(1 Samuel 18:28-30 NLT) When Saul realized that the LORD was with David and how much his daughter Michal loved him, Saul became even more afraid of him, and he remained David’s enemy for the rest of his life. Every time the commanders of the Philistines attacked, David was more successful against them than all the rest of Saul’s officers. So David’s name became very famous.
This morning I continue our series entitled, “Standing on a Word from God.” This is Part 63 of the series and Part 35 of the life of David.
After everything David had been through in the months following his triumphant victory over the giant, I am sure his wedding day was special. David married the king’s daughter, Michal, the second princess offered to him, but the first that he loved. David and Michal were happily married and madly in love, David’s brother-in-law Jonathan was his best friend in the world, David’s men were willing to follow him to the end’s of the earth, and public could not get enough to David, loving everything he did. If this happened today David and Michal would be followed by paparazzi, David would be on the cover of every magazine, and we would watch David tell his story on a special one-on-one session with Oprah. An unknown eighth son from Bethlehem took Israel by storm. From the outside you would say his life was amazing, and it was, but from within the palace gates something else brewing… Saul’s resentment towards David was growing day by day.
Our text says, “Saul became even more afraid of him, and he remained David’s enemy for the rest of his life.” Another translation says, “Saul’s fear of David increased and settled into hate. Saul hated David.” Isn’t that sad. David was experiencing supernatural victory after supernatural victory in his life, but the man who was supposed to have the most power in the entire kingdom, a man David had done nothing wrong to, hated him. While it is sad, the flipside is that Saul, who had earthly power, could do nothing to stop David. The more the Philistines attacked and the more David went out to fight, the more David was able to outshine everyone else and the text says his name “became very famous.”
How did this happen? How did a nobody from nowhere become so famous that he was outshining the king? How did a kid from a lowly family come into the palace and win over the king’s kids? How did a teenager who had never served a day in the Army become the General on the cover of Israel’s Time magazine? I’ll tell you how: GRACE! While David had something to do with it, David could not take all the credit. This was God’s handiwork. The hand of God was evident on David and he was experiencing overwhelming, immeasurable and undeserved grace. Guess what? That same grace is available to you.
So what does this mean to you today? A few things:
1. When you tap into your purpose it unleashes God’s immeasurable grace.
a) By the time David got to the palace, he was doing what he was born to do. David did not know it, but all his life the Lord was preparing him for his assignment. Once he started walking in it, supernatural grace empowered him to experience divine success. The same will happen for you once you start walking in your divine purpose.
b) When you start living as the person you were born to be, nothing and no one can stop you. God’s grace will empower you to accomplish your purpose.
2. Prosperity will not come without opposition.
a) When people hear the word “prosperity” many immediately think of money. While that is not necessarily incorrect, it is incomplete. Divine prosperity is not just tied to resources, it is about supernatural success. The Lord wants us to succeed in life. He wants us to find, follow and ultimately finish our purpose, and His grace is on us to be successful as we do so. But even divine success does not exonerate us from opposition and challenges. Make no mistake, you will be tested.
b) The enemy is not going to sit around and watch as you become the man/woman God called you to be, and as you do what you were born to do. He will attack you, because he is attacking your purpose. The greater the assignment from God, the greater the attack from satan. The good news is that satan has no power over God.
3. God’s grace cannot be stopped.
a) No matter how much opposition comes, if God is for you, He is more than the entire world against you. His grace is unstoppable.
b) King Saul was supposedly the most powerful man in the land and he could not stop a teenager who had the grace of God operating on him and through him. When you are operating in God’s grace the enemy cannot stop was God has started.
Closing Confession: Father, I declare by faith that I find, follow, and finish my divine purpose in life before I die. As I find and follow the purpose You established for me, from the foundations of the world, I tap into Your immeasurable grace. Your grace flows freely to me, because I am doing what You destined me to do, and since I am fulfilling Your purpose, You are well pleased with me. You bless me richly. I know I will face opposition on the road to Your desired destination. I know it will not always be easy. I know I will have to overcome obstacle after obstacle. But I also know that Your grace is unstoppable. The enemy cannot stop what You have started in my life. I look unto You as not just the author, but also the finisher of my faith. Like Paul, I am confident of this very thing, that You, who have begun a good work in me, shall perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. You always finish what You start and what You have started in me is unstoppable! I declare this by faith! In Jesus’ name, Amen!
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
