Enduring the Process to Fulfill the Promise by Brother Curtis Hansen

         In beginning this message for the new year of 2022, I want you to remember the following. God is wanting the best for you in life. In your walk with Jesus, you can be saved, be baptized, and Holy Ghost yet this does not mean every decision you make or step you take on a daily basis is right. We are going to study a moment in David's life where he made the right decision in order to fulfill the promise God had for him.

    Let us look at 1 Samuel 24: 1-8

24 And it came to pass, when Saul was returned from following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, Behold, David is in the wilderness of Engedi.

2 Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men upon the rocks of the wild goats.

3 And he came to the sheepcotes by the way, where was a cave; and Saul went in to cover his feet: and David and his men remained in the sides of the cave.

4 And the men of David said unto him, Behold the day of which the Lord said unto thee, Behold, I will deliver thine enemy into thine hand, that thou mayest do to him as it shall seem good unto thee. Then David arose, and cut off the skirt of Saul's robe privily.

5 And it came to pass afterward, that David's heart smote him, because he had cut off Saul's skirt.

6 And he said unto his men, The Lord forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the Lord's anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the Lord.

7 So David stayed his servants with these words, and suffered them not to rise against Saul. But Saul rose up out of the cave, and went on his way.

8 David also arose afterward, and went out of the cave, and cried after Saul, saying, My lord the king. And when Saul looked behind him, David stooped with his face to the earth, and bowed himself.

 Now the men who were with David in the cave at this moment were not what you would call mighty men of God, Some of these men were on the run. Other men were mercenaries warriors for hire. They were not brought up in the scripture or had a relationship with God. They were primarily concerned with their own well being. David was in the scriptures. He was the apple of God's eye. David had a active relationship with God and in the process of becoming what God wanted him to be. In this scripture selection, David is on the run from Saul, out of the king's palace and in a cave outside of a sheep pen.

    

        Let us focus on verse 4. The men of David say, "Behold the day of which the Lord said unto thee, Behold, I will deliver thine enemy into thine hand, that thou mayest do to him as it shall seem good unto thee. 

            The first part of this statement is indeed what God has said. The second half of that statement, "that thou mayest do to him as it shall seem good unto thee" That's a part which the men added. This is similar with personal walks man has with God, in that man takes a portion of what God has said, and then adds extra to appease his carnal self. 

        A little conviction is good for you. You could be sitting in a church pew at a service, or you could be reading scripture and it may prick your conscious. In that cave and in the moment, David still remembers that Saul is still God's anointed despite the fact Saul had already been rejected by God, lost his covering and sought to kill David. David's experience applies to us today. There are people who may be under God's anointing today that may not seem to be on the path to your eyes. They may try your patience and cause you to be quick to anger. You may think they are the worst person in your life! Yet, in a moment, you should understand and continue to intercede for them. Pray for them no matter how much they may anger or hurt you in life.

 

        In verse 8 Saul has left the cave, unaware of what David had just done. David cried after Saul, and when Saul looked behind him David bowed before Saul in humility. Five years from this moment, David will become king of Israel. David was still the apple of God's eye, yet there would be things that would have to be purged from David's life. Lust and murder. Disobedience.

      God wants to fulfill his purpose in you, There are promises given for you to fulfill. You have to commit to God's purpose. In his lifetime, David served God as a Shepard, in the palace of Saul as a musician, as a fighter on many battlefields, king over Israel. You reading this to can serve God's purpose. Stop chasing positions, belongings, status and things of this world. God lets you control not only your flesh carnal self, but also your spirit man and his growth. 

       Guard the promise that God has for you. The promise is fulfilled through the process if you allow and trust in God. Grow your relationship with him. There is no end nor stop point.