Seeing God Series

Sunday Morning August 23, 2009

Bel Aire Baptist Church

Series: Pot Holes [#8]

SEEING GOD

1 Samuel 16:14-17:58

Introduction:

This summer, as many of you will recall- Tharon went to the National Federation For The Blind State Convention, where he got to give his testimony. Now this was the first time we had been to any of these meetings and what we figured out was most of the talks were about legislation and causes.

One of the speakers talked to us about some of the innovative things being done that would allow the blind and visually impaired to participate and have some of the same rights as people with vision. As he spoke, I was agreeing with all that he was saying and was getting very excited about the technology out there; until he began to talk about a vehicle that is being designed for the blind. Yes, that’s right; a car that blind people can drive. I have to be honest, while Tharon became ecstatic (along with all of the other blind people in the room); I was shaking my head no. I think having the ability to see something jump out in front of you, miss a pot-hole, or any other unexpected thing is important when driving a vehicle.

In fact, just having the ability to see is not enough- We must be looking and paying attention to where we are going. Nothing like almost being ran over by someone texting while driving. As we go through life, what can we do to make sure that we are seeing clearly? Understand, life goes quickly and a lot of things happen unexpectedly. You don’t usually get warned that something bad is going to happen- You usually get blindsided by it.

We need to have a plan, a vision; but we need to be paying attention as we are going. What we must have is God’s vision and when that happens we will be able to see clearly. If I have learned nothing else, I have discovered that when you can see God in what is happening; you then realize that He is working; you then will move forward for His glory, honor, and power.

1 Samuel 16:14-23

You can see God working through…

1. Your location. God sends you wherever He wants you to be. He may uproot you with no notice- He may make you stay somewhere you don’t want to stay- He may send you to deal with some people you don’t want to deal with.

God uses your location as…

> A place of preparation.

> A useful tool for His Kingdom.

> A part of His schedule.

You can see God working through…

2. Your talents and gifts. Please be careful with the word “your”. God has given you abilities that you cannot even comprehend. God has given them to you for a purpose. If you think that you have done something on your own; remember that pride goes before the fall.

God uses your gifts and talents…

> To minister to whom He chooses.

> To show His power.

> On His schedule.

In chapter 17, we come upon one of the best known Bible stories in all of the Bible- David and Goliath. The Philistines had gathered the army for war against the Israelites. On one hill was the Philistines and on the other hill was the Israelites. They were divided by a valley.

Twice a day for 40 days, Goliath (a heavily armored man of over 9 foot tall) and his armor bearer would come out amongst the ranks of the Philistines and offer a challenge to the Israelites. The challenge was, “Whoever is brave enough to come fight me one on one, come on down”. This fight would be a fight to the death and winner take all. Saul and his army trembled with fear every time they heard this threat.

The story turns for a moment to David. David’s father sent David to take food to his brothers and the commander of the unit on the battlefront. When David arrived, he heard the challenge from Goliath, saw how the Israelite men were scared, and listened to how King Saul would reward whoever killed Goliath.

You can see God working through…

3. Your circumstances. David didn’t choose to do this, but he ended up right in the middle of the situation.

1 Samuel 17:28-33

God uses your circumstances…

> To test your loyalties. Who are you loyal to?

> To test your courage. Who do you listen to?

> To test your trust in His schedule. Who knows when you are ready?

You can see God working through…

4. Your faith. What is faith? It is believing and trusting in something that your senses can’t pick up on. It is having the vision of God.