JUST BECAUSE YOU ARE CALLED TO IT DOES NOT ALWAYS MEAN YOU ARE READY FOR IT.
1 Samuel 16:11- “Are these all the sons you have?” “There is still the youngest,” he answered, “but right now he’s tending the sheep.” Samuel told Jesse, “Send for him.
1 Samuel 16:12: … the Lord said, “Anoint him, for he is the one.”
THE WILDERNESS BETWEEN ANOINTING AND APPOINTING ARE WHERE GOD SHAPES WHO YOU WILL BE WHEN YOU FINALLY STEP INTO WHAT HE PROMISED.
DAVID & JESUS COMPARATIVE WILDERNESS TEMPTATIONS:
- TEMPTATION OF SELF-PROVISION OVER GOD'S PROVISION
- TEMPTATION OF SELF-PRESERVATION OVER GOD'S PROTECTION
- TEMPTATION OF SELF-ADVANCEMENT OVER GOD'S TIMING
1ST TEMPTATION - SELF-PROVISION OVER GODS PROVISION:
TO PROVIDE FOR ONESELF NOT BELIEVING GOD WILL.
1 Samuel 22:18 - So the king said to Doeg, “Go and execute the priests!” So Doeg the Edomite went and executed the priests himself. On that day, he killed 85 men who wore linen ephods.
THE WILDERNESS IT IS WHERE THE WEIGHT OF GOD’S CALLING STARTS BECOMING REAL.
2ND TEMPTATION - SELF-PRESERVATION OVER GOD’S PROTECTION:
TO PROTECT ONESELF NOT BELIEVING GOD WILL.
1 Samuel 24:16-17 &20 – 16 Then Saul wept aloud 17 and said to David, “You are more righteous than I, for you have done what is good to me though I have done what is evil to you. 20 “Now I know for certain you will be king, and the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hand.
3RD TEMPTATION - SELF-ADVANCEMENT OVER GOD'S TIMING:
TO PROMOTE ONESELF BEFORE GOD DESIRES.
1 Samuel 26:8-10 - “Today God has handed your enemy over to you. Let me thrust the spear through him into the ground just once. I won’t have to strike him twice!” 9 But David said to Abishai, “Don’t destroy him, for who can lift a hand against the Lord’s anointed and be blameless?” 10 David added, “As the Lord lives, the Lord will certainly strike him down: either his day will come and he will die, or he will go into battle and perish.
GOD SHAPES LEADERSHIP BEFORE THE TITLE EVER ARRIVES.
NOT ONLY IS THE WILDERNESS WHERE GOD FORMS YOU. IT IS ALSO WHERE THE ENEMY TRIES TO RUIN YOU.
THE WILDERNESS CAN TEACH US HOW TO:
WAIT WITHOUT GRASPING.
TRUST WITHOUT FORCING.
OBEY WITHOUT SEEING.
BE SHAPED BEFORE BEING ELEVATED.
