After the Tears Dry
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Have you ever made decisions out of fear, only to have those decisions snowball into greater, more complex issues? Where we let fear and our perception cloud what God has already promised? Where we are so close to our breakthrough, but we allow the adversary to scare us into old habits and patterns?
How did you recover from that? Or, how did you recover from hearing life-altering news that shook you to your core?
Most likely it took GOD’s intervention and course-correction. Today we are going to look at such a case and examine how we can make better choices in sticking with GOD’s plans for us.
Background
Background
David and his band of mercenaries returning to the town of Ziklag to find it raided and their wives and children kidnapped by the Amalekites (vv. 1-2)
Took residence In Ziklag after fleeing from Saul and his mood swings
David had been employed in the palace with Saul as a soother (playing the harp)
Saul tried to kill David on several occasions and after the last attempt, David escaped and took refuge with the Philistines
Not only was the city raided, it was burned down (v. 3)
David and his men lost everything
Fire has a way of resetting and restarting things
David and his men cried severely due to their wives and children being kidnapped (vv. 4-5)
David’s grief turned into panic, due to his men’s grief turning into anger (v. 6a)
David had to encourage himself in the Lord (v. 6b)
David decides to take his issue to God (v. 7)
He had to priest bring his ephod
He was ready to position himself to hear from God for direction
David asks God if he should confront the Amalekites and God gives David permission to pursue with the guarantee of recovery (v. 8)
Observations
Observations
After the tears, you must focus on getting back in alignment with God and His will
We face our mistakes and press toward pleasing God
After the tears, you must encourage yourself in God’s strength
If we depend on our own strength, we will remain in a state of perpetual failure
God’s strength renews our soul
After the tears, you must seek God’s direction for the next move
Only God can lead us out of the crisis
Know how to engage God to get the right answers
After the tears, you must be ready to move as God directs
When God says, “move,” be ready to move
When God says, “move,” He’s also giving you a guarantee outcome
Closing
Closing