Before the Giant Falls

1 Samuel 17:11

11 On hearing the Philistine’s words, Saul and all the Israelites were dismayed and terrified.

- When God wants to bring you to the next level, the enemy will be there to intimate you to lessen your faith that you'll be able to go to the next level.

- We must learn how to endure the probation and testing in our seasons of lives

1 Corinthians 10:13

13 No temptation[a] has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted[b] beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted,[c] he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

- God will not bring us to a place where we cannot handle

1. Ordinary acts of obedience sets us up for God's divine opportunities

- Faithful in the ordinary things will lead to extraordinary opportunities 

- Don't despise the small/insignificant beginnings

- Your commitment must be stronger than your emotions. That's how we become people of God.

2. When divine opportunities arrive, discern the voice of enemies and silence it.

1 Samuel 17:28

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 wilderness? I know how conceited you are and how wicked your heart is; you came down only to watch the battle.”

a. What are you doing here? - Belittling voice.

> You don't have what it takes.

b. You're supposed to be the there taking care of the sheep. - Rational voice.

> Factual, non-emotional, objective, but also stuck in comfort zone and don't need faith to trust God.

> Spiritually naive doesn't make sense = Trust God

c. I know your pride and deceit. - Accusation voice.

> Accuse of your past that has been forgiven by God

3. Past victories are meant for us to be prepared for next victories. 

1 Samuel 17:33

33 Saul replied, “You are not able to go out against this Philistine and fight him; you are only a young man, and he has been a warrior from his youth.”

1 Samuel 17:34-35

34 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.

1 Samuel 17:36-37

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. 37 The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.”

Saul said to David, “Go, and the Lord be with you.”

- You don't get strength for your battle, but from your past battles.