Designed for Greatness

2 Samuel 9:1–6 ESV

And David said, “Is there still anyone left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” Now there was a servant of the house of Saul whose name was Ziba, and they called him to David. And the king said to him, “Are you Ziba?” And he said, “I am your servant.” And the king said, “Is there not still someone of the house of Saul, that I may show the kindness of God to him?” Ziba said to the king, “There is still a son of Jonathan; he is crippled in his feet.” The king said to him, “Where is he?” And Ziba said to the king, “He is in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, at Lo-debar.” Then King David sent and brought him from the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, at Lo-debar. And Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan, son of Saul, came to David and fell on his face and paid homage. And David said, “Mephibosheth!” And he answered, “Behold, I am your servant.”

Pray for healing of the Lord’s people; Pray for a commitment to the call; pray for a restoration of the path for those of us whose wounds have made us feel like we no longer belong.

Benign story line that is easily missed when reading scripture

Imagery of how the Lord will conquer

Imagery of the unfailing love of the King

Imagery of the King’s commitment to a covenant

Forged with Love;

Sustained by faith

Expressed through actions

This Story tells of a God who is not just about a vacant Kingdom

It is about a God who is FAITHFUL to fulfill all that He has promised

It is about a God who in the process of crushing the enemy under foot is so committed to the covenant

He establishes a table for those who are His

He keeps His promises

He restores what was thought to be lost.

A series on just how we have been crafted and designed for so much more than our current circumstances; (Answer questions on:)

What it means to be Called? What it means to be Anointed? What it means to be Appointed?

Are these three (3) synonymous?

What is the role for the human agent in each of these?

How the enemy is working overtime in this season to undermine the effort of the Lord in us?

More than just a passive understanding, This series is intended to equip each of us as we come to the understanding of;

who we are in this massive cosmic expanse

the reason for the intensity of such an age old conflict that could rightly be overcome with the snap of a finger.

We have been designed to carry the Spirit of God to walk in the greatness of the Creator.

Promises of the Kingdom

Examination of scripture reveals that prior to this point David had been on the conquest restoring the Kingdom to its proper order;

bringing the ark of the covenant home.

Crushing the enemy

A cycle that was at work before him, and now at work after him

The Lord made an everlasting covenant with David. (2 Sam 7)

I took you; (from places of lowliness to place you in greatness)

I have been with you… and have cutoff your enemies

I will make for you a great name

I will appoint a place for you

I will establish for you

I will give you rest

I will raise your offspring

I will make you a house…

The Lord is now at work doing the same for each of us

The work of being Called, Anointed, and Appointed has been at work since before you were born

There is a remembrance of a covenant that was forged long before our first breath

David is moved to a posture of doing the same for those entrusted to him.

Damaged Goods

Hard to see that anyone much less God would want to use in the condition we are found

I have done too much; I have not done enough

Someone did something to me; someone did not do enough for me

Why would God do anything for me; Why has God not done anything for me

We start to see our pain; suffering; deficiencies; short-comings in others as we grow bitter towards the Lord and shake our fist at God.

Mephibosheth gives us insight to our condition in how we see ourselves;

Reason to Despise

Generational Defeat (1 Sam 31)

His father Jonathan is Killed in battle (Philistines) Where was God in all of that?

His grandfather Saul is Severely Wounded in battle then commits suicide. Why would God allow that? what happened to the promise

Lineage Destroyed (1 Sam 15-17)

The Call, Anointing, and Appointment is lifted from Saul. If God has did it to Saul, what chance do I stand?

Stench of Death in the house (1 Sam 31) Armor-bearer commits suicide (Servant body commits suicide) why does everyone that serves the Lord suffer such a fate?

Wounded by the Hired Help (2 Sam 4:4) In the nurses haste to protect she dropped Mephibosheth and was left permanently crippled. If God wanted to use me then why was I hurt in the church? Why are His ministers so cruel?

Deceived by the ones appointed over him (2 Sam 16:3; 19:24-30) Lord even those who you appointed over me, have become my accusers before you.

Instead of giving me they stole from me and

if that was not enough in their deception You took everything from me because of them…

Broken view of the Self (2 Sam 9:8; 19:28)

I am crippled (broken)

I am a dead dog (worthless; no value)

What further right do I have (I get what I deserve)

Restored to the Fullness of the Promises

Before any of the Chaos (life happening) even first breath; The Call

Mephibosheth = One who destroys shame

from Birth the assignment was spoken over him… All of the shame that had been brought about by his descendants, he would break.

Called from desolate places

2 Samuel 9:5 ESV

Then King David sent and brought him from the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, at Lo-debar.

Mephibosheth lived in the house of Lo-Debar (House without Bread) (House without the Word)

Today the Lord is calling people home from the houses living in famine

3. Anointed with Chesed (Covenental Love) 2 Sam 9:7

2 Samuel 9:7 ESV

And David said to him, “Do not fear, for I will show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan, and I will restore to you all the land of Saul your father, and you shall eat at my table always.”

Mephibosheth heard the call… Yes there was reason to run… But in this he surrendered which allowed for;

Mephibosheth to be anointed as one of the King’s sons. (An act of chesed)

4. Appointed to the the Table of the King 2 Samuel 9:11

2 Samuel 9:11 ESV

Then Ziba said to the king, “According to all that my lord the king commands his servant, so will your servant do.” So Mephibosheth ate at David’s table, like one of the king’s sons.

2 Samuel 9:13 ESV

So Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, for he ate always at the king’s table. Now he was lame in both his feet.

In ch. 16 and 19 we see the work of deception that is used in an effort to steal away what was restored.

Know that the enemy will use who ever and what ever he can to try to steal your assignment

Never the less, Mephibosheth identifies that no matter what has happened his place is at the king’s table and as long as he is there he remains a son to the king.

We have seen generational defeat ( our parents, grandparents, great grandparents have been ravaged many lost their life on this journey)

We have seen spiritual and physical parents commit suicide in the heat of battle

We have seen people in our family with powerful anointing fall and lose everything

We have seen the pestilence that has savagely consumed so many ministers (stench of death still lingers)

The hired help has mismanaged us. In the haste to protect themselves; in their haste to fulfill their man-given assignment dropped us and many of us have the wounds to show for it.

The one’s appointed to us have been faithless; have deceived many of us, have attempted to steal everything from us, and have even become our accusers.

In all of our brokenness have learned to view ourselves as nothing but dead dogs worthy only of the conditions we live in .

With all of these conditions

the Lord is calling today to heal; to restore; to renew the covenant

the Lord’s anointing oil is pouring out on all who would submit to Him

the Lord has appointed you to His table from which you will eat always…

The Lord then declares that your future generations will also eat from His table

You have been CALLED, ANOINTED, APPOINTED not by any man but by the King Himself.

“We have been designed to carry the Spirit of God to walk in the greatness of the Creator.”