Let David Lead You To Your Purpose - Part 1

 

~~ Watch the Video ~~

Outline:

• Introduction

• Finding Your Purpose in Life Series

• David’s Life Was Preparing Him for His Position 

• David & Goliath: The sword will be useless

Scriptures:

• Proverbs 22:29 

• 1 Samuel 16:13 - 23

• 1 Samuel 17: 37 - 40

Introduction

Proverbs 22:29 

Do you see a person skilled in his work? He will stand before kings; He will not stand before obscure people.

When we think of the story of David, and we often talk about skill…we generally think about his sling shot.   Today we’ll see that David’s other skills played significant parts in the story.  

We will see how the skills that he developed as a shepherd helped set the groundwork to getting him into the palace.

You would think that leadership skills needed to be at the top of your résumé if you are applying to be the king of Israel.

David only experience was leading sheep

• And he definitely wasn’t a leader in his household

But yet his other skills opened the door to the top leadership position in the country… In the world

… King of Israel

We will see how David’s life journey prepared him for his purpose

Your purpose always create a unique path for you in your life

Finding Your Purpose in Life Series

The two greatest days in your life are: 

1. the day you were born

2. the day you figure out why you were born

– Mark Twain

The Bible tells us that everything was created by God, the Designer, for a reason

If you want to find your purpose… You have to start with God

Your calling is the purpose that God created you for 

• It's the end goal of your assignment on earth

• It is your part in serving God’s purposes in the world 

A Christian’s Callings

Christians have

1. General callings

2. A Unique calling

General Christian Assignments

All Christians are called to: 

1. To Love God 

2. Love your neighbor

3. Make disciples

4. Be conformed to the image of Christ – sanctification

Unique Calling

You were given unique 

• Natural ability

• Acquired skills

• Spiritual Gifts

• Personality

• Desires and preferences 

• Life experiences

All of this makes you uniquely qualified to glorify God and to serve others

In this series we will discover:

• What a purpose is

• Why it matters

• What makes you unique

• How your life experiences have prepared you for your calling

• Methods to uncover your purpose

• How to overcome the barriers preventing you from pursuing your purpose

Throughout this next year, I will walk alongside you and help guide you to finding your purpose

David’s Life Was Preparing Him for His Position 

Put these events in order of time

1. David kills Goliath 

2. Saul throws a spear at David

3. The Holy Spirit leaves Saul

4. David and Bathsheba

5. Samuel anoints David king

6. David becomes Saul’s musician

David become Saul’s musician

1 Samuel 16:13 - 23

So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon David from that day forward. And Samuel set out and went to Ramah.

14 Now the Spirit of the LORD left Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD terrified him. 15 Saul’s servants then said to him, “Behold now, an evil spirit from God is terrifying you. 16 “May our lord now command your servants who are before you. Have them search for a man who is a skillful musician on the harp; and it shall come about whenever the evil spirit from God is upon you, that he shall play the harp with his hand, and you will become well.” 17 So Saul said to his servants, “Now select for me a man who can play well, and bring him to me.” 18 Then one of the young men responded and said, “Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite who is a skillful musician, a valiant mighty man, a warrior, skillful in speech, and a handsome man; and the LORD is with him.” 19 So Saul sent messengers to Jesse to say, “Send me your son David, who is with the flock.” 20 And Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread and a jug of wine, and he took a young goat, and sent them to Saul by his son David. 21 Then David came to Saul and attended him; and Saul greatly loved him, and he became his armor bearer. 22 So Saul sent word to Jesse, saying, “Let David now be my attendant for he has found favor in my sight.” 23 So it came about whenever the evil spirit from God came to Saul, David would take the harp and play it with his hand; and Saul would feel relieved and become well, and the evil spirit would leave him.

Order of Events

Correct Order:

1. Samuel anoints David as king (1 Samuel 16:1–13)

2. The Holy Spirit leaves Saul (1 Samuel 16:14)

3. David becomes Saul’s musician / armor bearer (1 Samuel 16:19–23)

4. David kills Goliath (1 Samuel 17)

5. Saul throws a spear at David (1 Samuel 18:10–11)

6. David and Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11)

David’s Skill Opened the Door for Him

David became close to Saul before the Goliath incident

David skills:

• skillful musician

• a valiant mighty man

• a warrior

• skillful in speech

• handsome man

• The Lord is with him

Even though David killed Goliath, that wasn’t his initial access into the palace.

God will make sure that the place you need to be needs to stuff that you’ve got

David became Saul‘s armor bearer

In ancient warfare, an armor-bearer was much more than a servant who carried heavy gear. It was a position of intense trust, high honor, and immense responsibility. Because an armor-bearer was constantly at the side of the king, they functioned as a mix of a modern-day bodyguard, chief of staff, and executive assistant.

Here are the primary responsibilities of an armor-bearer in the biblical era:

Protection and Defense

The foremost duty was protecting the commander’s life. In the chaos of hand-to-hand combat, an armor-bearer stood back-to-back or side-by-side with their leader. They carried a large shield to intercept arrows, spears, and sword blows meant for the commander. 

Managing the Weaponry

An armor-bearer was responsible for maintaining, cleaning, and carrying their weapons into battle. When a sword broke, an arrow ran out, or a spear was thrown, the armor-bearer had to instantly hand the commander a replacement weapon.

Delivering the "Coupe de Grâce" (The Final Blow)

In ancient combat, a warrior might incapacitate an enemy but move on quickly to the next target to maintain momentum. The armor-bearer followed closely behind to deliver the final, lethal blow to fallen enemies to ensure they didn't get back up and strike from behind.

—---

So it wasn’t David’s skill with the sling that got him access to the palace

• It was his skill with the harp

Example: President of Listen & See Music video production company

• Leader of Rap Squad

• Mixing

• Crew of Valley Magazine

• Interviewed a rapper

• Took lead when making a commercial for KMEL

• President of Listen & See

Your skill will open up doors for you on your path to your purpose

Discussion

Does knowing that David knew Saul prior to the day he fought Goliath change your understanding of the story?

Now it makes sense why King Saul would allow the fate of the country to fall into the hands of a shepherd boy

What is a skill or experience in your past that felt irrelevant at the time, but God later used in a significant way?"

Have your talents opened doors that you otherwise wouldn’t have had access to?

Story: Bill Nye

• Falsely Rumored to have Passed away yesterday

• Comedy writer on Almost Live!

• Also had a mechanical engineering degree from Cornell

• A guest cancelled on the show so they had 6 minutes to kill

• He said “I can do some stuff with liquid nitrogen”

David & Goliath: The sword will be useless

• David was playing The harp for Saul and tending the sheep for his father

• Israel went to war with the Philistines

• Goliath issued a challenge to fight one man from the Israelite army to determine who wins the war

1 Samuel 17: 37 - 40

 37And David said, “The LORD who saved me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear, He will save me from the hand of this Philistine.” So Saul said to David, “Go, and may the LORD be with you.” 38Then Saul clothed David with his military attire and put a bronze helmet on his head, and outfitted him with armor. 39And David strapped on his sword over his military attire and struggled at walking, for he had not trained with the armor. So David said to Saul, “I cannot go with these, because I have not trained with them.” And David took them [y]off. 40Then he took his staff in his hand and chose for himself five smooth stones from the brook, and put them in the shepherd’s bag which he had, that is, in his shepherd’s pouch, and his sling was in his hand; and he approached the Philistine.

David got offered the best armor and sword in the land

• But Saul was 6 foot six

• He stood a head taller than almost everyone else in the land

• He was their giant

No one in Israel would’ve been able to kill Goliath with that sword

The traditional method of warfare was not going to be effective in the current situation

Facing Your Goliath

You may find that skills that you used in a previous period of your life may prove essential when a giant problem arises

Your previous experiences will become essential when … an opportunity arises

There is going to be an opportunity uniquely designed for you

No one else can solve this issue

When you stand before Goliath… The sword will be useless

• All of the advice in the world won’t help

• Conferring with wise council won’t help in this situation

• …it will be wrong

• ChatGPT won’t be able to help

… It is your journey that will matter at that moment

You will need to look at the tools that you’ve developed over your life and use the appropriate one at the appropriate moment

When the moment arises you will need 3 things

1. The ingenuity and creativity to bring your previous experience to this current opportunity

2. The courage to Face the challenge

1. Even though no one else will think that it will work

3. You need to develop a closer relationship with God,  so that you can hear Him correctly when the time arises

Let the Holy Spirit lead you

Example: Seeking Wholeness Series

I have a tech background

• I used to be a web developer

• I have a software background

In 2014, we started this Bible study 

I decided to record the lessons 

Someone told me that it was wrong to do that

Then I  decided to post them online on a whim

By 2020, I had been teaching Bible studies for 5 years

We had some loyal attendees

When the pandemic hit

ALCF Closed on the day we were going to meet

Angel got an agreement from Armadillo Willy

We went to Zoom before ALCF was back online

The skills I had positioned me to keep the ministry going

• We were already posting online

• New people could catch up

• I was technical so I was able to figure Zoom out

• I was able to afford a Zoom account 

• ALCF has one account that many groups share

• I had learned how to build a bible study

• Holy Spirit added grace

• Psychology

• Emotional health

• Relationships

• Mental health

• Neuroscience

About 5 months after we started teaching it emotional health became a trending topic

• Narcissist

• Self-care

• Boundaries

• Emotional and mental health

• Neurodivergence

Now

• People want to binge watch the series instead of waiting each week

Example: 

• Pastor- forgiving your mother and father

Discussion Questions 

Have you ever been in a situation where you felt unprepared, but you still succeeded? 

What are some of the skills you’ve learned over your life?

In what areas of your life are you tempted to wear 'Saul’s armor' (trying to copy someone else’s style, strategy, or identity) instead of using the tools God gave you?"

 

Your Journey Prepared You

Your journey

1. Prepares you for purpose

2. equip you for purpose

3. Validates you when you enter purpose

You can pray to reach a certain level.

• If you don’t have the capacity for that level, your actions will undo your prayers

Your life journey is your training grounds for your purpose

• All the good event

• All the bad

• All the mundane

 

Stop envying Saul’s armor.

Stop envying Saul’s sword

Your sling and your stone are enough

Don’t compare your purpose to what God is doing with and through someone else

God will create opportunities for you that Saul’s achieve cannot achieve

keep embracing your journey

Your journey prepares you for your purpose

Instructor: Michael Leadon

References

The point of a pivot – TD Jakes

TPH Dallas