Blog

Jul 14, 2015

Raising Champions According to the Pentecostal Pattern

The Case of David

David was very young believed to be a teenager when he was anointed.
He was not even counted as worthy enough to be invited and sanctified 1Sam.16:1-13
David had some personal attributes 1Sam 16:18
- Skillful
- Mightily Brave
- Man of war – warrior
- Prudent in matters-wise
- Handsome
- The Lord was with him

The Champion Goliath

David’s Challenges

His own brethren and the leadership
False accusation
- Pride
- Naughtiness of heart
- Interested in shows and just being adventurous
Was despises and mistrusted eg
- Thou art not able
- Though art but a youth
- Others or the enemy was said to be stronger

How he overcame and became a champion as a youth

He had been anointed and the Spirit of God was upon him
Subjected himself to divine training as a shepherd
A good and loving shepherd who was willing to:
- Lay his life for the sheep
- Went after attackers
- Defend the sheep
- Protect
- Deliver the attacked sheep
He stayed with Saul learning the practical rudiments of leadership – even though he had been anointed.
Very serviceable – served Saul, the father and the brethren
Had passion and zeal (1 Sam 17:26) about the name of the Lord and the people of God – in our case the name of the Lord and the church
Was reward driven
He also knew that the Spirit upon him was for a purpose – Is there not a cause? Vs. 29
Exercised boldness and willingness to go to battle –
Was not side tracked by mistrust, despise and negative comments eg
- Thou art not able
- Though art but a youth
- Others or the enemy is stronger
Had a testimony and relied on the God who gave him the testimony 17 vs 34-37

It should be noted that he was not relying on past glories but was relying on the God who gave him the past glories

Was not prepared to trust in the arm of flesh knowing that he had not proven them vs 39. Trusting in God he was prepared to make do with what he had or was used to
- We must learn to take off any unproven armory and practices
His outlook and orientation vs 45 –
1Sa 17:46 This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.
- Motivation was for all to know that there is a God in Israel not that he was powerful, righteous, strong etc
- Recognized that the battle was the Lord’s
Finally, He went on the offensive and did not rather sit down for the enemy to attack him

LESSONS FOR US AS YOUTH BEING RAISED AS CHAMPIONS ACCORDING TO THE PENTECOSTAL PATTERN

Be filled with the Holy Ghost and Power Acts 1: 8
Be prepared to serve and learn from our fathers and leaders/Jesus and the Apostles, Paul and Timothy
Train to be very skillful with whatever we have: gifts, talents, exposure experiences etc./Paul Expert builder 1cor 3:10
A good and loving shepherd who was willing to: 1 Sam. 17:34,
- Lay his life for the sheep/willing to loose our comfort
- Went after the attackers/ We must be able to identify such
- Destroyed the predator/destroy what would destroy our youth. Defend the sheep
- Protect
- Deliver the attacked sheep

Heavenly reward driven. Our motivation should be the reward which has been set before us Heb 12:2, Phil 3:10 – 14
Must not be sidetracked by negative comments, mistrust and problems associated with youthfulness. At the same time watching over our lives such that the mistrust and suspicion does not come to pass/Jesus, The Disciples and the High Priest and Pharisees
Know our enemy’s armory 1Sa 17:45 Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield cp 1Cor 12:11

Today it is not sword, spear etc but among others:

Changes in Family structures: Increased rate of separation and divorce, parental neglect, relational deprivation, violence.
Pluralism in Belief: All religions ultimately lead to God with the youth experimenting with all kinds of religious beliefs.
Post Christian Thinking: Secular humanism i.e. man is basically good. Right determined by what feels good at a time.
Postmodernism (Anything goes syndrome)–
- Individual’s identity is inseparable from what he does, thinks and believes.
- Religious and moral decisions are personal desire and opinion. And as Gene Veith puts it “The only wrong Idea is to believe in truth; the only sin is to believe in sin”
- Does not accept that objective truth exists. Anyone who claims to hold an objective truth that unfavorably judges the values, believes or lifestyles of another person is intolerant and bigoted.
Music and Media Impact. Music has become the language of the youth and the media their parents
Occultism Craze. Ironically as young people reject God, they are becoming increasingly exposed to the occult. Young people are recruited into Satanism, often by peers with a desire for supernatural power, sex and drugs.
False teachings, doctrines and spirituality

His outlook and orientation vs 45 – We should reflect same
- Went on battle in the Name Of The Lord Of Host, The God of the armies of Israel
- Confession of faith –
  
  1Sa 17:46 This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.
  
  Faith in God and in his faithfulness Acts 3:16
- Motivation was for all to know that there is a God in Israel not that he was powerful, righteous, strong etc/Let all Israel know …… that … Acts 4:8-12
- Recognized that the battle was the Lord’s
Battle in the name of the Lord 1Sa 17:45b …. but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. Acts 4:10-12
We must take the battle to enemy through aggressive prayers, bible study and evangelism / power evangelism Acts 4:24-33, Acts 6:12, 8:1