A Nobody Becomes A Somebody Series

A Nobody Becomes a Somebody!

Series – On the Life of David

Thesis: God takes nobodies with a right heart on the inside and makes them some-bodies.

Illustration: A group of High School students were asked recently “If you could change anything about yourself, what would it be?” Do you know what they said?

Was it I wish “I had better grades?”

Was it I wish “I was healthier?”

Was it I wish “I had more money?”

Was it I wish “I had more athletic ability?”

Was it I wish “I was more popular?”

Was it I wish “I was holier?”

Was it I wish “I was more patient?”

No it was none of the above – 90% responded in this survey with this answer “I would change my physical appearance.” This was the overwhelming response of some of today’s High School students. Pastor Erickson states this about our study, “The girls wanted to be thinner, the boys wanted to be taller, and both wanted to be free of acne”(2).

This obsession with appearance though is not just a teen fad. The Pioneer Press this week noted how diet fads are causing major health problems in the U.S.. People are actually damaging their bodies internally even to the point of death to look better on the exterior surface.

Other reports have observed that today people are spending millions on face lifts, tummy tucks, lipo suction, plastic surgery and other cosmetic surgeries so they appear better looking. You could realistically say that America is obsessed with their exterior appearance at the risk of damaging their internal organs.

Pastor Erickson reiterates the problem, “It is not that people are merely dissatisfied with how they look, many are depressed by their appearance and obsessed with finding a way to change it. Many of us have totally forgotten that it is not the outside, but the inside, the inner character, that really counts”(2).

Recall what I Samuel 16:7b states, “…The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

Texts: I Samuel 16,17

Introduction: There are 66 chapters that speak about David in the Old Testament. As a matter of fact, there are more references to David in the Bible than any other person. David’s name means, “beloved” and God calls this man in Acts 13:22-23:

After removing Saul, he made David their king. He 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’ “From this man’s descendants God has brought to Israel the Savior Jesus, as he promised.

Yes, David was noted as a man after God’s own heart. David fit the description in I Samuel 13:14 “… the Lord has sought out a man after His own heart and appointed him leader of his people…”

In the Old Testament the term heart, implied emotions, the reason, and the will (Vine, 547). So when God raised up David, He raised up an individual whose heart was directed by God’s emotions or we could say God’s desires and dislikes, God’s reason of right and wrong, God’s will to be done and not David’s will.

The term heart in the New Testament and Old Testament comes to mean a man’s entire mental and moral activity, both the rational and the emotional elements. Vine notes, “the heart is used figuratively for the hidden springs of the personal life.” (547). Ephesians 6:6 refers to those who “do the will of God from the heart.”

David sought God with his whole heart and his life reflected it. Remember, David’s epitaph as given to him by God is, “I have found David son of Jesse a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.”

Illustration: His heart in it!

A manufacturer in Philadelphia once told a friend the story of one of his superintendents.

Many years ago a boy applied to him for work. He was employed at low wages. Two days later the awards of premiums were made to manufactories at the Centennial Exhibition. Says the manufacturer:

“Passing down Chestnut Street early in the morning, I saw Bob spring over the bulletin board in front of a newspaper office. Suddenly he pulled off his cap with a shout.”

“What is the matter?” asked one.

“We have taken a medal for sheetings!” he exclaimed.

“I said nothing, but kept my eye on Bob. The boy who could identify himself in two days with my interests would be of use to me hereafter.”

“His work was to deliver packages. I found that he took a real pride in it. His wagon must be cleaner, his horse better fed, his orders filled more promptly, than those of the men belonging to another firm. He was zealous for the house as though he had been a partner in it. I have advanced him step by step. His fortune is made, the firm has added to its capital so much energy and force.”