When The Going Gets Tough

When the going gets tough we are desperate for that Breakthrough

an event one event that causes a big positive change in our finances, health, or relationships

we want that event that elevates us to new and better levels and situations

David was such a man who experienced breakthroughs

first breakthrough

David was the youngest and forgotten (explain story) son of a family in an unimportant and small town called Bethlehem.

God sends the prophet Samuel to anoint David as the next king, and now his status has improved among his family.

Second breakthrough

The king at that time, Saul, needed a musician. Someone at the court happened to know that David was a musician and recommended him. Next thing you know David has a job he didn’t even have to apply for. . . . breakthrough

third breakthrough

God gives David the power to defeat a giant named Goliath. This victory causes David to become a national hero . . . breakthrough

fourth breakthrough

David becomes best friends with Jonathan, the king’s son. In fact they make a pact to always be loyal to one another, connections in high places . . . breakthrough

fifth breakthrough

David joins Saul’s army and wins many battles and receives promotions . . . . breakthrough

Hopefully you know what to do when those breakthroughs come: give God the praise and remain humble (and David did that)

But then things took a bad turn

King Saul gets jealous of David’s success and tries to kill Him

Twice Saul throws spear at him

Saul sends David on dangerous missions, hoping David will get killed

Saul tries to have David assassinated in his own home

So David is forced to become a fugitive, and Saul is hot on his trail . . .

David goes from repeated success to barely surviving with his life

David goes from breakthrough after breakthrough to a life of hide, run, escape, survive . . . just jumping out of windows, running through the forest, hiding in caves, scavenging for food

God wants us to know what to do when there is no breakthrough and the Going gets tough

1 Samuel 23:16 NLT

16 Jonathan went to find David and encouraged him to stay strong in his faith in God.

David is taking all of these losses, and his friend Jonathan comes to encourage him, to help him build up his faith

When the going gets tough . . . .

Build up your faith

for David it came through his friend Jonathan

Commercial: that’s one reason it is important to have godly friends in your life, a church home . . . they help to build up your faith

we need steady dose of godly encouragement that builds up our faith

some of us have people around us who bring un-encouragement in the Lord

you are really going through a lot, I don’t know how you are going to make it

I couldn’t take it

I mean you’re going through this and that . . . proceed to retell all of your troubles

and they breakdown your faith

When the going gets tough, we don’t need a breakdown of faith, we need a build up

and in the NIV, the Bible says says Jonathan helped him find strength in God (David was about to lose it)

God is with you

remember what God told you

God won;t let you down

God has brought you through many things

keep trusting in God

God, knows what he’s doing

keep believing

Have faith in God!

when the going gets tough, you need to take steps to build up your faith

don’t put the blues on, put on some Christian music

don’t put your favorite angry rapper, put on some Christian music

don’t put on a sad country song, put on some Christian music to build up your faith

Building up your faith is important because faith gives us the strength to through the tough times!

we will go through tough times for our doctors, because we have faith in our doctors

whatever they ask us to do or go through, we will do or go through

open your mouth, ok

raise your shirt up, ok

let me apply some pressure right here, ok

let me puncture your skin with this sharp object, ok

(dentist) let me drill in your mouth, ok

let me stick some steel pins in your joints, ok

tell you what, let me knock you unconscious, cut your body open, and mess around in there . . . ok

you are limping right now, but let me do somethings to you, and after that you won’t be able to walk at all . . . not until six seeks later . . . ok

we go through that pain, discomfort, suffering . . .

we will overcome our fear and emotions

because we have faith in our doctors

they know what they’re doing

they have the expertise: they know more about my medical situation than I do

they have my best interest in mind!

and all of that without asking for proof of degree, license, list of references, background check, film, let me meet your parents . . . we just say ok

and you are able to go through because of faith!

and when we are reluctant to go to the doctor, when our faith in the doctor is low, someone comes along and builds up our faith . . .

you need to go ahead and let them help you

they know what they’re doing

I’ll go with you

I had the same situation, and the doctor helped me

So build up your faith in God! And you will be able to go through discomfort, suffering or pain, even being knocked out by life because you know that God knows what he is doing and has your best interest in mind

and if no one is around to build up your faith, go back and check his list of references

delivered NOah from the flood

delivered MOses from a river

delivered the children of Israel from Egypt

delivered Gideon and his 300 from the Midianites

delivered the 3 hebrew boys from the fiery furnace

delivered Daniel from the lion’s den

do a credit check and you will find that . . .

God is my refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble

1 Samuel 23:17 NLT

17 “Don’t be afraid,” Jonathan reassured him. “My father will never find you! You are going to be the king of Israel, and I will be next to you, as my father, Saul, is well aware.”

by Jonathan’s comments, you can tell that David is afraid that Saul is going to catch him, David is not sure if he will ever be the king

Jonathan basically says, I know that it’s rough, but don’t be afraid, my dad will never capture you

despite all of this suffering, focus on the prize . . . you will be the king of Israel

When the going gets tough . . .

Focus on the Prize

we can easily focus on the prize when things are happening fast

but when the going gets tough, our attention shifts to what we are going through

and doubt, depression, fear start to creep in

we look down instead of ahead, we look back instead of forward

Jonathan is saying, “irregardless of all of this . . . you . . . will . . . be . . . king!”

David I know this is not HOW you thought everything would come to pass . . . but everything God promised WILL come to pass!

but his thoughts are not our thoughts and his way are not our ways

the path he choses for us, is not the path we would have chosen

but the fact remains that you will be king

in traveling to local destinations, my wife and I almost always travel different routes

we used to fuss about it a lot, I called her way not short cut, but long cut

and when the other one is driving, we have learned not to say anything

because we realize that ultimately we are still going to get to our destination

I hope you realize that God most likely going to drive a different route than you would have chosen

so you have to learn to focus on the final destination, focus on the prize

I looked around while at the gym and noticed that everyone was suffering

lifting heavy burdens, sweating, grunting, breathing hard, tired, sore, sometimes yelling because the effort was so great

but there was a good attitude in the room

some people were even smiling despite the suffering

because everyone was focused on the prize:

what I will look like

how healthy I will be

how strong I will be

what the scale is going to say

how my clothes are going to fit

and they press on with good attitudes

suffering, but with joy

tired, sore, beat down, and weary . . . . but at peace

because they have the faith that, “I am not suffering for nothing”

When you are God’s child you are not suffering for nothing

you might be tired, beat down, and weary, but keep your eye on the prize

things will work together for your good

you will be the head and not the tail

you will be victorious

you will be better, stronger, wise

you are more than a conqueror

you will be better, stronger, and wiser

when the going gets tough: build up your faith and focus on the prize!

1 Samuel 23:18 NLT

18 So the two of them renewed their solemn pact before the Lord. Then Jonathan returned home, while David stayed at Horesh.

they made a promise to each other: protect, support, have each other’s back, be good to each others’ family

this was their pattern: made the pact with each other, some troubles would arise, and then they would verify the pact again . . . .

go through some trials . . . . meet and verify the pact again . . .

when the going got tough they would make the promise again, say it again, hear it again, review it again, verify it again . . .

you good? yes

you good? yes

we good? yeah, we good!

that’s real life . . . double checking on things, repeating things

good students review notes

teachers review lessons

singers rehearse songs,

companies repeat commercials

schools repeat fire drills

so many jobs require that you be re-certified

important things are done multiple times,

so it’s funny how people think they can make it spiritually by just going over spiritual things (the most important things) one time

with godly things, we try to be one and done . . . oh yeah, I got it! No need to review

but when the going gets tough, you will need to . . .

Review and Renew

Things can get so rough, that sometimes we need to go back and review and renew our relationship with God

you are already saved and on your way to heaven, but sometime you need to say, “Yes, Lord” all over again

I love you, Lord all over again

Have your way, Lord

Use me in your service, Lord

I’m yours, Lord

renew a right spirit within me

restore my joy

increase my faith

we need to Review and Renew

another good reason to come to church

come to Bible stud

read your word on your own

and pray morning, noon and night

and sometimes you don’t feel like doing it, it’s not very exciting, but you gotta do it . . . especially when the going gets tough

It’s been a long time since I have been excited about pumping gas

but I have learned that IF I am to keep going, I need to review where that needle is and renew the gas in my car

because as long as I review and renew my gas situation, I can go far

A lot of people do this spiritually: they run out of spiritual gas and have to get towed to the church

and then they drive again until they get stuck again and get towed again

but when the going gets tough, review and renew!

review the promises of God, renew your faith

review the faithfulness of God, renew your commitment

review how patient he has been with you, renew your decision to be patient with him

When you are going through

Build up your faith

Focus on the prize

Review and Renew

Invitation

the first time they made the pact in chapter 18

1 Samuel 18:4 NLT

4 Jonathan sealed the pact by taking off his robe and giving it to David, together with his tunic, sword, bow, and belt.

let’s understand the situation

Though Jonathan is the king’s son, he understand that God has chosen David to be the next king

so he makes a pact with David, and agreement/covenant with David

we are friends and we will have each other’s back always

though I am the crown prince, I acknowledge you, as the next king

in the end, I hope to be your right hand man, but if something happens to Jonathan, David promises to be kind to his descendants (Chapter 20)

That’s why Jonathan removes the signs of royalty from himself (robe, tunic, sword, bow, and belt) and places them on David, thus symbolicly making David the crown prince

indicating that David, you are the heir, not me, the throne belongs to you

and I love this picture that is painted with this pact and Jonathan giving his things to David

the king’s son, the begotten son, the heir - gives what belongs to him to David

He gave it all up for David

Jonathan would be the one who died, so that David could live

Why l? Because he loved David

greater love hath no man, than a man would lay down his life for his friends

He sacrificed himself, for God’s purpose, for the kingdom

that’s what Jesus did for us

the king’s son, God’s son - gives up glory for us

he gave it all up for us

he died so that we could live

why, because he loved us . . . no greater love

he sacrificed himself . . . for God’s purpose, it pleased the Father to bruise him . . for you

invitation to

put your faith in God

Claim your price

or Review and Renew