Sunday Morning August 23, 2009
Bel Aire Baptist Church
Series: Pot Holes [#8]
SEEING GOD
1 Samuel 16:14-17:58
Introduction:
This summer, as many of you will recall- Tharon went to the National Federation For The Blind State Convention, where he got to give his testimony. Now this was the first time we had been to any of these meetings and what we figured out was most of the talks were about legislation and causes.
One of the speakers talked to us about some of the innovative things being done that would allow the blind and visually impaired to participate and have some of the same rights as people with vision. As he spoke, I was agreeing with all that he was saying and was getting very excited about the technology out there; until he began to talk about a vehicle that is being designed for the blind. Yes, that’s right; a car that blind people can drive. I have to be honest, while Tharon became ecstatic (along with all of the other blind people in the room); I was shaking my head no. I think having the ability to see something jump out in front of you, miss a pot-hole, or any other unexpected thing is important when driving a vehicle.
In fact, just having the ability to see is not enough- We must be looking and paying attention to where we are going. Nothing like almost being ran over by someone texting while driving. As we go through life, what can we do to make sure that we are seeing clearly? Understand, life goes quickly and a lot of things happen unexpectedly. You don’t usually get warned that something bad is going to happen- You usually get blindsided by it.
We need to have a plan, a vision; but we need to be paying attention as we are going. What we must have is God’s vision and when that happens we will be able to see clearly. If I have learned nothing else, I have discovered that when you can see God in what is happening; you then realize that He is working; you then will move forward for His glory, honor, and power.
1 Samuel 16:14-23
You can see God working through…
1. Your location. God sends you wherever He wants you to be. He may uproot you with no notice- He may make you stay somewhere you don’t want to stay- He may send you to deal with some people you don’t want to deal with.
God uses your location as…
> A place of preparation.
> A useful tool for His Kingdom.
> A part of His schedule.
You can see God working through…
2. Your talents and gifts. Please be careful with the word “your”. God has given you abilities that you cannot even comprehend. God has given them to you for a purpose. If you think that you have done something on your own; remember that pride goes before the fall.
God uses your gifts and talents…
> To minister to whom He chooses.
> To show His power.
> On His schedule.
In chapter 17, we come upon one of the best known Bible stories in all of the Bible- David and Goliath. The Philistines had gathered the army for war against the Israelites. On one hill was the Philistines and on the other hill was the Israelites. They were divided by a valley.
Twice a day for 40 days, Goliath (a heavily armored man of over 9 foot tall) and his armor bearer would come out amongst the ranks of the Philistines and offer a challenge to the Israelites. The challenge was, “Whoever is brave enough to come fight me one on one, come on down”. This fight would be a fight to the death and winner take all. Saul and his army trembled with fear every time they heard this threat.
The story turns for a moment to David. David’s father sent David to take food to his brothers and the commander of the unit on the battlefront. When David arrived, he heard the challenge from Goliath, saw how the Israelite men were scared, and listened to how King Saul would reward whoever killed Goliath.
You can see God working through…
3. Your circumstances. David didn’t choose to do this, but he ended up right in the middle of the situation.
1 Samuel 17:28-33
God uses your circumstances…
> To test your loyalties. Who are you loyal to?
> To test your courage. Who do you listen to?
> To test your trust in His schedule. Who knows when you are ready?
You can see God working through…
4. Your faith. What is faith? It is believing and trusting in something that your senses can’t pick up on. It is having the vision of God.
1 Samuel 17:46 (NIV)
“This day the LORD will hand you over to me, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. Today I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel.”
David had a spiritual vision. He had never fought a giant before. He had no clue what was going to actually happen. He just knew that God was showing him a vision of something that was to come to pass in the future. He knew he would win the battle.
God uses your faith to…
> Ignore what people say.
> Stop limiting Him.
> Follow His schedule.
You can see God working through…
5. Your knowing. Knowing what? Knowing that God is going to win the battle. Knowing that He will not send you to a battle in His name that you won’t be prepared for. Knowing that He can defeat any enemy no matter how impossible it seems.
Most of us know the story, but let me summarize it for you anyways. David went to King Saul and told him he would go fight. When questioned about his age, lack of experience, etc…; his reply was the God had been preparing him while serving as a shepherd. If God could give him victory over a lion and bear; surely He could give Him victory over the giant.
Saul then gave David his blessing to go fight and tried to put his armor on David, but it was obvious that Saul’s armor was not designed for David. So David took his staff, went and got 5 smooth stones from the stream for his slingshot that he had in his hand, put the stones in his bag, and approached Goliath.
When David arrived he was met by a giant whom was cursing and making fun of him. David simply told Goliath Who sent him and that he would be victorious. As Goliath approached; David took a stone out of his bag, put it in his slingshot, and stuck that stone in Goliath’s forehead. Goliath fell facedown to the ground, but please notice that there is one more thing- David cut his head off.
God uses your knowing to…
> Give you the courage to go to battle.
> Go in His power and time.
> Know you are going to defeat the enemy.
Conclusion:
This morning, regardless of the battles that you are in or facing- If you will look through the eyes of the Savior, you will be able to know that you have victory.
1 Corinthians 15:55-58 (NIV)
"Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”
