When I don't like my reflection
Steve Coad
Part of My Story. His Story
October 8, 2023

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Message Notes:

When I don’t like my reflection
My Story. His Story

His story brings hope to our story.

TODAY’S STORY:
When I don’t like my reflection
Intro

What are some of your insecurities?

Maybe it’s physical – When you look at yourself in the mirror, you don’t like what you see.
Maybe it’s relational – When you look at your relationship in a mirror, you don’t like what you see.
Maybe it’s your self-worth – When you see your value in the mirror, you don’t like what you see.

Maybe you sometimes feel:

– Emotionally insecure: Very up and down with your emotions, thoughts, and feelings.
– Constantly comparing yourself to others: Their looks, job, marriage, children’s behavior, wishing you were someone else.
– Wishing you had better abilities: lead like that guy or be talented like that girl.

Have you ever known someone who could never get past their insecurities,
and it hijacked their life?

Dated, Married, or Worked for?

MAIN IDEA:
His story brings hope to your story.
When you don’t like your reflection, see your insecurities through God’s eyes.

1 Sam. 8-10 – 8:21 When Samuel (the prophet) heard all that the people said, he repeated it before the Lord. 22 The Lord answered, “Listen to them and give them a king.”…9:1 There was a Benjamite, a man of standing, whose name was Kish son of Abiel… 2 Kish had a son named Saul, as handsome a young man as could be found anywhere in Israel, and he was a head taller than anyone else…(Samuel told Saul he would be the next leader of Israel) 21 Saul answered, “But am I not a Benjamite, from the smallest tribe of Israel, and is not my clan the least of all the clans of the tribe of Benjamin? Why do you say such a thing to me?” …10:20 When Samuel had all Israel come forward by tribes, the tribe of Benjamin was taken by lot. 21 Then he brought forward the tribe of Benjamin, clan by clan, and Matri’s clan was taken. Finally Saul son of Kish was taken. But when they looked for him, he was not to be found. 22 So they inquired further of the Lord, “Has the man come here yet?” And the Lord said, “Yes, he has hidden himself among the supplies.” 23 They ran and brought him out, and as he stood among the people he was a head taller than any of the others. 24 Samuel said to all the people, “Do you see the man the Lord has chosen? There is no one like him among all the people.” Then the people shouted, “Long live the king!” NIV

Once Saul is made king…he struggles doing the right thing out of his insecurities.

1 Sam. 10-13 - 10:8 (Samuel’s clearly told Saul to wait for him for seven days to do the sacrifice) Vs. 7b Saul remained at Gilgal, and all the troops with him were quaking with fear. 8 He waited seven days, the time set by Samuel; but Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and Saul’s men began to scatter. 9 So he said, “Bring me the burnt offering and the fellowship offerings.” And Saul offered up the burnt offering. 10 Just as he finished making the offering, Samuel arrived, and Saul went out to greet him. 11 “What have you done?” asked Samuel. Saul replied, “When I saw that the men were scattering, and that you did not come at the set time, and that the Philistines were assembling at Mikmash NIV

We see he continues to act out of insecurity, and it hijacks him again later.

I Sam. 15:12-19 - 12 (Saul finished defeating the Amalekites. He was clearly instructed by Samuel to destroy everything and keep nothing) Early in the morning Samuel got up and went to meet Saul, but he was told, “Saul has gone to Carmel. There he has set up a monument in his own honor and has turned and gone on down to Gilgal.” 13 When Samuel reached him, Saul said, “The Lord bless you! I have carried out the Lord’s instructions.” 14 But Samuel said, “What then is this bleating of sheep in my ears? What is this lowing of cattle that I hear?” 15 Saul answered, “The soldiers brought them from the Amalekites; they spared the best of the sheep and cattle to sacrifice to the Lord your God, but we totally destroyed the rest.” …V. 19 Why did you not obey the Lord? Why did you pounce on the plunder and do evil in the eyes of the Lord?” 21 The soldiers took sheep and cattle from the plunder, the best of what was devoted to God NIV

4 ways Saul let his insecurities hijack his life:

Family was wealthy and of good standings, land owners – 9:1
He was handsome and a head taller than everyone 9:2

Said his clan was inferior to the others – 9:21
He hid in the baggage when presented – 10:22

Fear of failure and looking bad in front of others kept hijacking his life.

Offered the sacrifice instead of waiting to appease the people – 13:9
Kept the spoils to look good. – 15:15
Kept using the excuse “it’s for God” instead of just doing what God ACTUALY said to do. – 13:12, 15:15

His need to boast about himself and feel important kept hijacking his life.

Set up a monument in his own honor – 15:12
Felt jealous when anyone but him received praise – IE. David.

Pointing the finger and making excuses kept hijacking his life.

The men were scattering so I felt compelled to make the sacrifice myself – 13:11
The soldiers took the sheep and cattle 15:21

Can you relate to any of these feelings Saul had?

What do you do about it?

MAIN IDEA:
When you don’t like your reflection, see your insecurities through God’s eyes.

Unlike Saul…David learns to see himself through God’s eyes.

1 Sam. 16 - 1 The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king.”…6 When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed stands here before the Lord.” 7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 8 Then Jesse called Abinadab and had him pass in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, “The Lord has not chosen this one either.” 9 Jesse then had Shammah pass by, but Samuel said, “Nor has the Lord chosen this one.” 10 Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel said to him, “The Lord has not chosen these.” 11 So he asked Jesse, “Are these all the sons you have?” “There is still the youngest,” Jesse answered. “He is tending the sheep.”

Youngest. Smallest. Weakest. Overlooked.

David and Goliath – 1 Sam 17:26-37

Psalm 51:10-12 - 10 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. 11 Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. NIV

1 Sam 30:6 (Older David) David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him; each one was bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters. But David found strength in the Lord his God. NIV

EXAMPLE OF LABELS DAVID COULD HAVE CARRIED
David the overlooked
David the murderer
David the adulterer

But he chose to drop all those labels and embrace God’s label:

David – A man after God’s own heart.

TAKE AWAY:

The best thing to do when you are looking at your reflection through false eyes and labels…is to repent.

Repent means to confess what was sinful and not God’s way and turn from it.

Asking the Lord to help you see yourself the way HE sees you.

Psalm 139:13 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. NIV

IN CLOSING:

What about you?

2 Cor 5:17 – “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” NIV

MAIN IDEA:
His story brings hope to your story.
When you don’t like your reflection, see your insecurities through God’s eyes.

CHALLENGE QUESTIONS:
What are some labels you have given yourself that need to be dropped?
What is a new God label you can put in its p


If you prayed the prayer to start fresh with God today text “startagain” (one word) to 97000 so we can connect with you and help you take the next steps in this amazing decision.


My Notes:


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