Title: Serving God’s purpose in your Generation
Text: Acts 13:36
“For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep, and was laid among his fathers and underwent decay;
Introduction
God has a purpose for every generation. For Martin Luther, God’s purpose for him was to turn the church from the false teachings generated by the corrupted Roman Catholic Church back to the true teachings of the bible. He started the reformation and fulfilled God’s purpose for His generation.
When England was going spiritual decay, John Wesley rose to the occasion and brought spiritual renewal through the Methodist movement. John Wesley fulfilled God’s purpose in his generation.
The Hebrides Islands are a small group of Islands off the coast of Scotland. In 1948, the churches in the Hebrides Islands were in a state of darkness. Young people were not interested in God.
God uses 7 young deacons, to pray and intercede for revival to come upon the Island. For months they prayed in the barn. Even during winter they met in the barn, covered themselves in thick blanket and they prayed.
At the same time God used two old ladies, Peggy and Christine Smith to pray for the revival to come. One was 84 and the other 82. Peggy was almost blind and Christine was bent over with arthritis.
God used them to fulfill his purpose, for through their persevering prayers a powerful revival hit the Hebrides islands.
God has a purpose for our generation, and it is our duty to discover what God has called us to fulfill, and to serve God’s purpose for our generation.
The bible in Acts 13:36 say that before David died, he served the purpose of God in his own generation. I believed that there is a book in heaven that records all that we had done for God. And for David it was recorded that he served all of God’s purpose for his generation. Isn’t that awesome? What do you want God to write about you? For me, I want what was recorded of David, what was recorded of Luther and what was recorded of many nameless and faceless heroes of God to be written about me in the record book of heaven.
David served God’s purpose for his generation.
This evening I would like to share with you how you can serve God’s purpose for your generation.
1. David received a vision of God’s purpose for his generation.
1SA 16:13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon David from that day forward. And Samuel arose and went to Ramah.
When Saul fell into sin and he refused to repent, God chose a simple shepherd boy to fulfill His purpose for that generation. In I Samuel 16:13, the prophet Samuel anointed David to be the next king over Israel.
I believed that when Samuel poured out the oil on David, he received God’s vision of what he is to do for his generation.
Now I want to spend some time sharing with you regarding visions. Many people received God’s vision, but few fulfill it. Why?
a. Because they are not focused on the vision. (Elisha)
b. Because they do to persevere till the vision is fulfilled.(Joshua)
c. Because they backslide. (Lot)
David received the vision to be King at about 17 years old and it was not till he was thirty that he was made king of both Judah and Israel. In between, he went through so much hardship and difficulties, but yet his relationship with God grew stronger and stronger, his eyes remained focus on the vision that God has given to him.
Joshua had to go through 40 years of wilderness before he fulfilled the vision of conquering the promise land.
- The Apostle Paul
When God gave me a vision to preach the gospel, I went through very discouraging moments. On one hand God was using me mightily; on the other hand it seems that all doors were shut to me. When God told me to go into the mission field, all doors were shut to me, no church wanted to send me out for I was unknown to them. I had to go on my own with my wife Lillian and there in the mission field encountered God in a most extraordinary manner.
Receiving a vision is one thing, what you do with the vision is the most crucial matter. Oh how many believers I have seen said they are called, and after ten years they are still called.
I challenged you in the name of Jesus; keep your eyes so focus on the vision, dream about it, and move towards it by obeying God step by step.
I believe that God wants to save this generation. There is a cry coming out from our generation and it is through you and I who have touched the mercies of God that our generation can be saved.
2. David received an anointing to accomplish the Vision.
“and the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon David from that day forward”
The anointing makes that which is ordinary, extraordinary. David was an ordinary shepherd boy. His brothers do not think much of him. David’s brothers were tall and strong and they did not think much of the small little David.
However when the anointing of God comes upon David’s life, this little shepherd boy became a mighty warrior who would go on and slay Goliath. Do you often feel that you are too ordinary to be used by God in any significant manner?
Let me tell you the truth, many a times I feel that I am too ordinary to be used by God. When God called me to preach, I felt that it was impossible as I am not a public communicator. However when the anointing hit me, I became a different person.
I went to Philippines some years back to preach. When the pastor saw me he saw me as ordinary, as I was very quiet. He doesn’t think much of me. However the next morning when I took the stage and preached the anointing hit and I became a totally different person. When the anointing comes upon me I am bold as a lion. This veteran pastor saw me preaching, and after that session told me he wanted to be my interpreter. Hallelujah.
The anointing of God needs to be cultivated in your life
a. Believing that you have been anointed.
b. The anointing grows through the study of the Word and your time in prayer.
c. Understanding the authority of God in your life.
d. Allowing God to mould your character, growing in holiness and purity.
e. A lifestyle of Repentance.
f. Being ready for action any time and at any moment
3. David forsake all to pursue the vision
1SA 23:14 David stayed in the wilderness in the strongholds, and remained in the hill country in the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul sought him every day, but God did not deliver him into his hand.
1SA 24:1 Now when Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, saying, “Behold, David is in the wilderness of Engedi.”
1SA 24:2 Then Saul took three thousand chosen men from all Israel and went to seek David and his men in front of the Rocks of the Wild Goats.
1SA 24:3 He came to the sheepfolds on the way, where there was a cave; and Saul went in to relieve himself. Now David and his men were sitting in the inner recesses of the cave.
1SA 24:4 The men of David said to him, “Behold, this is the day of which the LORD said to you, ‘Behold; I am about to give your enemy into your hand, and you shall do to him as it seems good to you.’ ” Then David arose and cut off the edge of Saul’s robe secretly.
David lost everything, the day he decided to pursue God’s vision. He laid down his rights, he laid down his future, he laid down the comfort of life.
When Saul wanted to kill David, David could have led a rebellion against Saul, for the people love him. When Saul was pursuing David, he could have easily killed him in the cave. But David chose not to, because Saul was the anointed of the Lord. That act shows that David was willing to forsake all in his pursuit of the God given vision.
Conclusion
At the end of your life on earth, what would be recorded of you? Will that which was said of David be said of you as well? For me I want to serve God’s full purpose for my generation, and I challenge you to do the same. Receive God’s vision, seek for God’s empowerment, forsake all and pursue that one vision that God has given you for your generation.
