Week 3: “I’m Not Qualified Enough”

Announcements:

Offering is in the back

2. Bible reading plan is in the back with the coffee, tea, etc.

3. Men’s meeting is on Wednesday at 7PM.

Worship:

Take You At Your Word

2. I Know A Name

3. Firm Foundation (He Won’t)

4. What He’s Done

Introduction:

Good morning! We are continuing our series on God of the Underdogs and addressing excuses we may use to not move forward in what God is calling us to do. This series is inspired by the book with the same title by Matt Keller as well.

In the first week we talked about “our past being too bad” and we should not let our past keep us from what God wants to do in and through us in the present and future. We need to allow God to help us use our past to reach others who are in similar situations.

Last week we talked about “our reputation being too scarred”. We can get so used to labels others put on us or we put on ourselves that we tend to just accept them and live up to them. We need to not only know what God says about us but believe what He says about us and not buy into what others have labeled us or even what we have labeled ourselves as.

This week we are talking about the excuse “I’m Not Qualified Enough.”

Have you ever felt like you weren’t good enough, smart enough, strong enough—or “qualified” enough—to do what God is asking of you? You’re not alone. Many people in Scripture felt unworthy or under-qualified. And yet, God used them mightily. One of the greatest examples is King David, a shepherd boy overlooked by everyone except God. One of the reasons I love the story of David is because he was a mess up and was constantly getting himself in bad situations and God still not only chose him but called David a man after His own heart! That should give us some encouragement this morning already!

My prayer for us this morning is for those of us wrestling with this excuse will see God wants to use us for His kingdom in spite of our perceived limitations and shortcomings. He has not saved us to do nothing. He has saved us so we can be used for His plan and purpose in sharing the gospel with those we come into contact!

Illustration: Imagine applying for a job and not even being considered because your résumé doesn't look the part. That was David—left in the fields while others stood before Samuel. But God had already picked His man.

Let’s turn in our Bibles to 1 Samuel 16 and we are going to pick up at verse 6. God has already told Samuel to go to the house of Jesse to anoint one of his sons to be the next king because God rejected Saul due to his disobedience.

Transition: The first observation for us this morning while looking at our excuse of not being qualified enough, is:

Body:

I. God Chooses the Overlooked

1 Samuel 16:6–13 CSB

6 When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and said, “Certainly the Lord’s anointed one is here before him.” 7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or his stature because I have rejected him. Humans do not see what the Lord sees, for humans see what is visible, but the Lord sees the heart.” 8 Jesse called Abinadab and presented him to Samuel. “The Lord hasn’t chosen this one either,” Samuel said. 9 Then Jesse presented Shammah, but Samuel said, “The Lord hasn’t chosen this one either.” 10 After Jesse presented seven of his sons to him, Samuel told Jesse, “The Lord hasn’t chosen any of these.” 11 Samuel asked him, “Are these all the sons you have?” “There is still the youngest,” he answered, “but right now he’s tending the sheep.” Samuel told Jesse, “Send for him. We won’t sit down to eat until he gets here.” 12 So Jesse sent for him. He had beautiful eyes and a healthy, handsome appearance. Then the Lord said, “Anoint him, for he is the one.” 13 So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully on David from that day forward. Then Samuel set out and went to Ramah.

Samuel made a mistake that we tend to make a-lot as well. We tend to look at what we think someone or something should look like. And it wasn’t the first time he made this mistake (in regards to making Saul king):

1 Samuel 10:23–24 CSB

23 They ran and got him from there. When he stood among the people, he stood a head taller than anyone else. 24 Samuel said to all the people, “Do you see the one the Lord has chosen? There is no one like him among the entire population.” And all the people shouted, “Long live the king!”

Samuel was still looking at what he thought the king should look like on the outside

David wasn’t even invited to the line-up. He was the youngest, the least likely.

Maybe you can relate? the least likely to be picked? the one everyone else forgot about?

But God saw what no one else saw—a king in the heart of a shepherd.

1 Corinthians 1:26–29 CSB

26 Brothers and sisters, consider your calling: Not many were wise from a human perspective, not many powerful, not many of noble birth. 27 Instead, God has chosen what is foolish in the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen what is weak in the world to shame the strong. 28 God has chosen what is insignificant and despised in the world—what is viewed as nothing—to bring to nothing what is viewed as something, 29 so that no one may boast in his presence.

Illustration: Think about Rosa Parks, a seemingly ordinary woman who helped launch a movement. She wasn't in a position of power, but she was positioned by courage and conviction.

Shepherds were lowly positions and often forgotten about as usually the youngest child was given the job of shepherd. It would have been easy for David to wallow in pity because of being stuck with the sheep and all alone.

But he chose to take the time to get to know God and value his job of taking care of his flock.

Show pics here

God knows you too! And God can use you if you are willing to be available!

Psalm 139:1–4 CSB

1 Lord, you have searched me and known me. 2 You know when I sit down and when I stand up; you understand my thoughts from far away. 3 You observe my travels and my rest; you are aware of all my ways. 4 Before a word is on my tongue, you know all about it, Lord.

Psalm 139:16 CSB

16 Your eyes saw me when I was formless; all my days were written in your book and planned before a single one of them began.

Transition: So, God chooses the overlooked—but He doesn’t just call them. The next point is:

II. God Equips the Inexperienced

Now we find David getting ready to fight Goliath. David trusts in God and knows the Lord is with him but Saul is concerned that David is too young and inexperienced as Goliath had been training since he was young.

1 Samuel 17:34–37 CSB

34 David answered Saul, “Your servant has been tending his father’s sheep. Whenever a lion or a bear came and carried off a lamb from the flock, 35 I went after it, struck it down, and rescued the lamb from its mouth. If it reared up against me, I would grab it by its fur, strike it down, and kill it. 36 Your servant has killed lions and bears; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God.” 37 Then David said, “The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.” Saul said to David, “Go, and may the Lord be with you.”

David wasn’t trained or had experience in war, but he had experience in obedience and trust.

Oftentimes God is preparing us in the little things to make sure we are able to learn to obey and trust Him in the difficult things.

David’s private victories prepared him for public battles.

Ecclesiastes 12:14 CSB

14 For God will bring every act to judgment, including every hidden thing, whether good or evil.

That is why personal devotions and prayer time is so important! Get into your war room! Preparation takes place in private first!

God saw how David prepared in his alone time with the flock by singing to the Lord and praying. It is why God was able to say David was a man after His own heart. He sought after the Lord.

Philippians 4:13 CSB

13 I am able to do all things through him who strengthens me.

Illustration: An intern in a company may feel out of place among executives—but over time, that intern could become CEO. God sees the potential others miss.

Quote: "God doesn’t call the qualified; He qualifies the called."

Transition: David wasn’t just equipped with skill—he was empowered by the Spirit of God. God not only chooses the overlooked and equips the inexperienced, but:

III. God Anoints the Unlikely

Going back to when Samuel is at the house of Jesse. We see where God puts his stamp of approval on the next king of Israel.

1 Samuel 16:13 CSB

13 So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully on David from that day forward. Then Samuel set out and went to Ramah.

The anointing made the difference. Not the résumé. Not the armor. Not the background.

The Spirit of God empowered David to lead, fight, write, and rule.

The Holy Spirit empowers us to do the work God has called us to do!

Acts 4:13 CSB

13 When they observed the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed and recognized that they had been with Jesus.

Illustration: Moses couldn’t speak well. Gideon was afraid. Esther was a young woman in exile. But all were empowered for their moment.

1 Thessalonians 1:5 CSB

5 because our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, in the Holy Spirit, and with full assurance. You know how we lived among you for your benefit,

The Holy Spirit empowers us to live as we are called to live if we rely on Him.

2 Peter 1:3 CSB

3 His divine power has given us everything required for life and godliness through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.

Transition: If you still feel unqualified, you’re in good company—and you're exactly who God is looking for.

Conclusion:

God isn’t looking for perfection—He’s looking for willing hearts. Like David, we may not look the part, have the credentials, or be on anyone else’s radar. But if God calls you, He will equip you, anoint you, and empower you to walk out according to His Word.

Question: What area of your life are you shrinking back from because you feel unqualified? Offer it to God today. He doesn’t see your résumé—He sees your heart.

Final Scripture of Encouragement:

Ephesians 2:10 CSB

10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do.

Closing Illustration: The world’s greatest symphonies are often played on well-worn instruments. It’s not the shine of the instrument that matters—it’s whose hands it’s in.

Questions:

Where are you this morning?

Do you feel like you have or are being overlooked? God sees you and knows you!

Do you feel inexperienced for what God is calling you to do? Continue to seek Him in private and He will prepare you for what He is wanting to do in and through you in public.

Do you feel there are better options for God to use and you can’t do it? Don’t rely on yourself but on the power of the Holy Spirit in your life to give you the strength, courage and wisdom to do what God is calling you to do!

Close with a worship song (Take You At Your Word)