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David came to the battlefield and defeated a giant no one thought he could defeat. Often overlooked is what brought him to the scene of his great victory.
David did not come to kill a giant he came to serve. David came with a lunch-box. David didn’t have a sword, but he had a sandwich.
In God’s kingdom, SERVICE will unexpectedly bring you to moment of your greatest victory. In God’s kingdom Servants are Champions.
Champions 2 – Servants are Champions from Redemption Church on Vimeo.
Champion 2 – Servants are Champions
Sermon notes by Pastor Chris Fluitt
Redemption Church Plano Tx
Champion Bumper 2
Welcome to Redemption Church. My Name is Chris Fluitt and I am excited to preach to you today. Are there any champions in Plano Tx today?
Champion
Last week we told you that PROMISE TRUMPS PEDIGREE.
David was Jesse’s forgotten son. Jesse had 7 other sons go before the Prophet Samuel. David lacked the pedigree, but He had something greater – He had the Promise of God. God had seen David’s heart, God had called David, and David would be the next King of Israel.
Stop worrying about what other people think. Concentrate on what God thinks about you!
I want to remind you that we celebrate champions after the victory… But
God celebrates Champions before the victory.
With this said. I want to announce to you the 2018 National Football League Champions, your DALLAS COWBOYS. Go Cowboys! (Our budget couldn’t afford balloons, confetti, or t-shirt cannons)
Now God doesn’t determine who will win sports trophies (big theological position), but God has predetermined that whosoever puts their faith in Jesus Christ is going to win.
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.(NIV)
Romans 8:37 ..in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.(NIV)
Psalm 118:15 Shouts of joy and victory resound in the tents of the righteous: “The LORD’s right hand has done mighty things!(NIV)
Psalm 118:16 The LORD’s right hand is lifted high; the LORD’s right hand has done mighty things!”(NIV)
Psalm 118:17 I will not die but live, and will proclaim what the LORD has done.(NIV)
You are going to triumph. Let’s celebrate before the fact. This is what we call faith!
I am not saying you have a problem free life, but I am saying when the clock hits zero and the trumpet sounds you will be standing in victory.
Today I want to direct you to 1 Samuel 17.
1 Samuel 17 is the location of the great championship moment of David. This is the moment where the shepherd boy would fling the stone. The stone would hit the head of the Giant. David would cut the head of the giant off. The army of the Philistines would run away like cowards, and all of Israel would celebrate David as Champion.
Play to win
The Chicago Cubs won the world series last October, breaking a championship drought of 107 years.
Now, Major League Baseball is in the pre-season. They call this time “spring training.” The season has not yet started. Any games that are being played are purely for practice in getting ready for the regular season.
Even though there are no “real” games being played right now, all 30 MLB teams are planning, dreaming, strategizing to be World Series Champs in October.
Right now, coaches are trying to increase the physical talents of the players. They run drills constantly to become quicker, stronger, & more accurate. Coaches are also trying to increase the mental acumen of the players. They don’t miss an opportunity to inspire their players and help them focus on the important aspects of the game.
The professional athlete plays to win. They eat & sleep winning. The food they consume is no longer about taste – it is about fueling their body to win. They put themselves through intense workouts to gain strength and flexibility. The game is no longer about enjoyment. It is about being a little better than you were yesterday so that you can win. After one game is completed, they immediately start preparing for the next game. They climb into tubs of ice to help their bodies recover.
When the professional athlete shows up at the stadium, they have come to play, and the reason they play is to win.
This is how things work in the natural world.
You go to school, to get the grade, to win the job.
You go to the job, to get paid, in to win in finances.
You get the finances, to spend it wisely, to win a successful life.
Champions show up to win… except in God’s kingdom. God’s Kingdom doesn’t work this way.
David did not show up to win
David did not show up in 1 Samuel 17 to defeat a Giant.
David did not show up to finally “be somebody” and gain the respect of others.
David did not show up to gain the reward.
David did not show up to save his nation.
David showed up to serve
It was a servant’s heart that brought David to the scene of his championship win.
1 Samuel 17:17 Now Jesse said to his son David, “Take this ephah of roasted grain and these ten loaves of bread for your brothers and hurry to their camp.(NIV)
1 Samuel 17:18 Take along these ten cheeses to the commander of their unit. See how your brothers are and bring back some assurance from them.(NIV)
1 Samuel 17:19 They are with Saul and all the men of Israel in the Valley of Elah, fighting against the Philistines.”(NIV)
1 Samuel 17:20 Early in the morning David left the flock with a shepherd, loaded up and set out, as Jesse had directed. He reached the camp as the army was going out to its battle positions, shouting the war cry.(NIV)
You mean it wasn’t his good looks that got him a King’s crown?
You mean it wasn’t his talent & skill that drew him to the battle field this day?
You mean it was his family name that opened the door for his success?
You mean it wasn’t his stature?
You mean it wasn’t anything he materially held, like a car or nice clothes?
David didn’t show up with a sword… He showed up with a sandwich
STOP. THINK ABOUT THIS. Think about how upside down God’s Kingdom is. It is beautifully upside down.
Maybe what is keeping you from victory is not lacking a sword or shield, but lacking a sandwich. Maybe we are lacking service.
The Bible has great promise to those that serve in God’s Kingdom.
Matthew 23:11 The greatest among you will be your servant.(NIV)
STOP. THINK ABOUT THIS. Think about how upside down God’s Kingdom is. It is beautifully upside down.
This is what makes Jesus the best team-mate. Jesus is the greatest but becomes a servant to us all. Jesus serves us and ushers us on to victory. Jesus did not come to earth for a champions trophy or some kind of personal victory – He came to bring us a crown and to seat us in his thrown.
Your service to God is going to unexpectedly bring you to the moment of great victory.
Serve To Win not play to win
The worst kind of team-mate is the one who is only focused on personal victories.
The best team-mate is focused on serving the team towards victory.
Leave it to our God to bring victory in the most unexpected way. God reaches down and chooses a servant shepherd to defeat the giant.
Only through God could a boy with a lunchbox walk onto a battle field and win.
I don’t know what you have in your hand today. I don’t know what has brought you to this battlefield today, but through God you can win.
Don’t get frustrated with the lunch box.
David could have had a bad attitude. He could have said “I am anointed by Samuel the prophet, have someone else carry food to my brothers.”
David could have been depressed. “I had so much hope for my life. I felt like God was going to use me for great things. But instead of being a mighty king I am a forgotten, misunderstood, errand boy.”
What if David had refused the errand?
His service brought him to the battlefield.
Your service to God is going to unexpectedly bring you to the moment of great victory.
musician
We are about to open this service for prayer. If you have been tempted to stop serving – I want you to repent today. If you have grown frustrated with the lunchbox – I want you to ask God to forgive you and I want you to double down on your service.
Moms & Dads don’t give up serving your family. Children don’t get frustrated serving your parents and siblings.
Redemption Church Volunteers your service is bringing you steps closer to victory.
You may be saying “I don’t know who to serve, where to serve, how to serve..” There is a place for you in this altar today. Ask the Lord to give you an assignment.
Servants are Champions
Come pray servants. Come pray champions.