Overcoming Barriers to Pursue God-Given Dreams
Summary
In the story of David and Goliath, we find profound lessons about overcoming the barriers that stand in the way of fulfilling our God-given dreams. David, a young shepherd, was sent by his father to deliver food to his brothers on the battlefield. Upon arrival, he witnessed the fear and discouragement that had paralyzed the Israelite army in the face of Goliath's taunts. This fear was so pervasive that it created a climate of hopelessness, convincing everyone that victory was impossible. However, David saw the situation differently. He recognized that the crowd's consensus was not necessarily the truth and that sometimes, a fresh perspective is needed to challenge the status quo.
The first barrier to pursuing our dreams is discouragement, often fueled by the fear and negativity of those around us. When everyone around you is convinced that something cannot be done, it is easy to become discouraged. But conventional wisdom is often wrong, and the crowd is not always right. David's story teaches us that we must be careful about who we listen to. Negative voices can be contagious, spreading fear and doubt. Instead, we need to seek out voices that encourage and inspire us to pursue our dreams.
The second barrier is the giant of disapproval. David faced criticism and disapproval from his own brother, who questioned his motives and belittled his ambitions. This is a common experience for anyone pursuing a God-sized dream. People may not understand or support your vision, and they may even judge or criticize you. However, the approval of others should not be our primary concern. Instead, we should focus on seeking God's approval and trusting in His strength to accomplish what He has called us to do.
Ultimately, the size of our dreams should be determined by the size of our God. If our dreams are truly from God, they will be so big that they are bound to fail unless God intervenes. We must be willing to step out in faith, even when others doubt or misunderstand us, trusting that God will provide the strength and resources we need to succeed.
Key Takeaways:
- Discouragement is a significant barrier to fulfilling your dreams. When everyone around you is convinced that something cannot be done, remember that conventional wisdom is often wrong. Seek out fresh perspectives and voices that encourage you to pursue your God-given dreams. [12:35]
- Be mindful of the voices you listen to. Negative voices can spread fear and doubt, making it difficult to pursue your dreams. Surround yourself with people who inspire and uplift you, and be cautious of those who discourage or belittle your ambitions. [15:38]
- The giant of disapproval is a common challenge for anyone pursuing a God-sized dream. People may not understand or support your vision, but the approval of others should not be your primary concern. Focus on seeking God's approval and trusting in His strength. [18:48]
- The size of your dreams should be determined by the size of your God. If your dreams are truly from God, they will be so big that they are bound to fail unless God intervenes. Step out in faith, trusting that God will provide the strength and resources you need. [24:08]
- Memorizing scripture is a powerful way to transform your spiritual life. God's word is a source of strength and guidance, helping you to stay focused on your dreams and overcome the barriers you face. Take advantage of resources that help you keep God's word in your heart. [25:49]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[11:27] - David's Mission to the Battlefield
[12:05] - Facing Discouragement
[12:35] - The Climate of Fear
[13:41] - Conventional Wisdom is Often Wrong
[14:54] - Listening to the Wrong Voices
[15:38] - The Power of Negative Voices
[16:48] - The Importance of Fresh Perspectives
[17:07] - Avoiding Fearful Company
[17:49] - The Giant of Disapproval
[18:48] - Seeking God's Approval
[20:25] - Family Dynamics and Disapproval
[21:14] - Jesus and Sibling Rivalry
[23:03] - Who Do We Think God Is?
[24:08] - The Size of Your Dreams
[25:49] - Memorizing Scripture for Spiritual Growth
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1 Samuel 17:8-10, 16, 23-24, 28-29
Proverbs 7:2
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#### Observation Questions
1. What was the reaction of the Israelite army to Goliath's taunts, and how did this affect their morale? ([12:51])
2. How did David's brother react to David's interest in confronting Goliath, and what does this reveal about their relationship? ([19:39])
3. According to the sermon, what role did the voices and opinions of others play in the Israelite army's response to Goliath? ([15:08])
4. What does Proverbs 7:2 suggest about the importance of memorizing scripture in our spiritual lives? ([25:49])
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#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the story of David and Goliath illustrate the impact of fear and discouragement on pursuing one's dreams? ([12:05])
2. In what ways can the disapproval of others, as seen in David's interaction with his brother, hinder someone from pursuing their God-given dreams? ([18:48])
3. How does the sermon suggest that the size of our dreams should be related to our perception of God's power and presence? ([23:41])
4. What practical steps can be taken to ensure that we are listening to encouraging voices rather than negative ones? ([15:38])
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#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you faced discouragement from others while pursuing a goal. How did you overcome it, and what role did faith play in that process? ([12:05])
2. Identify a "giant of disapproval" in your life. How can you shift your focus from seeking approval from others to seeking God's approval? ([18:48])
3. Consider the voices you currently listen to. Are there any negative influences you need to distance yourself from to better pursue your dreams? ([15:38])
4. How can you incorporate scripture memorization into your daily routine to strengthen your spiritual life and support your dreams? ([25:49])
5. Think about a dream or goal you have that seems too big to achieve. How can you rely on God's strength to take the first step toward it? ([24:08])
6. In what ways can you encourage others in your community who are facing discouragement or disapproval in their pursuits?
7. How can you cultivate a fresh perspective in your life to challenge the status quo and pursue your God-given dreams? ([14:37])
Devotional
Day 1: Overcoming Discouragement with Fresh Perspectives
Discouragement often arises when those around us are convinced that something cannot be done. This negativity can create a climate of hopelessness, much like the fear that paralyzed the Israelite army in the face of Goliath. However, David's story reminds us that conventional wisdom is often wrong, and the crowd is not always right. By seeking out fresh perspectives and voices that encourage us, we can overcome the barriers of discouragement and pursue our God-given dreams. It is crucial to be mindful of who we listen to, as negative voices can spread fear and doubt. Instead, surround yourself with people who inspire and uplift you. [12:35]
"Do not call conspiracy all that this people calls conspiracy, and do not fear what they fear, nor be in dread. But the Lord of hosts, him you shall honor as holy. Let him be your fear, and let him be your dread." (Isaiah 8:12-13, ESV)
Reflection: Who in your life is a source of discouragement? How can you seek out fresh perspectives and voices that encourage you today?
Day 2: Guarding Against Negative Voices
The power of negative voices can be overwhelming, spreading fear and doubt that make it difficult to pursue our dreams. David's experience teaches us the importance of being cautious about who we listen to. Negative voices can be contagious, but by surrounding ourselves with people who inspire and uplift us, we can guard against this influence. It is essential to be mindful of the company we keep and to seek out those who encourage us to pursue our God-given dreams. [15:38]
"Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm." (Proverbs 13:20, ESV)
Reflection: Identify one negative voice in your life. What steps can you take to minimize its influence and surround yourself with more positive, encouraging voices?
Day 3: Facing the Giant of Disapproval
Pursuing a God-sized dream often means facing the giant of disapproval. David experienced criticism and disapproval from his own brother, who questioned his motives and belittled his ambitions. This is a common challenge for anyone pursuing a vision that others may not understand or support. However, the approval of others should not be our primary concern. Instead, we should focus on seeking God's approval and trusting in His strength to accomplish what He has called us to do. [18:48]
"For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ." (Galatians 1:10, ESV)
Reflection: Think of a time when you faced disapproval for pursuing a dream. How can you shift your focus from seeking human approval to seeking God's approval today?
Day 4: Dreaming Big with Faith
The size of our dreams should be determined by the size of our God. If our dreams are truly from God, they will be so big that they are bound to fail unless God intervenes. David's story encourages us to step out in faith, even when others doubt or misunderstand us, trusting that God will provide the strength and resources we need to succeed. By aligning our dreams with God's purposes, we can pursue them with confidence, knowing that He is with us. [24:08]
"Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen." (Ephesians 3:20-21, ESV)
Reflection: What is one dream you have that seems too big to achieve on your own? How can you step out in faith and trust God to provide what you need?
Day 5: Strengthening Your Spiritual Life with Scripture
Memorizing scripture is a powerful way to transform your spiritual life. God's word is a source of strength and guidance, helping you to stay focused on your dreams and overcome the barriers you face. By keeping God's word in your heart, you can draw on His wisdom and strength in times of need. Take advantage of resources that help you memorize and meditate on scripture, allowing it to shape your thoughts and actions. [25:49]
"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." (Psalm 119:105, ESV)
Reflection: Choose one scripture to memorize this week. How can you incorporate it into your daily routine to strengthen your spiritual life and stay focused on your dreams?
Quotes
discouragement you will face discouragement because everybody around you is scared to death nobody thinks you can do it nobody has hope nobody believes that you can take down this giant and they're all scared to death and they're all convincing each other that it's impossible to make any difference [00:12:14]
you ever been in a situation where everybody around you thought this is hopeless maybe you have been at work and in your office say hey in this economy nobody can grow anything we can't solve this problem it's going down the tubes and everybody around you is saying it can't be done [00:13:41]
conventional wisdom is often wrong it is often wrong everybody there was wrong it says there twice in that passage Goliath challenged the ranks of the Israeli Army sometimes the Sol ution has to come outside the rank and file what you need is a little kid from a village to come in and go we can do this [00:14:08]
if you listen to negative people long enough you know what happens you get Negative CU it's highly contagious maybe one of the best things you should do is stop listening to talk radio because it is negative negative negative negative negative and you know what if you listen to it negative you know what you're going to become a negative bitter person [00:15:49]
don't hang out with fearful people don't hang out with fearful people because if you do you will become fearful if you hang out with cowards you become a coward you hang out with bitter people you become bitter you hang out with angry people you become angry you hang out with negative people you be become negative it's highly contagious [00:17:09]
the reason why most people don't ever go after their dream is they are afraid of disapproval they are afraid of rejection in this case David's own brother questioned his motives David's own brother questioned his motives and disapproved of David even going after the giant we want everybody to like us [00:18:04]
if you go after God's dream for your life I'm guaranteeing you this there will be naysayers there will be critics there will be Mis uh understanding there will be attacks there will be people who are judging you for what you do because they don't get it and that is the disapproval Giant [00:18:48]
sometimes it is your own family that doesn't want you to accomplish God's dream it may be envy it may be jealousy it may be they think they know you better than you do and they know your weaknesses but they don't know God's strength it may be that they would be embarrassed it may be that they would resent you being successful [00:20:40]
who do we think God is you let the size of your God determine the size of your goal and if you have a big God you better have some big goals because God doesn't give you ply dreams if a dream is from God how do you know if your dream's from God it's so big you're bound to fail unless God bails you out [00:23:03]
when God gives you a dream and it's a dream that other people are afraid to attempt or afraid to accomplish or afraid to even step out and try if you take that dream and you go for it you will be misjudged you will be maligned you will be misinterpreted and you will be misunderstood [00:24:36]
you have to decide what matters more to you the approval of other people or the approval of God I decided a long time ago that the approval of God is more important to me than the approval of other people and it's not my job it's none of my business what you think of me it is my business what God thinks of me [00:25:09]
friends one of the most powerful ways you can transform your spiritual life is to memorize scripture God tells us in Proverbs 7:2 guard my words as your most precious possession write them down and also keep them deep within your heart now here's how I want to help you memorize God's word [00:25:49]
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