Realizing one’s imperfections is not a bad thing so long as we are also aware of the positive things each of us brings to the table. Whatever the subject matter may be, understanding that each one of us is not perfect is, in fact, necessary to make any sort of meaningful progress in life.

CONFIDENCE: Having personal confidence is a necessity if you are going to be at your best. This means God given confidence, not relying solely on your own abilities, apart from him. We do not say I am going do this on my own. We take a David approach. He was extremely confident in his ability to take Goliath out, but he knew full well that his capabilities came from his being connected with the Lord and trusting in the him (the Lord) to gain the victory. When he went out to face the Philistine giant, who had been trained from his youth to be a warrior, David said, “You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied” (1 Samuel 17:45 King James Version). LESSON: Never take whatever you are going through lightly (of course, this means while you are serving God and living right) because, if you can receive this, you are always being prepared for something. And if you apply yourself to whatever tasks are before you it will result in you getting the maximum benefit from it. So, stop complaining about your present job or set of circumstances (maybe you’re being mistreated at you job, getting past over repeatedly for a promotion even though you are more qualified than your coworkers), and begin to praise God for the opportunities he has given to you so you can grow in steadily in your trust and dependence upon him. Remember, he specializes in doing the impossible. In one of your future studies just look at Joseph’s life and see what he went through on his way to realizing God’s promise for his life finally coming to pass.

In David’s case, among other things, he was sharpening his fighting abilities and developing a warrior’s attitude, by taking on lions and bears and in using, what one might consider child’s play today, sharpening his slingshot skills while he was shepherding sheep (which was considered a very lowly job) without complaining and in the process of growing into manhood (he was only a teenager at the time) never realizing that he would use the very things by which he protected the sheep with to actually help him to one day defeat the enemies of God. By the way David was also a psalmist (Godly musician) so he also grew in his musical abilities during those long days of tending sheep. God eventually used his anointed music presentations to calm the king whenever he went through episodes of unrest, to put it mildly. King Saul had a spiritual problem which caused him to lose his temper. – When Saul heard from the other men of how David spoke boldly regarding Goliath he sent for him and said, “Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou art but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth. 34 And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father’s sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock: 35 And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him. 36 Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God. 37 David said moreover, The Lord that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the Lord be with thee” (1 Samuel 17:33-37). … After Saul had tried to fit David with his own armor for protection and he (David) had rejected it he (David), “Then took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd’s bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling was in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine. 41 And the Philistine came on and drew near unto David; and the man that bare the shield went before him. 42 And when the Philistine looked about, and saw David, he disdained him: for he was but a youth, and ruddy, and of a fair countenance. 43 And the Philistine said unto David, Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with staves? And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. 44 And the Philistine said to David, Come to me, and I will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the air, and to the beasts of the field. 45 Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. 46 This day will the Lord deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. 47 And all this assembly shall know that the Lord saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give you into our hands. 48 And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came, and drew nigh to meet David, that David hastened, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine. 49 And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth. 50 So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him; but there was no sword in the hand of David. 51 Therefore David ran, and stood upon the Philistine, and took his sword, and drew it out of the sheath thereof, and slew him, and cut off his head therewith. And when the Philistines saw their champion was dead, they fled” (1 Samuel 17:40-51).

SENSITIVITY: David, although when you study his life, had some real issues to be dealt with but he was a man of compassion who had a real zeal for the things of God. And while he exhibited this in other ways it can clearly be seen in how he cared for his father’s sheep. PAUSE: The Old Testament is type and shadow of the New Testament. When you take time to study the whole Bible you will find the from the first book, Genesis to the last book, Revelation, that it is all about Jesus. In this case, David, is a type of Christ (Jesus, God’s Son, and our Shepherd, takes care of us, his sheep given to him by God, the Father. in the same way that David (the shepherd), the son Jesse, took care of his father sheep).

ACTION: David, under the direction of the Holy Spirit, not only studied the Word of God but was used to write the Bible. He exercised his faith well and often as he lived his life laboring as a shepherd. Yes, he had rehearsed well, his crafts, before eventually having such a showdown with Goliath. We can learn a lot from his life.

PREPARATION: We can begin some of our practicing by reading the Word of God (the Bible) daily and memorizing Scripture.

EXAMPLES: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13). – You can say, “I will do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

“We are more than conquerors through Him who loved us” (Romans 8:37). You can say and believe that “I am more than a conqueror.”

“And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19). You can say, “My God has supplied fall of my needs according the His riches and glory by Christ Jesus.”

You can find a Scripture for every need that you will ever have…

EPILOGUE:

You see, he was in training as he took care of the sheep.

The Bible says how he protected them from the lion and the bear. It does not say how may lions and bears…

It is so important to point out that David was a man of God. Eventually because of King Saul’s refusal to obey God removed him from the throne, “And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king, to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will” (Acts 13:22). Now when God says that about you or me that is really saying something. The Bible says, “Let another praise thee, and not thine own mouth; A stranger, and not thine own lips” (Proverbs 27:2).

If you have not accepted Christ into your heart, please say the following prayer out loud to him right now.

The prayer:

Lord Jesus, I believe that you died on the Cross for me, a sinner, and that you rose again on the third day. Please forgive me for all my sins. I repent, I turn away from all sin. Please come into my heart and live. I accept you as my personal Lord and Savior, and as Master of my life. Thank you so much, in Your Name, I pray, Amen

If you prayed that from your heart you can be assured that name has been written in “Written in the Lamb’s Book of Life” (Revelation 21:27).

It is so important that you get involved in regularly studying the Bible. Since you have accepted Jesus into your heart you can and should pray each time before you read asking God to give you understanding. So often has this writer mentioned joining a Bible believing church but with the current situation with COVID-19 this could be very challenging since government officials are limiting the number of people being allowed to gather at any one time. You can still buy a Bible online or even at such stores as Walmart. There is 24-hour Christian television available as well, such as Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN), Daystar, and many other broadcasts (check your television service provider and you will see them listed), including the internet. They also have prayer lines available to you 7 days a week (you can call anytime).

The men and women leaders and members of the Church of Jesus Christ really need to come together in unison and pray about the future of God’s House and his living temples (those who know Christ personally).

Jesus is coming back for his church.

Jesus said, “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also” (John 14:1-3).

It is understood that there are creative ways to have church services during these very trying times but those who know Jesus realize that even with the abilities that God has given to scientists (Jesus is the one who created matter, for example) that any healing should be credited to God. Everything good, even immunizations, “Comes from God” (James 1:17).

For the overall healing of this nation and the world, to the church of God says, “If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14).

Finally, we must realize as David did that, “The battle” against evil “Is the LORD’S” (1 Samuel 17:45). When the Word of God has shared with every person and those who will accept Christ have done so and all who will reject have also done so then shall the end come (See Matthew 24:14).

Finally, we must realize as David did that, “The battle” against evil “Is the LORD’S” (1 Samuel 17:45).  When the Word of God has shared with every person and those who will accept Christ have done so and all who will reject have also done so then shall the end come (See Matthew 24:14).

In the end those who are evil will battle against The Living God, Creator of heaven and earth.

Psalm 2 is a wonderful, but sad, illustration of how the devil (demons) and evil people will come against God and fail. They are trying to remove Jesus, The Creator, completely out of the public square. He is the one who has blessed America all these years. Therefore, we have freedom (and everyone wants to come here). Unfortunately, not everyone comes for the right reasons (this has become increasingly evident). Although we realize that America is not perfect if they remove the foundation (Jesus, who is perfect) that our founding fathers established some 244 years ago our nation will fall into the hands of a socialist, communistic government, and it will be painful to say the least.  Psalm 2 shows what these people will finally do (even during this message God is trying to reach people with his love).  “Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? 2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against his anointed, saying, 3 Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. 4 He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision. 5 Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure. 6 Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion. 7 I will declare the decree: the Lord hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.8 Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.9 Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel. 10 Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. 11 Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. 12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him” (Psalm 2).

“I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; 2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; 4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; 6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time” (1 Timothy 2:1-6).

I love you; we love you; Jesus loves you, and God has awesome plans for you.