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Roebling convinced his son, Washington, who was a young up and coming engineer that the bridge could be built. The two of them developed the concepts of how it could be accomplished and how the obstacles could be overcome. With unharnessed excitement and inspiration, they hired their crew and began to build their dream bridge.
The project was only a few months under construction when a tragic accident on the site took the life of John Roebling and severely injured his son, Washington. Washington was left with permanent brain damage and was unable to talk or walk. Everyone felt that the project would have to be scrapped since the Roeblings were the only ones who knew how the bridge could be built.
Although Washington was unable to move or talk, his mind was as sharp as ever, and he still had a burning desire to complete the bridge. An idea hit him as he lay in his hospital bed, and he developed a code for communication. All he could move was one finger, so he touched the arm of his wife with that finger, tapping out the code to communicate to her what to tell the engineers who were building the bridge. For thirteen years, Washington tapped out his instructions with his finger until the spectacular Brooklyn Bridge was finally completed. (Liraz Publishing Co.)
What obstacles do you face in your life? What obstacles do you need to overcome to accomplish what God has put you on earth to accomplish? Is it simply fear? A lurid past? Indecision? Lack of money or too much money? Lack of Confidence? What ever your obstacle is, God has the strategy for fighting and doing battle with that obstacle.
(1 Samuel 17:23 NIV) 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. 40-51 Then he took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his shepherd's bag and, with his sling in his hand, approached the Philistine. {41} Meanwhile, the Philistine, with his shield bearer in front of him, kept coming closer to David. {42} He looked David over and saw that he was only a boy, ruddy and handsome, and he despised him. {43} He said to David, Am I a dog, that you come at me with sticks? And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. {44} Come here, he said, and I'll give your flesh to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field! {45} David said to the Philistine, You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. {46} This day the LORD will hand you over to me, and I'll strike you down and cut off your head. Today I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. {47} All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the Lord's, and he will give all of you into our hands. {48} As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him. {49} Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell face down on the ground. {50} So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him. {51} David ran and stood over him. He took hold of the Philistine's sword and drew it from the scabbard. After he killed him, he cut off his head with the sword. When the Philistines saw that their hero was dead, they turned and ran.ö
I .IDENTIFY THE ENEMY
(1 Samuel 17:26 NIV) David asked the men standing near him, What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and removes this disgrace from Israel? Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?öö
Notice that David identified the specific problem - not just the enemy - not just the Philistines, but Goliath. Deal with one Giant at a time. Get specific with the giant that you are battling.
Use a rifle strategy rather than a shotgun approach.
What is your biggest problem? What clouds your day with anxiety and discouragement, robbing you of the joy God intends? What is it that is between where you are now and your complete obedience to Him?
Line up those giants. List giant one, giant two and giant three. Start at the top. Deal with the giant at hand, get him buried and move on to the next one.
II. USE THE WEAPONS YOU HAVE - God Has Equipped you For Battle
Prepare For Battle - Remember God's Faithfulness
(1 Samuel 17:36-37 NIV) 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 delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine. Saul said to David, Go, and the LORD be with you.öö
Remember what God has done in the past. Remember past victories.
Notice that his confidence was in God, what God had done through him rather than having confidence in his own abilities.
Protection For The Battle - Remember God's Protection
(1 Samuel 17:37 NIV) The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine. Saul said to David, Go, and the LORD be with you.
God was his Protection. He had protected him from the lion and the bear and he would protect him from the giant he was facing now. God did this in the past and God would be with him now.
(Romans 10:17 KJV) So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.ö
GOD'S WATCH CARE
A little boy was eagerly looking forward to the birthday party of a friend who lived only a few blocks away. When the day arrived, a blizzard made the sidewalks and roads nearly impassable. The lad's father, sensing the danger, hesitated to let his son go. The youngster reacted tearfully. "But Dad," he pleaded, "all the other kids will be there. Their parents are letting them go." The father thought for a minute, then replied softly, "All right, you may go." Surprised but overjoyed, the boy bundled up and plunged into the raging storm. The driving snow made visibility almost impossible, and it took him more than half an hour to trudge the short distance to the party. As he rang the doorbell, he turned briefly to look out into the storm. His eye caught the shadow of a retreating figure. It was his father. He had followed his son's every step to make sure he arrived safely.
Power For Battle - Remember It Is God's Power, Not Your Own
(1 Samuel 17:45 NIV) David said to the Philistine, You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.ö
There are some of us that have felt as though we can whip giants anytime anywhere just line them up. If you face giants with self-confidence, you are in deep, deep trouble!
Where should our confidence be? If should be in God and God alone!
(John 15:5 NIV) I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
(Philippians 4:13 NIV) I can do everything through him who gives me strength.)
(Zechariah 4:6 KJV) Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This
is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power,
but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.
Although David had done all of these things, he still had to fight the giant. He still had to fight the battle. God did not kill the giant for David, but rather God killed the giant through David. David had to participate.
What he afraid? I am sure? Nevertheless, he had confidence in God that he would be victorious.
Notice that it was not only prayer that killed Goliath. It was prayer and action. Action based in Courage that God would empower him to accomplish the impossible.
III. GIVE GOD THE GLORY
(1 Samuel 17:46-47 NIV) This day the LORD will hand you over to me, and IÆll strike you down and cut off your head. Today I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. {47} All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LordÆs, and he will give all of you into our hands.öö
Notice that David did not start into the chorus, "How Great I Art!" He gave God all of the Glory. After all, it was God's battle and it was God who gave Goliath into his hands.
Do you want to know how to have victory over giants? Gaze at God - then glance at your giants.
We can tackle any giant when we know the battle is the Lord's.
Today I will make a difference. I will begin by controlling my thoughts. A person is the product of his thoughts. I want to be happy and hopeful; therefore, I will have thoughts that are happy and hopeful. I refuse to be victimized by my circumstances. I will not let petty inconveniences such as stoplights, long lines, and traffic jams by my masters. I will avoid negativism and gossip. Optimism will be my companion and victory will be my hallmark. Toady I will make a difference.
I will be grateful for the twenty-four hours that are before me. Time is a precious commodity. I refuse to allow what little time I have to be contaminated by self-pity, anxiety or boredom. I will face this day with the joy of a child and the courage of a giant. When tomorrow comes, today will be gone forever. While it is here, I will use it for loving and giving. Today I will make a difference.
I will not let past failure haunt me. Although my life is scarred with mistakes, I refuse to rummage through my trash heap of failures. I will admit them. I will correct them. I will press on. Victoriously. No failure is final. It is OK to stumble... I will get up. It is OK to fail... I will rise again. Toady I will make a difference.
I will spend time with those I love. My spouse, my children, my family. A man can own the world but be poor from the lack of love. A man can own nothing and yet be wealthy in relationships. Today I will spend at least five minutes with the significant people in my world. Five quality minuets. Five minutes of talking or hugging or thanking or listening. Five undiluted minutes with my mate, my children and friends. Today I will make a difference.
David Page
This Journal is published by Theological Web Publishing, LLC. For more information e-mail us at: webedit@theology.org
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