Part 10 C : Fulfill God's purpose in your generation
David had a fair amount of ups and downs, highs and lows, through out his life. From slaying the great and gigantic Goliath, to slaying innocent Uriah. From writing many psalms of worship to adultery with Bathsheba. Yet Acts 13 v 36 sums up his life in this manner, “Now when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep..."
David fulfilled God's purpose for his life. There are five things we can learn from David in his encounter with both Goliath and Uriah, that are vital for fulfilling ones purpose.
1. David was goal oriented
When everybody in Israel were terrified because of Goliath, David simply asked, “What shall 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 defy the armies of the living God?” (I Samuel 17:26 NKJV)
He was focusing on the prize, while everybody focused on the giant. The whole nation focused on the problem and were naturally depressed. But David focused on the prize and was energized, encouraged and enthusiastic. To fulfill God's purpose in this generation, we need to focus on the prize.
2. David knew who he was in God
In the second part of 1 Samuel 17 v 26 above, David asks, "For who is this uncircumcised Philistine ..." In the Old Testament, circumcision was a sign of covenant with God. Therefore, David saw Goliath as somebody without a covenant with God. Consequently, David could take Goliath on because Goliath, though he was a giant, he was still without God on his side.
The importance of having God on your side is further illustrated by the words of Jesus, "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26 NKJV). David had God on his side and that made all the difference. With God, you can fulfill God's purpose for your life.
3. David had a track record of victories
David said to Saul, “Your servant used to keep his father’s sheep, and when a lion or a bear came and took a lamb out of the flock, I went out after it and struck it, and delivered the lamb from its mouth; and when it arose against me, I caught it by its beard, and struck and killed it. Your servant has killed both lion and bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, seeing he has defied the armies of the living God.” (I Samuel 17:34-36 NKJV)
David was not entirely a novice in matters of warfare. He has fought battles, even though at a different scale and not in the view of the public. Nevertheless he had a track record, he had a testimony. He had a point of reference. Never under-estimate small victories, rather build on them. Celebrate the little breakthroughs that The Lord has given in the past. Let them be testimonies that propels you into your destiny. Do not despise the days of humble beginnings (Zechariah 4 v 10). Do not be discouraged when The Lord prepares you for your destiny in obscurity. He will reveal His masterpiece in due time then the people will marvel and sing. See what happened with David after slaying Goliath, 'Now it had happened as they were coming home, when David was returning from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women had come out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with joy, and with musical instruments. So the women sang as they danced, and said: “Saul has slain his thousands, And David his ten thousands.” (I Samuel 18:6-7 NKJV)'. David had the courage to face Goliath because he had a track record of victories under his belt.
4. David depended on God
Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with 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 defied. (I Samuel 17:45 NKJV)
To fulfill God's purpose for our lives, we must depend on God. Even though David had his stones and sling, he still depended on God. He knew that victory cones from The Lord. So he approached Goliath in the name of The Lord. The war was spiritual as much as it was physical. Don't undertake to do anything without prayer and faith in God. Declare the name of The Lord on everything you pursue. Use the name of Jesus to uproot all evil stuck against you. The spiritual and the physical are one.
5. David was repentant
After David had slain Uriah and taken his wife, The Lord sent Nathan the prophet to him ( 2 Samuel 12 v 1-13). When confronted because of his sins this is what David said, "Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” Nathan replied, “The Lord has taken away your sin. You are not going to die. (2 Samuel 12:13 NIV). The rest of David's prayer of repentance is found in Psalm 51.
Even though God does not use perfect people, He requires repentance. He only requires a humble and repentant heart. If you are humble and repentant, He will restore you to run your race and fulfil your purpose.
Do not let failure be final. Rise up again, learn from your mistakes and be resolute to finish strong. Proverbs 24 v 16 says, 'for though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again, but the wicked stumble when calamity strikes'. Ultimately, it is those who rise more times than they fall who make it to the top. Success belong to those who persist beyond failure. John Maxwell published a book many years ago entitled 'Failing forward'. Failure can not be seen as the end result, but as feedback for what must be avoided on this journey.
Winning glorifies God
The bible says, 'Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven' (Matthew 5:16 NKJV). This is the purpose of life, to glorify God with our works. When we live to fulfill our potential and be all that God called us to be, when we shine our light before men, then God will be glorified.
John 15 v 8 says, 'By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples'. We are called to be fruitful. Wherever you are planted, whatever vocation you pursue, there is an expectation upon you of fruitfulness. You can do more and be more, because God is glorified when you bear much fruit. Don't be satisfied by being fruitful here and there, the call is to bear much fruit. Go for more!
Permit me, dear reader to close with the famous words of Marianne Williamson from her book, A return to love: Reflections on the principles of a course in miracles. She writes, ' our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous ? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It is not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear,our presence automatically liberates others.'
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