Text: 1 Samuel 17:12-40
Greatness is something many people desire but few achieve. We recognize those who are great only after they achieve something we consider significant. We call them great after a military victory or a business success. What we see is the finished product, not the process. In doing so, we romanticize greatness.
This can happen in the Christian realm! The believer who dreams of the day they will do great things for God, or the individual who yearns for the day they will live a victorious life, can idealize spiritual greatness as something beyond their reach.
· We need to understand that Spiritual Greatness is the result of godly character and godly character is developed in the exercise of Faith.
· Spiritual Greatness is the result of a process that often contains elements of sacrifice and surrender.
We desire the product, but avoid the process! In our willfulness we miss the path that God intends to lead us to spiritual maturity.
You may have never done anything outstanding or heroic – but you could!
· That’s one of the strange things about heroes; they are often as surprised as everyone else at their display of courage.
· They say “I just happened to be in the right place at the right time” and “just did what anyone else would have done.”
· The truth is persons who respond to crisis with acts of heroism do so because their character demands it.
We witness heroism in the story of David and Goliath. While the Israeli army cowered in the trenches, intimidated by the taunts of the giant (v 11), David stood up and asked, “Is there not a cause?”(v 29).
Think of that phrase for a moment, “Is there not a cause?” David is saying... Is the state of our country so desperate that there is no hope of an Israelite being able, with the help of God, to engage and defeat this arrogant giant?
When a “Cause” and a “Crisis” collide they often produce a Hero. That’s what happened with David. When he saw the enemy of God uncontested, he was driven to action – Cause and crisis met, and a hero was born.
There is general agreement today that the “Cause of Christ is in Crisis.” This means the circumstances are ideal for producing heroes.
What does David’s life teach us about “The making of Hero’s?”
· Hero’s can come from UNLIKELY PLACES (v 12-19). If we were picking a potential hero, David would not have made the list! Look at the details God has chosen to record about David.
1. He was from a little town, Bethlehem.
2. He was the smallest, and youngest of a large family.
3. He had just a little job to do. David was just an errand boy.
David had no outstanding qualification for the job. I believe God chose David for his Character, not his Credentials; Faith, not his Physique.
· Hero’s have an UNCOMMON PERSPECTIVE (v 20-27). David arrived at the battlefield as the two armies prepared for their daily warfare of words. In v 11 Goliath repeats the challenge he’s been rehearsing in the ears of the Israelites for over a month and he gets the exact same result.
1. David had a different view of Goliath (v 26). David didn’t see a giant; he saw someone mocking God. David’s God created the heavens, why fear this giant?
2. David was not motivated by reward (v 25-26, 30).
3. David was amazed a reward was offered to do what any God-fearing Israelite ought to have done without hesitation.
· Hero’s OVERCOME OPPOSITION (v 28-29). “And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spake unto the men; and Eliab's anger was kindled against David, and he said, Why camest thou down hither? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thine heart; for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle. 29 And David said, What have I now done? Is there not a cause?”
1. A hero’s faith is often misunderstood. When a person desires to attempt something for God, he will often hear “it can’t be done.”
2. Consider the obstacles David overcame before he faced Goliath.
· The Scorn of His brother (v 28).
· The Skepticism of His King (v 30-33). A backslidden authority
· The Status Quo (v 38-39). The way we’ve always done it!
We are prone to line up with the scorner and the skeptic. That’s why we need a hero to remind us what it means to walk by faith.
What does it take to be a hero of The Faith? It takes three essential qualities that any of us MAY POSSESS and CULTIVATE. A HERO HAS…
1. A SENSE OF PURPOSE (1 Sam 17:29). “David said, What have I now done? Is there not a cause?”
· If you’re going to attempt "the impossible" for God, you have to believe in “the God of the impossible.” David had a bond with God!
· If you listen to the scorner and skeptic you are likely to get your…
- Feelings hurt!
- Vision obscured!
- Resolve weakened!
2. AN ATTITUDE OF EXPECTATION (v 36). “Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God.”
· You have to know what you can expect God to do.
· David believed God would give him the victory because of His…
1. Past Performance.
2. Unchanging Person.
3. Trustworthy Promises.
3. A RESOLVE TO ACT IN FAITH (v 39). “And David girded his sword upon his armor, and he assayed to go; for he had not proved it. And David said unto Saul, I cannot go with these; for I have not proved them. And David put them off him.”
· Sometimes, you have to step out in faith and put God to the test.
· You have to be willing to put yourself squarely in the hands of God. This may mean facing a giant with nothing in your hand but a sling and five smooth stones.
CONCLUSION: Hebrews 11:1-10 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2 For by it the elders obtained a good report. 3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.
5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. 6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. 10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
