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The Last Giant Before Your Promise

9/10/2011

Deu 3:1 Then we turned, and went up the way to Bashan: (fruitful) and Og the king of Bashan came out against us, he and all his people, to battle at Edrei. (mighty) Deu 3:2 And the LORD said unto me, Fear him not: for I will deliver him, and all his people, and his land, into thy hand Deu 3:3 So the LORD our God delivered into our hands Og also, the king of Bashan, and all his people: and we smote him until none was left to him remaining. Deu 3:11 For only Og king of Bashan (land of giants) remained of the remnant of giants; behold, his bedstead was a bedstead of iron; is it not in Rabbath of the children of Ammon? nine cubits was the length thereof, and four cubits the breadth of it, after the cubit of a man. 13 1/2 ft x6ft God was preparing his people for the promised land. Remember the report of the walled cities, the giants. There is here a confrontation with a giant named og. The last of the giants. 1Co 16:9 For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries. Anti opposite contrary One of the laws of hermeneutics or translating or unfolding the significant is the more something or someone is mentioned in the bible the more importance it has then Goliath 6 times og 22 times These giants represent spiritual powers that must be defeated Goliath 9 ft 9 inches a philistine ( proud warriors) to roll in the dirt , from gath a wine press Goliath was resistant to god and to gods people and to gods man

The Last Giant Before Your Promise

9/10/2011

But when a worshipper who had humbled himself came on the scene who was submitted to his father the king the prophet and his god the giant came down. For your sake for your family and your future sake submit to God. Sauls big and bad and he has a strong defiant spirit. But when a young boy, who was just being obedient and bringing bread cheese and corn comes on the battlefield somebody bout to go down. You may feel like a king you may be anointed to lead a nation but be treated like a nobody, but when you stay submitted to god and do not lose your worship god will open the right doors at the right time And so gods people must get rid of og, he is standing between them and Gods promise. When he is removed gods people will then be positioned and postured to take the land and live in blessing. There is a price to be paid to enter into your promise or your dream. Remember these giants are defeatable. Og ruled some 60 cities he was a serious giant. There are not any of us here today who do not encounter difficulties in life. We face struggles, obstacles and hurdles everyday that drain us of energy and strength. Many of these struggles are the by-product of just living in a fallen world a world that is corrupted by sin. These products cannot be avoided, done away with or even bypassed because they are common to all men and women who walk in this world. This is what Paul meant when he said, There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man (1 Corinthians 10:13)

The Last Giant Before Your Promise

9/10/2011

Then there are those difficulties that seem to not be common at all. Everyday we look across the scene of our life and discover the shadows of giants that are yet undefeated. We hear the loud voice of these seemingly invincible enemies roaring around us. Some days the giants of our life are quiet while other days their voices cannot be extinguished. It is these days we become vulnerable open to the onslaught of fear, causing us to cower in the corner, defeated and depressed. There are giants of doubt, fear, anger and negativism looming on the horizon: giants of greed, envy and lust lurking in the dark places of our existence. Shame prevents is from exposing these giants to anyone around us. But have you ever asked yourself this question, Why is there still a giant in my life? Why, since I have given my life, my heart and my mind to the guidance of the Spirit do I still have giants to battle? The Word of God does not leave us without an answer to this predicament. We can understand why giants still loom in our life! Armed with this understanding we can enter the battlefield and finally bring these gargantuan monsters of the mind into submission. There are (3) areas we must examine after recognizing there are still giants in our life. Lets look at 1 Samuel 4:1 And the word of Samuel came to all Israel. Now Israel went out against the Philistines to battle, and pitched beside Ebenezer: and the Philistines pitched in Aphek. 2 And the Philistines put themselves in array against Israel: and when they joined battle, Israel was smitten before the Philistines: and they slew of the army in the field about four thousand men. 3 And when the people were come into the camp, the elders of Israel said, Wherefore hath the LORD smitten us to day before the Philistines? Let us fetch the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of Shiloh

The Last Giant Before Your Promise

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unto us, that, when it cometh among us, it may save us out of the hand of our enemies. 4 So the people sent to Shiloh, that they might bring from thence the ark of the covenant of the LORD of hosts, which dwelleth between the cherubims: and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God. 5 And when the ark of the covenant of the LORD came into the camp, all Israel shouted with a great shout, so that the earth rang again. The Presence of the Lord Had Gone Out This Ark of the Covenant was for Israel the symbol of the presence of God. It represented the power and authority of the God of Israel. When it was with them victory was guaranteed and without it victory was never in reach. We see in this portion of scripture just such an example of the power of this golden box. Israel had come to the valley of Aphek and pitched their tents against the Philistines for battle. They had every intention of defeating the long time foe of the Lord. The Philistines was a giant that Israel had not conquered; this battle then was a matter of national pride. They had to bring these Philistines into submission but they had forgotten one major thing they did not have the presence of the Lord with them. They had left the Ark of the Covenant in Shiloh. In their arrogance and pride the people of Israel had chosen to enter into battle without first considering God in the equation. When they joined in the battle the scripture says they were smitten and four thousand men were slain. After returning to the camp, defeated and disheartened someone remembered 1 Samuel 4:3 And when the people were come into the camp, the elders of Israel said, Wherefore hath the LORD smitten us to day before the Philistines? Let us fetch the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of Shiloh

The Last Giant Before Your Promise

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unto us, that, when it cometh among us, it may save us out of the hand of our enemies. Sullen, overwhelmed and disheartened by the loss someone finally came to their senses and said, We forgot the presence of the Lord! They sent to Shiloh for the Ark so that as the scripture says, when it cometh among us, it may save us out of the hand of our enemies. Some time later the Ark of the Covenant arrived and the whole of Israel began to shout and praise God. So much so, the scripture declares that the earth rang again. A festival atmosphere surrounded the people of God as the presence of the Lord entered their presence and so with renewed hope and vigor the Israelites set out again to defeat the giant Philistia. However, again they are defeated and this time 30,000 men lost their lives. Even more tragically the Philistines stole the Ark of the Covenant. Even with the presence of the Lord in their midst they still succumbed to the giant why? Even though the Ark was with them and the people were filled with joy they had forgotten one very important principleBut seek ye first the kingdom of God (Matthew 6:33) Before the battle began no one had considered God then as defeat came to Israel then they considered bringing God into battle. Many of the giants still in our life come from not considering the Lord. We step into the struggles and stages of life without ever considering Gods thoughts on the matters. We make our plans and boast of our abilities then when destruction lingers on the air we think. Oh, maybe I should have talked to the Lord about this thing! The prophet Isaiah said, And the harp, and the viol, the tabret, and pipe, and wine, are in their feasts: but they regard not the work of the LORD, neither consider the

The Last Giant Before Your Promise

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operation of his hands. Isaiah 5:12 There is a tremendous blessing that comes from considering the Lord FIRST! Instead of developing our plans then asking the Lords permission we should be asking the Lord for His plan then going and doing it. A young man took out a piece of paper and wrote down all the things he would do FOR God and signed his name to this contract. Then he took that paper to the church and laid the paper on the altar and began to explain it to the Lord. After a little while the Lord answered the boy and said, Son, you have it all backwards. I want you to take out a piece of paper and sign your name to the bottom of it then do the things that I WRITE ON THE PAPER! How often are we like this little boy? How often are we taking our contracts to God and telling Him what we will do for Him never considering what the Lord has in store for us and for our life. David declared the blessing that comes to those who consider the Lord first in all things I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. Psalm 37:25 Righteous people are people who seek the Lord firstthey put God at the beginning instead of the end. When we involve the Lord from the beginning then if we run into trouble He is already there! If you want to defeat the giants in your life GET GOD INVOLVED FROM THE BEGINNING! Involve God before your plans are made! Remember that your weapons are not of this world but giants are defeated in spiritual prayer, which produces spiritual power. This power is NECESSARY to bringing down the giants of your life.

The Last Giant Before Your Promise

9/10/2011

No Weapons to Fight With The second reason we still have giants in our life is because we have gone into battle without a weapon. Lets look at1 Samuel 13:22 So it came to pass in the day of battle, that there was neither sword nor spear found in the hand of any of the people that were with Saul and Jonathan: but with Saul and with Jonathan his son was there found. (1 Samuel 13:22) Israel had decided they needed a King instead of a God and the Lord gave them what they wanted. He gave them Saul as their leader and Saul had become infatuated with himself. He was infatuated by his own counsel, invaded by his neighbors and deserted by his own soldiers. The people of Israel were in a low state because Philistia and other countries had defeated them so much. One of the tactics of these GIANTS who had defeated Israel was to carry off all of those who could forge iron or make weapons. Why? If there is no one to make the sword or spear no one can fight. So when the battle came to Israel there was no way of fighting because the enemy possessed all the weapons! What are you trying to use in order to defeat your giant? Are you relying on your personal ability, your intellect, your human strength or wisdom? None of these things are powerful enough or sharp enough to destroy the GIANTS on your life. Why? Well Paul tells us For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal 2 Corinthians 10:3-4a

The Last Giant Before Your Promise

9/10/2011

You are not fighting a human battle! The battle we are fighting is in the heavenly realms: the spiritual dimension. Your intellect and human reasoning cannot complete the job. You must be a person who thinks and reasons but that alone cannot and will not bring down the giant! This battle is going to be fought and won in another territory the territory of the spirit. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. (Ephesians 6:12) What weapons have allowed to be captured by the enemy? Have you allowed the roving raiders of the devil to steal you joy, your prayer, your song or your testimony? Are you no longer able to fight this battle because there is no smith to create the weapons needed? OH GOD HELP US! We cannot lay down our weapons we cannot lay down and give up. It is time to do whatever it takes to get your weapons back get back on the battlefield and wage war against the giant. HOW DO I DO THIS? I am glad you asked. Look at how Paul finished 2 Corinthians 10:3-4 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: For the weapons of our warfare are not carnalbut mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:35) What does it mean to cast down imaginations? Well the word imagination simply means, Lies. We have got to desire truth in our inward parts. A desire to know and live the truth will cause lies to be cast down in our life. When we get real and admit there are giants we cannot defeat by ourselves and that we have believed the lies of the

The Last Giant Before Your Promise

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enemy we can then begin to throw down the strongholds and the things that have prevented us from victory. You see the greatest battlefield known to mankind is our thought life. The scripture declares, As a man thinks, so is he. When we determine to buy only the truth we step into a dominion that necessitates submitting our thoughts to Jesus Christ. The thoughts of failure, of weakness, of defeat and on and on must be filtered through the God of the Word. Change your way of thinking and you will change your life! We must find our way into the Word of God and begin to adopt its truth into your life then the truth will MAKE YOU FREE! The ultimate source of truth comes from the pages of this leather bound book of books. The only physical weapon is the WORDthe word is our offense against the enemy. Paul declared to the Hebrews For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Hebrews 4:12 He also declared And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: (Ephesians 6:17) Pick up your sword and never put it down. Dont allow the enemy to steal the word from your life. It is within the word that we find life! The wisest man ever, Solomon said, Where the word of a king is, there is power: and who may say unto him, What doest thou? Ecclesiastes 8:4

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The Last Giant Before Your Promise

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Jesus Christ is the king of kings and lord of lords. He is the blessed and only king of the world. So wherever His word is spoken there is power. Wherever His word is there is libertybecause in the words of a king is power. Hiding His word in your heart will bring power to your life like never beforelike you never imagined! Get your sword in your hand, hold on to it and use it to bring power and promise into your life. Gave Up The Territory of Praise Now the Philistines gathered together their armies to battle, and were gathered together at Shochoh, which belongeth to Judah, and pitched between Shochoh and Azekah, in Ephesdammim. (1 Samuel 17:1) The third reason we often still have giants in our life is that we have given up the territory of praise in our life. Have you noticed that every time we have read from the book of 1 Samuel we always mentioned the Philistines? This country was a sore in the side of the people of God. They haunted and taunted them day and night. Then in 1 Samuel 17 we find that the Philistines had gathered together at Shochoh which belongeth to Judah. Somewhere in Israels long line of being defeated by the giants of this world they had gave up some territory. This particular territory belonged to the tribe of Judahwhat does Judah mean? Judah mean PRAISE! Somewhere along the way Israel gave up its praise!!!! They gave up the very thing that brought them freedom. The substance of their faith was expressed in praises to the mighty Jehovah what I am saying is this: they had grown unthankful for the presence of God and the power of God that they believed they had nothing left to praise about.

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The Last Giant Before Your Promise

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Youve got a reason to worship, a reason to lift up your hands, a reason to raise your voice and shout wit the voice of triumph. He has never left you never forsaken you never abandoned you! You are his sons and daughters and you are free from the bondage of sin and death. S0MEBODY NEEDS TO GET THEIR PRAISE ON!!!! Psalm 137 tells us that Israel had hung their harps in the willows because they had been led away captive to BabylonOh but the Psalmist went on to sayHow shall we sing the LORD'S song in a strange land? If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning. If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy. In other words the Psalmist was saying When I think of His goodness and all Hes done for me it makes me want to shoutit makes me want to danceit makes me want to sing to the top of my voice I WILL BLESS THE LORD OH MY SOUL AND ALL THAT IS WITHIN ME BLESS HIS HOLY NAME! Some of you this morning have allowed the lingering giants of your past and present to steal your praise. Your praise is shackled by heavy burden beneath a load of sin and careOh but if youll just let the hand of Jesus touch you today you will no longer be afraid! Stand up, shake off the sin by repenting and let the GIANT KNOW YOU COME TO ME WITH A SPEAR AND A SWORD BUT I COME TO YOU IN THE NAME OF THE LORD OF HOST. There are those who need to get up write now! Write now and get your praise working again. Sure there might still be giants in your life but the way you defeat the giant is to get the presence and power of God working in your life HOW! LIFT UP YOUR HANDS, SHOUT WITH THE VOICE OF TRIUMPH, CLAP, LAUGH DO WHATEVER YOU MUST BUT

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The Last Giant Before Your Promise

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DIRECT ALL OF YOUR THUOGHTS AND ENERGY TOWARD THE LORD AND LET HIM KNOW HOW MUCH YOU LOVE HIM. Come on-come on! Do you desire to be free? Do you desire to shake away the things that have let you down? Then do what the songwriter suggested GET UP, GET UP AND GET YOUR PRAISE ON! David said it like thisAnd now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD. Psalm 27:6