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ACTS 13:22

"A MAN AFTER GOD'S HEART"

Intro: Paul and Barnabas are now carrying the Gospel into uncharted territory. They  have
       sailed from island of Cypress to Asia Minor and have journeyed inland to the  city of
       Antioch in Pisidia. It is the Sabbath day, so Paul and Barnabas have gone to  the 
       synagogue to worship. Paul is given opportunity to speak, and he begins his  message
       by rehearsing their history briefly to David.

I. WHAT A GLORIOUS TESTIMONY OF GOD CONCERNING DAVID. "A MAN  AFTER MY OWN HEART."
        A. Some men speak well of themselves, we call it bragging.
                1. We tend to ignore it.
                2. We know man's tendency to "think more highly of himself than he
                        ought."
        B. It is better to have others speak well of your accomplishments.
                1. Even here there is often an expansion from the truth.
                2. Especially if you are being introduced as the speaker for the evening.
        C. When God gives witness of you, that's prime.
                1. How I long that God could say of me, "he is a man after My heart."

II. HOW IS IT THAT GOD WOULD SAY THAT OF DAVID?
        A. Not because he was sinless.
                1. He was guilty of sins of the worse sort.
                        a. Adultery.
                        b. Murder.
                2. He was not allowed by God to build to Temple because his hands  were bloody.
                3. Note how David responds when God calls his attention to his sin
                        a. He repents!
                        b. He does not try to justify himself.
        B. Because David sought to follow the will of God.
                1. The issue first arose in I Samuel 13:14 when Samuel announced the 
                   rejection of Saul.
                        a. Saul had disobeyed God in the matter of utterly annihilating the
                           Amalikites.
                        b. When faced by Samuel for his disobedience he sought to
                                excuse himself.
                        c. "Because you have rejected God..."
                        d. "God is seeking a man after His heart who will do His will."
                2. This was true in David's age as I am sure it is in all ages. God is  
                   seeking people who will dedicate their lives to doing His will. 
        C. In an interesting way the man after God's own heart is the man who is  seeking
           after the heart of God.
                1. David speaks of his thirst for God. 
                2. Are you seeking after the heart of God?
                3. Is your primary purpose to do the will of God?
                        a. Is that the bottom line in your life?
                        b. With Saul, self was the bottom line, "I will do what pleases me."
                        c. With David, God's will was the bottom Iine, "I Want to do what 
                           pleases God."
                        d. Both of them did things that displeased God and were rebuked  by
                           God's prophets.
                                1. Saul rebelled.
                                2. David repented.

III. BEING A MAN AFTER GOD'S HEART DOES NOT EXEMPT ME FROM:
        A. Troubles, Ps. 25 Troubles of heart enlarged.
        B. David spoke much of distress.
        C. David experienced his disappointments.
        D. He had more than his share of sorrow.