Can you imagine inviting one of the most notoriously evil men in history to your dinner table and giving him full rein to take anything of yours he wants, to brainwash your children, to destroy your property, to kidnap any family member of his choice, and to torture you mentally until you submit to his authority? As soon as you hear the door bell, would you run to the door, open it wide, and invite him in?
Would you allow someone with a known history of abusing women and children to babysit your children or grandchildren? Or, an animal abuser to take care of your pets?
Would you welcome a thief into your home with open arms to come and help himself?
How about Goliath? Will you welcome him to your dinner table to continue wreaking havoc on your life and on your family after all you have gone through to defeat him? You have claimed the victory that Christ paid the price for you to have, and you have watched your giants fall, so why would wake him back up and invite him back in?
As the late comedian John Pinette would say, “I say Nay Nay!”
I have a song for Goliath…
Go!
Walk out the door!
Just turn around now.
‘Cause you’re not welcome anymore.
Weren’t you the one who tried to hurt me with (your lies)?
Did you think I’d crumble?
Did you think I’d lay down and die?
Oh, no, not I! I will survive.
Oh, as long as I know how to love I know I’ll stay alive.
I’ve got all my life to live. I’ve got all my love to give.
And I’ll survive. I will survive.
As we conclude our study of the book, Goliath Must Fall, by Louie Giglio, we need to remember the lessons we have learned about maintaining the victory that is already ours. We know that Goliath has already been defeated, and the only power he can have in our lives is what we give him.
In Louie Gigio’s book, Goliath Must Fall, he puts it all together with this one phrase…
“Don’t give the Enemy a seat at your table.”
While we are learning to rise above the taunting and the bullying of the giants in our lives, and we are healing from the pain and chaos he has caused us, the last thing we want to do is to invite him to come back and do it all over again.
David said in Psalm 23:5, “You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies…”
God prepares a table for us in front of our enemies, but that does not mean that we have to invite our enemy to join us. It’s time to give him the boot!
Here is how you know that Goliath is sitting at your table, and yes, I have heard these very things from myself as well as many of my friends. We need to recognize these:
If the Enemy is at your table,
- Then you think you’re not going to make it.
“You are not going to die in this barren, defeated place. And if you think you are, then I encourage you – don’t give the Devil a seat at your table.”
- Then you think there’s something better at another table.
Satan is ultimately after God’s glory, and he wants you to give up on Jesus or bail on his purpose for your life. “Jesus is committed to the very best for you and will never withhold from you what is good.”
- Then you feel like you’re not good enough for God.
You can’t rely on feelings, and you must learn to recognize the Enemy’s lies and replace them with the truth from God’s Word. Just one glimpse of the cross should refute any fiery dart the enemy casts your way.
- Then you think everyone is out to get you.
“Paranoia comes from the pit of hell.”
The Enemy wants us to assume a defensive posture that takes us on a downward spiral of paranoia and “mudslinging,” which is completely contrary to the character of Christ. Remember, God has your back! Trust Him!
Let us allow the Shepherd to lead us, and we will rise victoriously over our giants for good!
- Make sure you are spiritually alive.
- Let the Shepherd lead you day by day.
“Jesus defeated our giants with one fatal blow on the cross. He destroyed their power as he blasted out of the grip of death. The way we walk in that freedom is by believing each day that he will lead us as we put one foot in front of the other. Most times in our lives the power is not in a massive leap but in the succession of a thousand tiny steps.”
- Trust Him and lean in his direction.
Allow the Holy Spirit to do a perfecting and equipping work in your life. Cooperate with the process of sanctification. “It’s God working through us what he has already accomplished. It’s God perfecting IN us what he’s already perfected FOR us. So any avenue to change requires our will working in combination with the power of the Holy Spirit.”
- Say yes to the Holy Spirit as a way of life.
As believers in Christ, we have the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit living in and through us. Galatians 5 teaches us to “Walk by the Spirit.” Practice saying yes to his leading, and make it a habit.
- Make sure you don’t take no for an answer.
“In all honesty, some of us like our giants. They’ve been in our lives for so long they’ve become part of the landscape. We know in our minds that the giants need to go, but there’s security in having those giants there. They’re harmful, but they’re familiar…”
When the Enemy refused to cooperate, put your foot down! Don’t give him an inch!
- Keep your guard up.
When you get rid of one giant, be vigilant about guarding against his brothers. Letting go of one habit can lead to other habits. It is important to replace them with good habits, so we don’t find ourselves back in the snare of Goliath’s grips once again.
Fill your mind and heart with truths from God’s Word, and marinate in His love. Make no room for Goliath to take off his shoes and prop his feet up on the ottoman of your heart. In other words, make sure he never feels at home around you again!
Congratulations! You have completed this wonderful book study, Goliath Must Fall, by Louis Giglio! I hope this has been life-transforming for you! Be sure to join us for our winter study on the book of Genesis, The Promised One, by Nancy Guthrie, beginning January 15th! I am so excited about the starting the new year with an in-depth study of the first book of the Bible!
What is Coming Up at Heart to Heart?
- Continuing Live Advent videos – Four Sundays leading up to Christmas, December 3, 10, 17, and 24, (5:00 PM Easter/2:00 PM Pacific): We will have a devotion, traditional candle lighting, and something special each week to make this Christmas season more joyful and Christ-centered. These will take place on Shari Lewis Ministries Facebook page.
- In-depth study of the book of Genesis, beginning January 15: We will study the book, The Promised One (A 10-week Bible Study): Seeing Jesus in Genesis, by Nancy Guthrie.
Week 7 Assignments
- Finish books.
- Participate in a small group at Heart to Heart Women’s Bible Study on Facebook. See pinned post for directions and schedule.
Week 7 Discussion Questions
Here is a sneak peek of the questions we will be discussing this week in our small groups.
Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ. Galatians 1:10 NIV
QUESTION 1: How could a person tell if he or she is addicted to the approval of other people, as opposed to just liking people’s approval?
We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. Romans 6:6 ESV
QUESTION 2: Most of us recognize the “biggies,” such as alcoholism or drug addiction, but what are some of the less serious addictions that often trip us up and can become idols in our lives? Or, where is it often tempting to turn for an escape from the pain or stress of life instead of going to God first?
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1 NIV
QUESTION 3: We have examined the giants of Fear, Rejection, Comfort, Anger, and Addiction. Which one of these giants would you most like to see fall in your life? With the power of God, what are some specific actions you need to take to rise above this giant?
Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life. Proverbs 4:23 NLT
QUESTION 4: We are told in Scripture to guard our hearts. What are some ways we can guard our hearts and lives against Goliath so we won’t have to battle the same giants over and over again?
And Nehemiah continued, “Go and celebrate with a feast of rich foods and sweet drinks, and share gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared. This is a sacred day before our Lord. Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength!” Nehemiah 8:10 NLT
QUESTION 5: What are some ways you can make this Christmas season a time to draw closer to Christ rather than being sucked in to the commercial hoopla of the holiday?
QUESTION 6: What has impacted you most from this study?
This concludes our study of Goliath Must Fall, by Louie Giglio. I hope to see you in January for our winter study in the book of Genesis!
Have a very Merry Christmas and blessed New Year!
