There was a big problem in the valley of Elah. King Saul and the rest of Israel’s army was terrified. All they could see was the problem.
But a shepherd boy named David saw more than a problem. David saw past the problem and saw PROMISE, POWER, PERSEVERANCE, & PRAISE. In the end David no longer saw the problem, he saw the possibility of promotion.
Promotion comes to those who can see past the problem to find the solution. There was more than a problem in the valley of Elah…

Champion 3 – More than a problem – Redemption Church Plano tx from Redemption Church on Vimeo.
 
Champion 3 – More than a Problem
Sermon notes by Pastor Chris Fluitt
Redemption Church Plano Tx
Champion Bumper 3
Welcome to Redemption Church in Plano Tx. A special welcome to all our online viewers. God bless you right where you are. My name is Chris Fluitt & I am happy to preach to you today.
Champion
We are the 3rd week of our Champion Series.

* Week 1- Promise trumps Pedigree. What God thought about David was more important than what anyone else thought about David.
* Week 2- Servants are Champions. David did not bring a sword to the battlefield… He brought a sandwich. Serving brought him to the scene of his great victory.

Today I want to preach to you about The Problem.
There was a problem standing in the middle of the Valley of Elah.
1 Samuel 17:3 The Philistines occupied one hill and the Israelites another, with the valley between them.(NIV)
1 Samuel 17:4 A champion named Goliath, who was from Gath, came out of the Philistine camp. He was over nine feet tall.(NIV)
1 Samuel 17:5 He had a bronze helmet on his head and wore a coat of scale armor of bronze weighing five thousand shekels (approx. 126-167 lbs);(NIV)
1 Samuel 17:6 on his legs he wore bronze greaves (think shin guards), and a bronze javelin was slung on his back.(NIV)
1 Samuel 17:7 His spear shaft was like a weaver’s rod, and its iron point weighed six hundred shekels (15 lbs). His shield bearer went ahead of him.(NIV)
1 Samuel 17:8 Goliath stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, “Why do you come out and line up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not the servants of Saul? Choose a man and have him come down to me.(NIV)
1 Samuel 17:9 If he is able to fight and kill me, we will become your subjects; but if I overcome him and kill him, you will become our subjects and serve us.”(NIV)
1 Samuel 17:10 Then the Philistine said, “This day I defy the ranks of Israel! Give me a man and let us fight each other.”(NIV)
1 Samuel 17:11 On hearing the Philistine’s words, Saul and all the Israelites were dismayed and terrified.(NIV)
So what did we learn from our reading?
The Problem
The Problem was giant!  He was over 9 feet tall.
The problem was well armed. Goliath was ready for a battle. He had a sword, shield, armor, helmet, shin guards, a spear & javelin.
The problem was strong. His coat of armor weighed approximately 126 pounds. His spear was like a weaver’s beam which leads scholar’s to believe the spears shaft was up to 2 ½ inches in diameter. None of us could put our hands around something so big. He was a monster to be able to carry this equipment and he surely knew how to use it.
The problem was loud. The problem stepped out onto the battlefield and shouted at all of Israel.
Everyone was afraid of the problem. King Saul and the rest of the army is Israel was afraid to face the problem.
There are times in life where all you can see is the problem. Have you ever been a situation where all you can see is the problem, the strength of the problem, the volume of the problem,