FACING GIANTS

2009-09-05T11:15:00.002+10:00

Being a father has many advantages such as owning transformer toys and telling friends that they actually belong to the kids. Another one is being able to read bedtime bible story books with really cool pictures, one of my favourite stories to read is David and Goliath. No matter how many times I read this story many thoughts come flooding into my mind. The major one is how did David feel standing in front of Goliath this ratty little boy probably still smelling like sheep dung face to face with a seasoned veteran of the Philistine army a giant of a man.

The more I do life the more I get a little understanding of what David felt when faced with a giant truth is everyday we face some sort of giant in our life it may not be 9ft tall and have a booming voice it may be in the form of bills, attitudes, sickness, disease, employment whatever it is I believe that David‘s actions give us a great blueprint to destroy the giants that rise in our lives and try stop us from going forward.

Firstly David faced his giant.

The bible tells us that Goliath faced the Israelite army for forty days and nights but not one person in that army wanted to face this giant. Then along comes David delivering some cheese and bread for his brothers heard this man defile the name of his God and thought right “it’s on like donkey kong”. David knew he had to face his giant because if he didn’t that giant would keep coming back.
When giants arise in our lives we need to face them because if we don’t they will just keep coming back.

Secondly; David was God Focused

Growing up I didn’t think you could get any tougher than Chuck Norris so Goliath was the Chuck Norris of the Philistine army he was a warrior with amazing battle skills and a weaponry that any solider would be proud of. David sees Goliath but he just sees God more.
Focus on giants we stumble - Focus on God our giants tumble.

Thirdly: David had a heart for God

The Book of Acts tells us that God called David a man after his own heart, a compliment he gave no other he called Paul his apostle and John his beloved but David had a God seeking heart.

The Israelite talked a lot about Goliath, his weapons and ability. David made two references to Goliath and exalted God on 9 occasions.
David’s God thoughts outnumbered his giants thoughts.

We all face giants on a daily basis regardless of who we are I encourage you to do as David did and your giant tumble.

Profiles and other stuff

2009-07-06T20:34:00.001+10:00

As a sports fan I love looking at profiles of sportsmen and sportswomen, what their favourite meal is, favourite band, all that type of stuff and I especially love to hear of their most embarrassing moments on the sporting field. It got me thinking back to one of my embarrassing or more funny moments of my illustrious sporting career. I remember playing basketball for my school - we took on the might of Ipswich Grammar, we were in the huddle and my coach gave me the assignment of marking their big man and I mean big man. As I walked out to the tip off, I saw this giant of what I thought a man but was later told he was merely a boy. He was 6ft 10 inches tall, and better still he was the man my coach wanted me to mark. I remember getting closer to him ,and his belly button, as that is all I could see. Halfway through the game and after this guy had dunked on me ten times I remember thinking WOW I wish I could grow.

More than ten years on I still find myself saying this but not because I am staring at some guys belly button but because I want to grow in Christ. Spiritual growth is important to us Christians we should never think that we are fully grown. But just as in the natural we need things to grow so is the same in spiritual growth.

1. Desire: We must desire to grow it can't come from anyone else but you .I often tell my church that if I could literally piggy back everyone toward their spiritual growth I would but unfortunately this is something that I can't do. It comes through desire.
1 Peter 2:2 Like newborn babies CRAVE pure spiritual milk so that by it you may grow up in your salvation.
2. Maintain that desire: Philipians 3: 12-14 Shows although Paul had seen great things he knew that he had to maintain that desire
3. Food: Growth happens naturally when we eat food, Growth happens spiritually when we eat the word of God
Psalm 1 1-2 But his delight is in the law of the lord and on his law he meditates day and night.
4.Exercise: Exercise being Christ like everyday no matter who cuts you off in traffic or who pushes in front of you at a Myer stock take sale exercise being Christ like.

Spiritual growth is important for every Christian. I believe the moment we stop growing is the moment we begin to die.

Continue growing in every way for Christ.

Brad Whittington

Brad's Blog

FACING GIANTS

Profiles and other stuff