I am going to introduce you to the gospel right now.

You are rebel. Whether or not you want to acknowledge it, I’ll tell you straight up. You are a rebel against the living God; this is your natural disposition! Why? Because you were born in sin.

We are in a prison cell and it takes the awakening and the grace of God (we call it the prevenient grace of God) to awaken us to the fact that we are lost and that we can’t get out. We’re headed towards destruction, fast. The enemy, because of our rebellion against God, has legal rights to harm and harass our life.

There you are behind the prison cell, "HELP, I NEED OUT!!" You can’t get out…those prison bars are stronger than any adamant. There is no way you can cut ‘em because they’re stronger than diamond! It is impenetrable; you cannot escape!

You’re doomed. Because when the enemy comes in the very end, he’s gonna finish you off. Because he has legal right to do it and he’s gonna relish every minute of it!

[But instead] In strolls your intercessor, your mighty man. And he stands between you and that accuser… and He takes the hit that was rightfully yours! He takes the blow that was intended for you! That is an extraordinary reality that He was turned to a pulp and He actually died! GOD…DIED…for you.

Over your prison cell it is has always said, "CONDEMNED." "SEPARATED," eternally, from God. "GUILTY"! And then suddenly, it switches when you realize what Jesus Christ has done. It says, "JUSTIFIED." It says, "FORGIVEN," "REDEEMED"!!

Here’s the problem: most of us have stopped with the good news right there. The blood of Jesus Christ has been shed and He was killed. And I want you to know that that is unbelievable news. But we are still in a prison cell!
And so we’re praising God from within a prison cell, going, "Thank You for forgiving me, thank You for changing the sign on the outside of the prison!"
And God’s word says, "Could you check the door to the prison cell? Because My blood was shed for more than just forgiveness."
Forgiveness was the avenue through which He could make the escape for us! He isn’t just interested in dealing with the consequences of the penalty of sin! He’s also dealt with the problem of sin!
"Test the door; it’s unlocked!"
The door to the prison cell is UNLOCKED! WALK OUT! Smell the open air of freedom and liberty in the light of Jesus Christ!!
When you get outside of the prison cell, there’s like this chariot that’s waiting. Emissaries from the king, and they say, "The King beckons you into His presence."
Do you know how bizarre this is? When you realize that you were a rebel, that you were undeserving completely? That the living God has literally given up His life for you, that now He has set you free, and now, the very King is beckoning you into His presence?!
It’s like, "Uh, are you sure you have the right guy here? I’m a rebel. I-I stood against my God; I spat in His face! H-how could He want me?"
"The King beckons you."
You get in the chariot and as they pull into the kingdom, you’re looking for where they might drop you off. You’re looking for that poor district, saying, "W-where are you taking me?"
"Oh, into the very near presence of the King. He wants you to live right where He lives."
Not just the penalty, not just the problem, but an invitation into His very near presence!
But as you’re coming in, the emisarries say, "He wants to adopt you as His child."
"Me?? As His child??"
We are brought in and invited near to share His heart! You come into His presence, totally broken before the reality of what He has done for you.
"I don’t deserve this! Why have you done this for me??!"
"I LOVE YOU. I have a comission for you."
"For me? You want…to have me work…for You?"
"I want you to work for Me, I want you to represent Me."
"Absolutely! Anything I can do for You; just tell me!"
"I need You to go back to that prison cell that I took you out of because there’s a whole bunch more that need to know about Me and my love and my truth. Will you go for me?"
"In a heartbeat! I would–I would gladly serve You! Anyway You want, anyway You ask!"
"I need to forewarn you; I’m going to send you out and you’ll be as a sheep among wolves. They’ll kill you, they’ll destroy you, they’ll hate you, they’ll persecute you, they will do whatever they can to harm you!"
"I’m in! I’ll do it, God! I don’t care–You shed Your blood for me–I would GLADLY shed my blood for You. Take my body, take my blood!! Spend it any way You want! I belong to You in covenant! Take me, Lord Jesus! SEND ME!"
It’s the commission. Not just the penalty, not just the problem, not just the invitation into His very near presence, not just the adoption as a son or a daughter of the King of kings! But we are commissioned to represent Him! And I want you to realize that that is a privilege beyond all other privileges! To bear the very name, the very image, the very reputation of GOD ALMIGHTY!
And He says, "I ask you to go. Go and make disciples of all men. GO and be unashamed of My gospel and preach it! GO, rescue the lost in the power of My name, for is not the Lamb that was slain worthy to receive the reward of His suffering?"
"I’ll go."
And as you’re beginning to head out with His blessing, He says, "Hold it, wait; there’s one more thing."
Not just the penalty, not just the problem, not just the invitation into His very near presence, not just the adoption as a son or a daughter of the King, and not just the commission. This is the capstone! If you think that is all good, you could wrap that all up into one ball and it still falls short of the final one. Because this final one is so condescending on the part of our King; it is so bewildering, it is so extraordinary, it’s so amazing, and this is the truth that turns the world upside down!
"Before you go, what I’m sending you out to do is impossible, I know. And if you do it in your own strength, you’ll fail."
"I don’t care. I’m willing to do whatever You ask of me and if You want me to go out there and just die, I’m willing!"
"I’m sending you out to be a victor…my children will not lose! Would you give Me your body and I will come in and make it my home. And I will take those hands of yours and make them My hands. I will take those feet of yours and make them My feet. I will take that mouth of yours and it will speak My words. I will take those eyes of yours and they can now see what I need to be seen in this world.
"And I will take your heart of stone and make it a heart of flesh so that it will beat with my burdens and you will care for the very things that I care about! Your prayers will become my prayers, and your life, and your attitude, and your behavior, every minute of every day, will be the very behavior of God! Will you allow Me…to OVERTAKE your life?"
Because then we go into this world, as little lambs… with the faces of lions! Because the living God Almighty, the consuming, almighty, sovereign God dwells within His children…and as we stand, with the wolf packs around us, we stand in the authority of the name of Jesus and we will not back down because we do not head off to war to lose; we head off to war to win!! Our God mocks all the powers of earth and hell through floppy little lambs! Because His lambs beat the wolf back!
That’s the Gospel! The Gospel trounces upon all the powers of earth and hell and demonstrates to the universe the manifold wisdom of God; that He is in control! And even though we look weak, and even though physically and naturally we are weak; spiritually, greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world!! THAT is good news! And it’s a lot better than what’s being dealt out today in the church!
We need to rise up, proclaim the gospel, and say, "I am not ashamed of it! Dear Lord Jesus, take what is rightfully yours! Don’t just send us, send us with Yourself firmly planted within our souls! We cannot do Your work, we cannot bring You glory, even though we’re willing to do it without You. Please, if You want to come with us, why in the world would we ever try on our own??"
You don’t have to go on your own, you don’t have to pull off the impossible on your own, you don’t have to fail any longer! Your God is ready to do it in and through you. You can’t do it! You can’t muster up the discipline, you can’t muster up the intellect, you can’t muster up the strength, you can’t muster up the perseverance and the fortitude. He can! You can’t love the lost, you can’t love those that spit upon your face; He can!
Don’t pray that God would teach You how to love like He loves; pray that He would fill you with Himself, that he would love in and through you! Don’t pray that He would teach you to have joy; pray that the living God full of joy would enter into you! Don’t pray that He would teach you how to be peaceful; ask for the God of peace, the Prince of peace, to fill you!
Because if you try to imitate in your own strength, you will be a miserable replica! But if you allow the impartation of Jesus Christ to overtake you, suddenly it all works.
Because [then] it’s Him imitating Himself! And He’s very good at being GOD.

David stayed in the wilderness strongholds and in the hills of the Desert of Ziph. Day after day Saul searched for him, but God did not give David into his hands. 1 Samuel 23:14

from the promise of kingship to the day David got the crown on his head he was in leadership training.  the wilderness may be tough and rough but it is where some of our greatest life lessons are learned.  it is the university of life.  many great people in the bible had some wilderness time before they were promoted to a position of power and responsibility.  abraham.  moses.  joseph.  jacob.  job.  john.  jesus. 

don’t underestimate or despise the wilderness season in your life. 

It is essential that we “get” is that sometimes great time can pass between the call and the living that call. During this time God is shaping us and forming us and dealing with the crud within us. He is renewing our mind and making us into a vessel of honour (2 Tim 2:20-21)

Take for example Saul and David.

Kish had a son named Saul, as handsome a young man as could be found anywhere in Israel, and he was a head taller than anyone else. 1 Samuel 9:2

They ran and brought him out, and as he stood among the people he was a head taller than any of the others. Samuel said to all the people, “Do you see the man the LORD has chosen? There is no one like him among all the people.” 1 Samuel 10:23-24

When Saul was chosen king he was the most handsome and stand out guy in the nation. He had all the gifts and talents and personality. Samuel anointed him and he immediately began ruling as king of all of Israel. Yet he ended up failing as king and turning away from God.

“While king saul was truly the best man Israel had to offer when they demanded a king, his heart had not been groomed through testing before he assumed the throne. As king, saul was entrusted with a measure of anointing to lead the armies of Israel to victory and shepherd the people. Yet without the strength of character that only comes by winning private battles, these public victories exposed the previously hidden weakness of saul’s heart towards God. That weakness, combined with his growing appetite for favour of man, led him to bring glory to himself and disobey the Lord.” Bill Johnson – Strengthen Yourself In The Lord

David however was anointed and then spent about 14 years in “training”. In those training years he endured more difficulty, persecution and rejection that many of us face in a lifetime. He probably didn’t expect it to take so long for him to be king. God didn’t want another king saul and so took His time to mould David into a king and man after His own heart.

the wilderness always reminds me of this quote:

“But it does cost something to be a real Christian, according to the standard of the Bible. There are enemies to be overcome, battles to be fought, sacrifices to be made, an Egypt to be forsaken, a wilderness to be passed through, a cross to be carried, a race to be run. Conversion is not putting a man in an armchair and taking him easily to heaven. It is the beginning of a mighty conflict, in which it costs much to win the victory. Hence arises the unspeakable importance of “counting the cost.” ~ J.C. Ryle, Holiness

the wilderness is a place of preparation in our lives, a place of transformation.  a place where we are reliant on God and trusting Him.  

In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.  These have come so that your faith— of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire— may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honour when Jesus Christ is revealed.  1 Peter 1:6-7

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds,  because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.  James 1:2-4

it may be a place of delay – the delay between the call and the living the call, the delay between the promise and the position.  delay has the capacity to bring up things that are hiding in our hearts that will restrict and sabotage us.  better out NOW than later!  delay reveals sin and brings it up to deal with now.  delay is a time of preparation.

There are lessons to be learned in the process, in the wilderness. Lessons about ourselves, lessons about how to work with others, lessons about how to relate to God.

God will open the right doors at the right time.

“Its not about knowing who holds the right keys but its about knowing the KEEPER of the keys”– Peter Robertson. 

God can promote us at the right time. But I also believe He will also hold us back if we are not surrendered and transformed. God is full of grace but He is also holy. He uses flawed human beings but that doesn’t excuse compromise and a heart that isn’t fully leaning to God… God wants us to be intentionally following Him not intentionally following our own self and self desires.

The great things God will do through you are going to grow in the soil of persistence, prayer, obedience and sacrifice.  That means there will be plenty of plowing and pruning.  That’s the way living things grow, whether you’re talking about vegetables or vision. The process is a time of strengthening.  The process is the place where you lay down your pride and learn to rely totally on God.  Most importantly, the process is the way we grow to know God.  And that’s really the whole point. Steven Furtick

David’s time of wilderness prepared him to be king, the most renown king in all of israel’s history, and most importantly, a man after God’s heart.

He came to the sheep pens along the way; a cave was there, and Saul went in to relieve himself. David and his men were far back in the cave. The men said, "This is the day the Lord spoke of when he saidt to you, ‘I will give your enemy into your hands for you to deal with as you wish.’" Then David crept up unnoticed and cut off a corner of Saul’s robe.   Afterward, David was conscience-stricken for having cut off a corner of his robe. He said to his men, "The Lord forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the Lord’s anointed, or lay my hand on him; for he is the anointed of the Lord."  With these words David sharply rebuked his men and did not allow them to attack Saul. And Saul left the cave and went his way. Then David went out of the cave and called out to Saul, "My lord the king!" When Saul looked behind him, David bowed down and prostrated himself with his face to the ground. He said to Saul, "Why do you listen when men say, ‘David is bent on harming you’? This day you have seen with your own eyes how the Lord delivered you into my hands in the cave. Some urged me to kill you, but I spared you; I said, ‘I will not lay my hand on my lord, because he is the Lord’s anointed.’ See, my father, look at this piece of your robe in my hand! I cut off the corner of your robe but did not kill you. See that there is nothing in my hand to indicate that I am guilty of wrongdoing or rebellion. I have not wronged you, but you are hunting me down to take my life. May the Lord judge between you and me. And may the Lord avenge the wrongs you have done to me, but my hand will not touch you.  1 Samuel 24:3-12

David C. McCasland writes that "there are times when it’s best to wait for God to act instead of trying to make things happen ourselves. … David knew that God had chosen him to become king. But he also knew that killing Saul was not the right way to make it happen. He would wait for God to remove Saul from the throne. … Waiting for God to act is the best opportunity for the right things to happen His way." Sound of a Soft Breath

There are 3 people in the bible who I want to dissect and examine what happened when God called them. We can look at people’s stories in the bible – see how they responded to God and learn from it what to do and what not to do…

My name is Jeremiah. I am a priest, and my father Hilkiah and everyone else in my family are from Anathoth in the territory of the Benjamin tribe. This book contains the things that the Lord told me to say. v1

The Lord said: “Jeremiah, I am your Creator, and before you were born, I chose you to speak for me to the nations.” v 4-5

Hey – did you notice that Jeremiahs message is STILL going forth to the nations – in fact more nations than he was even aware of at the time he was alive!  God anointed and appointed Jeremiah before he was even born for this task and calling.

I replied, “I’m not a good speaker, Lord, and I’m too young.” v6

oh Jeremiah – you’re so funny!  Jeremiah is trying a Moses here BUT he should have taken notice and great hope that GOD CALLED HIM before he was born and thus knows all about him – his age, his abilities etc – in fact GOD CREATED Jeremiah to be the way he is.  He is Creator God and formed him.  Jeremiah had all the answers to his insecurities in what God said back in verse 5 “I am your creator and i call you to speak for me.”  Likewise for each of us God has the answers! The fact that God created Jeremiah and knows him inside outside upside down should negate any worry and insecurities that Jeremiah has.

“Don’t say you’re too young,” the Lord answered. “If I tell you to go and speak to someone, then go! v7

Strong challenge we call all learn (and be challenged) from!  What excuses are we saying and thinking?  What restrictions are we placing upon ourselves and upon God!  When God has all the answers and when he calls us to obey.

I promise to be with you and keep you safe, so don’t be afraid.” v8

Again another answer to all the questions in Jeremiahs heart.  I AM WITH YOU says God.  What a promise!  With that promise Jeremiah can take on the world.  Likewise Jesus said to us “Lo I am with you always”.  Nothing should restrict us our limit us!

The Lord reached out his hand, then he touched my mouth and said, “I am giving you the words to say, ¹⁰ and I am sending you with authority to speak to the nations for me. You will tell them of doom and destruction and of rising and rebuilding again.” v9-10

Again God has a supernatural answer – he empowers Jeremiah for the mission.

The Lord showed me something in a vision. Then he asked, “What do you see, Jeremiah?” v11

God now begins to practically train Jeremiah for his mission.  He calls, equips and trains us for His purpose.  God is actively involved in partnering with us!

The big question: how is this relevant for our lives?

see I AM CHALLENGED #1 HERE

see I AM IN CHRIST SERIES here

see I AM CALLED SERIES here

see I AM CREATED SERIES here

Paul Zahl:

What is grace? Grace is love that seeks you out when you have nothing to give in return. Grace is love coming at you that has nothing to do with you. Grace is being loved when you are unlovable. The cliché definition of grace is “unconditional love.” It is a true cliché, for it is a good description of the thing…Let’s go a little further, though.

Grace is a love that has nothing to do with you, the beloved. It has everything and only to do with the lover. Grace is irrational in the sense that it has nothing to do with weights and measures. It has nothing to do with my intrinsic qualities or so-called “gifts” (whatever they may be). It reflects a decision on the part of the giver (the one who loves) in relation to the receiver (the one who is loved) that negates any qualifications the receiver may personally hold…Grace is one-way love.

The one-way love of grace is the essence of any lasting transformation that takes place in human experience. You can find this out for yourself by taking a simple inventory of your own happiness, or the moments of happiness you have had. They have almost always had to do with some incident of love or belovedness that has come to you from someone outside yourself when you were down. You felt ugly or sinking in confidence and somebody complimented you, or helped you, or spoke a kind word to you. You were at the end of your rope and someone showed a little sympathy.

Some fear that grace-delivered, blood-bought, radical freedom will result in loveless license. But grace alone–redeeming, unconditional, one-way love–(not fear, not guilt, not shame) carries the power to compel heart-felt loyalty to the One who bought us (2 Corinthians 5:14).

     FROM GOSPEL COALITION

Meanwhile, the Philistine, with his shield-bearer in front of him, kept coming closer to David. He looked David over and saw that he was only a boy, ruddy and handsome, and he despised him. He said to David, Am I a dog, that you come at me with sticks? And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. 1 Sam 17:41

David said to the Philistine, You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the LORD will hand you over to me, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. Today I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD’s, and he will give all of you into our hands. As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly towards the battle line to meet him. Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell face down on the ground. So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him. 1 Sam 17:45 – 50

Good thing that David had unshakable faith and wasn’t influenced by the words an opinions of others. Just as he had fought a bear and a lion he had overcome the words ment to shame and scorn him by his brothers so the insults of Goliath didn’t affect his faith or self confidence, his God confidence.

David defeated the giant. But first before he even picked up those stones he defeated doubt and fear in his own life. He had an attitude of faith and confidence in God. He had resolved issues and learned lessons on the way to this epic battle that equipped him. And He took God at His Word. The battle was Gods. Naturally there was no logical reason why a 16 year old kid armed with a stone and a sling should defeat a fully grown fully armed freak of nature. But with God ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE.

Remember, fear and doubt arent conquered by confidence in our own giftings or abilities – but the reality is that doubt is conquered when we know the greatness and power and almightiness of God!

You can be a giant killer.

You can be a nation deliverer.

You can be anything and everything that God has called you to be.

Today you can have an extraordinary life and be used by God to make a difference, to change the world.

But it will come down to your attitude and openness for God to work in and through you.

Remember the twelve Israelite spies. Ten doubted. Two had faith. The ten that doubted caused a millions to die in the wilderness. The two that had faith split the Jordan river and walked on dry land into The Promised Land and victory. Attitude. Choosing to believe God.

Today you have a choice.

Will you listen to the voices of “your brothers” – people who put your down and want to make you doubt? Will you listen to your own voice of doubt?

Or will you make a decision to have faith and trust God and overcome doubts? Will you be determined to have a mind shift from fear to faith? Will you defeat the lions and bears in your life? Will you feed your faith?

David said to Saul, Let no-one lose heart on account of this Philistine; your servant will go and fight him. Saul replied, You are not able to go out against this Philistine and fight him; you are only a boy, and he has been a fighting man from his youth. But David said to Saul, Your servant has been keeping his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it. Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine. Saul said to David, Go, and the LORD be with you. 1 Sam 17:32 – 37

David’s attitude of faith becomes even more evident when he gets an audience with the king. 

So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. Romans 10:17

Faith grows when we feed it with the Word of God. The Word is always correct and always true and always real and always the highest authority on any and every subject. You must submit your feelings and opinions to The Word and let the Word change you from the inside out.

Basically if God says it. It is. You have the power to CHOOSE to believe it. You make a CHOICE to overcome the perhaps natural inclinations to doubt by making a choice to trust God. Do whatever you can to change the way you think and go with what God says about Himself and who He is and what He can do.

Don’t give into the feelings of doubt but pray and take the thoughts captive. You have control of your mind and how you think. Don’t let a doubt or a fear spiral out of control. Its like the Gremlins. They started off as cute furry little creatures, harmless… what’s one little gremlin… but if you feed and water them they manifest into nasty nasty nasty creatures. Doubt and fear may seem like a small harmless thought but if you feed it and water it, it will manifest into a nasty in your life.

The Word of God is both an offensive and defensive weapon. Ephesians 6 describes it as a double edged sword. With it you offensively – you attack – the doubts and fears and obstacles. Use your sword (or machine gun as Isaac showed us in his day in the life) to challenge and change your attitudes. The Word gives you faith – and Ephesians 6 describes your faith as a shield to block the fiery darts and attempts of the enemy.

Remember – Jesus used the Word as a weapon to defeat the devil when He said “IT IS WRITTEN”

throughout history, game changers have stepped forward in the faith to affect the way people communicate god’s truth in the culture in which they live. @stickyjesus

David was a game changer.  He believed God.  He had a history with God.

To David, the Word of God was that God was always with him to deliver him and overcome. God had delivered him from the bear and the lion and God would deliver him from the giant. There was no second guessing God. No but if. No doubt. David was unshakable in his faith in God. He had built up a history of seeing God at work in his life and a history of believing and trusting in God. He had a holy confidence because knew God was faithful.

Take the opportunities around you now to learn faith. Take the opportunities now to overcome doubt.

Build a life long history with God. You can look back through your life and see the evidence of God’s reality in your life. Tony was saying the other night at housegroup that when he got made redundant this year he was feeling stink and unsettled, until he changed his attitude and looked back at the times God had come through in his life and how God had been our provider and had never failed us. He looked back at his history with God and began to stir up thankfulness and look at the good things in His life that God was doing and it brought breakthrough. Tony had met with bears and lions before and so had strategies to tackle the giant with.

David’s skirmishes with the bear and the lion taught him to fight a giant and deliver a nation. What are the bears and lions in your life? Get spiritual muscles and warfare tactics by overcoming them so that on the day you hear the giants insults you’re ready to swing your sling and win!

“Faith is deliberate confidence in the character of God whose ways you may not understand at the time.” ~ Oswald Chambers

Then Saul dressed David in his own tunic. He put a coat of armour on him and a bronze helmet on his head. David fastened on his sword over the tunic and tried walking around, because he was not used to them. I cannot go in these, he said to Saul, because I am not used to them. So he took them off. Then he took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his shepherd’s bag and, with his sling in his hand, approached the Philistine. 1 Samuel 17:38-40

You’ve got to have your own faith. You’ve got to have your own overcomingness. You cant do things based on your pastors faith, or a leaders faith, or your mum and dads faith. Its got to fit for you. And you’ve got to have your own strategy and your own relationship with God and your own understanding of faith and who God is and who He has made you to be and called you to be. You can’t live off someone elses giftings or annointings. You’ve got to know on the inside who God is and who He has called you to be and what He is doing in and through your life. Saul’s armour didn’t fit David, so David took it off. Saul wasn’t even prepared to wear his own armour to fight Goliath! It is YOUR faith that will bring the victory in YOUR life. That is why overcoming doubt is so important because it is YOUR faith that opens doors and breakthrough and sees the cool stuff God has planned done.

Part of this is reconciling that you are who you are. You are uniquely made. Uniquely gifted. Saul’s armour fit Saul. It wasn’t crafted to fit David.

To be successful in battle you have to have protection that fits you.

Too bulky and you’re weighed down. Too small and you’re left exposed.

David understood that he had to fight Goliath as DAVID, not as a wannabe Saul.

in ministry and life there is so much pressure to fit a mould.  be like this.  act like that.  wear these clothes.  talk this way.

but God has uniquely designed YOU to be you.

live YOUR life, don’t settle for being a carbon copy of someone else.

the world doesn’t need a someone else.  they need YOU.

God has designed YOU for YOUR purpose and you are wired and gifted for His plans.

i know i am quirky.

i know that i’m a bit of a geek.

i know i am passionate about preaching and people knowing God for real.

i know that i am extraverted and want to be up the front, whereas my husband is introverted and wants to be in the background.

i know i love Lost. to the point of obsession.

i know i dont preach like the other people in my church.

but i know i have my voice and my experience and my history and my walk with God and i know He reveals Himself through me, not because i am great but for His glory and renown.

i know that my life and experience and history and present is uniquely shaped and fashioned by God to demonstrate His love and grace and reality to those around me.

i cannot be like the other leaders and preachers.  they have their own voice and calling.

i need to be faithful to the calling God has given me, to the gifts He has given me.

quirks and all.

1 Sam 17:13 – 20 Jesse’s three oldest sons had followed Saul to the war: The firstborn was Eliab; the second, Abinadab; and the third, Shammah. David was the youngest. The three oldest followed Saul, but David went back and forth from Saul to tend his father’s sheep at Bethlehem. For forty days the Philistine came forward every morning and evening and took his stand. Now Jesse said to his son David, Take this ephah of roasted grain and these ten loaves of bread for your brothers and hurry to their camp. Take along these ten cheeses to the commander of their unit. See how your brothers are and bring back some assurance from them. They are with Saul and all the men of Israel in the Valley of Elah, fighting against the Philistines. Early in the morning David left the flock with a shepherd, loaded up and set out, as Jesse had directed. He reached the camp as the army was going out to its battle positions, shouting the war cry.

1 Sam 17:28-29 When Eliab, David’s oldest brother, heard him speaking with the men, he burned with anger at him and asked, Why have you come down here? And with whom did you leave those few sheep in the desert? I know how conceited you are and how wicked your heart is; you came down only to watch the battle. Now what have I done? said David. Can’t I even speak?

The battle of David and goliath is one of the greatest examples of how faith overcomes – how to overcome giants in our lives – not just only of the physical great big stinking men type but how to overcome giants on the inside and giants of circumstance and difficulty.

The battle of David and goliath, though played out with a shepherd boy and a warrior is a great picture of the battle of fear vs doubt – with most of the victory happening NOT on the battlefield, but behind the scenes in the lead up to their face off.

David was the youngest – remember overlooked when the great prophet Samuel came to anoint the next king – at left at home AGAIN to look after the sheep. His brothers go off to war to become heroes and he has to stay home, like a kid. This could of made him feel insecure and insignificant – esp when his dad tells him to go take some kai to his brothers. Menial. Not very life changing or significant.

But even when his brother insults him David maintains an attitude of self confidence – or perhaps more so confidence in who he is and who he is called to be. His brother’s words were intended to make him doubt and retreat but David was not affected. He had a different perspective of WHO HE WAS – God’s.

To overcome self doubt we need to get a clear and accurate picture of who God says we are.

BELOVED.
CALLED.
CHOSEN.

EMPOWERED.

ETERNITY CHANGERS.

MEN AND WOMEN OF DESTINY.

To step out and be the person we are called to be and to do the things we are called to be we need to be people of FAITH – having faith in GOD – it is HIM who works in us – I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH HIM WHO GIVES ME STRENGTH.

Overturn the doubt by fixing your eyes on Jesus and His truth and His words. It’s all about attitude. David’s attitude was one of faith. Not doubt. He was unshakable because He had faith in God’s unshakable power.

Our attitudes determine our actions. Change your attitude and you can change your perception and outcome. An attitude of doubt will hold you back from stepping out. An attitude of faith will propel you into adventure and opportunity.

Faith provides eyes for the heart. Faith sees. ~ Bill Johnson

To overcome doubt we must REPLACE it with the opposite thing: Faith

Let your FAITH be bigger than your fear.

Doubt isn’t conquered by confidence in our own giftings or abilities, which may sound like a contradiction to what I have said and will say – but the reality is that doubt is conquered when we know the greatness and power and almightiness of God!

God is faithful.

God is powerful.

God is compassionate.

God is for us.

God is holy.

God is the Creator of the Universe.

God’s thoughts and ways and wisdom are higher and greater than ours.

He is omnipresent, omnipowerful and omniscient. In other words, He sees all, knows all and has all the power.

He is awesome and glorious, good and great.

Have a holy confidence that is founded and grounded upon GOD and His abilities and resources!

The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king. When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed stands here before the Lord.”  But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”  Then Jesse called Abinadab and had him pass in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, “The Lord has not chosen this one either.” Jesse then had Shammah pass by, but Samuel said, “Nor has the Lord chosen this one.” Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel said to him, “The Lord has not chosen these.” So he asked Jesse, “Are these all the sons you have?” “There is still the youngest,” Jesse answered, “but he is tending the sheep.” Samuel said, “Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives.”  So he sent and had him brought in. He was ruddy, with a fine appearance and handsome features. Then the Lord said, “Rise and anoint him; he is the one.”  So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came upon David in power.  1 Samuel 16:1, 6-13

this is a very well known and favourited bible passage about the choosing of a new king for Israel, king David, a man after God’s heart.

its interesting in this process that despite been rejected as king over israel, Saul was still in power and would continue to be leader for a good many years yet.

also very very interesting to note that David is not amongst the young men, the sons of Jesse called for the line up in front of Samuel.  he is left out in the sheep.   forgotten?  overlooked?  intentionally rejected?  underestimated?

No one is invisible to God.

He knows who we are and where we are.

God has a specific purpose for each and every one of us.

He is uniquely positioning and training us where we are today for our tomorrows.  and tomorrow may bring such a change of circumstances.  David went from common shepherd boy to promised king in a moment. 

David’s brothers were not chosen by God to be king.  Despite their strength and good looks and height and their position in the family, they were not chosen.  From the obscurity of the fields David was chosen to rule God’s promised nation.

What was God looking for in a leader?

The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.  1 Samuel 16:7

Acts 13:22 After removing Saul, he made David their king. God testified concerning him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.’

Our heart is what matters to God.  Its where it all happens.  Its vital and most important.

The world judges often by appearances – beauty, physique, material wealth, possessions, career success… but these things do not move the heart of God or qualify anyone for leadership.  Our hearts are infinitely more important to God than our physical features or human accomplishments.

What stirs my heart in this passage is the assurance that God sees me today where i am and if i am diligent in surrendering to His grace and transformation then He will promote me at the right time, if promotion is in His plan for me.  No matter how obscure my today may be, i am in His hands.  i don’t need to know the right people or push my way ahead but i can trust that God makes my life and shapes my life.  i choose to trust. 

We need to ask ourselves: Are we people after the Lord’s own heart as King David was? 

and what a challenge for Samuel.  Seven sons passed before him that looked handsome and good and keen and eager and qualified but were not chosen.  Samuel could have got discouraged by the dwindling options – if it was me i would have freaked out when i had got to the apparent last son.  Yet he presses on and asks if there is ANOTHER son.  When you hear from God, trust that.  God sees all and knows all.  He knew David was left off the list.  He knew David was out in the fields and that David was the chosen son.  Samuel didn’t trust his eyes but trusted the Spirit of God leading him.

When God chooses David to be anointed king of Isreal, he chooses the weakest, shortest, and youngest of Jesse’s sons, saying "man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." However, when Saul is anointed, he certainly looks like someone who could be a king. So why did God’s apparent method of selecting a future king change? The next time around, though, it’s different. God chooses someone that no one, not even the prophet Samuel would have selected. I think David was the ancient Isreal equivalent of an artsy kid today. He was a poet, a musician, and fought his battles not with brute force, but with faith and precision. This time, God picked the king he wanted, not the one Isreal wanted. And the funny thing is, he turned out to be the most renowned king in Isreal’s history, forever known as a man after God’s own heart. youversion note

I have noticed some things in this account… First, Samuel is set out by God to "consecrate" a young man to be the next king. David doesn’t automatically become king, but he is set apart and dedicated for preparation of service to God. Second, David is not chosen for characteristics that would be generally considered as prerequisites. He is not tall, strong, or experienced… his heart is pliable for God to shape and lead. His desires are in line with God’s desires. Perhaps we should take these observations into consideration when we seek those to designate for God’s service. Not all likely candidates are the best candidates… and we should set apart those for service in prayer and preparation to allow God to work in them before He works through them. God has reassured me for service through periods of consecrated renewal (though sometimes resembling seeking streams of water in a rather dry desert of life). He reassures me my unique calling and focuses me on the gifts that make me the right person for that calling. God has anointed those He seeks to use. Let us wait on Him to provide the opportunities to serve and rely on Him to equip us to serve. youversion note

the start of this song just seems to capture the intent of my heart… i stand in awe before God, wowed by who He is… i’m so glad His mercy and grace cover me, that His blood has made me innocent, righteous, acceptable and clean, and my prayer is that He would draw me to Himself and set my heart on fire for Him afresh… i pursue Him and determine to know Him…

I stand before You, Awed by Your Majesty
Covered by Your mercy, Your blood has made me free
Draw me to You, and set my heart on fire

I want to Know,
Your my one desire
I give you my worship
All of my Passion
I give you my whole heart
All my devotion

Grace never ending, Your hands they carry me
Your body is broken for all the world to see
My heart is held by love so unconditional
You captivate me
Your the lover of my soul
I give you my worship
All of my Passion
I give you my whole heart
All my devotion

Here I will bow down
Say that I need You
Here I will worship
Say that I love you
Oh how I love you (4x)

I want to know You
Let Your Spirit overwhelm me
Let Your Presence overtake my heart