preached @ Metro 22nd October 2006 by Pastor Jeff Williams

What are you afraid of? Fear can be a crippling thing, and the giant of fear operate in many of our lives. 

David and his men had to battle against the Giant, Saph. His name means

   – to snatch away - to wait at the threshold.

Fear can be based on fact, or a presumption of something occurring. Our fear can then actually rob us, and destroy us, even without the feared situation taking place.

THE STONE we use against the giant of fear!

The person who killed this giant of fear was “Sibbecai – which means “to wrap around as trees surround and enclose a protected pasture.” What does a child do when they are faced with fear?  - call out, run to a parent, and snuggle in close to them. The other week, luke learn’t about Goliath and David in Metro tots, he had bad dreams that night,and couldn’t sleep, “sleep with me daddy”.

1 John 4:18 Perfect love drives out fear.

The stone – is intimacy with our heavenly father. James 4:8 Draw close to God, and God will draw close to you.

2 Samuel 22:2-4 (New Living Translation)2 He sang: “The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior;3 my God is my rock, in whom I find protection.He is my shield, the power that saves me,and my place of safety.He is my refuge, my savior,the one who saves me from violence.4 I called on the Lord, who is worthy of praise,and he saved me from my enemies.

When Peter Walked on the water Peter’s fear got the victory only when he lost his focus on Jesus.

In Isaiah 26: 3 God has said "I will keep in perfect peace all who trust in me, who thoughts are fixed on me!"

We often talk about ,”having a personal relationship with Jesus”, but what does that mean??

•    A connection – share out thoughts, feelings, emotions etc

•    Letting God in – in to the depths of who you are.

•     In other words - INTIMACY

Psalm 27:1-6      verse 1 – why should I be afraid Verse 3 - my heart will know no fear WHY – verse 4 One thing I ask, that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.

HOW to develop intimacy?

1. Practice stillness – Ps 46:10 Be still and know that I am God

2. Hear God’s voice – John 10:27 – My sheep recognize my voice, I know them – you can actually hear God speak to you. Start by asking God questions- and then wait and listen.

Next week we will continue our series looking at the 5 different giants David and his men had to overcome!