Developing a Heart like His: Life Lessons from the Life of David

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Developing a Heart like His Life Lessons from
the Life of David

• From Dreams to Despair

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Contrast Davids Life

• Then
• He was living in a palace with a king.
• His best friend was a prince.
• All his attempts were successes.
• He had a high military rank.
• He was married to a princess.
• He was loved by Israel and Judah.
• He had it allthe dream life!

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Contrast Davids Life

• Now
• Hated and feared
• Wrongly accused
• Homeless
• Hungry
• Lonely
• And truly in despair

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WHY??

• Perhaps the problem was that he had it all.
• God didnt want to put a man like Saul in charge
  again.
• Perhaps He had to remove all the crutches so that
  the new king would be completely reliant upon God.

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Davids Crutches

• A good position

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Davids Crutches

• A good position
• Heroic soldier
• Living in a palace
• The kings right-hand man

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Davids Crutches

• A good position
• His wife
• His counselor
• His close friend
• His self-respect

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Davids Crutches

• A good position
• His wife
• His counselor
• His close friend
• His self-respect
• A person can reach no lower place in life than
  when he doubts himself.
• David, no doubt, hit rock bottom when he had to
  fake insanity.

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Some Potential Crutches

• Family
• Status
• Wealth
• Friends
• Education
• Intellect
• Knowledge
• Talents

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The Problem with Crutches

• Crutches become substitutes for God.

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• So do not fear, for I am with you do not be
  dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen
  you and help you I will uphold you with my
  righteous right hand.
• Isaiah 4110

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• Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your
  life, what you will eat or drink or about your
  body, what you will wear. Is not life more
  important than food, and the body more important
  than clothes?
• ... But seek first his kingdom and his
  righteousness, and all these things will be given
  to you as well.
• Matthew 625, 33

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• He who pursues righteousness and love finds
  life, prosperity and honor.
• Proverbs 2121

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The Problem with Crutches

• Crutches become substitutes for God.
• Crutches keep your focus horizontal.

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The Problem with Crutches

• Crutches become substitutes for God.
• Crutches keep your focus horizontal.
• When youre leaning on another person or thing,
  your focus is sideways, not vertical.
• Human crutches paralyze your walk of faith.

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The Problem with Crutches

• Crutches become substitutes for God.
• Crutches keep your focus horizontal.
• Crutches offer only temporary relief.

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So what should I lean upon?

• David gets it right. Remember when he was
  hiding in the cave? He writes a psalm that says
  it all
• Psalm 142

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• I cry aloud to the LORD I lift up my voice to
  the LORD for mercy.    
• I pour out my complaint before him before him I
  tell my trouble.
• When my spirit grows faint within me, it is you
  who know my way. In the path where I walk men
  have hidden a snare for me.
• Look to my right and see no one is concerned
  for me. I have no refuge no one cares for my
  life...

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• I cry to you, O LORD I say, "You are my refuge,
  my portion in the land of the living."
• Listen to my cry, for I am in desperate need
  rescue me from those who pursue me, for they
  are too strong for me.
• Set me free from my prison, that I may praise
  your name. Then the righteous will gather about
  me because of your goodness to me.
• Psalm 142

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• Theres only one place to put our reliance, and
  that is upon God.

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• If were not anchored in faith, well never
  stand up to the trials and disappointments of
  this life.