Feb. 18, 2024

Series: AFTER GOD’S OWN HEART 2-18-24

EYES ON THE PRIZE! (1 Samuel 17:38-51) 

FIVE STONES THAT KILL GIANTS:

1. INVOLVEMENT (GET INVOLVED IN THE BATTLE!)

2. FAITH (OVER FEAR!)

3. ENCOURAGEMENT (FROM THE PAST TO TRUST GOD!)

4. ___________________

Ephesians 2:10 ¹⁰ For we are God’s handiwork (Artwork, Masterpiece, Greek: “Poema”), created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

5. ___________________

Philippians 3:13-14 (Msg) “Friends, don’t get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I’m off and running, and I’m not turning back. 

HOW TO DEFEAT YOUR GIANTS:

1. BE ____________________ in WHO YOU are!

1 Samuel 17:38–40 ³⁸ Then Saul dressed David in his own tunic (Military uniform). He put a coat of armor on him and a bronze helmet on his head. ³⁹ David fastened on his sword over the (armor) 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. ⁴⁰ 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.

“David was a SMALL Shepherd with a __________ Faith in an ENORMOUS God!”

The Question of IDENTITY:

Who Am I & What am I _______________ of?

2. PICK a TARGET with LASTING ______________!

1 Samuel 17:41–43 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 little more than a boy, glowing with health 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. 

1 Samuel 17:47 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." 

“A Christian is a person who Cares more about

God’s                                       than they do about their Own!”

Nehemiah 1:1–4 The words of Nehemiah… In the month of Kislev… while I was in the citadel of Susa… ² one of my brothers, came from Judah with some other men, and I questioned them about the Jewish remnant that had survived the exile, and also about Jerusalem. ³ They said to me, “Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire.” ⁴ When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven. 

The Question of SIGNIFICANCE:

How ____________ will it be 5 minutes after you Die?

3. ILLIMINATE COMPETING _________________!

“If you aim at _____________, you’re bound to _______ It!”

1 Samuel 17:48-49 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 facedown on the ground. 

The Question of FOCUS:

Are my ___________ on the Prize?

Hebrews 12:1–2 ¹ …let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. ² Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, 

4. EXPECT GOD to ____________ for HIS GLORY!

1 Samuel 17:50-51 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.

The Question of EXPECTATION: 

What am I ______________ God to do in my Life?

“If all the ____________ say you Can’t do it, but God says you Can, Don’t Listen to the ____________!”

Philippians 3:12–14 (NASB) ¹² Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. ¹³ Brothers and sisters, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, ¹⁴ I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.