Our society is success oriented.  Parents put pressure on their children, wives on their husbands, and husbands on their wives.  More importantly than succeeding in the world, is succeeding in the God’s kingdom.  We, as Christians, are kingdom people.  We as kingdom people are different than others.

Q. What kinds of pressures have been brought on you or that you have brought on others to succeed?

We can be successful in the world and in God’s kingdom at the same time but we don’t have to be successful in the world to be successful in the kingdom.   King David was successful.

1 Samuel 16:10-13

David was a young boy who had a relationship with God.  God wanted a new king to replace Saul.  David was a shepherd boy and an amazing young man.  His father Jesse did not think he was worthy of being a king.  But God does not look at outward appearances.

1 Samuel 16:7

King David was successful because he did not lack character.   There is a lack of character in our world today and God is looking for someone with character. God is a God of character.  King David was a poet, musician, general, and a giant killer but none of these things impressed God.  David was a man after God’s own heart.

Q. What experience have you had where you judged someone on their outward appearance and not their character (or maybe someone judged you by your outward appearance)?

4 Circumstances in Life Surrounding The Godly Character of David

1. SIN TEST

Psalm 51:3-6

David did not have remorse, but David had godly sorrow for his sin.  God forgives our sin but there are consequences.  David sinned and disaster came upon his family but because he truly repented and did not blame others God forgives his sin.

Many Christians today sin but don’t ask forgiveness.  We may think since we asked one time we are all set, but when we don’t ask forgiveness for our sin the Devil will use it against us.  David’s sin was great but so was his repentance.

Q. What is an experience you have had with letting sin go un-repented and the Devil used it against you (ie. Maybe a lie that turned into a disaster, an addiction that got worse, etc.)?

1 JOHN 1:9

2. STRESS TEST

People are forever getting stressed out, even Christians.  People serving God sometimes are doing too much and the next thing you know they stop serving God.  It is a sad thing when people in the faith get stressed out and go to worldly counselors.  We should not be looking to others for a ‘special word’ but we should be looking to God.  David prayed when he was stressed out.

Psalm 120:1

David did not run to a counselor or take a sabbatical, he went to the Lord in prayer.  We must pray for and encourage one another.  David trusted in God.  When we are stressed we need to turn to God and trust Him.  The stress David may have had when he slew Goliath but he knew God was in charge.  He had stress because of what his family reaped because of his own sin.  He was broken because his son was murdered.  He suffered lots of tragedy but David went quietly before the Lord.  Our hope is in Him.

Psalm 62:1-2; Psalm 121:2

Sometimes we feel absolutely hopeless but we must put our trust in God.  Trust Him when things are good and when things are difficult.  

Ephesians 3:20

Q. When have you turned to others instead of trusting in God?

3. SERVANTS TEST

Lots of people in the kingdom want to be recognized in the church.  They want titles and to be important.  This is not the spirit of Jesus.  Jesus was a servant.  He became a servant not to be equal with God.

Philippians 2:5-7; Philippians 2:10-11
The mind of Christ is that of a servant it is not about mystical theology.  Jesus humbles Himself and the Father highly exalted Him.  We are called to be servants.  If we want to be successful in God’s kingdom then we must humble ourselves and we will be exalted in due time.

David did whatever God told him to do.  Being a servant of God costs us. David would not offer up burnt offerings to God that did not cost him.  It costs us to follow Him.  David freely and willingly served God even when it cost him.

Q. How does Christ’s example of humility challenge your natural self-centeredness?

4. SUCCESS TEST.

David had a humble heart.  God wants us to be a success.  He wants us to be successful in the kingdom.  He wants to build character.

1 Samuel 18:14

His response to great success was that he gave the glory to God.  He new he was created to bring glory to God. We are created to bring glory to God.  We are a new creation.

2 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 2:9

We are a new creation but we cannot boast.

David’s life ends when God’s purpose is fulfilled. God wants us to understand  David’s life so we can understand His purpose in our lives.

Q. What character traits can you allow God to build on in order to ‘pass’ God’s Success Test?