Thursday, April 19, 2012

April 20, 2012

"When the Philistines saw that their hero was dead, they turned and ran. Then the men of Israel and Judah surged forward with a shout and pursued the Philistines to the entrance of Gath and to the gates of Ekron. Their dead were strewn along the Shaaraim road to Gath and Ekron. When the Israelites returned from chasing the Philistines, they plundered their camp."   I Samuel 17:52-53

You learn a lot about yourself and others when confronted by a giant. The great Biblical account of David and Goliath illustrates that.

Of the many lessons to be learned from studying this engaging encounter are the ones we focused on this week about what to expect from God.

In the last two posts we learned that David expected God to demonstrate His giant power when he confronted Goliath. I think you, too, can expect that when you are confronted by a giant circumstance of life that God will bring His power to bare against it.

We also learned to expect that if God allows a giant to confront you He will use it to raise up the giant within you!

For this morning, I want to share the third expectation David had when he faced Goliath and one that you can have as well. You can expect that when God raises up the giant within you He will use that to raise up giants around you!

After David slew the giant with one shot from his sling, the indimidated Israeli army rose up after Goliath went down. The courage and bravery of David infused courage into every disheartened soldier. Across the battlefield fear and panic fell upon the Philistines and they were soundly routed by the Army of God.

David not only killed a giant but he raised up giant-killers! You can expect God to do the same through you if you will stand against your giants in His strength. But that wasn't the end of it! In II Samuel 23 there is a list of 37 mighty men - giant-killers encouraged and inspired by the faith of their King who slew Goliath!

Once again I remind you from this story of David and Goliath that your expectations of God will come out of your experience with God. David had big expectations because he was familiar with a BIG GOD! His God had empowered him to kill a lion and a bear, so he expected God to help him against the giant!

David was one of the greatest kings to ever lead Israel - maybe one of the greatest kings of all time - because he expected God to demonstrate gigantic power through him and he expected God to raise up the giant within him and he expected God to use him to raise up mighty men to defeat the giants who stood opposed to God's people!

What do you expect from God? How do you expect Him to use you? What giants need to fall? Are you raising up any giants? How is your personal experience with Him? Are you winning your private battles?