Tri-Cities Baptist Church

God often moves us into unexpected territory in order to accomplish His purposes in our lives.  As we read in 1 Samuel 16 about how God moved David into a position of leadership over Israel, here are a few observations that I hope will be helpful as we walk through the affirmation process for Mike Laughrun.  

(1)   Although David was unknown to many, he was never unknown to God.  God had been working in David’s life for many years through various experiences to prepare him for leadership.  You may not know Mike, but God has been working in Mike for many years to prepare him for this assignment.

(2)   David’s peers judged him based on their personal expectations, and quite frankly God was not limited in any way by those expectations.  We are all unique creations of God.  We are formed by the experiences of our lives. God leverages many factors in our personal history to use us for His purposes.  Mike is not like anyone else.  He is God’s unique creation. God is more than ready to use Mike to accomplish His will.

(3)   David was anointed king long before he began ruling as king.  Some reasons for that were cultural, political, and in reality due to the disobedient and evil spirit of Saul.  Nevertheless, change is difficult for most of us, and churches do not always handle transition very well.  But it is difficult to find in the Bible where God did anything significant that did not require His people to change.  I recently heard someone say, “Your church is perfectly organized to get the results it is now getting.”  If God did not want us to change we would not need a new pastor.  But we need a pastor who will lead us to adjust our lives to accomplish greater things. 

(4)   The Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David.  Certainly the Holy Spirit operates differently in the New Testament church, but the fact remains that God calls pastors to lead churches.  A man must aspire to the office, and a church must affirm that man, but ultimately this is God’s work.  And just as the Spirit empowered David from that day forward, we can trust God to empower Mike to fulfill this high calling. 

These are great days and I look forward to walking together with the Tri-Cities family as we discern God’s will regarding His man to lead us to accomplish His purposes.  Pray for Mike and Jennifer and their kids.  Pray for one another.  Ask good questions.  Seek Jesus first.  And live for the glory of God alone.