May we not lose these things because we run into resistance. And it's so easy to lose. It's so easy to get bitter. What do you do if you've been hanging around Christianity for a long time and working and serving, and you find your zeal low, your joy absent? And you're just not as...
Ready to believe and trust God as you used to? What do you do? You fight. You force yourself to sing. You force yourself to pray.
You force yourself to praise God. Not because these things aren't true, because they are true. This is Cross-Reference Radio with our pastor and teacher, Rick Gaston. Rick is the pastor of Calvary Chapel, Mechanicsville. Pastor Rick is currently teaching through the book of 1 Samuel.
Please stay with us after today's message to hear more information about Cross-Reference Radio, specifically, how you can get a free copy of this teaching. But for now, let's join Pastor Rick in the book of 1 Samuel chapter 17 with today's edition of Cross-Reference Radio. David kills Goliath. It's better to kill Goliath than to be killed by Goliath. And that is just a fact.
Not only was he a giant. Especially David's life. And spiritual giants Of course, we know all about them. We read about them in the Bible. But The Bible has a way of turning life into its classroom.
Not a place that and it can be pretty scary. And David's going to have a great victory, of course. But After this victory there's a lot of life waiting for him. and a lot of lessons for us. about how he faced them.
This is the beginning. This is a cla you would think it would be a climactic moment. It is just the start. And he never saw it coming. We s we seldom do.
Well, we left off with David Walking out of the Israeli camp Emerging from the line of the Israelites, the giant sees him coming. And now we pick up in verse 41. Again, David's coming out in the garb of a shepherd. The giant Is with body armor. and heavily armed.
And he has another man with him. Verse 41 So the Philistines came and began drawing near to David. And the man who bore the shield went before him, that is Goliath's esquire, his armour bearer, And Of course Goliath is filled with hatred, but Towards the Jews He's heading straight toward David. Uh mister Bigg is not bluffing. And Attempts to appease such enemies are senseless.
When someone's wrong, appeasing them does not help the situation. It makes it worse. It says here in verse twenty one, And the man who bore the shield went before him. And that teaches us, you know, for those of you who may not yet have learned, That Even giants have helpers. Great.
The Satanic trio faces every Christian. There is the world and its influences which so rich with carnal pleasure, Our flesh that we're born with, a sinful nature, just loves what the world has to offer. It's never a surprise that people sin. Because we're sinners. In the world.
without effort. can be quite A giant in itself. Of course, there's the flesh that responds to the world, my sinful nature. If there was nobody else around, I'd still be a sinner. Hermits are still sinners.
There are those that have tried to be hermits, to not sin, and have found that it doesn't work. at all. In fact, it could be worse. It is worse. Then of course the master of this satanic trio is the enemy himself.
governed by Lucifer Hordes of evil influences that have access to us. In one form or another, Actually, it's multiple forms. And We must not be distracted by the giants that we face when we don't face giants every single day of our life, but there are times when we face giants and we mustn't be distracted by Those that uh accompany the giant. that are also dangerous. We have to stay focused on the larger problems and not lose sight of the potential problems.
And this armor bearer was a potential problem. Not that they were gonna not that David and Goliath would have gotten into a fist fight. That will not have lasted very long. David would have gotten in back of him and just choked him out. Very simple solution.
So if we see a giant problem in life, The lesser problems are hazards none the less, but they cannot distract us. And Satan finds his helpers. He finds those who are willing to assist his champions. He finds advocates. He sends them to churches.
to preach their little message to people, even the Antichrist. Has a sidekick. The little horn That does all sorts of flunky work for him in the spiritual realm, but he is a very serious problem. And so, as you remember the story of David and Goliath. Don't forget Goliath had a helper.
Because that's a lesson for us in life. But that helper didn't help very much. David stayed focused. on the big problem took it out of the way. and the smaller problem fled.
Verse forty two. And when the Philistine looked about, and saw David, he disdained him, for he was only a youth. ruddy and good looking. Dad David didn't write that. He didn't look the part.
He wasn't tough enough looking. Looks can be deceiving. Goliath sees him and says, You're kidding me. This You've sent this, this is your champion, to face me? It was Yet another mistake Goliath made Paul, O Timothy, let no one despise your youth.
Be an example to the believers, in word and conduct, in love and spirit, in faith, in purity. In other words, Pull the teeth of their criticisms. They're going to cut say things about you make them liars Because sometimes The older ones have a difficulty adjusting to the younger ones. Not when the younger ones are foolish. Um We're not to appease Era, no matter how much we love the wrong one that is wrong.
We do them more harm. They'll learn that in time, hopefully. Second Peter chapter 2, verse 3.
Now we're talking about Goliath scoffing. At David Just looking at him. People He profiled him. Knowing this first, that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, and saying, Where is the promise of his coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.
Also, to keep you from scoffing, let me get this right. I'm supposed to judge the earth at your command. Otherwise you'll scoff at my delay.
Well, you're going to have to scoff. Revelation 6. 16 tells us How it ends for the scoffers And they said to the mountains and rocks fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb. The great day of his wrath is come. And Who Is Able to Stand?
is commentary built into their projected response. That is The Way of the Scoffer A debt they cannot pay And the Bible warns Don't fall in line with them. And the believers don't. The unbelievers do.
Some are slow to become believers. They're so impressed with the world. They're so impressed with what makes them feel good. That they dismiss what's right. And what in the end will feel best.
And we do it by faith, and faith requires suffering, pain. There's no way around that. Uh the old saying God has one child without sin and none without suffering. He says here in verse 42, for he was only a youth, ruddy and good looking. David goes, What is with you people in my youth?
You know, when he came when they came to anoint him with oil, he's the youngest, still the youngest, you know. And anyway, 1 Samuel 17, and Saul said to David, You are not Able to go against this Philistine to fight him, for you are a youth and he a man of war from his youth. To which David could have said, Okay, I am a youth and I can't go fight him. But you're not a youth, why don't you go fight him? Verse 43.
So the Philistines said to David, Am I a dog? Did you come to me with sticks? And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. They are standing a good distance away from each other at this time. And we know that because David is going to run towards him.
Well, if they're close enough, they just simply converse, and David would bump into him and fall over. Yeah. Picture the big giant and anyway.
So there's some space, that means they're projecting, they're speaking loudly to each other. Those on the battle line. The Philistines and Jews alike can probably hear. What's going on with the exchange between these two? There's also distance to throw the stone.
So, David's going to close this distance. He's going to run towards the giant. He's going to be loading up his sling. And it's that distance to get that missile to do what it's supposed to do. Again, they're some distance away from each other.
And that would explain. How some of this is recorded. That others are listening. And there's also the issue of the language.
Well, David, they're probably speaking Aramaic. Uh Semitic language that uh was common enough in that region. David Parry's the remark about the dog missed a good chance to say, you know, call him Dog Breath or something, but he's too focused. There's no time for jokes with David right now. He's all serious.
He can't wait to drop this guy. He knows the Spirit has surged in him. If you've ever had the Holy Spirit surge in you, you know that when you have to operate and you don't sense that surge, it is very difficult. You're looking for it. It's there.
It's just not. flashing like it always does. Operating behind the scenes. I like it up front. I like it when God shows up and shows off at the same time.
But He does not do it that way.
So far, I would have to say, the older you get in Christianity, the more faith you have to use. What a drag! Seriously, I want to be emotionally into things. And sometimes I'm not. It used to be I step into the pullback and run to the pulpit.
Now I don't always run to the pulpit, but never have I not sensed the Lord standing here. And I like to think I've gotten better at doing what I'm called to do. No comments, please.
Okay, I gotta remember, it's Wednesday. It's been a long day. Let's get to the point. And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. He cursed David by his gods.
That was. Theologically wrong. But Goliath just ruined any chance of staying alive. This blunder of blasphemy. The shepherd is going to take his life for this.
And when they play back the tape, And they look at this again in slow motion. They'll say, wait a minute, let's speed up so we can hear what he said again. That's the part right there. He should not have insulted David's God. But he did.
Verse 44, and the Philistine said to David, Come to me. And I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and beasts of the field. Another mistake. Come to me. David's going to come to him real quick like.
And But David's life was not for the giant to take. Goliath would be the entree for the buzzards at their banquet in a few minutes. Minutes? This is a very short event. It's a round one knockout, first punch.
And these words that Goliath uses here, added to the fright of all the other Jews that were intimidated by the giant, Everybody but one. The Philistines could say this day: there's always one. And it was David. There's always one that has to spoil it for us. And on this day it is the king to be.
It is a wonderful story. It's brutal, it's savage, but it's a matter of survival. And what's David supposed to do? Take daisies out to him, a bouquet of daisies. Here, Diane.
You're just having a bad day. That of course would have failed. Saul Saul thought the giant was too big to fight. David thought he was too big to miss. What a different perspective in life.
I mean, how do you view it? You know, how do you view coming to church? How do you view serving the Lord? The glass full, half empty, whatever you want to use. This is a good contrast for all of us.
It's A lot different, though, when you're facing the giant, but David had no time. It no time to sort it out. He's just focussed on what he was supposed to do. And it was a raw focus that none of the others had that day, not even our beloved hero Jonathan. But God will help David.
Verse forty five Then David said to the Philistine You come to me with a sword, with a spear, with a javelin? But I come to you in the name of Yahweh of hosts, The God of the armies of Israel whom you have defiled. You crossed the line, and now you're going to pay. David did not let the giant have the last word. He did not remain silent.
As our Lord, when tempted in the wilderness, he did not let the giant get the last word in. He said, It is written again. In case you haven't read all the Bible. And of course it was very effective. where David says you come to me with sword and spear and javelin Well he came prepared for a long fight.
I wonder if he had a lunchbox, too. But he came for a fight, and as you know, as we face giants, we don't think that, oh, this is going to be a walk in the park. Isaiah fifty-four verse seventeen. is a very beautiful verse. But when you're struggling, so if you'll read the verse first: no weapon formed against you shall prosper.
And every tongue which rises against you in judgment shall you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of Yahweh. And their righteousness is from me, says Yahweh.
Well, no weapon formed against you is going to prosper. That's true on this day for David. But what about when Saul?
Now, Isaiah wrote this almost a I don't know. doing my math in my head. Five hundred years after these events, Ah, don't hold me to that. A long time after, Isaiah writes these words. About 700 years.
And So they weren't here yet. But Abigail will say something similar to David. The point I'm making is if you're in David's position Facing the giant, Uh You have the surge of the Lord, you're ready for him. But there are times in life when you face these giants and you read a verse like this from Isaiah and you just don't feel it. You don't believe it's going to apply.
You believe the weapons formed against you will prosper. And so, having a verse like this in times of trouble, what's it going to do for you when you're failing? David's going to find out, he's going to show us. Because he reaches a point in his life later because of Saul. But he says Saul's gonna kill me one day.
There's just no way to get away from him. And, of course, shortly after, God dispatched Saul. Continues in verse 45, but I come to you in the name of Yahweh of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defiled. He's zealous for God in the face of death. He knew of Saul's promised rewards, no taxes for his father, and to take Saul's.
eldest daughter Mirab as his bride. That's not the motivation of David. He asked about that. What again is going to be given to the guy that drops this guy? David's single ambition was God, the God of Israel.
Those other things were bonus. He wasn't going to say no to them. He should have. He got Michelle. That proved to be a disaster, but who knew?
John's Gospel 2, verse 17. Then his disciples remembered that it was written, Zeal for your house has eaten me up. That zeal Should be found in believers from time to time. We should have zeal from time to time for the things of God. And here David has it: I will come unto you.
He says, I come to you in the name of Yahweh of hosts. There's he's zealous. For the Lord, whom Goliath has defiled. And then we see it in Jesus Christ, the zeal for your house, of course, being applied to him. It should be applied to us too.
I was glad when they said, let us go into the house of the Lord. Better is one day in your court than thousands anywhere else. May we not lose these things because we run into resistance. And it's so easy to lose. It's so easy to get bitter.
What do you do if you've been hanging around Christianity for a long time and working and serving and you find your zeal low, your joy absent? And you're just not as. Ready to believe and trust God as you used to? What do you do? You fight!
You force yourself to sing. You force yourself to pray. You force yourself to praise God. Not because these things aren't true, because they are true. And just because they are evasive, To you your feelings doesn't mean they're not there.
And verse 46: This day Yahweh will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you. That's prophetic. And this day I will give the carcasses of the camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the earth. That all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, not gods, but single, a single God, the only one, of course. This is how you talk back to the devil.
God's going to deliver me from your hand. I don't know how David knew how, but the application in light, we don't always know how. He says, I'm going to strike and take your head from you. And he expands this, and not only you, but all those guys in back of you. It's quite bodacious.
And all he has so far is he's killed a bear and a lion. That's pretty impressive. I don't think there's anybody here that succeeded in doing that without at least David with a sling and a. And probably a Knife.
So After David does, of course, win, he's going to take time to have a photo op. and cut that head of Goliath around from various places. We're not told it was for three days, but it calculates that way. It was at least a a day and a half. At this moment David had no sword in his hand to cut the giant's head off.
How is he going to do this? He wasn't speaking figuratively. He was he meant business. When the time comes, he's going to use Goliath's sword, and he's not going to hesitate. There will be zero hesitation in all of this.
It's just one fluid, rhythmatic move of this shepherd.
So in contrast to Saul. Who was always so clumsy, so ready to not believe because he had other interests, and those interests dominated his life, and he really liked it. He said, I like not liking the Bible. That Saul David, on the other hand, had no time for such things. He says, In this day, in verse 46, I will give the carcasses of the camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the earth.
Extending the judgment. It is a detailed and graphic statement. That he's gonna make good on. That all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. This is going to be done on what was then national television, right before their eyes.
God had two armies assembled there to see this. Deuteronomy 31. Be strong and of good courage. Remember, when God says that, because He knows that you're afraid. And he knows that you're feeling weak.
In most cases, and there is no courage.
So he's telling you to be strong and of good courage, and if it were otherwise, it would be almost insulting. Do you like it when someone asks, Are you afraid? And you know you're not afraid? You get a little irritated at the person.
Well, yeah, I'm not afraid. Then they really believe you're afraid. Be strong and have good courage. Do not fear, nor be afraid of them. For Yahweh, your God.
He is the one who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you. But. You will come that close. That close.
to being forsaken sometimes. It's got this thing for buzzer shots, you know, at the lab, the buzzer goes off, he fires a winning shot. I want to win the game by a thousand points. I just want an easy life. I really just want to be in heaven eating grapes.
Yeah. Yeah. That they The day will come. Because of Saul, that David will have to cling to these Types of verses. Deuteronomy was already in existence, and David knew the word.
He would no doubt turn to verses like that. First Timothy chapter six. We're talking about that they may know that there is a God in Israel. Fight the good fight, lay hold on eternal life to which. You were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
He's saying, Timothy, there's people watching you, they're looking at you. Hold up the line. In front of them. And he says, I urge you in the sight of God. who gives life to all things.
And before Christ Jesus, who witnessed the good Confession before Pontius Pilate. This is 1 Timothy. Uh Second Timothy gets a little bit stronger. Paul said, You know, our Lord stood before Pilate and he upheld his witness, and David on this battlefield is going to uphold the witness too. Everything he's saying to this giant, he means it.
Verse forty seven. Then all this assembly shall know that Yahweh does not save with sword and spear. For the battle is Yahweh's, and he will give it. into our hands. Yeah.
Yeah. Thanks for joining us for today's edition of Cross Reference Radio. This is the daily radio ministry of Pastor Rick Gaston of Calvary Chapel, Mechanicsville, in Virginia. Currently, Pastor Rick is in the book of 1 Samuel. If you'd like to listen again to this or other messages or share it with someone you know, please visit crossreferenceradio.com.
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