1Sa 17:1-11 ,45:51 Now the Philistines gathered their armies for battle. And they were gathered at Socoh, which belongs to Judah, and encamped between Socoh and Azekah, in Ephes-dammim. (2) And Saul and the men of Israel were gathered, and encamped in the Valley of Elah, and drew up in line of battle against the Philistines. (3) And the Philistines stood on the mountain on the one side, and Israel stood on the mountain on the other side, with a valley between them. (4) And there came out from the camp of the Philistines a champion named Goliath of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span. (5) He had a helmet of bronze on his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail, and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of bronze. (6) And he had bronze armor on his legs, and a javelin of bronze slung between his shoulders. (7) The shaft of his spear was like a weaver's beam, and his spear's head weighed six hundred shekels of iron. And his shield-bearer went before him. (8) He stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, "Why have you come out to draw up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves, and let him come down to me. (9) If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we will be your servants. But if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall be our servants and serve us." (10) And the Philistine said, "I defy the ranks of Israel this day. Give me a man, that we may fight together." (11) When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid. …(45) Then David said to the Philistine, "You come to me with a sword and 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 down and cut off your head. And I will give the dead bodies of the host of the Philistines this day to the birds of the air and to the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, (47) and that all this assembly may know that the LORD saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is the LORD's, and he will give you into our hand." (48) When the Philistine arose and came and drew near to meet David, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet the Philistine. (49) And David put his hand in his bag and took out a stone and slung it and struck the Philistine on his forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the ground. (50) So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and struck the Philistine and killed him. There was no sword in the hand of David. (51) Then David ran and stood over the Philistine and took his sword and drew it out of its sheath and killed him and cut off his head with it. When the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled.
Everyone one of us is a leader. Leadership is simply influence. Everyone has influence, either positive (a good leader) or negative (a bad leader.) Christians ought to be good leaders as Jesus calls us the salt (cleanses) and light (dispels darkness) of the world. Every Christian is called to be a good leader. We need to evaluate what difference we have made in the place God put us.
The Bible is the best book on leadership we can get. The Bible has remained the best sellers because it continues to remain relevant.
TLS Areas
Three areas of David’s transformational leadership.1. Faith
He transformed Israel through his faith (v45, 46). The Israelite army paralyzed in fear. David by his faith went up to face the challenge of the intimidating enemy. His enemy belittled him. Yet, one stone from David defeated the enemy and turned the entire Israel around. Faith comes little by little. Faith comes from exercising.David has been killing lions and bears. He probably did not start there, he probably started small with scorpions and snakes. He then moved on to wolves and eventually lions and bears and ultimately the 9-foot giant. It progresses little by little. We must be willing to stretch our abilities. Go for training (SOL) to increase understanding and
2 Military Ability
He transformed Israel through his military ability. (1 Sam 5, 14; 2 Sam 8:1 vv)1Sa 18:5, 14 (5) And David went out and was successful wherever Saul sent him, so that Saul set him over the men of war. And this was good in the sight of all the people and also in the sight of Saul's servants…. (14) And David had success in all his undertakings, for the LORD was with him.
When David took five stones he probably knew he just need one.
We must make sure God is with us in whatever that we do. As we excel win what we do, our influence will grow. We find that we will begin to transform our work place, school, etc. In DUMC, we are growing to be better worker for the Lord. When it comes to doing things for God, there is no such thing as part time or 3/4 time. It’s either full time, overtime or all the time.
When we are so good, so influential and impactful, we must be careful lest we get into problems. This is what happened to David as recorded in 2 Sam 11.
2Sa 11:1a In the spring of the year, the time when kings go out to battle, David sent Joab
David took it easy. He was complacent. He did not go to war as he should.
However, when prophet Nathan confronted him, King David repented.
6 P’s to guard (6 things that may crippled us):
- Position – he took advantage of his position and did not go to war.
- Passion – he was a woman and his passion was stirred. He did not draw his boundary clearly and carefully.
- Power – he abused his power and got her to sleep with him. He got Urriah back from the war and when he refused to sleep with the wife, David sent him to his death in the frontline.
- Pride – Pride comes before a fall.
- Purse – money not accounted for / misuse of funds. Lehman Brothers with 100+ years of history went bankrupt. It was greed.
- Practices. David became too confident with his many achievements.
3. Changed Lives
David transformed a group od disgruntled men into a fearsome fighting force. (1 Sam 22:1, 2, 2 Sam 23:8 vv)1Sa 22:1-2 David departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam. And when his brothers and all his father's house heard it, they went down there to him. (2) And everyone who was in distress, and everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was bitter in soul, gathered to him. And he became captain over them. And there were with him about four hundred men.
It’s amazing that 400 men decided to follow David. It’s even more amazing that David transformed these disgruntled people into a powerful fighting force.
It’s Pastor Daniel’s passion to raise up a generate of mighty men and women to do great exploits for God’s kingdom – a mighty moral force to influence the community and to live out our faith. If we are going to be a mighty force, our attitude must be of one kind. We are not here to have fun and to fool around – we are here to be bold and be strong. Everyone must hear the good news.
(Note: During a flight back from US, he led Myanmar sushi restaurateur to Christ. Praise God.)
Life it too short to waste. That’s why we are here to be a fighting force for God.
2 important marks of David’s life
1. A man after God’s own heart
(1 Sam 13:14, Acts 13:22)- A worshipper of God (2 Sam 6:5, Ps 9:1,2)
- Show respect and generosity (1 Sam 26:8-11) even to those who disagree with us. David had 2 chances to take Saul’s life. He didn’t do it. Vengeance is the Lord’s. Remain respectful.
- Humility and brokenness (2 Sam 12:13; Ps 51:3,4; Ps 32:3-5) David confessed his sins when confronted.
2. He served God in his generation
(Act 13:46)Act 13:36 For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep and was laid with his fathers and saw corruption
Time flies. What is required to serve God in our generation?
- Daring to lead – be the first to volunteer. God will begin to nurture and develop us as we take on responsibilities. We may fumble and make mistakes but we will learn.
- Daring to step out in faith and trust God. Even when we don’t think we can do it, trust God and ask God to help.
- Serve people his whole life time – it involves giving our lives for people. We can make time for fun and leisure. But when we don’t give our time to people, no one will come to see us in our death bed. The number of people who will come depends on our many lives we have touched.
Note: the section called the Parting in the wikipedia is a wonderful father and son experience. I am sharing it here. It shows the impact / legacy of the father.
The following excerpt, written late in life, is from Missionary Patriarch: The True Story of John G. Paton and provides an excellent example of the relationship between father and son.
My dear father walked with me the first six miles of the way. His counsel and tears and heavenly conversation on that parting journey are fresh in my heart as if it had been but yesterday; and tears are on my cheeks as freely now as then, whenever memory steals me away to the scene. His tears fell fast when our eyes met each other in looks for which all speech was vain! He grasped my hand firmly for a minute in silence, and then solemnly said: "God bless you, my son! Your father's God prosper you, and keep you from all evil!" Unable to say more, his lips kept moving in silent prayer; in tears we embraced, and parted. I ran off as fast as I could; and, when about to turn a corner in the road where he would lose sight of me, I looked back and saw him still standing with head uncovered where I had left him gazing after me. Waving my hat in adieu, I was round the corner and out of sight in an instant. But my heart was too full and sore to carry me further, so I darted into the side of the road and wept for a time. Rising up cautiously, I climbed the dyke to see if he yet stood where I had left him; and just at that moment I caught a glimpse of him climbing the dyke and looking out for me! He did not see me, and after he had gazed eagerly in my direction for a while he got down, set his face towards home, and began to return, his head still uncovered, and his heart, I felt sure, still rising in prayers for me. I watched through blinding tears, till his form faded from my gaze; and then, hastening on my way, vowed deeply and oft, by the help of God, to live and act so as never to grieve or dishonour such a father and mother as He had given me. The appearance of my father when we parted has often through life risen vividly before my mind, and does so now as if it had been but an hour ago. In my earlier years particularly, when exposed to many temptations, his parting form rose before me as that of a guardian Angel. It is no pharisaism, but deep gratitude, which makes me here testify that the memory of that scene not only helped to keep me pure from the prevailing sins, but also stimulated me in all my studies, that I might not fall short of his hopes, and in all my Christian duties, that I might faithfully follow his shining example.
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