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.