The Winning Mindset Series, Yes I Can, Sermon 3

How to Silence Your Inner Critic (1 Sam 16-17 David's Anointing)

1Samuel 16:1 Now the LORD said to Samuel, "How long will you mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and go; I am sending you to Jesse the Bethlehemite. For I have provided Myself a king among his sons." 

1Sa 16:13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel arose and went to Ramah. 

Today we are on sermon number 3 of THE WINNING MINDSET SERIES, YES, I CAN! SLIDE 1. A series to help us go from I can’t to I can. It is time for you to know that you are not in it alone. The Lord has said that he will never leave you or forsake you. But there are voices that tell us that we can’t make it. That we can’t be or do any better. And all of these voices are not outside critics. There are voices inside of us telling us the same negative things. Thers’s a battle going on inside of us. It’s a battle to define who you are. You have an inner critic trying to tell you who you are. An inner critic that is lying to you. Telling you that, “You’re too stupid to succeed!!” • “You always mess things up!” “What you did is unforgivable!” “Nobody ever wants you”

It’s Time to Shut Him or Her Up! It’s time for you to shift your reference point about who you are and what you can do for yourself and others through God, thus moving you closer to discovering your true power. SLIDE 2. It’s time for you to know, How to Silence Your Inner Critic!

At the time of our text King Saul had lost favor with God due to his disobedience. In 1Samuel 15:26 Saul is told by the prophet Samuel that the LORD has rejected him from being king over Israel. God ask Samuel, how long will you morn for Saul? Go to Jesse’s house for I have provided myself a king. *

So, Samuel did what the LORD said and went to Bethlehem. And the elders of the town trembled at his coming, and said, "Do you come peaceably?" (1Samuel 16:4) And he said, "Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to the LORD. * (1Samuel 16:5)

Samuel invited Jesse and his sons to the sacrifice. As Jesse’s sons began to pass by, Samuel said to himself that the first one must be the one. But God told Samuel that man looks on the outer appearance, but I look at the heart. *

All of the Jesse’s sons at the sacrifice passed before Samuel but God had not chosen a king. And Samuel said to Jesse, "Are all the young men here?" Then he said, "There remains yet the youngest, and there he is, keeping the sheep." And Samuel said to Jesse, "Send and bring him. For we will not sit down till he comes here." (1Samuel 16:11). *

Isn’t it something that David’s father didn’t think enough of him to bring him in for the sacrifice? It makes me wonder what he thought of David and what things David may have heard about himself. SLIDE 3 What things have you heard about you?

Maybe you’ve heard that, you can’t handle college, you keep messing up, you aren’t good enough or you’re so different than everybody else. If you allow these criticisms to settle in your mind they will become painful false truths. Your inner critic is saying to you what others said to you. Let me get back to the shepherd boy coming in from the sheepfold.

So, he sent for him and had him brought in. He was glowing with health and had a fine appearance and handsome features. (1Samuel 16:12 NIV). Then the LORD said, "Rise and anoint him; this is the one."  Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. (1Samuel 16:13)

If you keep reading in 1Samuel 17 you will read the account of David and Goliath. King Saul and his men were battling the Philistines, one of which was a 9-foot giant named Goliath. The men of Saul’s army were afraid of Goliath, and there was no one to stand up to him. But David, filled with faith and a passion for God’s name which was being blasphemed by Goliath, slew Goliath with a stone and a slingshot. Then he cut off Goliath’s head with the giant’s own sword. When the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled before the Israelites, who had a great victory over them. An important point in this story is that Goliath was taunting the sovereign Lord of the universe. He was challenging God’s people to stand up to him and demonstrate that their God was more powerful than he was. Until David came into the Israelite camp, there was no one who was willing to step out in faith and face the giant. However, David’s faith was so strong that he was willing to believe that the Lord would go with him and enable him to defeat Goliath (1 Samuel 17:36-37). David’s faith was born out of his experience of God’s grace and mercy in his life up to that point. The Lord had delivered him out of dangerous situations in the past, proving His power and trustworthiness, and David relied on Him to deliver him from the Philistine. From the story of David and Goliath, we can learn that the God of the Bible is capable of defeating any of the giants in our lives—fear, depression, financial issues, doubts of faith—if we know Him and His nature well enough to step out in faith. When we do not know what the future holds, we have to trust Him. But we can’t trust someone we don’t know, so knowing God through His Word will build our faith in Him.

As you learn to trust Christ as the only way to heaven (John 14:6), our battle with the giants in our lives will result in victory if we cling by faith to God and His power. The account of David and Goliath is only one of many examples of the supernatural power of our Lord. He cares deeply for His children and wants only our best. Sometimes that involves trials and battles, but these are ultimately for our good and His glory. James tells us to consider it pure joy when we encounter trials because they test our faith and develop patience and perseverance (James 1:2-4). When we are tested by these trials, we can, in the power of the Lord, stand up against any giant, trusting our Savior to win the victory.

God chose the least one in Jesse’s family for kingship. God has an assignment for you. But you can’t allow the inner critic to stop you or take you on an emotional roller coaster. Up now then down, satisfied now then unsatisfied, loving yourself now then hating yourself. Your inner critic is undermining your mindset and your emotions.

SLIDE 4. If you want the winning mindset and to silence the inner and outer critics, then take note of these principles that I am going to share with you today.

SLIDE 5. PRINCIPLE #1: You Need Someone Who Believes in You. (God. Family. Friend. Pastor. Mentor.) God believed in David. God knew before he told Samuel to go to Jesse’s house that David would be anointed to be king. *

SLIDE 6. PRINCIPLE #2: You Need to Know What You Were Born For. (It’s Called Your “Purpose”) * The day that David was anointed the Spirit of the Lord would come upon him and he knew that his purpose was to serve God. SLIDE 7. Knowing your purpose makes you powerful! *

SLIDE 8. PRINCIPLE #3: Say “YES I CAN” Because GOD SAYS You Can. (And I Choose to Believe God’s View of Me) *

God says that you are fearfully and wonderfully made. Psalm 139:14

And the LORD said that He shall make you the head, and not the tail; and you shalt be above only, and you shalt not be beneath, if you will obey His commandments. Deuteronomy 28:13

Whatever you are going through, tell yourself, SLIDE 9. I WAS BORN FOR THIS!!! Encourage yourself and say, SLIDE 10. I WAS SENT HERE FOR THIS!!!

Remind yourself that you are not alone in it, say to yourself, SLIDE 11. I Was Assigned to This and God and I Got This!

SLIDE 12. YOUR MOMENT OF TRUTH: Will You Believe, “Yes I Can”? SLIDE 13. Anything is possible with God!