How to Overcome Your Giants | Sunday Message with Greg Laurie

Hey there, thanks for listening to the great glory part just a ministry supported by harvest partners on Greg Laurie encouraging you if you want to find out more about harvest ministries. To learn more about how to become a harvest partner, just go to harvest.org. The title of my message is how to overcome your giants, how to overcome your giants so we all have giants that we face in life, but by that I mean something that is dark and sinister prowling around the perimeter of your life. It could be an insurmountable problem or some kind of an issue you tried to fill this giant but it only seems to loom larger with the passing of time. Maybe you overcame your giants, so to speak for a month two months, maybe even three months and you thought you would beat him but then he came back with a vengeance. Now you're beginning to wonder if that giant you're facing is even stoppable for instance, he could be a giant of fear or something that is frightening you right now suddenly that keeps you up late at night and it just grips you and it doesn't go away, and you're constantly asking what if this happens, what if that happens. Maybe it's a fear of the future. Maybe it's a fear of the unknown.

That's your giant or might be the giant of a personal sin, a certain area of your life or your weak and vulnerable and you fall in that area over and over again you have victory over it for a few weeks maybe for a month but then you fall again.

It could be pride in the gluttony, pornography, the list goes on and on. In a related way you could be facing the giant of addiction. You know you been clean and sober for three years and then suddenly it fell off the wagon and you can't believe this is happened to you and so this thing is a giant and it can't shoot day in and day out. It could be a giant of a threat if you will. Someone is threatening you, maybe it's online. Maybe it's a lawsuit.

Maybe it's even the physical threat against your life might be a different kind of giant. What seems to be an insurmountable problem and unsolvable issue. Maybe it's an unsaved child or a husband or a wife that doesn't believe in it doesn't seem like the lever, believe, listen, George giant is basically anyone or anything that seeks to control you urge to destroy you and torment you and live in your giant seems too big to overcome. So how do you overcome a giant that you're going to talk about in our series again were in the house of David, which is a look of David the second, King of Israel organ a look at the very familiar story of David and Goliath. Many of us have heard this since our childhood and because of that it takes some sort of a fairy tale away about it and it is not a fairytale. It was a historical event. There really was a king named David there really wasn't a giant of a man 9'6" tall, made of solid muscle named Goliath.

But I want to point out that it has a lot to say to us today. Now, as we've already seen David was a very complex person. He was both a warrior and a worshiper. He was both a lover and a fighter. He was the unknown shepherd boy living in obscurity in the tiny little village of about 20 that was handpicked by God, not just to be the greatest king in the history of Israel but to be a part of the most exclusive genealogy in all of human history, the genealogy of Jesus Christ, and we remember the story of how the Lord had rejected King Saul from being the king and the Lord instructed the prophet Samuel to go to Bethlehem and there in the house of Jesse, he would find the next king and as Samuel arrived in town. It was a big deal. Profits didn't show up in little places like Bethlehem, Jesse probably paraded his seven strapping sons. They indeed were the magnificent seven and as the prophet looked at each one.

The Lord said no no no no no that's the one.

Finally every reviewed all seven sons.

The prophet said you have any other sons.

Jesse says yes I've got one more sun is out in the field watching his flock of sheep is a little weird.

He's a musician and write songs about God, yet bring a man. Samuel says to win comes David bounding with enthusiasm and energy of the Lord says of the prophet that's my boy annoyed him so Samuel the prophet. Poor soil, and the head of King David and now he is officially anointed to become the king of Israel, but time passed and nothing really took place after that.

David just went back to watching the sheep. Well, as it turns out a new conflict was developing between Israel and their longtime enemy, the Philistines, and does so they came to a place called the Valley of the law.

The Philistines were on one side the Israelites were on the other side and in the middle was this giant hulk of a man as I pointed out 9'6" of solid muscle covered in body armor challenging someone from Israel side to come and fight him. He basically made a deal he says, let's make a deal. Send your best guy out here, let's fight and if he wins, we, the Philistines will serve you, but if I win you the Israelites will serve us and no one wanted to take him up on this offer. By the way don't believe the promises or the frets of giants will lie to you the King Saul would've been the likely candidate. He, after all, was head and shoulders above everybody else. There's no way he was going to go down there in the valley of Vila and face-off with Goliath.

So, meanwhile, a David's father Jesse said son I want you to go to the front lines and visit your brothers taken some food here some bread here some cheese to get to your brother.

So basically it was a pizza delivery or a quesadilla delivery if you will. So David shows up as a good around here is this giant man bellowing from the Valley of Vila asking for someone and take him on in David's looking at how no one is answering his call and he's perplexed me while his brother Eli up sees him and says why are you even here you're here because you're proud and did you leave your little flock, is she did complete with the big boys are of a loose paraphrase their and David thinking I'm kind of thinking I might go down there and face-off with that guy I think he can be brought down several David was a courageous young man he had killed lions and bears protecting his little flock of sheep. He wanted to volunteer and go down and face-off with Goliath because in the eyes of David, though Goliath was big God was bigger. You know, we have giants are big but God's way bigger than your giant that's all David sought so let's see if we can identify some principles of giant killing.

Let's look at first Samuel chapter 17. Starting in verse 40, by the way I'm reading from the new living translation. David picked up five smooth stones from his train and put them in the shepherd's bag then armed only with the shepherd stop installing these started across the fight Goliath.

Goliath walked out toward David with his shield bearer I had of him sneering in contempt at this ruddy faced boy. He roared at David my a dog that you come at me with a stick and he cursed David by the names of his God Goliath you'll come over here and I'll give your flesh to the birds and the wild animals.

I love the response of David. David shouted and replied, you come to me with sword, spear and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord God Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied today. David says the Lord will conquer you and I will kill you and cut off your head and then I will give the dead bodies of your mentor the birds and wild animals of the whole world will know there is a God in Israel, and everyone will know the Lord does not need weapons to rescue his people.

It's his battle not ours. The Lord will give you to us. I love this verse is Goliath moved closer to attack. David quickly ran out to meet him.

Verse 49, reaching into a shepherd's bag sticking out a stone.

He hurled it from his sling and get the Philistines on the forehead. The stone sink in and Goliath stumbled and fell face downward on the ground. Now David finishes the job first Samuel 1750 so David triumphed over the Philistine giant with only a stone in his sling, and since he had no sorting ran over and pulled Goliath sword from its sheath and David used it to kill the giant and cut off his head when the Philistines saw their champion was dead. They turned and ran. Is that not an awesome story. I love what a victory the will of the Philistines was broken in the Israelites are reinvigorated. David the shepherd boy had cut down the giant Goliath. So what do we learn from this about defeating our own giants if you taking Melcher's point number one we all have giants we all have giants we all face severe hardships, seemingly insurmountable obstacles.

Temptations that come our way.

First Corinthians 1013 says remember temptations come into your life.

There are no different than what others experience. But God is faithful.

He will keep the temptation from becoming so strong that you can stand up against it when you are tempted, God will show you a way out so you will not give into it.

So while it is true that we all have giants.

It is also true that every giant is depletable than repeat that, while it is true that we all of giants. It is also true that every giant is refutable as shown in this story. Giants don't start out. They start out small target imaginable. Goliath was once a newborn baby, probably a really big baby. Nobody wanted to change his diaper time to change Goliath diaper dear hi did it last time it took me two days to know he he was a very aggressive baby.

I would think in that. I need baby, probably a bit and then he ultimately became a child that he became a teenager. Then he became adult and adult man, as I said 9'6" tall so in the same way our giants are problems start out small then they become big little things turn into big things. Listen little liberties up with that word liberties" little liberties liberties can turn into big vices. Now, back when I was a kid I don't know why this happened but that at Easter time. You used to be able to buy little baby bunnies and little chicks that they would be in all kinds of stores and sometimes he would even die a little chicks different colors and so you would buy this cute little blue chicken, a pink chicken taken home with the thing you can think about is that is going to turn into a chicken. It's cute is a check that will become a chicken and I cute little bunnies going to turn into a rabbit. All of a sudden rabbit stew and chicken fingers are sounding better all the time right little things turn into big things. I read an article of the other day about a problem they're having in Florida with giant African snails did any of you read this, there being invaded.

Look at the size of that and I by the way, I think snails are gross. Okay. And this, it's even closer when there giant giant African snails. They reproduce quickly. Daily 1200 eggs in the year that that's gross enough. They carry the parasite longform that leads to meningitis. So here it is. But then there some lady I read about in this article that made a pet out of this nail. I knew why would you make a pad out of a giants there live this, lady. What is happening here. It's even gotten worse.

Another pushing snails around in strollers. That's even worse than pushing a dog in a stroller within again snails are very slow so if you took it for a walk. It would be a very slow walk would come on, snails know that a person probably someone pushes it in a stroller.

I don't know but you know, it starts off little, then it becomes big. That's what sin is like oh I can handle this in I can handle this vice I can handle this issue and then one day it has complete control of you right that's the point I'm trying to make you make sin your pet than it consumes you and it can be big problems to maybe it's like this child, you have that won't turn the Christ of this husband that wants nothing to do with your faith or or going to church with your wife that could be that way and you pray in you pressuring you nagging you threaten and nothing happens in days turned to weeks and months turned to years and years turned a decade to give up all hope that the lever come to Christ that brings us to principle number two David knew the battle belong to the Lord.

David knew the battle belong to the Lord. Look at verse 47. It is his battle not ours, not ours. The Lord will give you to us.

What are you facing right now the battle belongs to the Lord, committed to the Lord.

Let's go back to when you wake up in the middle of the night your flooded with all these issues and fears and such commit each one to the Lord, Lord, there's nothing I can do laying in this bed right now that I'm committing this to you and I'm asking you to intervene in this situation. Don't worry about anything.

Paul reminds us, but pray about everything is a piece of God that passes all human understanding, will guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus.

The battle belongs to the Lord. Number three. Attach your giants attack your giants earlier in the story we read that the Israelites said how is this man Goliath come up into our kin. That first Samuel 1725 words Goliath wasn't just down in the valley. He had climbed up I was walking to the camp of Israel. Hey what's up fight me.

Come on you big enough to finally let's go. So he was right up in their face up in their grill as they say, and he wasn't going away and that's what happens with giant you compromise. Compromise there. Now they've invaded your life during your front room there in every room and becoming even more powerful. So what you do, you don't run from giants you attack them. You don't negotiate with them. You don't yell at them.

You kill them. You don't sell jet to this one day you deal with your giant right now look at verse 48 is David moved closer to attack Tuesday as Goliath moved closer to attack. David ran out quickly to meet him even run from Goliath. You didn't just hold his ground against Goliath. He attacked Goliath and you must do the same until you of a problem with drinking. Let's say you have a problem with trucks and this is an ongoing problem that has not going the way you got it, deal with it. Stop rationalizing that stop hiding it.

Stop making excuses for it to get out of the dark and put it in the light of day to deal with it and that brings me to my next point. Point number four finish the giant off finished the giant off so David thought, I'm not going to give this guy a second chance. I think you'd seen the familiar scene that often shows up in movies and the scene is the hero enters the story he defeats the bill and right and then villain is dead and the hero always turns his back on the villain. Maybe he's calling somebody here is doing something else or saying a line he's facing the camera. And we know it's going to happen. All of a sudden the villain who was surely dead, stands up, and he has a knife and he's coming out the hero. David already saw that movie.

He said this is not going to happen to me and I can I give this giant a second chance. First Samuel 1751.

He ran over and pulled Goliath sword from its sheath and use it to kill the giant and cut his head off.

Now the way will I probably had a pretty thick neck sort of thing was one filled with garlic, case curricula, I'm sorry but you know he's a good guy can affect back may have taken a few moments. Why did he cut off his head because Goliath was still breathing. You might to boot to boot your pants auto. No poor giant don't coddle giants you kill giants.

Why should I kill my giant listener this if you don't kill your giant your giant will kill you that your choice you kill it, or it kills you kill or be killed.

He cut off his head. I was just watching one of the Star Wars reboot. That's called Obi-Wan Kenobi and eyes really quite good, and so we have by the way, Darth Vader is Anakin Skywalker and he is Luke's dad.

I hope that wasn't a revelation to some of you I member years ago when Star Wars came out the first time I think was the Empire strikes back and I was standing in line out of the sun with my son Christopher to see the movie someone came out of the showing right before us. They got in their car and their driving by yelling out Darth Vader is Luke's dad. We did not know this were like oh, don't telesales well now we know it. Okay, so you know, Darth Vader, Anakin Skywalker and in Obi-Wan Kenobi Ben Kenobi were friends at one time event was actually training Anakin and then Anakin turned of the dark side of the force. I'm not advocating any of this. I'm just telling of the story line right so in this particular episode that I saw Obi wan is having a lightsaber duel with Darth Vader and Vader is prevailing but suddenly Obi wan makes a comeback in any breathing Darth Vader down and he brings his lightsaber down on the on the helmet of Darth Vader and splits it opening you can see the face of an acumen there and and then all of a sudden Obi-Wan Kenobi says I'm sorry Anakin… Job cowboy doesn't kill them because what Darth Vader comes back for more right that's what you do when you got your enemy down.

You defeat him.

And this is what is happening here. Don't apologize. Finish off your giant coming back to drugs that say your promise drugs would you do get rid of your trucks on no-brainer hello flush them down the toilet boots pour it down the toilet and flush because of your desperate you might go back later. This is still drinkable. Trust me, I heard worse if you fall into this sexual sin admitted sexual sin.

Stop rationalizing stop excusing it.

Stop calling it a mistake, or human weakness. It is a sin. After David sin with Bathsheba will get to this later in Psalm 51 he said against you, Lord, and you only have I sin.

That's what it means to confess your sin. First, on 19 says if you will confess your sin. God is faithful and just to forgive you your sin and cleanse you from all unrighteousness. The word confess means to acknowledge it and it means to agree with God.

So let's see you at iron standing on the beach and we see a beautiful sunset. I saved that was an amazing sunset and you say I agree Greg it really was. So God says that is wonderful. I love it and we say, I love it to Lord and then the Lord says that's horrible. I hated and we say I agree. Lord, it's horrible to confess your sin is to align your will with the will of God and sees sin as God sees it.

God hates sin. He loves a sinner, but he hade said so to confess our sin is to acknowledge shall horrible it is and then of course to repent or churn from it. We like to gloss these things, overwhelming human and I make mistakes. That's true. We all do call sin. Sin bring your giant out in the light of day. But before you can do this. The Lord may strip you down to nothing. So you will see when your giant is defeated. It's not your strength but she is. I love this little part of the story. First Samuel 17 verse 38, before David goes and faces off with Goliath false as well were some armor boy I'll tell you what you can wear my armor so David put on a bronze helmet, a coat of mail strapped the sword over it took a step or two to see what it was like because he never worn things like this before and he says I can't go in these it's like a little kid playing dress-up right to compress point, shoes even to bid Eddie's got this sort will you know no way he's going to go against Goliath of all that stuff so we stripped it all off he is not gonna wear Saul's armor.

It was going to be God. Nothing. There was no plan B if God did not come through. He was done for, but David knew God would come through.

See the problem in our minds is Satan is the giant and got a small one, the very opposite is true. Satan is powerful, but God is way more powerful again. He's bigger then your giant so there's also a picture here for us sharing in the victory of Jesus Christ.

Remember whoever one then the other people would share in the victory. So because David one. Everyone was excited these villas Israelis and have the courage to attack the Philistines, which they lack before, so they shared in the victory of David, the greater David, if you will, the son of David as he called himself solve. Jesus Christ went to the cross and defeated Satan and his demon forces and we share in that victory because Colossians 314 232 14 says of Christ. He canceled the record that contain the charges against us, he took it and destroyed it by nailing it to Christ cross in this way God disarmed evil rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross of Christ. So I die I don't fight for victory. Listen to this. I don't fight for victory.

I fight from victory.

I don't have to go take the devil on my own strength I will fail you will fail Satan's way more powerful than Greg. He's made way more powerful than you, but all Lord.

Oh, he's so much stronger than Satan. So I stand in the Lord and in the power of his might. That gives me the boldness and that gives me the strength to do what God has called me to do.

They shared in the victory of David and we share in the victory of Christ.

I love how they attacked the Philistines, so we share in this great victory. Greater is he that is in you and he that is in the world. So let's recap and lend this message.

If you miss these points. Point number one was.

Everyone has giants. There are no exceptions just a matter of what where or who your giant is point number two. The battle belongs to the Lord rests in the finished work that God has done it since spiritual bottle and it must be fought with spiritual weapons.

Number three. Attack your giant for sure giant your problem your addiction, your vice. Whatever it might be into the light of day: God, pray for us power then attack your giant point number four. Finish your giant off cut off its head. Burn your bridges and break with the past, draw lines, make yourself accountable to others is a lot of times will say why don't live that way anymore.

But we still hang out with the same people leading us to do the same things you need new friend you need godly friend. The Bible says flee youthful desires and follow the Lord and all those a call upon him with a pure heart. If you hang around godless people.

The pull you down. I'm not advocating having no contact with nonbelievers.

How else will we evangelize them. But having said that, we need godly people who will spur us on that for the Bible says don't forsake the assembling of yourselves together is the manner of some is to encourage one another and so much more as you see the day of the Lord approaching you know when COBIT hit. We began to sort of up our game online and in our online audience grew considerably and it grew to a worldwide audience so I know that I'm speaking the people all around our planet were so glad that you're part of our church service. Right now, but let me just say to you that were coming in person and now you're staying home but your within proximity of our church people. It's time to come back to church in person in person and to others out there who are watching this online. I'm glad we can be here for you.

We want to minister to you as much as possible, but you need to find a local church in your area. We need to be together in person. This is what the Bible teaches we spur one another on. We encourage each other and things happen warmer gathered together in person that just don't happen elsewhere. So this is a very important thing to remember. The battle belongs to the Lord call out to the Lord.

He can defeat your giant let me come back to a point I raised earlier, the greater David, the Lord Jesus Christ. One of the cross and died for our sin.

This is where we find the power to live the Christian life. Listen some people so you know it's hard to be a Christian, I would disagree. It's not hard to be a Christian. It's impossible. It is impossible to be a Christian in this world today… Apart from the power of the Holy Spirit. I need Godself. Jesus said, apart from me you can do nothing but the flipside of that coin, the words of Paul I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Yes, what I'm tempted about my capacity to resist actually want, because we really look at first Corinthians 1013 that says God won't allow you to be tempted above your capacity to resist but will with the temptation make a way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. So there's always a way out.

God will give you the power. The question is do you want to utilize that power. Do you want to be free of that addiction is Jesus said to that one man who was disabled do you want to be made whole, questions that ask of course he does know not every drug person one-stop person is addicted to drugs wants to be free. Not every alcoholic wants to stop drinking. Not every person living on the streets wants to get off the streets are a people that have made a decision to live that way. That is the way they want to live there never going to change if they don't want to change so the question is do you want to be made whole and you want to change you like this lifestyle herein or do you want to get out of it. If so, Jesus extends his hand to pull you up just like you pull that one man up, listen, I can never overcome Satan or send them my own strength. While all just get some holy water. There is no such thing as holy water need to break it to you.

Well I'll just wear a crucifix that will keep the devil away are you kidding all were garlic around my neck. I will keep Satan away.

That'll keep your friends away will keep saying the way. Especially if you take a bite out of a garlic know the only power greater than Satan is the power of Christ.

The only thing that will keep Satan from controlling you is the power of Jesus and dwelling you. That's why you need Jesus in your life, and I close by asking this question is Jesus living in your life right now and as he forgiven you, of all of your sin. Maybe you've just been sort of a religious type person trying to live this life in your own strength and that is why your defeated day after day, month after month, year after year.

You need a relationship with God.

That's what it's all about Jesus Christ who died on the cross and rose again from the dead, now stands at the door of each of our lives in the Knox and he says a fool here his voice and open the door. He will commit. Have you ever asked Jesus Christ to come into your life. If not you can do it right here right now and then everything will change for you if you want Jesus to come in your life and forgive you of your sin respond to this invitation that will close with as we all bow our heads for a closing prayer father I pray that your Holy Spirit will work in this group of people and all those who are watching and if there's anyone here who does not know you, who does not have a relationship with you.

Let this be the moment they believe.

Let this be the moment they come to you, Jesus, we commit them to you what I had to bother eyes are closed and were praying. Maybe there somebody here that would say I need Jesus.

I need my sin forgiven. I've tried to change my life and pull myself up by my own bootstraps and I keep feeling I need help I need God, pray for me that your desire. If you want Jesus Christ to come in your life if you want him to forgive you of your sin if you want to fill the big hole in your heart that you tried to fill was so many things.

This culture offers. If you want to know that you will go to heaven when you die wherever you are going to the pray this prayer out loud after me.

Pray these words.

Please, Lord Jesus, I know that I'm a sinner but I know that you're the Savior who died on the cross for my sin and rose again from the dead. I turn from my sin.

Now, and I choose to follow you from this moment forward. Thank you for hearing this prayer in answering this prayer in Jesus name I pray, amen. Everybody, thanks for listening to this podcast to learn more about harvest ministries follow the show and consider supporting it. Just go to harvest.org and find out how to know God personally go to harvest.org and click on know God