Thank you for listening to Servants for Christ. In all that we do, in all that we say, we want to give glory and honor to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Thank you for tuning us in as we get into the wonderful Word of God. For the next few minutes, let's take the beautiful Word of God and share it with each and every one of you as we have a sense of anticipation to take the Word of God and to listen to its truth for each and every one. As we continue on on our series the journeys of faith Servants for Christ where we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord and ourselves your servants for Jesus sake Amen, take your Bibles with us to first Samuel chapter 16 first Samuel chapter 16 a man as we look at the journeys of faith and You know, as this is dedicated to retracing the footsteps of remarkable Bible characters that offer us some lessons from their own spiritual walks, and it reveals how their journeys illuminate the path of an ongoing dependence on God. I'm glad that we see how their unwavering trust in God guided them through unpredictable twists in terms of their journey. Much like our personal faith journeys, the road can be challenging and uncertain. But just as God blessed the faith of great Bible characters, He continues to bless and sustain our faith today. The first one was Noah, a path of obedience and grace out of Genesis chapter 6. And we saw Noah's journey to Mount Ararat. that made a profound statement of faith and obedience in God's grace because we witness a world steeped in corruption and wickedness leading God to choose Noah as the man to preserve creation. Noah's response to God's call reflects deep faith that not only transformed his life but altered the course of human history. Amen. And then we see the second character in our journeys of faith. Abraham called to testing and sacrifice of Genesis chapter 22. Amen. And when we look at his life, we see the results of his journey to Mount Moriah that His journey to faith did not end with Isaac's sacrifice, but with a reaffirmation of God's covenant promises. Because of Abraham's obedience and faith, God confirmed that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars and that through his offspring, all nations would be blessed. Amen. Then we look and we see the third character in our journeys of faith. Jacobet, trusting in God's plan and provision, the mother of Moses, a man that faced a journey of profound faith, courage, and trust in God's providence during one of the darkest periods of Israelite history. And I'm glad that it was a testament to a mother's faith in God's plan, even when it meant giving up her son. Through her actions, Jochebed demonstrates reliance on God's protection and provision, and her faith ultimately plays a pivotal role in Israel's deliverance from slavery. Amen. Then we see the fourth character. in our journeys of faith. Joseph trusting God's plan in Genesis chapter 37. Amen. And I'm glad that when we look at Joseph's faith as the journey of faith in Egypt led to an incredible outcome. He saved his family and many nations, reconciled with his brothers, became a key figure in God's plan, and Joseph's journey of faith to Egypt was filled with difficulties, but it ultimately revealed God's sovereignty, providence, and ability to turn suffering into salvation. And Joseph learned to trust God's plan even when he didn't understand it and he remained faithful through every trial. The fifth character of the journeys of faith is Moses. Lessons in patience and faith. In Exodus chapter 31 and chapter 32, amen, when we look and we realize that the results of Moses' journey to Sinai, the law was given. Moses grew as a leader. God's covenant was affirmed. The people were humbled and I'm glad that Moses' journey to Sinai is rich with lessons and patience, faith and leadership, that he learned that God's timing is always perfect, and for us today, Moses' experience is a powerful reminder to wait on God, resist the urge to create our own solutions, and always approach God with a heart of humility and reverence. The sixth character of the journeys of faith is Joshua, from faith to the promised land, and we look And we see in Joshua chapter 1 verses 1 through 9 that we see that Joshua's journey of faith resulted in a tremendous victory both for himself and the nation of Israel, amen. Because when we look and realize that he had a successful conquest of the promised land, a legacy of faithfulness, a renewal of Israel's covenant with God and God's presence that was reaffirmed. Joshua's journey reinforced the truth that God's presence brings victory and the people of Israel saw firsthand how God fought for them and when they trusted and obeyed him and the presence of God with Joshua and Israel was the key to their success and security. The seventh character in our journeys of faith was Gideon, discouragement to destiny. In Judges chapter six, verses one through 13, amen. When we look and we realize that God uses the weak to display his strength, amen. That Gideon's initial fear and doubts were transformed as he learned that God works through weakness and the reduction of his army to 300 men was a clear sign that God doesn't need human strength to achieve his purposes. And so faith requires action and obedience. Victory belongs to God and not man and pride and idolatry are constant threats. And so, though Gideon initially refused kingship in his later creation of the ephod, it became a stumbling block for the Israelite, but Gideon's journey teaches that even after spiritual success, there's a need to guard against pride and temptation, to seek glory for oneself. The eighth character of our journeys of faith was Rahab, from shame to salvation. In Joshua chapter two, verses 1 through 9. Because when we look at Rahab's journey of faith, we look at redemption that is made available to everyone. Because Rahab's journey reminds us that no matter how flawed or broken we are, God's grace is available to all. And in today's society, people often feel defined by their past mistakes, our current struggles but Rahab's journey and story shows that God can redeem anyone who turns to him in faith. Faith requires action and the legacy of faith and of course Rahab's journey to faith in the God of Israel is a powerful story of transformation from shame to salvation and it shows us that no matter where we start God can bring redemption, purpose and a legacy of faith that lasts for generations. Through her faith, Rahab became a part of God's great redemptive plan, a truth that continues to resonate with us today. Then we look at Hannah, the ninth of our Journeys of Faith characters, from desperation to divine purpose, ape man. And I'm glad in 1 Samuel chapter 3, verses 1 through 13. Hannah's example of faith and worship became a model of prayer and devotion. Her willingness to surrender her deepest desires to God's will and trust in His plan is a powerful example for believers today that brought us Samuel, the great man of God. that led us on her legacy of trust and sacrifice that Hannah's journey to Shiloh left a lasting legacy. Through her trust in God not only was her personal sorrow turned into joy but the nation of Israel received a godly leader in Samuel and her sacrifice of giving Samuel back to the Lord was a significant act of faith illustrating that true trust in God sometimes involves surrendering what we hold most dear. And then, it brings us to our current one, our tenth character in our journeys of faith, Samuel, navigating to the leading of God. Now, even though that I focus on Samuel, it's going to talk about David a lot, but it had to be someone like Samuel in order to navigate to the leading of God. And so, when we look at the lesson that's before us, We see that, before we read the word of God, that we'll have a time of prayer, amen. But I'm glad that in this lesson, David was a young lad that obeyed God completely. And he was a man after God's own heart. And God chose him to be the next king of Israel. God took David on a journey that caused his confidence in him to grow. And so, when we look at how this all came about, it came about through a great man of God, Samuel, navigating to the leading of God, amen. And so, let's open with a word of prayer, and then we'll start reading in 1 Samuel chapter 16, verses 1 through 13. Listen as we pray. Lord, we acknowledge your sovereignty and wisdom. Just as you directed Samuel to anoint David as king, we recognize that you have a purpose for each of our lives. Help us to see beyond our outward appearances and to discern the heart as you do. Lord, teach us to trust in your guidance and to be sensitive to the movements of your spirit. In a world that often prioritizes status and extreme success, remind us that true greatness is found in humility, obedience, and a heart after you. As we explore your word today, open our eyes to see how you are working in our lives and how you are preparing us for the task ahead. May we all have our time together as we follow your lead, just as David did. and Justice Samuel appointed David, even in the face of uncertainty. Speak to us, Lord, for your servants are listening. In Jesus's marvelous mighty name, amen. Here in 1 Samuel chapter 16 verse 1, the Bible says, And the Lord said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? Fill thy horn with oil, and go, and I will send thee to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided me a king among his sons. And Samuel said, How can I go? If Samuel hear it, he will kill me. And the Lord said, Take a heifer with thee and say, I am come to sacrifice to the Lord, and call Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will shew thee what thou shalt do. And thou shalt anoint unto me him whom I name unto thee. And Samuel did that which the Lord spake, came to Bethlehem, and the elders of the town trembled at his coming, and said, Comest thou peaceably? And verse 5, and he said, peaceably, I have come to sacrifice unto the Lord, sanctify yourselves, come with me to the sacrifice. And he sanctified Jesse and his sons and called them to the sacrifice. And verse 6, and it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on Elab and said, surely the Lord's appointed is before him. And verse seven, but the Lord said unto Samuel, look not on his countenance or on the height of his statue, because I have refused him, for the Lord seeth not as man seeth, for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart. And verse eight, then Jesse called Abinadad and made him pass before Samuel, and he said, neither hath the Lord chosen this. Then Jesse, made Shammath to pass by. And he said, neither hath the Lord chosen this. Again, Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. And Samuel said unto Jesse, the Lord hath not chosen these. In verse 11, and Samuel said unto Jesse, are here all thy children? And he said, there remaineth yet the youngest. And behold, he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, send and fetch him, for we will not sit down till he come hither. And verse 12, and he sent and brought him in. Now he was ready and with all of a beautiful countenance and goodly to look to. And the Lord said, arise, anoint him, for this is he. Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his Father, boy, we thank you, Lord, for this reading. And now, as we go forward and we talk about Samuel navigating of God, the leading of God, I'm glad that each and every one of us, as we read the word of God, This focuses on David's journey highlighting his divine calling and unwavering conviction and ultimate triumph. And so we see the journey to the Valley of Elah. And you know what? When we look at the giant red trees in Northern California, how even those are the noisiest of all, the mere size of these enormous trees is enough to strike us in the heart because the tallest redwood in the world measured more than 378 feet tall. in the year 2000. Some coastal redwoods have been growing for more than 2,000 years. And what was happening 2,000 years ago? Julius Celer was the Roman of the Roman Empire and Jesus was born in a manger Some of the redwood trees were around during the time of the first church. And to think of all the history that occurred during the lifetime of a redwood. When we ponder the immensity and the tenacity of these trees, we can only be reminded of the power of God who created such a wonder that no known killing diseases infect the redwoods. Any insects associated with them cause insignificant damage. Fire is their worst enemy. Even fire cannot kill a giant redwood. The bark of a tree is too thick. Little can harm a redwood. David was a man after God's own heart. No king in Israel's history was more loved, mentioned, or compared. to than David. He became a giant for God among men. His heart was so focused on God that nothing could destroy his passion for him. He stood firm when ridiculed for God's sake. He stood boldly against those who would defame God. This man of God was used in a tremendous way to establish the faith of Israel to bring the nation out of obscurity into a world power in Near East. David was an example of Christian service as all should follow. I'm glad that we learned that Israel was waiting to be like the other nations on our last Bible study. They demanded a king. Samuel anointed Saul as Israel's king and a few years into his reign and Saul organized and commanded Israel's army to fight an important battle against the Philistines. A time was appointed for Samuel the high priest to offer a sacrifice asking for God's blessing and helping the battle. Samuel told Saul that he would come in seven days to bless the army. Saul waited for seven long days and while the vastly superior army of the Philistines prepared for battle, the trembling Israelites were hiding in caves, mountains, and pits. In 1 Samuel chapter 13, Verses six and seven, the Bible says, and when the men of Israel saw that they were in a strait, for the people were distressed, then the people did hide themselves in caves and in thickets and in rocks and in high places and in pits, and verse seven, and some of the Hebrews went over Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead, and as for Saul, he was yet in Gilgal, and all the people followed him tripling. You know, on the seventh day, Saul grew tired of waiting for Samuel and offered a sacrifice to God. A sacrifice offered by anyone other than the priest was a direct disobedience to God's clear command and was considered wrong in the eyes of God. No sooner had he finished offering the sacrifice when Samuel arrived, King Saul was presumptuous in offering a sacrifice which should have been offered by Samuel. And I see in 1 Samuel 13, verses 13 and 14, the Bible says, and Samuel said to Saul, thou hast done foolishly. Thou hast not kept the commandment of the Lord thy God, which he commanded thee, and for now will the Lord have established thy kingdom upon Israel forever. But now thy kingdom shall not continue. The Lord has sought him a man after his own heart, and the Lord hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the Lord commanded thee. in 1 Samuel chapter 15 verse 26, and Samuel said unto Saul, I will not return with thee, for thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, and the Lord hath rejected thee from being king over Israel. You see, because of Saul's behavior, God rejected him from being king. And now a new king would be chosen. And now we look And we know that the God-given calls to understand that some will challenge it and accept times of preparation for greater batteries and victory, but we seek to honor God in our victories as we go in our journeys of life. One of the first things that we see in this is David's calling. There was a purpose of David's calling because in 1 Samuel chapter 16, verses 7 through 13, the Bible says, But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on his height, or on his stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord seeth not as man seeth. For man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart. Then Jesse called Abinadad, and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, "'Neither hath the Lord chosen this.' Then Jesse made Shammai to pass by, and he said, "'Neither hath the Lord chosen this.' And again, Jesse made seven of his son to pass before Samuel. And Samuel said unto Jesse, "'The Lord hath not chosen these.' And Samuel said unto Jesse, "'Are here all thy children?' And he said, "'There remaineth yet the youngest, and behold, "'he keepeth the sheep.' And Samuel said unto Jesse, "'Send and fetch him, for we will not sit down, till he come hither. And he sent him, brought him in, and now he was ready with all of a beautiful countenance and goodly to look to. And the Lord said, Arise, anoint him, for this is he. And then Samuel took the horn of the oil and anointed him in the midst of his brethren. And the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up and went to Ramah. When we look at this, we see David's calling, the purpose of David's calling. David sent Samuel to the house of Jesse, for he had chosen among Jesse's sons the next king of Israel. Amen. And there were two reasons why a new king was being chosen of the Lord. First, we see that because Saul was the king chosen of the people, but because also God was looking for a man after his own heart. And so Saul was the king chosen of the people. The scriptures record that the people demanded this king. He was a king of the people's will, but not God's will. And so in 1 Samuel 8, verse 5, the Bible says, And he said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways. Now make us a king to judge us like all the nations. But in 1 Samuel chapter 15 verse 11 the Bible says, Not only was Saul not chosen of the people, But God was looking for a man after his own heart. David was God's choice for the next king. He had a heart for God and a desire to know him and to obey his commandments and it was not his physical appearance and abilities or talents that brought David favor with God. It was the condition of his heart. God is looking for the same attributes in Christians today. He's looking for someone who has a holy heart. filled with integrity, who is willing to serve in whatever capacity he designs. And so in 1 Samuel 16, verse 7, the Bible says, but the Lord said unto Samuel, look not on his countenance or on his height or his stature, because I refused him. For the Lord seeth not as man seeth, for man looketh on the outward appearance, but God looketh on the heart. And so David's heart, I'm glad was the heart of a shepherd, a believing heart, a teachable heart that he maketh me lie down in green pastures. He leadeth me beside the still waters. David's heart was a holy heart that leadeth me in the paths of righteousness. David's heart was a confident heart. Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil. David's heart was a thankful heart. My cup runneth over. David's heart was a fixed heart. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life. And so we see that there was the purpose of David's calling, amen? But we see that process of David's calling as well. Because I'm glad that God guided Samuel through the process of selecting the next king. Thank God that Samuel navigated to the leading of God. God guided Samuel through the process of selecting the next king. And while Samuel looked on the outward appearance, God's selection was not based on physical attributes. Jesse brought his sons, a man, before each one, before Samuel. And when Samuel saw each and every one, Eliab, He was sure that he would be the next king, but no, he wasn't. God rejected Eliab. I'm glad Samuel went through the seven sons of Jesse, but God did not approve of one of them. Then Jesse remembered David and they called for him, amen. God is looking for people with a heart for God and a desire to follow his word and obedience, amen. And so I'm glad that each and every one of us, when we begin to look and realize of all the things that God wants to do in our lives today, amen. God wants to do some mighty blessings. God wants to bring us those like David, amen, that will honor him, amen. Blessings that we see today, that we need to embrace God's plan, amen. A man by the name of Tom was devastated when he lost his job unexpectedly. He felt like the end of the world but a time passed and he took the opportunity to explore some new interests and talents and he began volunteering in his community where he discovered a passion for helping others. Eventually, this led him to start his own non-profit organization focused on empowering local youth. What began as a setback turned into a blessing that transformed his life and the lives of many others. Samuel initially looked at Jesse's oldest sons and thought, one of them must be the anointed king, but God had a different plan. Similarity, when we face unexpected changes or setbacks, we must trust that God has a purpose in it. Embracing God's plan can lead us to opportunities that we never imagined, just as it led David from the fields to the throne. And so, I'm glad that when we look We see David's calling, amen. But secondly, we see David's cause, because David's cause is revealed in 1 Samuel chapter 17, when he fought against Goliath of Gad, amen. God had given David a cause to honor and glorify him in all that he did. And along his journey, when David was still a young man, God proved his faith. And we see that his cause was for the faith, amen. Because it tells about the huge enemy that come against the nation of Israel in 1 Samuel 17 verses 1-8. How long the spear of the giant Goliath was. How big, how tall that he was. but we see the threat of the enemy but Israel, God's chosen people and the Philistines were in a standoff. The Philistines were on one mountaintop and the Israelites were on the other. Each day a giant Philistine Goliath would come out and challenge Israel to send a man to fight against him. God's army was petrified, obviously not trusting God to give them the victory. It was no indication that the army even sought God's help. They had become self-sufficient, just like their king. The army was unable to rout the enemy, and they had forgotten that God was the one that would fight for them. But in 1 Samuel 17, we also see the concern of David, because I'm glad that his cause was for faith, and his cause was challenged, amen. And so, when we begin to look at this, We see that Samuel, as he navigates to the leading of God, every one of us, we look at not only do we see his calls for faith, But we also see his cause was challenged. David was criticized by his brothers. David was challenged by Saul. And so, David was criticized by his own brother, Elahab. Question David's integrity, motive, and ability. He unjustly criticized David out of anger, accusing him of leaving his responsibilities unattended in order to see the battle. Meanwhile, Elahab had done nothing to defeat the enemy, or to defend the Lord. You know what? David was challenged by Saul as well, because Saul doubted David's ability, stating that he was just a youth. David was probably somewhere between the ages of 12 and 17. He was a youth, but God still wanted to use him to defeat Goliath, who was over nine feet tall, having a spear that weighed 65 pounds, a man. But I'm telling you, both men, Elahab and Saul, forgot one thing, the Lord God of Israel. I'm glad that each and every one of us. A woman named Angela worked at a local grocery store. While many considered her job insignificant, she viewed her position as an opportunity to serve others. She took time to get to know her customers and often provided them with encouragement and support. One day, a regular customer shared that Angela's kindness had helped him through a tough time. He had been contemplating suicide, but her words gave him hope and reason to keep going. David was anointed for a Pacific purpose that went beyond being a shepherd. Similarity, each of us has been given that unique gift and calling by God. Now, no matter how small, no matter how insignificant our roles may seem, we can have a profound impact on others when we fulfill our purpose with passion and commitment. Like Angela, we can shine the light of Christ in our everyday lives, amen. Samuel took that horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of the brethren. You know what? I was reading about a girl named Emma, always struggling with self-esteem. In school, she felt invisible while others received praise and recognition. But I'll tell you, one day, We look and her teacher assigned a group project. Emma poured her heart into it, attributing ideas and creativity to her astonishment. Her team won first place. The teacher praised her contribution, highlighting how her unique perspective brought the project to life. Emma realized that her worth was not defined by others, but by her own unique contributions. David's heart was known to God long before he was anointed as king in a world that often measures success by outward appearances We must remember that God values our hearts and our intentions and like Emma We should focus on cultivating our inner qualities being true to ourselves Trusting that God will bring value to life in his own time in eight man and so each and every one of us as we look at We see David's calling. Because of Saul's navigating to the leading of God, we see David's calls as well. But lastly, in closing, we see David's conflict. David's preparation for battle, amen. It's inevitable that we all face battles every day. Some of us seem like giants that we're fighting in the journey of life that we go through. Each and every one of us, as we go down that journey, We're all facing a journey to the Valley of Elam. All of us, it's like we're going through that valley on our journeys. But here in David's conflict. We look and we see yet our true character is shown when we face overwhelming circumstances. Because when we look at it, we see that David's preparation for battle, amen. David was prepared by engaging in previous battles. His encounter won the lion and the bear prepared him for his encounter with Goliath. We read that in 1 Samuel chapter 17, verses 33 through 37. And Saul said to David, thou art not able to go against the Philistines to fight with him, for thou art but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth. And David said unto Saul, thy servant kept his father's sheep. And there came a lion and a bear and took a lamb out of the flock. And I went out after him and smote him and delivered him out of his mouth. And when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard and smote him and slew him. In verse 36, thy servant slew both the lion and the bear, and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be one of them, seeing that he hath defiled the armies of the living God. David said, moreover, the Lord that delivered me out of the paw of the lion and out of the paw of the bear, He'll deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the Lord be with thee. God uses every battle and every trial in our lives to prepare us for greater usefulness. David had learned to trust in God along his journey. God strengthened David to kill a bear and a lion while he was protecting his father's sheep. He knew his own weaknesses and learned to depend fully on God's strength to be made perfect in those weaknesses. David was prepared with proven methods, and while Saul encouraged David to use his military armor, David chose to stick with what was proven in his life. His sling had been with him as a shepherd boy on the hills, and he knew that it was trustworthy. In 1 Samuel chapter 17 verses 38 down to verse 40 the Bible says, And Samuel armed David with his armor, and he put a hammer and a brass upon his head. Also he armed him with a coat of mail. In verse 39, And David girded sword upon his armor, and he said to go, for he had not proved it. And David said unto Saul, I cannot go with these, for I have not proved them. and David put them off him. And he took his staff in his hand, and he chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd's bag, which he had even in a script. And his sling was in his hand, and he drew near to the Philistine." God had proven methods for the Christian life, and they are the proven methods that we must go with. We must not take somebody else's methods. We must take our own methods that God has proven in our life, because the Bible is full of instructions for the church, and it's full of instructions for our homes. And God's methods are always bad. Paul said, but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise, and hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty. And the base things of the world and the things which are despised hath God chosen, yea, the things which are not, to bring to naught things that are, that no flesh should glory, in his presence. And so, when we look at David's calling, the purpose of David's calling, the process of David's calling, David's cause, his cause was for faith and his cause was challenged. We see David's conflict. All of this because Samuel was navigating to the leading of God. David's conflict, we see David's preparation for the battle. Amen. By previous battles with Tobin Methods, amen, we see all of these. But then we see David's power in the battle. Goliath was the best man in the world that could produce in weaponry and advantage because of his size. The world may always seem to have the advantage more than intelligence and stronger might, but listen, on the surface, it often looks like Satan's Goliaths will prevail against God's people. But with God, all things are possible. We simply need to take him at his word and trust him. Philippians 4.13, For I can do all things through Christ Jesus that strengthen me. David's power in battle came from his trust in the Lord. He was confident that God would work on his behalf to conquer this enemy. And when David was first anointed, Even Samuel did not think David would be the one chosen to be king. His brothers ridiculed him when he went to the battlefield. Even the king of the land doubted that he could defeat the giant. David knew, though, that he was not in charge. The Lord was the one fighting the battle, and he could be trusted for the power and the victory from on, praise God. And so, in 1 Samuel chapter 17, verses 45 down to verse 47, the mighty Word of God tells us the power of God as we look at Samuel navigating to the leading of God, that he says, Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield, but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defiled. This day will the Lord deliver thee into my hand, and I will smite thee, and take thy head from thee, And I will give the carcass of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air and to the wild beast of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. And verse 47, and all this assembly shall know that the Lord saveth not with sword and spear, for the battle is the Lord's, and he will give you in to our hands. David's power in battle. was also a result of his desire to glorify God. His passion for God was undaunted by disapproval, ridicule, or fear. He was so focused on God, giving Him the glory, that it did not matter what others thought, because his confidence in God's care and in God's strength, was so intense that he was valid in his stand for God. David made it clear that Goliath had defiled God's God, Israel's God, by mocking his armies and that now he would feel the sting of God's might. You know, if you were on the hill overlooking the valley of Elam, Would you have been trembling with the army of Israel or standing side by side with David? Zechariah 4, verse 6 says, Then answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts. And so we see David's calling, the purpose of David's calling, the process of David's calling, David's cause. His cause was for the faith. His cause was challenged. But we see David's conflict, David's preparation for battle by previous battles with proven methods. David's power in battle that David's trust in the Lord David's desire was to glorify God, but lastly and closing David's prevailing in battle because in 1st Samuel chapter 17 verse 48 down to verse 51 the Word of God says and it came to pass when the Philistines arose and came and drew nine to meet David, that David hasted and ran toward the enemy to meet the Philistine. And David put his hand in his back, and he took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead, and he fell upon his face to the earth. In verse 50, so David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him, but there was no sword in the hand of David. Therefore David ran, took upon the Philistine, and took his sword, and drew it out of the sheath thereof, and slew him, and cut off his head therewith. And when the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled. Goliath arose. You know, there's a Goliath, there was always Goliath that arise in our lives as well. But the moment David saw Goliath move, he began to ward toward the giant. And with five smooth stones and a slingshot, David defeated the giant that day. God's power was upon him as he stood for God and God's strength was demonstrated through his life. It doesn't matter to God how many men he has for the battle because the victories not depended upon men's power, but God's. Hey, is there a giant in your life? Do you struggle with defeat as you face it? Like David, We all need to claim God's power to prevail against the giants that are in our lap. We serve the same God that David does. He will always prove himself faithful. The psalmist says, not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory for thy mercy and for thy true sake. Wherefore should the heathen say, where is now their God? But our God is in the heavens. He hath done whatsoever he hath pleased." And so, David's journey for the faith showed that he desired to serve God above all else. He spent time as a shepherd, getting to know God. He was familiar with his ways. He was a man after God's own heart. He was committed to God-given cause. And just like David, We all will face giants on our journeys of life in the Valley of Elahs that we, on the battlefields of life that we come through. We may feel outmanned, overwhelmed, and defeated, but God's with us every step of the way. He stands ready to provide the strength and the power needed for victory, and every one of us As we go through life today, we look and realize that God is able to do what no one else can do. All because Samuel was navigating to the leading of God. It takes someone that will listen to the voice of God like Samuel did to give us a great champion like David. that believes in the power of God Almighty. And I hope and pray that you do the same, because as we conclude our time in the Word, let's close with prayer. Father, From the anointing of David, we're reminded that you can see beyond our flaws, insecurities, calling us into roles that fulfill your divine purpose. Help us to embrace our identity as your chosen ones in the New Testament reality, where we are all called to be lights in a dark world. May we take to heart the understanding that is not our status, but our willingness to serve and follow you that matters most. As we leave this place, empower us with the courage to live out our faith authentically, to persuade your calling with zeal and commitment. Let us be a people that would respond to your voice, reflect your love and grace to those that are around us, guide us in our daily lives, that we may fulfill the purposes that you've set before us. In the mighty name of our Lord and Savior. Jesus Christ.