WHO AM I?
TEXT: 1 Samuel 17.32-37
INTRODUCTION:
If you are a parent, then you most likely seen a movie called “Toy Story.” One of the main characters is a cowboy named “Woody.” In “Toy Story 2,” Woody is kidnapped by the owner of a toy store, who intends on selling him to a toy museum. Upon arrival at the owners apartment, he meets three other toys, a cowgirl, a prospector and a horse. While talking to them, the prospector calls him by name. Woody is shocked because he does not know how they could know his name. The prospector responds, “why you don’t know who you are do you?” The cowgirl later tells him that, “you’re valuable property.” Even though he was not aware of it, he was star of a old children’s television program.
I am here to tell you that you are valuable property, you are important.
In our text David is checking on his brothers at the battlefield. Goliath is making his threats. The army of Israel is hiding. David tells Saul, do not be afraid, I will go fight this giant. However, in their conversation, notice the words of Saul, “You are not able to go fight Goliath, you are only a youth, and he has been a fighter since he was young.” (v. 33). You will notice that David is aware of more than Saul, for he knows who he is and who he belongs to. He tells Saul, “The Lord . . . will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine.” (v. 37)
Goliath does not think much of him either, the Scripture tells that “when the Philistine looked about, and saw David, he disdained him . . .” (1 Samuel 17.42a) Disdain means ignore, disregard, scorn, neglect or overlook. That is what Goliath was doing. Why, because Goliath saw him as “. . . but a youth . . .” (1 Samuel 17.42b).
This would make you wonder if this is what David is thinking when he writes Psalms 42 and 43. For there he asks a question three separate times, “Why art thou cast down, O my soul? And why art thou disquieted in me?” (Psalms 42.5, 11; 43.5)
Seeing what had taken place in the early life of David and in our Scripture, one would have to ask how is his self-esteem. Does he have a high regard for himself or does he see himself as someone low on the human scale.
This is what I want to know. How is your self-esteem. Do you see yourself as a nobody and a nothing, or do you truly see yourself as God sees you. Low self-esteem is defined as to not value or have high regard for yourself.
If anyone would have low self-esteem, these men would. These came from small backgrounds and became something great.
We see also a story in Genesis, where God had created a man and a woman. He placed them in the garden, which provided everything they needed. He came down and visited with them in the cool of the day. Yet one day, Adam and Eve took of the fruit that was forbidden and their eyes were open. The Scripture states that “. . . they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons . . . and . . . hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God.” (Genesis 3.7, 8) They were someone great and they fell. However, that did not make them any less valuable to God. When God came down and found them in that condition, he made for them clothes and covered their sin. That is how much God cares.
Illustration: ($5.00 bill - Fresh and crisp, crumbled up, and stepped on - still has value)
In John 10.10, Jesus tells us that, “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” The devil would like to destroy us, not only spiritual and physically, but would like to make us feel like we are less than what we truly are. On the other hand, Jesus wants us to have life and not just to live, but to live to the fullest. How can we accomplish this. Let us look at a few suggestions.
SEE YOURSELF AS GOD SEES YOU
How does God see us? In Genesis we read where “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” (2.7) When God looks at us He sees His creation, made by His own hands. God sees His masterpiece. When one reads Genesis you will notice that God spoke and thing became. Yet in this passage it tells us that God took extra time and formed us and breathed the breath of life into us. We are His personal creation. One of the friends of Job even clarifies this when he says, “The spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life.” (Job 33.4)
God tells Jeremiah the prophet, that “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.” (Jeremiah 1.5) He tells us that even before we were conceived in the womb, He knew who we were. God knows you and He knows you by name.
God sees us as the father saw the son in Luke 15. The son had left the home. He left a place where all was provided for and decided to go sow his oats. Not long after he go there, a famine came, and he found out how easy it was to be without. He is far from home, he has no money, and nothing to eat. Now this young man who was the son of a wealthy father, is now having to feed the swine. This son who was accustomed to steak and potato is now willing to eat the food that is being given to the swine. He is nasty, dirty, and smells horrible. Yet when he returns home, the father is waiting. How does the father see him,
“But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.” (Luke 15.22-24)
You see how the father saw him when he states, “this my son.” Even though he is dirty, smelly and has spent all of his father’s money, the father still sees him as his son. God sees us the same way, even when we fall. Even if we are crinkled or put under the foot of man, God still loves us and is willing to forgive us when we repent and to see us as His child.
DON’T COMPARE OR COMPETE WITH OTHERS
One of our biggest faults is to compare ourselves with someone else, or we try to compete with someone else. We must realize that God created each of us. We are equal. Some may be, in the eyes of humans, prettier, smarter, more zealous, but when we finally realize that God created us all the same, then we can live a better life. Some have taken what they have and used it in a greater way than others. Scripture tells us that “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.” (Genesis 1.27) It does not say that some were created in his image and others not, but rather that all of us are created in the image of God.
When one reviews history, you will see where Hitler was trying to create a superior race of people. He had a mindset of what he thought would be superior. In doing so, he then classed others as inferior, even to the point that their lives were not even valuable enough to live. When it comes to humans, we will do whatever to make someone greater or smaller. However, when we look at God we see one who has made all of us. Again Scripture tells us, “. . . that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.” (Psalms 100.3) We are all God’s creation, we are His people.
Paul tells us that “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3.28) Even Paul realized that we are the same. He even stated in verse 26 that “. . . ye are all the children of God . . .” So the point I am trying to make is do not try to be someone else, that will never happen. You must be who you are. Competition is good, but if we are competing to be able to say that I am better than you, then we are in the wrong.
ALWAYS DO YOUR BEST
“Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10.31) This one Scripture is very important. Whatever you do, do it as if you were working for God. The things you do in your everyday life, do it as if God were there beside of you, for truly He is.
We can do nothing without God. But knowing that He is walking with us, then we must realize that we can accomplish anything. For our lives are in Him. “For in him we live, and move, and have our being . . .” (Acts 17.28) We can do our best because God is there to help us.
FORGET YOUR PAST
It is always easier to remember our past failures. It becomes hard for us many times to look forward, for we are always looking behind. Remember the son who left home. It would be really easy to say, “I sure messed up, but I do not want to go back home, my family will laugh at me, and know what a failure that I am.” However, this young man knew that to get away from his past was to confront it and seek forgiveness from the father. Look what happened to him,
“And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.” (Luke 15.17-19)
The son possibly knew what we know, that to get away from the past, we must repent of our past and allow God to do something new in our lives. Paul reminds the Romans of this when he tells them “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5.8) Christ died to rid you of your past.
“Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,” (Philippians 3.13) One thing Paul knew was that he had to forget the past. His past was bad, if he had always lived in it, then he would never have become the great man of God. Are we willing to forget what has happened in our lives and move on. If we relive the past failures we will never be able to move forward.
ENCOURAGE YOURSELF BY THINKING ON GOOD THINGS
Many times our thinking become very clouded. We are always dwelling on the negative things in live. We are told that is not the way for us to think. Instead we are instructed that, “. . . whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” (Philippians 4.8) Forget the negatives in life. Bad things will come, but we must look up. Hold your head up, knowing that God is in control of all things. Think on the positives in life.
You may ask what are some of the positives. Let me give you some to ponder.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3.16) God loved us so much that He sent his son to die for you. There is nothing any greater in life to think about that this.
Scripture tells us that you are a child of God. Romans 8.16, 17 tells us that “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ . . .” We are included in the will. God has not forgotten you. Read the Scripture, look at what He has for you.
David led the men of the city out to fight. When they returned, they found that their wives, and children had been kidnapped, and their city had been burned. It is recorded that “. . . David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.” (1 Samuel 30.6) How could he encourage himself in a time like this? He knew God! He knew that God would provide for them. He prayed and God led them to the right place to find their families and return them safely.
He could have faith because he knew that God was ever-present, that He was always with you. “I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.” (Psalms 16.8) Remember that with God walking by your side, the devil can only do so much. He is only allowed to do what God will allow. You can stand strong, because God is there.
ENCOURAGE YOURSELF BY TALKING POSITIVELY
When we think negatively, then we talk negatively. What ever is in your heart will come out of your mouth. We must talk on a more positive note. If we begin doing the previous thing, thinking positively then we will start speaking positively. We should pray as the Psalmist when he says, “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.” (Psalms 19.14)
We must tell ourselves and others, especially the enemy, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.” (Psalms 23.4) God will walk with you through the darkest hour and through the most unsafe place. God is with you.
We must also remind ourselves and others, that a great price has been paid for me. Paul tells those in Corinth that you “. . . are bought with a price . . .” (1 Corinthians 6.20) That price was paid by Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary.
Listen to the words of this verse, “Do not gloat over me, my enemy! thou I have fallen, I will rise. Thou I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light.” (Micah 7.8, NIV) We must take a stand and loudly proclaim to the devil, I may have made some mistakes and have fallen, but I will arise, because God is my helper. He will lift me up and set my feet on the rock and establish my goings.
SURROUND YOURSELF WITH POSITIVE PEOPLE
We must also be concerned with who we are hanging around. If the crowd you are with is always looking down on you or is always putting you down, then my advise is for you to find new friends. For Solomon tells us that those who walk “. . . with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.” (Proverbs 13.20) He goes on to say that “Stay away from a foolish man, for you will not find knowledge on his lips.” (Proverbs 14.7, NIV)
One way we can find comfort and exhortation is to attend church. We hope and pray that those in service will be uplifting and encouraging. Paul tells us that we should not forsake “. . . the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” (Hebrews 10.25) If someone comes to you and is down and feeling bad about themselves, do your best to lift them up.
CONCLUSION:
You are somebody. Let no one tell you that you are unimportant. God has created you and set you aside for a good work. The enemy would like you to believe that you are nothing. We must come to the point to remind the devil and to remind ourselves that we are the sons and daughters of God.
At times the enemy will tear us down, and try to make us feel that we are inferior. He will tell you that you cannot accomplish anything, he says you are a failure, you are hopeless. However, I am here to tell you that you only experience defeat when you do not try. He will try to prevail upon our minds. If he can get into our minds and hearts and cause us to believe his lies then we will become defeated. We must be as the Psalmist when he say, “Lest mine enemy say, I have prevailed against him; and those that trouble me rejoice when I am moved. But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation.” (Psalms 13.4, 5) I am not going to let the enemy cause me to feel that I am nothing. I will trust in the mercy of God, I will rejoice because of His salvation, for that makes me somebody.
Remember these words, “You will always miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.”
