Our message
today is about victory.
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The purpose of
the gospel is victory,
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victory over sin,
victory over self,
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victory over habits,
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addictions and
practices that enslave us.
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God promises us
victory over these things
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through Christ Jesus.
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A victory we
can be confident of.
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And our topic today is entitled,
"Three Steps to Total Victory."
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I'm gonna ask you at this point,
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if you'll bow your
heads and I'm gonna kneel
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and ask God's blessing on
this time we have together.
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Father in Heaven,
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Father, we desire
that victory in Jesus.
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Father, we
desire likeness to Him.
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We come before You today
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because we want
our lives transformed.
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We want the
confidence we can have in Jesus,
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that we can attain the victory.
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And I pray, Lord,
today that Your Holy Spirit
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will impress
our minds and hearts
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with a sublime
truth from Your word.
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In Jesus, name we pray, amen.
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I'm gonna ask you, if you would
turn in your Bibles with me
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to the book of
Second Corinthians.
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Now Second
Corinthians, you will find it
00:02:08.13\00:02:09.60
in the New Testament
after the gospels, Matthew,
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Mark, Luke, John,
then Acts, Romans,
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First Corinthians,
Second Corinthians.
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We're going to
Second Corinthians,
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Second Corinthians Chapter 2
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and we're gonna
find a little verse here
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in Second Corinthians
Chapter 2 and verse 14,
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that is full of
hope for the Christian.
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Second Corinthians
Chapter 2 and verse 14,
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I want you to
follow along with me.
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The Bible here says,
"Now thanks be to God,
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who always leads us
in triumph in Christ,"
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how often, "always leads
us in triumph in Christ."
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Notice when he goes on to say,
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"And through us diffuses
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the fragrance of His
knowledge in every place."
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The Bible says here
that we can have confidence,
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that we can always
triumph in Jesus Christ.
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You know, friends, God has
a purpose and a plan for us
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as Christians and
that purpose and plan
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is to defuse the
knowledge of Him,
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not just by what we say
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but by living
victorious Christian lives.
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We in ourselves may
demonstrate to the world
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what God can do
with fallen humanity.
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This is the
purpose of God for man.
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This is what the world
is in such a need of today.
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Christians who will exude
Christlikeness in their lives.
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In fact I read
something interesting.
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There was an issue
that came up recently.
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And it was an issue over
some cartoon character that,
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that some worldly cartoon
where the chief character
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was exposing some
homosexuality or something
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and people were just unsettled
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about this in the
Christian community
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and there was a
big uproar about it.
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And there was a certain man
by the name of Phil Vischer.
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He is a creator of
the VeggieTales series.
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He was asked what he
thought about the whole issue.
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What do you think,
Phil, about this issue
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that's going on in
this secular cartoon
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and these worldly
values that are being promoted?
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And I find what Phil
Vischer said to be something
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we all need to
consider very carefully.
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In an issue of,
"Christianity Today,"
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commenting he said,
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"To be honest,
I'm really not sure
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what we're trying
to accomplish here.
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I find somewhat
baffling the great shock
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we and evangelicals register
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when we catch the
world acting, well, worldly.
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They're the world, right?
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When you start
with the assumption
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that the world is fallen,
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you're much less
likely to be disappointed
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when you find it's
actually the case," he says.
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And then he finishes with this,
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"As for me, I'm
anxiously awaiting the day
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that the world
registers great shock
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at the sight of
Christians acting Christianly."
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You know it's amazing.
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Even we as Christians
look at the world and we say,
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"How can they do such things,"
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But they're the world, right?
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What's the big surprise?
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What Phil Vischer says is,
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I'm waiting for the
world to register shock
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at the fact that Christians
act so much like Christ.
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Friends, God wants us to
have victory in Christ Jesus
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to defuse the fragrance
of Him through all the world.
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As I said, the purpose
of the gospel is victory
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and we'll find the
pages of the scripture
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permeated with that idea.
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Now today's message
as I said is entitled,
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"Three Steps to Total Victory."
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The three steps
we're going to look at
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and we're going to
an Old Testament story
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to find our three steps.
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In fact you're
gonna listen to the story.
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You're gonna hear what I
say and you're gonna say,
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"Wait a minute
that's just a kid story."
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The story we're
gonna look at today
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is the story of
David and Goliath.
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You say, that's
a little kid story,
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keep in mind, Jesus said,
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"Unless we become
like little children,
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will by no means
enter the Kingdom of God."
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And sometimes the most sublime
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and deepest truths of
the gospel are illustrated
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rather in simple
children's stories.
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And we're gonna go and
look at that story today.
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Before we do that though,
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you're in Second
Corinthians with me,
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go to First
Corinthians Chapter 10.
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First Corinthians Chapter 10
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and I want you to
see something here
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that the Apostle
Paul shares with us
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in First Corinthians Chapter 10
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and let's look at verse 6.
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First
Corinthians 10 and verse 6,
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now the Apostle
Paul here brings up to us
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as he recounts the history
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of God's people
through the Old Testament.
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Israel's wandering in
the wilderness, et cetera.
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He makes this point in verse 6.
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He says, "Now these
things became our examples,
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to the intent that we should
not lust after evil things,
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as they also lusted," et cetera.
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And then jump with me
to verse 11 where he says,
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"Now all these things
happened to them as examples:
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and they were written
for," whose admonition,
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"our admonition on whom the
ends of the world have come."
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What Paul says here is,
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these stories in the
Old Testament scriptures,
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these stories
not were not written
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as much for the people back
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then as they are
written for us today.
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Because in these
stories there are clear
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and hopeful
Bible teachings for us
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where we can gain
some of these principles.
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Today the principles
involved in overcoming
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and gaining victory in Christ.
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Before we go to the story
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in First Samuel Chapter
17 of David and Goliath,
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I wanna give you
the background on it.
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As we come upon the
scene here's what we see.
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There are two armies
drawn up in battle array.
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There's the army
of the Philistines,
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who are the enemies
of Israel, obviously.
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And then the army of Israel
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and both of them were gathered
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on two different hills
opposite one and other.
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There was a big
valley in between.
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And as they sat
there on either side
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both armies
dressed up for battle.
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As I said in battle array
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ready to fight
nobody was fighting.
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As Israel stood looking
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on the
Philistines had a champion.
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His name was Goliath.
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Now Goliath was a giant, taller,
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bigger than any of
the rest of the men
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there in the Philistine camp.
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And Goliath was
coming out day-by-day
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taunting the armies of Israel.
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And as Goliath would come out
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and he would taunt
the armies of Israel,
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he would mock them and
he would mock their God.
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Now the Bible says
this one are not one day,
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not two days, not two weeks,
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forty days this continued.
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And for forty
days he would challenge
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the Israelites
for a man of valor
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to come and fight with him.
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You have to
understand something.
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In these times
that we're dealing with,
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in the times
there where Israel had
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drawn up in this battle of array
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it was customary for
a champion of each army
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to face each other off
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and whatever
champion would win the battle
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between the two of them,
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they would win the
battle for the whole army.
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In other words, if
Israel would take their champion
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and send him out to battle
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and the Philistines
would take their champion
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and those two
would go out and fight.
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If the Israelites champion won,
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then they would
say, "Battle is ours."
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Israel's champion won,
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Israel wins the whole fight
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and the
Philistine army concedes.
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However if the
Philistine champion won,
00:10:00.99\00:10:03.84
it would just be the reverse.
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The Philistine army
would win the whole battle.
00:10:05.22\00:10:08.17
This was the
customary way of fighting
00:10:08.18\00:10:09.76
and this is what Goliath
was challenging Israel for.
00:10:09.77\00:10:12.60
Give me your
champion, bring him out
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and I'll take him on.
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Come out and fight against me
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and he said this again
day after day for 40 days.
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Now in that army of Saul,
00:10:23.48\00:10:26.79
King Saul was
the king of Israel.
00:10:26.80\00:10:29.50
In Israel's army
there were three young men
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who were the sons of a
man by the name of Jesse.
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And as those men were
out there in the battle
00:10:39.08\00:10:40.86
they had a younger
brother, his name was David.
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David's father
Jesse was concerned
00:10:45.32\00:10:47.33
about his three oldest boys.
00:10:47.34\00:10:48.45
They've been out on
the battlefront for a while
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and he was concerned.
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He wanted to know
everything was okay for them.
00:10:51.38\00:10:52.88
So he sent David
out with a little gift
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and he wanted him to find out
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how his brothers were and
come back and let him know.
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Now this is where
we're going to pick up
00:11:00.00\00:11:01.42
today in the Bible.
00:11:01.43\00:11:03.79
I'm gonna have you
open your Bibles with me
00:11:03.80\00:11:05.73
to First Samuel Chapter 17
00:11:05.74\00:11:08.26
and we're gonna pick
up this story in verse 20.
00:11:08.27\00:11:15.95
First Samuel 17 and
we're going to verse 20.
00:11:15.96\00:11:22.24
As David comes out,
00:11:28.21\00:11:30.62
rather he hasn't even left yet
00:11:30.63\00:11:31.98
if you open your Bible
and you follow along here.
00:11:31.99\00:11:33.74
Verse 20, the Bible says,
00:11:33.75\00:11:34.81
"So David rose
early in the morning
00:11:34.82\00:11:39.16
and he left the
sheep with a keeper
00:11:39.17\00:11:42.18
and he took the things
00:11:42.19\00:11:43.59
and he went as
Jesse had commanded him.
00:11:43.60\00:11:46.63
He came to the camp
as the army was going out
00:11:46.64\00:11:48.98
to the fight and
shouting for the battle."
00:11:48.99\00:11:54.05
It's interesting that the armies
00:11:54.06\00:11:56.55
as David comes into the camp,
00:11:56.56\00:11:57.93
are shouting for the battle,
00:11:57.94\00:11:58.97
"yeah, come on, we're
gonna take the Philistines."
00:11:58.98\00:12:02.08
Only they've been
shouting there for 40 days
00:12:02.09\00:12:06.24
and done nothing.
00:12:06.25\00:12:09.42
All talk and no action, we say.
00:12:09.43\00:12:13.38
The Bible says David he
comes out, he had left home,
00:12:13.39\00:12:16.42
he brought these
provisions for his brother,
00:12:16.43\00:12:17.95
he brought these
gifts and he came out
00:12:17.96\00:12:19.70
and there the
Israelites shouting
00:12:19.71\00:12:23.96
for the battle as
were the Philistines.
00:12:23.97\00:12:29.46
The Bible says in verse 21,
00:12:29.47\00:12:30.70
"For Israel and the Philistines
00:12:30.71\00:12:31.80
had drawn up in battle
array, army against army."
00:12:31.81\00:12:33.95
Verse 22, "And
David left his supplies
00:12:33.96\00:12:35.88
in the hands of
the supply keeper,
00:12:35.89\00:12:37.55
and he ran to the army,
00:12:37.56\00:12:38.87
and he came and
greeted his brothers."
00:12:38.88\00:12:45.95
Now it's interesting
to know his brothers'
00:12:45.96\00:12:47.97
reaction to David coming.
00:12:47.98\00:12:51.37
Verse 23, the Bible says,
00:12:51.38\00:12:52.98
"Then as he talked with
them, there was the champion,
00:12:52.99\00:12:57.01
the Philistine of
Gath, Goliath by name.
00:12:57.02\00:12:59.87
Coming up from the
armies of the Philistines,
00:13:07.91\00:13:11.05
and he spoke
according to the same words:
00:13:11.06\00:13:14.68
and David heard them."
00:13:14.69\00:13:17.00
The same words he'd
spoken for 39 days prior.
00:13:17.01\00:13:21.76
The same words
he was speaking now
00:13:21.77\00:13:24.10
and David heard the
words that he spoke.
00:13:24.11\00:13:28.45
And the Bible says in verse 24,
00:13:28.46\00:13:30.03
"And all the men of
Israel, when they saw the man,
00:13:30.04\00:13:32.20
fled from him and
were dreadfully afraid."
00:13:32.21\00:13:34.72
So the men of Israel said,
00:13:34.73\00:13:35.73
"Have you seen
this man who's come up?
00:13:35.74\00:13:37.54
Surely he has
come up to defy Israel;
00:13:37.55\00:13:39.30
and it shall be that the man
00:13:39.31\00:13:42.19
who kills him the king
will enrich with great riches,
00:13:42.20\00:13:45.76
and give him his daughter,
00:13:45.79\00:13:46.82
and give his father's
house exemption in Israel."
00:13:46.83\00:13:49.25
They said, "hey,
here's the champion David,
00:13:49.26\00:13:51.53
here's the
champion of the Philistines
00:13:51.54\00:13:53.07
and whoever goes
and fights against him,
00:13:53.08\00:13:56.54
he'll get all of
these wonderful privileges
00:13:56.55\00:14:00.29
the king is gonna
give him, his daughter,
00:14:00.30\00:14:01.60
he's gonna give him
all of these riches."
00:14:01.61\00:14:05.29
Interesting that
these Israelite soldiers
00:14:05.30\00:14:08.04
who were telling David this,
00:14:08.05\00:14:09.93
as they're sharing with David
00:14:09.94\00:14:11.39
all these inducements never took
00:14:11.40\00:14:13.57
the king up on the offer,
none of them wanted to go out
00:14:13.58\00:14:15.46
and fight the giant.
00:14:15.47\00:14:17.92
They're eager to have
somebody else go and do it.
00:14:17.93\00:14:20.84
You know sometimes
that's how we are, Christians.
00:14:20.85\00:14:23.77
We wanna see something done.
We wanna see something happen.
00:14:23.78\00:14:25.95
We certainly
wanna see victory gained
00:14:25.96\00:14:27.38
but we want somebody
else to go and gain it.
00:14:27.39\00:14:31.61
But as David listens to
this for the first time.
00:14:31.62\00:14:34.33
David begins to have
this stirring in his heart.
00:14:34.34\00:14:39.73
He begins to feel irritated
that this enemy of God's
00:14:39.74\00:14:44.02
people is defying God's people.
00:14:44.03\00:14:47.20
Defying the God of heaven
00:14:47.21\00:14:49.16
and nobody is
doing anything about it.
00:14:49.17\00:14:53.13
And the Bible says in verse 26,
00:14:53.14\00:14:55.61
"Then David spoke to
the men who stood by him,
00:14:55.62\00:14:58.17
saying," "What
shall be done for the man
00:14:58.18\00:15:00.10
who kills this Philistine
00:15:00.11\00:15:01.48
and takes away the
reproach from Israel?
00:15:01.49\00:15:05.42
For who is this
uncircumcised Philistine
00:15:05.43\00:15:07.94
that he should defy the
armies of the living God?
00:15:07.95\00:15:12.54
Who is this uncircumcised
Philistine," he says.
00:15:12.55\00:15:15.02
You have to understand
00:15:15.03\00:15:16.16
that circumcision was
something that was given
00:15:16.17\00:15:18.35
to God's people to symbolize
and signify the covenant
00:15:18.36\00:15:23.36
relationship they had with God.
00:15:23.37\00:15:28.59
And when David says, who is
this uncircumcised Philistine,
00:15:28.60\00:15:31.36
all he's saying is, this man has
no covenant relation with God,
00:15:31.37\00:15:34.86
this man has not entered in
00:15:34.87\00:15:36.46
and neither has this
whole Philistine army
00:15:36.47\00:15:38.06
entered into
covenant relation with God.
00:15:38.07\00:15:39.87
It doesn't matter how big he is.
00:15:39.88\00:15:41.52
It doesn't matter
how awesome he looks.
00:15:41.53\00:15:44.86
God is on our
side, God is on our side.
00:15:44.87\00:15:51.15
"What will be done for the man
00:15:51.16\00:15:53.72
who cares about
these inducements,"
00:15:53.73\00:15:55.43
he says, "that the
king is giving out.
00:15:55.44\00:15:57.01
Somebody ought to stand
up for what's right here."
00:15:57.02\00:15:59.80
Verse 27, "And the people
answered him in this manner,"
00:16:05.93\00:16:08.29
saying, "so shall it be
done for the man who kills him."
00:16:08.30\00:16:10.42
He's gonna get all
these precious riches
00:16:10.43\00:16:12.77
and the king's daughter
and all these things, David.
00:16:12.78\00:16:16.54
Verse 28 now follow
with me here in verse 28.
00:16:16.55\00:16:19.64
The Bible says, "Now Eliab,
00:16:19.65\00:16:21.85
his oldest brother heard
when he spoke to the men;
00:16:21.86\00:16:25.15
and Eliab's anger was
aroused against the giant,"
00:16:25.16\00:16:29.39
Is that what it says?
00:16:29.40\00:16:31.41
No, no, it wasn't
against the giant look at this.
00:16:31.42\00:16:34.42
Eliab, David's oldest brother
00:16:34.43\00:16:36.31
had his anger
aroused against David,
00:16:36.32\00:16:38.46
and he said to David,
00:16:38.47\00:16:39.53
"Why did you come down here?
00:16:39.54\00:16:41.41
And with whom have you
left those few little sheep
00:16:41.42\00:16:43.44
you tend in the wilderness,
little shepherd boy?"
00:16:43.45\00:16:46.86
I have to make a
point here, you know,
00:16:46.87\00:16:48.41
a lot of times
we talk about David
00:16:48.42\00:16:49.82
and you've heard songs like,
00:16:49.83\00:16:51.31
"Only a Boy Name
David," and we hear about
00:16:51.32\00:16:53.96
the little boy
David and his sling.
00:16:53.97\00:16:55.47
David was not just a little boy
00:16:55.48\00:16:56.83
10, 11, 12 years old.
00:16:56.84\00:16:59.29
It's just that
David was not in the army
00:16:59.30\00:17:01.09
with his older brothers.
00:17:01.10\00:17:02.10
He was not a seasoned soldier.
00:17:02.11\00:17:03.92
He was likely
somewhere between 18 and 22.
00:17:03.93\00:17:08.96
He was able-bodied young man
00:17:08.97\00:17:10.05
but he hadn't been
trained as a soldier
00:17:10.06\00:17:11.57
and his older brother
was bringing that up to him.
00:17:11.58\00:17:13.81
David, listen,
you're out tending
00:17:13.82\00:17:16.33
the sheep in the field,
what do you know about battle?
00:17:16.34\00:17:18.38
He was angry
with David, it says.
00:17:22.76\00:17:24.61
Still in verse 28,
00:17:24.62\00:17:26.39
"I know your
pride," he told David,
00:17:26.40\00:17:28.34
"and the
insolence of your heart;
00:17:28.35\00:17:29.63
for you've just come
down to see the battle."
00:17:29.64\00:17:33.31
Verse 29 and David
said, "What have I done now?
00:17:33.32\00:17:36.84
Is there not a cause?"
00:17:36.85\00:17:39.31
"And then he turned
from him toward another
00:17:39.32\00:17:41.83
and David said the same things."
00:17:41.84\00:17:43.38
Listen fellows
isn't there a reason?
00:17:43.39\00:17:46.05
Even if you think
I'm speaking out of turn,
00:17:46.06\00:17:48.51
shouldn't somebody do something
00:17:48.52\00:17:50.09
about this situation?
00:17:50.10\00:17:51.34
It says, David turned from Eliab
00:17:56.47\00:17:58.03
and said the same thing
and these people answered him
00:17:58.04\00:18:01.55
as the first ones did.
00:18:01.56\00:18:03.13
Just as Eliab
was angry with David
00:18:03.14\00:18:05.72
so were the other soldiers.
00:18:05.73\00:18:10.06
Verse 31 the Bible says,
00:18:16.24\00:18:19.75
"When the words which
David spoke were heard,
00:18:19.76\00:18:24.12
they reported them to
Saul, and Saul sent for him.
00:18:24.13\00:18:30.26
And then David said to Saul,
00:18:30.27\00:18:31.91
Let no man's heart
fail because of him,
00:18:31.92\00:18:34.51
your servant will go and
fight with this Philistine."
00:18:34.52\00:18:42.63
You know, it's interesting
we talk about the battle
00:18:42.64\00:18:44.36
that David went out
to fight with Goliath
00:18:44.37\00:18:45.78
but David did not just
fight with Goliath that day.
00:18:45.79\00:18:48.39
David did not fight
just one battle that day.
00:18:48.40\00:18:53.95
He fought three.
00:18:53.96\00:18:55.69
The first battle he
had was with his brother
00:18:55.70\00:18:58.40
and all the
other armies of Israel.
00:18:58.41\00:19:02.70
Friends, did you know
that sometime as Christians
00:19:02.71\00:19:06.18
before we even ever get to face
00:19:06.19\00:19:08.20
the giants in our life
00:19:08.21\00:19:10.08
we've got to face
our own church members,
00:19:10.09\00:19:12.96
our own family, our own friends.
00:19:12.97\00:19:14.69
Have you ever noticed that?
00:19:14.70\00:19:16.85
Sometimes we can't even
get out to the battlefield.
00:19:16.86\00:19:21.69
Because we're being hindered by
those who should be helping us.
00:19:21.70\00:19:25.82
But notice step
number 1 to total victory
00:19:25.83\00:19:29.23
David would not be hindered,
00:19:29.24\00:19:31.71
he determined to
put God's honor first
00:19:31.72\00:19:36.52
and stay his course and
we'll see this more as we go on.
00:19:36.53\00:19:41.16
See David understood
that his brother was angry
00:19:41.17\00:19:43.57
and the soldiers were angry
00:19:43.58\00:19:44.63
but David's
frustration came from the fact
00:19:44.64\00:19:47.60
that God's name had been defied.
00:19:47.61\00:19:52.30
And so David's
purpose was to put
00:19:52.31\00:19:56.07
God's honor first
and stay his course.
00:19:56.08\00:20:00.68
He would not be
swayed one way or another.
00:20:00.69\00:20:06.10
You know, Jesus told
us in Matthew Chapter 10,
00:20:06.11\00:20:10.37
"That a man's enemies
00:20:10.38\00:20:11.70
will be those of
his own household."
00:20:11.71\00:20:15.23
I know a man right now
that I've been working with.
00:20:15.24\00:20:19.79
He's making a decision
for the Lord Jesus Christ
00:20:19.80\00:20:23.00
but he's meeting
opposition from his wife.
00:20:23.01\00:20:27.87
You know some people meet
opposition from their husbands.
00:20:27.88\00:20:29.95
Sometimes it's the parents.
00:20:29.96\00:20:32.35
Sometimes it's friends at work.
00:20:32.36\00:20:37.89
We've got to
determine to stay the course.
00:20:37.90\00:20:40.81
God will not let us fail
00:20:40.82\00:20:42.53
but we've got to
determine to put him first.
00:20:42.54\00:20:44.32
David put God first
and would not be swayed,
00:20:44.33\00:20:46.59
one reason, one way or another.
00:20:46.60\00:20:50.96
You know something else.
00:20:50.97\00:20:53.63
Something we need to realize
is the reason often times
00:20:53.64\00:20:56.28
that those closest to
us maybe getting angry
00:20:56.29\00:21:01.11
or irritated
because of the decisions
00:21:01.12\00:21:04.20
we're making for the Lord.
00:21:04.21\00:21:06.63
Oftentimes it's because
of their own conviction.
00:21:06.64\00:21:09.13
David's brother
Eliab he was the oldest.
00:21:09.14\00:21:12.31
And when David came and said,
00:21:12.32\00:21:13.48
"Somebody ought to be
going and fighting that giant,"
00:21:13.49\00:21:15.41
Eliab knew that that's
what he should be doing.
00:21:15.42\00:21:19.11
David's brother
knew when he saw David's
00:21:19.12\00:21:21.48
faithfulness in his heart,
00:21:21.49\00:21:22.89
he said, I should be as faithful
00:21:22.90\00:21:26.43
and because he wasn't he took
his frustration out on David.
00:21:26.44\00:21:30.86
You know the devil would
get on us anyway that he can.
00:21:30.87\00:21:33.84
He will take those closest to us
00:21:33.85\00:21:35.20
but you know what, friends,
00:21:35.21\00:21:36.81
we need to keep our
eyes fixed on Christ.
00:21:36.82\00:21:40.22
We need to keep the honor of God
00:21:40.23\00:21:42.37
first and foremost in
our mind and stay the course.
00:21:42.38\00:21:45.27
If you stay the
course God will lead you
00:21:45.28\00:21:47.22
into victory which
we'll see here with David.
00:21:47.23\00:21:49.78
I think something else
00:22:00.30\00:22:01.36
that we need to
keep in mind is that,
00:22:01.37\00:22:04.19
when we determine to put
God first and do his will.
00:22:04.20\00:22:09.78
Plan to be
hindered, plan to be hindered.
00:22:09.79\00:22:13.43
It's amazing sometimes
00:22:13.44\00:22:14.44
how we react as
Christians and say,
00:22:14.45\00:22:15.54
"I can't believe
all these challenges
00:22:15.55\00:22:17.40
I'm having as a Christian."
00:22:17.41\00:22:18.45
"I can't believe all
the conflicts I'm having."
00:22:18.46\00:22:21.16
Listen friends,
we're in a battle,
00:22:21.17\00:22:23.90
we're in a battle
every bit as much as Israel.
00:22:23.91\00:22:25.91
No, no, no more than
Israel was in a battle.
00:22:25.92\00:22:30.24
You see, when
God's people went out
00:22:30.25\00:22:32.80
and we read these
Old Testament stories
00:22:32.81\00:22:34.26
of the physical
battles of Israel
00:22:34.27\00:22:37.41
they're only pointing
forward to the spiritual battles
00:22:37.42\00:22:39.68
that we have to fight as
followers of Jesus Christ.
00:22:39.69\00:22:43.49
The Bible says, in
Ephesians Chapter 6,
00:22:43.50\00:22:45.82
"We don't war
against flesh-and-blood
00:22:45.83\00:22:51.07
but we war against the
spiritual powers of darkness."
00:22:51.24\00:22:56.16
We're as much in a
battle today every bit as much
00:22:56.17\00:22:58.90
and more so than
David was with Goliath.
00:22:58.91\00:23:03.83
Plan to be
hindered, plan to be hindered
00:23:03.84\00:23:06.33
but don't let the hindrance
deter you from your course.
00:23:06.34\00:23:13.33
David was
brought before King Saul
00:23:17.44\00:23:20.85
and the Bible says in verse 32,
00:23:20.86\00:23:24.38
"Then David said to Saul,
00:23:24.39\00:23:25.74
Let no man's heart
fail because of him,
00:23:25.75\00:23:28.39
your servant will go
00:23:28.40\00:23:29.65
and fight with this Philistine."
00:23:29.66\00:23:31.81
Well, you can
imagine what Saul thought.
00:23:31.82\00:23:34.24
This young
shepherd boy is gonna go
00:23:34.25\00:23:36.88
and fight this
Philistine giant incidentally.
00:23:36.89\00:23:42.98
The Bible tells us in
verse 4 of the same chapter,
00:23:42.99\00:23:46.61
"That this
Philistine champion Goliath,
00:23:46.62\00:23:51.36
his height was six
cubits and a span."
00:23:51.37\00:23:55.63
Now scholars tell
us that is at least
00:23:55.64\00:23:58.32
nine and a half feet tall,
00:23:58.33\00:23:59.76
at least, nine
and a half feet tall.
00:23:59.77\00:24:03.23
And Goliath
wasn't a tall skinny guy.
00:24:03.24\00:24:06.15
He was as wide as he was tall.
00:24:06.16\00:24:10.27
This man was massive.
00:24:10.28\00:24:12.42
The Bible says, he
wear a coat of mail
00:24:12.43\00:24:15.41
and his armor --
00:24:15.42\00:24:17.73
and it says his armor weighed --
00:24:17.74\00:24:19.44
if I can find it here verse 5,
00:24:19.45\00:24:21.64
it says, "He had a
bronze helmet on his head,
00:24:21.65\00:24:23.73
and he was armed
with a coat of mail,
00:24:23.74\00:24:25.08
and the weight of the coat
was 5,000 shekels of bronze."
00:24:25.09\00:24:27.68
That's about a 125 pounds.
00:24:27.69\00:24:29.88
His armor was a 125
pounds. This man was massive.
00:24:29.89\00:24:34.25
And David comes before King Saul
00:24:34.26\00:24:35.95
and says, "I'll go fight him."
00:24:35.96\00:24:39.99
David was a strong young kid.
00:24:40.00\00:24:42.18
He worked hard.
He was in good shape
00:24:42.19\00:24:45.00
but certainly no match
for the Philistine champion.
00:24:45.01\00:24:48.67
"You'll go fight him?"
00:24:48.68\00:24:50.68
Verse 33, "And
Saul said to David,
00:24:50.69\00:24:53.39
you are not able to go against
00:24:53.40\00:24:54.67
this Philistine
to fight with him,
00:24:54.68\00:24:55.86
you are but a youth,
00:24:55.87\00:24:57.26
and he is a man of
war from his youth.
00:24:57.27\00:24:59.01
You'd had no training
David in military strategy,
00:24:59.02\00:25:02.06
let alone in fighting.
00:25:02.07\00:25:03.13
This man's been a
warrior from his youth.
00:25:03.14\00:25:06.42
You can't fight with him."
00:25:06.43\00:25:07.84
You know it's interesting.
00:25:13.87\00:25:15.32
I told you David
fought at least three battles.
00:25:15.33\00:25:17.87
The first one
was with his brother
00:25:17.88\00:25:20.77
and the other soldiers.
00:25:20.78\00:25:22.13
Now he becomes -- now he comes
00:25:22.14\00:25:24.14
before the
spiritual leader of Israel.
00:25:24.15\00:25:27.76
His brother ridiculed him
00:25:27.77\00:25:30.91
and now his
spiritual leader is telling him
00:25:30.92\00:25:32.88
the impossibility of the battle.
00:25:32.89\00:25:36.38
But David remained faithful.
00:25:36.39\00:25:38.20
He stayed his
course. So it goes on.
00:25:38.21\00:25:44.20
Rather Saul told
him he could not do it.
00:25:44.21\00:25:45.85
And in verse 34 David says,
00:25:45.86\00:25:49.14
"But David said to Saul,
00:25:49.15\00:25:50.16
your servant used to
keep his father's sheep,
00:25:50.17\00:25:52.59
and when a lion
or a bear came out
00:25:52.60\00:25:54.61
and took a lamb of the flock,
00:25:54.62\00:25:55.86
I went out after
it and struck it,
00:25:55.87\00:25:57.77
and delivered the
lamb from its mouth,
00:25:57.78\00:25:59.37
and when it arose against me,
00:25:59.38\00:26:00.84
I caught it by the
beard, and struck and killed it.
00:26:00.85\00:26:04.57
Your servant," verse 36,
00:26:10.05\00:26:11.49
"has killed both lion and bear,
00:26:11.50\00:26:13.40
and this
uncircumcised Philistine
00:26:13.41\00:26:15.46
will be like one of them,
00:26:15.47\00:26:16.97
seeing as he has
defied the armies
00:26:16.98\00:26:19.61
of the living God."
Moreover David said,
00:26:19.62\00:26:26.56
"The Lord, who delivered me
00:26:26.57\00:26:27.71
from the paw of the
lion and the paw of the bear,
00:26:27.72\00:26:29.57
He will deliver me from
the hand of this Philistine.
00:26:29.58\00:26:31.79
And Saul said to David,
Go, and the Lord be with you!"
00:26:31.80\00:26:34.78
Look at verse 38,
00:26:44.81\00:26:48.24
"So Saul clothed
David with his armor,
00:26:48.25\00:26:52.87
and he put a
bronze helmet on his head;
00:26:52.88\00:26:56.07
and he clothed him
with a coat of mail."
00:26:56.08\00:27:00.07
A coat of mail if
you don't understand
00:27:00.08\00:27:02.58
was a coat made up of
several pieces of metal
00:27:02.59\00:27:05.53
that overlapped one and other
00:27:05.54\00:27:06.65
so when you put it
on there was no spot
00:27:06.66\00:27:08.62
to pierce with a spear,
with a javelin, with a sword,
00:27:08.63\00:27:11.47
you would have
protection for your vital parts.
00:27:11.48\00:27:15.42
So Saul said, "Okay, this
young man is gonna go out there
00:27:15.43\00:27:17.59
and fight at least I
can put my armor on him
00:27:17.60\00:27:20.34
and make him
look like a warrior,
00:27:20.35\00:27:21.71
maybe he can at least
be somewhat intimidating,"
00:27:21.72\00:27:27.18
it's interesting.
00:27:27.19\00:27:28.98
First thing Saul does to David
00:27:32.11\00:27:34.55
as he tells David
how impossible it is.
00:27:34.56\00:27:36.65
David, you're not
able to take on this giant,
00:27:36.66\00:27:40.01
you're a shepherd boy
00:27:40.02\00:27:42.79
and this man's a
warrior from his youth,
00:27:42.80\00:27:45.84
the situation is impossible,
00:27:45.85\00:27:47.03
David, there's no
way you can possibly win,
00:27:47.04\00:27:48.65
that's the first thing he
hears from his spiritual leader.
00:27:48.66\00:27:50.98
Our second key, our
second step to total victory is,
00:27:56.06\00:28:01.28
don't focus on
the impossibilities
00:28:01.29\00:28:05.45
because the devil will
always bring before your mind
00:28:05.46\00:28:08.58
the impossibilities
of gaining the victory.
00:28:08.59\00:28:11.52
He'll always present before
your mind how it's impossible.
00:28:11.53\00:28:14.96
You can't do it, you
can't win the battle.
00:28:14.97\00:28:17.66
Even like I said
from those closest to you.
00:28:17.67\00:28:20.10
Even from maybe
your spiritual leaders.
00:28:20.11\00:28:22.68
You know, too often we
focus on our weaknesses.
00:28:29.01\00:28:33.14
We think that we are
the only ones in the battle.
00:28:33.15\00:28:36.01
We forget that we have
united with one who can't lose.
00:28:36.02\00:28:40.62
We have forgotten too
often that the Bible tells us
00:28:40.63\00:28:43.65
in Second
Corinthians 5 in verse 7,
00:28:43.66\00:28:45.36
"That we walk by
faith, not by sight."
00:28:45.37\00:28:49.98
Too often we survey
the situation as we see it.
00:28:49.99\00:28:53.69
We may be
struggling with an addiction.
00:28:53.70\00:28:56.30
We may be
struggling with a relationship
00:28:56.31\00:28:57.87
we shouldn't be in.
00:28:57.88\00:28:59.77
We may be struggling
with some other bad habit
00:28:59.78\00:29:01.98
or even our
daily walk with Jesus
00:29:01.99\00:29:04.65
and making that committed
time with Him every day.
00:29:04.66\00:29:07.66
We may be
struggling with these things
00:29:07.67\00:29:09.14
and the impossibilities
come before our minds
00:29:09.15\00:29:10.80
and we start to think that
there's no way I can do this.
00:29:10.81\00:29:15.82
I'm overwhelmed and
I'm in this thing alone.
00:29:15.83\00:29:17.87
You're not in it alone, friend.
00:29:17.88\00:29:20.29
We're not in it alone.
00:29:20.30\00:29:22.81
The Lord Jesus is our side.
He has promised us victory.
00:29:22.82\00:29:27.84
He has promised us
triumph. But the Bible says,
00:29:27.85\00:29:32.49
"We had to walk by
faith not by sight."
00:29:32.50\00:29:34.20
David was looking at the giant.
00:29:34.21\00:29:36.81
When it was brought up to him,
00:29:36.82\00:29:39.05
"David, you
can't kill this giant."
00:29:39.06\00:29:41.30
He said, "Listen, God
has protected me in the past.
00:29:41.31\00:29:45.45
God's given me victory
when I was watching the sheep
00:29:45.46\00:29:47.52
and this
uncircumcised Philistine,
00:29:47.53\00:29:50.65
this man who has no
covenant relation with God,
00:29:50.66\00:29:53.20
he's got no more protection
than the lion and the bear."
00:29:53.21\00:29:56.92
He was not looking at how
impossible the situation was.
00:29:56.93\00:29:59.60
He was looking at how able
God was to give him victory.
00:29:59.61\00:30:04.03
When we're looking for victory
00:30:05.87\00:30:06.94
in our Christian lives.
00:30:06.95\00:30:09.11
Don't focus on
the impossibilities.
00:30:09.12\00:30:12.11
God is the God who
masters impossibilities.
00:30:12.12\00:30:17.48
"With men this is
impossible," Jesus said,
00:30:17.49\00:30:19.50
"but with God all
things are possible."
00:30:19.51\00:30:22.37
The Bible says
in Philippians 4:13,
00:30:22.38\00:30:24.04
"I can do all
things through Jesus Christ
00:30:24.05\00:30:25.92
who strengthens me," all things.
00:30:25.93\00:30:30.35
Don't focus on
the impossibilities.
00:30:30.36\00:30:34.58
Focus on the Lord's strength.
00:30:34.59\00:30:36.70
You know something else here.
00:30:42.11\00:30:45.14
David when tempted to
look at the impossibilities
00:30:45.15\00:30:50.63
started to recount
the instances in his life
00:30:50.64\00:30:54.70
where God had given him victory.
00:30:54.71\00:30:58.27
He thought back
to those experiences
00:30:58.28\00:31:00.22
that God had given him.
00:31:00.23\00:31:01.36
Where God had given
him victory in situations,
00:31:01.37\00:31:04.02
dangerous situations,
impossible situations,
00:31:07.50\00:31:10.92
he began to
treasure those things up.
00:31:10.93\00:31:12.84
Some things
interesting in the Bible
00:31:12.85\00:31:14.37
that when you go
through the Old Testament
00:31:14.38\00:31:16.40
you'll find out
that one of the things
00:31:16.41\00:31:17.61
Israel did often was that
they would set up memorials.
00:31:17.62\00:31:21.77
When they crossed the Red Sea,
00:31:21.78\00:31:23.56
when they crossed the Jordan,
00:31:23.57\00:31:25.19
when they come to
different places like Bethel
00:31:25.20\00:31:26.97
when Jacob came to,
they would set up altars,
00:31:26.98\00:31:28.97
they would set up memorials,
they would set up reminders.
00:31:28.98\00:31:32.33
We need to remember how
God has led us in the past.
00:31:34.88\00:31:39.65
We need to make
sure we don't forget
00:31:39.66\00:31:41.57
how God has worked in our life
00:31:41.58\00:31:43.30
prior to now
because there are times
00:31:43.31\00:31:45.05
when we face impossibilities.
00:31:45.06\00:31:47.54
Where the best things
we can do is look back
00:31:47.55\00:31:50.45
and remember what God
has done for us thus far.
00:31:50.46\00:31:53.56
Remember back to those
times where God has given us
00:31:53.57\00:31:55.81
victory in the past
and that will give us hope
00:31:55.82\00:31:57.60
for the same God giving
us victory in the future.
00:31:57.61\00:31:59.72
God didn't let
me down in the past.
00:31:59.73\00:32:01.11
God brought me this far.
00:32:01.12\00:32:02.45
And listen, friends, God
didn't bring you this far
00:32:02.46\00:32:07.53
to let you fail now.
00:32:07.54\00:32:09.97
The Bible says
in Philippians 1:6,
00:32:09.98\00:32:11.50
"He who began a good work in us
00:32:11.51\00:32:12.97
will finish it unto
the day of Jesus Christ."
00:32:12.98\00:32:16.19
He will complete it.
00:32:16.20\00:32:18.53
Jesus started the work,
He's gonna finish that work.
00:32:18.54\00:32:22.04
He's gonna finish it.
00:32:22.05\00:32:23.05
We've got to keep
our eyes fixed on Him.
00:32:23.06\00:32:25.58
Don't focus on
the impossibilities.
00:32:25.59\00:32:27.66
Something to note
is that when you find
00:32:27.67\00:32:29.46
impossibilities in the
Bible there were always
00:32:29.47\00:32:33.11
an opportunity for
God to show his power.
00:32:33.12\00:32:35.62
Think about it for a moment.
00:32:35.63\00:32:37.45
Think about when
Israel came to that Red Sea.
00:32:37.46\00:32:40.83
You've got a
million and a half people
00:32:40.84\00:32:43.24
sitting by the
shore of the Red Sea.
00:32:43.25\00:32:44.94
No possible way to get across.
00:32:44.95\00:32:47.65
More than that they came
up and they were enclosed
00:32:47.66\00:32:50.44
by mountains on the
right hand and on the left hand
00:32:50.45\00:32:52.73
and they had the Egyptian
armies coming in behind them
00:32:52.74\00:32:55.19
and they began
to panic and said,
00:32:55.20\00:32:56.57
"This is
impossible, there's no way out."
00:32:56.58\00:32:58.95
What's more?
00:33:03.31\00:33:04.66
God brought them to
that position on purpose.
00:33:04.67\00:33:08.53
Because He wanted to
show His power to His people.
00:33:08.54\00:33:11.27
You know sometimes God
brings us into situations
00:33:11.28\00:33:13.60
that are difficult,
that are challenging,
00:33:13.61\00:33:15.36
that are impossible
to our eyesight, why?
00:33:15.37\00:33:17.37
Because He is wanting
to show us what He can do.
00:33:17.38\00:33:22.43
We can talk about the Red Sea.
00:33:22.44\00:33:24.29
We can talk about
the birth of Isaac.
00:33:24.30\00:33:27.90
God promised Abraham.
00:33:27.91\00:33:28.93
"You're gonna be the
father of many nations.
00:33:28.94\00:33:30.78
"Abraham says, "Wait a minute
00:33:30.79\00:33:31.99
my wife's barren,
she can't have children."
00:33:32.00\00:33:33.36
God says, "No problem for me,
00:33:33.37\00:33:35.26
we're gonna
work this thing out."
00:33:35.27\00:33:37.50
Abraham waits for the promise.
00:33:37.51\00:33:38.67
He even tries to
work it out with himself.
00:33:38.68\00:33:39.90
God says, "That's
not gonna do Abraham."
00:33:39.91\00:33:42.35
They are near
the end of his life.
00:33:42.36\00:33:44.48
Incidentally as I said,
his wife couldn't bear children
00:33:44.49\00:33:47.46
when she was young.
00:33:47.47\00:33:49.27
God waits until she's
old. Ninety years old.
00:33:49.28\00:33:53.76
Abraham, a 100 years old.
00:33:53.77\00:33:56.51
Not only was the
situation impossible before
00:33:56.52\00:33:59.45
but to any human eyesight
it was utterly impossible
00:33:59.46\00:34:02.83
in Abraham's old age
and then God gave him a son.
00:34:02.84\00:34:04.91
The child of promise, Isaac.
00:34:04.92\00:34:07.32
We can talk about Gideon's band.
00:34:07.33\00:34:09.93
Where God gathers Gideon out.
00:34:09.94\00:34:11.41
He says, "Gathers
the soldiers of Israel,
00:34:11.42\00:34:12.80
we're gonna go out,
we're gonna battle."
00:34:12.81\00:34:15.28
Gideon goes and
get some 32,000 men.
00:34:15.29\00:34:17.39
God says, you got too
many guys, too many guys, yeah,
00:34:17.40\00:34:21.47
thin them out a little
bit, thin them out a little bit,
00:34:21.48\00:34:23.75
they came down to 10,000.
00:34:23.76\00:34:24.77
He says, "Well,
Lord, there's 10,000
00:34:24.78\00:34:26.09
now it's not
32,000 but we can probably
00:34:26.10\00:34:28.60
still do a decent battle."
00:34:28.61\00:34:29.71
God said, "You
have too many guys."
00:34:29.72\00:34:31.65
Too many guys,
thins them out again.
00:34:31.66\00:34:33.79
He's down to 300.
00:34:33.80\00:34:34.79
"Three hundred men,
what am I gonna do?"
00:34:34.80\00:34:35.77
God says, "You're
gonna win the victory,
00:34:35.78\00:34:36.89
you're gonna win the
battle with 300 men."
00:34:36.90\00:34:39.50
"How am I gonna
win with 300 men?"
00:34:39.51\00:34:41.14
God says, "You're not gonna win.
00:34:41.15\00:34:42.29
I'm gonna win
through you with 300 men."
00:34:42.30\00:34:46.28
That way God says,
"You're not gonna take the--
00:34:46.29\00:34:48.62
you're not gonna take
the credit to yourselves,
00:34:48.63\00:34:50.74
you're gonna
realize that I am the one
00:34:50.75\00:34:51.87
that gave you the victory."
00:34:51.88\00:34:52.98
So friends, listen when
we face impossible situations
00:34:52.99\00:34:56.02
just like David did here
in the battle against Goliath,
00:34:56.03\00:35:00.56
that should tell us that God's
00:35:00.57\00:35:01.74
about to do
something big in our lives.
00:35:01.75\00:35:04.07
Don't be
deterred. Stay the course.
00:35:04.08\00:35:06.96
Point number 1, keep God's honor
00:35:06.97\00:35:08.29
and glory in your mind,
00:35:08.30\00:35:09.92
foremost in your
mind and stay your course.
00:35:09.93\00:35:11.51
Point number 2, do not
focus on the impossibilities.
00:35:11.52\00:35:16.27
King Saul sent
David out with his armor,
00:35:19.96\00:35:23.00
put the coat of mail on him.
00:35:23.01\00:35:24.28
Said, "okay, David, if
you're determined to go, go."
00:35:24.29\00:35:26.64
Saul really didn't have
a lot of confidence in him
00:35:28.98\00:35:31.61
but he thought he'd
do the most he could
00:35:31.62\00:35:33.48
and he sent him
out with his own armor.
00:35:33.49\00:35:36.93
You know, once again,
Saul, the Bible tells us
00:35:36.94\00:35:39.88
was head and shoulders
taller than any man in Israel.
00:35:39.89\00:35:43.94
In other words,
Saul was the giant
00:35:43.95\00:35:47.01
of the armies of
Israel just like Goliath
00:35:47.02\00:35:49.27
was the giant of the
armies of the Philistines.
00:35:49.28\00:35:53.13
When the giants came
out and Saul came out,
00:35:53.14\00:35:55.28
rather Goliath came
out as their champion.
00:35:55.29\00:35:57.44
Saul should have gone
out as the champion of Israel
00:35:57.45\00:35:59.86
and could have gone
out as verily as David did.
00:35:59.87\00:36:02.40
But Saul sat on
the sidelines terrified
00:36:06.71\00:36:09.57
just like everybody else.
00:36:09.58\00:36:12.51
Incidentally that
armor that he trusted in
00:36:12.52\00:36:16.21
didn't do him a lick of good.
00:36:16.22\00:36:19.25
That armor didn't
do anything for Saul
00:36:19.26\00:36:21.35
except for help him
to feel uncomfortable
00:36:21.36\00:36:22.79
sitting on the battle sidelines.
00:36:22.80\00:36:26.45
So now he
offers David the armor.
00:36:26.46\00:36:27.95
David goes. He puts it on.
00:36:27.96\00:36:29.68
He begins to head out
to the battle and he stops.
00:36:29.69\00:36:33.89
And he turns around
00:36:36.50\00:36:37.63
and he begins to
make his way back.
00:36:37.64\00:36:39.35
And Saul thinks
to himself you know,
00:36:41.52\00:36:42.96
"Finally this young man's
got some sense in his head.
00:36:42.97\00:36:45.53
Finally he's
starting to get the picture
00:36:45.54\00:36:47.03
this is impossible."
00:36:47.04\00:36:48.96
I want you to pick up with me.
00:36:48.97\00:36:50.49
Verse 39, "And
David fastened his sword
00:36:53.02\00:36:57.43
to his armor
and he tried to walk
00:36:57.44\00:37:00.96
for he had not tested them."
00:37:00.97\00:37:02.65
And David said to Saul,
"I can't walk with these,
00:37:04.73\00:37:07.14
for I have not tested them."
00:37:07.15\00:37:09.38
So David took them off.
00:37:09.39\00:37:12.99
Then he took his
staff in his hand
00:37:13.00\00:37:16.14
and he chose for himself
00:37:16.15\00:37:17.59
five smooth
stones from the brook.
00:37:17.60\00:37:19.56
And he put them
in the shepherd's bag
00:37:19.57\00:37:21.35
in a pouch which he had
and his sling was in his hand.
00:37:21.36\00:37:26.17
And he drew near
to the Philistine.
00:37:26.18\00:37:30.32
So the Philistine came and
began drawing near to David.
00:37:30.33\00:37:33.10
And the man who bore
the shield went before him.
00:37:33.11\00:37:36.99
And when the Philistine
looked around and saw David
00:37:37.00\00:37:39.33
he disdained him
for he was but a youth,
00:37:39.34\00:37:43.35
ruddy and good-looking.
00:37:43.36\00:37:45.69
What we would call
today a pretty boy.
00:37:45.70\00:37:48.10
David came out, this good
handsome looking young kid.
00:37:48.11\00:37:51.88
No armor on, with
a shepherd's staff
00:37:51.89\00:37:55.42
and a sling.
00:37:55.43\00:37:58.16
And Goliath said,
"They're trying to mock me.
00:37:58.17\00:38:00.03
They're making fun of me
00:38:00.04\00:38:01.54
sending this little guy out
here. What is this all about."
00:38:01.55\00:38:04.68
And the Bible says,
"He disdained David."
00:38:04.69\00:38:07.69
You know David tried
to put Saul's armor on
00:38:10.85\00:38:13.15
but he said, "I can't
use it, I've not proved it."
00:38:19.80\00:38:22.50
Saul had
confidence in that armor.
00:38:22.51\00:38:24.46
Too often we have
confidence in the armor.
00:38:29.06\00:38:31.16
Too often we forget that
our confidence should be in God
00:38:31.17\00:38:35.15
and not in our accoutrements.
00:38:35.16\00:38:37.00
Our confidence should be in
God not in our own abilities.
00:38:37.01\00:38:43.30
The reason so many
fail at total victory
00:38:43.31\00:38:46.24
is because they
put the confidence
00:38:46.25\00:38:47.66
in their own abilities.
00:38:47.67\00:38:50.19
That's one of the reasons
we shrink back from the battle.
00:38:50.20\00:38:52.32
We will look at our
abilities and that's where
00:38:52.33\00:38:54.14
we see the impossibilities.
00:38:54.15\00:38:57.73
As I said that armor
didn't do anything for Saul.
00:38:57.74\00:39:00.58
Saul just sat on the sidelines
00:39:00.59\00:39:02.20
being
uncomfortable in all that stuff,
00:39:02.21\00:39:04.20
gives it to David.
00:39:04.21\00:39:05.20
David said, "Hey,
it didn't help him.
00:39:05.21\00:39:06.88
It's certainly
not gonna help me.
00:39:06.89\00:39:08.29
I've not tested this.
00:39:08.30\00:39:09.49
This is not what I'm
used to battling in."
00:39:09.50\00:39:11.94
And David said, "Saul,
you can have your armor back."
00:39:11.95\00:39:14.92
You know for some of us
that armor is our wisdom,
00:39:14.93\00:39:16.75
our education, our smarts.
00:39:16.76\00:39:18.06
There are some
Christians who say,
00:39:18.07\00:39:19.13
"I don't know enough to
live a solid Christian life.
00:39:19.14\00:39:23.12
I don't know enough to witness
00:39:23.13\00:39:24.12
to other people about Jesus."
00:39:24.13\00:39:25.98
All about what we
know, all about what we do.
00:39:31.03\00:39:33.56
You know, that's not where
00:39:33.57\00:39:34.61
we find our strength, friends.
00:39:34.62\00:39:36.27
For some people it's education.
00:39:39.34\00:39:40.92
I got to get, I got
to get more knowledge.
00:39:40.93\00:39:42.79
Listen, Jesus wanted to use
00:39:42.80\00:39:45.07
the knowledge of
people in his days.
00:39:45.08\00:39:46.43
They were called the
Scribes and the Pharisees.
00:39:46.44\00:39:49.69
But they were so
confident in their own knowledge
00:39:49.70\00:39:51.73
they were too smart for
God, He couldn't use them.
00:39:51.74\00:39:53.22
He had to use the fishermen
and the tax collectors.
00:39:53.23\00:39:55.58
Sometimes we put our
confidence in the armor
00:39:57.02\00:40:00.39
as if that's
gonna win us the battle.
00:40:00.40\00:40:02.03
If only this situation
was different in my life.
00:40:02.04\00:40:04.30
If only I had more
knowledge over here.
00:40:04.31\00:40:06.34
If I only had a
different home situation,
00:40:06.35\00:40:07.79
a better job, that's
not gonna give you victory.
00:40:07.80\00:40:10.84
Jesus Christ
will give you victory.
00:40:10.85\00:40:12.67
Jesus Christ will give
you victory in any situation
00:40:12.68\00:40:15.42
you find yourself in if
you simply put him first
00:40:15.43\00:40:17.75
and trust in his power.
00:40:17.76\00:40:19.02
David came back, he
said, "I can't use this.
00:40:23.14\00:40:24.78
I've not proved this
armor." He takes it off.
00:40:24.79\00:40:26.43
He goes out in
what he does know.
00:40:26.44\00:40:28.08
He goes out with
a staff and a sling.
00:40:28.09\00:40:32.63
And we're gonna pick
up again in verse 43,
00:40:40.53\00:40:45.02
"So the Philistine
said to David, am I a dog,
00:40:47.13\00:40:50.34
that you come
to me with sticks,"
00:40:50.35\00:40:51.86
his shepherd's rod, "am I a dog
00:40:51.87\00:40:54.43
that you come
to me with sticks?"
00:40:54.44\00:40:56.14
And the Philistine
cursed David by his God's.
00:40:56.15\00:40:59.90
And the Philistine
said to David, "Come to me,
00:40:59.91\00:41:02.54
and I will give your
flesh to the birds of the air
00:41:02.55\00:41:05.52
and the beasts of the field!"
00:41:05.53\00:41:07.88
So you guys wanna come
out and mock me, go ahead,
00:41:07.89\00:41:09.72
you come out and mock
me, I'm gonna tear you apart.
00:41:09.73\00:41:12.03
I have to be honest
with you and tell you,
00:41:17.17\00:41:18.78
if I was out on that
battlefield as far as
00:41:18.79\00:41:21.11
my sight goes, facing at
least nine and a half tall
00:41:21.12\00:41:24.67
giant as solid as he is tall.
00:41:24.68\00:41:28.56
And he tells me, "He's
gonna tear me to pieces
00:41:28.57\00:41:30.43
and feed my flesh to
the birds of the air."
00:41:30.44\00:41:32.57
I'd been very nervous.
00:41:32.58\00:41:34.66
I may have even
be been reconsidering
00:41:34.67\00:41:37.15
what I was about to do.
00:41:37.16\00:41:38.34
But then I would
have been walking by sight
00:41:40.55\00:41:43.99
and not by faith.
00:41:44.00\00:41:46.49
I want you to
see what David does
00:41:46.50\00:41:48.82
as this Philistine giant,
00:41:48.83\00:41:50.64
as this Philistine giant,
00:41:54.07\00:41:55.98
begins to threaten him.
00:41:55.99\00:41:59.12
Verse 45, "Then David
said to the Philistine,
00:42:01.47\00:42:05.59
you come to me with
a sword, with a spear,
00:42:05.60\00:42:09.08
and with a javelin.
00:42:09.09\00:42:10.96
But I come to you in the
name of the Lord of hosts,
00:42:10.97\00:42:13.52
the God of the armies of Israel,
00:42:13.53\00:42:15.96
whom you have defied.
00:42:15.97\00:42:18.67
This day the Lord will
deliver you into my hand
00:42:18.68\00:42:21.70
and I will strike you
and take your head from you.
00:42:21.71\00:42:25.76
And this day I will give
your carcasses," I'm sorry,
00:42:25.77\00:42:29.16
"This day I will give
the carcasses of the camp
00:42:29.17\00:42:31.28
of the Philistines
to the birds of the air
00:42:31.29\00:42:34.70
and the wild
beasts of the earth,
00:42:34.71\00:42:37.00
that all the earth may know
00:42:37.01\00:42:39.36
that there is a God in Israel."
00:42:39.37\00:42:42.41
Point number 3, step number 3,
00:42:45.61\00:42:49.08
in total victory
remember always remember
00:42:49.09\00:42:52.97
the battle is the Lord's battle.
00:42:52.98\00:42:56.98
It's not your battle.
00:42:56.99\00:42:59.52
David didn't go out to
the Philistine and said,
00:42:59.53\00:43:01.17
"Of course I'm
gonna win this battle.
00:43:01.18\00:43:02.31
You know why? I
have this underhand.
00:43:02.32\00:43:04.81
I know how to do, I
know how to use this sling,"
00:43:04.82\00:43:07.63
that's not what he said.
00:43:07.64\00:43:08.80
He said, "Giant, you
trust in your javelin,
00:43:10.86\00:43:12.95
you trust in your spear, you
trust in all your equipment."
00:43:12.96\00:43:15.49
Just like Saul
trusting his armor.
00:43:15.50\00:43:17.21
He says, "I'm not coming to you
00:43:17.22\00:43:18.55
in the name of anything I have.
00:43:18.56\00:43:19.93
I'm coming to you in
the name of the Lord,
00:43:19.94\00:43:21.35
God of Israel,
Him you've defied.
00:43:21.36\00:43:23.45
He's gonna
deliver you into my hand."
00:43:23.46\00:43:26.98
Oh, friends, if we would
remember when we're fighting
00:43:26.99\00:43:30.45
the good fight of faith
that it's not our battle.
00:43:30.46\00:43:34.67
It's not our battle.
00:43:34.68\00:43:36.00
If we would only remember
that we'd have confidence
00:43:36.01\00:43:39.71
that we could
have victory in Jesus.
00:43:39.72\00:43:41.43
We wouldn't falter
like we so often do.
00:43:41.44\00:43:46.08
Because our eyes
would not be on us.
00:43:46.09\00:43:47.76
Our eyes would be on the
one who is going to lead us
00:43:47.77\00:43:50.51
always into triumph.
00:43:50.52\00:43:53.00
David was-- his
pace was unabated.
00:43:53.01\00:43:56.07
He didn't shift his focus.
00:43:56.08\00:43:58.54
David was going forward
with his face set like flint
00:43:58.55\00:44:03.19
into this battle.
00:44:03.20\00:44:06.99
And defiantly told that giant,
00:44:07.00\00:44:09.83
"The Lord, God has
given you into my hand."
00:44:09.84\00:44:12.21
Verse 48, the
Bible says, "And it was,
00:44:15.96\00:44:20.00
it was so rather that
when the Philistine arose
00:44:20.01\00:44:23.97
and came and drew
near to meet David,
00:44:23.98\00:44:26.52
that David hastened and," what,
00:44:26.53\00:44:29.45
"he ran toward the army
to meet the Philistine."
00:44:29.46\00:44:35.19
I just told you, I'd
have been reconsidering.
00:44:35.20\00:44:37.00
I would have been
sitting and thinking.
00:44:37.01\00:44:39.28
I would have been
counting, let's see maybe
00:44:39.29\00:44:41.57
I should write a letter
to my dear family that--
00:44:41.58\00:44:44.84
I'm not gonna know
00:44:44.85\00:44:45.93
I'm too much
longer than this now.
00:44:45.94\00:44:47.00
I'll write a goodbye letter.
00:44:47.01\00:44:48.03
I mean, I would have
been really reconsidering
00:44:48.04\00:44:49.94
but here's David.
00:44:49.95\00:44:50.98
The Philistine challenges him.
00:44:54.90\00:44:57.30
He responds.
00:44:57.31\00:44:58.30
And the Bible
doesn't say he walked out
00:44:58.31\00:45:00.01
on to the battlefield.
00:45:00.02\00:45:01.23
It says he ran
to meet the giant.
00:45:01.24\00:45:04.42
He ran to meet the
giant. His confidence was sure.
00:45:04.43\00:45:11.37
He knew the victory was his.
00:45:11.38\00:45:16.25
David ran to meet the giant.
00:45:16.26\00:45:18.92
He was not intimidated.
00:45:18.93\00:45:21.47
And the Bible goes on to say,
00:45:21.48\00:45:23.06
verse 49, "Then David
put his hand in his bag
00:45:27.29\00:45:31.33
and took out a
stone, and he slung it
00:45:31.34\00:45:35.30
and struck the
Philistine in the forehead
00:45:35.31\00:45:38.76
and he fell on his
face to the earth."
00:45:40.34\00:45:42.89
So David prevailed over
the Philistine with a sling
00:45:42.90\00:45:45.39
and a stone and struck
the Philistine and killed him.
00:45:45.40\00:45:51.39
But there was no
sword in the hand of David.
00:45:51.40\00:45:53.54
Therefore David ran over.
00:45:53.55\00:45:55.50
Ran rather and
stood over the Philistine,
00:45:55.51\00:45:57.50
took his sword and
drew it out of its sheath
00:45:57.51\00:45:59.73
and killed him.
00:45:59.74\00:46:02.31
And cut off his head with it.
00:46:02.32\00:46:03.83
And when the Philistines saw
00:46:05.91\00:46:07.67
that their
champion was dead they fled.
00:46:07.68\00:46:10.57
Put yourself on
the scene of battle.
00:46:12.22\00:46:14.17
Can you imagine it?
00:46:14.18\00:46:16.90
Just minutes prior,
those Philistines soldiers
00:46:16.91\00:46:20.81
were probably
laughing at the idea
00:46:20.82\00:46:23.27
that this young shepherd boy
00:46:23.28\00:46:24.74
was gonna fight their champion.
00:46:24.75\00:46:27.73
And they were
mocking the Israelites
00:46:27.74\00:46:29.51
and mocking their God.
00:46:29.52\00:46:30.65
The Israelites themselves
were trembling for fear
00:46:30.66\00:46:34.58
what was going
to happen to David
00:46:34.59\00:46:36.71
and how bad this
was going to look.
00:46:36.72\00:46:38.88
The only one, the
only one on the battlefield
00:46:42.22\00:46:47.15
that day that
had faith was David.
00:46:47.16\00:46:50.54
You may have
heard the saying before,
00:46:54.34\00:46:57.00
"God plus one is a majority."
00:46:57.01\00:47:00.22
You don't need to have
everybody on your side.
00:47:00.23\00:47:02.47
If you go forward in
the name of the Lord,
00:47:02.48\00:47:04.24
He's on your side.
00:47:04.25\00:47:06.99
David went forward and
those Philistines soldiers said,
00:47:07.00\00:47:09.69
"This guy is
gonna get cremated."
00:47:09.70\00:47:11.15
And David went out
there and he took that stone
00:47:11.16\00:47:13.31
and he put it in his sling.
00:47:13.32\00:47:15.70
And the Bible
says, "He slung it."
00:47:15.71\00:47:18.28
And as Goliath was
coming out and thinking
00:47:18.29\00:47:20.07
he's gonna tear
this man limb from limb.
00:47:20.08\00:47:23.31
The Bible says, "That
stone, first stone slung met
00:47:23.32\00:47:26.08
its mark right in the forehead
of the giant and he fell."
00:47:26.09\00:47:30.51
And you can imagine the silence
00:47:30.52\00:47:32.18
that fell over the camp
00:47:32.19\00:47:33.43
as everybody watched.
00:47:36.48\00:47:39.21
I mean there
wasn't even a fight.
00:47:39.22\00:47:42.20
They may have figured
that, that was gonna be
00:47:42.21\00:47:43.48
what happened with David
but not with their giant.
00:47:43.49\00:47:46.11
David ran out and
before they knew it was done
00:47:46.12\00:47:49.37
and there laid
Goliath on the ground.
00:47:49.38\00:47:51.71
And as they are
watching stupefied
00:47:51.72\00:47:53.66
David draws the sword of
the giant and cuts his head off.
00:47:53.67\00:47:56.92
And the whole Philistine
army trembles and runs.
00:47:58.97\00:48:03.47
God gave the victory
because of one man's faith.
00:48:05.20\00:48:10.16
You know it's funny
that when we are facing
00:48:13.74\00:48:16.75
the trials in our
Christian lives by the time
00:48:16.76\00:48:19.82
we get to point 3 we're
ready to pack up and go.
00:48:19.83\00:48:22.68
I mean we had to come
and face those challenges.
00:48:22.69\00:48:25.44
We're trying to keep
our eyes fixed on God.
00:48:25.45\00:48:29.27
We're trying to keep
his glory in our mind's eye
00:48:29.28\00:48:33.52
and stay our course.
00:48:33.53\00:48:35.37
And then our
family members ridicule us
00:48:35.38\00:48:36.93
and our friends ridiculed
us and all that and then
00:48:36.94\00:48:38.64
we're discouraged from that.
00:48:38.65\00:48:39.95
And then the impossibilities
come up before our minds
00:48:44.42\00:48:47.28
and then we start to count
00:48:47.29\00:48:48.30
through all the impossibilities.
00:48:48.31\00:48:49.34
By the time we get to number 3
00:48:49.35\00:48:50.83
remember it's the Lord's battle,
00:48:50.84\00:48:51.84
no, we're ready to go home.
00:48:51.85\00:48:53.43
David runs to meet the giant.
00:48:59.38\00:49:02.19
David already determined
before he ever got there
00:49:02.20\00:49:04.60
that the victory was his
00:49:04.61\00:49:05.81
because he had
confidence in the God of Israel.
00:49:05.82\00:49:07.69
Do you have confidence
in the God of Israel today?
00:49:07.70\00:49:09.62
David trusted that the victory
was his, just like Daniel.
00:49:12.24\00:49:17.12
In Daniel Chapter 1 and
verse 8, the Bible says,
00:49:17.13\00:49:19.03
"Daniel purposed in his heart."
00:49:19.04\00:49:20.46
He made it his purpose
he was gonna follow God
00:49:20.47\00:49:22.42
no matter what,
that's what David did.
00:49:22.43\00:49:26.07
And once he had determined
that nothing would sway him
00:49:26.08\00:49:28.27
from his course.
00:49:28.28\00:49:30.67
One man with faith one
out and I want you to notice
00:49:30.68\00:49:33.21
one more verse in this story.
00:49:33.22\00:49:34.80
The Bible says that,
"David cut off the head
00:49:40.99\00:49:42.96
of the giant and the
Philistine soldiers fled."
00:49:42.97\00:49:47.34
Verse 52, notice what it
said "Now the men of Israel
00:49:47.35\00:49:52.79
and Judah arose and shouted,
and pursued the Philistines
00:49:52.80\00:49:57.30
as far as the
entrance of the valley
00:49:57.31\00:49:59.56
and to the gates of Ekron.
00:49:59.57\00:50:01.88
And the wounded
of the Philistines
00:50:01.89\00:50:03.55
fell along the road to Shaaraim,
00:50:03.56\00:50:07.74
even as far as Gath and Ekron."
00:50:07.75\00:50:12.31
In other words when
David went forward in faith
00:50:12.32\00:50:15.95
that one man's
faith turned the faith
00:50:15.96\00:50:18.87
of the whole army of Israel
00:50:18.88\00:50:21.12
and that one man's
faith brought victory
00:50:21.13\00:50:23.66
to the whole army of Israel.
00:50:23.67\00:50:26.62
Have you ever felt
in your Christian walk
00:50:26.63\00:50:28.37
that you're just one person?
00:50:28.38\00:50:31.44
And been discouraged
and even when you feel
00:50:31.45\00:50:33.91
like the Lord
may give you victory,
00:50:33.92\00:50:35.31
you feel like I'm just
one person what can I do.
00:50:35.32\00:50:38.51
And that time after
time in the scriptures
00:50:38.52\00:50:40.45
we see how one person
00:50:40.46\00:50:42.86
can change the
course of history.
00:50:42.87\00:50:44.51
David because of his
faith went out battle
00:50:47.53\00:50:51.24
the giant the rest of Israel
didn't think he can do it.
00:50:51.25\00:50:55.87
The Philistines certainly
didn't think he could do it.
00:50:55.88\00:50:57.97
But David went forward
and his victory did not just
00:50:57.98\00:51:01.71
gain victory for
himself but for all of Israel.
00:51:01.72\00:51:04.47
Which is just exactly
00:51:08.28\00:51:09.46
what the Apostle
Paul was telling us there
00:51:09.47\00:51:12.05
in that scripture we open with
00:51:12.06\00:51:13.67
in 2 Corinthians
Chapter 2 and verse 14,
00:51:13.68\00:51:18.13
"Thanks be to God,
who always leads us
00:51:23.07\00:51:26.37
in triumph in
Christ and through us
00:51:26.38\00:51:31.57
defuses the fragrance of
his knowledge in every place.
00:51:31.58\00:51:36.64
"Once David had
been lead to victory,
00:51:36.65\00:51:39.56
he defused that knowledge of God
00:51:39.57\00:51:41.35
back to the armies of Israel
00:51:41.36\00:51:42.93
and regained their
confidence in the Lord.
00:51:42.94\00:51:45.22
Friend, listen to me,
God wants you to have victory
00:51:45.23\00:51:50.44
in your life and today
you can have that victory
00:51:50.45\00:51:54.76
not just for
yourself but your faithfulness
00:51:54.77\00:51:56.72
will lead others to
regain their faith in the Lord.
00:51:56.73\00:52:01.47
Your faithfulness impressing
on forward to the victory
00:52:01.48\00:52:07.18
will give others
courage to press on.
00:52:07.19\00:52:10.32
You can defuse the fragrance
of Christ in every place.
00:52:10.33\00:52:15.20
One man's faith
turned the defeat
00:52:15.21\00:52:17.58
of Israel into a victory.
00:52:17.59\00:52:19.59
So your faith can
turn defeat into victory
00:52:19.60\00:52:24.47
not just for you,
00:52:24.48\00:52:26.25
but for those
brothers and sisters around you
00:52:26.26\00:52:29.51
as your victory
gives them confidence
00:52:29.52\00:52:32.27
that they too can
have victory in Christ.
00:52:32.28\00:52:35.70
"Three Steps to Total Victory."
00:52:38.23\00:52:41.28
Step number 1, determined
to put God's honor first
00:52:43.67\00:52:49.25
and stay the
course, don't be distracted.
00:52:49.26\00:52:52.79
When you have determined
to put God first as I said,
00:52:52.80\00:52:55.23
Daniel purposed in his heart.
00:52:55.24\00:52:56.35
David decided
he's gonna go out there
00:52:56.36\00:52:57.90
that day and fight that battle.
00:52:57.91\00:52:59.97
Don't be hindered.
00:52:59.98\00:53:01.99
Keep remembering that
it's not you who's fighting.
00:53:02.00\00:53:08.13
Put God's honor first.
00:53:08.14\00:53:10.43
Remember what
Jesus has done for you.
00:53:10.44\00:53:14.18
As I said, the course of
one man so often in the Bible
00:53:14.19\00:53:17.01
has changed the
history of the world.
00:53:17.02\00:53:21.28
What better example
than the cross of Calvary.
00:53:21.29\00:53:24.69
Where the Lord Jesus as
he hung on Calvary's cross
00:53:24.70\00:53:27.84
to this day is
still changing lives.
00:53:27.85\00:53:31.37
Remember Jesus. Keep
him in your mind's eye.
00:53:31.38\00:53:37.49
Determine to put him first.
00:53:37.50\00:53:39.56
He deserves all glory and honor.
00:53:39.57\00:53:43.41
Determine to put his
honor first and stay your course
00:53:43.42\00:53:47.47
step number 1.
00:53:47.48\00:53:48.80
Step number 2, don't
focus on the impossibilities.
00:53:48.81\00:53:53.35
There are always impossibilities
00:53:53.36\00:53:54.92
that will present themselves.
00:53:54.93\00:53:56.90
The devil will always
put something in your mind
00:53:56.91\00:53:59.43
to tell you, you can't
gain victory in this area.
00:53:59.44\00:54:01.87
Maybe as I said,
it's an addiction.
00:54:01.88\00:54:03.55
You've had an
addiction for years.
00:54:03.56\00:54:05.15
You've struggle with
it. You've tried to quit.
00:54:05.16\00:54:06.54
I can't quit. I
tried and I can't.
00:54:06.55\00:54:10.21
Stay the course.
Stay the course, why?
00:54:10.22\00:54:12.66
Because God has
promised you victory
00:54:12.67\00:54:15.58
and if God hasn't
seen fit to give it yet,
00:54:15.59\00:54:18.08
don't give up hope, that
He will give that victory.
00:54:18.09\00:54:21.58
Maybe it's just in
your spiritual life.
00:54:24.38\00:54:26.20
You feel like
your spiritual life
00:54:26.21\00:54:29.74
is not what it used to be.
00:54:29.75\00:54:31.23
Your fire for God
your-- that burning desire to
00:54:31.24\00:54:34.47
that no one to share the
truth isn't what it used to be.
00:54:34.48\00:54:36.83
And you don't know
how to get it back.
00:54:41.13\00:54:42.54
Don't focus on
the impossibilities.
00:54:42.55\00:54:45.42
Don't go over
and over in your mind
00:54:45.43\00:54:46.98
how impossible it is.
00:54:46.99\00:54:50.27
As Jesus said, "With men
all things are impossible."
00:54:50.28\00:54:54.08
In essence, with
men this is impossible.
00:54:54.09\00:54:58.31
With God all
things are possible.
00:54:58.32\00:55:00.63
Don't think about
the impossibilities.
00:55:00.64\00:55:02.30
Of course it's
impossible for us.
00:55:02.31\00:55:05.27
It doesn't even do any
good to think about it.
00:55:05.28\00:55:06.82
We already know that.
00:55:06.83\00:55:07.80
There's a foregone conclusion.
00:55:07.81\00:55:10.05
But it's not impossible for God.
00:55:10.06\00:55:12.98
Don't focus on
the impossibilities
00:55:12.99\00:55:16.59
and remember
it's not your battle.
00:55:16.60\00:55:20.37
It's not my battle.
00:55:20.38\00:55:22.00
The battle belongs to the Lord.
00:55:22.01\00:55:24.35
It's his battle.
It's his victory.
00:55:24.36\00:55:28.08
The Bible says,
"When we gain victory
00:55:28.09\00:55:29.48
that glory goes to God."
00:55:29.49\00:55:31.77
Jesus said, "Let your
light so shine before men,
00:55:31.78\00:55:33.48
that they may see
your good works and," what,
00:55:33.49\00:55:34.88
"glorify you."
00:55:34.89\00:55:36.21
No, Matthew 5:16, "Glorify
your Father who is in heaven."
00:55:36.22\00:55:39.53
Who gets the
glory? God does. Why?
00:55:39.54\00:55:41.28
It's His battle.
It's His victory.
00:55:41.29\00:55:43.66
The victory is not
about us it's about God
00:55:43.67\00:55:45.66
and what God can do through us.
00:55:45.67\00:55:48.08
Whatever your sin,
friend, whatever your addiction,
00:55:51.22\00:55:55.92
whatever your struggle
God has promised you victory.
00:55:55.93\00:55:59.42
He has promised it.
Indeed He's already given it.
00:55:59.43\00:56:04.77
Look to Calvary and see
the victory gained there.
00:56:04.78\00:56:08.76
God's already given it,
but we've gotta walk by faith
00:56:08.77\00:56:12.86
and not by sight.
00:56:12.87\00:56:15.78
You must by the living
faith go forward in that victory
00:56:15.79\00:56:19.95
and it's yours.
00:56:19.96\00:56:21.48
The battle was done.
00:56:21.49\00:56:22.71
The giant was defeated,
but David had to go forward
00:56:22.72\00:56:26.15
and claim that victory.
00:56:26.16\00:56:27.59
He stayed the course.
00:56:29.90\00:56:32.62
The opponent
tried to intimidate him
00:56:32.63\00:56:35.25
but David reminded his opponent
00:56:35.26\00:56:37.34
that he was
fighting a losing battle
00:56:37.35\00:56:39.34
against the God of Israel.
00:56:39.35\00:56:41.80
How is it with you
today? How is it with you today?
00:56:41.81\00:56:47.61
Are you battling with a
confidence in the victory
00:56:47.62\00:56:50.89
that you already
have in Jesus Christ?
00:56:50.90\00:56:53.74
Friends, God always
leads us in triumph in Christ.
00:56:53.75\00:57:00.01
God always leads us in
triumph in Jesus Christ.
00:57:00.02\00:57:06.49
The victory is yours today.
00:57:06.50\00:57:09.63
The victory is yours by faith.
00:57:09.64\00:57:11.46
Look to Jesus and claim it.
00:57:13.29\00:57:15.61