David 1

David 1 – Starting right

OS: Planting

1 Samuel 13 14 But now your kingdom will not endure; the LORD has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him leader of his people, because you have not kept the LORD’s command.”

1 Samuel 16

David was chosen because of his heart. The heart is where you begin to act with God.

Proverbs 423 Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.

Let’s take a look at Psalm 63 and maybe gain some insight into what it means to be a man or woman after God’s own heart.

I.                  It all begins with desire.

A.   Verse 1

1.     Have you ever been really thirsty? (two-a-days football in August, canoeing in the swamp.)

B.    The spiritual side:

1.     The world is the dry and weary land. You will never be satisfied with what the world has to offer.

2.     God is the only real source of life.

C.   Do we desire, really desire…God?

1.     Not to know about Him, but to know Him.

2.     To desire God’s presence in our life is to have a heart after God’s own heart.

D.   No one has ever beheld the power and glory of God without being changed.

1.     John 1:1, 14,

2.     2 Corinthians 3 18 And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

II.               When Desire has set in Dedication naturally follows.

A.   Vs. 4, “As long as I live”

1.     notice also vs. 6 and 8.

2.     David was dedicated, not perfect, but totally dedicated to doing God’s will.

B.    What does it mean to be dedicated?

1.     City editor of the Newspaper had just been informed that a power line was down from a storm. The line was in the middle of main street and no one knew if it was live or not. He sent two reporters to the scene with the instructions. One of you touch it, and the other write about it.

2.     Dedication: Its when the bar clicks on the roller-coaster. It when the plane reaches that half-way point on the run way. It is when you step from the plane at several thousand feet as you learn to parachute. It is when you give your life totally, and without reservation.

3.     44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. 45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls.  46 When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it. Matthew 13

C.   Dedication from a heart that desires God cannot be turned away!

III.           Desire + Dedication = Total Dependence on God.

A.   Vs. 7

1.     “Shadow of your wings” – Picture of a mother hen protecting her young and her young’s total dependence on her help to survive.

B.    Total dependency on God comes before greatness.

1.     If you see a turtle on a fence post you know he had some help getting there.

2.     A man fell off a cliff, and at the last minute he grabbed hold of a small bush. As he dangled in space, “Help, is there anybody out there?” Booming voice, “Turn loose and everything will be okay.”…pause… “is there anybody else out there?”

C.   The result of having a heart after God’s own heart is the accomplishment of God’s purpose.

1.     Acts 1336 “For when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep; he was buried with his fathers and his body decayed.  37 But the one whom God raised from the dead did not see decay.