Grace to Make a Difference!

This morning we continue our series “Grace that is Simply Amazing.”  I am trying to move on from the fight between David and Goliath and get to other aspects of David’s life, but the Lord has me meditating this story over and over.  I can’t move on until He lets me.

Yesterday I talked about the fact that this teenage boy was thrust into the national spotlight while he was running an errand for his father.  David was supposed to be taking lunch to his brothers and then head back home, but a routine errand turned into a life-changing event, because God’s timing lined up with earthly opportunity.  Many times, when we want the two to line up, they are not and we are forced to exercise Godly patience.  However, in this case, David was not looking for the spotlight, notoriety, or a fight for that matter.  All David was doing was what his father asked him to do, but something funny happened on the way to lunch.  David heard Goliath defy the only true God and he was led, by the Holy Spirit (who had recently enveloped him during his spiritual coronation), to fight the giant.

Let me reiterate the fact that every Soldier in Saul’s army had the opportunity to fight Goliath, but none of them took it.  Partly because they were afraid, but more importantly, because this was David’s assignment.  Let me explain.  Many preachers criticize Moses for striking the rock twice and claim that had he not tempted God he would have led the nation of Israel into the Promised Land.  However, I firmly believe that the job of leading Israel into Canaan was Joshua’s and the Lord was not going to allow Moses to fulfill Joshua’s assignment.  Moses had his own assignment and his own grace, and so did Joshua.  Further, many criticize Peter for not ministering to the Gentiles.  One can make the argument that Peter was prejudiced or a racist, however, ministering to the Gentiles was not Peter’s assignment, it was Paul’s.  Peter had the grace to minister to the Jews and then Paul came along, with the grace to minister to the Gentiles.  So, getting back to this story, God was not going to allow any of the other Soldiers to step into David’s moment.  David might have thought that he was there for an errand, but God had bigger plans.  Before the foundations of the world the Lord knew what David would do that day and the grace was on him to accomplish it.  Last point; when David stepped into his purpose and killed Goliath, the men of Israel and Judah broke out of their stuper, rushed after the Philistines, and won a great military victory that day.

So what does this mean to you today?  A few things:
1.  What God has for you is for you.  No one can take what God has destined for you.  Likewise, you can’t take what God has destined for others.  Understanding this, you are able to celebrate the diversities of giftings and callings without jealousy.  You don’t ever have to envy what God is doing through someone else, because they have their own assignment and you have yours.  Your job is to run your own race and everything you need to maximize your purpose and potential is available to you.  But if you try to run someone else’s race you will ask God for things He can’t give you, because they are not yours to have.

2.  The Lord can change your life in a moment.  There is nothing God can’t do and He can elevate you in an instant, but remember, He will not elevate you before your time.  God will not bless you with certain things before the proper time, because He knows that some things given prematurely can distract, derail, or even destroy you, instead of blessing you.  So stand fast, trust God, live by faith, and know that every blessing ordained for you to have will be manifested in it’s proper time.

3.  The grace of God on you can activate the grace on others.  Last night I was in church and Dr. Renny McLean, a powerful man of God, had us say, “I am contagious.”  The point being that God can use us to activate and release things in others.  The more God’s grace and power flow through us, the more it is stirred up in everyone we come in contact with.  So enter into this day knowing that you are an agent of change!

Closing Confession:  Father, I thank You for this teaching.  What You have for me is for me.  I have my own assignment, my own race, and my own grace.  I appreciate what You are doing through others, but I refuse to allow envy or strife to cause me to lose myself by chasing someone else’s assignment.  I know who I am and I have the discipline to pursue my own purpose.  Therefore, Your abounding grace is made available to me to accomplish everything You have destined me to accomplish and by faith I declare that I will!  As I pursue my purpose there will be designated moments where You bring me before great men and women, in order to shift me and elevate me.  I am open to it and I know that in Your timing every shift that is supposed to take place in my life shall come to pass.  I receive Your best NOW and I know it is only a matter of time before it happens in the earth.  Lastly Father, I am an agent of supernatural change.  I am contagious.  The grace and power on me helps to activate the grace and power on others.  Father, together — You and I, me and You — let’s go make a difference today!  In Jesus’ name.