Sermon – Preparation, one of the Keys To Building a Successful Life!
Scripture Lesson: 1 Samuel 17:51-58 “When the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they turned and ran. Then the men of Israel and Judah gave a great shout of triumph and rushed after the Philistines, chasing them as far as Gath and the gates of Ekron. The bodies of the dead and wounded Philistines were strewn all along the road from Shaaraim, as far as Gath and Ekron. Then the Israelite army returned and plundered the deserted Philistine camp. (David took the Philistine’s head to Jerusalem, but he stored the man’s armor in his own tent.) As Saul watched David go out to fight the Philistine, he asked Abner, the commander of his army, “Abner, whose son is this young man?” “I really don’t know,” Abner declared. “Well, find out who he is!” the king told him. As soon as David returned from killing Goliath, Abner brought him to Saul with the Philistine’s head still in his hand. “Tell me about your father, young man,” Saul said. And David replied, “His name is Jesse, and we live in Bethlehem.”
Introduction: How to slay a Giant? What made David a giant slayer? Armed with only a sling, he picked a stone from a riverbed and slung it at Goliath's head. David's aim was true; the stone struck the giant and killed him, prompting the Philistines to flee. The Israelites were jubilant and King Saul was compelled to place this young, lean teenager, David at the head of his army.
I have always loved the story of David and Goliath. If you haven’t read it in a while, you should read it again, it’s all found in 1 Samuel 17. Even if you’ve heard the story a hundred times, there are many little obscure details that thrill you when you come across them.
When David runs to the Battlefield from the main camp, he finds the soldiers in a mess. The soldiers of Israel’s army are all focused on how impossible the situation is before them. Some nine-footer with an ego, a shield-bearer, and some enormous weaponry is challenging any member of Israel’s army to a one-on-one fight. No one will go. Not even Saul, the tallest, supposedly toughest leader among them (and the one who should, at any cost, be willing to defend his people from potential slavery).
Along comes the thin, lean young teenager, David. David doesn’t look like what he has been through. And this thin, lean young teenager just happens to have defeated some lions and bears along the way, wrestling out of their jaws the lives of his sheep. He’s young and small, but rugged, tough, and fearless. David has a history of facing impossible odds. When the odds are against you and the stakes are high, you must use history and preparation for this moment. Everything up to now has been preparing you for this moment.
You have faced giants before and won. Then you must have a good reason to fight. If the reason is good enough and the desire stronger enough, this is a battle worth fighting. This one battle is the beginning of a new era for the house of Jesse. Not only, that the honor of the God of Israel’s army was a stake. Israel was not supposed to flee before their enemies, Israel’s enemies were to flee before them. Fear caused them to be defeated before one arrow was shot or one javelin was thrown. David’s brothers became angry, just because David asked a question. Never allow people who are doing nothing to stop you from doing what God puts in your heart.
After observing the situation, David volunteer to fight the giant. After much discussion, he convinces King Saul to let him go down in the valley to face Goliath with nothing but a slingshot and five smooth stones. He defies the odds and wins the day. Preachers have been telling and retelling the story for many years, but I’m not sure we’re telling the whole story. I think we’re telling the story as if slaying the giant is the end of story. We encourage people to be like David, “You are like David. You’ve got giants. Get up, go out and face your giant, and take him down in the power of God! Success!” Right? Yet the truth is this is about God’s preparation on your journey to reign.
1. Building a Successful Life is Developed through Overcoming Trials. When Jessie assigned his youngest boy to tend the sheep, David’s life did not look like success. The shepherd field was his place of preparation. If you are faithful in the shepherd’s field, protecting helpless sheep, finding them suitable pasture, leading them to still waters and improving your skills, you are being prepared for your future. Don’t spend any time complaining about your job, limited opportunities, limited recognition, God knows where you are, what you are doing, and where he is taking you.
Here’s the problem, most people think success is instant. Success is a progress fulfilment of God’s will in your life. Defeating the giant wasn’t the end of David’s success story. It was the beginning. Bringing down the giant brought David instant fame. His fame caused problems with King Saul that would not go away. In fact, they were multiplied. After killing Goliath, people wrote songs about David. But David’s fame changed everything. Israel’s favorite son is on the run, hiding from his enemies, losing his wife, losing his friend, Jonathan, losing his mentor, Samuel, losing the safety of the palace and finally losing his dignity. Success isn’t about beating giants. It’s about building a life that grows through trials and challenges.
2. Building a Successful Life is About Being Faithful in the Process.
It isn’t until later in his life that David is truly “successful.” Long after the giant had fallen, David finally fought through enough battles to give Israel security for several decades under Solomon’s reign. It took a lifetime. Instead of asking, what giants am I facing? We should really be asking, am I ready for what’s next? Have I been working on my skill set? Have I been working on my attitude? David was faithful in the process. My favorite part of the story is actually what David says to Saul before he fights Goliath. He recounts his past experiences, and the tale is harrowing. “But David persisted. “I have been taking care of my father’s sheep and goats,” he said. “When a lion or a bear comes to steal a lamb from the flock, I go after it with a club and rescue the lamb from its mouth. If the animal turns on me, I catch it by the jaw and club it to death. I have done this to both lions and bears, and I’ll do it to this pagan Philistine, too, for he has defied the armies of the living God! The LORD who rescued me from the claws of the lion and the bear will rescue me from this Philistine!” Saul finally consented. “All right, go ahead,” he said. “And may the LORD be with you!” 1 Samuel 17:34-37 NLT
In the process, David developed his faith in God. He knew that God was with him. David developed his tenacity. When a lion or bear came, I drove them away. If they came back, I went after them! And further, if they turned on me, I caught them and took them down. In life whatever you value, enemies will attack. Plant a garden, insects will come and try to take it. Build a house, storms will come. Build a family, enemies will come. That’s life. But what I really love is that David wasn’t just being impulsive. He wasn’t there to take a big risk on a whim in hopes of scoring glory before the king. No, David was pointing to his past preparation as the grounds on which he was sure he would have future success. The Lord, who rescued me then, will rescue me now. Everything you’ve been through has been preparation for right now. And what you’re going through right now is preparation for what’s next.
Your conditioning and strengthening have been developed through overcoming trials and challenges. Faithfulness in God’s process allows God to promote and make your life a success. The danger comes when we either worship our past successes as complete stories or face the future while forgetting the past. It’s all connected. It’s a life of success that we must be after. I’m afraid that, all too often, we’re satisfied when the giant has fallen. But it was never about the giant. It was always about becoming the man God wanted him to become.
3. Building A Successful like is Achieved Because God is Faithful. Psalm 37:22-25 “Those the Lord blesses will possess the land, but those he curses will die. The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand. Once I was young, and now I am old. Yet I have never seen the godly abandoned or their children begging for bread.
The underlying message of Psalm 37 is the faithfulness of God towards His people. It reassures us that God does not abandon those who trust in Him and live according to His principles. Even in the face of challenges, trials, or difficult circumstances, the righteous can rely on God's steadfast love and provision. David learned what a successful life was all about. What’s it all about for you? Building a successful life is developed through overcoming trials and difficulties of life. Since a man born of a woman has only a few days, and they are full of trouble. Trouble must be necessary for our development. Building a successful life is about being faithful to God, the assignment and our family with a good attitude while going through the process. Work on yourself, improve your skills, strive for excellence and be a blessing whatever you are and to whoever you are with. Finaly, remember God is faithful, even when we are faithless. “And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.” Philippians 1:6
It's not about who you have to face, what you have to endure, the giant you must overcome, it’s about what you are becoming. “Don’t wish it was easier, wish you were better. Don’t wish for less problems, wish for more skills. Don’t wish for less challenge, wish for more wisdom.” In our own lives, we may face situations where we're tempted to compromise our principles or beliefs to avoid hardship or persecution. However, the example of David reminds us to stand firm in our convictions, trusting in God's protection and remaining courageous in the face of adversity. 1 Samuel 17:51-58 “You armed me with strength for battle; you humbled my adversaries before me. You made my enemies turn their backs in flight, and I destroyed my foes. They cried for help, but there was no one to save them— to the LORD, but he did not answer.”
Preparation, one of the keys to building a successful life. God’s preparation has built us up from the inside out. He has given us strength for every battle. He will cause our enemies to flee and fall. The Lord is on our side. Weapons formed against will have only limited success. In the end, we win. Amen
