Introduction
• Many people have no clear purpose for their lives.
• Even Christians can go through life never realizing God’s plan for them.
• Only through discovering His purpose for us can we experience genuine fulfillment. I want to experience His purpose for my life.
• Serving, positions us to fulfill our purpose in the Kingdom of God.
• Tonight we will look at serving with a purpose and we will study the life of David and see what he did as our example.
1) This evening, what is your unique plan?
a) What purpose does God have for you?
b) Shout …My plan must be great because I serve a great God.
i) The apostle Paul described the life of King David by mentioning that he “served the purpose of God in his own generation”
(NKJV) Acts 13 36 “For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell asleep, was buried with his fathers, and saw corruption; 37 but He whom God raised up saw no corruption.
c) You can honor the Lord with your daily choices.
i) At work, at home, and in the community, serving God is not limited to church and the mission field. The best way to experience a fulfilled life is to live for the Lord.
(NKJV) Psalms 34 10 The young lions lack and suffer hunger; But those who seek the LORD shall not lack any good thing.
2) How did David serve the purpose of God in his life?
a) Let us look at how David served with a purpose.
b) Shout…I want to serve the purpose of God in my life.
c) David worked as a shepherd: He was the youngest of eight sons, and his task was to tend the sheep.
(NKJV) 1 Samuel 16 11 And Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all the young men here?” Then he said, “There remains yet the youngest, and there he is, keeping the sheep.” And Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and bring him. For we will not sit down till he comes here.”
i) In a humble role, David submitted to his father’s authority.
ii) David protected the animals and learned how to fight courageously—a valuable skill he later put to use as a warrior.
d) David fights Goliath: David recognized that the true nature of the battle with the Philistine was spiritual. He boldly approached the giant in God’s strength and demonstrated the awesome power of the name of the Lord.
(NKJV) 1 Samuel 17 45 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. 46 This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you. And this day I will give the carcasses of the camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. 47 Then all this assembly shall know that the LORD does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the LORD’s, and He will give you into our hands.” 48 So it was, when the Philistine arose and came and drew near to meet David, that David hurried and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine.
i) You and I are given a similar opportunity when people criticize Christians or our faith. Instead of remaining silent, we should defend the name of Jesus Christ, who gave His life on our behalf and faithfully cares for us day by day.
e) David was obedient to authority: King Saul became jealous of David’s tremendous success in battle and tried on a number of occasions to kill him. But despite the king’s hostility, David remained committed to serving Saul.
i) When you find yourself in a difficult situation facing criticism or persecution, you should use this chance to serve the Lord.
ii) If you trust Him instead of lashing out, you will be serving His purpose for your life.
iii) You and I are to fight our battles on our knees, not by attacking other people. We war spiritually not fleshly.
f) David waited on God’s timing: David’s men urged him to kill Saul when he had the chance. But to his followers’ surprise, he refused to harm the man Samuel had anointed as king.
(NKJV) 1 Samuel 24 6 And he said to his men, “The LORD forbid that I should do this thing to my master, the LORD’s anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the LORD.”
g) David determined to wait for God to give him the kingdom.
i) The world won’t always understand our decisions we make. When you respond to life’s opportunities and crises in a godly fashion, you model the authentic Christian life.
h) Davis served as an illustration: David’s life provides a powerful example of both the Lord’s forgiveness and the consequences of sin.
i) Although David committed adultery with Bathsheba and arranged for Uriah’s death, he repented of his sin after Nathan confronted him.
ii) God forgave him, but his rebellion had consequences. After David’s sin with Bathsheba, his life was filled with heartache and pain.
iii) Most people in our society want to be able to rebel against God and avoid the repercussions. Our heavenly Father graciously forgives our wrongdoings, but we will always pay the price for our disobedience.
i) David wrote songs: The book of Psalms contains many lyrics written by David.
i) This collection gives us an intimate glimpse of the relationship between a man and God.
ii) Every human emotion from love and devotion to jealousy and hatred is expressed in it.
iii) Because of David’s contribution to the Word of God, his life has served the Lord’s purpose, not just for his generation, but for thousands of years after it.
Conclusion
• Perhaps you have never realized the purpose for your life.
• As a Christian, you should live in such a way that your life will make an impact for God. Draw people to Jesus.
• Your attitudes and actions should count for His kingdom. Stand up and be accounted as a Christ follower.
• As we look at David’s life we see the purpose of God in all of it!
• I pray that you will seek the Father’s will and surrender to His leading. The Lord will amaze you with the powerful things He will do in and through your life.
• You are serving the purpose of God.
• Let us pray!
