Facing Your Giants: God Still Does the Impossible
Page 17
B. What is the biblical name for someone who refuses to control his or her temper?
C. Would you have expected Paul to include self-control as a topic along with righteousness and final judgment? Explain.
3. Read Ephesians 6:4 and Titus 2:4–5.
A. Why do you think fathers (as opposed to mothers) are given the instruction of Ephesians 6:4?
B. Who is given the responsibility of teaching young mothers how to build a strong, godly home (Titus 2:4)?
C. What is the rationale behind this instruction (Titus 2:5)?
Battle Lines
Do you really want to know how healthy your family life is? Then start by taking a poll of your family members. Ask all of them individually how they feel about the way you treat them, the way you lead them, the way you care for them. Take these conversations seriously, make any corrections that seem necessary, offer any apologies that are needed, and commit to God to build the strongest family possible.
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DASHED HOPES
Reconnaissance
1. I had intended . . . I had made preparations . . . But God . . .
A. What does this story of David’s desire to build the temple say to those who think that personal dreams are always the pathway to God’s best?
B. What plans have you made and prepared for that God altered somehow?
2. What do you do with the “but God” moments in life? When God interrupts your good plans, how do you respond?
A. How do you answer the two questions above?
B. Do you see these “but God” moments as good or bad? Explain.
3. When you are given an ice cream sundae, you don’t complain over a missing cherry. David faced the behemoth of disappointment with “yet God.” David trusted.
A. Why do we often complain over a missing cherry when God gives us an ice cream sundae? Have you ever done this? If so, describe what happened.
B. How have you trusted God in the disappointing moments of your life?
4. His “but God” became a “yet God.” Who’s to say yours won’t become the same?
A. What explains the transition from “but God” to “yet God”? What makes the difference?
B. What “yet God” would you like to see overrun a “but God”? Describe it.
Marching Orders
1. Read 1 Chronicles 28:2–19.
A. What did David desire to do? Was this a good desire (see 2 Chronicles 6:8)?
B. Why did God not allow David to see his desire fulfilled?
C. What did God give David instead?
2. Read Acts 16:6–10.
A. Describe Paul’s original travel plans. Was it good for him to have a plan?
B. How did God alter Paul’s ministry plans? Why did he do this?
C. What happened when Paul allowed God to alter his plans?
3. Read Job 42:2; Proverbs 21:30; Jeremiah 29:11.
A. Why can we have confidence in God’s plans for us?
B. Why do we not have to fear that someone else’s plans will derail the future God has planned for us?
C. What kind of plan does God have for us, according to Jeremiah 29:11?
Battle Lines
Too often we make our plans and ask God to bless them rather than asking God to help us build our plans in a way that pleases him. Have you submitted your plans to God? If not, do so today. Pray something like this: “Father, I don’t want to run in my own direction. I want to be where you want me to be, doing what you want me to do. So forgive me for making my plans without you, and help me to get on track with you. Show me your plans for my life, and then give me the courage and the wisdom to follow them. And, Lord, when I run into a ‘but God,’ help me to immediately start looking for the ‘yet God.’ In Jesus’s name, Amen.”
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TAKE GOLIATH DOWN!
Reconnaissance
Use your five fingers to remind you of the five stones you need to face down your Goliath. Let your thumb remind you of . . .
1. The stone of the past
Catalog God’s successes. Keep a list of his world records. Has he not walked you through high waters? Proven to be faithful? Have you not known his provision? . . . Write today’s worries in sand. Chisel yesterday’s victories in stone.
A. In the past year, what successes has God given you? Throughout your Christian life, what high waters has he walked you through?
B. Think about the last month. Which worries that occu-pied your time never materialized?
2. The stone of prayer
Note the valley between your thumb and finger. To pass from one to the next you must go through it. Let it remind you of David’s descent. Before going high, David went low; before ascending to fight, David descended to prepare. Don’t face your giant without first doing the same. Dedicate time to prayer.
A. What sorts of things do you normally pray about? What sorts of things seem to escape your notice in prayer?
B. When is the best time for you to pray? Why?
3. The stone of priority
Let your tallest finger remind you of your highest priority: God’s reputation.
A. If God’s reputation were based solely on your behavior, what kind of reputation would God have?
B. If you were to live all of life for God’s glory—including your family life, your work life, your recreational life, etc.—what would need to change?
4. The stone of passion
David ran, not away from, but toward his giant. . . . Do the same! What good has problem pondering gotten you? You’ve stared so long you can number the hairs on Goliath’s chest. Has it helped? No. Listing hurts won’t heal them. Itemizing problems won’t solve them. Categorizing rejections won’t remove them. David lobotomized the giant because he emphasized the Lord.
A. What are you most passionate about? Would you say you are passionate about God? Explain.
B. How could you increase your passion for God? What could you do to move him toward the top spot in your life?
5. The stone of persistence
Never give up. One prayer might not be enough. One apology might not do it. One day or month of resolve might not suffice. You may get knocked down a time or two . . . but don’t quit. Keep loading the rocks. Keep swinging the sling.
A. How has a lack of persistence hurt you in the past? How has a commitment to persistence paid off so far?
B. Who is the most persistent person you know? What gives him or her this quality? What can you learn from this person to increase your own persistence?
Marching Orders
1. Read 1 Chronicles 16:7–36.
A. Why is it so important to speak of what God has done?
B. Why is it so important to remember the covenant oaths God has made?
C. Why is it so important to worship God with a grateful and exuberant heart?
2. Read Ephesians 6:18–20.
A. What does it mean to pray “in the Spirit”?
B. For whom are we instructed to pray? How often?
C. Why is it important to stay alert in our prayers?
3. Read Colossians 3:23–24.
A. Regardless of your employer, whom do you really work for? Why is this important to remember?
B. Why does God consider it so important that we go about our business with all our hearts?
C. What reward is promised to those who comply with this command?
Battle Lines
Throughout the Bible, and still today, God is looking for those who will be wholehearted about whatever they do, as they pursue it for his glory. Do a self-inventory. In what areas of life are you whole-hearted? In what areas of life are you less than wholehearted? How can you submit all of life to the lordship of Christ and live passionately in every arena?
AFTERWORD
WHAT BEGAN IN BETHLEHEM
Reconnaissance
1. Seems you, like David, have much in common with Jesus. Big deal? I think so. Jesus understands you. He understands small-town anonymity and big-city pressure.
He’s walked pastures of sheep and palaces of kings. He’s faced hunger, sorrow, and death and wants to face them with you.
A. What do you think you have in common with Jesus? List several items.
B. How can Jesus help you face hunger, sorrow, and death?
2. Jesus never missed the mark. Equally amazing, he never distances himself from those who do.
A. Why is it important that Jesus never missed the mark?
B. How can Jesus be an example for you in dealing with difficult people?
3. Jesus wasn’t ashamed of David. He isn’t ashamed of you. He calls you brother; he calls you sister. The question is, do you call him Savior?
A. Why wasn’t Jesus ashamed of David? Why isn’t he ashamed of you?
B. Do you call Jesus your Savior? Explain.
4. One word from you, and God will do again what he did with David and millions like him: he’ll claim you, save you, and use you.
A. What difference does it make to you that God has claimed you for his own?
B. How do you think God wants to use you? What mission has he assigned you?
Marching Orders
1. Read Hebrews 4:14–16.
A. Why should having Jesus as our great high priest better enable us to “hold firmly to the faith we profess” (NIV)?
B. How is Jesus able to understand our weaknesses?
C. How is our great high priest different from us?
2. Read 1 John 4:9–11.
A. How did God show his love for us? What was the pur-pose of this action (v. 9)?
B. Why did Jesus come into this world, according to verse 10?
C. What conclusion does John reach, based on what he has said in verses 9–10?
3. Read Hebrews 2:11–18.
A. According to verse 11, what does Jesus call those he saves? Why does he call them this?
B. What was the purpose for Jesus becoming human, according to verses 14–15?
C. Why can Jesus fully understand any problem or challenge you face, according to verses 17–18? How does this make him the perfect helper for you?
Battle Lines
Spend some time thanking God for claiming you, saving you, and using you. Ask him to use you to bring others to him, and then look for ways to bless others as God has blessed you. Review the five stones with which you’ve been equipped to face your giants.
NOTES
Chapter 1
1. Author’s paraphrase
2. See Exodus 9:22–23; Joshua 6:15–20; 1 Samuel 7:10.
3. Author’s paraphrase
4. Emphasis mine in this list of scriptures
Chapter 3
1. Attributed to George Eliot.
2. Names and details have been changed.
Chapter 4
1. Eugene H. Peterson, Leap Over a Wall: Earthy Spirituality for Everyday Christians (San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco, 1997), 65.
Chapter 5
1. Malachi Martin, King of Kings (New York: Simon and Schuster, 1980), 206.
2. “Reinstated,” Favorite Stories from Bob Russell, vol. 5, CD-ROM (Louisville, KY: Living Word, Inc., 2005).
Chapter 6
1. http://www.oklahomacitynationalmemorial.org/media
2. M. Norville Young with Mary Hollingsworth, Living Lights, Shining Stars: Ten Secrets to Becoming the Light of the World (West Monroe, LA: Howard Publishing, 1997), 39.
Chapter 7
1. Ernest Gordon, To End All Wars: A True Story About the Will to Survive and the Courage to Forgive (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2002), 105–6, 101.
2. Hans Wilhelm Hertzberg, I and II Samuel, trans. J. S. Bowden (Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1964), 199–200.
3. Gordon, To End All Wars, 101–2.
Chapter 8
1. Associated Press, “450 Sheep Jump to their Deaths in Turkey,” July 8, 2005.
2. C. J. Mahaney, “Loving the Church,” audiotape of message at Covenant Life Church, Gaithersburg, MD, n.d., quoted in Randy Alcorn, Heaven (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House, 2004), xxii.
Chapter 9
1. Peterson, Leap Over a Wall, 112.
Chapter 10
1. C. S. Lewis, A Grief Observed (San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco, 1961), 24.
2. F. B. Meyer, Abraham, quoted in Charles R. Swindoll, The Tale of the Tardy Oxcart: And 1,501 Other Stories (Nashville: Word Publishing, 1998), 254.
3. Ann Kaiser Stearns, Living Through Personal Crisis (New York: Ballantine Books, 1984), 6.
4. Thomas P. Davidson, I Called Him Roosk, He Called Me Dad: A Collection of Thoughts About a Father’s Faith, Love, and Grief After Losing His Son (privately printed), 36–37.
Chapter 11
1. George Arthur Butterick, ed., The Interpreter’s Dictionary of the Bible: An Illustrated Encyclopedia, (Nashville: Abingdon, 1962), s.v. “Urim and Thummin,” and Merrill C. Tenney, gen. ed., Pictorial Bible Dictionary (Nashville: Southwestern Company, 1975), s.v. “Urim and Thummim.”
2. F. B. Meyer. David: Shepherd, Psalmist, King (Fort Washington, PA: Chris-tian Literature Crusade, 1977), 101–2.
Chapter 13
1. Some scholars suggest that “sons of Abinadab” in 2 Samuel 6:3 should be understood in the broader sense of “descendants of Abinadab” (Earl D. Radmacher, gen. ed., Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Commentary [Nashville: Thomas Nelson Inc., 1999]). See also 1 Samuel 7:1, where Eleazar is called Abinadab’s son.
Chapter 14
1. Fred Lowery, Covenant Marriage: Staying Together for Life (West Monroe, LA: Howard Publishing, 2002), 44.
2. Lowery, Covenant Marriage, 45.
Chapter 16
1. San Antonio Express News, “Does Texan have a prayer of trading domain name?” April 23, 2005.
Chapter 18
1. Paul Aurandt, Paul Harvey’s the Rest of the Story, ed. and comp. Lynne Harvey (New York: Bantam Books, 1978), 107–9.
Chapter 19
1. The offering exceeded our expectations.
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