And David Perceived

1.  Physical healing

2.  Emotional healing

3.  Relational healing

4.  Spiritual healing

• The #1 area God is desiring to bring healing (wholeness) into is in the area of our identity

• Our perceived identity/value are extremely important if we want to receive the things Jesus provided for us through the New Covenant.

2 Samuel 5:12 [KJV], “And David perceived that the Lord had established him king over Israel, and that He had exalted his kingdom for His people Israel’s sake.”  

“And David perceived he was king.” 

• It would appear as if David’s identity hadn’t caught up with his assignment.

Why did David struggle to perceive that he was king?

Most people see David only as…

• Gifted musician

• Anointed worshipper

• Unusual amount of favor 

• Natural & confident leader

• Understood authority (Saul)

• Loyal in friendship (Jonathan)

• Brave and courageous warrior (in battle)

• Man of integrity 

• Handsome & well spoken

• Man after God’s own heart

But what about the other side of David’s life?  

1 Samuel 17:25 [NKJV], “…and it shall be that the man who kills him [Goliath] the king will enrich with great riches, will give him his daughter, and give his father’s house exemption from taxes in Israel.” 

1 Samuel 18:23 [NKJV], “…I am a poor and lightly esteemed man?”

Can we see how all of this trauma could potentially cause David to struggle with perceiving himself as the king?

Could it be possible that you are having a hard time transitioning into what God has for you next because you have a perceived identity about yourself that’s not from God?

• Until we fully embrace our God-given identity (and value), we will continue to block, delay, or hinder what God has called us to do. Until we have an identity shift, our lives will not be as effective or fruitful as they could be.

Jeremiah 1:4-7 [NIV], The word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”  “Ah, Sovereign Lord,” I said, “I do not know how to speak; I am only a child.”  But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am only a child…’” 

• God’s solution was simple: He refused to allow Jeremiah to continue to speak into a false identity.

Does God agree with everything you are currently thinking and saying about yourself? 

• Sometimes God has to stop our words to shift our identity.

“He will also reveal things that we can no longer speak about ourselves so that we can shift into our future with Him.  God knows that what we think and say about ourselves is so central to His call on our lives.  Until we speak what He has spoken about us, we will not impact the earth with heaven.”  —Dale Mast

“We cannot consistently behave in ways that are different from what we believe about ourselves.”  —Kenneth Boa

John 1:19-23 [NIV], Now this was John’s testimony when the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was. 20 He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, “I am not the Messiah.” 21 They asked him, “Then who are you?  Are you Elijah?”  He said, “I am not.”  “Are you the Prophet?”  He answered, “No.” 22 Finally they said, “Who are you?  Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us.  What do you say about yourself?” 23 John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, “I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’” 

If we want to become more of the us God had in mind when He decided to create us and put us on this planet, what needs to change?