is welcome or unwelcome, you as preacher of the Word are to show people in what way their lives are wrong.] And convince them, rebuking and correcting, warning and urging and encouraging them, being unflagging and inexhaustible in patience and teaching.”

Finally, remember you will never win a battle you don’t show up for. Wherever you go, go with expectation.

2.      Don’t run from the battle.

Did it surprise you earlier in this teaching when I showed you in scripture that David like all the soldiers in the Army of Israel ran from Goliath and a possible battle to the death?

1 Samuel 17:24 says:

“And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him, and were sore afraid.”

Before criticizing David. . .let me ask you a question. . .when you’re facing an enemy do you run from the battle?

Ignoring a problem will never make it go away or lessen the intensity of the battle your facing.

Running in the midst of a fire fight with the devil will either make you a prisoner or a casualty but never a victor.

If someone or something is causing you a problem. . .it’s better to face the problems before you have to face the consequences.

Someone once said, if you want to be the leader of the band. . .you must be willing to face the music.

When you’re in the midst of a battle and someone yells “incoming” it’s important to know who’s in the foxhole with you.

You don’t have to run from any battle. . .because you always know who’s with you in your foxhole and in every adversity you’ll ever face.

Psalm 118:6 the Message Bible says:

“God's now at my side and I'm not afraid; who would dare lay a hand on me?”

3.      Don’t be afraid.

If you’re facing. . .difficult, if not, seemingly impossible financial or other attacks of the enemy. . .you can take comfort in know that God is in your foxhole. . .He’s with you no matter where or what kind of battle you’re facing.

With God by your side. . .there is no reason to fear or ever doubt the outcome of the battle.

Zephaniah 3:15 in the Amplified Bible says:

“[For then it will be that] the Lord has taken away the judgments against you; He has cast out your enemy. The King of Israel, even the Lord [Himself], is in the midst of you; [and after He has come to you] you shall not experience or fear evil any more.”

There are forty-four times in the King James Version of the Bible where we’re told to “be not afraid” and there are sixty-six times in the New Living Translation where the scripture says, “don’t be afraid.

Let’s look at four key verses of the forty-four in the King James Bible.

“. . . be not afraid of him. . .”2 Kings 1:15

“. . . be not afraid of them: for the LORD thy God is with thee. . .”Deuteronomy 20:1

“. . . Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's.”2 Chronicles 20:15

“. . . Be not afraid, only believe.”Mark 5:36

These four verses tell us to not be afraid of “him” or “them” but to “only believe.” With God on our side. . .we have no reason to be afraid.

Hebrews 13:6 in the Amplified Bible says:

“So we take comfort and are encouraged and confidently and boldly say, The Lord is my Helper; I will not be seized with alarm [I will not fear or dread or be terrified]. What can man do to me?”

Even though God should only have to tell us something once. . .sometimes we have to be reminded when we’re facing the Goliath of doubt and fear.

4.      Don’t worry about what other people may think.

In the final analysis. . .no one else can fight your battles. . .no one else take your place on Judgment Day. . .you and you alone are accountable for what you do or don’t do.

Other people may face a shortage of money, opportunities, courage or wisdom but there’s one area where they never experience a shortage. . .that’s in opinions of what you should and/or shouldn’t do.

1 Samuel 17:28-30 in the New Living Translation says:

“But when David’s oldest brother, Eliab, heard David talking to the men, he was angry. “What are you doing around here anyway?” he demanded. “What about those few sheep you’re supposed to be taking care of? I know about your pride and deceit. You just want to see the battle!” “What have I done now?” David replied. “I was only asking a question!”

Why do some of your co-workers talk about you behind your back?

Why do some of your friends and even family members get angry on your initiative and desire for a better quality of life?

Your success becomes a reflection of their lack of success.

Eliab was upset because neither he, his brothers or any of the solders in the army of Israel were willing to stand up to Goliath.

Sadly, some people instead of fessing up to their lack of success seek to minimize who you are, what you do or are capable of doing. . .so it will not reflect poorly on them.

It’s important for you to see and understand other people’s motivation for the hurtful things they may say. . .because it’s critically important that you never allow their opinion of you to determine what you do or don’t do.

In life, there may be times when you, like David, will ask “what have I done now.”

The attitude and actions of others may not be so much as much about what you’re doing as to what they are not doing.

Consider the words of Colossians 3:23 in the Amplified Bible which says:

“Whatever may be your task, work at it heartily (from the soul), as [something done] for the Lord and not for men.”

Remember, it’s not important what others think. . .but what God thinks about what you’re doing.

5.      You choose the weapons.

There are three things you should know when it comes to choosing your weapons.

First, get rid of anything that doesn’t work for you.

Eliminate anything that can be weaknesses or that will restrict your movement and possibilities of success.

1 Samuel 17:38-40 in the Contemporary English Version says:

“Saul had his own military clothes and armor put on David, and he gave David a bronze helmet to wear. David strapped on a sword and tried to walk around, but he was not used to wearing those things. “I can’t move with all this stuff on,” David said. “I’m just not used to it.”

While King Saul’s armor didn’t weigh as much as Goliath’s it’s generally agreed by historians that his armor weigh between one and two hundred pounds. If you’ve never been used to wearing that much gear. . .it would be a heavy unmanageable load.

In the marketplace. . .remember that just because somebody else does something that it may not work the same way for you.

Second, find something that will work for you. Play to your strengths.

1 Samuel 17:40 in the Contemporary English Version says:                          

“David took off the armor and picked up his shepherd’s stick. He went out to a stream and picked up five smooth rocks and put them in his leather bag. Then with his sling in his hand, he went straight toward Goliath.”

David’s weapons of choice wouldn’t work for anybody else but him. . .but that’s okay because he was the only one headed to the field of battle.

Third, you have weapons that can defeat every foe.

2 Corinthians 10:4 in the Amplified Bible says:

“For the weapons of our warfare are not physical [weapons of flesh and blood], but they are mighty before God for the overthrow and destruction of strongholds.”

You have weapons at your disposal which are undefeatable in every battle you will ever face.

The Message Bible translation of 2 Corinthians 10:3-6 gives an even clearer picture of your arsenal and the purpose of your warfare.

“The world is unprincipled. It's dog-eat-dog out there! The world doesn't fight fair. But we don't live or fight our battles that way—never have and never will. The tools of our trade aren't for marketing or manipulation, but they are for demolishing that entire massively corrupt culture. We use our powerful God-tools for smashing warped philosophies, tearing down barriers erected against the truth of God, fitting every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped by Christ. Our tools are ready at hand for clearing the ground of every obstruction and building lives of obedience into maturity.”

I strongly suggest that you listen to or read that verse one more time.

6.      Understand the rewards of winning.

Never make any mistake about it. . .the battles that you’re facing is for territory. . .for the rewards that God has promised you.

1 Samuel 17:25 says:

“And the men of Israel said, Have ye seen this man that is come up? surely to defy Israel is he come up: and it shall be, that the man who killeth him, the king will enrich him with great riches, and will give him his daughter, and make his father's house free in Israel.”

David discovered that the person who killed Goliath would be given three things:

First, the warrior who defeats Goliath will receive “great riches.”

God has a benefit delivery system designed for every person who ever drew a breath on planet earth. He desires for you to be rich that’s why He gave you the power to get wealth (Deuteronomy 8:18.)

Make no mistake, your enemy wants you broke, busted and disgusted.

Once you realize who’s fighting against you and the fact that he’s already been defeated by Jesus . . .and the weapons Jesus made available to you. . .you can begin your active pursuit of the prosperity God has for you. And that would give Him more pleasure than you realizing and manifesting what He intended for you to have (Psalm 35:27.)

Second, the warrior now victorious and wealthy will receive the hand of the King’s beautiful daughter in marriage.

If you want to properly court the woman of your dreams. . .that takes money. Some would say, I’m not marrying for money, I’m marrying for love. . .that sounds good and to some extent it’s true.

However, if you’re having to work two jobs just to make ends meet. . .then you’re never going to have the time to spend with your dream lover for them to know who you are and the depth of your character.

If you’re successful in the adversities of life. . .then it will be much easier for you to meet, greet, treat and wed the person of your dreams.

Third, the victorious warrior will also have all their bills paid in full.

The enemy wants to keep you up to your eyeballs in debt. . .strung out by payments and with little, if any, hope of ever becoming debt free. The enemy wants you to believe that where you are in life right now. . .is where you’re going to stay. That’s simply not true.

The world says: “to the victor go the spoils.” When you let Him help you . . . . when you are obedient to His word. . .then your financial dreams will become a reality.

Isaiah 1:19 in The Living Bible says:

“If you will only let me help you, if you will only obey my instructions, then I will make you rich.”

7.      Do something with what’s in your hand.

President Theodore Roosevelt said:

“Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.”

Just start where you are. . .with what you’ve got. . .at the moment.

David choose five smooth stones. . .he didn’t choose someone else’s weapon he chose what he knew would work for him. David activated what he knew would empower him.

2 Timothy 1:14 in The Living Bible says:

“Guard well the splendid, God-given ability you received as a gift from the Holy Spirit who lives within you.”

In every battle you face. . .being empowered by the Holy Spirit will GUARANTEE your victory. . .and your ability to defeat every giant of debt, lack, sickness, despair and doubt.

You’ll defeat every giant you face. . .because God is on your side.

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