TITLE: CRAZY PEOPLE HAVE MORE FUN- 5 STEPS TO ACCOMPLISHING THE IMPOSSIBLE DREAMS THAT GOD HAS FOR YOU
TEXT: 1 SAMUEL 16:6-13; 17:13-15, 23-29, 40-51, 54-58
INTRO:
1. We must understand that God has an incredible purpose and plan for each of our lives.
2. God desires to use us to accomplish the impossible.
3. God is looking for people who will be crazy enough to do what it is that God is calling them to do.
4. If we are going to be a part of what God desires to accomplish, we must learn to live our lives where impossibilities become commonplace.
5. Lucius Annaeus Seneca,
“It is a rough road that leads to the heights of greatness.”
6. We must learn to accomplish the great things that God desires for us to accomplish.
I. THE RECEIVING ch. 16 vs. 12 & 13
A. Accomplishing the Impossible Always Begins With the Anointing of God
1. We cannot accomplish the impossible with our own power.
2. David received the anointing before he did anything great.
3. Moses was alone with God at the burning bush before he delivered Israel.
4. Gideon was alone with God before he led his 300 men into battle.
5. Peter received the Holy Ghost before he preached and 3000 people were saved.
B. You Receive the Anointing By Being With Greatness, Not Looking for Greatness
1. Eliab, Abinadab and Shammah were standing in line trying to be the king, David was out in the fields spending time with the King.
2. Acts 1:6-8
6 So when they met together, they asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?" 7 He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
3. Jn. 14:12-14
12 I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.
II. THE ROUTINE ch. 17 vs. 13-15
A. God Likes People Who Work
1. German Proverb,
“If you would have your lamp burn, you must pour oil into it.”
2. Moses was tending his father in law’s sheep.
3. Gideon was threshing wheat.
B. We Can’t Accomplish Impossible Things if We Are Concerned With Getting Noticed
1. People want to get paid before they produce-
2. Eliab, Abinadab and Shammah were chasing fun and excitement, David was taking care of the mundane learning faithfulness and excellence.
3. Unknown,
“Lord, turn the routines of work into celebrations of love.”
4. Lk. 16:10 Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.
5. Prov. 22:29 Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve before kings; he will not serve before obscure men.
6. We must be willing to do what needs to be done.
III. THE RESPONSE ch. 17 vs. 28 & 29
A. People Will Tell You That You Are Crazy
1. Eliab was mad at David because he was talking about doing something impossible that he had been unwilling to try.
2. Acts 26:24 At this point Festus interrupted Paul’s defense. "You are out of your mind, Paul!" he shouted. "Your great learning is driving you insane."
3. If someone is not giving you a hard time for what you are doing than you are not attempting the impossible.
B. Our Response is Critical to Our Success
1. Illustration,
Way out West, a cowboy was driving down a road, his dog riding in back of the pickup truck, his faithful horse in the trailer behind. He failed to negotiate a curve and had a terrible accident. Sometime later, a state police officer came upon the scene. An animal lover, he saw the horse first. Realizing the serious nature of its injuries, he drew his service revolver and put the animal out of its misery. He walked around the accident and found the dog, also hurt critically. He couldn’t bear to hear it whine in pain, so he ended the dog’s suffering as well. Finally he located the cowboy- who suffered multiple fractures- off in the weeds. “Hey, are you okay?” the cop asked. The cowboy took one look at the smoking revolver in the trooper’s hand and quickly replied, “Never felt better!”
2. David was in an impossible situation:
a. Goliath was over 9 feet tall
b. Goliath’s armor was over 125 pounds
c. Goliath had a sword, spear, shield and an armor bearer
3. David’s looked past the impossibilities and saw the need, “Is there not a cause?”
4. We must look at our lives and ask “Is there not a cause?”
IV. THE REALIZATION ch. 17 vs. 48-51
A. This is Where Most of Us Fail to Accomplish the Impossible
1. Veggie Tales, “Pep talk”-
2. We give David a hard time for picking up 5 stones.
3. We give Peter a hard time for sinking in the lake.
B. This is Why Crazy People Have More Fun
1. Rock climbing/Rappelling-
2. David ran to fight Goliath and then he ran to cut off his head.
3. God doesn’t need your understanding nearly as much as he needs your obedience.
4. Lk. 1:37 For nothing is impossible with God.
5. Heb. 10:23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.
V. THE REMEMBRANCE ch. 17 vs. 54-57
A. There’s Nothing Wrong With Trophies
1. David spent the rest of the day pursuing the Philistines, all the time carrying the head of Goliath.
2. People in the Old Testament built altars to remember great things that God had done.
3. Heb. 10:32 Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you stood your ground in a great contest in the face of suffering.
4. We do everything we can to get our hands on Saul’s armor when we should be keeping Goliath’s.
B. Remembering Gets Your Ready for the Next Impossible Challenge
1. 1 Sam. 17:54 David took the Philistine’s head and brought it to Jerusalem, and he put the Philistine’s weapons in his own tent.
2. At this time the nation’s capital was at Hebron and Jerusalem had yet to be conquered.
3. David hung Goliath’s head on a city that Israel had not been able to conquer for over 400 years, and that he would not conquer for another 20 years.
4. Col. 2:6 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him,
5. 1 Jn. 2:28 And now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming.
CNCL:
1. We must recognize that God desires to use us to do impossible things.
2. When we learn these steps our lives will consist of one impossible accomplishment after another.
3. David didn’t stop with Goliath, but went on to be the greatest king in the history of Israel and a man after God’s own heart.
4. You and I must learn to receive the anointing and power of the Holy Ghost.
5. We must learn to be faithful to God in the routine areas of life.
6. We must have a proper response in difficult situations and understand that there is a cause.
7. We must realize the accomplishment of the impossible.
8. We must always remember what God has done for us so that we can move into what God has for us.
9. If we will do these things, God will allow us to accomplish impossible things for Him.
ALTAR:
1. Salvation/Rededication
2. Receive
3. Routine
4. Response
5. Realization
6. Remembrance
