(1 Samuel 17:32-37)
This morning I continue our series entitled, “Standing on a Word from God.” This is Part 40 of the series and Part 12 of the life of David.
I feel led to go back to the same passage from yesterday. While all the trained soldiers were paralyzed in fear at the sight of the giant, David said to king Saul, “Master, don’t give up hope. I’m ready to go and fight this Philistine.” Saul replied, “You can’t go and fight this Philistine. You’re too young and inexperienced—and he’s been at this fighting business since before you were born.” I love it when someone tells a child of God they CAN’T do something. This is a perfect setup for God to do what is unexpected by men.
David did not allow the king’s negativity to cause him to shudder. He said to Saul: “I’ve been a shepherd, tending sheep for my father. Whenever a lion or bear came and took a lamb from the flock, I’d go after it, knock it down, and rescue the lamb. If it turned on me, I’d grab it by the throat, wring its neck, and kill it. Lion or bear, it made no difference—I killed it. And I’ll do the same to this Philistine pig who is taunting the troops of God-Alive. God, who delivered me from the teeth of the lion and the claws of the bear, will deliver me from this Philistine.” This was enough to convince the king. Saul said, “Go. And the Lord be with you!”
So what does this mean to you today? A few things:
1. God will process you in private before He gives you a public platform.
a) Later we will see that God made David’s name great. He went from obscurity to national hero overnight. Crowds were calling out his name. But God did not prepare David for the national spotlight on a national stage. David had been preparing all his life, in the fields, on the plains, well before God gave him a platform.
b) You must be faithful to God when NO ONE knows your name well before God makes your name great.
c) David honored God on the plains, tending sheep, well before he got to rule in the palace, leading people. This is how it is with God.
d) God will process you in obscurity well before He gives you the spotlight. Many people want the platform, but they don’t want to endure the processing.
e) David had the grace to kill the giant while everyone was watching, because he was faithful to kill the lion and bear when NO ONE was watching.
f) If you are not faithful over what God has given you in private, then you cannot be trusted with public success.
2. You must attempt things that you cannot do without God.
a) David was ready to attempt what no one believed he could do. He was not doing so based on his strength. David’s confidence was in God! We must live the same way.
b) If you are not attempting things that far exceed your power, ability and strength, then you are not truly living by faith. When you life by faith God will call you into realms that exceed ability to perform. He does this so He can operate through you. God wants to get the glory from your life and living. He gets the glory when you attempt things that you clearly cannot do, so He can do them through you!
c) If you never attempt anything beyond your ability you have made Jesus irrelevant. David killed a lion and a bear with his bare hands. He did this by the grace of God. He was ready to fight and kill the giant. Why? Because his reliance was on God. He was ready to do the impossible, so God could be glorified. Are you?
d) If you are only going to attempt things that you can do, as a human, without any reliance on God, then Jesus has no relevance in your life. God calls us to the supernatural so He can be relevant in, with and through us!
Closing Confession:
Father, this is a season of expectation for me. I have an expectation of the supernatural. I expect You to do what I cannot do IN, WITH and THROUGH me. I expect Your power to flow through me in ways that can be seen by men. I want to perform the impossible. I want to flow in the supernatural. I have this desire because I want you to be relevant in my daily living. When people come in contact with me, I want them to encounter YOU! And I declare that they will. I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
This is Today’s Word. Apply it and prosper!
