Chosen by God: Private Preparation for Public Victory

Samuel's retelling of 1 Samuel 16–17 centers on God's sovereign, discerning choice and the quiet work that prepares a life for public victory. God rejects outward measures of worth and anoints what is inside, choosing David—overlooked by family—for the kingship because of what is in his heart. The narrative contrasts divine election with human judgment: Samuel is taught to stop reading faces and start seeing fruit, while Jesse and David’s brothers reveal their own blindness and envy. When the Spirit of the Lord departs from Saul because of pride and disobedience, God’s authority to remove anointing and raise another becomes unmistakable.

The account traces how God uses ordinary gifts and unnoticed seasons to position a person for purpose. David’s musicianship and shepherding are not incidental extras but the very avenues by which God brings him into the palace and equips him for a future throne. Those private seasons are framed as preparation: silent learning, repeated service, and character-building that sharpen faith and competence. The text also exposes how closeness to promise reveals others’ true colors—some will belittle, some will betray, and some will remain faithful—testing resolve before elevation.

David’s encounter with Goliath serves as the culmination: the same skills honed in solitude—courage, steady hands, confidence in God—become public victory. Instead of adopting Saul’s armor, David trusts the tools and testimony God already provided, uses a sling rather than sword-and-armor spectacle, and delivers a decisive, visible proof of God’s work by presenting Goliath’s head. The teaching insists that God’s timing, hidden preparation, and the stewardship of gifts matter more than immediate acclaim. It warns against complacency in anointing and urges humility, patience, and quiet faithfulness while God readies what only He can bring to fruition.

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Key Takeaways

• 1. Chosen for what’s inside God’s selection assesses inward reality rather than external résumé or appearance. Identity and calling are secured by hidden character and spiritual fruit, not by favor, family status, or public acclaim. This reframes disappointment: being unseen by people does not mean being unseen by God. Faithfully cultivating inner life matters far more than managing impressions. [08:55]
• 2. Preparation occurs in private The path to public responsibility is paved with unseen lessons, repetition, and servanthood. Private disciplines refine skill, deepen dependence on God, and cultivate patience so that one can stand when the hour arrives. Speaking prematurely or seeking applause can short-circuit formation; silence can be a faithful strategy. Learning in the shadows produces steadiness under scrutiny. [16:23]
• 3. Gifts open doors, not thrones Talents and callings are often the means God uses to place someone where they will be formed, not automatic guarantees of ultimate leadership. Instruments of access—music, craftsmanship, service—should be stewarded with humility because they prepare one for higher trust. Recognizing gifts as tools prevents entitlement and fosters gratitude. God repurposes abilities toward His timing, not human ambition. [15:42]
• 4. Anointing can be transferred Divine favor is not irreversible; pride or disobedience can remove a mantle just as quickly as God first bestowed it. Accountability and humility guard against forfeiting what was entrusted. God’s readiness to call another should provoke sober stewardship of influence, not presumption. Even those once favored may be used to elevate their successor if they stray. [12:56]
• 5. Private victories become public proof Hidden triumphs form the testimony that faith displays in public crises. What was practiced alone—courage before lions and bears—becomes undeniable evidence in the arena of giants. Public vindication often comes not from spectacle but from the faithful application of private skill and conviction. Keeping and presenting that proof honors God’s workmanship. [32:31]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [06:47] - Scripture: Samuel Anoints David
• [07:34] - God as the True Chooser
• [10:02] - Jesse’s Doubt and Samuel’s Resolve
• [11:56] - Sovereignty: Spirit Leaves Saul
• [14:43] - How Gifts Bring Access
• [16:23] - Preparation Through Private Lessons
• [20:17] - True Colors Revealed at War
• [24:48] - David’s Moment of Faith
• [29:29] - Rejecting Saul’s Armor
• [32:31] - Proof of Victory: Goliath’s Head

{'input_documents': [Document(metadata={'source': "06:35"}, page_content="Chapter 16 verse 13. If you have it, let me know by saying Jesus. Yeah. Jesus. Amen. [06:47] The Bible should read it so. Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers. From that day on, the spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David. [07:01] That's enough. Shall we bow? Eternal god, our father, how we thank you for such a time as this. Thank you for one more chance to come and declare your name great. Now, Lord, I pray and ask that as I stand before your people that you may decrease me, [07:16] increase you, hide me behind your cross,"), Document(metadata={'source': "07:26"}, page_content="allow your word to go forth in the way that you would have it. It's in your name that I do pray and ask it all. Amen. Amen. For a few brief moments, I just wanna tag this text. No. He has chosen me for this. Alright. [07:34] No. He has chosen me for this. Alright. He has chosen for [07:51] this. Pastor, though this is a familiar text of scripture, I'm delighted to know and see that this scripture, passage does not only tell us about the one that God has chosen, but it also highlights [08:08] God as the chooser. It's in this text that not only do we learn about David, but we also first can look at the authenticity of God. The bible would inform us that the Lord has sent Samuel"), Document(metadata={'source': "08:25"}, page_content="along the way to anoint the next king of Israel. And the bible would tell us that upon his arrival [08:28] at the house of Jesse, he immediately goes in and he sees the eldest brother by the name of Eliab. And he looks at him and says, surely, this must be the one the Lord has sent me to anoint. But the bible also goes on to declare that God says, no. This is not the one for you judge by outward appearance, but I look at what's on the inside. I look at what's [08:55] in the heart, and that's good news for somebody today because in this translation, I just told you, we serve a God that not only looks at your outward appearance, but he has chosen you based on what he has placed on the inside of you. He knows what he's placed in you. He knows how great you are while others may try to overlook you while others may try to count you out. We serve a God that authentically chooses you, that authentically gives you purpose, and that's a word because you got to come to a place where you learn to stop judging people based on outward appearance and start looking at the foods produced in their life. They got a nice suit on, and they can say a couple of good words, but what fruits are produced in their life? They [09:41] can sing and riff and run, but what fruits are present in their life? They might be popular. They might have a little bit of status, but what fruits is relevant in their life? They quote scripture left and right, but what fruits are produced in their life? So it's in this moment that God informs Samuel to stop looking at outward appearance and start looking at what's on the inside. So Samuel continues to go through these brothers one by one, and God continuously says, no. Not him. No. Not him. So we get to a place where Samuel proceeds to ask the question, are these all [10:02]"), Document(metadata={'source': "10:24"}, page_content="of the sons you have? And this is where God shows how he's authentically picked a person because it's in this moment where David's own father begins to speak of him passively. He he begins to speak of him as if he holds no value. He begins to speak of him as if he doesn't matter in the equation. But let me inform you that when God chooses you, no man or anything can stop what he has in motion because it's in this moment where Samuel replies after Jesse says he has one more son, but he's only tended to sheep. It's Samuel that replies and says, send for him at once, for we will go no further until he arrives. And that's somebody's word because you came into this year thinking it was too late. You came into this year thinking that God has forgotten about you, but I came to tell somebody this morning and declare over your life what God has for you. Shadow come to pass. Others may try to stop it. Others may try to get in the way. They may say whatever they can. They may do whatever they can. They may try whatever they can, but God has strategically picked you. He has strategically placed purpose over your life that though they may try to stop it, it cannot come to pass until you arrive church. I are in the picture. Nothing can shift until you arrive. Nothing can move forward until you arrive. So Yeah. It's at this moment. We not only learn about the authenticity of God, church, but also we learn about the sovereignty [11:56] of God. It's in this moment where it says the bible says upon the arrival of David, God instructs David. He instructs Samuel that this is the one I have sent you to come and anoint. So David comes in the room, and the bible tells us that Samuel goes on to anoint David. And the bible goes on to say that the spirit of the Lord immediately fell upon David, but also in that same moment, the bible says the spirit of the Lord left king Saul. This king Saul king Saul, the current first king of Israel, the first king that was anointed by Samuel. This this same Saul that has now had the spirit of the lord leave him. It was this one Saul that was the first anointed king of Israel. It was Samuel who had first anointed him. God's hand was upon Saul. God's hand was upon Saul. And at this moment, Saul became arrogant. Saul was so conceited within himself. He was operating outside [12:56] of the will of God. And in this moment, the same way that God chose Saul, he went ahead to choose someone else. And that's a note because at the same time, I just told you God can call one person. He can also call the next. Sometimes you get so caught up in what God has given you. You get so caught up in the calling and not the caller, and God is quick to take his hand off of you just as he was to put his hand on you. And that's a no for somebody because sometimes we get so caught up in what God has blessed us with. We get so caught up in what God has given us, and we become full of ourselves. And sometimes God has to step in and intervene because you've taken it too far. So just as quick as he called you, he will be quick to call someone else. And here it is because you got to be careful when you walk in what God has called you to do, the way you operate in it because if you take it for granted, he will call the next person. And watch this. He won't just call the next person, but he'll use you to help uplift that same person that he's having to take your place. That's why you gotta be careful about how you carry what God has anointed you to do. Don't take the calling over your life for granted because what you won't do, God will call up the next one in line. While you think no one can stop you, God will raise up the next one right in front of you, and he'll use you to help bring them up. That's why you gotta be careful about those people you keep on overlooking. Be careful with who you treat a certain way because God has a way of uplifting the same ones who you think aren't worth money. [14:43] Can I prove it to you? Can I prove it to you? Here it is. Because not only did the spirit of the Lord leave"), Document(metadata={'source': "14:51"}, page_content="Saul, but the bible goes on to declare that God placed a tormenting spirit upon Saul. So as a result of this, Saul has his attendance to find someone who could play for him whenever the tormenting spirit will come upon him. And here's a note because what God has placed in you, everything is strategic. Here it is. The Bible declares that David was not only a shepherd, but David was also a musician. David has just been anointed as the king. The next king of Israel, David, is knowing he's getting called to the palace, but what interests me is how David gets to the palace. It wasn't to come in as a king, but it was, watch this, to serve. It was to serve under the king as the one thing that he didn't push aside. But come here. I'm talking to you because here it is. David had another gift of musicianship, and it led him to the palace, but it was not to get in the palace, but not to where God had called him to just yet. God, [15:42] this is the teaching. Because here it is. I'm trying to help somebody understand because God placed some gifts in you that you continue to overlook. God placed some things in you that you think don't mean much. But what if I told you that might just be the very thing that God uses as your will to get to what you have over the life. So David, he gets to the palace. David is now in the presence. David is recommended. David is now in the place where he is going to learn how to walk in his purpose. He is now in place for preparation to walk into what God has chosen for him to do over his life. And the question of the morning is how does God prepare you for your purpose? I'm glad you asked GB. I'm actually already almost done. Reason number one point number one that we can know is God prepares you through private lessons. [16:23] The Bible will go on to tell us that David is now in the palace. He's now in the place where he will soon reside. And at this point, David is not only tending to the king, but he's able to watch and learn everything he needs to know for when his time will come. It's in this place where David is observing the ins and outs. He's learning the dos and don'ts before his time comes, and the bible says that Saul was so pleased with David that he even asked his father if he could remain in his service. So David is consistently serving, and not only is David serving, but the bible also goes on knowing what he's been anointed to do and where he's been anointed to be. But, church, what I love about this text in this specific chapter is that it says that David never spoke. I knew y'all would miss it. David has just been anointed. David had just been called to the palace. David knows what's over his life. And even when he gets to the place, the Bible never says that he spoke of what God has given over his life. Come here. Let me help you. Sometimes when God calls you into a new season, it doesn't require you to speak. But the word that he gave you might just be a word that needs to stay between you and him because the harsh reality, mom, is that some people mess up what God is trying to do in their life because they don't know how to be quiet. I [17:48] know you wanna tell uncle them. I know you wanna tell boo boo and baby and everything that's going on in your life. I know you wanna post it on social media. I know you wanna tell Instagram, but sometimes telling everybody what's going on is messing up what God is trying to do. You keep talking before you get into the door. God might have let you in the door, but you gonna get yourself kicked out the door because you don't know how to hush. Yeah. Yeah. But not only does he prepare you in private lessons, but while in the private lessons, he'll also reveal the true colors of your peers"), Document(metadata={'source': "20:14"}, page_content="before you see the promise. Yeah. That's The bible says that David has been serving Saul. [20:17] He's been back and forth between palace and home with his father. And here it is. The bible says in chapter 17 that the Israelites are now at battle with the Philistines. While they are at battle, Jesse has instructed David to go to the site to provide food and check on his brothers and bring their father back word of their safety. So David arrives at the battlegrounds. David is now at the scene. David sees his brothers, but church, that's not the only thing that David goes on to see. It's in this moment where David also encounters Goliath. Yeah. Alright. It's in this moment Goliath is taunting and making a fool of the Israelites in this moment. I'm a talk to you in my language. And it's in this moment that David responds and says, who is this that continues to disrespect the Israelites of the living God? Yeah. He's at this moment, church, that David is now about to walk into his purpose, and he's getting ready. It's his as he's getting ready, it's his own brother by the name of Gilead who tries to intervene and speak lowly of him, who tries to belittle of him saying, should you be tending to sheep? And then the bible goes on to even declare that he even goes on to call [21:14] David's hearts wicked. Now I'm persuaded to understand that there's two reasons behind why this could have happened on the Bruce. Reason, number one is it was earlier in the text in the last chapter where this same eldest brother by the name of Eliab, if I'm not mistaken, had just been rejected Yeah. And had to watch David become anointed. They don't like this type of teacher because what I'm telling you is some people can't stand that you were picked over them because they feel like they were more equipped for what God has cherished. [21:58] And as you navigate this year of 2026, you can't afford to keep you were picked up with them. You Some people don't like you because God has anointed you with something that they wish they could have. Some people are just jealous because God has equipped you with some things that they feel like they should have had over you. War. War. War. [22:38]"), Document(metadata={'source': "22:40"}, page_content="It's in this moment that we can also examine. It was David's moment of faith. Yeah. Because here it is. David had enough faith to do in one day, but Eliab didn't have enough faith to do it for This [22:49] is why you gotta read the bible in your entirety. Eliab and the rest of these Israelites have been at battle for forty days, and Israel and David comes on day one is already ready to step up to the play. About to hear. Point number three, lastly. So we got he he prepares you through the private lessons. He reveals the true colors of the people around you, but lastly, he prepares you for your big moment. Yes. Yes, sir. Here it is. I'm trying not to get happy already. So in this moment, [24:48] David has been running his mouth and has gotten back to the king. So the king goes on to send for David. And it's in this moment where David gets in front of the king and he goes on to say, who is this Philistine? I will go on and fight him. Yeah. Yeah. And his king saw that replies and says, you are only a young boy. Yeah. Yeah. That is a trained warrior of over forty years of experience. Yeah. But I like David's response because it's in this moment where he says, where nobody saw me. You didn't know it, but I was a shepherd. Yeah. [25:18] And in that moment, those times where nobody saw me, I went on to fight a lion with my bare and I killed them to protect my father. But not only did I fight a lion, but I also went on to battle a bear, and then I killed that bear with my bare hands. Y'all still think I'm talking about David. I'm talking about your life. Because there's a few people in this sanctuary that can say, I've Yeah."), Document(metadata={'source': "27:53"}, page_content="Yeah. Nobody knew, you don't get to judge [28:14] God's moment of promotion in my life. So here it is. King Saul tries to send David on, in this armor. And here's your word as you navigate the year of 2026 because some people have been prepared and private for some big things this year. Some people have been in private preparation for the victory that God has over your life. Year, as you get ready for your moment of victory, you need to remember what God has already placed in you is more Yes. Than Enough. Enough. Here it is. I'm wrapping it. So David [29:29] goes from Saul and takes off the army, the armor of Saul, and he gets to the battlefield Yeah. To go and fight Goliath. But what I love about this moment is what David did in private. He's now about to do in front of the big crowd. Yeah. And all those people that are in the big crowd are the same people that talked about how Yeah. Yeah. Doubted him, thought he didn't mean much, thought he wasn't worth much, but it's the same one [30:00] that that thought wasn't worth much that's now about to have the moment of victory, not in poverty, but for everybody to see. And I love this because it's in this moment where God has now positioned David for public victory. Alright. Good God. Some of y'all have been winning and driving for a long time right now. There were some things that you did people don't know about. There were some things that people didn't know you were able to do, but I came"), Document(metadata={'source': "30:39"}, page_content="So it's in this moment where David is now in front of the big crowd, and David gets to Because the truth of the matter is sometimes the private victory, sometimes that intimate time with God is not only for God to show you something, but for God to plant in you and give you the confidence in knowing what he placed in you because sometimes you're gonna encounter some people that wanna make you doubt yourself. You're gonna encounter some people that wanna make you feel less than yourself, but that's why you have to be intentional [31:00] about that alone time with God because God is assuring you of what he's placed in you. So when you encounter those same doubtful people, those same people that try to limit you, those same people that try to shrink you beneath your means, you can tell your you can tell them, I know what God here it is. In this moment Mhmm. David goes on to battle with Goliath. Yeah. And in this moment, they get ready to battle. Goliath taunts David. He makes fun of David. He belittles David in front of everyone. Yeah. So as they get ready to battle, they're running at each other, going at each other. But it's in this moment, David stuck to what he knew, and he slings that rock and hits Goliath in the head. You know how the story goes, and Goliath comes tumbling down. But [32:06] that's not what did it for me. Church, that's not what blessed me. Here it is. After he knocks him down, uncle Bruce, he takes Goliath's sword That's right. He cuts his head. Yes. That's not it. Alright. But he goes on to hold the head. He's holding the proof Yeah. Of his victory. Yeah. [32:31] Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. He cuts the head off, and he's holding his proof of victory. Yeah. Yes, sir. Not only for him to see. Amen. But for everybody else to see. Yeah. When you keep reading your bible, this is not the only giant that David goes on to face. Yeah. So David is not only holding proof of his victory in that moment. Uh-huh. But David is holding the proof of victory from God [33:08]")], 'output_text': ''}