1. DAVID THE SHEPHERD KING #2 How To Be Ready When God Gives You Opportunity

2. What can you do be ready when God gives you an opportunity to do something significant? –Many of us could be used by God in very important ways if we were just ready when the opportunity came... –There is so much work to do all around us for the Cause of Christ, but Jesus said, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.” (Mt. 9:37). One reason for the shortage is that many are not ready Perhaps we are distracted, inattentive, or spiritually disqualified – so we did not see or take advantage of the opportunity presented us In this lesson we are going to look at a young man who was given an opportunity to do something very special for the Lord – a young man who took advantage of the opportunity and blessed the whole world (1 st Sam. 16).

3. SAMUEL’S DISAPPOINTMENT Samuel was very disappointed at the downfall of Saul and his grief was evident (1 st Samuel 16:1) I find myself wondering about Samuel’s grief. –He knew long ago it was not going to work (1 Sam. 8:7-9; 18-20) – Saul was not God’s choice, he was the people’s choice –The people demanded a king, so God gave them exactly what they were demanding – sadly, they had to live with the results 1 Sam 16:1 Now the LORD said to Samuel, " How long will you grieve over Saul, since I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and go; I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have selected a king for Myself among his sons." 1 Sam 8:7-9 And the LORD told him: "Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king. 8 As they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you. 9 Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will do." 1 Sam 8:18-20 When that day comes, you will cry out for relief from the king you have chosen, and the LORD will not answer you in that day." 19 But the people refused to listen to Samuel. "No!" they said. "We want a king over us. 20 Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to lead us and to go out before us and fight our battles.

4. SAMUEL’S DISAPPOINTMENT Samuel was very disappointed at the downfall of Saul and his grief was evident (1 st Samuel 16:1) I find myself wondering about Samuel’s grief. There will always be disappoints associated with doing things our way 1 st Samuel 16:1 describes the calling of a man chosen by God –Man would not have chosen David – he was a nobody –Saul, though, was head and shoulders above the rest (1 Sam. 9:2) - he had what men look for –It is evident that David did not have what it took to please men – he didn’t even impress Samuel. 1 Sam 9:2 He had a son whose name was Saul, a choice and handsome man, and there was not a more handsome person than he among the sons of Israel; from his shoulders and up he was taller than any of the people

5. WE MUST DETERMINE TO BE GOD’S CHOICE – NOT MAN’S CHOICE Becoming man’s choice and becoming God’s choice are two totally different things –If we are looking for men to notice us, we will be doing things to please them – and ignoring things that please God (Proverbs 14:12) –If we seeking the favor of men, we will be jealous of others and what they may be promoted to There is a way which seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death

6. WE MUST DETERMINE TO BE GOD’S CHOICE – NOT MAN’S CHOICE Becoming man’s choice and becoming God’s choice are two totally different things James, had something to say to some in his day who were striving to be the choice of men rather than the choice of God (James 3:13-18; 4:10) Let me tell something about responsibility in the Lord’s church. You do not have to force and demand places of responsibility in the church. –If you are pleasing to God, then He will see to it that you get responsibility –You will not have to call attention to yourself before men. If you are faithful – God will notice and use you James 3:13-18 Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth. 15 This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic. 16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing. 17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. 18 And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. James 4:10 Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you

7. WE MUST DETERMINE TO BE GOD’S CHOICE – NOT MAN’S CHOICE Becoming man’s choice and becoming God’s choice are two totally different things James, had something to say to some in his day who were striving to be the choice of men rather than the choice of God (James 3:13-18; 4:10) Let me tell something about responsibility in the Lord’s church. You do not have to force and demand places of responsibility in the church. What I am saying is this: Determine that if you are going to be used by God it will by His choice. It is God we must please – We will soon see how David became God’s choice

8. GOD SEES DIFFERENTLY THAN WE SEE Samuel has a little problem that needs to be solved. He is afraid to do what God told him to do (1 st Samuel 16:2a) You see, anointing another king while Saul was still on the throne would be considered an act of open treason. –Saul was already fighting bouts of depression and paranoia, and getting more unpredictable every day. –Saul just might kill Samuel –It is not always easy fulfilling God’s wishes, but where there is a will there is a way 1 st Samuel 16:2b-3 God wanted this done in secret for it would be several years before David would ascend to the throne But Samuel said, "How can I go? When Saul hears of it, he will kill me." 1 Sam 16:2-3 And the LORD said, " Take a heifer with you and say, 'I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.' 3 "You shall invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do; and you shall anoint for Me the one whom I designate to you.

9. GOD SEES DIFFERENTLY THAN WE SEE Samuel has a little problem that needs to be solved. He is afraid to do what God told him to do (1 st Samuel 16:2a) You see, anointing another king while Saul was still on the throne would be considered an act of open treason. 1 st Samuel 16:4-5 –So, they all go through the consecration rituals, the elders, Samuel, and Jesse’s family –Unknown to all of them, Samuel was watching as the sons of Jesse came in 1 Sam 16:4-5 So Samuel did what the LORD said, and came to Bethlehem. And the elders of the city came trembling to meet him and said, " Do you come in peace?" 5 He said, "In peace; I have come to sacrifice to the LORD. Consecrate yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice." He also consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.

10. GOD SEES DIFFERENTLY THAN WE SEE Samuel has a little problem that needs to be solved. He is afraid to do what God told him to do (1 st Samuel 16:2a) You see, anointing another king while Saul was still on the throne would be considered an act of open treason. 1 st Samuel 16:4-5 1 st Samuel 16:6 –Samuel, using human judgment, immediately notices the one he thinks God will pick –Samuel probably thought himself to be a pretty good judge of character – just like most of us do. But he was wrong! 1 Sam 16:6 When they entered, he looked at Eliab and thought, "Surely the LORD'S anointed is before Him.

11. GOD SEES DIFFERENTLY THAN WE SEE Samuel has a little problem that needs to be solved. He is afraid to do what God told him to do (1 st Samuel 16:2a) You see, anointing another king while Saul was still on the throne would be considered an act of open treason. 1 st Samuel 16:4-5 1 st Samuel 16:6 1 st Samuel 16:7 –Man tends to look at and be concerned with other’s physical appearance –You see, Eliab had eye catching physical characteristics like Saul had –We tend to judge people by what we see physically... 1 Sam 16:7 But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."

12. GOD SEES DIFFERENTLY THAN WE SEE Samuel has a little problem that needs to be solved. He is afraid to do what God told him to do (1 st Samuel 16:2a) You see, anointing another king while Saul was still on the throne would be considered an act of open treason. 1 st Samuel 16:4-5 1 st Samuel 16:6 1 st Samuel 16:7 Now let’s ask this question: How are we going to be ready to be used by God for something special?

13. PUT OUR EFFORTS INTO THE THINGS GOD LOOKS AT Remember, we want to concentrate on being God’s choice. He is the One we need to please God is looking for people who have the right hearts before Him. That is the limiting factor when it comes to being used –2 nd Chronicles 16:9 –God is looking for good hearts 2 Chron 16:9 "For the eyes of the LORD move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His.

14. PUT OUR EFFORTS INTO THE THINGS GOD LOOKS AT Remember, we want to concentrate on being God’s choice. He is the One we need to please God is looking for people who have the right hearts before Him. That is the limiting factor when it comes to being used Do you see what God is looking for? God did not find this in the seven older sons of Jesse. –If you want to be used by God for something special, then take an inward spiritual inventory –In your heart of hearts – whom do you serve? David was a man after God’s own heart – that was the stated conclusion that God had of David’s life. Would that be true of us?

15. PUT OUR EFFORTS INTO THE THINGS GOD LOOKS AT Remember, we want to concentrate on being God’s choice. He is the One we need to please God is looking for people who have the right hearts before Him. That is the limiting factor when it comes to being used Do you see what God is looking for? God did not find this in the seven older sons of Jesse. Well, Samuel quit second guessing God after the first blunder with Eliab. Maybe that would be a good thing for you and me to do as well. –1 st Samuel 16:8-13 –Jesse, evidently, didn’t even think David was worth considering –Where was David? With the sheep – faithfully attending to the job he was presently entrusted with –When God is looking for someone to do something special, He looks for one who is faithful to what he is currently doing 1 Sam 16:8-13 Then Jesse called Abinadab and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, "The LORD has not chosen this one either." 9 Next Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, "The LORD has not chosen this one either." 10 Thus Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. But Samuel said to Jesse, "The LORD has not chosen these." 11 And Samuel said to Jesse, "Are these all the children?" And he said, " There remains yet the youngest, and behold, he is tending the sheep." Then Samuel said to Jesse, "Send and bring him; for we will not sit down until he comes here." 12 So he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, with beautiful eyes and a handsome appearance. And the LORD said, " Arise, anoint him; for this is he." 13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon David from that day forward. And Samuel arose and went to Ramah

16. PUT OUR EFFORTS INTO THE THINGS GOD LOOKS AT Remember, we want to concentrate on being God’s choice. He is the One we need to please God is looking for people who have the right hearts before Him. That is the limiting factor when it comes to being used Do you see what God is looking for? God did not find this in the seven older sons of Jesse. Well, Samuel quit second guessing God after the first blunder with Eliab. Maybe that would be a good thing for you and me to do as well. Where did David go after being anointed to prepare? To the palace? No, he went back home to his father’s sheep. –Where do you find David when he is not playing music for Saul? –He was with the sheep! –David was preparing for his kingship among the sheep

17. We need to accept God’s timetable, and not insist on ours –That is hard to do sometimes. Especially when we are brimming with enthusiasm for something God as a timetable – it is seen in the life of David This principle is stated in the N. T. … 1 Peter 5:6 I am not suggesting that we just sit back and wait on God to do it all … –We must me working – that is what God is looking for We should all want to be used by God, and we should all be ready when He opens the door of opportunity. Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time