In today’s Light On Life podcast, we are talking ‘giants,’ that is, giant problems, destroying devilish giants as part of your spiritual DNA. Tony Evans says that most of us have experienced our children’s dependence on us to face their fears when they have nightmares or when it’s thundering and lightning during a storm. They’ll wake up, scream, and jump out of their bed. They will walk through the valley of their bedroom, down the valley of the hall, to the valley of your room. They jump in your bed because what they need is somebody to be with them. Your hugging them doesn’t stop the rain, the thunder, or the lightning, but it changes how they face it. They’ll fall asleep in your arms. The fear that they have alone, they no longer have, because Mama or Daddy holds them. You help them face their fears in the midst of their struggles. This is exactly what the heavenly Father does for us when we face our own fears and insecurities.¹ You can face devilish giants not because of who you are but because of whose you are. But, there is even more good news than that. You can eliminate these giants totally from your life. Why Destroying Devilish Giants Is Part of Your Spiritual DNA, that’s our focus on this week’s Light On Life.

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The Problematic Irreverance for God

[Tweet “There is a measure of strength that you acquire just by hanging out at the Throne Room.”]

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Episode Resources

You can find more information click on the links below:

1. Encountering Jesus in Your Everyday Life.
2. #S4-005: What to Do When Your Family Thinks Your Nuts about Jesus [Podcast] 
3. #S3-030: Do You Believe in the Resurrection of Jesus? [Podcast]
4. #S1-033: Three Things Jesus Did that You Can Do [Podcast]
5. #S1-020: What Happens When You Encounter Jesus? [Podcast]
6. #S5-010: Just Who Is Jesus to You? [Podcast]
7. #S5-011: The Zoe Life of God in the Person of Jesus [Podcast]
8. #S5-012: Seven Witnesses to the Mission of Jesus [Podcast]
9. Why You Should Not Pass Up the Opportunity to Destroy Little Giants
10. How to Beat Fear
11. Why People Who Are Strong in the Lord Thrive

About Emery

Emery committed his life to the Lord Jesus Christ over 42 years ago. He has served as both a full-time pastor and an itinerant minister. Both he and his wife Sharon of 38 years emphasize personal growth and development through the Word of God. The ministry of the Holy Spirit is both the focus and the hallmark of their mission. Read more about them here.

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Podcast Notes

Strength in the Valley of Devilish Giants

• You remember, in last week’s podcast, we talked about the Valley of Rephaim.
• The Valley of Rephaim was near the Valley of Baca referenced in Psalm 84.
• This Valley of Rephaim was a prominent place in David’s history.

2 Samuel 5:17–21 (ESV) — 17 When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, all the Philistines went up to search for David. But David heard of it and went down to the stronghold. 18 Now the Philistines had come and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim. 19 And David inquired of the Lord, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will you give them into my hand?” And the Lord said to David, “Go up, for I will certainly give the Philistines into your hand.” 20 And David came to Baal-perazim, and David defeated them there. And he said, “The Lord has broken through my enemies before me like a breaking flood.” Therefore the name of that place is called Baal-perazim. 21 And the Philistines left their idols there, and David and his men carried them away.

• So, David’s epoch Kingdom rule was established by God in the Valley of Rephaim.
• You know Rephaim were devilish giants.
• So, the Valley of Rephaim was a piece of real estate named after or known for really tall people.
• Now, when I say giants, that’s what I mean — physically tall, hugely tall – skyscraper kind of folk.
• We are talking ten-foot-tall, thirteen-foot-tall — big people.
• Goliath was nine feet, nine and 1/2 inches tall.
• Og, King of Basham, had a bed that was 13 feet tall — giants.
• So, there were giant obstacles literally that David had to overcome.
• There are giant obstacles that you have to overcome as a child of God.
• You can’t duck and hide in a hole from these giant problems.
• That’s what the children of Israel did.

The Devilish Giant Goliath

1 Samuel 17:4,10–11 (ESV) — 4 And there came out from the camp of the Philistines a champion named Goliath of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span. 10 And the Philistine said, “I defy the ranks of Israel this day. Give me a man, that we may fight together.” 11 When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid.

• Time and time again, the Lord demonstrated that He was more than a match for devilish giants.
• If you remember, we then spoke about David’s Mighty Men.

Devilish Giant Destroyers: David’s Mighty Men

• We said that mighty men was a designation for super-soldiers.
• These were David’s Green Berets — his Navy Seals if you would.
• The cream of the crop — the best of the best.
• These men were loyal to David, fierce fighters, who helped him secure the kingdom after Saul’s death through their skill in battle.

1 Chronicles 11:10 (AMP) — 10 Now these are the chiefs of David’s mighty men, who strongly supported him in his kingdom, together with all Israel, to make him king, according to the word of the Lord concerning Israel.

• Adino was one of these mighty men – he wielded his spear and went against 800 men, who were slain at one time – 2 Samuel 23:8.
• Three of these mighty men had a breakthrough in the Valley of Rephaim — in the valley of Giants.

2 Samuel 23:13–16 (ESV) — 13 And three of the thirty chief men went down and came about harvest time to David at the cave of Adullam, when a band of Philistines was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim. 14 David was then in the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then at Bethlehem. 15 And David said longingly, “Oh, that someone would give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem that is by the gate!” 16 Then the three mighty men broke through the camp of the Philistines and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem that was by the gate and carried and brought it to David. But he would not drink of it. He poured it out to the Lord

• It takes strength pouring out of mighty men to have a breakthrough.
• Notice there is something to be said for standing your ground.
• Caving in is never a solution to stress or problems.
• If you want to see a great deliverance, you must be willing to look the great giant right in the eye.
• No strength is acquired via quitting.
• No victory is gained by walking away.
• Having done all to stand, stand is the admonition of scripture.

Wise Thoughts on Defeating Devilish Giants

Know that Devilish Giants Are Already Defeated

1 John 3:8 (ESV) — 8 Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.

• Did you hear the tremendously good news in this passage?
• The works of the devil are destroyed.
• What does that mean?
• It looks like the exact opposite — it looks like the enemy’s works are as abundant as the waters flowing through Niagara Falls.
• How are the devil’s works destroyed?
• And, with that thought, here is the Definition of the Day.
• We need to look at the Greek word ‘destroy.’
• The word means to do away with, to bring to an end, to abolish.²
• You must understand this fact about the Bible.
• The Bible is written to believers, to lovers of God, to Jesus followers.
• When you came to Jesus, when you said ‘Yes to Him, you were born again.
• You changed Kingdoms.

Colossians 1:13 (AMP) — 13 [The Father] has delivered and drawn us to Himself out of the control and the dominion of darkness and has transferred us into the kingdom of the Son of His love,

• In the Kingdom of Light, the works of the enemy are destroyed.
• The world is wrapped in darkness.
• In that realm, and in that kingdom, the works of the devil are in full force.
• But that’s temporary.

Revelation 11:15 (AMP) — 15 The seventh angel then blew [his] trumpet, and there were mighty voices in heaven, shouting, The dominion (kingdom, sovereignty, rule) of the world has now come into the possession and become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ (the Messiah), and He shall reign forever and ever (for the eternities of the eternities)!

• You are not in the devil’s kingdom.
• When you face one of His giants, you face him with the confidence that he is already defeated — that his works are abolished — that he has no legal claim on your life.
• With that thought, here is the quote of the day.

No power on earth or in hell can conquer the Spirit of God in a human spirit, it is an inner unconquerableness. If you have the whine in you, kick it out ruthlessly. It is a positive crime to be weak in God’s strength. – Oswald Chambers (1874–1917)

• Whining is weakness — stand up and fight the good fight.
• One gentleman said this about whining and complaining.

The next time you feel like complaining, remember that your garbage disposal probably eats better than 30 percent of the world’s population does.³

• You want to remember that the enemy is a defeated foe — fight him on your ground.

When Destroying Devilish Giants, Remember the Scarecrows

• When taking on giants, don’t forget about scarecrows.
• What are they scarecrows all about?
• Designed to deter members of the avian world, scarecrows are all about fear.
• ‘Don’t come up in this field and take my corn,’ the scarecrow boldly declares.
• But here is the thing, at the same time, the scarecrow says that he is also saying, there are blessings in my field.
• There is sustenance in my field.
• Good eats are to be had if we can get past the fear.
• So, while they try to be instruments of fear and discouragement, they advertise blessing to those who overcome.
• So, when a giant sticks his head up and tries to intimidate you, remember that he may have stood up in a field of blessing, and he’s trying to scare you off.
• Push past the fear and occupy for the Kingdom of God.

When Destroying Devilish Giants, Don’t Be A Quitter, Choose to Engage

• If nothing else, life is a constant set of choices.
• Victory comes from consistently making the right choices and executing them.

Deuteronomy 30:19 (AMP) — 19 I call heaven and earth to witness this day against you that I have set before you life and death, the blessings and the curses; therefore choose life, that you and your descendants may live.

• You can choose to love rather than hate
• Choose to smile rather than frown
• You can choose to build rather than destroy
• Choose to praise rather than gossip
• You can choose to heal rather than wound
• Choose to give rather than grasp
• You can choose to act rather than delay
• Choose to forgive rather than curse
• You can choose to pray rather than despair.
• Most of all, you can choose not to quit.
• You can choose to persevere rather than quit
• Robert Schuller said this.

When faced with a mountain, I will not quit! I will keep on striving until I climb over, find a pass through, tunnel underneath … or simply stay and turn the mountain into a gold mine, with God’s help.⁴

• Remember that trying times are no time to quit trying.
• Before success comes in any man’s life, he is sure to meet with much temporary defeat and, perhaps, some failure.
• When defeat overtakes a man, the easiest and most logical thing to do is to quit.
• That is exactly what the majority of men do.
• Refuse to be the majority.
• Stand your ground.
• You cannot attain any level of realized overcoming just doing spiritual life sometimes.
• Winning is all or nothing.
• To win, you have to sell out to the winner — sell out to Jesus.

Galatians 6:9 (Message) — So let’s not allow ourselves to get fatigued doing good. At the right time we will harvest a good crop if we don’t give up, or quit. Right now, therefore, every time we get the chance, let us work for the benefit of all, starting with the people closest to us in the community of faith.

When Destroying Devilish Giants, Stay Disciplined

• Here’s a wonderful definition of maturity.
• Maturity is doing what you are supposed to do when you are supposed to do it, regardless of how you feel.
• Stay with the Book.
• Feed on the Word.
• Build yourself up.

2 Timothy 4:3 (AMP) — 3 For the time is coming when [people] will not tolerate (endure) sound and wholesome instruction, but, having ears itching [for something pleasing and gratifying], they will gather to themselves one teacher after another to a considerable number, chosen to satisfy their own liking and to foster the errors they hold, 
* Tolerate sound instruction.

• Eat your vegetables.
• The spiritual strength necessary to take on giants comes by feeding on God’s Word.
• What do I feed on?
• Feed on the fundamentals.
• You can never get too far from the basics.

Hebrews 6:1–3 (NLT) — 1 So let us stop going over the basics of Christianity again and again. Let us go on instead and become mature in our understanding. Surely we don’t need to start all over again with the importance of turning away from evil deeds and placing our faith in God. 2 You don’t need further instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. 3 And so, God willing, we will move forward to further understanding.

• You need to feed on repentance from dead works.
• Faith in God — you can never get too far from faith.
• Keep feeding your faith on faith.
• Baptisms: not just water baptism, the baptism of the Holy Ghost.
• Laying on of Hands — when was the last time you laid hands on someone
• What about Resurrection and Eternal Judgment?
• Per Hebrews six, these are the beginnings; these are the fundamentals.
• Focus on the fundamentals.
• Start where you are.
• Remember the formula as you approached the Valley of Baca.
• You start with strength.
• You apply that strength against an obstacle, a giant, for example.
• You look to the Overcoming One, and when you press against that load, you become stronger.
• Don’t be afraid; remember the Word.

1 Corinthians 10:13 (NLT) — 13 But remember that the temptations that come into your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will keep the temptation from becoming so strong that you can’t stand up against it. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you will not give in to it.

• You know the devices of the enemy; we are not ignorant of them.
• The enemy thinks – “bring difficulties against them, and that will sap them of their strength.”
• But you make the enemy a liar.
• You look to your God, and you start where you are, and you stand.
• You may say, but ‘I’m just new to the faith.’
• Brand new believer in Jesus, born again babe in Christ, listen to me now, start where you are, and begin resisting.

Do what you can with what you have where you are – Theodore Roosevelt (1858–1919).

• He who moves a mountain starts by carrying away small stones.
• Strength comes by moving small things over a great number of days.
• When you are training with weights in a gym, you know it’s not just the weight that you push or pull against; it’s the reps that you do.
• It’s repetitions that build endurance and strength.
• Do the little things, the little spiritual things, and do them over and over again.
• Pray and pray again.
• Worship, and worship again.
• Study the Word, and study it again.
• Stand and stand again.
• Stay with it.
• Great things are little things done with a desire to please God.
• Stay disciplined with the small stuff.

When Destroying Devilish Giants, Don’t Procrastinate

• When we think about giants in the Bible, we think about Goliath.
• We think about David and Goliath.
• I’m sure that you’ve heard the story — may be heard it read to you as a child.
• David, a young boy, not much older than a teenager, takes out a full-grown, experienced in war, never been defeated in one on one combat, giant.

1 Samuel 17:1, 4, 8–11 (AMP) — 1 NOW THE Philistines gathered their armies for battle and were assembled at Socoh, which belongs to Judah, and encamped between Socoh and Azekah in Ephes-dammim… 4 And a champion went out of the camp of the Philistines named Goliath of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span [almost ten feet]… 8 Goliath stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, Why have you come out to draw up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves and let him come down to me. 9 If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we will be your servants; but if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall be our servants and serve us. 10 And the Philistine said, I defy the ranks of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together. 11 When Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid.

• Fear kept these warriors of Saul in their foxholes for 40 days.
• Remember the scarecrow.

1 Samuel 17:23, 26 (AMP) — 23 As they talked, behold, Goliath, the champion, the Philistine of Gath, came forth from the Philistine ranks and spoke the same words as before, and David heard him… 26 And David said to the men standing by him, What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?

• David was appalled.
• He was astonished that even a reward was posted for someone to be brave enough to step forward and defeat this giant.
• ‘What is being offered,’ David said.
• ‘Are you kidding me? — this man is defying the Lord — are you serious?’

1 Samuel 17:32–36 (ESV) — 32 And David said to Saul, “Let no man’s heart fail because of him. Your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.” 33 And Saul said to David, “You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him, for you are but a youth, and he has been a man of war from his youth.” 34 But David said to Saul, “Your servant used to keep sheep for his father. And when there came a lion, or a bear, and took a lamb from the flock, 35 I went after him and struck him and delivered it out of his mouth. And if he arose against me, I caught him by his beard and struck him and killed him. 36 Your servant has struck down both lions and bears, and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God.”

• There is something that the Lord said to me years and years ago in this area of giants.
• He said:

Tend to the giants where your faith is now.

• You have to start where you are right now.
• Why was David so confident that he could take on the giant Goliath as a young shepherd boy?
• He never fought a giant before.
• It’s not like he had loads of experience taking on giants.
• David wasn’t a giant killer when he took on Goliath.
• He took him on, having never faced such an opponent.
• How would you like it to have your first fight be the biggest dude on the whole block?
• David learned the fine art of devilish giant-killing by practicing against smaller targets.
• David wasn’t arrogant.
• He was confident.
• But his confidence, his swagger wasn’t built on ‘trash-talk’ — it was built on walking the walk.
• Listen to what he said to King Saul.

Your servant used to keep sheep for his father. And when there came a lion, or a bear, and took a lamb from the flock, I went after him and struck him and delivered it out of his mouth. And if he arose against me, I caught him by his beard and struck him and killed him.

• David had confidence that he could defeat giants like Goliath because he had experience taking on lions and bears.
• That’s the point — faith is faith.
• The principles of faith work the same whether you are dealing with something small or contending with something large.
• Whether it’s tiny or giant-sized, the Word is the same.
• Have you gotten any answers to prayer?
• If you did, you now have experience.
• You can use those same principles that got you the answer and grow and build from that point.
• That same power of God that you trusted the Lord with to get healed of a cold will work on cancer.
• Practice don’t procrastinate.
• That’s what the lions and bears are for.
• They are target practice for you.
• The lesson we need to learn is that we need to work with God to defeat the little giants before we take on the Goliaths we may be confronted with.
• Many are just waiting around.
• They are not using their faith against the small stuff of life.
• That’s not what David did.
• He trusted the Lord right where he was.
• A bear rose up; he could have let the bear have the lamb.
• After all, they will multiply and have more lambs.
• He didn’t have to put his neck on the line.
• But if he had bypassed that opportunity to learn and apply himself in his trusting of God, where would he have been when Goliath showed up.
• The confidence that he needed to boldly declare to the King that he could take this huge enemy on came from many experiences of taking on much smaller giants.
• David slew the lions and the bears, and that’s he knew Goliath was toast.

Great things are done when men and mountains meet. – William Blake

• So, as we get ready to close, remember it’s not what men eat but what they digest that makes us strong.
• It’s not what we gain but what we save that makes us rich.
• Not what we read, but what we remember that makes us learned;
• And it’s not what we preach or pray, but what we practice and believe that makes us giant killers⁵
• You guys have a great God week, and we will see you next time for another edition of Light On Life.

The Power of We In A World Of I

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