Preparation for Greatness by Os Hillman
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By Os Hillman
Preparation
for Greatness
by Os Hillman
"He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of
bronze." 2 Samuel 22:35
David
was a mighty warrior, and God described him as a man after His own heart. God
took David through a training ground that could be looked on as cruel and
unusual punishment by many a person. God chose him at a young age to be the
next king, yet King Saul rejected him and hunted him down. David was a fugitive
for many years. He had uprisings in his own family, and he had relationship
problems. He had a life of extreme ups and downs. He certainly did not have a
life free of problems; he made mistakes. He was human like all of us, yet he
learned from his mistakes and repented when he failed. This was David's
training ground; it made the man. Without these hardships, it is doubtful David
would have accomplished what he did.
Toward
the end of David's life, he recounted his relationship with God. It is a sermon
on God's ways of dealing with a servant leader.
It
is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect. He makes my feet
like the feet of a deer; He enables me to stand on the heights. He trains my
hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze. You give me Your shield of
victory; You stoop down to make me great. You broaden the path beneath me, so
that my ankles do not turn (2 Samuel 22:33-37).
God
was David's source for everything. God gave him the ability to achieve the many
extraordinary things in his life. It was a lifelong training ground that moved
him from one plateau to another, often dropping into a ravine of despair and
hopelessness from time to time. These are God's ways. They drive us deeper and
deeper into the heart of Him who has prepared a way for us. Let God take you to
the heights or depths He desires for you. He never promised smooth sailing
during the trip, but He did promise to be the captain and companion along the
way.
Os Hillman
By permission only. To learn
more about Os Hillman, go to: www.marketplaceleaders.org.
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"And the Lord said to Joshua, 'This day I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with you.'"(Josh 3:7-8). Joshua had been a faithful number two man under Moses for 40 years. Can you imagine serving one man for 40 years? Now that is faithfulness! Even so, when the time came to pass the mantel to Joshua, God knew he needed to be elevated in the eyes of the people in order for Joshua to accomplish his purpose. That is the purpose for elevation - so that you and I can fulfill our purpose and our mission.
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"Then Elimelech, Naomi's husband, died; and she was left, and her two sons. Now they took wives of the women of Moab: the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth. And they dwelt there about ten years. Then both Mahlon and Chilion also died; so the woman survived her two sons and her husband." Ruth 1:3-5 Naomi's life was going well. A great husband. Two fine sons who had two wonderful wives. Then the unthinkable happened. Her husband died. A little time later both her sons die. Her and her daughter-in-laws find themselves in the midst of shattered dreams. This isn't how life was supposed to be.
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"While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, 'Simon, three men are looking for you. So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them.'" Acts 10:19-20 Peter had never preached to the Gentiles. In fact, he believed it was against Jewish law to associate with the Gentiles. God needed to change Peter's attitude about this, so God gave Peter a vision that showed him it was permissible to preach to the Gentiles. The Spirit came to Peter and informed him that some men were about to come visit him, and he was to go with them. He went with them, and the Lord did great miracles in the lives of Gentiles through Peter.