I Can Do All Things, part 3
I Can Do All Things, part 3
By: Bobby Sullivan
(Sermon Notes to print and Powerpoint Slides at the bottom of the page)
“It’s a mantra that I live by and something that drives me every single day,” Curry said. “It’ll hopefully inspire people to find something that drives them, whether that’s a verse or some other motivating force that keeps you hungry and keeps you driven. That’s mine, and you can pick whatever yours is and let that drive you, too, as you continue with basketball or whatever field you’re in in your life.” Stephan Curry
Characteristics of those who do the impossible rather than talking about it: 1 Samuel 17
1.) They don’t start off doing the impossible: 14-24
This story takes the phrase, “Killim with Kindness” to a whole new level. He didn’t just look around for stones to put in a sling. He practiced. a good slinger hurled a stone as far and accurately as a good archer. Roman military texts recommended archery target practice at about 200 yards (183 meters). Slingers are known to hurl their projectiles even farther, as much as 440 yards (402 meters) (a quarter of a mile / 0.40 km).
As for accuracy, one ancient writer noted that the best slingers “would wound not merely the heads of their enemies, but any part of the face at which they might have aimed.” Experiments demonstrate that missiles leave a sling in excess of 60 miles per hour (97 km/h).
What about practicing being in His presence?
What about practicing soul winning?
What about practicing praying for healing?
What about practicing the prophetic?
2.) They measure the impossible against potential:15-27
“But David went back and forth from Saul to feed his fathers sheep at Bethlehem.” Forty days each side would work itself up into a frenzy waiting to see who was brave, bold and fearless enough to face the giant. David is listening to all the complaining and thinks, the winner get the kings riches, his daughter and the entire linage will never pay taxes again!
English Proverb “One of these days is none of these days”
Don Marguis “Procrastination is the art of keeping up with yesterday”
Before we show up, we must make sure this is a battle we are called to fight! David knew he was called to this fight.
David’s Perspective positioned him to physically win and prepare him for promotion. He other soldiers didn’t have the courage because this wasn’t there battle to win. God positioned David as a surprise attack against the enemy, and he put the necessary courage and indignation in his heart. David was not called to be a coward but a conqueror. David saw the situation from Gods perspective and he recognized his moment of destiny.
3.) They refuse to listen to doubters:28-33 41-44 How many of you have others question you? Do you have what it takes? I don’t see a champion in you therefore your not! BULL! “Favor can turn tragedy into a triumph in moments.” Mike Murdock
“I tend to enjoy proving people wrong.” – Hayley Williams
Doubters make the best motivation
“When the doubters tell you it can’t be done and all kind of tragedies will come your way, I say nonsense. If you can get to the very root of who you are and make something happen from it, my sense tells me you are going to surprise yourself.” – Vidal Sassoon
“Do what the other 99% are not. The loser is not the one who goes down swinging but the one who refuses to step up to the plate. While David was winning the others were whining.
4.) Not overwhelmed by the odds: 32
“David said to Saul, let no man’s heart fail because of this Philistine; your servant will go and fight him.
Why did David volunteer? He knew Gods call and he knew this was his battle to win. He not only sensed Gods call but Gods timing. There are 2 aspects of Gods timing in this story. 1.) Recognizing the season, we are in and the divine moments when seasons shift and promotion happens suddenly.
The Bible uses two different words for time.
Chronos meaning “times” and Kairos meaning “seasons’ If we don’t understand this basic principle, we will end up trying to reap during planting season, plant during harvest, run when we should be resting, and rest when its time to run.
While tending the sheep, David was living in Chronos time. Nothing out of the ordinary was happening. Being diligent in his Chronos time prepared him to get all that was available in his Kairos moment. We must know our season of life
In two of his psalms, he suggests a specific course of action: prayer followed by remembering the past goodness of God. “My spirit grows faint within me; my heart within me is dismayed. I remember the days of long ago; I meditate on all your works and consider what your hands have done. I spread out my hands to you; I thirst for you like a parched land” (Psalm 143:4–6).
And, “From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy” (Psalm 61:2–3, KJV). Praise the Lord for His ready ear and His constant faithfulness. There is a rock higher than we.
A famous quote by Alfred Lord Tennyson says, “More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of.”
The unchartered path is lined with uncertainties. David was about to change the course of history by stepping out in faith.
5.) They hear from God not man!Vs.33
“Saul said to David, you are not able to go to fight against this Philistine. You are only a adolescent and he has been a warrior since youth.
David made up his mind long before he put his hand in the bag!
“Some people succeed because they are destined to, but most people succeed because the are determined to.”
“The difference between a successful person is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather a lack of will.”
Vince Lombardi
DAVID sees what others don’t and refuses to see what others do.
Make no mistake David sees what’s in front of him. He sees the 9’9” freak of nature wearing 125 pounds of armor. He hears the threats from GOLIATH…Here twiggy twiggy! 17:43 “Am I a dog that you come to me with sticks”
What Giant do you see parading before you every day?
Your Goliath may not carry a sword or shield but threatens you with blades of unemployment, abandonment, depression, guilt and inadequacy. Your giant may not strut up and down the hills of Elah, but he prances in your office, your classroom, your bedroom showing you the bills you cant pay, grades you cant make and people you cant please, a career you cant escape, a past you cant shake and a future you refuse to face.
This young beardless wonder boy saw something supernatural and he shouted in confidence.
17:45 “ 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.” He now runs to the battle rather than from it.
David got a head start! LOL
When David focused on God giants fell, when he didn’t he fell.
David focused on God 9x more than the giant.
Vs 26 The armies of the living God
Vs 36 The armies of the living God
Vs 45 The Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel
Vs 46 The Lord will deliver you into my hand…that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel
Vs 47 The Lord does not save with sword and spear, for the battle is the Lord’s, and He will give you into our hands.
Note: Armies of Israel. He sees platoons of angels
6.) Build on past successes: 34-37
Saul said, “GO and the Lord be with you.”
7.) They face the impossible with a higher purpose45-47
What is our purpose? Why are you here? Fear tolerated is Faith contaminated!!! Proverbs 18:16 is a powerful statement that reveals the answer: “A man’s gift makes room for him” (NKJV).
Friend it is time to untie knots that are in your mind, your heart, and your life. The can nots and the do nots you have in your mind. Erase the will nots, may nots, might nots that may find a home in your heart. You need to be free from the could nots, would nots, and should nots that obstruct your life. Focus on what you need to do! If you spend your time doing the Do’s, you won’t have time to do the don’ts.
Don’t worry, don’t freak out, don’t panic, don’t stress, don’t give in, don’t throw in the towel and don’t’ surrender. Surrender is for those without options. Surrender is for those who have nothing to fight back with and for those who have lost their will. David was not defeated because he had a higher purpose other than popularity.
David was a man after Gods heart. It wasn’t like God has his heart only on David as much as David was after Gods heart.
Defeat is in your head.
“Between you and every goal that you wish to achieve, there is a series of obstacles, and the bigger the goal, the bigger the obstacles. Your decision to be, have and do something out of the ordinary entails facing difficulties and challenges that are out of the ordinary as well. Sometimes your greatest asset is simply your ability to stay with it longer than anyone else.”
~ Brian Tracy
Don’t be discouraged today, its often the last key in the bunch that opens the lock.
Albert Einstein said, “It’s not that I’m so smart, it’s just that I stay with problems longer.”
“Never give up on what you really want to do. The person with big dreams is more powerful than one with all the facts.. Who’s dream is bigger than there fear. Don’t let your dream become your nightmare. Don’t let your will to BECOME be broken into pieces.
Rise up in Faith today! You need more faith in Gods ability to use you, build you and create within you than Satans ability (or lack of) to deceive you, manipulate you and to punk you!
Sir Isaac Newton said, “For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.” If you never met fear face to face, chances are your traveling in the same direction. Fear of failure can be a motivating factor because its proves you know longer want to be a social statistic. You learn to respect fear, learn from failure, but embrace the process as long as it propels you forward.
Your ground or surroundings will always produce what you plant.
Often you need to cultivate the ground, pull out the weeds. The land doesn’t care what you plant, it will return poison as much as it will produce corn. WHATEVER YOU SOW THAT IS WHAT YOU WILL REAP! This biblical principle is a universal law. Feed your brain seeds of hope! It has been said your brain has 60 billion nerve ending cells and yet it is also called the largest area of unemployment in the world. Friends, listen , you are standing in the middle of your own acre of untapped diamonds and unrefined gold deposits ever created.
Remember, “Fear tolerated is faith contaminated.” C. Dollar
Plant purpose with Passion then God will propel you to a platform of prominence.
8.) They are passionate to win. Vs 48
“David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet the Philistine.” Warriors see victory long before they put on the battle gear! He told the giant publically what the Holy Spirit spoke to him privately! Bill Johnson, “Those with the most hope will have the most influence.” “Any area in our life for which we have no hope is under the influence of a lie!” Bill Johnson. David wasn’t just wishing, guessing. His hope was not based out of fear but optimism.
9.) They desire to help others do the impossible49-52.
How many will agree that David was a gift sent from God. He was the unseen package under the Christmas tree.Proverbs 18:16 is a powerful statement that reveals the answer: “A man’s gift makes room for him” (NKJV).
10.) They don’t try to be someone else 34-37
You cant face your giants is someone elses anointing. God will give you your won customized armor and a voice that will shout, “I can do all things through Christ”
Don’t imitate others
Observe them, learn from them, but don’t try to be like them.
Learn their skills but then implement them in your own life and move forward on your own road. Because you are walking your own road, you cannot follow the footsteps of somebody else, nor can someone else walk your road for you. They have their road, you have yours.
Why did the God give all of us different fingerprints, different ears, different noses? Wouldn’t it have been much easier for Him to make all of us out of a single mold? One model; no differences, no comparisons. He could have done it, but He didn’t. Why not? Apparently He needs us to be individual. He needs us to be different. Certainly this fact adds to the pleasure of the game. If all the characters in the play were alike, then it wouldn’t be much fun to watch. He surely likes us all to be different. And He surely needs us all to be different!
Paint your own portrait not what others paint for you
What do we need to do the impossible?
STAND ON THE STONE OF THE SAVIOR!
- The stone of God’s sovereignty:
Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by our great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you to do. Jere. 32:17
- The Stone of God’s security:David believed what he said
“I pray that you will begin to understand how incredibly great His power is to help those who believe him…the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead.” Eph 1:20 LB
- The stone of God’s strength: Let us not grow weary in well doing. “The Lord is the everlasting God…He never grows weary…He strengthens those who are weak and tired. Those who trust the Lord for help will find their strength renewed.” Isa 40:28-31
- The Stone of God’s serenity: Peace in the midst of a storm
Psalm 16:8-9 “ I am always aware of the Lord’s presence. HE IS NEAR and nothing can shake me. I’m so thankful and glad, and I feel completely secure.”
- The Stone of God’s shield: God always goes before you. Isah 43: 2
“When you go through the deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you. When you go through the rivers of difficulty, you will not drown, When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you..don’t be afraid for I am with you.”
Deut 31:6 Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”
“Start by doing the necessary, then the possible, and suddenly you are doing the impossible” St. Francis of Assisi
I would much rather miss my mark by attempting to hit it then sit back complaining that I missed the mark without even trying.
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