(Read 1 Samuel 16:14-23)
This morning I continue our series entitled, “Standing on a Word from God.” This is Part 33 of the series and Part 5 of the life of David.
After the prophet Samuel left Jesse’s house, life seemingly went back to normal. The Spirit of the Lord was upon David and there was a grace on him for national leadership, but he went right back to his father’s sheep and everyone went back to their normal lives. This is not easy to do. When God reveals something BIG to you, but it is SO BIG that it is going to take time to happen, it is sometimes hard to focus on where you are right now. But focus you must. You have to maximize the season you are IN, in order to be ready for the next, when that time comes.
Since the Spirit of the Lord had left Saul, and he no longer had the grace for national leadership, the king started to be tormented by an evil spirit. Saul was filled with depression and fear. Some of Saul’s servants said to him, “Let us find a good musician to play the harp whenever the tormenting spirit troubles you. He will play soothing music, and you will soon be well again.” Saul said, “All right, find me someone who plays well, and bring him here.”
At this point, if you are not familiar with David’s story, you might be thinking, “Okay Rick, where are you going with this? What does this have to do with David?” Actually, a great deal. Surprisingly, one of Saul’s servants said, “One of Jesse’s sons from Bethlehem is a talented harp player. Not only that—he is a brave warrior, a man of war, and has good judgment. He is also a fine looking young man, and the LORD is with him.” Can you believe that? In one moment David was minding his own business, tending to his sheep, when one of his brothers pulled him out of the field in order to be anointed the next king of Israel. After his impromptu coronation, he went back to the field, and now, unbeknownst to him, his name is being brought up before king Saul. Not only that, but the servant who brought up David’s name told the king that he was a talented harp player, a brave warrior, a good looking young man with good judgment, and above all of that, the servant said the Lord was with David. How in the world could the servant know all of that? Here’s the answer: God! This was a setup if there ever was one. Saul sent messengers to Jesse to say, “Send me your son David, the shepherd.” We will stop here for today.
So what does this mean to you today? A few things:
- Grace will open doors no man can close. Once the grace for national leadership was on David he could not go back to his normal life, even if he tried to. When there is a grace on you for a certain area, that grace will open doors for you that no man can close and close doors that no man can open. These are doors you could not open or close by yourself. Things will happen for you, not because you did anything to earn them, or because you deserve them. Things will happen simply because God’s grace is on your life to do what He called you to do. Since God called you to your purpose, He is obligated to help you fulfill it. He will grace you with what you need internally and He will work through people and circumstances, externally, to set you up in ways you could never set yourself up.
- Favor can do more in a minute than labor can do in a lifetime. David could have worked all his life and never had an audience with the king. But once the favor of God was in operation in his life, favor did in a moment, what labor could have ever done in a lifetime. The favor of God will bring you before all those you need to be exposed to in order to maximize your purpose and potential.
- You can’t earn Grace or Favor, but you should appreciate both. I am clearly a recipient of grace and favor, and while I could never earn either, I can (and should) thank God for their operation in my life. It’s the same with you. You can’t earn God’s goodness, but when it comes, your proper response is to say, “Thank You!” Enter every day with thanksgiving on your lips, a smile on your face, a song in your heart, and a spring in your step. This way you will always be ready to give God praise for what He is doing in your life!
Closing Confession:
Father, this is a season of expectation for me. You open doors for me that no man can close and close doors for me that no man can open. You have graced me for my purpose. Your grace on my life favors me. Things happen for me that I could never make happen for myself. Your favor is on me richly! Your favor can do more in a minute than my labor could do in a lifetime. Thank You Father for Your grace and favor. You bless me to do what I can and You supernaturally do what I can’t. Your grace and favor bring me before great men and women and when I stand before them, your grace and favor enable me to say what I need to say, to receive what I need to receive, and to grow to the level I need to grow in order to maximize my purpose and potential. Father, I will never cease to give You praise for how good You have been and continue to be in my life! I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
This is Today’s Word. Apply it and prosper!
