What Will You Do With What God Has Given You?

So let's start out in prayer before we get into the word of God, father.

We just thank you, lord, for your word.

I thank you, father, that your word is powerful, it is sharp, and I thank you, father, that that we line our thinking up with your word as we're about to dig into your word.

I thank you that our heart is open and our ears are open and to hear what you have for us tonight.

I thank you that we are teachable and we are moldable, and I thank you that we are growing, growing from glory to glory, father.

So we just thank you and we praise you in Jesus' name.

Amen, amen.

And so, if you're taking notes tonight or you can type it out in the comments, the title of my message is what will you do with what God has given you?

Let me say it again what will you do with what God has given you?

And so God has equipped us, he's given us gifts.

You know it starts with a having a thankful heart, and I have my first scripture.

Tonight is 1 Thessalonians 516.

In the amplified it says be happy in your faith and rejoice and be gladhearted continually, always.

Verse 17,.

Be unceasing in prayer, praying perseveringly, thank God in everything, no matter what the circumstances may be.

Be thankful and give thanks, for this is the will of God for you.

You may be wondering what's the will of God?

Well, number one, it's to be thankful in every circumstance.

Who are in Christ Jesus, the revealer and mediator of that will?

And so here he's telling us to be, hey, be happy in your faith, to be thankful and rejoice, be gladhearted always, all the time, continually.

And so I wrote down here the presence of God doesn't show up when you are complaining.

You know, in the natural it can be easy to complain when the circumstances don't line up, when we've been believing God for something and been praying, and just we don't see it.

But and we can get to, you know, be tempted to complain.

But here the word of God says be happy in your faith, and so you're not going to get what God has for you.

God has something for you, right, and so you're not going to get there with complaining and murmuring, right, and being frustrated.

So no, we should, should be happy and have joy.

You know, and I wrote this down, unhappiness is the work of the flesh, it just is.

You know, having a pity party is the work of the flesh, and so we are to rejoice.

That's, that's the will of God, is to rejoice, and you know not to have conversations with yourself about.

Well, if this was better than this, you know, or should it could have, would us?

No, we, the word of God says to rejoice, and so I just want to encourage you to rejoice.

God's get again.

The title is what will you do with what God is giving?

He's giving us the mouth, and so what are you doing with your mouth?

Are you complaining or are you rejoicing and giving him thanks?

And so so the life of David.

You know Pastor Todd on I think it was a couple of Wednesdays ago from called to chosen, and he taught on the life of David, and so I'm going to go into that again.

So so, how can I minister to my generation?

You know what did David do, and so I have a couple of points.

This is what was said about David, so if you want to write those down, number one David was a shepherd of sheep, and so not a very cool job to have, not a glamorous job out there in the, out there in the field, watching over the sheep.

You know he killed a lion and a bear, and so David was a shepherd of sheep.

He put his life on the line for sheep.

And so, if you want to turn to 1 Samuel, 1734 through 37, we'll read about David.

But David said to Saul your servant used to keep his father sheep, and when a lion or a bear came and took a lamb out of the flock, I went out after it and struck it and delivered the lamb from its mouth.

And when it rose against me, I caught it by its beard and struck it and killed it.

Your servant has killed both a lion and a bear, and this Uncircumcised, circumcised Philistine will be like one of them, seeing he has defied the armies of the living God.

Moreover, david said the Lord, who has delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, he will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.

So David was the shepherd of sheep.

He cared for those sheep again, not a glamorous job.

So I'm talking about what are you gonna do with what God has given you?

A lot of times, we're just focused on the what I don't have, or I want that job or I want no.

What do you?

What are you doing?

God gave him sheep to walk back to watch over and so, so what are you doing with what you have?

It's easy to look at other people and like they have this and they have that and I want this and I and they're not doing that and it should be this way and that, no, no, what are you doing with what God has given you?

And so David watched over those sheep, like For real, watched over him, was serious about it, like put his life on the line for those sheep.

And so we can learn a lot from that.

Number two David was a giant killer with a slingshot, and so in those moments you know he was training he may not have known that he was training with the sheep, you know killed a lion and a bear like we can't even fathom that Doing, killing those animals not with like a gun, but with his bare hands.

And so he was in training.

And so David was a giant killer.

He was.

I mean, I can just imagine how he looked and the muscles that he had and Just the boldness and the courage that he had to kill those animals, to watch over those sheep.

And so he was a giant killer.

Number three David is a worshiper, and so Psalm 150, he played the harp.

It kind of doesn't go like you have this big, burly guy killing animals and then he was playing a harp.

And so Psalm 150, praise the Lord.

I'm gonna go through the entire Psalm.

It's not a very long song.

Praise the Lord.

Praise God in his sanctuary, praise him in the heavens of his power, praise him for his mighty acts, praise him according to the abundance of his greatness.

Praise him with trumpet sound.

Praise him with lute and harp.

Praise him with the tambourine and sing or group dance.

Praise him with string and wind instruments or flutes.

That's a lot of praising.

Praise him with the resounding cymbals.

Praise him with the loud clashing cymbals.

Let everything that has breath and every breath of life praise the Lord.

Praise the Lord, hallelujah.

So again, using what we have, david was a worshiper out in the field and so he used his voice.

He was a worshiper.

He used the harp, he used what he got.

He didn't wait for a platform, he didn't.

It was out there.

Can you imagine?

I mean being out in the dark watching over sheep, being alone, just him and God.

But he was a worshiper.

That is what developed him in the tough times not complaining, not chit chatting all the time complain whoa is me.

And yeah, he did have some whoa is me in the Psalms and we see those.

But he was a worshiper, he loved God.

He cried out to God praise him, let everything that has breath praise the Lord.

And so what are you doing with what you have?

Are you praising God or are you defeated?

Well, there's a Philistine, there's a giant.

I don't know what to do.

They're just, they're taking my money.

I can't, I just can't do anything.

Well, is that praising God?

No, that you're just giving voice to the enemy.

So God wants us to praise him, just like Psalm 150 says let everything that has breath, and if you have breath, I have breath let's praise him right, using what God has given us.

Psalm okay, no.

So 1st Samuel 1623.

And so it was whenever the spirit from God was upon Saul that David would take a harp and play it with his hand.

Then Saul would become refreshed and well, and the distressing spirit would depart from him.

So if it departed from Saul, from David just playing the harp, how much more, I mean, we have a better covenant, how much more will we worship God when we put on the praise music and the worship music and we just thank God and thank him for all that he's done in our lives.

And so, just like David was a worshiper, we should be a worshiper in spirit and in truth.

Number four David was a king.

I mean, I think he was 30 years old when he was a king, but it started out with the sheeps right Not glamorous, not glamorous, but being faithful over the little right.

Number five David was a generous giver.

1 Chronicles 293 says because I have set my affection on the house of my God, I have given to the house of my God, over and above all, that I have prepared for the holy house my own special treasure of gold and silver.

So David was a giver.

He gave.

Not only did he give God his worship, but he gave his monies.

Number six David honored King Saul.

Even when Saul turned on him, ran into a cave, david could have killed him right there, right, rightfully so.

He could have just killed him, but he didn't.

And so we can learn from David's life.

Was he a perfect man?

No, no, I ain't talking about that tonight.

I'm talking about learning.

I'm talking about using what you have, the gifts and the talents that you have, using them for the Lord.

You know there's a high calling on your life, and so we just have to say yes to it, we have to surrender to it, and so what will you do with what God has given you?

So a couple of points, things that we have.

Number one we have time.

What are you doing with your time?

These are just simple, but you know it's the simple.

Sometimes we'll remiss it right.

And so, number one time.

Use your time wisely.

We each have 24 hours, so what are we doing with our time?

Are we wasting our time?

Are we digging into the Word of God?

Are we worshiping Jesus?

You know we live in Houston, we commute a lot, some of us, and so you're in the car.

What do you listen to in the car?

Nothing, honking horns, I mean.

Put on some praise music.

And so use your time wisely.

Number two talent.

These are things that we each have, talent, and so that's your strength, where you know God's given you a talent, god's given you a gift.

What are you using that gift for?

Who are you using that gift for?

You know, just like we sing that song, my life is not my own right, my life is not my own.

To you I belong, I give myself, I give myself.

And so our life is not our own.

Our talents, our gifts are not ours.

And so we have God given talents and strength, and so use them for His glory.

Use them to bring people into the kingdom of God, use them to declare His works and what God has done in your life.

And you know your testimony.

Nobody can take that away from you.

We overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony.

It is powerful, and so talent.

Number three treasure.

You know money reveals your character.

What you do with your money, the first tenth is the tide that belongs to God, and so are you stingy.

So we all have treasure, we all do.

Number four your words.

So you'll have to give an account for every idle word you speak, and so they produce weight.

What you text, right, those are words.

What you email, those are words.

What we say, of course, but now we have phones and technology and that's included in words, how you say it.

This doesn't always convey, you know, through text versus talking with somebody.

But our words, we all have words and they're important what we say and how we say them and when we say them, right.

And so, like God, do you.

What am I about to say?

Do I need to say that right now?

Is it going to edify you?

Is it an idle word?

Am I just bringing a complaint or is it a praise?

So these are just good questions to ask ourselves, again, simple, but in the simplicity.

That's where the foundation I mean the word of God, works.

And so he wants us to grow in these things.

He's given us gifts, he's given us talents.

Again, what are you going to do with what he's given you?

And so, number four, your words, proverbs 18, 23,.

Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.

And then the same verse in the New Living Translation says the tongue can bring death or life.

Those who love to talk will reap the consequences.

And also, let's see, let me read part of the story in 1 Samuel 17 about David.

Let's do 1732.

And then New King James.

So 1 Samuel 1732.

Now, when the words which David?

So, starting with verse 31,.

Well, no, let's go up a little bit.

David said what have I done now?

Is there not a cause?

Then he turned from him toward another and said the same thing.

And these people answered him as the first ones did for 31.

Now, when the words which David spoke were heard, they reported them to Saul and he sent for him.

And David said to Saul let no man's heart fail because of him, your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.

And Saul said to David you are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him, for you are youth and he a man of war from his youth.

But David said to Saul your servant used to keep his father sheep, and when a lion or a bear came and took out a lamb out of the flock, I went out after it and struck it and delivered the lamb from its mouth.

And when it arose again, I caught it by its beard and struck it and killed it.

Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear, and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like the one of them, seeing he has defied the armies of the living God.

And so, back in verse 32, david said to Saul let no man's heart fail him because of him.

And Saul said to David you are not able to go against the Philistine to fight, for you are youth and he a man of war from his youth.

And so David, right here, so Saul was saying hey, you're kind of young, right, you know, I experienced.

So I put.

David ignored the criticism.

I mean, talking about words, yeah, our words.

But then what are?

What words are we listening to?

And so here, david ignored the criticism and unbelief of others.

Hey, no, I have a word from God, right, it doesn't matter what Saul said, like, oh, you're too young, you're too this, you're too that.

No, god's on my side.

And so David ignored the criticism of others.

So what do you do?

What?

Who are you listening to?

Are is God's word higher than your family's words or your friends Words or the words you see on social media?

What?

Whose words are you attending to?

Right, just like it says in Proverbs, we should attend to the words of our loving father that say I love you and I have a plan for your life.

And so here David, he didn't listen to the words of Saul, and so he ignored those.

And so he spoke victory words in verse.

Let's say 36.

Your servant has killed both the lion and bear.

This.

And then verse 37,.

David said the Lord, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear, he will deliver me.

He will, he's delivered me from that out in the sheep field, when it wasn't glamorous, nobody was watching, but it was me and God, and I did the right thing, right Behind closed door.

I did the right thing.

God's always watching, like nobody else may know, but God is watching.

And so here David is, like he would deliver me from the hand of the Philistine.

And then Saul said to David go and the Lord be with you.

And so he reminded hey, god took care of me back then, he'll take care of me now.

And so, encouraging yourself in the Lord, even when things are against you, even when there's a Saul in your life, right, so it doesn't matter, you stick to the word.

You still use what you have and you have the word.

So number five is which brings me to my.

Number five is the word of God.

You have the Bible, the B-I-P-L-E, and so will you value God's words more than you know what you hear?

Will you value the word of God?

Is it coming out of your mouth?

The word was coming out of David's mouth.

He encouraged himself in the Lord.

He was out there worshiping God.

Will you value what the Holy Spirit has said to you?

Will you write that down, will you journal it.

And so, again, I'm talking about using what you have.

God has given you gifts, god has given you talents.

You have His word, you have the Holy Spirit inside of you, and so use what you have.

Stir it up.

Nobody else is gonna stir it up for you.

You have to stir it up.

You have to stir up the gift of God that is inside of you.

And then number six is relationships.

Honor those relationships, and that can be just a whole other message, really serious Honor those relationships that God has placed in your life.

And so there's no neutral ground in relationships.

Either somebody's bringing you closer to God or they're taking you away from God.

There's no neutrality, and so you have to evaluate and value and see.

You know, what kind of relationship is this?

Is it really bringing me closer to God?

And so, in that camp this is what was said, I wrote it down it doesn't cost to obey, it pays.

So there is a reward connected to your obedience.

There's a reward when you're out there in the field, it may not look like it.

When I don't see it, I can't see it.

Everybody's against me.

I'm going through this.

My family's falling apart, my finances are this it doesn't look like it's no, you stick to the word of God.

Stick with it in the field.

Worship Him in those nights where it doesn't seem like it's gonna happen.

Worship Him, don't lose faith, don't lose hope, amen.

And this is my last scripture and I'll wrap it up, and I read this today.

It's a daily Proverbs, proverbs 19, 23.

But I read it in the Passion Translation when you live a life of abandoned love, surrendered before the awe of God, here's what you'll experience Abundant life, continual protection and complete satisfaction.

So the world ain't gonna satisfy you.

You can search, you can look, you can all the things, but complete satisfaction, abundant life, continual protection is only found when you live a life totally surrendered to God, totally surrendered to the Holy Spirit and what God wants to do in your life, saying yes to the will of God and saying no to the world.

Right, we should have nothing to do with the world.

We shouldn't look like the world, we shouldn't smell like the world, right?

And so our life here, proverbs 19 says when you live a life of an abandoned love, surrender before the awe of God.

Like God, you are so good to me.

I thank you, lord.

I'm not gonna complain anymore.

I'm not gonna bring my complaints to you or anybody.

I'm gonna praise you, I'm gonna thank you because you're a good, good God and you have a good plan for my life, and so I just wanna encourage you with that tonight.

You know what are you going to do with what you have God has given you, just like David and there's lots of other points.

But the life of David wasn't a perfect man, but he loved God, he worshiped God.

God met him there in the field.

He gave him strength when it probably didn't it was probably supernatural strength Like how is he going to kill a lion and a bear?

But God was there with him, preparing him for that, philistine.

And so you know God is preparing you.

It's not wasted.

Times in the presence of the Lord are never wasted.

Reading your Bible early in the morning and praying, those times are never wasted.

Well, you never know when you're going to run across somebody's path and they're going to need that verse or that scripture that you read that morning.

But if you don't read, what are you going to say?

Like your opinion.

Your opinion should be based on the Word of God or there's no fruit in it, right?

And so I just want to encourage you to dig into the Word.

God, you're valuable, you're loved.

Because God says you're valuable, god says you're loved.

God says he has a plan for your life.

The enemy has a plan, and we know what that is, but God has a greater plan, and so I just want to encourage you with that tonight.