For Such a Time as This

“Such a time as this” not “such as a time as then”

Continuing in our Awakening Your Purpose series, Pastor Tyler brought to us a Word focusing on the life of King David. In 2 Samuel 7:8-16, we read about God’s promise to David. In 7:1, it says that after King David was settled in his palace, the word of the Lord came to the prophet Nathan (1:4) with what he was to tell David.

“'Now then, tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord Almighty says: I took you from the pasture, from tending the flock, and appointed you ruler over my people Israel. I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have cut off all your enemies from before you. Now I will make your name great, like the names of the greatest men on earth.'” 2 Samuel 7:8-9 (NIV)

In the life of David, we read an example of someone who did not passively wait for his purpose to come to pass. Before he was brought to rule over Israel, he was faithful in what might have seemed mundane at times—in the pasture tending his flock. David understood that it was “such a time as THIS," not “such a time as THEN."

Passive vs Active Waiting

To passively wait is to do nothing while you wait, to not do anything to prepare yourself for what is to come (for example, showing up to your wedding without any planning). To actively wait is to realize that there is a part to play in the now (buy the dress, hire the DJ, caterer, etc). In the life of David, we learn that God looks at our hearts, not what our flaws are or what we think disqualifies us for His purposes. This is why we can’t wait till our own appointed time when we feel our life is finally together to pursue God’s purposes for our life. There is always a part to play NOW.

“But the Lord said to Samuel, 'Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.'” 1 Samuel 16:7 (NIV)

Your purpose is knocking

And you’re the only one who can answer it.

Continuing on in 1 Samuel, when David is anointed by the prophet Samuel, we see first that David wasn’t even amongst the group with his brothers. He was still out tending his sheep. It’s assumed that God’s anointed couldn’t be the youngest, BUT the Lord doesn’t see what man sees. It’s the heart God sees. As insecure and in-eloquent as you are, He sees your heart. Answering to your calling has nothing to do with our performance. If it had something to do with our performance, we have all fallen short and would be disqualified. You have to die to yourself and be open to God doing more in and through you than you ever thought possible. You have to think and dream big.

“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” Romans 3:23 (NIV)

Your purpose is now

We are all “small” like David but are called to be conquerers through Jesus to the “giants” in our lives. The purposes of God are not small. When you feel like you've been overlooked your whole life, you will start to disqualify yourself when God has qualified you for the calling He has given you. Don't let comparison kill your calling.

“All you have is all you need” - Pastor Tyler Kirkle

In 1 Samuel 17:34-37, we read David’s confidence in the Lord’s ability to rescue him in his battle against Goliath. This confidence comes from the days of tending sheep, when God rescued him from “the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear." There were most likely times throughout David’s days of tending sheep that he found himself thinking “this doesn’t make sense,” but he was preparing for his battle against Goliath the whole time. God is always growing and showing us the lessons in every season.

“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” Romans 8:37 (NIV)

Your purpose is a burden

Jesus paid the price for your salvation, but you have to pay the price for your purpose. You can be passive and wait, or get active. You have a burden, but it's light with Jesus.

Your purpose is not cheap

So what is the price? The price is paid by your heart, your hands, and your mind, but it’s funded by God.

“Then Jesus said to his disciples, 'Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.'” Matthew 16:24-25 (NIV)

We have to let go of comfortability and what WE think the best version of our life is. And when you GO, you will be strengthened. God does not want us to be weak. Peter was called to walk on water, but he had to get out of the boat first (Matthew 14:22-33). When we are weak, we are strong because of Jesus (2 Corinthians 12:10).

The desires of our hearts must be aligned with the desire of God’s heart. He doesn’t need to use us—He WANTS to use us. As our hearts align with God’s, we are strengthened and enabled to walk (not “wait”) in the fruits of the Spirit—“love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23). It is all by God’s glorious grace.

The winning is in the waiting

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