God Will Break Us Before He Can Use Us Series

SERIES: DAVID - A MAN AFTER GOD’S OWN HEART: Part 7: God Will Break Us Before He Can Use Us

1. 1 Samuel 21:1-3: 1 David went to Nob, to Ahimelek the priest. Ahimelek trembled when he met him, and asked, “Why are you alone? Why is no one with you?” 2 David answered Ahimelek the priest, “The king sent me on a mission and said to me, ‘No one is to know anything about the mission I am sending you on.’ As for my men, I have told them to meet me at a certain place. 3 Now then, what do you have on hand? Give me five loaves of bread, or whatever you can find.”

2. 1 Samuel 22:1-5 1 David left Gath and escaped to the cave of Adullam. When his brothers and his father’s household heard about it, they went down to him there. 2 All those who were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered around him, and he became their commander. About four hundred men were with him. 3 From there David went to Mizpah in Moab and said to the king of Moab, “Would you let my father and mother come and stay with you until I learn what God will do for me?” 4 So he left them with the king of Moab, and they stayed with him as long as David was in the stronghold. 5 But the prophet Gad said to David, “Do not stay in the stronghold. Go into the land of Judah.” So David left and went to the forest of Hereth.

Intro 1: David: A Man After God’s Own Heart. God Bends Us Before He Uses Us. Teach.

Summary Of Where We Are: Saul chosen. He fails. David chosen. God graces him to take down Goliath. He becomes a warrior and personal musician to King Saul. Let’s stop here.

INTRO 2: SUMMARY: GOD WILL BREAK US BEFORE HE CAN USE US.

Just Because You Are God’s Own Or Anointed Does Not Mean You Will Not Go Through Suffering & Pains. There are multiple passages in which the Bible tells us that before God can use us, He must break us. He will at times take us from nothing to plenty, then from plenty to nothing, and then from nothing to plenty again. Poem:

“When God Wants A Man” (Anonymous)

When God wants to drill a man and thrill a man and skill a man.

When God wants to mold a man to play the noblest part;

When He yearns with all His heart to create so great and bold a man that all the world shall praise.

Watch His methods; Watch His ways!

How He ruthlessly perfects whom He royally elects.

How He hammers him and hurts him, And with mighty blows converts him

Into frail shapes of clay that only God understands.

How his tortured heart is crying and he lifts beseeching hands.

How he bends but never breaks when His good he undertakes.

How He uses whom He chooses...with every purpose fuses him;

By every art induces him to try His splendor out.

God knows what He's about!

When God wants to take a man and shake a man and wake a man.

When God wants to make a man to do the future's will; He tries with all His skill.

When He yearns with all His soul to create him large and whole.

With what cunning He prepares him. How He goads and never spares him!

How He whets him and He frets him and in poverty begets him...

How often He disappoints whom He sacredly anoints!

With what wisdom He will hide him; Never minding what betide him.

Though his genius sob with slighting and his pride may not forget;

Bids him struggle harder yet!

Makes him lonely so that only God's high messages shall reach him.

So that He may surely teach him what the hierarchy planned;

And though he may not understand, Gives him passions to command.

How remorselessly He spurs him.

With terrific ardor stirs him When He poignantly prefers him.

When God wants to name a man and fame a man and tame a man.

When God wants to shame a man to do His Heavenly best;

When He tries the highest test that His reckoning may bring.

When He wants a [god] or king;

How He reins him and restrains him so his body scarce contains him.

While He fires him and inspires him

Keeps him yearning, ever burning for that tantalizing goal.

Lures and lacerates his soul. Sets a challenge for his spirit;

Draws it highest then he's near it! Makes a jungle that he clear it;

Makes a desert that he fear it...and subdue it, if he can – So doth God make a man!