Message Date: August 7, 2022
Bible
- 17 Now Jesse said to his son David, “Take this ephah of roasted grain and these ten loaves of bread for your brothers and hurry to their camp. 20 Early in the morning David left the flock in the care of a shepherd, loaded up and set out, as Jesse had directed. He reached the camp as the army was going out to its battle positions, shouting the war cry. 1 Samuel 17:17, 20 NIV
- This is where Goliath came out, challenged David, and asked the men what will be done for the man who kills this Philistine
- 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.” 1 Samuel 17:28 NIV
- 1. The enemy will always present another enemy that’s not the real enemy to keep you distracted from the one you are called to defeat!
- In David’s case it was his brother, Eliab.
- If he stands here and starts to argue with his brother, he will never even see his enemy.
- In David’s case it was his brother, Eliab.
- 2) Sometimes you’re fighting against what you’re supposed to be fighting for.
- 3. Some of us are defeated, simply because we are distracted.
- For the next 2 hours David defended himself to Eliab.
- Because some of us keep tripping over an offense and get caught up defending ourselves to Eliab, we never even get to the real enemy
- Because you are fighting Eliab, Goliath continues to go unchallenged in your life.
- How do I know if I’m fighting Eliab?
- If you’re still blaming people for things going on in your life
- For the next 2 hours David defended himself to Eliab.
- 29 “Now what have I done?” said David. “Can’t I even speak?” 1 Samuel 17:29 NIV
- I believed at this moment he realized what was happening and who the real fight was against.
- This is the turning point of the story.
- 30 He then turned away to someone else and brought up the same matter, and the men answered him as before. 1 Samuel 17:30 NIV
- When he turns to face away from Eliab, it positions him to face Goliath.
- 30 He then turned away to someone else and brought up the same matter, and the men answered him as before. 1 Samuel 17:30 NIV
- 4. When you stop falling for the distraction, you see the true enemy in your life.
- If he would have gotten caught up fighting his brother he wouldn’t have seen Goliath, the real enemy.
- 5. If we get stuck on distractions, we will get caught up fighting against the very thing we should be fighting for
- Don’t take the bait and fight the false battle.
- 32 David said to Saul, “Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine; your servant will go and fight him.” 1 Samuel 17:32 NIV
- 33 Saul replied, “You are not able to go out against this Philistine and fight him; you are only a young man [just a boy], and he has been a warrior from his youth.” 1 Samuel 17:33 NIV
- Saul said, “you’re just a boy.” I wonder what’s your ONLY in your own mind?
- You ever have something inside of you turn on you?
- Saul said, “you’re just a boy.” I wonder what’s your ONLY in your own mind?
- 7 But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am too young.’ You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Jeremiah 1:7 NIV
- God says his name is I AM.
- When you say “I am only,” and you’re supposed to take Gods name, you mess up the name he gave you by diminishing it in your own sight. Don’t say “I am only.”
- God says his name is I AM.
- I may not have faced this giant before, but I brought the same God to this valley who I brought to the last valley.
- The lion didn’t stand a chance, and the bear didn’t stand a chance–because they opposed my Father’s business.
- God will be there to help you. We have look past the distractions and truly see the real battle in front of us.