Today I will continue with “Faith and Patience Volume 5 – Greater is Coming!” In this message, we will close out David’s story. Not because it is finished, but because I am out of time. After today, I only have two more messages for the year, and I will use those to provide some final thoughts around closing out the year strong and getting ready for 2021.
Today is message #85 on David. We have studied his life for a full 17 weeks. I pray you enjoyed it. As I provide you some final thoughts about David, let’s look at this verse:
(Acts 13:36 NIV)
“Now when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep; he was buried…
So what does this mean for you today? A few things.
1. David’s served GOD’S PURPOSE.
— When you run into David in heaven, if you ask him if his life turned out the way he imagined it as a child, I am positive he will tell you it did not. David was born as the eighth son of an average man, and as a young man, he spent most of his time with sheep. There is no way, not in a million years, that David could have imagined that he would become King of Israel and that he would leave a mark in this world that is still being felt today.
— David did not come up with “the plan” for his life. His “plan” was written before the world began. This “plan” is called God’s purpose. David found it, followed it, and finished (not being perfect along the way), but he got it done BEFORE HE DIED!
— Like David, there is a “plan” in heaven with your name on it. That plan is God’s purpose for your life. Your goal is to FIND IT, FOLLOW IT, and FINISH IT before you die.
— If you serve God’s purpose for your life before you die, you are a success. Anything else, regardless of how much money, power, or fame you attain, is a failure in God’s eyes.
— David was not a self-made man. He was a God-made-man. He served God’s purpose while he was on this planet. I pray that at the end of your, heaven can say the same about you!
2. David’s served God’s purpose in HIS OWN GENERATION.
— Our God is a completely purposeful God. He does nothing without purpose. This means that God sent you to this planet at just the right time. You were born for “such a time as this!”
— Some people wish they would have been born in Jesus’ day or in another generation. But the truth is that you were not. You were born NOW because your purpose is for NOW!
— You were born to make a divine impact in THIS generation! As you walk with God, as the Holy Spirit reveals His purpose to you, and as you die to self so you can submit to His ways, God will make an impact in THIS GENERATION, and He will do it THROUGH YOU!
— David was called to his generation. You are called to yours. Open your heart to the Holy Spirit and yield to God to the point where you can serve God’s purpose in your own generation!
— You only get one life. You only have one chance at this. I don’t know about you, but Isabella and I are open to whatever God wants to do with our lives, however He wants to do it. When we retired from the U.S. Army in 2015, we thought we knew what our “retired” lives were going to be like. Almost six years later, our lives look nothing like what we imagined. But it is because God already had a plan, and we are simply walking with Him, moving with the impulses of the Holy Spirit, willing to go where God leads us to go and do whatever God leads us to do when we get there. We don’t have it all figured out. We don’t always know where we are going and what is next. But we know WHO we are following, and that gives us peace. Living this way, we are determined to serve God’s purpose in our own generation. I pray you live with the same mindset.
3. When David served GOD’S PURPOSE in his OWN GENERATION, he DIED.
— David did not die becuase he was sick. David did not die because he was old. David simply died because he was DONE! That’s my prayer. I believe I won’t leave this planet until I complete my assignment. Now, when I do, I am free to go and be with Jesus for eternity!
— Most of us know that no one took Jesus’ life. When His assignment on this planet was complete, He “gave up the ghost” and gave Himself over to death. I think many believers are NOT aware that Jesus was NOT the only one who did this. Genesis 25:8 says, “Then Abraham gave up the ghost, and died in a good old age.” Genesis 35:29 says, “And Isaac gave up the ghost, and died, and was gathered unto his people, being old and full of days.” Deuteronomy 34:7 says, “Moses was a hundred twenty years old when he died, yet his eyesight was still good, and his body was strong.” Another translation says that he had all his teeth and he did not require glasses.
— You are on this planet for a reason. That reason is God’s purpose. When you have completed that purpose, you can go. You don’t have to go because you are sick, old, tired, or for any other reason. You can simply go because you are DONE!
— Paul said, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.” (2 Tim 4:7). You could say to Paul, “But wait, Paul, the gospel has not gone out to the entire world yet.” He would say, “Yeah, but I finished MY course.” You could say, “No, Paul! There are people that need to hear about Jesus. Keep going!” To which Paul would respond, “I know. But that assignment is for someone else. I have finished MY course! I am free to go!”
— The Bible says that when David served God’s purpose for his own generation, he fell asleep. It’s that simple. Knowing your purpose makes life simple. You are not moved by a bunch of things. You are simply pursuing God’s purpose, determined to arrive at God’spredetermined expected end for your life. When you get there, you can go, knowing that you served God’s purpose for your own generation! You are not leaving because you are tired. You are not leaving because you are sick. You are free to go because you are DONE!
Declaration of Faith:
Father, You made plans for me before the world began. I accepted Jesus, Your Son, as my Lord. When I did, You filled me with Your Spirit. Your Spirit is revealing TO ME what You prepared FOR ME, but was concealed FROM ME. As I receive revelation concerning my divine assignment, I give up my selfish desires and I pursue Your purpose. My life is that simple. When I have finished my course… when I have completed what Yout me to this planet to do… when I have served Your purpose for my generation, I will give myself over to death. I will not die because I am old. I will not die because I am sick. I will only die when I am done! This is why I can say GREATER IS COMING FOR ME! I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word. Apply it and prosper!
