God's Man For The Job: God's Way Of Kingdom Leadership Series

INTRODUCTION: UNDERSTANDING GOD’S KINGDOM LEADERSHIP

A. God’s leadership for his people is not bound to the past. (15:34-16:1a)

1. Samuel was grieved and the Lord regretted.

2. How long will you grieve?

a) We spend too much time comparing what God is doing now to what God may or may not have done in the past.

b) When God moves on to the next thing in the kingdom, how many of us are not ready for the change?

3. I have rejected him…end of story! Move on!

B. Holy Spirit is ready to pour out his anointing on God’s kingdom leaders. (v.1b- “fill your horn with oil and go”)

1. Acts 2:17 – “I will pour out my spirit on all flesh”

2. Holy Spirit is waiting on the Father to say “go”.

C. Kingdom leaders are appointed by Father: (v.1c)

1. Of his choosing.

2. For his purposes.

D. The old will be threatened by the new. (v.2)

1. Our excuses are ignored.

2. God ignored Samuel’s excuse.

a) The sacrifice would have been part of the anointing ceremony anyway.

b) This was not some diversion created by God to throw Saul off.

c) If anything, this was an even more public statement.

3. There is just some risk in following God.

a) The nature of faith involves risk.

b) If it is not costing you something to serve God, you need to ask yourself:

(1) Why am I so special?

(2) Am I really following God?

(3) Am I just living in the comfort zone?

E. What is involved in God’s choice for kingdom leadership?

I. GOD’S SELECTION IS BASED ON THE HEART OF THE MAN.

A. 13:14 – David was a man after God’s own heart.

1. Unlike with Saul, God did not have to change David’s heart (10:9).

2. God looks for men and women qualified in heart.

a) Ezek 22:30 "I searched for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand in the gap before Me for the land, so that I would not destroy it; but I found no one. NASU

b) Jer 5:1"Roam to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, And look now and take note. And seek in her open squares, If you can find a man, If there is one who does justice, who seeks truth, Then I will pardon her. NASU

B. God looks on the inside not the outside. (vv.6-12)

1. Seldom the obvious.

a) Eliab was the oldest.

b) He was the obvious choice.

2. Not necessarily like the last one.

a) Saul was tall and handsome.

b) That didn’t work too well!

3. God sees not as man sees.

a) Outward appearances can be deceiving.

b) God looks at the heart. (1 Cor 2:11-16)

II. GOD’S SELECTION IS DEFINED BY THE GIFTS OF A MAN.

A. A man’s gifts will make a way for him.

1. What was David doing? (shepherding)

2. What more eloquent picture is there of the role of this servant/shepherd king than this?

3. God looks at our obedience in what he has supernaturally put in us.

4. From here he can call us up.

5. “Reservists” train and stay ready in their particular responsibilities so the commander in chief can call them up when needed.

B. God looks for faithfulness being expressed.

1. David was faithfully executing his responsibilities while the rest of the family was at home enjoying the festivities.

2. Ironically, the guest of honor was not there – he was busy doing his job.

III. GOD’S SELECTION IS EVIDENCED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT. (V.13)

A. Under God’s authority.

1. Samuel took the oil and anointed David.

2. God uses his established spiritual authority to authenticate his leadership.

B. Among witnesses.

1. The bible says repeated that a matter is established on the testimony of two or three witnesses.

2. God anointed David in the presence of his brothers.

C. What is the evidence of the Spirit for a leader?

1. Mightily.

2. Consistent and continual, not necessarily dramatic and certainly not sporadic.

IV. CONCLUSION.

A. God is calling new leaders to the kingdom.

1. Men and women who are after his heart.

2. Men and women who are functioning in their gifts.

3. Men and women who are yielded to the Holy Spirit.

B. That is what this church is here for:

1. To train leaders.

2. We are not raising sheep we are raising shepherds.

3. We can not, and will not be able to build the kingdom with the present level of maturity in the body of Christ.

a) The task is too great.

b) The demands are too high.

4. There must be more lieutenants and captains.

C. Samuel found David available, active, and in love with God.

1. Are you available to God?

2. Are you demonstrating your faithfulness in your activity?

3. Will your heart not be content until you find your destiny in God’s kingdom?