HEART OF A CHAMPION
A Message from DAVID
August 16, 2020
Intro:
Hebrews 12:1 International Children’s Bible (ICB)
12 So we have many people of faith around us. Their lives tell us what faith means.
So let us run the race that is before us
and never give up. We should remove from our lives anything that would get in the way.
And we should remove the sin that so easily catches us.
Perhaps more than anyone else – I would like to run with DAVID. For a simple reason, He was the man after God’s own heart. A great king, a great warrior, powerful, with confidence. But as you look into his face – he has the eyes of a man who seen much of PAIN, GRIEF, AND DEATH... and yet he doesn’t look bitter or hard. And when he approach you in the arena .. he says to you…
YOU CAN OVERCOME THE LIMITATIONS OTHERS PUT ON YOU.
What? I can hardly believe of what he just said … This man who achieved great success and made it to the top? This great warrior and for me the greatest of all kings… will say this to me?
Hmmmnn…. If this inspired word coming from the man after God’s own heart and he spoke like he had suffer or experienced… I guess there were many who never saw his potentials.
And as I read and understand the life of David - He was the youngest in his family and as a boy, he did not received affirmation from those around him. His greatest obstacles were created by the people who tried to put limitations on him.
I. Jesse did not think David had a KING-POTENTIAL
Are you someone who feels the pain of having a parent not believe in you? David new that pain. When Samuel arrived at Jesse’s house to anoint one of his boys, Jessie lined up the ones he thought had king potentials… EXCEPT DAVID. And he didn’t even bother to call David from the fields.
1 Samuel 16:6-7 International Children’s Bible (ICB)
6 When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab. Samuel thought, “Surely the Lord
has appointed this person standing here before him.” 7 But the Lord
said to Samuel, “Don’t look at how handsome Eliab is. Don’t look
at how tall he is. I have not chosen him. God does not see the same
way people see. People look at the outside of a person,
but the Lord looks at the heart.”
For me, it is an honor and encouraging to know that God values us for who we truly are – even if our family doesn’t.
II. David’s brothers did not think he had a WARRIOR-POTENTIAL
When Israel was at war with the philistines, 3 of David’s brothers became soldiers in Israel army. David was left alone in the house caring for his father’s flock. – and when Jesse did sent David down to the battle line to take his brothers food his brothers abused him. Especially when David expressed his interest in a battle with Goliath – when all other soldiers feared Goliath.
1 Samuel 17:28 International Children’s Bible (ICB)
28 David’s oldest brother Eliab heard David talking with the soldiers.
He became angry with David. He asked David, “Why did you come here?
Who’s taking care of those few sheep of yours in the desert?
I know you are proud. Your attitude is very bad. You came down here
just to watch the battle!”
III. King Saul did not think David had a CHAMPION POTENTIAL
When King Saul heard that there was someone in the camp who are willing and interested to fight Goliath – he sent for him. Of course, he was expecting a “warrior-type-super-masculine body and his curiosity and excitement turn into a sour face expectation.; - a boy…and his expression is Oh Boy! Believe me, his response to the commitment to fight of David on Goliath is 100% skepticism.
1 Samuel 17:32-33 International Standard Version (ISV)
32 David told Saul, “Let no one’s courage[a] fail because of him; your servant
will go fight this Philistine.” 33 Saul told David, “You can’t go against
this Philistine and fight him. You are only a young man, but he has been
a warrior since his youth.”
He even gets David to wear his royal armor, but of course – the armor of a tall mature warrior like Saul wouldn’t fit to a boy like David. – and that adds up for another expression of skepticism.
David didn’t allow Saul to hinder him with his low expectations – he went out to face Goliath JUST AS HE WAS.
IV. Goliath did not think David had EVEN AN OPPONENT-POTENTIAL
The final insult for David came when Goliath saw him advancing to meet him in battle.
1 Samuel 17:43-44 International Children’s Bible (ICB)
43 He said, “Do you think I am a dog, that you come at me with a stick?”
He used his gods’ names to curse David. 44 He said to David, “Come here.
I’ll feed your body to the birds of the air and the wild animals!”
One of the truths I learned to this encounter is that – YOU CAN EASILY DETERMINE THE CALIBER OF A PERSON BY THE AMOUNT OF OPPOSITION IT TAKES TO DISCOURAGE HIM/HER. -David faced great opposition - a giant.
Every one told David he had no potential – but he was able to:
• GO BEYOND HIS FAMILY (Relational limitations)
• GO BEYOND KING SAUL (leadership limitations)
• GO BEYOND GOLIATH. (skill limitations)
1 Samuel 17:45 International Children’s Bible (ICB)
45 But David said to him, “You come to me using a sword, a large spear and a small spear. But I come to you in the name of the Lord of heaven’s armies. He’s the God of the armies of Israel! You have spoken out against him.
He threw off all the limitations that others placed on him and killed Goliath. And when he did it – he removed all the limitations from the army of Israel and they won the battle. His personal victory turned into a victory for the entire nations.
Words of Encouragement from David
• Limitations don’t limit you UNLESS you let them.
People will take down on you. It may be come from your family or other people around you. And you will prove them wrong by seeing yourself as God sees you - AS A WARRIOR. And in reality, you have a GOD POTENTIAL. He will rise you above limitations that life and others would try to put it on you.
• Don’t try to be someone else when others impose limitations on you.
When Saul realize that David was going to fight Goliath – he tried to put his armor to David. He wanted David to attack the problem as he would. – and it didn’t fit to David (he is so small).
God didn’t want a substitute to Saul. Grace family, God will never hold you accountable for gifts you don’t have or responsibilities He hasn’t given you. HE WANTS YOU TO BE YOURSELF.
• When you rise above your limitations, you can help others do the same.
The victory of David’s is Israel’s victory. The moment Goliath fell on the ground – Israel rose. Their fear and intimidations were replaced by courage and aggressiveness. That was the day David learned his leadership lessons – PEOPLE FOLLOW THE EXAMPLE OF THEIR LEADER.
And you GRACE family are leaders on your own backyard. – as parents, as business owners, as husband, as wife, as a youth leader, etc…
CHALLENGE:
You have a POTENTIAL Grace family. And that with His grace – implanted it to the very veins of your soul - Don’t let others put limitations on you. You are a warrior. And the HEART OF A WARRIOR WILL SAY – I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGHT CHRIST, WHO GIVES ME STRENGTH.
• Acknowledgement: RUNNING WITH THE GIANTS SERIES by JOHN C MAXWELL.
• Bible – International Children’s Version / International Standard Version
