1 Samuel 17:4-7, 10-11(NKJV) And a champion went out from the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, from Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span. He had a bronze helmet on his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail, and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of bronze. And he had bronze armor on his legs and a bronze javelin between his shoulders. Now the staff of his spear was like a weaver’s beam, and his iron spearhead weighed six hundred shekels; and a shield-bearer went before him…. And the Philistine said, “I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together.” When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid.
Goliath challenged the Israelites to send someone to take him on, and whoever lost would be a slave to the other. The sheer size, threat and armor of Goliath were already a psychological barrier to the army of Israel. They already felt defeated before the fight even began. Never allow the size of a problem to intimidate you!
Goliath represents a problem that we face in life that speaks to us daily and torments us. The problem seems too huge for us to handle and we are afraid of it. At times, it can immobilize us because of fear. Goliath was just like a mountain of metal that stood before the Israelites. An impossible situation.
What is the “Goliath” in your life now? Are you going to engage God to help you defeat your “Goliath”? Do you believe that God is able to deliver you just as He was faithful in delivering the Old Testament saints that we have read about in Hebrews 11?
We need to be like David and remember that we have a covenant with God who will help and protect us if we have faith in Him and His Word. And because of this covenant we are able to face the trials and tribulations in our lives with faith and confidence because we are greatly blessed to have the full counsel of the Word where faith is developed and anchored. We are the beneficiaries of the redemptive work of Jesus Christ and have the help of the Holy Spirit. We have a high priest who is able to empathize with us and is a strong advocate for us. We have Jesus interceding for us at the right hand of the Heavenly Father and the Holy Spirit is praying through us in accordance to God’s will. God loves us with a perfect love that casts out all fear. God’s will for us is good and perfect. If nothing can separate us from the love of God, then we are surely winners and more than conquerors despite the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic slowdown! We will be able to overcome all our “Goliaths” if we put our trust and faith in God and His Word and walk according to His will.
Sermon Series: You Are in the Hall of Faith (Part 3)
战胜你的歌利亚
撒母耳上 17：4-7，10-11 从非利士营中出来一个讨战的人，名叫歌利亚，是迦特人，身高六肘零一虎口；头戴铜盔，身穿铠甲，甲重五千舍客勒。腿上有铜护膝，两肩之中背负铜戟；枪杆粗如织布的机轴，铁枪头重六百舍客勒。有一个拿盾牌的人在他前面走……那非利士人又说：“我今日向以色列人的军队骂阵。你们叫一个人出来，与我战斗。扫罗和以色列众人听见非利士人的这些话，就惊惶，极其害怕。
歌利亚挑战以色列人派一个人来与他交战，谁输了谁就成为对方的仆人。 歌利亚的体型，威胁和装备已经成为以色列军队的心理障碍，还没战斗，他们就被击败了。决不让问题的规模吓退你！
歌利亚代表了我们生活中面临的一个问题，它每天跟我们说话并折磨我们。这个问题对于我们来说似乎是太大了，我们无法处理，对此感到害怕。 有时，由于恐惧，它可能使我们束手无策。 歌利亚就像矗立在以色列人面前的金属山。这是不可能的情况。
你现在生活中的“歌利亚”是什么？ 你是否打算与上帝联合，来帮助你战胜你的“歌利亚”？ 你是否相信上帝能够拯救你，就像我们在希伯来书11中所读到的，祂忠实地拯救那些旧约中的圣徒一样？
我们需要像大卫一样，并记住我们与上帝有约，如果我们对祂和祂的话有信心，祂会帮助和保护我们。由于有了这个盟约，我们能够充满着信心和有信心面对生活中的试炼和艰难，因为我们得着无比的祝福，有着圣经给我们完全的教导，使我们的信心得到扩展和坚固。我们是耶稣基督救赎工作的受益者，并得到了圣灵的帮助。我们有一个大祭司，祂能够怜恤我们，是我们强大的支持者。我们有耶稣在天父的右边为我们代祷，圣灵正按照上帝的旨意为我们祷告。上帝以一种完美的爱来爱我们，除去了所有的恐惧。上帝对我们的旨意是完美的。如果没有什么能使我们与上帝的爱分开，那么即使有COVID-19疫情大流行和经济放缓，我们肯定是胜利者，而甚于征服者！如果我们对上帝和祂的话语表示信任和信心，并按照祂的旨意行走，我们就能够战胜我们所有的“歌利亚”。
讲章系列：你在信心的殿中（第三部分）