Sunday AM Sermon Notes Pastor Anthony Hovey
The Person God Uses
1 Samuel 17:40-51
The Lord is looking for men, women, boys, and girls that He can fill with His Spirit and use to make a difference for the Lord… 2 Chronicles 16:9a (TNIV) says, For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him... If we have the right heart, each of us is capable of being the kind of person that God will take and use for His glory, just like the person in our text – David. From the life of David we are confronted with a question: Am I a person God can use? or, Will I allow myself to become a person God can use?
In David’s meeting with Goliath, there are some definite principles exposed that teach us about the person God uses. Let’s notice these truths this morning. I want to preach for a while on this thought The Person God Uses. These verses shed some light on the four characteristics they possess. Allow me to share these characteristics with you today…
Let’s begin by reading from the Word of God together…
1 Samuel 17:40-51… 40 And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd's bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling was in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine. 41 And the Philistine came on and drew near unto David; and the man that bare the shield went before him. 42 And when the Philistine looked about, and saw David, he disdained him: for he was but a youth, and ruddy, and of a fair countenance. 43 And the Philistine said unto David, Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with staves? And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. 44 And the Philistine said to David, Come to me, and I will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the air, and to the beasts of the field. 45 Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. 46 This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. 47 And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD's, and he will give you into our hands. 48 And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came, and drew nigh to meet David, that David hastened, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine. 49 And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth. 50 So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him; but there was no sword in the hand of David. 51 Therefore David ran, and stood upon the Philistine, and took his sword, and drew it out of the sheath thereof, and slew him, and cut off his head therewith. And when the Philistines saw their champion was dead, they fled...
I. The People God Uses Are Common People
1. Ordinary People Are Used By God… 1 Samuel 16:11a… And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all thy children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep..
David was the youngest and most inexperienced of his family. All throughout the Bible, we find God uses simple, ordinary people as it results in the most glory for God...
1 Corinthians 1:26-29… 26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: 27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: 29 That no flesh should glory in his presence...
2. Obedient People Are Used By God… 1 Samuel 17:17,20a… 17 And Jesse said unto David his son, Take now for thy brethren an ephah of this parched corn, and these ten loaves, and run to the camp to thy brethren… 20a And David rose up early in the morning, and left the sheep with a keeper, and took, and went, as Jesse had commanded him…
David arrived at that great moment in his life by doing a simple, mundane task in obedience to his father, Jesse. God uses people who do not mind doing mundane things for God’s glory. Have you ever said, “I would never take on a certain responsibility at church?”
Psalms 84:10… For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness…
II. The People God Uses Are Consecrated People
1. Consecrated People Have Entered Into A Personal Relationship with God… 1 Samuel 17:37… David said moreover, The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the LORD be with thee…
The words of David revealed that he had a personal relationship with God…
Psalms 5:3… My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up…
Acts 13:22… I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will...
2. Consecrated People Have Expressed A Powerful Reliance Upon God… 1 Samuel 17:37… David said moreover, The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the LORD be with thee…
David voiced his faith and confidence in the Lord. David was not looking to man made weapons and resources, but he stuck to what had always worked in his life: faith in God!
2 Corinthians 10:14… (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds)…
Ephesians 6:10… Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might…
III. The People God Uses Are Committed People
1. David Was Committed Regardless Of The Overwhelming Obstacles… 2 Samuel 22:2-3… And (David) said, The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; The God of rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour…
Goliath was approximately 9’9” tall with armor and weaponry that is estimated to have weighed over 150 pounds. David had no armor, only a sling and five smooth stones. David’s eyes were not focused on the size of this obstacle, but rather the size of his God! David was determined to honor the Lord despite the size and power of Goliath. His eyes were not on the size of the problem, but on the Problem-solver!
1 John 4:4… greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world...
Hebrews 13:5-6… for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me...
2. David Was Committed Regardless Of Outward Opposition… Both David’s brother (vs. 28), and Saul (vs. 33) were initially opposed to David. Anytime you want to do something big for God, there will always be some critic who thinks it can’t be done. But David had faith in God!
Matthew 17:20… If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you…
Matthew 19:26… with God all things are possible...
2 Timothy 3:12… Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution...
3. David Was Committed Regardless of Other Opportunities… 1 Samuel 17:32… And David said to Saul, Let no man's heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine…
Did you ever consider David could have simply walked away? However, his priority involved God and bringing glory to Him! To him, the main thing was the glory of God! He had made up His mind that God would come first, no matter what!
Matthew 6:33… But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness…
1 Corinthians 10:31… whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God...
IV. The People God Uses Are Courageous People
Mark Twain said, “Courage is not the absence of fear, but resistance to fear.” David exhibited great courage in going against the giant, Goliath. We learn from David the following about courageous people…
1. They Are Willing To Acknowledge The Risk… 1 Samuel 17:40-41… 40 And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd's bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling was in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine. 41 And the Philistine came on and drew near unto David; and the man that bare the shield went before him…
David was willing to put his life on the line for the glory of God. If the Lord hadn’t come through for him, David would have perished; he would have died!
2 Timothy 2:3… Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ…
Mark 8:34-35… Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it...
2. They Are Willing To Accept The Ridicule… 1 Samuel 17:42-44… 42 And when the Philistine looked about, and saw David, he disdained him: for he was but a youth, and ruddy, and of a fair countenance. 43 And the Philistine said unto David, Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with staves? And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. 44 And the Philistine said to David, Come to me, and I will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the air, and to the beasts of the field...
David was literally risking his life for the sake of God. Are you willing to lay down your life in defense of the Gospel? David was willing to listen to the taunts of his opponents and the jibes of his critics. To him, the rewards that came for obedience to the Lord outweighed any personal embarrassment he might suffer because of others. Dr. Lester Roloff used to say, “You can’t insult a dead man.” If you’re “dead to self,” what others say will not matter…
Philippians 2:5-7… Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it might not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, …
3. They Are Willing To Affirm The Results… 1 Samuel 17:45-47… 45 Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. 46 This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. 47 And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD'S, and he will give you into our hands...
David affirmed victory before it ever happened! How could he be so sure? Because God had promised through Samuel that David would succeed as King after Saul – an event that had not yet happened. By faith, David saw the victory over the giant before it ever happened because God had more plans for David…
Philippians 1:6… Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ…
CONCLUSION: Do you want to be a person God uses? God uses common, consecrated, committed, courageous people. The real issue is not do we WANT to be the kind of person God uses, but rather, WILL we be the kind of person God uses?
