08.15.2010 How to Have a God-Dominated-Mindset

08.15.2010 Grace Summit Sermon - How to Have a God-Dominated-Mindset from Grace Summit on Vimeo.

08.15.2010 Grace Summit Worship from Grace Summit on Vimeo.

With the outreach next Saturday – we are just out to ask if there are any needs in the community that we can meet – it should be well-received.

Today, we will look at David and Goliath – probably one of the hardest things to teach – because everything has been done on David and Goliath! Everyone knows this story – but you have to do it – because if you don't, people will think I'm weird – and I don't want people to think that I'm weird.

We often put this in a sports metaphor – the little guy against the big guy – or the good guy against the bad guy – but there are more lessons than that. There was a cartoon on David and Goliath – back in the mid-80s – we recorded it – a David and Goliath story on television. It started with real kids – a kid who had a bully who would steal his treats at lunch – and then transitioned into a cartoon – but there is a bigger story here.

Let's pray:

Lord, we thank You that You are present with us – I ask that You – as we look at a familiar story – may it become new and fresh to us – may there be a lesson for each of us that transforms our lives. May we not leave here thinking that was a good story, but being changed in some way. May I be changed as I tell it. And each of us – make our hearts ready to receive what You have to say – as we have received You through faith – drawn into a deeper relationship with You – may we be prepared to receive Your word.

1 Sam. 17:4 Then a champion came out from the armies of the Philistines named Goliath, from Gath,

Even the way that was said – Goliath from Gath...

You've seen the cutout downstairs... he was huge...

whose height was six cubits and a span. 5 And [he had] a bronze helmet on his head, and he was clothed with scale-armor which weighed five thousand shekels of bronze. 6 [He] also [had] bronze greaves on his legs and a bronze javelin [slung] between his shoulders. 7 And the shaft of his spear was like a weaver's beam, and the head of his spear [weighed] six hundred shekels of iron; his shield-carrier also walked before him.

This appears to be an insurmountable obstacle – a formidable foe – an impossible enemy.

8 And he stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, and said to them, "Why do you come out to draw up in battle array? Am I not the Philistine and you servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves and let him come down to me. 9 "If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we will become your servants; but if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall become our servants and serve us."

This was a practice in ancient battle – not an odd thing.

10 Again the Philistine said, "I defy the ranks of Israel this day; give me a man that we may fight together." 11 When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid.

Here they are – this mountain of a man comes out – a champion – asking for someone to come and fight – they are dismayed – they lose heart. Remember in Men in Black - “All is lost, all is lost!” - we can't win – we are defeated. Saul and the armies of Israel have a Goliath-dominated-mindset. We can tend to have that – it might be the economy – or politics – where we are... what is interesting here – Goliath sets the parameters of battle – and they submit to it. They freeze because of this – they are consumed. There is no mention of God by Saul and the armies of Israel. No one – except one little person who comes in later.

Goliath comes out daily and does this.

24 When all the men of Israel saw the man, they fled from him and were greatly afraid.

They flee and are greatly afraid. What you are afraid of will control you and dominate who you are. Whatever it is – it will control your emotions and the way you act – and now the entire nation is controlled by this. What dominates your mind will dominate your feelings and emotions and perspective.

“Did you see this guy?” That is what they talked about over and over! They were controlled and paralyzed by this – and no mention of God.

In v. 12, we move to a different story. The writers were amazing. You see all these great movies – and know that they come from here! And now...(back at the ranch)...

This is our third introduction to David – and each time – like we had never known him – introducing his father and brothers – and he is introduced publicly.

12 Now David was the son of the Ephrathite of Bethlehem in Judah, whose name was Jesse, and he had eight sons. And Jesse was old in the days of Saul, advanced [in years] among men. 13 And the three older sons of Jesse had gone after Saul to the battle. And the names of his three sons who went to the battle were Eliab the first-born, and the second to him Abinadab, and the third Shammah. 14 And David was the youngest. Now the three oldest followed Saul, 15 but David went back and forth from Saul to tend his father's flock at Bethlehem. 16 And the Philistine came forward morning and evening for forty days, and took his stand. 17 Then Jesse said to David his son, "Take now for your brothers an ephah of this roasted grain and these ten loaves, and run to the camp to your brothers. 18 "Bring also these ten cuts of cheese to the commander of [their] thousand, and look into the welfare of your brothers, and bring back news of them. 19 "For Saul and they and all the men of Israel are in the valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines."

David is separated from the story at the front lines – and David is unaffected by it. What we have going on here – where you would think God would be – on the front line with Israel – He is not – where He is – is in a field – in a pasture – working in a young man's life – who is about to change the course of history for the nation of Israel. So often, God is not where we think He should be – we determine in our mind where God should and shouldn't be. We think God should have struck Goliath with lightning – on that bowling ball sized spear....

David enters the fray – comes to the battle – and he sees Goliath -

26 Then David spoke to the men who were standing by him, saying, "What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine, and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should taunt the armies of the living God?"

37 And David said, "The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine."

Saul and Israel had a Goliath-dominated-mindset – but David had a GOD-DOMINATED-MINDSET! David's response is radically different from everyone else's. Everyone else ran away in dismay and fear. They are saying – Did you see this giant?! And David says – Who is this uncircumcised guy? Think about that! But not too long!

How to develop a God-dOMINATeD-MInDSeT!

17 Then Jesse said to David his son, "Take now for your brothers an ephah of this roasted grain and these ten loaves, and run to the camp to your brothers. 18 "Bring also these ten cuts of cheese to the commander of [their] thousand, and look into the welfare of your brothers, and bring back news of them. 19 "For Saul and they and all the men of Israel are in the valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines."

Think – for Saul – and all the men of Israel fighting – take food and come home.

20 So David arose early in the morning and left the flock with a keeper and took [the supplies] and went as Jesse had commanded him. And he came to the circle of the camp while the army was going out in battle array shouting the war cry.

First thing – we develop a God-dominated-mindset in obscurity – in secret – out of the public eye. He is obscure – he is out somewhere else everytime he is introduced! It is in those times of obscurity – being unknown – that God does His work in a person's life. The wilderness experience! Jesus – what did He do? Was obscure for most of his life – and then went into the wilderness for forty days! Moses – 40 years in the wilderness. Joseph – 13 years in prison and a slave before God begins the work. Mary Magdalene – we know a little about her in the gospels – but living in obscurity – and she was the first to see Christ and the first to be given the message of the Gospel to be transferred to others – the first evangelist in history! We know on Easter Sunday – she was the first to be given that privilege! Think about that! The first to share, He is RISEN! (The most important words ever spoken!).

It won't be any different for you or for me – it is in that private, secret, alone world when you go through those struggles and there is no one there – and God develops you.

Second – God develops responsibilities in you.

21 And Israel and the Philistines drew up in battle array, army against army. 22 Then David left his baggage in the care of the baggage keeper, and ran to the battle line and entered in order to greet his brothers.

Whatever responsibilities God gives you – you are to be faithful with what He gives. David was like a milkman! We never see David looking for another assignment – it was always being faithful with one assignment and then God giving another assignment.

First – faithfulness in our jobs. I think we underestimate the importance of doing our work heartily as unto the Lord – without complaint! I think that is a big one for Americans!

Family – the importance of placing priority on the family and being faithful with that. There are so many distractions to pull us away from that!

23 As he was talking with them, behold, the champion, the Philistine from Gath named Goliath, was coming up from the army of the Philistines, and he spoke these same words; and David heard [them]. 24 When all the men of Israel saw the man, they fled from him and were greatly afraid. 25 And the men of Israel said, "Have you seen this man who is coming up? Surely he is coming up to defy Israel. And it will be that the king will enrich the man who kills him with great riches and will give him his daughter and make his father's house free in Israel." 26 Then David spoke to the men who were standing by him, saying, "What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine, and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should taunt the armies of the living God?" 27 And the people answered him in accord with this word, saying, "Thus it will be done for the man who kills him."

Rich – free from taxes!

Third – David developed a knowledge of God – he knew God! A number of the Psalms were written by David – and it was evident that David knew God – He understood His character and attributes. If you go to 1 Sam. 17: 34 But David said to Saul, "Your servant was tending his father's sheep. When a lion or a bear came and took a lamb from the flock, 35 I went out after him and attacked him, and rescued [it] from his mouth; and when he rose up against me, I seized [him] by his beard and struck him and killed him. 36 "Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, since he has taunted the armies of the living God." 37 And David said, "The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine." And Saul said to David, "Go, and may the Lord be with you."

David knew God – he had time – devoted time to God's word – he meditated on it – pondered it – You come to know God through His word. I want to challenge you- TAKE TIME THROUGHOUT the day to allow God's word to fill up your heart. It is through that we come to know God. David also experienced God – He knew Him experientially and practically! He saw God work and defeat enemies in his life. When he was able to move out of his fear and step into a battle with the lion and bear, God worked on his behalf. So David knew how God worked.

4^th – 28:

28 Now Eliab his oldest brother heard when he spoke to the men; and Eliab's anger burned against David and he said, "Why have you come down? And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your insolence and the wickedness of your heart; for you have come down in order to see the battle." 29 But David said, "What have I done now? Was it not just a question?"

Learn how to suffer under the insensitivity of God's people!

30 Then he turned away from him to another and said the same thing; and the people answered the same thing as before. 31 When the words which David spoke were heard, they told [them] to Saul, and he sent for him. 32 And David said to Saul, "Let no man's heart fail on account of him; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine." 33 Then Saul said to David, "You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are [but] a youth while he has been a warrior from his youth."

The issue is – these are God's people coming against David! You expect it from the enemy, right?! I have discovered, and I think the Bible is clear – it is often God's people who offend – like I said a couple weeks ago – if you come to this church, you will be offended – but that is why forgiveness is so important – in the Lord's Prayer – we tend to gloss over “forgive us our debts as we forgive those who trespass against us” - it is demanded of us.

God's forgiveness is vast and incredible – and He expects us – and demands of us to do the same! He has to deal with others' accusations and mistrust. It is how you deal with that that demonstrates your character – probably more than anything!

38 Then Saul clothed David with his garments and put a bronze helmet on his head, and he clothed him with armor. 39 And David girded his sword over his armor and tried to walk, for he had not tested [them.] So David said to Saul, "I cannot go with these, for I have not tested [them]."

I don't think that Saul had any confidence in David whatsoever. We have this description of the armor – and David can't wear them – he took them off – he had a GOD-DOMINATED-MINDSET.

41 Then the Philistine came on and approached David, with the shield-bearer in front of him. 42 When the Philistine looked and saw David, he disdained him; for he was [but] a youth, and ruddy, with a handsome appearance. 43 And the Philistine said to David, "Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?" And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. 44 The Philistine also said to David, "Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the sky and the beasts of the field." 45 Then David said to the Philistine, "You come to me with a sword, a spear, and a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have taunted. 46 "This day the Lord will deliver you up into my hands, and I will strike you down and remove your head from you. And I will give the dead bodies of the army of the Philistines this day to the birds of the sky and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, 47 and that all this assembly may know that the Lord does not deliver by sword or by spear; for the battle is the Lord's and He will give you into our hands.

That is the issue – David understood all along – that is the lesson! This is not against a giant and a little guy, but about a God who was willing and able to do anything!

David wanted everyone to know that there was a God in Israel – and he understood that the battle was the Lord's.

Your battle is the Lord's. It is in the battle you face today that God wants to do His great work in your person – that you might live with a God-dominated-mindset.

Let's pray – God - We know the end of the story – David wins – God is victorious – and we know the end of our story – You win, God, - we celebrated Your victory at the Lord's supper this morning – and it will be realized fully when we stand before You – no matter the enemy – we will be victorious in all things on that day – and it is in Your name we pray.2010