1 Sam 17 16 And the Philistine drew

1 Sam 17: 16 ~ And the Philistine drew near and presented himself forty days, morning and evening. 1 Sam 17: 8, 9 ~ Then he stood and cried out to the armies of Israel, and said to them, "Why have you come out to line up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and you the servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves and let him come down to me. If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we will be your servants. But if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall be our servants and serve us. " NKJV

Goliath-Like Challenges • Challenge: an invitation to participate in a fight; a calling into question; an occasion that solicits actions; a situation that is provocative or inciting. • 1 Cor. 9: 26 – “… thus I fight; not as one who beats the air. ” • Eph. 6: 12 – “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers; against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. ”

Unusual Challenges in Paul’s Life § The Damascus Challenge, Acts 9: 1923 § Acts 9: 20 ~ Immediately he preached the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God. (Gal. 1: 16, 17) § Challenge: Pride / Family Religion / Personal Conviction / Put on the New Man § Phil. 3: 4 -8

Unusual Challenges in Paul’s Life § The Jerusalem Challenge, Acts 9: 26 -30 § Challenge: Discouragement § Paul continued to preach Jesus. He didn’t give up or give in. § Paul’s faith in the Lord did not change because of the challenge from people.

Unusual Challenges in Paul’s Life § The Antioch Challenge, Acts 13: 44 -51 • Acts 13: 46 ~ It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves § Challenge: Faith in the unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we face of strong opposition / turn to the Gentiles. unreceptiveness to the • Acts 13: 51 ~ But they shook off the dust gospel message. from their feet against them, …

Unusual Challenges in Paul’s Life § The Lystra Challenge, • Acts 14: 15 ~ "Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men with the same nature as you, and preach to you that you should turn from these useless things to the living God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and all things that are in them, … Acts 14: 8 -18 § Challenge: to use the “gift of God” for self elevation; converting people to ourselves instead of to God.

Unusual Challenges in Paul’s Life § The Macedonian Challenge, Acts 16: 6 -10 Acts 16: 6, 7 ~ Now when they had gone § Challenge: Self-will through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, submitting to God’s will they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia. After they had come § “I want to do God’s will” / to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but “I hope God will go along with the Spirit did not permit them. what I’ve determined to do. ” § Balaam: Num. 22

Goliath-Like Challenges • Every Christian should be prepared for unusual challenges! • Do we see and meet the challenges around us? • 1 Sam 17: 45, 46 ~ Then David said to the Philistine, "You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, …”