WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:07.400 So now we are hundreds of years have passed and we are entered into the land and the land is occupied. 00:00:08.179 --> 00:00:11.839 God's land is occupied but not perfectly because the people have disobeyed. 00:00:12.679 --> 00:00:16.219 And if you were reading along in your Bible you would come to this book called Judges. 00:00:16.300 --> 00:00:21.559 And what we saw in this book of Judges is that God fills men and women with his spirit. 00:00:21.559 --> 00:00:29.600 And they come into God's family and they rescue a stubborn people, us, from our sin and from our enemies. 00:00:31.000 --> 00:00:35.060 The motto of the book of Judges was everyone does what is right in their own eyes. 00:00:35.920 --> 00:00:38.060 And it seems like kind of that's the motto for today. 00:00:39.140 --> 00:00:48.179 But again and again and again we see that God pursues us, that God comes after us, God follows us, his children. 00:00:48.780 --> 00:00:51.740 The passage we read today was written by a prophet named Samuel. 00:00:51.879 --> 00:00:53.240 Samuel is the last judge. 00:00:53.700 --> 00:00:57.560 He's the last judge because the people basically rebelled. 00:00:57.560 --> 00:01:02.060 They said they don't want judges anymore and they don't want God anymore. 00:01:02.500 --> 00:01:03.600 They want a king. 00:01:04.640 --> 00:01:07.780 We want a king who will go before us, who will fight our battles. 00:01:08.540 --> 00:01:13.240 And Samuel is really upset about this but God says go ahead and give them what they want. 00:01:14.280 --> 00:01:16.960 And so Samuel anoints this man named Saul. 00:01:17.680 --> 00:01:18.760 He's the first king of Israel. 00:01:19.540 --> 00:01:20.579 It's in 1 Samuel 10. 00:01:20.579 --> 00:01:27.219 And we're told that Saul has chosen the king of Israel because he is head and shoulders above all the rest. 00:01:27.299 --> 00:01:28.480 He's the tallest guy. 00:01:28.579 --> 00:01:29.599 He's the best looking guy. 00:01:29.659 --> 00:01:30.539 He's the strongest guy. 00:01:31.140 --> 00:01:34.439 And God's people say that must be our leader because he has his act together. 00:01:34.439 --> 00:01:39.399 But when you read the book of Judges and Samuel, you'll see that Saul fails. 00:01:40.519 --> 00:01:43.799 He has character flaws that come out really quickly. 00:01:44.980 --> 00:01:50.599 And so God leaves Saul and he moves to this young boy named David. 00:01:51.859 --> 00:01:56.259 And David's about 12 years old when the prophet comes to him and anoints him. 00:01:56.260 --> 00:02:04.300 And the passage today is all about these two kings meeting a giant and how they react to this giant. 00:02:05.480 --> 00:02:06.660 So I have to ask you a question. 00:02:07.880 --> 00:02:08.840 You ever met a giant? 00:02:12.360 --> 00:02:13.540 I've met giants. 00:02:15.120 --> 00:02:16.379 I've met a lot of giants. 00:02:17.379 --> 00:02:20.900 You know, when Christina and I got married, we had our life planned out. 00:02:20.960 --> 00:02:22.319 We had everything worked out. 00:02:22.420 --> 00:02:23.960 We had this is what we're going to do here. 00:02:24.060 --> 00:02:25.080 This is where we're going to be now. 00:02:25.080 --> 00:02:26.540 This is what's going to happen then. 00:02:26.719 --> 00:02:28.000 And this is when we're going to have kids. 00:02:28.060 --> 00:02:29.300 And this is how many kids we're going to have. 00:02:29.540 --> 00:02:31.060 And in 10 years, this is where we're going to be. 00:02:31.120 --> 00:02:32.140 And we're going to do all these things. 00:02:33.720 --> 00:02:37.760 And then one day I heard the words that all husbands love. 00:02:38.660 --> 00:02:39.680 The three words. 00:02:40.640 --> 00:02:42.060 Let's make a baby. 00:02:43.439 --> 00:02:44.200 Four words. 00:02:46.580 --> 00:02:47.360 Five words. 00:02:47.700 --> 00:02:48.560 Let us. 00:02:49.000 --> 00:02:51.000 Because let's is a conjunction, right? 00:02:51.040 --> 00:02:53.140 So let us make a baby. 00:02:53.139 --> 00:02:55.919 Those are the five words that all husbands love to hear. 00:02:55.979 --> 00:02:58.239 Because you know what's going to be happening for the next couple weeks. 00:02:59.579 --> 00:03:02.959 And for some reason, God just blessed us. 00:03:03.799 --> 00:03:06.119 And God gave us Rachel, our firstborn. 00:03:07.359 --> 00:03:08.719 And it was amazing. 00:03:09.799 --> 00:03:13.359 When it came time to do number two, we just said, okay, we're going to do the same thing we've done before. 00:03:13.500 --> 00:03:14.500 It's time to make a baby. 00:03:14.599 --> 00:03:15.639 Let's do all these things. 00:03:15.639 --> 00:03:19.859 But we realized it didn't work the way it worked the first time. 00:03:21.539 --> 00:03:23.739 I mean, we lost a baby. 00:03:25.259 --> 00:03:27.159 And then we lost another baby. 00:03:28.199 --> 00:03:34.399 I can remember leading a worship service for Christmas in my house in China with all these new believers. 00:03:34.400 --> 00:03:39.800 And it's supposed to be this joyous, amazing time when we're worshiping the Lord that has come to Christ. 00:03:40.099 --> 00:03:47.420 And in the back of our bedroom, my wife is having a miscarriage on the phone to doctors in Philadelphia. 00:03:48.180 --> 00:03:51.500 And they're talking her through this situation. 00:03:52.640 --> 00:03:55.200 And I felt like I was entering into this valley. 00:03:55.199 --> 00:04:00.139 And I felt like there was giants all around us. 00:04:01.239 --> 00:04:03.560 Well, I prayed and I fasted. 00:04:04.439 --> 00:04:07.619 And Christina got pregnant and it turned into an ectopic pregnancy. 00:04:07.780 --> 00:04:08.719 And she almost died. 00:04:08.819 --> 00:04:13.699 We came ten minutes from losing her as she bled out at a retreat in Thailand. 00:04:14.699 --> 00:04:22.279 And we wondered, should we just give up this dream of what God is doing in our life and our plans that we had planned out so perfectly weren't working out so well. 00:04:22.279 --> 00:04:25.319 And then one day we got pregnant again. 00:04:26.099 --> 00:04:30.379 And we were like, wow, okay, so we're going to pray and we're going to fast and God's going to honor this. 00:04:30.459 --> 00:04:31.379 God's going to bless this. 00:04:31.639 --> 00:04:33.119 And we took this train from Shanghai. 00:04:33.639 --> 00:04:34.679 We were living in Nanjing. 00:04:34.779 --> 00:04:36.099 So we took the train from Nanjing to Shanghai. 00:04:36.479 --> 00:04:37.559 And we went to see the doctor. 00:04:37.679 --> 00:04:39.199 And we were sure everything was going to be perfect. 00:04:39.279 --> 00:04:40.479 And we walked into the doctor's office. 00:04:40.779 --> 00:04:42.239 The doctor did a sonogram, did a test. 00:04:42.279 --> 00:04:43.000 He said, yeah, you're pregnant. 00:04:43.059 --> 00:04:43.619 But you know what? 00:04:44.879 --> 00:04:46.299 It's 100% miscarriage. 00:04:47.379 --> 00:04:48.399 And he showed us the picture. 00:04:49.579 --> 00:04:51.599 He showed us this picture and he said, it's 100%. 00:04:51.600 --> 00:04:53.820 There's no way that this child is going to be viable. 00:04:54.120 --> 00:04:55.280 You're going to lose another kid. 00:04:56.300 --> 00:05:00.140 And I got to tell you, I was just so discouraged. 00:05:01.379 --> 00:05:04.260 I was full of doubt, fear. 00:05:05.180 --> 00:05:08.700 I think we cried all the way back on the train back to Nanjing. 00:05:09.780 --> 00:05:11.980 I felt totally hopeless and helpless. 00:05:11.980 --> 00:05:16.580 I actually started to worry whether Christina and I could handle it anymore. 00:05:16.759 --> 00:05:22.040 We were kind of entering into depression because we were in this trap and in this route. 00:05:22.140 --> 00:05:27.680 And we just saw nothing but giants everywhere. 00:05:28.680 --> 00:05:37.780 I mean, it was not good because the giants were just so massive in our lives and we couldn't see past them. 00:05:37.779 --> 00:05:44.259 So let me ask you, what kind of giants are you facing today? 00:05:46.979 --> 00:05:48.739 I mean, what are the giants in your life? 00:05:48.759 --> 00:05:57.439 Because the Bible tells us because of the brokenness and because of the darkness and because we are God's people that we are going to face giants. 00:05:57.439 --> 00:06:09.560 I mean, I've since learned as I've grown that many of us or most of us have many, many different types of giants and that my giants are different than your giants. 00:06:09.560 --> 00:06:28.040 And my giants might seem foolish and easy to you, but your giants are huge and they're obstacles and they're test and they're sin and they're giants. 00:06:28.040 --> 00:06:38.140 I mean, some of us might right now be overwhelmed by guilt and shame and fear and discouragement. 00:06:38.260 --> 00:06:45.480 And this giant comes into your life every day, twice a day, maybe more often than that, and it just taunts you. 00:06:46.680 --> 00:06:48.960 It says things like you're worthless, you're no good. 00:06:50.020 --> 00:06:51.580 You're nothing like your brother or your sister. 00:06:51.720 --> 00:06:52.960 You're a failure to our family. 00:06:52.959 --> 00:06:55.699 How come you can't be more like this? 00:06:56.939 --> 00:07:00.379 And the giant just talks to us in our memories. 00:07:01.839 --> 00:07:10.399 I mean, some of us are giants or lust and pornography and immorality and alcohol and addictions. 00:07:10.599 --> 00:07:17.359 And they seem like this impossible foe that we just cannot get out of our lives. 00:07:17.360 --> 00:07:23.620 I mean, sometimes, if we're honest or if I'm honest, I feel like this harp seal. 00:07:24.400 --> 00:07:26.540 You know, you've seen all the documentaries in National Geographic. 00:07:26.639 --> 00:07:31.300 The harp seal, he's caught away from the land and he's in the water and he's trying to swim as fast as he can. 00:07:31.540 --> 00:07:35.600 And this great white shark comes up and he just kind of grabs him and flips him up in the air and he pushes him back. 00:07:35.759 --> 00:07:37.540 And the seal keeps swimming, swimming, swimming. 00:07:37.620 --> 00:07:39.900 And the great white shark comes in and he grabs him and flips him up in the back. 00:07:40.300 --> 00:07:42.699 And the seal wonders if it's ever going to get to the land. 00:07:42.699 --> 00:07:49.139 And sometimes that's how we feel when we're facing giants. 00:07:50.659 --> 00:08:06.899 Sometimes we just cower because the giant of greed and materialism and pride and jealousy and anger and abuse and self-centeredness is just eating our lunch and we just can't get away from it. 00:08:06.899 --> 00:08:12.719 You know, sometimes giants appear out of nowhere. 00:08:14.979 --> 00:08:16.319 Sometimes they're a drunk driver. 00:08:18.139 --> 00:08:20.000 Sometimes they're a lump on the neck. 00:08:21.519 --> 00:08:23.019 Sometimes they're a gust of wind. 00:08:23.159 --> 00:08:24.500 Sometimes they're a CT scan. 00:08:24.599 --> 00:08:27.659 Sometimes they're a shake in our hands. 00:08:27.799 --> 00:08:28.959 Sometimes they're a pink slip. 00:08:29.079 --> 00:08:30.899 Sometimes they're a late night phone call. 00:08:30.899 --> 00:08:39.899 But what I've learned in my life through these years and what I want us to learn as a church is you can't ignore the giants. 00:08:41.079 --> 00:08:43.019 Because if you do, they're going to hold you captive. 00:08:44.159 --> 00:08:45.519 And they're going to destroy you. 00:08:47.059 --> 00:08:50.959 And they're going to prevent you from being who God wants you to be. 00:08:50.960 --> 00:08:58.420 So I want to, in our remaining time today, just look at the giants in our life. 00:08:59.379 --> 00:09:00.500 And I love this passage. 00:09:00.620 --> 00:09:03.139 I continue to come back to this passage ever since I was a believer. 00:09:03.300 --> 00:09:10.000 I remember hearing this story even before I came to faith, before I had to play a baseball game with this massive team. 00:09:11.040 --> 00:09:14.320 And so what I want to look at in the passage today is just three things. 00:09:14.320 --> 00:09:16.379 I want to look at David's passion. 00:09:17.320 --> 00:09:18.920 I want to look at David's focus. 00:09:19.660 --> 00:09:21.240 And I want to look at David's trust. 00:09:22.400 --> 00:09:26.200 So passion, focus, and trust. 00:09:26.740 --> 00:09:27.460 Are you with me? 00:09:28.360 --> 00:09:29.280 We can do it. 00:09:30.300 --> 00:09:31.440 Because our God is great. 00:09:32.260 --> 00:09:33.100 Okay, so the story is this. 00:09:33.120 --> 00:09:38.400 The Philistines, who are a long-lost enemy of God's people, they are a coastal people. 00:09:38.500 --> 00:09:41.760 They come in from Phoenicia, and they have been invading the Promised Land. 00:09:41.759 --> 00:09:44.279 I mean, they've already done it a couple times if you read Samuel. 00:09:44.419 --> 00:09:47.179 They stole the Ark of the Covenant one time, which is the presence of God. 00:09:47.340 --> 00:09:50.279 They stole the presence of God from God's people. 00:09:50.379 --> 00:09:51.159 Can you imagine that? 00:09:51.360 --> 00:09:54.740 And they broke this Ark into the temple of Dagon, their God. 00:09:54.960 --> 00:09:57.519 And they laid it before their God, who is this massive statue. 00:09:57.779 --> 00:10:01.379 And they closed the doors, and the next day they came back, and their God is laying face down. 00:10:03.580 --> 00:10:04.899 They don't have any idea what happened. 00:10:05.379 --> 00:10:07.059 So they put the God back up, and they worship. 00:10:07.159 --> 00:10:08.679 And the next day they close the doors, and they come back. 00:10:08.679 --> 00:10:12.039 And this time the God is laying face down, and his head is chopped off, and his hands are chopped off. 00:10:12.939 --> 00:10:15.679 And they figure, okay, we need to get rid of this God of Israel. 00:10:16.439 --> 00:10:17.679 And so they send the Ark back. 00:10:19.339 --> 00:10:22.000 But it doesn't mean they give up on taking the land back. 00:10:22.819 --> 00:10:27.259 And so the story you read today is basically the Philistines have come in, and they've invaded. 00:10:27.679 --> 00:10:33.079 And Saul, the first king, is throughout the Israeli army, and they've come to this valley. 00:10:33.080 --> 00:10:37.000 And if we had third floor, I had these amazing slides. 00:10:37.100 --> 00:10:38.600 So just imagine it in your mind. 00:10:38.940 --> 00:10:44.879 It's an amazing slide of a valley and a hill and a hill and a valley in between it. 00:10:45.040 --> 00:10:47.200 And this is where this battle took place. 00:10:47.940 --> 00:10:49.379 The Philistines were on one side. 00:10:49.820 --> 00:10:51.700 The Israeli army and Saul was on the other side. 00:10:51.820 --> 00:10:53.920 And there was this big valley of Elah in between it. 00:10:53.919 --> 00:11:05.159 And what we're told is that every day, twice a day, for 40 days, this giant, Goliath, comes out, and he basically just challenges God's people. 00:11:05.419 --> 00:11:06.719 He just yells and he screams. 00:11:06.919 --> 00:11:09.379 And you can imagine it probably got worse every day, right? 00:11:09.620 --> 00:11:11.860 I mean, the first day was probably like, okay, come on out, let's fight. 00:11:12.059 --> 00:11:16.539 But by day 20 or day 30, and no one's even paying attention to him, he's probably pretty frustrated. 00:11:16.639 --> 00:11:17.519 And he's probably pretty angry. 00:11:17.819 --> 00:11:19.879 And there's probably a lot of verbiage going on there. 00:11:19.879 --> 00:11:24.519 And people on the Israeli side are just sitting back, and it is a winner-take-all battle. 00:11:24.860 --> 00:11:28.500 And whoever wins, the other people become their slaves for the rest of their life. 00:11:29.779 --> 00:11:32.820 Now, this isn't the first time that God's people face giants. 00:11:33.500 --> 00:11:40.179 Remember when you're studying that when they first came into the promised land, they got to the border, and Moses and Joshua sent out these 12 spies. 00:11:40.539 --> 00:11:46.419 And Caleb and Joshua go out with 10 other guys, and they look through the land that God has promised them, and they come back, and they say, it's impossible. 00:11:47.000 --> 00:11:49.240 Well, these giants there, the Nephilim. 00:11:49.879 --> 00:11:51.899 The sons of Anak, there's no way we can do this. 00:11:51.960 --> 00:11:53.019 Ten guys say, no way. 00:11:53.279 --> 00:11:55.620 And two guys, Joshua and Caleb, say, well, God said it. 00:11:55.639 --> 00:11:56.080 Let's do it. 00:11:56.320 --> 00:11:57.039 Let's take the land. 00:11:57.460 --> 00:11:59.200 But the people of God disobey. 00:12:00.159 --> 00:12:06.759 And so for 40 days, they go on this journey through the, 40 years, they go on this journey through the wilderness because of this disobedience. 00:12:06.759 --> 00:12:11.600 And what you're going to see in this passage is that 40 is an important number. 00:12:12.600 --> 00:12:17.659 I mean, 40 is a number in the Bible that is a symbol of testing and trials. 00:12:18.720 --> 00:12:31.399 So for 40 days, God's people hear Goliath yell and curse and challenge them and challenge their God, and they back away in fear. 00:12:31.399 --> 00:12:35.620 The passage says that all of a sudden, this day, David comes. 00:12:36.279 --> 00:12:37.360 Now, David is this young boy. 00:12:37.399 --> 00:12:38.740 He's probably 16 years old. 00:12:39.340 --> 00:12:44.720 And David comes to the battle because he's sent by his dad because three of David's brothers are fighting in this battle. 00:12:44.720 --> 00:12:52.040 And so his dad sends David to the battle to give food to his brothers, to give food to his brothers' commanders, and to find out what's going on. 00:12:53.120 --> 00:12:55.560 And David is there right as Goliath comes out. 00:12:56.440 --> 00:12:59.840 And Goliath challenges the armies of God and God's people. 00:13:00.860 --> 00:13:04.740 And David, when he hears the challenge, is furious. 00:13:05.920 --> 00:13:07.120 I mean, he is overcome. 00:13:07.360 --> 00:13:09.980 He's overwhelmed with anger, with passion. 00:13:09.980 --> 00:13:17.159 And he has this passion, we're told in the Hebrew, for God's glory and the zeal for God's word, God's honor, who God is. 00:13:17.360 --> 00:13:23.100 And he just yells out in verse 26, well, who is this uncircumcised Philistine who's taunting the armies of the living God? 00:13:23.399 --> 00:13:25.180 And how come no one's doing anything about it? 00:13:26.340 --> 00:13:28.600 I mean, everybody else has been there for 40 days listening to it. 00:13:28.680 --> 00:13:32.820 And he comes in for the first time, and he hears it, and he is just indignant. 00:13:34.200 --> 00:13:38.899 And you realize in the passage that David, he never really sees a giant. 00:13:39.980 --> 00:13:45.000 I mean, all he's consumed with is his passion for the Lord, the passion for God's reputation. 00:13:45.600 --> 00:13:52.980 All he sees is God, the God of the covenant, in his honor, in his name, in his righteousness, in his holiness. 00:13:53.200 --> 00:13:59.639 All he sees is these things being run through the mud and besmirched and made fun of and belittled. 00:14:00.539 --> 00:14:04.519 And he realizes in the passage that he just can't allow that to happen anymore. 00:14:06.300 --> 00:14:07.379 So let me ask you a question. 00:14:07.379 --> 00:14:25.539 How are we doing when it comes to passion and zeal and love for God's honor, for God's glory, for God's name? 00:14:26.820 --> 00:14:31.820 I mean, is God's reputation important to us? 00:14:31.820 --> 00:14:38.780 I mean, we're just saying about it, and we're going to sing about it, and we're talking about it for two hours. 00:14:40.240 --> 00:14:47.420 But then you're going to go off into your workplace tomorrow, or maybe your home, or maybe your CG, 00:14:47.940 --> 00:14:54.020 or there's going to be some place when you're going to be confronted by someone who doesn't appreciate God and his holiness, 00:14:54.019 --> 00:14:59.980 God and his glory, God and his honor, God and his perfection. 00:15:00.100 --> 00:15:04.059 And they're going to say some things that are really, really, really bad. 00:15:04.139 --> 00:15:08.000 And my question for us is, does that bother you? 00:15:13.279 --> 00:15:14.179 Does it bother you? 00:15:14.179 --> 00:15:44.159 Does it bother you? 00:15:44.159 --> 00:15:46.860 It bother us when it happens to our God. 00:15:49.579 --> 00:15:53.179 I mean, David keeps asking, and finally, it's not in your bulletin, so you have to go back. 00:15:53.379 --> 00:15:56.240 But he's asking his brothers, and his brothers go, shh, shut up. 00:15:57.319 --> 00:15:58.339 Go back to your sheep. 00:15:58.480 --> 00:15:59.059 Leave us alone. 00:16:00.539 --> 00:16:07.000 And he just can't let it go because he just realizes that maintaining God's honor is what his life is all about. 00:16:07.000 --> 00:16:17.620 And that he realized that it costs something to maintain God's honor and God's character and who he is. 00:16:20.100 --> 00:16:21.340 So how about us, church? 00:16:21.340 --> 00:16:26.440 Does it cost us anything? 00:16:30.360 --> 00:16:31.820 I've been thinking about this a lot. 00:16:33.000 --> 00:16:35.780 Maybe another way I can ask it, because this is how I've been asking myself, 00:16:36.120 --> 00:16:39.100 why do I want the giants out of my life? 00:16:39.100 --> 00:16:44.139 I mean, why do I want kids? 00:16:46.180 --> 00:16:47.860 Or if I'm single, why do I want to get married? 00:16:48.800 --> 00:16:50.360 Or if I'm sick, why do I want to be healed? 00:16:50.460 --> 00:16:52.700 Why do I want to move to a better house or a better land? 00:16:53.139 --> 00:16:54.840 Why do I want to get a better job? 00:16:55.680 --> 00:16:57.879 Why do I want to find favor in my boss's eyes? 00:16:57.879 --> 00:17:00.220 Why do I want to be vindicated by my actions? 00:17:00.360 --> 00:17:00.620 Why? 00:17:02.899 --> 00:17:04.660 I mean, is it for my glory? 00:17:07.500 --> 00:17:08.819 Or is it for God's glory? 00:17:12.740 --> 00:17:16.960 I've been doing church for a long time, and I don't think I've ever heard someone tell me, 00:17:17.019 --> 00:17:20.880 you know, I just feel like God is calling me to change jobs 00:17:20.880 --> 00:17:23.900 or to move to a different place or to get married, 00:17:24.240 --> 00:17:25.779 and it's all for his glory. 00:17:25.779 --> 00:17:27.980 It has nothing to do with me. 00:17:28.019 --> 00:17:28.899 It's just all about God. 00:17:31.960 --> 00:17:36.379 But what David sees in his life is he has this massive passion for God's reputation. 00:17:36.779 --> 00:17:40.119 He has a massive passion for God's honor and God's character, 00:17:40.339 --> 00:17:42.319 and he has to do something about it. 00:17:42.559 --> 00:17:44.799 And the question is, do we feel that same way? 00:17:48.079 --> 00:17:51.940 Another thing that sticks out in this passage and I want us to look like is just the idea of focus. 00:17:51.940 --> 00:17:58.380 Because this passage teaches us that when we come to face giants, it's all about focus. 00:17:58.500 --> 00:18:01.920 We have to see things the way God sees things. 00:18:03.660 --> 00:18:08.240 And so the question today is when you have giants in your life, when things meet you head on, 00:18:08.500 --> 00:18:10.840 do you see them from a worldly perspective? 00:18:10.839 --> 00:18:14.819 Or do you see them from a spiritual one? 00:18:16.779 --> 00:18:20.899 I mean, if you look at the passage of verses 4 and 8, it's an amazing passage here. 00:18:21.240 --> 00:18:25.839 When you read Hebrew narrative, you very rarely see so much detail about a person. 00:18:26.299 --> 00:18:30.019 And so that's why it's so unusual about how they describe Goliath. 00:18:31.199 --> 00:18:35.299 I mean, Goliath is described probably more than anybody else is in Hebrew narrative, 00:18:35.519 --> 00:18:36.799 and there's a reason for that. 00:18:36.799 --> 00:18:38.740 And when you see that, you go, okay, there's something important here. 00:18:38.779 --> 00:18:39.919 I've got to look at what's going on here. 00:18:40.839 --> 00:18:43.839 Now, we're told that Goliath is 9 feet 9 inches tall, 00:18:44.899 --> 00:18:47.180 that he's equipped with the best of everything. 00:18:48.039 --> 00:18:50.980 I mean, he has the best of everything. 00:18:51.299 --> 00:18:57.319 He has a shield bearer to protect him against arrows and slings who goes before him to cover him up. 00:18:57.519 --> 00:18:58.919 His armor is bronze. 00:18:59.039 --> 00:19:00.240 It weighs 120 pounds. 00:19:00.599 --> 00:19:01.539 I mean, he's massive. 00:19:01.539 --> 00:19:08.680 I mean, everything about this giant makes him scream, excellent, the best. 00:19:09.779 --> 00:19:11.019 Has his act together. 00:19:11.799 --> 00:19:14.240 I mean, when you look at this giant, you are intimidated. 00:19:16.000 --> 00:19:18.740 Do you know that the passage actually says when you read it, 00:19:19.899 --> 00:19:24.200 it doesn't say that he has scale-like armor. 00:19:25.559 --> 00:19:28.659 In Hebrew, it actually says he's covered with scales. 00:19:28.660 --> 00:19:34.540 And so the original reader and the person watching this would be seeing this scene, 00:19:34.620 --> 00:19:40.960 and what they would see is this little boy before this huge creature that looks like a massive snake. 00:19:42.460 --> 00:19:49.820 And this massive snake is taunting and tempting the people of God. 00:19:49.819 --> 00:19:52.579 Does that sound familiar? 00:19:55.859 --> 00:20:00.759 So it happens for 40 days, over and over and over. 00:20:01.799 --> 00:20:04.259 And everybody listening to this, they're just overwhelmed. 00:20:04.419 --> 00:20:07.839 King Saul and Israelis, they just think and they look and they look at this thing, 00:20:08.079 --> 00:20:09.579 and from a human perspective, they say, 00:20:09.659 --> 00:20:10.399 It is impossible. 00:20:10.839 --> 00:20:11.960 There's no way we can do this. 00:20:12.019 --> 00:20:13.759 There's no way we're not going to do this. 00:20:13.759 --> 00:20:19.819 But in verse 26, again, David steps up, 00:20:21.000 --> 00:20:23.980 and all he sees is somebody who's uncircumcised. 00:20:25.240 --> 00:20:28.099 All he sees is somebody who is apart from God's people. 00:20:28.220 --> 00:20:32.440 All he sees is someone who doesn't believe in the God of the Bible, 00:20:32.559 --> 00:20:33.819 the God of the covenant. 00:20:34.700 --> 00:20:36.420 He doesn't see a giant. 00:20:36.420 --> 00:20:42.400 He sees somebody outside of God's family. 00:20:44.300 --> 00:20:46.820 So the question I have to ask us is, what do we see? 00:20:49.920 --> 00:20:52.720 And when you look at your giants in your life, what are you seeing? 00:20:55.240 --> 00:20:57.920 Are you seeing them as you want to see them? 00:21:01.100 --> 00:21:02.820 Or are you seeing them as God sees them? 00:21:02.819 --> 00:21:08.539 One of the things I continue to learn is, 00:21:08.639 --> 00:21:10.819 if I'm going to deal with the giants in my life, 00:21:11.319 --> 00:21:14.679 I have to see things the way God sees them. 00:21:16.799 --> 00:21:20.480 I have to call things the way God calls them. 00:21:22.000 --> 00:21:24.759 And I'm really quick not to want to do that. 00:21:24.799 --> 00:21:29.859 But if I don't do that, the giant will always hold me in bondage. 00:21:29.859 --> 00:21:32.819 So you look at guilt. 00:21:35.639 --> 00:21:36.679 Or you look at greed. 00:21:37.899 --> 00:21:38.879 Or you look at fear. 00:21:39.000 --> 00:21:39.919 Or you look at shame. 00:21:41.219 --> 00:21:42.240 Or you look at addictions. 00:21:43.679 --> 00:21:45.139 Or you look at self-centeredness. 00:21:46.959 --> 00:21:48.059 Or you look at control. 00:21:50.299 --> 00:21:51.759 The question we have to ask ourselves is, 00:21:51.839 --> 00:21:53.679 do we see these things like God sees them? 00:21:53.680 --> 00:21:57.640 Do we see them as bad as God sees them? 00:21:57.660 --> 00:21:59.880 Do we see them as hurtful as God sees them? 00:21:59.920 --> 00:22:06.500 Do we see them as damaging to our relationship with God as God sees them? 00:22:06.500 --> 00:22:09.180 What is our perspective when we see the giants in our life? 00:22:09.180 --> 00:22:21.220 I struggle with fear and control. 00:22:23.640 --> 00:22:25.920 Those are two of the biggest giants in my life. 00:22:26.940 --> 00:22:29.140 I mean, in my heart, I say things like, 00:22:29.240 --> 00:22:30.220 okay, I'm going to be prudent. 00:22:31.000 --> 00:22:32.279 I just want to be practical. 00:22:32.920 --> 00:22:34.100 I just want to be organized. 00:22:34.340 --> 00:22:35.920 I just want to make sure everything gets done. 00:22:36.140 --> 00:22:37.500 I just want to do things excellent. 00:22:37.500 --> 00:22:39.940 I just want to make sure that I don't get caught off guard. 00:22:40.160 --> 00:22:45.839 I just want to make sure that everything is perfect just the way I want it. 00:22:49.839 --> 00:22:53.240 And the question is, is that for God's glory? 00:22:55.619 --> 00:22:56.799 Or is that for my glory? 00:22:59.720 --> 00:23:02.220 The passage says if we're going to deal with our giants, 00:23:02.440 --> 00:23:04.720 we have to learn to see them as God sees them. 00:23:04.720 --> 00:23:07.620 We have to be able to call them as God calls them. 00:23:08.940 --> 00:23:11.960 Because until we say, I have a problem with this giant, 00:23:12.660 --> 00:23:14.640 it's always going to dominate us. 00:23:15.960 --> 00:23:18.079 I can say I came from a broken family. 00:23:18.160 --> 00:23:19.380 My dad left my family. 00:23:20.299 --> 00:23:23.460 When I was in college, it greatly impacted me. 00:23:23.539 --> 00:23:24.640 It still impacts me today. 00:23:24.720 --> 00:23:25.720 I'm 51 years old. 00:23:25.920 --> 00:23:26.940 And yes, it does impact me. 00:23:27.120 --> 00:23:28.720 But ultimately, I have to make a choice. 00:23:28.720 --> 00:23:34.759 Am I going to call my giant what it is, sin, 00:23:35.720 --> 00:23:39.240 and allow God to deal with it? 00:23:40.700 --> 00:23:44.980 Or am I going to hide it and call it different names 00:23:44.980 --> 00:23:47.120 and keep it in the darkness 00:23:47.120 --> 00:23:54.539 and allow it to dominate and destroy my life? 00:23:54.539 --> 00:23:57.859 I mean, David understood right away 00:23:57.859 --> 00:23:59.799 that the battle wasn't a physical battle. 00:24:00.139 --> 00:24:02.599 David understood that it was a spiritual battle. 00:24:03.200 --> 00:24:04.879 It's interesting if you go back later on, 00:24:05.680 --> 00:24:07.180 you know, there's a lot of debate over this, 00:24:07.240 --> 00:24:09.759 but I think there's two very fascinating things 00:24:09.759 --> 00:24:12.879 about why David didn't wear Saul's armor. 00:24:14.379 --> 00:24:16.319 I think the first reason Saul wanted David 00:24:16.319 --> 00:24:17.259 to wear the armor was, 00:24:17.519 --> 00:24:19.379 because if David wore Saul's armor 00:24:19.380 --> 00:24:22.340 and then he won somehow, 00:24:22.900 --> 00:24:24.380 then Saul could take some of the credit. 00:24:25.100 --> 00:24:26.240 He could say, well, of course he won 00:24:26.240 --> 00:24:27.280 because he had my armor 00:24:27.280 --> 00:24:28.540 and my armor makes him really strong 00:24:28.540 --> 00:24:29.940 and gave him good luck. 00:24:30.140 --> 00:24:31.420 But David didn't do that. 00:24:32.320 --> 00:24:33.280 But I think the second reason 00:24:33.280 --> 00:24:34.380 that David didn't wear the armor 00:24:34.380 --> 00:24:35.300 was because he realized 00:24:35.300 --> 00:24:36.580 that the battle that was going to be fought 00:24:36.580 --> 00:24:38.720 wasn't going to be fought with armor. 00:24:40.640 --> 00:24:41.780 He realized that the battle 00:24:41.780 --> 00:24:43.220 was going to be a spiritual battle. 00:24:44.280 --> 00:24:45.380 And that if it was going to be won, 00:24:45.460 --> 00:24:46.960 the only way that it was going to be won 00:24:46.960 --> 00:24:50.160 is if God won it. 00:24:51.860 --> 00:24:55.299 I mean, giants are only slain in our life 00:24:55.299 --> 00:24:58.059 by God's power and in God's name. 00:24:59.700 --> 00:25:03.240 You and I, we're going to want to rely 00:25:03.240 --> 00:25:05.380 on programs. 00:25:06.240 --> 00:25:09.319 We're going to want to rely on new technology. 00:25:09.620 --> 00:25:11.539 We're going to want to rely on different things 00:25:11.539 --> 00:25:13.799 to fix ourselves so that we can say, 00:25:13.920 --> 00:25:15.039 yeah, you know, I had this problem, 00:25:15.140 --> 00:25:16.819 but now I don't because I went through this program. 00:25:16.819 --> 00:25:17.519 I read this book. 00:25:17.839 --> 00:25:18.960 And why don't you go to this program 00:25:18.960 --> 00:25:19.579 and read this book, 00:25:19.720 --> 00:25:20.899 and then you'll get rid of your giants. 00:25:21.059 --> 00:25:24.019 But that's not how God works. 00:25:27.700 --> 00:25:29.039 Giants are only killed 00:25:29.039 --> 00:25:30.799 when we see them as God sees them 00:25:30.799 --> 00:25:33.339 and we allow God to fight them. 00:25:35.159 --> 00:25:36.179 Am I making sense? 00:25:37.639 --> 00:25:39.039 I mean, can you imagine the scene there 00:25:39.039 --> 00:25:39.899 when you're watching it 00:25:39.899 --> 00:25:41.079 and David is running? 00:25:41.399 --> 00:25:42.939 I mean, I just imagine seeing the scene. 00:25:43.019 --> 00:25:44.779 This is massive snake-like creature 00:25:44.779 --> 00:25:45.359 sitting there. 00:25:45.359 --> 00:25:47.159 He has a shield-bearer in front of him. 00:25:47.199 --> 00:25:48.240 I don't even know what happens to that guy 00:25:48.240 --> 00:25:49.759 when David throws the stone, 00:25:50.159 --> 00:25:51.339 but something happens to him 00:25:51.339 --> 00:25:53.919 and there's this little boy running towards him 00:25:53.919 --> 00:25:55.500 and everybody just must have been aghast 00:25:55.500 --> 00:25:56.379 except for David 00:25:56.379 --> 00:25:58.879 because David knew that it wasn't his fight. 00:26:00.240 --> 00:26:01.439 But the giant in his life 00:26:01.439 --> 00:26:02.439 was so overwhelming 00:26:02.439 --> 00:26:03.659 that there's no way he could fight it. 00:26:03.699 --> 00:26:04.619 The only way he could fight it 00:26:04.619 --> 00:26:05.899 is if God fought for him. 00:26:07.979 --> 00:26:09.419 So David had this passion 00:26:09.419 --> 00:26:10.339 and he had this focus 00:26:10.339 --> 00:26:11.279 because he saw these things. 00:26:11.279 --> 00:26:13.379 And the last thing that sticks out to me 00:26:13.379 --> 00:26:14.339 and is challenging to me 00:26:14.339 --> 00:26:15.440 is that David had a trust. 00:26:17.539 --> 00:26:19.059 Do you know that David trusted the Lord? 00:26:20.740 --> 00:26:22.779 Do you know that there was multiple chances 00:26:22.779 --> 00:26:24.299 and opportunities in his life 00:26:24.299 --> 00:26:25.980 that David had this track record 00:26:25.980 --> 00:26:28.180 and day by day he laid it on the line 00:26:28.180 --> 00:26:30.660 and day by day God came through for him. 00:26:30.779 --> 00:26:31.660 God did what he needed. 00:26:32.059 --> 00:26:33.279 God made it true and faithful. 00:26:33.680 --> 00:26:34.519 And as God did that, 00:26:34.579 --> 00:26:35.879 David's faith grew. 00:26:35.880 --> 00:26:39.780 I mean, not only did David know God's story, 00:26:39.840 --> 00:26:41.000 but David could look at his life 00:26:41.000 --> 00:26:42.660 and see God's story within his life. 00:26:43.260 --> 00:26:44.680 And he could see God's faithfulness 00:26:44.680 --> 00:26:45.960 and he could build on God's faithfulness 00:26:45.960 --> 00:26:48.080 and he could build on God's working in his life 00:26:48.080 --> 00:26:48.960 and he built his trust 00:26:48.960 --> 00:26:50.840 because he knew that no matter what happened, 00:26:51.180 --> 00:26:52.380 God was going to be there. 00:26:54.160 --> 00:26:55.960 I mean, if you read verses 34 through 37, 00:26:56.100 --> 00:26:56.480 he says, 00:26:56.600 --> 00:26:57.700 when the lion came, this happened. 00:26:57.780 --> 00:26:58.880 When the bear came, this happened. 00:26:59.300 --> 00:26:59.980 God did this. 00:27:00.100 --> 00:27:00.700 God did this. 00:27:00.780 --> 00:27:01.260 God did this. 00:27:01.460 --> 00:27:02.740 It was never I did these things, 00:27:02.780 --> 00:27:03.720 but God did it through me 00:27:03.720 --> 00:27:05.280 and God enabled me to do that. 00:27:05.279 --> 00:27:07.180 And because God enabled him to do that, 00:27:07.259 --> 00:27:10.539 David had this huge sense of trust built up 00:27:10.539 --> 00:27:11.539 because he could trust God. 00:27:13.879 --> 00:27:15.399 Can I be really honest with you guys? 00:27:16.859 --> 00:27:18.899 I'm speaking for me and for all of us. 00:27:19.000 --> 00:27:20.059 You know, I think the problem 00:27:20.059 --> 00:27:21.680 with our Christian faith sometimes 00:27:21.680 --> 00:27:24.639 is that we, let's face it, 00:27:24.680 --> 00:27:25.839 the Christian faith is pretty weak, 00:27:27.559 --> 00:27:28.960 especially in Hong Kong. 00:27:31.539 --> 00:27:33.460 And I think one of our problems with our faith 00:27:33.460 --> 00:27:34.759 is that we don't have faith 00:27:34.759 --> 00:27:36.259 because we never trust the Lord. 00:27:38.039 --> 00:27:39.220 Because we're so practical, 00:27:39.339 --> 00:27:40.680 we want to do everything by ourselves 00:27:40.680 --> 00:27:41.759 and so we get our lives ordered 00:27:41.759 --> 00:27:42.700 and get everything worked out. 00:27:42.920 --> 00:27:43.799 But the problem comes 00:27:43.799 --> 00:27:46.460 when this giant comes into our life 00:27:46.460 --> 00:27:47.519 that we can't control 00:27:47.519 --> 00:27:50.379 and then we start to pray to this God 00:27:50.379 --> 00:27:51.359 that we've never prayed before 00:27:51.359 --> 00:27:52.660 and so we don't have this relationship 00:27:52.660 --> 00:27:53.700 built with him of trust 00:27:53.700 --> 00:27:55.379 and understanding in him coming through. 00:27:55.740 --> 00:27:57.299 And so when God doesn't come through 00:27:57.299 --> 00:27:58.299 right when we want him to, 00:27:58.400 --> 00:27:59.140 right at that moment, 00:27:59.400 --> 00:28:00.420 within the next 20 minutes, 00:28:00.480 --> 00:28:01.779 just like a text has to come back, 00:28:02.019 --> 00:28:02.920 if God doesn't do that, 00:28:02.920 --> 00:28:04.039 then something's wrong with God. 00:28:06.740 --> 00:28:07.800 But the passage says 00:28:07.800 --> 00:28:09.940 that David built this trust 00:28:09.940 --> 00:28:11.279 over a long time 00:28:11.279 --> 00:28:13.480 of taking steps of faith 00:28:13.480 --> 00:28:14.279 and trusting the Lord 00:28:14.279 --> 00:28:15.539 and putting his life before God 00:28:15.539 --> 00:28:16.200 and saying, okay, God, 00:28:16.240 --> 00:28:16.700 if this happens, 00:28:16.779 --> 00:28:17.340 it's going to have to be you. 00:28:17.560 --> 00:28:18.100 If this happens, 00:28:18.140 --> 00:28:18.660 it has to be you. 00:28:18.880 --> 00:28:19.660 And one of the reasons, 00:28:19.900 --> 00:28:21.880 one of the things I pray for us 00:28:21.880 --> 00:28:23.200 as a church and as a family 00:28:23.200 --> 00:28:25.279 is that we would be people 00:28:25.279 --> 00:28:28.039 who have a large trust in a big God. 00:28:28.039 --> 00:28:32.240 that we don't look at our ability 00:28:32.240 --> 00:28:32.879 and our wealth 00:28:32.879 --> 00:28:34.319 and all these resources that we have, 00:28:34.359 --> 00:28:35.399 but we do things 00:28:35.399 --> 00:28:36.940 that we have to be able to say, 00:28:37.240 --> 00:28:38.759 God, if you don't come through for us, 00:28:38.899 --> 00:28:39.759 we're going to fail 00:28:39.759 --> 00:28:41.440 because you have to do this. 00:28:43.200 --> 00:28:44.200 When was the last time 00:28:44.200 --> 00:28:45.279 you said that in your life? 00:28:48.559 --> 00:28:48.920 When? 00:28:50.980 --> 00:28:51.879 Some of us would say 00:28:51.879 --> 00:28:53.139 we're Christians for 10 or 20 years 00:28:53.139 --> 00:28:54.259 and that's never happened. 00:28:54.259 --> 00:28:58.039 And all something huge 00:28:58.039 --> 00:28:58.879 comes into our life 00:28:58.879 --> 00:28:59.740 and we fall apart 00:28:59.740 --> 00:29:00.859 and the reason we fall apart 00:29:00.859 --> 00:29:02.680 isn't because God isn't big enough. 00:29:04.480 --> 00:29:05.539 It's because our trust in him 00:29:05.539 --> 00:29:06.079 isn't big enough 00:29:06.079 --> 00:29:07.079 because we've never trusted him 00:29:07.079 --> 00:29:07.700 for anything. 00:29:09.839 --> 00:29:11.299 Because we've allowed these giants 00:29:11.299 --> 00:29:11.980 to hold back 00:29:11.980 --> 00:29:14.339 and keep us in bondage. 00:29:18.019 --> 00:29:19.180 It's why we as a church 00:29:19.180 --> 00:29:21.140 challenge you every day 00:29:21.140 --> 00:29:22.839 to go on a journey with God. 00:29:22.839 --> 00:29:24.939 It's why we challenge you 00:29:24.939 --> 00:29:25.939 to get into a community group. 00:29:26.000 --> 00:29:27.199 It's why we challenge you to tithe. 00:29:27.579 --> 00:29:28.299 I mean, it's funny, 00:29:28.659 --> 00:29:29.299 I know people don't like 00:29:29.299 --> 00:29:30.539 pastors talking about tithes, 00:29:30.579 --> 00:29:31.079 but I think money 00:29:31.079 --> 00:29:32.579 is probably our greatest idol. 00:29:32.699 --> 00:29:32.879 And you know, 00:29:32.919 --> 00:29:34.099 one of the greatest steps 00:29:34.099 --> 00:29:34.879 of faith in my life 00:29:34.879 --> 00:29:35.740 is when I first tithed 00:29:35.740 --> 00:29:36.359 my first $5. 00:29:36.679 --> 00:29:37.179 I still remember 00:29:37.179 --> 00:29:38.299 that $5 I tithed. 00:29:39.199 --> 00:29:40.039 I didn't want to do it, 00:29:40.059 --> 00:29:40.619 but this guy said, 00:29:40.720 --> 00:29:41.359 why don't you trust me 00:29:41.359 --> 00:29:42.079 because God wants to do 00:29:42.079 --> 00:29:43.220 something amazing in your life. 00:29:44.859 --> 00:29:45.699 And I did it. 00:29:46.439 --> 00:29:47.819 And 40 years later, 00:29:48.419 --> 00:29:49.740 God is still doing 00:29:49.740 --> 00:29:52.379 amazing things in my life 00:29:52.380 --> 00:29:54.040 because I went on 00:29:54.040 --> 00:29:55.020 an adventure with him. 00:29:55.140 --> 00:29:56.240 I trusted him 00:29:56.240 --> 00:29:58.100 and he had to come through for me. 00:29:58.200 --> 00:29:59.140 He had to do it 00:29:59.140 --> 00:30:00.500 because if he didn't do it, 00:30:00.900 --> 00:30:02.000 I was going to be lost. 00:30:05.100 --> 00:30:06.860 David's life was full 00:30:06.860 --> 00:30:08.420 of those moments. 00:30:09.960 --> 00:30:11.580 And his challenge to us 00:30:11.580 --> 00:30:13.640 is that we would allow our lives 00:30:13.640 --> 00:30:15.180 to be like that too. 00:30:16.740 --> 00:30:18.080 That we would trust him. 00:30:18.079 --> 00:30:22.059 So I'm going to end with a question. 00:30:24.460 --> 00:30:25.519 I know I ask questions. 00:30:25.579 --> 00:30:26.259 This is how I think. 00:30:26.299 --> 00:30:27.299 I have to ask myself questions. 00:30:27.399 --> 00:30:28.379 It might bother some of you, 00:30:28.500 --> 00:30:29.879 but you probably think 00:30:29.879 --> 00:30:30.599 I'm schizophrenic 00:30:30.599 --> 00:30:32.039 talking to myself. 00:30:33.559 --> 00:30:34.639 But the question I have to ask is, 00:30:34.699 --> 00:30:35.679 what are you trusting in today? 00:30:40.839 --> 00:30:42.279 What are you trusting in 00:30:42.279 --> 00:30:44.679 in the midst of your giants? 00:30:44.680 --> 00:30:47.519 The Bible, 00:30:48.340 --> 00:30:49.240 this passage, 00:30:49.500 --> 00:30:50.019 the battle, 00:30:50.660 --> 00:30:52.279 in verse 49 and 50 00:30:52.279 --> 00:30:53.660 happens in a blink of an eye. 00:30:54.680 --> 00:30:54.920 I mean, 00:30:54.980 --> 00:30:56.340 you realize when you read the passage 00:30:56.340 --> 00:30:56.860 that the Bible 00:30:56.860 --> 00:30:58.200 isn't even the main point. 00:30:58.640 --> 00:30:59.500 The battle isn't even 00:30:59.500 --> 00:31:00.080 the main point 00:31:00.080 --> 00:31:01.480 of the passage, right? 00:31:01.759 --> 00:31:02.440 Because the battle 00:31:02.440 --> 00:31:03.160 is so short. 00:31:03.860 --> 00:31:04.000 I mean, 00:31:04.080 --> 00:31:04.620 if the battle 00:31:04.620 --> 00:31:05.620 was the most important thing, 00:31:05.680 --> 00:31:06.560 it would have as many verses 00:31:06.560 --> 00:31:08.480 as Goliath has. 00:31:08.920 --> 00:31:10.180 But it only has like two verses, 00:31:10.299 --> 00:31:11.140 so it's really not 00:31:11.140 --> 00:31:11.940 the focus that God 00:31:11.940 --> 00:31:12.840 wants us to focus on 00:31:12.840 --> 00:31:13.740 even though we talk about it 00:31:13.740 --> 00:31:14.360 all the time. 00:31:15.360 --> 00:31:16.380 But it's the preparation 00:31:16.380 --> 00:31:17.180 for the battle 00:31:17.180 --> 00:31:17.799 and up to the battle. 00:31:17.880 --> 00:31:19.039 That's where everything is seen 00:31:19.039 --> 00:31:20.060 and that's where we have to learn. 00:31:21.160 --> 00:31:22.140 And when you look at the battle, 00:31:22.320 --> 00:31:23.340 it's over in a blink. 00:31:23.660 --> 00:31:24.980 David stands up 00:31:24.980 --> 00:31:25.759 and he rushes forward. 00:31:25.820 --> 00:31:26.200 Everybody else 00:31:26.200 --> 00:31:26.960 has been rushing back 00:31:26.960 --> 00:31:28.279 and he takes one stone. 00:31:28.539 --> 00:31:29.519 He took this stone. 00:31:30.960 --> 00:31:31.960 This is the stone 00:31:31.960 --> 00:31:33.180 that killed Goliath. 00:31:34.320 --> 00:31:35.560 This is what my tour guide 00:31:35.560 --> 00:31:36.380 told me when I bought it 00:31:36.380 --> 00:31:36.799 in Israel. 00:31:38.400 --> 00:31:39.080 He told me 00:31:39.080 --> 00:31:39.759 this was the stone 00:31:39.759 --> 00:31:40.400 that killed Goliath. 00:31:40.480 --> 00:31:41.480 There's a little blood there 00:31:41.480 --> 00:31:42.759 and so if you come up afterwards, 00:31:42.840 --> 00:31:43.539 I'll show it to you. 00:31:44.519 --> 00:31:45.559 And he took this stone 00:31:45.559 --> 00:31:46.259 in a sling 00:31:46.259 --> 00:31:47.379 and so what I thought 00:31:47.379 --> 00:31:47.720 I would do, 00:31:47.759 --> 00:31:49.139 I would do a demonstration now. 00:31:50.079 --> 00:31:50.899 So I want to take 00:31:50.899 --> 00:31:52.240 the hardest headed person 00:31:52.240 --> 00:31:53.599 in our church. 00:31:54.240 --> 00:31:55.099 So I need either 00:31:55.099 --> 00:31:55.659 an Australian 00:31:55.659 --> 00:31:56.740 or a South African 00:31:56.740 --> 00:31:58.339 to stand right there. 00:31:59.339 --> 00:32:00.200 Are there any volunteers? 00:32:02.200 --> 00:32:02.599 Kiwis, 00:32:02.740 --> 00:32:03.799 you're too gentle. 00:32:04.440 --> 00:32:05.200 It's going to hurt you. 00:32:05.639 --> 00:32:06.019 Aussies, 00:32:06.079 --> 00:32:06.700 they can take it 00:32:06.700 --> 00:32:07.759 and it's just going to bounce off. 00:32:07.859 --> 00:32:08.519 Nothing's going to happen 00:32:08.519 --> 00:32:09.339 whatsoever, right? 00:32:09.959 --> 00:32:10.779 So you could tell 00:32:10.779 --> 00:32:11.299 that Goliath 00:32:11.299 --> 00:32:12.159 was not Australian 00:32:12.159 --> 00:32:13.220 because the rock 00:32:13.220 --> 00:32:14.220 would have just bounced off of him 00:32:14.220 --> 00:32:14.959 and he wouldn't have died. 00:32:15.859 --> 00:32:17.559 But seriously, 00:32:17.740 --> 00:32:19.119 the battle is so short 00:32:19.119 --> 00:32:21.899 and the rock hits him 00:32:21.899 --> 00:32:23.539 so fast and so clean 00:32:23.539 --> 00:32:24.879 instead of falling backwards 00:32:24.879 --> 00:32:25.579 like he should have 00:32:25.579 --> 00:32:26.059 with a punch 00:32:26.059 --> 00:32:26.619 or anything like that, 00:32:26.859 --> 00:32:28.179 he falls forward 00:32:28.179 --> 00:32:30.359 and he's dead. 00:32:33.459 --> 00:32:34.459 And David runs 00:32:34.459 --> 00:32:36.119 and he cuts off his head 00:32:36.119 --> 00:32:38.759 and there's this massive rout 00:32:38.759 --> 00:32:41.479 but one stone 00:32:41.479 --> 00:32:42.419 in the hand of God 00:32:42.419 --> 00:32:45.259 is all it takes 00:32:45.259 --> 00:32:45.799 to prevail. 00:32:47.799 --> 00:32:48.819 One stone 00:32:48.819 --> 00:32:50.000 with God 00:32:50.000 --> 00:32:53.619 is all we need. 00:32:55.759 --> 00:32:57.019 Look at verse 4 00:32:57.019 --> 00:32:58.059 and we're going to end. 00:32:59.500 --> 00:33:00.239 Verse 4, 00:33:00.579 --> 00:33:01.919 circle that word champion. 00:33:03.539 --> 00:33:03.899 It says, 00:33:03.900 --> 00:33:04.759 then a champion 00:33:04.759 --> 00:33:05.940 came out of the armies 00:33:05.940 --> 00:33:06.620 of the Philistines 00:33:06.620 --> 00:33:07.380 named Goliath 00:33:07.380 --> 00:33:08.000 from Gath. 00:33:09.019 --> 00:33:10.060 It's the only time 00:33:10.060 --> 00:33:11.400 in the Old Testament 00:33:11.400 --> 00:33:12.420 that that word is used. 00:33:12.500 --> 00:33:13.480 It's the only time. 00:33:14.300 --> 00:33:15.580 It means a person 00:33:15.580 --> 00:33:17.500 who stands between. 00:33:19.480 --> 00:33:20.340 So Goliath 00:33:20.340 --> 00:33:21.240 was a champion 00:33:21.240 --> 00:33:22.040 of the Philistines. 00:33:22.240 --> 00:33:22.900 He's the one 00:33:22.900 --> 00:33:23.600 who stood between. 00:33:24.019 --> 00:33:24.780 David comes out 00:33:24.780 --> 00:33:25.820 and David wins 00:33:25.820 --> 00:33:26.680 and David becomes 00:33:26.680 --> 00:33:27.740 our champion. 00:33:29.600 --> 00:33:30.740 But in your bulletin 00:33:30.740 --> 00:33:31.460 I printed for you 00:33:31.460 --> 00:33:32.340 David's life map. 00:33:32.560 --> 00:33:33.040 You see it? 00:33:33.900 --> 00:33:34.800 It's the story of David. 00:33:35.920 --> 00:33:36.519 Does it look like 00:33:36.519 --> 00:33:37.040 the life map 00:33:37.040 --> 00:33:37.540 of a champion? 00:33:40.340 --> 00:33:40.940 Does it look like 00:33:40.940 --> 00:33:41.340 the life map 00:33:41.340 --> 00:33:41.780 of a champion? 00:33:42.460 --> 00:33:43.620 It's up and down 00:33:43.620 --> 00:33:44.660 and up and down 00:33:44.660 --> 00:33:45.259 and up and down. 00:33:45.500 --> 00:33:46.280 I mean it's a mess. 00:33:47.660 --> 00:33:48.400 I mean it's the reason 00:33:48.400 --> 00:33:49.200 why I don't go 00:33:49.200 --> 00:33:50.160 be like David. 00:33:50.920 --> 00:33:51.700 I mean a lot of times 00:33:51.700 --> 00:33:52.280 you know the first time 00:33:52.280 --> 00:33:52.960 I heard this sermon 00:33:52.960 --> 00:33:53.740 this talk 00:33:53.740 --> 00:33:54.700 it was right before 00:33:54.700 --> 00:33:55.880 this massive baseball game. 00:33:56.400 --> 00:33:56.920 And we were playing 00:33:56.920 --> 00:33:57.860 the best team in the league. 00:33:57.940 --> 00:33:58.640 It was for the championship. 00:33:59.000 --> 00:33:59.600 And these guys 00:33:59.600 --> 00:34:00.200 were superior. 00:34:00.420 --> 00:34:01.060 They were great. 00:34:01.059 --> 00:34:02.299 I mean they were 00:34:02.299 --> 00:34:02.960 just awesome. 00:34:03.099 --> 00:34:03.740 And this chaplain 00:34:03.740 --> 00:34:04.480 came in and he gave 00:34:04.480 --> 00:34:05.440 this talk to my team 00:34:05.440 --> 00:34:05.799 and he said 00:34:05.799 --> 00:34:07.159 okay now be like David 00:34:07.159 --> 00:34:07.819 go out there 00:34:07.819 --> 00:34:08.639 and kill your glass. 00:34:08.940 --> 00:34:09.579 And you know what happened? 00:34:10.539 --> 00:34:11.679 We got crushed. 00:34:13.619 --> 00:34:14.599 I wasn't a Christian. 00:34:14.719 --> 00:34:15.860 I'm like I hate this passage. 00:34:15.860 --> 00:34:19.039 The passage doesn't say 00:34:19.039 --> 00:34:20.940 be like David. 00:34:21.960 --> 00:34:22.800 I'm not going to say 00:34:22.800 --> 00:34:24.420 go and do one, two, three 00:34:24.420 --> 00:34:26.920 focus, trust, belief. 00:34:27.019 --> 00:34:27.860 I'm not going to say that 00:34:27.860 --> 00:34:29.320 because you look at David's life 00:34:29.320 --> 00:34:30.360 and you see that it was a mess 00:34:30.360 --> 00:34:32.640 and you might follow David's life 00:34:32.640 --> 00:34:33.820 and you might beat 00:34:33.820 --> 00:34:34.500 a couple giants 00:34:34.500 --> 00:34:35.039 but ultimately 00:34:35.039 --> 00:34:35.559 there's going to be 00:34:35.559 --> 00:34:36.400 this massive giant 00:34:36.400 --> 00:34:37.640 and it's going to destroy you. 00:34:38.740 --> 00:34:39.820 Ultimately you're going to fail. 00:34:42.320 --> 00:34:43.700 But the Bible continues. 00:34:45.860 --> 00:34:46.860 And it says 00:34:46.860 --> 00:34:48.519 a thousand years later 00:34:48.519 --> 00:34:51.519 a father sends his son 00:34:51.519 --> 00:34:52.320 to a battlefield 00:34:52.320 --> 00:34:55.840 and his son comes 00:34:55.840 --> 00:34:57.740 to represent his people 00:34:57.740 --> 00:35:00.780 and he's mocked. 00:35:01.500 --> 00:35:02.559 He seems small. 00:35:03.559 --> 00:35:04.559 He seems insignificant. 00:35:05.860 --> 00:35:07.440 No one expects him 00:35:07.440 --> 00:35:08.240 to do the things 00:35:08.240 --> 00:35:09.099 the way he does it. 00:35:09.599 --> 00:35:10.539 They laugh at him. 00:35:11.620 --> 00:35:12.340 He's passionate 00:35:12.340 --> 00:35:13.680 for God's glory and honor. 00:35:13.679 --> 00:35:15.819 He trusts the Lord 00:35:15.819 --> 00:35:16.639 with all his might 00:35:16.639 --> 00:35:19.899 and he has his massive battle 00:35:19.899 --> 00:35:21.679 with this giant 00:35:21.679 --> 00:35:23.719 on the cross 00:35:23.719 --> 00:35:27.339 and he crushes the head 00:35:27.339 --> 00:35:29.440 of the serpent 00:35:29.440 --> 00:35:31.579 forever. 00:35:34.859 --> 00:35:36.339 I don't want you leaving here 00:35:36.339 --> 00:35:38.000 to be like David. 00:35:38.000 --> 00:35:40.599 I don't want you leaving here 00:35:40.599 --> 00:35:41.320 trusting in David 00:35:41.320 --> 00:35:41.980 as your champion. 00:35:43.820 --> 00:35:45.039 I want you leaving here 00:35:45.039 --> 00:35:45.820 realizing that you have 00:35:45.820 --> 00:35:46.679 a greater champion. 00:35:47.980 --> 00:35:49.019 His name is Christ. 00:35:50.800 --> 00:35:51.760 He doesn't want you 00:35:51.760 --> 00:35:52.219 to be controlled 00:35:52.219 --> 00:35:52.960 by your giants. 00:35:54.300 --> 00:35:55.099 He doesn't want you 00:35:55.099 --> 00:35:55.480 to be controlled 00:35:55.480 --> 00:35:56.079 by your demons. 00:35:57.539 --> 00:35:58.260 He wants you 00:35:58.260 --> 00:35:59.099 to trust him 00:35:59.099 --> 00:36:01.199 and to give those things 00:36:01.199 --> 00:36:01.739 to him 00:36:01.739 --> 00:36:03.940 and allow him 00:36:03.940 --> 00:36:04.679 to take care of them. 00:36:04.679 --> 00:36:04.739 Amen. 00:36:08.000 --> 00:36:09.079 The question is 00:36:09.079 --> 00:36:09.460 will we? 00:36:14.039 --> 00:36:14.599 Will we? 00:36:18.360 --> 00:36:19.159 Father, we thank you 00:36:19.159 --> 00:36:19.699 for this day. 00:36:20.539 --> 00:36:21.219 We thank you 00:36:21.219 --> 00:36:21.880 for your word 00:36:21.880 --> 00:36:22.699 which is living 00:36:22.699 --> 00:36:23.300 and active 00:36:23.300 --> 00:36:24.380 and it never changes. 00:36:25.380 --> 00:36:26.119 We thank you 00:36:26.119 --> 00:36:26.760 that it gives us 00:36:26.760 --> 00:36:27.639 the ultimate hope 00:36:27.639 --> 00:36:28.320 which is the hope 00:36:28.320 --> 00:36:28.820 in your son, 00:36:28.900 --> 00:36:29.619 Jesus Christ. 00:36:31.239 --> 00:36:31.900 Father, I pray 00:36:31.900 --> 00:36:32.420 for my brothers 00:36:32.420 --> 00:36:33.159 and sisters here. 00:36:33.159 --> 00:36:36.859 I pray for the giants 00:36:36.859 --> 00:36:37.699 that they are facing 00:36:37.699 --> 00:36:39.039 daily in their workplace. 00:36:41.279 --> 00:36:42.460 I pray for the giants 00:36:42.460 --> 00:36:43.219 that they are facing 00:36:43.219 --> 00:36:44.719 daily at home 00:36:44.719 --> 00:36:47.039 wherever you send them 00:36:47.039 --> 00:36:47.859 as God's people. 00:36:49.099 --> 00:36:50.079 Lord, those giants 00:36:50.079 --> 00:36:50.879 are intimidating 00:36:50.879 --> 00:36:52.739 and they're huge 00:36:52.739 --> 00:36:53.480 and they have 00:36:53.480 --> 00:36:54.460 all the technology 00:36:54.460 --> 00:36:55.779 and they have 00:36:55.779 --> 00:36:56.599 their act together 00:36:56.599 --> 00:36:57.279 and sometimes 00:36:57.279 --> 00:36:58.399 we as God's people 00:36:58.399 --> 00:37:00.199 seem small 00:37:00.199 --> 00:37:01.199 and insignificant 00:37:01.199 --> 00:37:02.199 and unable 00:37:02.199 --> 00:37:04.939 and that's the way 00:37:04.939 --> 00:37:05.500 you want it 00:37:05.500 --> 00:37:08.239 because you want us 00:37:08.239 --> 00:37:08.919 to realize 00:37:08.919 --> 00:37:10.799 that our victory 00:37:10.799 --> 00:37:11.559 and our success 00:37:11.559 --> 00:37:12.199 isn't dependent 00:37:12.199 --> 00:37:12.960 upon us 00:37:12.960 --> 00:37:16.019 but that our victory 00:37:16.019 --> 00:37:17.000 and our success 00:37:17.000 --> 00:37:18.659 is dependent 00:37:18.659 --> 00:37:19.359 upon your son. 00:37:21.659 --> 00:37:22.379 So what I pray 00:37:22.379 --> 00:37:23.019 for those of us 00:37:23.019 --> 00:37:23.500 who have different 00:37:23.500 --> 00:37:24.259 champions today, 00:37:24.339 --> 00:37:24.980 I pray that they would 00:37:24.980 --> 00:37:25.859 hear this message, 00:37:26.319 --> 00:37:26.919 they would ask 00:37:26.919 --> 00:37:27.919 the people who brought them 00:37:27.919 --> 00:37:28.339 and they would 00:37:28.339 --> 00:37:30.139 consider Christ 00:37:30.139 --> 00:37:30.939 as their champion 00:37:30.940 --> 00:37:33.220 and to realize 00:37:33.220 --> 00:37:34.059 that he's the only one 00:37:34.059 --> 00:37:35.039 who's finished the battle, 00:37:35.139 --> 00:37:35.679 he's the only one 00:37:35.679 --> 00:37:36.400 that's life mapped, 00:37:36.460 --> 00:37:37.380 doesn't look up and down, 00:37:37.700 --> 00:37:38.700 he's the only one 00:37:38.700 --> 00:37:40.280 who can bring us 00:37:40.280 --> 00:37:41.280 freedom 00:37:41.280 --> 00:37:43.179 and deliverance 00:37:43.179 --> 00:37:45.139 from the giants 00:37:45.139 --> 00:37:47.159 and the ultimate 00:37:47.159 --> 00:37:48.059 giant of death. 00:37:49.700 --> 00:37:50.220 And what I pray 00:37:50.220 --> 00:37:50.920 for those of us 00:37:50.920 --> 00:37:51.440 who are already 00:37:51.440 --> 00:37:51.960 on this journey 00:37:51.960 --> 00:37:53.000 that we are already 00:37:53.000 --> 00:37:54.440 the people of God 00:37:54.440 --> 00:37:55.200 and we are like 00:37:55.200 --> 00:37:55.820 Saul 00:37:55.820 --> 00:37:57.679 in the Israeli army 00:37:57.679 --> 00:37:58.340 on the mountain 00:37:58.340 --> 00:37:59.119 and we just are 00:37:59.119 --> 00:37:59.739 frozen 00:37:59.739 --> 00:38:03.019 because the pornography 00:38:03.019 --> 00:38:04.500 seems too big, 00:38:05.500 --> 00:38:07.199 the abuse 00:38:07.199 --> 00:38:08.960 seems too hard, 00:38:09.960 --> 00:38:11.019 the voices 00:38:11.019 --> 00:38:12.259 in my head 00:38:12.259 --> 00:38:14.079 overwhelm me 00:38:14.079 --> 00:38:15.579 when I try 00:38:15.579 --> 00:38:16.339 to think of you 00:38:16.339 --> 00:38:18.339 and when I pray 00:38:18.339 --> 00:38:19.079 for us, 00:38:20.079 --> 00:38:21.639 I pray for my brothers 00:38:21.639 --> 00:38:22.139 and sisters 00:38:22.139 --> 00:38:23.199 that they would realize 00:38:23.199 --> 00:38:24.279 that they have a champion 00:38:24.280 --> 00:38:26.280 who's come 00:38:26.280 --> 00:38:27.160 to set them free. 00:38:29.140 --> 00:38:30.540 Help us to call sin 00:38:30.540 --> 00:38:31.340 as you call it. 00:38:32.500 --> 00:38:33.340 Help us to be honest 00:38:33.340 --> 00:38:35.000 and real with each other 00:38:35.000 --> 00:38:36.900 especially in our community 00:38:36.900 --> 00:38:39.640 and help us to realize 00:38:39.640 --> 00:38:40.780 that the ultimate battle 00:38:40.780 --> 00:38:41.380 and the victory 00:38:41.380 --> 00:38:42.220 is not done 00:38:42.220 --> 00:38:43.440 by all these great methods 00:38:43.440 --> 00:38:43.880 and everything 00:38:43.880 --> 00:38:44.460 that we've done 00:38:44.460 --> 00:38:45.660 but it's done by you 00:38:45.660 --> 00:38:48.019 and your power 00:38:48.019 --> 00:38:50.120 living through us 00:38:50.119 --> 00:38:52.460 and healing us. 00:38:54.400 --> 00:38:55.000 So Father, 00:38:55.079 --> 00:38:56.139 we love you 00:38:56.139 --> 00:38:58.779 and we need you 00:38:58.779 --> 00:38:59.219 desperately. 00:39:01.179 --> 00:39:02.380 Help us to be passionate 00:39:02.380 --> 00:39:03.400 for your name. 00:39:05.119 --> 00:39:06.380 Help us to see things 00:39:06.380 --> 00:39:07.339 as you see them 00:39:07.339 --> 00:39:09.480 but most of all, 00:39:09.579 --> 00:39:09.659 Lord, 00:39:09.699 --> 00:39:11.099 help us to trust you 00:39:11.099 --> 00:39:13.659 because you are good 00:39:13.659 --> 00:39:15.739 and you are faithful. 00:39:17.319 --> 00:39:17.699 Father, 00:39:17.759 --> 00:39:18.299 we love you 00:39:18.300 --> 00:39:21.060 and we pray these things 00:39:21.060 --> 00:39:21.400 in your Son, 00:39:21.480 --> 00:39:22.019 Jesus Christ, 00:39:22.100 --> 00:39:22.640 holy name. 00:39:23.640 --> 00:39:23.880 Amen.