The Annointing of David Sermon
Looking at the Outside:
Joke: A woman became very concerned about her husband, and went with him when he went to the doctor for a physical. The physician took the wife aside and whispered to her: "I don’t like the way your husband looks." "I don’t either," she replied, "but he’s always been a good father to the children."
Many times we look at the way a person looks and make our conclusions about them. It is said that the founders of Stanford University in California made a personal visit to Harvard to have a building built in memory of their deceased son who had attended there for a year. They were dressed in common clothes and were quickly dismissed by the President of the University because they seemed to be a bother. They were multimillionaires and used that rebuff to found an entire university.
You have heard the old sayings…”You can’t judge a book by its cover” and “Beauty is only skin deep.”
Someone did a study of 90 famous people who were photographed by Yousoff Karsh and included in his book, The Faces of Greatness. Of the 90 faces, 70 were judged to be unattractive because of moles, warts, freckles, acne, and visible scars. Yet these were the people who were deemed as "great" by our reflection of history.
On the other hand, we ignore the deeper things… An article appeared a while back that talked about the relationship between the way people play golf, and the way they conduct business. Fifty-five percent of the 400 executives surveyed for the article admitted that they cheated at golf at least once a week by taking an extra tee shot, undercounting the number of strokes, and secretly producing a fresh ball while pretending to look for one that was lost.
Centuries ago Plato said, "You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation." It seems that our actions in our playtime reveal a lot about what we’re really like at the core of our being.
CHARACTER:
We have been talking about character as one of the 3 KEYS to Godly Leadership. Let me remind of those three KEYS.
1. Calling – God’s claim to your life.
2. Character – What God looks at and develops.
3. Competency – What people look at and worry about developing.
This morning we will be examining the character of one of the greatest bible heroes, David by looking at his CALLING.
Remember that Calling is God’s claim to your life. –
1. I wonder, what is God’s claim to your life? Obviously He made you. He also redeemed you from a self led life of self-ruin by sending His Son to buy you with His own life. That’s a pretty big claim on your life.
a. Have you given God His claim to your life? You see, He holds the note on your life because He paid for your life. The title is in His name because He paid for it.
b. Or are you still living as if your life is your own?
c. 1 Cor 6:19-20 “you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.”
d. God has called you by name.
i. Are you going to refuse to come and receive all He has to give you?
ii. Are you going to choose to miss out on the incredible experience of be a partner with Him in turning the world right-side up?
2. David’s calling is much different than Saul’s calling. Saul’s calling had a lot to do with his appearance; David’s calling has much more to do with his character.
a. Lets look at the passage from 1 Samuel 16 and see how:
i. 1 Sa. 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.” 2 But Samuel said, “How can I go? When Saul hears of it, he will kill me.” And the LORD said, “Take a heifer with you, and say, ’I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.’ 3 “And 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.”
b. Samuel is worried about Saul, whether Saul will discover that there is a “quarterback controversy” for the Nation of Israel. The answer is “yes” but it won’t emerge for awhile.
i. So Samuel is told to go to a specific family in the lineage of Judah in the town of Bethlehem and to anoint a “prince” who will be the future king of Israel.
c. 4 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 And 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. 6 Then it came about when they entered, that he looked at Eliab and thought, “Surely the LORD’S anointed is before Him.” 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.” 8 Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, “Neither has the LORD chosen this one.” 9 Next Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, “Neither has the LORD chosen this one.” 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
d. This is a kind of a Cinderella story…on who does the slipper fit?
1. It is the opposite of what we would expect.
a. Usually the first-born was the choice, yet here it is the youngest.
b. Maybe the best looking one, or the tallest one…nope.
c. But God says, “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”
d. God doesn’t look at your education, the clothes you wear or the kind of car you drive.
2. The heart at the core of character. What is hidden, deep inside of you? How is that character developed?
a. The answer is that it is a life-time process. We never stop having our character grown and developed. In David’s case, he is but a young teenager, and yet God sees his character as having such a solid foundation that a kingdom can be built upon it.
b. Character is not predestined, but it shapes your destiny.
c. Character is not inborn but develops.
d. Character is not hereditary, it is the product of the habits we form and the choices we make.
3. There is a difference between Saul and David. If you recall, when Saul was called by God, the bible said, “God changed his heart” when He came upon him.
a. But here with David, we are told that he is a man after God’s own heart. (cf. 1 Sa. 13:14 “But now your kingdom shall not endure. The LORD has sought out for Himself a man after His own heart, and the LORD has appointed him as ruler over His people, because you have not kept what the LORD commanded you”
b.
3. Samuel Anoints David.
a. The family doesn’t really understand what is happening to David, other than he is being anointed for a special task or role.
b. A word about anointing.
i. Anointing was done to visibly signal that something had taken place, such as a person had been called to serve as a king, a priest, or prophet.
1. It was often the placement or pouring of oil on the head of the person being called or set apart for God’s work.
2. The oil had no special power, it was not magic, it was not “holy oil” as some would try to make us believe.
3. The oil was a special symbol of God’s approval and calling. It was a lasting symbol as it did not was off easy (water repelling) as well as fragrant (left its odor behind).
c. The anointing of David is done to signify that he has been specially called and set apart. It is similar to the calling of some of the ancient prophets and judges and priests. And when each were called they were EMPOWERED by God to do extraordinary things.
d. Did you notice verse 13, where the passage says, 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
i. This is the key to understanding the anointing of God. It is as if God is covering one with His power (like one’s body is covered with oil) so that God can work through the frailty and humanity of the individual called.
ii. . Every Christian is anointed.
1. The word Christian comes from a Greek word which means
"anointed."
2. When you speak against another Christian, you are touching God’s
anointed and you will begin to lose your anointing.
e. In the same way, God anoints His people today for ministry and for service. It is as if He is clothing us with His power for His work.
i. This is the difference between charismania and the truth of the Holy Spirit.
1. The Holy Spirit’s power is given to us to perform God’s work on earth.
2. Not to be used as a toy, or for show for to have others accept you because you have a certain gift.It is in the anointing that the gifts of the spirit can function.
3. Anointing helps you do things you normally could not do.
4. The anointing gives you the power to do something for God, and later it creates changes in people’s lives. Without the anointing, there is no power to change lives.
a. 1Cor 2:4-5 My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, 5so that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power.
5. The anointing makes words you are speaking flow easier. Many people I know have experienced this in sharing their faith, or even teaching when they are full of fear.
6. Consecration allows the anointing to become stronger in our lives.
a. People that have been praying and fasting will often experience a higher level of anointing.
b. Other times, we can experience a higher level of anointing when we have times of persecutions and trials.
7. You may not always notice the anointing physically, but you will know it when you have it. I have experienced what I call the “Holy Trembles” in that I will become energized to a point of almost nervous excitement.
ii. A word about the Holy Spirit: You & I received the Holy Spirit of God when you placed your faith and trust in Jesus Christ.
1. The Bible says that if you don’t have the Holy Spirit, that you do not belong to Christ. And furthermore, that you received the Holy Spirit when you became a Christian! You cannot divide the Holy Spirit from Christ.
2. The Holy Spirit is not some second blessing that someone gives you by touching you. Sometimes we become envious that others seem to have the power of God and we don’t, or that our lives are missing something…so we figure, I guess I will jump through this spiritual hoop or that spiritual hoop and get what they got.
3. The Holy Spirit’s power is not going to be obtained by letting someone touch you, unless that someone is God Himself.
4. The anointing of the Holy Spirit, however, is not about getting more of God. It is about God getting all of you!
a. The anointing of the Holy Spirit comes upon those whose hearts are devoted to God, whose heart is after God’s heart.
b. Just as we talked about in my “Hearing God” series, you must surrender and consecrate yourself fully to God to hear Him and to experience His power for ministry.
i. There are no shortcuts to spiritual maturity and power.
4. I want you to understand that David was anointed not for his own pleasure but because God had a plan for his life and David needed this special empowering to be able to accomplish it.
a. David’s first call to ministry occurs right after this! Read the passage with me:
b. 1 Samuel 16:14-23 14Now the Spirit of the LORD had left Saul, and the LORD sent a tormenting spirit that filled him with depression and fear. 15Some of Saul’s servants suggested a remedy. "It is clear that a spirit from God is tormenting you," they said. 16"Let us find a good musician to play the harp for you whenever the tormenting spirit is bothering you. The harp music will quiet you, and you will soon be well again." 17"All right," Saul said. "Find me someone who plays well and bring him here." 18One of the servants said to Saul, "The son of Jesse is a talented harp player. Not only that; he is brave and strong and has good judgment. He is also a fine-looking young man, and the LORD is with him." 19So Saul sent messengers to Jesse to say, "Send me your son David, the shepherd." 20Jesse responded by sending David to Saul, along with a young goat and a donkey loaded down with food and wine. 21So David went to Saul and served him. Saul liked David very much, and David became one of Saul’s armor bearers. 22Then Saul sent word to Jesse asking, "Please let David join my staff, for I am very pleased with him." 23And whenever the tormenting spirit from God troubled Saul, David would play the harp. Then Saul would feel better, and the tormenting spirit would go away.
c. Saul has an evil spirit. The text says, “from God” to indicate that God allowed this occur. The earlier books of the bible describe evil this way, where as later in the bible, evil is more personified and attributed to Satan
d. David was called to play an instrument for Saul to drive away a maddening spirit. This was his first ministry. What a ministry! He gets the opportunity to be an armor bearer for Saul, he gets to observe the inner workings of the king’s court, and he does battle very literally with the forces of hell through his music! .
i. It is in the Spirit that David will now grow and mature and minister to Saul, as God prepares him for service.
1. How ironic, how unexpected, that David will serve the king to prepare him to serve as king. God’s ways are beyond our ability to predict.
5. Let me talk about music and its power. You all have probably heard about preachers who tell of the evils of “rock and roll”, with wild allusions to the beat, rhythm, etc. and who have made claims of certain kinds of music belonging to the devil.
a. I believe the bible shows that music is much more neutral in its origins. I think that music filled the heavens before the rebellion in heaven; that music was used to praise God, in fact, the old testament is loaded with passages that describe music being used to praise God…and there is almost every single possible instrument described there, including guitar, harp (piano), and drum.
b. Music does have power though. There is an entire field emerging in medicine called music therapy, with over 3800 music therapists across the U.S. providing therapy to people in need.
c. In a very real sense, David’s first ministry was a music therapist.
d. Music has tremendous power to influence our MOODS and our MINDS.
e. Scientific data has shown us that
i. Music reduces blood pressure, heart rate and breathing.
ii. Increases feelings of self worth and eases depression.
iii. Decreases one’s perception of pain.
iv. Occupies the neuro transmitters that usually transmit pain to the brain.
v. Reduces levels of stress, anxiety and fear.
vi. They have seen with cancer patients that music can reduce the nausea and vomiting from chemotherapy.
vii. Music has been shown to trigger strong emotional responses, which lead to the release of hormones and endorphins that increase a feeling of well-being.
viii. Not only does the listening to music help, but studies have found that playing a musical instrument early in your childhood organizes the brain more efficiently for mathematics and other organized subjects.
f. Some might ask, “which kind of music?” And the answer would be, it would depend upon the type of response you wish to elicit.
i. You will likely evoke the same emotions in the listener that the writer experienced writing it. This can go for dark, angry music, light happy music, energetic music, etc.
ii. If you are down, I don’t think I would reinforce my mood with music that makes me feel down. That would be self defeating. Instead, find the music that will lift you up and produces the response you need.
iii.
6. David’s playing of the instrument was more than mere playing of the harp. David had an anointing to play it. It seems to me that David’s audience wasn’t Saul, but the Lord. I believe that it was this characteristic in David’s heart that allowed his music to possess the healing dimension that it did.
a. Are you having problems praying? Begin with music!
(Isaiah 53:1-3, NASB Who has believed our message? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? 2 For He grew up before Him like a tender shoot, And like a root out of parched ground; He has no stately form or majesty That we should look upon Him, Nor appearance that we should be attracted to Him. 3 He was despised and forsaken of men, A man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; And like one from whom men hide their face, He was despised, and we did not esteem Him).
(Philippians 2:5-8, NASB) Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross
7. It seems that David is anointed approximately 7 years before Saul dies and about 10 years or so before he becomes Israel’s king.
a. God gives David time to grow up and to grow into his role as king of Israel, with the enablement of the Holy Spirit.
b. God worked in my calling at the age of 25, shortly after becoming a Christian, to minister full-time. I was 40 before I began my formal ministry. Fifteen years passed between the calling and the formal exercise of that ministry…fifteen years of preparation, learning and challenges. I recall talking to a person who had left the ministry at the age of 40, after just 3 years. I was just about to turn 40, and did not yet have my ministry position yet, and the Lord said to me as I was discouraged….”would you prefer to be 40 and at the end of your ministry or at the beginning of it?”
c. I recall those words He spoke to my heart and remember that life is a journey in character building.
d. God may have spoken to you at one time about how He desires to use you. Or He may have simply put a burning desire in your heart to minister to a certain group of people or have a burden for missions. You have ignored it, saying, “that’s not possible.” But that may have well been the CALL of God on your heart.
i. And even if you were ignorant or deaf to His call, I can guarantee He has spent these years that have passed since that time in preparation of your character.
ii. Has God called you? Has He got a claim on your life? Have you given Him the title to your life or are you trying to live life as if it were your own?
Let’s pray: Lord, some of us here today have been living as if we hold the title to our lives instead of recognizing that you have paid a tremendous price for us. We are living on our own terms and by our own rules and ignoring the truth that you paid for us and own us. Lord, touch us and help that person or persons who are here and holding back the title of their lives so that they would surrender to you today.
iii. Won’t you surrender to Jesus today? In a moment we will have a time of ministry and response, where you can take a step of faith and slide out of your seat and come forward and in so doing, say to God that you are ready to surrender your life to Him today. That you want His power and love to flow through you, that He can have all of you today.
iv. Won’t you do that? I will be here to pray with you if you wish.
Stand as we sing Hymn #300.
