HOW TO SLAY THE GIANT

Pr. Geoffrey Kibombo

In life, we usually encounter various giants and when they manifest, they threaten to destroy us (1 Sam 17:44).  We usually lose battles to giants because we level up with them or fight on the same standard as they are, but if you ought to defeat them, you have got to level up. Isaiah 59:19 (NKJV) reminds us that; 
“When the enemy comes like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him”.

Most Christians settle at the level or place where the devil is raising up dust. They remain on the same level yet this is where they will easily lose the battle. You cannot stop the devil from raising dust because that is his mission. But if you plan to overcome him, leave the ground where the devil is fighting from and go to the place where God is raising a standard. We read of Goliath who challenged the Israelites. 1 Samuel 17:16 (GNT) says; 
“Goliath challenged the Israelites every morning and evening for forty days.”

He tormented Israel for a whole 40 days, and this is a significant time in the kingdom of God. The Israelites were stationed where the devil was raising dust. When David was sent to battleground to deliver some items, he inquired about the situation, but was belittled by his elder brother. 1 Samuel 17:28 (NLT) says;  
“When David’s oldest brother, Eliab, heard David talking to the men, he was angry. “What are you doing around here anyway?” he demanded. “What about those few sheep you’re supposed to be taking care of? I know about your pride and deceit.”   

The giants before us are overwhelming, frightening and destructive. So how you victoriously slay giants that have been tormenting you for a long time?

See an Opportunity in Challenges

1 Samuel 17:25-27 (NLT)

“Have you seen the giant?” the men asked. “He comes out each day to defy Israel. The king has offered a huge reward to anyone who kills him. He will give that man one of his daughters for a wife, and the man’s entire family will be exempted from paying taxes! 26 “David asked the soldiers standing nearby, “What will a man get for killing this Philistine and ending his defiance of Israel? Who is this pagan Philistine anyway, that he is allowed to defy the armies of the living God?” 27 And these men gave David the same reply. They said, “Yes, that is the reward for killing him.”

When David heard about the reward, he left the place where the devil was raising dust and went where the Lord would raise the standard. David did not see the Philistine giant as a challenge, but as an opportunity to marry the princess and get the huge reward promised. How do you perceive the giants that have been challenging you? Have you ever had a problem but you see an opportunity to see God through it? James 1:2 (NLT) says; 
“Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy”

People often position themselves where the devil is raising a storm. Do you see a blessing in your challenge? Can you see an opportunity to glorify God through it? Every problem in your life is in your control and God can give you the grace to manage it. 1 Corinthians 10:13 (NIV) reminds us that;  
“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it”.

God will not tempt us beyond our abilities and even then He puts in place a rescue plan for us – He gives us the grace to absorb any challenge or temptation that comes our way (2 Cor 12:9). God is with us and for us, He knows our weaknesses and challenges, and will never let us be tested beyond our abilities. 
When someone becomes born-again, they are not only going to heaven, they are also shifting goal posts and choosing a side from which to gain victory. We are on the victor’s side and more than conquerors in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:37)

David asked; “What will a man get for killing this Philistine and ending his insults to Israel? - 1 Samuel 17:26 (TLB). The Philistine was tormenting Israel but David saw an opportunity for a breakthrough amidst the challenge. What do you see when you encounter challenges?   

Ignore the Doubters

1 Samuel 17:32-35 (TLB)

“Don’t worry about a thing,” David told him. “I’ll take care of this Philistine!” 33 “Don’t be ridiculous!” Saul replied. “How can a kid like you fight with a man like him? You are only a boy, and he has been in the army since he was a boy!” 34 But David persisted. “When I am taking care of my father’s sheep,” he said, “and a lion or a bear comes and grabs a lamb from the flock, 35 I go after it with a club and take the lamb from its mouth. If it turns on me, I catch it by the jaw and club it to death”.

Why were the Israel soldiers terrified and scared for 40 days that Goliath challenged them?. The answer seems clearly obvious. The Philistine giant was about nine feet tall and incredibly strong and his bronze coat weighed about 56 kg (1 Samuel 17:4-7). He was a also a well trained and experienced mercenary who had sent challengers to meet their Maker. Physically, every soldier in the Israel camp was outshone. Fighting Goliath was an assured suicide plan. Even though David was physically and technically below anyone else, fighting Goliath didn’t look like suicide but victory

Ask yourself; from which mountain are you viewing your challenges? Do you see victory or destruction? Do you continually give attention to those that despise and doubt you? When Eliab – Joseph’s brother scorned him, he did not stick around for more, but he turned away instead. He says in 1 Samuel 17:29-30 (NIV); 
Now what have I done?” said David. “Can’t I even speak?” 30 He then turned away to someone else and brought up the same matter.”

Like David, are you moving away or are you still keeping company with those people who keep mocking you and drain hope out of you. Quit that circle of friends and find those who will encourage you and help you view things from a victorious perspective.

What fueled David’s valour and boldness? Why wasn’t he terrified like the soldiers? It was his confidence in God’s promises. In the previous chapter, God had chosen him to be the next king of Israel and Samuel had anointed him (1 Samuel 16:12-13). So David knew that God was on his side and the Spirit of the Lord was upon him. This drew additional confidence, and also remembering how God had delivered him from the paw of the lion and bear (1 Samuel 17:35). David was not self-confident but God-confident, and his faith was fueled by God’s word and promises

As a Christian you need not conform to the way the non-believers speak because of what is happening around you or in this world – for we are not governed by what we see but by what we believe (2 Cor 5:7). Take courage and have faith in God’s word. Do not conform to fear and doubts. Quit those life draining confessions and get a new and positive vocabulary. For instance Jesus used words like “The girl is not dead but asleep. But they laughed at him” – Mathew 9:24. 
He used such terms because he knew that it is easy to awaken one who is just sleeping. Whenever people don’t see things from your point of view, they will laugh at you like they did to Jesus but with faith and God on your side, you will have the last laugh just like Jesus silenced them when he raised the dead girl – pessimists ridicule faith confessions but ignore them and turn away. Sometimes the doubters or pessimists are usually fellow Christians who haven’t grown spiritually or have miniature faith

So as believers, we should fear not. Just as David went forth to fight Goliath in God’s strength (1 Samuel 17:45), we are also equipped with God’s word and power, and with faith as our shield, we shall the slay giants before us.  

Perceive Victory from the Lord

1 Samuel 17:36-37 (ESV)

“Your servant has struck down both lions and bears, and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God.” 37 And David said, “The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.”

Do you have the same point of view as David? Do you see victory even before the battle? You cannot see a victory when you are still magnifying and exalting challenges and problems. (1 Samuel 17:24-25). People are very good at magnifying problems, but your perception as a Christian is that challenges are food for those who believe.

The spies who went to Canaan magnified the giants instead of God who had rescued them. Numbers 13:32-33 (NKJV) says;  
“And they gave the children of Israel a bad report of the land which they had spied out, saying, “The land through which we have gone as spies is a land that devours its inhabitants, and all the people whom we saw in it are men of great stature. 33 There we saw the giants (the descendants of Anak came from the giants); and we were like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight.”

But Joshua, who was one of the spies, had a different report and had already perceived victory. He tells the crowd in Numbers 14:7-9 (ESV) that;  
“The land, which we passed through to spy it out, is an exceedingly good land. 8 If the Lord delights in us, he will bring us into this land and give it to us, a land that flows with milk and honey. 9 Only do not rebel against the Lord. And do not fear the people of the land, for they are bread for us. Their protection is removed from them, and the Lord is with us; do not fear them.”

When someone diminishes a problem to something edible, he has already declared victory. Joshua viewed the giants as something to eat, and which is not guarded. The challenges before you are like bread – they are temporary and will never last. The challenges you face are not a new thing, and will always be present on earth. Jesus knew this and therefore encourages us in John 16:33 (GNT) that;  
“I have told you this so that you will have peace by being united to me. The world will make you suffer. But be brave! I have defeated the world!"

Jesus assures us that we shall overcome the challenges we face. As a church we shall go through challenges and we shall overcome, but the challenges will overcome those with a negative and fear induced attitude (Jeremiah 42:16, Job 3:25).  

Our Weapons Aren’t Carnal

1 Samuel 17:38-40 (NLT)

“Then Saul gave David his own armor—a bronze helmet and a coat of mail. 39 David put it on, strapped the sword over it, and took a step or two to see what it was like, for he had never worn such things before. “I can’t go in these,” he protested to Saul. “I’m not used to them.” So David took them off again. 40 He picked up five smooth stones from a stream and put them into his shepherd’s bag. Then, armed only with his shepherd’s staff and sling, he started across the valley to fight the Philistine."

How will you fight the giant who has been challenging you? You don’t have to wear someone else's armour, you only to wield the weapon of the Spirit (Romans 8:13). The courage to encounter and triumph over giants is made possible by the Spirit, and by the sword of the Spirit - God's word (Ephesians 6:17) 

It’s interesting that Saul wanted David to use the same weapons Goliath was using which would put David on the same level with Goliath. But the Bible says in 2 Corinthians 10:4 (NKJV) that, 
“For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds”  

In order for you to slay the giant, you don’t have to wear Saul’s armour; for the battle is the Lord’s, not yours (2 Chronicles 20:15). Saul’s weapons were so encumbering that David knew he couldn’t fight a good fight in them. He was uncomfortable and could barely walk. They would hinder God using him. David needed no sword, no shield, no helmet, no armour, but only five smooth stones to defeat Goliath. 
In this scenario, David represents the church, Goliath represents the enemy, trials or challenges; the five smooth stones represent the word of God; the stream represents the Holy Spirit and the shepherd's bag represent David's heart. Different stones kill different kinds of giants, and its the Holy Spirit to guide you on which stone to use and for Him to do so, the word has to be stored up in your heart. Always store up God's word in your heart because by it, giants fall (Hebrews 4:12)   

The giants before you are very challenging and frightening but they can be slain just like David did. And the courage to face and conquer them will come from re-positioning yourself and changing warfare tactics - ignoring the doubters, perceiving victory from the Lord, using God's divine weapons, and having faith in God, His word and promises.