Honor the Anointing.
A mini sermon by Craig Emerson Strain.
It is important that you choose the right people to fellowship with. If you get with a bad crowd, then you become the bad crowd. Even the good crowd can miss the mark of what God wants to do with your life.
For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise. 2 Cor 10:12
The Psalmist David knew that King Saul was after him to kill David.
and David and his men made haste to get away for fear of Saul; for Saul and his men compassed David and his men round about to take them. 1 Sam 23:27
So when night time came, David and his men took refuge in a cave. Not just in a cave, but in the sides and crevasses of the cave. By a strange coincidence, Saul decided to rest that night in the same cave.
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.
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. 1 Sam 24:2-3
Now this was a real test to see if David's strength lay in his character or in the crowd. The very man that was seeking to kill David, was now fast asleep at David's feet.
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. 1 Sam 24:4
Here everyone was telling David that the Lord delivered Saul into David's hands to kill him. The crowd says KILL. But David listed to his character not the crowd.
Then David arose, and cut off the skirt of Saul's robe privily. 1 Sam 24:4
David even slipped away privily to cut of a piece of Saul's robe. Not flaunting the piece of garment, but privily cutting it off. You know, just between Saul and David. No great boasting of killing Saul. No great boasting of restraint in killing Saul. Just cutting off a piece privily. What character
And it came to pass afterward, that David's heart smote him, because he had cut off Saul's skirt. 1 Sam 24:5
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. 1 Sam 24:6
Even when the crowd says God is in it: do what is right in your heart. That is what David did. That is why he was destined to be King. It wasn't until the book of Acts that we find why God raised up David to be King.
And when he had removed him, he raised up into them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil ALL my will. Acts 13:22
Let God complete his perfect will in your life. Listen to Him, not the crowd.