SERMON SUMMARY

This is the first of a five-week series of messages on the life of King David. We are going to begin our examination of David’s life when he was just a young boy. In 1 Samuel 16:1, we see that God rejected Saul as King of Israel, and he instructed the prophet Samuel to go to Bethlehem to anoint the new King that He has chosen. This King was to be selected from among Jesse the Bethlehemite’s sons. And out of all Jesse’s strapping sons, God selected the youngest of the group, a mere shepherd boy, to lead the nation of Israel (1 Samuel 16:12). Why him?

David had a Heart for God
Everyone else was looking at the outward appearance. God was looking at David’s heart. That was the real test. To have a heart for God means that you have a heart that is sensitive to the things of God. You’re not perfect. You are still a sinner. But you have a sensitive, caring, responsive heart. If you have a heart for God, he can use you greatly. In fact, he is constantly on the lookout for people with that kind of a heart (2 Chronicles 16:9). What is God looking for? He is looking for men and women whose hearts are completely his. Not partially his, but completely his. That means that there are no locked doors. Nothing has been swept under the rug. That means that when you sin, you own it. You turn from it. You care not only about your actions, but about the motivations behind them. David was that kind of a man.

David had a Vision from God
Not only did David have a heart for God, he was given a vision from God. After Samuel anointed the young shepherd boy as king, David was different. Scripture tells us that the Spirit of God came mightily upon him. At that moment, David knew that God had singled him out for a special destiny. And that knowledge informed and motivated everything he did moving forward. While God hasn’t chosen any of us to be kings or queens, he has chosen us to be the recipients of a great salvation. According to the Word of God, the moment you placed your trust in Christ as your Savior, a number of significant things happened:

• The same Holy Spirit who came mightily upon David came to live within you (Ephesians 1:13)
• You became a brand-new person with a new identity (2 Cor. 5:17)
• Your sins were forgiven (Colossians 2:13-14)
• You were reconciled to God (Romans 5:10)
• You became a member of God’s spiritual family (John 1:12)
• God gifted you to serve Him (1 Peter 4:10) Just as God had a plan for David’s life, God has a plan for ours (Ephesians 2:10). The truth is, God chose you just as he chose David. People with a heart for God and a vision from God can do great things for God.

David Exercised Faith in God’s Plan As we read on, we see that David was called upon to minister to King Saul. Saul sensed that God’s hand of blessing was no longer upon him and became discouraged and depressed. Someone in the King’s court heard about David’s skill as a musician and thought that the beautiful music he played might soothe the king’s spirit. And they were right. David gained favor in Saul’s eyes and he moved from the pasture to the palace. Can you see how God worked behind the scenes in David’s life to prepare him for his ultimate role as Israel’s next king? During the time he was ministering to Saul, David watched and learned, observing the good things Saul did, as well as the bad. life, David faithfully remained in that role until God decided that it was time for Saul to go and David to reign. You, like David, can prepare for God’s future purposes for you by being faithful in what he sets before you today.

• If you sense he wants you to encourage someone today, do that.
• If you sense he wants you to share your faith story with someone, do that.
• If you sense he wants you to pray for someone, pray for them.
• If he prompts you to be generous to someone, be generous.
• If he leads you to serve here at TCC in some capacity, step forward and serve with all diligence! If you will do that every day, God will open doors and he will use you in ways that you have never imagined (2 Chronicles 16:9).

APPLICATION / CHALLENGE

• Choose to be a person whose heart belongs completely to God. Choose to pursue God’s vision for you. Trust in God’s strength. Be faithful in what he’s placed before you today.

TAKE ONE STEP

Each week, write down one doable concrete step of obedience, small or large  that you will put into practice this week. (James 1:22: “But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.”)