“THE GATEWAY TO RECOVERY”
(The Leader’s Spiritual Integrity)
1 SAMUEL 30:1-31
David made a mistake in his decision to defect to the land of the Philistines. It may not have appeared that his decision to go to Ziklag at the outset was a bad decision but the opinion of the world and friends is not the measuring device by which we finalize our decisions - God is. God didn’t approve of his decision and for 16 months he reaped the consequences with it ending in a climatic fashion by the loss of his family and home.
There are three things that led to David’s full recovery - A:
I. SPIRITUAL AWAKENING 30:1-6b One that produces an:
“Wherefore, he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. See, then, that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore, be ye not unwise but understanding what the will of the Lord is.” (Ephesians 5:13-17)
“And when he came to himself, he said, How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,” (Luke 15:17-18)
A. Acknowledgment of need 30:4
B. Acceptance of Responsibility 30:1a
C. Abandonment of Sin 30:6c
II. SINCERE ATTACHMENT 30:6c
A. Object - The Lord
B. Result - Encouragement (2388): khaw-zak: to fasten upon, to be attached to
C. Means - Repentance
III. SUBMISSIVE ATTITUDE 30:7-31
A. Sought the will of God 30:8
B. Pursued the will of God 30:10
C. Fulfilled the will of God 30:18-19
