What does a giant look like?
· Muscle
· Armor
· Declares war on us
· Too big to sneak up on us – we read what Goliath looked like in 1 SAM 17
This Giant doesn’t roar
“He knows how to kill us slowly, from the inside out by feeding us one lie after another until we are robbed of energy, our joy of life, our purpose for existence.”
This Giant, Discontent mocks us. And honestly we deserve it! We are a people that live a life of discontent. We are not satisfied with our position in life. We look for more and more to add to what we already have. There is never enough money. We have crazy debt in credit cards, home loans because we need a bigger and bigger house, car loans because we always need the newest car, and it is never enough.
We think it is our right! Our right to have all of these things…even though it took our parents years to reach this status. If our parents didn’t have the money we didn’t get it. However we are impatient…..we have to have it know. This is the delusion that the giant of Discontent gives us.
2 Thessalonians 2:9-12
New King James Version (NKJV)
9 The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, 10 and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, 12 that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
1 Samuel 22
New King James Version (NKJV)
David’s Four Hundred Men
22 David therefore departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam. So when his brothers and all his father’s house heard it, they went down there to him. 2 And everyone who was in distress, everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was discontented gathered to him. So he became captain over them. And there were about four hundred men with him.
Luke 3:7-14
New King James Version (NKJV)
John Preaches to the People
7 Then he said to the multitudes that came out to be baptized by him, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. 9 And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”
10 So the people asked him, saying, “What shall we do then?”
11 He answered and said to them, “He who has two tunics, let him give to him who has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise.”
12 Then tax collectors also came to be baptized, and said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?”
13 And he said to them, “Collect no more than what is appointed for you.”
14 Likewise the soldiers asked him, saying, “And what shall we do?”
So he said to them, “Do not intimidate anyone or accuse falsely, and be content with your wages.”
Philippians 4:10-13
New King James Version (NKJV)
Philippian Generosity
10 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity. 11 Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: 12 I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ[a] who strengthens me.
1 Timothy 6:5-7
New King James Version (NKJV)
5 useless wranglings[a] of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself.[b]
6 Now godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain[c] we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. 9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.
Hebrews 13
New King James Version (NKJV)
Concluding Moral Directions
13 Let brotherly love continue. 2 Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels. 3 Remember the prisoners as if chained with them—those who are mistreated—since you yourselves are in the body also.
4 Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge.
5 Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”[a] 6 So we may boldly say:
3 John 1:9-11
New King James Version (NKJV)
Diotrephes and Demetrius
9 I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, does not receive us. 10 Therefore, if I come, I will call to mind his deeds which he does, prating against us with malicious words. And not content with that, he himself does not receive the brethren, and forbids those who wish to, putting them out of the church.
11 Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. He who does good is of God, but[a] he who does evil has not seen God.
Perspective: When I used to draw perspectives by hand….the old fashion way, I needed to have the correct vantage point. If I didn’t, the whole thing looked off. Pride becomes a big part of discontent. When pride comes ahead of us it leads to us not being content in our lives. We need to start with the correct perspective.
Romans 12:1-3
New King James Version (NKJV)
Living Sacrifices to God
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. 3 For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.
How did the Pharisees do on this?
1 John 2:15-17
New King James Version (NKJV)
Do Not Love the World
15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. 17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.
James 4:16
New King James Version (NKJV)
16 But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.
1 Corinthians 1:31
New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)
Luke 14:7-11
New King James Version (NKJV)
Take the Lowly Place
7 So He told a parable to those who were invited, when He noted how they chose the best places, saying to them: 8 “When you are invited by anyone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in the best place, lest one more honorable than you be invited by him; 9 and he who invited you and him come and say to you, ‘Give place to this man,’ and then you begin with shame to take the lowest place. 10 But when you are invited, go and sit down in the lowest place, so that when he who invited you comes he may say to you, ‘Friend, go up higher.’ Then you will have glory in the presence of those who sit at the table with you. 11 For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Luke 18:9-14
New King James Version (NKJV)
The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector
9 Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ 13 And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Philippians 2:3
New King James Version (NKJV)
3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.
1 Peter 5:5-6
New King James Version (NKJV)
Submit to God, Resist the Devil
5 Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for
6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,
1 Samuel 17: 12-15; 1 Samuel16:6-7
1. Giant-killers have a heart that longs to pursue God. They have the capacity and develop the desire to allow God to own their heart.
1. Giant-killers have a heart that longs to pursue God. They have the capacity and develop the desire to allow God to own their heart.
· Their heart is all out for God. Psalm 63:8
· Their heart is fully devoted to God. 1 Kings 11:4
· Their heart is easily broken by God. Psalm 51:17
· Their heart longs to see God. Matthew 5:8
The Story of David, and How to Be a Giant Killer
1 Samuel 17:1-26
2. Giant-killers have a giant love for God. It is their love and respect for God that motivates them to stand up to giants.
1 Samuel 17:28-31
3.Giant-killers don’t give up when others don’t believe in them; it is enough for them to know God believes in them.
1 Samuel 17:32-37
4. Giant-killers have giant faith in their giant God. They believe that God will do the impossible and come through when they take the step of faith in obedience.
1 Samuel 17:38-40
5. Giant-killers use the gifts and abilities God has given them to make a difference in their world. They do it their own special way, not the world’s way.
1 Samuel 17:41-47
6. Giant-killers don’t give in to the fear of failure or defeat. They will face any fear and overcome any difficulty to reach the objective to bring glory to God.
1 Samuel 17:48-51
7. Giant-killers finish the job, they don’t stop until they have seen the giant they are fighting dead on the ground.
It's hard to imagine such a thing as a subtle giant. Giants are supposed to look and behave like Goliath. Rude, crude, and socially unacceptable. They're supposed to be ferocious, merciless, and overwhelming. They're supposed to have muscles, thick armor, hard hearts, and they use all this to declare war on you and I. Giants are too big to sneak up on anyone. They rely on brute strength, superior weaponry, and a knowledge of warfare to overwhelm and take what they want, even our lives if they so chose to. They don't approach us with humility either. They know they will win--in a rout. They look on us with disdain as if we annoy they, and they know they won't work up a sweat in defeating us. Goliath wasn't subtle. He stood over nine foot tall and was armored from head to toe. He made fun of his enemy, the Israelites, and challenged them daily for 40 days to send just one man to fight him. Unlike Goliath, merciless killers don't always roar with such thunder. There is a subtle giant in our midst. He is big and strong, and he has all power he needs, if we give it to him to destroy us. Scripture says, "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour" (1 Peter 5:8). This subtle giant we're about to speak of knows how to kill us slowly, from the inside out, by feeding us lie after lie until we are robbed of our energy, our joy, and our purpose for existence. This giants name is DISCONTENT. He is subtle because he is overgrown, out of control version of what can be a wise, sound approach to life--the approach that tells us that we can be successful, even wealthy, if we work hard and honestly to attain the appropriate handle on what we have. Discontent will mock us and say that we deserve what we don't or cannot have. He makes us believe that somehow life hasn't given us what we have coming to us and we've been treated unfair. This giant overtakes us by whispering in our ear that if what we have is good, more would be better. He focuses our attention on those who have what we want but don't have. He inspires within us every form of jealousy, resentment, and selfish ambition. Discontent is a subtle giant, but he's every bit as deadly as Goliath. Discontent is at the heart of so many human problems. The insatiable desire for more and better ruins lives, destroys families, stops businesses, and sends nations to war. David had to square off with Goliath because the giant named discontent had already infected the entire Philistine army. The discontented Philistines wanted to take from the Israelites the land that had been divinely appointed to them. We have to deal with the giant named discontent with finality. He's not a giant that can be controlled or put in his place. On the contrary, if we are to live full, rich victorious lives, we must slay this giant once and for all. Don't believe the lie that if you attain great wealth that all will be okay. You may not need anything in the physical sense, but there is always the danger of becoming disconent with what you have. Remember Solomon, David's son and successor to the throne? He was the richest man alive. He had many wives and concubines. Later in his life, he drifted to some of their gods. What happened? He lost focus. No matter how much you have, it's never enough to satisfy. No matter how much money you have in the bank, no matter how many employees you have at your disposal, if your love is places with those riches, your existence is meaningless. Scripture says, "He that loves silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loves abundance with increase: this is also vanity (futile)" Eccesiastes 5:10. We're talking about being possessed by possessions, being controlled by things we are called to control. There is nothing wrong with attaining wealth, but when we become servants to wealth, we have fallen prey to the giant called discontent. Satisfication can only be measured by what is inside a person. If what lies inside is discontent, envy, jealousy, and the love of money, that person's life will be an exercise in futility. Enough will never be enough. It is futile and pure foolishness to tie our lasting happiness and peace of mind to anything that cannot possibly last. When we do, we build our lives on what is at best an unstable, untrustworthy foundation. That is because the wealth of even the richest is temporal and can be gone in a moment. "Every good and perfect gift comes from above, even the ability to produce wealth" (Deutrononomy 8:18) This is not to say we're not to seek after honest work. Also there is nothing wrong with admiring other's achievements, gifts, or abilities. It's great to admire and respect what our friends, relatives and neighbors have accomplished. When that simple admiration turns to resentment or envy, it becomes another weapon in the hands of an assasin called discontent. Goliath was a belligerent giant. For forty days, he roared and bellowed curses at the Israelites, yet no one dared challenge him. He grew bolder and bolder with each day. He was not going to go away. Discontent inflicts on us greed and envy. He'll grow more stubborn by the day if we don't face him and defeat him. The weapon of choice to defeat disconent is to have a heart full of gratitude. You need to realize that everything you have, not just your wealth, but your ability to produce wealth; not just your position but the influence your promincence affords--is a gift. When you recognize that, you can develop in your heart a deep gratitude for all you have and believe it or not, for what you don't have. What if Noah and his wife displayed the attitude that is prominent with most people today, Rather than being thankful they had been spared in a great flood, they would have gotten off the ark and said: "What a lousy cruise--it rained for the first month and half." That's how the giant named discontent operates. In his grip, he will make your entire journey through life a miserable trip. Remember, not so much as one cent of what we possess will follow us to the grave. When we die, it will not matter what we possess. We are born with nothing, and after we die we will stand before God with nothing. "As he came forth of his mother's womb, naked shallhe return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his labor, which he may carrry away in his hand" (Ecclesiastes 5:15). Work hard to accomplish things in this life, but be content with what you have. You've been given a promise that you will never be forsaken. Embrace the spirit of humble thanksgiving, and you will soundly defeat the first giant on your path to total victory. When you've done that, the good news is that you are now an official giant conqueror. The bad news is this: "now you've just made the remaining giants very angry."
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