My past tells me I can win

DAVID PREVAILED WITHOUT A SWORD.

David used his sling with such force and skill, he hit Goliath right in the forehead and giant fell dead. David’s victory was the result of his courage against the giant. His courage had been proven in the past. His courage would brought him victory.

If we listen to the scripture as narrative all the attention is on God’s role for our purpose. The underlying message is David won against Goliath because God was with him.

The story of David and Goliath is the narrative of God’s people. God’s people confront a superior enemy, but they always win because God is the source of our strength. David was smaller, outmatched, and inexperienced. But David was also confident, faithful and courageous. God often fought for David. God fights for you more than you know.

The devil is like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour, but when it comes down to you, the devil keeps losing. You have some scars and regrets ,but your narrative declares how you survived, every threat, storm, enemy and misfortune. You are a survivor and a student of grace. Your past declares your success in the future.

Your steps are ordered in the Lord, you are covered by the blood of Jesus Christ. God’s angels have charge over you and no weapon formed against you shall prosper.

Stop defining your life by your wounds, failures or disappointments; focus how many times you survived, what you learned and how you have changed by God’s grace.

Our text says, David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone, striking down the Philistine and killing him; there was no sword in David’s hand.” David defeated a giant. He utterly destroyed him and he did it in an unorthodox way.

To understand why David beat Goliath, you must go back to verse 34.

1 Samuel 17:34–37 NIV

But David said to Saul, “Your servant has been keeping his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it. Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. 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 the Lord be with you.”

DAVID LOOKED BACK TO HIS PAST. HIS PAST NARRATIVE WAS THE FORMULA FOR HIS FUTURE VICTORY.

TAKE A MOMENT AND THINK ABOUT YOUR LIFE.

When we reflect on the past, we count our failures, wounds and missed opportunities. We should see how we survived, how we’ve changed and what we learned about God’s love

I want you to take a moment and think about the worst thing that ever happened in your life. Now remember these three things.

God is good.

God kept you for a reason.

You survived.

Has anything ever happened to you to indicate God loves you? When we reflect on the past, we count our failures, wounds and missed opportunities

We should see how we survived, how we’ve changed and what we learned about God’s love

THE KEY TO COURAGE IS IN YOUR OWN NARRATIVE.

There is an a question that underlies our spiritual journey – why has God kept you?

Why when I was almost shot in the hallway at the Jeremiah Burke?

Why Moses in the basket

Why did the angel warn Joseph to take Mary and baby Jesus away from Bethlehem?

WHY DID GOD KEEP YOU?

John Newton wrote the Hymn, Amazing Grace.

GOD HAS A PLAN FOR YOU

Ephesians 1:11 NIV

In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will,

EPH. 1:

You have a work to do and the grace to do it.

Ephesians 2:10 NIV

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

I have a work to do and grace is with me to do it

The computer and the internet can create a permanent record of your mistakes. Hackers can steal your identity. Someone you don’t even know can ruin your reputation. This is the wrong narrative. You have another narrative.

The computer and the internet can create a permanent record of your mistakes. Hackers can steal your identity. Someone you don’t even know can ruin your reputation. This is the wrong narrative. You have another narrative.

John Newton wrote the Hymn, Amazing Grace.

I believe the greatest hymn in Christian history is Amazing Grace. This hymn sung by Christians all over the world for hundreds of years was written by a former atheist, pirate and slave trader.

I believe the greatest hymn in Christian history is Amazing Grace. This hymn sung by Christians all over the world for hundreds of years was written by a former atheist, pirate and slave trader.

By 1745, Newton ran captured slaves from Africa to Charleston, S.C. In 1748, he encountered a story so severe, he saw death. He prayed to God to spare his life. Through this experience he found his faith, entered the ministry and became an important voice in the abolitionist movement. I love the verse,

Through many dangerous toils and snares, I have already come; twas Grace that brought me safe thus far, and Grace will lead me home.”

YOUR PAST DELIVERANCE IS THE PRECEDENT FOR YOUR ENTIRE LIFE.

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT GOD AND YOUR FUTURE IS IN YOUR PAST. IT IS ALL ABOUT YOUR PERSPECTIVE.

Remember when you were ill? all the pain you suffered left you in the bed unable to function- in the prison of suffering. You followed the doctor’s advice and took the medicine. Your health eventually improved. What does that story teach you? Your problem has a solution. You will not come out today, but if you follow the steps, you will come out of it.

You were in love. That person broke your heart. God saved you from years of misery. That person was not worthy of you.

You gave your life to that job. Someone took the credit for your work. You were forced to leave. God taught you patience, resilience, gave you a desire to work in your gifts.

You made a mistake. You sinned and others were hurt. You lost credibility. God taught you his live is from everlasting to everlasting.

Look how many times in life you missed that car missed you. You took a moment and avoided an argument. The Loan did not go through. It was God keeping you.

1 Samuel 17:4–7 NIV

A champion named Goliath, who was from Gath, came out of the Philistine camp. His height was six cubits and a span. He had a bronze helmet on his head and wore a coat of scale armor of bronze weighing five thousand shekels; on his legs he wore bronze greaves, and a bronze javelin was slung on his back. His spear shaft was like a weaver’s rod, and its iron point weighed six hundred shekels. His shield bearer went ahead of him.

Goliath was outmatched. Everything about the scripture tells us Dave it was outmatched. That is only to set us up to see the divine truth then underlies David’s situation. All David needed was a sling shot, five stones and God.

Goliath was outmatched. Everything about the scripture tells us Dave it was outmatched. That is only to set us up to see the divine truth then underlies David’s situation.

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT GOD AND YOUR FUTURE IS IN YOUR PAST. IT IS ALL ABOUT YOUR PERSPECTIVE.

Remember when you were ill? all the pain you suffered left you in the bed unable to function- in the prison of suffering. You followed the doctor’s advice and took the medicine. Your health eventually improved. What does that story teach you? Your problem has a solution. You will not come out today, but if you follow the steps, you will come out of it

Look how many times in life you missed that car missed you. You took a moment and avoided an argument. The Loan did not go through. It was God keeping you.

WHAT IS THE TRUTH ABOUT YOUR PAST?

God has been at work in your life from the beginning.

God is at work wherever you see God...

I went through everything I did so I could love Jesus more. (talk about some events in your past)

God is the judge of our outcomes ....

John 8:48–51 NIV

The Jews answered him, “Aren’t we right in saying that you are a Samaritan and demon-possessed?” “I am not possessed by a demon,” said Jesus, “but I honor my Father and you dishonor me. I am not seeking glory for myself; but there is one who seeks it, and he is the judge. Very truly I tell you, whoever obeys my word will never see death.”

God is behind all our events.

1 Timothy 1:15–17 NIV

Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

DO NOT ALLOW ANYONE TO CONTROL YOUR NARRATIVE.

It is important to acknowledge the divine in everything we do…

Jesus’ narrative: by others

To the Romans, A false prophet

To the Jews, a blasphemer

To his followers, Rabbi

To God, our atoning sacrifice, ()

IN CONCLUSION:

Use what works for you.

Use what works for you.

Rely on the supernatural…

To understand why David beat Goliath, you must go back to verse 34.

1 Samuel 17:34–37 NIV

But David said to Saul, “Your servant has been keeping his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it. Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. 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 the Lord be with you.”

DAVID LOOKED BACK TO HIS PAST. HIS PAST NARRATIVE WAS THE FORMULA FOR HIS FUTURE VICTORY.