Embracing Courage and Service on Life's Journey

 

Summary

In this sermon, Pastor E passionately guides the congregation towards a deeper understanding of their faith, connecting biblical principles to everyday life. He emphasizes the importance of having the right attitude while in the hallway of life, before reaching the destination that God has for us. He shares a personal story about a speech contest where he chose to respond righteously to a mistake made by the judges, resulting in his victory. This story serves as a reminder that how we handle ourselves in the hallway determines if we even get to the door of our purpose and destiny.

The pastor also encourages the congregation to engage in service and get involved in the action, using the example of David who was able to understand the problem being faced because he went on an errand that brought him to the battlefield. He emphasizes that sitting on the sidelines has no influence on the game and urges the listeners to get in the game and make a difference. He also highlights the value of serving in smaller tasks, as it builds confidence and prepares individuals for bigger challenges.

Furthermore, the pastor emphasizes the importance of having an attitude of courage, referencing David's encounter with Saul and the Philistine. Despite Saul's doubts, David confidently shares his past experiences of protecting his father's sheep from lions and bears. David's courage and faith in God's strength enable him to face the Philistine. The pastor encourages the congregation to have the same attitude of courage, reminding them that God gives the courage to step in and take action.

The pastor also emphasizes the importance of recognizing that God has a purpose for each individual's life. He challenges the congregation to write down the next thing they feel God is doing in their lives and to evaluate their attitude towards serving and being courageous. He promises that by doing this, the congregation will gain clarity and revelation on what they need to do next in their journey.

Finally, the pastor emphasizes the importance of having an attitude of closing and being a finisher. He uses the example of David triumphing over the Philistine Goliath to illustrate this point. After killing Goliath with a sling and a stone, David goes a step further and cuts off his head with the Philistine's own sword. The pastor encourages the congregation to apply this attitude of closing in their own lives, particularly when dealing with sin and temptation.

Key Takeaways:

- Having the right attitude while in the hallway of life determines if we even get to the door of our purpose and destiny. Responding righteously to challenges and tests can lead to unexpected victories. [12:45]

- Engaging in service and getting involved in the action is crucial. Serving in smaller tasks builds confidence and prepares individuals for bigger challenges. It's important to get off the sidelines and make a difference. [22:30]

- Having an attitude of courage is essential. Just like David, we should confidently share our past experiences and trust in God's strength to face our challenges. God gives us the courage to step in and take action. [34:15]

- Recognizing that God has a purpose for each individual's life is important. Writing down the next thing we feel God is doing in our lives and evaluating our attitude towards serving and being courageous can provide clarity and revelation on our next steps. [45:50]

- Having an attitude of closing and being a finisher is crucial. We should not only experience victory but also take the necessary steps to maintain it, such as seeking accountability and support from others. [57:20]

Study Guide

Bible Reading:
1. 1 Samuel 17:32-37: "David said to Saul, 'Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine; your servant will go and fight him.' Saul replied, 'You are not able to go out against this Philistine and fight him; you are only a young man, and he has been a warrior from his youth.' 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.'"
2. 1 Samuel 17:50-52: "So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him. David ran and stood over him. He took hold of the Philistine’s sword and drew it from the sheath. After he killed him, he cut off his head with the sword. When the Philistines saw that their hero was dead, they turned and ran. Then the men of Israel and Judah surged forward with a shout and pursued the Philistines to the entrance of Gath and to the gates of Ekron. Their dead were strewn along the Shaaraim road to Gath and Ekron."

Observation Questions:
1. What were the challenges David faced before he fought the Philistine?
2. How did David respond to Saul's doubts about his ability to fight the Philistine?
3. What actions did David take after he killed the Philistine?

Interpretation Questions:
1. How does David's response to Saul's doubts reflect his faith and courage?
2. What does David's action of cutting off the Philistine's head signify about his attitude towards victory and closure?
3. How does David's past experiences with the lion and the bear relate to his confidence in facing the Philistine?

Application Questions:
1. Can you recall a situation where you faced doubts from others about your ability to overcome a challenge? How did you respond and what was the outcome?
2. What is a small task or service you can engage in this week that could prepare you for a bigger challenge in your life?
3. Think of a situation where you experienced victory but failed to close or finish well. What steps can you take to ensure closure in similar situations in the future?
4. What is the next thing you feel God is doing in your life? Write it down and share it with the group.
5. Can you identify an area in your life where you need to demonstrate more courage? What is one action you can take this week to show courage in this area?

Devotional

Day 1: The Hallway of Life: Attitude Matters

In life's hallway, before reaching the destination God has for us, our attitude plays a pivotal role. Responding righteously to challenges and tests can lead to unexpected victories. It's not about the destination, but how we handle ourselves in the journey that determines if we even get to the door of our purpose and destiny. [12:45]

Bible Passage: Proverbs 17:3 - "The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but the Lord tests the heart."

Reflection: Reflect on a recent challenge you faced. How did your attitude influence the outcome? Can you identify a specific change in your attitude that could lead to a more positive outcome in the future?

Day 2: Service: Small Steps to Big Changes

Engaging in service and getting involved in the action is crucial. Serving in smaller tasks builds confidence and prepares individuals for bigger challenges. It's important to get off the sidelines and make a difference. [22:30]

Bible Passage: Galatians 6:9 - "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."

Reflection: What small act of service can you commit to this week? How might this small step prepare you for bigger challenges in the future?

Day 3: Courage: Trusting in God's Strength

Having an attitude of courage is essential. Just like David, we should confidently share our past experiences and trust in God's strength to face our challenges. God gives us the courage to step in and take action. [34:15]

Bible Passage: Deuteronomy 31:6 - "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."

Reflection: What is one challenge you're facing that requires courage? How can you trust in God's strength to face this challenge?

Day 4: Purpose: God's Plan for Your Life

Recognizing that God has a purpose for each individual's life is important. Writing down the next thing we feel God is doing in our lives and evaluating our attitude towards serving and being courageous can provide clarity and revelation on our next steps. [45:50]

Bible Passage: Jeremiah 29:11 - "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Reflection: What do you feel is the next thing God is doing in your life? How does your attitude towards serving and being courageous align with this?

Day 5: Closing: Being a Finisher

Having an attitude of closing and being a finisher is crucial. We should not only experience victory but also take the necessary steps to maintain it, such as seeking accountability and support from others. [57:20]

Bible Passage: 2 Timothy 4:7 - "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith."

Reflection: Reflect on a recent victory in your life. What steps can you take to maintain this victory and ensure it's not a one-time success?

Quotes

1. "There is a hallway experience like you got to be in the hallway before that door opens or there's a highway experience like you got to be on the highway before you get to that exit destination that God has for you and how you handle yourself in the hallway determines if you even get to that door." [01:13:16]

2. "Just serve, just serve, just serve... I believe now David had an idea of who he was going to be next but David went to the battlefield to complete a task and in the middle of his task completion God upgraded him in a way that he could never imagine." [57:26]

3. "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 head, 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 defiled the armies of the Living God." [58:43]

4. "I don't know who I'm talking to, but there's some stuff that God's revealed to you, some gaps that exist in your community, some gaps that exist in your family, some issues that exist in our world... I'm telling you, God's giving somebody the courage to step in and say, 'I'll do something about it. Here I am, send me. I'll handle it.'" [59:16]

5. "Once God allows you to get Victory you better make sure it's dead...you can get delivered but you got to learn how to walk in it." [01:04:50]

6. "When we engage in service, it puts us where the action is. So many of us want to do great things, but one of the ways to figure out what God put in you, what he packed in you, what are my gifts, what are my talents, what am I anointed to do, what am I gifted at, what am I good at, what am I passionate about, is to get involved in serving." [54:50]

7. "David's ability to serve and his willingness to serve allowed him to see the giant, feel the terror among the soldiers, feel the tension in the moment. He could see the gap. Can you see it in your mind's eye that this 9-foot plus giant was roaming back and forth for 40 days, tormenting the Army, taunting them? And David was able to see and experience that, and it gave him an opportunity to step in and say, 'I'll do it.' But it started with his willingness to serve." [55:34]

8. "Write down the thing it can just be one thing the thing that you feel like God is doing next in your life...just one thing God this is what I sense you doing next." [01:09:50]

9. "I won't promise you sunshine and rainbows but I will promise you this, you'll have Clarity in a way that you've never seen before and that as you move forward in your journey God will give you Revelation and show you what I what what do I need to do next." [01:10:30]

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Transcript
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