TEXT: I Samuel 30: 1 – 8
INTRODUCTION: Challenges are common to all who dwell on the face of the earth. No one is immune to trials and temptations. The bible reminds us in 1Cor10:13 that it is common to both believers and unbelievers of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Thanks be to God who provides an escape route for us to overcome the challenges. In addition, He abides with us in the midst of the trial strengthening, counseling, and giving us the courage to overcome.
The Amalekites in David’s absence invaded Zigzag, spoilt the city by burning it and took the people including the two wives of David captive. But David encouraged himself in the Lord. We need to guard our heart from anything that will weaken it such as fear and doubt. We should protect our heart from negative influences because out of the heart are the issues of life.
Furthermore, we need to trust in God’s ability to deliver us from any type of challenge that comes across our way. This trust should drive us to seek His help and specific answers to the problem. His word the Holy Spirit is ever available to help us if we reach Him in prayers.
When we obey His leading by acting on His counsel, we are assured of overcoming the challenges. May the grace to be hearers and doers be multiplied in our lives in Jesus name. Amen.
1) Encourage yourself in the Lord
Eph2:6; Col3:3; Rom12:11; Rm8:35-37; 2Tim1:7; 1John4:4
You should remember who you are in Christ Jesus. Eschew fear because your life is hid with Christ in God. Strengthen your inner man with words of your testimony. In the battles that you face, always remember that victory HAS been won already for you by Christ even before the commencement of the battle. The realization of this fact should remove every iota of fear from your heart.
2) Take control over negative influencers of your heart
Pro. 4:23; Mt. 5:28; Num. 13:27-29 & Num. 14:1-5; Mt. 15:18-20; Lk. 21:34; Dan. 1:8; Gen. 27:41; Pr. 17:22; Phil. 4:6-8
Your heart is the center of hidden emotional, intellectual and moral activities. It is the invisible unseen part of man that guides his activities. We must protect our heart from anything that can negatively influence it by being circumspect in what we see, hear, eat or drink and think.
3) Total trust in His ability to deliver you
Heb. 12:2; Ps. 118:9; Is. 43:2; Ps. 20:7; Phil. 2:10; Exod. 6:3
To trust in something or someone is to put confidence in the object of trust in His ability to assist us to actualize our dream. It is better to put trust in the Lord than in man or princes. The name of the Lord is better than horses and chariots. At the name of Jesus, every knee bows.
4) Seek His help and leading
I Sam. 30:8; Ps. 119:105; Heb. 1:1-3; Jn. 14:16, Rm. 8:11, 26; I Cor. 2:9-10; Mt. 17:21
The realization of God’s ability to help and protect us should drive us to seeking His help and direction. We know His mind on any questions bordering us from His Word. His word is our lamp and light. God reveals to us things hidden even from the most educated.
5) Act on His counsel
I Sam. 30:10; I Sam. 30:11-19; Pro. 18:16; Mt. 5:44-45; Jam. 2:20-22
We must act on solutions provided for us by God. David pursued the Amalekites in obedience to God’s directive and he recovered everything that was stolen from Him. We need to be charitable knowing that the nature of God is love.
MEMORY VERSE: I Samuel 30:6b KJV
“but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.”
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