God Believes In You

GOD BELIEVES IN YOU

This past Thursday I performed the funeral for the 5 month old grandson of a friend of mine from the sheriff’s office. It was an especially sad day. Friends, and family were heart broken. Wanting to do everything we could to help, Gladys brought one of the 4-H club’s white pigeons to the service to be released graveside following the service.

Everything went fine until the young boy’s mother opened the basket to release the pigeon. When she opened it, the bird just sat there and looked around. I finally walked over to get the bird to fly out. It jumped out of the basket, flew off about 8 feet, landed and stayed there. Later, with coaxing, I got it to fly across the cemetery, where it landed in a tree and did not move.

Now look. We have had some of those birds for nearly a year. We have fed them. Protected them, and cared for them, for one reason; so that they can fly and return here and in the process, lift some peoples’ spirits. That’s what they’re here for. And the day I needed one the most, he let me down.

What was sad in that bird’s case, is even sadder in the life of a person.

This morning I would like to look at 2 men that God wanted to use and see if we can keep the same failure from happening in our lives. Open your Bibles this morning and turn with me please to 1 Samuel chapter 17 and verse 1.

- Read 1 Samuel 17:1-52

I. THE MAN WHO FAILED

1. Selected and anointed by God – 1 Samuel 10:1

2. Had a God-changed heart – 10:9

3. Controlled by the Spirit of God and prophesied – 10:10

4. Giant of a man – 1 Samuel 10:23

5. Supported by brave men with God-touched hearts – 10:26

6. God-blessed track record – 1 Samuel 11:11, 14:47-48

On the day he was greatly needed, however, he failed. Why?

1 Samuel 15:1-11

1. He was concerned with trophies – Wanted the king around to remind him of all he had accomplished.

2. He was concerned with public opinion – Saved animals.

II. THE BOY WHO SUCCEEDED

1. He was a boy – 1 Samuel 17:33 – Youth, 12-14 yoa.

2. He was over-looked – Dad presented 7 sons and never considered David. He was just a shepherd. 1 Samuel 16:10-11

3. He was ridiculed – 1 Samuel 17:28

But:

1. He was upset at folks challenging God and His people. 1 Samuel 17:26

2. He trusted God repeatedly – 1 Samuel 17:34-37

3. Used what God gave him – 1 Samuel 17:40

He didn’t try to be someone he wasn’t. He used what God gave him and the way the Lord had made him.

4. 1 Samuel 17:45-47 – Gave God the glory in everything. He wasn’t bragging about his ability or about what he was going to do. He was giving God glory in everything.

CONCLUSION

My friends. Our nation is at a crossroads. We have had 3 great shifts in our country’s history.

1. Prayer and the Bible taken out of our schools.

2. Roe vs Wade when we made the killing of unborn children legal.

3. Now, our courts have ruled that it is legal for the government to make us buy something even if we don’t want it and that what we will purchase will subsidize medical practices that may go against our religious convictions.

The Lord is looking for men and women who will stand. Will you:

1. Give God glory in everything?

2. Trust Him in everything?

3. Refuse to fold in the face of adversity?

The Lord used David to bring freedom to his people and He can use you the same way, if you’ll let Him.