King david—elementary chapel

### Sermon: **King David: A Man After God’s Own Heart**

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#### Introduction:

Today, we are going to explore the life of King David—a man after God's own heart. As we reflect on his life, we'll see how he exhibited faithfulness, obedience, dependence on God, and ultimately, how he was used mightily by God. The journey of David teaches us how to walk in step with God, no matter the challenges or uncertainties we may face.

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### 1. **King David Was Faithful to God**

**Scripture: 1 Samuel 16:11-13

1 Samuel 16:11–13 (ESV)

11 Then Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all your sons here?” And he said, “There remains yet the youngest, but behold, he is keeping the sheep.” And Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and get him, for we will not sit down till he comes here.”

12 And he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy and had beautiful eyes and was handsome. And the Lord said, “Arise, anoint him, for this is he.”

13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers. And the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon David from that day forward. And Samuel rose up and went to Ramah.

- **Faithfulness in Obscurity:*

* David wasn’t seeking recognition. He was faithfully tending the sheep when God called him. God often finds us in places where others overlook us, but He notices our faithfulness.

- **Faithfulness in Small Things:**

David was faithful in the seemingly small task of watching over his father’s sheep. Faithfulness in small tasks prepares us for greater responsibilities in God's kingdom.

- **God Sees the Heart:**

Though David’s brothers appeared more qualified, God looked at David’s heart, not his outward appearance. God values inner faithfulness over external qualifications.

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### 2. **King David Was Obedient to God**

**Scripture: 1 Samuel 17:26

1 Samuel 17:26 ESV

26 And David said to the men who stood by him, “What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?”

- **Obedience in Defending God’s Honor:

** David’s primary concern was not the reward or recognition, but that Goliath was defying the name of the living God. David’s obedience came from his zeal for God’s honor.

- **Obedience Over Fear

: While others were paralyzed by fear, David acted in obedience. True obedience often means standing up for God even when others are afraid to act.

- **Obedience Driven by Trust in God:

David’s obedience wasn’t a reckless decision; it was fueled by his confidence in God’s power. Obedience flows from trust in God's ability to act on our behalf.

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### 3. **King David Depended on God**

**Scripture: 1 Samuel 17:37

1 Samuel 17:37 ESV

37 And David said, “The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” And Saul said to David, “Go, and the Lord be with you!”

- **Dependence on God’s Past Faithfulness:*

David remembered how God delivered him from the lion and the bear. Our present faith grows when we remember God’s faithfulness in the past.

- **Dependence on God, Not on Human Strength:*

David didn’t rely on Saul’s armor or military strategy; he trusted in God’s strength. True dependence on God means letting go of human methods and trusting in His provision.

- **Confidence in God’s Deliverance:

David didn’t just hope that God would help him—he was confident that God would deliver him. This confidence is the fruit of a life spent depending on God through every circumstance.

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### 4. **King David Was Used by God

**Scripture: 1 Samuel 18:30**

> *“Then the commanders of the Philistines came out to battle, and as often as they came out, David had more success than all the servants of Saul, so that his name was highly esteemed.”*

- **God Uses the Faithful:** David’s success in battle was not because of his own greatness but because of God’s hand upon him. When we are faithful, God uses us for His purposes.

- **God Uses the Obedient:** David’s obedience to face Goliath opened the door for God to use him as a leader in Israel. Obedience leads to opportunities for God to work through us.

- **God Uses Those Who Depend on Him:** David’s continued victories were a result of his ongoing dependence on God. When we rely on God rather than ourselves, He can use us to accomplish His will in ways we could never imagine.

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### Conclusion:

As we reflect on the life of King David, we see a man who was faithful, obedient, dependent, and ultimately used by God. David’s heart was aligned with God’s because he trusted Him in every area of his life. Today, God is calling each of us to walk in these same characteristics.

Let us be faithful in the little things, obedient in the face of challenges, dependent on God in every situation, and ready to be used for His glory. God may not call us to slay giants, but He will call us to live lives that honor Him in every circumstance. And like David, when we walk in step with God, He will do more through us than we could ever imagine. Amen.