Let the giants in your life work for you...

He holds victory in store for the upright,
he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless,
Proverbs 2:7 (NIV)

I have to confess that when I heard that a district superintendent of our denomination was our guest speaker for today, I told my family as we were driving that I hoped he wouldn't be boring. I pictured an 'accountant' type full of his own importance. Boy, did I get egg on my face.

First of all, Rev. Robert Gould, came up in the greeting part of the service and shook hands with me and my two sons, each time making sincere eye contact. When it came time for him to go up on stage, I held my breath as he left his cane and teetered on the first step.

Then he started on the theme of 'giants' in our lives by mentioning the giants that he has personally faced.

-an abusive alcoholic father who beat them with that strap barbers use to sharpen their razors.

-a mother who also drank.

-a severely mentally retarded sister about whom he was teased mercilessly by peers.

-when left to take care of her one day, he left her outside to run in the house for something.
As he ran back out, he heard an awful sound, something that will never leave him. His sister had got run over by an oil tanker. He blamed himself.

-his wife became quite ill for a period.

-his son dropped out of their lives for many years, contracted AIDS from using bad needles, died 3 years ago after giving his life over to God.

-he was diagnosed with a brain tumour, had surgery, now has no sense of balance, no hearing or feeling on one side of his face....

He said, I am giving you a glimpse of the 'giants' I have faced not to get your 'pity' but to let you know I have grappled with this.

He got our rapt attention.

Reading: 1 Samuel 17

David, known best for the feat of defeating Goliath, and the failure of giving into temptation with Bathsheba was the focus. "Life is a series of getting used to things you hadn't planned" - a phrase he uses to describe the life of David.

Things like...
-a broken spirit and heart
-job loss
-broken marriage
-chronic illness....etc....

The good news:  With giant struggles come giant grace!

(Please go here to hear the message in its entirety.)

Here is a breakdown of points covered:
The Introduction:
A. Defining giants: A giant in my life is something that:

1. Should have been put to death in the past.
(Goliath was from Gath, one of the cities left unconquered by Joshua. [ product of disobedience])

2. Stands in the way of progress.
(The Philistines blocked Israel's progress.)

3. That creates fear.
(On hearing the Philistine's words, Saul and all the Israelites were dismayed and terrified. v.11)

4. That dishonors the Lord.
(Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?" v.26)

5. That makes you feel like a victim of bad decisions.
(giant of regrets..if only I had not married him against advice...if only I had listened...)

6. That God allows.
(so that you can...
-learn important lessons
-build character qualities)

B. Defying Giants - A Matter of Control
Whoever wins controls the other. Does your giant control you, or do you have control over your giant?

1 Samuel 17:45 (Amplified Bible) Then said David to the Philistine, You come to me with a sword, a spear, and a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the ranks of Israel, Whom you have defied.

C. Defeating Giants - Models to consider
1. Christ: Our Ultimate Model

2. Paul: Philippians 3:17; 4:9

Philippians 4:9 Practice what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and model your way of living on it, and the God of peace (of ^[a]untroubled, undisturbed well-being) will be with you.

 3. David: Read The Psalms
-discover new trust in God

-grow in personal maturity