God Sized Encounters | Northstar Church

But David persisted. “I have been taking care of my father’s sheep and goats,” he said. “When a lion or a bear comes to steal a lamb from the flock, I go after it with a club and rescue the lamb from its mouth. If the animal turns on me, I catch it by the jaw and club it to death. I have done this to both lions and bears, and I’ll do it to this pagan Philistine, too, for he has defied the armies of the living God! The Lord who rescued me from the claws of the lion and the bear will rescue me from this Philistine!…” – 1 Samuel 17: 34-37.

One of the most iconic stories of the Bible is the battle between David and Goliath. It has been used in everything from Sunday School lessons and sermons, to athletics and business. The story is simple in detail and powerful in its ending. The physical giant Goliath, a champion Philistine soldier, is challenged by a boy who was just delivering lunch to his big brothers. A shepherd boy takes on a seasoned warrior. David’s life was on the line. He knew it. King Saul knew it. Goliath was sure of it.

At the end of this story, we learn that it is not about the size of the enemy. It is not about the passion of the boy soldier or how well he slung that rock. As David unsheathed Goliath’s sword to relieve the giant of his head, it was a complete interruption of what should have normally happened. David should not have been on the field as Israel’s champion. The giant should not have been killed by a rock launched by a kid. God intervened and saved David’s life and sustained the covenant with His people. God delivered miraculously once again. David got to participate where God was already working and working in miraculous ways.

Most Christians know the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Thrown into a fiery furnace they walked out without their heads being singed and their cloaks were not harmed and no smell of fire ca me upon them. Which is pretty miraculous considering how you smell if you have even been close to a campfire. Yet, they didn’t even smell like smoke.

They had faith and God delivers them. God had no obligation to honor the stand that they were taking, but they believed. If God doesn’t show up, they’re dead. Encounters with God will always be God-sized. I think as a church and as individuals, we should have dreams so big for our life that if God doesn’t show up it fails. Christians will have those line in the sand moments: this is the kind of encounters that God is looking to give to His people, but only when we are willing to trust Him and put our faith into action.

What you do reveals what you believe about God, regardless of what you say. When God reveals what He is purposing to do, you face a crisis—a decision time. God and the world can tell from your response what you really believe about God. Your trust in God will determine what you do and how you live.

Discussion Questions:

Have you ever sensed that God wanted you to do something big and you faced a crisis of belief? Yes or no?
What can we do to recognize God-sized opportunities?