Chandler: ‘How to face life’s giants’

SHERWOOD – Don Chandler, pastor of Central Baptist Church, Conway, spoke to pastors about how to face life’s giants during the Tuesday morning session of the Arkansas Baptist State Convention Evangelism and Church Growth Conference.

ChandlerChandler said giants come in all shapes, sizes, colors – and at all times in life – and even to people in ministry positions.

“Just because we are in the ministry doesn’t mean we won’t face our share of giants in our lifetime,” he said.

Speaking from 1 Samuel 17, where David battled the giant Goliath, Chandler highlighted three basic principles for pastors dealing with giants.

First, he said it’s important to see the situation from a heavenly perspective. When David arrived at the battle site, the Israelite army was “standing around discussing” the situation instead of actually trying to fight the giant. 

Chandler said he fears believers often do the same thing – discussing what needs to be done to defeat the giant. “The truth is we need to face and defeat (the giant) by the power of God, in the name of God and for the glory of God,” he said. 

David’s perspective on the situation was different. “He took a quick glance at the giant and a long look at God,” said Chandler, warning pastors to avoid becoming crisis centered by maintaining a focus on God. “If we gaze at God, we will become Christ centered,” he said. “In David’s eyes, God was the giant. When we see God like He wants to be seen … the giant is not so big.”

Second, Chandler challenged pastors to do everything humanly possible to deal with difficult situations. Though it may be easier to run from giants – to avoid getting involved in the difficulties, David chose instead to stand and talk.

He said David exercised unconditional faith in God. Because “God had been so big in David’s past,” helping him defeat both a bear and lion, David believed that God would deliver him from Goliath.

David also had an uncompromising faith in God, according to Chandler. Though King Saul wanted David to wear his armor, David chose instead to use what he was comfortable with to battle Goliath. Chandler encouraged pastors to do the same. “You and I never need try to be anybody else but ourselves,” he said.

Last, David trusted God to win the battle. “When you see things as they are, and you’ve done all you can do – it’s time to trust God,” he said.

Chandler said even before the stone was cast, when David turned to Saul in verse 37 and told him God would rescue him from the hand of the Philistine, the giant was “as good as dead.” “If the battle is David’s, we need to wait and see,” he said. “But if it belongs to the Lord, we need not wait because God never loses a battle.” 

He told pastors the same is true with the giants they face today. “If you can bring yourself to the place to say, ‘the battle is the Lord’s,’ your giant will be as good as dead.” 

“When you give your battle to God, He gives to you the victory,” he said. That’s how we face and defeat the giants in our lives.”