Note: This message was started from a talk given by Joe Grice at the Ft. Mill Pastor’s Conference. Thank you Joe for the spark and idea.
Title: Breakthrough Before You Breakdown
Theme: To show that we need to breakthrough what we are going through before we have a major breakdown in our lives.
Text: 1 Samuel 30:1-8
1Sa 30:1-8 Now it happened, when David and his men came to Ziklag, on the third day, that the Amalekites had invaded the South and Ziklag, attacked Ziklag and burned it with fire, (2) and had taken captive the women and those who were there, from small to great; they did not kill anyone, but carried them away and went their way. (3) So David and his men came to the city, and there it was, burned with fire; and their wives, their sons, and their daughters had been taken captive. (4) Then David and the people who were with him lifted up their voices and wept, until they had no more power to weep. (5) And David’s two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite, had been taken captive. (6) Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God. (7) Then David said to Abiathar the priest, Ahimelech’s son, "Please bring the ephod here to me." And Abiathar brought the ephod to David. (8) So David inquired of the LORD, saying, "Shall I pursue this troop? Shall I overtake them?" And He answered him, "Pursue, for you shall surely overtake them and without fail recover all."
Introduction
From a young age God anointed David King. At ten years old this would become the first of anointing of three (young boy, King of Hebron, King of Israel)
He was chosen of God to fulfill this ministry.
Yet this is not how it began. David went from being anointed to, killing the giant, to being in King Saul’s house, to becoming a man on the run.
He gathered around him many men of destitute as he hid from the very man God had anointed him to take his place.
Everywhere David went he set out to fulfill the purposes and plan of God.
Here David is hiding from the king and setting out secret parties to kill the Philistines. I mean he is doing the work of the Lord. Yet his is now threatened by his men.
David was under a lot of pressure. From himself, from his men, from the family. From his calling.
Negative results of Pressure
Irritability
Often times when we are under pressure we get irritable. Nobody can touch us or say anything to us. This happens after “a long day at work” or when having to make major decisions.
Sad part is we usually wind up hurting the people we love the most. We take it out on those who are willing to listen and they don’t deserve it.
Complaining
Php 2:14-16 Do all things without complaining and disputing, (15) that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, (16) holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.
Problems with Complaining
1. Complaining will become a habit and will destroy your happiness
Many people are miserable because they have allowed themselves to become a chronic complainer.
2. Complaining will destroy your contentment.
1Timothy 6:6 Now godliness with contentment is great gain.
Php 4:11-12 Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: (12) I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
3. Complaining will destroy your usefulness
4. Complaining is contagious
Family, friends, co-workers, spouse
1Th 5:18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
Philippians 2:14-15 Do all things without complaining and disputing, (15) that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,
Israel had a problem with murmuring and complaining. This is what caused them to spend 40 years in the wilderness.
Pro 18:21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.
Bitterness
If we are not careful we can become very bitter. We see things around us and we begin to complain. We see others who seem to have freedom and no problems and we become jealous.
Barrenness - Michal
2Sa 6:16-23 And as the ark of the LORD came into the city of David, Michal Saul’s daughter looked through a window, and saw king David leaping and dancing before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart. (17) And they brought in the ark of the LORD, and set it in his place, in the midst of the tabernacle that David had pitched for it: and David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD. (18) And as soon as David had made an end of offering burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of hosts. (19) And he dealt among all the people, even among the whole multitude of Israel, as well to the women as men, to every one a cake of bread, and a good piece of flesh, and a flagon of wine. So all the people departed every one to his house. (20) Then David returned to bless his household. And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, How glorious was the king of Israel to day, who uncovered himself to day in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovereth himself! (21) And David said unto Michal, It was before the LORD, which chose me before thy father, and before all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the LORD, over Israel: therefore will I play before the LORD. (22) And I will yet be more vile than thus, and will be base in mine own sight: and of the maidservants which thou hast spoken of, of them shall I be had in honour. (23) Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no child unto the day of her death.
How to Breakthrough before you break down
Understand what we are facing
2Co 10:4-6 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, (5) casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, (6) and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.
This more of a mind game than anything else. is never as bad as it looks until it comes to our perspective.
“The grass is not always greener on the other side and if it is it is probably on a septic tank.”
Lam 3:19-33 I’ll never forget the trouble, the utter lostness, the taste of ashes, the poison I’ve swallowed. (20) I remember it all--oh, how well I remember-- the feeling of hitting the bottom. (21) But there’s one other thing I remember, and remembering, I keep a grip on hope:
I Remember
(22) GOD’s loyal love couldn’t have run out, his merciful love couldn’t have dried up. (23) They’re created new every morning. How great your faithfulness! (24) I’m sticking with GOD (I say it over and over). He’s all I’ve got left.
Answer
(25) (a) GOD proves to be good to the man who passionately waits, (b) to the woman who diligently seeks. (26) It’s a good thing to (c) quietly hope, quietly hope for help from GOD. (27) It’s a good thing when you’re young to (d) stick it out through the hard times. (28) When life is heavy and hard to take, (e) go off by yourself. (f) Enter the silence. (29) (g) Bow in prayer. (h) Don’t ask questions: (i) Wait for hope to appear. (30) (j) Don’t run from trouble. (k) Take it full-face. The "worst" is never the worst.
(31) Why? Because the Master won’t ever walk out and fail to return. (32) If he works severely, he also works tenderly. His stockpiles of loyal love are immense. (33) He takes no pleasure in making life hard, in throwing roadblocks in the way:
Understand who God is
1Co 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful,
1Th 5:24 He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.
Lam 3:22-23 GOD’s loyal love couldn’t have run out, his merciful love couldn’t have dried up. (23) They’re created new every morning. How great your faithfulness!
Faithful when we are faithless
2Ti 2:13 If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself.
Faithful in Affliction
Psa 119:75 I know, O LORD, that Your judgments are right, And that in faithfulness You have afflicted me.
Faithful in fulfilling Promises
Heb 10:23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.
Faithful in Forgiveness
1Jn 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.
Find a place to get away.
This is what God allowed in Elijah’s life
In 1 Kings 19 it seems that Elijah runs from God after getting the threat on his life.
Yet if you look closer he runs right into God’s plan. It was ok for him to get away. God even took care of him.
We are destined to come out of this
2Co 4:8-9 We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; (9) persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;
Rom 8:35-39 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? (36) As it is written: "For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter." (37) Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. (38) For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, (39) nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Psalms 30:5 For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning.
Isa 54:17 No weapon formed against you shall prosper, And every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, And their righteousness is from Me," Says the LORD.
Conclusion
One commentator said that it was only 12 days between Ziklag and David being anointed as King.
Wow! What a thought. When we are tempted to quit. When we are tempted to walk away. When we are tempted to say, “Is it worth it?” You never know how close you are to your destiny.
Romans 11:29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.
NLT For God’s gifts and his call can never be withdrawn.
ESV For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable
