last giant before promise

Upload: jeremy-poling

Post on 03-Apr-2018

215 views

Category:

Documents


0 download

TRANSCRIPT

  • 7/28/2019 Last Giant Before Promise

    1/12

    1 The Last Giant Before Your Promise 9/10/2011

    Deu 3:1 Then we turned, and went up the way to Bashan: (fruitful) and

    Og the king of Bashan came out against us, he and all his people, to battle

    at Edrei. (mighty)

    Deu 3:2 And the LORD said unto me, Fear him not: for I will deliver him,

    and all his people, and his land, into thy hand

    Deu 3:3 So the LORD our God delivered into our hands Og also, the king

    of Bashan, and all his people: and we smote him until none was left to

    him remaining.

    Deu 3:11 For only Og king of Bashan (land of giants) remained of the

    remnant of giants; behold, his bedstead was a bedstead of iron; is it not

    in Rabbath of the children of Ammon? nine cubits was the length thereof,

    and four cubits the breadth of it, after the cubit of a man. 13 1/2 ft x6ft

    God was preparing his people for the promised land. Remember the

    report of the walled cities, the giants.

    There is here a confrontation with a giant named og. The last of the

    giants.

    1Co 16:9 For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are

    many adversaries. Anti opposite contrary

    One of the laws of hermeneutics or translating or unfolding the

    significant is the more something or someone is mentioned in the bible

    the more importance it has then Goliath 6 times og 22 times

    These giants represent spiritual powers that must be defeated

    Goliath 9 ft 9 inches a philistine ( proud warriors) to roll in the dirt , from

    gath a wine press

    Goliath was resistant to god and to gods people and to gods man

  • 7/28/2019 Last Giant Before Promise

    2/12

    2 The Last Giant Before Your Promise 9/10/2011

    But when a worshipper who had humbled himself came on the scene

    who was submitted to his father the king the prophet and his god the

    giant came down.

    For your sake for your family and your future sake submit to God.

    Sauls big and bad and he has a strong defiant spirit. But when a young

    boy, who was just being obedient and bringing bread cheese and corn

    comes on the battlefield somebody bout to go down.

    You may feel like a king you may be anointed to lead a nation but be

    treated like a nobody, but when you stay submitted to god and do not

    lose your worship god will open the right doors at the right time

    And so gods people must get rid of og, he is standing between them and

    Gods promise. When he is removed gods people will then be positioned

    and postured to take the land and live in blessing.

    There is a price to be paid to enter into your promise or your dream.

    Remember these giants are defeatable. Og ruled some 60 cities he was a

    serious giant.

    There are not any of us here today who do not encounter difficulties in

    life. We face struggles, obstacles and hurdles everyday that drain us of

    energy and strength. Many of these struggles are the by-product of just

    living in a fallen world a world that is corrupted by sin. These products

    cannot be avoided, done away with or even bypassed because they are

    common to all men and women who walk in this world. This is what Paul

    meant when he said, There hath no temptation taken you but such as is

    common to man (1 Corinthians 10:13)

  • 7/28/2019 Last Giant Before Promise

    3/12

    3 The Last Giant Before Your Promise 9/10/2011

    Then there are those difficulties that seem to not be common at all.

    Everyday we look across the scene of our life and discover the shadows

    of giants that are yet undefeated. We hear the loud voice of these

    seemingly invincible enemies roaring around us. Some days the giants of

    our life are quiet while other days their voices cannot be extinguished. It

    is these days we become vulnerable open to the onslaught of fear,

    causing us to cower in the corner, defeated and depressed. There are

    giants of doubt, fear, anger and negativism looming on the horizon:

    giants of greed, envy and lust lurking in the dark places of our existence.

    Shame prevents is from exposing these giants to anyone around us. But

    have you ever asked yourself this question, Why is there still a giant in

    my life?

    Why, since I have given my life, my heart and my mind to the guidance of

    the Spirit do I still have giants to battle? The Word of God does not leave

    us without an answer to this predicament. We can understand why

    giants still loom in our life! Armed with this understanding we can enter

    the battlefield and finally bring these gargantuan monsters of the mind

    into submission.

    There are (3) areas we must examine after recognizing there are still

    giants in our life. Lets look at

    1 Samuel 4:1 And the word of Samuel came to all Israel. Now Israel went

    out against the Philistines to battle, and pitched beside Ebenezer: and the

    Philistines pitched in Aphek. 2 And the Philistines put themselves in array

    against Israel: and when they joined battle, Israel was smitten before the

    Philistines: and they slew of the army in the field about four thousand

    men. 3 And when the people were come into the camp, the elders of

    Israel said, Wherefore hath the LORD smitten us to day before the

    Philistines? Let us fetch the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of Shiloh

  • 7/28/2019 Last Giant Before Promise

    4/12

    4 The Last Giant Before Your Promise 9/10/2011

    unto us, that, when it cometh among us, it may save us out of the hand

    of our enemies. 4 So the people sent to Shiloh, that they might bring

    from thence the ark of the covenant of the LORD of hosts, which dwelleth

    between the cherubims: and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas,

    were there with the ark of the covenant of God. 5 And when the ark of

    the covenant of the LORD came into the camp, all Israel shouted with a

    great shout, so that the earth rang again.

    The Presence of the Lord Had Gone Out

    This Ark of the Covenant was for Israel the symbol of the presence of

    God. It represented the power and authority of the God of Israel. When

    it was with them victory was guaranteed and without it victory was never

    in reach. We see in this portion of scripture just such an example of the

    power of this golden box.

    Israel had come to the valley of Aphek and pitched their tents against the

    Philistines for battle. They had every intention of defeating the long time

    foe of the Lord. The Philistines was a giant that Israel had not conquered;

    this battle then was a matter of national pride. They had to bring these

    Philistines into submission but they had forgotten one major thing they

    did not have the presence of the Lord with them. They had left the Ark of

    the Covenant in Shiloh. In their arrogance and pride the people of Israel

    had chosen to enter into battle without first considering God in the

    equation. When they joined in the battle the scripture says they were

    smitten and four thousand men were slain. After returning to the

    camp, defeated and disheartened someone remembered

    1 Samuel 4:3 And when the people were come into the camp, the elders

    of Israel said, Wherefore hath the LORD smitten us to day before the

    Philistines? Let us fetch the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of Shiloh

  • 7/28/2019 Last Giant Before Promise

    5/12

    5 The Last Giant Before Your Promise 9/10/2011

    unto us, that, when it cometh among us, it may save us out of the hand

    of our enemies.

    Sullen, overwhelmed and disheartened by the loss someone finally came

    to their senses and said, We forgot the presence of the Lord! They sent

    to Shiloh for the Ark so that as the scripture says, when it cometh

    among us, it may save us out of the hand of our enemies.

    Some time later the Ark of the Covenant arrived and the whole of Israel

    began to shout and praise God. So much so, the scripture declares that

    the earth rang again. A festival atmosphere surrounded the people of

    God as the presence of the Lord entered their presence and so with

    renewed hope and vigor the Israelites set out again to defeat the giant

    Philistia. However, again they are defeated and this time 30,000 men lost

    their lives. Even more tragically the Philistines stole the Ark of the

    Covenant. Even with the presence of the Lord in their midst they still

    succumbed to the giant why?

    Even though the Ark was with them and the people were filled with joy

    they had forgotten one very important principleBut seek ye first the

    kingdom of God (Matthew 6:33) Before the battle began no one had

    considered God then as defeat came to Israel then they considered

    bringing God into battle.

    Many of the giants still in our life come from not considering the Lord.

    We step into the struggles and stages of life without ever considering

    Gods thoughts on the matters. We make our plans and boast of our

    abilities then when destruction lingers on the air we think. Oh, maybe I

    should have talked to the Lord about this thing! The prophet Isaiah said,

    And the harp, and the viol, the tabret, and pipe, and wine, are in their

    feasts: but they regard not the work of the LORD, neither consider the

  • 7/28/2019 Last Giant Before Promise

    6/12

    6 The Last Giant Before Your Promise 9/10/2011

    operation of his hands. Isaiah 5:12

    There is a tremendous blessing that comes from considering the Lord

    FIRST! Instead of developing our plans then asking the Lords permission

    we should be asking the Lord for His plan then going and doing it.

    A young man took out a piece of paper and wrote down all the

    things he would do FOR God and signed his name to this contract. Then

    he took that paper to the church and laid the paper on the altar and

    began to explain it to the Lord. After a little while the Lord answered the

    boy and said, Son, you have it all backwards. I want you to take out a

    piece of paper and sign your name to the bottom of it then do the things

    that I WRITE ON THE PAPER!

    How often are we like this little boy? How often are we taking our

    contracts to God and telling Him what we will do for Him never

    considering what the Lord has in store for us and for our life. David

    declared the blessing that comes to those who consider the Lord first in

    all things

    I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous

    forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. Psalm 37:25

    Righteous people are people who seek the Lord firstthey put God at the

    beginning instead of the end. When we involve the Lord from the

    beginning then if we run into trouble He is already there!

    If you want to defeat the giants in your life GET GOD INVOLVED FROM

    THE BEGINNING! Involve God before your plans are made! Remember

    that your weapons are not of this world but giants are defeated in

    spiritual prayer, which produces spiritual power. This power is

    NECESSARY to bringing down the giants of your life.

  • 7/28/2019 Last Giant Before Promise

    7/12

    7 The Last Giant Before Your Promise 9/10/2011

    No Weapons to Fight With

    The second reason we still have giants in our life is because we have gone

    into battle without a weapon. Lets look at1 Samuel 13:22

    So it came to pass in the day of battle, that there was neither sword nor

    spear found in the hand of any of the people that were with Saul and

    Jonathan: but with Saul and with Jonathan his son was there found. (1

    Samuel 13:22)

    Israel had decided they needed a King instead of a God and the Lord gave

    them what they wanted. He gave them Saul as their leader and Saul had

    become infatuated with himself. He was infatuated by his own counsel,

    invaded by his neighbors and deserted by his own soldiers. The people of

    Israel were in a low state because Philistia and other countries had

    defeated them so much.

    One of the tactics of these GIANTS who had defeated Israel was to carry

    off all of those who could forge iron or make weapons. Why? If there is

    no one to make the sword or spear no one can fight.

    So when the battle came to Israel there was no way of fighting because

    the enemy possessed all the weapons!

    What are you trying to use in order to defeat your giant? Are you relying

    on your personal ability, your intellect, your human strength or wisdom?

    None of these things are powerful enough or sharp enough to destroy

    the GIANTS on your life. Why? Well Paul tells us

    For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: For the

    weapons of our warfare are not carnal 2 Corinthians 10:3-4a

  • 7/28/2019 Last Giant Before Promise

    8/12

    8 The Last Giant Before Your Promise 9/10/2011

    You are not fighting a human battle! The battle we are fighting is in the

    heavenly realms: the spiritual dimension. Your intellect and human

    reasoning cannot complete the job. You must be a person who thinks

    and reasons but that alone cannot and will not bring down the giant!

    This battle is going to be fought and won in another territory the

    territory of the spirit.

    For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities,

    against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against

    spiritual wickedness in high places. (Ephesians 6:12)

    What weapons have allowed to be captured by the enemy? Have you

    allowed the roving raiders of the devil to steal you joy, your prayer, your

    song or your testimony? Are you no longer able to fight this battle

    because there is no smith to create the weapons needed? OH GOD

    HELP US! We cannot lay down our weapons we cannot lay down and

    give up. It is time to do whatever it takes to get your weapons back get

    back on the battlefield and wage war against the giant. HOW DO I DO

    THIS? I am glad you asked.

    Look at how Paul finished 2 Corinthians 10:3-4

    For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: For the

    weapons of our warfare are not carnalbut mighty through God to the

    pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high

    thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into

    captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:3-

    5)

    What does it mean to cast down imaginations? Well the word

    imagination simply means, Lies. We have got to desire truth in our

    inward parts. A desire to know and live the truth will cause lies to be

    cast down in our life. When we get real and admit there are giants we

    cannot defeat by ourselves and that we have believed the lies of the

  • 7/28/2019 Last Giant Before Promise

    9/12

    9 The Last Giant Before Your Promise 9/10/2011

    enemy we can then begin to throw down the strongholds and the things

    that have prevented us from victory.

    You see the greatest battlefield known to mankind is our thought life.

    The scripture declares, As a man thinks, so is he. When we determine

    to buy only the truth we step into a dominion that necessitates

    submitting our thoughts to Jesus Christ. The thoughts of failure, of

    weakness, of defeat and on and on must be filtered through the God of

    the Word.

    Change your way of thinking and you will change your life! We must find

    our way into the Word of God and begin to adopt its truth into your life

    then the truth will MAKE YOU FREE! The ultimate source of truth comes

    from the pages of this leather bound book of books. The only physical

    weapon is the WORDthe word is our offense against the enemy. Paul

    declared to the Hebrews

    For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-

    edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and

    of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents

    of the heart. Hebrews 4:12

    He also declared

    And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is

    the word of God: (Ephesians 6:17)

    Pick up your sword and never put it down. Dont allow the enemy to

    steal the word from your life. It is within the word that we find life! The

    wisest man ever, Solomon said,

    Where the word of a king is, there is power: and who may say unto him,

    What doest thou? Ecclesiastes 8:4

  • 7/28/2019 Last Giant Before Promise

    10/12

    10 The Last Giant Before Your Promise 9/10/2011

    Jesus Christ is the king of kings and lord of lords. He is the blessed and

    only king of the world. So wherever His word is spoken there is power.

    Wherever His word is there is libertybecause in the words of a king is

    power. Hiding His word in your heart will bring power to your life like

    never beforelike you never imagined! Get your sword in your hand,

    hold on to it and use it to bring power and promise into your life.

    Gave Up The Territory of Praise

    Now the Philistines gathered together their armies to battle, and were

    gathered together at Shochoh, which belongeth to Judah, and pitched

    between Shochoh and Azekah, in Ephesdammim. (1 Samuel 17:1)

    The third reason we often still have giants in our life is that we have given

    up the territory of praise in our life. Have you noticed that every time we

    have read from the book of 1 Samuel we always mentioned the

    Philistines? This country was a sore in the side of the people of God.

    They haunted and taunted them day and night. Then in 1 Samuel 17 we

    find that the Philistines had gathered together at Shochoh which

    belongeth to Judah. Somewhere in Israels long line of being defeated

    by the giants of this world they had gave up some territory. This

    particular territory belonged to the tribe of Judahwhat does Judah

    mean? Judah mean PRAISE!

    Somewhere along the way Israel gave up its praise!!!!

    They gave up the very thing that brought them freedom. The substance

    of their faith was expressed in praises to the mighty Jehovah what I am

    saying is this: they had grown unthankful for the presence of God and the

    power of God that they believed they had nothing left to praise about.

  • 7/28/2019 Last Giant Before Promise

    11/12

    11 The Last Giant Before Your Promise 9/10/2011

    Youve got a reason to worship, a reason to lift up your hands, a reason

    to raise your voice and shout wit the voice of triumph. He has never left

    you never forsaken you never abandoned you! You are his sons and

    daughters and you are free from the bondage of sin and death.

    S0MEBODY NEEDS TO GET THEIR PRAISE ON!!!!

    Psalm 137 tells us that Israel had hung their harps in the willows

    because they had been led away captive to BabylonOh but the Psalmist

    went on to sayHow shall we sing the LORD'S song in a strange land? If I

    forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning. If I do not

    remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; if I prefer

    not Jerusalem above my chief joy.

    In other words the Psalmist was saying When I think of His goodness

    and all Hes done for me it makes me want to shoutit makes me want to

    danceit makes me want to sing to the top of my voice I WILL BLESS

    THE LORD OH MY SOUL AND ALL THAT IS WITHIN ME BLESS HIS HOLY

    NAME!

    Some of you this morning have allowed the lingering giants of your past

    and present to steal your praise. Your praise is shackled by heavy burden

    beneath a load of sin and careOh but if youll just let the hand of Jesus

    touch you today you will no longer be afraid! Stand up, shake off the sin

    by repenting and let the GIANT KNOW YOU COME TO ME WITH A

    SPEAR AND A SWORD BUT I COME TO YOU IN THE NAME OF THE LORD

    OF HOST.

    There are those who need to get up write now! Write now and get your

    praise working again. Sure there might still be giants in your life but the

    way you defeat the giant is to get the presence and power of God

    working in your life HOW! LIFT UP YOUR HANDS, SHOUT WITH THE

    VOICE OF TRIUMPH, CLAP, LAUGH DO WHATEVER YOU MUST BUT

  • 7/28/2019 Last Giant Before Promise

    12/12

    12 The Last Giant Before Your Promise 9/10/2011

    DIRECT ALL OF YOUR THUOGHTS AND ENERGY TOWARD THE LORD AND

    LET HIM KNOW HOW MUCH YOU LOVE HIM. Come on-come on! Do you

    desire to be free? Do you desire to shake away the things that have let

    you down? Then do what the songwriter suggested GET UP, GET UP

    AND GET YOUR PRAISE ON!

    David said it like thisAnd now shall mine head be lifted up above mine

    enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices

    of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD. Psalm 27:6