Faith And Action Brings Breakthrough

FAITH AND ACTION BRINGS BREAKTHROUGH

1 Chron 14:8-14 Now when the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over all Israel, all the Philistines went up to search for David. And David heard of it and went out against them. Then the Philistines went and made a raid on the Valley of Rephaim. And David inquired of God, saying, "Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will You deliver them into my hand?" And the LORD said to him, "Go up, for I will deliver them into your hand." So they went up to Baal Perazim, and David defeated them there. Then David said, "God has broken through my enemies by my hand like a breakthrough of water." Therefore they called the name of that place Baal Perazim. And when they left their gods there, David gave a commandment, and they were burned with fire. Then the Philistines once again made a raid on the valley. Therefore David inquired again of God, and God said to him, "You shall not go up after them; circle around them, and come upon them in front of the mulberry trees.

2 Samuel 5:20 So David went to Baal Perazim, and David defeated them there; and he said, "The LORD has broken through my enemies before me, like a breakthrough of water." Therefore he called the name of that place Baal Perazim.

David is describing the natural power of flooding. When waters break out of their banks great power is displayed washing everything away in its path and he describes the power of God in a similar way because when God unleashed His power there was nothing that could stop it.

Before the breakthrough the scene in the scripture is called - Valley of Rephaim meaning house of the giant

After the breakthrough it is called - Baal Perazim - possessor of breaches

Why was this place renamed after Baal a god of the Philistines and not after the Lord? Because at this place the enemy thought he was the strongest – so David called it Baal Perazim meaning that God broke through in the strongest place of the enemy - God wants to give you a breakthrough in those areas of your life that the enemy is the strongest

What area of breakthrough do you need – Faith –Family – Finances - Freedom

HOW DO WE GET BREAKTHROUGH?

It says that when David sees the enemy he inquires of the Lord. It is interesting that David doesn’t assume the obvious. They have come to fight and God has given us an army to fight them with. It would seem evident that this is God’s plan. But, David does not assume to know God’s thoughts. He goes to God to seek God’s favor upon him.

It takes Faith and Action

1. Ask God - And David inquired of God, saying, "Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will You deliver them into my hand?" To inquire - by implication, to request; to ask, consult, pray - Once God speaks to you then you have faith – our problem is we don’t ask God about our situations

2. Hear God - Romans 10:17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God So we must set aside time to ask and listen – most of our questions regarding circumstances are clearly defined within the word of God – relationships – finances – church attendance etc and if not addressed specifically they are referred to in principle – God will not ask you to do something that is not endorsed in some way by His word – however He may ask you to do something that is contrary to our natural understanding Hear a sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees - Marching in the tops of trees?

3. Obey God - "Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.

Faith is not a blind leap - Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path - a path is a way of walking – God’s directions may be contrary to our understanding – we will not be able to work out the results from the action

It takes faith plus obedience – pray and obey – hear and do – E.g. if you want to get out of debt you have to stop spending – if you want to see the results of God in your life – Ask – Hear – Obey - Abraham the father of our faith received nothing from God till he put into action what God told him to do – leave your fathers house – go to a land I will show you …