1 Samuel 16:7

Read 1 Samuel 16:7.

Don't allow anyone other than God to dictate your destiny.

Faithful Then And Again (1 Sam. 17:36-37) (Part 5)

Conclusion:

• There is nothing wrong with talking to God about your obstacle. 
• However, that's not the invitation for today.
• There is nothing wrong with talking to your obstacle about the greatness of your God. 
• However, that is not the call for today.
• Today's opportunity is for you to talk to one another about the greatness of God.
• It is an invitation to remember and report His faithfulness.
• There might be a “Saul” here, someone who desperately needs to hear your testimony as much as you delight to give it.
• Be one who declares boldly, “He is faithful! I can prove it!”
• When you carefully steward God's faithfulness, you will be able to praise when others are panicking.
• Since God came through for you many times before, you should look for Him to come through for you again.
• God cannot not be faithful.

We ended the service with antiphonal testifying.  Someone from the left side of the congregation testified to the right side about a specific experience with God's faithfulness.  Then someone from the right side testified back to the left side. How quickly 15 minutes went by!

Faithful Then And Again (1 Sam. 17:36-37) (Part 4)

Transition: Since the best way to deal with adversity is to focus upon God's faithfulness, you must carefully steward it.

YOU MUST CAREFULLY STEWARD GOD'S FAITHFULNESS.

• EXPLANATION
• How do you carefully steward God's faithfulness? You must be “apt”.
• Awareness > To steward God's faithfulness, you must recognize it. Are you in the habit of looking for God's faithfulness?
• Preservation > To steward God's faithfulness, you must record it. If you rely only upon your memory, you will forget many occasions when God showed Himself faithful. For this reason, I suggest keeping a journal.
• Testimony > To steward God's faithfulness, you must repeat it. This will strengthen your own faith and another person's.
• ILLUSTRATION
• Beware of any narrowing, dismissing, limiting, downsizing or belittling comments about God's faithfulness.
• “It happens to everyone.”
• “I just happened to be in the right place at the right time.”
• “It was pure luck.”
• “It's no big deal.”
• APPLICATION
•  If you're guilty of using any of those sentiments, or others similar to them, right now is a good time to repent.
• Every act of God's faithfulness is a unique expression of His unchanging nature!
• Okay, so maybe you haven't received supernatural courage to grab a lion by its mane and club it to death, but what has God done for you?
• Why isn't that a big deal to you?
• Why isn't it still a big deal to you?
• Is it any less impressive or worthy of praise only because time has elapsed?

In tomorrow's post, we will conclude.

Faithful Then And Again (1 Sam. 17:36-37) (Part 3)

THE BEST WAY TO DEAL WITH ADVERSITY IS TO FOCUS ON GOD'S FAITHFULNESS.

• EXPLANATION
• How does David not deal with adversity?
• He does not get proud.
• He does not cower in fear.
• He does not panic.
• He does not implement the power of positive thinking and deny the size of the obstacle.
• He does not form a committee and thus talk himself out of contention.
• He does not wait it all out, hoping the situation will resolve itself.
• How does David deal with adversity?
• He focuses upon God's faithfulness.
• Can you hear him?
• “If God did it before, he will do it again. The only thing that has changed is the kind of predator.”
• ILLUSTRATION

“What the Lord has done for me,
I cannot tell it all.
He saved me and washed me in His blood.
Now I can sing, 'Hallelujah',
I can shout, 'Hallelujah',
I can shout and praise the Lord.”

• APPLICATION
• No, you can't tell it all, but what can you say?
• What has the Lord done for you?
• Has He saved you?
• Has He healed you?
• Has He comforted you?
• Has He strengthened you?
• Has He provided for you?
• Has He loved you?
• Has He convicted you?
• Has He forgiven you?
• Has He set you free?
• Has He directed you?
• Has He revealed Himself to you?
• Has He given joy and peace to you?
• Has He restored you?
• Has He baptized you in the Holy Spirit?
• Has He given to you a new name written down in glory?
• Has He proven His exceedingly great and precious promises to you?
• Has He guided you into the paths of righteousness for His name's sake?

In tomorrow's post:  What is your responsibility, considering God has been faithful and will continue to be faithful?

Faithful Then And Again (1 Sam. 17:36-37) (Part 2)

Background:  There are five things you need to know so that today's message will make sense.

• David is the youngest of eight sons and he is set apart to become the next king of Israel.
• Saul, the current king of Israel, is with his troops at the war zone.
• The Philistines, Israel's enemy, are people who live in the territory of Philistia.
• Goliath is the over-sized champion fighter of the Philistines.
• No fighter in Israel will accept Goliath's challenge to fight one-on-one to the death.

Introduction:

• In today's story, David shows up at camp when the soldiers and king are wondering, 'What are we going to do with Goliath?”
• The giant you face might have a different name – finances, health, career, relationships, grief, etc. – but the question remains the same.
• What is the best way to deal with the obstacle, challenge or opportunity before you?
• The answer to that question is the focus of this week's sermon.
• Context: Read 1 Sam. 17:31-37.
• Do you remember the question I mentioned earlier?
• What is the best way to deal with the adversity before you?

In tomorrow's post, I will answer that question.

Faithfulness Then And Again (1 Sam. 17:36-37) (Part 1)

This post is for pastors and preachers.  Actual sermon content will begin tomorrow.

Title: Faithful Then And Again

Text: 1 Samuel 17:36-37

Theme: Remembering & repeating God's faithfulness Expository

Exegetical Subject: (1 Sam. 17:31-37) > How did David persuade Saul to permit him to fight Goliath?

Exegetical Complement: (1 Sam. 17:31-37) > David persuaded Saul to permit him to fight Goliath by reporting God's faithfulness.

Homiletical Subject: What is the best way to deal with the obstacle, challenge or opportunity before you?

Homiletical Complement: The best way to deal with the obstacle, challenge or opportunity before you is to remember and report God's faithfulness.

Homiletical Proposition: Since the best way to deal with adversity is to focus on God's faithfulness, you must carefully steward it.

Why You Might Be Defeated (Part 2) (1 Sam. 17:8-11, 20-24, 26-29, 31-33)

Whom were Israel's soldiers listening to?

• They were listening to Goliath's voice – the voice of intimidation.
• They were listening to each other's voices – the voice of consensus.
• They were listening to Saul's voice – the voice of reason.
•  They were listening to Eliab's voice – the voice of ridicule and contempt.

Whom are God's people listening to?

• They are listening to the politicians – the voice of futility.
• They are listening to the majority – the voice of compliance and tolerance.
• They are listening to to the entertainers – the voice of compromise.
• They are listening to social media – the voice of frivolity.
• They are listening to the news – the voice of negativity and cynicism.
• They are listening to the ads – the voice of discontentment.
• They are listening to their phones – the voice of distraction.
• They are listening to the polls and pundits – the voice of spin.
• They are listening to the times – the voice of doom.
• They are listening to the world – the voice of despair.
• They are listening to the skeptics – the voice of doubt.
• They are listening to the historians – the voice of the past.
• They are listening to their labels – the voice of excuse, fear and bondage.
• They are listening to the experts – the voice of contempt.
• With all of these voices screaming nonstop at you, no wonder you're confused or discouraged at times! No wonder you feel defeated!

Whom should God's people be listening to?

• God's people should be listening to Jesus – the Voice of Victory (Jn. 10:27).

Conclusion:  In order to stop being defeated and start walking in victory, you will need discernment to keep on listening to Jesus.

“I come to the garden alone,

While the dew is still on the roses;

And the voice I hear, falling on my ear

The Son of God discloses.”

1 Thess. 5:21-22

Why You Might Be Defeated (Part 1) (1 Sam. 17:1-11)

1.  What were Israel's soldiers looking at?

• They were looking at the height of Goliath's stature (1 Sam 17:4).
• They were looking at the weight of Goliath's armor (1 Sam. 17:5).
• They were looking at the breadth of Goliath's weaponry (1 Sam. 17:6-7). 
• He had a javelin that was ready (1 Sam. 17:6).
• He had a spear that was heavy (1 Sam. 17:7).
• He had a shield that was carried (1 Sam. 17:7).

2.  What are God's people looking at?

• They are looking at the size of their problems.
• They are looking at the severity of their circumstances.
• They are looking at the shrinkage of their resources.
• They are looking at the longevity of their difficulties.
• They are looking at the stubbornness of their obstacles.
• They are looking at the erosion of their hope.
• They are looking at the multiplication of their worries.
• They are looking at the inadequacy of their leaders.

3.  What should God's people be looking at?

• God's people should be looking at Jesus (Heb. 12:2).
• You cannot look at Goliath and God at the same time.
• You cannot look to the world and Jesus at the same time.
• You cannot look at your situation and your Savior at the same time.

Conclusion:  In order to stop being defeated and start walking in victory, you will need discipline to keep on looking at Jesus.

“Turn your eyes upon Jesus

Look full in His wonderful face

And the things of earth will grow strangely dim

In the light of His glory and grace.”

Proverbs 4:25 

Jonathan Left (1 Sam. 14:3, 6)

Unless Jonathan had left the camp, he would never have seen the opportunity.  He saw what no one else saw and did what no one else did because he was positioned where no one else was positioned.  Jonathan's leaving led to a victory his people hadn't planned. 

The name Jonathan means "the Lord gave."  Jesus, the One the Father gave (Jn. 3:16), left heaven's camp to position Himself to win a victory for His people (Mt. 1:21).

"Small and Tall" (New Sermon Series) to Begin May 1

   May 1 > "The Fight for Socoh"
   May 8 > "It Started with Cheese"
   May 15 > "Two Heads at the End"
   May 22 > "Piercing the Bronze Helmet"
   May 29 > "Getting Your Shout Back"

Follow All the Directions

Read 1 Samuel 15:1-15.

Monday I made blueberry pancakes for breakfast. The directions said to put the mix, milk and eggs in a bowl, then stir. I did that, except I also included the berries. My mix became purple and messy. The pancakes came out okay taste-wise, but the presentation was lacking severely. One simple adjustment would've made it a better visual experience: I should've added the berries when I was told, not when I wanted to. Lesson: Since every direction matters, follow all of them. Don't pick and choose.

You can't follow any directions if you don't read them. But that's another post.