Sunday November 21, 2021
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1 Samuel 30:3-8. “When David and his men saw the ruins and realized what had happened to their families“they wept until they could weep no more.” David’s two wives, Ahinoam from Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal from Carmel, were among those captured. David was now in great danger because all his men were very bitter about losing their sons and daughters, and they began to talk of stoning him. But David found strength in the Lord his God. Then he said to Abiathar the priest, “Bring me the ephod!” So Abiathar brought it. Then David asked the Lord, “Should I chase after this band of raiders? Will I catch them?” And the Lord told him, “Yes, go after them. You will surely recover everything that was taken from you!”
It is always God’s design to move you to a place of victory! Your best days are before you! No matter how deep the pit is, no matter how bad the wound, God intends to lead you to a place of victory!
Unexpected, unexplained struggles, wounds, happen at times in our lives. But God’s plan is victory! WE MUST SEE PAST THE NATURAL INTO THE SPIRIT!
4 Lessons we can learn from this passage.
1. God wants to move us to a place of dependency on Him.
God demands that we depend only on him! No matter how low I might be, God you’re my source! GOD IS A REWARDER!
Hebrews 11:6- “And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.”
Psalm 121:1-2- “I look up to the mountains— does my help come from there?
My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth!”
God wants to bring us to a place of dependency on Him!
2. Victory is not found in the answer but in the intimacy.
David had a history with God, he was rooted in intimacy!
Why is this important? BECAUSE THE ANSWER MIGHT CHANGE! A perfect example is Moses striking the rock. Found in Exodus and Numbers.
“Moses failed to be open to the new avenue through which God intended to move. He acted on the basis of his past experience.”
WHEN YOU BECOME DEPENDENT ON GOD YOU BECOME INTIMATE WITH HIM!
Psalm 57:1 – “Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me, for in you I take refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until this disaster has passed.”
3. God wants to change our heart before He changes our situation.
God is concerned for your heart. David had to line up with his identity.
David had to leave the pain of the past! God restores identity and purpose!
God wants me to walk through failure without becoming a failure!
How could Paul and Silas pray and worship God when they were beaten and cast into the dungeon?
BECAUSE THEY MAY HAVE BEEN IN PRISON BUT THE PRISON WAS NOT IN THEM!
Psalm 84:5-7 “What joy for those whose strength comes from the Lord, who have set their minds on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. When they walk through the Valley of Weeping, it will become a place of refreshing springs. The autumn rains will clothe it with blessings. They will continue to grow stronger, and each of them will appear before God in Jerusalem.”
JESUS MAY HAVE DIED ON THE CROSS BUT DEATH WAS NOT IN HIM! LIFE WAS INSIDE HIM, VICTORY WAS ON THE INSIDE OF HIM!
4. God wants to change your lowest points into your greatest victories.
WHEN VICTORY IS ON THE INSIDE OF YOU, YOUR LOWEST POINTS BECOME YOUR GREATEST VICTORIES!
David and his men were at their lowest point. They wept until they could weep no more!
1Samuel 30:18 says that David recovered everything! Nothing was missing!
THE DAY JESUS CHRIST WAS RESURRECTED FROM THE GRAVE THE WORD IMPOSSIBLE LEFT OUR VOCABULARY!
THREE STEPS TO TAKE
1. Don’t do what comes naturally. Do what is supernatural!
What is supernatural? WHEN YOU WORSHIP GOD IN THE MIDST OF YOUR STRUGGLE! Worship toward your future!
2. Stay in faith
Look to take the next step! You have to take the next step toward your future!
3. Start Moving
Don’t allow fear to paralyze you! Start moving forward!
LEAVE THE PAIN OF THE PAST BEHIND YOU!
Jeremiah 30:17- “I will give you back your health and heal your wounds,” says the Lord.”
GOD’S PLAN FOR YOU IS VICTORY!! AND VICTORY BEGINS ON THE INSIDE OF YOU!
WHY? BECAUSE IT’S CHRIST IN YOU THE HOPE OF GLORY!