People's Church

Judges 3:15 Again the Israelites cried out to the Lord, and he gave them a deliverer—Ehud, a left-handed man,

the son of Gera the Benjamite. The Israelites sent him with tribute to Eglon king of Moab. (NIV)

3 Lessons From A Left Handed Deliverer

1. God wants you to embrace your uniqueness

Genesis 1:27 God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female

he created them. (NIV)

Psalm 139:14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know

that full well. (NIV)

Romans 12:4–5 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have

the same function, 5  so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the

others. (NIV)

2. God qualifies the unqualified

1 Samuel 9:21 Saul answered, “But am I not a Benjamite, from the smallest tribe of Israel, and is not my

clan the least of all the clans of the tribe of Benjamin? Why do you say such a thing to me?” (NIV)

Exodus 15:6 Your right hand, Lord, was majestic in power. Your right hand, Lord, shattered the

enemy. (NIV)

Isaiah 41:10 “Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God, I will

strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

(NASB1995)

Psalm 17:7 Show me the wonders of your great love, you who save by your right hand those who

take refuge in you from their foes. (NIV)

Psalm 44:3 It was not by their sword that they won the land, nor did their arm bring them victory; it

was your right hand, your arm, and the light of your face, for you loved them. (NIV)

Psalms 110:1 The Lord says to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool

for your feet.” (NIV)

Luke 22:69 “But from now on the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God.”

(NASB)

Colossians 3:1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ

is, seated at the right hand of God. (NIV)

1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that

you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. (NIV)

3. God displays His power in our weakness

Judges 3:16-23 16 Now Ehud had made a double-edged sword about a cubit long, which he strapped to his

right thigh under his clothing. 17 He presented the tribute to Eglon king of Moab, who was a very fat man.

18 After Ehud had presented the tribute, he sent on their way those who had carried it. 19 But on reaching the

stone images near Gilgal he himself went back to Eglon and said, “Your Majesty, I have a secret message for

you.” The king said to his attendants, “Leave us!” And they all left. 20 Ehud then approached him while he

was sitting alone in the upper room of his palace and said, “I have a message from God for you.” As the king

rose from his seat, 21 Ehud reached with his left hand, drew the sword from his right thigh and plunged it into

the king’s belly. 22 Even the handle sank in after the blade, and his bowels discharged. Ehud did not pull the

sword out, and the fat closed in over it. 23 Then Ehud went out to the porch; he shut the doors of the upper

room behind him and locked them. (NIV)

2 Corinthians 12:9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in

weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may

rest on me. (NIV)

Isaiah 40:29 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. (NIV)

Judges 3:15 Again the Israelites cried out to the Lord, and he gave them a deliverer—Ehud, a left-handed man,

the son of Gera the Benjamite. The Israelites sent him with tribute to Eglon king of Moab. (NIV)

3 Lessons From A Left Handed Deliverer

1. God wants you to embrace your uniqueness

Genesis 1:27 God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female

he created them. (NIV)

Psalm 139:14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know

that full well. (NIV)

Romans 12:4–5 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have

the same function, 5  so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the

others. (NIV)

2. God qualifies the unqualified

1 Samuel 9:21 Saul answered, “But am I not a Benjamite, from the smallest tribe of Israel, and is not my

clan the least of all the clans of the tribe of Benjamin? Why do you say such a thing to me?” (NIV)

Exodus 15:6 Your right hand, Lord, was majestic in power. Your right hand, Lord, shattered the

enemy. (NIV)

Isaiah 41:10 “Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God, I will

strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

(NASB1995)

Psalm 17:7 Show me the wonders of your great love, you who save by your right hand those who

take refuge in you from their foes. (NIV)

Psalm 44:3 It was not by their sword that they won the land, nor did their arm bring them victory; it

was your right hand, your arm, and the light of your face, for you loved them. (NIV)

Psalms 110:1 The Lord says to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool

for your feet.” (NIV)

Luke 22:69 “But from now on the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God.”

(NASB)

Colossians 3:1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ

is, seated at the right hand of God. (NIV)

1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that

you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. (NIV)

3. God displays His power in our weakness

Judges 3:16-23 16 Now Ehud had made a double-edged sword about a cubit long, which he strapped to his

right thigh under his clothing. 17 He presented the tribute to Eglon king of Moab, who was a very fat man.

18 After Ehud had presented the tribute, he sent on their way those who had carried it. 19 But on reaching the

stone images near Gilgal he himself went back to Eglon and said, “Your Majesty, I have a secret message for

you.” The king said to his attendants, “Leave us!” And they all left. 20 Ehud then approached him while he

was sitting alone in the upper room of his palace and said, “I have a message from God for you.” As the king

rose from his seat, 21 Ehud reached with his left hand, drew the sword from his right thigh and plunged it into

the king’s belly. 22 Even the handle sank in after the blade, and his bowels discharged. Ehud did not pull the

sword out, and the fat closed in over it. 23 Then Ehud went out to the porch; he shut the doors of the upper

room behind him and locked them. (NIV)

2 Corinthians 12:9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in

weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may

rest on me. (NIV)

Isaiah 40:29 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. (NIV)

2 Critical Components To A Comeback

1. God specializes in comebacks

Exodus 3:1 Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the

flock to the far side of the desert and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. (NIV)

Exodus 3:2-4 There the angel of the LORD appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw

that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. 3 So Moses thought, "I will go over and see this strange

sight--why the bush does not burn up." 4 When the LORD saw that he had gone over to look, God called to

him from within the bush, "Moses! Moses!" And Moses said, "Here I am." (NIV)

Acts 3:19 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come

from the Lord, (NIV)

2. You need to encounter the presence of God

Exodus 3:3-4 So Moses thought, "I will go over and see this strange sight--why the bush does not burn up." 4

When the LORD saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, "Moses! Moses!"

And Moses said, "Here I am." (NIV)

Exodus 3:5 “Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is

holy ground.” (NIV)

1. Standing in God’s presence

Exodus 33:10 Whenever the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance to the tent, they all stood

and worshiped, each at the entrance to their tent. (NIV)

2. Singing in God’s presence

Psalm 33:3 Sing to him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy. (NIV)

3. Clapping in God’s presence

Psalm 47:1 Oh, clap your hands, all you peoples! Shout to God with the voice of triumph! (NKJV)

4. Dancing in God’s presence

Psalm 149:3 Let them praise his name with dancing and make music to him with timbrel and harp. (NIV)

5. Kneeling in God’s presence

Psalm 95:6 Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the LORD our Maker; (NIV)

6. Lifting your hands in God’s presence

Psalm 134:2 Lift up your hands in the sanctuary and praise the LORD. (NIV)

Psalm 63:4 I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. (NIV)

1. Responding to the presence of God will reveal God’s character to you when you need it most

Exodus 3:6-7 Then he said, "I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of

Jacob." At this, Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God. The LORD said, "I have indeed seen

the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am

concerned about their suffering. (NIV)

1 Peter 5:7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. (NKJV)

2. Responding to the presence of God will help you discover God’s plan

Exodus 3:8 So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of

that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey--the home of the Canaanites,

Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. (NIV)

3. Responding to the presence of God will give you direction

Exodus 3:10 So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt." (NIV)

4. Responding to the presence of God will give you confidence to move forward

Exodus 3:11–12   But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of

Egypt?” 12  And God said, “I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you:

When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain.” (NIV)

2 Critical Components To A Comeback

1. God specializes in comebacks

Exodus 3:1 Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the

flock to the far side of the desert and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. (NIV)

Exodus 3:2-4 There the angel of the LORD appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw

that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. 3 So Moses thought, "I will go over and see this strange

sight--why the bush does not burn up." 4 When the LORD saw that he had gone over to look, God called to

him from within the bush, "Moses! Moses!" And Moses said, "Here I am." (NIV)

Acts 3:19 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come

from the Lord, (NIV)

2. You need to encounter the presence of God

Exodus 3:3-4 So Moses thought, "I will go over and see this strange sight--why the bush does not burn up." 4

When the LORD saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, "Moses! Moses!"

And Moses said, "Here I am." (NIV)

Exodus 3:5 “Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is

holy ground.” (NIV)

1. Standing in God’s presence

Exodus 33:10 Whenever the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance to the tent, they all stood

and worshiped, each at the entrance to their tent. (NIV)

2. Singing in God’s presence

Psalm 33:3 Sing to him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy. (NIV)

3. Clapping in God’s presence

Psalm 47:1 Oh, clap your hands, all you peoples! Shout to God with the voice of triumph! (NKJV)

4. Dancing in God’s presence

Psalm 149:3 Let them praise his name with dancing and make music to him with timbrel and harp. (NIV)

5. Kneeling in God’s presence

Psalm 95:6 Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the LORD our Maker; (NIV)

6. Lifting your hands in God’s presence

Psalm 134:2 Lift up your hands in the sanctuary and praise the LORD. (NIV)

Psalm 63:4 I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. (NIV)

1. Responding to the presence of God will reveal God’s character to you when you need it most

Exodus 3:6-7 Then he said, "I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of

Jacob." At this, Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God. The LORD said, "I have indeed seen

the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am

concerned about their suffering. (NIV)

1 Peter 5:7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. (NKJV)

2. Responding to the presence of God will help you discover God’s plan

Exodus 3:8 So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of

that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey--the home of the Canaanites,

Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. (NIV)

3. Responding to the presence of God will give you direction

Exodus 3:10 So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt." (NIV)

4. Responding to the presence of God will give you confidence to move forward

Exodus 3:11–12   But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of

Egypt?” 12  And God said, “I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you:

When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain.” (NIV)

Deuteronomy 28:43-48a (NLT) 43  “The foreigners living among you will become stronger and stronger, while you become weaker and weaker.  44  They will lend money to you, but you will not lend to them. They will be the head, and you will be the tail!

45  “If you refuse to listen to the LORD your God and to obey the commands and decrees he has given you, all these curses will pursue and overtake you until you are destroyed.  46  These horrors will serve as a sign and warning among you and your descendants forever.  47  If you do not serve the LORD your God with joy and enthusiasm for the abundant benefits you have received,  48  you will serve your enemies whom the LORD will send against you. You will be left hungry, thirsty, naked, and lacking in everything. 

Romans 12:11 (NLT)   Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically.

Romans 12:11 (MSG) Don’t burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame. Be alert servants of the Master, cheerfully expectant. Don’t quit in hard times; pray all the harder.

2 Corinthians 8:7 (NLT) Since you excel in so many ways—in your faith, your gifted speakers, your knowledge, your enthusiasm, and your love from us [a] —I want you to excel also in this gracious act of giving.

1 Corinthians 15:58 (NLT) So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.

“One of the greatest things you can do is to get excited about your life and start to live enthusiastically day after day; your whole world will improve. If you wait to get joy until some lucky outer event happens – guess what? If you wait, what does life do? It waits. And if you hold back until a more appropriate time to get excited and fire up what does life do!? It holds back. You’re going to hold back on enthusiasm, develop lots of patience, because you’re going to wait a long time for an exciting life.” – John Maxwell

How Do You Live Out Enthusiasm 

 1. It’s a Choice. 

“Being fired up is not a personality type but a type of obedience” 

2. Hang around with enthusiastic people.

3. Pray and invite God to come live within you.

Deuteronomy 28:43-48a (NLT) 43  “The foreigners living among you will become stronger and stronger, while you become weaker and weaker.  44  They will lend money to you, but you will not lend to them. They will be the head, and you will be the tail!

45  “If you refuse to listen to the LORD your God and to obey the commands and decrees he has given you, all these curses will pursue and overtake you until you are destroyed.  46  These horrors will serve as a sign and warning among you and your descendants forever.  47  If you do not serve the LORD your God with joy and enthusiasm for the abundant benefits you have received,  48  you will serve your enemies whom the LORD will send against you. You will be left hungry, thirsty, naked, and lacking in everything. 

Romans 12:11 (NLT)   Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically.

Romans 12:11 (MSG) Don’t burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame. Be alert servants of the Master, cheerfully expectant. Don’t quit in hard times; pray all the harder.

2 Corinthians 8:7 (NLT) Since you excel in so many ways—in your faith, your gifted speakers, your knowledge, your enthusiasm, and your love from us [a] —I want you to excel also in this gracious act of giving.

1 Corinthians 15:58 (NLT) So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.

“One of the greatest things you can do is to get excited about your life and start to live enthusiastically day after day; your whole world will improve. If you wait to get joy until some lucky outer event happens – guess what? If you wait, what does life do? It waits. And if you hold back until a more appropriate time to get excited and fire up what does life do!? It holds back. You’re going to hold back on enthusiasm, develop lots of patience, because you’re going to wait a long time for an exciting life.” – John Maxwell

How Do You Live Out Enthusiasm 

 1. It’s a Choice. 

“Being fired up is not a personality type but a type of obedience” 

2. Hang around with enthusiastic people.

3. Pray and invite God to come live within you.

1 Samuel 17:4 Then Goliath, a Philistine champion from Gath, came out of the Philistine ranks to face the forces

of Israel. He was over nine feet tall! (NLT)

1 Samuel 17:8–11   Goliath stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, “Why do you come out and line up for battle?

Am I not a Philistine, and are you not the servants of Saul? Choose a man and have him come down to me. 9  If he

is able to fight and kill me, we will become your subjects; but if I overcome him and kill him, you will become

our subjects and serve us.” 10  Then the Philistine said, “This day I defy the armies of Israel! Give me a man and let

us fight each other.” 11  On hearing the Philistine’s words, Saul and all the Israelites were dismayed and terrified.

(NIV)

5 Strategies To Overcome Your Giant Problem

1. Face your giant

1 Samuel 17:16 For forty days, every morning and evening, the Philistine champion strutted in front of the

Israelite army. (NLT)

1 Samuel 17:23–24 As he was talking with them, Goliath, the Philistine champion from Gath, came out from

the Philistine ranks. Then David heard him shout his usual taunt to the army of Israel. 24  As soon as the Israelite

army saw him, they began to run away in fright. (NLT)

1 Samuel 17:32   “Don’t worry about this Philistine,” David told Saul. “I’ll go fight him!” (NLT)

2. Lead your emotions and don’t let them lead you

1. Emotions of fear

1 Sam 17:23-24 As he was talking with them, Goliath, the Philistine champion from Gath, stepped out from his

lines and shouted his usual defiance, and David heard it. 24 When the Israelites saw the man, they all ran from

him in great fear. (NIV)

2. Emotions of discouragement

1 Sam 17:28 When Eliab, David's oldest brother, heard him speaking with the men, he burned with

anger at him and asked, "Why have you come down here? And with whom did you leave those few

sheep in the desert? I know how conceited you are and how wicked your heart is; you came down only to watch

the battle." (NIV)

3. Emotions of feeling overwhelmed

1 Samuel 17:38–39   Then Saul dressed David in his own tunic. He put a coat of armor on him and a bronze

helmet on his head. 39  David fastened on his sword over the tunic and tried walking around, because he was not

used to them. “I cannot go in these,” he said to Saul, “because I am not used to them.” So he took them off.

(NIV)

4. Emotions of feeling inadequate and intimidated

1 Samuel 17:41–44 Goliath walked out toward David with his shield bearer ahead of him, 42  sneering in

contempt at this ruddy-faced boy. 43  “Am I a dog,” he roared at David, “that you come at me with a stick?” And

he cursed David by the names of his gods. 44  “Come over here, and I’ll give your flesh to the birds and wild

animals!” Goliath yelled. (NLT)

2 Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound

mind. (NKJV)

3. Do the little things like they are big things

Luke 16:10   “If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little

things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities. (NLT)

1. Be faithful with your work

1 Samuel 16:11 Then Samuel asked, “Are these all the sons you have?” “There is still the youngest,” Jesse

replied. “But he’s out in the fields watching the sheep and goats.” “Send for him at once,” Samuel said. “We will

not sit down to eat until he arrives.” (NLT)

2. Be faithful with your serve

1 Samuel 16:13   So as David stood there among his brothers, Samuel took the flask of olive oil he had brought and

anointed David with the oil. And the Spirit of the LORD came powerfully upon David from that day on. Then

Samuel returned to Ramah. (NLT)

1 Samuel 16:21   So David went to Saul and began serving him. Saul loved David very much, and David became

his armor bearer. (NLT)

3. Be faithful with authority

1 Samuel 17:17   One day Jesse said to David, “Take this basket of roasted grain and these ten loaves of bread, and

carry them quickly to your brothers. (NLT)

1 Samuel 17:20   So David left the sheep with another shepherd and set out early the next morning with the gifts, as

Jesse had directed him. He arrived at the camp just as the Israelite army was leaving for the battlefield with shouts

and battle cries. (NLT)

4. Be faithful with what you have

1 Samuel 16:18   One of the servants said to Saul, “One of Jesse’s sons from Bethlehem is a talented harp player.

Not only that—he is a brave warrior, a man of war, and has good judgment. He is also a fine-looking young man,

and the LORD is with him.” (NLT)

4. Remember how God has helped you overcome giants in the past

1 Sam 17:34-36 But David said to Saul, "Your servant has been keeping his father's sheep. When a lion or a bear

came and carried off a sheep from the flock, 35 I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth.

When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it. 36 Your servant has killed both the lion and the

bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God

(NIV)

5. Realize the blessings that come from overcoming giants

1 Samuel 17:26 David asked the soldiers standing nearby, “What will a man get for killing this Philistine and

ending his defiance of Israel? Who is this pagan Philistine anyway, that he is allowed to defy the armies of the

living God?” (NLT)

1 Sam 17:25 Now the Israelites had been saying, "Do you see how this man keeps coming out? He comes out to

defy Israel. The king will give great wealth to the man who kills him. He will also give him his daughter in

marriage and will exempt his father's family from taxes in Israel." (NIV)

1 Samuel 17:4 Then Goliath, a Philistine champion from Gath, came out of the Philistine ranks to face the forces

of Israel. He was over nine feet tall! (NLT)

1 Samuel 17:8–11   Goliath stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, “Why do you come out and line up for battle?

Am I not a Philistine, and are you not the servants of Saul? Choose a man and have him come down to me. 9  If he

is able to fight and kill me, we will become your subjects; but if I overcome him and kill him, you will become

our subjects and serve us.” 10  Then the Philistine said, “This day I defy the armies of Israel! Give me a man and let

us fight each other.” 11  On hearing the Philistine’s words, Saul and all the Israelites were dismayed and terrified.

(NIV)

5 Strategies To Overcome Your Giant Problem

1. Face your giant

1 Samuel 17:16 For forty days, every morning and evening, the Philistine champion strutted in front of the

Israelite army. (NLT)

1 Samuel 17:23–24 As he was talking with them, Goliath, the Philistine champion from Gath, came out from

the Philistine ranks. Then David heard him shout his usual taunt to the army of Israel. 24  As soon as the Israelite

army saw him, they began to run away in fright. (NLT)

1 Samuel 17:32   “Don’t worry about this Philistine,” David told Saul. “I’ll go fight him!” (NLT)

2. Lead your emotions and don’t let them lead you

1. Emotions of fear

1 Sam 17:23-24 As he was talking with them, Goliath, the Philistine champion from Gath, stepped out from his

lines and shouted his usual defiance, and David heard it. 24 When the Israelites saw the man, they all ran from

him in great fear. (NIV)

2. Emotions of discouragement

1 Sam 17:28 When Eliab, David's oldest brother, heard him speaking with the men, he burned with

anger at him and asked, "Why have you come down here? And with whom did you leave those few

sheep in the desert? I know how conceited you are and how wicked your heart is; you came down only to watch

the battle." (NIV)

3. Emotions of feeling overwhelmed

1 Samuel 17:38–39   Then Saul dressed David in his own tunic. He put a coat of armor on him and a bronze

helmet on his head. 39  David fastened on his sword over the tunic and tried walking around, because he was not

used to them. “I cannot go in these,” he said to Saul, “because I am not used to them.” So he took them off.

(NIV)

4. Emotions of feeling inadequate and intimidated

1 Samuel 17:41–44 Goliath walked out toward David with his shield bearer ahead of him, 42  sneering in

contempt at this ruddy-faced boy. 43  “Am I a dog,” he roared at David, “that you come at me with a stick?” And

he cursed David by the names of his gods. 44  “Come over here, and I’ll give your flesh to the birds and wild

animals!” Goliath yelled. (NLT)

2 Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound

mind. (NKJV)

3. Do the little things like they are big things

Luke 16:10   “If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little

things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities. (NLT)

1. Be faithful with your work

1 Samuel 16:11 Then Samuel asked, “Are these all the sons you have?” “There is still the youngest,” Jesse

replied. “But he’s out in the fields watching the sheep and goats.” “Send for him at once,” Samuel said. “We will

not sit down to eat until he arrives.” (NLT)

2. Be faithful with your serve

1 Samuel 16:13   So as David stood there among his brothers, Samuel took the flask of olive oil he had brought and

anointed David with the oil. And the Spirit of the LORD came powerfully upon David from that day on. Then

Samuel returned to Ramah. (NLT)

1 Samuel 16:21   So David went to Saul and began serving him. Saul loved David very much, and David became

his armor bearer. (NLT)

3. Be faithful with authority

1 Samuel 17:17   One day Jesse said to David, “Take this basket of roasted grain and these ten loaves of bread, and

carry them quickly to your brothers. (NLT)

1 Samuel 17:20   So David left the sheep with another shepherd and set out early the next morning with the gifts, as

Jesse had directed him. He arrived at the camp just as the Israelite army was leaving for the battlefield with shouts

and battle cries. (NLT)

4. Be faithful with what you have

1 Samuel 16:18   One of the servants said to Saul, “One of Jesse’s sons from Bethlehem is a talented harp player.

Not only that—he is a brave warrior, a man of war, and has good judgment. He is also a fine-looking young man,

and the LORD is with him.” (NLT)

4. Remember how God has helped you overcome giants in the past

1 Sam 17:34-36 But David said to Saul, "Your servant has been keeping his father's sheep. When a lion or a bear

came and carried off a sheep from the flock, 35 I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth.

When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it. 36 Your servant has killed both the lion and the

bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God

(NIV)

5. Realize the blessings that come from overcoming giants

1 Samuel 17:26 David asked the soldiers standing nearby, “What will a man get for killing this Philistine and

ending his defiance of Israel? Who is this pagan Philistine anyway, that he is allowed to defy the armies of the

living God?” (NLT)

1 Sam 17:25 Now the Israelites had been saying, "Do you see how this man keeps coming out? He comes out to

defy Israel. The king will give great wealth to the man who kills him. He will also give him his daughter in

marriage and will exempt his father's family from taxes in Israel." (NIV)

1. Our way is never better than God’s way 

Jonah 1:1-4 1 The word of the Lord came to Jonah son of Amittai: 2 “Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.”3 But Jonah ran away from the Lord and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the Lord.  4 Then the Lord sent a great wind on the sea, and such a violent storm arose that the ship threatened to break up. NIV

 

Proverbs 14:12-13 There’s a way of life that looks harmless enough; look again—it leads straight to hell. Sure, those people appear to be having a good time, but all that laughter will end in heartbreak. MSG

2. God is always making a way for us to get back to His way.

Jonah 1:17 Now the Lord provided a huge fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. NIV

2 Corinthians 5:21For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ. NLT

3.  God’s way is a grace and mercy way

Hebrews 4:16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. NIV

1. Our way is never better than God’s way 

Jonah 1:1-4 1 The word of the Lord came to Jonah son of Amittai: 2 “Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.”3 But Jonah ran away from the Lord and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the Lord.  4 Then the Lord sent a great wind on the sea, and such a violent storm arose that the ship threatened to break up. NIV

 

Proverbs 14:12-13 There’s a way of life that looks harmless enough; look again—it leads straight to hell. Sure, those people appear to be having a good time, but all that laughter will end in heartbreak. MSG

2. God is always making a way for us to get back to His way.

Jonah 1:17 Now the Lord provided a huge fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. NIV

2 Corinthians 5:21For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ. NLT

3.  God’s way is a grace and mercy way

Hebrews 4:16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. NIV