Equipped

Scripture Passage:

1 Samuel 17:32-40

32 “Don’t worry about this Philistine,” David told Saul. “I’ll go fight him!” 33 “Don’t be ridiculous!” Saul replied. “There’s no way you can fight this Philistine and possibly win! You’re only a boy, and he’s been a man of war since his youth.” 34 But David persisted. “I have been taking care of my father’s sheep and goats,” he said. “When a lion or a bear comes to steal a lamb from the flock, 35 I go after it with a club and rescue the lamb from its mouth. If the animal turns on me, I catch it by the jaw and club it to death. 36 I have done this to both lions and bears, and I’ll do it to this pagan Philistine, too, for he has defied the armies of the living God! 37 The Lord who rescued me from the claws of the lion and the bear will rescue me from this Philistine!” Saul finally consented. “All right, go ahead,” he said. “And may the Lord be with you!” 38 Then Saul gave David his own armor—a bronze helmet and a coat of mail. 39 David put it on, strapped the sword over it, and took a step or two to see what it was like, for he had never worn such things before. “I can’t go in these,” he protested to Saul. “I’m not used to them.” So David took them off again. 40 He picked up five smooth stones from a stream and put them into his shepherd’s bag. Then, armed only with his shepherd’s staff and sling, he started across the valley to fight the Philistine.

Focus Statement

God gives us the tools we need to fulfil our call.

It might not necessarily look the way we expected or be the same way others do it,

but God will create our own way for us.

Point of Relation

When I was a teenager, I was in many different bands…

A part of being in a band is recording demos so you can listen and practice and perfect the sound.

That is where I got my start in mixing and editing...

I had my own Cassette tape 4 track player, and I would record our band sessions

And even would record my albums of my own songs on it...

Usually just me and guitar…that is until I got my hands on a drum machine through a Garage Sale.

I would record the guitar, record drums and try to make up for a lack of bass.

Really my love for music and for mixing and exiting started well before that.

I remember when I got my first Karaoke machine from my parents for Christmas...

And I would record myself singing all sorts of Karaoke songs...

From Bon Jovi, to Richard Marx, to you name it...

I would record those songs...

I would say I was ten or twelve at the time…and recording was something I loved to do.,

I would even take CDs as an older teen, and take songs from them and record them on to my own Cassette mix tape,

learning how to best blend and mix the songs together without and editing hardware or software.

Finally, as an adult, a neighbor introduced me to a software called Acoustica Mixcraft Pro, which was dirt cheap and one of THE BEST recording softwares out there for its price...

With a full library of legit sounding virtual instruments,

including a grand piano, drums, guitars, synths, band sections, and a full on orchestra.

I started to edit mixes, started learning how to remix songs, and how to record full on songs for my own side projects…

musical projects that exist of just ME.

Not to mention I had been learning all along how to edit video digitally too.

All of this learning seemed to be mostly for naught when I became a pastor.

I mean, what kind of editing, besides doing it on the side as a hobby, would I really do as a pastor.

Finally, in 2020l, we were slammed in a pandemic of EPIC proportions...

and before I knew it, Christ was using my talents of recording, editing and mixing for God’s kingdom.

A TALENT I thought had nothing to do with my current call…and yet…I was wrong.

God showed me that even my own personal desires and talents can be used for God’s Kingdom.

Things to Consider

I want to invite you to think about your gifts and talents that could be used in different contexts.

What is it that you are gifted at?

Perhaps you are great at math and finance

Perhaps you are an artist or crafty

Perhaps you rock at organization and/or administration.

How might you already be equipped to fulfill your call?

We have administrators in our midst,

Musicians and vocalists,

Educators and teachers

CPAs and financiers

Auto mechanics and handy people

What Scripture Says

Today’s Scripture passage shares how David was equipped by his prior

(perhaps seemingly unrelated)

experience to take on this new challenge ( of battling Goliath) that was before him.

While David was not, at this point, an experienced warrior,

he did know what it was like protect his flock from predators,

just as Israel needed protection from the Goliath, the Philistine.

It needs to be said that, like David, we are called to stay in the path God has set. T

his does not mean our path or direction never changes,

but rather that we always pay attention to whether these changes or challenges are coming from God or somewhere else.

David would not be deterred just because Saul did not think he was capable of battling Goliath.

Like David, each of us is unique and will have our own God-given way to follow our call.

While emulating others can be helpful, we need to stay on our own path.

David could not wear the armor that was meant for Saul (verses 38-41). He had to fight the battle his own way.

God gave David the wisdom and strength to stay on the path marked out for him.

God will do this for us too, as we continually seek God’s guidance amid pressures and influences from others.

Next, it is important to say that Confidence is key to following your purpose or call.

But confidence in what or who?

First and foremost, David had great confidence in God. God was the source of his power.

From within this space of confidence in God, David also recognized his gifts and had confidence in the execution of his gifts.

God used all of David’s experiences as a shepherd to help him face the battle with Goliath.

God will use our experiences that made us who we are as we are called to face new things.

God has prepared and is preparing us for things to come.

Our “secular” experiences can be used for God – both within the church and outside of it.

A fact of which I hope can be seen in my writings and in my sermons...

Especially the last series: THE MATRIX.

Finally, David’s example shows us about the relationship between faith and call.

Calling is a journey;

David’s faith was what gave him strength for the moment.

David knows God and for that reason he does not fear;

he has experienced God’s intervention and victory.

When God calls us, we do not need to fear;

we can trust God has equipped us with the tools we need.

What This Means for Us

David was not afraid to use his gifts.

He saw other ways outside of being a shepherd to use his gifts.

Too often we limit the use of our gifts,

but God has equipped us to bring about the best.

In fact, our callings often go beyond the work of church operations.

Each of us has a vocation or job that we have and/or are a part of.

How can you use your vocational gifts to help people who you work with or lead...

To show them love, compassion and inclusion into God’s family?

Think about ways you might use your gifts not only within the church, but also outside of it.

What This Means for Us

Sisters and brothers, this is the time for us to recognize and embrace all our gifts.

As a church we have a diversity of gifts that can transform the world.

For examply, someone with the gift of storytelling might use it for witness and evangelism by sharing their own stories or others to connect people to the divine.

Or perhaps you are not a social person, but are someone who does things behind the scenes...

Who can you encourage, lift up and help others for Christ in ways that fit your gifts and graces?

I want to Invite you all to have confidence that God has already prepared you to step up in faith,

just as God prepared David to face Goliath

I will leave you with these words from Mark Hall of Casting Crowns in their song, The Voice of Truth:

Oh what I would do to have The kind of strength it takes To stand before a giant With just a sling and a stone Surrounded by the sound of a thousand warriors Shaking in their armor Wishing they'd have had the strength to stand

But the giant's calling out my name And he laughs at me Reminding me of all the times I've tried before and failed The giant keeps on telling me Time and time again. "Boy you'll never win!" "You'll never win!”

But the Voice of Truth tells me a different story The Voice of Truth says, "Do not be afraid!" And the Voice of Truth says, "This is for My glory" Out of all the voices calling out to me I will choose to listen and believe

The Voice of Truth

Amen!