The Dash Between-----El Guión
Serving your generation by the will of God
Acts 13:36
36 For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption: {after...: or, after he had in his own age served the will of God} (KJV)
36 Porque, después de haber servido en su propia generación a la voluntad de Dios, David murió, fue reunido con sus padres y vio corrupción. (SRVA)
1 Samuel 16:7,13,23
7 But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart. {outward...: Heb. eyes} (KJV)
7 Pero Jehovah dijo a Samuel: --No mires su apariencia ni lo alto de su estatura, pues yo lo he rechazado. Porque Jehovah no mira lo que mira el hombre: El hombre mira lo que está delante de sus ojos, pero Jehovah mira el corazón. (SRVA)
13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah. (KJV)
13 Samuel tomó el cuerno de aceite y lo ungió en medio de sus hermanos. Y desde aquel día en adelante el Espíritu de Jehovah descendió con poder sobre David. Luego Samuel se levantó y regresó a Ramá. (SRVA)
23 And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took an harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him. (KJV)
23 Y sucedía que cuando el espíritu malo de parte de Dios venía sobre Saúl, David tomaba el arpa y la tañía con su mano. Y Saúl hallaba alivio y se sentía mejor. Así el espíritu malo se apartaba de él. (SRVA)
A minister who had been in line to become a bishop in England, came to America to join the Salvation Army under William Booth. When he arrived, Rev. Booth told him that it may be hard for him to serve since he was accustomed to always being in leadership. He gave him the task of blacking the boots of the other workers. It was hard for him to accept until, as he was bending over to black the boots, he began to think about Christ, who showed the example to the disciples, by washing their feet. Are you willing to serve where God opens the door?
We enjoy studying and talking about those who served thoughout different times of history. It is even exciting to speculate about individuals who are promising future leaders. But it is imperative that more men and women raise up to serve this generation of the 'nasty now and now".
How did David do it? It is not just about the beginning or the ending, but about everything done in between.
I. A Heart that Pleases God (1 S. 16:7)
A person's destiny does not depend upon his or her intelligence or amount of diplomas and degrees that go along with their name.
It revolves around the condition of the heart.
One must have a surrendered heart and a yeilded heart.
God wants your whole heart, not just portions of it. Quit just offering Him the corners of your heart
Unselfishness is a must. Become more concerned about others and less concerned about yourself.
II. A Life Empowered by the Holy Spirit (1 S. 16:13)
The prophet Samuel anointed David with oil. This typified the unction of the Spirit on his life. Anointing with oil in the Old Testament is the equivalent of the baptism of the Holy Spirit in the New Testament.
With the anointing on his life came the responsibility of leading and serving faithfully.
Prov. 29:18
18 ¶ Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he. {perish: or, is made naked} (KJV)
18 ¶ Donde no hay visión, el pueblo se desenfrena; pero el que guarda la ley es bienaventurado. (SRVA)
The vision is set forth by God, but must be accepted and respected. An accountability is now set in place. The anointing is so much more than a sensation, an emotional high, or an exhuberant feeling. The Holy Spirit is the dynamo to empower you in His service. Serve your generation with a continual flow of the Holy Ghost in your life.
III. Understand your Realm of Authority (1 S. 16:23)
Those whom God calls; He equips and empowers. You have been given an authority. Learn how to apply and exercise it. David had a gift with godly music. He understood that it could be used to subdue the evil spirits. There are times you will have to rise and rebuke the contrary forces with the authority that has been given you.
IV. Preparation & Perserverance (1 S. 17:34-37)
34 And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father's sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock: {lamb: or, kid} (KJV)
34 David respondió a Saúl: --Tu siervo ha sido pastor de las ovejas de su padre. Y cuando venía un león o un oso y tomaba alguna oveja del rebaño, (SRVA)
35 And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him. (KJV)
35 yo salía tras él, lo hería y la rescataba de su boca. Si se levantaba contra mí, yo lo agarraba por la melena, lo hería y lo mataba. (SRVA)
36 Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God. (KJV)
36 Fuese león o fuese oso, tu siervo lo mataba. Ese filisteo incircunciso será como uno de ellos, porque ha desafiado a los escuadrones del Dios viviente. (SRVA)
37 David said moreover, The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the LORD be with thee. (KJV)
37 --Y David añadió--: ¡Jehovah, quien me ha librado de las garras del león y de las garras del oso, él me librará de la mano de ese filisteo! Y Saúl dijo a David: --¡Vé, y que Jehovah sea contigo! (SRVA)
David spent years as a shepherd. He had faced a lion and a bear and killed them both. He learned how to faithfully serve even in spite of dangers.
From the age of 17 until 30 years of age, he waited to see the day he would take his rightful place upon the throne. 13 years is a long time to wait, after having been anointed and pronounced as the next king of Israel. He had to run and hide many times from Saul. It was all a time of preparation to serve his generation in due time.
Luke 21:19 states " in your patience, posess ye your soul"
V. Ready for Action
David was not one to tuck tail and run away from threats. When he knew it was Gods' time, he was ready to take on God's enemies. When he went out to fight Goliath, he ran towards him.
Some would want to rule, but from a secure position. They do not want to get sweaty or get blood stains on their clothes.
There are 3 basic kinds of people.
1. Those who do not know what is hapenning.
2. Those who know, but aren't doing anything about it.
3. Those who make things happen.
3 Types of Christians
1. ASBEST CHRISTIANS- they resist any fire of God in their life.
2. OIL-CLOTH CHRISTIANS-they produce a lot of smoke, but no REAL fire.
3. PETROL CHRISTIANS-just one spark of love will set them aflame with passion for God and His kingdom.
The obligation of every generation is to understand what God is doing and join together with Him to see it accomplished.--Jonathan Edwards
1 Chr. 12:32
32 And of the children of Issachar, which were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do; the heads of them were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their commandment. (KJV)
32 De los hijos de Isacar, 200 expertos en entender los tiempos, que sabían lo que Israel debía hacer y cuyas órdenes seguían todos sus hermanos. (SRVA)
God is still looking for some people of God who understand the times we are living in and then know what to do.
Let us fill in that dash between the dates with something that will make a difference in our generation.
