"When Enough is Enough "

Pray:

Give Honor:

Text: 1 Samuel 30:1-8

1 Samuel 30:1–8 (NKJV)

1 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.”

Have you ever been there?

In a place where the storms and snares of life are raging.......and they don’t seem to be letting up?

Have you ever been there?

In a place, where life would seemingly be taking it’s toll on you?

Have you ever been there?

In an age or stage of your life, where “the current issue or issues” in your life were all you could handle at the moment?

Have you ever been in that place? (That you don’t even want to answer the phone anymore,

because you’re tired of the bad news,

tired of people not asking how you’re doing before for a mone,

tired of people calling to gossip to you not realizing that you have problems of your own?) I mean just tired.

And it’s not enough that your children are acting up,

it’s not enough that the manager on your job is acting up

it’s not enough that your friend circle is acting up

it’s not enough that you finances are acting up

it’s not enough that your husband or wife is acting up

it’s not enough that family members are acting up

it’s not enough that neighbors are acting up..

it’s not enough that your car and your house are acting up....

I mean life, is just LIFE-ING.

I know you’ve been there...

Where you have the sentiments of the songwriter Tamela Man.....

Truth is I’m Tired

Options are few

I’m trying to pray

But where are you

I’m all churched out

Hurt and Abused....

I can’t fake

What’s left to do........

I think it’s safe to say…We’ve all been there.

Where we’re sick and tired of being sick and tired.

That we are tired of the sleepless nights,

Tired of the hardships,

Tired of the pain

Tired of the disappointment

Tired of being hurt,

I mean Tired.

and it is in that place where we get fed up with our Situations and have to pause and say..you know what…ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.

OH FAMILY..YOU ARE NOT THE ONLY ONE…

I’VE BEEN THERE TOO.....

I also believe that’s where our brother David is this morning.

In a place where enough is enough…Rock Bottom...

David, on the run from Saul, finds himself in Ziklag

David and some of his men leaves Ziklag unguarded for a brief moment,

only to find the place in ruins when they get back …

This place ziklag has been Burned down to the ground.

Their Wives and children have been taken captive

David’s men are speaking of stoning david,

Because he as a leader let this happen.

What pressure David must be under.

To be running for his life.

Out of the will of God

Grieving the loss of his family

Scared that his people will turn on him.

Too much going on

Too much too handle

Too much to fight with one another

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.

AND THE QUESTION ARISES

WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU’VE HAD ENOUGH?

THE FIRST THING YOU NEED TO DO IS

1. FIND STRENGTH FOR YOURSELF

The Bible says that David and his men lifted their voice and wept until they had no power to weep.

David has nothing at this point.

He’s cried until he could’t cry any longer.

He’s come to grips with the fact that he is not where he’s supposed to be.

He does not have his family.

His men are turning on him

He has pressure on every side.

The bible says that david was greatly distressed, because his people spake of stoning him.

He’s in between a rock and a hard ship

He’s in a bad place

He’s messed up,

but the bible says, DAVID strengthened himself in the Lord.

David encouraged himself in the Lord.

He does not wait on the people to do it.

He does not lean on his right hand man to do it

But David strengthened himself in the Lord.

Now see it’s one thing, If David had done this at the mountain top.

But it’s another, when he’s doing it in the valley.

It’s one thing, if David had done this when he defeated goliath,

but it’s another thing, that he’s doing it while he’s defeated

it’s one thing, if David had done this after while he still has power, but it’s another, to do it when he’s exausted all of his energy and power weeping and moaning.

David found the strength for himself.

David may not have been perfect,

but he knew who was perfect

David may have been weak

but he knew who wasn’t weak

David may not have been the source of his strength

but he knew who the source of his strength was.

and if you want to make it from rock bottom, you have to learn to find that strength for yourself.

David did not lean on his team

David did not lean on his power

David did not lean on his church family,

but David encouraged himself.

and some of us are still stuck in our problems because we’re waiting on someone to give us something that we can get for ourselves.

FIND YOU SOME STRENGTH- I WILL LIFT UP MINE EYES UNTO THE HILLS FROM WHENCE COMETH MY HELP ALL OF MY HELP COMES FROM THE LORD

FIND YOU SOME STRENGTH- I AM THE HEAD AND NOT THE TAIL I AM ABOVE AND NOT BENEATH I AM THE LENDER AND NOT THE BORROWER

FIND YOU SOME STRENGTH- THE LORD IS MY LIGHT AND MY SALVATION WHOM SHALL I FEAR

FIND YOU SOME STRENGTH- YE THOUGH I WALK THROUGH THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH, I WILL FEAR NO EVIL FOR GOD IS WITH ME.

FIND YOU SOME STRENGTH.

AND THIS STRENGTH THAT YOU HAVE, IS NOT ON YOUR OWN ACCORD, BUT THE STRENGTH THAT YOU HAVE, IS IN GOD,

FOR I’D RATHER BOAT IN MY INFIRMITIES THAT THE POWER OF CHRIST MAY REST UPON ME, FOR WHEN I AM WEAK THEN I AM STRONG.

FIND YOU SOME STRENGTH.

NOT ONLY DO YOU HAVE TO FIND STRENGTH FOR YOURSELF.

BUT THEN YOU MUST

2. Seek Answers From Your Savior.

See the bible says that David tells his people, bring me the ephod...

In this context, the "ephod" is a religious garment worn by the high priest in ancient Israel.

It was a significant and sacred item used for seeking guidance and making inquiries of God.

In this passage, David asked for the ephod from the priest, because he wanted to seek God's guidance on whether he should pursue the Amalekites who had raided Ziklag.

it’s funny because David did not ask for the sling and stones he used on goliath,

He did not ask for a bow and arrow for war,

He did not ask for another army of some sort.

But David says all I need is the ephod,

Meaning he didn’t act on impulse.

He didn’t retaliate immediately.

but He prepared himself, to seek the father.

After he was done crying

After he was done weeping

After he was done being scared

After he strengthened himself

He got the ephod,

and saught the father on what to do next.

He says LORD Should I overtake them??

See the secrete to your next miracle is locked up in your prayer closet.

The key that unlocks the door to your next phase of life is seeking the LORD.

DO NOT LET THE ATTACK OF THE ENEMY KEEP YOU FROM SEEKING GOD.

ASK AND YOU SHALL RECEIVE

SEEK AND YE SHALL FIND

KNOCK AND THE DOOR WILL BE OPEN.

IF MY PEOPLE WHO ARE CALLED BY MY NAME WILL HUMBLE THEMSELVES AND PRAY, SEEK MY FACE, TURN FROM THEIR WICKED WAYS.

THEN THEY WILL HEAR FROM HEAVEN, I WILL FORGIVE THEIR SINS AND I’LL HEAL THEIR LAND.

SEEK YE FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS AND ALL OF THESE THINGS WILL BE ADDED UNTO YOU.

ALL I’m trying to tell you that when enough is enough, seek God on what to do next.

Because the same God that gave you strength will give you strategy

not only should you

Find strength for yourself.

Not only should you seek answers from you savior,

but lastly, you must

3. Trust God and His Promises.

When David asks, “Shall I overtake them”

God says not only shall you overtake them , but because you came to me, you shall recover all.

In other words, God says, YOU NOT ONLY WILL WIN, But without fail, you will recover all

and the bible said SO DAVID WENT.

and I had to ask myself the questions, why did he go?

he was just tired,

He was just week

He was just worn

He was just overwhelmed

but he went, because God gave him a promise.

and God is a God who keeps his promises.

and it’s on us to trust God enough to know, that wherever, whenever, and however, we serve a God, who keeps his promises.

and is there anybody in here,

whos gone through some hard times.