Most of us have encountered some BIG problem in our lives? Something that appears unbeatable. Maybe it is something that just won’t go away. In the Old Testament GIANTS are the picture of this
Perhaps your problem was caused by someone else and you have no control over it. Maybe your parents split up, or you never even met one of your parents. Perhaps your problem is that someone close to you died. Maybe someone has done something terrible to you. Or you have an illness. So what is your giant?
How did David successfully fight the giant, Goliath, in his life? Did he make excuses? Did he let fear stop him? Did he just wait and hope it would go away? Did he try to do it under his own power? Did he run away and hide? To take on the big problems or giants in your life you need to face them and let God help you.
How can God help you with your giant?
First, He is the God of comfort. God can help ease the pain if you let him. Matthew 5:4. “God blesses those who morn, for they will be comforted.” 2 Corinthians 1; 3, says God is “the source of every mercy and the God who comforts.”
Second, you probably can’t do it under your own strength. When Samson was left to his own strength he was captured by the Philistines. When David fought Goliath with God’s strength he was victorious. When we work then we work. When we pray then God works.
Third, you probably don’t have enough knowledge to get the best results. Why not ask for the one who is the author of knowledge. God is all knowing and knows what action will get the best results. Romans 8:28: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
Fighting giants is an interesting business. Very few of us are Davids, or able to fight our giants alone. But there is another example of a "giant Fighter" in the bible. His name is Caleb. Caleb was one of the 12 people sent to spy out the Promised Land. While others came back and reported in fear of giants, Caleb did not see them as a problem.
In Numbers 14:9 Caleb said "Do not fear the people of the land for they are our bread".
What looked like giants to others or big problems looked like bread to Caleb. Why is this? Because he knew to face down the giants in our lives is the spiritual nourishment for growth and you must keep at it to stay spiritually strong. Caleb latter said in Joshua 14:11 that he was as strong today as on the day that Moses sent him. "Just as my strength was then, so is my strength for war, both for going out and coming in. By this time Caleb was physically old he is eighty five but look what he asks for when Joshua asks him what land he wants. Seen in (Joshua 14) also (Judges 1:20), He could take what ever location he wanted but he asked for the land where Hebron was. The reason he gave was because it was where the Anakim were and the cities were fortified. And he said (Joshua 14:12 "It may be that the Lord will be with me and I shall be able to drive them out as the Lord said". This is an eighty five year old man and he's not looking to retire. He is still ready to battle giants (the Anakim).
So Hebron is a unique place the word Hebron means "alliance" or simply "fellowship". Caleb understood that "alliance or fellowship" (Hebron) is the place to be if you want to defeat giants. Doing it alone is dangerous. That’s were the living stones comes in. We are just a worthless rock on our own but together we are a "spiritual house" as in 1 Peter 2:5. Together we make up the body of Christ. We all have different gifts and without each other we are a crippled body because we lack some parts. Psalm 11:14 says, "Where there is no counsel the people fall. But in the multitude of counselors there is safety". Well I have seen, first hand, mightier men of God than me fall. Jesus said we are to be "one" and that they will know us by how we love each other. The ability to battle the spiritual battle comes in fellowship. Where two or more come together in prayer.
So our enemies and our problems are the things that bring you closer to God and will refine you and make you change. The bad times also give us the best opportunity to do God’s work. I think that the bad times in our lives are where we bear the most fruit. This is where the biggest changes happen in us and how we react to bad times can make the biggest impact on others.
As for those who have broken families. God may not put your parents back together. He won’t return your lost loved ones either. But God does have an answer to help. God wants to adopt you into His family. This family has incredible benefits and the greatest father. God’s family has all the love you could ever need. Romans 8:14. For as many are led by the spirit of God, These are sons of God. Matthew 12:50. “For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” Being part of God’s family can help you get past the family problems that you have.
No comments:
Post a Comment