preached @ Metro by Pastor Jeff Williams Sunday 9th October 2006

Did you realise that David and his men would eventually have to battle not one giant, but 5? Each of us in our own lives, have giants we must battle

Many of us have heard the story of Goliath, and how a young boy by the name of David killed the gaint - Goliath. David picked up 5 stones, why? What many of us don’t realize that there were 5 giants in the land which David and his men had to kill.

Samuel 21:15-22

Ishbi –benob,Saph, Lahmi – brother of Goliath, No name – huge man with 6 fingers on each hand, and 6 toes on each foot.

Over the next few weeks we are going to look at each of these giants, and how we can overcome them in our own lives.

We all have battles we will face in life – Giants!!!!

The name Goliath means – “to be disgracefully stripped naked” – -    to feel shame. Goliath was over 9 feet tall – a foot taller than the average house ceiling height today Goliath’s power over the men of Israel was not one of physical strength, but one of intimidation. Twice a day for 40 days tormented them who  will take me on.

What is the Goliath of shame saying about who you are??? Pyschologist Erik Erickson says – sees shame as an identity crisis.

Let's look at the first time mankind experienced shame. Genesis 3:7-11 Did Adam and Eve feel shame just because they realised they were naked??? In Gen 2:25 it tells us that Adam and Eve didn’t feel shame, even though they were naked.

After Adam sinned he saw his sinful identity – his spiritual nakedness. The result of shame is to run and hide,just like Adam and Eve!!! How often do we try to run away from God? That’s what the Israelite soldiers did.

What stone do we use to battle the Goliath of shame? The stone is our identity in Christ. Romans 8:1 There is now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus – find themselves (identity in Christ). Listen to the promises of God -  A new creation – old things are passed away, and all things have become new.Psalm 103:12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. 18 "Forget the former things;Do not dwell on the past. 19 See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.

Let's use the stone of our new identity in Christ and throw it at the Goliath of shame in our lives.