Tim Timberlake - It's In My DNA (01/02/2026)
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Summary:
Drawing from the story of Mephibosheth in 2 Samuel 9, the preacher emphasizes that God’s kindness seeks out those who feel crippled, abandoned, or unworthy, inviting them to the king’s table despite their condition. The central message is that royalty and purpose are in believers' spiritual DNA as children of God, so no past hurt, disability, or hiding place can cancel God’s promise or assignment on their lives. He concludes by calling the congregation to recognize they belong at God’s table, where every flaw is covered and their true identity as heirs with Christ is restored.
Opening and Excitement
How many of you are excited to be in the house of God on Revival Wednesday? I believe tonight, especially, that God has not assembled us just for another service. I believe we are here to encounter the presence of Jesus. If you agree with me, holler at your boy! How many of you were here on Sunday? Wasn’t it awesome? Pastor Snowball preached an incredible message, and he had the table up here with some special guests who joined him. He and I were texting yesterday, kind of bouncing some ideas off each other.
So, you know what? I’m going to continue on with this table theme. We believe that at the table are some of the best conversations you could ever have. Amen? I mean, you find out who your family really is across the table. They can fake it in church, but you can’t fake it over some good food. Tonight, I believe God has a word for you. Amen? As I mentioned before, Jenn and I love you all and are excited about what God is doing in this season. We count it a privilege and an honor to be here tonight.
Honoring Pastor Brenda Timberlake
And tonight, I have my mom with me, Pastor Brenda Timberlake. Would you just stand so we can honor you? She and my father founded our location in North Carolina, and she has decided to travel with me this evening to see what God is doing here. It’s going to be special. If you got your Bibles, go with me to 2 Samuel chapter 9. 2 Samuel chapter 9. If you’re old school and you got your paper Bible, say, «Amen!» Thirteen of you! All right, the rest of you have your iPads and your phones. When you get there, say, «I’m there.» We do not dare say «wait on me.» Wow, a lot of weight on me tonight!
Scripture Reading: 2 Samuel 9
All right, they’re going to throw it on the screen for the rest of us. 2 Samuel chapter 9, verse 1 says, «One day David asked, 'Is anyone in Saul’s family still alive? Anyone to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan’s sake? '» He summoned a man named Ziba, who had been one of Saul’s servants. «Are you Ziba?» the king asked. He replied, «Yes, sir, I am.» The king then asked him, «Is anyone still alive from Saul’s family? If so, I want to show God’s kindness to them.» Ziba replied, «Yes, one of Jonathan’s sons is still alive. He is crippled in both feet.» «Where is he?» the king asked. «In Lo Debar,» Ziba replied, «at the home of Machir, son of Ammiel.» So David sent for him and brought him from Machir’s home in Lo Debar. It says that he came and he said, «Don’t be afraid. I intend to show kindness to you because of my promise to your father, Jonathan. I will give you all the property that once belonged to your grandfather, Saul, and you will eat here with me at the king’s table.» Mephibosheth bowed respectfully and exclaimed, «Who is your servant that you should show so much kindness to a dead dog like me?» All those years of hiding had made Mephibosheth think of himself as worthless. Mephibosheth ate regularly at David’s table like one of the king’s own sons.
The Message: «It’s in My DNA»
I want to talk to you tonight from the subject «It’s in My DNA.» Look at your neighbor real good, and tell him, «It’s in my DNA.» Come on, turn to your second option and tell them, «It’s in my DNA.» Let’s pray.
Lord Jesus, we thank you for this opportunity to come and spend time in your presence tonight. God, we know that you are here, and we ask that you would do only what you can do. We ask, God, that you would change us. We ask, God, that we would leave this place different from how we came in. In Jesus' name, we pray, Amen.
It’s in my DNA! I was home this week, and Jenn and I decided to put Max down a little bit early and watch a movie together. We had some time to catch up on Netflix, and we realized that there was a new movie that came out called «The King.» Now, I am not endorsing this by any means, but it is a great movie to check out. I am a historian when it comes to learning about kings from the medieval era, from different eras that were great in battle and warfare. This particular king, King Henry, was getting old and had two sons: one younger son and one older son. The younger son was in the kingdom, served in the palace, and served his father. Many would have believed that he was predestined to become the next king. The older son, however, had no desire to be king. He did not stay in the kingdom; he did not even stay in the same province. They had no idea where he was. He was Henry II, and when his father got old, he sent word to go find him.
The Movie Illustration
The king’s servants went out and searched high and low through the land, through different territories and provinces for this son. Finally, they stumbled upon this old, broken-down, beat-up little house where he was staying. When they walked in, he was sleeping. They told him, «Your father wants you.» He understood those words; he understood the weight of those words and the totality of responsibility that would come with them. He said, «No, I don’t want to go back to the kingdom to see my father at this stage in his life.» The servant looked at him and said, «You must; your father needs you at this stage. He is transitioning out of this life to the next. It is your rightful place to go spend time with your father as he transitions.» This boy was not fit to be a king; he did not look like a king, he did not carry himself like a king; he was in a place where nobody knew he was the king. But the reality was it was in his DNA. No matter what he did to hide who he was, he could not run from what was in his DNA. No matter how much he tried to neglect the call, no matter how much he tried to deter from the assignment, the one thing he could not run away from was his DNA.
Here, we find ourselves in Scripture looking at a man who is hiding, but the one thing he can’t hide from is his DNA. I believe I’m in a room full of people tonight who may not be where you desire to be, but you understand who your Father is. So you know, according to your DNA, that God has more in store for you than what you currently see right now. Am I talking to anybody in here that understands you belong to royalty? You may not look like it right now, you may not even like that right now, you may not even want to belong to it, but it’s in your DNA.
David’s Context and Anointing
David, to give it context, is anointed to be king, but he has not yet been appointed over all of Israel. Right now, he is just the king of Judah. Now, if we rewind back and look at when he was anointed to be king, David was anointed while tending to sheep some years prior. You can be anointed and not understand your appointment yet. I believe some of us are in this room tonight—we know we have a call from God, we know that God has graced us, we know that God has anointed us, but we’re waiting on our appointment. How many of you know that anytime you have an appointment, very few times is the doctor actually on time? Come on, somebody! You could be in that waiting room, you could be in pain, your tooth could be aching, everything, and you paid your copay and everything, but that doctor takes his time coming to see about you.
This is why we need what the doctor has far more than the doctor needs what we have. We need what God has far more than what God needs what we have. He will position us in a season of waiting between being anointed and being appointed because he understands that what you do in this season of waiting will determine how quickly you get to your appointment. Is there anybody in here that says, «I’ll be patient until I walk out of this season and into the next season?»
So, David understands that not only am I called, but I am also fulfilling something that does not rightfully belong to me. I wonder if there’s anyone still alive related to the house of Saul. This is what David does. He sends his messenger to go find someone from the house of Saul to report back to him.
Blessing the Right House
He wants to know if there’s anyone left from the house of Saul. This is why: because there were two different kings going on. The Word of God says that the house of David began to prosper more than the house of Saul. I want you to understand, in this season, God is going to bless houses; that’s why it’s so important that you are mindful of the house you belong to. If you’re in the wrong house, you’ll miss the assignment that God is releasing to you. But if you’re in the right house, and you get planted and rooted, he says you will flourish because God is blessing houses.
Then, Ziba comes back to David and says, «Yes, there is one person left; his name is Mephibosheth, but he’s crippled.» I want us to rewind to 2 Samuel chapter 4 and look at verse 4 because this gives us some history as to how this happened. 2 Samuel chapter 4, verse 4 says, «Saul’s son Jonathan had a son named Mephibosheth who was crippled as a child. He was 5 years old when the report came from Jezreel that Saul and Jonathan had been killed in battle. When the child’s nurse heard the news, she picked him up and fled, but as she hurried away, she dropped him, and he became crippled.»
Mephibosheth’s Story
Have you ever been in a position in your life where you could not do what you wanted to do because someone else mishandled you? Have you ever been in a season where you entrusted your dreams, your calling, your heart, your vision to someone else, and they mismanaged it? Have you ever been in a position where you knew what you were called to do but could not do it because you entrusted it to someone else? Mephibosheth, at five years old, had put his life in the hands of his nurse, and she mishandled him. It says that she dropped him and fled; she dropped who was supposed to be the king.
He dropped the person that was next in line to fulfill the assignment of kingship. Mephibosheth, with crippled legs, understood that because of his disability, he probably wouldn’t be able to do what his predecessors had done the way they did. So, he decided to go into hiding. Not only was he crippled in his legs, but he was crippled in his mind.
Have you ever been in a situation or a circumstance that not only stifled you, but limited your ability to think beyond that moment? Have you ever been in a situation that you got stuck in because you kept replaying how someone else wronged you? Have you ever been in a situation that held you hostage not because of what you did but because of how someone else did you? Listen to me: you can’t control what happens to you, but you can control how you heal from it. Are you listening to me tonight?
It says that Mephibosheth went to a place called Lo Debar. The meaning of Lo Debar means «cut off from communication.» He was hurt so badly that he did not want to talk about what happened to him. Have you ever experienced pain so deep that you don’t want to talk about it? Have you ever experienced loss so great that it literally takes your voice away? Have you ever experienced pain so severe that you don’t want to discuss what happened to you? Mephibosheth is in a season of his life where he does not want to talk about the pain he has encountered. Not only has he lost his ability to live a normal life, but now he has also lost his ability to fulfill the assignment of kingship on his life because of what someone else did to him.
He forgets that his duty was to be a king and that his grandfather was a king. So, no matter the condition he was in, royalty was in his DNA. Listen to me: if you leave with nothing else tonight, you have to be determined that your condition will not determine your assignment. Are you listening to me tonight? I said you have to be determined that your condition, whatever it may be, will not dictate your assignment. God has given you a vision, and he’s given you the vision before you encounter the struggle; so that when you encounter the struggle, you remember how big the vision is that God has given you.
God’s Promise Endures
In this life, you’re going to face some hardships. In this life, people are going to walk out on you. In this life, you’re going to be disappointed and let down. But you have to remember that it’s in your DNA to fulfill the assignment that God has called you to fulfill. A famous chef has found himself not only unable to live a normal life but willingly cutting himself off from life as we know it because of shame.
David says, «Is there anyone else still alive that’s related to Jonathan? Because I made Jonathan a promise, and I intend on keeping the promise I made to him.» I came to tell you tonight that no matter how someone has mismanaged your life, no matter how badly you have managed it, God has made you a promise, and he intends on keeping that promise. Is there anybody grateful in this place tonight that no matter what has happened to you, no matter what you’ve been through, no matter what you’ve overcome, no matter how isolated you were once, God still made you a promise, and he plans on keeping that promise?
David tells Ziba, «Go get Mephibosheth.» Now, I want you to understand this because it’s important as we go through this passage of Scripture. Historically speaking, if a king found someone related to the prior king, the king would often kill them so they wouldn’t try to kill him and take his position. So, Mephibosheth, in his mind, understanding that his father and grandfather have died, thinks whoever comes looking for him is trying to kill him.
Key Points from the Story
Ziba tells him to come with him. If you’re taking notes tonight, I just want you to write down a few things because it’s important as you go throughout your week to remind yourself: He knows exactly where you are. God knows exactly where you are. He knows some of you are hiding tonight; he knows some of you are hurt tonight; he knows some of you are wounded tonight; he knows some of you feel disenfranchised tonight. He knows exactly where you are, and he wants you to know tonight, not only has he seen you, but he’s willing to provide for you.
Not only does he see you in your current circumstance, but he wants to remind you of who you are because in Christ you are a new creature. I said, in Christ, you are a new creature. In Christ, it does not matter what has happened to you; it does not matter how painful the situation is. He says, «In Christ, you are new.»
I know exactly where you are. King David found Mephibosheth; he knew exactly where he was. Scripture says that Mephibosheth came to King David, and he bowed before him.
Number two, if you’re taking notes: God’s grace finds us when we’re not looking for it. God’s grace finds us even when we’re not looking for it. Some of you didn’t intend to come tonight, but you felt the need to come. Some of you probably didn’t even know where you were going; someone told you to come with them, and they brought you to church. You thought, «Wow, this is pretty loud; this is intense!» A bunch of people jumping around me, singing loud! But God’s grace found you even when you didn’t realize it was looking for you. The Word of God tells us that there are two bodyguards that follow us: grace and mercy. And I believe tonight, no matter what your circumstance, no matter what your situation is, those two bodyguards are following you. They’ve got you covered; they’ve got you protected.
Number three: God’s grace provides for you when you can’t repay it. Mephibosheth has nothing to offer David, but King David understands that he made a promise to his father. He made a promise that he intends on keeping even when the person he loved is no longer here. And the thing you must realize tonight is that God’s grace provides for you even when you can’t repay it. Isn’t it so awesome of God? He understands that in your own power, in your own efforts, in your own energy, you can’t do it. But he makes a great exchange with you and tells you, «Although you’re going to come up short, my Son will be the difference.» Because you are mine! Our son messes up all the time, but that’s my boy! You make a mess all the time, but you’re God’s child! I say, you’re God’s child! His grace finds you, and it is released to you even when you can’t pay it.
Seeing Greatness in Others
Mephibosheth understands his limitations. He understands what he can’t do—he understands he can’t do many of the things a king would do. But he understands there’s greatness in his bloodline. King David understands there’s greatness in his bloodline, and sometimes you need someone in your life to see what you can’t see about you—because you’re in the way of what God desires to show you. I said sometimes you need someone in your life to show you what you can’t see—to point out your blind spots but also to highlight your greatness when you’re focusing on your flaws. This is what I’ve come to realize: if I’m standing too close to the mirror, I can’t see the details of my face. But when I take a step back, I can see all that God has made me to be. Sometimes you can’t see the details of your own life because you’re standing too close to it. You need someone else to tell you, «Take a step back; look at all God has done.» God has so much more for you than what you currently see right now. I know you’re in pain, I know you’re struggling, and I know you’re deep in this, but God is pulling you out.
The thing you have to remember tonight is, although you may be in Lo Debar, God desires to pull you out of it. I wonder if there’s anyone in here tonight that’s tired of being stuck in a desolate place? I wonder if there’s anyone in here tonight that’s tired of being isolated with your own thoughts? I wonder if there’s anyone in here that’s tired of being stuck in a place where you’ve held your old self hostage and you desperately desire to posture yourself before the king? He sends for him and he comes out. I came to announce to you tonight that you’re coming out of what has been holding you hostage. If you believe that tonight, I want you to declare that over yourself right now: «I’m coming out of everything that does not reflect where God has intended for me to be!»
I’m coming out of everything—every sickness! It’s in my DNA! It’s in my DNA; that’s who I am! When I woke up this morning, I didn’t have to remind myself that my last name was Timberlake; it just is! And I came to tell you tonight, it’s in your DNA! God has already given you the victory; he’s already overcome. Remind yourself who the King of Kings is! On your feet! Throw your hands up and show God you’re thankful! Oh, I feel something about to break in this place tonight! I feel something about to be released in this place tonight! God has already made you victorious because it’s in your DNA!
The King’s Table
He calls for Mephibosheth and tells him, «Come to my house; there’s a table for you. I have a place for you at my table.» I want us to look at this because it’s important. As David releases blessings to Mephibosheth, in 2 Samuel chapter 9, verse 8, it says, «Mephibosheth bowed respectfully and exclaimed, 'Who is your servant that you should show such kindness to a dead dog like me? '» Who are you that you would seek me out and bless me the way that you have? Who are you that you would desire to use me? Who are you that you would relinquish some of what you have so that I could have some as well? Who are you that you see so much in me that no matter how mistake-prone I am, you still have a call for my life? Who are you that you see something in me that I can’t see and you, knowing I would not make it on my own, desire not only to live with me but to live in me so that I could fulfill the call that you have given me? Who are you that you are mindful of me?
When you know who you are, it gives you context to how great of a God He is. Because no matter how hard you try in your own power, you still fail; in your own power, you still have disabilities; in your own power, you still disappoint yourself! Nobody has broken more promises to you than you have to yourself! But yet and still, He is mindful of you! Yet and still, He says, «I have a seat for you at my table.»
This is what I want us to look at: when you sit at the king’s table, your disability is covered. He released wealth to Mephibosheth; he released servants to Mephibosheth, but he said the one thing I request of you is that you would sit at the table with me and have dinner with me. The Word of God exclaims that Mephibosheth sat at the table with David as if he were one of David’s own sons. Now, I want you to understand this: David’s sons were mighty men of valor; they were big, brawny, and good-looking, healthy young men. But at the table, it did not matter how they looked under the table because the table covered every ailment, every disability, every crippled person, every crippled thing, every dysfunction—it covered every sin!
At the king’s table, He’s got you covered! The thing God wants for you tonight is not only to release things to you but also for you to come eat at His table. At His table, there is no hierarchy! At His table, there are no big eyes or little eyes; at His table, there is no classism; at His table, there is no racism. He says, «I got everything that would not be covered otherwise covered because it’s in your DNA.»
I want you to understand this: Mephibosheth returned to the place that he was supposed to be all along. Tonight, my prayer is that you would leave the place you’ve been comfortable in and go to the place where God is calling you because that’s where you’ve belonged all along. He told Mephibosheth, «Take a seat,» because King David understood power flows from a seat. In Scripture, we see types of references; one of them is that He’s seated at the right hand of the Father. In the earthly realm, we have seats in Congress; people feel the weight of those seats!
We have seats in Parliament; we have seats in the House of Representatives because authority flows from a seat! What the king was telling Mephibosheth is: «Have a seat. You’ve been standing in your own power, enduring your own pain for too long. Come, sit in my presence. Let me take a load off! I know you’re in pain; I know you got injured; I know you’re wounded; I know you’re hurt! But I’m inviting you to come sit at my table because when you’re at my table and you’re seated beside me, oh in my presence, there’s fullness of joy and pleasures at my right hand forevermore.»
King David told him: «Listen, I want you to take a seat because this is your rightful place. This is where you belong; this is in your DNA. It’s in your bloodline.» Romans chapter 8, verse 17 says, «Now if we are children, then we are heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.» God is not looking for people who can name their problems; He’s looking for people who can name their possibilities. And I came tonight just to invite you to His table because if you can get out of where you are to where He is, He says, «There’s so much more I have in store.»
Altar Call and Closing Prayer
I’m bringing you out so that you can go in! Come on, let’s stand to our feet tonight! There are some of us who feel dropped, we feel forsaken, we feel abandoned, we feel left behind, and you need to know tonight that God is not forsaking you. I want to ask that no one move until we give instruction because this is a sacred moment. You need to be reminded tonight that God is not forsaking you and your condition does not determine your assignment.
Tonight, if you feel wounded, if you feel crippled, if you feel abandoned, if you feel like Mephibosheth, I invite you to this altar right now. You don’t have to wait for the person beside you; you don’t have to wait for the person behind you. You just come—you know who you are! Come on, let’s encourage our brothers and sisters as they continue to come. Squeeze in! We are one big happy family. Understand that what has happened to some of you was not fair, but God wants you to know that you’re not forsaken; He’s with you. His Word says, «I’ve never seen the righteous forsaken, nor their seed begging for bread. He’s with you.»
Tonight, He’s inviting you to come sit at His table so that He can cover what needs to be covered. If you’re here at the altar, I invite you just to lift your hands. If you’re still sitting in the audience, I invite you to stretch your hands towards those at the altar as we agree and pray with our brothers and sisters.
Lord Jesus, we thank you that not only are you with us, but God, we know that you are for us. Tonight, God, we ask that you allow us to feel your presence. We ask, God, that you would do something significant in our lives where you uproot old and sow seeds for the new. Tonight, God, we thank you that you’re healing us, covering us, and protecting us. You’re removing all of the broken pieces, all of the wounds; you’re patching up all of the cuts and scars. God, you are making us whole again.
So, God, we put our trust in you. Father, we thank you that although we may not feel any different, we know that things are different because we’ve had an encounter with you. So God, we thank you in advance for the miracle that is happening in our lives right now. We are grateful that you sought us out, God, that you pulled us out to position us at your table. So, God, tonight we thank you and we give you all the glory; we give you all the honor. In the name of Jesus, if you agree with that prayer, shout, «Hallelujah!» Hallelujah! How many of you are grateful for the seat at the table that Jesus has provided for you? Come on, let’s stretch those hands up! Oh, come on, let’s open up our mouths; let’s thank Him real good! Oh Lord, we praise you; we magnify your name! We’re so grateful, God, that you have a place for us at your table! In Jesus' name.