Title: Learning how to fight
Theme: Understanding the importance of fighting for the kingdom and how to fight.
Text: 1 Samuel 30:1 - 8
Prayer Time:
Matthew_12:34 For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.
Hebrews_12:2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Offering:
2 Corinthians 9:5-8 Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren to go to you ahead of time, and prepare your generous gift beforehand, which you had previously promised, that it may be ready as a matter of generosity and not as a grudging obligation. (6) But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. (7) So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. (8) And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.
David at Ziklag
1 Samuel 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
I guess what intrigued me the most about this passage was how David prayed to the Lord and asked him if he wanted him to pursue the enemy.
(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."
Why? Because what would your reaction be if you walked into your house and found you family had been kidnapped. Would you stop to pray? This is not a challenge to see how spiritual we are. This not a statement to say this is what we need to do but it is a thought in this passage about why David did this.
David had to learn to fight
I use this word fight because it is going to take some effort to keep your family in tact. It is going to be done intentionally. It is not easy.
Listen to Nehemiah 4:14
Nehemiah 4:14 “Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, great and awesome, and fight for your brethren, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your houses."
Fighting is ok
Jesus fought with the Pharisees in the temple
John 2:12 – 25 1st Time
John 2:15 "He made a scourge out of cords, and drove them all out of the temple" This whip is only mentioned here. Jesus' anger can be clearly seen in this account. The place where YHWH could be known was no longer a place of worship and revelation! Anger in itself is not a sin! Paul's statement in Eph_4:26 is possibly related to this act. There are some things that should anger us.
Other Times later in ministry: Matthew 12, Mark 12
Jesus said that “God’s children take the kingdom by force”
Matthew 11:12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.
Ephesians 4:26 "Be angry, and do not sin": [12] do not let the sun go down on your wrath,
Now lets get back to this passage. I believe there are a few things that David had to understand to make his fight successful. I believe if we get this we will “Learn to fight” correctly and successfully.
(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."
I. Who to fight
Ephesians_6:12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, [19] against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
(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.
It would have been easy for David to have fought the men. They were angry and complaining about him.
II. When to fight
Everything does not have to be a fight or a debate.
(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."
Timing is everything. Was the timing right? Was the men ready?
III. Where to fight
1 Peter 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;
IV. What to fight over
When to debate? Or fight? “Not every hill is worth dying over”
V. How to fight
Ephesians 6:12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, [19] against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
Answer : Armor of God
Ephesians 6:12-18 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, [19] against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. (13) Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. (14) Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, (15) and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; (16) above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. (17) And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;
Fighting Through Prayer
Ephesians 6:18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints--
2 Chronicles 20:15 And he said, "Listen, all you of Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you, King Jehoshaphat! Thus says the Lord to you: 'Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God's.
Conclusion
Are you ready to fight?
We concluded the service with a powerful prayer service. Fighting the correct way.
