BS Topic for this week: Facing Your Giants

I decided to write an outline of our BS topic last night so you’ll be able to catch up with our lesson. J It was a groovy topic which everyone can relate, it’s all about conquering the giants in our life. J I urge you to read your Bible in 1Samuel 17:1-58 as the main course of our topic. It’s the story of the famous David and Goliath, how David destroy his Goliath, and today based from that story we’ll be able to know/learn how to totally destroy our own GOLIATHs as well. You can read the whole chapter here:

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20samuel%2017&version=NIV

FACING YOUR GIANTS

Her name is Florence Chadwick – first woman to swim 23 miles (37 km) across English Channels in both directions.

One time she attempted to swim from Catalina to California in 1952 to set another world record but due to a heavy fog, she got disoriented, discouraged and eventually give up. After doing so, her crew was afraid to tell her how close she was to the finish line. One crew was brave enough to tell her and said, “Don’t get upset but you’re only 300 yards away from the finish line.” And that is, (ayon sa mahiwagang conversion chart hehe :D), 0.27 Km!! Imagine, less than 500 meters nalang, sobrang lapit na, nag-give up pa siya. Sayang talaga. When they asked her why, all she could utter was “All I could see was hopeless.”

Like Florence, we got easily disoriented, mixed-up, at a complete loss and disheartened at certain time whenever we encounter heavy fogs in our life. Her clouded vision kept her from victory, just like us. But in the case of David, iba yung nakita niya. So.. HOW DO YOU SEE YOUR CHALLENGES AHEAD? HOW DO YOU SEE YOUR GOLIATHS? J

Balik tayo sa istorya ni David at Goliath, based sa nabasa natin sa Bible, kilalanin natin yung two main characters ng kwento natin.

1.       DAVID – youngest of 8 siblings (can be read at 1 Samuel 16:11)

fine appearance and handsome (1 Samuel 16:12)

a little more than a boy (1 Samuel 17:33)

2.       GOLIATH – a champion (1 Samuel 17:4)

Warrior since his childhood (1 Samuel 17:33)

                               GIANT! 9 ½ ft tall (1 Samuel 17:4) converted to 2.98 m imagine! Sabi ni kuya Kedz kasing taas daw ng basketball ring. Woa.

Ø  Kung ganito lang din ang Goliath ni David, malamang talo siya. No match yung strength nilang dalawa. Description pa ni Max Lucado who wrote the book, Facing Your Giants, eh “toothpick vs. tornado match” ang nangyari.
Ø  Just like us, our GOLIATH may not carry sword or shield, but it has blades of unemployment, inadequacy, abandonment, depression and abuse.
Ø  Our GOLIATH may not parade up and down the hills of Elah, but prances through our office, bedroom, working area, even clubhouse! Hehe.
Ø  Our GOLIATH brings bills you can’t pay, people you can’t please, Tanduay you can’t resist, porn you can’t refuse, career you can’t escape, past you can’t shake and future you can’t face.
Ø  Our GOLIATH has a very large voice saying, “YOU ARE A LOSER!” or “YOU MESSED UP!” and even “YOU DON’T HAVE WHAT IT TAKES!”

BUT! We can look our Goliath/Giants in two different view using two different eyes/lenses.

1.       You can look your giants with the eyes of the faithless

a.       Quoted from Robinson Haddon, “In any situation, what you ARE determines what you SEE, and what you SEEdetermines what you DO.”

b.      The limited view of the faithless brings about fear, which results in dominance by the enemy.

c.       FEAR as defined  by Canfield and Hansen means Fantasized Experience Appearing Real

d.      Fear comes when we live by sight and not by sight

                                                               i.      Israelites saw Goliath as giant/tall so pumasok sa utak nila na ang kalaban ay undefeatable, invincible

                                                             ii.      King Saul saw David as young man na walang ibang alam kundi mag alaga lang ng tupa so sa isip isip niya na di kaya ng batang ito matalo yung Giant

                                                            iii.      “I’ve been doing it for so many years, pag pinigilan ko baka manlaban” etc.,etc.

e.      If we live by sight, we will be defeated even before the battle starts! (See verse 24)

2.       You can look your giants with the eyes of the faithful

a.       The unlimited view of the faithful brings courage which results in totally dominating the enemy

b.      COURAGE comes when we live by FAITH and not by SIGHT

c.       COURAGE comes because we have confidence and rely on God’s unlimited power, not in our own physical limitationsJ

d.      The view  of the faithful sees obstacles as potential victories because of our God

PREPARATIONS TO WIPE OUT YOUR GIANTS:

1.       Ignore doubts expressed by faithless people around you (verse 33)

a.       Listen to the VOICE OF TRUTH! How? Prayer silence the voice of the enemy.

2.       Remember your POOF Story (verse 34-37)

a.       POOF Stories are just answered prayer that nobody could perform

b.      David’s Poof Story happens when a lion and a bear tried to steal a sheep and when they attacked – POOF! God delivered both beast into his hands! J

c.       David wants to tell us here that the same God who answered prayers before, who parted the sea, raise the dead, stopped the sun from setting, is the same God who will answer your prayers today! :)

d.      Do you have your own POOF STORY? Dwell in them to see how good your God is before you instead to DOUBT! J

3.       Forsake fleshly (verse 38-40)

a.       Saul offers David’s armor but it doesn’t fit. So he chose to bring his slingshot instead. It has not been tested to find out how well it works but David tried out God and He fits on every occasion.

b.      David does not fear Goliath because he knows who goes before him in the battle (see verse 45-47)

c.       When I face my giant, do I have the confidence to understand that repentance might be more valuable than any offered psychotherapy, etc?

d.      Do I seek God’s promises or seeking my security in my bank account?

e.      Go for SUBOK NA MATATAG sabi pa nga sa commercial

4.       Act Boldly (verse 49)

a.       Goliath will not fall unless David load the stone in his slingshot. Similarly, your giants will not fall unless you ACT!

b.      Load your stones now! J  According to Philippians 4:13, I can do all things through God who strengthens me.

So.. what kind of lenses are you gonna use today? :)