Boot Camp: God's Preparation for a Life of Purpose
[powerpress] When we think about God's preparation for a life of purpose, it is imperative that we acknowledge the need for three things: covenant brothers and sisters, a healthy sense of losing yourself and the reality of God being with you.
Covenant Brothers and Sisters
1 Samuel 18:1-4 After David had finished talking with Saul, Jonathan became one in spirit with David, and he loved him as himself. From that day Saul kept David with him and did not let him return home to his family. And Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself. Jonathan took off the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his tunic, and even his sword, his bow and his belt.
The gospel is hidden in the exchange of armor.
For people to want to stick and follow like Jonathan with David, you must be doing something, you must be pursuing and fighting the battles of the Lord. The number of times that the Bible made mention of the people's love for David because he led them in their campaigns can not be overlooked. People are stirred by God to do something and will follow the leader that takes them into His purposes.
Not only did the people of God realize the value of establishing a covenant with God, but they understood the importance of making covenants with one another. Those who are covenant brothers and sisters remind you about what is actually important. They pull you out of the status quo and once again into the fight for the purposes of God.
"Let's do something great for God - together."
Losing Yourself
1 Samuel 18:5-16 Whatever mission Saul sent him on, David was so successful that Saul gave him a high rank in the army. This pleased all the troops, and Saul’s officers as well. When the men were returning home after David had killed the Philistine, the women came out from all the towns of Israel to meet King Saul with singing and dancing, with joyful songs and with timbrels and lyres. As they danced, they sang:“Saul has slain his thousands,and David his tens of thousands.” Saul was very angry; this refrain displeased him greatly. “They have credited David with tens of thousands,” he thought, “but me with only thousands. What more can he get but the kingdom?” And from that time on Saul kept a close eye on David. The next day an evil spirit from God came forcefully on Saul. He was prophesying in his house, while David was playing the lyre, as he usually did. Saul had a spear in his hand and he hurled it, saying to himself, “I’ll pin David to the wall.” But David eluded him twice. Saul was afraid of David, because the Lord was with David but had departed from Saul. So he sent David away from him and gave him command over a thousand men, and David led the troops in their campaigns. In everything he did he had great success, because the Lord was with him. When Saul saw how successful he was, he was afraid of him. But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he led them in their campaigns.
King Saul seemingly had it all. He was the king over an entire nation, had all of the money he ever desired, a loyal group of "followers" who hung on his every word, wonderful children and more romantic relationship than he knew what to do with; yet, he was still discontent. When your identity, value and satisfaction in life comes from anything other than Jesus, like Saul, you will be insecure, dissatisfied and always striving for something that will never really fill you.
In the kingdom of God, there is no room for competition between believers, territorialism, self-ambition, jealousies or destructive insecurities. We are all to be humble servants of Jesus who are looking to bring our part with excellence, faith and submission. We loosely hold what the Lord has entrusted to us for the seasons that He does so. This includes our wealth, our jobs, our children and even our lives. As John the Baptist said, "He must become greater, I must become less." (John 3)
“There is only one thing which is generally safe from plagiarism – self-denial.” ― G.K. Chesterton, The Collected Works
Syncretism in the church is a silent killer.
The Lord was with David but had left Saul.
When God is with Us
1 Samuel 18:17-30 Saul said to David, “Here is my older daughter Merab. I will give her to you in marriage; only serve me bravely and fight the battles of the Lord.” For Saul said to himself, “I will not raise a hand against him. Let the Philistines do that!” But David said to Saul, “Who am I, and what is my family or my clan in Israel, that I should become the king’s son-in-law?” So when the time came for Merab, Saul’s daughter, to be given to David, she was given in marriage to Adriel of Meholah. Now Saul’s daughter Michal was in love with David, and when they told Saul about it, he was pleased. “I will give her to him,” he thought, “so that she may be a snare to him and so that the hand of the Philistines may be against him.” So Saul said to David, “Now you have a second opportunity to become my son-in-law.” Then Saul ordered his attendants: “Speak to David privately and say, ‘Look, the king likes you, and his attendants all love you; now become his son-in-law.’” They repeated these words to David. But David said, “Do you think it is a small matter to become the king’s son-in-law? I’m only a poor man and little known.” When Saul’s servants told him what David had said, Saul replied, “Say to David, ‘The king wants no other price for the bride than a hundred Philistine foreskins, to take revenge on his enemies.’” Saul’s plan was to have David fall by the hands of the Philistines. When the attendants told David these things, he was pleased to become the king’s son-in-law. So before the allotted time elapsed, David took his men with him and went out and killed two hundred Philistines and brought back their foreskins. They counted out the full number to the king so that David might become the king’s son-in-law. Then Saul gave him his daughter Michal in marriage. When Saul realized that the Lord was with David and that his daughter Michal loved David, Saul became still more afraid of him, and he remained his enemy the rest of his days. The Philistine commanders continued to go out to battle, and as often as they did, David met with more success than the rest of Saul’s officers, and his name became well known.
You do not have to choose having an intimate life with God or doing great exploits in His name. It is not one or the other. David cultivated his devotional life with God, which encouraged and empowered his military campaigns because God was with him.
There is great importance in doing things within community and not solo.
Another Parable
Batman first destroys the bomb, then invites partners in for redemption: Catwoman and Robin. The home is the result for the at-risk youth and boys. This is the gospel and vision of the church.
Jesus' impact on the world can be clearly seen because He did not remain in the grave. Like the Batman, Jesus: 1) takes us out of the corruption of empty, power-brokering religion (Robin leaves the force); 2) makes provision for the needy of the world (Jesus' church and Wayne Manor); 3) raises up a band of heroes to continue His work, fighting the evil in the world (Jesus' disciples being witnesses of His gospel (Robin); 4) and gives us a means to continually access Him (prayer and the bat signal); 5) He allows for appearances (Bruce Wayne in Paris - Jesus and the 40 days).
The Dark Knight Rises ending: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=myMtrZfEtFE Second City Church- BootCamp Sermon Series 2014