THE GOD OF “PROCESS”

1 Samuel 16 tells a familiar story of the prophet Samuel anointing the shepherd boy David, King (in time) of Israel. What is fascinating to me is that from that moment forward David had a lot of “growing up” to do. God would walk him through the process of being a musician in king’s court, a squire, a military leader, a giant killer, an outcast, a target of assassination, a fugitive, a vassal of the enemy and more….. Only after a long line of difficult and inconvenient circumstances would David, after the death of his closest friend Jonathan, become King.  Would it not have been easier just to give him the kingship shortly after Samuel anointed him?  That is how I would have scripted it. But God typically moves us all through a process of refinement.

PRINCIPLE #1     GOD TENDS TO MAKE LIFE VERY INCONVENIENT SO WE WILL GROW IN OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM.

Look at the LIFE OF: David was not ready to be king until he had walked a difficult road and developed into a “man after God’s own heart”.   Joseph (OT) – was a favorite son and, after his father’s lavish gift, was sold into slavery by his brothers, becomes a household servant,  Then unjustly put in prison, left there for couple of years, brought before the kings, eventually made second in command and reunited with family. Paul – story in Acts is full of difficulties and faith stretching events…. Job – check out what God allowed him  to go through…… Peter, Timothy, Isaac, Jacob, Gideon…… all walked through a series of events that were designed to stretch them emotionally and spiritually.  God calls us to something that is (rarely) convenient

PRINCIPLE #2     GOD WILL NOT ABANDON “PROCESS” EVEN WHEN HE HAS SET YOU FREE. He will develop us into what HE desires.    Phil 1:3-6 “…being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus…”

PRINCIPLE #3     IT IS ONE THING TO TAKE THE LAND... IS QUITE ANOTHER TO KEEP IT! A lot of folk give their lives to the Lord and experience great release, forgiveness and peace. Far fewer are able to hold on to those qualities. (It is one thing to meet Jesus, quite another to “walk” with Him.)

PRINCIPLE #4 GOD IS VERY INTENTIONAL ABOUT WHAT HE IS DOING IN YOUR LIFE. Phil 1:3-6 “…being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus…”  That crummy boss, financial hardship, death of a friend…. don’t waste an opportunity to grow!

PRINCIPLE #5     IF YOU ARE GOING TO BE ANYONE FOR THE KINGDOM THEN YOU MUST KNOW HOW TO SLAY GIANTS. Must be able to overcome certain things in your life. If you are struggling with the same patterns of sin that you struggled with 5 years ago…you may have a problem with giants.

Philippians 2:12 “…work out your salvation with fear and trembling…”

PRINCIPLE #6     GOD HAS ALREADY TOLD YOU WHAT YOU NEED TO DO… SO THE IDEA IS TO ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH HIS AND YOUR PRIORITIES.  My opinion is that most of us know what God expects of us. Will we do it?